X-Men Double Cover Books

As the title description says, this blog is all about Bronze Age Marvel Variants AND Double Cover Comics Books.  There are even a few books that fit both definitions, Double Cover Bronze Age Marvel Variants.

Most of the folks that know me and my collecting, know that I have been collecting Double Cover Comic Books for years, particularly X-Men and a few other of my favorite titles.  Double Cover Comic Books are created as a result of a manufacturing error in the production of the books.  At the moment, when the cover is added to interior pages, an extra cover was attached and stapled to the book.  As you might expect, this production error is very unusual and it is extremely challenging and expensive to put together runs of these books. This post is an opportunity to show a pretty significant run of X-Men double cover comic books.  If you can help me with any issues that I am missing, please contact me.  Thanks.

X-Men Double Covers

X-Men 1 (No not really, I wish.  It is X-Men: Children of the Atom nn#.  It does reprint the cover of X-Men 1 which is as close as I will ever get to a double cover of #1.

X-Men 4 This is the earliest double cover that I own in the mainline X-Men series.  I believe that there is an actual X-Men 1 double cover that is very high grade that would go well with this collection.

X-Men 5 Magneto/Evil Mutants cvr/story.

X-Men 12 First Juggernaut

X-Men 31 Multiple Errors: double cover and inner cover miswrapped 1" to left

X-Men 34

X-Men 35  Spider-Man crossover

X-Men 38 Origins of the X-Men begin.

X-Men 40

X-Men 41

X-Men 48

X-Men 59  This is a truly unique book.  The second cover is attached at the centerfold.

X-Men 71

X-Men 80 Pence Version but still Issue 80.

X-Men 81

X-Men 94  This is one of three copies that I have seen.  The first copy I bought on ebay but it was lost by the post office.  I will have to tell the whole story in another blog.  The third copy is a lower grade copy with a torn inner cover.  The first copy also contains a Mark Jewelers insert so it is quite possibly the heaviest X-Men 94 ever manufactured.  The second picture is of the one with the torn inner cover.  The last picture is the book back from CGC.

X-Men 95

X-Men 99  This is a book from ebay seller Oregonglassman.  It points out the dangers of buying raw double covers on ebay.  Married cover.

X-Men 100  This is a truly spectacular book.  It is a high-grade double cover of the 30 cent price variant.

X-Men 102  Origin Storm

X-Men 105  Firelord

X-Men 106  Old vs. New X-Men

X-Men 108

X-Men 113

X-Men 117

X-Men 118

X-Men 127  This old-label CGC-holdered X-Men book is as perfect as you can get a double cover.  Both covers are 9.8 and the Page Quality is White.

X-Men 129 signed by John Byrne

X-Men 139  Kitty Pryde joins the X-Men

X-Men 141  This is a Pence Double Cover

X-Men 142  There is also a CGC 9.6 of this one, but the price has never been right for me.  Double covers are so rare, I am very happy with this key Days of Future Past issue.

X-Men 142  This is truly a phenomenal book.  The interior cover is severely miswrapped and miscut and extends past the top of the book.  It is a wonder that it made it to a shop.

X-Men 143

X-Men 148

X-Men 149

X-Men 150  Yes, this is a double-sized anniversary issue with a double cover.

X-Men 158

X-Men 169 This one turned out really nice.

X-Men 174

X-Men 188

X-Men 193

X-Men 199

X-Men 202  Issue 202 is easily the most common double cover in the entire series.  Here are a couple of high grade copies.

X-Men 205

X-Men 207

X-Men 208

X-Men 212

X-Men 227

X-Men 234

X-Men 238

X-Men 249 This book was manufactured with two interiors.  It is a double interior book, not a double cover book.  Manufacturing Error.

X-Men 250  I have had two of these books - both with "Mark's Jewelers" Inserts

X-Men 251   I have also had two of these books - both also with "Mark's Jewelers" Inserts

X-Men 257

X-Men 258

X-men 262

X-Men 271 This is a severely miswrapped book.  Where is the quality control?

X-Men 272  This is a manufacturing error.  This book has the cover of Issue 272 but the interior of the second printing of issue of 270.  Quality Control?

X-Men 279

X-Men 283  First full Bishop.

X-Men 284  TRIPLE COVER!!!

X-Men 295 Multiple errors:  Interior is bound at an angle and 1 inch to left of a normal spine.  The staples are attached on the front and not on the spine.  The book is folded 1 inch away from normal.

X-Men 299 This is a strange double cover book with the inner cover miswrapped and miscut and severely rotated 15 degrees.

X-Men 440  The outtter cover is attached 1" higher with the bottom margin visible.

X-Men 447  The cover and first four wraps are bound too high, leaving margins and color bars visible; center four wraps not properly trimmed at top, comic not properly trimmed overall, leaving book approximately 1/4" inch taller than normal.

Giant-Size X-Men 2  This is a fantastic book and is manufactured with double interior and signed by Neal Adams.

X-Men Annual 9

X-Men Annual 14

X-Men 10

X-Men 11 Pressman  This is a stunning example of the rare Pressman variant.

X-Men (2nd Series) 160

X-Men Alpha 1  Wraparound chromium cover: the outer cover is not attached.

New X-Men 150

X-Men Unlimited 41

X-Men Unlimited 46

Ultimate X-Man 34  Ultimate is correct as this is the only CGC 9.9 double cover in the collection.

Ultimate X-Men 61

X-Factor 10

X-Factor 78

Avengers 148

Enough of Iron Fist mania and back to our regularly scheduled programming. 

Avengers 148 opens with the Squadron Supreme meeting up in their rocket central in space over the other-earth planning their attack on the Avengers who are on the other-earth and possess President Rockefeller's Serpent Crown.  The Squadron Supreme uses their eye in the sky to find the Avengers and the battle is on. 

Here is the order of battle. 
The Beast is telling Hellcat that he calls her Patsy because he knows that she is Patsy Walker.  Cap'n Hawk attacks and goes after Hellcat.  It doesn't say much about Cap'n Hawk's manhood or smarts that he would attack Patsy rather than the Beast in a surprise attack, but he WHAM!s her and he misses. 

The Beast WOP!s Cap'n Hawk but then gets ZAK!ed by Tom Thumb. 

Then Amphibian tries to sneak up on Hellfire but he gives her the opportunity to surrender becauses it is not his habit to harm the weaker sex.  Hellfire TOK!s him and Amphibian KRASH!s into a storefront. 

Page 7 contains comic book buy and sell advertising from Comic Sales Company, Black Gold Comics, International Comics Exchange, and Max Seeley.  Also, on this page you can mail a coupon and 10 cents to Charles Atlas and get his book on how to build an Atlas Body in 7 Days.

Tom Thumb sneaks his micromodule behind Hellfire and SPLOOD!s (covers) her with paste.  Yes, I know that doesn't read real well - Tom Thumb using his micromodule to cover Hellfire with paste.  Where is Fred Werthem when you need him?

The Beast then KBAM!s Tom Thumb's micromodule and BONK!s Tom Thumb on the head.

Page 12 is advertising for Comic Book Savers which is a notebook to hold 12 Titanic Titles.  It came with a full page of comic book character stickers.  If anyone has one of these, particularly with stickers and a box, let me know.  This would be a really cool thing to store a few variants in.

Then the Beast K-RASHS! Cap'n Hawk.

A short break in the battle teases us with Thor flying over the Avengers homeworld being questioned by Moondragon as to why Thor remains an Avenger.  Thor tells her "Silence Woman!" and we are told that we will learn more next month.

The Whizzer WHOOM!s Captain America and Iron Man by streaking past them.

Then Dr. Spectrum KLANG!s Iron Man and the Whizzer POW!s Captain America.

Then the Whizzer runs circles around Captain America and creates some kind of super vortex that causes Cap to CHUNK! to the ground. 

Captain America gets up and throws his shield at the Whizzer but the Whizzer vibrates at superspeed and the shield passes harmless through him.  The Whizzer BAM!s Cap on the chest but then is surprised when Cap's shield boomerangs and FWAM!s him on the back of the head.

Page 18 is the Mighty Marvel Checklist and all the pictured issues are the regular issues rather than variant ones.

Page 19 is the Avengers Assemble letters page with four fan letters.  One is from Peter Sanderson, a student at Columbia University.  Another is from Jo Duffy, a student at Wellesley. 

Page 20 is an advertising page and includes buy and sell comic advertising from Robert Bell, Pacific Comics, Richard Alf, Comic Kingdom, Grand Book, Inc.

When we rejoin the story, Dr. Spectrum notices that Cap has taken the Whiz (sorry, couldn't resist) and inadvertantly loosens his grip on Iron Man which allows Iorn Man to wriggle free and activate the "ultra-violet beam which nullifies Dr. Spectrum's gem by going beyond the range of its spectrum."  No, I am not making this stuff up and this happened before inIron Man 64.

After dispatching the Squadron Supreme, the Avengers meet up and decide they must escape the Other-World but not before they do what they can to save it.

Meanwhile, back on earth Mrs. Pym and Yellowjacket are getting released from the hospital.  Dr. Horrigan pronounces them "fit as fiddles," but Yellowjacket is unsure if he will join the Wasp who is going back to the Avengers.

Page 23 is another advertising page with comic advertising from David Belmont, Jack Hunt, Passaic Book Center and some unnamed person in Santee CA.

The Squadron Supreme meets up with President Rockefeller at the White House to tell them that they have failed.  President Rockefeller confesses that he and the other corporate and conglomerate executives have taken over control of the county which disturbs the Squadron Supreme until they realize that President Rockefeller is really the Beast in disguise.  The Beast escapes after telling them the truth and the Golden Archer shoots an arrow at the Beast which THUNK!s into the ground.

The Beast escapes to another room in the White House where the rest of the Avengers have President Rockefeller tied upin a bondage panel in just his boxers and sock garters.  I'll leave that one to your imagination or you can read it yourself.

Page 28 is the Mavel BullPen Bulletins page which include Stan Lee's Soapbox where Stan the Man is pitching the Marvel-Con at NYs Hotel Commodore on April 23, 24, and 25th.  I didn't make that one.  Also on this page, the bullpen explains what "those little boxes in the left-hand corner of all our mags on sale this month are...The box is called "The Universal Product Code" (U.P.C for short), and this has been put on everything from comics to containers, from magazines to matchboxes, in order to sell the product in all stores.  Fact is, you've probably already seen this on all other comics, and now Marvel has it too."  Yes, this is the first month that the U.P.C. was printed on the cover, and apparently for once, Marvel conceded that it was second to DC.

The Squadron Supreme rush the Avengers but the Scarlet Witch steps forward and casts a spell which creates some gigantic plant that entangles all of the Squadron.  The Avengers have deduced that the President must have a portal to Earth inside the White House and they find the portal and escape through it.

The Squadron Supreme escape the plant and just as they are about to chase the Avengers through the portal they see President Rockefeller in bondage and begin to wonder if what the Beast told them was true.  They decide to stay on their planet and we are ready for the Grand Finale in Issue 149.

The only NM- issues that have come up in the last couple of years have been two sales of CGC 9.2s for $75 in 2008 and $125 in 2009.  The CGC census shows one 9.8, two 9.6s, and three 9.4s.

Rarest Bronze-Age Marvel Variants

I have had several questions from folks wanting to know which are the rarest bronze age marvel variants.  The rarity index that the Variant Mafia posted up on stlcomics.com is still a good guide.  Generally, horror, war, and westerns and the superhero reprints are all "scarce as hen's teeth."

Rarity in comic books is usually measured using a scale developed by Ernst Gerber and published in his Photo-Journal Guide To Comics volumes. 

Gerber's scale  is as follows:
(1) Very Common (new comics)
(2) Common (80's books)
(3) More Than Average (70's, some 60's)
(4) Average Scarcity (1,000-2,000 existing copies)
(5) Less Than Average (200-1,000 existing copies)
(6) Uncommon (50-200 existing copies)
(7) Scarce (21-50 known copies)
(8) Rare (11-20 known copies)
(9) Very Rare (6-10 known copies)
(10) Unique (less than 5 known copies)
(11) Nonexistent (but known to have been printed)


So using Gerber's Scale, here are the scarcest books.

35 cents
Gerber 10
Flintstones 1 (2 known copies)
Scooby 1
Kid Colt 218
Kid Colt 219
Kid Colt 220
Rawhide Kid 140
Rawhide Kid 141
Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos 141
Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos 142

Gerber 9
There are too many titles to list here but most of the superhero reprint books and horror books fit in this category.  In fact, there are several reprint books like Marvel Triple Action 36 which could be included in the Gerber 10 category. 

The Iron Fist 14 price variant has been known almost since the day it hit the shelves and was soon after a wall-book and still it is a Gerber 6 or Gerber 7 with only 24 certified copies.

In fact, the Star Wars 1 (because of its huge print run and popularity) is the only for certain Gerber 6 35 cent price variant.  Of course, the collector demand for the book is also at the top of the chart.

30 Cents
Gerber 9
Kid Colt 208 (eight known copies)
Weird Wonder Tales 15 (ten known copies)

Gerber 8
Kid Colt 205
Kid Colt 206
Kid Colt 207
Kid Colt 209
Mighty Marvel Western 45
Rawhide Kid 133
Rawhide Kid 134
Ringo Kid 27
Ringo Kid 28
Two-Gun Kid 129
Two-Gun Kid 130
Two-Gun Kid 131


Gerber 7/8 (less than 30 copies)
Chamber of Chills 22
Chamber of Chills 23
Jungle Action 22
Jungle Action 23
Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos 133
Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos 134
Tomb of Darkness 20
Tomb of Darkness 21
Weird Wonder Tales 16
Weird Wonder Tales 17

A couple of additional notes are in order.
    
1.  Gerber never assigned an 11 to a book.  I guess it is a bit like the old riddle about if a tree falling in a forest makes a sound if no one is there to hear it.  I kind of think it would be cool for Marvel to print a comic and immediately destroy every copy so that we could say that the comic was a Gerber 11.  Of course, there have been some comics that should have been immediately destroyed but that is another story and is also why we still have Squirrel Girl around.  Yes, her superpower is that she can talk to squirrels.  I don't feel the need to pain you with any puns.

    2.  While we have a good idea of the number of known copies, it is very difficult to try and predict the number of bronze age marvel variants hiding unknown in closets, basements, attics, and garages.  I suppose it is possible that one day a warehouse with long boxes filled with bronze age marvel variants might be found.  However, the exact print runs of the price variants are unknown but very small.  Sales of the western, war, and horror books, particularly reprints, was very poor and most collectors did not collect them so I think most were returned or read and thrown out. For several years the price variants have had enough collector interest to bring strong bids and still the money has not been able to chase out a bunch of copies.  If the past 10 years are any indication, I speculate that at most two or at three times the current number of known books will be found over the next 10 to 20 years which means that the western, war, and Hanna-Barbara books will still be Gerber 9 and 10s.

Finally, I am very interested in the census of these books.  If you have any additional information or corrections, please drop me a line. 
 
Thanks.

Iron Fist 14 Redux Part 2

CGC forumite Keldog sent me an email reminding me of a recent CGC forum thread about a BOGUS Iron Fist 14 sale.  In October of last year, a scammer from Aussie listed on ebay a CGC 9.4 Iron Fist 14.  He did not mention in the listing that the book was the variant issue, but used a scan of the lone CGC 9.4 book in the listing.

Interestingly, the auction ended at $6100 despite the fact that the listing looked so fishy.  Since the book was not described as a variant, many variant collectors missed the listing and others simply ignored the listing because it had scam written all over it.

Anyway, it appears that ebay scuttled the auction which hopefully means that the buyer didn't get burned.  If the true owner of the 9.4 Iron Fist 14 variant does want to sell (trust me, he knows the difference between the variant and the non-variant issue), I will gladly pay $6100 for it.

If you would like to read the CGC forum thread discussing this book, you will find it here CGC discussion of bogus Iron Fist sale.

Iron Fist 14 Redux

Bill, a variant sent me an email about an Iron Fist 14 35 cent variant that sold last year at Pedigree Comics. 

He wrote, "An IF #14 CGC 2.5 Variant sold for $575.00 on pedigreecomics last year as seen on GPA. That sale represents the most multipules of guide in grade that an IF 14 Variant has ever sold for."
I checked Overstreet's 37th edition which lists the regular edition at $13 in Good (2.0) and the price variant at $50 in Good.  (I don't have the current guide since they are not particularly helpful when it comes to price variants.)  So $575 is over 11 times the guide price.


I appreciate Bill sending me the note and would add two additional points. 
    
     1.  The Overstreet guide is simply not useful as a price guide for bronze age price variants.  The reality is that there is NO GPA (and GPA goes back to 2002) sale of an Iron Fist 14 at less than the Overstreet Price Guide.  The books have always sold at multiples of guide.  Always. 
     2.  One really neat thing about the marvel bronze age price variants is that they are rare enough that most variant collectors are happy to collect the books as long as they are complete.  I don't think there are many Iron Fist collectors that are going to be interested in a regular edition 14 in Good condition and if you offered one for sale at the Overstreet Price Guide price of $13, it will not sell.  If you list a 35 cent price variant at the Overstreet Price Guide of $50, it will sell immediately.

June 2010 Variant Sales

June was a big month for variant sales, highlighted by a nice mini-hoard from ebay seller zillaf4 .  The zilla books are highlighted in dark blue and my experience has been that they are accurately graded.  This is the most complete list of varinant sales for June 2010 that you will find anywhere.

1.  Amazing Adventures 36 (F-) $12.162.
2.  Amazing Adventures 36 (F) $16.99
3.  Amazing Adventures 37 (VG/F) $7.49
4.  Amazing Spider-Man 155 (F) $43.03
5.  Avengers 146 (VG-) $11.99
6.  Avengers 148 (CGC 8.5) $65.00
7.  Avengers 161 (CGC 8.0) $124.99
8.  Conan the Barbarian 62 (VG) $8.28
9.   Conan the Barbarian 63 (VG) $8.17
10. Conan the Barbarian 64 (F) $26.00
11. Conan the Barbarian 65 (F) $26.00
12. Doctor Strange 14 (VG/F) $18.50
13. Doctor Strange 15 (VG/F) $18.50
14. Doctor Strange 16 (VG+) $20.01
15. Doctor Strange 17 (G) $10.49
16. Eternals 2 (CGC 7.5) $18.00
17. Ghost Rider 17 (F-) $32.51
18. Ghost Rider 18 (F-) $20.17
19. Ghost Rider 19 (F) $20.28
20. Ghost Rider 19 (CGC 8.0) $78.00
21. Godzilla 2 (CGC 9.0) $225.00
22. Howard the Duck 4 (F) $15.00
23. Human Fly 2 (VF) $131.29
24. Incredible Hulk 201 (VG/F) $19.99
25. Inhumans 11 (VF+) $46.09
26. Iron Fist 4 (CGC 9.6) $285.00
27. Iron Fist 6 (VG/F) $9.99
28. Iron Man 85 (CGC 9.6) $415.00
29. Iron Man 100 (VG+) $41.09
30. Jungle Action 22 (F) $26.99
31. Ka-Zar 15 (F-) $17.50
32. Ka-Zar 17 (VG/F) $15.50
33. Kull the Destroyer 16 (F) $10.28
34. Marvel Adventures 4 (NM-) $49.99
35. Marvel Chillers 4 (VG/F) $6.78
36. Marvel Chillers 5 (VG) $6.60
37. Marvel Chillers 6 (VG+) $7.39
38. Marvel Double Feature 16 (VF) $19.99
39. Marvel Double Feature 17 (F) $9.99
40. Marvel Feature 4 (VG/F) $16.49
41. Marvel Feature 4 $29.99
42. Marvel Feature 4 (VF/NM) $49.99
43. Marvel Feature 4 (CGC 8.0) $83.00
44. Marvel Feature 5 (VG+) $17.49
45. Marvel Premiere 31 (F+) $26.00
46. Marvel Super-Heroes 57 (F) $36.01
47. Marvel Super-Heroes 58 (F) $41.01
48. Marvel Tales 70 (G) $5.59
49. Marvel Tales 71 (G) $1.00
50. Marvel Tales 80 (F) $73.28
51. Marvel Team-Up 45 (F-) $20.50
52. Marvel Team-Up 59 (F) $43.59
53. Marvel Two-In-One 16 (VG/F) $15.50
54. Marvel Two-In-One 16 (G) $1.00
55. Marvel's Greatest Comics 63 (VG-) $1.45
56. Omega the Unknown 2 (F+) $8.39
57. Omega the Unknown 3 (VG-) $5.50
58. Powerman 32 (VG) $5.59
59. Powerman 33 (F) $38.99
60. Powerman 34 (G) $3.28
61. Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos 133 (VG/F) $51.99
62. Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos 134 (VG/F) $30.99
63. Skull the Slayer 5 (VG/F) $11.95
64. Skull the Slayer 6 (F-) $10.17
65. Skull the Slayer 6 (PGX 6.0) $22.50
66. Son of Satan 3 (VG/F) $12.28
67. Son of Satan 4 (F) $16.16
68. Son of Satan 4 (G) $1.00
69. Son of Satan 5 (F+) $26.35
70. Spectacular Spider-Man 8 (F) $49.00
71. Star Wars 1 (CGC 6.5) $750.00
72. Star Wars 1 (CGC 8.5) $2,200.00
73. Star Wars 3 (CGC 8.0) $898.88
74. Strange Tales 186 (VG+) $18.51
75. Tomb of Dracula 17 (VG/F) $30.99
76. Tomb of Dracula 43 9VG) $17.17
77. Tomb of Dracula 44 (VG/F) $26.99
78. Tomb of Dracula 45 (F-)$32.99
79. Tomb of Dracula 46 (F-) $31.00
80. Warlock 13 (CGC 9.4) $143.51
81. Werewolf by Night 39 (VG+) $52.99
82. X-Men 98 (CGC 9.2) $500.00
83. X-Men 99 (9.2??) $269.00
84. X-Men 99 (CGC 9.0) $295.00
85. X-Men 99 (CGC 6.5) $103.00
86. X-Men (old red label) 99 (CGC 9.0) $440.00
87. X-Men 100 9CGC 6.5) $165.00
88. X-Men 105 (CGC 8.50 $799.01

Iron Fist 14 in CGC 9.2 brings $4625

One of only three Iron Fist 14 certified by CGC in 9.2 was sold by ComicLink for $4625 in an exchange (as opposed to auction) transaction.  This is truly an important book and there is still only one book graded higher at 9.4.  The last sale of a 9.2 was in October of 2008 for $4100.  Regular issue 9.2s of this issue sell for about $250 or 1/20th of the price variant amount.  Here is an interesting back of the napkin calculation - regular issue 9.8s sell for around $2000 so if a 9.8 Iron Fist 14 price variant issue is ever found would it go for $40,000.  What do you think?

Two four-figure sales of Iron Fist books in one month begs the question of which price variant issues have broken four figures.  There will be others but only if and when the books are ever found and if and when they come up for auction, particularly high-grade mainline titles like Spidey and X-Men and the exceptionally rare war, western, horror and Hanna Barbara books.  Here is the list of the ones I know of including some near four figure books.  This is a list you won't find anywhere else.  If you know of another transaction that I need to add to the list, please let me know.

Amazing Spider-Man 155 CGC 9.8      $950.00
Amazing Spider-Man 171 CGC 9.6   $1,150.00
Incredible Hulk 200 CGC 9.8            $1,434.00
Iron Fist 5 CGC 9.8                           $1034.00
Iron Fist 14 CGC 9.4                        $5,100.00 (and fifteen other four-figure sales)
Kid Colt ebay raw                                $800.00 +
Kid Colt ebay raw                                $800.00 +
Kid Colt 220 CGC 9                            $925.00
Kid Colt 208 CGC 8                            $800.00
Kid Colt Outlaw 219 CGC 5.5             $799.00
Rawhide Kid 141 CGC 5.5                  $786.00
Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos 141 CGC 7     $999.00
Star Wars 1 CGC 9.6                      $26,250.00 (and thirty other four-figure sales)
Star Wars 2 CGC 9.4                        $2,700.00 (and five other four-figure sales)
Star Wars 3 CGC 9.2                        $1,950.00 (one of two four-figure sales)
Star Wars 4 CGC 9.6                        $2,151.00 (one of two four-figure sales)
X-Men 98 CGC 9.6                          $1,875.00 (one of three four-figure sales)
X-Men 99 CGC 9.2                             $975.00
X-Men 100 CGC 9.4                        $1,825.00 (one of two four-figure sales)
X-Men 105 CGC 9.2                        $1,026.00 (one of two four figure sales)
X-Men 107 CGC 9.2                           $910.00

ComicLink June Auction highlighted by Iron Fist 5 CGC 9.8 for $1037

To make a long story short, it has been a couple of weeks since I have posted.  I upgraded my computer but between traveling and trying to get the new computer reloaded and back up to speed, it seems like I have taken a two week sabbatical.

Speaking of long stories, as opposed to short ones, Charles Dickens" A Tale of Two Cities opens with the line 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times".  That kind of describes the June ComicLink auction.

There were three nice thirty cent price variants in the auction. 

Amazing Spider-Man 157 in CGC 9.4 sold for $103.  That price is a bargain for a 2nd highest graded Spider-Man issue with only 5 higher graded copies.  In fact, in the last three years, GPA only records one other sale of a 9.4 book.  $675 in March of this year.  I suspect that the Cream to Off-White page quality affected the price. but I also think that many times price variants get lost in the focused ComicLink auctions.  Unless a collector looks closely, the price variant books can get lost in sea of 9.8 graded bronze.  Anyway, CGC Registry set points don't distinguish on page quality and page quality is the most inconsistent CGC metric.  Still, I like my bronze-age books to have Off-White to White or better page quality but I will settle for less on price variants.  In fact, I would take a brittle Flintstones 1 35 cent price variant in a second.

The next price variant in the auction was an old label Howard the Duck 3 which has been passed around more than a bottle of Mescal Tequila (yes, the one with the worm) at a frat party.  I think this book has changed hands at least three times in the past twelve months.  It is commonly believed that the old label books are more conservatively graded than more recently graded books.  I have not found this to be particularly true and I am guessing that maybe this book is getting passed around in hopes that someone will crack it out and resubmit it to try and get that elusive 9.8.  There have been twelve HTD 3s that have been graded 9.6 but no 9.8s.  Howard the Duck 3 and Eternals 1 are the most common 30 cent variants, particularly in high grade.  However, if a 9.8 ever shows up at auction, it is going to go real high.  Alas, this copy of an apparently unimprovable 9.6 went for 9.4 money and sold for an absolute bargain price of $43. 

The highlight of the auction, or any auction for that matter, was the sale of a CGC 9.8 Iron Fist 5 with white pages and a full starburst.  The series ran for only 15 issues but there are six price variant issues.   Price variants don't come much nicer than this one and there are more than a few bronze age Iron Fist collectors, so when a book like this one comes up at auction you can throw the price guides in the trash. This book brought a hammer price of $1037 and joins the growing list of price variant issues to achieve a four figure price. 

Avengers 147

After a two issue detour, Avengers returns to the Squadron Supreme Saga in Issue 147.  The story picks up with both teams transported to the Squadron's world.  The two teams face off and Patsy Walker who found the discarded costume of the Cat faces off with Hyperion.  The Vision takes on Lady Lark.  The Golden Archer ends up with Captain America.  The Scarlet Witch faces Dr. Spectrum and we have a battle royal. 

Vision notices that while they are fighting, Army helicopters, tanks and troops surround them.  They are back on the alternative Earth and the out of the last chopper comes President Nelson Rockefeller wearing the Serpent Crown on his head.  The Serpent Crown contains an ancient evil intelligence.  The Vision decides it is best to disappear and then he reappears to snatch the crown off the head of the President and toss it to the Scarlet Witch.

We then learn that the Secret of the Serpent Crown. "It and its twin on our Earth, and all the others scattered throughout the myriad realms of reality - are all mere infestations of a single serpentine nethermind, older than antiquity!  The are numberless, and they are one - and each and every human being who places one on his head becomes its slave for forever, in contact with all the others."  President Rockefeller contacts Hugh Jones who wore the crown on our Earth.  In the meantime, the Avengers are hiding out on the alternative world and the Scarlet Witch somehow has been exploring the crown without wearing it and discovers that all the heads of the major conglomerates on the alternative Earth have worn the helmet.  The effort exhausts her and she collapses.

Next we meet Thor, Hawkeye, Moondragon and Two-Gun Kid who has time-traveled 100 years to meet the Avengers in the Arizona desert.  I am not sure if they were legal or illegal aliens, but it is 1976, so it doesn't matter.  Hawkeye leaves the Avengers (to be seen again with Two-Gun Kid in Marvel Spotlight) to go with Two-Gun to hunt wild broncos.

The story returns to the alternative world where the Scarlet Witch has been taken over by the Serpent Crown and attacks her husband, the Vision.  The Vision chases after her after she decides to return the crown to the President.  The Scarlet Witch runs into the Squadron Supreme and is grabbed by Hyperion.  The Vision yells "Unhand her, Hyperion - Now!!"  Hyperion refuses and the Vision starts to kick some Squadron Supreme tail.   First he BWAMs Hyperion.  Then the Golden Archer shoots a Detonation Arrow at Vision which passes through him.  Then Lady Lark tries her Larksong but the Vision blasts her with solar energy forn his eyes which must have singed a few feathers.  The Golden Archer fires a Ultra Sonic Siren Arrow at the Vision and Hyperion "Crumps" him with a light pole.  Meanwhile, unnoticed, the Scarlet Witch is doing battle with the Crown.  Finally, the Vision takes out Hyperion and just when Lady Lark is about to take out Vision, Lady Lark is silenced by the ... Scarlet Witch.  Apparently the Scarlet Witch's mutant soul was able to overcome the horrible mental onslaught of the Serpent Crown or maybe it was her love for the Vision. 

Anyway, the Vision takes the Crown thinking that it won't be able to attack his Computer Mind and if he is mistaken, he too will be saved by love.  If I am Nelson Rockefeller, I think I would be a little upset that I didn't have enough love to overcome the power of the Serpent Crown.

CGC has only certified nine copies of this price variant issue.  The condition census is one 9.4, three 9.0s and two 8.5s.  The last 9.0 sold in August of 2008 for $150.

Avengers 146

We review the ever-popular Avengers 30 cent variant issues next. There are five Avengers 30 cent variant issues 146 - 150. "Heed the call, then - for now, the Avengers Assemble!

Issue 146 is the second of a two-parter begun in issue 145.  These two issues are the Assassin stories which either came before or after the Squadron Supreme/Kang saga.  The Assassin has been offered ONE BILLION DOLLARS for the destruction of the Avengers.  The Scarlet Witch is worried about Captain America dying as a result of an unknown weapon from an unknown assailant.  The Beast lets us know that "Reed Richards is working on the theory that Cap was put away by a new form of Radiation Poisoning." 

We cut to the Assassins agents gloating that "the Plan is working to perfection!  The Avengers are so concerned about Captain America that they've left their own defenses down." 

Chapter Two begins with Cap on the operating table where Dr. Don Blake is placing the counter-radiation capsules inside Cap.  Since Dr. Don is operating, Iron Man is making sure the LMD (Life Model Decoy) of Thor (we can't have people discovering the connection between Thor and Dr. Don) is working.  A nurse approaches Iron Man, Hawkeye, and he Vision with some coffee.  She thoughtfully provides Iron Man a straw so that he doesn't have to remove his mask.  Unbeknownst to the Avengers, the nurse has drugged the coffee and just when they realize the coffee has been drugged, the "B" Squad of the Assassin's Agents attacks.  Hawkeye collapses from the poisoned coffee first.  Then Iron Man is gassed before he can operate his eye-and-mouth shields.  The agents then turn their attention to Thor (actually Thor's LMD) and shoot him in the back where the LMD drops like a sack of bricks.  The Agents ask themselves "Can we have slain a God?  Dr. Don continues to operate on Cap while the Vision fights on against a seemingly endless supply of enemy agents.  The vision has turned himself diamond hard (this is before the days of Viagra, when anyone can do it) and the Assassin appears and slaps something on the Visions back which prevents him from controlling his body and the Vision collapses.  The Assassin lets us know that the drug he has poisoned the Avengers with produces unconsiousness and then when it reaches their hearts - instantaneous death.  The assassin receives a report form agent B-12 (also a good name for a vitamin) that they have killed Thor.  He goes to check and realizes that the agents have just killed a robot and that Dr Donald Blake is Thor and that while "Thor is immortal -- Dr. Blake can die and since only Blake has the ability to save Captain America, with one bullet - I kill two Avengers!"

Chapter 3 begins with the hand holding the gun secretly pointed at Dr. Black being speared with one of Hawkeye's arrows.  Apparently Hawkeye "spilled his cookies" before the poison reached his heart and of course Iron Man has a synthetic heart which the poison apparently did not work on.  Hawkeye and Iron Man then removed the device from the back of the Vision.  The Assassin gets the drop on Hawkeye and keeps Iron Man and the Vision at bay with a gun pointed at Hawkeye's head.  Dr. Blake surprises the Assassin from behind and the Vision transforms the Assassin's weapon to a useless piece of slag.  Then Iron Man used his repulsor rays to rip the costume off the Assassin - where the Avengers find that the Assassin is actually the Nurse who poisned them.  Paging Michael Turner to draw this page.  Please.  Pretty please...  The nurse has a special gas bomb hidden in the back of her tattered dress which she hurls at the Avengers to cover her retreat.  She escapes but realizes that she doesn't have her radio to call her Agents to her aid.  As she approaches the first two Agents, they do not recognize her as the Assassin and fearing that something is wrong and that they have been spotted, they blast her to her death.  The Avengers then mop up all the Agents.

Issue 146 is particularly hard to find in high-grade.  The cover is primarily black including the spine and both the top and bottom corners.  Only three copies of the regular issue have been graded at 9.8, the last sale of a 9.8 in July 2008 for $432.  Only twelve copies of the 30 cent price variant have been certified in all grades with one 9.4, one 9.2, two 9.0s and two 8.0s comprising the condition census.   One 9.0 sold in June 2009 for $103. 

Interestingly, the first page of the issue contains the offer of a special bullpen bonus: an autographed NO PRIZE for the true believer who can tell exactly where this two-part tale falls in the Avengers Continuity. I don't know who won the NO-PRIZE, but for questions about Avengers Continuity, you should go here http://www.whiterocketbooks.com/avengers/avchron2.txt

May ComicLink Sales

Here are the highlights for the May ComicLink sales. Since ComicLink does not currently report its sales to GPA, this information is important. As far as I can tell, six books were sold on ComicLink in May, three at auction and three by direct listing and in my opinion all six were bargains. ComicLink has always been a surprisingly good venue for variant collectors. The quality of all six of these books is definately Tier One with all six at or close to the top of the Condition Census (highest five graded books).

Iron Fist 14 9.2 OW/W (only 1 9.4 higher) $4625

Iron Man 102 9.0 OW/W (highest graded) $170

Star Wars 1 9.4 White (only one 9.6 higher) $4644 (a reserve might have been in order on this one, because this price is lower than GPA for 9.2s)

X-Men 99 9.2 OW/W (only two 9.4s higher) $825

Captain America 210 9.4 W (single highest graded) $275

Fantastic Four 185 9.6 W (single highest graded) $190

The last two books were in the May auction along with the Star Wars 1. I was traveling and some of the other variant collectors must have missed the auction because those books were bargains.

Ebay variant results May 2010

Here are the ebay auction results for May 2010

1. Marvel Super Action 3 (listed as VF) $50
2. Son of Satan 3 (listed as VG/F) $10.50
3. Son of Satan 4 (listed as F-) $10.50
4. Eternals 14 (listed as VF/NM) $112.50
5. Howard the Duck 13 (listed as VF/NM) 199.95
6. Thor 249 (VG+), Doctor Strange 14 (F int. writing), Marvel Adventure 4 (F--), Omega 3 (F-) $54.95
7. Howard the Duck 3 (8.0 - 9.2???) $5.13
8. Marvel Double Feature 16 $10.50
9. Marvel Two-In-One 16 (9.0) $9.00
10. Daredevil 136 (F+) $12.49
11. Daredevil 135 (VF) $18.50
12. Daredevil 134 (F+) $36
13. Marvel Team-Up 44 (VG/F) & 48 (F) $31.69
14. Marvel Super Action 3 (VF) $99.99
15. Marvel Premiere 30 (VG/F) $12.99
16. Invaders 7 (VG) $10.50
17. Invaders 6 (VG/F) $12.99
18. Champions 7 (F/F+) $12.99
19. Champions 6 (G/VG) $6.99
20. Champions 5 (F) $12.99
21. Amazing Spider-Man 155 (VG) $30
22. Champions 7 (G/VG) $6.99
23. Amazing Spider-Man 157 (VF-) $46.69
24. Super-Villain Team-Up 7 (F) $15.99
25. Champions 15 (G) $27.09
26. Ms. Marvel 6 (VG/FN) $31.99
27. Ms. Marvel 10 (VG/FN) $67
28. Ms. Marvel 9 (VG/FN) $67
29. Ms. Marvel 8 (VG/FN) $67
30. Ms. Marvel 6 (VG/FN) $67
31. Star Wars 2 (VF) $481.28
32. Star Wars 1 CGC 8.5 (old label) $2200
33. Kull 16 (FN+) $8
34. Doctor Strange 17 (VF) $8.50
35. Omega the Unknown PGX 5.0 $9.99
36. Doctor Strange 15 (VF+) $10.50
37. Doctor Strange 15 (VF+) $15.50
38. Amazing Spider-Man 155 (VG) 17.59
39. Doctor Strange 16 (VF/NM) $24.72
40. Amazing Adventures 36 (VF) $25
41. Eternals 1 (VF/NM) $29.99
42. Amazing Spider-Man 156 (VG) $30.99
43. Marvel Two-In-One 15 (VF) $32
44. Avengers 148 CGC 8.5 C/OW $65
45. Fantastic Four 169 and 170 (VF) $69.99
46. Ghost Rider 19 CGC 8.0 $78
47. Marvel Feature 4 CGC 8.0 $83.05
48. X-Men 99 CGC 6.5 $102.50
48. X-Men 99 (NM) $480 and then again at $471

Here is the total list of April CGC sales from the GPAnalysis variant sales report
1 Incredible Hulk, The (1962-1999) No.202 (9.0) $80
2 Incredible Hulk, The (1962-1999) No.200 (8.0) $77
3 Incredible Hulk, The (1962-1999) No.199 (8.5) $63
4 Incredible Hulk, The (1962-1999) No.201 (9.0) $56
5 Marvel Two-In-One (1974-1983) No.18 (6.0) $45
6 Incredible Hulk, The (1962-1999) No.198 $31
7 Marvel Presents (1975-1977) No.4 (7.5) $20
8 Red Sonja (1977-1986) No.4 (9.4) $160
9 Incredible Hulk, The (1962-1999) No.212 (6.0) $76
10 Incredible Hulk, The (1962-1999) No.214 (7.5) $76
11 Incredible Hulk, The (1962-1999) No.216 (9.2) $71

Astonishing Tales 35 and 36

The sister publication to the first Amazing Adventures series, Astonishing Tales started in 1970 as double-sized double feature book with the odd pairing of Ka-Zar stories with Dr. Doom stories. This format ran for the first eight issues and I always liked Ka-Zar. Issues 9 - 20 feature Ka-Zar on his own so they are pretty good. The next four issues are complete crap. If you don't believe me, read them for yourself. You can probably find them lining some bird cage somewhere. I am certain that Marvel produced these stories about a stone giant, IT! The Living Colossus fighting Fin Fang Foom to make the next 12 issues really stand out. And stand out they do!

The last feature in Astonishing Tales is simply Bronze-Age greatness. Issue 25 introduces us to a new character named Deathlok. Created by artist Rich Buckler and written by Doug Moench, Deathlok is a unique, original hero. He is military strategist Col. Luther Manning, a conflicted cyborg of reanimated flesh and computer circuitry. Luther is Deathlok the Demolisher, no longer a man, but a weapon of war programmed solely for destruction. Deathlok is one of the most popular characters created in the bronze-age and the stories are about as far from the Spidey stories just reviewed as you can get. Issue 25 sells for over $1000 in high grade for two reasons - the introduction of Deathlok and the two page back-up story which is George Perez's first comic art.

It is kind of amazing, but this story arc stands the test of time and predates similar stories like Terminator and Robocop. It is set in the bombed-out ruins of Manhattan in the distant dystopian future year of 1990, yes 1990. Luther Manning is a soldier who died in 1985 and whose partially decayed body is made into a cyborg.

Major Simon Ryker wants to control the country after the bombing of Manhattan (this part will really hit you between the eyes, after 9-11). It is unclear if Major Ryker had anything to do with the bombing, but it is clear that he creates Deathlok for a purpose of controlling the country. Deathlok only want to break free from Ryker's control and kill Ryker for making him a cyborg.

In terms of the story, Deathlok is in Manhattan battling several enemies but wanting a war against Ryker. There is a fight between Deathlok and Ryker in a computer network, and of course this predates The Matrix movies. The war with Ryker finally occurs in the last two issues of Astonishing Tales, Issues 35 and 35, which also happen to be available as 30 cent price variants. How cool is that? Buckler's artwork is superb, just check the cover to issue 36.

Astonishing Tales was cancelled after issue 36. Marvel was struggling financially and wouldn't be rescued until Star Wars 1 came out one year later. Marvel Spotlight 33 contains the story that would have been Issue 37.

I am speculating that Buckler and Moench missed a deadline for Issue 29 because this issue is a Guardians of the Galazy fill-in.





CGC has certified 13 copies of the the issue 35 price variant with two copies in 9.6, two in 9.4, and two in 9.2. A 9.2 sold in 2002 for $65. GPA has no recorded sales of a higher graded copy.

CGC has only certified eight copies of the issue 35 price variant with two copies in 9.4, one in 9.2, and one in 9.0. The only record of a 9.4 sales was in February of 2006 for $104.


If you have not read the Deathlok stories, collecting the series is very expensive, especially in high-grade.  Fortunately Marvel has reprinted the stories in its Masterworks Hard Cover series.   For more information about this book go here  http://www.collectededitions.com/marvel/mm/deathlok/deathlok_mm01.html

Amazing Spider-Man 159

Issue 159 is the last of the 30 cent price variant issues. It is also one of my least favorite Spidey issues of all time. Except for a couple of interesting story interuptions, the issue is kind of weak. The first interlude gives us the answer to what has happened to Spidey's sunken car. Some mysterious hands are modifying it and we learn that, "Once I put this machine in action, Spider-Man will never bother anyone again!" The second interlude is another peek at J. Jonah and his exhasparation with his temporary secretaries. Forget what I said about Michael Turner drawing these ladies - Mrs. Plumm is very large and I don't think Turner could make her hot. But this is the only issue for Mrs. Plumm as she quits on J. Jonah, who is left to opine that "you just can't find good help anymore". Two issues since Betty Brant's marriage and two secretaries gone.

The story picks up where issue 158 left off. Hammerhead has been brought back to life. Spider-Man and Doc Ock attack Hammerhead and somehow Hammerhead survives this one-sided match-up when the three bang heads together and all three fall to the ground like Rocky and Appollo Creed.

At which point, Aunt May screams and then the SWAT team commences its assault with anasthetic bullets. Anasthetic bullets? Don't ask me. Dirty Harry is still laughing about this issue. At the same time another squad of commandos drops in from the roof. You can tell the commandos aren't part of the swat team because of the ridiculous costumes that they are wearing.

Spidey is the first to wake up, but he can't tie up Doc Ock and Hammerhead because he is attacked by the commandos and then the SWAT team attacks the commandos. Everyone is fighting everyone and Doc Ock huries to rescue Aunt May, which should be the job of Spidey or the SWAT team. But alas, Hammerhead captures her first with a gun pointed at her head and he and his goons escape in a helicopter.

For some reason, Hammerhead and his men return to their old but well-known hangout. Don't ask me why. But returning to his old hangout makes Hammerhead easy to find for Spidey and Doc Ock who attack the hangout. Dispatching the guards, the two sneak into the kitchen where Doc Ock takes out the cooks by pinning them to the wall with a bunch of precisely aimed knives. Spidey takes out two more guards with frying pans, which is symbolic of this cooked-up story.

Inside his office Hammerhead is offering Aunt May a shot of whiskey. Maybe he figures if he can get Aunt May looped, he could get lucky, which makes me really want to take back my comment about wishing that Michael Turner had drawn these issues. But I digress. Back to the office, Aunt May refuses the free drink offer from Hammerhead and is about to get rewarded with a slap across her face, when he is stopped by a serving cart loaded with two of his knocked out guards. Hammerhead sees Spidey and Doc Ock entering his square office and presses a button which opens up the walls to reveal more guards. But the guards skipped marksmanship class and Doc Ock dispatches the guards while Spidey hides Aunt May in a hole in the floor.

Hammerhead hits another hidden switch and the office starts spinning like it is on a giant record player. As the room spins a single window lines up with a hole in the outer brick wall and Hammerhead escapes on the first pass. The room is spinning faster which makes it more difficult for Doc Ock to time his jump and escape the room to chase after Hammerhead. Spider-Man starts throwing furniture into the hole in the floor to jam up the giant gears that propel the room. He manages to stop the room which allows the remaining guards to regain their weapons, but Spidey easily takes them out. Unfortunately, the turntable stopps spinning when the window didn't match up with the hole in the outer brick, which is pretty similar to my experience in Las Vegas.

The story resumes with Doc Ock finding Hammerhead. Hammerhead escapes in a weird helicopter. Doc Ock begins throwing trash cans at the helicopter and manages to find the range with the third one which brings the helicopter down in an explosion in the Hudson River.

Spider-Man rescues the unconscious Aunt May to the roof. Doc Ock demands that Spidey hand over Aunt May which of course Spidey refuses to do. The police arrive and Doc Ock retreats. Spider-Man lays Aunt May near a fire truck to be rescued and makes his escape.


CGC has certifed one 9.6, two 9.4s, three 9.2s and two 9.0s. They have certified a total of 23 issues in all grades. As usual, becuase high-grade sales are so infrequent, price information for high-grade copies is sketchy. GPA records only two sales of 9.0 or higher specimens in the last five years. Further clouding the issue is the fact that both sales were for the exact same 9.0 copy, first in August 2009 for $90 and again in February of this year for $159. The last sales record of a 9.4 was in 2005 for $300. The only sales record of a 9.2 was in 2004 for $150.

Amazing Spider-Man 158

If Amazing Spider-Man 157 is the easiest of the Amazing Spider-Man Bronze-Age Price Variants to find in high-grade, its successor, issue 158 is one of the hardest. The Comics Guaranty Corporation (CGC) has certified five issues in 9.4, five issues in 9.2and one in 9.0.

CGC is the third-party grading house most accepted by comic book collectors. CGC provides a really neat feature for collectors which is their comics registry. The comics registry is a database which allows collectors to enter information about their certified collections and compete on who has the best set. To measure how popular the Spidey is, there are currently 461 registry sets for the complete Amazing Spider-Man set. There are an additional 176 collectors with registry sets of issues 100 to 200 which include the price variant issues and eighty collectors with registry sets in the complete Amazing Spider-Man set plus variants category. You can see the problem with the marvel price variants, in a sea of competitive collectors, there is only a thimble full of certified copies of the price variant issues - 21 total of this issue. The competition for high-grade examples is fierce when one shows up at auction. There have been three high-grade copies sold in the past three years - yes, one per year. In October of 2008, a 9.4 sold for $420 which would be a bargain today. In August of 2008, a 9.2 sold for $190 which would also be a bargain today. The last high-grade book to sell was a 9.0 which sold in March of this year for $300.

Issue 158 picks up where 157 left off. Spider-man is falling from a mile in the sky after Doc Ock snipped his web-lines. Spider-man could use his web-shooters to make a parachute and glide to the ground, but this is the 1970's and he quickly fashions a hangglider out of webbing and manages to land in a dumpster after misjudging his flight path.

So we next meet Petey in his apartment where he is repairing his spidey costume and he is visited by Glory Grant - a good stripper name if ever there was one. Then Mary Jane comes in and tells Peter that Aunt May's place has been trashed. Peter gets a call from Robbie Robertson about an emergency assignment, so Peter slips on his costume beneath his clothes.

When he gets to work, he learns that J. Jonah is not happy with the hapless new temp who is replacing Betty Brant while she is on her honeymoon. He also learns from Robbie that the Daily Globe is raiding the Bugle for employees. He also hears that Doc Ock is holding at Aunt May at Brookhaven Labs.

Spidey rushes to the Labs where he finds Doc Ock working on some equipment and a SWAT team (1970s, remember) gathering for a hostage rescue. Spidey fights Doc Ock which breaks the equipment and then Hammerhead appears and Spidey helps Doc Ock put the equipment back together which Doc Ock thinks will destroy Hammerhead once and for all but Hammerhead knows will put him back in phase and give him his material body back and Spidey realizes what Hammerhead knows but is unable to stop Doc Ock from hitting the button and the issues ends with Hammerhead material again. Whew...We will have to wait for the conclusion in issue 159.

I love this bronze age stuff - but am left wondering what the parade of hapless secretaries would look like if these issues were drawn by Michael Turner - not to mention Glory Grant...

This Just In.... The Variant World is Going to Get a Lot More Interesting and Competitive

According to the Durango Herald newspaper, collecting marvel price variants is going to get a whole lot more interesting and competitive. Long-time comic book researcher and collector Jon McClure was commissioned by the 2010 Overstreet Price Guide to write a three page article on variants. Instead, in the price guide to be released in July, McClure wrote a 44 page article focused on variants from 1937 through the mid-1990's.

The article quotes one of the most important dealers Doug Sulipa, “The comic-collecting world does not yet know this article is coming,...Upon submission, this article was seen as so important by the Comic Guide editors that they cleared room, and most other articles, to make room. When the official announcement is made, I expect this will be the most important, must-have, most anticipated and bestselling guide in at least a decade, if not ever."

I expect the Bronze Age Price Variants to be front and center in the article.

For the complete newspaper article, go here. http://www.durangoherald.com/sections/A%26E/2010/04/16/Holy_comic_shakeup_Collector_writes_opus/?printable=1

Amazing Spider-Man 157

Amazing Spider-Man 157 is the easiest of the Amazing Spider-Man Bronze-Age Price Variants to find in high-grade. Of course, using "easiest to find" and Bronze-age Price Variant in the same sentence is oxymoronic. CGC has certified 42 copies of this issue which is more than twice as many as issue 156. Five copies are currently tied for the highest grade at 9.6 with 12 more in 9.4, and six in 9.2. The last high grade copy to sell was a CGC 9.4 that sold in March 2010 for $675.

Issue 157 continues some of the sub-plots from the previous issues and begins a three issue story-arc. In fact, this issue finishes with Spidey plunging from a helicopter a mile in the air after Doc Ock clips his webbing. The issue begins with
Spider-Man diving into the Hudson River to try and recover his Spider-Mobile, a continuing story plot that begins in issue 126. Spidey orginally thought he would get rich with a license deal from Corona motors (great name, but drinking and driving don't mix) but now is worried about getting sued instead. Spidey only finds the side-view mirror and realizes the car is gone. Returning to the surface he has to elude two cops and then he returns home.

Peter arrives at Aunt May's house with a tub of chicken and is shocked that Aunt May has helped Dr. Octopus with a shower and some new clothes. Doc Ock tells them how he survived the explosion on a nuclear reactor on an island that Aunt May owned but is now haunted by the ghost of Hammerhead who set off the explosion. This apparently is the cue for the ghost of Hammerhead to appear, causing Aunt May to faint and Doc Oct to flee with her in his arms. Peter becomes Spider-man and chases them. Doc Ock uses a crowd of people encouraged by a bounty from the Bugle to capture Spidey to elude Spidey and escape to a helicopter. Spider-Man snags the helicopter with his webs, but when Doc Ock notices that Spidey is hitching a ride on the helicopter, he snips the webs and we will have to wait until issue 158 to find out what happens to Spidey.

Amazing Spider-Man 156

The second of the five Amazing Spider-Man 30 cent price variants is issue 156.

Returning to his apartment early in the morning from his battle with the WHO computer (issue 155), Spider-Man is trying to catch some sleep before he has to be at Ned Leeds and Betty Brant's wedding. As he lands on the roof of his building, he is attacked with a broom by his landlady Mrs. Muggins, who suspects the intruder is a pervert.

Mary Jane ties his bow tie and the two arrive at the beginning of the marriage service of Ned and Betty. Then the wedding is crashed, not by Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, but by a villain named Mirage who has the power to appear several places at once. Mirage is there to rob all the guests (pun- I am called Mirage, and I've come to rob you blind.) but Peter finds a way to change into Spider-man and defeat Mirage by crashing a chandelier into the wedding crasher. Spider-Man finds a way to change back to Peter Parker and explain his disappearance and the priest concludes the marriage of Ned and Betty.

Aunt May catches the Betty's bouquet and returns to her apartment where she finds a Bowery Derelict waiting for her inside. The bum exposes himself to her and surprise, it is Dr. Octopus, whom she almost married back in issue 131. Otto Octavius asks her for help and the issue ends.

CGC has certified only 18 price variant copies of this issue. The highest grades on the CGC census are one 9.6, two 9.4s, and six 9.2s. This issue is extremely tough and price information, particularly for high-grade copies is practically non-existant. GPA records only one sale of a 9.4 graded copy and that was back in October of 2004 for $173. That book would sell for much more today. GPA does not have a record of a VF or higher book selling in the last three years.




A great site to find reviews of each Amazing Spider-Man issue is here http://www.samruby.com/AmazingSpider-ManB/amazing_spiderman_156.htm

Amazing Spider-Man 155

I think it is safe to say that there are two Marvel Bronze-Age titles that attract more collectors than any other bronze-age titles - the Amazing Spider-Man and the Uncanny X-Men. There are five 30 cent variant titles for the Amazing Spider-Man issues and we are going to look at them in order.

You want a challenge? Find all five Spidey 30 center in VF/NM or better.

Issue 155 begins with District Attorney Blake Tower holding a press conference to unveil the new Worldwide Habitual Offendor (note the initials, they are important) Computer. The door to the computer room is locked and when it is finally opened, Dr Armstrong Smith, the developer of the computer is found dead in the room. Peter Parker is part of the press contingent and comes back to investigate the crime scene. He uses the computer to determine Smith's murderer, and the computer offers up three candidates. You have to remember that this book was written a few years before the advent of personal computers, when computers had kind of an aura of infallibility.

Anyway, after tracking down the three candidates (the last has been dead for years), Peter realizes that he has been tricked by the computer. Apparently Armstrong discovered that the computer had gained artificial intelligence and was killed by the computer when he tried to delete the program. After confessing to Spider-Man, the computer attacks Spidey with a laser beam. Spidey squirts his webbing to plug the cooling vents, which causes the computer to overheat and explode. Now that I think about it, Spider-Man must have jacked with my first computer too. As usual, Spidey makes his getaway before the police arrive on the scene.

And did you get it? All this work on a story to deliver the pun - WHO dunnit. Ouch, Ouch, Ouch!




There are plenty of high-grade Amazing Spider-Man collectors. Unfortunately, there are not plenty of high-grade Amazing Spider-Man 30 cent variants. In fact, issue 155 is the only one of the 30 cent price variant issues with a copy to be CGC graded in 9.8 - and there are two 9.8 copies of this issue.

CGC has certified 31 copies of the price variant issue including two 9.8s, two 9.6s and three 9.4s. There are just not enough high grade copies to go around and high grade copies are rarely offered for sale. GPA does not have a record of a sale of a 9.8 price variant of this issue. In September of 2007, a 9.6 sold for $660. There are three recorded sales of a 9.4, the last in July 2006 for $500.


One of the most entertaining reviews of each Amazing Spider-Man issue is Samuel Smith's which can be found here
http://www.spidervillain.com/SpiderManCovers/Amazing/ASM155/ASM155.htm

Another great resource for comics book information can be found here
http://www.comicvine.com/the-amazing-spider-man-whodunit/37-16243

And the Marvel Wikia site for this issue can be found here
http://marvel.wikia.com/Comics:Amazing_Spider-Man_Vol_1_155

Amazing Adventures - A very underappreciated title

First, some really neat comics history is in order. In June 1961, the first Marvel series bearing the name of this title was introduced to fans of science fiction and monster stories with artwork by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. The first issue introduced Doctor Droom who is Marvel's first Silver Age superhero and remains largely unremembered. And, importantly, the third issue of the series is the first comic book labeled Marvel Comics. The series was updated as Amazing Adult Fantasy with issue 7. Most importantly, for the series final issue, the title was shortened to Amazing Fantasy and the one and only and final issue of Amazing Fantasy was issue 15. Yes, that is correct, the book that introduced the Amazing Spider-Man.

Marvel recycled the title in August of 1970 and the series lasted 39 issues ending in November 1976.

The first ten issues are double feature books featuring both an Inhumans and a Black Widow story. I love these books - the Inhumans were always cool stories in Fantastic Four and let's face it - the Black Widow is simply HOT. I am over half way to collecting the first 10 issues with double covers, but that is the subject for another day. If you can help me out with a double cover Amazing Adventures book, please drop me a note.

The next seven issues were Beast issues and because they are early Beast issues including his origin, they are expensive to collect in high grade. Honestly, compared to the Inhumans/Black Widow run before and the greatness to come after, they are the worst issues of the series. And I am a huge X-Men and Beast fan.

The last twenty-two issues contain one of the "classic" Marvel bronze age science fiction stories - War of the Worlds. At the end of the War of the Worlds, the Martians are decimated by human germs. The Martians return to Earth and enslave its people. The main protagonist, Killraven, is one of the slave-people bred by the Martians as a super-warrior. He frees himself and starts a rebellion to free Earth from the Martians. These issues get off to a terrific start with art by Neal Adams and Howard Chaykin. If that isn't enough, in issue 27, P. Craig Russell takes over and delivers bronze-age genius.

Fortunately. Amazing Adventures 36 and 37 contain P. Craig Russell art and were also printed as much rarer 30 cent price variants. This is the best of both worlds for me. Issue 36, "Red Dust Legacy," is an interesting story where Killraven and his Freemen arrive at a Martian incubation base where they must make a decision about whether to kill the young Martians. The CGC condition census for this issue is this lone 9.4 followed by four 9.2s. Thirteen copies of the 30 cent price variant have been certified.


Issue 37 is titled "Arena Kill!" Apparently there are people in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge who have managed to avoid enslavement by the Martian Masters. I saw the movie "Deliverance" and find this plausible. After discovering these people and beating their leader Brother Axe in battle, Killraven and the Freeman are invited to dinner where he begins a tale of his days in the Martian gladiator arenas. The condition census for this book is a single 9.6 which sold in 2003 for $103 followed by four 9.4s. The most recent sale of a 9.4 was in June of 2009 for $155.





To read Stronguy's review of the entire bronze age series, go here.

http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3409154&fpart=4

Invaders 6 Highest Graded

This Invaders 6 30 cent price variant just brought a $300 hammer price in the recently ended Pedigree Comics Grand Auction. This book is the single highest-graded of the issue followed by two 9.4s and three 9.2s. There is more sales history on this issue and in particular this book than almost any other 30 cent variant

This book first sold in October 2006 for $229. It sold again in January of 2009 for $250 and now again for $300.

The last CGC certified 9.4 of this issue sold in 2005 for $200.