*Marvel: One of the later breakout characters of Marvel, Frank Castle, aka bereaved urban vigilante the Punisher, became one of the company’s super-stars in the 1990s, but had spent most of the previous two decades ‘bubbling under’ as a guest-starring anti-hero. His media presence – and commercial appeal – has been heightened by film and TV appearances. The Punisher’s first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #129, February 1974, is rare in the UK, where, owing to the presence of Spider-Man Comics Weekly, the US title was embargoed for several years. This is a cents copy (there are no pence copies, of course), in remarkable condition; unmarred cover scene with bright, unfaded colour, off-white interior pages, and excellent gloss. Vestigial spine wear, barely perceptible, and a slight ‘blunting’ of the corners, are the only defects in this exceptional copy. VF- £675. Front and back cover and splash page images are shown below; high resolution versions are available on request. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD