*DC: As you’ll recall, we’ve been regularly updating our lists with new issues of Bruce Wayne’s famous alter ego, but this week we have a ‘Brucie Bonus’ – almost thirty issues of Detective Comics, the series in which Batman made his first appearance and stars to this day! This sequence opens with #290 – Robin as a robot, how can you resist? – and continues to #504, filling many gaps in our inventory, with not only the Caped Crusader in the forefront, but additional features starring (at various times) Martian Manhunter, Roy Raymond, Elongated Man, Hawkman, and Batgirl and Robin solos! Depicted are #298 (PR/FA £30), the first appearance of the second and most famous Clayface and #400 (GD p £50), a Neal Adams-drawn extravaganza introducing Batman’s sinister ‘Dark Mirror’, the Man-Bat! SORRY, PICTURED ITEMS NOW SOLD
30CC
American Update: Brave & Bold – Without Batman! Early Team-Up Issues
*DC: Know, O Best Beloved, that in those days of Long Ago, there existed issues of Brave & Bold which featured team-ups of stars from the DC Universe – without Batman! I know, hard to believe, but accept the word of one who knows. After a stint as DC’s second-run try-out book, (after Showcase) B & B switched tactics, pairing characters who previously had met only over the Justice League meeting table – or not at all! Some of these pairings were delightfully oddball, but curiously effective – the Metal Men and Metamorpho is a personal favourite – but after putting Batman in a few issues and observing the sales figures, DC saw the way the wind was blowing, and soon it was Bats-with-everything. We have the non-Batman team-up issues from the first, #50, to the last, #72, many in lovely high grades. Pictured are #50 VF- p £70, #51 VF- p £70, #55 NM £110 and #63 VF+ £61. Other issues, of course, listed in our online catalogue.
American Update: Green Lantern’s Light! Silver to Bronze Age GL restocked from #2
*DC: The cosmic adventures of Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Earth, are restocked in a dozen newly-added items ranging from the second issue of his Silver Age series to #88 in the early 1970s! We open with #2, FA/GD £42, the first appearance of Hal’s Inuit assistant Thomas Kalmaku, rather unfortunately nicknamed ‘Pieface’ – political correctness wasn’t quite there yet – and highlights include #16’s debut of the sultry and sinister Star Sapphire, who you could distinguish from her alter-ego Carol Ferris by the fact that ‘Sapph’ was, if anything, a bit less evil than Carol! Other issues in this range feature guest-appearances by the Flash, the Golden Age Green Lantern and other greats of the DC realm, as well as Hal’s classic villains, Evil Star, Black Hand, Sinestro and more.
American Update: Mighty Marvel Firsts: Debuts of Galactus and Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four #48 FN+
*Marvel: One of the most sought-after Marvel Comics of the 1960s is Fantastic Four #48, which introduced the Silver Surfer, a cosmic-powered being the equal of the combined FF… and the Surfer’s master, Galactus, an entity of even more monstrous might! Both became major figures in the Marvel Universe, with the Surfer repenting his role as Galactus’ herald and choosing the side of justice, while Galactus’ insatiable hunger drives him ever onwards to more heinous acts. This copy of the double debut is one of the nicest we’ve beheld, with tight staples, off-white interior pages and deep, vibrant, unbroken cover colour and gloss. There is minimal spine and upper cover edge wear, but the cover scene itself is utterly unmarred. It is a pence copy – unusually, both stamped (unobtrusively) and pence printed – but this doesn’t detract from its considerable eye appeal. FN+ p £1,000. Front and back covers and splash page shown here; high resolution scans are available on request. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Slab Happy! The Devil Rides Out: Ghost Rider #1 CGC 9.0 VF/NM
*Marvel: In the early 1970s, with the supernatural craze at its height, the retooling of the venerable Western hero Ghost Rider as a supernatural satanically-empowered cyclist raised eyebrows among the purists, to say the least – but no-one can deny it was a commercial success, and after a hit streak in Marvel Spotlight, former stunt-rider Johnny Blaze burned rubber into his own series, achieving a very respectable 80+ run, and despite two disastrous movies starring Nicolas Cage, has continued to appear regularly ever after. This copy of Ghost Rider’s premier issue is a CGC Blue Label, no restoration, graded an exceptional 9.0 VF/NM equivalent, and is on sale at £335. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Spider-Mania Meets Mighty Marvel Firsts: Face It, Tiger… Iconic ‘Reveal’ of Mary Jane Watson in Amazing Spider-Man #42
*Marvel: In Amazing Spider-Man #42, the astronaut offspring of J. Jonah Jameson gained super-powers and posed a looming threat to Spider-Man… but let’s be honest, who really cares? Because the Big Deal this issue was the revelation, finally, of Mary Jane Watson, the mysterious lady who’d been hovering in the odd panel, her face always obscured, for several previous issues! When Stan Lee and John Romita finally showed us the ‘Full MJ’, it proved to be well worth the wait, with one of the most famous intro. lines in the history of comics! The first full appearance of the woman who would eventually become Mrs. Spidey is a gorgeous FN/VF, tiniest breaks in spine colour, but lustrous cover with deep unfaded purple cover background, tight corners & edges, firm staples, and striking eye appeal. FN/VF cents copy, no pence price or overstamp, on sale at £100.
American Update: Avengers Assemble! Mighty Marvel Firsts: Avengers #55 – First Full Appearance of Ultron
*Marvel: The cybernetic ‘offspring’ of Hank Pym (because controlling insects and robotics are all just ‘science’ in comics), Ultron has become one of the Avengers’ most relentless and popular enemies, appearing in countless comics as well as, memorably, on the Silver Screen in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’. This is the first full appearance of the Avengers’ implacable foe (he made a last-panel ‘reveal’ in the previous issue), in a superb VF condition, with unmarred white cover background, tight staples, and only a very faint unevenness in cover texture, too subtle to called a crease, in the lower right cover corner. VF p £100.
American Update: Daredevil #7 – 1st ‘Red Devil’ costume with Wally Wood Art
*Marvel: After a little artistic floundering in his early issues, the Sightless Swashbuckler lucked out when the superlative Wally Wood took over illustrating his adventures. This is probably the finest Wood issue, marked not only by the premiere of the red Daredevil costume, (replacing his original outfit, which actually looked like it was designed by a blind man…) but also by a genuinely gripping battle in which Daredevil, overpowered by the vastly superior might of the Sub-Mariner, shows such courage and determination that even Namor’s scaly heart is moved to compassion. This is a VG- pence copy, generally attractive, but with minor cover wear and stress, especially at the right edge. Also, some pillock put the price stamp right in the middle of Namor’s face! Despite these drawbacks, a superior second-hand copy of an epic issue. VG- p £85.
American Update: Defenders… Disassemble? Early Appearances of Marvel’s Reluctant ‘Non-Team’ Restocked
*Marvel: Originally conceived as a cynical marketing exercise – the enforced banding together of three solo operatives, in the Hulk, the Sub-Mariner and Doctor Strange, to create a new franchise – the Defenders grew, under the influence of its primary writer Steve Gerber, to be a significant factor in the Marvel Universe despite (because of?) its cast of super-powered hermits, misanthropes and oddballs. We have refreshed the Defenders’ first series from #3 to #48, plus Giant-Size Defenders #1, and the non-UK-distributed Marvel Feature (1st series) #3, the team’s third tryout just before they won their own mag! Marvel Feature #3 is VF/NM £55; all others, of course, may be seen in our online catalogue. SORRY, PICTURED ITEM NOW SOLD
American Update: Infinity Gauntlet #1 and other Jim Starlin Cosmic Clashes
*Marvel: One of comics’ biggest events of the last decades of the 20th Century was Jim Starlin’s Infinity Gauntlet, in which Thanos, the megavillain Starlin had been building up for nearly twenty years, armed with the reality-altering Infinity Gauntlet, faced down the Marvel super-beings en masse, in a struggle for the fate of the universe! Infinity Gauntlet was such a huge success that Starlin wrote two equally cosmic sequels, Infinity War and Infinity Crusade, each taking in most of the Marvel super-stars of the time.. Hugely popular ever since their inception, but with Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet at the centre of the current Avengers: Endgame cinematic juggernaut, demand for these issues is at its height. We have the first issues of all three series in stock; Infinity Crusade #1 is NM p £7.50, Infinity War #1 is NM p £10 and Infinity Gauntlet #1 (pictured) NM p £40. SORRY, THESE HAVE NOW SOLD
American Update: Let’s Visit the X-Men!
*Marvel: A small update to Bronze/Modern Age X-Men between issues #153 & #205, plus Annual (King-Size Special) #2. Superb art chores by Dave Cockrum, Paul Smith and Barry Windor-Smith (on the Wolverine solo issue #205). Also features the first appearance of Binary (Carol Danvers) in #164.
American Update: Next Men #21 – First Full Appearance Hellboy
*Miscellaneous 1960 Onwards: Yes, it’s a bit ‘modern’ for our remit, but 1993’s 21st issue of Next Men, John Byrne’s cult series, guest-starred Hellboy, in his own chapter illustrated by Mike Mignola. Hellboy of course has gone on to several major comics series and remains a ‘player’ in the field today, in addition to having carried two movie franchises. This copy of the first full appearance of Hellboy is NM- at £110. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: The Atlas Explosion! Post Code Horror Mega-Fest continues with Strange Tales Of The Unusual
*Horror 1940-1959: One of the Post Code attempts to ‘rebrand’ the horror/mystery genre as more science-fiction and fantasy, Strange Tales of the Unusual ran for 11 issues from 1955 to 1957. We have five of this stylish and evocative series in stock, commencing with #4 and ending with the final issue #11. Cover artists include Maneely and Everett, with interior contributors including a certain Jack Kirby, whom you may have heard of! Depicted is #6 FN- £65; prices and grades on the rest may be found in our online listings. SORRY, PICTURED ITEM NOW SOLD
American Update: The Atlas Explosion! Western Outlaws – And Sheriffs! (But Mostly Outlaws…)
*Western: Not one, but two western series this week, albeit a pair with very similar titles; Western Outlaws and Sheriffs debuted in 1949, taking over the numbering from Best Western (no, not the hotel chain…) with #60, and lasted until issue #73 in 1952, with such cheery topics as cannibalism and mass hangings among its highlights. We have issues #69 and the final issue #73 in stock, the latter containing a Black Rider story, unusual in a series generally without ongoing characters. In 1954, Atlas revived the title but eliminated those pesky lawmakers, calling it just Western Outlaws; this second series ran from #1 to 1957’s #21, and we have sixteen of the series new in, from #2 to the last issue. Again eschewing recurring characters, this iteration had the expected, but appreciated, stellar roster of artists, with Everett, Maneely, Heath, Romita, Severin and Williamson among the more prominent contributors. Depicted are Western Outlaws and Sheriffs #69 VG+ £26 and Western Outlaws #2 FN £34: Grades and prices on the rest in our cowpunchin’ catalogue.
American/British Update: A Fleeting Phantom – King and Charlton issues back in stock (but not for long…)
*Phantom: A quartet of vintage King and Charlton issues of the Phantom make an appearance on our lists this week – a mere smattering, but ‘The Ghost Who Walks’ walks out of our shop in Putney so swiftly that we tend to put out additions as soon as we get them, as demand is keen! Pat Boyette, Don Newton and other gifted artists illustrate these tales of Lee Falk’s cult creation.
British Update: Pre-Decimal Alan Class Additions – Major Series and Short-Run Titles
*Alan Class Reprints: More than two dozen pre-decimal Alan Class items added to our inventory, with representation from his major, long-running series (Creepy Worlds, Secrets of the Unknown, Sinister Tales and Suspense) plus selections from the shorter-run and often harder to find titles, such as Amazing Stories, Out Of This World (1st series), Outer Space and Weird Planets. Lots of Pre-Hero Marvel with Big-Panty-Monsters illustrated by Kirby, Steve Ditko, twist-ending tales, Atlas era Krigstein and Everett, a miscellany from Charlton, ACG, Tower comics and much more!
British Update: IPC Smash! From first to Last
*Power Comics: Although IPC’s re-invention of the popular Smash! is dismissed by many as an ersatz Valiant – and it’s true it shrank to the standard size and format of a regular IPC/Fleetway weekly – there was a lot more to it than that, and the first relaunch issue debuted two strips, ‘Cursitor Doom’ and ‘Janus Stark’, who went on to lengthy careers and engraved themselves in the hearts of a generation of comics readers. Other popular series from this run were the super-hero ‘Tri-Man’, challenger of the unknown ‘Simon Test’, and ‘Birdman of Baratoga’, another entry in the ‘feral child raised by random critters’ sub-genre so beloved of fiction. Plus, the well-loved comedy strips ‘Bad Penny’ and ‘The Swots and the Blots’ continued over from the old iteration to produce fresh mayhem and laughter! We have 89 of the 95 IPC Smash! issues new in stock, from the first new look issue to the final number; the relaunch issue, 15th March 1969, with the first appearances of Janus Stark and Cursitor Doom, is FN £12; prices and grades on the others are available in our catalogue.
British Update: Invasion 1984 – Complete series collected from Battle weekly
*Collected Editions: Although Battle Weekly (at least in its early years) was famed for more ‘classic’ war stories, one of its earliest ventures into speculative fiction was ‘Invasion 1984’, originally published in 1983, and presenting the tale of a near-future (very near future, as it happens) invasion from Outer Space, and the valiant efforts of Earth’s forces to rally round – despite civilization falling apart! By John Wagner, Alan Grant and Eric Bradbury, this violent but inventive series is complete in one paperback volume, brand new this week, in the latest in Rebellion’s collections of classic British comics. Brand New SC at £15.
British Update: Free Gift Farrago: The Thrill-Power Begins! 2000 AD #1-3 (inc. 1st Judge Dredd) with Free Gifts
*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: At the beginning of 1977, around the onset of punk music, a comic was launched that captured the zeitgeist of the times, more anarchic and anti-establishment than anything that had come before it in British comics, no more so than in the persona of Judge Dredd, the iconic anti-hero who has gone on to become legendary after debuting in issue #2. This update we’re featuring the first three issues of 2000 AD, with free gifts:
#1: Featuring the debuts of Mach-1, Invasion, Harlem’s Heroes, Flesh and the new Dan Dare. A clean and presentable GD/VG copy with good staples, moderate light creasing and light tanning of the pages, but no brittleness. The Space Spinner is present, virtually unmarred by the passing years, and is graded VF. Comic (GD/VG) and gift (VF) together priced at £225.
#2: 1st appearance of Judge Dredd. A tight flat GD/VG copy with good staples and decent page quality, no wrinkles or creasing, light foxing at page edges. The Free Gift, Biotronic Stickers, are unused on original backing sheet and grade at VF. Comic (GD/VG) and gift (VF) priced at £300..
#3: Pages a little whiter than #1 & #2, tighter at spine, graded at VG/FN, with Free Gift, Red Alert Survival Wallet, at VF, never having been assembled and still on original card backing. Comic and gift together on sale at £125. SORRY, THESE HAVE NOW SOLD
British Update: Long Hot Summer: Spies and Secrets and Agents, Oh My! Espionage-Themed Picture Library Holiday Specials
*Boys’ Adventure & War Picture Libraries: In the 1960s, the Spy and Secret Agent craze was running rampant in the wake of Bond, and countless publishers tried to tap into the phenomenon. One of the more successful was Fleetway, who released several espionage-themed series, and we have the chunky triple-length Summer/Holiday Specials to prove it! Opening with Secret Agent Summer Special 1967, which altered its title slightly to Holiday Special from 1968, we have the full set of four from 1967 to 1970. Spy 13, intrepid star of Thriller Picture Library, gained his own solo Summer Special in 1966: and we round out the update with the first Top Secret PL Holiday Special from 1975. Pictured are Secret Agent Picture Library Summer/Holiday Specials 1967 through to 1970, all FN, each £15. SORRY, MOST OF THESE HAVE NOW SOLD
British Update: Long Hot Summer: TV Century 21 and Thunderbirds Summer Extras from 1965 – Battered, but Bargainaceous
*TV & Film Related Comics: Rarities like the 1965 TV Century 21 Summer Extra from 1965, and the Thunderbirds Extra from 1965, would ordinarily command very high prices, easily reaching three-figures in high grades. These ones… don’t. While technically complete, these copies have not only been around the block, but also over the bridge and across the river, and show every step of the journey through the passing decades! TV Century 21 1965 Summer Extra has (deep breath) light scribble on three interior pages, puzzles or quizzes filled in on three interior pages, eight interior page edges clipped, affecting the ‘Contact 21’ and ‘Supercar’ strips, one quarter of the back cover is missing, affecting ‘My Favourite Martian’, the front cover is torn, worn, and virtually separated, and there is extensive corner and edge wear throughout. The 1965 Thunderbirds Extra fares no better, with covers detached, worn and with missing corners – one such, on the back cover, affects the final ‘Thunderbirds’ story; scribble on front cover and eight interior pages; quiz completed on one interior page, and a quarter of one interior page (affecting text & activity features) missing. However, beaten-up though they are, they are almost complete, and – with a couple of exceptions noted above – all stories are readable. TV Century 21 Summer Extra 1965 and Thunderbirds Extra 1965, both graded Poor, at £30 each. SORRY, THESE HAVE NOW SOLD
British Update: Read Misty For Me – Cult Girls’ Mystery Weekly Extensively Restocked
*Girls’ Comics: A distaff companion to 2000 AD, but focusing more on the supernatural than science-fiction themes, Misty is fondly remembered for the quality of its stories and artwork (using many of the 2000 AD creators), and its wide appeal – even at the time of its publication, the subject matter made it the “Girls’ comic” a lot of boys furtively read, and these days it’s keenly collected by men and ladies alike! We have more than forty issues new in, mostly in its first year of publication, 1978, but just trailing over into ’79, with serials such as ‘aint It Black’, ‘School For The Lost’, ‘The Cats of Carey Street’, ‘Leap Through Time’ and more – all, of course, ably introduced by our ethereal hostess, who featured in frontispieces (and many covers) illustrated by the sublime Shirley Bellwood. This is a one-owner collection in nice condition, a few minor fluctuations but averaging Fine; clean, attractive copies with minimal wear.
Clearance Corner: A miscellany of Free Gifts and promotional items – over 20 items for just £20
*Clearance Corner: A very mixed bag of stuff up for grabs this week, comprising the following: Hurricane Book Of Records, Look & Learn Pocket Picture Encyclopaedia, Scoop Sport Star Club Badge, Rupert weekly Boomerang, Wizard World Cup Winners Book, Wizard World Cup Scorebook, 3 Stingray Badges, Storyland Book Of Nursery Rhymes, Midget Comic from Red Letter (1937), Spiro Agnew card from ABC’s ‘Man On The Moon’ series, 4 sets of Playing Cards from Supernaturals, Nursery Rhyme Colouring Book, Promotional comics for IPC’s Funtime & Sunny, 2 unidentified but probably pre-war Boomerang free gifts, a sheet of Panini Superman stickers, 2 Oor Wullie stickers and a Judge Dredd promotional stand from 1992. You can’t say that’s not variety! All this can be yours for just £20 (plus £4 UK postage if required). SORRY, THIS LOT HAS NOW SOLD
Books Update: A Selection Of Collections From Poul Anderson And Damon Knight
*Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror: This time we’ve added a fine assortment of short stories by Poul Anderson and by, or edited by, Damon Knight. From Poul Anderson there’s Guardians Of Time, Strangers From Earth (both the Ballantine 1st US PB and the Mayflower Dell 1st UK PB), Three Worlds To Conquer and Time And Stars. From Damon Knight there’s Natural State And Other Stories, Turning On and, acting as editor, The Metal Smile (featuring authors such as Aldiss, Anderson (!), Asimov, Dick, Kuttner and Sheckley).
Housekeeping Update
On a regular cycle, we sweep through our entire stock to delete sold items and keep our listing as up to date as possible. We’ve just finished deleting sold items from the following file in our British section:
*Alan Class Reprints
As of the time of writing, this category is bang up to date, with every item listed available.
The Legacy of Alan Class: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’s Blazing Worlds
As the official agents for Alan Class sales from his archives, including certificated comics and printing plate sets, we were tickled pink to see the cover on this week’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Tempest #5 (By Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill) with its homage to Alan Class comics. The ‘Blazing Worlds’ logo, and cover numbering, pricing and dress are all evocative of Alan Class’s presentation of his comics from the 1959 to 1989, and shows in their sixtieth anniversary year how much his publications are fondly remembered for the part they played in the history of British comics. We have a large stock of the real thing of course in our catalogue in the Alan Class Reprints category.
30th Century In The Media: Slaine En Francais! L’Aube Du Guerrier
We were delighted recently to be of assistance to French publishers Delirium by supplying some material for their high-quality hardcover collection of the early adventures of 2000 AD’s Slaine. Created by veteran writer Pat Mills, with the assistance of artists Angie Kincaid, Mike McMahon and Massimo Belardinelli, the warp-shifting Celtic warrior became a fast favourite with the 2000 AD crowd, and has remained in publication ever since. While we don’t carry non-English language materials ourselves, this handsome 220-page archival edition is now available in bookshops throughout the French-speaking world, and well worth the effort for bilingual readers to track it down!
Clearance Corner: Our final Moonstone Phantom lot: 9 issue Generations series plus 8 specials/graphic novels for just £20
*Clearance Corner: Our final clearance lot of the Moonstone version of the Phantom features 9 issues of the Generations series, each one a self-contained novella, plus the following squarebound specials/graphic novels: Legacy, Law Of The Jungle, Valley of the Golden Men, The Treasures of Bagalla, The Singh Web, Man Eaters, The Hunt & The Ghost Killer. All in NM condition; many hundreds of pages of Phantom reading for the remarkable price of just £20. UK Postage if required will be an extra £4. SORRY, THIS LOT HAS NOW SOLD
Last Call for Clearance Corner: X-Men The Hidden Years Complete: 22 issues for £15
*Clearance Corner: As you may realise, the purpose of our Clearance Corner lots is to clear space in our shop by discontinuing titles we’re no longer carrying to make way for new and incoming stuff. As such, they will only be offered for a short time. This Clearance Corner lot, listed on 22nd March 2019, has not been snapped up and is nearing the end of its time with us. If not purchased by the weekend, we will have to dispose of it. Here are the details from our original listing: ‘In the limbo between the cancellation of their original series and the dawn of the international line-up, the X-Men were ghosts in the Marvel Universe, making only very occasional guest appearances. In 1999, writer/artist John Byrne set out to fill in the gap with all-new stories of what Scott, Bobby, Hank, Warren, Jean, Alex and Lorna Did Next, with a clever, fast-paced series that lasted 22 fun-packed issues evocative of classic Silver Age Marvel, and got cancelled despite respectable sales because a new Marvel editorial remit thought it would ‘confuse the readers’, boo hiss. All 22 issues, a brisk, breezy read, all NM, yours for £15. UK postage if required will be an extra £4.’ SORRY, THIS LOT HAS NOW SOLD
Books Update: The ‘ERBs – Martians Galore and The King Of The Jungle, all Vintage Methuen Hard Covers with Stunning Dust Jackets
*Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror: This time we’re releasing six truly vintage Burroughs hardcovers, published in the UK by Methuen. Ululating through the jungle is the oldest, Tarzan The Untamed from 1935. All the rest are 1950s editions of the Mars stories: A Princess Of Mars, The Chessmen Of Mars, The Gods Of Mars, The Master Mind Of Mars and Thuvia, Maid Of Mars. Five adventures where, despite the exotic locations and privations you just know that the hero is going to win through and marry his Martian maiden! The books range from GD/VG to VG/FN and all have gorgeously illustrated dustjackets, protected by removable archival film. Of particular note is The Chessmen Of Mars, which is a Frankenstein copy; the cover has a catalogue number different to that of the book.
American Update: Batmania Continues: The New Look Begins! Batman from #164 to #199
*DC: Detective Comics #327 famously heralded the ‘New Look’ for the Gotham Guardians – streamlined, modern, and devoid of aliens, robots, monsters and sundry Bat-clad ladies and animals which had characterised the series from the mid-Fifties onwards. Batman’s own series followed suit, and from #164 onwards, all silliness was eschewed – until the Batman TV series hit big, whereupon the silliness returned with a vengeance, but initially, at least, it was more-or-less straight crimebusting under the hands of Fox, Herron, Giella, Infantino, and others. We have a substantial run of Batman issues new in from #164 to #199, in high grades, averaging Fine or better; lovely copies with bright glossy covers and creamy, off-white interiors. Included are many 80 Page Giants reprinting classic Batman stories of yesteryear. Illustrated are #166 FN+ £50. #167 FN+ £50, #168 FN/VF £63 and #198 VF £53. Prices and grades on the others in our online listings.
American Update: Girl Power! Adventure Comics #416 – ‘World’s Greatest Super-Females!’
*DC: In 1972, the Women’s Liberation Movement still nascent, DC decided to devote one of its 100-Page Super-Spectacular issues to female crime-fighters. Adventure Comics at that time was headlining Supergirl, and with #416 , she was joined by her sisters in superherodom – an epic Wonder Woman story from 1948, in which the Amazing Amazon faced several of her deadliest enemies; the first appearance of the Black Canary from 1947; a 1943 solo for the fabulous Phantom Lady; and from 1949, a tale of the Star-Spangled Kid’s sister, Merry, Girl of a Thousand Gimmicks! Oh, yes, and there were a couple of Supergirl stories in there as well. All this behind a striking wraparound cover by Bob Oksner featuring almost all of DC’s super-femmes to that date (wot, no Legion Ladies? Shame!). The white cover background means that it’s seldom found in a non-grubby state, but this copy has escaped that fate, and is clean, gleaming, with excellent squarebound spine and only the lightest of corner stress. VF+ £79. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Complete set of Ronin #1-6 – Frank Miller’s Dystopic Sci-Fi Samurai Saga
*DC: 1984’s Ronin was quite a feather in DC’s cap, having acquired white-hot artist/writer Frank Miller after his ground-breaking run on Daredevil. Printed on the same high-quality paper as Camelot 3000, aimed at the higher end of the comics market, it took place in a near-future New York City, in which a ronin is reincarnated. According to Miller himself, the ideas came together while he was doing extensive research into kung fu movies, martial arts, samurai comic books and samurai ethics for his work on Daredevil. Synthesising those tropes into a dystopic Blade Runner-esque setting, the series crystallised the influences of manga and bande dessinée on Miller’s style, breaking him away from his acclaimed but firmly mainstream body of work to that date. The entire six-issue series, averaging NM, is on sale at £25. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Little & Large! Newly Listed DC Digests and Tabloids – Metal Men, Jimmy Olsen, House of Mystery, Superman
*DC: Three odd-sized series from DC’s archives: Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest and DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest were late 70s/early 80s titles which presented ‘themed’ reprints starring a particular character or genre; new editions of both feature the Metal Men, Jimmy Olsen, Superman and the House of Mystery. Limited Collectors’ Edition was, as noted previously, a tabloid extra-large series. New in this week, issue C-23 is another House of Mystery themed edition, with art by Kane, Adams, Toth, Wrightson and more, looking rather spiffy at the ’embiggened’ size! Condition and price details in our online catalogue, as always.
American Update: Flash Bulletin! New Stock of the Scarlet Speedster, from the Silver Age to Modern (ish) Days
*DC: After extensive sales, we’re delighted to be able to replenish the Vizier of Velocity with new issues from #130 in the 1960s, to #310 in the 80s. Thirty+ new listings this week, highlights including multiple team-ups with Jay Garrick the Flash of Earth-2, Green Lantern, Kid Flash and other heroic chums, the wedding of Barry & Iris, a brief flurry of the acclaimed Neal Adams GL/GA as backup, and of course, villains, villains, villains! The Flash’s Rogue’s Gallery is one of the most diverse in comics and Gorilla Grodd, Captain Boomerang, Heat Wave, Pied Piper, Captain Cold and all the lads turn up individually and together in these issues! The Flash TV show remains popular, and the character, after big-screen appearances in ‘Suicide Squad’ and ‘Justice League’, is scheduled for his own feature film, so now’s the time to emulate Barry Allen and move fast – before these are gone!
American Update: Slab Happy! Surfer Meets Thor in Silver Surfer #4
*Marvel: All the Silver Surfer’s original 18-issue series, launched in 1968, are keenly sought, but issue #4, in which our angst-ridden cosmic hero faces the might of Thor, is particularly scarce, both here in the UK and in its native USA. Many theories abound (including one about most of the print run being set alight by disappointed truck hijackers, which we declare inventive but apocryphal), but no conclusive explanation has yet been presented. Nevertheless, rare it is, significantly less common than even #1 in our experience. This copy of Silver Surfer #4 is a CGC Blue Label (no restoration), 3.5 (VG- equivalent), on sale at £200. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Mighty Marvel Firsts: Debut of Thanos in Iron Man #55
*Marvel: They don’t come much hotter these days than Iron Man #55, wherein the cosmic arch-villain Thanos, nemesis of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, made his first appearance, the brainchild of fan favourite writer/artist Jim Starlin. Thanos has of course gone on to plague Marvel’s heroes in comics and movies ever since, but here is where it all started. This landmark issue also features the debuts of Drax the Destroyer, Mentor, Eros (later Starfox of the Avengers) and Kronos. It’s getting more and more difficult to find a comfortably affordable copy of this, but our new copy is Fair, with considerable edge wear, particularly at the upper left and lower right corners. With the imminent release of Avengers: Endgame in cinemas worldwide, in which Thanos is the villain, the character’s debut is only going to become more sought after. FA p £95. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Mighty Marvel Firsts meets Spider-Mania: Amazing Spider-Man #300 – The First ‘Full Venom’
*Marvel: Something a little less vintage in this week’s Spider-Mania feature. While we tend to favour crumbly old comics for crumbly old folks like ourselves, we do make exception for titles or issues of exceptional importance and popularity, and there are few more significant debuts, in the latter days of the 20th Century, than everyone’s favourite brain-eating symbiote Venom, who graduated from being a genetically modified costume in a jar to the fully-fledged Emperor of Spidey’s Rogue’s Gallery! Having debuted in Secret Wars #8 as a semi-sentient blob which configured itself into Spider-Man’s new costume, the ‘symbiote’ became a regular feature in Spidey’s own series before being revealed as a malevolent alien parasite which disclosed its true agenda! The star of a recent smash-hit film (with a sequel on the way), Venom’s star is in the ascendant. This copy of Amazing Spider-Man #300 is a FN+ p copy, with light breaks in spine colour, faint corner wear, and minimal corner ‘blunting’. Interiors clean and sharp, white paper, firm staples. FN+ p £135. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Mighty Marvel Firsts: The Coming of the Juggernaut in X-Men #12
*Marvel: With Jolly Jack Kirby leaving the art chores of the X-Men after issue #11, Stan Lee realised he had to crank up the excitement to keep readers’ attention, and he certainly achieved it with this dynamic story introducing one of the X-Men’s most formidable opponents, the Juggernaut! Cain Marko, the hitherto unsuspected step-brother of the X-Men’s mentor Professor Xavier, dabbled with arcane forces and was transformed into the embodiment of an irresistible force! This VG p copy of a major villain’s debut has light spine wear, and some slight ‘chipping’ at cover edges and corners, but the cover image itself is unimpaired, with the vivid red background entirely unfaded, staples tight at cover and centrefold. Juggernaut’s re-entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with ‘Deadpool 2’ has once again piqued interest in this character. This VG p copy is on sale at £140.
American Update: Star Wars – 1st and 2nd Boba Fett Appearances in Comics
*Marvel: All of the Marvel 1970s issues of Star Wars are keenly sought after, but beyond the #1, the numbers most in demand are #42, which saw the debut of mercenary Boba Fett, and #68, which brought his second appearance, and his first in an original story not adapted from the movies. We have both of these available this week. Issue #42 is NM- £85, #68 VF/NM £50. Both cents copies, as neither issue was distributed in the UK, making them doubly desirable to – is there a word like ‘Trekkers’ for Star Wars aficionados? ‘Warries’? Anyway, high-grade key issues, up for sale this week, but not for long! SORRY, THESE HAVE NOW SOLD
American Update: A Heaping Helping of Hulk! Issues from #132 to #334, with Villainous Debuts, Signed Copies and More
*Marvel: Around thirty vintage Hulks new to our listings this week, from the early 1970s to the late 1980s, with several signed copies (no verification available, but we’re pretty sure they’re kosher) autographed by artist Herb Trimpe, with occasional co-signatures by writers Roy Thomas and Steve Englehart. Other highlights include the first appearances of villains Zzzax, the Bi-Beast and the winsome Wendigo, and the first deaths (hey it’s Marvel Comics) of the Mimic and Warlock. In affordable mid-grades on average, and with many issues filling gaps in our inventory, these aren’t going to stay in our possession long – grab ’em before they’re gone!
American Update: The Atlas Explosion! Spy Cases – Guns! Crime! Dames! Pigeons! (Pardon?)
*Miscellaneous 1940-1959: Launched in 1950, Spy Cases brought the Cold War to the home front, taking over the numbering of The Kellys and commencing with #26, in the thrifty manner beloved of 1950s publishers. Purporting to be ‘The Real Story of America’s Secret Soldiers’, the tales straddled the gap between war and crime stories, with lashings of violence, gunplay, shady ladies of undeclared allegiance, and yes, at least one crucial pigeon! Reverting to a traditional numbering with #4, the series ran until 1953’s #19, with a diversion into pure war tales from #10 to #14. Most of the series is back in stock, lacking only issues #6 and #14; as a bonus, we have Spy Cases #29 (Canadian Edition) which reprints, for reasons lost to the mists of time, the third issue of a companion title, Spy Fighters. Depicted are #16 VG/FN £30 (with bonus incomplete #12), #17 FN £34, and 18 VG £23. All the others, of course, may be found in our catalogue.
American Update: The Atlas Explosion! Battle Action: Virtually Complete Run of 1950s Combat Thriller
*War: 1952’s Battle Action mined the lurid field of violence and stereotyping, enlivened by artistic contributions from Pakula, Robinson, Krigstein, Everett, Heath, Check, Maneely, Shores and more. Interestingly, the series was actually cancelled with issue #12, but revived over a year later, running until 1957’s issue #30. Although mostly anthology war tales with no recurring characters, one of Atlas’ more enduring combat stars, Battle Brady, (whose catchphrase, ‘Remember the Alamo!’ must have confused the heck out of the Korean enemy) made his debut in issue #5 of this series and featured in most numbers thereafter. We have a virtually complete run, lacking only numbers #11 and #17 – though an incomplete #11 is included as a bonus with issue #12. Illustrated are #2 FN- £50 and #12 FN/VF £56; for grades and prices on all the others, please see our online listings.
American/British Update: Oz – Infamous ‘School Kids’ issue of satirical Underground Magazine and others
*Undergrounds: Not named for the Wizard from the films, but because its first incarnation (1963-1969) originated in the creators’ native Australia, Oz Magazine’s London edition hit the streets in 1967, and became much more notorious than its parent. Oz became synonymous with the psychedelic counterculture, regularly enraging the British Establishment with a range of stories including heavy coverage of the anti-war movement, discussions of drugs, sex and alternative lifestyles, and contentious political issues, presented alongside challenging artwork, including contributors from the world of Underground Comix. Issue #28, guest-edited by twenty teenagers between 15 and 17, triggered ‘The Trial Of Oz’, primarily because of its co-opting iconic character Rupert the Bear into a pornographic comic strip. We have acquired a selection of the London Oz, from #18 to #44, including the notorious ‘School Kids’ issue #28 (VG+ £50). Limited circulation – and frequent seizures and destruction by the loveable lads and lasses of the Metropolitan Police – ensure that these counter-cultural artefacts are vanishingly scarce today.
British Update: Confidential Romances – St. John Romance Reprints from Miller, with Matt Baker Galore
*Vintage UK/Australian Reprints of US Material: A 1957 series from UK repackager Len Miller, Confidential Romances ran 13 68-page issues, reprinting mainly material from the American love comics published by Archer St. John. This ensured a high quality of art and story, and most issues featured at least one story by legendary illustrator Matt Baker – sometimes several! Unfortunately, Miller, for reasons unknown, didn’t use any of the St. John cover art, commissioning new, and sadly lacklustre, covers, but we promise the interiors are much more enticing! We have half-a dozen of the series between #3 to #12, all other than the last containing Baker artwork. Depicted: #11 VG £12. SORRY, THESE HAVE NOW SOLD
British Update: Immaculate Annuals! Lion, Pow!, Hurricane, Champion and Jag
*Annuals: A selection of 1960s and 1970s Annuals newly added to our listings, in virtually immaculate condition; no prices clipped, no gift dedications, ‘This Book Belongs To’ inscriptions or other interior markings, solid spines, tight corners and bright, vibrant colours, most of these could pass as brand new but for very slight tanning of interior pages due to age. Truly lovely items, awarded an average VF/NM grade, a designation we almost never apply to British Annuals. Depicted are Champion 1968 VF/NM £22.50, Hurricane 1966 VF/NM £22.50, Lion 1969 VF/NM £22.50 and Pow! 1969, a ‘mere’ VF at £20. Others in this ‘fab fifteen’ are Hurricane 1967, 1968 and 1970. Jag 1973. Lion 1967, 1970 and 1972, Lion Book of Great Conquerors 1970 and Pow! 1968, 1971 and 1972. Get them while you can – these beauties are going to be snapped up in no time! SORRY, THESE HAVE NOW SOLD
British Update: Long Hot Summer: Lion Summer/Holiday Specials, including the First From 1968
*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: Just like the weather, our Long Hot Summer event really hots up this week! We are delighted to have five scarce Lion Holiday and Summer Specials back in stock, commencing with the first proper Lion Special from 1968 (a 1967 “Lion Summer Spectacular Epic” had been used as a pilot the previous year, but featured no content from Lion weekly); 1968’s Summer Special, like the ‘Epic’, had a movie cover and theme, but most of the content was from Lion, and with 1969 onwards, the publishers felt confident enough to let the stars of the comic carry the covers. Robot Archie, The Steel Commando. Captain Condor. Adam Eterno, Gadgetman and Gimmick Kid, the Spider: a plethora of adventures awaits! This selection is unusually high-grade for items of this vintage, with only minimal edge & corner wear and lustrous cover colour. 1968’s Lion Summer Special is FN/VF £50, with free bonus (slightly misprinted) 1970 edition; 1969 Summer Special is FN/VF £35; 1971 Lion and Thunder Holiday Special FN/VF £35; 1972 Lion and Thunder Holiday Special VF £40 and 1975 Holiday Special VF £40. SORRY, THESE HAVE NOW SOLD
British Update: Saddle Up! Wild West Picture Library from #9 onwards
*Boys’ Adventure & War Picture Libraries: While the war-themed picture libraries are, other than the earliest issues, relatively plentiful, other genres, including Westerns, are less commonplace. One of the more popular Western PL’s was Fleetway/IPC’s Wild West Picture Library, which ran 111 issues from 1966. We have a scattershot of WW PL numbers, commencing with #9, ending with #93, in low to mid grades, and a few triple-thick Wild West Picture Library Holiday Specials from 1975 to 1978. Often beautifully drawn and with evocative painted covers, this series has often been overlooked, but is gaining steadily in popularity.
British Update: TV Century 21 – Dalek Cover Issues
*TV & Film Related Comics: Although all of TV Century 21’s first series is sought after, there is particular attention paid to the handful of issues which cover-star Terry Nation’s famous creation, the Daleks. Normally relegated to the (admittedly superbly-illustrated) back page, the most famous Doctor Who villains seldom got the chance to grace the front cover, and those issues are eagerly snapped up. We have five Dalek-starring covers – out of only six, we believe, which ran during the Dalek’s 104-issue sojourn in TV Century 21, all in very affordable low to mid grades, but with the Dalek cover images themselves unmarred. #23 is GD £40; #28 (the only one on which Dr. Who also appears, though it’s only the movie version) FA/GD £35; #36 FA/GD £35; #47 FA/GD £35; and #50 PR £20 (3″ horizontal tear through the second half of the comic, but cover image unharmed).
British Update: A Vintage Triple-Play of Girls’ Picture Libraries: Twin Hearts, My Own Romance and Emergency Ward 10
*Girls’ Picture Libraries: Emergency Ward 10, featuring characters and situations from the TV show of the same name, was published by Pearsons and was a companion to the confusingly-numbered TV Picture Library series we featured recently – but, being for ‘gurls’, was kept segregated rather than integrated with the mainstream. All we know is that it lasted at least 23 issues, because we have #23 FN £15, in stock, from 1960. Earlier (we suspect) are the two other entries this week, a pair of premiere issues: My Own Romance #1 from Miller FN £15 and the 100-page Twin Hearts Romance Library #1, published by Atlas (not that Atlas), FN £25. Dates are vague about the latter two, because they didn’t bother to print them, and online searches have proved unhelpful – but we’re going with the Fifties – unless (Esther Rantzen voice) you know better, in which case, feel free to tell us!
