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American Comics Update: The Midas Collection/Batmania: Batman Goes To War – #15 1943

Posted on 16th November 2024 by 30CC19th November 2024

*DC: Also from the Midas Collection, a war time issue of Batman, #15 from 1943, with the Caped Crusader firing a machine gun on the Jack Burnley cover, where the blurb urges: ‘Keep those bullets flying! Keep on buying War Bonds and Stamps!’ Four Batman stories inside, the lead with Catwoman (in a new costume), where the ambiguity of her relationship with Bruce Wayne is further explored. There’s also a gangster story where a criminal boss decides that he will use Batman’s methods against him and adopts a youngster to aid him. Thirdly there’s a war story which postulates different futures after the war, and a Christmas story where Batman & Robin play Santa for the loneliest men in the world. Cracking content by writers Jack Schiff, Don C Cameron and Bill Finger, artists Bob Kane, Jack Burnley and Jerry Robinson. This is a low grade copy. The cover is detached, with fingernail-size holes at both staples. There are cover tears at right edge, repaired by tape on the inside front cover. There are also small chips out along the right edge and a thumbnail chip out bottom edge. Four score lines vertically down the cover, with dust shadows at top left edge and bottom right, and a small stain on Batman’s cloak. Superficially, it looks like the top edge is trimmed, since the date and DC logo look clipped, but there is a white line along the bottom edge that suggests the cover was misaligned and it compares favourably with contemporary copies length-wise, so we don’t think any trimming has taken place. Inside the staples are firm at the spine, but off at the centrefold. Page quality isn’t too bad – off-white to cream with very slight tanning to some edges. At least all this makes this seminal issue relatively affordable!
PICTURED: BATMAN #15 FA £400 SOLD

 

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American Comics Update: The Midas Collection/Slab Happy: Wonder Woman Goes To Hell – #16 1946

Posted on 16th November 2024 by 30CC16th November 2024

*DC: Lastly from the Midas Collection this week, issue #16 of Wonder Woman features a three part story in which Wonder Woman travels to the planet Pluto, here portrayed as the kingdom of the mythological King Pluto, who attempts to use her and the Holiday Girls to light his world before mounting an assault on Earth. Written by Joye Hummel (under the house name of Charles Moulton) and drawn by Harry (HG) Peter.
PICTURED: WONDER WOMAN #16 CGG (PGX) 4.0 (VG) £295 This copy is slabbed and certified by CGG (which was the original name used by PGX before CGC presumably said ‘Oi!’) Case perfect, off-white pages. There is a central vertical crease down the top half of the comic which does not break colour, but I must say that it presents very well in its slab, with strong imagery. The image suffers a little from glare on the plastic case.

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American Comics Update: Mighty Marvel Firsts: Debut of the Sentinels in X-Men #14/15

Posted on 16th November 2024 by 30CC25th November 2024

*Marvel: The implacable robotic Sentinels, nemeses of the X-Men, have loomed large in the history of Marvel’s Mutant Heroes, making multiple appearances, each more fearsome than the last. The creations of a man determined to expunge the mutant genome from humanity, they emphasise the X-Men’s ‘otherness’, which is why they resonate so strongly with the readership. Here, we are pleased to present the first two appearances of the Sentinels in X-Men #14 and #15; the latter also includes the origin of the Beast. 
PICTURED: X-MEN
#14 VG/FN £225 A Marvel Pop Art Production. 1st Sentinels. Decent pence-printed copy with good cover colour. There is some handling and edge wear and minor creasing with faint colour breaks (but nothing that spoils the cover image), staples are attached and okay, pages are a supple white to off-white. SOLD
#15 VG/FN £85 2nd Sentinels; origin Beast. Decent pence-printed copy with strong cover colour. There is some handling and edge wear and short, minor creasing with faint colour breaks; stress marks at upper staple break colour. Staples are tight and firm at spine and centrefold, pages are a supple white to off-white. 

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American Comics Update: The Good Doctor Collection/Spider-Mania: Filling Gaps, inc 1st Venom Cameo

Posted on 16th November 2024 by 30CC25th November 2024

*Marvel: From the Good Doctor Collection, we’re filling a few gaps in our Amazing Spider-Man inventory this week, with half a dozen issues spread from the 1960s into the 1980s. There’s Spidey up against Kraven and the Vulture in #49, a prison story in #65, Iceman in #92, Jigsaw in #188, the Fly in #193 and the dramatic last page cameo of Venom in Todd McFarlane’s #299.
IN THIS UPDATE: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
#49 VG- p £35
#65 VG p £30
#92 FN/VF £43 (PICTURED)
#188 VF £18.75
#193 FN/VF £10
#299 VF £55 (PICTURED) 1st cameo Venom. Lovely clean, square and flat copy with just one stress mark at masthead spine. SOLD

 

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American Comics Update: Six Of The Best: Frank Miller Daredevils

Posted on 16th November 2024 by 30CC19th November 2024

*Marvel: Frank Miller, later of Dark Knight Returns and Sin City fame, made his name on the sightless swashbuckler Daredevil, starting in 1979. His stories centred mostly on DD himself of course, plus the menaces of the Kingpin and Bullseye, and the debut and fate of DD’s lost love Elektra, whose storyline comes to a close following her showdown with Bullseye in #181. Six consecutive issues here; the Punisher appears in a couple of issues, plus, with Miller still scripting, there’s a seamless transition to Klaus Janson on pencils in this sequence.
IN THIS UPDATE: DAREDEVIL ALL SOLD
#180 VF £14
Newsstand copy
#181 VF+ £30 (PICTURED)
Bullseye Vs Elektra
#182 VF £13
#183 VF £13
Punisher
#184 VF- £11.75
Punisher
#185 FN £5

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American Comics Update: IW/Super Extravaganza: Dr Fu Manchu #1

Posted on 16th November 2024 by 30CC19th November 2024

*IW/Super: We continue with our series of updates from that most esoteric publisher IW/Super. IW Publications was a short-lived comic book publisher in the late 1950s and early 1960s, named for the company’s owner Israel Waldman. Comics were published under both the IW and Super imprints and were notable for publishing unauthorised Golden Age reprints of other company’s properties. Usually these companies were out of business, but not always. Basically, it seemed to be whatever they could get their hands on that determined the esoteric nature of their output. Thus you get super-heroes, war, romance, western, funny animals, crime, horror, science fiction and just about every genre within their pages. Full details of what was reprinted in what are listed in our website catalogue. NB usually with newly-drawn covers. Over the next few months, we’ll be presenting a series of issues from this publisher; this week, the #1 and only Dr Fu Manchu, which reprints the Avon 1951 one-shot, the Mask Of Dr. Fu Manchu with art by the wonderful Wally Wood, assisted by Joe Orlando and Sid Check; the new cover is by Carl Burgos. Back up is a Flash Harper, news photographer story by A C Hollingsworth. This is a nice clean copy with minimal edge wear and some small stress marks at the spine which don’t break colour.
PICTURED: DR FU MANCHU #1 FN £45 SOLD

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American Comics Update: The Arch Collection/L B Cole Miasma: Terrors Of The Jungle #9

Posted on 16th November 2024 by 30CC16th November 2024

*Miscellaneous 1940-1959:  L B Cole was one of the most famous of Golden/Atomic Age cover artists. He drew in a variety of genres, and was artistic director at Star, illustrating 95% of the company’s covers; his lurid, feverish style, almost hallucinogenic, graced horror, science-fiction, jungle and romance alike. Terrors Of The Jungle was a sort of hybrid jungle and horror title. From our new Arch Collection this week: issue #9 features a new story by the stylishly attractive Jay Disbrow, a Tangi jungle queen reprint from an earlier issue of TOTJ and a Fox Jo-Jo Jungle King adventure with his mate Tanee. Of course it’s the wonderful L B Cole cover for which this issue is prized, with a very buxom Luana in the foreground, glowing before a group of savages in the jungle behind her (despite a very small arrival date on her thigh!). Although this copy is marred somewhat by wear and erosion along the right edge, the central image in all its wonderful colours, is unspoilt. There is some spine wear with small nicks top and bottom. Staples are tight and firm and page quality a decent off-white.
PICTURED: TERRORS OF THE JUNGLE #9 GD £125  

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American Comics Update: Six Of The Best: Gold Key & Archie/Red Circle Horror

Posted on 16th November 2024 by 30CC19th November 2024

*Horror/Mystery 1960-1980s: An update with a mixture of Gold Key and Archie/Red Circle horror/mystery tales.
IN THIS UPDATE: ALL SOLD
GOLD KEY
BORIS KARLOFF THRILLER #2 VG p £8.75 (PICTURED)
GRIMM’S GHOST STORIES #7 VF £9
RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT #49 FN+ p £5.25
ARCHIE/RED CIRCLE
CHILLING ADVENTURES IN SORCERY
#3 FN £9 (PICTURED)
#4 VG £6
MADHOUSE #97 GD £2

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American Comics Update: Sgt Fury #13 with Captain America & Bucky

Posted on 16th November 2024 by 30CC19th November 2024

*War: After issue #1, the most in-demand issue of Sgt Fury and his Howling Commandos is undoubtedly #13, wherein Nick and the Howlers team-up with Captain America & Bucky to win the war, or at least a fair chunk of it. This is a lovely, flat pence-stamped copy with a solid spine, good colour, good staples and virtually no markings. There is minimal wear along the top edge only, very slight corner blunting and supple off-white pages. 
PICTURED: SGT FURY #13 FN+ p £165 SOLD

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British Comics Update: Thriller Comics/Picture Library #99-118

Posted on 16th November 2024 by 30CC16th November 2024

*Boys’ Adventure & War Picture Libraries: This digest-sized comics series, most famous under its later title of Thriller Picture Library, ran for 450 issues until 1963, and while it featured a plethora of characters during its lengthy run, the trend for the early years was for historical swashbucklers based on fictional (but serendipitously copyright-free) characters, but also featuring crime, war, western and science-fiction adventures and sometimes (almost) real people! The artists were all accomplished Fleetway professionals, and readers thrived on these beautifully-illustrated pocket adventures. Nine issues between #99 and #118 featured this week, mostly towards mid-grade.
IN THIS UPDATE: THRILLER COMICS/PICTURE LIBRARY
#99 GD/VG £12.50
Claude Duval
#100 GD/VG £12.50
Buffalo Bill and the Battle of Sun Valley
#104 GD/VG £10
Musketeers At Bay
#105 GD £8
Captain Kidd of the Spanish Main
#111 GD £8
Strongbow the Mohawk
#115 GD £8
Guns at Broken Bow
#116 GD £8
The Cavalier and the Crown
#117 GD £8 (PICTURED)
Dick Turpin and the Phantom of the Highway.
#118 GD/VG £10
Robin Hood against Norman Foes

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Books Update: Re-Working Our Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Category: Robert Heinlein Part 2

Posted on 16th November 2024 by 30CC16th November 2024

*Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror: We’re continuing to introduce the new layout for our books categories, with an image for each book. This week, we return to our Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Category for the second part of our Robert A Heinlein re-listing. Heinlein was a Grand Master of science fiction, and alongside Asimov and Clarke, considered to be one of the ‘Big Three’ of the genre. His works were innovative in terms of the science, the perspective on social mores and political themes, and in them he speculated how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion and sex. Six books in our second visit to his works this week, the most famous among them being I Will Fear No Evil and The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress. The third and final part of our Heinlein updates will appear soon.
PICTURED: ALL BY ROBERT A HEINLEIN
THE GREEN HILLS OF EARTH Pan 1967 UK PB VG £3
I WILL FEAR NO EVIL Berkley Medallion 1971 1st US PB GD £5
THE MENACE FROM EARTH Corgi SF Collector’s Library 1974 UK PB VG £5
THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS Gollancz SF Masterworks 2008 UK HC VF £15
ORPHANS OF THE SKY Mayflower Dell 1965 1st UK PB VG £8
THE PAST THROUGH TOMORROW VOL 2 NEL 1979 1st UK PB VG £7

 

 

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Books Update: Queens Of Crime: Ngaio Marsh

Posted on 16th November 2024 by 30CC19th November 2024

*Crime, Spies & Sleaze:  From the Golden Age of crime fiction, we present four mysteries by one of the ‘Queens Of Crime’ (and the only non-British one), Ngaio Marsh, the New Zealand Dame who wrote of Inspector Roderick Alleyn, the gentleman detective, in a series of novels from 1934 to 1982. She was passionate about the theatre and art (she was also a Shakespearian producer) and these themes often appear in her work. Despite her nationality, the vast majority of her books are set in England and have a distinctive British air about them. Full details as always in our catalogue.
PICTURED: ALL BY NGAIO MARSH ALL SOLD
ARTISTS IN CRIME Fontana 1967 2nd UK PB thus GD £4
OVERTURE TO DEATH Fontana 1967 2nd UK PB thus VG £5
SWING, BROTHER, SWING Fontana Circa 1967 Probably 2nd UK PB thus GD £4
VINTAGE MURDER Fontana 1964 2nd UK PB thus GD £4

 

 

 

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Last order date before Christmas

Posted on 12th November 2024 by 30CC27th November 2024

Please note that the last date to place an order for postage before Christmas is Saturday 14th December, to catch our last pre-Christmas post on 17th December. Our next post after that will be in the New Year.

Full details of our festive period trading will be posted here shortly.

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A New Book: Secrets Of The Unknown – Alan Class

Posted on 11th November 2024 by 30CC11th November 2024

Our good friend Nick Neocleous has written a new book about Alan Class and his wonderful publications, which are such a nostalgia fest for us UK collectors who encountered them in newsagents and on newsstands as we were growing up. Profusely illustrated with many of the most famous covers on Alan’s publications, there are also numerous features and an extensive in-depth and brand new interview with Alan Class, touching on both his personal history and how his comics came about. Produced with the full co-operation of Alan Class, this A4 size book is in full colour, 124 pages, softcover. 

 

 

The regular edition sells for £19.99. There’s also a limited edition of 250 signed and numbered copies with a gold sticker on the front and an embossed feature inside. They will be numbered and signed by both Alan and Nick and will retail at £30.

The book should be available by mid-December. It can be pre-ordered up to 30th November on the project’s Kickstarter page at this link:

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/funkydates/secrets-of-the-unknown-alan-class?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=alan%20class&total_hits=1

We’ve seen an advance copy of many of the pages and can say that Nick’s done a tremendous job and we thoroughly endorse this project and are very happy to give a shout out to it here. It’s going to be a tremendous entertainment and resource to Alan Class collectors everywhere.

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American Comics Update: The Midas Collection/Slab Happy : World’s Best Comics #1 (1941)

Posted on 9th November 2024 by 30CC11th November 2024

*DC: Leading off Week 3 of our Midas Collection is something rather special.  World’s Best Comics #1, Spring 1941 (retitled World’s Finest Comics from #2 onwards) is the first of the long-running series starring DC’s biggest stars, Superman and Batman with Robin. Other strips in this giant 96 page issue include Crimson Avenger, Johnny Thunder, The King, Young Dr. Davis, Zatara, Lando, Man of Magic and Red, White & Blue. Writers include Siegel, Fox & Finger, artists Fleisel, Lampert, Gustavson, Purcell & Kane, with a classic cover from Fred Ray.
PICTURED: WORLD’S BEST COMICS #1 CGC 2.5 (GD+) £1,850. Universal blue label (unrestored). Case perfect, Cream to off-white pages. Cover detached. CGC Code: 06905096007. High resolution images are available on request. SOLD

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American Comics Update: The Midas Collection: Adventure Comics #96 (1945)

Posted on 9th November 2024 by 30CC9th November 2024

*DC: Also from the Midas Collection this week, a wartime issue of Adventure Comics, #96, with a Jack Kirby and Joe Simon Sandman cover. Inside are stories of Sandman, the Shining Knight, Starman and others. Not a bad copy, with a solid spine, good colour, tight, firm staples and supple off-white to cream pages. Wear is minimal; there is a tiny nick just inside the top of the spine, a 1 cm sliver out of the right edge towards the bottom, a previous owners’s name in what looks like wax crayon above the logo and white label residue over the Jap in the foreground (see scan). There is a small back cover tear with no loss.
PICTURED: ADVENTURE COMICS #96 GD/VG £150 

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American Comics Update: The Midas Collection: House Of Secrets #2, #6-8

Posted on 9th November 2024 by 30CC11th November 2024

*DC: Unlike its sibling title House Of Mystery, House of Secrets started in 1956 after the Comics Code Authority came in, and thus has no pre-code issues. What it does boast is clever horror/mystery/science fiction stories by some top artists and often classic covers. These early issues from the Midas Collection are not often seen on these shores and we have a quartet of low to mid-grade issues available.
PICTURED: HOUSE OF SECRETS
#2 GD/VG £60 Moreira art. Tiny holes at upper staples suggest removal from bound copy, but no other signs. Edge and corner wear.
#6 FA/GD £16 Gorilla cover. Lower 2/3rds spine split; loose centrefold.
#7 FA £12 Moreira art. Fabulous Circe cover. Spine almost entirely split, hanging on by bottom staple. SOLD
#8 VG- £38 Kirby art. Solid copy with some staining to bottom right corner.

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American Comics Update: Silver Surfer #1 1968

Posted on 9th November 2024 by 30CC9th November 2024

*Marvel: Following his debut in Fantastic Four #48, Norrin Radd, Herald of Galactus, gained popularity as a recurring guest star, and his status was confirmed when Marvel launched the Silver Surfer’s own series in the double-sized format in 1968. This premier issue featured, for the first time, John Buscema’s illustrations on the Surfer, a body of work generally acknowledged to be among his finest, and presented also for the first time a 38-page account of the Surfer’s origins, plus (in the back) a 13-page tale of the Watcher, detailing the reasons behind the Watcher’s oath of non-interference. The first run of the Surfer’s solo series has achieved cult status, with the first seven double-sized issues in particular being keenly sought out. This is a decent mid-grade copy, pence stamped, with rich colour and some gloss. The squarebound spine is intact, apart from an unobtrusive 3 cm split at the base. There is some wear to the right edge, slightly breaking colour, with a narrow 7 cm colour breaking crease across the top right corner down through the logo right border. Inside, the first wrap is not attached at the staple (Stapling on these is always a little hit and miss), but it is a clean flaw. Beautiful supple off-white page quality.
PICTURED: SILVER SURFER #1 VG/FN p £350

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American Comics Update: Spider-Mania/Mighty Marvel Firsts: The Totally Amazing Spider-Man Collection: Amazing #36, debut of Meteor Man (later Looter)

Posted on 9th November 2024 by 30CC11th November 2024

*Marvel: If you’re looking for really nice copies of Amazing Spider-Man for your collection, then look no further than the Totally Amazing Spider-Man Collection. All high grade; even the few that fall below VF (and most are above) are really good-looking copies – no duds here, and nearly all cents copies. Issue #36 of Amazing Spider-Man is one of Ditko’s last issues, where he introduces a typically stylish Ditko villain Meteor Man (who later rebranded himself as the Looter) in an action-packed epic. This is a beautiful clean white background copy where the colours pop, unmarked cover, very minor corner blunting, virtually no wear, near white pages and tight, firm staples. A very small dink at the base of the spine restricts the grade to VF.
PICTURED: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #36 VF £150 SOLD

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American Comics Update: The Good Doctor Collection: Thor #168/169 – the Origin of Galactus

Posted on 9th November 2024 by 30CC9th November 2024

*Marvel: In Thor #168 & #169, Lee and Kirby reveal the origin of Galactus in typically grandiose and bombastic style. Two essential cosmic gems from the Good Doctor Collection.
PICTURED: THOR
#168 FN p £75 Pence stamped. Nice copy with some gloss and good colour. Some corner blunting, minor handling wear. Firm, tight staples; whiite to off-white pages.
#169 VG+ p £40 Pence printed. Decent copy with some gloss and good colour. A little corner blunting, some edge and spine wear, but nothing nasty. Firm, tight staples; white to off-white pages. 

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American Comics Update: The Bute Collection: Fantastic Four x5

Posted on 9th November 2024 by 30CC11th November 2024

*Marvel: Five excellent Lee & Kirby Fantastic Fours from the Bute Collection this week: Sandman, Blastaar, Ben’s betrayal, the Mad Thinker and more.
IN THIS UPDATE: FANTASTIC FOUR
#61 FN £29
#63 FN p £23 SOLD
#68 FN+ p £27
#69 FN+ £26
#70 FN/VF £36

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American Comics Update: Six Of The Best: X-Men #202-207

Posted on 9th November 2024 by 30CC11th November 2024

*Marvel: Six more consecutive issues of the X-Men, as we continue John Romita Jr’s run on Marvel’s Merry Mutants. In these issues, the Sentinels (#202), the Beyonder (#203) Nightcrawler solo (#204 with guest artist June Brigman), Wolverine solo (with guest artist Barry Windsor-Smith), Freedom Force (#206) Wolverine & Phoenix (#307). High grades on all of these.
IN THIS UPDATE: X-MEN ALL SOLD
#202 NM £11.50
#203 VF £6.75
#204 VF/NM £9
#205 VF+ £14 (PICTURED)
#206 NM £11.50
#207 NM- £11

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American Comics Update: League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century: Complete set of 3 squarebound issues

Posted on 9th November 2024 by 30CC11th November 2024

*Miscellaneous 1960 Onwards: It’s quite rare that we stray into the 21st Century for our stock, but for Alan Moore, we’ll make an exception. Moore created, in conjunction with artist Kevin O’Neill, a Victorian era combination of characters from famous literary works: Captain Nemo, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Invisible Man and so forth. This unlikely and reluctant alliance faced down foes in two mini-series, then resurfaced periodically from various publishers in a number of one-offs, original graphic novels and spin-offs. The subject of a controversial film (which Moore publicly disavowed and condemned, and which is rumoured to have caused star Sean Connery to retire from acting!), the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics and graphic novels are of a much higher quality. Even if, over the intervening years, Moore’s narrative techniques have become ever more esoteric and oblique, there is much entertainment to be had in his shameless plundering of popular culture. This week we have the complete three volume set of Century, a graphic novella trilogy in three different time zones: 1910, 1969 & 2009. All in pristine condition, from an original owner collection.
PICTURED: LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN: CENTURY 1969 NM; COMPLETE SET OF 3 £15 SOLD

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American Comics Update: Full run of high quality, nice grade Comix International horror

Posted on 9th November 2024 by 30CC11th November 2024

*Vintage Magazine-Sized Comics: Warren, who in the 1970s were synonymous with horror magazines of the highest standard, really upped their game with this one. In 1974, they produced Comix International, a high quality, full colour magazine with stiff covers and top-notch artists. Low distribution meant that fewer copies were in circulation, and they are now much scarcer than some of Warren’s perhaps more famous titles such as Creepy & Eerie. The first issue is all Richard Corben, fan favourite and underground artist, with ten stories (up to 10 in each issue); artists in later issues (five issues were published) include Corben (again), Wood, Wrightson, Jeff Jones, Crandall and others. Each issue in this particular run is very nice grade, unmarked with virtually no wear. There is slight puckering to the spines, presumably due to glue shrinkage, but this is minor in all cases.  
IN THIS UPDATE: COMIX INTERNATIONAL ALL SOLD
#1 FN/VF £40 (PICTURED)
#2 FN/VF £23
#3 FN/VF £20
#4 FN £13
#5 FN/VF £20

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British Comics Update: Full set of Alan Class Tales From The Underworld #1-10

Posted on 9th November 2024 by 30CC11th November 2024

*Alan Class Reprints: Less often seen is this short run of one of Alan Class’s more obscure titles Tales From The Underworld. Starting in 1961 and lasting just 10 issues, this series reprinted Charlton crime comics, with many recurring features and characters. We have a rare chance to purchase a complete run of #1-10, sold as a set, with a very nice average grade of VG/FN.
PICTURED: TALES FROM THE UNDERWORLD #1 FN; COMPLETE SET #1-10 Av VG/FN £130 SOLD

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Books Update: Philip K Dick

Posted on 9th November 2024 by 30CC9th November 2024

*Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror: Philip K Dick is one of our best-selling authors; many would consider him the finest exponent of science-fiction of the late 20th century. I guess his themes of religion, drugs, counter culture and destructive relationships hold wide appeal. Following a huge sale of his stuff from our catalogue, we are pleased to be able to slightly replenish our stock with three more volumes.
PICTURED: ALL BY PHILP K DICK
THE DIVINE INVASION Corgi 1982 1st UK PB GD £8
THE SIMULACRA Methuen 1983 3rd UK PB GD/VG £8
THE UNTELEPORTED MAN Berkley 1983 2nd US PB VG £10  (first containing the ending as originally written by the author)

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Books Update: Re-Working Our Crime, Spies & Sleaze Category: Bulldog Drummond in a sleaze sandwich!

Posted on 9th November 2024 by 30CC11th November 2024

*Crime, Spies & Sleaze: We’re continuing to introduce the new layout for our books categories, with an image for each book. This week, we return to our Crime, Spies & Sleaze Category where we find the terribly British adventurer Bulldog Drummond in the middle of three pretty sleazy offerings. The first of these, Bewitched, features a particularly noteworthy art nouveau cover by David Wright, one of the greatest book cover artists of the 20th Century.
PICTURED:
LOUIS-CHARLES ROYER: BEWITCHED Harborough 1952 1st UK PB FA £15
DAVID ST GEORGE: DIAMOND DOLL Bedtime 1960 1st US PB VG £8
‘SAPPER’: THE BLACK GANG Everyman 1983 1st UK PB VG £5 Bulldog Drummond SOLD
TIM SELMARD: NAKED TALES Bell 1964 1st US PB GD £5

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Books Update: Queens Of Crime: Dorothy L Sayers

Posted on 9th November 2024 by 30CC11th November 2024

*Crime, Spies & Sleaze: The Golden Age Of Detective Fiction was surely between the 1920s and the 1950s, and in this period several women dominated the genre. Agatha Christie remains the most famous, but several of her contemporaries produced equally absorbing work. Like all her fellow ‘Queens’, Dorothy L Sayers moved detective fiction away from pure puzzles and towards works of characterisation and depth. Between 1923 and 1939, Sayers wrote 11 novels featuring the upper-class amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. In 1930, she introduced a leading female character, Harriet Vane, the object of Wimsey’s love. We have three Wimsey novels and one book of short stories featuring Wimsey and others in this update. Full details as always in our catalogue.
PICTURED: ALL BY DOROTHY L SAYERS ALL SOLD
FIVE RED HERRINGS NEL 1975 UK PB VG £3
HANGMAN’S HOLIDAY Penguin 1962 1st UK PB VG £4
HAVE HIS CARCASE Penguin 1964 3rd UK PB GD/VG £6
THE UNPLEASANTNESS AT THE BELLONA CLUB NEL 1973 UK PB VG £3

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American Comics Update: The Midas Collection/Batmania/Slab Happy: Batman #11 with 1st Joker cover in title (1942)

Posted on 2nd November 2024 by 30CC8th November 2024

*DC: Week 2 of the Midas Collection leads off with another absolute gem. Worthy of being a cornerstone of any vintage Golden Age Batman collection, Batman #11 features the first time the Joker appeared on the cover in this title, in an iconic and classic playing card design by Fred Ray and Jerry Robinson. The Joker appears in the lead story, and in the final story, the Penguin features. Stories by Bill Finger and Edmond Hamilton; art by Bob Kane with Jerry Robinson and George Roussos on inks. 
PICTURED: BATMAN #11 CGC 2.5 (GD+) £4,800. Universal blue label (unrestored). Case perfect. Off-white to white pages. CGC Code: 0111934003. A high resolution image is available on request.

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American Comics Update: The Midas Collection: Superman #45 & #46 (1947) in low grades

Posted on 2nd November 2024 by 30CC4th November 2024

*DC: A chance to grab some bargains from the Midas Collection with a couple of low grade issues of Superman from 1947. Both have three Superman stories with art by the stylish John Sikela, and stories by Jerry Siegel and Al Schwartz. #45 features a Jack Burnley cover, whereas #46 is cover illustrated by Wayne Boring; both covers feature the amusing humour of the time. #45 has the ‘Lois Lane, Superwoman’ story; the lead in #46 features Mr Mxyztplk.
PICTURED: SUPERMAN
#45 PR/FA £50 Cover detached from centre. Spine heavily worn with holes, but just about holding together. Edge wear and chipping. Staples are okay but rusty due to water damage which ripples and stains a little throughout the comic. But perfectly readable and complete, and possibly a little better than it sounds. SOLD
#46 FA £90 Cover appears to have been glued above top staple. There is a long and ragged 14 cm strip out of the back cover at the spine, but the front cover image is unaffected. Chip out top spine and central top cover above logo. Hard crease of about 7.5 cm across bottom right of cover. Some chipping at right edge and general edge wear. Staples and page quality are okay.

Posted in What's New

American Comics Update: Six Of The Best: Silver Age Flash

Posted on 2nd November 2024 by 30CC4th November 2024

*DC: Six issues of the Silver Age Flash in his prime, with Kid Flash, the Elongated Man, Abra-Kadabra (debut), Captain Boomerang, the Mirror Master and a Green Lantern crossover.
IN THIS UPDATE: FLASH
#124 GD/VG p £30
#125 GD- p £17.25 Off upper staple
#126 GD p £19.75 Restapled
#128 GD p £19.75 1st Abra Kadabra
#130 VG- p £34 Classic whodunnit super-villains cover. SOLD
#131 GD+ p £16.75 (PICTURED) Green Lantern crossover. Off lower staple.

Posted in What's New

American Comics Update: Anyone for seconds? Iron Man in Tales Of Suspense #40

Posted on 2nd November 2024 by 30CC2nd November 2024

*Marvel: it’s not very often we come across a copy of Iron Man’s second appearance in Tales Of Suspense #40. This is the one where he comes up against Gargantus – a neanderthal giant with a big club – and has the brainwave of changing his armour to gold (to make himself less frightening to women and children, natch). Thus Iron Man only stayed grey for one issue, just like the Hulk.
PICTURED: TALES OF SUSPENSE #40 GD p £200. A lower graded but perfectly serviceable copy of this significant issue. Pence printed. The cover scene is okay, but there are a fair number of colour-breaking creases across the logo, edges and centre. Slight nicks at top and bottom spine, and a bit tired overall. marvel chipping to right edge, but not too bad; small chip out edge back cover and edge wear generally with corner blunting. Staples are fairly tight at spine and centrefold and page quality is a reasonable off-white to cream.

Posted in What's New

American Comics Update: The Bute Collection: Mighty Marvel Firsts: Debuts of Medusa and Agatha Harkness

Posted on 2nd November 2024 by 30CC2nd November 2024

*Marvel: From the Bute Collection this week, the first appearances of two women vital to the story of Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four. Medusa (then Madam Medusa) was the first of the Inhumans to appear in Marvel continuity, as a member of the Wizard’s Frightful Four in Fantastic Four #36; later she became an ally (and indeed member) of our heroic team, although her heart has always remained with her kinfolk. Agatha Harkness has long been a staunch ally of the Fantastic Four and a mentor to the Scarlet Witch, but has occasionally shown darker tendencies and a mordant sense of humour. In her debut in Fantastic Four #94, she’s hired by Reed and Sue to look after ‘Little Franklin’, but her role develops into more than just a baby-sitter, particularly when the Frightful Four make the scene.
PICTURED: FANTASTIC FOUR
#36 VF- £250 An outstanding clean, bright copy, with no marks or creases, glossy and vibrant. Off-white to white pages and firm, tight staples. Just very minor edge and corner wear, but in highly desirable condition.
#94 VF- p £120 A pence printed copy with great colour and gloss. Near white pages and firm, tight staples. No marks or creases, just very minor edge and corner wear. 

Posted in What's New

American Comics Update: The Good Doctor Collection: Mighty Marvel Firsts: Debut of Weapon Alpha (and more)

Posted on 2nd November 2024 by 30CC2nd November 2024

*Marvel: A quartet of X-Men from the Good Doctor Collection this week, starting with #109, featuring the debut of Weapon Alpha, Wolverine’s former colleague who would soon be rebranded as Vindicator, leader of John Byrne’s Alpha Flight. Also, an encounter with Arcade in #111, a tangle with Sauron in the Savage Land in #115, and something of Professor X’s and Storm’s origins in #117. 
IN THIS UPDATE: X-MEN
#109 FN p £50 (PICTURED)
#111 VF p £39
#115 VG/FN p £21
#117 VF- p £33

Posted in What's New

American Comics Update: IW/Super Extravaganza: Complete run of Danger

Posted on 2nd November 2024 by 30CC4th November 2024

*IW/Super: We continue with our series of updates from that most esoteric publisher IW/Super. IW Publications was a short-lived comic book publisher in the late 1950s and early 1960s, named for the company’s owner Israel Waldman. Comics were published under both the IW and Super imprints and were notable for publishing unauthorised Golden Age reprints of other company’s properties. Usually these companies were out of business, but not always. Basically, it seemed to be whatever they could get their hands on that determined the esoteric nature of their output. Thus you get super-heroes, war, romance, western, funny animals, crime, horror, science fiction and just about every genre within their pages. Full details of what was reprinted in what are listed in our website catalogue. NB usually with newly-drawn covers. Over the next few months, we’ll be presenting a series of issues from this publisher; this week, a complete run of the 7 issues of Danger, with each issue reprinting a different series of a 1940s/50s crime and adventure title with the odd bit of super-hero thrown in. Of particular note is #16, which features a previously unpublished issue of Yankee Comics, starring Yankee Girl. NB, the issue numbers shown form the complete series (as we always say, IW’s numbering system was esoteric, to put it mildly).
IN THIS UPDATE: DANGER ALL SOLD
10 VG/FN £6.25 Reprints Great Comics #1 (Novack 1945). New cover by John Severin.
11 VG+ £5.75 Reprints Danger #1 (Toby 1954). New cover by Ross Andru.
12 VG/FN £6.25 Reprints Red Seal #13 (Chesler 1945). New cover by Ross Andru.
15 FN- £7 Reprints Spy Cases #26 (Marvel Atlas 1950) New cover by Ross Andru.
16 VG £10 (PICTURED) Not reprinted, but unpublished/undistributed; probably intended for Yankee Comics (Dynamic 1941 series) #5. New cover by Ross Andru.
17 VG £5 Reprints Scoop #8 (Chesler 1944). New Ross Andru cover.
18 GD/VG £4 Reprints Guns Against Gangsters V1#5 (Novelty 1948). New Ross Andru cover.

Posted in What's New

American Comics Update: The Arch Collection: It’s A Jungle Out There: 2 late Fight Comics with Tiger Girl

Posted on 2nd November 2024 by 30CC2nd November 2024

*Miscellaneous 1940-1959: From our fabulous Arch Collection, two late issues of Fight Comics published in 1951/52 by Fiction House. For much of the second half of its run Fight cover featured Tiger Girl, an Indian princess of Indian/Irish parentage transposed into the African jungle with her pet tiger. This included a nice run of covers by Maurice Whitman, two examples of which are included here. But Fight wasn’t just a jungle comic; crime, war and adventure strips could also be found within its pages, such as Kayo Kirby, Rip Carson and more. 
PICTURED: FIGHT COMICS
#77 FN £75 Nice solid copy with bright, unmarked cover. Staples tight at spine and centrefold; white to off-white pages. Only very minor edge wear.
#80 GD/VG £30 Cover unmarked but for small chips missing at upper corners and base of spine. Cover printed very slightly off centre so that a tiny strip of image is showing ’round the back’. Moderate spine wear but decent pages and staples.

Posted in What's New

American Comics Update: The Midas Collection: All American Western

Posted on 2nd November 2024 by 30CC4th November 2024

*Western: Also from the Midas Collection this week, five issues of DC’s All-American Western from 1948-1952. Continuing numbering from All American Comics, #103 (featured here) was the first issue under this title; #126 (also featured here) was the last, when another genre change with #127 saw it rebranded as All American Men Of War. A great artistic line-up, with Johnny Thunder by Alex Toth, Overland Coach by Irwin Hansen, Minstrel Maverick by Bernie Krigstein and Foley of the Fighting 5th by Joe Kubert. NB Krigstein only in #103 of issues here, Gil Kane in #108 & 117, Frank Giacoia in #117 & #126, no Toth in #126, replaced by Carmine Infantino.
PICTURED: ALL AMERICAN WESTERN
#103 FA #40 1st issue. Extra staple; covers almost off. SOLD
#106 GD+ £38
#108 VG- £42 Name in biro on cover background.
#117 VG £36
#126 GD £18 Final issue. Spine roll SOLD

Posted in What's New

British Comics Update: Complete run of Terrific #1-43

Posted on 2nd November 2024 by 30CC4th November 2024

*Power Comics: A great opportunity to acquire a compete run of one of Power’s famous 1960s series, Terrific, in one fell swoop. Issue #1-43 (the full series, dating from 1967/68)) available as a complete set. Reprinting Marvel’s Avengers, Dr Strange, Sub-Mariner and Giant-Man & the Wasp stories, these were augmented by original British strip Don Starr (under various story titles) and some original British artwork such as rear cover pin-ups occasionally by Barry Smith (before the Windsor!).  Condition-wise, these average GD/VG, a few higher, a few lower; the occasional bit of staple rust, small tear or fold, but nothing horrible and all complete,  NB For sale as a complete set only, individually bagged and boarded; free gifts are NOT present.
PICTURED: SAMPLE COPIES OF TERRIFIC. COMPLETE SET #1-43  Av GD/VG £225 SOLD

Posted in What's New

Books Update: Re-Working Our Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Category: Robert Heinlein Part 1

Posted on 2nd November 2024 by 30CC4th November 2024

*Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror: We’re continuing to introduce the new layout for our books categories, with an image for each book. This week, we return to our Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Category for the first part of our Robert A Heinlein re-listing. Heinlein was a Grand Master of science fiction, and alongside Asimov and Clarke, considered to be one of the ‘Big Three’ of the genre. His works were innovative in terms of the science, the perspective on social mores and political themes, and in them he speculated how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion and sex. On our first visit to his books this week, we feature long and short time travel stories in the Assignment In Eernity volumes, a typical extrapolation of science and technology in Beyond This Horizon, a post-disaster tour de force in The Day After Tomorrow, classic space opera in Double Star and breath-taking adventure in Glory Road. More details may be found in our catalogue. 
PICTURED: ALL BY ROBERT A HEINLEIN
ASSIGNMENT IN ETERNITY Digit 1962 1st UK PB VG £5
ASSIGNMENT IN ETERNITY VOL 2 NEL 1978 UK PB VG £5
BEYOND THIS HORIZON Panther 1975 3th UK PB FN £5
THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW NEL 1974 UK PB VG £4 SOLD
DOUBLE STAR Panther 1974 UK PB VG £6
GLORY ROAD NEL 1976 UK PB GD £4

Posted in What's New

Books Update: British Library Crime Classics

Posted on 2nd November 2024 by 30CC4th November 2024

*Crime, Spies & Sleaze: We’ve been fortunate enough to acquire a selection of British Library Crime Classics, a contemporary series which reprints classic novels from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, bound in attractive uniform editions which feature period paintings as their covers. A celebration of famous and forgotten authors and a milestone in publishing for the British Library. All books are in like new, unread condition at a uniform price of £5 each. Further information is shown in our catalogue. Here’s the first six of them:
BRITISH LIBRARY CRIME CLASSICS ALL SOLD
LOIS AUSTEN-LEIGH: THE INCREDIBLE CRIME 2017 UK PB Originally published 1931
Like New £5
JOHN BUDE: DEATH ON THE RIVIERA 2016 UK PB  Originally published 1952 
Like New £5
MARTIN EDWARDS (Ed): RESORTING TO MURDER 2015 1st UK PB Short crime stories with a holiday theme; Conan Doyle, Hornung, Chesteron and many more
Like New £5
JEFFERSON FARJEON: SEVEN DEAD  2017 UK PB Originally published 1939
Like New £5
MAVIS DORIEL HAY: DEATH ON THE CHERWELL 2014 UK PB  Originally published 1935 Like New £5
E C R LORAC: MURDER BY MATCHLIGHT 2018 UK PB Originally published 1945
Like New £5

Posted in What's New

Our Prestige Collections explained

Posted on 2nd November 2024 by 30CC2nd November 2024

In our Extras section (found in the Menu Bar on the left), you’ll now find the following:

Over the decades we’ve been trading, we’ve been very fortunate, among the hundreds of thousands of vintage items we’ve had through our hands, to have had many prestigious collections that are famed for their quality, rarity and value and have something very distinctive about them. Several of these are still current for us and being worked on as of October 2024 when this piece was written. We thought it prudent to give the run-down on these collections which you’ll see referenced on our What’s New page and throughout our online catalogue. 

The Midas Collection (for a Touch of Gold). October 2024. The Midas Collection is so named because it is all American Golden Age (or pre-distribution early Silver) comics from the 1930s (yes!), 40s and 50s. All DC; a comprehensive collection of Batman and Superman, but a substantial amount of other DC titles in many genres: super-hero (of course), but also science fiction, war, western, horror, adventure, romance, crime and humour. A mixture of grades, with dozens of slabbed copies among them. Simply the best pure DC collection that’s ever passed through our hands. Starting in October 2024, and continuing weekly, we’ll be releasing a selection of these as fast as we can manage. Fasten your seat-belts, fellow panelologists – thrills ahead! Sign up for our newsletter, and/or keep an eye on our What’s New Page every Saturday morning to see what’s available each week. 

 

 

The Arch Collection. September 2024. A new prestige collection of vintage American comics from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. This collection contains a wide variety of material from different publishers and will include plenty of comics that we don’t have in stock (or in some cases, never have had), with an emphasis on the esoteric. At the owner’s request, we’re calling it the Arch Collection, and you’ll find comics from it marked with a distinctive branding on our labels, on our What’s New page and referenced in our listings.

 

 

 

The Bute Collection. April 2022. Named after a favourite place of the owner (Bute is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland), this is the personal reference collection of a working comics artist and author who wishes to remain anonymous. Derived from a multiplicity of sources over decades, but characterised by an astonishing depth, breadth and diversity of American and British items from the 1930s onwards, including many seldom seen on these shores, in a variety of grades. If you’re a lover of vintage comics, you’ll enjoy the ride, and you’re certain to find many comics you’d love to add to your collection.

 

 

 

The Totally Amazing Spider-Man Collection. January 2022. This is devoted exclusively to Amazing Spider-Man and covers almost every issue of Amazing. The notable feature of the TASM Collection is that all issues are high grade, averaging VF/VF+. If you’re looking for really nice copies of Amazing Spider-Man for your collection, then look no further than this Collection. No duds here, and nearly all cents copies.

 

 

The Good Doctor Collection. September 2021. This is a comprehensive collection representing a lifetime’s hobby by one of the UK’s most dedicated collectors. It is a mixture of original owner copies and copies sourced from the UK’s most significant dealers (including ourselves); the Good Doctor was very meticulous and patient in collecting nice copies where available and that is reflected throughout this 1500+ collection of Silver and early Bronze Age Marvel titles. All of the important Marvel titles are included and in virtually complete runs from early numbers upwards. 

 

 

The Alan Class Private Collection. For over 20 years, Alan Class has chosen us to market both the file copies from his Archives and the printing plate sets used to produce them. You can read more about these here. Even today, Alan is still unearthing the odd gem from his vaults for us.

 

 

 

 

The Square Mile Collection: December 2019. You’ll still find a few of these in our listings, although the vast majority of this prestigious collection has now sold; we completed listing them in 2020. You can read about it here: https://30thcenturycomics.co.uk/extras/the-square-mile

Posted in What's New

Order allocation following Newsletter (including adjustment for the Midas Collection)

Posted on 2nd November 2024 by 30CC2nd November 2024

We just wanted to remind you how our order allocation system works for new stock that’s featured in our Newsletter/What’s New page each week.

We now draw lots for those relatively few items that get clashing orders following new stock releases in our Newsletter. We think this gives everyone a fairer chance of getting what they want, at the same time removing the pressure for customers to order in a hurry and thus make mistakes or change their minds. This is also fairer for those who may be busy when the Newsletter is issued, or for non-UK customers in different time zones. This applies to orders received following the Saturday Newsletter (issued around 10 am) up to 4 pm on the same day, after which we revert to first come, first served. Wherever possible, we shall be advising you after 4 pm of the results of your Newsletter order. 

For the Midas Collection only, we have extended that order deadline to 6 am on the Sunday morning following the Newsletter, such has been the global response to this wonderful opportunity, so that collectors around the world have an equal chance. After 6 a.m. on Sunday, all Midas stock from the Newsletter for that week reverts to a first come, first served basis. If you place an order for Midas items, we’ll advise you of the result after 6 a.m. on Sunday.

So, a timeline to summarise:

9 – 11 am Saturday: Newsletter sent; What’s New page and Catalogue updated

4 pm Saturday: Orders checked for clashes and, if required, draw made to determine successful orders.

After 4 pm Saturday: Emails sent to advise draw results.

Midas Collection only

6 am Sunday: Orders checked for clashes and if required, draw made to determine successful orders. 

After 6 am Sunday: Emails sent to advise draw results. 

The vast majority of items we sell don’t get clashing orders, so most orders will be successful. But please remember that in nearly all cases, we will only have one copy of any given item and inevitably, when it’s one in high demand, someone is going to be disappointed at missing out.

 

Posted in What's New

Announcing… The Midas Collection – For A Touch Of Gold

Posted on 26th October 2024 by 30CC26th October 2024

We’ve been blessed over the years with some wonderful prestige collections which have come our way, and our latest is quite sensational. The Midas Collection is so named because it is all American Golden Age (or pre-distribution early Silver) comics from the 1930s (yes!), 40s and 50s. All DC; a comprehensive collection of Batman and Superman, but a substantial amount of other DC titles in many genres: super-hero (of course), but also science fiction, war, western, horror, adventure, romance, crime and humour. A mixture of grades, with dozens of slabbed copies among them. Simply the best pure DC collection that’s ever passed through our hands. Starting this week, and continuing weekly, we’ll be releasing a selection of these as fast as we can manage. Fasten your seat-belts, fellow panelologists – thrills ahead! Sign up for our newsletter, and/or keep an eye on our What’s New Page every Saturday morning to see what’s available each week.   

Posted in What's New

American Comics Update: The Midas Collection/Slab Happy: Superman #2 (1939) CGC 4.5

Posted on 26th October 2024 by 30CC8th November 2024

*DC: We commence our listings from the Midas Collection with Superman #2 from 1939. What a way to start, and also to re-start our Slab Happy listings, which is the nickname we use for third party encapsulated comics. This second issue of Superman’s own series is a significant landmark in the history of American comics and popular culture. Three crime-related stories written by Jerry Siegel and drawn by Joe Shuster, Superman’s creators, inks by Paul Cassady. CGC 4.5 (VG+), unrestored universal grade, case perfect. CGC Code: 1200270001. One of most valuable and iconic comics we’ve ever had in stock. 
PICTURED: SUPERMAN #2 CGC 4.5 £12,500

Posted in What's New

American Comics Update: The Midas Collection/Batmania: Batman #62 – Origin of the Catwoman (1950)

Posted on 26th October 2024 by 30CC26th October 2024

*DC: A real gem to ‘open our account’ of Golden Age Batman from the Midas Collection. The lead story in the much sought after Batman #62 is The Secret Life of the Catwoman, in which Selina Kyle saves Batman’s life and reforms; along the way we learn something of her past. Catwoman’s ambiguity has been a major feature of her role in the DCU ever since. There’s also a superb Batman in England story, where he and Robin encounter the Knight and the Squire, their English equivalents and a third story, a Millionaire Island mystery. Cover by Win Mortimer; art by Bob Kane and Dick Sprang; mostly written by Bill Finger. A decent copy with strong colour cover (an effective graduated red to orange background). Wear is minimal with some corner blunting. Miniscule chip out at centre right edge. Staples are well attached throughout, although there is a little looseness at the top staple, below which there is a tiny hole in the spine. Supple pages are towards off-white. An excellent copy with great eye appeal. High resolution images are available on request. Tune in next week for more Golden Age Batman – same Bat-Time, same Bat-Website.
PICTURED: BATMAN #62 VG- £700

 

Posted in What's New

American Comics Update: The Midas Collection: Strange Adventures #4-6

Posted on 26th October 2024 by 30CC28th October 2024

*DC: For our first foray from the Midas Collection outside the world of super-heroes, we visit DC’s premier science fiction title, Strange Adventures for a trio of consecutive issues #4-6 from 1951 in very consistent grading. Julius Schwartz was the uncredited editor for this title, and creators included writers Edmond Hamilton, Gardner Fox and Schwartz himself; artists included Jim Mooney, Curt Swan, Howard Sherman, Carmine Infantino and the fabulous Virgil Finlay, among many others. The series went on to have a very respectable 244 issue run into the 1970s.with a wealth of wonderful stories and memorable characters; it’s fascinating to trace that back to its beginnings. Great covers on all.
PICTURED: STRANGE ADVENTURES
#4 VG- £85 Good colour, nice white to off-white pages, no marks. The staples are a little worn at front cover, but are well attached throughout. Printed slightly askew so that there is a very slight bit of white spine down the top half, but not a significant defect. Narrow reading crease next to spine breaks colour, but a nice copy.
#5 VG- £70 Good colour, nice white to off-white pages, no marks. The staples are a little worn at front cover, but are well attached throughout. Bottom right corner has a few very short colour-breaking creases and there is some minor edge wear, but a very respectable copy. SOLD
#6 VG- £70 Good colour, nice white to off-white pages, no marks. The staples are well attached at spine and throughout. Quite faint colour-breaking creases at top right corner and very extremity of bottom right. Tiny bit of a reading crease central spine. A little corner blunting but minimal wear.

Posted in What's New

American Comics Update: Spider-Mania/Mighty Marvel Firsts: The Master Planner Trilogy – Amazing #31-33

Posted on 26th October 2024 by 30CC26th October 2024

*Marvel: The Master Planner trilogy, appearing in Amazing Spider-Man #31-33 is one of the greatest storylines from the Lee & Ditko formative years on one of the world’s most iconic comic characters. The Master Planner himself of course turns out to be one of Spidey’s most infamous foes, but we don’t want to reveal that on the slim off-chance that you don’t already know. Within this compelling storyline, we are first introduced to Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn and Professor Warren in #31, and #33 features the classic cover with Spidey imprisoned under heavy machinery with water flooding down. Many people (self included) cite the moment inside when he breaks free as their all-time favourite moment in Spider-Man’s history.
PICTURED: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
#31 GD/VG p £150 Pence printed, a ‘Marvel Pop Art Production’. Structurally sound with good cover colour; supple off-white to cream (at the edges) pages and tight, firm staples. Some edge wear with short colour-breaking creases across bottom right corner and at top between mast-head and logo. There are also two longer colour-breaking creases (about 5-6 cm) up from the bottom edge. The cover was folded off-centre in production so that 0.5 cm of the cover image is over the fold on the back cover. Edges of inside covers are tanned but not brittle.
#32 GD/VG p £55 Pence printed with good cover colour and gloss. Minor edge wear with tiny chip out centre right edge and small flake off bottom right cover corner (see scan). Tight, firm staples and decent off-white pages. Dust shadow along cover right edge. Edges of inside covers are tanned but not brittle.
#33 VG p £110 Pence printed with excellent cover colour and gloss. Tiny chips out top, right  and bottom edges (1 each) and a colour-breaking crease of about 2 cm across bottom right corner. Other than that, no notable other wear except for slight corner blunting. Staples are tight and firm; pages are supple and white to off-white. Edges of inside covers are a little tanned but not brittle.

Posted in What's New

American Comics Update: The Good Doctor Collection: Six Of The Best: Strange Tales #151-156 with 1st Steranko SHIELD

Posted on 26th October 2024 by 30CC28th October 2024

*Marvel: This week’s excursion into the Good Doctor Collection features six consecutive issues of Strange Tales, starting with #151, which featured the debut of fan favourite writer/artist Jim Steranko on Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD. What a great period for this title, with Dr Strange by Bill Everett and Marie Severin to boot. Mostly reasonable to very nice copies here.
IN THIS UPDATE: STRANGE TALES
#151 FN/VF £47 (PICTURED)
#152 VF- £35
#153 VG+ p £11.75 SOLD
#154 VG+ p £11.75 SOLD
#155 FN/VF p £26
#156 GD+ p £6.75 SOLD

Posted in What's New

American Comics Update: Low Grade Silver Age Marvels

Posted on 26th October 2024 by 30CC28th October 2024

*Marvel: Sometimes in a collection we buy in, there are one or two low grade examples. Whilst we prefer to deal in more collectable graded copies, we have gathered together a small number of these for those of you who are happy with reading copies; all tatty but complete.
IN THIS UPDATE: ALL SOLD
AVENGERS
#41 GD- £6
#43 FA £4 1st Red Guardian; cover graffiti.
IRON MAN ANNUAL #1 FA/GD p £4.75
TALES OF SUSPENSE
#88 FA £3.25
#89 FA p £3
TALES TO ASTONISH
#91 GD p £13.75 (PICTURED) 1st Abomination cover 
#100 GD- p £6.50 Full length Sub-Mariner/Hulk story

Posted in What's New

American Comics Update: Venom: The Enemy Within: Complete Set #1-3

Posted on 26th October 2024 by 30CC28th October 2024

*Marvel: Ideal for Halloween with the delightful glow-in-the-dark cover on issue #1, comes the complete three issue mini-series of Venom: The Enemy Within. This is the one with Morbius and the Demogoblin, all in pristine NM condition. If you like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing you’ll like.
PICTURED: VENOM: THE ENEMY WITHIN #1; Complete Set #1-3 All NM £25 SOLD

Posted in What's New

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