*DC: Three more Golden Age issues of Batman from the Midas Collection this week, featuring the Joker, the Penguin, Vicki Vale and many others.
PICTURED: BATMAN
#56 VG £240 Cover by Dick Sprang. Interior art by Sprang and Jim Mooney. Stories by David Vern and Bill Finger. The Caped Crusaders are in Latin America to train a local law-keeper, Bat-Hombre. The Penguin must commit seven different crimes with seven different birds in order to claim an inheritance. Batman and Robin find themselves continually upstaged by a reporter who is able to solve the crimes before them. A reasonable copy with an unmarked white background cover. A good spine with staples well connected, although the lower is a tiny bit pulled. Minor wear to right edge and some corner blunting. Supple off-white pages. There is a tiny chip off at the very top of the spine which is present. 
#57 GD £215 Cover by Win Mortimer. Interior art by Dick Sprang, Mortimer, Bob Kane and Lew Sayre Schwartz. Bruce Wayne’s moral character is questioned when he is framed for acts he did not commit. An ancient mummy comes to life and goes on a crime spree in Gotham. The Joker escapes from prison intent on proving that he is the world’s greatest comedian. Centrefold is a 1950 calendar (which is present). Decent cover but off both staples, which are otherwise firm. Wear and tear to right edge and spine. Nice pages are supple and off-white. 
#58 FA+ £120 Cover by Dick Sprang. Interior art by Sprang, Bob Kane and Lew Sayre Schwartz. Stories by Bill Woolfolk and Bill Finger. The Penguin launches a series of crimes based the official state bird of the victims’ native state. Batman and Robin travel back in time to 1854 (as you do) to solve the mystery of a missing fortune. Criminal mastermind Black Diamond breaks four convicts out of prison and assigns them with the task of eliminating Batman and Robin. A lower-graded copy with much chipping at all edges. Tape at spine inside covers. Staples seem firm. Pages are off-white to cream.  

*DC: A gang of misfits endowed with strange powers and led by a guy in a wheelchair… sound familiar? Yes, you knew it was the Doom Patrol, didn’t you? Debuting in My Greatest Adventure #80 (June 1963, a few months before the X-Men), the Doom Patrol took over that title, as eventually it morphed with #86 into their own title. Five consecutive issues in mixed grades this week, with plenty of Beast Boy for good measure. 
IN THIS UPDATE: DOOM PATROL ALL SOLD
#108 VG+ p £11.75
#109 FN £14.75 (PICTURED)
#110 App GD+ p £3.50 Ad page out
#111 VG+ p £10
#112 GD £5

*Marvel: In Daredevil #18 the Gladiator made his debut in a story dripping in atmosphere, standing out due to his sinister spinning wrist buzz-saw blades. Drawn and designed by Jazzy John Romita in one of his last outings on the title before switching to Spider-Man. The Gladiator featured again in the following issue alongside the Masked Marauder as DD fought the underworld. A blistering two-parter from the pen of Stan Lee.
PICTURED: DAREDEVIL
#18 VG/FN p £50 1st Gladiator. Pence printed. Decent clean copy with cover wear restricted to a very slightly ragged top edge. Firm, tight staples and supple creamy pages. Inside covers have slightly tanned edges but are not brittle. 
#19 VF+ £75 2nd Gladiator. A superior copy with great colours and nice reflectivity. Only extremely minor top right edge and corner wear. Tight, firm staples and white to off-white pages. 

*Horror/Mystery 1960-1980s: A cheap and cheerful (?) selection of thrills and chills from Charlton, Harvey and Marvel this week.
IN THIS UPDATE: ALL SOLD
CHARLTON
BEYOND THE GRAVE #2 VG+ £2.50 Modern Comics Version
GHOSTLY TALES #164 VG p £3.25
SHADOWS FROM BEYOND #50 VG- £7.25
MARVEL
MAN-THING #10 GD £2.75
VAULT OF EVIL #7 VG £5
HARVEY
ALARMING ADVENTURES #3 VG p £8.25

*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: Space Ace, Guardian of the Universe, was a 33 issue series from Atlas publishing which ran from 1960 to 1963, starring the titular character, an interplanetary adventurer first introduced in Lone Star. Space Ace was an anthology title and also featured several other strips such as Flash the Dog Deputy and Sinbad the Sailor. Seven issues here, in black and white and mixed grades in the faux American size and style, including #33, the final issue. 
IN THIS UPDATE: SPACE ACE
ALL SOLD
#9 FN £12 (PICTURED)
#10 FN/VF £13.50 (PICTURED)
#20 GD £8 Back cover tears; coupon filled in; minor scribble lower cover
#30 GD £8 Spine taped
#31 GD £8
#32 GD £8
#33 FA £6 Final issue

*Crime, Spies & Sleaze: New in this week, four books of the Saint by Leslie Charteris, all in classic Pan editions from the late 1950s/early 1960s with excellent painted covers. All volumes feature either short or longer stories or a novel of the classic adventurer later made famous on TV by Roger Moore. More details, of course, in our catalogue.
PICTURED: BY LESLIE CHARTERIS ALL SOLD
CALL FOR THE SAINT Pan 1958 2nd UK PB thus GD £4
ENTER THE SAINT Pan 1965 4th UK PB thus GD £4
THE SAINT AND MR TEAL Pan 1957 1st UK PB thus FA/GD £4
SAINT OVERBOARD Pan 1958 3rd UK PB thus GD £4

*DC: Three  #1 issues from Jack Kirby’s return to DC in the 1970s from the Bute Collection. 
PICTURED: 
FOREVER PEOPLE #1 VF+ p £140 There’s a lot to say about Forever People #1. Not only is it the debut of the Forever People themselves and the pivotal Fourth World character Infinity Man, but it’s also the first full appearance of Darkseid (third anywhere). That is to say, although it’s listed as such in the Overstreet Price Guide and widely regarded as the first full appearance of the classic DC arch-villain, we’re not convinced that just three panels of the Big Bad (and on video screens at that) really constitutes his first full appearance. Still, you pays yer money and you takes yer choice. One of the more entertaining aspects of this issue is seeing guest star Superman rendered by Al Pastino alongside Kirby’s characteristic style — a strange experience. An outstanding copy with great colours, square corners, nice reflectivity, tight staples and supple white to off-white pages. Just very minor wear to the extremity of the bottom right corner. Pence stamped. 
KAMANDI #1 VF- £50 SOLD Following his critically-acclaimed ‘Fourth World’ series of intersecting titles at DC, Jack Kirby branched out into three stand-alone series. One such was Kamandi, a.k.a. ‘The Last Boy On Earth’, doubtless influenced by the then-ongoing Planet of the Apes phenomenon. Kamandi showed a post-apocalyptic future in which all humanity apart from our titular hero had degraded to virtual beasts, oppressed by all manner of super-evolved animals. Later attempts by other, lesser talents have been made to link this in with the greater DC Universe, but most folk prefer to think of the original 59 issue run from 1972 to 1978 as a self-contained odyssey. We have issue #1 of this cult series, a cents copy with no pence price or overstamp, a nice copy with great colours and gloss, fairly minimal spine wear, white pages. The bottom staple is neatly off the cover. 
MISTER MIRACLE #1 FN/VF £85 SOLD The best-received of Jack Kirby’s Fourth World at the time of its release, Mister Miracle told the story of Scott Free, a child of New Genesis who was raised in the fire-pits of Apokalips, in an exchange of royal hostages between the two warring planets. Escaping from Apokalips to Earth, Scott continued his adventures as the World’s Greatest Escape Artist, aided by his trusty companion Oberon, and continuing in the tradition of the previous Mister Miracle, a travelling escapologist. The combination of super-heroics, showmanship and space-opera made for a compelling read, and Mister Miracle, like the rest of Kirby’s 1970s creations, has continued to have a resounding impact on the DC Universe since his inception. This is a very reasonable copy with some handling wear at the spine, good colours and reflectivity, white to off-white pages and nice staples, the lower being off the centrefold. 

*DC: You know, there was a time when the comic book industry wasn’t dominated by super-powered folks in tights hitting each other, and in those days, a popular theme was man against the elements – all-too-human explorers in outer space, in the air, in exotic realms, or in subterranean or subaquatic environments. Brave & Bold #31 saw the first adventure of Cave Carson who, with his friends Christie and Bulldozer, explored the treacherous world beneath the Earth. Created by France Herron and illustrator Bruno Premiani, Cave never quite caught his own series in the 20th Century, but made many other appearances in the DC Universe, finally getting his own title in the 21st. This update features Cave’s first three adventures.
PICTURED: BRAVE & BOLD
#31 VG £100 1st Cave Carson. Reasonable copy with some spine and edge wear and a few faint colour-breaking creases. Nice colours. Cover detached at top staple front only. Decent off-white to cream pages. 
#32 VG+ p £45 2nd Cave Carson Pence stamped. Nice copy with good colours, tight staples and off-white pages. 
#33 GD £22 SOLD 3rd Cave Carson Subscription crease, lots of colour-breaking creases in corners and edges. Small upper spine split. Centrefold off top staple. Minor water damage.  

*Marvel: Seven issues of Tales To Astonish from when it starred Giant-Man, and then shared with the Hulk. This range includes #49 (Ant-Man becomes Giant-Man), villain debuts, the issue where Giant-Man battles the Hulk, before they shared the title and the all-Ditko issue #61, and more.
IN THIS UPDATE: TALES TO ASTONISH
#49 GD p £55 (PICTURED) SOLD 1st Giant-Man. with the Living Eraser (who didn’t go on to better things!). Pence printed. Heavy spine roll with edge wear and subscription-like crease (not too bad). Decent staples and okay pages, but a fairly tired copy. 
#52 GD- p £33 1st Black Knight (villain). Pence printed. Small section (3 x1 cm) cut out of cover at right edge. Edge wear and cover creases. 
#53 GD/VG p £23 Pence printed. Book shop stamps.
#59 VG- £60 (PICTURED) Giant-Man Vs the Hulk, before the Hulk starts sharing the title next issue. Decent copy with good staples and nice pages. Some edge and handling wear.  
#61 VG p £35 (PICTURED) Both Giant-Man & Hulk stories pencilled by Ditko. 2nd Hulk strip in title. Pence printed. 
#66 GD- p £10.75 Pence stamped. Lots of cover creases, breaking colour.
#68 FA £6.50 Not a great cover with biro scribble over all faces. 

*Horror/Mystery 1960-1980s: From 1973, DC ran a short series reprinting classic Simon & Kirby work from the Crestwood/Headline 1950s title of the same name. The series lasted 9 issues which are available as a complete set, mostly in nice grade. 
IN THIS UPDATE: COMPLETE SET OF BLACK MAGIC #1-9 Av FN+ £55; #1 pictured. SOLD

*Crime, Spies & Sleaze: Four of the adventures of Mike Shayne by Brett Halliday. Halliday was the primary pen name of Davis Dresser, who wrote in a number of genres, but whose major work were the Mike Shayne private eye novels for which he used the name. It’s a bit more complicated than that, since it’s believed that most or even all of the Shayne novels after 1958 were ghost-written by others (there are around 70 novels in all). The world of Mike Shayne was cool, tough, sexy and full of mystery and action. This week’s selections date from the mid-1960s and are all blessed with fabulous covers by the famous artist Robert McGinnis.
PICTURED: BY BRETT HALLIDAY ALL SOLD
MARKED FOR MURDER Dell 1968 1st US PB thus GD £4
MIKE SHAYNE’S 50TH CASE Dell 1965 1st US PB VG £5
NEVER KILL A CLIENT Mayflower/Dell 1964 1st UK PB VG/FN £6 
WHEN DORINDA DANCES Mayflower/Dell 1964 1st UK PB GD £4

Those of you who remember visiting us at our shop in Putney (1997-2020) may have fond memories of rummaging through our basement, many of you emerging after some time with armfuls of goodies (sometimes, it seemed almost as if we didn’t know what you’d find!). Our new category is named as an homage to those halcyon days. 

Here you’ll find lots at bargain prices which no longer match our sales profile, or are superfluous to our requirements. These will cover all areas of our operation. Lots listed here are offered post free to GB buyers only or anyone with a GB postal address (i.e. England, Scotland, Wales). They are not normally bagged and boarded as our normal stock, but will be securely packaged for transit. Lots may not be combined with another order (either from Bargain Basement or from our regular catalogue) in the same package, but of course you may order as many as you like while available, and they’ll be sent separately.

Lot of 25 issues. All GD-FN
1950: 67, 72
1951: 114
1952: 153, 173, 183, 186, 197, 199, 203
1953: 226, 250, 251,
1954: 261, 288
1956: 363
1957: 454
1958: 466, 476, 485, 486, 503, 504
1959: 530, 17/10
All 25 for £25

Lot of 5 HC & SC collections of British sci-fi classics. All New/Mint
DAN DARE DAN DARE, PILOT OF THE FUTURE HC Mission Of The Earthmen
Contains Mission Of The Earthmen & The Solid Space Mystery
JET ACE LOGAN (Fleetway Picture Library Classics) Stiff Cover (PICTURED)
Reprints from Thriller Picture Library
JOHNNY FUTURE, COMPLETE  HC (PICTURED)
Reprints from Fantastic
LUTHER ARKWRIGHT SC (PICTURED)
Reprints both series by Bryan Talbot
TRIGAN EMPIRE Vol 1 SC (PICTURED)
Collects 1st 13 stories of classic strip from Ranger & Look & Learn by Don Lawrence
All 5 for £30 SOLD

*DC: From the Midas Collection, a pretty low grade copy of Batman #12 from 1942, the first anniversary issue with Batman (and Robin) driving a US Army jeep out from the front cover at you, announcing that ‘war savings bonds and stamps keep ’em rolling!’. In the first story, the Caped Crusaders come across a keepsake in their trophy room from an old adventure; in the second, the Joker is committing crimes using everyday slang words; in the third, Batman must battle a gang of criminals who are trying to blackmail professional stuntmen and in the final story, Gotham City celebrates “Batman Day”, honouring all of the Caped Crusader’s amazing accomplishments. Stories by Don C Cameron and Bill Finger, art by Jerry Robinson (inc cover), Bob Kane and Jack Burnley. Covers detached and separated. Some cover graffiti above the logo has been gone over in felt-tip, and there is an ugly felt tip mark above one side of the jeep. Small chip out at spine; edge wear and corner blunting, There is also a peculiar ‘spotty’ effect over some of the cover (predominantly the logo) that looks as if something (possibly chemical) has been spilt over it. But it’s all complete, the staples are tight at centrefold and the pages have a reasonable off-white quality. 
PICTURED: BATMAN #12 PR/FA £250 SOLD

*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 six consecutive issues date from 1960 and thus are just after the beginning of UK distribution. They all feature the recurring character Mark Merlin, paranormal investigator.  
IN THIS UPDATE: HOUSE OF SECRETS ALL SOLD
#30 FA/GD p £8.50 Book shop stamps
#31 GD £9.50 p Felt tip pen ‘6’ below logo
#32 FA/GD £8 Water damage
#33 GD p £9.50
#34 GD+ £13.25 Subscription crease
#35 GD/VG £16 (PICTURED)

*Marvel: Bearing in mind Wolverine’s meteoric rise to popularity following his debut in Hulk and subsequent starring role in the X-Men, it’s perhaps surprising that it took until 1988 for him to get his own ongoing series. By Chris Clarement and John Buscema (with inks by my favourite comics artist Al Williamson), this is a very nice copy of #1, tight and flat with great colours and gloss, white pages and perfect staples. There are just a couple of stress marks at the spine (not breaking colour) that prevent a NM or higher grade. 
PICTURED: WOLVERINE #1 VF+ £45

*Teen Humour/Funny Girls: Billed at various times as ‘America’s Sweetheart’ and ‘The Girl Who Could Be You’ (some imagination required), Patsy Walker had a very long career in Timely/Atlas/Marvel before she later became the Avenger Hellcat. Her avenging days were far into her future at the time of these comics, when she was simply a gal out for fun, fashion and boys. With her love interest Buzz Baxter and her ‘frenemy’ Hedy Wolfe, Patsy delighted generations of readers in these well-crafted stories of teenage kicks and romance, pin-up pages and fashions from the fans etc. 10 issues this update in a variety of grades from the Bute Collection. 
IN THIS UPDATE: PATSY WALKER
#38 VG £32 SOLD
#55 FN+ £60 (PICTURED) SOLD
#60 VG+ £19 SOLD
#61 VG £17 SOLD
#79 FA £5
#86 App VG £8 Stories complete; cut out and fashion pages missing
#87 FA/GD £7
#88 FA+ £6
#97 GD £8
#98 FA/GD £7 Millie the Model Crossover 

*Boys’ Adventure & War Picture Libraries: We’re pleased to present nine more earlyish issues of the most famous and longest running Picture Library of them all this week, still going strong after nearly 65 years! Numbers range between #77 and #168. The first five, up to and including #128, are all from the same source, where a previous owner had added two extra staples near the spine, which have rusted to varying degrees over the years. They make the copies a little tight to open, but don’t impair the reading of them. The spines were also taped, and some tape remains on some issues, with a residue on others. Nevertheless, the cover colours remain vibrant, with little other wear or creasing (unless noted) and well-preserved pages. Previous owner’s name in biro and small lettering top of back covers. Highly collectable. These defects (all but the back cover name) are absent on the remaining four, which from #147 upwards are really superior copies. 
IN THIS UPDATE: COMMANDO 
#77 GD £15 (PICTURED)
#78 GD £15
#80 GD £15
#127 GD £10
#128 GD £10
#147 FN £20 (PICTURED)
#148 VG/FN £17.50
#149 VG/FN £17.50
#168 VG/FN £11

*Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror: We’re continuing to introduce the new layout for this books category, with an image for each book. This week, we cover the remainder of authors whose surnames start with ‘N’. Eric North’s The Ant Men is a tale of time travel into the past, when the world was ruled by giant insects; Andre Norton is represented by two novels in her two most popular series: Witch World and Foreunner; finally, Alan E Nourse’s Bladerunner has nothing to do with the film of the same name, but is rather a tale of a futuristic medical black market – an uncommon book. More information, including condition notes, can be found, as always, in our catalogue. 
PICTURED: 
ERIC NORTH: THE ANT-MEN MacFadden/Bartell 1969 2nd US PB GD/VG £4 SOLD
ANDRE NORTON: FORERUNNER: Tor 1982 3rd US PB VG £4
ANDRE NORTON: WITCH WORLD 4: THREE AGAINST THE WITCH WORLD Gollancz 1987 UK PB VG/FN £3
ALAN E NOURSE: THE BLADERUNNER Ballantine 1975 1st US PB VG/FN £20

*DC: More Batman from the Midas Collection, this time issues #78-80 from 1953, each with significant content. 
PICTURED: BATMAN
#78 PR £60 Features the story The Manhunter From Mars; a green-skinned Martian lawman named Roh Kar helps Batman track down a fugitive Martian criminal in this Martian Manhunter prototype. Plus sinister goings on in a stamp collectors’ club and Batman & Robin help the Mounties. This issue is a bit of a wreck, with a torn and frayed cover detached and separated. Also, there’s a corner off a page of the Mounties story, affecting a couple of word balloons. Not nice, but dead historic. 
#79 GD+ £110 SOLD Features Vicki Vale as The Bride Of Batman. Vicki claims to be engaged to Batman to avoid advances from elsewhere. Plus Batman and Robin travel back in time (as you do) in search of buried treasure and also get involved with modern day pirates. Not a bad copy, with good colours, staples and pages; just a frayed top edge brings the grade down.
#80 GD/VG £200 The Joker turns film-maker to harass the Dynamic Duo. Plus, with Batman away, Robin witnesses bizarre events, but no one will believe him, and Batman and Robin investigate when monstrous machines are used to commit robberies. Decent copy with rich colours (great purple sky!). Tiny chip out top spine front cover and short tear centre right edge (no loss). Other than that slight creasing in corners/edges. but holds together well with good staples and nice pages. 

*DC: In 1976, DC revived the Golden Age title All-Star Comics, which served as the home of the Justice Society of America in the 1940s, and was to do so here again, continuing the numbering from the original run for a further 17 issues. Written by Gerry Conway and Paul Levitz (Roy Thomas must have been busy!), with a range of artists, most famously the wonderful Wally Wood. As well as the classic heroes (and villains) of the JSA, this series also introduced Power Girl in the first issue #58, in effect the Supergirl of Earth-2, as well as Helena Wayne, the Huntress of Earth-2 in #69/70. An opportunity here to get this entire historic 17 issue run as a complete set, with many issues in really nice shape (#58 is FN-).  
IN THIS UPDATE: COMPLETE SET OF 1970s ALL-STAR COMICS #58-74 Av FN £185; #58 PICTURED. SOLD

*Marvel: Back in the day when guest shots were special, an off-colour Daredevil with a radiation bug confronts Captain America in the ring. Flowing art by Gene (the Dean) Colan. A nice clean copy, pence stamped, black background cover, vibrant colours. Minimal wear – a couple of tiny nicks top edge and a short white straight line (not a crease) from the bottom edge across Cap’s left boot. Tight staples and supple white to off-white pages. 
PICTURED: DAREDEVIL #43 VF- p £90 SOLD

*Gold Key/Whitman: From the Bute Collection, an update to our stocks of the Gold Key title Magnus Robot Fighter, issues #6-10. With superlative art by Russ Manning and gorgeous painted covers, this sci-fi extravaganza was a cut above anything else being published by Gold Key at the time and remains a timeless classic as Magnus takes on robots rebelling to overthrow mankind. 
IN THIS UPDATE: MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER ALL SOLD
#6 VG+ £14.75 (PICTURED)
#7 GD/VG £10
#8 VG+ £14.75
#9 VG/FN £16.25
#10 VG/FN £16.25

*Romance: Also from the Bute Collection this week, two Marvel romance comics from the dawn of the Marvel Age, both in decent shape.
PICTURED: LOVE ROMANCES BOTH SOLD
#96 VG £28 Kirby cover and interior art
#106 VG/FN £28 Kirby cover