A Glance at the Gallery By Michael McFadden, CGC Quality Control
Greetings, fandom. Michael McFadden here, in the cool confines of the Fortress of Qualitude, with a late summertime selection of sizzling books added to the world-renowned CGC DigiGallery. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Big news about a small superhero! A copy of Showcase #34, the debut of the Silver Age Atom and a shortlist nominee for any list of classic Silver Age covers, stands tall at 9.4. We’ve certified more than 200 copies of this prized issue and this one tied only one other copy for highest-graded honors. It also marks the debut of Jean Loring, back before she desperately needed...a shrink. Could we do better? That’s a tall order. This month, though, a 9.6 Atom #1, of which to date we’ve done 175-plus copies, stands unchallenged as highest graded. That’s hardly a miniscule achievement for the Tiny Titan.
Other cool books would begin with Atlas’ scarce Venus #8, which at 6.0 is the highest graded copy and has a distinctive, painted “good girl art” cover. Impressive highest-graded Golden Age include Action Comics #11, Green Mask #6, Speed Comics #13, Negro Heroes #1, Famous Funnies #10, Frankenstein #19 and the ever-impeccably dressed Black Terror #5. An Archie Comics #20 was the second-highest certified copy we’ve seen since our doors opened, Marvel Family #2 tied for the top spot, as did classic Carl Barks Four Color #147, “Donald Duck in Volcano Valley.” A trio of Fiction House’s Kaanga #s 2, 3 (both highest graded) and 7 crossed the QC Doctor’s desk this month. Beautiful copies of Atlas’ Menace #8 and Spellbound #17 are now on exhibit, as are DC faves Wonder Woman #60, Superman #79, Batman #108 and Detective #230, the introduction of Jervis Tetch, the Mad Hatter. Magazine entries Rampaging Hulk #s 1, 2 and 6 and Tomb of Dracula #1 all come in at 9.8.
Highly noteworthy this month is an All Winners #1, Summer 1941, with Timely’s Big Three on the cover: Torch, Subby and Cap. Yet, certified at an impressive 9.4, this book is NOT the finest copy example. Man, can you believe someone owns a 9.6 of this issue? Incredible. And I’ll admit I’m a little biased in my appreciation of this one. The “thinking fan’s superhero,” Adam Strange, graces the Carmine Infantino / Murphy Anderson illustrated cover of this highest-graded copy, a 9.6 Mystery in Space #85. While only a 5.5, Four Color Comics (Series 1) #4 has only one nonrestored copy that beats it… a 6.0. This classic Donald Duck cover just screams, “I’m a cool Golden Age comic book — read me!” Well, I’d love to, but the “affording me” part might be a little daunting.
Leading off our file copy selection is Howdy Doody #3 at 9.4 the highest-graded copy ever, sporting one of those cool posed photo covers from those halcyon days of early TV. While the Doodster’s name might not resonate with fans today, at one time the smiling string-dangler and Milton Berle were the biggest tee wee stars in America and were responsible for single-handedly selling more television sets than anyone this side of David Sarnoff. And there’s a great chance that behind that absurdly appealing clown makeup is none other than Bob Keeshan, better known as Captain Kangaroo. Howdy Doody, of which we also added #2, was the very first comic book based on a television series and was so successful that it propelled Dell (and later Gold Key) to base much of the company's business fortunes on TV comics for two decades. Harvey File copies include Amerika’s favorite capitalist, Richie Rich #s 55 (a 9.8 with a luscious white cover) and 94, Richie Rich Success Stories #29, the toast of the downtrodden proletariat, Sad Sack’s Army Life Parade #5, Wendy the Good Little Witch #s 29 and 40, Little Audrey and Melvin #1 (Does anyone name their kid “Melvin” anymore? No? Good.) and Devil Kids Starring Hot Stuff #s 14 and 17. (Does anyone name their kid “Hot Stuff“anymore? No? Too bad!) For those who gleefully enjoy reading the adventures of the undiagnosed mentally ill, Harvey offers Little Miss Obsessive Fixation herself, Little Dot #s 21, 28 and 52, Little Dot Dotland #1 and the gut-splitting antics of the morbidly obese Little Lotta…ahem…Foodland #1. Man, I eat this stuff up! Dot’s right!
Part of the undeniable charm of the Golden Age is that so many of the comics had undeniably cool names. You gotta love Wow Comics (#s 26 and 46, both Crowley, and #28, Rockford), Whiz Comics (#105, Crowley), and Atomic War (#1, Crippen). Other pedigreed books, new to the DigiGallery, are ActionComics #6 (Rockford), Wonder Woman #16 (Big Apple), Detective Comics #58 (Twilight) and Military Comics #16 (San Francisco). Bill Gaines File Copies include Frontline Combat #4 and Weird Fantasy #15 (the third issue). Representing the Silver Age finds Amazing Spider-Man #11 (Curator), at 9.6, one of four highest-graded copies. Avengers #18, Daredevil #7, and X-Men #s 8 and 19 are all Pacific Coast and all either highest-graded or tiered.
Obscure gems, courtesy of the Edgar Church Mile High Collection, are also among our pedigree offering this month. Cult favorites Blackhawk #s 14 and 17 and Shadow Comics #10 (7.0), as well as Daredevil Comics #23 (9.4), Top Notch Comics #s 31 and 33 (9.8 both) and the December 1944 Tally Ho Comics #nn, Frank Frazetta’s first comic book work as an assistant to John Giunta. This 9.6 copy is now a CGC SigSeries book, signed by Frazetta himself. A Mile High SigSeries! What can I say but Wow! Which reminds me, Wow Comics #57 Mile High, a stunning 9.8.
More Frazetta books this month, these offerings from the master’s first SigSeries signing session, include Creepy #s 1 (his last graphic story), 4, 5, 7, 15, 16 and 17. While you’re checking those out, do look for Creepy #11, with a rare signature by legendary publisher Jim Warren. Also from Warren Publishing are Eerie #s 2 (#1) and 87, Vampirella #s 1, 5 and 7, and the recent non-Warren reprint of Vampi #1, Vampirella 1969 Commemorative Edition #1. On the comic side, we have his classic Ghost Rider #4 cover, Conan the Frazetta Cover Series #1, DeathDealer #4 (Verotik), Frank Frazetta’s DeathDealer #s 1, 3 and 4 (what, did Frank’s cover on #2 suck?), Frank Frazetta’s Dark Kingdom #1 and the classic Weird Science-Fantasy #29 from EC.
Select fan favorites added to the DigiGallery include actress Helen Slater’s personalization on Supergirl #1’s third print, a delightful homage to Girl of Steel’s introductory cover on Action #252, originally drawn by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye and re-imaged by Ian Churchill. Locke and Key #s 1 and 4 are autographed by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. To absolutely no one’s surprise, these are both nine / nines. I’m beginning to wonder if we’ll ever see any Locke and Keys in 9.8 or lower…they all seem to be nine / nines or 10s. I hear Locke and Key’s writer and artist are good, but their printers are flat-out great! They’re the guys I want to see autograph an insanely high-grade copy of Locke and Key! Titans #1, signed ever so gingerly by Ethan Van Sciver, comes in at 10.0. And more high grade SigSeries: EC editor / writer / artist Al Feldstein drops his big Al on Gaines File Copies of Weird Fantasy #20.
Paradise Toronto Comicon’s 2008 program book was signed by 23 of their guests, including Karl Kerschl, Dale Keown, Cary Nord, Herb Trimpe and Greg Land. At the same show, Francis Manapul illuminated two copies of his Francis Manapul Limited Edition Sketchbook #1 with striking multi-media renditions of Caped Crusader and Scarlet Speedster and striking grades, both nine / nines! A Grimm Fairy Tales #28 was an amazing 10.0 with a signature from Billy Tucci. This month’s obligatory Fallen Son #3 sports an explosive illo of Captain America and the Red Skull by Mitch Breitweiser. Breitweiser…isn’t that brewed by Anheuser-Busch? Marvel’s hot Secret Invasion #1 Sketch Cover offers new work by Ron Lim, Doug Mahnke and a crisp portrait of Iron Man by Bob Layton.
Captain America v3 #6, signed by Mark Waid, shows a Skrull Cap. Cap looks snappy in Skrull fluorescent green or maybe embalming fluid comes in colors now. Greg Land does a quick but effective pencil study on Avengers / Invaders #1 Dynamic Forces Sketch cover. William Katt and Robert Culp (remember him from “I Spy?”) both personalize a copy of Greatest American Hero Ashcan #nn. Giant Robot #54, which I guess is the lifestyle magazine for giant robots, is signed and sketched by James Jean.
Bureau of Statistical Inevitability: Earning the coveted nine / nine this edition are copies of Aspen Splash 2008 Swimsuit Spectacular #1, both regular and Wizard World editions, Bernie Wrightson’s comeback Dead, She Said #2; Final Crisis #2, Amazing Spider-Man #364, Grimm Fairy Tales #28 (Fantastic Realm — some bare skin on a bear skin!) and #9 (Heavy Metal edition), Crystal Fractal Comics #0, Dark Ivory #2 (a #1 went ten), Itchy and Scratchy #1, Michael Turner’s Fathom v3 #1 Tribute, The Stand Sketchbook #1, Tales From Wonderland: Alice #nn, Marvel Collector Classics X-Men #3 and War Heroes #1, both regular edition covers. Reaching the summit at ten-0 was the holochromium-covered X-Men Omega #1, Simpsons Comics #1, War Heroes #1 Sketch, Transformers Spotlight Cyclones #1 RRP, Transformers Spotlight Wheelie #1 RRP, Spike: After the Fall #1 Virgin and a book you can really sink your teeth into, Zombies Feast #4.
My favorite book this trip to the DigiGallery is the Mile High Thrilling Comics #33, at 9.0 the highest graded copy we’ve seen. Apparently, in the zany scene unfolding on the cover of this World War Two vintage book, the Devil is trying to sabotage an American warplane. The devil you say? Well, maybe not. This satanic cretin is attacking with an acetylene torch. Maybe I was reading Vault of Horrors during Sunday school, but doesn’t the Devil throw fireballs or belch comets or at least stick a pitchfork in somebody’s ass? An acetylene torch?!? No wonder even a Grade-B superhero like Doc Strange can subdue Ol’ Scratch with fiercely thrown ol’ monkey wrench. That’s ten pounds of cold steel that’s got to smart like hell. Had the Lord of Dorkness been crafty, he still could have squeezed his dumbass torch and shot a stream of hot flame right at Doc Strange’s signature bacon grease-laden pompadour. No doubt, Doc’s carefully coiffured noggin would erupt like a giant, fiery match head. With his skull flaming like a mosquito candle, what could Doc Strange possibly do, except grab a leather motorcycle jacket, sign a lifetime contract with Marvel and rename himself Ghost Rider.
And the dude would still be published today.
Comments and questions regarding the gallery? We’re fans, too. We enjoy hearing from you. You can contact me at mmcfadden@cgccomics.com. Thank you for your time and do remember — be good to yourself. Be CGC-ing you!
