More Highlights Coming to ComicLink February Auction

Posted on 2/5/2013

ComicLink Consignment Director Douglas Gillock reports that the preview for the ComicLink February Featured Auction has accumulated impressive highlights across all segments in the past few weeks. The firm is still accepting consignments for this top-tier auction.

“This auction already has a very impressive offering and it is still growing, with valuable comic and art items coming in daily from collectors,” commented Gillock. “With landmark comic book items from the Golden, Silver, and Bronze and Modern Ages, as well as stand-out original artwork, the auction is a very well-rounded one. It will draw in aggressive bidders from each corner of the hobby.

“Just a few of the most exceptional Silver Age items posted to the still-growing auction preview include: Amazing Fantasy #15, CGC 8.5 (first Spider-Man); Tales of Suspense #39, CGC 9.4 (first Iron Man); Fantastic Four #1, CGC 9.0 (first Fantastic Four); X-Men #1, CGC 9.4 (first X-Men); Avengers #1, CGC 9.2; Avengers #4, CGC 9.6, Ohio pedigree (first Silver Age Captain America, second-highest grade); Amazing Spider-Man #1, CGC 9.0, Rocky Mountain pedigree; Tales to Astonish #27, CGC 9.0 (first Ant-Man); and Flash #105, CGC 9.0 (first Silver Age issue). Having just one of these in an auction is a big deal, but to have all of them is a major event and an important opportunity for an advanced collector.

“Major Golden Age comic book highlights include Captain America Comics #2, CGC 9.0; All Winners Comics #1, CGC 9.4 (second-highest grade); All-Flash #1, CGC 9.4, Denver; Batman #1, CGC 1.8 Q; Batman #40, CGC 9.4 (Joker cover, highest grade, one of two); Green Lantern #1, CGC 9.0 (highest grade); Human Torch #2 (#3), CGC 9.4, Larson pedigree (highest grade, one of two); Jackpot Comics #4, CGC 3.0 (first Archie cover); Whiz Comics #25, CGC 9.0 (first Captain Marvel Jr.); and a complete run of Gaines File Crime Suspenstories — including #22 in CGC 9.0, the highest grade we’ve seen come to market.

“From the Bronze Age are two rare pre-1975 CGC 9.9s — Amazing Spider-Man #125, CGC 9.9 (single-highest grade, third earliest ASM 9.9); and Astonishing Tales #25, CGC 9.9 (single-highest grade, first Deathlok), as well as notable high-grade keys like Batman #251, CGC 9.8 (highest grade, classic Adams Joker cover); Detective Comics #400, CGC 9.6 (second-highest grade); Giant-Size X-Men #1, CGC 9.8 (highest grade, first New X-Men); Incredible Hulk #181, CGC 9.6 (first Wolverine); and X-Men #94, CGC 9.8 (highest grade, New X-Men begin).

“In the Original Art segment are major highlights such as Jack Kirby’s full, 16-page “twice-up” lead story from Thor #134 — including the title splash and the best Kirby Galactus splash we’ve ever seen, Todd McFarlane’s Amazing Spider-Man #299 cover (one of only three black costume ASM covers by the artist), a Steve Ditko Amazing Spider-Man #37 page featuring an iconic image of Spidey in action and Alex Schomburg’s WWII-themed All New Comics #5 cover.

“Just a few other notable Silver Age standouts already posted include examples such as: Amazing Spider-Man #14, CGC 9.4 (first Green Goblin); Avengers #7, CGC 9.6; Batman #151, CGC 9.4 (highest grade); Creepy #17, CGC 9.9 (Frazetta cover, single-highest grade); Daredevil #1, CGC 9.0 (first Daredevil); Fantastic Four #23, CGC 9.6 (second-highest grade); Journey Into Mystery #112, CGC 9.2, White Mountain pedigree; Silver Surfer #1, CGC 9.6 (second-highest grade); Strange Tales #135, CGC 9.6 (first SHIELD, second-highest grade); Tales of Suspense #59, CGC 9.8 (Captain America begins, highest grade); Tales to Astonish #30, CGC 9.8 (single-highest grade and the only 9.8 from the Pre-Hero run of this title); Tales to Astonish #101, CGC 9.8 (highest grade, one of two); Thor #126, CGC 9.6, Twin Cities pedigree; and X-Men #1, CGC 6.5.

Some other Golden Age goodies already in the preview include All Select Comics #1, CGC 6.0, and #4, CGC 9.2 (single-highest grade); Batman #24, CGC 9.4 (highest grade); Detective Comics #168, CGC 7.5 (Joker origin); Human Torch #1, CGC 6.5; Plastic Man #nn (#1), CGC 9.2 (single-highest grade); Marvel Mystery Comics #92, CGC 9.0 (scarce, second-highest grade); Mystic Comics #1, CGC 6.5; Weird Science-Fantasy #29, CGC 7.5 (classic Frazetta cover); Wonder Comics #11, CGC 9.4 (highest grade, Ingels cover); and Wonder Woman #25, CGC 9.6 (single-highest grade).

“Some other original art highlights include McFarlane’s Amazing Heroes #107 cover featuring Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain America, and the Human Torch; Neal Adams’ lead page from Detective Comics #408 featuring Batman and a “Death of Robin” scene; a Jack Kirby X-Men #9 page featuring both the X-Men and the Avengers; Gil Kane’s Avengers #144 cover art featuring the first-ever appearance of Hell-Cat; a John Romita Spider-Man vs. Hulk battle cover; a Jim Steranko Supergirls calendar plate; a 1975 John Byrne Conan pinup from Savage Sword; Dave Sim’s complete Cerebus #6 22-page interior featuring the first Jaka; a Frank Miller Daredevil #183 page featuring DD taking on the Punisher; a Jack Kirby Journey into Mystery #109 Thor vs. Magneto page; a stunning Jim Lee / Gabriele Dell’otto Red Sonja / Claw cover painting; significant early Michael Turner Witchblade art; and much more!

“These are added to items already in the preview such as John Byrne’s Amazing Spider-Man #189 cover art, which is one of only two Byrne ASM covers from the Bronze Age; X-Men art by Jim Lee, including an incredible Wolverine half-splash; a Gil Kane and John Romita Conan battle cover; four of the best covers from Howard Chaykin’s controversial Black Kiss series; Silver Age Hawkman and Flash art (a page from Hawkman’s second appearance by Joe Kubert), a John Buscema Thor #193 page featuring the Silver Surfer; Silver and Bronze Age Gene Colan Daredevil art including the #25 title splash and the Daredevil Annual #1 title splash; Bill Everett’s Sub-Mariner #51 title splash; and a Mike Zeck Web of Spider-Man page from the famous “Kraven’s Last Hunt” story arc.

To reserve February Auction placement or to consign to other upcoming ComicLink auctions, simply email buysell@comiclink.com with your prospective auction list, or call 617-517-0062 (option one) to speak with Douglas Gillock, Jason Crosby, Sean Goodrich, Jon Signorelli or other members of the ComicLink team. To review ComicLink’s auction schedule, click here .

This is a guest article. The thoughts and opinions in this piece are those of their author and are not necessarily the thoughts of the Certified Collectibles Group.