Set Description:
Synopsis: Despite owning more than 500 of the books in this set, it’s nowhere close to complete, as Jack Kirby was responsible for more than 1,500 covers during his illustrious career. Still, this set is the second most valuable set in terms of registry points in the entire registry.
Background: We have owned most of these books for many years, but were never familiar with this set. This past year with all the down time from COVID, we took a look at the registry and created a number of additional sets for books we already owned.
In some cases, we created sets with only a couple of entires, here we already owned several hundred. Oddly enough, although we still only have a small fraction of the books, this set garners the most registry points of any set in the registry, which I guess is a testament to the profound effect Jack Kirby had on the industry.
I don’t realistically believe any collector could ever amass high grade copies of every book in this set, and we certainly have no aim to do so. However, we have started targeting a few books we did not otherwise collect for this set. I cannot even imagine what a completed set in high grade might tally.
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The gallery tab shows only items with images. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. |
Slot: |
Amazing Adventures (1970) #1 |
Item: |
Amazing Adventures 1 Universal |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
0345566004
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Owner Comments
This issue features the Inhumans and Black Widow. Our WP 9.8 comes from the John Fantucchio Collection and is one of 33 topping the census. We acquired the book from the 9/1/2018 CL Auction.
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Amazing Fantasy (1962) #15 |
Item: |
Amazing Fantasy 15 A-5 |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
3741650001
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Owner Comments
Amazing Fantasy #15 is the Holy Grail for SA comic collectors. For many, this would be the first book they buy. But we have always targeted putting together collections rather than keys, which is why we have settled for many high grade restored keys.
As a collector of antique furniture and rugs, I have always been amazed by how severely the comic book market punishes comic book restorations compared to well-done restorations of other collectibles. Perhaps with the passage of time, well restored examples will rise in value. But for now, at least CGC places a much higher value on these books than the market.
Our book is actually the single highest graded copy ever certified by CGC, but it has been expertly and extensively restored, as it’s A-5 grade confirms. As is, from an appearance standpoint, the book is absolutely perfect. And it costs us a small fraction of what even a 9.0 with a universal label would have set us back. Even then, it was still expensive, at least for what it is. We acquired it in the 12/15/2020 ComicConnect Auction.
2024 Update: Strangely enough, and I am sure this will surprise many of my collector friends, the book we get approached about selling the most is this one. It’s tempting I must admit to take a big profit on it, but the problem is I could never replace it.
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Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #1 |
Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man 1 |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
1174950001
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Owner Comments
Issue #1 features the first appearances of J. Jonah Jameson & Chameleon, along with the first Fantastic Four crossover. The book also retells the Origin of Spider-Man. It is definitely one of the most valuable books we own. No, it is not highest graded, but it is a clean 9.4 copy of the #1 issue in our favorite run of comics ever and features the Fantastic Four, as Spidey applies for membership, but wants the top salary to join the Fan 4. OK, it was not the best plot ever, but still it is one of the most recognized and coveted covers in comics.
Our 9.4 is tied with nine other copies for third highest graded trailing five 9.6s and a single 9.8, making it one of the top 16 copies out of over 4100 ever certified by CGC. I am also proud to say that, unlike many of our acquisitions, we bought this book well. What we have found is that, with respect to books like this that are very valuable, but not extremely rare, sooner or later you will hit the right auction where many bidders wanting the book do not show up. It still was not cheap, but we could make a nice profit on this one.
We acquired the book from the September 2013 CL auction.
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Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #10 |
Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man 10 |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
1257455002
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Owner Comments
Issue #10 features the first appearance of the Big Man, Fred Foswell, and the Enforcers (Montana, Ox and Fancy Dan). Our 9.6 is tied for second highest graded trailing nine 9.8s. We acquired the book in the 9/11/2014 CL auction.
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Avengers (1963) #1 |
Item: |
Avengers 1 Universal |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
1205125001
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Owner Comments
Both Avengers and X-Men made their first appearance in Marvel comics the same month in September 1963. Unfortunately, I am old enough to remember well the excitement I had at finding two new Marvel superhero comics to purchase at the local drugstore. I still have both copies, neither is worth submitting to CGC, as I was not the smartest little kid when it came to preservation.
As for the issue itself, the Avengers, composed then of original members Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, Ant-Man and the Wasp, face off with Thor’s brother Loki, the God of Mischief. (Why is Ant-Man hyphenated by Marvel and Iron Man not?) One thing I have always found rather funny, and which is arguably a mistake by Marvel, is that Loki says on the cover “The Avengers, bah, I’ll destroy you all”. In fact, it was not until after Loki was defeated and captured in Issue #1 that the group agreed they had worked well together and should be formalized as a team. The Wasp suggested the name "Avengers", and Earth's Mightiest Heroes were officially born. So since the Avengers did not even exist as a group during the confrontation with Loki, how did Loki know to call them by a name that the Wasp had not yet suggested?
Also, the Avengers’ stated purpose is to protect and safeguard the world from both domestic and extraterrestrial threats. Finding strength in union, they uphold their tradition to overcome menaces a single individual could not withstand, which draws into question the decision for the inaugural foe to be just Loki, who Thor often battled. It just doesn’t seem like Loki was a big-enough baddie to warrant the formation of a new team?
But putting all that aside, the Avengers went on to be one of Marvel’s greatest hits and the heroes in four of the ten biggest box-office movies of all time. We did own a 9.6 copy of this issue, which is one of six 9.6s topping the census. It was our included example in this set when we claimed to have an 9.6/9.8 run, which was technically correct. But unfortunately, that 9.6 was also trimmed. If anyone actually ever reads my descriptions, which are a work in progress and chronicle my experiences as a collector, you will see a recurring theme of first Marvel issues being high grade purple labels. (My DC keys are usually unrestored, but then they are generally much cheaper.) I personally think that the market punishes such issues too much, they look the same as a universal grade, but cost a tiny fraction as much. That difference has accelerated as time goes by as well.
In this case, our 9.6 was far and away the best restored one available and the only restored copy above 9.2 in the census. The book hails from the Second City Collection and was acquired in the 6/11/2018 ComicConnect auction. It replaced a Stan Lee signed restored 9.2 in our collection.
Then in May 2024 we acquired an unrestored 9.4 copy of Issue #1 to replace our restored 9.6. I cannot say that acquisition was planned, but in our regular effort to put in relatively low auction bids on certain high-grade unrestored keys in the hope of one of them falling into our hands, we picked up the book in the May CL Auction. The acquisition came just a month after our failed effort to acquire an unrestored 9.6 #1 in Heritage’s April 2024 Auction-in which, quite frankly, we weren’t even close. I do feel pretty good about the price, as the book has vibrant colors and is perfectly centered bearing a QES sticker. And we obtained the book at less than 30% of the of the hammer price of the aforementioned 9.6, while enjoying better page quality and a better spine than that book, despite its lower grade.
But the price paid still represents one of the highest prices we have ever paid for a book and we certainly had not expected to get it at the time. In fact, the acquisition knocked us out of bidding on several books we were targeting, so, all in all, it was a little bit of a mixed bag. Prior to acquiring the book, our concentration had been on finishing more sets, not upgrading completed ones; however, on the bright side, I feel the book really elevates this set to the level of our best Marvel sets, even if the price paid delays our efforts to complete a few other sets for a year or so.
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Slot: |
Avengers (1963) #2 |
Item: |
Avengers 2 Universal |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
1493865001
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Owner Comments
Issue #2 features the first appearance of the Space Phantom and the exit of the Hulk, who did not play well with others-he obviously lasted much longer in the movie Avengers than the original books. This is one of our favorite Avengers covers-I actually prefer it to #1 just based on the art. We have previously owned a 9.0, a 9.4, a 9.6 and now, finally, after many years of chasing one, we finally landed a 9.8.
Our WP copy comes from the Federal Hill Collection and is one of five highest graded. We acquired it in the 12/1/2020 CL auction.
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Avengers (1963) #3 |
Item: |
Avengers 3 Signature |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
0615707002
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Owner Comments
Issue #3 features the first Sub-Mariner and Hulk team-up. They would later share Tales To Astonish, as Hulk first joins that book, splitting time with Giant-Man, in issue #60-he actually spars with Giant-Man in a TTA #59, reminiscent of TOS #58 with Iron Man and Cap America. Sub-Mariner would later replace Giant-Man in that run in TTA #70.
The issue we own is one of nine, in total, 9.6s with none higher, but it is the sole Signature Series copy and thus probably will hold that distinction forever. We acquired the book in the 9/6/2011 CL auction at which time 9.6s were extremely rare.
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Avengers (1963) #4 |
Item: |
Avengers 4 Universal |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
1076358004
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Owner Comments
This issue is, of course, famous for first Silver Age appearance of, Captain America (Steve Rogers), although an imposter garbed as Captain America was drawn earlier in Strange Tales #114. We have a long history with this book, as we owned a 9.6 for many years before trading it for a JLA #3 9.4. I realize that sounds idiotic and it probably was, but from a rarity standpoint I have seen many 9.6 and 9.8 copies of this issue, I have never seen another JLA #3 9.4 on the market and that was what the collector owner physician wanted, not cash. I did and still do have a double signed Avengers #4 9.4 (Lee and Simon), so it did not break our complete set, but it did lower the minimum grade of our set to 9.4.
Nevertheless, from a value standpoint it was undoubtedly a bad trade. At least, however, that JLA #3 9.4, which is much rarer than a JLA #2, still stands atop the census, as there have been no more 9.4s or higher grades of that issue surface. So we traded a book that was one of thirty for one that was older, has a tough black cover, and is one of three. It just shows how much more the market values Avengers over JLA that is was a bad economic deal.
We initially went after a 9.8 to replace the book we traded, but always seemed to come in second. So finally we lowered the bar and picked up this 9.6 in the 2/27/2024 CL auction. I would not say it was cheap, but it was the least money I have seen this book make in years, perhaps because of the OW pages. It is also not ideal from a centering standpoint as a fraction of an inch of the cover rolls over to the back, although CGC does not consider that to be a fault. But otherwise, it is a very nice book. It was graded by CGC in 2012 and there are no negative grader comments.
We will probably retain this book and not chase a 9.8, as there are too many glaring holes elsewhere in our collections and money is far from unlimited. It does raise the minimum grade of this set to 9.6, although there is still the matter of our #1 being restored. Maybe someday…..
May 2024 Update: Just a quick note, some of the discussion above became irrelevant again with our acquisition of an unrestored #1 9.4 in May 2024.
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Slot: |
Avengers (1963) #5 |
Item: |
Avengers 5 Universal |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
0615707009
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Owner Comments
Issue 5 features appearances by Hulk and the Lava Men. Our 9.8 comes from the Curator Pedigree Collection and is the single highest graded copy of this issue. Considered one of the best Silver Age collections ever discovered, the Curator boasts an Avengers #1 in 9.4, an Amazing Spider-Man #1 in 9.8, an X-men #1 in 9.8 and a Tales of Suspense #47 in 9.9, among many others. The collection began in the late '50s and continued into the '80s, its condition peaking in 1962. They were amassed by an employee of a museum (hence the name), who stored the comics in tight packs on the museum's premises. John Hauser acquired most of them in the '90s but sold many without a pedigree identification. As a result some copies have lost their pedigree as the books do not have any distinctive markings.
You so not see nearly as many Curator Pedigree books on the market as you do Pacific Coasts. I have heard that Tom Brulato owns many of them, but having never seen his collection, I cannot verify that info. I believe we have more Avengers from that pedigree than any other title we collect.
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Avengers (1963) #6 |
Item: |
Avengers 6 Universal |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
1129570001
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Owner Comments
Avengers #6, in which the Avengers face Baron Zemo and his Masters of Evil s one of the easiest early books to find in high grade, as there are nine 9.8s in the census as of June 2020. We acquired our copy on 4/21/2015 from Pedigree Comics.
2024 Update: And now there are ten 9.8s of Issue #6. I really have no explanation as to why there are so many more 9.8s of this issue than any other early Avengers, as there’s only a single 9.8 of Issue #7 and Issue #8 (or, for that matter, why CGC accords this issue more registry points that Issues #5 and #7, even though it is far more common). It reminds me a little of JLA #2, where there are far more 9.6s than any other early JLA issues-along with the first 9.8 until Issue #8. At any rate, don’t overpay for this one, the 9.8s are out there.
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Avengers (1963) #7 |
Item: |
Avengers 7 Universal |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
2065130001
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Owner Comments
Issue #7 features a great action cover with Thor highlighted along with appearances by Baron Zemo, the Enchantress and the Executioner. Our 9.8 is quite special in that it’s the sole 9.8 ever graded by CGC with just four 9.6s next in line. We acquired the book in the 2/22/2018 Heritage Auction*. In my mind, it is one of the highlights of this set, the colors are really stunning.
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Avengers (1963) #8 |
Item: |
Avengers 8 Universal |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
0720661006
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Owner Comments
Issue #8 features the first appearance of Kang the Conqueror. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the Conqueror is most frequently depicted as an opponent of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. A time-traveler, several alternate versions of Kang have appeared throughout Marvel Comics titles over the years, such as Rama-Tut, Immortus, Scarlet Centurion, Victor Timely, Iron Lad, and Mister Gryphon.
Kang the Conqueror has been described as one of Marvel's most notable and powerful villains. Kang has made media appearances in animated television and video games. He made his feature film debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in 2023), in which he was portrayed by Jonathan Majors, who also played alternate versions of the character in the Loki series.
Of course, no comic book character enters the MCU without a few tweaks, and the big screen version of Kang was reimagined as a threat that existed in every universe of the Multiverse and threatened to collapse all of existence into an unimaginably destructive war unless he was somehow stopped.
Since his Ant-Man cinematic debut, Jonathan Majors was arrested in New York City on charges of assault, strangulation, and harassment charges and later convicted of third-degree reckless assault as well as harassment. While majors avoided jail time, he was ordered to attend a 52-week-long domestic violence intervention program. Unsurprisingly, Disney fired the actor in December 2023, presumably to avoid tarnishing the family-friendly image of Marvel Studios.
However, it appears that Marvel still intends to utilize Kang as a character, even without Jonathan Majors. It helps that Kang, as a Multiversal entity, is uniquely suited to be recast with another actor with minimal explanation as to how the character changed, and speculation has been rampant of who could replace Majors.
BTW, while this is considered a Marvel key as the first appearance of a Kang the Conqueror, while going by another name, it seems his first appearance in any Marvel comic was a year earlier as Rama Tut in FF #19.
Our 9.6 is tied for second highest graded, bested by four 9.8s, two of which have come to the market lately, but sold at dear prices. As recently as 2020, you could pick-up a 9.8 copy of Issue #8 for about $15,000-Pedigree Comics had one available at that price, which we thought at the time was overpriced LOL. But I guess spurred by the info that Kang was going to be the next big baddie to appear in the MCU, prices of this issue skyrocket with a 9.6 selling for $21,600 in 2022.
We acquired our WP 9.6 from the 3/14/2017 CL Auction, which cost us around $5k at the time, showing again how cinematic appearances can that affect prices of issues where villains make their first appearance.
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Slot: |
Avengers (1963) #9 |
Item: |
Avengers 9 Universal |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
1290143006
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Owner Comments
Issue #9 features the first appearance of Wonder Man, Simon Williams. Baron Zemo, Enchantress and Executioner also make appearances in this issue.
In the story, Simon Williams is the son of rich industrialist Sanford Williams, owner of Williams Innovations. Simon inherits the munitions factory after his father's death, but the company's profits fall due to its biggest competitor Tony Stark and his company Stark Industries. On the advice of his brother Eric, Simon tries to embezzle funds from his company, but is caught and incarcerated. Simon blames Stark for this and accepts the proposition of master villain Baron Heinrich Zemo after the Enchantress pays his bail, as a pawn is required to infiltrate the Avengers. The desperate Simon Williams agrees and is transformed into an ion-powered superhuman. His powers are tested, and he is shown to have great superhuman strength and durability, even defeating the Executioner. Called Wonder Man by Zemo, he is then sent to meet and join the Avengers, with instructions to betray them at a critical moment so that Zemo's Masters of Evil can destroy the Avengers.
Zemo ensures Wonder Man's loyalty by advising him that as a result of the treatment his body now requires periodic doses of a serum to survive—a serum that only Zemo can provide. The Avengers are lured into a trap and captured. The plan fails when Wonder Man decides to save the Avengers and aid them against Zemo.
It looked at the time as though Wonder Man would go down as a fairly insignificant character as he appears to die in the conclusion of the issue, although Hank Pym records Wonder Man's brain patterns in the hope that one day he can be revived. Four years later, Issue #58 revisited the events of Issue #9, and it is discovered that Wonder Man's body has simply entered a catatonic state as it adjusts to the effects of the treatment. Eric Williams becomes distraught over the apparent death of his sibling and, blaming the Avengers, assumes the identity of the Grim Reaper in an effort to destroy them. The Grim Reaper steals Simon's body at one point, and attacks the Avengers three times before Wonder Man finally returns.
Wonder Man remains in suspended animation for years, and it is during this period that Ultron, the evil robot creation of Hank Pym, steals the brain patterns recorded by the Avengers for use as a template for the synthezoid Vision. It is later revealed that Vision is built from the original Human Torch, an android created by Professor Phineas Horton. This only happened in mainstream continuity and other origins were possible due to the Forever Crystal of Immortus.
During this vulnerable time, Wonder Man is used as a pawn on three occasions. Wonder Man's body is revived by the villain Kang in Avengers Issues #131-132, and then again by the Black Talon in Avengers Issue #152, and finally by the Living Laser in Avengers Annual #6. After this encounter, Wonder Man was restored to true life and chooses to remain with the Avengers (Issue #160) aiding them against Attuma and Doctor Doom. He also fought Vision, and helped the Avengers battle Graviton. He soon after defeats the Grim Reaper, who was intent on destroying Vision as he was "artificial" and a "mockery" of his brother; Wonder Man at this point is revealed to have become a being of ionic energy.
Issue #9 is a tough issue to find in high grade, with only a single copy ever graded higher than our 9.6 by CGC. We acquired our WP copy in the 11/20/2014 Heritage Auction.
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Avengers (1963) #10 |
Item: |
Avengers 10 Universal |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
0012617016
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Owner Comments
Issue #10 features the first appearance of Immortus, along with appearances by Baron Zemo, the Enchantress and the Executioner. Immortus is a somewhat complicated character, as at some point in his personal timeline, Pharaoh Rama-Tut (formerly known as Kang) became weary of battle due to frustration and the loss of his son Marcus and consort Ravonna in several timelines. He was approached by the alien Time-Keepers—time travelers from the end of the universe, the last living creatures in existence—to become their agent, preserving timelines rather than conquering them in exchange for immortality. He accepted and reinvented himself again, this time as Immortus, the lord of the other-dimensional realm of Limbo.
In the story, Immortus appears before the Masters of Evil, wanting to ally himself with them. At first, Zemo is distrusting and offended that Immortus thinks himself superior to them. Zemo sends Executioner to battle Immortus, but Immortus sends Paul Bunyan in his stead to fight. After a quick skirmish, They agree to unite on one condition: to destroy the Avengers. He places a newspaper ad offering superpowers to civilians. Seeking membership in the Avengers, Rick Jones falls for the trap. Captain America finds the ad and goes to the location.
Immortus tells Captain America that one of the other Avengers sent Rick here. Cap goes back to HQ to find the traitor and takes them all back to Immortus. Immortus pits each Avenger to a character picked out of time that is similar to them. Giant-Man is first, and his opponent is the biblical Goliath. At first, Goliath easily outmatches Giant-Man in terms of strength, but Giant-Man uses intelligence. He shrinks to the size of an ant, and using himself as the ball, hits Goliath in the forehead, defeating him much as David did before. Iron Man is next. He fights the Wizard Merlin. Merlin traps Iron Man in a cage of tempered steel, leading Iron Man to remark that if he wins the battle, he'll never complain about enemies such as the Mandarin or Hawkeye, ever again.
Iron Man easily breaks free, and dodges Merlin's thunderbolts. He uses a device that produces flashing lights and irritating sounds, which disorients the much older Merlin, causing him to faint. Immortus sends out Hercules to battle the Mighty Thor. Surprisingly, the fight is evenly-matched, until Hercules breaks the standstill, grappling with Thor. Thor tries to imbalance Hercules, who falls out a window. Thor catches him, and Hercules yields to the Thunder God.
Immortus, not wanting to take any more chances, grabs Captain America and sends him back into time to save Rick. The other Avengers are attacked by the Masters of Evil while they are weakened. Iron Man is attacked by Executioner, Giant-Man is shrunk down to normal size and left in a confused state by the Enchantress, and Thor gets shot by a gun which turns flesh into stone.
As the battle ensues, Wasp aids Giant-Man by trying to confuse Enchantress. Iron Man trades blows with Executioner, and Thor starts getting turned into solid stone, helpless. With Iron Man's repulsors destroyed, Giant-Man normal-sized, Wasp unable to confuse Enchantress, and Thor helpless, Baron Zemo gloats and prolongs his final shot to Thor, wanting to savor the moment. A familiar voice protests, and a spinning shield destroys Zemo's gun. Captain America aids fellow Avenger Iron Man against Executioner. As Executioner is downed by Cap's shield, Wasp distracts Enchantress enough that her spell wears off, returning Giant-Man to his giant size. Thor yells, "Avengers Assemble!" after breaking free of his rock imprisonment, and at the last instant, Enchantress sends herself, Zemo and Executioner back in time, to a time before they met Immortus.
Our WP 9.8 comes from the Pacific Coast Collection. Considered the greatest Silver Age collection to ever surface, the Pacific Coast collection was brought to market by Robert Roter after he discovered portions of it for sale on eBay in 1999. The books were marketed through PCE over the next several years and contained over 7,000 comics and magazines that included Marvel, DC, and Gold Key among others, covering a time span between 1961 and 1977. Many of the highest graded Marvel and DC issues from the early '60s hail from this collection with exceptional page quality. The books do not exhibit any distinguishing markings.
Our book is naturally tied for highest graded. We acquired it from the Heritage Exchange in November 2022.
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Slot: |
Avengers (1963) #11 |
Item: |
Avengers 11 Universal |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
1493812003
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Owner Comments
Issue #11 features A Spider-Man cross-over and is one of the favorite early Avengers covers. When we acquired this one, it was just the second 9.8 certified by CGC, so we paid a pretty penny. Unfortunately, as of 5/2020, now there are three. Still, our copy emanates from the heralded Northland Pedigree Collection, which does set it apart. Considered one of the best Silver Age pedigree collections to ever surface, it included runs of primarily Marvel and DC, as well as Gold Key, Dell, ACG, and Charlton, among others. Michael Goldman purchased the collection in 1996, where it debuted for sale at the Chicago convention that same year. He continued to sell copies through his catalog over the next several years. The Northland collection is known for its exceptional paper quality and particularly high grades during the scarcer period of Marvel between 1961 and 1964. Although the books do not have any identifying marks, a certificate was included with each copy.
We acquired our book in the ComicConnect auction of December 21, 2018.
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