| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 1 |
| Item: |
Avengers 1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1205125001
|
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?)
We 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. But unfortunately, that 9.6 is 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.
2024 Update: Well, we finally added a high grade unrestored #1 to this set in May 2024, as we recently bought a 9.4 WP example at auction. The book has vibrant colors and is perfectly centered bearing a QES sticker. We had tried in the April 2024 Heritage Auction to grab a 9.6, but that book went for about four times what we paid for this 9.4. So our 9.6/9.8 set is no more, well technically it still exists, it just scores lower than this one, which contains 100 unrestored books with a single 9.4 dragging down the bottom, so mini-steps here.
|
| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 2 |
| Item: |
Avengers 2 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1493865001
|
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.
|
| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 3 |
| Item: |
Avengers 3 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0615707002
|
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. It was acquired in the 9/6/2011 CL auction.
|
| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 4 |
| Item: |
Avengers 4 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1076358004
|
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 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 one of three.
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.
|
| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 5 |
| Item: |
Avengers 5 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0615707009
|
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.
|
| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 6 |
| Item: |
Avengers 6 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1129570001
|
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.
|
| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 7 |
| Item: |
Avengers 7 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2065130001
|
Owner Comments
Issue #7 features a great action cover with Thor highlighted along with appearances by Baron Zemo, the Enchantress and the Executioner. It is is the sole 9.8 and single highest graded issue as of June 2020 with just four 9.6s next in line. We acquired it in the 2/22/2018 Heritage auction.
|
| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 8 |
| Item: |
Avengers 8 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0720661006
|
Owner Comments
Issue #8 features the first appearance of Kang the Conqueror. This issue is second highest graded, bested by four 9.8s, two of which have come to the market lately, but sold at dear prices. Our WP copy was acquired in the 3/14/2017 CL auction.
|
| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 9 |
| Item: |
Avengers 9 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1290143006
|
Owner Comments
Issue #9 features the first appearance of Wonder Man, Simon Williams. It is a tough issue to find in high grade, with only a single copy ever graded higher by CGC. We acquired our WP copy in the 11/20/2014 Heritage auction.
|
| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 10 |
| Item: |
Avengers 10 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0012617016
|
Owner Comments
Issue #10 features the first appearance of Immortus, along with appearances by Baron Zemo, the Enchantress and the Executioner. Our WP 9.8 comes from the Pacific Coast Collection and is tied for highest graded. We acquired the book from the Heritage Exchange in November 2022.
|
| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 11 |
| Item: |
Avengers 11 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1493812003
|
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. We acquired it in the ComicConnect auction of December 21, 2018.
|
| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 12 |
| Item: |
Avengers 12 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2031649006
|
Owner Comments
Issue #12 features Red Ghost and Mole Man appearances. Also, for those GOT fans, of which I am certainly one, although I hated the last season, Issue #12 contains a fan letter from George RR Martin, the author of the GOT series of books. This gem is one of only two 9.8s and was acquired in 2019 from Worldwide Comics.
|
| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 13 |
| Item: |
Avengers 13 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0012617013
|
Owner Comments
Issue #13 features the first appearance of Count Nefaria. Our 9.6 has white pages and hails from our favorite Pacific Coast Pedigree Collection. There are actually three 9.8s in the census, but I have always found it hard to break the bank to acquire a 9.8 when we have the PC 9.6. Still, if the opportunity arises and the price is right, we shall see. In the meantime, we acquired our book in the March 2018 ComicConnect auction.
|
| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 14 |
| Item: |
Avengers 14 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0743743006
|
Owner Comments
Issue #14 features a Watcher appearance. This one is a relatively tough book to find in high grade, with only six 9.6s and a single 9.8 topping the census. I would consider our 9.6 to be the second best anywhere since it hails from the Pacific Coast Collection. We acquired the book off the ComicConnect Exchange in December 2019.
|
| Slot: |
Avengers (1963) 15 |
| Item: |
Avengers 15 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1197579002
|
Owner Comments
Issue #15 features the death of Baron Zemo and appearances by the Enchantress, the Melter, the Executioner and the Black Knight. Our WP 9.8 comes from the Northland Collection and is one of five highest graded copies. We acquired the book on 1/18/2017 from the Metropolis website.
|