Set Description:
This set features the combined creative works of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko on AF#15 in 1962, and the ASM comic between 1963 and 1966:
• Stan Lee (Stanley Martin Lieber) born 28/12/1922, died 12/11/2018 (age 95).
• Steve Ditko (Stephen J. Ditko) born 2/11/1927, died 29/6/2018 (age 90).
The set comprises the following 41 comics:
• First appearance of Spider-Man in AF15.
• ASM 1-38
• ASM Annuals 1 and 2
ASM 38 was Steve Ditko's last issue as plotter, penciler, and inker. He left the series due to ongoing creative differences between himself and Stan Lee. He was replaced by John Romita Sr. Ditko didn't finish the cover of ASM #38, and only did the inside art. This is why the cover of the issue is comprised of four different images from within the comic itself. It is rumored that the grinning mannequin punched by Spider-Man at the end of this issue was Ditko's "farewell shot" at a likeness of Stan Lee, not Ned Leeds of the Daily Bugle on his right to propose to Betty as per the storyline.
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| Slot: |
Amazing Fantasy 15 |
| Item: |
Amazing Fantasy 15 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1118556003
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Owner Comments
Amazing Fantasy #15 (AF15) provided the origin and first appearance of Spider-Man (Peter Parker), as well as the first appearances of Uncle Ben and Aunt May. It was the last Amazing Fantasy comic until 1995. It was also the first one called Amazing Fantasy instead of Amazing Adult Fantasy.
CGC census 12/2019: 3271 (+201)
CGC census 12/2018: 3070
I have the 7th page - the start of The Bell Ringer story. It was neatly signed in a lightly-coloured space (as shown) in black sharpie by the late Stan Lee on 13/10/2012, and encapsulated into the prestigious CGC Signature Series.
The Bell Ringer story: On a small Mediterranean Island of Fisherfolk, Old Pedros is the town bell-ringer. One day the volcano atop the island begins to errupt. The villagers evacuate and put out to sea. Old Pedros, though, stays at the church. "The bells must ring" he tells himself. "Someone will hear. For centuries someone has always heard!" Molten rock streams toward the church. Before it reaches Old Pedros, a ray of sunlight surrounds him. The superstitious villagers swear they saw him ride that ray into the sky. Did their eyes play tricks on them, or did someone hear the bells?
This page is from an incredibly rare and valuable comic, as it represents the origin and first appearance of Spider-Man. There were 3070 copies (22/12/2018) listed in the Registry, of which almost half (1413) are graded at 3.0 or lower. There are six copies graded at the highest-presenting rank of 9.6; 12 at 9.4 and 15 at 9.2.
This book will always sell in any grade. Whether or not it is a great investment depends on how much you paid for yours, and how patient you are. Long-term, I see AF15 as being a solid hold.
• One of the six copies of AF15 graded at 9.6 was sold for $1,100,000 in 2012, making it the second-highest price ever achieved for a comic book (after an Action Comics #1, CGC 9.0, which sold for $3,207,852).
• A CGC 9.4 copy of AF15 sold in 2018 for $705,000. This was a 55% price increase in just two years, following the sale of a CGC 9.4 copy of sold at Heritage Auctions in Dallas on 18/2/2016 for $454,100.
• A 9.2 copy sold for $598,000 in early 2020.
A useful (free) tracker of sales and prices of this comic since 2017 is maintained here.
Stan Lee - creator and writer
Steve Ditko - co-creator and art. (250)
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man 29 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man 29 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1256866001
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Owner Comments
ASM #29 from October 1965, UK Edition.
Second appearance of The Scorpion.
Never Step on a Scorpion, summary:
While Peter is out shopping for new clothes, Scorpion has his costume returned to him in prison and he escapes, swearing revenge on Spider-Man and J. Jonah Jameson. Back at The Daily Bugle, Peter is talking to Betty Brant and Ned Leeds who has just returned back from Europe for good. A police officer comes in and tells Jameson that an extra security detail has been assigned to protect him from the Scorpion. Spider-Man decides to swing around town to attract Scorpion’s attention but instead is giving Scorpion plenty of time to attack Jameson.
He realizes this possibility and decides to head to The Daily Bugle just in case. When he gets there, Scorpion has already started to run after Jameson. As Spider-Man and Scorpion trade blows, Jameson’s office is demolished, but when the police arrive Scorpion flees outside. As the two fight on the rooftops, Spider-Man creates bolas made out of his web to tangle Scorpion and swings Scorpion around the town and into the Hudson River. As Scorpion splashes about, Spider-Man tangles him in a net of webbing waiting for the police to pick him up.
Once Spider-Man is finished he returns to The Daily Bugle as Peter Parker to check on Betty Brant. When he’s told by Jameson that she was sent home, he calls her house and we see that Betty is on the couch getting rest from the fright-fest that happened earlier. Even more concerning, Aunt May is in the kitchen and she gets a dizzy spell and almost faints.
CGC census 3/2023 = 21. 1 @2.5, 19 higher. 9.0 highest.
CGC census 10/2024 = 29. 1 @2.5, 27 higher, 1 lower (28 Universal, and 1 Qualified). CGC 9.0 highest.
Cover price: 10d
Stan Lee - creator and story
Steve Ditko - co-creator, story, cover and interior art
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 1 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2135725001
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Owner Comments
ASM Annual #1, 1964.
CGC 1.5, OW page quality.
First appearance of the Sinsister Six.
Cameos of Thor, Giant-Man, Dr. Strange and Fantastic Four.
CGC census 2/2023: 2510
Sinister Six story summary: Having broken out of prison, Dr. Octopus gathers Mysterio, Electro, Kraven the Hunter, the Vulture and Sandman to get revenge against Spider-Man as the Sinister Six. Meanwhile, Spider-Man has once more found that his spider powers have faded and has to exercise more caution getting back home, lest someone take advantage of his lost powers to find out his secret identity.
As Peter Parker wanders the city lost in thought over all the stress caused because of his Spider-Man identity, he doesn't go to school. This prompts the school to call his Aunt May. Worried about Peter, she goes to Betty Brant for help, and they, in turn, see if J. Jonah Jameson has seen Peter recently. This makes them a target for the Sinister Six, who have decided to use Betty Brant as bait to lure Spider-Man, and so they kidnap both Betty and Aunt May.
Peter arrives at the Bugle just in time to see the Vulture delivering a message to Jameson. The Vulture tells him that the Sinister Six has gone to six different locations and at each location has a clue to the whereabouts of Betty and May. While super-heroes all over the city try to find Spider-Man, Peter decides that powers or no powers, he's going to save his Aunt May and Betty from his enemies.
At the first location, the local power plant owned by Stark Industries, Peter faces Electro. During the fight, he realizes that his powers have returned. He easily defeats Electro and learns the next location. When Iron Man arrives to offer help, Spider-Man refuses.
His next fight is with Kraven the Hunter who attacks Spider-Man in Central Park with three tigers. Spider-Man easily fights off the attackers and secures the next clue. Along the way, the Human Torch offers help, but once again, Spider-Man refuses. His next location is controlled by Mysterio, who sends androids based on the X-Men to attack the wall-crawler. Spider-Man easily defeats the androids and Mysterio. The next clue is set ablaze, but Spider-Man recovers its contents with his web-fluid.
His next battle is against Sandman, sealed in an airless room. Spider-Man defeats Sandman with his superior lung capacity. Next, he battles the Vulture high over the city and defeats him as well, gaining the location of Dr. Octopus, who has been holding Betty and Aunt May hostage. May, completely oblivious to her situation, believes they are Octavius' houseguests.
Spider-Man battles Octopus and his mechanical arms. Their fight takes them to a giant fishbowl, where Octopus battles Spider-Man in his "natural habitat." Spider-Man defeats Octopus by filling the tank with his webbing and tangling Octavius up. Spider-Man frees Aunt May and Betty Brant.
Returning to his civilian guise, he meets up with them as Peter Parker. Aunt May remains upset with Peter over his skipping class. Jameson is once more made a fool, when he has to publish a story about how heroic Spider-Man is, and as for the Sinister Six? They are forced to share a prison cell, the villains squabble among themselves.
Cover price: 25c, with UK stamped price of 1'6d
Stan Lee - creator, writer, editor
Steve Ditko - co-creator, cover, pencils and inks
Sam Rosen - letterer. (150r+20)
Prices:
This comic is rumoured to be one with value growth potential, so I decided to keep a record of prices being asked/achieved on eBay.
Summer 2020:
6.5 = £1558
5.5 = £848-1649
5.0 = £1200obo
4.5 = £1199
4.0 = £759-989 (4.0SS, Stan Lee = £1530)
3.5 = £539
3.0 = £498-795 (3.0SS, Stan Lee = £2000)
2.5 = £585
1.8 = £322-555
1.5 = £308
1.0 = £475
0.5 = £193
Summer 2021:
5.0 = £3800
3.0 = 1730-1900 (3.0SS Stan Lee = £2200)
2.5 = £1500-1650
1.5 = £973-1600
1.0 = £878-1000
0.5 = £709-1000
Spring 2022:
7.5 = £5000
7.0 = £4800
6.5 = £4000
6.0 = £3400
5.5 = £2600-3200
4.0 = £2200
3.5 = £1700
3.0 = £1300-1500
2.5 = £1400-1900
2.0 = £900-1100
1.8 = £900-1300
1.5 = £1500-1600
1.0 = £760-1100
0.5 = £492-1100
Spring 2023
7.0W = £5700
7.0OW-W = £3960
6.5OW-W = £2800
5.5OW-W = £2600
4.5W = £1100
4.5OW-W = £2500
4.5OW = £1400-2400
3.5OW-W = £962, 1100, 2000, 2100
3.0OW-W = £915-1150
1.8OW-W = £750
1.8Cream-OW = £650
1.5C-OW = £500-550
1.0OW-W = £440-550
0.5OW-W = £440, 493, 550
0.5C-OW = £263, 320, 600
Autumn2024
6.0 = £1420
5.5 = £1385, 1845
5.0 = £1153, 1307, 1440, 1765
4.5 = £960, 1075, 1192
4.0 = £838, 925, 1535
3.5 = £692, 776, 807, 925, 1192
3.0 = £519, 680, 883
2.5 = £576, 768, 807, 1690
2.0 = £403, 500, 615, 925
1.8 = £346, 515, £1535 SS/Stan Lee
1.5 = £403, 460, 769
1.0 = £325, 460, 769
0.5 = £269, 361, 381, 422, 500, 692, 756, 775
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0109680011
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Owner Comments
ASM Annual #2, 1965.
First appearances of Xandu and the Wand of Watoomb.
Doctor Strange appearance.
This was my 5th Silver Age CGC graded comic.
CGC census 3/2020: 600
CGC census 2/2023: 884
First story - The Wondrous Worlds of Doctor Strange - Spider-Man is disappointed to find all quiet during his night patrol of the city. However, elsewhere a man named Xandu interferes in a bar-room brawl, where two muscular men have challenged everyone present to a fight. Xandu hypnotizes them to feel no pain, and gives them limitless strength to accomplish their task: to steal the other half of the Wand of Watoomb, of which Xandu already possesses one part, from Dr Strange's mansion. As they break in, Dr. Strange tries to distract them, but he is quickly knocked out. The two henchmen find the Wand of Watoomb and exit through a skylight, thereby attracting the attention of Spider-Man. Spider-Man goes down fighting, having been unaware of their supernatural strength: but even as he collapses he plants a Spider Tracer on one of them. Xandu receives the second half of the wand and re-unites it. He reveals that with the complete Wand he can create doorways to other dimensions and times, as well as see any place or object he desires. Spider-Man now interrupts Xandu, but is startled to find himself starting to disappear into an alternate dimension: he grabs the Wand of Watoomb, realizing its importance, and it goes with him. Xandu sends the two henchmen after Spider-Man to get it back. As they fight, Dr Strange regains consciousness and follows the henchmen's traces to Xandu’s lair.
The two do battle as the henchmen bring Spider-Man back to Earth. Xandu regains control of the Wand of Watoomb and uses it against Dr Strange, who, realizing he’s overpowered by the Wand, leaves his physical form and uses his ectoplasmic spirit to aid Spider-Man. At Strange’s suggestion, Spider-Man grabs an electric wire and shorts out the two henchmen’s hypnosis. Dr Strange returns to his physical form and fights alongside Spider-Man, who trips Xandu with his webbing and retrieves the Wand. The Wand is then drained of its mystic power by Dr Strange, who also wipes the memory - and thus the evil intentions - of Xandu.
The comic also contains three of Spider-Man's earliest, greatest, most-requested full-length epics:
1. Spiderman - With the Parker household desperate for money following the death of Ben Parker, Peter Parker decides to continue in show business as Spider-Man. However, not only does he find it impossible to cash his paycheck (made out to Spider-Man), but the irrational editorials by J. Jonah Jameson in the Daily Bugle effectively quelch his career. Besides denouncing Spider-Man as a publicity-seeking phony, J. Jonah Jameson also publishes articles lauding his son, John Jameson, a courageous astronaut about to be launched into orbit in a space capsule. J. Jonah Jameson calls his son a "real hero."
The day of the launch finds Peter Parker at the launch site as an observer. The rocket takes off successfully, but a guidance system error causes it to go wildly off course and re-enter the atmosphere. Spider-Man appears at the launch site and offers to replace the defective 24-3B guidance unit in the plunging capsule with a spare. Because there is no way for the military to get to the capsule in time, they allow Spider-Man to try.
Spider-Man commandeers an aircraft and pilot, and together they fly toward the space capsule's re-entry point. Although the capsule is falling fast, Spider-Man manages to get hold of it with his webbing and climbs aboard. He quickly replaces the faulty guidance unit. As a result, John Jameson regains control of the capsule, gets it properly oriented, and opens its parachute. To the joy of all concerned, the astronaut is saved.
Thinking that Spider-Man has at last proved himself, Peter Parker is shocked when he reads J. Jonah Jameson's editorial in the next edition of the Daily Bugle. Spider-Man is accused of deliberately sabotaging the space capsule and staging the rescue as a publicity stunt. With public opinion turning against Spider-Man with each new editorial in the Daily Bugle, Peter Parker's position is as hopeless as ever.
2. The Uncanny Threat of the Terrible Tinkerer - Peter Parker is busy in the Midtown High School science lab when Mr. Warren introduces him to Professor Cobbwell. The professor needs an assistant for the weekend, and Peter Parker comes highly recommended. The next day, Peter runs an errand to the Tinkerer Repair Shop, where Professor Cobbwell has left a radio to be fixed. But in the basement of the shop, a group of what are apparently extraterrestrials have been placing spy devices into the radios of certain customers. The spy devices evidently enable them to estimate the earth's strengths and weaknesses in secrecy before they strike.
Spider-Man's Spider Sense detects an odd kind of radiation emanating from the shop basement. Later, this same kind of radiation is detected from the radio brought back to Professor Cobbwell's laboratory. His curiosity aroused, Spider-Man secretly returns to the Tinkerer's shop and sneaks into the basement, where he sees the "aliens" and the Tinkerer and deduces their plans. Unfortunately, he is spotted, and, in the ensuing battle, he is stunned by one of the Tinkerer's electrical weapons. He is placed into a "resisto-glass" enclosure, from which the Tinkerer and his gang believe he cannot escape. They plan to kill him by withdrawing all the air from the enclosure.
Spider-Man thwarts their plan by shooting web fluid out of the holes through which his air supply is being withdrawn. He hits the button on their control panel that opens his glass prison. A misdirected weapon starts a fire, and the Tinkerer and the "aliens" all flee. They appear to leave the earth in a large spacecraft, while all that remains of the Tinkerer is a face mask in Peter Parker's hands.
3. Marked for Destruction by Dr. Doom - After a report by J. Jonah Jameson about the "menace" of Spider-Man, Peter (in order to avoid any suspicion that he's really Spider-Man) speaks negatively about his alter ego, earning him harsh words from Flash Thompson. Meanwhile, Dr. Doom had seen this same report, and decided that after surviving his last encounter battling the Fantastic Four, that perhaps Spider-Man would make for a good partner to eliminate his mortal foes.
Doom uses a device which sends out a signal that affects Peter's spider-sense, and Peter goes to it as Spider-Man. Doom offers Spider-Man an alliance. Spider-Man naturally refuses and a brief battle ensues in which Spider-Man escapes. While back at Midtown High, Flash has decided to play a prank on Peter Parker by giving him a "scare" in his new Spider-Man costume in the hopes of getting Parker to have more respect for Spider-Man.
This prank backfires, as Dr. Doom begins trying to track down Spider-Man to get revenge. As Thompson is near Peter when Doom is tracking Spider-Man, he captures Thompson instead. Doom then sends out a message to the Fantastic Four to battle him or Spider-Man will be killed. Peter at first believes that Flash deserves his fate, but his sense of responsibility sends him out to rescue Flash anyway.
Spider-Man goes to Flash's rescue, and manages to hold his own against Doom's weapons and attacks. However, when the Fantastic Four arrive as well, Doom decides to flee the battle. Spider-Man decides to leave as well, leaving the Fantastic Four to rescue Thompson, hoping that he learns his lesson. The next day at school he sees otherwise, as Flash boasts about his experience. Peter, needing to keep his identity as Spider-Man secret, of course cannot say anything otherwise.
Cover price: 25c
1st story credits:
Written and edited by the toast of Marvel: Stan Lee
Plotted and drawn by the boast of Marvel: Steve Ditko
Lettered and bordered by the ghost of Marvel: Sam Rosen
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