Hardly A Complete Set
Avengers (1963) 1

COMIC DETAILS

Comic Description: Avengers #1 Apparent SP
Grade: 9.6
Page Quality: OFF-WHITE
Pedigree: COVER TRIMMED
Certification #: 0101488001
Owner: Mississippi Mudcats

SET DETAILS

Winning Set: Hardly A Complete Set
Date Added: 6/13/2018
Research: See CGC's Census Report for this Comic

Owner's Description

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?)

This copy is one of six 9.6s topping the census. It is unfortunately 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 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 copy is far and away the best restored one available, with only a slight professional restoration and the only restored copy above 9.2 in the census. I do hope someday to add a nice high grade universal labeled #1 to our collection, finances permitting, but for now this book looks great and I enjoy having the book. It 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.
 
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