Captain America Comics #3 - Stan Lees First Work at Timely (Marvel)

If there is anything about comic books that almost everyone can agree on, there aren't many things, it is that Stan Lee is the greatest ambassador of comics that has ever lived. Love him or hate him, we love him, he has done nothing but help develop comic books into the entertainment juggernaut it is today, subsequently he created the character the Juggernaut. All of Stan's excelsiors and 'nuff saids started pretty modestly with Captain America Comics #3.

Back in the the early 1940's comic books were experiencing their Golden Age, at this time many publishing houses were popping up. One such publishing company was Timely, they would later become Marvel Comics. Timelys flagship character was the Nazi fighting World War II hero Captain America. He was the second of their characters to get his own title, Red Raven was the first.
Working in the Timely offices was a young man who had the desire to be a famous writer, young Stanley Lieber at first did odd jobs around the Timely offices. Finally he was given the opportunity to write, he made his comic-book debut in Captain America Comics #3 even if it was only the text filler "Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge", the issue was released in May of 1941. Stanley used the pseudonym "Stan Lee",which years later he would adopt as his legal name. This story introduced Captain America's trademark ricocheting shield-toss, which immediately became one of the character's signatures.  The rest of the story is history, Stan Lee would go on to create or co-create most of Marvels important characters.

Stan Lee with Chris Evans in deleted scene from Avengers

If you would like to own a copy of this historic comic you will have to open your wallet and possible part of your bank account, a CGC high grade is about $12,000 plus. ComicConnect recently sold a CGC 6.5 for $6,000. This is a great piece of comic book history and if you have the cash it is worth the money. Start your Stan Lee collection with the start of Stan Lee.

Good Luck on Your Hunt!
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Alpha Flight - Canada's Greatest Superhero Team

Recently on one of my comic hunting trips I picked up a copy of Alpha Flight #1. "Canada's answer to the Avengers" was one of my favorite titles when I was younger. I always enjoyed John Byrnes writing and art work, there was something different about the way he drew a character that made him stand out from other artists at the time. Alpha Flight was the first non-America team I had ever come across which was pretty cool to me at the time. Plus I am a big hockey fan and they had a member named Puck.

Alpha Flight made their first appearance in X-Men #120 which was also drawn by John Byrne, written by X-Men legend Chris Claremont. The team was sent to retrieve Wolverine for the Canadian Government. You can add this issue to your collection for about $25 for an ungraded copy, $1000 for a CGC high grade copy.

Alpha Flights original team consisted of the following member.

• Guardian : Originally Weapon Alpha, then Vindicator, James MacDonald Hudson is a scientist from who wears a battle-armor suit with a maple leaf flag on it. The suit gives him the power to fly and manipulate Earth's magnetic field. 
• Northstar: Jean-Paul Beaubier, from Montreal, is a mutant with powers of super-speed and light generation.
• Aurora : Jeanne-Marie Beaubier is Northstar's twin sister. Like her brother, she is also a mutant with powers of super-speed, flight, light generation, and molecular acceleration.
• Sasquatch : My favorite member of Alpha Flight. Walter Langowski is a scientist who can transform into a Sasquatch. 
• Shaman: Michael Twoyoungmen is a skilled doctor and sorcerer.
• Snowbird: She is an Inuit demi-goddess from Yellowknife, who can transform into animals of the north.

• Marrina: An amphibious woman who is actually part of an extraterrestrial invading force known as the Plodex.
• Puck: Eugene Judd is a dwarf bouncer from Saskatoon ( love that name) with enhanced strength and extraordinary acrobatic abilities.

Along with being in the comics they also have appeared on the X-Men cartoon and have been part of Marvels Action figure lines. The big question is, When are they going to nake an Alpha Flight movie? We think Marvel owns the rights but that is a little hard to figure out, seeMarvel movie rights.  But regardless with the success of Guardians of the Galaxy it's time for another unique superhero team.

If you have not read an issue of the original Alpha Flight, you'll see why there should be a movie. I strongly recommend hunting down some copies of the John Byrne run to start, I picked up issue #1 in a dollar bin at Wizard World Philadelphia, since then I have begun putting the entire series together. Issue #13 is one of my favorite Byrne covers of all-time.

Good Luck on Your Canadian Hunt!
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Amazing Fantasy #15 - White Mountain Copy

In a recent post we looked at the most important Silver Age comic, Amazing Fantasy #15 which contains the first appearance of Spider-Man. Much like Action Comics #1 Amazing Fantasy #15 also has some significant copies that have been newsworthy based on either their grade or their pedigree. The most well known of these is the White Mountain copy which is a CGC NM 9.4 The comic is a gem all around, the highest known grade of Amazing Fantasy in existence.
This mint copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 sold at auction for $227,000.

About the White Mountain Collection
Unlike the Action Comics #1 we have looked at in prior posts, the White Mountain collection is not as well known. This is primarily because the White Mountain collection of comic books, originating out of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, is made up of Silver Age comics. many believe It is the greatest Silver Age collections to appear and it includes many diverse publishers and titles, The collection contains approximately 5,000 books, which spanned the years 1948 into the early 1970’s. The collection contains most of the DC science fiction books. Back at this time in comic book history, which started with the reintroduction of the Flash in Showcase #4, science fiction became the driving force in many titles, as shown by the new origin of the Flash (to be detailed in a later post).
The fantastic quality of these comic books, are the result of the comics being kept in metal storage and were never read by the owner. Like the Amazing Fantasy #15 the Comics Guaranty Corporation (CGC) has graded many of the key Silver Age issues contained within the collection as the highest grade known for that particular comic.

Not sure if the pricing on this is affordable to most hunters but just seeing one of these would be an accomplishment to a skilled hunter, so as always, keep your hunting eyes ready.

Good luck hunting one of these down, I you do find one or own one, send us a photo.

Good Luck on your Hunt!
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The Movie Rights to Marvel Universe

Marvel Comics does not own the movie rights to all there characters. What the?

Back in the early 1990's they sold the rights to a number of their key characters. So what does this mean, no Avengers vs. X-Men for starters, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are complicated, Sony pictures is going to make a lot of Spider-man based movies, and Stan Lee is the man (we all knew that already).

It also means that we will continue to see tons of movie related toys and collectibles based on Marvel characters, just look at all the San Diego Comic Con Exclusives.

So be ready to continue to hunt down all the Marvel treasures.  Oh and don't forget Disney's hand in all this.

Good luck on the hunt!

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Sunday Salute to Troops - Captain America #100

What better way to salute the troops then with the best known soldier in comics 1st issue of his Silver Age series , Captain America #100.

This first issue hit newstands in April 1968, it retells his first Silver Age apperance from Avengers #4 ( both issues are key Silver age book, hunt them down).
Black Panther guest stars in the story "This Monster Unmasked!" Which was Scripted by Stan Lee, penciled by Jack Kirby, inked by Syd Shores. Issue also includes a brief Nick Fury appearance and cameos by the Avengers and the Sub-Mariner. This story continues from Tales of Suspense 99. Cover price $0.12, a mint condition issue will now cost you $6,000.

Captain America is not only one of the popular superheroes in comics today but he is also a soldier himself. We picked this issue to salute the troops and to celebrate the 4th of July, because Cap is the embodiment of the USA and its military. In his early days he fought Hitler and the nazis throughout his pages.

Good luck on your hunt!
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My favorite Comic book covers - Avengers #214 & #196

I have been collecting comic books for over 35 years. Throughout those years I have owned some comics that standout based on their cover art. Avengers #214 & #196 are two such comics.

As a kid Avengers #214 was one of  my prized possessins. It contained Ghost Rider and Angel battling each other while the Avengers try to capture the Ghost Rider. I really like how the over shows Ghost Rider attacking Iron Man. This issue was release in December 1981, I purchased it off a spinner rack on a visit to my local drug store. I recently repurchased the issue while on a hunt in New Jersey.

Avengers #196 also had an awesome cover. The new villain Taskmaster graced the cover. I had no idea who he was but he looked awesome, he still remains one of my favorite villains in the Marvel Universe. The Taskmaster origin is told in this issue and it is his first full appearance. 
Taskmaster can duplicate the powers of the Avengers, he has a shield like Captain America 
and bow and arrows like Hawkeye.

I am still looking to repurchase this issue which I original hunted down back in June 1980 
for .40( cover price)

When I was a kid the cover played an important role in comics I purchased. The Avengers 
always seemed to,have cool covers.

I will be sharing more cover stories in future posts.

Enjoy your hunt!
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