Flash Comics #1 - One of the Rarest Comics

We have been discussing in recent posts which comic would be the fourth most important. See those that we have looked at already, Which is Fourth?

Flash Comics #1 is one of the legendary rarest comics in the world. Published in January 1940, Written by Gardner F. Fox, penciled & inked by Harry Lampert, Flash Comics #1 featured the first appearance of the Flash, along with the first appearance of Hawkman. It was printed in a very limited number of copies, and over the years has become sought after by collectors.

Like most comics of the 1940's Flash Comics was an anthology book, it contained an assortment of different stories which contained different characters.

Here are a list of the stories contained in Flash Comics #1

"Origin of the Flash", Written by Gardner F. Fox, penciled & inked by Harry Lampert. This 15 page story sees The Flash face the Faultless Four, who have kidnapped Joan Williams' father. We also see how Jay Garrick becomes the Flash.

Origin of the Flash

"The Disappearing Plane", Written by Gardner F. Fox, penciled & inked by Sheldon Moldoff. This 6 page story stars Cliff Cornwall

"The Origin of Hawkman", Written by Gardner F. Fox, penciled & inked by Dennis Neville. A 12 page story that is the first appearance of Hawkman, in the story weapons collector and research scientist Carter Hall discovers that he is the re-incarnation of an ancient Egyptian. Shires Sanders who would become Hawkgirl also makes her first appearance in this story.

"The Kidnapping of Johnny Thunder" Written by John B. Wentworth, penciled & inked by Stan Aschmeier. 10 page story about Johnny Thunder.

"Warfare in Space, Part 1" a two page text story Written by Gardner F. Fox, penciled & inked by Sheldon Mayer.

"The Demon Dummy, Part 1"  Written, penciled & inked by Ed Wheelan.

"The Origin of the Whip"  Written by John B. Wentworth, penciled & inked by George Storm. 10 page story about the Whip,  Rod Gaynor decides to take on the guise of the Whip a famed adventurer from the past in order to help the poor from unscrupulous viglantes.

On March 12, 2010, a CGC highest graded Flash Comics #1 so far with a Near Mint plus grade (9.6) was sold at an auction for $450,000. Lower grades can be added to your collection for much less, a 5.0 sold for $14,000. 

This issue contains the first appearance of three key DC comic characters, The Golden Age Flash, Hawkman and Hawkgirls secret identity. One of the most important comics in history but is it the fourth most important. You tell us? Leave an opinion below or email us at Farleyclan003@yahoo.com

Good Luck on Your Hunt!
#jointhehunt

Marvel Entertainment Movie Release Dates

Here are all the movies we have to look forward to for the next five years. Which one are you most looking forward to? The dates and movies are not set in stone for the later ones, just educated guesses.

Marvel is giving fans a lot more information then DC Entertainment has!

Captain Cold on the Flash TV Series

The leader of the Flashes rogues gallery will be appearing on the new television series.  DC continues to take characters directly from the comic pages to appear in the show, much as they did on Arrow the last two seasons. Including Captain Cold will hopefully open the door for more of the Rogues, fingers crossed for the Rainbow Raider.

We have already looked at three characters set to appear alongside the Flash, The General, Plastique, and Vibe. Here is a look Captain Cold to help you prepare for the series premier.

Created in 1957 by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, Captain Cold made his first appearance in Showcase #8.  This issue is can be found in a CGC high grade for around $5,000. Lower ungraded for about $1,000. This is considered a key Silver Age issue as not only is it the first appearance of Captain Cold but it is also the second appearance of the Silver Age Flash.

First Appearance

The story in which Captain Cold first appeared was titled The Coldest Man On Earth! Captain Cold initially defeats the Flash. The Flash returns and begins to circle Captain Cold at super speed, Cold can not zone in on the scarlet speedster, but the whirlwind knocks him out. He is quickly take to prison.

Prior to choosing Captain Cold, Leonard Snart thinks about using a number of other names include Mr. Arctic, The Cold Wave, Sub-Zero, and Human Icicle. 

About Captain Cold
Leonard Snart was a small time crook who work with a small gang of thieves, after they are easily defeated by the Flash Snart reads an article that theorized that the energy emissions of a cyclotron could interfere with the Flash's speed. He designed a weapon to harness that power and broke into a cyclotron lab, puts on a parka and visor, then takes the name Captain Cold. Cold has been the leader of the Flashes Rogues and a member of the Secret Society of SuperVillians.

On the Flash TV Series

Captain Cold will be played by Wentworth Miller on the new series. Wentworth is best know for his role in the hit show Prison Break. 

Captain Cold also was a member of the Legion of Doom on the greatest superhero cartoon ever, ABC's Challenge of the Super Friends. 

Over the years Captain Cold has appeared in many issues of the Flash, as well as other, DC comics. Keep an eye out while your searching through bins for his many appearances. If you can find a copy of Showcase #8 for a Goodrich buy it, worth having this classic issue in your collection.


Good Luck on Your Hunt!
#jointhehunt

DC Lego Variant Covers - Hitting Shelves in November

Dc will continue its use of variant themed covers this coming November, following on the heals of the Octobers Halloween/Horror Variant Covers.

The Lego theme is being used to celebrate the LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham video game being released in November. The Lego renditions on each cover mirror the covers from each issues #0 which were released in September 2012, I have included an image of Batman #0 for comparison.

Action Comics #36

Aquaman #36

Batgirl #36

Batman #36

Batman & Robin #36

 

Batman/Superman #16

 

Catwoman #36

 

Detective Comics #36

 

 

 

Flash #36

 

Grayson #4

 

Green Lantern #36

 

Green Lantern Corps #36

 

Harley Quinn #12

 

JLU #6

 

Justice League #36

 

Justice League Dark #36

 

New Teen Titans #4

 

Sinestro #7

 

Supergirl #36

 

Superman #36

 

Superman/Wonder Woman #13

Wonder Woman #36

These variant should be very popular and hard to find. Our suggestions. Is to request them from your local comic shop or begin hunting them down throughout November.

I also hope they make some Lego figures to go along with the covers.  Who doesn't want a Frankenstein Lego figure in their collection?

Good Luck on Your Hunt!
#jointhehunt

Superman #1 - Is it Fourth Most Important Comic?

We recently wrote about Batman #1 and how many believe that it is the fourth most valuable comic. The first three are easy,  Action Comics #1, Detective Comics #27 , and Amazing Fantasy #15. Since the Batmen #1 post we have heard from some of our readers about their vote for which comic should be the fourth. ( you can always reach us via email Farleyclan003@yahoo.com.)

Superman #1 came up the most so this addition of "Who's in Fourth?" will be about this iconic Golden Age issue. 

Superman was, as we all know, the first superhero introduced in Action Comics #1. His stories in Action Comics were so popular, regularly selling out a million copies a month, that DC comics, then National Publication, thought it would be a good idea for Superman to have his own title. It is important to note that until Superman #1 hit newsstands no comic title contained the stories of only one character. Titles were basically anthologies of different characters, Superman #1 changed all that.  

Superman #1 appeared on the shelves in the summer of 1939. Superman #1 was written by Robert JerrySiegel   with art by Joe Shuster, the team that created Super for Action Comics.  Superman now became the first superhero to appear in two separate comics each month and both Action Comics and Superman were selling of a million copies a month by 1940. 

It's Value
Superman #1 is valued at $550,000 in mint condition. A CGC 7.0 recently sold for $37,000. This ground breaking issue is highly sought after by collectors and with the comic market increasing steadily its value should continue to increase.

Inside Superman #1

Superman origin as told in Action Comics #1 is retold in Superman #1 with some additional panels not used in Action Comics. There are also stories reprinted from Action Comics #2, one in which Superman saves Lois from gangsters and another in which the two reporters take a trip to South America. There is also a story reprinted from Action Comics #3, Clark Kent disguises himself as a miner to check unsafe working conditions. Action Comics #4 also contributes a story, this one has Superman saving a College Football game.

Along with the five reprinted stories there are also four original stories in Superman #1. Clark Kent looks to get a job at the Daily Star and is turned down until he phones in a story about Superman stopping a lynching. Next, Superman convinces Bea Carroll, Superman first villain, to confess to the murder of Jack Kennedy. The issue also explains Superman's amazing Strength which is attributed to Earth's lighter gravity.

Page from Superman #1

If you have the means this is one of the comics that should be in your collection, if your like me just seeing one would be worth it. But is it worth being the fourth most important comic in history? You tell us, who should be number four and why? Comment below or email us Farleyclan003@yahoo.com

Good Luck in Your Hunt!
#jointhehunt

Comic Shop Review - Uncanny!, King of Prussia, PA

Recently moved into the King of Prussia mall and renamed, formerly Comics & More, Uncanny! is still adjusting to its new location but they are coming along. I you have read our previous Comic Shop Reviews, you know that we have been to a bunch of Comic Shops over the years.  Some stand out some do not. Uncanny is in the middle, trying to set themselves up again.

They carry a nice assortment of items, comics, toys, t-shirts, Funko and cards.  The thing that stands out most was the large t-shirt wall, a nice selection of Marvel, DC and TV related t-shirts. Pretty much something for everyone.

They also had a selection of statues, specifically a Howard the Duck statue. Since his appearance at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy, Howard the Duck has grown in popularity. See more about his history in our review of Howard the Duck.

Toys - A very nice selection of newer toys from most of the recent DC, Marvel and Walking Dead lines. Action figures a plenty. They also have a very large selection of Funko Pop Vinyl's. The display for the Pop Vinyl's was pretty awesome, stacked nicely so you can see everyone, they even had Ash from Evil Dead. They didn't have many older toys, which is to be expected from a store that recently reopened.

 

Comics - They had the normal selection of current comics, no much in the way of back issues. Some recent stuff but not much in the way of older issues. Hopefully moving forward they will purchase some collections to add to their back issue bins. A good comic shop has to have a good supply of back issues, especially for us hunters who are always on the search.

 



Other Stuff - Plenty of t-shirts to choose from, the bulk of which were DC comics related. The Plastic Man and Beast Boy really caught our eye as we had never seen them before. Uncanny! also had a nice selection of other stuff such as book bags, cards, bottle openers and the things we buy to make our collecting look good to our friends. Also that Howard the Duck statue makes a nice addition.

One of the things we liked most about our visit to Uncanny! was the life size statues they had placed around the store, am imposing Dark Knight greets you at the door as you walk in, an enormous Hulk looking over you as you hunt thru the store and the Flash protecting the back of the store. You know we are big Flash fans so this was nice to see. This is a nice effect to welcome customers into the store and for the kids to take pictures with.

 

Comic Shop Grade - B

 Usually comic book shops that are located in malls cater to the masses by carry other items besides comic book related stuff, since we comic collectors are becoming the masses new shops do not have to do this. Uncanny! does not cater to the masses they cater to the comic collectors, they cater to us. With a little more time and some collection purchases Uncanny! can become a solid store, right now they are still adjusting to their new name and space.

If you live in the area or are visiting the King of Prussia mall stop in and look around, you will certainly be able to find something to add to your collection.

We here at Comic Book Hunter and Gatherers will continue our hunt. Filling in our want list and gathering our collection.

Good Luck on Your Hunt!
#jointhehunt  

Action Comics #1 - eBay Copy Update

Last month we broke the news that eBay would be auctioning off a copy of Action Comics #1 with the sale going to the Christopher Reeve Foundation, you can read about it by clicking on Action Comics #1 - eBay Copy.

Since then the auction has started and it has already gone over $1.5 million with over a week left. Experts believe this could be the first comic to go over $3 million.

You can view the auction at Actions Comics #1 eBay auction, check it out. If you have the means bid on it.


Good Luck on Your Hunt!
#jointhehunt