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One month to Heroes Con 2010! I’ll be there, will you? Check out the Heroes Con web site with a list of guests and other information about the show. If you’ve never been, you’ll find that this is one of the best comic book conventions in the country. I hope to see you there!
It’s been a busy few weeks for DC and Marvel in their continuing efforts to publish reprints of Golden Age material.
DC Wins the prize for the most Golden Age reprints with three offerings, all in very different formats.
First up is the Wonder Woman Chronicles, Volume 1. This is DC’s third Golden Age offering of its popular “Chronicles” series (behind Superman and Batman), which is designed to reprint all of the Golden Age adventures of Wonder Woman in chronological order. If you have been interested in learing the roots of this character, but don’t want to spend the money for one of the more expensive “Archives” books, this is a great place to start. This softbound, trade paperback size book reprints in color the very first stories featuring Wonder Woman. In this volume you will find the adventures from All-Star Comics #8 (December 1941-January 1942) (her very first appearance), Sensation Comics #1-9 (January-September 1942) and Wonder Woman #1 (Summer 1942). This volume retails for $17.99.
Wonder Woman Chronicles, Volume 1
Next up form DC is a very cool reprint of some classic Simon & Kiby Golden Age material with The Newsboy Legion by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. This 360 page hardback volume features the adventures of the Guardian and the Newsboy Legion from Star Spangled Comics #7-32 (April 1942-May 1944). This is great WWII era Simon & Kirby material, much of which has never before been reprinted. DC plans to reprint all of the S&K work on this title with a planned second volume. This book also features a very nice introduction by none other than Joe Simon. It retails for $49.99.
The Newsboy Legion by Simon & Kirby, Volume 1
Finally, DC has published the long awaited (and one of my favorites) Robin Archives, volume 2, featuring the Robin solo stories that appeared in the pages of Star Spangled Comics. It’s been five years since the first volume in this series was published, so it’s nice to see DC finally reprint these rare Golden Age stories. Not only have most of these stories never before been reprinted, but it’s almost impossible to find copies of the originals of these comics for sale. As a bonus, Batman appears in several of the stories in this volume, featuring reprints of Star Spangled Comics #86 (November 1948) through #105 (June 1950). DC should be able to complete reprinting all of the Robin stories from this title in a third volume, as Robin’s last appearance was in issue #130. I just hope they don’t wait five more years! This book retails for $59.99.
Robin Archives, Volume 2
While not really a Golden Age reprint, Marvel continues to publish their popular Atlas Era series of Marvel Masterworks with Tales to Astonish, volume 3. This book reprints the stories from Tales to Astonish #21 (July 1961) through #30 (April 1962). This volume features the classic “The Man in the Anthill” from issue #27 by Kirby & Ayers, which is the first appearance of Ant-Man. This is great stuff for the fans of pre-hero Marvel, and features all of the Marvel greats, Ditko, Kirby, Heck, Lee and others. This volume retails for $59.99.
Marvel Masterworks Atlas Era Tales to Astonish, Volume 3
Happy Easter from the Golden Age of Comic Books! Easter is celebrated by many for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but it is also the delight of millions of children as they wait anxiously to see what goodies the Easter Bunny left in their Easter baskets. How would you feel if it was revealed that the Easter Bunny was really Donald Duck in disguise?
Walt Disney's Comics & Stories #32 (May 1943)
This is the cover of Walt Disney’s Comics & Stories #32 (May 1943) featuring Donald as the Easter Bunny. Unfortunately, Donald’s version is not so charitable, as it appears that our favorite Duck donned this costume in order to steal a few eggs! Whatever the case may be, it’s fun to see this early Golden Age Easter Themed cover by Carl Buettner.
Also of note, this issue marks the great Carl Barks’ second work in this title, his first appearing in the immediately preceding issue (#31, April 1943). The Barks story in issue #32 is credited as the first Donald Duck story both written and drawn by Barks, and is aptly titled, “The Rabbit’s Foot”. It has been reprinted in several Gladstone issues over the years.
Walt Disney's Comics & Stories #31 (April 1943)
There are some cool recent Golden Age reprints to be had!
First, DC Comics is back with another of their Batman Chronicles. Volume 9 features some of my favorite Batman stories from the prime of the Golden Age. In this edition, you will find all of the stories from Detective Comics 75 through 77, Batman 16 & 17 and World’s Finest Comics #10. These stories were all originally published between April and July of 1943 and feature the works of Golden Age greats such as Jerry Robinson, Jack Burnely, Don Cameron, Bill Finger and many others.
The Batman Chronicles Volume 9
Marvel has also produced a great new collected edition of some never before reprinted Golden Age stories. Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Daring Mystery Comics Volume 2 features reprints of all of the stories from issues five through 8 of this title. While not as popular as Timley’s main characters the Human Torch, Captain America and the Sub-Mariner, this volume does not diappoint with the adventures of the Fiery Mask, Marvex the Super Robot, The Fin, Dynaman, Monaco: Prince of Magic and many others. There’s a lot of great talent here from Bill Everett, Joe Simon, Jack Kirby and others, with a great Alex Schomberg cover on issue #5. Will Murray penned the introduction to this harback volume, which also includes reprints of some classic Timley ads, original art and photos.
Golden Age Marvel Masterworks Daring Mystery Comics Volume 2
Check these out! You’ll be glad you did!
Hot on the heels of the first comic book to fetch one million dollars, an 8.0 CGC graded copy of Detective Comics #27 featuring the first appearance of Batman brings $1,075,000 at auction! Who says Superman is better than Batman!
Detective Comics #27 - $1.075 Million Dollars
This book was purchased by a collector 40 years ago for $100 and was beautifully preserved over the years. It was part of the Pinnacle Hill Collection. After grading by CGC, it was consigned to Heritage Auction Galleries and was featured in their 2010 February Signature Comics and Comics Art Auction #7017 that ended on February 24, 2010. Heritage described this book as the most desirable comic book it has ever auctioned. Having an 8.0 grade (unrestored) with white pages (very rare for a book this age), it is likely the highest graded copy out there. I doubt another specimen like this will surface for many years.
With the recent million dollar sale of an 8.0 Action Comics #1, followed closely by this amazing auction result, it will be very interesting to see what other high grade Golden Age books bring at auction in the coming years. I’m also curious to see how these two sales and other recent high grade sales will affect the upcoming Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide which should be out within the next couple of months. It could be a wild ride!
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