The August ComicLink Featured Auction will showcase hundreds of Gold, and Silver, and Bronze Age comic books as well as many impressive pieces of Original Art.

To participate as a seller in this blockbuster auction, which starts August 7, 2008 simply e-mail your prospective auction list to buysell@comiclink.com or call Josh Nathanson or Douglas Gillock at 718-246-0300.  

Highlights that are featured in this auction include:

Ultra high-grade Amazing Spider-Man issues which according to ComicLink are some of the best Amazing Spider-Man offerings that they have ever had the opportunity to offer to bidders. Included are Amazing Spider-Man #6, #8, #9, #12, #18, #19, #26, #19, #32, #33, #35, #38, #39, #42, #44, #45, #49, #52, #56, #61, #69, #73, #74, #75, #80, #86, #89, #93 and others all in CGC 9.6!  And, #19, #56, , #57, #59, #60, #62, #64, #65, #77, #88, #97, #122, #123, #125, #135, #136, #138, and #163 all CGC certified 9.8.

Superman #1 CGC 5.0 Nova Scotia pedigree
So far, this is the book of the auction, so rare and highly demanded that ComicLink never offered a comparable example before. This issue is widely considered one of the top five comic books in the world, and it is extremely rare to be offered the opportunity to bid one any example remotely comparable to this one. 

The 1933 Jerry Siegel/Joe Shuster Fanzine  that introduced Superman five+ years before Action Comics #1 and Superman #1 appeared on the newsstands. Creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster unleashed the concept of Superman in their 1933 science fiction fanzine while they were still in high school. Little did they know that the This rare fanzine is seldom seen and this is the first ever offered for sale by ComicLink.

Another exciting piece of Superman memorabilia within this auction is an original Christopher Reeve Superman costume.

Incredible Hulk #1 CGC 8.5

The inaugural issue of Incredible Hulk is the rarest of the key Silver Age Marvels that came out in the early 1960s.  At 8.5, it is a high-grade example that is both scarce and very highly demanded.

Marvel Mystery Comics #5 CGC 8.0 Larson pedigree
The offered example from the highly regarded Larson pedigree collection sports the highest grade that CGC has assigned for this classic Timely issue as well as white pages. Extremely rare in grade, it is one of only two copies to be assigned the grade of 8.0 and truly a find.

Rare Golden Age gems such as All-American Comics #61 CGC 9.0, Exciting Comics #28 CGC 7.0, Uncle Scrooge #8 CGC 9.6, Whiz Comics #1 CGC 7.0 (R) and many Batman and Detective Comics issues.

Silver Age runs, many scarce in the conditions offered, of ultra high-grade Flash, Incredible Hulk, Silver Surfer, and Avengers.

Silver Age keys, like Batman #190 CGC 9.6,  Fantastic Four #12 CGC 9.0, Silver Surfer #14 CGC 9.6, and Tales of Suspense #39 CGC 9.0

Bronze Age Keys such as Hulk #181 CGC 9.8 (1st Wolverine), House of Secrets #92 CGC 9.6 (1st Swamp Thing), Giant-Size X-men #1 CGC 9.8, X-men #94 CGC 9.6, and Green Lantern #76 CGC 9.2 (1st Neal Adams Green Lantern/Green Arrow)

Many more highlights are already added to ComicLink’s auction preview, and many others will be added soon.

If you would like to sell in the upcoming ComicLink auction, simply e-mail your list to buysell@comiclink.com or contact Douglas Gillock, Tomis Erb or Josh Nathanson at 718-246-0300, or begin simply by clicking the "Sell" tab at the top of the ComicLink web site. 

If you are new to ComicLink, you can explore buying and selling on the Comic Book Exchange™ where there are over 13,000 vintage CGC Graded comic books available, and the Comic Art Exchange™ where there is a wide selection of comic book art and frequent updates. Registered sellers can list items in these sections at any time, and record-breaking prices are commonly realized. 

A very good condition example of the rare Superman Prize ring from the Supermen of America club sold on eBay on July 20, 2008 for $4,050. The ring retained most of the silver plating as well as a portion of the original red paint that outlined the logo and Superman's symbol. Bidding was strong the final two hours as several parties aggressively went back and forth attempting to obtain the ring. A total of 34 bids were received.

This rare premium ring was issued by DC Comics in 1940 and currently there are only about 20 examples known to exist.

Sadly the comic book industry has lost another talented artist who was also a true gentleman. Golden Age artist Creig Flessel passed away at the age of 96 on July 17, 2008.

Flessel was born February 2, 1912, in Huntington, Long Island, New York and began his cartooning career with DC Comics in 1935. He was a prolific cover artist who worked on influential comic book titles including Adventure Comics, Detective Comics, and More Fun Comics. Besides working for DC Comics he spent many years illustrating ads for the Johnstone and Cushing Advertising Company.  Flessel's work also appeared in a wide array of publications including Boys' Life, Clues Detective Stories, and Playboy. 
Flessel's many achievements included receiving a Comic-Con International Inkpot Award in 1991.  He was also honored with the National Cartoonists Society Silver T-Square Award for Extraordinary Service in 1992. In October 2007, Flessel received the Sparky Award from the Cartoon Art Museum and the Charles M. Schulz Museum. The Cartoon Art Museum celebrated the life and work of artist Flessel with a special exhibition which opened on his 96th birthday, on February 2, 2008.

Creig Flessel is survived by his wife Marie, their two children, and several
grandchildren.

Harley Yee will be exhibiting for his 22^nd year in San Diego and will be located in Booth #1109 and #1208. If you are attending the show, be sure to stop by to see his extensive new inventory.

Highlights include:

• 18 Timely Captain America issues.
• A batch of High Grade Avengers from #8 up.
• A batch of High Grade Journey into Mystery from #97 up.
• CGC certified Marvels including Amazing Spider-Man #122 CGC 9.6, Silver Surfer #1 CGC 9.0, Avengers, Thor, and much more.
• A complete Silver Age Amazing Spider-Man run starting with Amazing Fantasy #15 and Amazing Spider-Man #1, generally in mid-grade condition.
• Plenty of other DC and Marvel keys including Justice League of America #1, Green Lantern #1, Amazing Fantasy #15, Incredible Hulk #1, and Fantastic Four #1.

If you're not attending San Diego, you can also check out Harley’s eBay store which is approaching 3,000 items. All have good-sized scans plus description. The eBay store offers something for everyone including all genres and all ages, priced from $10 to $10,000. The most recent listings include many horror and science fiction titles, including early Marvel pre-hero books.

Josh Nathanson and Douglas Gillock will be at the San Diego show this weekend at booth #802/804 taking seller consignments of vintage comic books and original comic art for the August Featured Focused Auction. To participate as a seller in this auction, which starts August 7, 2008 either stop by their booth or simply e-mail your prospective auction list to buysell@comiclink.com or call Josh Nathanson or Douglas Gillock at 718-246-0300.ComicLink is known throughout the industry for being a market leader proficient in getting the best possible results for their sellers.

There will be something for everyone in the ComicLink August Featured Auction, from Golden Age keys including the Nova Scotia pedigree copy of Superman #1 CGC 5.0, Marvel Mystery #5 CGC 8.0 Larson pedigree. Impressive Silver and Bronze Age comics including Incredible Hulk #1 CGC 8.5, Amazing Spider-Man #6 CGC 9.6, Flash #107 CGC  9.0, Incredible Hulk #181 CGC 9.8, House of Secrets #92 CGC 9.6, to rarely seen esoteric items including Exciting Comics #28 CGC 7.0, Racket Squad #12 CGC 9.0. notable original art pieces including Incredible Hulk #4 and Incredible Hulk #102 origin pages, a Ditko Incredible Hulk #6 page, a Barry Smith Conan the Barbarian #1 page, Miller Daredevil and Wolverine pages, and a Perez Crisis on Infinite Earths page.

To participate in, or inquire about, the August Featured Focused Auction, simply email your prospective list of items for sale to buysell@comiclink.com for a prompt reply. You may also call Josh Nathanson, Douglas Gillock, or Tomis Erb at 718-246-0300 for a no obligation discussion about what ComicLink can do for you.

The Hero Initiative is located at Booth #907 at this year’s San Diego Comic Con. Below is a schedule of events sponsored by Hero. 

BOOTH SCHEDULE

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 (convention hours 6:00PM-9:00PM)

6:30-7:30: Scott Koblish

 

Thursday, July 24, 2008 (convention hours 9:30AM-7:00PM)

12:00-1:00: Gordon Purcell

1:00-2:00: Whilce Portacio

2:00-3:00: Marv Wolfman 

 

Friday, July 25, 2008 (convention hours 9:30AM-7:00PM)

10:00-11:00: Phil Hester

2:00-3:00: Gordon Purcell

4:00-5:00: Brad Meltzer + Michael Bair

5:00-6:00: Tim Seeley

 

Saturday, July 26, 2008 (convention hours 9:30AM-7:00PM)

10:00-11:00: Jeff Parker

11:00-12:00: Ron Marz + Stjepan Sejic

1:00-2:00: Matt Haley + Dean Zachary

4:00-5:00: Paul Jenkins

 

Sunday, July 27, 2008 (convention hours 9:30AM-5:00PM)

10:00-11:00: Steve Lieber

11:00-12:00: Joe Staton

12:00-1:00: Greg Pak

3:30-4:30: Sanford Greene

 

MIKE McKONE SKETCHES

UK artist sensation Mike McKone (Amazing Spider-Man) will be doing 20 sketches for The Hero Initiative over the course of the con. Swing by the Hero booth #907 starting Thursday morning for details! 

MARVEL v. DC SOFTBALL

It's on! Marvel takes on DC for the coveted Stan Lee Cup in their third annual San Diego softball game! Swing by and watch:

Adams Rec Center

3491 Adams Ave. (corner of 35th St.)

San Diego, CA 92116

Gametime is Thursday, July 24 at 4:30 PM!

 

CAG PANEL FEATURING HERO BOARD MEMBER MIKE MALVE

The panel, entitled, “The Comicbook Artists Guild: An Open Call for Members Nationwide,” will be held in Room 24A on Friday, July 25, 2008 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Special guest speaker is Mike Malve, owner of the Atomic Comics store chain in Arizona and member of the Fundraising Committee for The Hero Initiative, who will speak on the overall mission of the Initiative and its partnership with CAG.

 In addition, you do not want to miss these eBay Auctions, which are closing soon! 

MEET STAN LEE AT SAN DIEGO!

WHAT: Hang with Stan Lee on a private yacht.  Be one of five winners to receive • Photo and face time with Stan, two autographs on your own personal items, which you must bring and a ComicBookResources.com article and photos of the winners and event!

WHEN: Friday, July 25 at 6 pm

WHO: It’s Stan Lee, ‘nuff said.

EBAY LINK: http://qurls.com?i=37404

 

DINNER WITH JOE QUESADA AT MORTON’S SAN DIEGO!

WHAT: Be one of six winners to enjoy fine dining with Marvel Comics Editor in Chief Joe Quesada along with a copy of the Marvel Then and Now DVD signed by Joe Quesada AND Stan Lee!  This is a social opportunity and no autographs will be allowed.

WHEN: Thursday, July 24 at 8 pm

WHO: Joe Quesada, need we say more?

EBAY LINK: http://qurls.com?i=37402

 

BREAKFAST AND ART WITH DAVID BULLOCK, DARWYN COOKE AND CAMERON STEWART

WHAT: Win breakfast and an original Batman sketch from one of the three artists (randomly selected) plus a chance to get an additional “jam” piece by all three modern masters for three lucky winners! If you win this breakfast auction, it’s also your buy-in to a special, private, three-man auction!

WHEN: Friday, July 25,  at 9:00 AM

WHO: David Bullock is a world-famous animation director, cover artist for Action Comics, and director of Justice League: The New Frontier.  Darwyn Cooke is the award-winning writer and artist of DC: The New Frontier, The Spirit, Batman: Ego, and more.  Cameron Stewart is the visionary artist of Catwoman, Seaguy, The Other Side, and many, many more top books!

EBAY LINK: http://qurls.com?i=37403

 

THE ULTIMATE COLLECTOR EXPERIENCE: LUNCH WITH CGC!

WHAT: Win the ultimate behind-the-scenes experience – a grading and restoration detection class “basics 101” and lunch with former CGC President and Primary Grader Steve Borock plus lunch!

WHEN: Saturday, July 26 at approximately 12 noon

WHO: Former CGC President and Primary Grader Steve Borock

EBAY LINK: http://qurls.com?i=37405

MARVEL VS DC COMICS THIRD ANNUAL SOFTBALL GAME

WHAT: Win a chance to play either on the Marvel Comics softball team or the DC Comics softball game in their annual game!  The winner of each team’s auction will get an official Marvel or DC uniform, receive luxury motorcoach transportation to and from the game on the team bus roster and get their position assigned by either Marvel captain Mike Pascuillo or DC captain Adam Schlagman.

WHEN: Thursday, July 24, buses leave at 3:30 pm, game begins at 4:30 pm

EBAY LINK: Marvel auction: http://qurls.com?i=37399

EBAY LINK: DC Comics auction:  http://qurls.com?i=37401

 

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need.  Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays' creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.  For more information, call 310-909-7809 or visit www.HeroInitiative.org.

Due to the major increase in attendance and the associated demands at the San Diego Comic Con, it has become increasingly difficult to both service convention clientele and administer a traditional auction. As a result, this year All Star Auctions will be offering original art, comic books and related collectibles on a direct sale basis at the show.

However, there are high profile items either due to their significance or by consignor request that will be offered on a modified auction basis. There are no buyer's premium on these items. Zero commission to buyer!

All Star Auctions will accept bids at the show both from clients live and via email in a private auction format. Clients interested in an individual item(s) will be apprised of the current high bids as they arrive, via email. The highest offer received by Saturday July 26, 2008, at the assigned closing times will be declared the winner. To give everyone a fair opportunity, there will be a three minute rule in effect. Bidding will continue until three minutes pass with no bids on an item then the item is declared sold.

To participate you must contact All Star Auctions via email to be added to the group notification list. You can be added by contacting them at allstarauctions@allstarauctions.net.

If you have an item that should be offered in this unique and exciting format please contact All Star Auctions immediately. Items will continue to be added to the list.

All Star Auctions will be located at the convention at booths #4302, #4304, and #4306 near Artists Alley.

For more information visit: http://www.allstarauctions.net

A CGC certified copy of Human Torch #1 with cream to off-white pages graded 8.0 sold on eBay when the seller accepted a Best Offer of $20,000.

The inaugural issue of Human Torch featured the origin and first appearance of his sidekick Toro.

Matt Nelson of Classics Incorporated will be set up at the San Diego Comic Con (booth #801) in San Diego this week July 24-27, 2008. He'll be proscreening books for pressing, restoration check, removal, and restoration, which includes an evaluation as one of the many services Classics Incorporated offers.

 

The following fees are waived if a service is chosen for the book:
$3 per book (all comics valued under $250, and all magazines)
$7 per book ($250-$1,000 value)
$15 per book ($1,000-$4,000 value)
$30 per book ($4,000-$10,000 value)
$60 per book ($10,000-$25,000 value)
$125 per book ($25,000-up value)

Comics over a value of $250 will be evaluated at the booth all weekend during the show. All other submissions must be submitted by close of the show Saturday, which will be proscreened and ready for pick-up on Sunday. Matt will also be taking regular submissions, which will be taken back to Dallas, Texas and prescreened in the company home office. There will be a limited number of proscreen slots open during the weekend, so make sure to get there early.

If you have questions about on-site proscreening email comics@classicsincorporated.com or call 972-980-8040.

The San Diego Comic-Con International will be the world-premiere site for the return of the highly-anticipated Michael Turner's Fathom: Volume 3 with the release of Fathom #1 at the Aspen Comics Booth #2321. Fathom: Volume 3 is written by J.T. Krul featuring art by Ale Garza, Sal Regla, and John Starr. To celebrate the launch of Fathom: Volume 3, Aspen is offering two exclusive covers to issue one including a very special cover paying tribute to Aspen's late founder Michael Turner. To commemorate the Turner Tribute Cover, Aspen will be releasing Fathom: Volume 3 #1 two weeks earlier than the guaranteed in-store release date of August 6th.

In addition to the Michael Turner Tribute cover which is limited to 3000 copies, Aspen will also be offering an exclusive Fathom #1 San Diego Comic-Con cover by series artist Ale Garza limited to 1500 copies. Both covers will be available for purchase exclusively at the Aspen Comics Booth #2321.

In addition to Fathom: Volume 3 #1 and all the latest Aspen convention-exclusive books from this past con season, Aspen will also be offering an all new line of their signature Aspen Prints featuring the hottest images from the Aspen Universe, as well as the latest version of the 2008 Aspen Tour Print--all available only at the Aspen Comics Booth.

Aspen will be offering a host of signings throughout the weekend featuring Ale Garza, Peter Steigerwald, Micah Gunnell, J.T. Krul, John Starr, Beth Sotelo, and many more artists and creators. Please stop by the Aspen Booth #2321 for full details on all of Aspen's signings throughout the weekend. The Aspen Comics Panel is scheduled for Saturday, July 26th from 1:00pm to 2:00pm in Room 2 and will detail all of Aspen's plans for 2008 and beyond. Aspen creators and artists will also preview upcoming titles and answer questions from fans in attendance.

To celebrate and honor Michael Turner, Aspen Comics will be hosting a very special tribute to the late creator and artist on Sunday in room 5AB from 1:00-2:30pm. A wide assortment of artists, creators, family and friends of Michael will be in attendance to pay respect to Turner's life and career both in and out of comics. Aspen is planning a very special remembrance of Turner and will feature an introspective personal look into Turner's life. Aspen highly encourages anyone wishing to pay their respects to Michael Turner and his family to attend this special event.