ComicConnect does it again. They've now got the two top comic book sales of all time.

That's a big number, especially for a book from the 1960s. It's a healthy premium over what I had the book valued at last year when all the big sales happened. I thought it was worth maybe $500-750,000 at the time, so it definitely exceeded my expectations. I tend to agree with the idea that Eric Roberts basically said, "I'd sell it for a million" and Comic Connect found a buyer.

Congratulations goes out to the Comic Connect team for once again busting an important barrier in the hobby.

The record comic book sale list has been updated.

It's that time again. Another killer Heritage auction is queued up for our bidding pleasure.

You know, no matter what the other auctions do the most exciting listings of the year are always Heritage's. That's just the reality.

This auction is no exception.

Let's look at some lots.

Archie Comics #1 (MLJ, 1942) CGC VF+ 8.5 White pages

Clearly the most exciting single comic in the auction for me. Early Archies are tough in high grade. This white paged beauty is about to lighten some lucky bidder's wallet in a big way.

John Byrne and Terry Austin X-Men #116 Cover Original Art

I've always liked this cover. It's a classic "comic book" cover. There's some Schomburg style danger and it's great tease to the story within. This is going to sell for many thousands of dollars.

Detective Comics #31 (DC, 1939) CGC GD+ 2.5 Off-white pages

One of the all-time classic covers.

Frank Miller and Klaus Janson Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #3 page 24 Original Art

Just seeing this page makes me want to read the whole book.

It's really interesting to see the adjustments that were made to the published page.
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Well, if I had a hard time coming up with five last week, this week was just the opposite. What a crazy collection of books on offer this week.

Adventure Comics 40 CGC 8.5 VF+ EP 1st app Sandman RARE

Filter81 leads off this week with Adventure 40. Sure it's EP, but it's an Adventure 40. Not too many of those come up for sale, so it's a treat to see them whenever they do appear.

JACK KIRBY SILVER SURFER GRAPHIC NOVEL ORIGINAL ART

That Jack Kirby guy was pretty good. A Kirby page with the Surfer on it- I approve.

Incredible Hulk 4 CGC 9.2 NM- OW/W Marvel High Grade

I have a soft spot for Hulk 1-6. I never collected the later series, but I love Hulk #1-6.

MICHAEL GOLDEN DOCTOR STRANGE 55 ORIGINAL ART

This is truly classic Michael Golden art. I love Doctor Strange when he's done well, and for my money Doctor Strange 55 is basically as good as it gets. Just check out the page in question:

Detective Comics #225 DC 1955 Batman 1st App Martian M.

Fact: if you list a Detectivve 225 on eBay I will list it in Five for Friday.

Incredible Hulk #1 Grade: 9.0 No Reserve!

Really nice looking copy. Color touch be damned, someone is going to be happy with that book.

Winning bid: US $6,100.00 Seller: bijoubaby05 ( 113 )

Description:

Incredible Hulk #1

Features: 1st Appearance of the Incredible Hulk
Grade: In my opinion this comic is in 9.0 shape. There is a small amount of color touch on the cover of the comic. It doesn't detract anything away from this beautiful comic.
Page Quality: Off-White/White

And the book:

This was a strange week. A lot of good, raw, material- but not so much that really knocked my socks off.

Oh well, on with the show.

Michael Turner Original art Ballistic Issue #3 pg23-24

Turner really burst onto the scene back in the day. This page, from his first series, shows why. He worked in a popular style, but managed to have his own flourishes that really set him apart. He also had a great design sense. Oh, and he was a solid artist. He was stylized, certainly, but underneath everything he could really draw. That set him apart from a lot of guys that were starting out back then.

He's missed.

JAE LEE X-Men: Apocalypse/Dracula #4 Cover!

A Jae Lee cover up for auction AND it's for charity? Bid!

FANTASTIC FOUR 89 , CGC 9.4 , PACIFIC COAST

An old label Pacificc Coast Fantastic Four… hrm… There may be some interest.

GARY FRANK SUPERMAN COVER Original Comic Art

Talk about solid artists… Gary Frank is crazy good. There, I said it.

Captain America Comics #6 Rare Bucky Origin Father TIme

Not a bad looking copy. Technically not all that high grade, but it presents really well. Will make someone very happy, I think.

X-MEN #1[1963]1st APPEARANCE

Sold For: US $12,750.00 Seller: tomorrowstreasures ( 3408 )

Description:

X-MEN #1[1963]1st APPEARANCE

FEATURING: Vintage KIRBY/LEE origin.

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Complete, original, sound copy. The BEST copy I have SEEN in 10 years.

COVER DESCRIPTION: Attached, tight, clean, bright, sharp, very small creases.

INTERIOR PAGE DESCRIPTION: supple, solid.

INTERIOR PAGE COLOR: cream.

CONSERVATION: none.

REPAIR: none.

RESTORATION: none
GRADE: VF+

PRICE: $18,000.00

And the book:

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 3 CGC 9.2 OW *1st app Doctor Octopus

Sold For: US $8,999.00 Seller: iecarus ( 3388 )

Description:

This is an exceptional opportunity to add a high grade copy of an earliest Spidey to your collection. Surely one of the biggest keys of the entire run, this issue features of course the first appearance of Doc Ock who so memorably appared in the movies. Only ten copies grade higher than 9.2 and there are a mere 13 copies in this grade. All of which adds up to far too few copies considering the number of ASM collectors.

And the book:

I was looking through the Photo-Journal Guide To Comics the other day and I noticed that Adventure 113 was a Christmas themed cover.

This being the season I thought it would be cool to share a few more Christmas themed covers from back in the day. A little while spent thumbing through the guides and a bit of searching at the Heritage archives later, I present these ten. Hope you enjoy this little tour of comics (holiday) history.

Adventure Comics #113

Captain Marvel Jr. #14

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SHOWCASE # 22 (DC/59) ORIGIN/1ST HAL JORDAN CGG 7.0 CGC

First time I've featured a CGG book in… maybe forever.

Sold For: US $10,000.00 Seller: whitesnoize ( 414 )

Description:

SHOWCASE # 22 ORIGIN/1ST APPEARANCE OF HAL JORDAN

HERE IT IS….THE BEST 7.0 EVER GRADED….IN MY OPINION… COMPARED TO OTHER BOOKS LISTED ….I ALMOST WANT TO TAKE THIS OUT OF THE CGG AND SEND IT TO CGC AND TAKE A CHANCE ON A BETTER GRADE

THE SPOTS IN THE PICTURES ARE FROM THE CHRISTMAS TREE REFLECTION AND NOT ON THE SLAB OR BOOK

CGG# 501015918 GRADED 3/04

On Dec-08-10 at 08:15:36 PST, seller added the following information:

THIS BOOK HAS NO STAINS/SMUDGES OR RESTORATION….I WILL TRY AND GET A SCANNED PHOTO ADDED TO GET RID OF REFLECTIONS

On Dec-08-10 at 09:04:00 PST, seller added the following information:

MY BAD…..IT MIGHT BE A STAIN//SMUDGE ABOVE HIS FOOT….I APOLOGIZE IF I SPOKE TO SOON….CAN'T RETRACT MY LAST STATEMENT…

And the book:

Lots of PGX and Robojo33 listings this week, crowding out the stuff I want to promote. Sigh.

STARTLING COMICS#49 CGC 8.0!! SCHOMBURG MASTERPIECE!!

Startling #49 is truly one of the great Golden Age covers.

Frank Miller & Klaus Janson Daredevil #187 p.23 No Res!

Yes, it's more Janson than Miller. Who cares? It's still a page from one of the best runs on the title and one of the most influential runs of all time. Sure, it won't go for as much as a page that was more Miller than Janson, but that doesn't mean it doesn't deserve a bit of spotlight,

BETTY & VERONICA 1(7.0)TOP TWO GRADE,OW-Wpages

Neat book. Nice shape and I can't imagine there are many others out there to choose from.

Showcase #6 – Origin 1st Challengers CGC 5.5 $1000+

I'm a sucker for this book.

Original art from Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo comic art)

And finally, the coolest piece of the week Sakai is a great artist, Usagi Yojimbo is a great character and it's a charity auction. What more do you need?