Harry Lime

Yes it is. You have some cracking reading ahead of you. The Hercules story in the first annual is fun too. (I'm not sure where that fits in order - presumably before the title becomes Thor in 126). Yeah, it's JIM Annual #1 (which I haven't got) and the way I'm doing it, it would be in next month's reviews (Oct 1965).

Journey Into Mystery #120 Sept 1965 My Copy - Grade 6.0 Real shame about the top overhang as the gloss and colours are really fresh on this copy. Cover: 4/5 ~ Who knew that DIY hammer maintenance could be so artistic? Love those flames! Art: 3/5 ~ Nothing especially outstanding but some great Asgardian stuff especially later on in Ularic's lab with the Macro-Meson projector and the deep space transmogrification of Crusher Creel, yep we saw that one coming. One wonderful panel of Bifrost where Thor declares "How my heart ever thrills, my soul ever sings, at the glory and grandeur of the Rainbow Bridge!" Right there with ya, man! The last panel of the story, an advancing bricky Crusher, gets an honourable mention too. Story: 3/5 ~ Strange one this, very little happens and yet I enjoyed it. Perhaps I like low-key (no pun intended) stories, witness my love for ASM #18. Thor mends his hammer, proves his honour and gets bored in Asgard. Granted permission to return to Earth, he then fails to pay the rent, can't find Jane Foster and meets the 'new' Avengers. Of course, right at the end we have the set-up for the next ish and a showdown with the Absorbing Man (revived by the machinations of Loki). Loki is also set for some sort of takeover of Asgard as well. Looks promising. Quote of the Day ~ "I'd sure like to see him toss that thing!" Those were more innocent days. My assessment ~ Is this the start of a higher calibre Thor? Let's face it, it's about time. Thanks for reading!

Fantastic Four #42 Sept 1965 My Copy - Grade 4.0 Shame about the sub-crease. Cover: 2.5/5 ~ In two minds over this. I love the purple, don't like the sparseness and whilst generally I like a good ol' battle cover there's something off about this one. Art: 3.5/5 ~ Lots of fighting action in this one, poor old Jack doesn't get a chance to draw anything else. But it's all done very dynamically with great vigour and aptitude. Story: 4/5 ~ Starts off at a frenetic pace and doesn't really let up throughout the book. It's amazing that the Frightful Four's (plus Ben and later, Johnny) hideout is still standing at the end considering the pulverising and pounding that occurs. Reed shows some outstanding agility to avoid Ben's initial onslaught. Johnny & Sue manage to escape their confinements caused by losing last issue and join in the fun as well. The fight scenes are much more enjoyable this time around but unfortunately the Human Torch falls prey to the Wizard's id machine (grrr, stinky Wizard) so at the end is six versus the two remaining 'Fantastic Four'. As if that's not looking bad enough for our heroes the book ends on another cliffhanger as the evil Torch has them surrounded by fire! Quote of the Day ~ Medusa - "I've never known anyone like you before!" Ben - "Natcherly! There ain't anyone like me! An' if there was, I'd clobber 'im!" My assessment ~ Another one on the upgrade if possible pile. Until then, keeper. Thanks for reading!

Just wanted to share my birthday t-shirt present that my wonderful, and talented, girl made for me.

Amazing Spider-Man #28 Sept 1965 My Copy - Grade 6.0 Apparent I think it has a small amount of colour touch top right corner. It doesn't bleed through but that section doesn't look 'right'. Cover: 5/5 ~ To paraphrase Flack, the first time I ever saw this cover I knew I needed the dark and glowing stars it contained. Man, it's a beaut. Even though Spidey has the upper-hand in pitch blackness the sense of menace caused by our childhood fear of the dark is palpable here. Art: 4.5/5 ~ Ditko pulls out all the stops this issue. The inking job done on the Molten Man and indeed most of the laboratory sequence is first class. And there's the wonderful cellar scene as well, shame it didn't last a bit longer. Add onto this the pictorially great treatment of human emotions; Liv Allen's dejection, Flash's scowling/triumphant, J.Jonah's ingratiating and we have some of the strongest work seen on ASM so far. Story: 3.5/5 ~ The weakest part is MM's origin. During a fight with Symthe (Spider-Slayer creator) he drops a jar of experimental liquid metal alloy over himself and, as is the way in the Marvel universe, subsequently acquires it's properties. This does make him a very dangerous opponent, without some quick-thinking in the darkened cellar it's doubtful Spidey would have won, but it seemed a bit too easy an acquisition of such power. Perhaps liquid metal + high voltage electricity or radiation, right? That would work. It's a trifling point but that's the impression I got upon reading the story. Good ending to the book with Parker's graduation, Aunt May's pride in her nephew and the realisation that Peter hasn't seen the last of Flash yet. They both won scholarships to ESU! Quote of the Day ~ "Is that a smile, or is he wearing a fright mask?" My assessment ~ This is the second copy I've owned. The first was a raggedy, pence copy that I was lucky enough to sell after buying this one. True, this is also a pence but it presents so much better and because of the normal sky-high prices for this issue, this is a keeper. Thanks for reading!

We appreciate the risks you take on our behalf Harry! And at least this reader is much more than indifferent. That just seems to be the way of it in the journals. Unless you aren't very good at selling comics, of course. I wasn't being entirely serious. I don't expect any replies, it's not like I have rare or interesting collecting tales to tell, but it's always nice when someone does.

Apologies for the delay, Photobucket was being a real spoon and without some very helpful advice I read in CG it's doubtful I would have been able to upload another image. Journey Into Mystery #119 August 1965 My Copy - Grade 1.0 So you thought FF #14 was the lowest grade copy I had? Noooo, take a look at this monstrosity. A comic so hazardous to health I had to put it in the freezer for two weeks to kill the mould therein. A book so deadly that I am literally risking my health and happiness in reviewing it for my mildly, indifferent public. Present company excepted, of course. Cover: 1/5 ~ Oh, look a split panel cover. And each panel has a blurb. And another bigger blurb at the bottom. And a brown background for the cover. What could possibly go wrong? Yep, I know some split panel covers are popular in these parts but this ain't no ASM #4. Art: 4/5 ~ Perhaps Jack didn't care about the cover 'cause he was planning such delights for the interior. From the powerful splash page, the coverage of Asgard, the vivid, albeit brief, tussle with the Destroyer and culminating in the explosive full page wonderment of page 12, this issue does full justice to Jack's talents. Ok so there's a couple of pages of Thor flying haphazardly around a jungle after that but your mind is still reeling from the destruction of the Temple to pay too much attention. Story: 2/5 ~ Quite disappointing really. Like this month's ASM the story arc peters out about halfway through the story. Unlike the ASM there's not really anything interesting enough to keep us reading afterwards. And the culmination of the Destroyer fight was both unsatisfactory and confusing. Thor, initially made incorporeal by Loki to avoid certain death, wins the bluff against the Destroyer's human 'host'. I really had no idea what was going on as I thought the Destroyer only needed a human brain for a 'mystic transfer' to bring himself (that is the Destroyer's consciousness) back to life. But it turns out that the hunter was in charge all along? Oh, well. I'm not surprised by another JIM contrivance, par for the course really. Quote of the Day ~ "Somehow, a victory has more meaning when it is won by the force of your own arms, the ingenuity of your own brain! This battle I shall remember for many years to come!" My assessment ~ Very long prongs, a haz-mat suit and an incinerator! Thanks for reading!

Thanks! I remember reading that somewhere now that you mentioned it but I had forgotten when doing the review but, apparently, my sub-conscious hadn't. They are consistently excellent which is something I'm not seeing from any other Marvel production of the period. Fantastic Four #41 August 1965 My Copy - Grade 3.0 Part of a small job lot I purchased. Got them really cheap so can't complain. Cover: 2.5/5 ~ I'm starting to realise that I don't like split panel covers but even so the top picture is nothing special and probably wouldn't have been improved by being full cover. Art: 3/5 ~ I think after last month's spectacular Jack must have been feeling a bit tired as this issue has a lot of panels with either no background or very minimalist. Still there's some nice Sandman/Medusa work and brainwashed Ben is effectively drawn to reflect his new 'evil' persona. Story: 3/5 ~ It would have been very hard to continue the greatness that the last two issues contained and so I was not surprised to see a more modest offering. Ben, feeling hard done by because of his re-transformation into the Thing, quits the FF. He leaves, falls asleep in the back of a pick-up and is eventually taken by the Frightful Four (man, they are getting a lot of air time recently). Still asleep Ben is placed under the Wizard's control by the use of his Id Machine and is thus the newest recruit for the evil FF. There's a fair bit of slap-dash infighting between them and then they are found (rather too easily and very conveniently) by the Fantastic Three (as they have become). Bit of a silly battle when one after the other they lose to the same device, that being, not realising that Ben is batting for the evil FF now. The issue does end up on a real cliff-hanger though as the enraged Thing advances menacingly on the man responsible for all his troubles; a stuck & helpless Reed Richards. Quote of the Day ~ "Shuddup, Richards! I ain't listin' to ya! I'm gonna change you now, hear?? I'll do to you what you did to me! An' nothin' can stop me! Then, when you're finished, I'll git the rest of the Fantastic Four...like I shoulda done a long time ago!!" My assessment ~ Aside from the piece out of the bottom of the front cover, this is not a bad looking copy. Keeper. Thanks for reading!

Amazing Spider-Man #27 August 1965 My Copy - Grade 1.8 Cover: 4/5 ~ Spidey in chains, surrounded by all those goons, the Crime-Master and the Goblin? Instant buy! Art: 4.5/5 ~ Aside from the usual Ditko delights; characterisation, great action sequences, NY as seen from your friendly local etc. We also have a wonderful sequence under the pier and into the sewers and an awesome chain breaking panel on page 4 which reminded me strongly (subjective time put aside for a second) of a famous sequence which occurs a few issues hence. Story: 4/5 ~ Slightly strange structure in that most of the action occurs in the first half of the book and gets less and less as the issue goes on. Parker & Aunt May end up having a movie date on the final page! Anyway, Spidey is saved from a most precarious situation by his own incredible agility, even when chained, and the timely intervention of three cops with fists of iron. Later after a futile chase to capture the Crime-Master the story arc is wrapped up in a surprisingly low-key manner when the Crime-Master is killed, out of sight, on the rooftops near J. Jonah office by the police who were waiting for him. J. Jonah, Spidey and Foswell were in the office passively observing this, strange but realistic way to culminate the story. And conclusively proving that Foswell was not the Crime-Master despite Spidey's (and mine) suspicions. Quote of the Day ~ "It's kinda funny - - in real life, when a villain is unmasked, he isn't always the butler, or the one you suspected! Sometimes he's a man you didn't even know!" My assessment ~ Would love an upgrade but this will do until then. Thanks for reading!

Love those Weird Fantasy covers & the Weird Science ones. Not forgetting the Weird-Science Fantasy's either. It seems EC just have to put Weird in front of a title and I love it!

Journey Into Mystery #118 July 1965 My Copy - Grade 5.5 Cover: 3.5/5 ~ Thor does like his battle covers and this is simple but dramatic as we get our first glimpse of the Destroyer! Art: 3.5/5 ~ Doesn't start off well with some mundane stuff in a jungle but really picks up with the 'discovery' of the Destroyer's temple. From then on it's a feast for the eyes with plenty of Asgard stuff, some great fighting action inside the temple and what is quite possibly the most awesome pair of pyjamas ever depicted. Odin really knows how to steal a scene even when he's asleep. Story: 3/5 ~ Quite confusing in the beginning. Was Thor in Africa or Asia? Couldn't work that one out and the contrivance of Loki's scheme to awake the Destroyer was mildly irritating but once the Destroyer was unleashed it was an entertaining tale. As mentioned before Thor needed tougher enemies and it would seem the Destroyer more than meets that criteria. He even manages to slice Mjolnir in two! Loki, seeing that his plan was working too well and will probably forfeit his own life through causing the death of Thor is panicked into seeking Odin's help. But as you can see nothing was going to wake the All-Father up from his after dinner nap. The issue ends on a real, 1930's serial type, cliffhanger although I have a sneaky suspicion Jack was laying the groundwork for the possible dramatic escape a couple of panels earlier. We shall see. Quote of the Day ~ "He has released a bolt of elemental destructive power - - against which nothing can endure! It comes closer by the second! When it touches me, I'll be transformed into another element - - it shall be the end of mighty Thor!" My assessment ~ I really liked the Destroyer as a kid and so for that reason (and Odin's funky PJ's) I think I'll keep his first appearance. Thanks for reading!

Update: JIM issues 103, 111, 113, 114 & 116 all sold. Yep, my heart is as cold as the Grey Gargoyle's now when it comes to these early Thor comics. It makes sense to reinvest the funds in titles I actually enjoy reading. So that means ASM, FF and one other (no spoilers, not reviewed my earliest copy yet) will be the bulk of my collection. Although saying that I have an almost complete ('cept for #165) run of SA/early BA Thor's so I'm still rooting for ya to turn it around Goldilocks! Fantastic Four #40 July 1965 My Copy - Grade 2.0 Yes, another embarrassingly early purchase when grading was something teachers did after school. Cover: 2/5 ~ Surprisingly dull for a Doom cover. Stan & Jack would have been better off going for the splash page instead which, whilst not being as great as #39, would still have been an improvement over this brown/grey-tone offering. Art: 4.5/5 ~ While the cover may seem dull the interior approaches a masterpiece of dynamic, energy beamed, debris filled, explosive, pulsating action. There is so much to admire in this issue but the stand out panels have to be page 14; the re-transformation of the Thing. Superb work, Jack! Story: 5/5 ~ Yep, FF 40 is the first book to get this accolade from my overly critical self. The heroism of our protagonists in tackling Doom in their headquarters, knowing that they have no powers, Doom controls all of the security/ Reed's devices in the Baxter Building and knows they are coming is astonishing and just a bit humbling. Daredevil plays his part too as he's hopelessly mismatched against Doom but manages to be enough of a distraction that the FF manage to make it to the top floor. All of this would have been enough for one great issue but once Reed acquires the Electronic Stimulator (previously seen in FF#37) and restores the FF's powers then the fun really begins. The epic battle between the Thing and Doom is incredible for it's belligerence and power. Ben's determination, bravery and humanity against Doom's many dastardly devices employed in the battle and his subsequent relenting from killing Doom encapsulates his character and cements his position from here on as the FF's foremost character. Whereas some books have received 0/5 because I couldn't find any redeeming qualities, in this I couldn't find any negative ones. It is a wonderful comic in every aspect. Quote of the Day ~ "Mister, maybe I'm just too dumb to collapse - - too ugly to die!! I'll let you figger out the reasons...! As fer me - - I finally got my paws on ya - - and nothin's gonna save ya now!" My assessment ~ To do this book justice an upgrade is imperative. Thanks for reading!

Avengers #18 July 1965 My Copy - Grade 7.0 Cover: 2.5/5 ~ Kinda busy & confusing. Why is Cap hurling sideways like a thrown mannequin? Why are the Avengers' names listed as though they were on a cinema hoarding? Why is Scarlet Witch in a test tube? Some of these questions are rhetorical I do like the snatches of oriental design. Art: 2.5/5 ~ Bang average. Nothing spectacular or particularly cringe-worthy. The Asian depictions were quite caricatured but as the more hideous elements were kept to the Communist soldiers/officials I'd have to say it was more of a political statement than a racial one. Nice to see some un-American architecture for a change although it was disappointingly brief. Story: 1.5/5 ~ Ah, another tale of evil Asian communism. See, 1965 wasn't all mini-skirts, The Swim & Norwegian Wood. Oh no, there was also giant rock crushing, boulder throwing Commissars, incredibly stupid plane destination decisions and plot elements taken directly from a certain 1939 film about a small terrier and his Munchkins. Not that's an inherently bad thing but, c'mon, a robot powerful enough to beat the Avengers? Why didn't they build an army of them and take over the world? And how could Major Hoy/Oz Wizard control the robot quickly enough to counter the Avengers? Why did the Avengers land at, presumably, the country's main airport on their way to contacting the 'underground freedom movement'? Another badly plotted Avengers book, I'm afraid. I guess the change of ensemble haven't really helped things after all. Quote of the Day ~ "Is this a gag? You call that baggy-looking pair of diapers your 'combat attire'?!!" My assessment ~ Yeah, I was going to sell this anyway so no change there. Thanks for reading!

I love those Weird Fantasy covers, looking forward to the group shot and congratulations on finishing another run. I've also had some wonderful dealings with Ed Doe, he even introduced me to a new kind of paper. Great guy!

Amazing Spider-Man #26 July 1965 My Copy - Grade 5.5 Cover: 2.5/5 ~ Pretty dull really. Bland background, ordinary (by Spidey standards) villain in the foreground. I wonder if Ditko was told to put the GG in just to spice things up a bit? I do like the detailed city landscape pulling away perspectively though. Art: 4/5 ~ Another tour de force from the artist, I can't fault it at all. I love the various city locations packed into this issue as well as Ditko's usual excellence in drawing all the main characters (super-powered) or not as they go about their day to day business and emotional outbursts! We even see Parker's headmaster this month! Story: 4/5 ~ The events in #23 are starting to come to fruition 'cept there's a new player in town; the Crime-Master! Who we meet for the first time after we see Peter hunting for his costume (confiscated by Aunt May). Surely another sublime first, a superhero stymied by a lack of appropriate garb and an ageing but strict relative? Anyway it seems that the Crime-Master & the Green Goblin were in cahoots but now are falling apart over differences in who should be the Overlord of the Underworld. Then the Crime-Master departs on a midnight spree of coercing the criminal gangs into accepting his control, which, it must be said, he does a pretty decent job of. A 'normality' interlude follows which is just as great as the superheroey stuff. Peter & Betty have a row in the Daily Bugle which leaves Parker in such a bad mood he starts a fight with Flash & his cronies after their usual mocking. Luckily Liz Allen breaks it up or Parker's alter-ego would have been exposed for sure. Brief showings of more Crime-Master action and a rare glimpse of J. Jonah's exclusive club before the main action kicks off with Peter buying a Spider-Man outfit from a costume shop. Yes, it has come to this. Wonderful! So because of a tracking device planted earlier Spidey is staking out Foswell's pad where he is surprised by a returning Crime-Master and very nearly killed by a combination of knock-out gas and sneaky precipice pummelling. Luckily he manages to pull off the ill-fitting mask to breathe again as he plummets to the ground and saves himself. After another brief interlude of winding J. Jonah up (and trying to discover what happened to the costume conveniently discarded in #25), Spidey heads back to Foswell pad for more snooping and discovers a waterfront location marked on a map. As you can probably tell there's a lot in this issue so apologises for the length of the review but we're almost finished now. After getting to the waterfront, Spider-Man sees the mobs are gathering for some big meeting (the cops have been tipped off earlier by a 'grass') but is again surprised and this time defeated by a plummeting Green Goblin and his fast moving glider. The Goblin attempts to unmask Spidey but can't because of the webbing used to fix the ill-fitting costume mask, phew! The issue ends on an absolute cliff-hanger as just as the Crime-Master announces his coronation to the the assembled subservient gangs, the Goblin drops in with an unconscious Spider-Man in tow. Quote of the Day ~ "All right, Crime-Master! I'm speaking up! This is the Green Goblin, saying that you're about to have the shortest reign on record!!" A surprisingly difficult issue to get a decent quote from. My assessment ~ Another great Spider-Man, another definite keeper. And no upgrade necessary. Thanks for reading!

Well spotted, I never noticed that. Perhaps it was socio-political metaphor for the evils of communism?

Journey Into Mystery #117 June 1965 My Copy - Grade 6.5 Cover: 2/5 ~ There was a time (a caravan holiday in '75) when to while away the boredom I purchased and avidly read a lot of Commando magazines. That time is gone and war stories, generally, don't get my pulse racing. Art: 2.5/5 ~ It's all drawn well enough ('cept for the strangely caucasian looking protagonist; a Viet-Cong commander). Trouble is the subject matter doesn't make a particularly interesting study. Escapades in Vietnam would have better suited Nick Fury or Captain America. It's hardly Asgardian in grandeur. Story: 2/5 ~ So Thor has to fly to Vietnam to find tricky Loki's cheating Norn stones to prove that he (Loki) won the 'trial' unfairly. After a brief stopover in NY to aid Balder & Nursey Foster his tingling hammer points the way to Asia. I can't really mark this story down because of the usual (for JIM's) absurdities, contradictions etc but my God is it dull! Thor was never going to be bested by artillery shells or small rounds fire despite what the panel dialogue was telling us. So the only real interest was where were the stones? Funnily enough they were conveniently placed in the Viet-Cong ammo dump which certainly cut the time taken to hammer (pun..yada..yada) home the Communism bad/Cold War message in the literally, explosive finale. Probably the most interesting sequence in the whole book was Loki's sofa reclining reverie on how evil he would be in the future. Quote of the Day ~ "And, where Odin is kind, Loki shall be cruel! Where Odin is merciful, Loki shall be deadly! Where Odin is good, Loki shall be the true embodiment of all that is evil!" My assessment ~ Easy.....sell! Thanks for reading!

Thanks! But if you're going to read 39, you really need to read 40 as well. You won't regret it.

Fantastic Four #39 June 1965 My Copy - Grade 2.0 Another very early ebay purchase. Cover: 5/5 ~ Nearly every Doom cover has a certain magic about it and this is one of the best. The sight of Victor looming over the city as he surveys his victims is wonderfully played and emotionally chilling. Again the blurb does not lie (it's getting better at that) and Daredevil is indeed leading our powerless heroes. This seems to add to their helplessness not detract from it and of course it does the crossover sales no harm at all, either. Art: 4/5 ~ Lots of action in this # and it's all done very dynamically by Kirby. Special mentions for Doom's gyroscope ship, the attack of the Fantasti-Car, the Vortex machine and the ingenuity used in displaying Reed's mechanical alternatives to their 'natural' powers. The photomontage used in Reed's lab doesn't work well though for once. Story: 4.5/5 ~ Almost certainly the best FF I've read so far. The loss of their powers at the end of #38 has left them in a very precarious situation. After rescue by the US Navy, Reed sets about fashioning mechanical devices to imitate their lost abilities because of the danger they will face if their legion of enemies ever find out how helpless they are now. As luck would have it Doom seeks this moment to avenge himself, after realising he had been hypnotised in FF Annual #2 (sadly, I don't have this). To make matters worse Doom takes over the Baxter Building whilst the FF are talking to their lawyer (Murdock/DD). In the resulting action the FF would almost certainly have been killed if not for the presence of their blind protector. In the end they have to split up in order to survive and to give one of them a chance to reach and retake their headquarters from Doom. Ok, so that brief synopsis does no justice at all to how interesting and exciting this issue is. Lee & Kirby have really excelled themselves in their thematic design. How on Earth can the FF hope to beat their greatest nemesis with none of their powers? I'm not telling (yet) but I would have almost been frothing at the mouth with anticipation for the next issue back in '65. Quote of the Day ~ "I was right! It is Doom! But how can we fight him - - now, of all times - - when we're almost totally defenseless!!" My assessment ~ There are certain issues which stand out from the crowd. There are also certain issues which demand a breaking of my rule to only buy what I haven't got. On both counts this is most certainly one of those. A Fine would do very nicely indeed. Thanks for reading!

Loved the internal discourse. I can relate to that. Also, the cover's not that bad and you have got them all now.

Avengers #17 June 1965 My Copy - Grade 8.0 Cover: 2.5/5 ~ Nothing spectacular unless you're into Greek mythology. Strangely, I am and even that wouldn't have had me parting with the shekels to buy this off the spinner in '65. Art: 3/5 ~ Not bad at all. Crisp & clean. I liked the Avengers cavernous training room and the assault from the giant robot therein. I take it it's not really a secret underground fortress then, Cap? The Avengers plane was again really cool, they do seem to have the monopoly on sleek mid-60's futuristic design. The Minotaur wasn't that convincing however, perhaps a less furry version would have helped. The (mainly) unseen depiction of Scarlet Witch's hex powers is not that helpful to the reader either. Story: 3.5/5 ~ Another step-up from the previously reviewed Avengers. It seemed much more modern, a sea change caused by the changing of the guard in Avengers #16* undoubtedly. Cap has to mould the brash & arrogant young things into a new cohesive fighting unit. The tale does a pretty good job in displaying this. Cap is at his commanding best, leading from the front and always the man with the plan. Hawkeye is delightfully spikey & Quicksilver, impetuous. The Scarlet Witch is subjected to some 60's sexism and seems to be filling an early Sue Storm stereotype but does eventually get her Hex on to finally save them from the horn of a dilemma (pun most certainly intended). Quote of the Day ~ "At ease, you imitation Robin Hood! When you've been an Avenger as long as I have, then you'll have the right to speak out that way! And you can like it or lump it, pal!" My assessment ~ Despite the fact, imo, that this is an enjoyable & lucid enough tale, all Avengers will eventually be sold. This one might take longer than the others however, for being a higher grade book it commands a higher price. * I did have #16 for about 2 days. It had an undisclosed detached centrefold and considering the price that had been paid it had to go back. Thanks for reading!

Bought a small stack of books from Jason, mainly SA/BA Daredevils. Received very quickly. Extremely well packed, tightly graded & at a great price, just what every buyer wants to see. He's also a great guy to deal with, I would have no hesitation in buying from him again.

Well, it really sucks not to be on a road to success but Avengers #14 & JIM #92 have both been sold. Got a very good return on the JIM, no idea why unless the manufacture of wooden hammers has suddenly become hot!

Amazing Spider-Man #25 June 1965 My Copy - Grade 4.0 Cover: 4/5 ~ Great cover. That yellow, Jonah's maniacally grinning face, tiny blurbing and a wonderfully drawn full-sized Spidey ensnared. Art: 3.5/5 ~ Typical Ditko finesse in drawing all the varying characters in Spider-Man. Was that Norman Osborne we saw in J. Jonah's office? First appearance of Mary-Jane 'cept for her face, teasingly hid by a flower! That scene deserves a special mention for the frosty interplay between Liz & Betty and their mutual astonishment at seeing MJ for the first time. Where the art is slightly weak this issue is in the depiction of the Spider-Slayer which is quite clunky & flat. It appears that Ditko is better suited for drawing people than machines, or robots anyway. Story: 3.5/5 ~ Some wonderful 'normal' stuff this month. With Parker acting out of character to get some extra bucks, Betty berating him for it. Liz really falling under Petey's spell, Flash wanting to fight him for it. Teenage mob action (chasing Peter and then hanging around his house to hopefully witness the Thompson/Parker scrap). The aforementioned Liz/Betty eye daggers at noon sequence and Aunt May scolding Peter for having a Spider-Man costume. Wonderful & unique. The story is slightly let down by some (unusual for a Spider-Man book) pseudo-science involving the Slayer and an unexplained or unseen ending where Spidey manages to get out of the steel coils without retracting them. The action up till then though had been quite tense as Spider-Man could find no way of defeating or giving the robot the slip. Quote of the Day ~ Really difficult to get a decent quote from this issue. Let's go with..."I don't know which is worse...that robot's coils, or Jameson's raspy, gloating voice!" My assessment ~ Obviously could be a higher technical grade but looks good enough for me. Keeper. Thanks for reading!

Thanks! I must admit I don't think I'll be rereading many of these JIM's.