Mister Trent

Broken-up, I'd reckon the book to be worth around $300k. A sizeable chunk of the (perceived) value would be down to a standout splash page . . .

Jeez, I hadn't realised the Red Skull had such powerful and muscular legs . . . god help Cap America if he traps him into a scissor lock . . .

Love it!

As a quick postscript, the earliest Heath Atlas WAR covers I can find are: BATTLE # 6, January 1952 WAR ADVENTURES # 4, May 1952 Followed by: BATTLE ACTION # 3, June 1952 BATTLEFIELD # 2, June 1952 BATTLEFRONT # 1, June 1952 COMBAT # 1, June 1952 June '52 was a good month for Heath covers . . .

Off the top of my head, definitely not Heath's earliest War cover for ATLAS. I have his original artwork for the cover to BATTLE ACTION # 3, published June 1952 (which pre-dates WAR ACTION # 7 by four months): No idea if there are earlier examples . . . might be worth investigating.

I own the covers to Capt Atom #78 and #88 . Stephen That's great news; I knew you had # 88, but didn't know about # 78. Any chance of a scan?

Interestingly, I bought the DC Archive Editions hardback reprint of the CAPTAIN ATOM ARCHIVES, Volume # 1, whilst out yesterday. As a matter of fact, Ditko's work for "Captain Atom" debuted in SPACE ADVENTURES # 33, March 1960. After 9 issues, in SPACE ADVENTURES # 42, October 1961, the strip was put on hold - but returned with his own title, CAPTAIN ATOM # 78, in December 1965. Like Spidey, the good Captain Atom was created as a result of a scientific accident . . . As such, this Ditko superhero strip pre-dates SPIDER-MAN, and was also resurrected towards the end of the artist's tenure on ASM. One thing I have noticed during this thread, is that fellow-collectors can mostly only relate to price ranges of interior page originals for strips like ASM and DR STRANGE. Although a small handful of Ditko ASM cover originals have changed hands in private deals in recent years, no-one seems able (or willing) to venture into price-range territory . . . Outside of that small handful of ASM cover originals, the only other (Large Art) Ditko superhero covers from the 1960s I'm aware exist are: CAPTAIN ATOM # 80 CAPTAIN ATOM # 88 BLUE BEETLE #1 NUKLA # 4 Not in the same league as ASM, I know, but they're still extremely rare examples of mid-1960s (Large Art) Ditko superhero work. Even counted together with any surviving ASM cover originals, you're probably looking at perhaps no more than 10 - 12 (Large Art) Ditko superhero covers in existence?

Here's the only Atlas cover original artwork I do own: Russ Heath's BATTLE ACTION # 3 cover. Alarger scan of the original can be seen in my CAF Galleries: http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=1865

Here's what the original artwork looks like: I don't own this, incidentally, but took a copy of the image from a dealer's web-site.

This is great, love Alcala's art!

Thanks, glad you like them

What was the splash?

Actually, we're in the same ball-park.

Ditko's Horror covers for Charlton, from the 1970s, do crop up for sale from time to time and are relatively inexpensive. As a general rule of thumb, superhero covers (ie, continuing characters) are more appealing to collectors. In terms of Ditko (Large Art) Superhero covers from the 1960s, surprisingly few originals are known to exist. My CAPTAIN ATOM # 80 cover is concurrent with SPIDER-MAN #s 35 and 36 - as such, Ditko's peak period. The NUKLA # 4 cover is a couple of months after his departure from ASM. By the time Ditko illustrated THE CREEPER and HAWK & DOVE for DC (late 1960s), I found his work leaning more towards a 'cartoon' style, and less illustrative in quality. I agree with Hari about the 'pecking order' for Ditko's Marvel Superhero art - and the price ranges he suggest for interior pages (including splashes). The Warren splash is superb, but very pricey for a non-continuing character/series. I was trying to focus more on that rarest of beasts . . . Ditko (Large Art) Superhero covers from the 1960s . . . with regard to price ranges. Informed opinions, yes please. Wild guesses, no, not really. Though I do appreciate ALL feedback, thanks

Oh, absolutely. An opinion usually carries some background research and/or knowledge. A guess is mostly uninformed. If someone was to field a question about artwork I knew little or nothing about, I wouldn't be in a position to offer an opinion . . . if you see what I mean

Actually, the first time I came across the CAPTAIN ATOM # 80 cover was when it was offered for sale in a Robert Rogovin FOUR COLOUR COMICS Sales catalog. In the year 2000, Rogovin had priced the cover at $11,000. Similarly, I heard that a Ditko BLUE BEETLE cover, also from the same time frame/publisher was sold by Albert Moy for $20,000. As such, I think your estimates are way out, sorry! Even the Jery Weist COMIC ART PRICE GUIDE (2nd edition), which is widely regarded as way under-valuing art, puts Ditko's CAPTAIN ATOM and BLUE BEETLE cover art in the $7,500+ range . . .

Whilst I wouldn't deny that Ditko's ink-wash work for the early Warren mags represents some of his very best work, I'm a bit taken aback by the $27,500 price tag attached to the following splash from EERIE # 5: What do other collectors on this forum think . . . is this an excessive asking price, or is it right on the money? Additionally, what sort of value would collectors place on the the two 1966 Ditko superhero covers I own? They're not for sale, I hasten to add; I'm just curious as to where the Ditko market for his vintage art now stands . . . CAPTAIN ATOM # 80, April-May 1966 (one of only two examples from this series known to exist). NUKLA # 4, September 1966 (4th and final issue - and the only Ditko cover from this short-run series) As we all know, 'Large Art' Ditko superhero covers from the 1960s are extremely scarce. I appreciate that something like SPIDER-MAN overshadows most of his other work, but as much as I like the Warren books, there are no continuing characters (as is the same for his pre-superhero fantasy work for Marvel), and the $27,500 price-tage on the "Black Magic" splash is a bit of a jaw-dropper for me. Thoughts, anyone . . ?

any chance of a link? and if those were drawn by a Bullpen artist, i'll eat Buckingham Palace. Art Simek, maybe, but Wally Wood? are you out of your mind? Try clicking onto this link (and scroll down the page for individully listed stamp characters): http://www.virtualcomicartcon.com/trade.htm As for Artie Simek . . . well, Artie was a good letterer . . .and one of the (ahem) 'hallmarks' of these . . . uhm . . .historically-important 'artworks' (?) is the expertly-lettered character names.

For what it's worth Terry, I'd agree with you. Your comment prompted me to recognise that your conclusions might seem a fait accompli but I wouldn't like to think I kept mum just cause it might queer a future deal. What if he's simply accepted someone else's sales pitch and now the possibilty that his rare score is in fact just a piece of paper is too horrible to contemplate? Of course you potentially putting him on notice as to authenticity issues puts things on shaky ground for a future transaction. Has anyone asked for the provenance of the piece(s)? joseph Mark recently joined this Collector's Society and is well aware of my contentions (either through this site or via personal e-mail), so if he's reading perhaps he could attempt to authenticate his claims? Yes, I imagine that he was probably suckered into buying them himself and is reluctant to contemplate that they're unlikely to be as 'historically important' as he may have been led to believe? Certainly, he's took the time and effort to dress these things up in nice little individual frames with metal name plates. As an interesting aside, when I first contacted Mark he was claiming his DAREDEVIL stamp was the work of Bill Everett. When I pointed out that the image was based on Wally Wood's re-designed costume that debuted in DD # 7, Mark quickly changed the artist ID to Woody. Then his contention was that, prior to Bill Everett, drawing DD's debut # 1 appearance, Wally Wood originated the character's first time (pencil-to-paper) appearance in a different costume . . . I don't know how the latter sounds to you, dear reader, but in my book that's totally I'm not entirely sure where these stamps were used and when or if they appeared - but they were obviously some kind of spin-off merchandising based on established Marvel characters (as opposed to "first time pencil-to-paper" debut appearances for some of them). Maybe Mark could now chime in and offer something a little more concrete to back his claims up?

Thanks, Spider . . . saved me the trouble of scanning it myself. Visually, the evidence clearly indicates that Mark's date - for whatever reason - is totally wrong. I'm not suggesting the stamps are not without interest or worth, but I do think it's wrong for them to be mis-represented as: *** "First time to Paper" for a bunch of those characters (pre-dating comic-book debuts). *** The work of Kirby and Wood (I think they're just poorly-drawn copies of published images). I have no axe to grind with Mark McDermott, incidentally (when I exchanged e-mails with him a few months back, he was very pleasant), but I do think he needs to revise his assertions. Mark has the stamps in his "For Trade" section which, to my mind, suggests he has high expectations for them. They're interesting curios, but certainly not of the kind of historical importance Mark claims. I appreciate that Mark turns up lots of (otherwise) important pieces of art, and it has ocurred to me that not many people may want to participate in this discussion, on the off-chance it might prejudice possible future deals with Mark? For myself, I think this definitely needs to be highlighted to any potential buyers or would-be traders.

I've been having another look at these stamps, on Mark's SIMPLY THE BEST web-site, and here's the stamp featuring SUB-MARINER: Does anyone else, here, think this stamp looks as though it was based on Wally Wood's shot of Subby from the cover to DAREDEVIL # 7? To re-iterate Mark's claims, he insists these stamps date from a time before DD made it to a comic-book - ie, "1/9/64" So . . .how is it the DAREDEVIL and SUB-MARINER stamps look like copies of Wood's work for DD # 7 (April 1965)? Thoughts anyone

If Mark McDermott's still perusing this forum, I've hereby brought this topic back to the fore . . . Anyone else want to offer their views?

For myself, I think it's highly unlikely that: a. These stamps date from 1/9/64. b. They're the work of Jack Kirby, Marie Severin or Wally Wood. As such, I think that Mark McDermott's claims are way off-base. I know what I believe - and was simply interested to hear the thoughts/opinions of others. As for KK, I very much doubt that he's far away . . .

Nope, everybody knows that's the Thing from his appearance as a pirate in F.F. # 5. Here's my favourite "first time pencil to paper" Marvel character from Mark's landmark stamp series . . .

Don't forget...they were also dancing on the tables with lamp shades on their heads! Boy that Kirby knew how to throw a party! Those "stamps" look fishy to me...Dr. Doom looks like he's on crack! - Hart Well . . . I did hear he's partial to smoking the odd spliff . . .