Comics and Animation News: Hulk #1 and Hostess Comic Ads

Comics and Animation News [Read this newsletter online]( [Heritage Auctions]( [Comics and Animation News]( In This Issue: • [Sunday Internet Auction](#spotlight) • [Hostess Twinkies Comic Book Ads: Notes and Oddities](#collector-b) • [Around Heritage Auctions](#around-1) • [Cover of the Week: Extra! Newspaper Printed Backwards!](#week) • [Current Auctions](#current) November 28, 2018 []Sunday Internet Auction [Sunday Internet Comics Auction]( Auction Ends: December 2, 2018 Live Session at 6:00 PM CT Highlights of this week's auction include: [The Incredible Hulk #1 Signature Series: Signed by Stan Lee (Marvel, 1962) CGC FN 6.0 Off-white to white pages]( The Incredible Hulk #1 Signature Series: Signed by Stan Lee (Marvel, 1962) CGC FN 6.0 Off-white to white pages The origin and first appearance of the Hulk, as well as the first appearances of Rick Jones, Betty Ross, and Thunderbolt Ross. Jack Kirby cover and art. Currently ranked #2 on Overstreet's list of Top 50 Silver Age Comics. CGC notes, "Signed by Stan Lee on 8/1/15". Overstreet 2018 FN 6.0 value = $16,700. CGC census for Universal editions 11/18: 35 in 6.0, 157 higher; for Signature Series 11/18: 3 in 6.0, 6 higher. [View]( [Mickey's Nightmare Mickey Mouse Animation Drawing (Walt Disney, 1932)]( Mickey's Nightmare Mickey Mouse Animation Drawing (Walt Disney, 1932) Mickey Mouse dreams that he and Minnie Mouse are married, with dozens of baby mice running wild. The Burt Gillett-directed short dates from 8-13-32. In this original 12 field 2-peghole animation drawing, Mickey is cheerfully ducking pillows being thrown at him by the children. The art is in graphite, with a full-figure image measuring 4.5". The number 41 is written in the lower right corner. Minor handling wear. Fine condition. [View]( [Famous Funnies #nn (Eastern Color, 1936) CGC FN- 5.5 Off-white pages]( Famous Funnies #nn (Eastern Color, 1936) CGC FN- 5.5 Off-white pages Cover is two-color reprint of issue #10 bound with issue #21 (April 1936) interior. Blank back and interior covers. This is the only copy certified by CGC to date, and the first copy we've seen. Not listed in Overstreet. CGC census 11/18: 1 in 5.5, none higher. [View]( [Our Flag Comics #3 (Ace, 1941) CGC GD/VG 3.0 Cream to off-white pages]( Our Flag Comics #3 (Ace, 1941) CGC GD/VG 3.0 Cream to off-white pages One of three copies we've had the opportunity to offer, and the first one we've seen in more than 16 years! Overstreet 2018 GD 2.0 value = $148; VG 4.0 value = $296. CGC census 11/18: 2 in 3.0, 3 higher. [View]( [Master Comics #22 (Fawcett Publications, 1942) CGC FN- 5.5 Cream to off-white pages]( Master Comics #22 (Fawcett Publications, 1942) CGC FN- 5.5 Cream to off-white pages Part three of the trilogy origin of Captain Marvel Jr., and his first cover appearance. Bulletman, Bulletgirl, Captain Nazi, and Dr. Eternity appearances. Mac Raboy cover and art. Overstreet 2018 FN 6.0 value = $1,896. CGC census 11/18: 8 in 5.5, 12 higher. [View]( [Batman #44 (DC, 1947) CGC VG 4.0 White pages]( Batman #44 (DC, 1947) CGC VG 4.0 White pages Classic Joker cover and art by Jim Mooney. Benjamin Franklin and Professor Carter Nichols appearances. Charles Paris and Ray Burnley art. Overstreet 2018 VG 4.0 value = $618. CGC census 11/18: 8 in 4.0, 52 higher. [View]( [Kid Colt Outlaw Album #1 (Strato Publishing, 1950) CGC VG/FN 5.0 Off-white to white pages]( Kid Colt Outlaw Album #1 (Strato Publishing, 1950) CGC VG/FN 5.0 Off-white to white pages One of two copies certified by CGC to date, and the first copy we've seen. British collection of Kid Colt reprints. No date -- but early 1950s. Not listed in Overstreet. CGC census 11/18: 1 in 5.0, 1 higher. [View]( [Chester Gould Dick Tracy Sunday Comic Strip Original Art dated 8-2-53 (Chicago Tribune Syndicate, 1953)]( Chester Gould Dick Tracy Sunday Comic Strip Original Art dated 8-2-53 (Chicago Tribune Syndicate, 1953) America's foremost lawman, Dick Tracy makes Dragnet's dour Jack Webb look like a stand-up comedian. The hard-bitten cops-and-robbers strip grew more and more bizarre as Gould's imagination and his fondness for outré characters were given greater latitude. This example finds Tracy going undercover to get the goods on a freakish criminal called 3-D McGee. A cameo appearance by B.O. Plenty's family caps the episode. An entry in the weekly Crimestoppers Textbook sub-feature appears at upper right. With an image area measuring approximately 27" x 18", the piece is constructed (as were many of Gould's Sundays) by adhering individual panels to a larger board. In Very Good condition, with foxing on the right side, a few adhesive stains, and discoloring to the title stat. From the Ray Edw Collection. [View]( [Mechanical Marvel Super-Heroes Spider-Man and Thor in Original Packaging Group of 2 (Marvel/Marx, 1968)]( Mechanical Marvel Super-Heroes Spider-Man and Thor in Original Packaging Group of 2 (Marvel/Marx, 1968) A group of two of the 1968 Mechanical Marvel Super-Heroes. Includes The Amazing Spider-Man and Thor. Both boxes exhibit some shelf and storage wear, but are in Very Fine condition. The toys are unused. Very uncommon Marvel Silver Age superhero items. [View]( [Fantastic Four #112 (Marvel, 1971) CGC NM+ 9.6 White pages]( Fantastic Four #112 (Marvel, 1971) CGC NM+ 9.6 White pages Classic Hulk vs. Thing battle. J. Jonah Jameson cameo. John Buscema cover and art. Overstreet 2018 NM- 9.2 value = $475. CGC census 11/18: 35 in 9.6, 9 higher. [View]( [Spider-Man Utility Belt in Original Box (Remco, 1978)]( Spider-Man Utility Belt in Original Box (Remco, 1978) Marked as Remco item No. 221, the set includes a plastic spider web, a communicator, a grapple, handcuffs, and a watch (toy). The box is worn, particularly on the right side, with signs of shelf and storage wear, and some creasing and light warping, as is common for this particular toy's packaging. The contents are in great condition. A wonderful addition to any Spider-Man collection! [View]( Our MyHeritage: [MyBids]( feature makes tracking your favorite items easier than ever. Just a reminder...our Sunday Internet Comics, Animation, and Art Auctions end with a Live Session at 6:00 PM CT. [Browse the entire auction here](. [Back to Top](#top) []Hostess Twinkies Comic Book Ads: Notes and Oddities By [Barry Sandoval](mailto:BarryS@HA.com), Heritage Auctions The most-tracked lot in our current weekly auction is none other than this Superman Hostess ad: [Curt Swan and Tex Blaisdell Hostess Twinkies Ad Complete 1-Page Story 'Superman Meets the Orbitrons!' Original Art (DC, 1979)]( So this is the perfect time to present some facts and observations about the best comic book ads of all time. Summary for Newcomers: The series began in April 1975, and the latest comic I've been able to find containing one is April 1982. Almost all of these one-page stories followed the same pattern: - A weird villain is introduced - The hero foils the criminal plot by tossing some Twinkies at the supervillain, who has to stop what he was doing to grab the tasty treats - Then the baddie and his or her henchmen chomp on the food as authorities take them away, while the hero adds a quip about how the great taste of Twinkies, Cup Cakes, or Fruit Pies won the day [[Captain Marvel shutting off the killer ray] Captain Marvel found time for a quip while shutting off the killer ray.]( The Appeal: In the minds of many kids these were more "legitimate" than other ads, since the look and feel were so similar to the actual comic stories. No surprise, since they were done by regular comic creators such as Sal Buscema of Marvel and Curt Swan of DC. [[Dick Giordano First Hostess Twinkies Ad/Story 'Batman and the Mummy' Original Art (ITT Continental Baking Company,1975)] Unlike most later ads, the first one showed characters holding a whole box.]( #1 - The Villains Get All the Treats: Strangely, the superhero stars of the strips were very rarely shown eating the products! However, this wasn't true for the Archie, Harvey, and Gold Key characters, who were almost always shown chowing down in the last panel. Among superheroes, the Hulk was by far the most prone to sample the Hostess goodies. But for the most part it was the villain, his henchmen, or bystanders who got to eat the Twinkies. There's even a bizarre episode in which the Cosmic Cube "eats" one. [The Cosmic Cube ate a Twinkie in this ad that appeared in July 1976 Marvels] The Cosmic Cube ate a Twinkie in this ad that appeared in July 1976 Marvels.Oddity #2 - Crossovers: In a jarring note, one company's characters would show up in ads in another company's comics. A Mickey Mouse comic published by Gold Key might have a Hostess ad starring Thor or Richie Rich. Stranger still, these crossover ads were prepared specifically by one publisher for another. When Heritage auctioned the archives of the publishers of Gold Key, we found a number of Hostess original art pieces featuring Marvel characters. This Captain America ad clearly says at the top "Gold Key...prepared by Marvel." [Sal Buscema - Hostess Twinkie Ad/Story 'Captain America in a Friendly Gesture' Original Art (1977)]( However, Marvel and DC did not cross over with one another when it came to Hostess ads. Also, when for example Marvel prepared an ad that ran in Gold Key, featuring Marvel characters, that same ad would not appear in Marvel comics. [Gold Key comic] You never knew when a Marvel character's ad would show up in a Gold Key comic!Oddity #3 - Villain Choice: When the Marvel and DC ads used an established villain, it was seldom someone kids would recognize the Red Skull or the Penguin. B-listers like Nitro, the Abomination, the Wendigo, and the Trapster would show up, and a couple of "Whatever Happened To..." villains in Man Mountain Marko and the Catman (yes, that early 1960s Detective Comics flash-in-the-pan) were used. All of the above were the exceptions to the rule though - almost all of the ads had new baddies who never appeared before and have not been seen since. [[Mike Esposito Hostess Twinkies Ad/Story 'Captain Marvel vs Professor Sneer' Original Art (1979)] Professor Sneer was a one-ad wonder.]( Golden Age of Hostess? In this writer's opinion, the best Hostess Ads by far are the ones from 1976-1977. These were often so bizarre that it seems unbelievable that a corporation produced these to appeal to little kids. Among the things the ads either mention or allude to: pollution, sweat shops, insane asylums, a Jim Jones-like guru, worshiping false gods, Kierkegaard, Salvador Dali, and Satan! The early ads also pack in so much wordplay that we picture the writers laughing themselves silly. Take Batman and Robin's encounter with Sable Lady (February 1978). It's got one fur-themed pun after another, culminating in the line: "That's giving it to her on the old chinchilla." Things got much more "sanitized" in the 1979-and-onward ads, which rarely had verbal gymnastics beyond the utterly predictable "getting one's just des(s)erts" gag. And some of the 1980s episodes dispensed with villains altogether and just had a hero rescuing an average Joe in distress. I suspect someone at Hostess HQ put his foot down and decided that the earlier ads were just too offbeat, or perhaps some concerned parents wrote letters to the firm. [Wonder Woman in the Maltese Cup Cake] Wonder Woman asks about the artifact's significance, then immediately destroys it.The Best Hostess Ad of All?: I would have to vote for "Wonder Woman in the Maltese Cup Cake" (seen in June '77 DCs, though perhaps premiering a few months earlier). The dialogue is long and bizarre. It has almost nothing to do with Hostess products and everything to do with riffing on the 1941 movie "The Maltese Falcon." It even has female versions of Peter Lorre and Sidney Greenstreet, and a male version of Mary Astor! As I can attest, those three were hardly household names among first-graders in 1977. Why Wonder Woman is working as a private eye is just one of many puzzlers. Read "The Maltese Cup Cake" and try to figure out the plot. I dare you. Ten More Classics To Seek Out: [Thor in The False Immortal (November 1976 Marvels)] Yes, this weighty dialogue is from an ad for snacks. [Captain Marvel 'He's All Mouth' (November 1977 Marvels)] You can't fight Skrulls all the time.Spider-Man and the Cupcake Caper (March 1976 Marvels). There's nothing like a little relationship therapy in an ad for sweets. Mary Jane says to Peter, "The Hostess Cup Cakes you left with me were a lot more rewarding to me than you've ever been!" Thor in The False Immortal (November 1976 Marvels): Appears to be Gene Colan art. Memorable quote: "I must not speak of the unnamed god." Batman: The Muse (December 1976 DCs): Musicians get sucked into a synthesizer. Robin quote: "Holy allegro Batman, we have a stage full of wiggling talent." Captain America: "When It Rains It Pours" (January 1977 Gold Keys) Direct quotes: "Our little drizzle should extinguish freedom's fire! Huh, boss?" "That Satan of the sky is at work!" Iron Man in "City Crisis" (March 1977 Marvels) Starring "Kwirkegard, a philosophically sinister villain." Green Lantern in "Half the People Here" (June 1977 DCs). Neal Adams art, a bizarre premise and every pun on "half" you can imagine. Captain Marvel "He's All Mouth" (November 1977 Marvels). Even Hostess seems to have realized how bizarre this disembodied mouth was, as this ad was not used in most Marvel titles that month (see it in Spectacular Spider-Man #12). The Penguin in "The Cuckoo Cuckoos" (December 1977 DC). Weird dialogue, cuckoo clocks that fly and talk, and a Julius Schwartz lookalike eating a fruit pie. [The original art just sold for $2,880 at Heritage](. [[The Penguin in 'The Cuckoo Cuckoos' (December 1977 DC)] Oswald (Cobblepot) did not act alone.]( [Human Torch in 'The Icemaster Cometh' (January 1980 Marvels)] Slightly more lighthearted fare than Sin City or the Dark Knight.Human Torch in "The Icemaster Cometh" (January 1980 Marvels). Here's a natural combination: Fruit Pies and Frank Miller? Yes, I've seen this one credited to the "Dark Knight" artist himself. The Incredible Hulk in "Hulk Gets Even" (June 1980 Gold Keys). I've never seen this given an attribution, but it definitely looks like John Byrne art to me. Who knew that to be a true Marvel completist you had to buy Gold Keys? [The Incredible Hulk in 'Hulk Gets Even' (June 1980 Gold Keys)] Did even the great John Byrne do a Hostess ad? This certainly looks like his work. All dates above refer to cover dates rather than publication dates by the way. I wish you a big delight in every bite! [Back to Top](#top) []Around Heritage Auctions [Extremely Rare Jewels - Hong Kong Debut]( Extremely Rare Jewels, Patek Philippe Watches, and Hermès Handbags to Shine at Heritage Week - Hong Kong Debut Heritage Auctions is pleased to announce its inaugural [Heritage Week — Hong Kong]( a series of six auctions and public previews on December 3-10, 2018. In addition to its twice a year [World & Ancient Coins]( and [World Currency]( auctions, and quarterly [Fine and Rare Wine]( auctions, Heritage is debuting Signature® auctions in Hong Kong for [Fine Jewelry]( [Watches & Fine Timepieces]( and [Designer Handbags & Luxury Accessories](. The public preview will combine jewelry, timepieces and luxury handbags on December 7-9, and three separate auctions will be held December 10; all at the Mira Hong Kong Hotel. Top highlights from each of these three auctions include but are not limited to: A highly unusual combination of size, Ceylon origin, strength of red-green color change, and no heat enhancement, elevates the [Ceylon Alexandrite, Diamond and Platinum Pendant-Necklace]( to rarified air. Typically found in sizes no larger than 5.00 carats, this offering weighs 50.15 carats, and carries a prominent degree of color change between 90-100 percent, further enhancing its value. The Ceylon Alexandrite masterpiece is joined by another, most important and rare gem, a [Kashmir Sapphire, Diamond, Platinum, Gold Ring, Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co.]( weighing 4.50 carats. This breathtaking, most valuable of sapphires with Kashmir pedigree radiates a high intensity of color, and boasts no heat enhancement. Crafted by Parisian artist and jeweler Jean Schlumberger, the first designer permitted to sign his designs for Tiffany & Co., only completes this masterpiece's desirability. "Heritage is pleased to bring together a selection of some of the rarest known gems and finest designer names to the Hong Kong market," said Jill Burgum, Director of Fine Jewelry at Heritage Auctions. "We have carefully crafted our inaugural boutique auction to reflect the festive color and cheer of the Holiday Season." The [Patek Philippe, Ref. 5970J-001, Unused Single Sealed, Gold Chronograph With Perpetual Calendar, Moon Phases, Tachometer And 24 Hour Indication]( was launched in 2004, and was produced for just seven years, making it a rarity in all four configurations: yellow gold, white gold, rose gold and platinum. The Ref. 5970 is the last Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph powered by the legendary Lemania movement, which is visible through the back of the case. The yellow gold version offered in this auction is considered the rarest of this extraordinary reference. A [Patek Philippe, Fine and Rare Ref. 4908/50 Twenty4 White Gold And Pave Diamond Ladies Wristwatch Circa 2002]( is a dazzling piece with more than 1,400 diamonds with a combined weight of a little more than 8 carats. The bezel around the face, in its classic rectangular form, is set with 116 diamonds, a diamond-set winding crown, a pave diamond set case back fixed with four screws and a sapphire crystal. The dial features pave brilliant diamonds with applied Roman numerals and black baton hands. The case, dial, movement and band all are signed "Patek Philippe." "This auction represents an extraordinary opportunity to launch collectible timepieces at Heritage Week — Hong Kong," Heritage Auctions Watches & Fine Timepieces Director Jim Wolf said. "This auction is both an important and exciting offering to the many high-end collectors of luxury timepieces in Asia, and presents an array of timepieces that never has been offered there before." The luxury handbag auction features desirable, one-of-a-kind special-order rarities by Hermès, beginning with the nearly impossible to find [25cm Matte Rose Extreme Alligator Birkin Bag]( a vintage masterwork. The exquisite palladium hardware accents an interior finished in Rose Extreme Chevre Leather to create a bag sought after all over the world. A legendary [Sellier Kelly Bag, a 32cm example in Matte Blue Brighton Alligator with Palladium hardware]( features Hermès' signature outside stitching. The delicate attention delivers the bold, clean, crisp lines that define the artisanship behind a Sellier Kelly. "Hong Kong's fashion-conscious collectors, and even occasional bidders, will experience the best in vintage and contemporary examples from only the top design Houses," said Diane D'Amato, Director of Luxury Accessories at Heritage. "Our Hong Kong debut is centered on a selection of truly rare and extraordinary discoveries." Details on all of the items offered during Heritage Week — Hong Kong, including a schedule of preview exhibitions in New York and Kowloon, are available at [HA.com/HeritageWeek](. [More information about Jewelry Auctions]( [Back to Top](#top) []Cover of the Week: Extra! Newspaper Printed Backwards! [Young Allies Comics #20 (Timely, 1946) CGC VF/NM 9.0 Off-white to white pages]( This is Young Allies #20. We're offering a VF/NM 9.0 copy this week that [you can bid on here](. [Back to Top](#top) []Current Auctions Comic & Comic Art Auctions [December 8 - 9 Animation Art Signature Auction - Beverly Hills #7196]( [December 8-9 Animation Art Signature Auction - Beverly Hills #7196]( [View Lots]( [Sunday Internet Comics Auction]( [Sunday Comics]( December 2 Live session @ 6PM CT OTHER SIGNATURE AUCTIONS • [Modern & Contemporary Art - Nov. 29]( • [The Collection of a Philhellene Monthly World and Ancient Coin - Dec. 2]( • [Luxury Accessories - Dec. 2-3]( • [Holiday Fine Jewelry - Dec. 3]( • [Urban Art - Dec. 4-5]( • [HKINF World Currency - Hong Kong - Dec. 5-7]( • [HKINF World Coins - Hong Kong - Dec. 6-7]( • [Fine European Art - Dec. 7]( • [Wine - Beverly Hills - Dec. 7-8]( • [Fine & Decorative Arts Including Estates - Dec. 7-9]( • [Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria - Dec. 9]( • [Hong Kong Jewelry - Dec. 10]( • [Hong Kong Timepieces - Dec. 10]( • [Hong Kong Luxury Accessories - Dec. 10]( • [US Coins - Dec. 13-14]( • [Nature & Science - Dec. 15]( OTHER INTERNET AUCTIONS • [Weekly US Coins - Nov. 28]( • [Weekly Prints & Multiples - Nov. 28]( • [Thur. Natural History - Nov. 29]( • [Thur. World Coins - Nov. 29]( • [Sun. Sports - Dec. 2]( • [Sun. Movie Posters - Dec. 2]( • [Tues. Jewelry - Dec. 4]( • [Tues. Currency - Dec. 4]( [Auction Schedule]( | [Order a Catalog]( [Back to Top](#top) [] DEPARTMENTS [Art & Antiques]( [Books]( [Coins]( [Comics]( [Currency]( [Domain Names & Intellectual Property]( [Entertainment & Music]( [Historical]( [Jewelry & Timepieces]( [Luxury Accessories]( [Movie Posters]( [Nature & Science]( [Real Estate]( [Sports]( [Stamps]( [Wine]( [Charity Auctions]( [] SERVICES [Free Auction Evaluation]( [Appraisal Services]( [Trusts and Estates]( [Auction Archives]( [Other Resources]( MY HERITAGE [My Bids]( [My TrackedLots]( [My Wantlist]( [My Profile]( [My Collection]( [My Consignments]( [My Orders]( [Consign Now]( [Lon Allen]( [1-800-872-6467 x1261](tel:1-800-872-6467) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Google Plus]( [LinkedIn]( [YouTube]( [Blog]( Heritage Auctions / Bid@HA.com / 3500 Maple Ave / Dallas, Texas 75219 / [1-877-HERITAGE (437-4824)](tel:1-800-872-6467) • Copyright © 1999 - 2018 Heritage Capital Corporation / All Rights Reserved Note: When calling or emailing us, please reference your client number: 3434334 [Forward to a Friend]( [Unsubscribe me permanently from all marketing emails]( Never miss an email! Star [star] messages from Bid@HA.com in your Gmail inbox. refer: comic--news--tem112818