Lot #499: The Avengers (1st Series - 1963)

"Claws Across the Water!" Part 1 of 2. Plot by Jim Shooter and Bob Budiansky. Script by David Michelinie. Pencils by Don Newton. Inks by Dan Green. Cover by Bob Budiansky and Joe Rubinstein. A letter marked "Life and Death" arrives in the mail at Avengers Mansion! Who sent the letter? And why? The Avengers have a lot of questions! Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, there's only one definitive answer...the Yellow Claw! What diabolical plan for world domination has the century-old villain set in motion? Earth's Mightiest Heroes fly to the South China Sea to find out! The Vision and the Wasp infiltrate Yellow Claw's island fortress through the air, while the other avengers invade from the ground! After battling the island's high-tech defenses, the Avengers breakthrough and confront the Yellow Claw! But then the Avengers abruptly leave. What happened? The Yellow Claw is still a free man. Cameo appearance by Hawkeye. Avengers Lineup: Beast, Captain America, Iron Man, Jocasta, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Wasp, and Wonder Man. (Note: The Yellow Claw previously appeared in Nova (1st series) 18. This issue includes a full-page ad (with art by Frank Miller) for the Doctor Strange 2nd series. At one time Roger Stern and Frank Miller were going to team up on the title; however, another artist ended up penciling the series. This issue also contains a full-page ad for the Spider-woman 1st series.)

#207

"Beyond a Shadow" Part 1 of 2. Plot by Bob Budiansky. Script by Danny Fingeroth and Bob Budiansky. Pencils by Gene Colan. Inks by Dan Green. Cover by Gene Colan and Dan Green. In the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain, a majestic city has risen from the depths! The U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet sails to investigate, but runs into the powerful ruler of this spectacular citadel...the Shadow Lord! After the navy's advance is halted, the Avengers attack! However, the Shadow Lord controls the winds and the waves...and traps Earth's Mightiest Heroes in a massive tornado! Can the Avengers triumph over an ancient lord of the Earth from centuries ago? Avengers Lineup: Beast, Captain America, Iron Man, Jocasta, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Wasp, and Wonder Man. (Note: This issue includes a half-page ad for Marvel Two-in-One 75 featuring the Thing and the Avengers vs. Annihilus and Blastaar.)

#209

"The Resurrection Stone!" Script by J.M. DeMatteis. Pencils by Alan Kupperberg. Inks by Dan Green. Cover by Al Milgrom. It's a happy day at Avengers Mansion as Hank McCoy is reunited with his former girlfriend Vera Cantor. But joy quickly turns to horror when a Skrull (disguised as Jarvis) poisons Vera! The devious Skrull will revive her, but only if the Beast, Wanda, Vision, and Wonder Man retrieve the resurrection stone! However, the stone has been split into two halves...and sent back in time! The four avengers' first stop is 14th century London during the gruesome bubonic plague outbreak. And the second...Dachau concentration camp near the end of World War II. Earth Mightiest Heroes witness human suffering at its absolute worst. And in the end Hank McCoy will hold the power of life and death in his hands. What will the Beast do? An excellent story featuring the four avengers who would depart the team two issues later. Cameo appearance by Mr. Fantastic. Flashback cameo by the Hulk to recap the events of Incredible Hulk 161. Avengers Lineup: Beast, Scarlet Witch, Vision, and Wonder Man. (Note: This issue includes a full-page ad for Marvel Treasury Edition 28: Superman and Spider-Man vs. Doctor Doom and the Parasite.) #223

"Of Robin Hoods and Roustabouts" Guest-starring Ant-Man. Script by David Michelinie. Pencils by Greg LaRocque. Inks by Brett Breeding and helpers. Cover by Ed Hannigan and Klaus Janson. On a sunny afternoon in Nassau County, Clint Barton and Scott Lang attend a traveling carnival. Scott is there having fun with his daughter enjoying the attractions, while Clint is following a lead concerning possible criminal activity! Hawkeye's and Ant-Man's paths collide when a super-villain is discovered at the carnival! It's the Taskmaster! The man with the photographic reflexes! And inside a giant circus tent, Ant-Man and the ace archer will try to cancel the Taskmaster's act! Cameo appearances by Captain America, Iron Man, She-Hulk, and the Wasp. (Notes: The Taskmaster previously appeared in Marvel Team-Up 103. The back cover features a Megaforce ad drawn by William Stout.