Fantastic Four No. 1, Wolverine Original Cover Art, and Iron Man’s First Steps to Auction

Among the centerpieces of Heritage Auctions’ September 12-15 Comics & Comic Art auction is one of only two copies of 1961’s Fantastic Four No. 1 awarded a Near Mint+ 9.6 grade by Certified Guaranty Company. A copy graded Near Mint- 9.2 sold in 2022 for $1.5 million. 

Marvel launched the book to complete with DC’s Justice League of America. Fantastic Four No. 1 created the entire foundation upon which the Marvel Universe was eventually built.

Other highlights include:

• the August 1928 issue of Amazing Stories with Frank Paul’s classic cover featuring a rocketman mid-flight and inside the first appearance of Buck Rogers
• Lee Elias’ original cover of 1954’s Tomb of Terror No. 15 from the collection of author and horror comics historian Roger Hill
• Wally Wood’s original artwork for the cover of EC Comics 1951’s Tales from the Crypt No. 26, also from Hill’s collection
• John Buscema’s original artwork for the first issue of 1988’s Wolverine, the inaugural solo series for the X-Man which comes from a John Buscema Family Collection
• Don Heck’s original art for Page 8 from Tales of Suspense No. 39 which chronicles Tony Stark’s first steps in the clunky Iron Man suit
• Page 3 from 1963’s The Avengers No. 1 by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers
• Steve Ditko’s Doctor Strange pin-up from 1967’s Marvel Collectors’ Item Classics No. 10 
• a page from 1966’s The Amazing Spider-Man No. 32
• George Pérez and Terry Austin’s cover of Avengers No. 168
• John Byrne and Terry Austin’s Magneto splash page from The X-Men No. 111
• Frank Miller's cover for 1980’s Captain America No. 241 featuring the hero's first meeting with the Punisher

This auction will also offer what Heritage describes as "the world’s single finest copy" of Marvel Comics Super Special No. 1 from June 1977.