MYSTERY MEN COMICS #3
CGC NM+: 9.6
(Stock Image)
SOLD ON: Thursday, 06/15/2017 12:37 PM
$54,000
Sold For
21
Bids
PUBLISHER: Fox
COMMENTS: white pgs; Church/Mile High copy
classic Lou Fine Green Mask cover; COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 7 (CBI)
Jon Berk Collection
Highest Graded
Read Description ▼
classic Lou Fine Green Mask cover; COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 7 (CBI)
Jon Berk Collection
Highest Graded
DESCRIPTION
white pgs; Church/Mile High copy
classic Lou Fine Green Mask cover; COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 7 (CBI)
Jon Berk Collection
Highest Graded
Lou Fine’s classic Green Mask cover for Mystery Men #3 perfectly showcases the talent that made him one of the most important and influential comic artists of the Golden Age. Legendary inker Joe Simon is among those who cited Fine as a favorite artist, while also noting that his frequent partner Jack Kirby “was a fan of and greatly influenced by Fine's work.”
One could wax poetic for days discussing the well-deserved plaudits of master Golden Age artist Lou Fine's work, but there is much more going on here than stunning illustration. Presented in an oddly flamboyant posture, is the Green Mask, an interesting entry from the early days of superheroes whose origin and abilities borrowed heavily from the Robin Hood myth, and who later developed super powers in a likely bid to remain relevant during the GA hero craze. Green Mask's swashbuckling attire and pulpy presentation made him quite the hero of his time. Also featured within these pages are the sci-fi adventures of Rex Dexter of Mars, the war stories of Lt. Drake, U.S.N., and the Blue Beetle, a hero whose popularity and relevance continues to this day with the character recently revived for the small screen on Batman: The Brave & The Bold.
Unscathed by the ravages of time, Church copies seemingly remain in a kind of suspended animation. Once smitten by the allure of the Edgar Church/Mile High pedigree, you won't escape its captivating siren song. Rich colors, white pages, crisp corners, and a smell so distinct, it makes it almost worth cracking the book from its case. Are you prepared? Will you go the distance? Test your courage and be the one to place the final bid on this historic artifact.
Overstreet Guide 2016 NM- (9.2) value = $11,000.
If you are a new customer planning to make a first-time purchase over $25,000, please contact us 24 hours in advance of the item closing at 212.895.3999 or support@comicconnect.com so that we may approve your account for bidding. (This policy was instituted to protect consignors and bidders against bids from fraudulent accounts, and to ensure the integrity of the bidding process.) Once approved, please log out of your account and then log in, for the approval to take effect.
We realize many of you would like to bid on this auction lot, so for this listing, ComicConnect.com offers a 6 month, interest free, time payment plan with a 20% non-refundable deposit. Time Payments invoices can only be paid by cash, check, money order or wire transfer. LEARN MORE
Artist Information
Louis Kenneth Fine was born in New York. He studied at the Grand Central Art School and Pratt Institute. He was partially crippled by childhood polio and longed to be an illustrator. Among his major influences were Dean Cornwell, J.C. Leyendecker, and Heinrich Kley. Fine joined the Eisner-Iger comic shop in 1938 and soon was drawing for the Fiction House and Fox lines on such features as 'Wilton of the West', 'The Count of Monte Cristo', and 'The Flame'. Within a short time he became one of their best artists. He drew parts of the 'Jumbo' and 'Sheena' comics, and he also produced several adventure comics. Between 1939 and 1943, he worked for the Arnold's Quality Comics group. He produced 'Black Condor', 'Stormy Foster' and several issues of 'Uncle Sam'. From early on, Fine's specialty was covers, and he turned out dozens of them. Lou Fine left the comic book industry in 1944 and moved into drawing Sunday advertising strips for the funnies. On his advertising work, he cooperated extensively with Don Komisarow. Together, they created characters like 'Charlie McCarthy' and 'Mr. Coffee Nerves' for Chase and Sanborn Coffee, and 'Sam Spade' for Wildroot Cream Oil. They also made 'The Thropp Family' for Liberty magazine, using the combined signature of Donlou (scripts by Lawrence Lariar). Next, Fine drew two newspaper strips, 'Adam Ames', and 'Peter Scratch', about a tough private eye who lived with his mother. Fine died in 1971 and according to Will Eisner, he was one of the greatest draftsmen ever.
classic Lou Fine Green Mask cover; COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 7 (CBI)
Jon Berk Collection
Highest Graded
Lou Fine’s classic Green Mask cover for Mystery Men #3 perfectly showcases the talent that made him one of the most important and influential comic artists of the Golden Age. Legendary inker Joe Simon is among those who cited Fine as a favorite artist, while also noting that his frequent partner Jack Kirby “was a fan of and greatly influenced by Fine's work.”
One could wax poetic for days discussing the well-deserved plaudits of master Golden Age artist Lou Fine's work, but there is much more going on here than stunning illustration. Presented in an oddly flamboyant posture, is the Green Mask, an interesting entry from the early days of superheroes whose origin and abilities borrowed heavily from the Robin Hood myth, and who later developed super powers in a likely bid to remain relevant during the GA hero craze. Green Mask's swashbuckling attire and pulpy presentation made him quite the hero of his time. Also featured within these pages are the sci-fi adventures of Rex Dexter of Mars, the war stories of Lt. Drake, U.S.N., and the Blue Beetle, a hero whose popularity and relevance continues to this day with the character recently revived for the small screen on Batman: The Brave & The Bold.
Unscathed by the ravages of time, Church copies seemingly remain in a kind of suspended animation. Once smitten by the allure of the Edgar Church/Mile High pedigree, you won't escape its captivating siren song. Rich colors, white pages, crisp corners, and a smell so distinct, it makes it almost worth cracking the book from its case. Are you prepared? Will you go the distance? Test your courage and be the one to place the final bid on this historic artifact.
Overstreet Guide 2016 NM- (9.2) value = $11,000.
If you are a new customer planning to make a first-time purchase over $25,000, please contact us 24 hours in advance of the item closing at 212.895.3999 or support@comicconnect.com so that we may approve your account for bidding. (This policy was instituted to protect consignors and bidders against bids from fraudulent accounts, and to ensure the integrity of the bidding process.) Once approved, please log out of your account and then log in, for the approval to take effect.
We realize many of you would like to bid on this auction lot, so for this listing, ComicConnect.com offers a 6 month, interest free, time payment plan with a 20% non-refundable deposit. Time Payments invoices can only be paid by cash, check, money order or wire transfer. LEARN MORE
Artist Information
Louis Kenneth Fine was born in New York. He studied at the Grand Central Art School and Pratt Institute. He was partially crippled by childhood polio and longed to be an illustrator. Among his major influences were Dean Cornwell, J.C. Leyendecker, and Heinrich Kley. Fine joined the Eisner-Iger comic shop in 1938 and soon was drawing for the Fiction House and Fox lines on such features as 'Wilton of the West', 'The Count of Monte Cristo', and 'The Flame'. Within a short time he became one of their best artists. He drew parts of the 'Jumbo' and 'Sheena' comics, and he also produced several adventure comics. Between 1939 and 1943, he worked for the Arnold's Quality Comics group. He produced 'Black Condor', 'Stormy Foster' and several issues of 'Uncle Sam'. From early on, Fine's specialty was covers, and he turned out dozens of them. Lou Fine left the comic book industry in 1944 and moved into drawing Sunday advertising strips for the funnies. On his advertising work, he cooperated extensively with Don Komisarow. Together, they created characters like 'Charlie McCarthy' and 'Mr. Coffee Nerves' for Chase and Sanborn Coffee, and 'Sam Spade' for Wildroot Cream Oil. They also made 'The Thropp Family' for Liberty magazine, using the combined signature of Donlou (scripts by Lawrence Lariar). Next, Fine drew two newspaper strips, 'Adam Ames', and 'Peter Scratch', about a tough private eye who lived with his mother. Fine died in 1971 and according to Will Eisner, he was one of the greatest draftsmen ever.