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A 15% BUYER'S PREMIUM WILL BE ADDED TO THIS ITEM AT CONCLUSION OF THE AUCTION
off white pgs; Publisher File Copy; Pay Copy (Publishers record of payments to artists noted on 7 pages and cover in pencil)
1st Sub-Mariner; 1st Human Torch; 1st Angel; 1st Marvel comic!! historic!! Comic Book Impact rating of 10 (CBI)
Pay Copy
This is the beginning. Without this, there would be no Marvel Universe, no Captain America punching Hitler, no Marvel movies, no Spider-Man, not even today's superhero mythology as we know it. One of the top five most important comics ever published, this haunting, moody, aggressively atmospheric issue took the simple, colorful genre pioneered by Shuster and Siegel and made it something vast and compelling. Featuring the first appearance of the Human Torch by Carl Burgos, the first Angel by Paul Gustavson, and, vitally, the first appearance of the Sub-Mariner, by Bill Everett, whose deft illustrations instantly raised the bar for the new hero craze and melded the classically trained pulp cover tradition with the stark new look of cape comics. Also featuring the first Ka-Zar, Ben Thompson's Tarzan swipe designed to attract the still-vibrant pulp readership, this is likely the scarcest of major Golden Age keys, which never fails to ignite a frenzy of attention when copies come to market.

Marvel Comics #1, released in November 1939, is one of the most important, valuable, and rare comics of all time, and is the first-ever Timely/Marvel publication, a major cultural landmark. This copy earned a 9.2 CGC Universal Grade and has off-white pages. Any Golden Age key in this condition would be a major find, let alone one of such historic importance. The front cover is remarkably well preserved and clean, and the colors are undeniably crisp, perfectly highlighting the otherworldly appearance of the Human Torch as he closes in on his foe. This copy is over 80 years old and remains in an incredible, newsstand-fresh condition.

This Marvel Comics #1 is known as the “Pay Copy” because it is the original copy used by publisher Lloyd Jacquet to record payments to the artists that contributed to the book. Hand-written notations detailing reimbursement to legendary artist Frank Paul for his work on this iconic cover are evident on the title logo and illustration. Further records are also noted in pencil on Pg 7. The “Pay Copy,” is a record-breaking example of an already incredibly influential book. This remarkable publication was key to the genesis of Marvel Comics, a worldwide entertainment empire and cultural phenomenon that seems to be unstoppable in today’s media marketplace.

Overstreet Guide 2021 NM- (9.2) value = $775,000.

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