PLANET COMICS (1940-54) #1
CGC NM: 9.4
(Stock Image)
SOLD ON: Thursday, 09/02/2021 8:51 PM
$88,500
Sold For
16
Bids
PUBLISHER: Fiction House
COMMENTS: off white pages; QES certified - criteria met: exceptional spine + perfect staple area + perfect cover edges From the Collection of Nicolas Cage
Eisner/Fine cvr; Kiefer art; origin of Auro, Lord of Jupiter, Flint Baker and Red Comet begin
Denver Copy
Highest Graded
Read Description ▼
Eisner/Fine cvr; Kiefer art; origin of Auro, Lord of Jupiter, Flint Baker and Red Comet begin
Denver Copy
Highest Graded
DESCRIPTION
off white pages; QES certified - criteria met: exceptional spine + perfect staple area + perfect cover edges From the Collection of Nicolas Cage
Eisner/Fine cvr; Kiefer art; origin of Auro, Lord of Jupiter, Flint Baker and Red Comet begin
Denver Copy
Highest GradedThe first comic book devoted exclusively to science fiction, the scrappy genre that grew from the sweaty fever dreams of Victorian fantasists and exploded in the pages of the pulps, to eventually become the major American pop genre, and the modern mythology that continues to captivate the attention of the world. Planet was the four-color inheritor of publisher Fiction House's sci-fi pulps, boasting spectacular covers, soaring storytelling, barrel-chested heroes, and the eye-popping art of most of the period's major illustrative talents. Soaked in mystery, drama, high science, and a generous dose of cheesecake, these majestic works brought the grand scale and brash spirit of sci-fi to a new readership of young and impressionable minds, many of whom, inspired, went on to create their own worlds in galaxies far, far away, and in final frontiers around the universe. It's impossible to stress how important this series was to sci-fi history and a glance at these remarkable covers will seem like a Rosetta Stone for modern science-fiction enthusiasts.
Planet Comics #1 was released as a companion book to Fiction House's Planet Stories pulp novels. The comic features art by legends Will Eisner and Lou Fine as well as Murphy Anderson (under the pen name Leonardo Vinci). The book also features the origin of Auro, Lord of Jupiter and appearances by Flint Baker, Spurt Hammond, and The Red Comet. This 9.4 NM CGC-graded Planet Comics #1 is tied for the highest-graded CGC copy. Over 80 years old now, it is an astounding feat to find this comic at all, let alone in such pristine condition. Coming from the collection of superstar Nicolas Cage, with off-white pages, with a QES Certification, and a Denver Copy pedigree, this book is truly stunning. The central figures look exceptional, the monsters terrifying, and the landscape amazing. This is a historic gem, and marks a major turning point for pulps, comics, and science-fiction as a whole.
Overstreet Guide 2021 NM- (9.2) value = $32,000.
Click on the image below to watch the YouTube video about this item!
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
Visit the QES website.
Artists 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.
Will Eisner is an American cartoonist, writer and entrepreneur who's one of the earliest cartoonist to contribute to the comics industry. Will is famous for his experiments in content and form in comics as well as popularizing the term "Graphic Novel". Will Eisner's most recognized works are The Spirit and A contract with God.
Eisner/Fine cvr; Kiefer art; origin of Auro, Lord of Jupiter, Flint Baker and Red Comet begin
Denver Copy
Highest GradedThe first comic book devoted exclusively to science fiction, the scrappy genre that grew from the sweaty fever dreams of Victorian fantasists and exploded in the pages of the pulps, to eventually become the major American pop genre, and the modern mythology that continues to captivate the attention of the world. Planet was the four-color inheritor of publisher Fiction House's sci-fi pulps, boasting spectacular covers, soaring storytelling, barrel-chested heroes, and the eye-popping art of most of the period's major illustrative talents. Soaked in mystery, drama, high science, and a generous dose of cheesecake, these majestic works brought the grand scale and brash spirit of sci-fi to a new readership of young and impressionable minds, many of whom, inspired, went on to create their own worlds in galaxies far, far away, and in final frontiers around the universe. It's impossible to stress how important this series was to sci-fi history and a glance at these remarkable covers will seem like a Rosetta Stone for modern science-fiction enthusiasts.
Planet Comics #1 was released as a companion book to Fiction House's Planet Stories pulp novels. The comic features art by legends Will Eisner and Lou Fine as well as Murphy Anderson (under the pen name Leonardo Vinci). The book also features the origin of Auro, Lord of Jupiter and appearances by Flint Baker, Spurt Hammond, and The Red Comet. This 9.4 NM CGC-graded Planet Comics #1 is tied for the highest-graded CGC copy. Over 80 years old now, it is an astounding feat to find this comic at all, let alone in such pristine condition. Coming from the collection of superstar Nicolas Cage, with off-white pages, with a QES Certification, and a Denver Copy pedigree, this book is truly stunning. The central figures look exceptional, the monsters terrifying, and the landscape amazing. This is a historic gem, and marks a major turning point for pulps, comics, and science-fiction as a whole.
Overstreet Guide 2021 NM- (9.2) value = $32,000.
Click on the image below to watch the YouTube video about this item!
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
Visit the QES website.
Artists 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.
Will Eisner is an American cartoonist, writer and entrepreneur who's one of the earliest cartoonist to contribute to the comics industry. Will is famous for his experiments in content and form in comics as well as popularizing the term "Graphic Novel". Will Eisner's most recognized works are The Spirit and A contract with God.