Dang, I am late to the party to comment on this page.  Belated congratulations are in order and welcome to the IF 14 owner's club.  Pages from this issue are quite difficult to find as Sabretooth appeared in about 8 pages from this issue.  The first six pages were classic Clarement storytelling with how Colleen and Danny were to engage Sabretooth and his enterprise by published page 11, the seventh story page of the book that finally introduced this new villian.  Enough analysis.  Great add to a great collection.

I do not believe that Ditko went insane.  It is my opinion that his love/hate relationship with the fame that ASM and Stan Lee brought him ended up causing him much internal turmoil.  Was he bitter?  Yes.  Was he suicidal similar to Wally Wood?  No.  His reclusive nature and his ambivalence towards his own artwork just further created a cult of personality around him.  This 2012 celebrity strip encapsulates this man very well.  Thanks much for posting.

GR to the rescue!  The previous page was a large splash with Trapster capturing the ASM, and you had to wonder how GR was going to save the day.  This was a great Claremont/Buscema/Marcos collaboration.

Bill, this is rather ironic.  Here you reside as one of the premiere cover collectors in our hobby and within CAF.  Your cover collection is awesome.  However, you win a 2019 Best Of segment with a freaking early McFarlane ASM panel page, not a cover.  Maybe it was that black costume prime image on top of the truck.  While I offer my sincere congratulations, I hope secretly that you remain a cover collector.   

First, this Maxi-Series introduced me to Bolland's art as I am a fan of the Arthurian legend.  Bolland's art here was uniquely visual and highly detailed.  I did not have any exposure to his British work (i.e. Judge Dredd and other series) that he was drawing way back when as it did not make its way to my comic stores.  Second, you leave us hanging for more than a year after you won this gem at the February 2019 Heritage Signature Auction.  How could you?  Just kidding - you acquired a great cover for an even more outrageous price.  Like you wrote, if you had to acquire one iconic Bolland cover, then this is an outstanding example.

O' beauty, beauty, happiness, and joy!  A published Byrne/Layton Champions page rises from the unknown piles of ownership darkness, and I am the first to comment!  I am a huge fan of what Byrne drew for his limited run on this series.  Layton's inks only add and augment to the layers of Byrne's pencils for this rather demonic issue.  Many already know that the Byrne/Layton team was a great combination, but it only lasted across six Marvel books from my count - the three Champions issues, the IH 7 Annual, and the Ant-Man revival in Marvel Premiere.  These pages are not easy to come by for Byrne collectors, and I thank you for posting this great example.

After almost 10 years, I finally post.  I remember receiving this issue in the postal mail when I had an Avengers subscription as a child.  This splash remained seared in my memory as I could not wait for what was to happen in the following issue as Wenzel captured the truly diabolical nature of Korvac/Michael here as he morphed into his powerful state.  Thanks much for posting this gem.  It would be a cornerstone in any collection, but it is truly awesome for an Avengers collector.  What is even neater is your back story.  Wenzel's offering of this page to you shows how humble he truly was.

After 10 plus years, it is time that somebody placed a comment on this ASM/GR interior page from the 1970s.  The Claremont/Buscema/Marcos combination was a very potent one for this issue.  They actually made the Trapster a more menacing villian for this team-up.

I can see the appeal for acquiring this cover.  It is the last one prior to Miller's run.  I own the last page of the DD 157 interior story, and it is interesting to look back on it now as this was the end of the old DD stories from the 1970s.  Miller would re-birth the DD character and launch him to much greater heights.  Congrats on adding this to your collection.

The previous collector secured all three signatures from Zeck, Beatty, and Shooter.  Pretty cool, huh?  When he took  the cover art to Norris for his signature, he barely survived the encounter.  Chuck signs alone.  That is all you need to know.

On another note, keep those zingers coming.....

Finding pages from this issue are particularly challenging.  Collectors are holding on to them, and I believe that you struck CARNAGE and GOLD with this acquisition to your collection.  Congratulations! 

When I see the artwork, I take a chance to 'marvel' the creation of the page - from the writer's development, the penciller's translation, and the inker's embellishment.  While this is a great Werner Roth page as Jay Gavin, excellent narratives are what drive me to post many times.  I need to re-visit your gallery with more time to read your missives.  I place you in the same pantheon as Chris K. and Ron S. with their narratives.  Keep up the great narratives.

While this older page acquisition to your collection is most awesome, what compelled me to post is your narrative -  Well written in these times of great adversity and uncertainty.  Collecting comic art is a passion for many, a habit for several, but where are the passion and the habit if you are not alive to experience it? 

It is great to see these Wenzel examples.  At the time that these books hit the market in the late 1970s, I was not impressed with his art.  Marvel thankfully continued to have Marcos as the conistent inker during this time.  However, as the years have passed by, my perceptions changed as Wenzel filled in rather admirably along with Buscema, Romita, Jr., and Mooney pencilling issues in this range.  He pencilled issues 174-176 as Marvel was trying to find that solid replacement for George Perez after issue 171.  It was not easy until John Byrne stepped up again for a longer run starting with issue 181.  

Nils,

Aye, 13 years is a long time to gain the first comment.  I know that it is not the ASM, but, my gosh, I thought that an amphibian or two drawing should at least sparks someone's interest when I first posted.  Thank you!

Like you, I am a fan of Davis' early work on Garfield when he was a cat, not a human masquerading as a cat.  These early strips were quite fun to read, and having a Sunday is quite nice.  An excellent addition to your burgeoning collection.

I always enjoyed how Magneto seared Storm here with his magnetism and with his sheer anger towards the X-Men leader.  One wonders why he never gave Cyclops the same treatment when he was the leader of the team.

Methinks that Watchmen 9 must be thy favorite issue in this storied 12 issue maxi-series????

As the owner of the page previous to this one, it is hard to believe that I have never commented on this page.  Layton's inks were impressive on this two issue story arc for bringing Scott Lang into prominence as a new Ant Man.

Within a one week period, you post two incredible covers by two artists identified with each character that changed the course of how we, the rabid collecting public, understand the character's respective development.  Post 1978, McFarlane was the artist for the ASM, and Miller was the artist for the DD.  What else can I write that has not been written, but another.....Congratulations!

You know that you have one hot cover when you have over 60 comments in just a three-day period.  Great write-up as well and a great McFarlane representation to your already sterling cover collection!

As a huge Starlin enthusiast, I have to correct you.  Thanos' first real and exposed appearance was in Captain Marvel 26, not Captain Marvel 27.  That splash page from CM 26 sold last year on ComicLink after staying in a Starlin collector's (Rick Loshiavo) collection for the better part of 18 years that is now unwinding through ComicLink auctions.  Regardless, your CM 25 page is the first true tease of the real Thanos.

First, I must congratulate on winning the bidding war on this page from earlier this month.  I know how much this page meant to you.  As you and I discussed, it was going to be an interesting auction.  Second and however, I lament what you had to give up to acquire this page.  I guess that I will see it soon in another auction.

Well, you knew that I would eventually leave a comment to this page as you told me about it before posting.  Avengers 160 was an incredible issue that brought back an old Avengers villian in fascinating detail by the Perez/Marcos team.  What I love even more is the back story behind how you added this page to your collection.  Keep uncovering those hidden gems.

Yet another 'gone' page from my collection that is now in your collection, albeit a more ciruitous path.  Congrats on acquiring this page from Alex.  I just wished that he had provided me an opportunity to purchase it back.  

I just had to be your 50th comment.  What else can I write that the previous 49 comments have not already described?  Nothing!  A Lee/Williams Uncanny X-Men cover should be a cornerstone for any cover collection.  Congrats on getting Mr. Williams to let this one go.  

Ah-ha, and D'oh!  So, you are the culprit who outbid me for this page?  I Cry Havok!  Oh, the horror, the horror!  Seriously, congrats, Sean, on another page added to your collection.

Please accept my most humble apologies for not commenting on this page sooner, Chris.  I am very happy to see this page in your incredible collection, and I truly hope that this page brings you many years of enjoyment.  It was always fun to show this page to other collectors and to see their expression.  "What is this page doing in your collection?" was the response that I usually received.  You never know what is below the tip of an iceberg in someone's collection. 

Your two sentences in your description reveal everything that is fun about this investment hobby.  Owning something memorable from your childhood brings back incredible memories.  Congrats on this acquisition!

As I have aged, I have come to really appreciate this penciller/inker combination on Dr. Strange in the 1980s.  It is fun seeing these Marvel original art pages show up on CAF from this pairing, and you have a great example.

Congrats on your becoming the owner for one of only three Starlin MOKF covers.  As a fellow poster already wrote, it is great to see his non-cosmic covers surface on CAF.

If you had to own a Ditko Dr. Strange panel page, then this is one that would be at the top of just about everyone's list.  Just scintillating!

Welcome to the collector's circle of owners from Dave Cockrum's first run on this title.  It was a truly magical time for the resurrection of this new team, and this page represents much of that magical storytelling.  Thanks much for posting.

I wondered who won this page on the last auction.  Thanks much for posting this page, Kirk.  This Marvel Preview issue started Claremont/Byrne/Austin on their own cosmic run that would continue in the X-Men.

While my francais is quite rusty and 'froid', owning this SNAP page is definitely - par excellence.  This page is an excellent acquisition to your collection, and thanks much for posting.

Better late than never, I now post the big 30th comment on this outstanding page.  Bill took this character to exceptional heights, and this page shows how he did it.

After all these years, two movies, and a nostalgia for this character created by David Michelinie and Todd, I cannot fathom why more CAFers have not posted more comments about this page.  Sinister and foreboding in the Merry Marvel way.  Thanks for posting.

It is always a pleasure to see Todd's pages from his very early start on ASM.  You can tell he was still in the style of Infinity, Inc. at DC, but he started to expand his interpretation of what his vision for ASM should look like.  Thanks much for posting this gem.

Yeah, but where are the other 12?  Are you hiding them?

Righteous and nice!  I had not seen this page before in the public domain.  Thanks much for posting as pages from this particular issue do not pop up often, either for sale or for viewing.

Oh, the Horror, the Horror!  Another incredible page claimed from the estate but now in the open for all to enjoy.  You mentioned this potential acquistion last year, and you even shared the image.  Congrats on making this happen as the envy pours through many pores....

Seeing this page in person at the SDCC in 2019 made me quite envious.  Perez and Sinnott at the top of their game.

When I come to your gallery, I see more and more items for which I have not posted a comment.  Thanks much for posting this little Cockrum gem.  I enjoyed your story provided.  You definitely had an 'old versus new' creative mentality going on in the Marvel Bullpen during the late 1970s from the stories that I have read.

Sal did a great job on this page with the recap from Avengers 154 following up from Perez on the previous two issues.  I know that pages from these issues are high on your wish list, and I am glad to see that this one made into your collection.  This is definitely a keeper!

If you had only asked for that 164 trade, then I may have made that happened......

SInce I made a post to your X-Men 120 page, I have to leave a post here as well.  Perez had some great inkers in the 1970s with Pablo Marcos, Joe Sinnott, Sam Grainger, Terry Austin, and several others.  Perez and Austin are a great combination, and this splash page delineated their great pairing with the villianous pose and the dark lighting.  The backgrounds are incredible for this particular page, and I am so glad that Vinny C. was nowhere to be found here.

I must first apologize for a most truant post commenting on this page, Joe.  This page passed through many owner's hands prior to landing into your collection and had some baggage.  I am glad to see that it has stayed here for the last six years in your mighty Byrne collection.  I must second add a query to your X-Men 112 comment starting all this Byrne collecting for you.  Do my eyes deceive me that I do not see a 112 cover or interior page in your gallery and wonder when you might change this?  Happy hunting!

For a Byrne collector, this is a very unique page from his early days.  Thanks much for posting this image and for continuing to show your collection.  135 pieces and counting!

Please accpet my apologies on the 10 year delay to post a comment on this incredible artwork.  I think that this issue in particular showed why Miller the writer/artist was even better than Miller the artist when he pencilled issues 160 and 161.  Bullseye was no longer just a murderous villian and foil for DD.  Miller's focus on Bullseye in this issue made his mental instability more palpable and easier to understand.  The battle scenes in this issue were outstanding with Janson's great inking. 

While I am not in your immediate or extended circle, I have always appreciated the way that we have interacted, initiated, and completed our deals at the SDCC.  When a person reaches your stature in the profession of the comic book industry as a creator, egos sometimes challenge a serious fan's interest to interface with someone that he has followed for over 20 years now.  I admire your collection as you have focused intently on putting together works that influenced you to become an artist and a professional.  I look forward to seeing you again at this year's SDCC - the true 50th!

I just wanted to be your 60th comment on this splash page.  JK!  I would love to own a page from this issue again as I discouragingly sold my X-Men 268 back in 2008.  It would be great to see this page in person if you come back to Texas again for another 'original comic art party'.