Lost Jack Kirby Gem, Proto-Green Lantern Up For Auction
Hold up, comic historians! An incredibly rare 1940 comic, Wow Comics #1, is hitting the auction block, and it's packed with surprises. We're talking early Jack Kirby work on a Gotham City hero before Batman truly cemented his reign, plus a proto-Green Lantern character wielding atomic power. This isn't just any Golden Age relic. Wow Comics #1 introduces Mister Scarlett, a vigilante patrolling Gotham, co-created by the legendary Jack Kirby and underappreciated writer Ed Herron. But the real mind-blower is Atom Blake, the Boy Wizard. This kid taps into god-like atomic powers, channeling them through a mysterious ring—a concept strikingly similar to DC's Green Lantern, but from 1940! Herron himself is a powerhouse, later contributing to Red Skull and co-creating Captain Marvel Jr. Only 24 copies of Wow Comics #1 exist on the CGC Census. The upcoming Heritage Auctions event on July 9-11 features a CGC Apparent VF 8.0 copy, a prime chance for serious collectors to grab a piece of foundational comic book history. This is a significant artifact, tracing the very DNA of superhero tropes.
“This isn't just any Golden Age relic; it's a significant artifact tracing the very DNA of superhero tropes.”
Catzye Take
This auction is a fascinating window into the wild west of early comics. Seeing the seeds of iconic characters and creators like Jack Kirby, even in an often-overlooked title, highlights how truly experimental and influential the Golden Age was. Fans interested in comic book history will want to watch how this rare piece performs.
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