AVENGERS #12 (VGF) Marvel Comics 1964 signed by Dick Ayers For Sale

This incredible issue of Avengers #12 from Marvel Comics (1964), is a true gem for any comic book collector. Featuring iconic characters such as Thor, Ant-Man, and Captain America, with stunning artwork by Dick Ayers and Jack Kirby, this 1st printing is a must-have for any fan of the superhero genre. The 5.0 Very Good-Fine (VGF) (@ 40% market Near Mint (NM) price plus the autograph value) graded book is vintage and signed by (inker) Dick Ayers, adding an extra layer of value to this rare find. The witnessed and notarized Certificate of Authenticity (COA) guarantees the signature's legitimacy, making it a unique and special addition to any collection. The story, titled "This Hostage Earth," is full of action, adventure, suspense, and science fiction, making it a thrilling read for any fan.` Richard "Dick" Bache Ayers (April 28, 1924) was a comic book artist and cartoonist inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2007. He (artist) and Ray Krank (writer) co-created Magazine Enterprises' horror-themed Western character (Ghost Rider) in Tim Holt #11 (1949). The character would appear in stories through the run of Tim Holt, Red Mask, A-1 Comics, Bobby Benson's B-Bar-B Riders, and his own 14-issue solo series (The Ghost Rider (1950–1954)). pretty much was killed by the introduction of the Comics Code. Dick was asked in 2003, how the concept of Ghost Rider was composed Ayers recalled the Vin Sullivan described that what he wanted in the Ghost Rider was for Ayers to see the 1949 Disney animated feature The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. One segment of the feature was an adaptation of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", featuring the Headless Horseman. Add this with a suggestion to play the Vaughn Monroe record "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" and Ayers would have an idea about what Sullivan wanted the guy wearing. It was after the trademark for the Ghost Rider character lapsed that Marvel Comics debuted its own near-identical, non-horror version of the character(Ghost Rider #1 (Feb. 1967)) written by Roy Thomas and Gary Friedrich and with Dick brought on as artist. Dick began freelancing for Atlas Comics (later Marvel in 1952, while continuing to freelance for Magazine Enterprises. He worked on numerous horror stories: Adventures into Terror, Astonishing, Journey into Mystery, Journey into Unknown Worlds, Menace, Mystery Tales, Mystic, Strange Tales, and Uncanny Tales. He, also, drew Young Men # 21-24 (June 1953 - Feb. 1954) a brief revival of the Human Torch (1940's Golden Age of Comics superhero from Timely Comics) Marvel Comics later ran an earlier unpublished Human Torch story with art by Ayers in Marvel Super-Heroes #16 (Sept. 1968). Just before Atlas comics transitioned into Marvel Comics, Ayers first teamed with the highly influential & historically important artist, Jack Kirby. For Kirby, Ayers would ink countless covers and stories: The Fantastic Four, Amazing Adventures, Journey into Mystery, Strange Tales, Tales of Suspense, and Tales to Astonish. There was some dispute over which comic Ayers first teamed with Kirby due to creator credits not being routinely given at the time. Dick was questioned this in an interview in 1996 simply stating, "The first work I did with Jack was the cover of Wyatt Earp #25." This is a non conclusive list of collaborations between Kirby & Ayers: "I Created the Colossus!" (Tales of Suspense #14, Feb. 1961), "Goom! The Thing from Planet X!" (Tales of Suspense #15, March 1961), and "Fin Fang Foom!" (Strange Tales #89, Oct. 1961). As Marvel introduced its superheroes in the early 1960s, Ayers inked Kirby on the first appearances of Ant-Man (Tales to Astonish #27 & 35, Jan. & Sept. 1962), Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos (issues #1-3, May-Sept. 1963), and the revamped Rawhide Kid (beginning with The Rawhide Kid #17, Aug. 1960); on the second and several subsequent early appearances of Thor (Journey into Mystery #84-89, Sept. 1962 - Feb. 1963); on Fantastic Four #6-20 (Sept. 1962 - Nov. 1963), and the spin-off Human Torch solo series in Strange Tales (starting with its debut in issue #101); and The Incredible Hulk #3-5 (Sept. 1962 - Jan. 1963)... of course the list goes on. One last acknowledgement is that Ayers took over Sgt. Fury from Kirby as the penciller with issue #8 (July 1964) & ran for 10-years , with the exception of #13 (which he inked over Kirby's pencils), and five individual issues by other pencillers ran continuously & virtually unbroken through #120.... And after a long productive and contributing life, Dick Ayers passed away at his home in White Plains, New York on May 4, 2014, six days after his 90th birthday rejoining his mentor Jack Kirby.