Or what we affectionately call the Corner!

I just read a couple of the most recent journals and decided to weigh in. Like Bagofleas I totally have fond memories of putting together my collection. It started out with some crummy G.I. Joe comics my cousin gave me. We used to read the hell out of them then trace all the pictures. I kept them in a drawer, this was before bags and boards. I'd be happy if nobody stepped on them too bad or my mom didn't throw them away cause they were on the floor. Mom let me continue reading comics cause my 3rd grade teacher told her that they would be good for my reading comprehension. Later, I remember walking down to the Circle K, a couple years before Bill and Ted, and bought my first issue of Uncanny X-men and I was hooked.

I was fortunate enough to start collecting during the era of Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, Whilice Portacio, Walt Simonson, Frank Miller, J. Byrne, etc. Like, Bagofleas I bought what are now a lot of modern age keys right off the news stand at cover price. I eventually graduated from the news stand to the LCS, and still you could buy stuff for a buck or two. It was all about loving comics then. I remember going to conventions in the late 80-90's and there'd be boxes of good stuff two for a dollar.

It makes me sad when I look around and see how perverse the hobby has become in some ways. What used to be the two for a dollar bin is now the CGC 9.999.75 signed with a self portrait by artist, inker, colorist and their children on sale for $250. Fortunately, I bought several copies of each issue in some the keys that I liked, like J. Byrnes X-men run or F. Millers DD's, etc. It still makes me sad though, something is clearly not right. I see copies of Six Gun or Saga, etc that sell for 2-3x the cover price as soon as they hit the shelves. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to slight anybody or these titles, good books are good, but its hard to see a book thats less than a year old sell for more than a book thats 35 years old and truly RARE. Not only that but a 35 year old book thats made of wood pulp and four colors. Books nowadays look like a Vogue magazine and people post them up like they've truly found a gem and I think to myself is there anything out there but 9.8's. Anyway, I'll stop ranting, don't mean to offend. I'll close with a copy of the stash in response to Hammershipdown. The CGC staging area is below or what around here we affectionately call the corner!

-Spexx-

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