Part XVI - 3 Classic First Issues!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, I hope you are enjoying the holidays with family and friends. On this fine November Day I've brought you three classic first issues from three different decades. Each book stirs great fascination with me, both old and new.

The first is Y: The Last Man 1 CGC 9.8 (2002) which was recently purchased and happens to be my all time favorite read! Written by Brian K. Vaughan, this was suggested by a new comic friend when I was starting out a couple of years ago. (Along with his other titles, Ex Machina and the Runaways) If you have never read this, I promise you won't be disappointed!

Next is V For Vendetta 1 CGC 9.8 (1988) which I also recently acquired. I had initially put together a really nice raw set of issues 1 through 10, but sold it after finding myself perusing the CGC copies online. I ended up buying a second set of raw books, selling those and finally starting a nice high grade CGC collection. I'm committed this time and it is my all time favorite comic book film. (And one I saw before ever reading) I still think I prefer the film to the book, but that may just be nostalgia because I saw it first. Regardless, both are excellent!

And finally... an interesting tale on the oldest book pictured, Heroes, Inc. Presents Cannon CGC 9.8 (1969) White Pages - As it happens, yesterday I was doing a little research on the Guardians of the Galaxy Variants for issues 5, 6 and 7 done by Paolo Rivera. They are an homage to some of the classic science fictions covers of decades long gone. I wanted to know more about who or what these books were a tribute too, so I continued my search and found a few lists chatting about EC Comics and some of the creators, like Wally Wood. After reading his wiki page and a few bio's about his life and work, I made a short list of covers he did that I really liked!

So, last night I needed to get out of the house, give my wife a little space and decided to brave the traffic (which wasn't that bad) and go hit Frank and Son's. It's a comic, cards, toys swap meet of sorts that happens twice a week. (Be sure to hit me up for a list of the best comic spots in Southern California, if you're ever heading this way... I have been to them all...)

I ended up spending 2 hours digging through vendors boxes, staring at walls of comics and when it felt like my back had had enough, I made one last stop at a mother and son run booth, where I have purchased from before.

The comics are all bagged and boarded with 3 or 4 boards, this kid is serious about condition, which I love, and he under grades. Nice! They are both super friendly and when the mother said everything in the boxes are 50 cents, I found my back was ready for more. I pulled a few, put them back, it was getting close to closing time, so I did a slow once over the comics on the wall. "Are those all 1st prints?" I asked, staring at an entire set of NM Akira books. "Yes, the 1st issue is 30 dollars and 38 is 150." I had no real idea of the value on 38, the last book appears to be a tough find in NM shape, but all of these books were perfect, NM plus or better... I finally looked over at the son's side of the booth and noticed a few CGC books up on the top rack, one of which is the Heroes, Inc. book you see. I thought, hey, that looks like one of the Wally Wood covers I just put on my list. and it's only 65 bucks! I bought it, brought it home and starting researching....

As it turns out, this is one of Mr. Woods first independent publications which was suppose to be distributed through military PX's but only a small number ever hit the streets until 2005, where 70,000 unreleased copies hit the auction block. You can check it out on the Heritage site, there's even more detail about this lot.

I just found it so odd, and strangely fun, how a book could go un-distributed for 36 years. I wonder what other books have found a similar fate? Anyone know?!?!

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