sfcityduck

Sold! I will pm you to get details. You guys get up too early! I am on west coast time so will take a bit before I get back to you.

Sold! I will pm you on the details.

It's yours. PM me so we can nail down details (address, etc.).

SOLD! A bit of GGA coming up. First, a no. 1 pulp. Planet Stories # 1 (UK Pemberton 1948) - $75. Offers will be entertained. SOLD! I like this pulp because it is about the same size as a GSX 1 and basically the same structure. I don't see any on the census, but I thik this should be able to be pressed and slabbed. That makes this a more appealing pulp in the long run than a lot of others. And it is a great example of late 40s GGA (and a great leaping off point to collect this title). You can find this title around, but I do not see No. 1s often at all.Condition?: I don't grade pulps. I'd call this midgrade with white pages and bright color. It would benefit from a press and clean if possible. Main flaw is a bump and chip to the bottom of the spine. See the pics.

Marvel is exactly what you are calling the "diversity agenda." Creating female, minority (ethnic and religious), and gay characters and telling stories about them. You missed Stan's point. His point is you do change your stories to keep up with society. You want to freeze them in a past you liked. Stan was ok with all the diversity at Marvel. You're upset by it. 'nuff said.

We can all watch the video, and form our own opinions. A bit over 10 minutes in, it gets weird for several minutes. A lot of complaints about ethnicities, gender, orientation and not just for Eternals. Not complaints about storytelling.

Marvel, as Stan Lee said in the video I posted up thread has from its outset chosen the following: "Marvel has always been and always will be a reflection of the world right outside our window. That world may change and evolve, but the one thing that will never change is the way we tell our stories of heroism. Those stories have room for everyone, regardless of their race, gender or color of their skin. The only things we don’t have room for are hatred, intolerance and bigotry.” So, Marvel has given us sermon's against racism in the early 60s from Sgt. Nick Fury (long before he was played by a black man - which I guess upsets you): Starting in the 1960s, we also got minority heroes, some new (Black Panther) and others derivative of existing heroes (Black Goliath). We got strong minority characters (Robbie Robertson). And that only increased in the 1970s with more and more minority characters (Sun Fire, Storm, etc.). Also more women superheroes, both derivative (Valkyrie, She-Hulk and Ms. Marvel) and new concepts. And by the 1990s we were getting openly gay characters (Northstar but hinted at earlier). All, I presume, before whatever sandwich thing you are complaining about happened. Why? Because Marvel Comics reflect reality and diversity is reality. So Marvel gives us diverse characters. Not an agenda, a reality. Not a sandwich, a mirror. So are you saying that Marvel Comics is the sandwich? Who gave them the international loans?

SOLD! For my anti-Communist comic book collecting friends! This is a package deal. Offers entertained. Double Talk (1962 Christian Anti-Communism Crusade) promotional sample variant comic book! Only 6 copies on census (7.0, 5.5, 4.0, 3.5, 2.5, 2.0) and that is of all variations. Not sure how they break down by variant. Christian Anti-Communism Crusade News Letter (June 1962) with ad/article for "Double Talk"! As a package: $75 SOLD! The comic is in G- condition with cream paper quality, pieces missing top front cover and spine, some brittleness, and a 1/2 inch rip through back cover and all pages. While this is the rare promo version, I view it as a placeholder, reading, or reference copy - hence the cheap price. The News Letter is a solid F/VF or better. It is loose leaf (no staples or other binding) with white pages. Frankly, this is the more intriguing part of the package. This is a great set to get if you already have a CGC'd copy of the comic or to be a reading copy once you find a better copy to CGC. (HINT: Heritage is auctioning off a nice copy on 4/18 that to my eyes could become the second highest. It will go well well above Heritage's estimated value.). This is your chance to get a reading/reference copy and the ad, which with the Heritage copy (submitted to CGC) would be a great grouping for a very rare SA anti-Communist comic book.

You've lost me again. What do you mean by "diversity"? The reality is we live in a diverse society. Less than 58% of our country identify as "white." More than 50% of our country are women. Over 25% of our country say they are not Christians. Over 1 in 20 Americans self-identify as LGBT. That is diversity. What do you mean by this sandwich thing? Diversity is a fact, not an opinion.

Wrong. You literally just posted a conspiracy theory that there is a "top down agenda, mandated by certain interested parties via international lending requirements, or in the form of grants to universities coming with 'your' ideology." You are probably wise to refuse to answer my questions because I suspect this has nothing to do with the MCU but is pure politics. But I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt if you want to plainly state whatever it is you are insinuating and try to bring this back onto the question of whether the MCU has been destroyed by only having four of the top 10 grossing movies of 2022.

How long will it take you to quickly ascertain your standpoint on the answers to my questions about your conspiracy theory?

I don't identify pronouns. As a lawyer who litigates contract disputes, I'm a big fan of accurate grammar. If I did, they would be he/him.

I'm sorry, but I'm not up on the latest conspiracy theories you are referencing. Who are the "certain interested parties"? What international lending requirements? Grants by whom to what universities? What "ideology" are you even attacking? If you can string a couple of sentences together that actually plainly state whatever it is you are trying to insinuate, I'd be more than happy to let you know what my community, my family, and the majority of America actually believes about whatever your conspiracy theory is. I'm not going to hold my breath that you will do so or that this has anything at all to do with the MCU.

Rolling Stone weighs in: Brie Larson’s ‘The Marvels’ Already Has MCU Fanboys in Their Feelings – Rolling Stone

STILL AVAILABLE! For the advanced Milt Caniff collector (Dickie Dare/Terry & The Pirates/Male Call/Steve Canyon fame): The Makio of 1928 - $125. This book is packed with pre-professional illustrations by the master and they are beautiful! This copy includes the rare Caniff illustrated tipped in bookplate. Very scarce in this condition- solid covers - generally ow/w pages but some with a bit of foxing on some pages. Some wear but overall a very nice book. The paper varies from matte to slick throughout the book. Very interesting piece because it shows that Dickie Dare was a crude example of his art. When he wasn't rushed his art was not far off the heights he achieved with Noel Sickles even this early. This is a sampling:

Marvel movies, whether Marvel or Sony or Disney, have always received criticism for their writing - some of it very justified, with all Hulk and FF movies particularly bad in my opinion. The MCU has the same problem as Marvel Comics. Superhero stories are formulaic and get repetitive, and the obvious solution of moving the characters forward in life causes fan discomfort and leads to reboots, retcons, restarts, and reversible deaths/marriages. It is not an easy task to keep a cinematic universe going and no one has done it as well as Marvel. But it is bound to have hiccups and probably destined to collapse. Probably no mystery that very short tv series like Agent Carter and WandaVision are a better watch than long series like Agents of Shield that eventually get lost in the desert. Far easier to have a beginning, middle and end, than a beginning with no end in sight. Which is why I think Iger is right you have to shift to new characters to keep things fresh.

Everyone, please send offers via PM. Thanks!

I love the Expanse books. The tv series did not hook me. I'm convinced the best writing on tv is a Disney property - Star Wars: Andor. The final episode was utterly brilliant. There's an extended sequence (18 or so minutes maybe longer), a funeral basically, with very minimal dialogue. Almost all character emotions are conveyed non-verbally and some of those emotions are very intense. You know the writing is brilliant when the writers feel no need to write dialogue. First three episodes are ok, next three are fun, following arc has great acting by Andy Serkis, and the finale is jaw dropping. Highly recommended. And, yes, it features many strong female characters including a lesbian couple. The theme is how the rebellion against the Empire started. I'm not going to put up Mandalorian, Obi Wan, Boba Fett, or other fan service tv series to Andor when it comes to writing. It is not even a contest. Same thing with fan service tv like Hawkeye. But, I might put up Loki and WandaVision in a place near Andor because those were super innovative and creative shows. Better than many shows in the same genre and audience targets. I agree that all phases of the MCU movies (and the Sony movies) have had their weaknesses. Some of them I just have not been motivated to watch based on what I saw of them. So I'm not surprised by bad writing in the later phases - I tend to expect it. But I don't go to an MCU movie expecting a sublime plot and writing. They are comic book movies in the truest sense of the term. I am looking for escapist entertainment and they almost always deliver that in varying degrees of acceptable quality.

SOLD! First book is nothing out of the ordinary. Just a solid book to own. Offers will be considered but first firm buyer gets the book. Giant-Size X-Men 1 CGC 6.0 off-white to white - $2,200 or best offer: SOLD!

UPDATES COMING: Sorry, got hit by the press of business and never finished my Spring cleaning. I'm back! Rules: First “I’ll Take it” in the thread wins the book. Offers entertained, but first firm take gets books. SEND OFFERS BY PM. No prob or HOS PAYMENT: Zelle, Personal Check, or Money Order strongly preferred. Checks and Money Orders have to clear and be verified by bank before shipping. I will consider other payment methods but reserve right to refuse usage. SHIPPING: Will ship UPS. Shipping will be $15 plus the amount you want to insure it for. USA only. Will consider other shipping options at actual cost. No returns on graded books unless damaged during shipping. This will be a bit of a slow roll out so check back.

The answer to your first question is a clear "Yes." For example, drotto posted: The answer to your second question is "Depends." The video that starts this thread is outright bigoted against gays, asians, women, etc. The fact that anyone would post that or endorse it is telling that politics are a big issue with those criticizing the MCU as being an M-SHE-U. For some, its not writing at all. It's just politics. For others, maybe drotto is an example, they seem very conflicted. Drotto talks about bad writing, but only for the female centered movies. His solution is not better written female centered movies -- it is LESS female centered movies. Make of that what you will. I think he probably would become a convert to female centered movies if they were more like the Miles Morales movie (which truly was a well-written and entertaining film). But the MCU live action movies are stuck in a rut, whether male or female centered, and so they all come across a bit stale (not surprising given how many MCU movies we've had - I stopped being excited about Avengers movies at some point because they really started to suck). So he blames the female centering more than the writing. Again, I think he could be a convert to female centered movies, but right now he just wants less of them. Too bad he apparently has not seen Loki and WandaVision because they show us how entertaining new creative approaches can be. Drotto does not talk about those.

This whole thread is about ideology. Did you watch the video that started it? But I'm debating facts. Not feelings. Facts. And there are no facts that movies centered on female characters are destroying the MCU for the simple reason that the facts are that Marvel movies were four of the top 10 highest grossing movies last year. That's two more in the top 10 than any other property or studio. That fact alone destroys the case. So what we get are more and more fanciful opinions tossed around in an attempt to justify an ideological view put out by a crazy youtuber. Meanwhile, the actual history and values of Marvel seem to have been forgotten. As for my ideology, I'm with Stan Lee. This is a better video than the one that starts this thread: In it, Stan Lee states: "Marvel has always been and always will be a reflection of the world right outside our window. That world may change and evolve, but the one thing that will never change is the way we tell our stories of heroism. Those stories have room for everyone, regardless of their race, gender or color of their skin. The only things we don’t have room for are hatred, intolerance and bigotry.”

True I said that. But my sanity is safe. I suppose others might suffer less cognitive dissonance if I left. And I would be happy to do so, but some things deserve a response.

Here's the thing: Whenever I hear someone say "many believe X" or "many say X" without any supporting evidence I am skeptical. It's what certain politicians say when they are making things up. It might work in a speech, but it doesn't work when folks can challenge your assertion and ask for evidence. Here's what I find particularly unbelievable: You assert that "the inclusion of some of those leanings making it into the product, match up with the downward trends that the MCU is currently seeing." Setting aside whether there is even a correlation, the notion that Marvel would lose popularity because of espousing civil rights for all is empiracly wrong. Since almost the start of the Marvel Universe the comics have consistently pushed liberal/progressive values on civil rights and rejected those opposed to civil rights for all. Women superheroes were there from the start. X-Men was a civil rights allegory. Sgt. Fury took on racism head on in the early 60s. Robbie Robertson, Black Panther, Black Goliath, etc. were all strong minority characters intended to push civil rights. Stan Lee was unapologetic and an activist on these topics. That didn't hurt Marvel in the 1960s or later. This never slowed up. Gay rights were tackled by the 1980s. Marvel did not lose popularity for taking these stances. These movies are in keeping with Marvel's core values. They aren't a departure from them. There's a reason that Marvel is popular and Spire Christian Comics lasted only a few years. So, "no," your correlation doesn't resonate with me at all. It's not evidenced. And the evidence is to the contrary. The "many" (really a few) are wrong.

If Iger fired because he thought she was personally disloyal, there's nothing wrong with that. The notion that Iger would fire her because he was uncomfortable with her views on gay rights is, frankly, unbelievable. Not only would Disney be hyper-sensitive to that improper motivation, but Iger has been very vocal in his support of gay rights and is going to war in Florida on that point. So you have lost me on the Disney fired her because of her "activism" argument. There's no evidence other than an attorney's statements which look pretty careful and soft to me.