MisterX

I agree with you, but unfortunately, if someone who wasn't inclined to do their homework googled "Marvel First Appearance Belit" and least four websites come up listing GCC #1, including wiki and marvel fandom. However, Marvel.com lists Conan #58 as the fist app, so there's still hope!

Actually, Belit's 1st appearance is in Giant-Size Conan #1. It's a single-panel cameo (in a flashback) but she's identified as Belit. Her first full appearance is in Conan #58. I wonder which one the speculators/investors will gravitate toward. Belit does appear on the cover of Conan #58, which weighs in its favor, I think.

I'm surprised no one mentioned bronze age Jonah Hex. For years I felt like I was the only person buying them.

Thanks, Buzz!

So, is the Razor Crest going to be a limited piece, or will it eventually come to retail? Or just the Mandalorian figure in the cockpit is coming to retail?

I don't know who Don Markstein is, but I guess he ran a popular website called Toonopedia. Wikipedia sites his article for their claim that OAAW 168 is the 1st app of the Unknown Soldier. However, where Mr. Markstein got his information from is not cited. I used to have Chris Pedrin's Big 5 DC war guide, but I sold it. I wonder now if there's some information in there. Also, I had a Kubert bio that I passed along to a friend, now I wish I had it to double-check. P.S. I also see that Wikipedia cites a book called The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. Anybody here have the Pedrin book of the DC Comics Encylopedia?

Blame Star Spangled War Stories #157. This is a reprint of Our Army at War 168. In the original story, an "unknown soldier" is killed while helping Sgt. Rock and is buried in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. However, in SSWS 157, DC added a few framing pages to the story where they reveal that the solider who was supposedly killed was actually the real Unknown Soldier, who obviously survived the ordeal. I think (can't be totally sure) that CGC used to label SSWS 151 ad the "first solo appearance of the Unknown Soldier." Do they not do that anymore? We used to talk about this in the Bronze War thread, but I don't remember the consensus. I think we have to accept OOAW 168 as the first appearance, though.

I hope so, but I don't have any knowledge of when.

Thanks, MagnusX and Piper! I think Amazon has the wrong information. It looks like Alpha Flight #4 is definitely in Volume 2 It doesn't look like PPSSM #42 isn't in either volume.

Hey, gang -- looking for some help -- There are two printings of the John Byrne Fantastic Four Omnibus 1. The contents don't quite match up between the 1st and 2nd printing when I looked them up on Amazon and Mycomicshop.com. Mycomicshop.com lists the contents of V1, 1st printing as the following: Marvel Team-Up (1972 1st Series) #61-62; Marvel Two-in-One (1974-1983 1st Series) #50; Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) #209-218, 220-221, 232-260, ANNUAL #17; Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) #233; and Thing (1983-1986 1st Series) #2. Amazon lists the contents of V1, 2nsd printing, (I think) as the following: MARVEL TEAMUP (1972) #61-62; MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #50; FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #215-218, #220-221, #232-262 and ANNUAL #17; PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1976) #42; AVENGERS (1963) #233; THING (1983) #2; and ALPHA FLIGHT (1983) #4. I'm guessing not too many folks would own both printings, but would anyone be willing to confirm the contents of the 1st and/or 2nd printings? Thanks!

I decided to skip it this year. The out-of-date market reports didn't really bother me before, and I liked reading them (even Doug's). But now, with Covid, it seems like the guide will be especially irrelevant this year. Is there something really cool in this years' guide I'd be missing out on?

Dig your username.

I read somewhere (Bleeding Cool, maybe) that the names of many characters had to be changed in the new translation because, technically, the names in the British editions are copyrighted.

A publisher called Papercutz got the rights to publish Asterix in the United States. They tout new English translations as a selling point. (I think the only other editions in English are published in Britain by a company called Orion.) That book is their Free Comic Book Day offering. My guess is, it's a complete/partial reprint of "Asterix the Gaul." https://www.freecomicbookday.com/Catalog/JAN200036

I've never heard of InStockTrades before. How damaged are their "Damaged" books? Are we talking just corner dings, or ripped pages or what?

You guys think Marvel will reprint the Captain Britain omibus anytime soon? I noticed the Eternals omnibus is up for a reprint now that the movie is coming out. Any Captain Britain movie or TV rumors that would encourage a reprint?

I wonder what printing of TMNT #1 that is for $175. Probably 2nd?

Okay...well, I'd suggest any 70s Kirby stuff. The first issues/appearances are not cheap anymore thanks to the movie speculators, but most of the rest of the runs are great, affordable books, especially if you're not too concerned about ultra-high grade books. Kirby did books for both Marvel and DC during the Bronze Age. New Gods, Mister Miracle, Demon, Kamandi, Eternals, Devil Dinosaur

You have a great collection of Dominguez covers!

Do you collect slabbed or raw? What's your preferred grade? Are you collecting for fun, or are you hoping to sell later for a profit?

I'm a big Kubert fan, so I really enjoyed his DC run on Tarzan. Never read the Marvel version, although it's on my list to get around to eventually. Anyway, Shad, are you familiar with Back Issue magazine? Your post reminded me that they did a comparisson of both Marvel and DC's Tarzan work, and wrote up an article about it in their very first issue. I dug it out of my magazine box and skimmed it real quick. (The article is by Tom Stewart.) Takeaway Number One: Buscema was not thrilled to be working on Tarzan, unhappy to be measured up against Kubert, Manning, etc. Takeway Number Two: The ERB estate gave Roy Thomas a lot more grief than they did Joe Kubert. Takeaway Number Three: quoting from the author (edited for brevity with <snips>) "What's the difference between the two approaches? <snip> Both Kuber and Roy Thomas believed that the key to Tarzan was to go back to what Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote, and stick close to that. Joe followed as close as he could. His art gave the stories grace and power, just as it did his Tarzan. Marvel's Tarzan was a bit text heavy (like Roy feared) and seems a bit cramped at times, not as clean as Kubert's. Marvel was at a disadvantage, following so close to Joe's run. Roy chose the best way to deal with this: keeping up the momentum established by DC, getting the best of their artists on art, and putting his energy into putting out a good book. John's art is very good, but lacks the passion that Joe brought to the book. I think if Marvel, rather than DC, had picked up the license after Gold Key, their Tarzan would be better remembered today. <snip> All in all a good effort from Marvel, but this time, Dc had the advantage." Hope this helps!

Glad to hear you liked it. I also ordered a copy and look forward to reading it when it arrives!

Rock on, man! 175 is such a great book.

If I were to guess the six you don't yet have...hmm... 175, 179, 195, 236, 256, 290 and I'll throw in 321 as a pinch hitter. How'd I do?

There's a rumor that Dracula and Jack Russell (the Werewolf by Night) may be appearing in the upcoming Moon Knight tv show.