Calamerica

Yes. No re-imbursement, either. I bought a SWEET Silver Surfer # 1 from Harley Yee at the SD Con, sold to me as NM- 9.2/possible NM 9.4. Paid 550, which I still feel was a discounted price, and it had the WHITE pages I am willing to pay a little more than usual for. But I am getting ahead of myself: I had bought the 3-Free Submission Voucher from another great Bordie, Joanna, and I used said Voucher to send in 3 OTHER Norrin Radds. The # 2 had a 1/4" blue strip of color discoloration by the spine, a true printing oddity, and me and my "associates" were offering cases of brew to who had the closest grade. One said VF/NM 9.0, I said NM- 9.2, the other said NM 9.4/possible NM+ 9.6. When it came back VF 8.0 I flipped my lid. Now mind you that Borock had left, and the Haspel Hammer was running things during this time. I called and somehow got Haspel without the usual runaround. He was arrogant, dismissive, and stood by his " there was some sort of discoloration at the price box". That alone knocked this from the NM classes to VF classes. The next shipment in( I used to send in books regularly) had the coveted SS # 1. Came back VF 8.0, WHITE pages. EIGHT-POINT OH??? I could clearly see the ding/blunting on the bottom of the spine. Did not have to crack it out to see this. This time I was on hold forever, and Haspel did not want to talk to me. I persisted, PMed, Posted, etc. Now angry, he takes the call, however, as this was years ago I don't remember word-for-word exactly. Paraphrasing here: CAL(C): " Did you or one of your pre-graders drop this great book?" Haspel( H): " Umm.. uh, accidents happen". C: "And you didn't; have the decency or courtesy to call me and tell me?" H;" We are seven months behind and don't have that sort of, um, time..." C: " I am asking point blank: did you or one of your pre-graders drop this book?" Silence C" "Yes or no?" H: " Probably". C: "Not even a courtesy call or notice. You have my number and email..." Silence. C: " Now what can you do about this now?" H: " I would have to go to xyz, then he has to go to xyz" I had had enough. I hung up, and can't believe now that I did not rail like I usually do. Never spoke to him ever again nor will I ever speak to him ever. I had already slated a few more shipment of Pre-screens( what a rip-off) and other books for Customers of mine, but the die was cast: I would be getting out of the submission business. Then when my Sales Threads kept getting hijacked, other deals nixed by Scott Bono and others, I called Harshen a few times to no avail, they ignore me now and blame ME for the troubles I have had here. So they don't get any more of my business. I also stop steering people their way. Bottom line: Yes, strange things happened to me during my submission days. Lessons learned too well. CAL who does mostly raws now...

I don't know how to tell you this but straight up: I only typed in CAL. That was all.

Search function not as good. I can't jump right on here, type in CAL, and see the blown chunks of derogatory defamation against me as easily. Not enough Thread spaces to see instantly who is where and what is done. Has the looks of a complete downgrade; probably a money-saving move. But the good thing, if this is a good thing: I can easily dominate the "recent post" and get lined up easier in the middle of the night, knowing at least 50 Forumites will get their voodoo dolls out on me the next day CAL who rarely wishes for the "old days" back but in this Board's "contextual change", want the old Interface back...

This is not far off from my Proposed "Membership Fees" that I pushed years ago. They HAD to use real names. this turned the Forumites into Prototype Protestors you see on the news today ! CAL who was ahead of his time then, and still is...

I will fly out and buy the collection on the spot. CAL who has the coin to do so...

I don't get it.I also had a post removed asking about your warning? You've not had three strikes this year,correct? No, I should have screen-shot that post. I thought it was mostly harmless. But like said in that removed post, the Mods are singling me out, I can't call other Boardies "names" while they libel me and my CA State LLC in almost every Thread. You should have seen how they allowed the trashing of my Sales Threads, until I gave up on that. I am about ready to cave in and call it soon, except I have five "deals" pending on the Sales Threads and I need to ensure I get my stuff. I also alluded to quitting instead of getting kicked off, and if zi get kicked off, that puts me in with the lies of Stu, Deathlok, etc. Too much pride for that. That pretty much sums up the post that was removed less than 35 minutes ago. CAL waiting for the other shoe to drop... But were you warned "no more strikes,banned " like you said.I saw the post before it was deleted.Just wondering if you no longer get the four strikes rule? They can ax anyone at anytime for any reason. This Forum belongs to the Collector's Group, and yes, they HAVE iced a few since I joined years ago, no warnings, no Strikes, etc. The Board belongs to them. They can do whatever they want. CAL who DOES know the Basic Rules

When I first picked up a copy and read it, I had just started collecting and assumed it was a self-contained story featuring both characters, but it's a book split into two parts (like TOS and TTA before it) that continues the Iron Man story from TOS #99 and the Sub-Mariner story from TTA #101 (and then which continue into Iron Man #1 and Sub-Mariner #1 respectively). If you haven't read either of those, you'll probably be like I was when I first read it -- wondering what's going on. It's solid early Marvel, but it's an oddity -- a book published almost as a placeholder before each character got their own #1 issues (after Cap and the Hulk took over the numbering of the original titles with their own "#1's"). I've always owned one, though, and as essentially a one-shot title, it's a great book to own. I've always loved the cover too. Great post! My story: Only getting one Dollar per month allowance, no matter how many chores I did, I had too put IMSM back on the shelf, because that One Dollar only allowed 7 comics, with a penny left to put in the bubble gum machine. I vowed that day, I believe it was January 1, 1968 I was 10.5 years old, that I would own every single copy someday. True story. You can't make this stuff up. Especially the buying that made me a TON of enemies, right here on this very Board. If there was an IMSM on eBay/Yahoo!Auctions, you can bet your soul to Satan I bid on it. I wished I had saved those emails where other folks were willing to make me a "deal" or two to let me bid on IMSM. Then I have ONE STORAGE Unit of just IMSM, raws. 33 boxes at the peak. 178 slabbed CGC ones. Several PGX, nd a few "odd-ball companies that went by the wayside. I still have the RP3 VF+ 88( 100 point scale). I sold the other Ace 5.5 for $750.00 like a fool. Ace( Maxie's company) didn't last long, either. I kept the Surfer # 4, it's here somewhere in this mess. CAL who only collected VG 4.0 and up of IMSM.

Yes, unfortunately I rarely keep "reader" copies. I am buying mid-to-uber grades again... CAL who will forever remain the KING of IMSM It certainly beats being the king of Team America #1 I've never read the story, is it good? Team America # 1? Have not a clue. CAL who sticks to the REAL American Comics

I don't get it.I also had a post removed asking about your warning? You've not had three strikes this year,correct? No, I should have screen-shot that post. I thought it was mostly harmless. But like said in that removed post, the Mods are singling me out, I can't call other Boardies "names" while they libel me and my CA State LLC in almost every Thread. You should have seen how they allowed the trashing of my Sales Threads, until I gave up on that. I am about ready to cave in and call it soon, except I have five "deals" pending on the Sales Threads and I need to ensure I get my stuff. I also alluded to quitting instead of getting kicked off, and if zi get kicked off, that puts me in with the lies of Stu, Deathlok, etc. Too much pride for that. That pretty much sums up the post that was removed less than 35 minutes ago. CAL waiting for the other shoe to drop...

My other post was "removed". Wonder what's going on??? CAL who has a clue, but...WHY???

Yes, unfortunately I rarely keep "reader" copies. I am buying mid-to-uber grades again... CAL who will forever remain the KING of IMSM

Yes. The IMSM Double-cover is RARE. Out of the 5,015 I had raw, there are only THREE(3) examples of the RARE double-cover. I still have them, never sold them, and intended to keep them for now. They are not in the highest of uber-grades, but not readers either.. Now if I can jus locate them to take pics and show them... CAL who has another project on the plate... Do you still have 5,015 copies?!?! If you have been following my eBay account, you will find that I have been selling/giveaway( BONUS) around 10 - 12 per month and have for years. We ARE going to do an updated accounting, and this time we are putting it on YouTube. I will try to hire pretty models to "help" me out. I hope you understand that. Also gave many away, just because, and even to a few Charities, like the Boys and Girls club where I live. In real life people love CAL. Online, a different story, far too complicated to explain here and now. CAL who has a history here...

Yes I am! CAL who is everywhere!

Wow. More CAL. Don't have time to sort out who-is-who here, but will another time. CAL who has to find that old "List" in Storage/wherever...

Yes. The IMSM Double-cover is RARE. Out of the 5,015 I had raw, there are only THREE(3) examples of the RARE double-cover. I still have them, never sold them, and intended to keep them for now. They are not in the highest of uber-grades, but not readers either.. Now if I can jus locate them to take pics and show them... CAL who has another project on the plate...

Yes I am! CAL who is everywhere!

There should be a separate CAL Forum. And CAL is the ONLY Moderator! CAL the KING of IMSM

I am back to buying back the IMSM's again. I decided to keep 1,000 on hand at all times. If my financials allow it, I might get back to that 5,000 raw level. Thanks for the reference! CAL who really doesn't need too much publicity due to superior marketing skills...

:sorry:

This Forum used to be so great back in the day. Never will get that back. Too many diverse personalities, too many agendas that don't mix well, too many wanna-be's ruin it for everyone else. CAL who says: sue me.

wow. Abuse in all three Threads. CAL

Used to be a great comic shop in fairfax station in the 1980's... only opened for a year or two, guys were great, seemed like they were ably-funded, but when I went back, they had been gone for months, never to return. CAL

Bought IRON MAN # 2 CGC 8.0 & TALES TO ASTONISH # 89, CGC NM 9.4! Great Seller that is by all evidence great for this Hobby! Good work, Sir! CAL who appreciates honest, hard work!