L'Angelo Misterioso

Marvel Mystery Comics had some stinkers for sure, but it had such a good run and was so emblematic of the 1940s. A sample:

On 5/12/2023 at 2:23 PM, Axe Elf said:

I guess if you want your superhero to have boobs, you have to pay a premium.

80% of the value of Phantom Lady #17 right there!

Counted up the pages and everything is there. You learn something new everyday.

Wow I didn't know this was a regular thing. Now I have to go compare my copy of a Marvel Mystery book I have with a scan online. There are two pages in the Angel story where it looks like pages were cut out, and they look exactly like the parts in your WW book. 

Where can I find these well-drawn early DC stories? I have read early (1938-1942) issues of All-Star, Adventure, Batman, and Superman and the art is very, well, of its time.

On 5/11/2023 at 7:20 PM, sfcityduck said:

What decline?  

So many artists peaked in the 1950s.  Maybe the best example is Bill Everett!  But all the famous EC guys (Kurtzman, Frazetta, Williamson, Krigstein, Craig, etc.) were hitting highs in the late 40s and 50s at EC and elsewhere (DC, Atlas, etc.), DC guys also were hitting highs in the late 40s and 50s such as (Toth, Infantino, etc.).  Romance books had incredible art by Baker and Toth others in that time period, PCH had so many interesting artists, War was becoming a genre that mattered, and some of the storytelling innovations used in that time period were literally decades ahead of their time. The SA was a decline in art compared to a lot of what you see in the 50s.

And then there were the Ducks. Barks also hit a high point in the late 40s and 50s.  And he's on the Mt. Rushmore of Comics as a result. Timeless stories that are still inspiring tv shows today.

Superheros never went away.  Aside from DC which was constant, Atlas had new titles and a revival in 50s pre-dating the SA, Quality never stopped, Fawcett would not have stopped but for lawsuits, Harvey, Charlton and lots of cool little publishers also put out superhero books.  For me, the late 40s to mid-50s was a high point for DC, with a lot of really fun superhero stories featuring the big 3 (Superman, Batman & Robin (who was a solo star)), as well as WW, Green Arrow, Robotman, Vigilante, Shining Knight, Wildcat, Aquaman, etc.).

Yea I definitely would push back if anyone said comic book quality declined as the golden age progressed. I interpreted, perhaps incorrectly, the concept of this thread to be about how as golden age series (such as Boy Comics, Daredevil, Marvel Mystery, Submariner Comics) progressed, the covers became less inspired, less evocative, and sometimes just crappy. I've noticed that many of these action series' covers venture into a comedy route; some phase out the title hero entirely from the cover, like Daredevil and Black Cat. But regarding interiors: you've already talked about the Atlas and EC revolution of the early 50s, where interior art and stories were growing much more sophisticated, the industry more diverse, etc. Even in hero books, the art was getting better as the golden age was progressing. I have copies of Marvel Mystery 48 and 83. You can't even compare the interior art quality between the two. I always wonder how this medium would have progressed without anti-comic hysteria and the CCA. The early 50s was truly the "golden age" of comics, in my mind. 

A profound drop in quality over the course of this series.

I thought making one of these would be good for establishing cred, since I'll probably be doing more buying and selling in the future. Thanks in advance for your words, if I did a deal with you. 

On 5/8/2023 at 8:18 PM, fifties said:

Jack Kamen cover.

Did you buy this one directly off the newsstand?

On 5/8/2023 at 8:13 PM, thehumantorch said:

Some collectors stored books by punching holes and putting them in binders.  Some collectors had their books bound into hardcover books which required stitching along the spine and I believe trimming.  Generally long before bags and boards and before condition was really important.  Times have changed    And to give it a grade I'm around 3.0 to 3.5.  I had a USA Comics 14 that was similar but lower grade come back 2.5

And this USA Comics you submitted got a green label, correct?

On 5/8/2023 at 7:54 PM, zzutak said:

Your MMC #83 was part of a set of Timely/Marvel/Atlas file copies that came to market in the 1970s.  Here are a few of its better-preserved siblings (note that all have a similar check mark in the title logo):

I'm not sure your book's condition is nice enough to be eligible for a Qualified Grade.  Is the cover completely detached at the staples, or is only the front cover detached?

So, there's others one like it! Did not realize this was one of many file copies. I think this copy doesn't look as crisp as those Caps because the guy I got it from was always reading his books. It's only the front cover detached. 

Interesting....

On 5/8/2023 at 2:14 PM, LDarkseid1 said:

Just picked up my favorite Baker GGA Cover, All Top #16!

I had never appreciated this cover until now. It's definitely one of the more high quality "jungle girl" covers.

It's highly unlikely that I submit this to CGC, but I thought this book would be an interesting study in what grade a book like this one would receive. Who hole-punches a comic??  Additionally, if I were to sell, is there still strong market value for a hole-punched Timely such as this? You can be honest--I got this book for free and wouldn't be hurt if I were to find out that this book is worthless to potential buyers. Thanks for the help.

On 5/6/2023 at 10:21 PM, Muno42 said:

 

 

 

 

 

I will take these.

On 5/6/2023 at 10:43 AM, Djohnson321 said:

I didn't know Drew but I do recognize his pink panther avatar, and from what others have said, sounds like he was a great boardie.  

 

$75 for both books below.  All proceeds to the Drew family, shipping on me for U.S. or Canada 

 

Uncanny X-Men 104 Newsstand 1st App. Starjammers

VF- good cover gloss, spine stress

Uncanny X-Men 107 Newsstand 1st Full Starjammers

VG decent cover gloss, spine stress

On 5/5/2023 at 11:26 PM, Black Bat said:

Yeah as soon as she picked the 1949 issue of the walking dead as #1, I knew she was a poser.  

 

Yep ChatGPT's output can be funky sometimes. I asked it a question about the comics discussed in Seduction of the Innocent, and the output read that Judge Dredd was discussed extensively in the book (???)

On 5/5/2023 at 11:57 PM, southern cross said:

Wow I love these All-New covers! I'm eager to get my hands on a copy, but these seem to go for Timely prices...

[Not my copy]

Is this a Timely series? Schomburg did several of the covers. Very nice covers.

On 5/5/2023 at 3:32 PM, whomerjay said:

take

On 5/5/2023 at 1:29 PM, jaybuck43 said: