Neo "The One"

On 3/9/2024 at 2:48 PM, Mr. Zipper said:

I believe this is being interpreted incorrectly. Under assets of the business, he lists $2,000 in comic books. That would not be customer books because they are not an asset of the business. He doesn't own them. He was probably including his personal books as an asset of the business. 

What's truly puzzling is that he does list assets of the business as: 

Hero Restorations, LLC
Assets: Total $3063

• Umpqua Business bank account $113
• 5 presses: $150 x 5 = $750
• computer $200
• comic books $2000

At the time (summer 2020), turnaround times for pressing were 6 - 8 months. Business was coming in faster than it could be handled, yet there is $113 in the bank? FIVE presses is all he had? In his personal checking account he had ONE dollar? 

None of this adds up or passes any smell test. 

Thanks for the clarification!  

On 3/9/2024 at 11:23 AM, B2D327 said:

At the very least, Comic Tom can do a current video acknowledging the fiasco with HR as I'm sure not everyone who saw the original videos is aware of what's happened as well as any new viewers that may see the old ones and seek Mike's services only to get burned too.

Yeah. That was me. I saw the CT101 videos and decided I’d get my book pressed. Emailed HR several times for the status saw he was running late had health issue lost livestock in a horrible dog event (note sarcasm) and then was like wtf is going on here?! I periodically checked the boards but wasn’t following closely enough. 

On 3/9/2024 at 8:32 AM, Stefan_W said:

I am the one who brought it up, and the only reason I did so was because I had a faint memory of Comic Tom endorsing HR in his videos. So I guess I am to blame for this direction in the discussion, but it was not done with malice or any intent to vilify Tom. 

When someone pointed out that those videos are still up and accessible it did make me scratch my head. Given all that happened since then I would think Tom would, at the very least, take those videos down. 

Agreed. I’m sure Tom was harmed in this whole mess as well. At least hearing about how many people were burned by Mike I have no doubt Tom is in that boat too. If this gets big as in a class action I hope he’d be an ally. I did not review all of the videos, but I’d imagine there is something in there that probably incriminates Mike and perhaps at a minimum proves he had a lot more in customer merchandise than $2000 and continued or even ramped up taking money and expensive comics post bankruptcy. I mean my book alone was worth $3000 when I sent it in back in to Ht back in October 2022. 

On 3/9/2024 at 7:07 AM, Sigur Ros said:

So you're saying some guy on YouTube should have known the private financials of Hero Restoration?

And if Tom was wanting books back you really think it was in his best interest to blast Mike on YouTube?

Yeah, no.

We’ll wait. No. I’m saying that there was a relationship between the business dealings of CT101 and HR. I’m sure when that ended there was a why? At the end. Finding out that HR went out of business for shady dealings should have prompted CT101 and others to “get the word out” as they often do in comic scandals. Since CT101 was so close to this I think it would have been more responsible if they took down the videos at a minimum. Tom may be “just some guy” on YouTube but CT101 is a business. 

On 3/8/2024 at 7:28 PM, Sigur Ros said:

I'm sure their was some return for Tom by endorsing him, of course.  Probably a sponsorship or services.

Not sure why anyone here would want to vilify Tom.  HR was a good, reputable business way back then.

I don’t think anyone said anything bad about Tom to vilify him. It’s just observational.  But looking back now I’m not sure if HR was ever reputable. If he (Mike) went bankrupt in 2020 and claimed he had no customer merchandise or less than $2000 worth, strange things have been going on with Mike that pre-date these endorsements. Also knowing what we know now they should be taken down. And really I agree with others, if CT did all of these videos highlighting his work it would have been nice to inform the community when things imploded with Mike and HR. Who knows Tom may have been screwed over by Mike as well. I hear the NJ employees of HR were. 

Gents - sorry if the video of Mike is triggering some of you.  You can include me in that boat.

On 3/8/2024 at 6:42 PM, Buzzetta said:

I just ripped it and saved a copy. 

Anything else you want?  Post the video.  I will rip.  I will make it available in a google drive or send via WeTransfer.

On 3/8/2024 at 6:49 PM, GaryHanson said:

Great - let me do some digging! and Thanks!!!

On 3/8/2024 at 6:42 PM, Buzzetta said:

I just ripped it and saved a copy. 

Anything else you want?  Post the video.  I will rip.  I will make it available in a google drive or send via WeTransfer.

Great - let me do some digging! and Thanks!!!

On 3/8/2024 at 5:42 PM, Mr. Zipper said:

Comic Tom also tagged HR in many of his Instagram posts, which still exist. So much so that it makes me wonder if there was some sort of endorsement deal. 

I've been wondering that as well. I mean IMO Mike worked these boards to get the word out about his work and build his business.  I'd not be surprised if he solicited CT101 to do these interviews to drum up more business for him as well.  Or as you susccintly put it, "Endorsement Deal".   

On 3/8/2024 at 5:08 PM, Stefan_W said:

I thought as much but wasn't sure. 

To be completely honest, I was so sure that those videos would have been deleted that I did not even bother searching. Given what happened I would think it was prudent to rip those down to avoid leading anyone else to try to send their books to that guy. 

I mean the website (HR) is down so...

On 3/8/2024 at 5:08 PM, Stefan_W said:

I thought as much but wasn't sure. 

To be completely honest, I was so sure that those videos would have been deleted that I did not even bother searching. Given what happened I would think it was prudent to rip those down to avoid leading anyone else to try to send their books to that guy. 

I'd like to archive them before that happens.  At least some people (like me) sent books to Mike because of this endorsement and those videos.

On 3/8/2024 at 4:37 PM, Stefan_W said:

I don't have any skin in this but I feel awful for those who do. 

Quick question since I have not been following this thread - this discussion triggered a memory of a video that Comic Tom did a while back, but I am not sure if I am mis-remembering. Is my memory right that he endorsed Hero Restoration and did some videos that promoted great results from using HR?

That is what actually convinced me to send my Book to HR.  I didn't follow these boards, but I watched Comic Tom religiously during the Covid years.

On 3/8/2024 at 4:37 PM, Stefan_W said:

I don't have any skin in this but I feel awful for those who do. 

Quick question since I have not been following this thread - this discussion triggered a memory of a video that Comic Tom did a while back, but I am not sure if I am mis-remembering. Is my memory right that he endorsed Hero Restoration and did some videos that promoted great results from using HR?

Funny you should mention that.  He 100% did.  Some of those videos are still around to this day.  If someone could archive these, I'd be most grateful.  

OMG this rabbit hole... Skip to 6:28 if you so desire.

So I was just browsing through the old locked post after googling the old NJ office and a link to it came up.  I saw this.  And here we are... At least it was not deleted.

On 3/8/2024 at 2:57 PM, Mr. Zipper said:

The guy who was running the NJ office was all over the Instagram, which is now deleted. I distinctly recall something on the HR site that indicated C&P books went to NJ and other work went to Mike in Oregon. 

Then, there was a some sort of dustup on some FB groups about books coming back to a client that appeared as if they were never cleaned and pressed. The guy from the NJ office disputed this and online drama ensued. I believe it was not too long after that the NJ office closed without explanation. I believe this was in 2022.

In retrospect, I suspect that was a canary in the coal mine. 

Makes sense.  I'm in NY and sent the book to NJ for C&P, all of a sudden it was re-routed to Orgeon. That was October 2022.  BTW  I do love the Police... 

On 3/8/2024 at 2:07 PM, BlowUpTheMoon said:

Non-compete is very different from non-disclosure. 

Yeah - I said don't quote me.  I mean logically since HR is done it shouldn't be binding at this point anyway.  I DM'd Mr Zipper what I know.  

On 3/8/2024 at 1:58 PM, Sigur Ros said:

I'm sure people horsing around under multiple accounts is definitely helping those who lost.....

Yeah - that was not the smartest way to put that. "And I'll say it again,  for those of you who think this is a game, stay out of the thread and move on.  Your childish, snarky comments don't help those out who lost huge books and a lot of money. "

On 3/8/2024 at 1:35 PM, GaryHanson said:

So this is where everything gets confusing.  Others had DM'd me the exact opposite, report to Oregon PD as soon as possible.  They seemed to come from a Law enforcement background.  What I have done was fill out this - https://justice.oregon.gov/consumercomplaints/ And again I was advised that this was not necessarily the best move, and not to involve too many organizations, as they may pass the buck.  So where I'm at is to question - is a $3000 book worth the lawyer fees?  Or if we somehow put all of these claims together does it make more sense.  And yeah, I'm not a lawyer, and I don't play one on Televsion, so I really have no idea...

Quoting myself.  What is good is that IF your books were sold on ebay (as apparent in my case).  There is a form to fill out, but they are asking law enforcement to do it with a case number.  So even though I do agree the lawyer is a good idea (although probably not cost effective), I think I'm going that route.  Please everyone - take some action.  It has to be better than nothing.  And honestly ebay was probably the worst place to sell stolen books.  What about other markets - Craigslist, Facebook etc.  He may currently be selling stolen books elsewhere.  

On 3/8/2024 at 1:05 PM, Qalyar said:

Attorney. First.

Do not go on record with the police until you have sat down with your counsel and determined what the appropriate actions are here. Just because you are the victim here does not mean the cops are on your side; they are not. They are on their side. For example, while I do think it's likely that some of you are victims of actual, legal theft -- especially anyone who had their books sold by Mike -- you are not competent to understand the legal implications. If you're filing a police report, you will be asked for basic details of the crime, such as the date that it occurred. Is that the date you sent your books to Mike (obviously not). Is it the date he listed them for sale? The date the transaction completed? The date he actually transferred them to the third-party buyer? Filing a police report in which you get the details wrong may limit your legal options later. Also, frankly, this is a confusing, expansive case that's probably in a different jurisdiction and that involves property the cops probably don't care about; they are not going to do anything helpful on their own.

Get. A. Lawyer. They will advise you what official actions you need to take, and when.

Potentially, very much yes.

So this is where everything gets confusing.  Others had DM'd me the exact opposite, report to Oregon PD as soon as possible.  They seemed to come from a Law enforcement background.  What I have done was fill out this - https://justice.oregon.gov/consumercomplaints/ And again I was advised that this was not necessarily the best move, and not to involve too many organizations, as they may pass the buck.  So where I'm at is to question - is a $3000 book worth the lawyer fees?  Or if we somehow put all of these claims together does it make more sense.  And yeah, I'm not a lawyer, and I don't play one on Televsion, so I really have no idea...

On 3/8/2024 at 1:05 PM, Mr. Zipper said:

The 2020 bankruptcy is puzzling. At that time, pressing submissions were taking many months due to massive demand, prices went up and he opened a new office in NJ to handle C&P. If I recall, the Oregon office was focusing on restoration work. In short, money should have been pouring over the transom in mid-2020. 

Has anyone contacted former employees? I can't recall the name of the guy who ran the NJ pressing office, but he was active on social media. Is it possible there are books somewhere in NJ? 

Hey - so I have a contact (no not Flake / Cantina) that says he's spoken to someone at the NJ office, but he had to sign a non-compete (the former employee).  Since HR is in effect defunct, maybe this no longer applies. And again, this is all second hand, so don't quote me. Let me see what I can do digging up that name or contact info.   Also, for the record, I originally sent my ASM 129 for a CP to the NJ office in October '22, but it was re-routed to Orgeon after it arrived there with no explaination. (Per the tracking updates I recieved). Maybe they had a mail forward order in with the Post Office at that time?   

On 3/8/2024 at 11:29 AM, mattn792 said:

It might be worth paying the few bucks for PACER access.  Depending on the case status and what he put in his original petition, he may have committed, and may still be committing bankruptcy fraud.

—if it is the same Mike.

I mean if these fees are right, and nothing 'hidden' I think it may be  worth it. 

On 3/8/2024 at 11:29 AM, mattn792 said:

It might be worth paying the few bucks for PACER access.  Depending on the case status and what he put in his original petition, he may have committed, and may still be committing bankruptcy fraud.

—if it is the same Mike.

Good point, but definitely a BIG coincidence there with the name if its not.

On 3/8/2024 at 11:03 AM, jimjum12 said:

Also, possibly from eating live chickens without plucking them first. GOD BLESS ...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

 

Live chickens... I mean, in some small way this board give me joy... lmao