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comicparadox

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Posts posted by comicparadox

    advice for new collectors

    in Comic Polls & FAQs

    Posted

    For those just starting in comics collecting, might I suggest a "primer" on the history of comics? There are several superb books, but for superhero books I'd suggest Jim Steranko's two-volume "History of Comics". It is occasionally found in the "oversize" bins at comic shops, and is almost always available on eBay for less than $25.

    Marvel and DC have both published compilations of early titles, and Marvel has printed inexpensive (albeit frustratingly bulky) black and white compilations as well. Gladstone and Russ Cochran, as well as the sainted Alan Light, have published great reprint books of Disney and EC titles.

    Don Thompson and Lupoff's "All in Color for a Dime" has just come out in a new edition, but either the hardback or paperback original edition can be found in used bookstores and/or online.

    For the Mad comic/magazine collector, or the EC collector, Maria Reidelbach's book, "Completely Mad" is a great resource. Bud Plant has probably the best comics-related website. For a ridiculously expensive history, consider Grant Geissman's "Collectibly Mad" at http://www.budplant.com/prod.itml/icOid/6579

     

    Well, it's midnight and I've geeked out again.

     

    By the way, for anyone who cares, I bought nearly five thousand dollars of comics from "Comic-Keys" (aka Richard Koos, MD; aka Danny Dupcak) about 2 years ago in one fell swoop. I transacted the deal privately, so I don't have the ability to have posted negative feedback on eBay. I would have done so if that option were available. What I can now say publicly is this: All the comics had been worked on in some fashion. I emailed my concerns to "Comic-Keys", sent the books back registered and insured by US Mail, and got nearly all my money back. Some of the "restoration" was well done, some of it was poorly done, but all of it was "done". If anyone truly cares about the details, you can email me at comicparadox@aol.com. There is a huge string elsewhere on the CGC comics posting site about "Dr." Koos. He's not a medical doctor as he purports, though he claims to be a surgeon. (At least that was his claim to me). He must have an unusual sense of morality, because I later saw most of these books up on eBay - a couple he even admitted had "minor restoration". If the degree of restoration on those books is "minor", then I have a 1964 Ford Falcon Futura chassis with Shelby Cobra 500 sheetmetal that has only "'minor" restoration.

     

    But I digress. It's deceitful individuals like this who have made CGC such a success. Even though many have and will argue with the subjectivity of any grading system, at least CGC is fairly consistent. I'm not saying that CGC grading is ideal, but it is at least 3rd party opinion.

     

    If anyone has actually read this far, raise your hand if you've ever resubmitted a CGC Universal 8.5 book and had it come back either Universal 9.0 or Universal 9.2. Wow, a surprising number of hands went up in the back of the cyberroom. Makes you wonder a bit about the actual census numbers, doesn't it...

     

    To anyone who reads this missive, I can only ask that you be careful in purchasing books from "Comic-Keys". To this individual's credit, I must reiterate that he DID refund the vast majority of the money I spent on the Frankenbooks. There, I've had my say. Know your comics history, and all hail Jerry Bails.