BitterOldMan

Mike, Go to SDCC, even if it were for one day. You will not regret it and have many happy memories plus sore feet. I last went in 2014 and the prior 24 years, but was no longer enjoying myself. I can always get a ticket, since I know enough vendors, but don't like paying the nosebleed hotel prices. As a attendee, it cost me $4k before I even walked in the door (tickets, hotel, my friend's flight). I helped my vendor friend set up Tuesday. My vendor friend got vendor passes for me and a close friend, so that we could avoid the long lines. My vendor friend also got me a vendor hotel room at the Marriott next door, but I had to pay for six days of accommodations. I said that once I was no longer enjoying myself, I would not attend. I did attend Terry's show, NYCC, and OAFCON last year, but had to skip Wizard Chicago, since it was Mom's birthday.

John Barrett is the name you were trying to remember. Bud spent all his time at the San Jose store. Bud used to have half an aisle both sides at SDCC.

Hal Foster's Prince Valiant

From gcd, Part of a convoluted double series: Sherry the Showgirl #1 to #3 (July 1956 to December 1956); Showgirls #4 (February 1957); Sherry the Showgirl #5 to #7 (April 1957 to August 1957); Showgirls #1 and #2 (June 1957 and August 1957).

I apologize to any boardies that I outbid on Monday. Just got this today. Ratty copy, but this is my ratty copy.

GAtor, Saw this comic book in Previews and thought of you.

Peter Panda 5! John was a true gentleman, who was full of positive energy and optimism. He still had same passion and enthusiasm for comics that he had as a little kid. We will sorely miss him.

From ComicLink In Remembrance of John Verzyl John Verzyl with Mark Haspel, Steve Borock, and his All-American #16 Mile High It is with both deep sadness and fond remembrance that I compose this email about one of the giants in our hobby, suddenly lost to us over the past weekend. It is shocking news to us all, and coming to terms with it is very difficult. How can it be that this man who had one of the strongest life forces we've ever experienced, is now gone, just like that? I am sorry if you knew John and this is the way you are finding out about this loss. It is painful, and many of us are grieving for John, for his family and for ourselves because we will miss him dearly. John was a very big man in many ways. He had a BIG personality, a big mind, a big heart, and a big smile. His passion for this hobby--and especially high-grade pedigree comic books (particularly Edgar Church/Mile High examples and Timelys) was second to none. His knowledge was deep, he was eager to share it and this generosity was cherished by many. We all respected John for what he accomplished within the hobby but he was also a wonderful person to be around. He was a dynamic, powerful force of positive energy--always smiling, always curious (though he already knew as much or more than anyone else), and always interested in other people and in drawing us in to chat for hours--even at the most inopportune times. His stories were hysterical. What I will remember the most is the sparkle in his eyes, his smile, his unique voice, his sense of humor, and his boundless energy. I've reached out to a number of John's close friends in the hobby, and you may find the below words they have to say about John meaningful. May we all leave behind such positive remembrances. Make time for your friends, Josh Nathanson Mark Haspel: One of my very best friends, John Verzyl, passed away Friday night. John was the most generous person I have ever known. He treated everyone with kindness and compassion. He always made each person he talked to feel special. There were so many private acts of kindness he did for so many. Things he never wanted anyone to know about. He did these things to help out people in need with no thought of reward or recognition. He did it because he was blessed in his life and felt it his moral duty to help others in his community and beyond. He has inspired me and countless others. I am a better person for having known him. He was one of the biggest and most well known comic book collectors in the world. His comic book knowledge was unsurpassed. He didn't just have most every cover committed to memory. He could also remember a comic book he saw over 30 years ago with uncanny detail. I've witnessed this hundreds of times. It was supernatural. Genius does not even begin to describe him. Most of the comics pictured in the 1989 Photo Journal were his copies. The comic book collecting hobby has lost one of its greats. Over the years, I have grown to call his family, my family. I have visited them in their home, spent vacations with them at Disney World with their children. John was a big part of my life. Spending time with John was something I always looked forward to. I can't believe that my daughter is going to miss out on going to Disney with John. On top of all this, he was the funniest person on earth. We could make each other laugh for hours, in person, at dinner, over the phone, wherever. We had so many memories together I will treasure forever. John, I love you and I will always miss you, my brother. Steve Borock: John's passing is not just a loss for his family, friends and myself, but also a huge loss for our hobby and community. For me personally, John is irreplaceable as a friend and fellow hobbyist. John was, in every sense of the word, a collectors collector and probably the largest seller of very high grade and pedigree comic books. The knowledge this giant of a man, or in comic code, "KING-SIZE" man, helped shape generations of collectors and dealers. Myself included.The knowledge he gave to even the "giants" in our hobby is incalculable. John lived life to it's fullest. Always a kind word for everyone, a giant laugh with a crazy sense of humor, and had one of the best collections on the planet while at the same time being very humble about that. The only thing John loved more than comics were his children. A prouder father would be damn hard to find! I could and would probably write about John for days, but my heart is broken at the moment, and I am having a hard time writing and editing though the tears, but something needed to be written in honor of my friend, teacher and confidant. John, I love and miss you terribly, my brother, but I know you are hanging out with Mickey Mantle explaining comic books to him over a giant steak and your favorite fuffy drink with whipped cream on top! Enjoy it the same way you enjoyed life! West Stephan: I met John when I was only 17 years old. He quickly took me under his wing & helped me amass a nice collection at an early age. I used to help him set up at the Shrine show in LA & also in San Diego (that worked out well for both of us as I got to learn from John for free & he got free labor out of me!). Driving from LA to SD with him, he made the trip seem like it only lasted 5 minutes as he always had something to tell me. He has told me so many stories & given me so much information over the past 3 decades I could fill a book. He was larger than life! He loved a good joke & really loved pulling "harmless" pranks! He was always in either business mode or fun mode. He really took pride in his children & would always tell me about their most recent accomplishments I really don't know what else to say right now. I can't believe I'm posting about his passing now. Steve Geppi: It's almost impossible to describe the loss we have suffered as a community, as a hobby, and as a business with the passing of John Verzyl. Yet as staggering as our loss is in those areas, it doesn't begin to approach the hole his departure leaves in the lives of those of us who were blessed to call him 'friend.' I've known him since he was 11 years old. John enthusiastically shared his loves of family, food, and Golden Age comics. He gave freely of his expertise and actively encouraged others to do likewise. And he backed up the way he extolled the things he loved by being equally eager to hear about the passions of others. It was difficult to have a short conversation with John because he was simply a wonderful person with whom to converse. This is a like a punch in the heart. Bob Overstreet: It's difficult to imagine a more significant or shocking loss to our ranks. Losing John Verzyl at any age, let alone so young at 57, is a crushing blow for everyone who knew him. I can barely take it in. He has been active in the world of comic books for almost his entire life, and he has made major contributions to the Guide as an Overstreet Advisor for 30 years. During each of those three decades, he's eagerly participated in extolling the fun of collecting comics, sharing their incredible history, and correcting misconceptions. He gave freely of his time, his advice and his friendship. He was an original and will remain that way in the memories of his family, friends and colleagues. What a sad, sad thing this is. Jim Halperin: John Verzyl: A Sunny Force of Nature My coworkers and I, along with countless others in the comics collecting field, have been walking around like zombies this week, numb with shock. Yet sometimes we can't help smiling through our grief, wistfully recalling some of John Verzyl's characteristic moments. I rarely attend comic shows, but when I did, I probably talked with John more than with anyone else. Once John started telling stories or launching into a sales pitch, it was impossible to leave. Not that I wanted to - nobody could sell like John, or keep you engaged and happy while bombarding you with his spiels. He got me to pull the trigger almost every time, mostly through sheer persistence and his infectious joy just to be doing what he was doing. I'm especially glad that my son Mikey got to spend time with him recently because John was a terrific role model: devoted dad, kind, brilliant, a generous teacher, and a joyous person, consistently grateful for every piece of good fortune that ever came his way. I once told Mikey that John was probably the greatest comics dealer of all time, and after a very short time with him, my son had no choice but to believe that. John worked as hard as anyone in the business, but to him working was really just playing. He sat through almost every live auction we held since our first one in 2001. Literally scores of them. Always smiling and fully engaged. John was extremely analytical, and fierce when competing for deals and for business, but I never heard him say a negative word about any competitor... or anyone, ever, really. He wanted to win, yet he still rooted for everyone else. Over the years I've tried to channel that quality - and as many others as I could - from John. In comic-dom, John Verzyl was part of our ether. I'd imagine many of my colleagues feel, just like I do, that suddenly there's a little less oxygen and a lot less energy in the air that surrounds us. I've known many brilliant people, particularly in comics, this Hobby of Many Geniuses, yet none more brilliant than John. And for my taste, John was the most fun and the most childlike. I guess that might be the hardest part of accepting that he's gone - he was like a big, happy, sweet, precocious kid... and children are supposed to outlive us. I still want to believe he'll be at the next Comic-Con, convincing me to buy from him, for too much money, something that I desperately want, even though I shouldn't. Jeff Delaney: Twenty years ago, I told John that I was into high grade Golden Age Action Comics, and he never forgot it. I could barely reach his booth in San Diego before he'd be bringing out his current Actions, along with a Hostess Cupcake and a bottle of water. It could be said that he had the memory of an elephant, but in truth, he had the memory of a large herd of stampeding elephants, and I will greatly miss hearing his tales of comic book finds and deals, always related in vivid, Technicolor detail. How he's 99% sure this book is an unrecognized San Francisco copy, or that the reason for the amazing ink reflectivity on Church books is because Edgar had them stacked so high in his basement that the cumulative weight caused the cover inks to rise to the surface. Who talks like that? Only John, and I'll miss him. Jon Dolmayan: John Verzyl was an iconic collector/dealer. His loss will leave all of us missing his expertise, his guidance , and most of all his passion for the comic collecting hobby. Truly a great friend to all. Matt Nelson: I was lucky enough to get to know John over the years. He was not only a major force in the industry, but the sweetest guy with a big heart. Every time I saw him he was cheery and full of conversation. And whip smart. It was always fun navigating through deals with him; I always walked away a little smarter each time. I really appreciated his sense of humor, which perfectly fit his personality. When I think of him I can't help but recall those hilarious moments we had. John will leave a giant void in this hobby. His extraordinary memory, his immeasurable influence on the market, and the countless friends and collectors he made along the way will never be duplicated. I miss him terribly. J.C. Vaughn: The uniformity of the comments about John Verzyl will tell you much of what you should know about this man. His friends are legion, his colleagues are devoted, and his detractors... well, there just aren't any. He set the bar for being an Overstreet Advisor. John's contributions to The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide over three decades are far, far too numerous to count. They are dwarfed, though, but his contributions to the field in the form of his tutelage, and more importantly his friendship. I had imagined having great discussions with him for years and years to come. This is a painful reminder to make sure our friends know what they mean to us.

Bought Weird Science 13 (#2) at a great price. Fast shipping. Well packed. Superior communications. Thanks!

Before moving to Texas, John had a comic shop on Main Street in Alhambra, CA. When I visited my aunt, I would walk from her apartment house to John’s shop. We would always talk about shop when I saw him at SDCC, NYCC, or Chicago. RIP

Wow an affordable copy.

Here is my copy located at my other house. Paid $174.99 in 2006.

Inspired by Robot Man, my Cap on a tricycle finally arrived.

if the dates are Oct 6-7, 2018, then the event runs on the same days as 2018 NYCC. I attended OAFCON 2017 and had a blast, except for the tornado.

Beautiful copy that would make a great addition to anybody's collection. May want to check with mustang33guy who had a WTB thread for the great book. https://www.cgccomics.com/boards/topic/418069-wtb-dell-large-feature-comic-8-bugs-bunny-a-solo-cover/

Bill Ward cover. My copy is pretty decrepit.

The Jerry Robinson collection was witnessed by Nadia and Joe Mannarino, formerly of All Star Auctions, now Directors at Heritage. The books sold by Joe and Nadia were raw, not slabbed. I have a raw Bat 1 where Nadia said that she would be the CGC witness if I wish to get the book slabbed.

Picture compliments of Robot Man. Any boardie remember who had this wall of books for sale. Thanks.

Look in Robot Man’s Son of 50 Year Obsession thread.

Bechara Maloof, owner of Nostalgic Investments. Congratulations on the Fight Against Crime 20. I saw you purchase the book.

Weather forecast for Sunday is high of 87 degrees and sunny. Didn’t rain last year.

take it

Posted these again. Original pictures lost due to photobucket fiasco. Purchased several years ago at SDCC from Metropolis. I saw the FC199 on the Metro website, but they did bring the book to SDCC. Frank had the comic book shipped overnight to SDCC.

For the drek (GGA, Matt Baker, teen humor, and GA Batman) that I collect, I found the con to be a refreshing break from SDCC, NYCC, and Wizard Chicago. I bought more stuff at Terry's Con than NYCC or Wizard Chicago last year. I purchased a ton from Terry, since he brings his entire stock and his prices are reasonable. I remember Carbo, Graham Crackers, A1 Comics, Harley, Southern California Comics, and others that I missed, plus our own super cool guy, Robot Man. Plenty of big dealers will be present at Terry's show. I needed a vendor pass for Wizard Chicago for my friend, who, due to numerous injuries, can't stand in line for long periods, so Terry provided him a free vendor pass. Terry is truly a thoughtful guy. I hope to drive down in less than two weeks. Freeway 101 is closed due to mudslides. Hopefully, Interstate 5 won't get snowed in. Hope you meet you guys in person.