DeliBebek

Too cool, DiceX. Thanks for sharing. I think the -script may be weaker than the artwork. It was a special time, really.

 

"Death to the Puppets!"

For me the real shark-jump moment became clear when they launched the second book. It was unmanageable and the quality on both books sank quickly.

 

As much as I disliked the work of the "regular" artists from 176 on, the guest artists were jewels, even June Brigman's Nightcrawler solo issue and Rick Leonardi's issues during the bi-weekly phases. The bigger difference in the writing after that is that there were so many stand-alone issues and no sense of the driving storyline that had been such a hallmark of the book before then. When they really developed the superstory concept to include multiple titles with banners on the cover, it was obviously forced. Maintaining high sales had forced it to not be different anymore.

 

I actually came back to the book during Scott Lobdell's tenure and I found it to be very consistent and enjoyable.

The Cycle of Noise

 

1. Someone introduces a new concept in grading.

2. The world explodes because OHMYGODITWONTWORKOHMYGODCOMICSAREFOREADING etc etc etc.

3. There are - literally - tens of thousands of message board posts.

4. The marketplace shakes into three camps (1) virulent anti-, (2) strongly pro, and (3) unwashed "i don't care"

5. Thousands upon thousands more message board posts

6. Heated discussions at any event where people get together.

7. Friendships are strongly strained.

8. The original introducer is shamed and called an insufficiently_thoughtful_person, a insufficiently_thoughtful_person, someone out to rape the marketplace.

9. The noise continues at a fever pitch for quite some time.

10. Many people come and say "everybody's always done it."

11. Slowly, ever so slowly, the wave abates as people decide that (1) it really doesn't matter or (2) they don't care.

12. The marketplace decides.

 

CGC

Wizard First

Pressing

etc

etc

etc

etc

etc

__________________

I see your generalizations and raise you a generalization:

 

1. Someone introduces a new concept in grading.

2. There is much gnashing of teeth.

3. The marketplace adapts.

I have nothing to say about all of this.

Smudges are from my scanner, but there are two small spine ticks and the tiny chips at the top. Still, quite pleased with it.

This is on my list. I got into collecting the early "All-New X-Men" almost accidentally. That's a nice one.

Prompted by recent events! Decided I wanted one. Thanks Nick, pretty great looking in NM- (thumbs u

 

I Knowing this came out before the film's release, I wonder if any readers were misled by the green head, looking like a robot companion for the group.

 

Also, where are everyone's legs?!

 

Great looking book though. Good pickup.

Hot Stuff makes for the best Halloween covers. That would make a nice sketch cover too, by the right artist.

 

 

Great comics.

 

Intriguing as self-portraits of the collectors, also.

Jughead Annual #1, really nice spine for an old 100-page squarebound, and only a couple of small tears on interior pages.

I remember well over 20 years ago when I got my first Overstreet Price Guide, I read the whole section on Classics Illustrated which was kind of fascinating. I saw this as a whole subset of comics collecting that I had previously been unaware. It was years before I saw any Classics Illustrated, but at least when I did I understood roughly that the indicia date had little bearing on the actual age of the comic.

I don't know the print run on these, but it can't be many. These are the hardest books I've had the displeasure of hunting down in a long time.

Was Supergirl #1 really such a big seller that DC had to make 3rd prints?

It didn't have to be a big seller. It only had to oversell expectations.

 

Besides, one of my favorite series from the '90s, and the first few issues Gary Frank & Cam Smith art was outstanding.

Jughead was mostly by Samm Schwartz, but White did a lot of the covers for the entire Archie line in the early '60s, including Jughead.

Thanks. Schwartz and Vigoda I know very well. I even recognize a lot of Lucey covers on Jughead.

Bob White

Thanks. He's one whose style I haven't quite developed an eye for.

 

Major "tells" are the "T" in Archie's ear and the "Y" in Archie's hair above his left eyebrow.

Good tips. I tend not to focus on those kinds of details because it seems new Archie artists followed the "style sheets" of former ones before slowly showing their own voice. At least those points get me started. I'm more of a Jughead collector anyway. Did White do much work on that series?

Bob White

Thanks. He's one whose style I haven't quite developed an eye for.

Who drew this cover? I can't place that style of Veronica face anywhere.

My husband uses this industrial bubble wrap he gets from work that I can't pop unless I run it over with my car.

 

He's a hardcore packer.

Wow! That's definitely hardcore.

Just bought this off the shelf, love the colours

 

That really is a neon orange. It radiated on the racks next to the checkout lanes. I couldn't help picking it up too.

I think I'm starting to work on that focus as well. I am getting tired of finishing runs for the sake of finishing runs and having to buy books that don't excite me.

I think we've all done that. I try only to get the part of the run that does interest me. It's why I skipped Daredevil 162.

Underground Comix Day!

Just awesome. I love these.

Same here man. My new comic collecting focus seems to be stuff that I think is awesome. Rather than trying to finish runs and whatnot.

That's the way it should always be. That's a collection that makes you happy.

Maybe because I've seen and read so many interviews that I've been indoctrinated by Marvel Age lore, but I can almost hear Stan's voice, excited about this new villain, The Matador! The guy really had fun at his job.

All cool stuff, DiceX

pathetic

 

Understatement.

 

for this, they're months behind schedule . sweet 9.9 tho

Canadian 9.9!

 

Impressive that every certification number is there.

 

I mean, ahem, pathetic that every certification number is not posted in order.

Louise Simonson was pretty vital to Marvel Comics during the 80s, and one of the big Superman writers in the early 90s.

 

I have a lot of respect for Wendy Pini and Colleen Doran also, as both writers and artists.

I have a dumb question. Why not just bag the comic, then put in in a bag with a backer board behind it?

Most people prefer not to use two bags per one comic. When you're talking about high-value comics it makes more sense, but even then, unless you test the bags and boards in question, there can be slippage, which I think would bother a lot of collectors. I've seen people post here about doing something very similar to what you suggest, though. I think it becomes a matter of thinking that if one bag is standard protection, two bags ought to be a higher standard for a higher value comic.

 

Also, there is a suggestion that the pH-balanced board actually helps deter yellowing, rather than simply not contributing to it, sort of like the micro-chamber paper.