vaillant

Oh, just some of the easy ones - 15, 12, 5, 4, 2, and 1. I don't even know why I haven't gotten them already. Seems everyone saves the expensive ones to the end. I have been in that position in collecting runs more times then I care to admit. I think it's easier to justify the extreme prices of the lower numbers when they are the last few we need to complete the sets. Good luck with the last few. You are probably right. I think in my case - at least over the last few years - it's partly been a matter of not finding the right copy at the right price. The lower numbers are more expensive because they are more desirable, which of course means that sellers are reluctant to give a deal. Thanks. It has been the same for me – but again I think it is basically what Bronze age fan was saying. I am now missing 12, 4 and 1 (under 20) and then 25, 21 (under 30) – but I really need to improve my #15 as I love that issue.

I have both lowgrade copies of #18 and #23… I would love to upgrade #18, mostly with a whiter cover – being light blue it suffers more from the yellowing, like Avengers #6 for example, or Fantastic Four #35.

And your copy too… Looks nicely graded, bravo.

These DeMatteis/Muth issues are gorgeous – I never saw them before! Thanks for posting them… are the stories good? I quite like DeMatteis, but not always.

Eric bought a pair of Devil Dinosaur books from me, paid immediately (and he was even extra-kind to add a pair of $$ as the amount wasn’t much and they were sucking me the additional 1% in PayPal fees for foreign transactions… ) and he kept me updated until he got the books. Not to mention he’s a very cordial person, and great to talk to. Deal with him with absolute confidence! (thumbs u

$1200 for a VG+ is absurd anyway… I could understand a FN+ or better given the constant hotness of the book, but that price…

My favorite is #72, then I have a soft spot for this one, because it’s unusual to see him in civilian (earth) clothing:

Is there a reason for which you thinking of Abnett (Dan Abnett I suppose)? The only one which I would find acceptable to "end" Omega's story is Mary Skrenes, now that Steve Gerber is no longer here. I understand it might sound strange but I quite like the fact that Omega ends abruptly and we do not know what actually happened (is he dead? and James Michael?) That somewhat added to the qualities of the series, IMO – I read it when I was 11 (the same age of J.M.) for the first time and it is one of my favorite Marvel (short) series ever.

I probably loathe them as much as you (or more), I don’t even consider these two issues… and I believe they were written by Steven Grant – not a Defenders' writer's fault – I don’t even consider them to be there…

Jason!

one If we go with that as the rule for all books then DD #115 has a shot at first Wolverine for the one pic in the ad. DD#115 was before IH#181, but not IH#180. The ad was also in a Thor book and Marvel Premiere19? Do you know if they came out after 180 as well? Doesn't really matter, it was just an ad. :: -slym But he’s right… :shrug:

Isn’t about time that Sleepwalker gets his own thread? Kidding, but not entirely – I never read the series except the first issues but loved the Blevins artwork.

Sure it can! http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cameo?s=t Ignore #'s 1&2, #3 is for comics and other literary works, #4 is for movies. By definition #3, a cameo can be a 1st appearance as well. Nope, sorry. I used to be convinced the same, Divad, but if you think from where the word derives (its etimology), it makes sense. Of course it should be stated that it is the first appearance anyway, not diminishing its factual value. (thumbs u

It's not usually the seller that shills the book. It's usually someone else, holding multiple copies, trying to pump and dump. They get the sale posted on GPA and then they don't pay. Mission accomplished. Wow, this is bad! But do you think this happens mostly with CGC books? But it has a f*ugly miswrap…

Glad you appreciated it… I just hate this frenzy when someone tries to identify "the book to go for" – put your heart at peace, speculators: with the Valkyrie and the Defenders it‘s impossible, and I am enjoying this immensely… Also, not only Hulk quit the Defenders after #1, but he basically quit at the end of each and every adventure… and so did Sub-Mariner (mostly) and Silver Surfer. Basically, until Nigthawk was "redeemed" from his criminal past and joined (and then being a millionaire decided to help Dr. Strange and back up the team with his finances) the Defenders have always been, and remained a "non group" – that was the greatest thing about them, and the great writers which did them. In fact, we might say that Dr. Strange, Nighthawk and the Valkyrie, and then Hellcat, have been the most "stable" lineup… with the Hulk coming and going. Not to mention how much I love how DeMatteis handled the Son of Satan and Patsy Walker story… he managed to neutralize whatever mess one could have done with such difficult characters to write afterwards… so I can be less enraged by how Marvel messed up them in the 1990s. I still consider the issue of Marvel Fanfare where Daimon and wife go back to Patsy Walker's hometown in a romance comics styled adventure (and drawn as such), and Daimon manages to put some reason in the jealousy and sad quarrels within Patsy’s family. Just great!

It is not unwatcheable at all. I think I saw it as an adult, and appreciated it a lot, and then I watched it recently. It is very strange even for a Terry Gilliam movie, but it is structured as much as mysterious. I am really fond of the Black Hole too, that I am sure I saw as an adult and not at the time. The Black Hole has weaknesses but it is a very original movie too. OK, this has nothing to do with "Moderns getting hot", but again not that it’s my favorite topic… I just passed to see if someone has a Fantastic Four #642 to send me… I restarted buying the FF and did not like much the idea of paying 10-12 dollars for it (plus shipping)…

OK, after all of this, you have to tell me why you consider "Time Bandits" a bad movie. Maybe via PM, as it has nothing to do with "Moderns getting hot on eBay"…

Assuming I did it right, see my detailed post above. Strictly speaking it is Hulk #142, but they are all important, IMO.

No, I have not read them. In fact there are lots of books I havent read. I even own a lot I haven't read. I'm strictly going by information that I have found and I think I have presented a good case. Of course the context of the story is very important. Basically, as important one could consider the two Sub-Mariner issues (I personally don’t even have them and I am a huge fan… ) the Defenders is a "non-team" summoned by Strange almost "by chance" in unusual situations of danger. This happened first in the story arc I mentioned, and from which Thomas got the idea. If one reads the story, it will be easy to see it is a very relevant and important story for what the Defenders would have been later on, a lot more than the chance alliance happening in Subby #34-35 between them alone (without Dr. Strange), but of course one might want to have them all, and understandably. What I was surprised about, is how much #34 and #35 were sought after, as the original story arc of Hulk #126, Subby #21 and Dr. Strange #183 is truly "quintessentially Defenders" even if it is just the ideal context from which the idea would have stemmed. Much like when Thomas inspired by Warlock turns him into a full-developed character, and christens him (previously just "Him", almost unnamed).

The market can decide that Avengers #71 is worth a million dollars - in fact, I highly encourage this - but it won't change reality. Although the book has been considered as such, I trust hands down Crimebuster on the Invaders. In fact, I still need a Giant-Size Invaders although I have a #71 so I must pick one. I am also not 100% sure I already have an Invaders #1 – too many things to remember! I reply on his behalf, since I am pretty much into the Defenders, say like I am crazy about them! Sub-Mariner #34-35 is not properly a pre-Defenders story, or it might be just that in part. The main story arc which can be considered a gathering of sorts is the one from which Thomas gets the idea for the series: Hulk #126 / Sub-Mariner #21 / Dr. Strange #183 – here we are introduced to the nether-demons Nameless Ones, because of which Barbara Norriss loses her mind (her and her husband Jack were dabbling with the demonic cult of the aforementioned) and it’s where Dr. Strange first meets with both Hulk and Namor. And all of this of course happens before Sub-Mariner #34-35. It‘s not by chance that Englehart, when starts the series in Defenders #1 ideally picks up once again the Nameless Ones as the enemy, and the Valkyrie of course gets in the body of Barbara Norriss, while Barbara’s insane mind is trapped in the Valkyrie's body. So Hulk #126 is the first Barbara, Hulk #142 is the first Valkyrie (in this first apperance she is in the body of Samantha Parrington), while Avengers #83 just shows the Enchantress disguised as the Valkyrie, and thus does not represent the first apperance of the Valkyrie even if it should have come out earlier, I believe. Avengers 83 is still the 1st time the Valkyrie name and costume was used, 9 months before Hulk 142, so Avengers is the one to chase IMO If we want to go in detail, all four (Avengers #83, Hulk #126 and #142 and Defenders #4) have the same importance, but strictly speaking in Avengers #83 we see the Valkyrie but in fact it’s just a spell of the Enchantress which appears in disguise. The Valkyrie was under a spell from the Enchantress, and thus we have: – Avengers #83: Enhantress appears disguised as the Valkyrie, forms the Lady Liberators deceiving the female members of Avengers, and they fight the male members; – Hulk #126: First apperance of Barbara Norriss (which becames insane at the end of the story arc, see Subby #21 and Doctor Strange #183); – Hulk #142: The Valkyrie incarnates in the body of Samantha Parrington and battles the Hulk, then Samantha gets back to herself; – Defenders #4: the Valkyrie acquires the body of Barbara Norriss, while the "absent" Barbara is trapped within the body of the Valkyrie in Asgard. – some Defenders issues in the #60s tell the origin of the Valkyrie in full. I hope Crimebuster can correct me if I am wrong, but Avengers #83, although showing her physical features for the first time, is not the first apperance of her. :shrug:

The market can decide that Avengers #71 is worth a million dollars - in fact, I highly encourage this - but it won't change reality. Although the book has been considered as such, I trust hands down Crimebuster on the Invaders. In fact, I still need a Giant-Size Invaders although I have a #71 so I must pick one. I am also not 100% sure I already have an Invaders #1 – too many things to remember! I reply on his behalf, since I am pretty much into the Defenders, say like I am crazy about them! Sub-Mariner #34-35 is not properly a pre-Defenders story, or it might be just that in part. The main story arc which can be considered a gathering of sorts is the one from which Thomas gets the idea for the series: Hulk #126 / Sub-Mariner #21 / Dr. Strange #183 – here we are introduced to the nether-demons Nameless Ones, because of which Barbara Norriss loses her mind (her and her husband Jack were dabbling with the demonic cult of the aforementioned) and it’s where Dr. Strange first meets with both Hulk and Namor. And all of this of course happens before Sub-Mariner #34-35. It‘s not by chance that Englehart, when starts the series in Defenders #1 ideally picks up once again the Nameless Ones as the enemy, and the Valkyrie of course gets in the body of Barbara Norriss, while Barbara’s insane mind is trapped in the Valkyrie's body. So Hulk #126 is the first Barbara, Hulk #142 is the first Valkyrie (in this first apperance she is in the body of Samantha Parrington), while Avengers #83 just shows the Enchantress disguised as the Valkyrie, and thus does not represent the first apperance of the Valkyrie even if it should have come out earlier, I believe.

The problem is that the Gladiator never had any delusional thinking: Miller got his character quite entirely wrong. The Gladiator used to be a character similar to the Sandman: rude and rather rough, and pretty much a cold-blooded killer. One of the many reasons for which I don’t like Miller on Marvel books, he pretty much did what he wanted with some characters, regardless of how they were and their consistency of development. Even Bullseye, to a lesser degree.

With all the due respect, Captain America is a bit more relevant than Scarlet and Quicksilver (and not only because of the Timely legacy). Also, the stories from the later period (after #16) were nice, but #4 is a landmark, and the Avengers really start to roll once again as Thomas begins to write them.

I hope DD does not mind the intrusion of Spidey in his thread… they’re friends after all… And yes… I meant #18, not #15 although #15 is also a great story.

Speaking of this quality, it also belongs to ASM #13, the only one in my collection under #31. I don’t have a scan of mine at hand, but here’s what I mean: