Sauce Dog

There are several people who are lurking here, reading only posts and are NOT part of the boards, who simply found the threads in google search when looking into Hero Restoration. Several of those people know Mike in some capacity or another, and so were already looking into him that caused them to discover these threads and realize they had information that might help (and then reach out to me directly). Concerned people simply searching google easily stumble on these threads (mainly because the SEO on the main Hero Restoration site is not maintained so it lets other online content slowly creep into and take over the 1st page search results)

Don't read too much into me posting suddenly as some big conspiracy. I was personally NOT posting new updates for one very specific reason: Mike was calm and actually making good on mailing books back while I was taking to him for the last few weeks, and so I didn't want to rile up the thread again which might distract him away from that. I was waiting until all the survey customers had their books mailed and confirmed delivery before posting anything new here. Returns to customers were happening, and things were moving in a positive direction. I only chimed in because I saw a bomb going off and most here expect some sort of comment to come from me since I've been the unofficial wrangler of updates regarding Mike's status. As for the bad news, I've confirmed that the Amazing Fantasy #15 posted in the chats above is a customer book - and in fact that exact book was one that was packaged up and ready to be mailed the day that bomb post dropped...which now has that customer worried even though a tracking label was already created prior to this Four other customer orders were also being addressed and possibly ready for shipping later this week. I still hope that he is still going forward with his plan of mailing back books to those who filled out the survey, but I have not heard from him since last week.

I've been speaking with Mike since his release from jail, explaining the priority of him addressing customer complaints, and he actually made a plan to return customer books. My books and one other board member here (with around $60k worth of comics) were part of the first batch and they have been successfully delivered back to us. I sent him a few more of the people who filled out the survey as he agreed to make those customers the priority, several of which have been packed up and should have been shipped out today last I was told. I wanted to wait on posting updates on this until all books were marked as delivered to customers, and I could confirm Mike was seriously taking action in addressing the return of customer property before possibly riling up the boards again. So on my end it sounded like things were moving in a positive direction, and actual action was happening regarding returning customer books. Since I have been the one many people have been reaching out to with information, and the boards here have come to expect me sharing such info let me chime in about the above post: Everything posted above is news to me; especially the meth thing...my main contacts (the above user not being one of them) who were very forthcoming with such things never once mentioned it, so I don't know what to think about all that - be it the drug use, selling of books on ebay, or bail money; I can neither confirm nor deny the veracity of anything claimed. I literally don't know what to think about all that and am as taken aback as the rest of you. Me returning to this thread thinking I was bringing good news back, but finding that post above...

No real worse for wear, they get read from time to time and then slotted back into the box. I'm sure none of em would be breaking the 9.4 grade any longer, but that wasn't ever a worry for these books since I like flipping through em casually.

Oh, it's been at least 20 years now that I've been doing this for my reader books.

I'm not sure I understand what you are asking?

Yup, my reading box is like this - I try to keep stories that are up to five issues long in a single bag, making it easy to grab em all and read. The only books I really care to bag/board (or archive sleeve) are pricy keys in my other three small boxes.

I also just got scammed by Asheville comics, aka Hotshotcomics I bought a low grade Adventures Comics #52 directly from their store (though I found it on ebay as well under their other account). It was advertised as 1.0 complete but with a detached cover and centrefold (both defects I was fine with as I wanted to make this my next Conservation project and reattach them). Got the book in and found that several large panels were cut out of multiple pages....so incomplete. Reached out to them and they basically accused me of lying, saying that they inspect all the pages before hand (the missing parts are so large you would notice if you had your eyes closed and flipped through the book - one of the pages impacted was the very last page, so just opening up the back cover would reveal it). None of this was disclosed in either the original ebay listing (pictures only show the centrefold and front and back covers) nor the discussions I had with the owner when asking about condition. I showed him a video of me flipping through the book (in order to clearly show it was the same book they sold me thanks to unique markings), but they freaked out because I posted it on my instagram (a temporary story just so they can see it and I would delete it after they confirmed it. It was the only method I had to share a larger video file with them that day) and they then ignored all my messages from that point on (even contact requests through their Asheville website) I would have been happy to discuss a partial refund to put the value more in line with the actual grade, or return it outright at their expense...but since I'm being ignored now I've no choice but to now go through my bank and dispute the entire charge on my credit card (they sent me an invoice from the store to pay that way at least).

This technically counts as a modern TPB purchase since I had to pay to get it printed (and contains several modern stories) What happens when publishers don't make collected editions for all your favourite D-list characters? YOU MAKE EM YOURSELF! My latest custom TPB features Dreadknight. Contains four classic stories and a few excerpts of other appearances and profile pages. All but one of the stories has been heavily modified from what was originally published (I would remove non relevant pages of the story, correct speech bubbles in case plot points were dropped, or even outright remove characters in a story to change the focus just on the featured character. For example Black Knight #2 I removed Captain Britain completely from it by modifying the art adjusting panels and correcting text - you would never know he was in there and the story is now reduced to only 16 pages). I have previously made custom TPBs for Hourman and the Blazing Skull, both also either included full reprints or modified stories from their cameo appearances in other books in order to make them standalone stories with a coherent plot (Such as taking only the Blazing Skull panels from the modern Invaders comics and turning them into a single story that flows well)

Easy. I grew up with Iron Man being my favourite Marvel character and Green Lantern being the favourite for DC (though that would change over the years to other JSA members), so when this guy appeared it was just heaven and honestly worked very well combining their origins into one.

The notes are confusing, it reads to me that it still detached but some work was done on the loose wrap (perhaps a spine split was sealed but the entire wrap left loose?) It's certainly a mystery.

100% should be a conserved label, but I'm more confused by the fact whoever did the pro work didn't also just reattach the centrefold while they were at it.

That might have very well been it as I can't remember dates (or anything really beyond three years ago due to memory issues that confound professionals)

Class of 2012......so, not so old but was on the boards just before they migrated users over to the next iteration.

That is the main thing, this wasn't some fly-by-night pop up operation and Mike has been active in the community for much longer than the actual Hero Restoration business was running. Most of us who do have books with would be very happy for him to turn things around (not necessarily possible with the restoration business at this point, but he can still salvage some of his reputation by doing the right thing and maybe still continue pressing as a source of income). While we all fully understand any money paid is gone (and not necessarily due to explicit criminal activity, rather very poor business spending and accounting decisions) he can still mail books back to appease the most vocal of customers that are just wanting their property back regardless of the state they are in.

Linking to the main announcement in case people missed it

We already know where it is. I'm just not sharing that info publicly for obvious reasons (those who are initiating legal action however can request the information from me)

Unfortunately while this would get your book shipped it will come at a massive cost, many times greater than if the book was shipped out using the same methods by the seller himself. For example, one book I recently wanted to buy from a seller on ebay was $1700usd, unfortunately the global shipping to me in Canada from the USA was estimated to add another $300-$400 on that to cover duties/inport costs - but that is rare to get that level bill, as I've had books worth more shipped via USPS and Fedex that only cost around $50 in total duties. The only method I find results in clost-to-ebay-duties-costs is UPS, but even then it is still lower. Unfortuantly the seller would not budge and would only use that service for international shipping A general rule is assume the total shipping estimate cost being shown to the buyer will be 3-4 times the regular shipping cost for the item.

I'm sure you already know but Minus One's budget wasn't $15,000,000. I'm not sure we know the exact amount yet (unless I missed it), but it has been confirmed to have been less than that.

Oh no, I'm not falling for that...I'm not allowing my brain to consider this void in the market as a great opportunity!!!! For every thought I have about offering my conservation/restoration services as a serious business I have about ten times the amount of thoughts saying "yeahhhhh, maybe keep it as a fun side hobby". As limited as my skills are, nowhere near what Phil is doing (hence why I send him my most important books, I ain't touching those!), I can do things that get good results and so I'm always tempted by the idea of expanding...but then I go back to looking at the Hero Restoration thread and get reminded how much of a mess it can get. but maybe.....

I was hesitant to post the picture because of how it looks - but I'm pretty sure that was him just reusing an old box to pack stuff into for the move and there isn't any customer comics in that. I opted to post it in the end because the box explicitly showed it was his location and not some random store we got pictures of.

For reference, here are the photos I was sent of Mike's new business. I am told everything he had left from Hero Restoration went here for storage. No, I will not release the address publicly at this time. If you have a need for it legally, then DM me. At this point my contacts feel they have provided enough to spur the community to take more action and there isn't much else they can do. I appreciate them reaching out, as we would never have known about this side businesses otherwise. While there are other details given to me regarding all this, there isn't anything I feel that needs to be publicly revealed - no sense throwing more fuel on the fire if no good will come of it, I am not going out of my way to embarrass or expose Mike here. He still has a chance to make good and mail back books to appease most of the customers in this case since they just want their books back, so I'm still hoping for some sort of resolution (whatever that might be). American customers who feel more action is needed should look into taking their own legal action, reaching out to the Linn County Sheriff's Office only if you or your legal console feel it beneficial to do so, and reaching out to other board members directly.

Spoke with contacts again today and got clarification from them regarding some of the important stuff: There is no hard evidence that any customer books have been sold yet, however due to the proximity of these contacts in Mike's life they strongly felt worried this is a very real possibility based on knowing him personally. They did mention there are several other comic stores / dealers in the Corvallis area, so those able to do so might want to check with those businesses (this is out of my hands). The large amount of contempt of court charges you were all curious about are not all related to this current incident, those are something else entirely different regarding past actions (so best not to jump to any conclusions about charges when we don't know which is which). Some customers have expressed that they are currently looking into legal action; I am not your point of contact for that - I just happen to be the one everyone seems to be reaching out to, so if you are looking for other fellow American's to go in on any sort of legal action or discussion please put out a call in the thread, or reach out to people via DM, and start your own discussion.

On the plus side, this movie being so amazing got me wanting more 'zilla that I went back and watched the past Godzilla films I missed....but on the negative side, it made me go back and watch the Godzilla films I missed - which turns out to be mostly the worst ones and now I have to rewatch Minus One to cleanse my pallet

Leaked footage of Kang's next appearance.