originalisbest

PCH can certainly be addictive! I love superhero books just fine, but always default to PCH generally and only dabble in wearers of capes. The Tormented #1 is a long time favorite!

It's an unusual book in that I imagine it's a keeper for the forseeable future, so doesn't hurt to unslab it if it'll help you enjoy it more. Keep the label anyway and if it ever needs to be sold again, likely the label with it is more than enough, or it can always be slabbed at that time. :-)

That is a heck of a grouping to land all at once!!!

It's a great cover indeed, by Elder -- hope you don't take my miscut comment as a slam on your book, it's perfectly acceptable. I have a few books similar, nature of the GA beast. It would take a pretty severe miscut to turn me away. As to fave early MAD cover, mine is #2 by Mr. Davis. :-)

Oh and by kid I mean your typical 12-14 year old. But even a young worker of 16-18 would be hard pressed to find $300 to spend in 1968 for a "comic" vs. say, their hot new used dream car to drive around in. ;-)

Well, well before my time, but what kid would generally have had access to $300 in 1968, and even if they did, parents indulgent enough to let them spend that "on a comic book" (even if they appreciated Action #1) without blowing a gasket!

No particular goals except to pick up PCH that appeals to me when funds and availability meet. It's a timing thing! I don't worry too much about winning any auctions these days, rather just enjoying what I have since a good part of it I couldn't currently afford, if I were to have to buy it again today. :-)

The joke being (as I understand it) that the selling of cartoon picture books (you know the kind!) -- i.e., pornographic tracts better known as tijuana bibles, were the stock that one of the well-known distributors had gotten his (cheerfully illegal) start in in the publishing world. Pretty much was annoyed with Gaines and company for highlighting the less-than-desirable (albeit true) seediness origins of the industry.

Here's a pic of the Mad #5 inside front cover.

Slightly weird cut that EC's occasionally have, but super fresh and pretty. Also a rare issue, due to the shenanigans caused by Gaines' poking fun at a well-known distributor on the inside front cover. (Or rather Feldstein, who likely wrote the piece.) Some feelings were hurt -- some issues didn't make the newsstands! LOL!

Heck of GFC to get! Never had a copy of this issue, but hope to one day!

"Dylan Universe Comics" certainly has some... interesting advice. To be sure.

I knew I had some older MA scans around here... and a bonus DM!

I am feeling all the Mysterious Adventures love!