davidtere

While I don't have a copy of the first Kirby comic that I ever got (which was Marvel Tales # 1) I do have the first Kirby sketch that I ever acquired. Does this qualify me for membership?

Enjoyed all the write ups. Very cool that you took the time to do this.

This is the one that started it all for me. What a beautiful copy.

I have a few of them...but then again I don't consider them any different than any other toy action figure that feature a certain character (I admit to having my fair share of toy figures mostly super hero). Most of mine are the figure with the vehicle (Batman sitting in Batmobile, Wonder Woman in her Invisible Jet, Ghost Rider on Motorcycle). I guess I like the vehicle more than I like the figure. I didn't buy them because they were a 'pop' or because of their (perceived) value. All of them I bought at a local swap meet, so I paid less than retail from 'pop' collectors that were getting rid of their collection, except for the invisible jet that my daughter gifted me for Christmas a few years ago. As far as being collectible...pffft!

I agree. That looks totally legit.

I like this idea...hmmm!

So many great stories. A true giant of the industry. RIP

I still have all of my Groo comics. I was once offered a significant amount of cheese dip for them but declined.

Always happy to add a Betty and Veronica piece to my collection. I picked this up from a great seller on CAFCON the other day and it just landed this morning. Harry Lucey and Martin Epting.

I remember purchasing comics from Robert Bell who advertised in comic books as far back as 1968. If you paid the 25 cents for his catalog, he would include a 'free' 'Bell Bag' for a single comic. The Bell Bag was a comic sized bag that had Bell's name and address printed on the flap. I can't recall what he sold the bags for. No boards however.

I want to thank the mayor, the council and all city management in San Diego for making these difficult decisions to contain the virus. I also appreciate the daily 'briefings' that have been televised from the mayor, the chief of police, the fire chief and others (council members) to show what the city and county are doing and need to do to 'flatten the curve' and keep people as safe as possible. Stay safe fellow boardies.

Any Premium member can participate (buy / sell, etc.) . I just purchased a very cool piece there. Good luck and stay safe.

Thank you Brenmark for solving an over 20 year mystery. also thank you...this is my 100th post.

Maybe one of these?

Thank you Lions Den. These photos were taken on a 'brownie' camera during the summertime mid 60's in Saginaw Michigan. Discovering our summer friend's comics which they kept in their tree house behind their family restaurant really opened my eyes to Marvel monster comics which is mainly what they had. The freedom that the 60's offered for a kid who lived somewhat rurally was incredible. I appreciate the opportunity to have lived that. Marvel 'breaking out', 80 Page DC Giants were the Wonder Years for sure. Most of the kids that I knew read comics or had them lying around the house. I remember one friend giving me a Tales of Suspense # 55, another friend giving me a Daredevil (Marvel) #2 and yet another friend giving me a stack of early Adventure featuring the Legion of Superheroes. Those were the days!

I picked this up (or rather it came to me) at San Diego Comic Fest on Saturday. A Ramona Fradon watercolor probably done sometime in the 90's. It's shown on page 26 of the 'Art of Ramona Fradon' book and since it was personalized 'To David' it kind of works for me.

So many of you have mentioned (the wonderful) Scott Shaw! and Oddball Comics in this thread that I just wanted to mention that Scott did an Oddball Comics panel this weekend at the San Diego Comic Fest. He will be there today at the show as well. I picked up this (non golden age...sorry) sketch cover (front and back) from him Friday picturing what Fred and Dino think of DC's Flintstone #1 and their more 'realistic' Flintstone style offering. Classic Scott Shaw! humor.

When this showed up as a BIN on eBay about 10 years ago for what I considered a ridiculously low price I jumped on it faster than I have ever moved before. The center panels and the bottom left panel are incredible. Aw, heck, the whole thing is awesome. Happy to be so fortunate as to own a Frazetta.

Bob McCartney...the pseudonym for the great Bill Ward. Some great covers here!

Yes, I agree that dealers are not in a rush to sell at 'fire sale prices' nor should they be. A good deal for a buyer can (and should) be a good deal for the seller as well, and doesn't have to be a 'fire sale'. And it does appear that the 'model works' at least on the surface because that is what many sellers do. I would say that in a lot of businesses good 'turns' are good business models. Perhaps OA dealers are different (I can't speak to that since I have never been an OA dealer) but keeping your money in motion, generating income and letting your money work for you will usually benefit your bottom line better than letting an asset sit and not generate income which then you use to buy more inventory and pocket the rest. Of course the perception of it 'gaining value' as it sits can be a driver. I would say that 11 years and counting as Vodou points out 'in this case' might make this at least the exception. I guess some of my OA has accrued value as it has just been in my possession but I am not a seller nor am I in business. Those guys in that business are experts in that business and that is where they make their living and I don't. I don't feel comfortable stating more regarding that than I already have. I also agree that a buyer may come out and purchase that specific piece at that specific price. It just may be 5 more years down the road. I further recognize that most if not all OA dealers will discount items that they have had for awhile. I believe that is adjusting somewhat closer to what is considered to be a fairer market value. For example two years ago I purchased a piece from a OA dealer. It had a list price of 4K and had only been in the seller's inventory for less than a year. When I inquired about the piece he immediately, without my asking, dropped it to 3.5K more than a 20% discount. It was a stunning piece and I was happy to buy it. The seller was happy to sell it. This probably happens all of the time.

You are right. Kirby is King but that page is not worth $14,000 or it would have sold long ago. I say that because a Kirby FF page is on my 'want list' and I could pay that much if I thought the page (or some others) was worth it (and I absolutely love Medusa). Good art at a fair price will sell. Good art at a not so fair price usually won't. A lot of 'fishing' goes on all the time and by a lot of folks (OA dealers, eBay sellers, etc.). I told an art dealer at SDCC 10 years ago when he asked me if there was anything good out there with other dealers; I said, 'yes, however the pricing seems to reflect what the market might be in 3 - 5 years'. I haven't seen that changing much. I am as perplexed as others seem to be on OA that is desirable but the pricing from the sellers doesn't seem to generate interest at those prices and since it never comes down it becomes a bit of a 'museum piece'. Everyone likes to think that they struck a good deal, meaning that they paid a price which was fair to them and they walked away happy. I have made some good deals and I have overpaid on a few where the art really 'spoke' to me. Hard to argue with the 'experts' though so my point of view is purely from a fan of OA and if the price doesn't match what I am willing to pay, I just walk on by.

My 'comic' room is always in a bit of a mess . I'm always doing something in there. These are two areas of the room where I have the room to put something on the wall. Just too many bookcases that eat up wall space, but it's the only room in the house that has no exposure to natural light. Oh...probably obvious that I am a fan of Jack Kirby.

I've had this tucked away since about 2007(?) and recently sent it in for grading. Got it back yesterday so I thought that I would join the club.