namisgr

I like that you brought up Chrichton. The Andromeda Strain is a great example of a thriller with futuristic concepts based in a 'what if' scenario of science. So while I saw the book version, at least, as more of a thriller than a classic work of science fiction with a richly detailed imaginary future world, the overlap is plain and the role for science is present throughout, and is much more than a brief device to advance a plot that goes elsewhere like it is in Frankenstein. Jurassic Park is, to me, a little more on the fence with more conventions of a thriller and even a monster story than of classic science fiction, with both being prominent but imagined futuristic science being more of a short but necessary plot device. This is a weird thing to be discussing in Comics General, no? I should put in a good word for early Silver Age DC for its commitment to science fiction-like storytelling with leads like Green Lantern and Adam Strange.

I think that would fall under the category of myth rather than science fiction. But mythology and science fiction do have overlap. For me, Frankenstein is better characterized as a horror story.

The Spectacular Spiderman #1 is much, much less common in the CGC census in 9.8 than #2. [goes to search the database]... with 19 in top grade compared with 105 in 9.8 and 1 in 9.9. So your recollection may account for the disparity at least in part. I was always pizzed at the CGC grading of my copies - I felt that, if anything, the copy of #1 was the nicer of the two, and certainly deserving of a 9.8.

Mine are long gone as well.

Yes, back in the mid 1990s. These, too.

The co-mingling of rock music and comic books has a long history. I remember when Pink Floyd put Doctor Strange on the cover of Saucerful of Secrets in 1968, via copping a panel from Strange Tales. Floyd referred to the good Doctor in song lyrics written the following year, then things came full circle when the 2016 Doctor Strange movie included the Floyd tune Interstellar Overdrive on the soundtrack. And, of course, in '75 Paul McCartney and Wings recorded Magneto and Titanium Man for the B side of their Venus and Mars/Rock Show single.

That example from the Promise Collection is a travesty. Here's a couple more typical 8.0 books from my ex-collection. The sum total of very minor signs of wear at the corners, along the spine, and along the edges account for the assigned grades:

It may be a draw with religious zealots.

Imagine that. You and I disagreed on something, and didn't continue to post and post and post and post about it, or revert to talking trash to one another. How refreshing.

Not exactly in this case. Sue has a major role in the Torch story in Strange Tales #105. It's not a cameo, but it's also not a crossover appearance of the entire Fantastic Four. Confounding matters of interpretation is that a member of the team is the recurring star of the book in issue after issue.

Sad and shockied to learn of Bird's passing. I know that as a highly trained clinical psychologist, he devoted his professional life to the psychological well being of people, a selfless and vitally important commitment. My condolences go to his immediate and extended family and close friends.

Touche. The point that they're still around stands. I can't help or control it that my Hulk 180, Spiderman 129, or Marvel Spotlight 5 were pressed after I sold them, or what became of the thousands of other books I bought off the rack and sold unpressed, but am very aware that many received the treatment after leaving my hands. As for the present, I've still got a few hundred books bought off the rack and unpressed that are intended for future sale, so they are still around although much fewer in number. I totally agree with your overall premise that unpressed high grade comics have become increasingly scarce. So much so that around 15 years ago I gave up trying to find them for my Silver Age collection, for which I strongly favored unpressed books. It set in motion plans to sell off the existing collection and the plan was executed over the following decade.

Not as hard as you think.

What happened? Distributors of dystopia Purveyors of paranoia Blowhards of baloney Antipodes of self awareness Nellies of narcissism Palaverous posting Miscreants of misinformation Flyers of fantasy Envies of expertise Pushers of pretense Nabobs of negativity Cynics of scholarship Slanderers of civics Avatars of avarice and anger etcetera, etcetera, etcetera For posters who view the world and surround themselves with people in their daily lives filled with optimism, selflessness, positivity, commitment, sensitivity, community, fairness, earned expertise, rich experience, deep knowledge, joviality, and admiration, this place has become too often an unenjoyable and ugly turnoff. So many have either stopped posting entirely or bunkered themselves into small and highly focused pockets they've found still bring enjoyable social interaction. Specific to comics, whereas the boards were once predominated by collectors and hobbyists sharing enthusiasm and love for the comic book medium, they have evolved to predomination by investors, flippers, and the like focused on the commercial aspects of the hobby more so than the entertainment and creative art. There's nothing wrong with that evolution, which flowed naturally from the huge increase in comic book values and appreciation by the culture at large for the characters and their stories since the boards were first started. It just doesn't support a set of discussion topics that some of the longstanding hobbyists and collectors find especially interesting.

Especially if the back of a book graded 9.8 looks like this. Can't imagine anyone except the submitter will ever be happy owning it.