Moondog

I agree 100% on the rent...it's really out of control in some areas...most of the comic shops that are successful on the island have a really good deal on rent from my experiences speaking to them.. As far as shops on the island...I kind of agree with you to an extent...I enjoy going to Comic Book Depot in Bellmore...have known the owner for years and he has a friendly staff... I want to be that store that you say is missing...I want to be the place that people want to go to every week...I want to compete with the online sales...but I know I need volume to do that... What would make you want to go to a store every week? If I can get the people to come and I have the stuff they want...then I can be successful...like I said in the earlier post, I'm not looking to retire in 5 years...I'm looking to make a livable wage doing what I enjoy doing, instead of living someone elses dream... The only way to get customers to come in every week is to stock all the new comics. The ordering of new product is the most time-consuming important work you will do all week long. If you don't own the building rent, taxes and other costs will eat you alive as you wait to develop a steady clientele. It's brutal. I once ran 21 stores in 5 states, but I started out like you are - with a dream. The only difference was 38 years and the market just beginning to develop - not declining like it is now. If you don't have a minimum $150,000 to start this store you will be foolish to even try.

Not my cup of tea, but looks like a great deal... http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/clt/5970935120.html

Taking offers for the next 2 days...

I think it's obvious that I don't usually deal in modern-era comics. Taking offers for 2 days...

Did you really just call out Gary? That is awesome. I think Gary's name alone complies with board rules. Jim "Call out"? He just pointed out what was missing… No worries. I had it coming... was in a hurry and a few important details slipped my mind. I should make a checklist...

The top half of the number is shaved off due to my scanner being a bit short, but you should be able to see the bottom half, the page quality and the serial number. I added the 3.0 to the description.

The books you want and more importantly...you need! Shipping is $14.95 per book. PayPal only. U.S. only. No returns on CGC books. First gets it. NEW MUTANTS 87 $450 Beautiful 9.8 with white pages. Cheaper than any CGC 9.8 with white pages on eBay. NEW MUTANTS 98 $350 Beautiful 9.6 with white pages. Crack this baby and make it a 9.8 or just stare at it in awe and ponder why it's only a 9.6... NEW MUTANTS 98 $400 Incredible 9.6 with white pages. If you were puzzled about the above copy only being a 9.6 - what were the CGC graders smoking ( ) when they graded this baby?!

IT'S GAME TIME 1 $300 Solid CGC 3.0 with beautiful supple near-white pages. The perfect copy for the type collector. Very scarce issue - only 5 copies are graded higher. U.S. only. PayPal only. No returns on CGC books. Add $14.95 for s/h. First gets it.

Yep. Certainly not "flat as a pancake" but not too bad. The corner creases are killers as is the stain. I don't see a chip missing (unless it's very tiny). 4.5 is probably right.

Yes, very tough. Had a very nice run a few years ago and only got triple Guide.

Those numbers do not mean 49 of 6843. I believe they are a distributor code or something similar.

Happy New Year, BZ. I miss you, pal. Hope you're doing better.

I think your claim that Heritage is "shaking down" its clients and customers is a bit unfair. You're inferring that they are somehow in cahoots with the Kirby family. I think it's clear that the last thing an auction house would want is to have a major segment of a market closed off to them or limit it in any way. This is relatively new ground being covered here and they appear to be taking a prudent approach of working with the family and their clients and waiting to see how things turn out.

I would be floored if a fake Cerebus 1 got past CGC. The absolute first thing they have to do is check to see if it's a fake. Back in the mid-80s a notorious dealer/scammer was driving from comic shop to comic shop selling fake Cerebus 1s from the trunk of his car. I bought 10 for $5 each and sold them to customers AS FAKES for $10. I thought it was relatively easy then to tell the difference. I haven't seen a fake in 30 years but I can't imagine it's any harder today.

A 1968 Marvel page and a 1973 DC page.

Here's a copy of the email from Todd Hignite to my friend who sold 2 Kirby pieces in the last auction. Rumors regarding this action have been floating around for awhile but it appears they're gaining some traction. He sold one Marvel page and one DC page. I hope this finds you well—and I hope you were satisfied with your results in our November auction. We’ve recently been approached by the Kirby family as they are actively investigating the provenance for all Jack Kirby artwork being currently offered on the market. So we need to investigate in as much detail as possible all artwork by Kirby we sold in our November Signature sale, including your lots. Would you happen to remember the sales history on the two pages (any receipts/invoices would be great as well)? Thanks a lot, My best, Todd Todd Hignite | Vice President HERITAGE AUCTIONS

Any value to these due to the Star Trek connection? I have an unopened one. Yes, it's full!

It's Louise Simonson

I've never owned one, or a set of the covers, but I often contemplated adding one to my ashcan collection. Now that I've downsized my collection that won't be happening, but it's a cool book nonetheless.

Well said. Agreed. Slabbing them all would just be a prelude to selling and dispersing them. At that point, the magic that is BangZoom's collection would be gone and forgotten. I hope it stays just the way it is for many more years. Absolutely. I wish I had heeded Stephen Fishler's advice in 1986 and kept the Windy City collection intact. I had to sell to recoup my nearly $100K I spent on it as I was growing my business, but today that collection should be in a museum for all to enjoy.

So I guess the bigger question is whether a single slabbed Tec 27 Batman page would nab $5-7k then? Seems high to me. Right. $3.5K - $5K appears to be more reasonable to me.

My friend can buy the story wrapped in a xerox cover with the remainder of the interior xeroxed - in other words some weird, Frankenbook contraption - for $25,000. When we talked I told him I thought $15K wouldn't be outrageous.

No, it's the complete 6-page story (3 pages, 2 sides each).