Moondog

I'm not going to steal Heritage's thunder, but I will say that I spoke to a close buddy today who told me that they will be selling a new pedigree collection of 5,000 high-grade GA books. What he was telling me was absolutely mind-blowing. They're still out there!

Well said.

Episode 2 of Moondog’s Pop Culture Radio Hour is available now! Back in the fall of 1993 the biggest news in comics was the upcoming debate between two friends of mine: Peter David and Todd McFarlane. It would take place on October 8 at ComicFest in Philadelphia. Basically Todd and his Image Comics brothers thought that the emphasis on, and popularity of, writers was misplaced and that artists were the real stars when it came to the creation of comic books. Peter, at the time one of the most popular and prolific writers in the business, as well as Todd’s old creative partner on the Incredible Hulk, wrote some critical (and factual) comments about Image in his Comics Buyer’s Guide column. That led to Todd challenging Peter to a debate that would settle the question once and for all. Well, I was there and Peter won the debate handily. Todd came out on the stage like a prize fighter in trunks and a robe. Peter wore a suit and tie. It was the kind of theatrics that unfortunately have no place in today’s button-down, business-first comic book industry. Two weeks before the great debate Peter was interviewed on the Moondog’s Pop Culture Radio Hour show. It’s a great interview – especially when he’s explaining what his strategy will be. Listen and enjoy. All of the Moondog’s Pop Culture Radio Hour shows and more blasts from the past are available at my new website: www.moondogbuyscomics.com.

Episode 2 has Peter David explaining how he's going to match up with Todd McFarlane in their infamous debate at the Philadelphia Comic Fest in Nov 1993. That's the kind of stuff that was going on in the world of comics back in the early 90s!

For the first time in over 27 years, The Moondog's Pop Culture Radio Hour is back on the air! I dusted off all the old tapes and made them available at www.moondogbuyscomics.com/podcast. This first show features Dave Sim, Neil Gaiman, Jim Valentino, Jimmy Palmiotti, Joe Quesada, Todd MacFarlane, Alex-Hyde White and a whole lot of cool stuff that was happening in the world of comic books back in September 1993. Look for new episodes every other Wednesday at www.moondogbuyscomics.com/podcast.

It appears to be a very pulpy generic maniac. The art was originally slated for the cover to Detective 2 but Ellsworth or Sullivan rejected it as being too gruesome. Here's the ashcan.

Such an old-school approach to collecting GA! Most of us felt this way back in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Unfortunately since CGC PQ just isn't as important...

I'll never forget the moment I first saw the Superman ashcan (fall 1985). I really didn't know what it was, but it was the coolest book I ever held in my hands.

I bought one from Sol Harrison along with 4 of the US Navy giveaways. I believe they were connected in that the recruits who were basically illiterate would read the dumb-downed comics and then use the workbook to record answers.

It's hard for me to sit on the sidelines (after all just check out my avatar). I believe these were posted earlier.

1963 edition, right Bob? $250 is a bit steep, but really ugly copies bring $100-$150.

It took an hour but I found this box stashed away with other old Moondog stuff. It's on eBay now. Auction ends Sunday night. I will always remember fondly Joe's appearance that night 28 years ago. But I will also appreciate the $1,000 + this box will bring too. Crazy.

America's Best 1 Batman 79 Batman 99

I forgot to post here that the mystery was figured out. The comics were clearly 36 interior pages with the centerfold being 4 ad pages. Turns out the weird little kid who owned these pulled all the centerfolds out. 88 books with no centerfold. Ha ha. Chalk up another "weird thing that collectors do." I was about to buy an original golden age collection in 2002 but before the deal could get done, the basement where the books were stored flooded and they were all destroyed. Batman 1-100. Superman 2-100. Cap 1-11. And a bunch more. What was "weird" is the owner and his brother clipped out every ad page of every book. All .5s. Crazy!

Bumped for last chance.

I'll have you know it was a balmy 42 here in Chicago today. Shot 75 with 2 three-putts. Playing again tomorrow.

Many, many collectors feel as you do.

I just picked up a Wendy the Good Little Witch 1-3 (1960). Nice copies. As I was counting the pages on #1 I was disappointed that it only had 7 interior wraps or 28 pages. When I counted #2 the same. #3 the same. I then started counting the pages on 22 additional copies all from the same period (Spooky, Casper, etc.) and they too had 28 interior pages. In 45 years of dealing I've never noticed that before. Can someone confirm that Harveys from this period had 28 pages - they all can't be missing the centerfold, right?

Is it then just a matter of timing? If the Batman 1 showed up last November (instead of the MC 1) would it have sold for the numbers we're discussing now?

Thanks, Billy. Hope all is well, pal.

So it may be worth double the Windy City Marvel 1 ($1,260,000)? Hmmm....