oldmilwaukee6er

Here's some text from a Feb 22nd newsletter... 1,000 Silver Age Comics Arrive - X-MEN #1, more Howdy! Forty-five years ago, I voluntarily relinquished my full ride ROTC scholarship to live in a borrowed 1963 Chevrolet. I slept in the back seat on top of frying chicken boxes (the precursors to long whites...) for four months while traveling all across America in the hope of becoming a full time comic book retailer. I made $800 that summer, and that was the seed money that I used to open the first Mile High Comics retail store on September 30th, 1974. I made this truly life-changing decision to give up my scholarship when I was barely 19 years old. 1963 Chevrolet I mention this oft-told bit of my personal history because it speaks to a fundamental characteristic of my personality. Simply put, I left the army not because I necessarily thought that I would necessarily be successful as a comics retailer, but rather that I choose to live a life of homelessness and abject poverty in preference to acceding to other people the power to force me to do as they wished. Under 21 Drag Show Flyer That core principle is particularly pertinent this week, as we have had a remarkably nasty group of homophobic people (most with fake profiles...) telling me online that they will never shop with us again because we are sponsoring a youth drag show next weekend here in Denver. If that is their position, then I have absolutely no problem with never seeing, or hearing, from them ever again. I truly do try to be understanding of divergent perspectives, and how/why someone else defines morality is entirely their own business. That having been said, under no circumstances will I ever allow someone else to tell me what I can, or cannot, do in my own life. I did not knuckle under to bullies when I was dirt poor, and I sure as heck will not capitulate today. If some of these haters choose to return to us at some later date, they will be greeted with love and understanding, as I hold no grudges over mere differences in opinion. Love is love. 'Nuff said.

Yeah... It's been building for a while now. He's been actively involved with an organization that helps LGBT community youth for the past 2-3 years, last year he took a leadership role and hosted fundraisers and 1-2 drag shows. This year he stepped down from the equivalent of VP role and since has started performing drag under the name of Bettie Pages.

This amount of wavyiness is totally normal for new comics and yes pressing would help.

The lady bought these... She's always loved Docs and the B&W pair do recall Zap style art. I thought they were going to cool and really encouraged her (going so far as to pay for half). I tried to post the pic I took on the Alternative and UG Facebook page but suspect it wasn't due to blurring the lines between advertising / sales

The lady bought these... She's always loved Docs and the B&W pair do recall Zap style art. I thought they were too cool and really encouraged her (going so far as to pay for half). I tried to post the pic I took on the Alternative and UG Facebook page but suspect it wasn't due to blurring the lines between advertising / sales

The only one I chase is the Platinum #1

Mail call!! Zap Comix #0 R Crumb Happy this arrived yesterday while I was home due to all the package thefts this time of year 🤩

Share the top two copies of Zap Comix 7 & 12, as well as top one copy of Zap 9

Close...

Close... I think I had it for a short while

I submitted my copies from Fantagraphics vs my Amazon copies without the price sticker

Reholder would result in the same grade. I'm gonna guess with all the signatures this book was not signed all at once? It probably started out life as a blue label 9.8 but has since been handled and signed, handled and signed and that has resulted in slight wear. Maybe it was a wall book for a spell, and faded just a little from display?

The other guy that might have this stuff is Jim Pitts. He's on Facebook and used to be (almost) partners with Fogel back in the day. I think Pitts ran Cherry's fan club too. If you don't have his contact, PM me and when I'm on the full computer I can share it.

Jim Pitts got some of the Donahue stock (I had heard)

@icefires - send an email to Dan Fogel through the Hippy Comix website. If he doesn't have them, I'd bet he could source some.

RE 156 As a general rule Spawn's print run drops significantly after milestone issues with multiple variant covers. Estimated presales at 27k copies. And 156 has a black cover. Spine ticks like CRAZY on this issue! It's almost unreal - copies with 8-12 spine ticks consistently. I watched eBay for a few years trying to source a 9.4 or better copy for my collection before finding one locally in a new-to-market collection.

FWIW... +1 I've handled a lot of raw Spawns in my collecting days and I haven't seen this particular example. But... I also collect underground comix where we see odd ball manufacturing errors. I cannot discount RMA or LB when they say it was probably some leftover guts to which a newsie cover was attached. But that's exactly how these errors happen! And... Don't sweat too much that you set the market. It's an excellent example of a first appearance character with a fair amount of history to her (what with Gaiman suing McFarlane). And now we will be on the lookout for another one!

I'm hoping for some advice on how to best source modern toys in a post-Toys R Us environment. The problem is that when I visit multiple Milwaukee Walmart's, the toy section is a desert. There may be one or two toys of any given line but more often there's two thirds or more empty shelf space. Target is a little better, but also further away with added overhead cost. Does anyone use an SKU finder app? Or a website? What techniques can I employ to compete better? I'm not trying to buy for resale or replace the pros, but I am frustrated by having to source toys on eBay, pay a premium (e.g. Usagi Yojimbo), or see items damaged in shipping. Namely I am looking for a couple more examples of the Vintage SW Doctor Aphra figure 3 and 3/4 inch. Also, I will be looking for a few SW Black Series 6-inch Doctor Aphra, BT1, and 000. And eventually any new Usagi Yojimbo toys that result from his cartoon. Appreciative of any tips you might share.

Day 45- Nov. 1, 2018- Spawn #117 (10th Anniversary Issue) Writer: Brian Holguin, Todd McFarlane Artist: Angel Medina Cover: Todd McFarlane, Greg Capullo Published: May 1, 2002 Arising out of young Eddie's search for revenge on the Hellspawn, the Redeemer finds Spawn in the desert and intends to finally settle the score. As the battle between the two is taking place, the mysterious stranger visits Eddie's bedside in the hospital and reveals the truth to an unconscious Eddie that has always been impossible for him to admit: His father was an abusive, drunken brute. While the truth could kill Eddie, it has the Redeemer examining his own motives. After receiving a final crushing blow from the Redeemer, Spawn lays on the desert floor while two patiently waiting scorpions do what they have been sent to do: drag the Hellspawn down into the bowels of Hell (Image Comics, 2018).

Day 44- Oct. 31, 2018- Spawn #88 (Halloween Cover) Writer: Brian Holguin, Todd McFarlane Artist: Greg Capullo Cover: Todd McFarlane, Greg Capullo Published: October 1, 1999 A frightened child named Mary tells the story of her life with her mean, abusive stepfather. When Sam and Twitch investigate his untimely death, they rule it an accident even though it seems like they know their red-cloaked informant was meting out his type of justice. Meanwhile, Cogliostro meets with representatives from both Heaven and Hell to discuss the precarious balance of earth matters that has been disturbed with the resignation of their missing pawn. Mr. Hell leaves the meeting with a final threat to Cog that he needs to deliver Spawn to him quickly or else, while Ms. Heaven concedes that perhaps the will of God isn't quite what it used to be (Image Comics, 2018).

Day 42- Oct. 29, 2018- Spawn #102 & 113- Bats Double Feature! Writer: Brian Holguin, Steve Niles, Todd McFarlane Artist: Angel Medina, Greg Capullo Cover: Todd McFarlane, Greg Capullo Published: December 31, 2000 At the end of her mental and emotional rope, Thea has a gift that can also be a curse: She can see when people are about to die. Spawn appears to Thea, but she's convinced he's there to harm her. Hell's opportunistic lords are quick to take advantage of humans in Thea's condition, and a smooth-talking, expensively dressed demon approaches her and reenforces her belief that Spawn is out to get her. The demon convinces Thea to give up her soul to him and then reveals, after it's too late, that Spawn was actually there to help (Image Comics, 2018). Writer: Brian Holguin, Todd McFarlane Artist: Angel Medina Cover: Todd McFarlane, Greg Capullo Published: November 1, 2001 After apparently losing his son, Twitch Williams is on the verge of suicide, but Spawn will intervene before Twitch pulls the trigger. Out in Central Park, the Children of the Kingdom are gathering but have not taken into account Spawn¹s allies. Nor have they considered the versatile Ab and Zab who, with the help of a magic marker, turn the Citadel into a pillar of death and a gateway to Hell for all the vampires. In the end, Max is saved, but is no longer a part of this world. And though it appears that Spawn has vanquished the Kingdom¹s cult, he fails to realize, as a familiar face reminds us, that a gateway to Hell can also let things out (Image Comics, 2018).

Day 1- October 27, 2018- Pickle Rick! YESsssssssssss I took a couple of days off the Journal in favor of our annual Halloween party- for friends, family, coworkers, etc.- it's one time of the year we open our house to all comers. The party consumed a lot of time for preparation- especially enjoyed spending a couple of nights stitching, cobbling, tacking my Pickle Rick costume: The costume would have been even a little better had my Attack on Titan zentai suit arrived from China on time (ordered Oct. 12).