fmaz

It’s funny - I had the opportunity this afternoon to purchase an objectively nice Spidey page from the early 80’s at an objectively reasonable price — and I had to tell the owner that I could not do it. I had been talking to two owners about two different pages, both of which I liked, and the one owner ultimately said he was going to hang onto his page for now, and when he did so I felt defeated. I realized that was EXACTLY the kind of page I was looking for. And this other page? I was interested because it was objectively good and objectively well priced. And I just can’t buy art like that. I’m sure some of you will think that is crazy. But everything I buy goes on my wall, so there has to be a reason it’s there, and “it was a good price” isn’t a reason. So despite the fact that people are not banging down my door here… let me know clarify - I now know that what would really scratch this particular itch is I would like a really good web-swinging through the city page from the 70’s or early 80’s. It’s something missing from my collection right now and I would love to fill that particular hole. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

With Kane pieces, I guess I’m in the minority in that I always believe the COAs are legit. Those pieces are certified fakes, as opposed to all those other unauthorized fakes floating around. So that COA gives me a great deal of piece of mind. No idea why you are so SO untrusting. Sheesh.

The one and only bump I’ll make - just in case someone just didn’t see it, or saw it and said “oh yeah I have a suggestion” and forgot. So if you have a Spidey-centric page or know of someone who does, I’d appreciate the connection. Thanks!

Eh, I mean... it's fine... if you like that sort of thing.

Hey all - looking to buy a birthday gift for a special someone… ok, it’s myself (LOL). Yeah, I thought I’d consider treating myself on my Bday if I could find a Spidey page to fill one of the few remaining spots on my office wall. Ideally looking for something from 70’s… I don’t have the budget for anything from ASM, unless it was the kind of page that wouldn’t much interest me. I’d like a Spidey-centric page. Artist-wise? A Kane MTU page would be great, but so would anything by either Buscema (I do have a Sal page already, so I might be a bit less inclined unless I loved the page)… a Mooney page would work fine if I loved the page, etc. Pretty open-minded. You all know how it goes… you know the page when you see it. At least that’s how I buy things. Anyway, if anyone has one they’re looking to move, or willing to part with, or knows of someone who might… I can promise it a good home… it’ll immediately be framed and right up on my wall. Thanks! Frank

Got my raffle box from @Namtak - and not only is it all the fun stuff promised but a very cool Jim Starlin OA Shang-Chi sketch added in!

Both my prizes were shipped out on Tuesday, and I sent tracking #’s to each of the winners.

He took the time to put his name, email and phone… but then neglected to rank anything? You almost have to admire that on some level.

And I do hope no one who couldn't pick it while it was off the table would have and missed it...as that doesn't seem fair. Although letting someone switch for something still available seems completely reasonable and in the spirit of the raffle.

I pity the fool that has allowed lot #9 to last this long... I'll take it.

Yeah, and now my Timm sketch is back too!

That is awfully nice of you! @stormflora confided in me that the $300 in books would be 1,000 $0.30 books. Enjoy!

Yup. Also, #40 has "mystery books"

#11 too, sorry

#31 or #41? am I missing others?

Yeah, I don’t think EVEN I would have done THAT. I think if I’d gotten the first pick, I’d have found out what Greggy’s favorite charity is, made a donation, and been done with it. At least I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t have still ranked all the items…

My wife says it’s a form of OCD - to which I replied, “the adorable kind?” - to which she rolled her eyes and walked away. So I believe that is confirmation that it is, indeed, the adorable kind.

Form submitted. I TRIED to only rank up to my pick (#44), but leaving a task partially finished like that makes my brain itch... so I ranked to the end.

I got this from our son …

Merry Christmas everyone! So glad we’re all sharing what we got from our fellow overly generous boardies in the annual secret santa - but let’s also see what everyone got from friends and family in terms of comic-related booty! Please share!

Thanks to @Dr. Balls for an incredibly generous and creative gift! Hard to describe really, you have to see to believe! I posted the packaging before, but I think it bears reposting so people can get the whole experience!! It’s Harry Osborn’s Midtown high folder, recovered from a SHIELD evidence locker, with school flyers, a note from his dad, a unique (to say the least) CGC book, the McFarlane Marvel Year in Review issue, oh and six really sharp SA & BA Spideys.

Another wonderful job by the elves! Thank them so much on behalf of the whole board! Watching them grow up is part of our Christmas tradition now! Alas, so is watching them pick me in the bottom part of the raffle… but hey, traditions are traditions I suppose! Seriously, thanks so much to @The Sledder and the elves for all the hard work!!!!

I just want to say best of luck to the elves in their raffle order selections later today! And, you know, I know elf costumes certainly can be pricey…and…well, just saying, sometimes, people can help each other out…

It definitely seems like some new people are jumping in this year, which is great! But I do hope we still here from some of the oldies but goodies like @DiamondCityComics, @frozentundraguy, @Larryw7, @THE_BEYONDER, etc before the deadline!

I’ve told this story here before, so for those who’ve read it previously… my apologies. But when someone says “crazy comics story” this is kind of like Bettejuice, it just automatically gets told. In fact, my wife seems to encourage me to tell it to people in order to prove how crazy I am (whereas I always assume meeting me should be sufficient — go figure). Anyhoo…. About 15 years ago I responded to a Craigslist ad about a comic collection for sale. It was a neighboring town to ours. Slightly more rural, but still mostly a suburban, affluent Massachusetts town. Connected with the seller and he seemed nice enough. He said he had like 1,000 books or so, he had no idea what he had but he just wanted to move them. Sounded pretty good so I took the address and we agreed I’d come over as soon as I could. Well as luck would have it, the next day (I believe) I just happened to have had some meetings out of the office after lunch and didn’t have a game that night (I worked in college athletics) so I worked from home the rest of the day… so since I was home I just figured the sooner the better and headed over. I had his directions (pre GPS) and found his street with ease. Big, beautiful homes as I expected. But I drove down the street and couldn’t find his house. So I got to the end, turned back and drove it again more slowly, and noticed that tucked among all the mini-mansions, set back on a hill was this Adams Family looking rundown “every horror movie house you’ve ever seen in your life” looking place. With no number, of course. Which absolutely was the house. And it then started to rain. So I drive up this steep driveway and park at the top. The house does NOT get better looking up close, and as I sit in my car for 30 seconds deciding what to do, this man emerges FROM BEHIND THE HOUSE and comes running towards the car. ”Hi, hi!” He says. “You here for the comics?” I nodded (still in my car) ”Great, come on!” He then waved, and disappeared BACK BEHIND THE HOUSE So yes, I got out of the car, in the rain, and walked behind the Adams Family house… Where, there was this beautiful veranda, and his wonderful wife and two kids. And he had 10 long boxes of high grade SA books and we sat and had tea and cookies and laughed and laughed…. Yeah, no. I walked behind the house to see him vanish down a storm cellar. For those not from New England, a storm cellar is a pair of gray, creaky metal doors in the back of your home that lead down into a windowless underground bunker beneath your house. So I walked over to the open doors, and looked down into the darkness, and heard his voice call up - “I’m down here!” I paused, again, in the rain, for what felt like an hour and then walked down. But before I did, I remember the EXACT thought that went through my head: ”Huh. So this is how I die.” The guy ended up being perfectly nice, albeit kinda creepy. The books were ok - I mean they were stored in a musty New England storm cellar for years. I think I ended up buying liked $50 worth of stuff. There was a nice copy of ASM #238, that is literally the only highlight I remember - other than the fact that I made it home alive and with all my organs. Oh and it was absolutely my final Craigslist transaction ever.