Brother J

Yep, I check moderns that have the digital download stickers to make sure they are in place, and if not, I will pass on the book. Just doesn't feel like it's 100% complete to me.

Terrible news, I have known Howard for years via the internet and have done many transactions with him. He was a big part of our underground comix group discussion forums first at comicspriceguide.com and later the Underground Comix wiki. Wish I had had the chance to meet Howard in person, we always used to talk about the SE PA area since that was where he was from and where I live. RIP Eggs.

Not surprised you didn't find Tokyo Ghost at Vortex. I love that shop for bargain books and the owner is a cool guy (I always stop there when in town), but he was never one for stocking new things and would only order a copy or two when he did. The previous owner back when the shop was called F5 Collectibles apparently really overdid it with his ordering way back when, which is why they have so many bargain books nowadays. I'm a fan of Lost Worlds of Wonder, as well. They seemed to almost always have the newest stuff in stock and their back issue supply is decent. I was also happy the last couple times I was there with the good amount of bargain books.

It looks like the board censor does not like the abbreviation F U G for Fogel's Underground Guide! Anyway, what about Donahue File Copies? Have some slabbed undergrounds been designated with that on the label? I thought I recalled seeing a few. I guess those would only be the Apex Novelties books that Don had as I imagine all the other books he had in large quantities were purchased from another source somewhere along the line.

I'm assuming you're talking Death Rattle Vol. 1 #1. I didn't see what books were up for auction as I knew I wouldn't be bidding. I think Death Rattle #1 is hard to get in high grade mainly because I don't remember Donahue ever having them in stock for his catalog. If he did, I would guess he didn't have a lot of them, as that book was never one of the ones he repeatedly listed on eBay. One of the reasons a high grade copy of Funny Aminals should never be that tough to get is that Donahue had a ton of them, all in high grade.

Fight Club is one of my monthly titles, as well. So far I'm really not impressed with it, hoping it will get better, as I really enjoy Palahniuk's books. I know you were interested in Hip Hop Family Tree as some kind of spec. The only problem I see is that the monthly comic is a reprinting of the larger trades.

Excellent report, Wizard World Chicago really seems to be the show to attend for comic collectors. We're planning on visiting Milwaukee next summer, maybe I can talk the wife into making it be around the time of next year's show. That Zap #3 is awesome, I'd really like to see (and feel) what a 1st print of that book is like. I heard something about the cover thickness being easy to tell with that issue.

San Francisco Comix #1 (1st and only); A nice presenting VG copy w/ bongwater, resin stain on BC. Even though this is an undercopy for me, I just could not pass it up for $100. I still need a copy of this book! I probably would have liked it priced a little lower with the condition, but that's probably why I still don't have a copy!

Retail for the comic is pretty high though ($7) My opinion: Black Mask has been worth my investment. My shop has been a destination as many others don't stock them yet. I like the material too. ALL of their properties could be other forms of media, so I think of them as mid-long term modern plays... Orange -500 Green -250 Purple -100 White -50 The book may be a good read but i have to pass on terrible covers. Your opinion... Anyway.... I kinda like them. Solid concept that draws in an existing fan base doing homage covers of classic gangsta rap albums. My shops cover is loosley based on Boogie Down Productions (By All Means Necessary). Feels "indy" Didnt picture you as a follower of gangsta rap albums. Was BDP gangsta ? I like the cover, copying the famous picture of Malcolm X peering out the window with his rifle: KRS-One used the same pose on BDP's second record. BDP started out as "gangsta" rap, but then switched styles. Slow your roll. BDP was never Gansta rap. Check the facts, homie. So this track doesn't qualify as "gangsta rap"? Their first album is entitled "Criminal Minded" and has tracks like "9MM Goes Bang" and "Remix for P is Free", which features the immortal line "The Girlies are free, cause the crack costs money, OH YEAH!" Is it Gangsta Rap like NWA is Gangsta Rap? No, NWA's music went further than any of the previous attempts at being "gangster" by other artists. But they were definitely "on the criminal tip" with their first record. That changed once DJ Scott LaRock was killed violently after the release of the first record. Are those facts checked enough for you?

I think you would want to acquire a first print copy of HHFT #1. It has a picture of Grandmaster Flash on the cover. These were pretty close to treasury size. Just make double sure it is a first printing as it appears to have been reprinted several times. http://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=25071584

Retail for the comic is pretty high though ($7) My opinion: Black Mask has been worth my investment. My shop has been a destination as many others don't stock them yet. I like the material too. ALL of their properties could be other forms of media, so I think of them as mid-long term modern plays... Orange -500 Green -250 Purple -100 White -50 The book may be a good read but i have to pass on terrible covers. Your opinion... Anyway.... I kinda like them. Solid concept that draws in an existing fan base doing homage covers of classic gangsta rap albums. My shops cover is loosley based on Boogie Down Productions (By All Means Necessary). Feels "indy" Didnt picture you as a follower of gangsta rap albums. Was BDP gangsta ? I like the cover, copying the famous picture of Malcolm X peering out the window with his rifle: KRS-One used the same pose on BDP's second record. BDP started out as "gangsta" rap, but then switched styles.

If you get a chance, head over to the CPG UG forum. I posted a few things over there, including a question you may (or may not) be able to help me with. I just spent a long time today going through my undergrounds, as I wanted to add a new empty box to my collection as things were getting tight.

I'm right there with you, 585 in 11 years.

Funny story about Alan, he knew me as "The Valiant Guy" because I would always ask if he had gotten any Valiant stuff in his stock. He once presented me with a worthless random issue of Shadowman signed and personalized by Bob Hall to me. I was grateful, thinking it was a gift to me in thanks for all the stuff I had bought from him.I was suprised when I found out he wanted me to pay for it! I wonder what he would have done with it if I has passed on it? Anyway, I usually did pretty well with Alan, he usually had some pretty good stuff in those cheap boxes. Was always curious how well he did with his own shows once he stopped during Burnham. I just checked his show schedule and there doesn't appear to be any Milwaukee shows planned for the rest of 2015. EDIT: I just "liked" Alan's Facebook page and I see his Milwaukee show was just last weekend. It was at the Clarion by the airport in Oak Creek. Very nice location, I lived not too far from there in Greenfield. How many dealers does he usually get?

Thanks for the report, my friend! I love those cheap dollar book shows in Milwaukee! I used to pull some quality material. In fact, I remember pulling a near complete set of Jonah Hex out of Alan's cheap boxes before the books started going up in value. Burnham shows were great. Sure, the room stunk of...something, but I always found good stuff, I never got annoyed by the people standing next to me rooting through the cheap boxes (unlike in the Philly area, where I have come close to fighting with various people who had no sense of bargain box manners) and once I was done rooting through comics, I would go to the bar with the wife and have one of their tasty toaster oven pizzas or a Bloody Mary with a beer chaser. I really miss Milwaukee, and the comic shows and shops in the area are just one of the reasons. Hoping to get out there sometime again soon.

I've always picked up Spectre #54 because of the cover, had no idea who Mr. Terrific was. I seem to do well finding this book, though. I currently have 3 copies (1 for my Spectre set and 2 extras) and have sold copies on eBay in the past. The one I have on eBay right now is doing better than expected.

4th print. Being the funeral AND the doomsday run in the same pack with later prints, buyer has a good shot at a Mos 18 4th/5th. I just assumed it wasn't the 4th because the logo looks orange as opposed to the typical yellow of the 4th print. Wonder if it was a printing error or just something the seller did to the color in the picture?

Is this a Adventures of Superman #498 5th printing? I didn't see any mention of it in this thread. It was in an eBay listing that ended close to $100 for a sealed pack: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NIB-Sealed-1993-DC-Collectors-16-Pack-Death-of-Superman-Doomsday-Funeral-Steel-/261885723852?nma=true&si=QK1odFtOSk3s1VJ5HnPzodZw2oI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

A week later (today) I stopped at the nearest Five Below, looks like they re-stocked, but only a few packs. I bought four packs all with the same books, all contained ASM #4 Ramos variant. I was pretty happy!

Five Below packs seem to be drying up, at least in my area. Went to three Five Below stores today (what can I say, it was my day off!), at one of them, all the packs had been rifled through already and there were no good books in them and the other stores had no packs in one case and only three packs in the other.

For those tracking the Spider-Man #4 1 in 10's from the Five Below packs, the one I bought today was in the middle, the books on the outside were Seekers of the Weird #2 1 in 25 Variant Pascal Campion cover and Ghost Rider #1 animal variant. Most of the packs they had were exactly the same, Original Sin #0 and Amazing Spider-Man 1.1: Learning to Crawl.

I guess you have to get to the Five Below the day the new packs in. The ones I've bought have had some books in NM, but others had many dings, mainly from people trying to see the books on the inside. Most of my All New Marvel Point Ones are dinged up quite a bit.

Just found three nice copies of this book at the LCS, only to check on eBay and see there's 44 active eBay listings for this book, which tells me this is probably not the time to list it.

Here's one that's not "heating up", but seems to usually do pretty well on eBay Labyrinth #1-3

I just lucked into one at the Five Below I went to today. Also picked up two All New Marvel Point One 1st prints and two 2nd prints. I even found an ANMPO 1st in my local shop's overstock boxes for 75 cents. The biggest problem is condition issues, with everyone shifting the books around in the package trying to see what is inside.