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My dealings with dotcomcomics were free from hassle. I can't recall the books themselves, but I'm sure they were run books in the $5 to $10 range.

I'll take Avengers 37, 39, and 42.

As a paperback guy myself, I agree with an earlier poster: they have to be in condition, there are a handful of hot authors, cover art is still a driving factor, and selling them one at a time will be too onerous. Selling in lots is probably the way to go. You'll lose value but move volume. I've watched several paperbacks on the Bay for years. I don't know why I don't delete them from my watchlist. I guess on some level it brings me comfort. When something does sell that's been on my watchlist for months or even years, I naturally get remorseful - "why didn't I buy that??"

Man, that's a great example! 54 Bowman Williams or Crackerjack Jackson make your cut?

Are you suggesting it brings you anxiety to spend that much on a book like that? Then don't!! I know I don't. I'm still cheap, and it brings peace of mind. I shoulda/coulda bought all those same books at prices reflected in even earlier guides, but in the end I'm happy with what I DID get. Sure, I'll never own a ton of books that have exploded in price, but there are thrills aplenty to be had in the $5 to $20 range still. Is Haunted Thrills a killer title? Darn straight it is. Would I hate myself in the morning if I paid $500 to a $1,000 or more per issue? Absolutely. At some level, it stops being fun. At least for me it does. When you were a kid, you could save up your allowance (if you got one!) or your grass-cutting or birthday money and score a mini-grail if you sacrificed long enough. Now what are we supposed to do? Forego buying a new car for a decade or so? I don't know how the Geffens and the Cohens of the world sleep at night: do they ever stop and say "holy cr@p, I just spent a fifty million on a painting?"

Pretty savvy of a young Robot! Going straight to the source like that...

And we're still clamoring for Cole forty years later!!

Those books were definitely the subject of a lot of buzz back then, as well as Motion Picture Funnies Weekly. The Top 50 Comics list had a lot of Donald Duck giveaways on it that have faded immensely, but most of the usual suspects (superhero) were there on the Top 50 with the only other real "where are they now?" category book being the rare Kirby Boy Explorer's 2. It's always fun to look back at those guides!!

I love the newsstand feature at Mike's!!!

What was on the cover of your first Overstreet? Was it the Bark's Porky Pig cover or the Bill Ward GGA cover? I recall those Catechetical Guild books always being listed as rare, but I never thought they were anywhere near Marvel Comics 1. However, doubting my memory as I sometimes do nowadays, you inspired me to dig out my old Overstreets. The 1977-1978 Guide (Porky Pig cover) has "If The Devil Would Talk" at $3 in mint compared to Marvel 1 at $7,500. The 1978-1979 Guide has ITDWT at $12 in mint and Marvel 1 at $10,000. It's noteworthy that "Blood is the Harvest" made the color section in 78-79 edition, which to me always indicated it was a grail-esque level book.

I don't know if it's some form of latent paranoia or just a touch of pessimism, but I agree with you mostly, and yet I keep getting outbid on run books on the Bay at what seems like a 90% rate, even though my bids are often in line with the much maligned Overstreet. And I'm not just talking about something like a 12c Kid Colt Outlaw I'm missing, I get outbid on things just as obscure Rinty and Joe Palooka, especially if it's a popular seller like blissard or the like. Now, a downturn in the market no doubt would hit many of us that aren't cashing out now (if we are near THE peak), but I look forward to buying oodles of stuff I'm missing on the cheap when prices do come down.

I thought the same thing after noting continuity across what appears to be the centerfold...

Very interesting! The pages look great. The cover has strong colors and decent gloss with a few obvious nicks and flaws. What do you think it would grade? 1.8? 2.0? 2.5? You could fold the one piece down on the right edge (if it doesn't break off) and still have a nice-presenting copy of a mega-key! Funny that someone knew enough to ask that much but not to bother any further with it, like getting it slabbed or sending it to auction.

What an interesting read this thread has been! I find it enlightening the number of insightful and well composed posts.

Agreed: it's a stain/splatter and not a color touch. Classic Marvel on the cheap? You can't go wrong!

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Yeah, Nick Fury 6 is my favorite Steranko cover as well. I recall him holding court at a con and telling a group of us how it was his homage to Wally Wood's EC sci-fi covers, which you can certainly see. I think it's a masterpiece. That being said, it's hard to top Silver Surfer 4!

I think this greytone deserves an honorable mention (or at the very least a second peek):

I bought a small stack of undergrounds years ago at a postcard and paper show of all places. My experience with undergrounds back in the day was pretty much limited to the Freak Brothers, which I adored, from that counter-culture vibe to the intricate Shelton linework. Having dug these up recently, I was wondering which ones those of you with more knowledge think worthy of keeping front and center (the rest will probably go back into a big box in storage). Are any of these historically significant or noteworthy in your collective opinion? Just for reference, these were the ones I was more immediately drawn to (I know because I had separated them) when I first purchased them many years ago, either for the Crumb angle, the absurd cover, the seemingly earlier edition, etc.: Thanks!!!

I agree with the others: it does look like bleed-through from color touch.

Finally - something rare that is advertised as "rare!"

Some seriously great books. I am most dazzled by the oversized editions like the New Fun and the Jumbo. Great stuff.