Randall Ries

I have seen other copies w/o the dot. It seems like there was more than one printing run.The earlier print run didn't have the dot and the later one did.

Yes. I traded my 9.0 off and regretted it as soon as I left the Post office to mail it. I had no idea the prices would jump so high so quickly.

Good points. For my part, I am a little conflicted. While the stories were better and more socially focused, eventually everything slid back to giant typewriters terrorizing the city or other inanity. Bob Haney, Adams and O'Neil showed everyone what comic story telling should be. So, I'm not belittling GL 76 or its contribution to better artwork/story telling. The question was asked in the title of this thread and I put in my 2 cents is all. But the better stories were already happening before Adams and O'Neil took on GL/GA. The grown up writing was on the wall afaic when Adams broke out the Deadman stories in Strange Adventures. Insofar as GL 76 and HOS 92 are concerned, the real start of the Bronze age (and a story that encapsulated both adult story telling and the gothic together) is Detective 395.

The whole Moore run was an excellent read. GL 76 made its point with "adult" story telling. And that's about it. As has been mentioned, it has been copied and become the industry norm. HOS 92 is timeless. I hope when a movie comes out, they (DC) don't ruin it like virtually every movie they have made.

I love and own both books. I'm not sure why GL #76 is designated a "key" as it's only real claim to fame is the beginning of the bronze age (a designation bestowed by collectors) and a departure from the dumber stories DC was offering. It hasn't held up well as the stories are dated and is trite in comparison to the social problems we face now. Although we seem to be facing a heroin epidemic right now, so maybe #'s 85 & 86 should be considered "keys" now. HOS #92 has stood the test of time and fits in well with the horror genre of today. The character was spun off into its own magazine and experienced a resurgence when Alan Moore started writing "American Gothic". ST has managed to maintain "his" popularity. I have no idea where Green Lantern is as far as popularity. The movie was a crime and didn't help push the essence of what Green Lantern was when Hal Jordan was the popular GL. The drastic increase in value of HOS #92 seems to be driven by eBay and Wrightson's passing while GL#76 seems to be static. Once Adams passes, there will be a sharp uptick in value as the Adams keys will be highly sought after. After a time, I think the prices of Adams keys will soften while HOS #92 will maintain its value rampage. It was always expensive comparatively and hard to get in higher grade and especially decent page quality. I'm glad to have both books so I don't have to agonize much. If the poll had been Bigger BA Key: Batman 232 or HOS 92, that would have bugged me all day.

I'm trying to get a complete signed set of the Strange Adventures Neal Adams series. I think I need three or four more. Here's the latest...

Yes. The irony wasn't lost on me either.

Here's what I do. Maybe it makes sense. I see a Dell'Otto cover I like. I buy it. I don't try to speculate. I like the cover. I buy it. Doesn't matter if it's rare, commonplace or limited. I prefer virgin covers. I don't like all of them. I buy the ones I like. I will buy from Bulletproof or ebay. SOMEONE is always selling Dell'Otto covers. I buy them because I like his artwork. If I pay too much I don't care. Sometimes I pay too little. great! The cover I posted a few pages back struck a tone with me. Harvey Dent utterly defeated. Very touching cover. Venom covers? Couldn't care less. Beautiful artwork? Yes. They all are. Do I like Venom? Couldn't give a rats . I don't care what it might be "worth". If I don't like the cover or it doesn't reach me, it has no value to me.

I thought this final scene in DK1 was heartbreaking. Dell'Otto captured it perfectly, I thought.

Let's get back to appreciating Dell'Otto:

Weird. I called metro because I was interested in their copy. I just couldn't see over the printing error.

HOS Swamp Thing was an elemental. ST #1 was Alec Holland. SOTST #20 and #21 explains that NO. ST was NEVER Alec Holland. He is a plant who only THOUGHT he was Alec Holland. Later in the series, it's explained there have been many Swamp Things. They are known as Elementals. Like the one in HOS #92. The earth has always needed Elementals.

That's what I figured when I saw the scan pre purchase. But when I got the book, it's the liner of the capsule pushing against the cover some. It's all there with no missing pieces.

I'm sorry about that. It terrifies me to buy raw on the interwebs.

Not trying to bait you. I was just observing the tattle-tale nature of your post is all. Plus, you don't have enough effort in you to take me on. So, good call on your part.

Do I care? Just saying your post struck me as kinda narky. You didn't have to call him out for asking for grades. I'm glad you guys are pals now, though. I imagine he was all "Sorry. I didn't mean to offend or do anything wrong" and you were all "It's ok, man. Just don't do it anymore." How's it feel to be called out?

Very subtle. Nevertheless, No one likes a back seat mod.

Rat Bas***d.

Nice raw book! A real beauty! I would say 9.0-9.2 because of the ding in the lower spine and the scuffing along the spine of the back cover . Still, it'd look really sharp in a CGC graded shell.

Where did Jerry store his books? In a kiln? They all have brittle pages.

I have taken a small interest in old "TV Guides". NO ONE can hate a TV GUIDE. Unless you can't complete the puzzle, making you an illiterate loser out of touch with popular culture. Here is my 1st old TV Guide purchase. Elvis Presley's first cover appearance in 1956. There was a reprint a few years ago celebrating this issue. This is the real deal though. I'm not stupid enough to buy something of this caliber and not do my research. Reproductions are for . Someone drew in lines where it says "TV". I was put off at first, but the price was right and I am guilty of drawing lines on magazines myself, so who am I to judge?

Nope. Not only that, but Stan Lee actually created Bob Kane. Scraped him together from the dust of the earth and blew life into his nostrils.