Robot Man

Cheating again but couldn’t resist. Just got this one back from CGC. I thought they were a little hard on this one. Was sad to see they didn’t label it as a Halloween cover and the fact that it is a writer’s file copy. I provided the paperwork I got from David T Alexander but they didn’t buy it. One of my favorite romance covers weather a comic or a pulp. Probably the highest and only copy on the census.

Got my last pulp back from my 3/24 submission at WonderCon. Am actually a little disapointed with this one. My favorite romance pulp and a top 10 favorite pulp in my collection. Apparently, I missed “very slight rust on staples”. Thought they were a bit harsh on overhang tears as well. The few tiny tears on this one look to be bindery flaws not due to handling. I had it pegged at 8.0. Also notes on the label. I had asked for a Halloween cover mention but that seems to be important to me than most folks. Also, it is a writer file copy. Bought it from David T Alexander and had paperwork with it. Seems, they are being pretty tough on things like this. A pleasant suprise though. It came in a thinner slab like a comic slab instead of the very thick one my first pulp came in. Much snugger and a perfect fit. Also takes up a lot less storage space. I mentioned it to Matt and he agreed and said they are still working things out. Still looks nice and I am considering a few more before a lot of pulps surge more in price and up the submission costs.

Vault 12 isn’t all that rare just expensive. Canadian issues are a lot tougher to find from a collecting perspective. The pre trend books are a lot harder to put a set together. The giveaways are near impossible. I’m pretty sure Roger had a complete set of all the newstand editions.

I wouldn’t kick that Marvel 92 or All Winners out of my boxes either…

Indeed. Rich grew up in the town I live in. A couple years ago he was in town to reminisce. He asked me if he could come by. I was more than happy to have him come by. Like I have said, he and I were pretty much polar opposites collecting wise. But he loved all my early Disney toys. A few years earlier I had mentioned I had a 1941 Capt Marvel boxed puzzle but it had a couple pieces missing. As soon as he showed up, he pulled one out of a bag and gave it to me. I offered to buy it or trade him something for it but he wouldn’t hear of it. He just wanted me to have it. I still have it and when I see it, I think of him. A true collector and generous to a T.

Isn’t Capt Marvel a female now?

Freak Bros was from last year. And was easily the best one that year. Would have been #1 for me if they did another this year.

Thought I'd do a short review of the 8 Free comics I got. I will preface this by saying, I am a GA guy and haven't bought more than just a handful of new comics in over 20 years... I can't comment on the Superhero books as I gave up on them a long time ago. I will grade these as I see them from worst to best. #8 Overstreet Guide. Worthless to me. Based toward someone who knows nothing about comics. I already know about storage and mylars and am quite good at chiseling down dealers respectfully. Grade 0 #7 The Cursed Library. Archie has gone to Hell. I am a PCH guy so way hoping for something a little better. Grade F #6 Eye Lie Popeye. I am a Popeye fan. Had all the characters (except the Jeep). Premise was how Popeye lost his eye. Quickly progressed into some kind of superhero slugfest. Terrible Annimie art. I guess I enjoyed seeing the characters. Grade D #5 Tons of Strange. Gravitated to it because of the EC style cover. 3 full stories with a horror and sci fi twist. Bad writing and pretty terrible art. Somewhat readable but Bill and Al are probably rolling over in their graves. Grade C-D 4. Star Wars Two pretty good stories with decent art. The same ole, same ole but readable and entertaining. Disney has pretty much been beating a dead horse. Grade C+ #3 Flash Gordon Where Star Wars came from. predictable like Star Wars but some of the best art in the bunch. Someone was really trying to channel a bit of Al Williamson Grade B #2 MAD Published by DC so everything was their characters. Classic satire stuff with some classic art and gags. One of the few with content only cover to cover as in the MAD tradition. A very fun read Cover was a bit disgusting though... Grade A- #1 Atlas Comic Library. The one I was looking forward to the most. Excellent story choices, Horror, War and even humor. Back in the day when comics were lovingly drawn with a pen and original hand colored. Wish they printed it on newsprint. One of the greatest Bill Everett pre-code horror covers. My only complaint was the printing on the classic Wolverton story. Was a bit out of register. Grade A All in all an hour or so of fun free reading. I say this every year, God help the comic industry. Computer generated art just has such a flat, gaudy quality in general. Stories are poorly written for the most part. Kind of like where the music industry has gone. I support my local shop buying reprint books and supplies but just can't see paying what new comics go for, for the drivel I see there. I still enjoy Free Comic Day. Fun taking my granddaughters. They found some fun books and actually read them. I doubt they will ever be comic lovers but a good excuse to spend the day with them. Anybody want to review what they got?

Is that Edgar Church with his want list?

Crime Patrol #15,16, War Against crime #10,11 and Vault of Horror #12?. Several Pre-Trends as well.

Incredible score. Some huge keys there. Did you clean him out? Or left some for a second trip back?

I am hoping to go and maybe bring some stuff to sell.

I’ve said it before but pulp paper is never “white” even off the roll at the time of printing. At best “off white”. So, technically that is about the best it comes. Pulp paper yellows in time. Quicker in less than optimal situations. Then progresses from there.

Skeleton pulps are all the rage right now…

Even back when PCH was cheap this one was tough to find. Never at the right place and right time for me. So, I guess I will have to be happy with the reprint…

Anybody know when these will be hitting the racks?

Another cool Belarski cover.

Yeah, Dave Smith got the later half. Sounds like your comic shop owner friend got the earlier half. Sadly, they are scattered to the 4 winds with no providence now. Not all of them are in very high grade though. Here is another one I got from Dave years ago. I thought it was funny he crossed out the “finest example” statement on the COA… I like it anyway. Just another cool skeleton cover that seem to be on fire lately,

Take at 20% off

I also got the Popeye one but forgot it in the photo. There is a list on line. My store gets them all but orders less of the ones they think people don’t want. My store is great. Within reason you can get one of anything you want. I always buy some stuff. This time a bunch of supplies on sale. I must have somehow missed Godzilla. It was a little crazy.

Took my 2 grandaughters. They had a blast. They are pouring over their stash now. Did you miss the Atlas one? I didn’t see the Godzilla at my store. Here is what I snagged…

If you haven’t already, hit your local comic store and pick up this free one. Great contents!

As a kid, we got back issues by trading with our friends. Money was almost never exchanged. But comics had value. You had to trade several Harvey’s or Charltons to get a Spiderman or Batman. They were all basically worthless but popularity held the cards. A lot of times older kids would give us their comics. My uncle gave me his ECs. Me and my brother would pull our wagon down the streets ringing doorbells and asking for them. They would often be given to us for the asking or in exchange for cutting lawns. There were no comic stores but we got adept at hitting used book stores for nickle priced comics. The same with garage sales and later flea markets. Then came mail order and early small comic shows and the floodgates opened. And with that prices started to rise. The rest is history…

Love the later Lubbers Wings issues. My favorite part of the run. Turned a lot of average war covers into va va voom!

Bailey really ran the gamut genre wise. Personally, I prefer his horror and More Fun work. Yes, I am a sicko. But his romance stuff is also pretty unique. You just know who did it at a glance.