Robot Man

Detective Comics 33

Action Comics 1 at a Chicago CGC forum dinner.

And they are all basically ticking time bombs IMHO. No one is ever going to open the book for fear of detaching the cover. In this case, I’m very happy with my cheap(er) copy that I can open up and read!

Indeed a common issue. I have owned many over the years. Went under the radar for so long. But one of my favorite pulps. Definitely falls into the “classic cover” category for me. 

So, I meant to pick out a few classic covers from The Shadow Magazine recently when the subject came up over in a previous discussion on the lines we're having here but was out of town and away from images/resources.  I don't think every hero pulp deserves any particular number of classics or even any classics just because, but I'm certain The Shadow warrants at least a few both as *the* iconic pulp hero and because of the caliber of the art.  I admit I have a checkered relation with the hero pulps as a reader, but I can at least appreciate the art.
Shadow v06n 05 (1933-08-01.Street&Smith) cover George Rozen

CLASSIC. Hmm, no red star - do I have some sort of reprint in my files? what the - Used here but originally used on the cover of The Living Shadow from 1931:

The enormous nose, the haunted eyes, the sickly green, the bright red, and so much black.  Defining image of The Shadow. How is it even possible for this one not to be labelled classic?  Really, CGC
The Shadow 1933-01-15 cover George Rozen. 

The OA, believe a boardie owns this

One more, let's just call this more of an argument than a sure thing

also rans -

Doesn't get anymore classic than this one hot cover in so many ways

I have considered this a classic for sometime now

Just recently picked up my first pulp for my collection and it is a designated classic cover 😀 

Here is an example of a very famous issue/cover that did not get the designation. 
 

CGC's pulp division is like that kid who discovers Alex Schomburg for the first time. He's amazed by Alex's technique, line, action, and attention to detail. Compared to every modern comic cover, it staggers the imagination. It seems too vivid and artistic for a mere comic book. "What a classic cover!," he exclaims, and hurries to all his friends' houses to share his thrilling new art discovery. Then he discovers a second Schomburg cover. "Another classic!" Then a third ... and a fourth ... eventually, he discovers all 500 Schomburg covers. His enthusiasm never subsides. Declaring all 500 to be "classic," he has drained the word of all meaning.
Schomburg was a great artist. But only a few of his covers are "classic."
In reality, there are fewer than 50 pulp covers that deserve the "classic" designation, and these are ones that have been singled out for excellence by the pulp collecting community over the course of decades. Amazing Stories' "Skylark in Space" is a classic, not because it is visually arresting, or wildly lurid, or has bosomy, semi-nude women in bondage. What makes it classic is that pulp collectors singled it out for distinction from very early on, it is the first (or one of the first) visualizations of a man flying, and has been reproduced in books about pulps, pop culture, and science-fiction for a long, long time as being an archetypal sci-fi pulp image. 
 

For years and years I've loved the precode horror comic covers with skeletons playing jazz or classical music. I'm over the moon to have tracked down this tough pulp from 1935 (!) with a very similar cover theme. 
 

Fun catching up on this thread, I've posted very little lately as work has been consuming this week. Still had a little time for some fun.
I acquired this little gem from @Hap Hazard and wanted to mention he's great to deal with
Navy Romances No. 1, Spring 1946, Cover by Warren King

 
This is a tough little pamphlet and goes great with my full set of Army Romances. I just need Navy Romances No. 3 now to complete the entire "Romances" series (there is no known #2)

Spectacular! That is the highest graded pulp I have seen so far. Congrats!

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. 
 

I read Widow of Death for the first time last night. I still feel dirty. I scrubbed and I scrubbed but they just don't make water hot enough. 
Seriously though they went too far on that one especially at the end. 
 

Well my first eagle has landed. My first submission to CGC. I dropped this off at WonderCon on 3/29 and got it today. Quicker than I expected. Came back a little better than I expected. I had it at 7.0 so I guess my grading skills aren’t too bad. This slab is THICK! I will have to add on to the comic room if I keep doing this. Now, I wait for my two “value” submissions…
 

I love high grade, slabbed books as much as anyone else. They are freaks of nature. It amazes me that they made it through the passage of time unscathed. But, they are unfulfilled. No one read them, loved them and enjoyed what they had to offer. Kind of sad in a way.
Super high grade slabbed books are kind of unfulfilling to me. All you got is a front and back cover. There might as well be nothing in between. After I marvel over the beauty of the art, all I can do is turn them over and pick them apart for their physical condition. I quickly get bored with the experience.
Now if a two sided only object such as a coin or a sports card, is in a slab is in my hand, I get the full experience this object had to offer and I am fine with that. With a comic, I guess I just feel cheated.
But, to each his own…

I am of the “low grade is better than no grade” school of thought. I collect rare and very hard to get WWII books, pre-code horror, GGA ect. Sometimes low grade is my only option. There is always the possibility to upgrade later. Although prices have made it hard.
I don’t prefer low grade but in many cases I can live with it. I also prefer raw books I can open and check out. I have everything from coverless to Mile High peds. I know how to handle them and have at least carefully paged through every one.
I also collect old toys. I do much prefer a nice 1930’s vehicle toy with some paint chips and wear to a mint or restored one. Gives them patina and shows the love they were given over a long period of time. 

I asked her and she said no. She told me that Arts and Crafts material is pretty soft these days. Sad, I have always liked it. The big trend from the past few years is Mid Century Modern. (1950’s era stuff). Other than cars, guitars and comics, it does nothing for me. 

Found this book in my ug boxes. Forgot about it. It is b/w and digest size. Couldn’t find it in the Fogel guide. Rare? Or just an unusual regional publication? 

I am of the “low grade is better than no grade” school of thought. I collect rare and very hard to get WWII books, pre-code horror, GGA ect. Sometimes low grade is my only option. There is always the possibility to upgrade later. Although prices have made it hard.
I don’t prefer low grade but in many cases I can live with it. I also prefer raw books I can open and check out. I have everything from coverless to Mile High peds. I know how to handle them and have at least carefully paged through every one.
I also collect old toys. I do much prefer a nice 1930’s vehicle toy with some paint chips and wear to a mint or restored one. Gives them patina and shows the love they were given over a long period of time. 

It is an original Mexican first issue. Was printed in a digest size format. The seller showed it to me. Was a little weird because it had an early pie eyed Mickey Mouse Kay Kamen ad on the inside back cover. A real rarity. I didn’t ask the price. 

Most dealerships around here are very low on inventory. Cars just aren’t selling. Especially fully electric cars. 

It is an original Mexican first issue. Was printed in a digest size format. The seller showed it to me. Was a little weird because it had an early pie eyed Mickey Mouse Kay Kamen ad on the inside back cover. A real rarity. I didn’t ask the price. 

I figured at Pulpalooza that there were a lot of folks going to buy that “one big book”. If a dealer had that book, he went home happy. If not, he just had a fun evening.
I didn’t want to be that guy so I took a different approach. I went to sell quantity. Not that I didn’t bring quality as well but just figured as there always is, folks from the “shallow end” not able or willing to drop big bucks on a book.
I moved a LOT lessor priced stuff to these folks. They went home happy and smiling and I went home with their money and a lot less stuff.
Just a different approach and now I can buy one big book for myself. It all works out the same in the end. Sometimes the little dog goes home with his bone too…