Mercury Man

So nostalgia gripped me, and when I was a kid I lived in the Chicago Suburbs, a town called Villa Park.

There was a place called BJ's Country Corner. It was mostly antiques, bric-a-brac, but he did stock new release comics, and had a wall of short boxes with mostly Bronze age books. This would be early to mid 1980's. I remember the smell of old paper, and he would price the back of the comics in pencil (most stuff was under 65 cents for Bronze Comics that were 35 cent cover price and below). He had another section in back where he kept the X-Men, because at they were the hot book at the time, and he did have some Silver Age X-Men in there. But again, mostly Bronze Age comics. I do know at one time he told me he had a X-Men #1 he was willing to sell for $500. At that time $500 was a lot of money for an early teenager. Should have save my First Communion money.

Question- Has anybody on these boards ever frequented the place? I think it was on Ardmore Ave. There is nothing online I can find about it. It was an old shop, run by a guy in his 60's. Probably closed pre internet days.

I know in the movie Sleepers, Robert Diniro is in a hospital visiting one of the kids, and he hands him what look like Fantastic Four comics. Can't find a screenshot.

Stumbling across a 'find' at a garage sale or flea market would be nice. Some type of key book.

Every Saturday, I would religiously get up at 7:00 am, drag this down two flights of stairs to the basement, set it up, while Bugs Bunny was on.

Marx Guns Of Navarrone Playset

Having a 4 year old boy, I became more cognizant of the tone of what I was reading. Silver/Bronze Age books are just fun. Modern gets darker, more gore, more death. So when it comes time to read real comics with him, I will be sticking with the older stuff.

But the toys....so great. For Christmas he got the Fisher Price Imaginext Batcave, Green Lantern Planet OA, and the Legion of Doom hideout (plus a whole bunch of figures). We've been playing every night. I've been teaching him about the good guys and bad guys, their names, their powers (he likes the Flash and Solomon Grundy). Having a kid allows you to be a kid again, and it's fun.

The series by Miller and Lee.....now I don't really read too many comics nowadays....but I thought I would give this a look. The artwork was great. Lots of splashes and action. No issues there at all.

 

The variant covers by Miller.....

 

The writing....wow. Just God-awful. I know this is probably no surprise to folks here but Jesus...what the hell happened to FM? What drivel. Aside from a few bits of dialog, it was almost unreadable.

 

So sorry for your loss. (Of time).

Don't even bother trying to figure out Marvel. It's a fools errand. I am down to 4 titles, soon to be 2 if they don't get better.

I will never understand the need to slab a book you intend on keeping long term in your collection. At that point it becomes a thing, not a comic.

 

Because they look great in a slab and are much better protection than a mylar and bag and board. Perhaps you should go join one of the other comic forums where they talk about who can beat who in a fight with other comic readers. You'll fit in nicely with all the other high school and college kids.

 

Pretty rude.

 

+1

 

Books most definitely look a lot nicer and brighter in mylar as compared to being encased in a slab. Even more so, if you are talking about the old industrial looking CGC slabs prior to last summer which gave all of the books a relatively darker and dingier look.

Why would anyone want to actually READ a comic book, when you can encase it in plastic, and never read it?

I will never understand the need to slab a book you intend on keeping long term in your collection. At that point it becomes a thing, not a comic.

AMEN

It all boils down to value right? Do you ask this question because you are thinking of a resale value? If it's not, and you have no intention of trying to sell it, then load it up. If you want to sell it, I think your market shrinks a little bit, because there are people who just don't care or want to pay extra dollars on a signed book (myself included).

What is your bank charging you per year for this box?

Seems like it would be a waste if you could get a collectibles insurance policy for less, and probably cover more books.

I would rather there be high res, clear pictures and them not offering grade, them dimly lit, fuzzy pics with a grade. Or even the dreaded 'stock photo', and a grade.

But nobody forces you to buy anything, if you are uncomfortable when a grade is not given...don't buy.

Are they still writing comics?

 

I thought they were just releasing variants covers and blank pages.

 

Blank pages would be a more compelling story as opposed to the stuff they are giving us now.

Daredevil is the one read still resembling the Marvel I enjoy. Just a little nervous now they have his new sidekick Blindspot, losing his eyes. This just reeks of another set up to remove yet another mainstay- Matt Murdock.

As for Silk, anybody want to buy some Silver Sable #1's from the 1990's? It's got a foil cover.....hmmmm....hmmmm...??

Silk won't be around in 5 years.

If Marvel doesn't start writing better comics, they may not be around in 5 years. Just their movies division.

STAN LEE

 

Advertised as his final Florida appearance.

Until he comes back in 2018

I truly think you need to have deep pockets when you start a small business. You need that cash reserve to weather the down times, which could take years, as you build you base, your clientele and your name. I am not sure $40K is enough in your case, unless you don't plan on paying yourself.

I would like to echo what other people have told you, I don't think $40K in the bank is enough. You will burn through that quicker than you realize. It will take you time to get established, get your clientele, figure out what sells, and what happens if an unbelievable collection or some serious Golden/Silver Age books walk through your door and you want the inventory?

Erik Larsen also came to mind. But again, I can't draw, so he is better than me.

I can't draw a stick figure. So any artist on this forum are still infinitely more talented and deserving of their success than I will ever be.

That being said, I will stop buying a title the moment Romita Jr. takes over. Just not my cup of tea.

This one will always be a favorite for me. It takes me back to my earliest days as a comic book reader

 

And the disappointment you had when the box arrived in the mail, and the toy soldiers were nothing as cool as the picture. I got the WWII ones myself. Flat, no detail, and lame.

How many different ones where there? I remember seeing:

Roman Soldiers

WWII

Revolutionary War

Civil War

To answer your question: No

Just buy a nice print from Allposters.com of #181. You can have him sign that. If you botches it or blobs it (like he is prone to do in his 90's), you are only out a $20 print.

Modern Varaints:

December 2016

 

 

Yearly sales were flat for 2016 versus 2015. A 0% change surprises me, especially with DC's Rebirth hitting hard this year. Looking forward to a great 2017 !

 

Another way of saying this would be that we'd have a negative number in sales if not for Rebirth. Marvel is close to becoming a black hole.

Agreed. Take away the #1 issues, and Marvel is nothing.

Why are they still trying to force Miles Morales down our throats. His title sinks lower and lower every month. Not even in the Top 50. Time to send him back to this other Universe.

Latest email, Chuck is blaming Amazon for HIS lack of sales this holiday season.

This guy lives in his own world.

 

Chuck not only blames Amazon for his lack of sales (rather than admitting his problem is with pricing), but then goes as far as to plead with people to buy books from him, regardless of where he prices them. He says in part....

 

All of the above having been said, I sincerely thank you if you have continued to support us during 2016. It is only because of your kindness (and orders) that Mile High Comics can continue to exist, and that I can work to help you, and also the homeless here in Denver. If you have not placed an order with us this year, all I would ask is that you make some sort of conscious effort over this next year to provide us with at least a little bit of support.

 

Please, buy an overpriced book and help the homeless today!

So is this like Toms Shoes, when you buy a comic from Chuck he gives one to a homeless person?