eschnit

That Mystery Men 30 is sick! It’s literally so rare I forget about it. And I can’t read the writing on the label but it must say like tape everywhere, cover detached, etc. Because it’s stunning. Like that ain’t a 3.0 unless the cover is detached or some other flaw that can’t be seen.

I’d guess it’s more likely he bought every new issue his local comic shop got in, and they didn’t carry a lot of romance, but some. You’re right, I can’t imagine the photo cover romance comics were appealing to anyone really. But whomever was buying them, Asian male teenagers probably wasn’t their target market.

Haha, one can dream. Good thing Stan and Jack were far enough away from Citizen Kane to not steal their story 😯

Are you me?

Sweetness! ...was looking for the cover with Batman and Captain America both kicking Hitler’s . I guess it doesn’t exist.

That is badass. Who’s the artist?

They’re not all mine lol. I do have 5 of them, wouldn’t mind getting a copy of each in mid-high grade. Given we entomb our books so much now, covers are almost all we see. In most ways that’s unfortunate. But it does lend itself to admire some like a masterpiece painting. I think that Phantom #17 went for about $500k lol.

So, let me qualify my response. I’m playing Devil’s Advocate to some degree. I also don’t know you, so you may be doing the same. And I’m not the expert. I don’t know what I don’t know. But no, or not remotely to the same degree in my opinion. The situation surrounding the T206 Honus Wagner has been an intriguing story to card collectors in the hobby for generations throughout the hobby, and to some degree pop culture and baseball. His protesting being on tobacco cards. There being some minute number, maybe 50-100 ever produced, and much less than that that got out without being destroyed. There are just enough of the other T206 cards, of say Cobb or Young to create high demand for the Wagner at the time. Honus Wagner is underrated in the psyche of the average fan today. He’s top 20 player all-time, maybe closer to top 10. Baseball got big in the coming years, cards got popular again with Goudey gum in 1933-34. By then the Wagner card was consequential and worth an astounding $50 at the time. (Gotta wonder how many were known to exist then). Stars like Ruth and Gehrig had popular Goudey cards in the early 30s, for collectors wanting to look back, the Wagner card was already the stand out, and perhaps even an inspiration to start the hobby. And of course it changed the hobby, as tobacco cards went by the way side, yielding to what would become a kids pastime. Mantle rookie comes another 20 years later and you have yourself a full fledged hobby. Then decades later the mythical Wagner card takes a life of its own with Wayne Gretzky snapping one up. Compare this to comics. Action 1 and Tec 27 are the medium changers. They are the introduction to superheroes. The biggest superhero at the time, Supes. The biggest superhero today, albeit him perhaps “dark”, the Batman. They have been the two biggest forever, and will likely to continue to be. There are some odd amount out there. Not enough, but just enough. I’d have to look it up, but I believe around 100 graded, maybe a couple hundred more raw of each. The Golden Age of comics becomes Golden, in large part to these books. Yeah, pre-code was awesome. But what would it have been without these two? Of course, comics evolve, code comes along, and we have what we have today. A culture with comics running through it. And 20-25 years is a long time, a whole generation. The time from Action 1 to Fantastic Four 1. Tge culture had a long time between Supes and Bat intro and Marvel. Caps and Timely were around, but Lee/Kirby taking the hobby to another level wouldn’t come to later (I mean in size and scope, not quality). New Fun 2 and New Comics 2 may be rarer, but they didn’t introduce Captain America or Wonder Woman, the Joker, or even say the Destroyer. There’s no lore, except for hardcore hobbyists. Nic Cage scooped up Action 1 to Wayne Gretzky’s T206 Wagner, not New Fun 2. Rarity matters, but demand matters more is my main thought.

For a variety of reasons, the Golden Age of comics was just that Golden. Pre-code, ie less rules gave us most of these. Inspired by post depression, pre-war, with pulps as a lead in, New York was abuzz with talent. Whomever has come along since has had to walk in the footsteps of giants. They had great models to work off of. I did not include a cover from all of the greats, for instance Lou Fine and Will Eisner aren’t included among this assortment of covers. Schomburg, Baker, Frazetta are. From the late ‘30s to early ‘50s. At different shops we have Fine and Eisner, Feldstein and Davis, Kirby and Lee, Flessel and O’Mealia, Renee and Whitman, Chesler...and Baker and Schomburg freelancing. Frazetta was a mere tyke, as were Kirby and Lee. Superman, Batman, and Captain America were introduced. Here are some of the great covers of the Golden Age. Your favorite may or may not be included. What is your favorite? I would say I don’t think I can pick one. I really don’t. But these are among them. Oh, and I didn’t include many of the best covers that may introduce something new to folks. You can do that here if you like. This grouping is well known, don’t have to study Gerber to know them. Also doesn’t include Action 1, Supes 1, Bat 1, or Detective 27...

Question, I could easily research it and find an answer quickly, but prefer to ask, as fans may have something interesting to add. Did Flessel ever draw Batman or Superman? When I think of Flessel and O’Mealia I think great early DC and no Supes or Bat. ...but very clearly I could be very wrong. For instance, top of mind, I can’t remember who the cover artist is for great Detective covers after 27 and before intro to the Boy Wonder. I’m pretty knowledgeable, but obviously showing areas of ignorance. Thanks for putting up with it.

Better question would be if a Rick, Rich, Richie, Ricky, Richard all are out for the same book what happens?! 🤯

...

Can a Gator outbid a Whale?

I know, lol. I collected cards in the mid 80s, and distinctly remember what cards were of consequence. That is an awesome card. If I had $5 billion, I’d happily throw a cool $850k at it. And certainly it makes more sense than ot of those refractor cards that are super expensive. For me, it’s just a little odd because I don’t really remember that card well. Like they’ve got the ‘86 Fleer Jordan in gem with a bid at like $225k, I’m sure it’ll go higher. I remember that card of course, and the rarer ‘85 Star card. I remember the Topps Mantle rookie, the ‘33 Goudey Ruth, the Opeechee Gretzky. I just don’t remember that Bird/Magic card for some reason.

Yeah, it’s not really a great comparison. The Wagner is super rare due to the extremely low number being manufactured. And it’s much older than the cards that came later for a Ruth or Gehrig. Now if Green Lantern’s 1st appearance had been in 1915, and there were only 10 known copies, perhaps.

Then there’s this...

This is almost certainly true, as there is a lot for like a Vince McMahon signed t-shirt and fake billion dollar Bill framed with him on it, with a $5000 minimum bid already made on it. I can’t conceive of anyone bidding on that. It’s an absurd lot. Now, the meet and greet with Undetaker, okay, cool. The McMahon thing isn’t a meet and greet, and there’s no legit memorabilia. There’s a soccer player’s rookie card that I’ve never heard of with a $24k bid. That I understand. I don’t know everything about the card market, or every player in every sport. Just as there are Golden age books that lay people would be baffled by regarding values. But some things are just silly.

Are the items on the auction available to preview? I had heard a date around August 22nd for the auction, but see no books, or any indication of any books or comic auction on their site.

Has anyone figured out how to see the items on the auction? I logged on, the default is the current card and memorabilia auction. No comics.

haha, nice

Barry Windsor-Smith

Frazetta

That makes sense. I think you’re likely right.

Jolly red and white Santy Claus so Coke could sell more Coke 😭