Readcomix

That could be a $100 book in some upstate NY antiques markets. Lotta weekender, non-collector impulse buyers who love pop art, and the theme would appeal.

The Negative Man prototype

Jungle lord to The King

Think of it as your cameo and your first full appearance.

For safety's sake, it's kind of hard to argue with AF. If not for that upper left corner, it likely would grade higher as it presents really well. But I don't think that FF is a mistake either. It's not plentiful at that grade, and if AF is the Tec 27 of SA, FF1 is the Action 1. The FF will be back: they likely will not unseat Spidey as Marvel's top dog, but their return will return that book to prominence as the foundation of Marvel. It's where the beloved magic started. I do think FF1 in general and in high grade in particular is overlooked currently. It's just that a possibly slightly undergraded AF15 is a heckuva heavyweight.

Just that the cover seems like a quintessential example of the genre in that era...just as certain PCC and PCH books get a premium for standing out among their equally violent/gory peers. The cover just struck me. Plus, it's Carolyn's first appearance.

I feel like this fits in here, somehow

LOVE the Roly Poly! Been having a helluva time hunting one down. Great book!

I posted this in the bronze threads once and it got called creepy

Thank you! I did a double-take when I saw it. Other than top of the spine and lower left corner, it's flat. And very clean and bright.

This is what I was thinking, as well. Usually, when I trade with an LCS, it's generally easier, I find, to get one big book for several smaller hot keys. Surprised your guy is willing to go reverse. Then again, maybe if he's deep, he just wants one in the shop. Cracked out, in Mylar on a wLl, it would look even better as an LCS showpiece. I agree on the trade elements too. 181 great, but I'd want top bronze keys across the trade. (129 as Miraclemet said, or very sharp HOS 92 or X-Men 94. Maybe something else is also acceptable, but it's a short list. WWBN 32 is cool but scares me as it has heated so long for so little reason. MK is a cool bit character but he's a bit character to tie up a quarter to a third of this trade's value. If I wanted a spec book in the lot, maybe a sharp GL 87 for a much smaller percentage of the total trade?)

Astounding to Astonishing (glad you're back in this thread, DM!)

Fortune to Jackpot

I bought it off the racks and remember the buzz among others who grabbed one and read it. In my anecdotal experience, it just seemed like the one that made people realize something new and cool was happening with the X-Men. GS1 is kind of a standalone read while 94 definitely has that continuity context, that "here we go, we're rolling" feel that made the X-Men feel new again. I don't know if that explains it, but that's how I remember that 1975-1980 era. My mindset still hasn't caught up and I'm always mildly surprised by how many have come to prefer GS1, even though it's an awesome book too. While GS 1 is chronologically "baby A" of these twins, the Mile High II find of GS1 and the darker cover on 94 does make it harder in grade.

I wasn't at the show with all you guys, but I picked up this related piece at an LCS while on business travel a week ago.

Thx!

Woowhoo! Two 9.0's out of the woodwork! Sal, we're not alone anymore! Doom Patrol fans!

Thx for more info, drotto. I agree with what comicdey said above, but I'd want both 181's from that sampling. I guess I wonder if you couldn't get more from him with the AF15 converted to cash in hand, is all. Make yourself happy as a collector; I just wouldn't want to see you regret giving up upside (which is no guarantee though it looks like a No-brainer from today's vantage point -- but then again Marvel Comics #1 was once top GA dog after all). Just because you got it as a bargain/stroke of luck, don't undervalue what you have. But if it doesn't make you happy the way other books do, it is just a valuable possession. So go get what you want; it's a major piece of firepower whether in trade or converted to cash.

Put 'em up anyway! This book needs the love!

Ducks with skis to ducks bearing gifts

Good point, Sqeggs...dehumanizations of the enemy, I would guess. Duffman; I dunno, I like both that True and that Real Life, so all I can say is "ha ha"!

Based on what you have said above, I'd still be inclined against, but I don't know your preferences and collecting goals. if the book is complete but labeled purple due to trim, is that the worst of it, or does it not present well? Worst case, you've got a complete low-grade copy of the third most desired comic, generally speaking, on the planet. I would think you could get more in cash for it and buy what you want, I'd there's approx. $4k of books in that collection you would rather have. Also, do you know it was trimmed, or was that identified in the grading process? If so, I would want to know how they are certain since so many say trimming is the toughest resto to detect accurately. There's a pretty broad variance in size among SA books from the same print run; I'm just saying I'd want high confidence with a key of that prominence. That aside, a good litmus for you -- if you converted your AF 15 purple point-five to cash, is there a book you'd rather have for the $$ than what is in the collection you are considering trading for? That's my 2 cents; hope it helps you in the way you were looking for. Can you post your book, and/or say more about your target books from the collection and your collecting goals in general?

DC trio to DC trio