Readcomix

Just remembered -- Stalker! This D.C. Explosion series laste four issues; Wally Wood over Steve Ditko, a really original tale. If I recall correctly, it's set in medieval times, or some mystic otherworld, but the young protagonist sells his soul for powers and skills, then spends his life trying to get it back. The series ended just hanging; while sword and sorcery may be dead in comics' current marketplace, the character and his unique circumstances are ripe for bringing forward into current "continuity," if there really can be said to be such a thing....but that's a different matter... Four issues, great art, different story, only cosmetically sword and sorcery (I'm not a fan of the genre but still loved the series as a read) and cheap!

God's Smuggler rocks! Way underrated! Second only to Hansi, the Girl Who Loved the Swastika, among Spire books, imo.

While I absolutely agree with the previous three posts, in the spirit of the arbitrary, academic and fun structure of the scenario presented by the OP, I'm going to throw out some (relative) long shots for consideration in this scenario: A low 9's X-Men 94 A really nice Green Lantern 87 (just a gut that John Stewart is the eventual Hollywood GL for the JL franchise) The nicest House of Secrets 92 you could grab (I think of this book as the TTA27 of the Bronze Age) Just some different thoughts, none of which admittedly looks as bulletproof as a 181, but it's a different take on a way to play it.

I may well call cgc first and ask about this because I currently have an Avengers #1 cgc 1.5 blue label that features, among its many flaws, an additional set of unnecessary staples. They're called out on the label, but it is blue. (I acquired the book in a trade; I don't know full details of the genesis of the submission.) If removing the extra staples is universally viewed as a lesser flaw than leaving them there, Cap may get a silver age traveling companion on the trip to Sarasota!

Thank you, Sqeggs! While I don't want to get ahead of myself in case I cannot land it, the question of to remove or not to remove and the impacts either way were certainly on my mind. The range you cite is where I'm hoping to come in, but AndyFish's recent sale suggests I might have to go higher. Let the liquidations begin!

In addition to... still attached by original single staple.

Thx DavidMerryweather! Will keep you guys posted, though I expect it to take a while if it's like the few other times I've found key books in the wild in the hands of non-collectors who know what they have. I spent six months or so to get a TTA #27 in similar circumstances, so I am ready for this to be an even longer-term project.

Thanks guys! As a result of this thread, I grabbed the biggest cheap batch of mid-grade Chick Crusaders I could off of eBay two days ago, a dozen books from the run. I gotta be nuts....

Dear Cap Club guys, I'm currently negotiating with a non-collector who knows what they have (inheritance) on a Cap 46. Could anyone who has either bought or sold this book in lower grade give me an idea of a fair multiple of guide to offer? The copy in question, from scans, appears to be in a 3-ish range except there are 2 staples added, which is also throwing me a bit. I would like to make this person an offer that is fair to both of us; not the easiest book to find plentiful comps for, and the added staples are an added wrinkle. If I ever figure out how to make my phone talk to photobucket, I'll post my two-issue membership card, #s 42 and 78. Thanks!

Gerber style! Love it, looking forward! Thank you! (Though it admittedly also makes me nervous for fear of being bitten by the bug to chase Centaurs...)

I take it back -- searched crusaders without Muhammad and found some; Chick Publications. Wild stuff, and affordable; thanks!

I don't know what that Crusaders Muhammad comic is either, and I can't find one on eBay to take a peek, either available or sold, for what that's worth. Who was the publisher?

Geez, after looking at your Pope link, I clicked off sold, and amazingly there's a lot fewer available than have been sold of late, so as guess it really is currently hot. Forgot all about the st Francis until I looked at these listings. Of this Marvel trio, I think the Mother Theresa was the smallest print run, I remember reading that somewhere, but the Pope seems to be in the sales lead currently. Joe Sinnott drew that Pope book, and I have a JPII pencil sketch by him. I first met him at a con in the early 80's, just after he drew the book, so it's what he wanted to sketch for me. I was quite happy, figuring it would be different, as most probably ask him to sketch the Thing or Cap or Spidey, I imagine.

SA goals for me for 2017: 1) I'd like to add another major Marvel key (like SupergirlDC1959, FF1 or TOS 39 would be my top preferences, but I have offers out to two non-collectors on ASM1 and DD1 respectively, and either of those would do fine as I have neither). 2) I'd like to add a Hulk #2, TTA 35 and 44, Strange Tales 101, and Two-Gun Kid 60. 3) The top of my D.C. Silver list is Adventure 247. 4) A decent Magnus #1, and the only silver Archie key I'm missing, She's Josie #1. There are other non-SA goals, so even one of the above would satisfy me.

Just thinking that! Not at all a common "in the wild" item, even in the deeper LCS's, in my experience.

Kamandi #1! Waaaay underrated Kirby stuff...until Warner Bros figures out that what a great movie it would make in an era of post-apocalyptic distopia films....

Me too, but on the other hand, this one and the horror covers thread over in Bronze are both lengthening my shopping list of undervalued gems to pick up....I love a bargain, but sometimes I string together quite a few then think back and decide I could have added another nifty key instead. But a lot of the kind of stuff we're talking about here is also relatively highly liquid and low price point....I think I just talked myself into keeping it up.....

Seems like everybody (rightfully) loves that Hulk #197 yet it doesn't elevate the book's price above the rest of the run. Another one I won't sock away while it's cheap, then I'll regret it later...

I wasn't comparing them at all; just stating that his first cover appearance at all was B&B 28. I just thinking its an interesting fact about a character that has been around since 1941 -- 19 years without a cover appearance just surprised me when I learned it.

Thx Jaydogrules! I had read that a while ago, but it's one of those amazing things that just can't seem to be true for a character that goes back to 1941. Yet it is. No cover love til 1960....as amazing as the fact that he and Green Arrow round out the 5 heroes published continuously from the golden age til the silver age (granted Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman did it in their own titles, which is more impressive, but since no other golden age characters did it at all, it's still pretty impressive.)

Yes, that's the Jonah Hex! Thanks! Total GGA throwback, no? Agree on all the ones posted thus far, especially Legion 293. Always liked that one a lot too.

And a goal post on his chest! Awesome-looking copy, though?

I have no means handy to post an image right now, but the first thing that jumped to mind is Jonah Hex #87....ripped right out of the GGA era of the Golden Age!

I don't think the Action 1/Superman 1 analogy is apples to apples, even though they both contain Superman origin stories. I think it's more like Superman 1 (first own book) to Superman #53 (first fleshed out, detailed origin). I'm glad this thread has me thinking about, because my own confusion about what's truly key has kept me from pulling the trigger. Unlike Flash and GL, he's still the same character, but he does get a drastically different origin in #260. Because Aquaman had ongoing continuity at the time, it's like his Showcase 4/22 moment comes in 260, and Showcase 30 is his 105/GL 1. I think I just talked myself into both and reaffirmed my long-held position, across various price points for yeeears now, that Aquaman #1 is overvalued.

To all you big gun GA Archie collectors, thank you for indulging me and posting these gems! I've now concluded that I feel many Archies in the era circa issue #50 are under-recognized gems, and you guys ARE quietly hoarding them on the cheap! Your secret is safe with me; carry on.....(uh, can I keep my 41???)