Get Marwood & I

Always difficult to say without the book in hand, but I don't see anything that raises alarm bells here. One reason to remove staples would be because they are starting to rust - I can't see any migration to the book. And, as Tom Jones once said, it's not unusual for the staples to miss one or more interior wraps during production. The bottom staple looks like it has discolouration too, indicating authenticity. What makes you worry?

Just shows you how art can touch peoples lives doesn't it. Ross is likely not the best comic book artist who ever lived. But as this thread shows, he clearly did something that we all loved back then, as here we are 40 plus years later still talking about it. Some of that will be the Spidey factor of course - you don't see much of his DC work discussed here - but it was a perfect cocktail at the time. The character, the stories, the mood, the art. The realism. It's like a great rock band - the members are great in their own right, but put them together and the magic happens. I'm a bit of a romantic softy at times. I like the idea of getting to heaven and, one day, after having the guided tour by my Dad, bumping into Ross taking pictures around the place for reference in his latest comic (bound to be 1970's style comic shops in heaven, no?). He says "Hey, you're that pence bloke from England who started a thread on me! Come have a beer and we'll talk about the old times". Well, it's better than nothingness for all eternity isn't it

Got ya. Are we to assume it was unsuccessful then, given the lack of other examples out there for DC (that I can find)? Quite often in the UK we get monthly modelling magazines with a part of a kit that, with subsequent issues, builds to a complete model. The first issues are always significantly cheaper - and advertised as such (special introductory price!) - to lure the buyers in and, hopefully, a good percentage of them will go on to purchase the later full run of higher priced issues. This test from DC doesn't overtly advertise the price reduction. I wonder how many kids of the day, realistically, would have studied the newsstand, seen the new Amethyst book, and thought "I wouldn't ordinarily buy that, but at 35c I'll give it a go!". It was the cover / character that always tempted me - not the price. Still, that was the test I suppose.

There's some competition for this one

You, you... you rotter! I don't know - depends on the size of each distribution channel in the designated test areas I guess. From this thread alone, I know there's at least one 9.2 newsstand copy so we know one newsstand seller in either Austin or St Louis was careful

Indeed - that does seem to reduce further the likelihood of a production mistake. It's unusual not to be able to find a single scrap of information online and I've had a good look. There are lots of references to the geographical area, like this one here: "This is the 35-cent cover-priced edition which was test marketed only in St. Louis, Missouri and Austin, Texas." But no commentary that I can find regarding the fact that it bucks the trend of every other known market test by being priced lower than its regular priced issue. Odd. Speculating further, if the intention was to see if more kids would buy it at a lower price, wouldn't they have made more of it and have a 'Special low price' blurb on the cover? In my own variant research I've found scenarios which don't add up or make sense. The choice of issue is not always prudent, so maybe this was just a poorly judged attempt at gathering market data. I hope someone knowledgeable does chip in at some point as I find this stuff fascinating

Very quiet isn't it. At times like this, you might be forgiven for thinking the boards would be thriving with so many people off from work and such. And yet the opposite seems to be the case. Funny old times. Enjoy the ride. I may not buy, but I do enjoy window shopping here in your threads.

I haven't seen any. DC was never my area of expertise really. Hopefully someone will pop along soon who is clued up.

I did one on a beautiful high grade ASM #32. Your blood runs cold doesn't it. As for others comics, I asked a dealer if I could check a book at the London Comic Fair once. He said "I'll do it for you", with an air of faint superiority, and then promptly got the whole book stuck on the tape. It was really hard not to laugh if I'm honest.

I don't think so Eric. The style of the price - a great big stand out 35 - is out of kilter with the 60c standard newsstand layout approach. That indicates a conscious effort. Also, it has known geographical distribution areas which is in keeping with test market exercises.

Yes. Speculating, the standard price of a regular size DC was 60c in February 1983. Comics dated prior were also 60c so the public were used to paying that price. The only test I can think of would be to see if lowering the price would increase sales, i.e. the average title sold x copies at 60c but lowered to 35c and the sales increased. But you wouldn't do that on a new unproven titles first issue, surely? You'd do it on an existing title - lowering the price can increase sales, and if, say, Batman's sales rocketed or the sell through percentage increased significantly with a lower price you could see the logic of the test. First issues can have spikes in sales too before settling so it would be a poor choice for a pricing test I think. Perhaps the price difference isn't about testing profit somehow.

Odd isn't it. Issues 1 and 2 had the variant treatment and I can find references all over the web as to their existence, almost always with the 'test market' tag, but none which explain the apparent pricing reversal scenario. Here's one site's reference: http://www.recalledcomics.com/Amethyst35centVariants.php No explanation. They're mentioned in Overstreet too. If they were 'test market' copies, as you say @Conacon, what exactly was the test? Maybe it has something to do with the residents of Austin and St Louis. Paging @cosmic-spider-man and @FlyingDonut who I've seen post intelligently about such things

That's a good one Jolly

Lovely - you caught her look nicely there

Lily James?

Why, it means you're the most liked boardie this month Robot Man - a high honour indeed! https://www.cgccomics.com/boards/leaderboard/ In fact, you're the second most popular boardie of all time! (you can't count the first two as they cheated ) So, whatever happens in life, always remember you were a 'Top Member'. That's @lizards2 's cue for a knob joke by the way. Willy do it? We shall see

Can't believe I fell for it Paul. Still, something to read during lockdown isn't it

Too embarrassed Kevin

You were on the mark. Not signatures, but a game Dave Hunt played with his son. Your official "Ross Andru Thread" no prize is in the mail. Considering how many times I've read those issues it's a wonder I never spotted any of them. Well played guys

Is he taking a dump in a bird bath there or what? Meanwhile, order has been restored!

Morning All I may have mentioned once or fifteen million times that I used to be a Spidey completist. Had everything, all versions, variants, appearances etc. So when I spotted this lot on eBore I was intrigued: Rare print with no date or logo: You say what Mister! Now that's a new one on me and, as a completist does in these situations, I start to get excited. A new variant, hiding under the radar. Yippee! So I scour the web for a hundred and seventy straight hours looking for another example and come up with nothing. Drat. Then, on eBore UK of all places, I find this! My God in Heaven, another one! Another rare under the radar variant that I will procure and proclaim to the masses, basking in the warm glow of "I found it first" achievement! I buy it, and it arrives. Inside I find: Spider-Man (1990) #2 Amazing Spider-Man #331 Spectacular Spider-Man #162 ...and Web of Spider-Man #63 What is this thing! Then I notice the first internal page is numbered '5'. '3' would be more appropriate. Suggests missing cover. So I hunt and I hunt and I hunt to try and find a compendium or TPB of some sort to explain this enigma. This is exciting beyond belief! There is no such TPB / compendium with these issues! And then I find it. The UK 'Complete Spider-Man #2' What a friggin let down. I've just paid for, and researched, a cover-less, worthless UK reprint. Me of all people! So I'm reminded of the old saying. "There is no expert, no wise font of knowledge that, on occasion, when the circumstances are right, can't not make a prize pr of himself"

Jim'll like those @porcupine48

Square bound double covers are great aren't they, not being attached. Great condition too considering

All she said was humans have bigger brains and... She's probably silently fuming at your new avatar choice MR SigS