Get Marwood & I

Try posting in this thread, William: It's where all the Whitman experts hang out

I'd like to raise a glass to Bill who I was talking to the other day, who started this thread all those years ago and who gathered the most information about these books before I cheekily tagged on at the end. Cheers Bill! @bill999

To be fair to @Magmar, who has not been back online since starting the thread, and who may or may not be impressed by the way it has developed, I can see his point. Putting aside whether you agree with picture labels or not, it does seem underhand to 'un-retire' a label that - if I'm understanding this correctly - was originally sold on the basis of limited exclusivity. For the record, I think picture labels detract from the comic so I'm not a fan. They are jockeying for your attention, and therefore detract from what should be the main event - the presentation of the book. They're a bit like Newton Rings in that respect - something annoying that stops you appreciating the comic in the slab. I also dislike modern images of characters being placed on old books. That seems curiously insulting to the original artist to me. But there is clearly a market for them and CGC have placed exploiting that market over any other considerations. That's fair enough, as they are a private company. Some of us may feel that the integrity of the hobby has been diluted or cheapened a little by them existing - gimmicks tend to have that affect - but we at least have the choice not to buy them. Having introduced them however, selling a label on an exclusive basis, and then at a later date making it unexclusive is underhand at best, surely. Have I got that right Magmar? Is that what CGC have done? If so, I say shame on them. If not, why are we here again?

The Fantastic Fart

OK, now we're in trouble. Run everybody, run!

They certainly get some things right, for which they deserve praise, and they certainly get some things wrong, for which they deserve criticism (the more constructive the better). I personally believe they neglect this community but we all have our different takes on things. It's free, so you can't complain too much I suppose. From where I'm standing, CGC are here primarily to make money and they seem to be doing OK on that front. I'm here to have fun, support the hobby, and to rub along with fellow, like-minded comic collectors.

Spot on. And boy do we have some members here

Me too

He did, yes. Is it too late to punish him for his punishing Punisher punishment?

Indeed. That Ross rendered Spidey beak would wear a hole in his mask after a while, wouldn't it

Indeed. I've heard that you have to fight Toth and nail to find them

Sorry Rich, I keep forgetting you haven't been here that long, but it's actually illegal to post pictures of Michael McIntyring here.

Both really good sites

There are a few online sites that have free to view content but you tend to get bombarded with soft porn ads. I was researching a book illustrated by Byrne the other night and it was really awful. In the end, I stopped reading the book and concentrated on the porn.

And he has to eat Whiskas for a week

I once crept into a crypt, crapped and crept out again. Does that help?

I wouldn't worry too much about it Roy. I don't fancy logging in as me most days so I can't imagine why anyone else would want to In more pressing news, you've only got 700 posts to go to hit 100K. Again.

The dustbin? There wouldn't even be a Stan Lee label if it wasn't for Jack Kirby and....

That's cool Reggie. I love picking out the differences in the original art vs the finished page art. Spidey nose perky, Spidey nose rounded:

Things that I don't understand, having read this thread: Vaulted labels Unvaulted labels Adamantium The world anymore

Hayulp!