GomerPyleUSMC

This book is a real puzzler. Would the Feature Book 17 be similar to a "big little book"? I've never seen one of these. If so it might have been treated on a rotational distribution schedule to use up unsold inventory.

Battle Action 13 cover looks like all Harry Anderson. Unfortunately as far as I know, there is no Everett interior art in this issue.

I have no expertise in this area so will refrain from further comments.

Just for grins I tried identifying the row of comics on the same rack as the 'Tec 27 looking for any anachronism. From what I can see: (l to r) Star Comics #20, Jumbo Comics #8 (in back), All-American Comics #3, Detective Comics #27, Feature Funnies #20, Feature Book #17 (Gang Busters), Super Comics #12, ?? The only book that may have a question about its history is the Feature Book #17. The other surrounding issues seem to check out historically in the same newsstand timeframe as the 'Tec 27.

This one will be interesting to watch. Perhaps not so affordable in the end.

I don't know...and I don't care. I thought the point of cosplay was to embody recognizable characters as a suspension of disbelief... but this guy has taken on a different tact. "Yo, I'm dressed up as Bob, one of Terry Vance's friends from Marvel Mystery Comics." C'mon, man!

The second club I've joined this month.

Photo looks real to me... especially with the context of the other old items he's been selling on eBay.

I'm not sure if it's the same cover artist but the story art looks like John Lehti early 50's.

Finlay was one of the greats. Once in a while when I look at a LB Cole horror cover I can see he used Finlay for "inspiration."

@OtherEric Congrats on completing the run of Aces High. The pastel color design on these covers are fantastic. I have another favorite pastel cover... the one to Weird Science 9 with the alternate color design. I was looking to upgrade mine but ended being the underbidder to the Gaines File copy from HA.

I don't have a lot of time but will post on occasion. The Crandall and the Frazetta-Williamson sigs came from other collectors but the rest I obtained in person. @KirbyJack Feldstein did sign with his art deco block signature. I have a few he signed like this when he was in the mood. @Robot Man The Frazetta-Williamson signed CSS 17 came from serial entrepreneur, Bruce Hamilton. He had an idea in the 1970's that was kind of a precursor to today's signature series (why not, he is the spiritual father of CGC...). To wit, obtain high-grade copies of EC comics, have their artists sign them---this was during the period when ECs were at peak interest--and sell them for a premium at conventions. The first issue to pilot out this program was CSS 17. He bought 25 copies and sent them over to Frazetta and Williamson to sign. Frazetta signed six...got bored...and quit ! Bruce was livid and had to offload the unsigned copies for a loss, lol. Today the signed copies show up for sale on eBay or somewhere from time to time (e.g., one was advertised for sale at Stuart Ng books I think). Now you know how the signed CSS 17 came about.

Not much of a flip. A flip flop?

It looks like you're missing pages 5-14. The page sequence on the label is off.

I wouldn't equate commercial success with critical success. Harvey Kurtzman's position on the Mount Rushmore of cartoonists is assured if all he had done were his issues of MAD. I find a lot of good stuff in both Kurtzman's and post-Kurtzman MAD but I think they're really two different things. I have ambivalent feelings about Feldstein's MAD. True, editor Feldstein pumped up the readership to more than two million during MAD's circulation peak. On the flip side he oversaw the largest readership drop to a third of that figure before his retirement. A missed opportunity that shows there's only so much of the same formulaic humor that can be replayed again and again.