ArnoldTBlumberg

I've been on about two or three times in the last five years or more. But hi.

It *was* Overstreet. While I was still editor of the Guide, we did a year-and-a-half long project of communicating with collectors and historians to encourage new discussion of the Overstreet Age definitions as they stood and redefine them with some new additions. Since that time (it's been years now), there's a Copper Age in Overstreet. But we didn't invent it - hundreds of people participated in the discussion online, in traditional letters and in person, and the Copper Age had long been a term thrown around for the '80s well before us. The Overstreet Age system is just one way to look at comic book history. You can do whatever you like, and if decades works for you, then go for it.

He's in there actually, I'm blocking it.

Should I stress there's a dress code at the museum? *quickly goes off to write a dress code for the museum*

We chatted for a bit when he stopped by on Friday, just a mix-up. It happens.

Nice. OK, I'm outta here.

Tom, I usually let your glib inanities slide because that's what message boards are like, but this is a personal thing with me: Don't call me "Arnie." I don't appreciate it, I'm offended by it, and I find it a small-minded thing to do to belittle me in that way. And besides, if I want to rib Ian after he ribbed me, that's my business. I don't honestly know why it's any concern of yours what Ian and I say to each other. So perhaps it's better if you just keep your clever witticisms to yourself.

You forgot the part months ago where you said you were going to try one more time to compile the list? Well at least I reminded you now, so no harm done.

I don't mind the jab, he needs to keep himself amused while assembling that exhaustive list he's no doubt drafting to make his mark on price guide history and insure that the Guide is updated with all that vital information that we can't otherwise obtain in any other fashion except with his help. Of course he won't deprive comics of that knowledge, but sometimes he needs to take a break and make a joke to lighten the mood. And I forgive him for that.

)

Tom knows his stuff all right.

Nope, there's at least one already existing complete set that was covered in Scoop sometime back, but this isn't about that. It doesn't diminish the amazing collecting accomplishment regardless of how many times it's been done. That it's done at all is simply incredible dedication.

No, this year we're sending a smaller group to the show as there are a lot of projects to work on back home. I'm a bit sorry to miss it this year, but it's a hassle to do all that traveling, so I don't mind skipping one and waiting for next year. As for the WHO episodes, quite frankly this is a project of yours that I'm much more excited about since you started talking about it again over on the OG board. I sincerely hope that this mission of yours is successful beyond our wildest expectations. That would be quite a gift. And I want to see more Troughton!

Congratulations Ian, and just when you seemed to have lost some energy for the quest. Nice to see it all wrap up happily.

I didn't really stop to look at the scans before but I can see you're absolutely right. Do you know what the actual contents are of those Japanese giveaways and the cooking one? Not necessary information per se, but it would certainly be nice to know. In any event, I'll jot down those three. Hey, at least it's a start.

Ian, Believe me, I completely understand, and I think what we need to do here is simply set realistic goals. Obviously there's no way all of this can be documented and accomplished immediately. However, we could certainly get a lot of nice new info in by just keeping it realistic. For example, if you just jotted down the relevant publishing info, dates, etc. on that handful of covers you posted here, there's a bunch of rare items that can go right in for the next edition. And since as you yourself have pointed out, there are many such omissions, then *anything* we can get from you will only help to address the problem and enhance the Guide. In a perfect world, we'd get every last damn one of them in there immediately. We *can't* do that. But we *can* make a dent, and I'd be happy to work with you to make that happen. All we need is the info.

TomMurnane, It's very easy for you and others here to be glib about things like this, and if this bores you, there's a simple solution - instead of posting completely unhelpful commentary, you can simply not take part in the conversation. But frankly I'm tired of that attitude. This isn't just a spare time past-time for me - it's a job and one that must be done a certain way. Ian has said that he will provide the info we need, and I'm going to take him at his word until I see it proven one way or another. And when we add all that info to the next Guide, then everybody will be happy. But if we don't get the info we need, we can't do it. It's that simple. And we can't afford to fly someone over to take notes on comics Ian has right at his fingertips right now and can easily jot down for us, no matter what people think of us or our resources. Still sleeping? Fine with me. No one is forcing you to read this.

"They just wanted publisher, month, year, full title, etc." That would be fine as well. So far all I have seen are cover scans, which are great. But we need all the relevant info and Ian has not provided any of that as yet. If he sent in a list with all of that information written down or typed in or however he wants to do it, that's fine. Cover scans and that info is enough. He said some months back that he would compile such a list, so if we get that list, we're good to go. Some of you have a bitter and somewhat skewed view of our ability to manage the impossible. But rest assured if we have the information to go on, we can get it done. Just ask some of the folks around here who took part in compiling a huge list of corrections and additions, every one of which made its way into the very next edition of the Guide following the submission of the list.

No they aren't Ian, and we've already discussed this in-depth before. We need the indicia from those issues as well so we can see and verify copyright info, dates, etc. These scans are wonderful, make no mistake, but they're just part of what we need to add them to the Guide. As you pledged to try again so we can lay that issue to rest, I don't think a few more scans of the relevant information will put you out too much.

"Don't get me started on overstreet. There are errors and omissions (particularly among non-superhero books) that have been in there for over a decade." You could contribute to the Guide and the hobby by actually *telling* us about these errors and omissions and providing information that we can use to improve the book.

Let me just also clarify as we do in the Grading Guide itself that just because a specific individual defect is listed under a certain grade does NOT mean that this one defect itself, if present, immediately lowers the book to that grade. You also have to take into account how many other defects are present, how many defects in general we allow within each grade, and whether or not the severity of a particular defect overrides the otherwise excellent quality of the book in question. Arnold

Wow, nice and roomy in here. Arnold

I thought it was the Chromium/Holofoil Age. So many possibilities...

Well quiet frankly the marking of the era has already been done by the Guide. Now I state again and again that no one has to agree with the years or criteria, but I think by establishing it in the source that collectors have used for decades to learn about the whole Comic Book Age historical timeline, we've as close to formally established it as we possibly could. Like I said, the term existed *before* us, but now it's here to stay. Arnold

While there are many factors (as with anything, really), in our article introducing the Age designation we largely focused on the publication of the Secret Wars maxi-series in 1984-85 and the Crisis maxi-series in 1985-86 as examples of an editorial and publishing shift toward a more epic employment and consolidation of the publishers' respective universes. These events would also influence further publishing decisions for years to come and create lasting changes in the fictional worlds as well as the real-world industry. But again, there are many other factors, some of which have been discussed here in past threads. Arnold