grendelbo

On 4/9/2022 at 10:04 AM, Rockblazer said:

I have a raw TOA 93 and it always reminds me of my FF 48 when I see it. The TOA 93 is about to go in my CGC candidate box as it's risen quite a bit recently. 

IMO it's one of the best covers from the Silver Age. My copy was my brother's from when he briefly collected comics. Our parents got it for him for $5 more than 35 years ago.

On 3/28/2022 at 9:00 AM, KCOComics said:

I love stories like this! I also love that you had the wherewithal to write them and get those comics. So many of those stories become cautionary tales about "the time I almost bought Hulk 1 and FF1 for $75".  

I would say you made good on your investment!  FF1 and Hulk 1 are my two favorite SA books. Kirby drawing monsters. And so cool that you picked them both up. 

I have them both,  though mine are restored. I do want to upgrade my Hulk 1 someday,  though that's going to be an expensive proposition. 

 

My "I should have bought" story -

I'm 15 and moving with my Dad from NM to Washington DC. It's a few days trip and somewhere along the road we stop for the night. There's a comic book store in this town and in it is an Amazing Spider-Man 1. $100. I have $100 which I'd been saving for my own TV. It was a small black and white also with a radio. I pass on the book because the TV meant more to me at the time. Barely. With it I discovered late nights and Johnny Carson and David Letterman. The TV is, of course, long gone. I never had a chance at a Spidey 1 again.

On 3/28/2022 at 3:38 AM, KCOComics said:

Awesome collection!!

Many of my favorite books are in there! Especially the Hulk 1! 

Here's the story -

I was 11-12 and in Albuquerque, where I now live, for a swim meet. My mom visited an antique store with me reluctantly tagging along. In that store was a FF 1 and Hulk 1-2. The only three comics they had. I had been a collector only for a year or two and here were grails.

The FF 1 and Hulk 2 were $25 each; Hulk 1 was $50. I went home with the Hulk 2 because the FF 1 was really beat and I didn't have enough money for the Hulk 1.

Back home I write the antique store (to shy to call) and ask them if I can purchase them by mail. I chore my butt off. Maybe have a birthday. Weeks later I have the $75 I need plus postage and I write them back. A couple weeks pass and I haven't heard anything until the FF 1 and Hulk 1 show up in the mail in a manilla envelope - no other protection but thankfully in no worse shape.

The FF 1 is a 0.5 incomplete/"filler." The Hulk 1 is probably a 1.5-1.8 and the Hulk 2 is likely a 2.0.

On 3/18/2022 at 10:03 PM, Point Five said:

Great stuff! I recently picked up a HG Peter Parker #101 myself -- a rare foray back to Copper Age for me. ;)  A quite cool and underrated cover.

 

I was surprised a few weeks ago to find my LCS selling a 9.2 (raw - their grade) for $120. The cover is a now-classic; the interior not much so. I have FF 276 in the same bag as this issue behind the backing board. The Alpha Flight issue is long gone.