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Spectacular Spider-Man 27 (Are we supposed to wait for a response to see if it's right?) What was the name of the seventh member of the Metal Men? Jack PS Chaos!

... Do you also think that it looks like a Colletta cover? Yes, as a matter of fact I do. A very good art spotter at GCD is almost certain that it's Joe Simon. Even knowing that Simon and Kirby produced the Prize Romances, I wouldn't have IDed this one as Simon. Once again, I don't know what cues to look for. The faces remind me more of Colletta's romance covers. Jack retaining the title of World's Worst Art Spotter for 2008

I couldn't decide where to put this one. Maybe Your best Comic Book acquisition in 2007? or POST YOUR SECRET SANTA GIFTS! That was close, but I didn't play the game and Sharon doesn't quite qualify as Secret Santa -- Secret Schwester maybe?? So it goes here. An add-in with my latest books from skypinkblu: All Man 10, April 1960 from Stanley Publications. Classic men's sweat magazine, complete including the logo (plus a little distributor's ink here and there). Did she include it because she pictures me as the target audience? Because she thinks I "need" it? Inscrutable! "You can take your pay in women, Sahib McCoy!" Thanks, Jack

Wow, great-looking copy. Adam Strange had some of the best covers of the Silver Age, if you ask me (and obviously no one would, since neither Kane nor Infantino made final five in the SA artist contest). This one is Kane/Giella. For Adam Strange, I'd have to rank that team third after Infantino/Anderson and Infantino/Giella. I wonder why the editor swapped cover duties around, since Infantino/Sachs did the AS story in this issue. Adam Strange would be a fun series to complete, except those #$%^& Showcase issues would be nearly impossible. Jack

I gotta differ with you on this one, Ronaldo. I think the Burnley Starman covers are some of the most underrated GA covers around. They're great stuff, pure Golden Age. I'd love to see some fellow boardies post some here. Point made Dennis! I will agree those Starman covers are very underrated! I just have never been that interested in collecting them. Maybe when I am done with pre hero ..... Thanks everyone who posted scans, cool covers! I've seen the "underrated" comment a few times now and don't really understand it. Who doesn't rate Burnley Starman (or in fact, any of the Adventure Comics second-banana hero covers) highly? They're some of my favorite Golden Age covers. In fact, aside from "resale value", I'd rather have a full run of Adventure (and its predecessors) than any other series. Great stuff! Thanks to everyone that posted their primo copies here. Does anyone have a scan of the Starman story from 63, or has it been reprinted? I get a kick out of comparing the "shrunk by a mad scientist" adventure that every superhero-- even Rex the Wonder Dog-- experiences at least once. Jack

... This fun book also sports the first Vic Jordan, with lots of lovely Mata Hari types in the opening story. PS Also Sparky Watts by Boody Rogers! Those are a hoot! The superhero who beat Fantastic Four's cosmic-ray origin by decades, and had the powers of much of the Justice League (but no costume). If you (or anyone) have any scannable reader copies of the Sparky Watts run, they'd be fun to see. Jack

Is this one a Christmas present? Detective Comics 34 Congratulations, Jack. I thought maybe if turned the image on its side it would be a bit more of a challenge. I guess not. I can't believe I beat all those Detective collectors to it. You don't suppose that they were doing something social instead of haunting a message board on a Friday evening? -- nah. Thanks for all the dancing produce! Jack

Yikes! Look what Bill did to me for missing his cool Joe Palooka cover sandwiched in the middle of all those amazing Superman books! Tough to give it a thumbs-up in my condition ('til I'm restored). Hitler, Tojo, Mussolini, plus Spike Jones (and Walt Disney) song reference to boot! I've never seen this cover. I didn't even know that Joe had a little Chinese (?) sidekick named Yoo-Hoo! Thanks for the pointer. Jack ouch

no problem.... Thanks! Classic gallery completed at GCD. Unusual background color, but it looks great with the yellow costumes and logo. Any idea who drew it? Louis Cazeneuve and Don Rico have interior art credits at GCD. Jack

Is this one a Christmas present? Detective Comics 34 Jack

One more from a great batch of beaters that I got today, then I've got to stop! (Others are on Silver Age or Short Bus.) Dale Evans Comics 9, Feb-50, a fairly uncommon book as far as I know, so I was pleased to get it for a good price. Undistinguished and rather muddy photo cover. The artwork on the Dale Evans stories, credited to Jim McArdle (who?) at GCD, is too blocky and crude for me. Fortunately the spine is just strong enough (what's the worst that can happen, lower it from good- to fair+?) to scan a page of the great Sierra Smith story by Alex Toth! I guess my posts the last couple of days are my answers to both "Why Do You Collect What You Collect?" and "Why is it so difficult to maintain Focus?" Jack "maintain" focus?

and i snagged 2,4,5, 8,11 and 19....thanks Bill!!!! Great stuff! #11 is the only one missing from the GCD gallery. If you post it, I'll be glad to size and upload it. (If you already posted it, I missed it. Let me know where to look.) Thanks, Jack

Mystery in Space 63, November 1960, 11th Adam Strange. A book that's been on my want list since I found out years ago that it includes an element-rich story, and does it ever! High enough grade for bright colors, low enough grade to smash flat on the scanner -- just right for me. Cover, with an oddball alien and his devie, plus classic Infantino futuristic cityscape. Page with "a transparent solution of liquid iron", followed by tin, gold and barium (ouch). It's like Gardner Fox wrote this story just for me 47 years ago! I like how the colorist varied the background to complement each metal color. Jack

Glad to see you posting, Fay! Now for some not-so-great books, but I love 'em anyway. I may have posted the seller's scan of one or two of them. GI Combat 66, pre-Rock Easy Company, wonderful kaleidoscope colors on the cover, a real beater for a buck. GI Combat 76, Grandenetti greytone cover w/ a 0.5" hole in it, a bit of a splurge at about $4 Star Spangled War Stories 98, dino cover, worst shape of the three so possibly overpriced at $6 Fun stuff in affordable low grade. Jack

Omigosh. It's Eye-gor! "I heard the strangest music from the upstairs kitchen and I just... followed it down. Call it... a hunch." Jack

Great story. Thanks for posting the page. "The Sorceress of Zoom" -- flashing on memories of the old days, BZ? Jack

OK, Bill, try to find something nice to say about THIS one! Cover was just posted on the cigar thread. Young Romance V11#6. Prize, Nov 1958. Jack The dancing girl looks like a young Shirley Jones. Well done -- and I agree. Do you also think that it looks like a Colletta cover? Jack

Animated! Beats the heck out of mine. Jack

OK, Bill, try to find something nice to say about THIS one! Cover was just posted on the cigar thread. Young Romance V11#6. Prize, Nov 1958. Not terribly faded, but the balance seems off to me. Interesting use of uninked pastels in the background. There's more Simon and Kirby work in this book. Did they work on the cover? I'd wager not. Does anyone know whether Colletta worked for Prize? He could have drawn, or at least inked, the cover. He was usually better on romance than superheroes. Here's a scan from a story that cracks me up. Beth Thomas, a door-to-door freezer saleswoman, sells one to a bachelor, Hugh Stevens, by strolling into his house, coming on to him and cooking him dinner. (I hope she did the dishes.) Have times changed or what? Her boss gives her flak for spending too long on the sale, Beth spends a few weeks mooning over Hugh Stevens, then the boss complains because Stevens falls behind in his payments, Beth takes off and gives him hell. (Yes, she specifically complains about doing his dishes.) Of course it was a ruse to attract her back. Stevens hacks her into steaks and chops and loads her into the freezer. OOOPS, sorry, not an EC story. Beth accepts his proposal of marriage on the spot. Figures that's how he shops for a wife -- he's an engineer! Simon and Kirby may have had a hand in drawing story, especially the boss. What do you think? And on the next page, a swell quiz about Real Love. Charmaigne looks like a Kirby lady to me. The original owner was nice enough to start answering the quiz, which lowered the grade but added to the appeal for me! Does he have certain traits that you feel a need to apologize for? yes Is this the man you want to marry, and live with for the rest of your life? no Cold! She got stuck on the one about her parents and gave up. Another dollar well spent. Jack

One more, as I continue to provide the comedy relief for muticynic's parade of blockbusters. Young Romance V11#6. Prize again, Nov 1958 (OK, really should be Silver Age but it looks more GA than SA, and I started the series here). About VG- 3.5. Not terribly faded, but the balance seems off to me. Interesting use of uninked pastels in the background. There's more Simon and Kirby work in this book. Did they work on the cover? I'd wager not. Does anyone know whether Colletta worked for Prize? He could have drawn, or at least inked, the cover. He was usually better on romance than superheroes. If anyone is interested, some inside scans on the Short Bus. Jack

Yet another, First Love Illustrated 70, Harvey, November 1956 -- OK, marginally GA. No great shakes, about VG+ 4.5 (that ballpoint year doesn't do it any favors, but its sort of interesting how the blue selectively faded. Usually red dyes (inks) are more photosensitive. Does anyone know whether Harvey was trying anything interesting with their inks in the late 1950s? Maybe it should be on the Short Bus, but it's an interesting Kirby cover. Should I mention that it only cost a buck? Jack

I bet this one is uncommon. Has anyone else seen it? Yarns of the Yellowstone 1972, Bill Chapman, Juniper Studio, Gardiner, MT. It looks like about VG 4.0. Nicely produced with glossy cover, unlike some promo books. There's no indication that it was distributed by the National Park Service. I wonder whether it was sold inside Yellowstone, or just at tourist shops near the entrance. Not in Overstreet (at least not in the outdated one that's nearby). Jack

Nice Boy Comic! Not that I'm a high-grade hunter, but it seems like those are harder to find in sharp condition than "Big Two" or gorier pre-code because nobody paid attention to them for a while. True? Here's another from the batch that I've been posting lately (not skypinkblu's). Young Love 7 Mar 1950 Prize/Crestwood. Looks like at least FN+ (so nice I'll even use them fancy numbers, 6.5 or maybe 7.0). There's a small, erased initial or arrival notation in the upper left corner. Simon & Kirby material in the book -- usually I can smash my books on the scanner with impunity, but this time I'll have to think about it if I want to show some pages. I know that photo covers aren't a big hit here, but this is a good'n with great colors. It looks like it spent some time as a wall book (tack hole in the board), but either not near the window or not as long as some others in the stack (faded Young Romance V11#6 for example). Jack

Thanks for posting more Holiday Kelly! I'd say that from Nov 1947 to Nov 1949, Kelly's artwork visibly improved (not that there was anything wrong with the 1947 story). Also interesting that he used Mary Contrary as a continuing character. (I know that she's from a nursery rhyme.) Jack

Another offbeat Dell reader. I'm not sure it rates "have a cigar". How about "have a slightly damp cigarette butt with a few good puffs left in it"? Gene Autry Comics, July 1953. Photo cover with Gene Autry "feeding his goat." Is that a euphemism? More on the Short Bus thread if you're interested. Jack