Hepcat

Wonder Woman is certainly worthy  of a Super Spectacular or two!

To more feminine foolishness on the part of a redhead:

Oh I still need quite a few DCs! Some such as most issues of the Flash from #106 to #115, pre-1963 Wonder Woman and pre-1966 Fox and the Crow are just really tough to find. Others such as Showcase #4, 8 and 22 and Brave and the Bold 28 I doubt I'll ever be able to afford in condition comparable to my other comics. Finally because of collecting priorities I only started pecking away at Batman and Superman titles and the Giants circa 2000 so I still need many of those. And of course as my collection has advanced, I've become pickier about condition. Meanwhile I'm retired now so my disposable income is way down so often I just can't buy anything.  But I still derive satisfaction and delight each and every day from the treasures I've accumulated over the last 45+ years!

 

Convention Memories

I think most golden age (GA) collectors have been collecting for a long time and I believe most of them did not start out as GA collectors unless they were around in that time period. While most collectors know about the major GA keys, it takes time to learn about the different GA genres and all the other key books. When I started comic collecting, I initially focused on books with Neal Adams art in the bronze and copper ages. I knew about the major GA keys like Action 1, Batman 1, Superman 1 and Marvel Comics 1 but I knew little or wasn’t interested in other GA books. I initially thought all GA books had crudely drawn art and hokey stories but my perception changed over time since I found many examples of good stories and art as I read affordable reprints from Russ Cochran EC reprints, Marvel Fantasy Masterpieces, DC Famous First Editions and the DC 80 or 100 page giants. As I expanded my comic knowledge through the price guide, collector friends and going to a few comic conventions to buy affordable interesting books, I gradually learned and gained an appreciation for the golden age after many years. When I attended my first several comic conventions, I was overwhelmed by the variety of books, mostly ignored GA and focused obtaining more Neal Adams books. My main focus now is primarily GA so looking back I wished I had become interested in GA much earlier since I believe I missed many opportunities to acquire nice GA books.
Here is a photo that reminded me of myself in my early collecting phase where I would be focused only on my little sub-genre of comics while ignoring other important books. Some of you may laugh, cry, yell or roll your eyes at this kid who is focused on gathering a stack of silver age Green Lantern books and ignoring the books on the table. Sharp-eyed collectors will notice on the table of EC books there is one the most desirable EC books (CSS 22) available. Some of you may think how could this (dumb?) kid miss out on those ECs especially the CSS 22? Here is some background info on the photo to consider. This photo was taken in the dealers room of the Noreascon convention held in Boston in September 1971. Noreascon I (Worldcon 1971) was an annual science fiction convention held in different cities that was focused on science fiction literature and was not a typical comic convention. This kid was probably more than a casual reader of science fiction to be interested in attending a sci-fi convention where the attendees were primarily adults. The dealers room had mostly sci-fi, fantasy books, magazines and pulps. He found one of the few dealers that had cheap recent back issue comics at 20 cents each and he was building a stack.  At the time ECs weren’t that expensive but probably were at least 10 or more times more expensive than the cheap comics so the kid opted for quantity over quality. Also the kid may not have any interest or knowledge of GA books. This was a missed opportunity.
These next photos are of kids who had knowledge and interest in GA comics early and were in the right place at the right time.
In the second photo David Wigransky, who wrote a strong rebuttal to Frederic Wertham’s anti-comics article in the Saturday Review of Literature magazine, is pictured with his collection of GA comics in 1948. Wigransky was widely discussed in sfcityduck’s post in this forum.
In the third photo is Ken Donell as Superboy with Superman actor Kirk Alyn at Houstoncon in 1971. The fourth photo is Ken Donell after getting Action 1 and Superman 1 for $100 each at Houstoncon in 1973. Action 1 looks low grade but it’s an Action 1! He was at the right place at the right time.
Everyone was a GA newbie in the beginning. Anyone remember the old song Ooh La La by The Faces where one of the lines goes “I wish that I knew what I know now…When I was younger”?
 
 

Giant Unearthly Spectaculars!
Pacific Coast copy

“Popular” girl to same

lois digging spidey-man to lois digging lex.

Popular red head to popular red head.

to patsy and hedy.
 

From the matching cert:

Here's a couple of my faves ...GOD BLESS ...
-jimbo(a friend of jesus)
 

There is a third section I don’t have a picture handy of but I am down to under a 1000 now. Used to be over 2000. We love our books, what else can be said. My parents surrounded us in books so I guess it stuck. Had a plumber remark they are good insulation.

Giant Unearthly Spectaculars!
Pacific Coast copy

Yes of course!

Turok comics featured great cover art as well:
13

18

19

Probably wouldn’t have given this a second look if not for the cool Frazetta cover. Not to mention the whole interior is Powell. 

Tied for first Marvel SA annual. 

Millie the Model's Giants? Now those I'd like to see!

My three Black Cat Giants:
Northland copy

Here are the first appearances of Aquaman's four fiercest foes:
Fisherman


Ocean Master


Black Manta

 

 
Scavenger
 


 

I agree. I believe far more "unknown" raw comics exist in collections than most members on this CGC board think.

 

One day I’ll land the big guy, but for now a pair of lesser heralds.

1st Korvac- 1st Tigra