KCOComics

5,272 users posted in the last year? By my math, once you account for Stu, that leaves about 33 unique users.

I worked at Best Buy for 6 years during and after college. Black Friday was an event! The campers, the line cutters, first fights, fireman shutting down the store for being over occupancy. It was honestly a lot of fun, but I don't miss the double shifts. I would work 3am to noon have a few hours off, then work 3pm to midnight. And the 3 hour break was worthless because the traffic was so heavy it would take me an hour to get to my apartment. I use to nap in my car. Those were the days!

Here is a cool one courtesy of @Readcomix A PCH book that came from Joe Sinnots personal collection and a book Joe signed on the title page of the story he drew.

Agree on the Newbie forum. There are some really good folks who respond over there. @SOTIcollector for one. I do always try to be thoughtful in my response. That said, I don't think it's a big reason for the dwindling traffic. The biggest reasons have been mentioned. It's a changing online landscape. There are many competing venus. I was actually thinking about how much the market place has slowed it seems. It feels like you aren't seeing the same diversity of books and it's a shrinking pool of buyers and sellers.

Wow. I'm deeply saddened by this. Bird was always one of my favorite posters. Opinionated for sure, but he also had a subtle sense of humor I really appreciated. Condolences to his family!

I think it depends on the book. My guess is a book like AF15 could hold value better than a book like Ironman 1. There is just greater demand for it. Hulk 181 is everywhere. Tons of copies available every night across many platforms. But the value remains proped up, because the demand is high. If you find 10k new high grade copies and made high grade issues as accessible as low grade, I'm sure that would have a negative impact.

If everyone feels it doesn't warrant further discussion I'm fine with moving on. It seems like the jury is out. But could someone give us the cliff notes of what took place ten years ago?

Death aside, even if he sends back the books, he still stole what amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars over years and years. Even since the original thread started, he's had plenty of time to ship books back! Especially these older orders that have been sitting for years and years. I'm not a lawyer or a cop, but I have to imagine this level of fraud would result in an arrest and restitution. The unfortunate part about restitution is, you can't get blood from a stone. I'm sure there is Bankruptcy and selling his home, but I can't see a scenario where all the victims are made whole.

It's an unfortunate response, but not surprising - you were the only one who tried to defend him. What a mess!

Congrats! And xmen 94 - 300 counts in my book!

I would assign a grade to the book as if it was otherwise complete then take off roughly 50% and see if it sells. If it doesn't reduce the price a bit more. Disclose if the missing page effects the story or if it's just ads. Some weird collectors actually read the stories... There are a handful of older sales with missing pages, but nothing to recent. Good luck.

One of my favorite pieces in my collection is the cover art for HOS134 by Ernie Chan. This issue came out in the mid 70s when Carmen was an editorial director for DC and at the bottom, there is a handwritten note (presumably by Carmen) "Approved by CI". He's one of many many artists I regret not taking the time to meet.

It's been a long time since I've read super heros. When my 11 year old was a little guy, I use to buy reprints of big Key stories and read them to him. Hulk 1, FF1, 48 -50, Spidey... We talked about the artists and Stan and history... boy did they hate the Russians back then! But now that he's older, I haven't read many super hero books. I do read or look through every atomic age book I buy. I love the mystery stories and Sci Fi stories. I love the advertisements. It's awesome. And I read EC stories from time to time. My comic shop had a huge run of EC reprints and I've bought them here and there just for the purpose of reading them.

I've found the hunt is the most exciting part! I enjoy collecting runs, but when I complete the run the joy is fleeting. The excitement is for the next big chase.

Congrats! That 1.8 presents well.

I always appreciate the personal connection you create with your sales threads. Beautiful books! Good luck with the sale!

Nope - i haven't seen that

If these issues were new and he was having health issues, I would be empathic. But people have had books being held hostage for ten years with scarce communication. Have they had a lack of understanding for ten years?

Hey and for the record - no one should seriously consider going to his home. It can only end badly. Go through the proper legal channels. File complaints, small claims, go to the police, but no vigilante justice!

I sincerely hope the guy is ok, but he has gone through great lengths to avoid responsibility. It forces you to be skeptical of everything he says.

I had a very lengthy conversation with a well known professional restorer. He told me a lot of "professionals" will take books with very very minor trimming and carefully rough up the entire edge of the book (interior pages too). They do it with sandpaper and finger nails so the edge looks consistently aged and the trimming blends in with the rest of the book. Said another way, they manipulate and beat up the book enough that the trimming is undetectable. To be clear, I'm against this. I have a Hulk 1 in 4.0 that is trimmed and there would be tremendous upside in having the trimming "camouflaged". I won't do it because it feels ethically irresponsible. I guess you could make the argument this isn't any worse than color touch removal. It's a hobby where destroying books is incentivized.

Roy - what does this money go for? Is it a straight donation to Midnight Mission? Or is it a contribution to stand up the event, which will raise money for midnight mission? Regardless, if you stand up a thread here, I'll donate some books. I'm not sure what exactly, but I'll pull together something.

I'll start by saying- I agree, it's criminal to keep the money without providing services. Despite best intentions and health, it's theft or fraud. I can't imagine there will be a good outcome for the victims. (Blood from a stone situation). That said, I hope Mike gets his surgery and returns to good health. I don't think he's a bad person, just a bad business man who got in way over his head.

I haven't seen this one before, but what a spectacular cover!

I don't believe that will get a .5. My guess is, it will be factored into the grade, but it's not as severe as a clipped coupon / missing page.