crawdad

Thanks to awe4one for lightning fast purchase of my Amazing Adventures (1961, Marvel) #6!

Many happy returns and kudos to Timulty for everything, THANKS!!!

Thanks again! I'd never seen (JIM #59) before. Really like the Kirby & Ditko collaborations like this! Plus the price seems fair for 2006 rates, $120 (VF-). I'm thinking over JIM #66, in solid (6.0) FN: at $225, somewhat over guide, a fair price at current market? I also picked up JIM #74, FN+ for $65. Not too shabby! And just for grins, here's an uncommon Strange Tales cover artist, Jack Davis. This copy of ST #71 was said to be from Stan Lee's personal files.

Thanks, good advice. I scored JIM #59 since posting today on the WTB.

If anyone ever decides to sell a lot of Pre-Hero Marvels, please let me know. PM or send email. Will pay good $. CGC or non-CGC. FN or better preferred, or less if book(s) look nice overall.

When will Marvel put out a serious reprint of the SA Westerns? Here's another of the Marvel Western issues with a supernatural theme:

Can anyone post a scan of the cover of Don & Maggie's zine, COMIC ART #6? It started me collecting Barks... I haven't seen a copy in many years.

I used to have a page of original Kirby art from "Bombu", JiM #60... no monster panel on the page, so I got it for $50. Marvel pre-heroes were among the first comics I read as I kid in 1961, '62. When will Marvel put out a serious reprint series of the pre-hero issues? I just ordered "Marvel Visionaries: Steve Ditko" from a comic book store before learning there was a 2 month eta. But I'll wait. It's got several Amazing Fantasy stories. Here's one of the several Marvel westerns with a monster theme: This later one almost qualifies...

My first slabbed book... San Francisco Comic Book #3 - CGC 9.6 wraparound R. Crumb cover ($95) and MAD # 45 VF ($80)

Note the next to last issue of Haunt of Fear (#27). Weird Fantasy #20 (the banner color). Hey, in the '50s, pink was a rock and roll color, when loud colors were used a lot (but not all at once like they were in the late '60s!)

Wow, one of the wildest pre-code splash pages... it inspired a few comic artists in recent years, such as Jim Osborne, who updated it for the 1981 "100% White Girl" VKTMS 7" pic sleeve... which got a bit of backlash from some of the punks who pressured Osborne to do a turnabout version, putting the female in the power position, on a subsequent VKTMS flyer (anybody got a sharp copy?). Nice to see the Haunted Thrills #5 cover large. Thanks!

I only have a copy of this preliminary, which was drawn by Kelly Freas circa 1998, not certain if it predates the finished b+w pen and ink wash currently on sale through the Bill Howard gallery. Bill Howard -Freas But, comparing them side by side, they're almost identical, except that (Howard) one is a finished version. We do own Freas' cover recreations of several Signet pocketbook covers that are horror-themed parodies of a sort: Voodoo Mad, Son of Mad, and Bedside Mad.

Did anyone see this other Kelly Freas preliminary for Witchcraft #5? Freas prelim

See my revised post for an update on this artwork.

OK. Then whether saved, stolen, or a few being lost... The vast bulk is EXTANT. That is what I presumed. Thanks for confirming my theory. I guess that's good news also, that Ditko isn't chasing art and royalties, I respect his impeccable self-reliance. I think Ditko is one of the best fantasy artists, his style is very individual. I'm all grown-up and find it hard to read old comic books anymore. Doctor Strange went over my head when I was 11; but recently I sailed from one story to the next esp. in the Dormammu saga... finally appealing to me as a great read, with awesome art. (conveniently compiled in basic b+w in the budget priced Essential Doctor Strange). Often in recent years I've agreed with friends that certain movies such as BACK FROM ETERNITY, TV shows such as Twilight Zone, etc. seem to have been influenced by Ditko endings, his existential metaphors in stories where the nightmare never ends. Ditko was one of comix artist (R.I.P.) Jim Osborne's personal favorites too. Jim traded me his mort files (tear sheets) from various pre-hero reprint titles such as Fantasy Masterpieces; and numerous original printings from Strange Tales of Dr. Strange stories. I expanded the file with more pre-hero Ditko fantasy stories. Of no monetary value, it is a prized binder 4 inches thick with amazing fantasy by a true comic art genius, IMO. I had the winning bid around 10 years ago for a complete Ditko story that went for a reasonable $1400 from Sotheby's - "Where Lurks the Ghost", from Tales To Astonish #25. Looking at Essential Spider-Man Vol. 2, at the 20 pages of ASM #31. Very fine graphic art, indeed magnificent. One advantage over the previous ish: #31 only has 4 Batman TV-show style sound effects, while #30 has at least 15 cases of onomatopoeia. I'd like to pick up a page, but to quote the sinister-looking Webbed one from panel 7, pg. 16, ASM 31: