MrBedrock

I see your tremendously cute granddaughter, and raise you two more...

I'm warming up to restored books, especially when that book is the SECOND ISSUE of BATMAN-- I actually have two other copies but it was hard to pass this one up.  It presents beautifully and I'm happy to have it.   Nice score from @bedrockcomics who gave me a good deal!
Next show for me is Little Giant next weekend.   I love being a guest at these shows and I'm happy to spend money with the vendors!

I had seen Roger a number of times in passing at shows, had heard stories about him, and had even sold him a couple of Wally Wood text illustrations through the mail, but had never been formally introduced to him. About eight or nine years ago I acquired a large Jack Davis pencil sketch on EC office art board. I took it to OAF Con to show it around and Roger was incredibly generous with his knowledge. We ended up clicking and chatted for the duration of the show. Towards the end of the show he came over and gave me a copy of the program book for an EC art show he had curated in Oregon. The program book was done in fanzine style as an EC Fan Addict pamphlet and the artwork presented inside was ridiculous. Nearly every cool EC piece was represented in some form or other. And Roger had pulled all of this stuff together from a number of prominent collectors. As I went through the catalog I came upon the cover for Haunt of Fear 18. I asked Roger if he could tell me who owned that piece as it was a grail of mine. He sheepishly said that it belonged to him. I mentioned to him that if he were ever to think of parting with it to please think of me, but I never thought that particular comment would lead anywhere. We continued to email and call and stay in touch talking about the hobby. One day he called and asked if I was interested in the cover. YES! Absolutely!  He shot me a price and I gulped and said YES! Absolutely! He and another friend drove down from Kansas and spent a day at the shop delivering the cover. Roger was always such a joy to be around and chat with and nerd out about the coolest stuff in the whole hobby. He had seen it all.
 

My personal White Whale was issue #27.  I searched for decades for a nice copy, with no luck.  I eventually resigned myself to the fact that I would never be able to finish the run.
But then the Ian Levine collection of pre-hero DCs came up for auction.  Ian’s pre-hero run, although complete, consisted almost entirely of low grade and restored books.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that, tucked away among them, was this breath-taking unrestored beauty.  The hole in my collection was finally filled.   
This issue has the earliest shark cover in comics, as well as an interior ad for Action Comics #1.
 

I see your tremendously cute granddaughter, and raise you two more...

I am impressed that this thread hasn't yet been moved to the water cooler.

Impressive

I see your tremendously cute granddaughter, and raise you two more...

I see your tremendously cute granddaughter, and raise you two more...

I see your tremendously cute granddaughter, and raise you two more...

Impressive

I see your tremendously cute granddaughter, and raise you two more...

Impressive

I am impressed that this thread hasn't yet been moved to the water cooler.

I see your tremendously cute granddaughter, and raise you two more...

I see your tremendously cute granddaughter, and raise you two more...

I see your tremendously cute granddaughter, and raise you two more...