jools&jim

I was working for Diamond when those came out, and I'm pretty sure it was officially recalled by Marvel. Not sure, though, how many were returned, and how many were (wisely) kept.

Went to the flea market at the Fall Festival my kid's school holds every year in late September. No comics or comics-related stuff like last year, but I did grab these LPs for 50-cents each: "After the Gold Rush" and "Planet Waves" aren't a big deal. But I don't see Neil Young's "Journey Through the Past" all that often in the wild. Likewise the first Moby Grape album with the original "middle finger" cover; the 1st Tim Buckley album from '66; and the original "360-Sound" pressing of Dylan's "Times" with the original insert. Folkie and folk-rock heaven!!!

Just completed a very smooth deal with Rick -- great buyer!!!

Here's today's haul from the local flea/antique markets: My daughter and I made the rounds early this morning at our usual haunts as a Father's Day outing. In terms of the comics, some of the Sgt. Fury's are actually okay (F/VF or so), and the Hulk #200 is VF+; the Josies are lower grade, but a nice bonus for my kid (she's an Archie fanatic, and has already read both of them). The Defenders 10 was the icing on the cake. The SSP Smash-Up Derby set was cool, but cheap for a reason: only one of the cars still functioned and most of the "pop off" parts were missing (car hoods and doors, etc.). But the ramps, box, and 2 in-tact rip-cords made up for it, and the seller also tossed in the functioning "Mini T" hot rod which really rolls! We messed around with the cars before dinner...they don't run for mess on carpet, but are crazy fast on the basement floor! The highlights for me are the two Archies LPs (yep...I love Motorhead, Thin Lizzy, the Dictators, Slade, et al., ... and bubblegum music!!!), the Bond LP (still sealed), and the vintage Ace guitar strap (attached to a POS classical guitar, which I left behind). We also came home with a stack of old James Bond paperbacks (later printings, but still '60s vintage and shiny new); a pair of vintage Wards Airline stereo headphones (for $1...I can't resist old-school stereo gear); and a bunch of '60s and '70s Barbie stuff, which is currently spread all over my living room floor with every other pink Barbie thing my kid owns and plays with. All in all, it was a fun day. I hope all the other dad's out there had a good Father's Day, too -- whether you bought a bunch of old junk or not!!! It all goes by too fast, and every moment counts! -Mikey

...and yet more cool books arrived at my door today from Ed/ft88. Great seller, great customer service -- THE BEST!

Just got a VERY cool pile of discounted SA and BA Marvels from Gary -- great books, great prices, superb packaging, and fast shipping. Bravo!!!

I'm highly suspicious of mailmen, DMV clerks, dentists and doctors (and their employees), hospital workers, loan officers, real estate agents, government employees, and any one of the thousands of faceless people with unknown and unknowable motivations who routinely have access to my private/personal information...not to mention the pimply-faced kid at the grocery store who rings up my Maximum Protection "Depends" -- he already knows too much!!!!!

Just finished another great deal with Ed, and have more books on the way. He's first-rate all around!

Just finished a great deal with Steven for two cool SA Marvels. Tight grading, great prices, and fast shipping. High grades all around!

Just did a smooth, no-hassles deal with Ronnie for some FF Annuals. First rate buyer!

Just completed a great deal with Jeff for some Jimmy Olsens. He's a first-rate buyer and a pleasure to deal with!

Just did a few VERY smooth deals with Sam. First rate buyer!!

I'm pretty sure I inherited what was left of this set as a hand-me-down from one of my older cousins in the mid-'70s. Wish I still had it!

I bought this one with Christmas money from my grandparents in '76 (). Pretty primitive by today's standards, but I remember my friends and I having a lot of laughs with it:

I had one of these, but lost the chopper behind the fridge one day in 1975 or so...and never saw it again. I suspect it was because my mom was tired of chasing it around. They were fast little suckers...

This was probably my favorite Christmas present...ever (at least until my sister paid for half of my first Gibson Les Paul in 1982...when I was older, cooler, and too damn dumb to know just how good I had it when I was 8 years-old):

Loved this, too:

One of my all-time favorites -- it came out just shortly before I discovered girls and Rock-and-Roll (which both enriched--and ruined--my life):

But..er...is it #53 or #54... 54. Still want it? Yep, thanks!

But..er...is it #53 or #54...