Duffman_Comics

Legend has it, this "Dr Fate" was a loose caricature of Stan Lee.

Now all the way out in Oz, we had very few U.S. GA comics. Aside from the few brought/imported by U.S. troops stationed here (however briefly) the cargo of merchant ships, rightly, made comic books a low import priority during WWII. Couple that with a highly protectionist policy post WWII, designed to protect the local comic industry, it meant that very few pre-1960 U.S. funny books made it out here. Where am I going with this? It’s going to be a Silver Age story. I was somewhat reluctant to “commit to internet” this tale, for fear it may identify me and therefore provoke ridicule. On reflection, no fear of that, I am already regarded as ridiculous. To the point of this post. I’d been collecting since the early 1970’s and with a few like minded idi0ts ran the 1981 Sydney Comic Convention (at a small loss). As a result of that, we were approached by the Marvel merchandising licensee out here to “create some Australian super heroes” incorporating the already Marvel copyrighted “Captain Australia”. Now, the upshot of all of this is a matter for another rant, but whilst attending the licensee’s office, I noted a pile of comics. Silver Surfer. The original run, Bagged and complete. For some reason Marvel in New York had sent these books to the licensee. Why? I do not think I'll ever know. One thing lead to another over the weeks/months and finally it was determined we could not reach a publishing agreement. At that last meeting, while leaving the office, I noticed that the “Silver Surfer” books had disappeared. I asked one of the secretaries where they’d gone. “Oh we threw them out”. Me: “Uh, where?” “In the dumpster” (in the alley out back) I could not get there fast enough. Ten minutes of dumpster diving (in a business suit!) and I have Silver Surfer first series 1-18. Now, I already had a set, so I upgraded my set with some of these and sold the rest, dividing the spoils with my fellow Conventioneers. Good Times.

I, for one, welcome our new hedge-fund backed overlords.

What on this good earth is a "pencillier"?

Gladstone Gander - WDC&S #88 Linky Oh, and Magica De Spell, US #36

I've got a few of these, bought at the 1995 San Diego Convention. Didn't really care about the "provenance", just the books themselves, a few books that finished off the "Blackhawks as superheroes run". I do like odd ball books and that run was as silly as comics get. Here's a link to a much earlier thread that goes into greater detail about how Aran Stubbs did it and the pivotal role Harley Yee played in the investigation:

That is a stonking FC 386. Well done

Lovely books, Andrew. The plain bold colours on the covers are a delight and it's interesting that as the title continued the covers managed to have reduced copy/blurb and of course no word balloons. Right up until Gold Key took over

That's a fantastic pulp collection right there - and in high grade - pulp wise. Now to another matter - MIchael, in the current climate, how are your "folk" traveling in India? The media offerings are horrific.

I seem to recall a contemporary fanzine carried the story of Mitch's purchase with the caption "Wretched Excess"

Count me as another collector who likes WDC&S comics with subscription imprints - especialy when I can get a few from a single subscriber. Kinda like keeping the gang together.

I love to dive around in them like a porpoise, and burrow through them like a gopher, and toss them up and let them hit me on the head!

Great WWII cover and for mine the pick of the bunch. Raboy could certainly draw - and it's the little things, like giving Goering a bunch of medals (as the real Herman liked to wear) and cleverly positioning Tojo so that the hakenkreuz (swastika) doesn't need to be shown, as Tojo, IRL, would likely prefer a rising sun. Fantastic.

Superboy #122 and #125 on the pile, please

Assuming you can ship all the way here (yes, a long way and I know it's expensive): Space Adventures #30, 40 & 43 Showcase #57 and 58 Superboy #131 Superman #191 Western Roundup #4 Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #93, 95 World's Finest #161, 162 Superman #216

Except for this series. I keep flashing on Sheldon Cooper . . .

Hot here, just had a large thunderstorm pass. About 28c at 23.07. I am going to take issue with you here. I have LOTS of card sets. The four Batman sets, Civil War News, Addams Family, Combat I and II, Terror Tales, James Bond blah blah blah. Now you have revealed to me hitherto unknown sets that, while I know I should resist the urge, also know in my heart I will have to secure. Thanks a bunch

I really appreciate that Mr (or Ms) Wilson "improved" the original printed image and, emboldened by their effort, signed said art right under Norm. I'm a Norm Saunders fan and, though the original Mars Attacks! cards never made it here, I did get the reissue, what, more than twenty years ago? Remember the "1st Day of Issue" marketing gimmick? My initial exposure to Saunders came via the 1966 "Batman" gum cards and I have admired him ever since. Anyway, Compliments of the Season to you Michael and I am pleased to see you posting again.

Here it's slang for a policewoman . . .

Refer to AJD's exhaustive analysis above. In essence, only 11 New Trend E.C.s were censored and (re)printed, all under the "Two-Fisted Tales" banner. Good luck in the quest - there is quite a bit of competition for any of the comics.

Bugger. That linked "Golden Age Collection" thread was/is one of the best on the Boards. Shame the pics have gone since the great Photophucket moneygrab. I guess the question "When will the next unrestored Detective #27 come to market?" has been answered. A smart, clever guy who knew exactly what he was doing. Vale

Interesting topic. Here's a ramble. I sold almost everything, once, for the stupidest reason. Late 1973 I had just picked up Amazing Spider-Man #121. I had been collecting for at least five years and had built a solid collection of mainly Marvels. Amazing Fantasy #15, Tales of Suspense #39 up, Amazing Spider-Man #1-121 (of course), Hulk #1-6, Fantastic Four #1-130, Journey into Mystery #83 – 120, Avengers #1-100, anyway, I am sure you get the picture. Read ASM #121 and was so pissed off with Gerry Conway killing Gwen Stacy I sold the lot. Well, not all of them but all the keys went. Some nice stuff was left over so I just hung on to it. The smart thing I did after the stupid thing was to roll all the money gained into D.C.’s, especially Batman and Detective. These were very hard to find in these parts as they were not distributed until the late seventies. As the years rolled by I was able to re-acquire most of the books I had sold. The AF15 still hurts, but my DC mass is solid. Stopped buying new comics late 1991, but I will buy a “modern”, if recommended, as a back issue. Fast forward to November 2019. Bushfires got to my back fence (I am on acreage) and I had packed a “bug out” bag and shoved the dogs and a few things in the car but no comics. There are 16,000 of them. Which lives and which dies? That’s when I thought for the first time “do I really need all this (combustible) stuff”. Fast forward again to January 2020. My father dies (94 in a War Veterans Home) and the three “kids” (we are all in our sixties) have to sort out the estate and especially clear out the house – Mum passed in 2000. Covid19 means none of the charity trucks are running. Our little band with a couple of helpers and trucks had to clear it all out and take most of the furniture to the dump. None of us wanted to do that but we did not have room in our own houses to either use or store it. Oh, smaller stuff was salvaged, but my eyes were really opened to what happens when we are no longer there. Absent Covid19 it’s not pretty but throw that into the mix and, well, it is a force multiplier. I am still buying comics (and coins, trading cards, action figures) but I have really slowed down a lot and despite the fact I am OK financially, I really question the wisdom of putting big bucks into funny books. Why the long post? I am on the precipice. Take the opportunity, whilst relatively fit and well, to do a controlled disbursement of the collection or trust my heir (no kids, just the missus) to do the prudent thing. I don’t know. As I said to AJD just after the fires “talk me down from the ledge”. I guess wanting to be talked down just means I am not ready to let go yet – but that was 11/2019.

Terrific story, and doesn't Gene Colan, in this instance, seem to be doing his best Jack Davis impersonation?

Jeez, no action since 2/2019? Oh well, bought a few comics from Ed on 5 November, quick trip across the Pacific and here they are well packed and in great condition. Buy with confidence!!

What the hell, fill 'er up!