MattrixAlien

Reflecting on my modest wish list for 2022 I actually ticked off most of them and extra things popped up during the year. Like completing my collection of the big McFarlane keys by picking up Batman 423. It's really an over priced book with a cool cover but I had to have it Thanks again to the amazing boardie for ASM298. The Wolverine & Punisher mini's will roll over to the 2023 list. If we have a full blown 90s style recession and prices really crash I might be able to get approval to buy NM98 & Swamp Thing 37

This year I opened a few comics as presents in front of relations who don't appreciate the hobby. I think comic book shaming is still a thing, particularly for adults There were raised eye brows and a couple of mocking comments. I tried to explain why they were cool books but that just made it worse. After the first 2 I discreetly opened the others when people weren't paying attention. Anyway happy festive season to everyone here. I know you understand the love

Just completed the 2 issue Batman Anniversary set featuring awesome covers and the same beautiful gold banner. Excellent interior art and story on both too. When I was a kid I bought Batman 400 & now as an adult I've just picked up the companion Detective comics issue 526.

Don Newton is one of the most underrated Batman artists. Post your Don Newton art in this thread. Don Newton is the artist who made me love Batman comics as a kid while reading Australian black & white reprints. I didn't realise he was the artist until I returned to comic collecting a few years ago. Neal Adam's was the artist I assumed was responsible for them. He has a gorgeous, flowing style like Adam's. He died young which is probably why I didn't know about him. He is one of the few interior artists who in my opinion is better than some of the cover artists of the issues he did. Sorry Ed Hannigan fans. I've only just picked up a couple of his books so far from late in his career which is strictly speaking in the copper age, but he started and did much of this work in the Bronze age. He did the art on several Batman key issues. Below I've included his classic cover for Tec' 526 & an interior page from Batman 366 the 1st app of Jason Todd as Robin.

I eventually followed this & @grendelbo advise and picked up Classic X-men 1 which reprints my dream grail GSX1 and comes in this stunning Art Adam's cover which is probably my all time favourite team illustration of the X-men. I used to have it as a poster on my wall as a kid. This reprint actually has a little bit of value but I picked it up for a quarter in an auction no one was watching.

Love the Batman vs Joker Walt Simonson cover of this book. The interior art by Don Newton is great too. Just realized the cover photo cuts off the bottom right corner. Doh!

Merry Christmas, my fellow McFarlane fans! Look what Santa brought me The one big McFarlane key I was missing. (Yes I've got ASM 298-301 etc..) I think this thread was born out of a discussion I had with Mr Fantastic about the similarities between the cover of this, Batman 423, and McFarlane's Detective Year 2 covers. This copy has travelled across the globe and now has a loving home down under. I've been wanting it for a long time, but I waited for a solid copy at a reasonable price. If I'm honest with myself it's not a '9.8 candidate'. It's got a few small colour breaking spine ticks but I love it anyway. And the last time one came up for sale over here on eBay it had a freaking detached cover but still sold quickly.

This week, comics I bought months ago, which were delivered to my brothers address in the US to avoid the ridiculous postage costs, finally made there way down under. My wife is insisting I can't open the rest until Christmas day, so I can only enjoy this one at the moment. It was already unpacked because the box it came in was too big to fit in my brother luggage. It's a good one & ticks a lot of boxes including a wish list item for 2022. Batman #366. Cracking Walt Simonson Batman Vs Joker cover. Gorgeous Don Newton interiors. 1st Jason Todd as Robin. I read it as a kid in a Federal comics Australian edition black & white re-print back in the day. So to have the original now is nostalgia gold. It's not an easy book to find in Australia. It's high grade too, despite being wrapped in big rough scratched yellowing poly bags and white paper during it's trip.

Maybe he raided his Dad's wallet Or from the pocket money for jobs around the house he saved up. I can't remember. I didn't really want to sell it so I set the price high and was surprised when he went for it anyway

Back in the 80s I had a copy of the Nam #1. One of my primary school class mates was desperate to buy it because he loved Vietnam war stuff. I ended up selling it to him for $60. Looking back I really screwed him on that deal. Sorry wherever you are

Wow! This arrived today. Super cool Walt Simonson Joker versus Batman cover with beautiful Don Newton interior art. Oh & it's a bit of a key - 1st Jason Todd as Robin. It's Batman 366. The story line fascinated me as a kid. The Joker running amok with an army in Guatemala, & it now reminds me of what crazed, cult leader Jim Jones did in Guyana. I wonder if that inspired it? Having this in hand brings the biggest smile to my face. I know it's weird but I still love comics after all these years I actually bought it a few month ago, but my brother has only just brought it back from the US. I was worried when I opened it, as it was inside multiple yellowing big plastic bags. But when I pulled it out it was a nice copy just like in the photos online. The backing board was yellowing & the wrong way around It felt good to slip it into a fresh bag with a new acid free board, the right way around. It's safe now. I've been quiet on the boards for a while waiting for my last few purchases to turn up. Published in 1983 it's in that grey zone between copper & bronze, but I'm playing it safe and posting it here

I know a manufacturing defect doesn't reduce the condition grade. But I'm assuming a wrap defect would reduce the value as people generally want a defect free copy of a book. How much would a wrap defect like the one below generally reduce the value of a book?

When buyers successfully lodge a case with eBay, does eBay take the money back from this seller? If so, that's a lot of time and effort he's wasting getting low grade books, cracking cases, preparing & printing fake labels etc... for no financial reward, if the buyer bothers to look at their books. Is he banking on people not looking at their purchases? Or is it malicious like he enjoys messing with collectors?

This is how to avoid them. It's a hassle but if it prevents a tape pull on a book you care about it's worth it. I find folding the tape over isn't reliable as it can flick out at the crucial moment when you're sliding the comic back into the bag.

The postage for a slab from the US to Australia is around $80USD... And that's just the return leg of the journey. Also the Aussie dollar is really low against the green back at the moment...

Gees, I'd love to get one of my McFarlane books signed. I guess I'll just live vicariously through you guys. Make sure you post some pics

He got busted twice! He's a thief and not a very good one

I cut issues 5 & 6 of the Longshot (1985) mini series from my collection today. They were duplicates which finally sold. It brings to a successful end my collecting move to buy the whole mini series as a bundle, just so I could add the 1st issue to my PC. I already owned issues 2-6 in VF or better condition but I was missing the first one from back when I was a kid. The bundle was cheap because most of the books were mid grade. The first issue though was a solid copy. Since that time nearly 2 years ago I've been selling off the rest and now it is completed. I love Art Adams art and I like the character too.

Like a fine blue cheese that gets better with age

It would have a story to tell That saying "low grade, is better than no grade" certainly rings true with this and all the other awesome books people are sharing. The little ticks and creases on the comics are often a sign that someone read it repeatedly and enjoyed it. But it can also show neglect...

We had a break in a few years ago & the scum bags rifled through my storeroom, but fortunately didn't touch my short boxes. Back in 2011, when I wasn't collecting, we had flooding here which got in and damaged the long boxes I had back then, luckily the comics inside weren't affected also. Like Shadroch said there are other threats to consider. I don't display any of my books which as well as preventing light damage probably saved them from being stolen

Given the amount of scamming happening in the hobby these days this is a strong argument for bringing back join dates

I remember reading a post where you said the story was so bad you torn it in half. A while ago I bought a filler book where the art was so terrible I just threw it in the bin. It was at that moment I realized I'm not a numeric run collector. Instead I only collect runs of creative teams I like

Hi LudaToke. I can't see the picture! Please post if possible.

Yeah, the snowstorm variant is so hot right now. Don't miss out. Might grade at a 9.9 though like a certain book with acetate stapled onto it @KirbyTown I can't even tell what issue it is! Love it!