mrc

I remember when 'The Gonz' first came to London in '87 and blew everyone away at one of our local skate spots by being the first to ollie 'the gap' Here's the photo.....................

Thanks for digging out your Skate Mags!.....................

Update to my previous post. After a lengthy search I've finally completed my run of Skateboarder magazines (apart from the photo annual). Remarkably, this first issue is in 'unread' condition and was purchased from an ebay seller in California.......

I don't think so, but some of the other UK boardies might know him.

I hope so. That would be hard for me to resist, even at the price..........

You're aware you can submit your books to CGC's office in London?

I have one Stan signed book in my collection.............be rude not to really!

............but, popularity does not equate to quality. Arguing that an idea has merit because it has popular support is one of the oldest argument tactics around. It's also one of the most flawed. I started picking up Marvel titles in 1972 with the advent of Marvel UK. The reason I persevered with those early titles was predominantly due to Stan's input. Yes the artwork was (mostly) great but Stan's input made those books relevant. The initial series of The Mighty World of Marvel & Spider-Man weekly were both huge successes and became the mainstays of the Marvel UK lineup. The Mighty World Of Marvel, in one form or another was published continuously until 1984. The Spider-Man weekly comic (under many different name changes) would continue until 1985. In the 1970's Marvel UK became a major publisher of weekly comics.

Impossible to say, but they wouldn't have been as popular and successful without Stan's input during the Silver Age.

Awesome..............

Kirby never read the books after they went to print, so never knew just how much Stans writing added to the book. Romita mentions this in detail in an interview when talking about Stan........ "Oh, he’s a con man, but he did deliver. Anyone who says he didn’t earn what he’s got is not reading the facts. Believe me, he earned everything he gets. That’s why I never begrudged him getting any of the credit, and as far as I’m concerned, he can have his name above any of my stuff, anytime he wants. Every time I took a story in to Stan (and if Jack were reading it, he’d have felt the same way) I had only partial faith in my picture story. I worked it out and I believed in the characters, but I was only half-sure it was going to work. I always had my misgivings. By the time Stan would write it, I’d start to look at that story and say, “Son of a gun, it’s almost as though I planned it,” and I’d believe a hundredfold more in that story after he wrote it than before, and if Jack would’ve allowed himself to, he would’ve had the same satisfaction. I sincerely believe that.” Jacks writing left a lot to be desired, and even the likes of Neal Adams and Roy Thomas (amongst others) felt Jack needed someone like Stan to make the books work. I read Jacks 4th World stuff back in the day and although the ideas were different, they really lacked something. No wonder a couple were cancelled within just 11 months. What happened to the Jack Kirby that was supposedly responsible for Marvels success? As for shutting up shop in ’57: Joe Maneely had just died and either Jack came to Stan looking for work or Stan approached Jack about a week later, either way it doesn’t sound like the place was closing down. In an interview with the Kirby Collector, they asked Gil Kane “Did Jack save Marvel at that time?” Kane replies: “He certainly helped. First of all I don’t think it would have been possible without Stan, because in the late 50s, Jack was doing all that monster stuff, and believe me, that didn’t make a difference in sales. That just barely kept them afloat. It wasn’t until they started doing the super-hero stuff that sales started to improve. Stan had a lot to do with the characterisation which was appropriate for the time. It was fresh and filled with mock irreverence. And that’s not Jack, that was Stan. Of course Jack was doing superb work” but it doesn’t sound like Jack was saving it. Stan was definitely liable to take more credit than perhaps he was due at times, but when you read interviews with the majority of the bullpen, they certainly give Stan more than his due. In fact, in Lee & Kirby: The Wonder Years, the author says this towards the end: “So here’s the paradox: all the Lee-bashing Kirby-centric zealots who claim that Stan practically rode Jack’s coattails to fame and fortune *weren’t there at the time*. All the Marvel insiders that we interviewed – who *were* there – are quite adamant that the “Anti-Stan” legions have a warped sense of reality................

Stan had his own view of the creative process, Kirby had his. They worked in a collaboration It will always be a grey area but I don't think he 'stole' anything from anyone. Effective delegation is an essential management technique for business success.

I would never have picked up a Marvel Comic at all if it wasn't for Stan 'The Man' back in the 70's (in the UK). What I do remember though is 'right off the bat' Stan made sure I knew who Jack 'King' Kirby was, and also Steve Ditko (because Picasso was out of town) .....................

the first book I remember buying with my own pocket money........

Nice colour tone...........

Agreed. I'm a big fan of the matt paper though. Anything with glossy paper or bright colours makes me reach for the sunglasses.....

Batman Illustrated 1- 3 Hardback & The Deadman Collection Hardback Slipcase......IMHO. I'm not a fan of the Omni size although I do like the Absolutes.

Nothing worse than flipping through a bunch of beat up, scratched and grubby slabs at a con. Or, having one arrive in the post and then having to get it re holdered. In my experience, damaged slabs are next to impossible to polish or clean up. Makes perfect sense to me to to put some cheap, clear polyprop bags over my slabs to keep the slab in pristine condition.

No

Crystal clear polypropylene resealable bags. Cheap, transparent and will protect slabs from scratches.

Consigned BIN at mycomicshop.com, Harley Quinn #1B Adam Hughes variant cover CGC 9.8 $750 SOLD Consigned BIN at mycomicshop.com, Red Sonja #7A Adam Hughes Red Foil variant cover CGC 9.8 $129 SOLD

Nice book! Firstly, a loft (in the UK) and the extremes of tempereature can seriously damage collectibles. Secondly, CGC have an office in London that could submit your book for you, if you want it reholdered. United Kingdom NGC International UK Ltd. 69 Southampton Row, Third Floor Bloomsbury WC1B 4ET London, United Kingdom Office visits by appointment only. Please call or email to schedule an appointment. Hours (Monday to Friday): 9:00am to 5:30pm (+44) (0) 20 3968 3848 (+44) (0) 20 3968 3849 fax Service@CGCcomics.uk