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Infinite Marvel Picture Frame books
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Started by Guardian Comics,

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Off Panel

Off Panel

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After spending most of last year working to upgrade some of my Marvel Bronze Age keys, I'm back to filling runs, and that means Spidey picture frames!

Coming into the year, I had six Amazing Spider-man picture frames left to upgrade: numbers 107, 108, 110, 113, 114, and 115. (You can count me in the camp that considers issues 113 and 115 to be bona-fide picture frames, even if they do play around with the concept.)

I just added this book to my collection, so I'm one down:

1633727323_ASM108_f2.png.53c459e11b8580a1c66ea86d21f73589.png

As a kid, I spent way too much time looking at this cover and tracing my finger over the action lines. I wanted to be able to play out what was happening in my mind. As Spider-man is coming down, the giant chauffeur's fist is behind him, but as he springs back up, the fist is in front. After much thought, I decided that Spidey must have tucked his legs as he hit the ground so his assailant swung over him. 

 

He performs a similar stunt inside the book, sans costume, as he battles the hulking Vietnamese religious fanatic in a dark hallway. I love every page of the Romita art in this issue.

323365980_ASM108blackoutfight.thumb.jpg.7827385d1e72f57f5c6adc7f33a05fbb.jpg

 

The issue is also notable as the first appearance of Sha Shan, although she won't get a name until ASM 109. Sha Shan would go on to experience many future traumas in the Marvel universe including being drafted into a cult, falling under the influence of the Man-Beast, and worst of all, dating Flash Thompson.

At this point, we're only two months away from ASM 110, which would be Stan Lee's last book as the monthly writer on Spider-man. (He had tried previously to hand-off to Roy Thomas with issue 101, but there was a flag on the play and he had to retake possession with issue 105.)

 

 

 

 

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Off Panel

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It occurred to me this morning that the only books I've ever posted here have been Amazing Spider-man issues. I don't want you guys to think that I'm just an ASM collector posing as a picture frame aficionado.

Actually, there was probably a kernel of truth to that when I first started visiting this thread. I mean, I was definitely pre-disposed to the PFs — Bronze Age books are my favorites and I love a Gil Kane cover — but I had never specifically sought them out. Over the past couple of years, however, this group has really kindled my love for these books and that has started showing up in my collecting habits.

First, I found myself starting to focus other titles I already collected on their picture frame years. Thor is a book I've been low-key upgrading for awhile, but when I started I was focused on the issues around 235-250, the ones I was buying off the rack as a kid. Now I find myself gravitating to issues 193-206. 

I've only picked up one issue of Thor lately, and it was this one:

546667240_THOR202_f.thumb.jpeg.a2577c34a448ff84476ee20feaa8d61c.jpeg

 

 

More surprisingly, I recently picked up a book from a title I don't even collect just because of its picture frame cover! 

258060520_MFv1005_f.thumb.jpg.46c9f09bab242b2b57318e0aca64b7d6.jpg

 

 

My goal is to re-focus on my ASM gaps for the rest of the year, but now I know I've truly caught the PF bug.

 

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Ghost Town

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On 3/26/2023 at 10:29 AM, Off Panel said:

More surprisingly, I recently picked up a book from a title I don't even collect just because of its picture frame cover! 

My goal is to re-focus on my ASM gaps for the rest of the year, but now I know I've truly caught the PF bug.

ASM Picture Frames are just a gateway drug. Before you know it, you'll be hitting up dealers for Ringo Kids and Millie the Models.

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Straw-Man

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On 3/26/2023 at 12:38 PM, Ghost Town said:

ASM Picture Frames are just a gateway drug. Before you know it, you'll be hitting up dealers for Ringo Kids and Millie the Models.

...and combat kellys.

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Off Panel

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On 3/26/2023 at 1:38 PM, Ghost Town said:

ASM Picture Frames are just a gateway drug. Before you know it, you'll be hitting up dealers for Ringo Kids and Millie the Models.

 

On 3/26/2023 at 1:52 PM, Straw-Man said:

...and combat kellys.

 

I can absolutely see all of those things happening...

(I mean, there's a reason they call them "dealers," right?)

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djpinkpanther67

djpinkpanther67

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On 4/7/2023 at 2:45 AM, Ghost Town said:

Lots of sweet (and tough to find in high grade) books there, Thomas. The census numbers with those romance books rarely move at all.

Thanks Barton!

I’m always on the lookout. Whiffed a couple grades, but that seems to be par for the course for me nowadays. 
 

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