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Gallery 2: Gaines File Copies & celebrity Signature Series

Started by BradleyX2,

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BradleyX2

BradleyX2

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Continuing the columns by our QC specialist Michael McFadden, here's what he had to say about the books in the CGC Gallery around 1/08

 

 

 

Greetings once more, my fellow fans! Michael McFadden here with more pompous and pretentious post-holiday propaganda pronouncements promoting the peerless pulp fiction placed in the CGC gallery.

 

It was a busy month. I didn’t realize how busy until Gemma Adel told me I’d requested a record 699 books for the gallery — and that she’d uploaded every single one. Then she said, “Here’s your Christmas present, Michael” and slapped my face! Can I help it if I just get wild-eyed when I see so many ultra-cooltastic books at CGC? I’d image them all if I could!

 

I’m always jazzed when I hold Bill Gaines EC file copies. This material may be over half a century old and it’s still minty newstand fresh! About a year ago, CGCers Bradley Bradley, West Stephan, Jerry Stephan (now with Heritage), alumni Ron Montori and I had dinner with EC editor/writer/artist Al Feldstein, who explained the provenance of these books. Publisher Bill Gaines put 13 or so copies away of every EC published under his watch. It was not primarily for posterity, not because he was a collector (although he did hang on to most of the original EC art for years), but he wanted proof of publication for U.S. postal authorities. They monitored the circulation end of the industry back then — hence, the yearly statement of ownership printed in comics each year — and Gaines simply did not want to run afoul of them. That’s what Al told us. Who would have thought federal regulations would prove to one day be a boon to collectors?

 

We added over 40 copies, mostly in the 9.2 to 9.8 range, the few exceptions of lower-graded books being the highest grades extant. And it’s not like these gorgeous books are some goofy Dell western like Rex Allen or an insipid Wacky Duck. These comics exhibit the industry at its best. Magnificently conceived and drawn covers by such luminaries as Wally Wood, Ghastly Graham Ingles, Jack Davis, Johnny Craig, and Feldstein, all brilliantly colored by the oft-overlooked Marie Severin! Tell me, what’s not to love here? Do yourself a favor and type “Gaines” into the gallery browser and look at them all!

 

Not many books got our coveted 9.9 or 10 designations this month. C’mon, you comic printers, try a little harder! We only offer one 10.0 and seven 9.9’s this month. Grimm Fairy Tales: Return to Wonderland #3 (Fantastic Realm Edition), Justice League of America #9 (variant), Red Sonja #26 (Fantastic Realm Edition), Superman Wedding Album: Collector’s Edition (Hey, Supes, I know a great divorce lawyer named Mephisto!), Tank Girl: The Gifting (RRP), and Transformers: Best of the UK: Dinobots #3 (RRP) all hit 9.9. The lone 10.0 was a copy of Transformers: Beast Wars: The Ascending #2 (RRP).

 

JusticeLeagueofAmerica9Var99.jpgRedSonja26FantRealm99.jpgSupermanWeddingAlbum1Colled99.jpgTransformersBWAscending2RRP10.jpg

 

 

A note on our grading methodology might be illuminating here. I may have mentioned that I’m the last pair of educated eyes to look at a CGC book. Not entirely true. Once I’m satisfied with the label, the encapsulation, and the grade of a 9.9 or 10.0, I take it to Paul Litch, Shawn Caffrey, Dave Couillou, Mark Haspel, or Steve Borock — department heads all — who double-check the book themselves before bestowing the final blessing. We take our 9.9 /10.0 grade quite seriously. We simply don’t want to be embarrassed by some mangy 9.8 leaving our office in 9.9/10 drag. After the final check, my job at that point is just not dropping the damn book on my way back to the Fortress of Qualitude!

 

We have only 25 Signature Series books for you this month. For one thing, there are fewer shows (it’s cold). There are fewer pros doing shows; they’re busy at home crafting your summer’s graphic story entertainment. And neither Gemma nor I can stand to look at another maudlin rendition of Captain America on the blank cover of Fallen Son #3! I think we’ve imaged fifty of ‘em!

 

I’m always a sucker for actors signing comics. Katie Sackhoff and Tricia Helfers’ signatures grace Battlestar Galactica #’s 0, 1 and 7, as well as Greg Pak. I haven’t read Dynamite’s comic version, but the Sci-Fi Channel’s revamp of the old ABC network Star Wars rip-off is some of the most literate and thoughtful science fiction ever presented on television. Speaking of literate and thoughtful, how about Kane Hodder’s scrawl on Friday the 13th #4 or Robert Englund’s on Nightmare on Elm Street Special #1 (Red Foil Edition)? And for you trekkies (excuse me, trekkers) out there, Star Trek: Year Four #‘s 3 and 4 sport original cast members Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig autographs, respectively.

 

BattlestarGalactica1SS98.jpgFridaythe13th4SS96.jpgNightmareonElmStreetSpecial1RedFoilSS94.jpgStarTrekYearFour3SS98.jpg

 

 

 

When DC announced in 1971 that it had grabbed the Tarzan franchise from Gold Key, that was exciting. When they announced Joe Kubert was drawing it, that was incredible! So we offer the first DC issue of Tarzan (#207), signed by… aw, you guessed it! Look for his Showcase #58, too. Other creators include the great Neal Adams on his signature book Green Lantern #76 and on Batman #244 and CGC classic cover #251. Jim Steranko personalized a 9.8 Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1. Basil Gogos signed and added glow-in-the-dark ink enhancement to a Famous Monsters of Filmland 1969 Yearbook. And okay — I lied — we added five more Fallen Son #3’s. Mark Texiera, a couple of Romita, Jrs., and a couple of multi-artist jams… well, they were pretty nice!

 

Tarzan207SS90.jpgGreenLantern76SS80.jpgNickFuryAgentofSHIELD1SS98.jpgFamousMonstersofFilmlandYearbooknn69SS92.jpg

 

 

 

An amazing Amazing Mystery Funnies v2 #10 leads off our pedigree selections this month, though there’s nothing funny about a 9.4 Mile High of this hard-to-find book. Equally cool is the 8.0 Larson All-American Comics #1. Other Mile High’s include Blaze Carson #2 (9.4), Joan of Arc #nn (9.4), Feature Comics #31 (7.0), Andy Comics #20 (9.4), and Wyatt Earp #7 (9.2).

 

 

AmazingMysteryFunniesv2_10MH94.jpgJoanofArcnnMileHigh94.jpgAndyComics20MH94.jpg

 

 

Other pedigrees represented are:

Big Apple: House of Secrets #20 (8.0)

Bethlehem: House of Secrets #16 (7.0) and #39 (8.5)

Boston: Journey into Mystery #125 (9.8), Thor #131 (9.6), Showcase #‘s 59 and 64 (both 9.4), Mystery in Space #103 (9.6), JLA #38 (9.4), Flash #‘s 155, 156, and 157 (all 9.4)

Curator: Avengers #‘s 14 and 15 (both 9.8)

Denver: National #1 (8.0)

Massachusetts: Showcase #87 (9.8), #88 (9.6), #89 (9.2), Strange Sports Stories #1 (9.6), World’s Finest Comics #204 (9.6)

Mohawk Valley: Showcase #45 (9.2)

Northland: Fantastic Four #55 (9.6), Thor #171 (9.6), Mystery in Space #98 (9.4), Strange Adventures #205 (9.6), Flash #131 (9.4), #136 (9.2), Avengers #18 (9.6)

Oakland: House of Mystery #200 (9.8), Jimmy Olsen #110 (9.4)

Pacific Coast: Thor #‘s 142, 153, 161, 173, 180 (all 9.6), #158 (9.8), Thor Annual #2 (9.6), Metal Men #‘s 22, 24, 26 (all 9.6), Lois Lane #94 (9.8), #96 (9.6), Jimmy Olsen #108 (9.6)

White Mountain: Fantastic Four #4 (8.5), #5 (9.4), Journey into Mystery #24 (8.0) and #58 (8.5)

Windy City: Wham Comics #1 (8.0)

File copies: Gold Key Phantom #1 (9.4), Bugs Bunny #86 (9.6), a nifty gouache painting of that Oscar®-winning rabbit on a lustrous black background. Fabulous copy! Harvey’s Spooky Spooktown #3 (9.2), Hot Stuff #2 (8.0), #148 (9.6), Hot Stuff Sizzlers #1 (9.2), #5 (9.4), and TV Casper and Company #31 (9.8).

 

 

And I love this run of Tales of Suspense: #42 Northland, #49 Pacific Coast, #55 Northland, #58 Massachusetts, #71 Boston, #78 Western Penn (all 9.6), and #’s 86 (9.6), 87 (9.8), 89 (9.8), and 99 (9.6) — all Pacific Coast.

 

 

TalesofSuspense42Northland96.jpgTalesofSuspense49PacificCoast96.jpgTalesofSuspense71Boston96.jpgTalesofSuspense87PC98.jpg

 

 

We also added quite a few 1950s DC and Atlas superhero books, predominantly in the 7.0 to 9.0 range. While those grades may not seem impressive to many of you, this material is tough in any grade. Between the explosive impact of television on kids and druggists trying to avoid the ire of their local PTAs for selling comic books, circulations were down. Most of these books place in our top five graded copies — if we’ve even certified that many. Look for Action Comics between #186 to #231, Batman #85 to #98, Detective Comics #200 to #240, Sub-Mariner #35 to #42, and World’s Finest Comics #72 to #87 to mention a few. Don’t forget to scroll down so you can check the census on each book.

 

Some cool, oddball stuff for your entertainment and edification. How about Puck the Tariff, an 1888 cartoon collection from the Mad Magazine of its day? Or the super-rare Double Action Comics #2? Or ashcan editions of Flash Comics #1 (three to choose from — you’re sure to find one you’ll like), Lone Ranger #1 and Thrill Comics #1? Or my personal favorite, the inanely bizarre Win A Prize Comics #’s 1 and 2 published by — who else? — Charlton. It’s not an ashcan, but I have a feeling that’s where most copies wound up.

 

PuckTheTariffnnThirdEd55.jpgDoubleActionComics2AP55.jpgFlashComics1Ashcan92.jpgWinAPrizeComics165.jpg

 

 

Finally, thanks for all the positive comments I got on my first CGC eNewsletter column. Four or five of you actually clicked on the banner to read it. One of those was my boss, Steve Borock, who fortunately did not let me go. Now that’s what I call a successful column!

 

Comments and questions regarding the gallery? We’re fans, too. We enjoy hearing from you. You can contact me at mmcfadden@cgccomics.com. Thank you for your time and do remember — be good to yourself. Be CGC-ing you!

 

 

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MrBedrock

MrBedrock

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An amazing Amazing Mystery Funnies v2 #10 leads off our pedigree selections this month, though there’s nothing funny about a 9.4 Mile High of this hard-to-find book.

AmazingMysteryFunniesv2_10MH94.jpg

:takeit:

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VintageComics

VintageComics

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An amazing Amazing Mystery Funnies v2 #10 leads off our pedigree selections this month, though there’s nothing funny about a 9.4 Mile High of this hard-to-find book.

AmazingMysteryFunniesv2_10MH94.jpg

:takeit:

 

Don't you already own that one?

 

:makepoint:

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