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Metropolis Comics

Started by Webhead1981,

199 posts in this topic

ComicConnoisseur

ComicConnoisseur

Posted
Posted
Where did they get their bankroll? What is their history?

 

Steve Fishler was the founder of Metropolis and came from a fairly wealthy background. As a child, Fishler supposedly wasn't showing a great deal of interest in anything specific, and his father took him to a comic show where he did show interest. He started working as a young teenager with Sparkle City under Jay Maybruck and Joe Verenault and showed an aptitude for comics, sales and the deals in the business.

 

Jay Maybruck, Steve Geppi, Robert M. Overstreet and Ernie Gerber were the forefathers of the comic book market. They were the movers and shakers of what a comic book`s value was. One of major reasons why the golden age superhero, Barks and EC comics stuff is so high priced is because those old-timers deemed it. They had absolute power over the market like a few dealers have now over the OA market. Of course those comic book forefathers can`t have that kind of power now because of EBay and the internet, but in the 1970s until the early 1990s they were the major players.

Slowly you can see how their influence is fading pricewise, as Barks and EC comics don`t command anywhere near the prices they once had, and most non-Superman, Batman and Timely golden age comics have started to get lukewarm results as well.

2c

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zosocane

zosocane

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Posted
Where did they get their bankroll? What is their history?

 

Steve Fishler was the founder of Metropolis and came from a fairly wealthy background. As a child, Fishler supposedly wasn't showing a great deal of interest in anything specific, and his father took him to a comic show where he did show interest. He started working as a young teenager with Sparkle City under Jay Maybruck and Joe Verenault and showed an aptitude for comics, sales and the deals in the business.

 

Jay Maybruck, Steve Geppi, Robert M. Overstreet and Ernie Gerber were the forefathers of the comic book market. They were the movers and shakers of what a comic book`s value was. One of major reasons why the golden age superhero, Barks and EC comics stuff is so high priced is because those old-timers deemed it. They had absolute power over the market like a few dealers have now over the OA market. Of course those comic book forefathers can`t have that kind of power now because of EBay and the internet, but in the 1970s until the early 1990s they were the major players.

Slowly you can see how their influence is fading pricewise, as Barks and EC comics don`t command anywhere near the prices they once had, and most non-Superman, Batman and Timely golden age comics have started to get lukewarm results as well.

2c

 

I remember as a kid in the late 70s studying like the Bible my very first OPG (78-ish) and the advertisements were filled with Carl Barks/Donald Duck covers and OA -- everywhere. As a kid, I specifically remember that I couldn't understand the fascination, and the ridiculous prices that, at the time, were being realized for Duck comics, Barks art, etc.

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jimjum12

jimjum12

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......I'm trying to save money and you guys have gone and made me order a book from Metro.....thanks. I wish I could've gotten a few more. Instead of worrying about what Fisch did as a teenager, we should all be checking out the ComicZone Radio interview archives on their site. AWESOME stuff. GOD BLESS....

 

-jimbo(a friend of jesus) (thumbs u

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originalisbest

originalisbest

Posted
Posted
Where did they get their bankroll? What is their history?

 

Steve Fishler was the founder of Metropolis and came from a fairly wealthy background. As a child, Fishler supposedly wasn't showing a great deal of interest in anything specific, and his father took him to a comic show where he did show interest. He started working as a young teenager with Sparkle City under Jay Maybruck and Joe Verenault and showed an aptitude for comics, sales and the deals in the business.

 

Jay Maybruck, Steve Geppi, Robert M. Overstreet and Ernie Gerber were the forefathers of the comic book market. They were the movers and shakers of what a comic book`s value was. One of major reasons why the golden age superhero, Barks and EC comics stuff is so high priced is because those old-timers deemed it. They had absolute power over the market like a few dealers have now over the OA market. Of course those comic book forefathers can`t have that kind of power now because of EBay and the internet, but in the 1970s until the early 1990s they were the major players.

Slowly you can see how their influence is fading pricewise, as Barks and EC comics don`t command anywhere near the prices they once had, and most non-Superman, Batman and Timely golden age comics have started to get lukewarm results as well.

2c

 

lol! The market for EC comics is more than OK, if (like with everything) you don't buy at too steep a price in the first place. In fact, I'd say their precode horror enjoys just as solid a demand as ever; just that the other precodes (which used to be cheap as dirt in comparison) have caught up.

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sufunk

sufunk

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I've never had a problem in any of my dealings with Metro and will definitely continue to do business with them.

 

That said, if you are thinking of using the "make an offer" button on a book, i dont care how much money you've spent with them, how long the books sat on their site or how many other books you are buying, you BETTER make an offer within 5% of their price or it aint happening! :sorry:

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joecgcmaniac

joecgcmaniac

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I've never had a problem in any of my dealings with Metro and will definitely continue to do business with them.

 

That said, if you are thinking of using the "make an offer" button on a book, i dont care how much money you've spent with them, how long the books sat on their site or how many other books you are buying, you BETTER make an offer within 5% of their price or it aint happening! :sorry:

 

36078373.jpg

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sufunk

sufunk

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I've never had a problem in any of my dealings with Metro and will definitely continue to do business with them.

 

That said, if you are thinking of using the "make an offer" button on a book, i dont care how much money you've spent with them, how long the books sat on their site or how many other books you are buying, you BETTER make an offer within 5% of their price or it aint happening! :sorry:

 

36078373.jpg

 

You son of a person_without_enough_empathy!!! :baiting:

 

:censored:

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mrmyst

mrmyst

Posted
Posted
Where did they get their bankroll? What is their history?

 

Steve Fishler was the founder of Metropolis and came from a fairly wealthy background. As a child, Fishler supposedly wasn't showing a great deal of interest in anything specific, and his father took him to a comic show where he did show interest. He started working as a young teenager with Sparkle City under Jay Maybruck and Joe Verenault and showed an aptitude for comics, sales and the deals in the business.

 

Jay Maybruck, Steve Geppi, Robert M. Overstreet and Ernie Gerber were the forefathers of the comic book market. They were the movers and shakers of what a comic book`s value was. One of major reasons why the golden age superhero, Barks and EC comics stuff is so high priced is because those old-timers deemed it. They had absolute power over the market like a few dealers have now over the OA market. Of course those comic book forefathers can`t have that kind of power now because of EBay and the internet, but in the 1970s until the early 1990s they were the major players.

Slowly you can see how their influence is fading pricewise, as Barks and EC comics don`t command anywhere near the prices they once had, and most non-Superman, Batman and Timely golden age comics have started to get lukewarm results as well.

2c

 

lol! The market for EC comics is more than OK, if (like with everything) you don't buy at too steep a price in the first place. In fact, I'd say their precode horror enjoys just as solid a demand as ever; just that the other precodes (which used to be cheap as dirt in comparison) have caught up.

Yes.EC horror and sci-fi are doing just fine right now in relation to 'guide' prices. I'd also add that MLJs, Centaurs and PCH are doing as well as ever.
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Fallsview

Fallsview

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Just do a search on the name Metropolis on this forum and you'll get all kinds of threads with mixed results.

 

Old thread

 

Newer thread

 

Came across this regarding their "reputation" in the Baker Romance thread (GA Section).

Interesting read from bottom half of page 103 to page 106. Was never addressed by Metropolis / CConnect on this Forum (as far as I know). Open to interpretation and take it for what it's worth.....

 

http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2429633&fpart=103

 

 

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jimjum12

jimjum12

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One week after purchase, I got a notification that the books have been shipped. Not bad, I guess. Now I'm anxious to check them out upon arrival.

 

...... my book arrived yesterday,,,, a little over a week after placing my order. Not a large order and I'm basically a nobody in the grand scheme of things, but Metro always treats me right. The book is a tight 6.5 ....just as advertised.....PQ is actually nicer than I expected for an early 50's Atlas horror.....all for less than a hundred bucks :cloud9: GOD BLESS....

 

-jimbo(a friend of jesus) (thumbs u

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RickL

RickL

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What's the process for setting up time payments? On their site, it says to email them if you need more than 90 days but not what to do if within the standard period.

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comicartfan

comicartfan

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Posted
Where did they get their bankroll? What is their history?

 

Steve Fishler was the founder of Metropolis and came from a fairly wealthy background. As a child, Fishler supposedly wasn't showing a great deal of interest in anything specific, and his father took him to a comic show where he did show interest. He started working as a young teenager with Sparkle City under Jay Maybruck and Joe Verenault and showed an aptitude for comics, sales and the deals in the business.

 

Fishler eventually separated from Sparkle City to start his own company. I'm sure he learned a great deal by observing the Sparkle City methodology and their ability to dominate the market by owning the "best" material. In fact, many aspects of the way Metropolis does business certainly mimic the mindset that Sparkle City had at one time in terms of pricing. It's obvious that Steve also had foresight into original art as he's accumulated one of the most impressive collections in the world, and built Metropolis into a powerhouse. He accumulated an incredible inventory over the years, again, similar to the way Sparkle City in its heyday had built itself.

 

Of course, one of Fishler's known limitations was that his personality was not terribly "customer friendly" and I think Fishler in many ways never enjoyed interacting with the public at large. But Fishler's business acumen allowed him to recognize this limitation and so he needed to bring in a partner.

 

In 1999 Metropolis merged (or bought out you might say) Vincent Zurzolo and Vincent's collectibles (this left then Vinecent's employee Bob Storms to start his own company, highgradecomics.com) -- and Vinny became the personality and front man for the business. I have no idea if they were originally full partners, but I've always gotten the sense that Vinny was the junior partner and Steve the senior. I think that may still be very much the way it is, but Vinny is far more influential and powerful than at the beginning of their merger. I've always understood that Vinny's ambitions were to become the biggest and best dealer in the world, but capital would always be a limitation, whereby Fishler had capital, but not the people skills to continuously work that aspect of the business.

 

It was a very good match. Metropolis has expanded its scope and influence as the largest dealer in the world, and that continues today.

 

FYI: disclaimer, most of this information is cobbled together from various sources and my own observations.

 

^^

 

CAL who for some reason, HAS gotten deals from Metro, and NEVER has had a problem whatsoever with anyone there...

 

This is the exact details that I have gotten from various people. Usually when information gets passed around, the "fish gets bigger and bigger "type of situation is noticed.

I tend to believe this is pretty accurate and the fact that it's doesn't paint either Steve or Vinnie in a bad light....just comic dealer's version of Lennon and McCartnety type of right persons, right time, right place.

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Mark 1

Mark 1

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I've had very positive dealings with Frank and Vincent. I enjoy going to their office and viewing books first hand as I think that's the best way to buy raw comics.

 

I've had some good deals with them on slabs also.

 

 

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