The DC Collection Is COMPLETE. 9 9

[swapto]

If you have been hunting for a particular book for years to complete a

title/run, you are temped, and often willing, to pay well over guide just

to get the dratted thing. I have done it and expect to do it again.

 

What troubles me is books like Buzzy 70 that have a reputation that they

are extremely rare when they are merely rare. Then people pay outrageous

prices to get the one book when they have no interest in any other issue

of the title.

 

Part of the reason why Buzzy 70 seems so rare is that dealers who do not

know it is supposed to be rare (and Overstreet give no indication that it is not

common) say to themselves "I am going to convention .con and cannot bring

all my stuff; should I bring this group of $10.00 Buzzy's or should I bring this

group of $40.00 Silver Surfers?" We all know the answer to that.

 

Someone had extra space in his con box and Gator got one for "guide" (more or

less). A "Gotta have any dratted book that is considered to be impossible

to get" collector came by and Gator did well. And, at least for a while, both

are happy with the transaction as is the dealer who sold it to Gator.

 

In the long term, I do not think such activities are good for the field.

 

"extremely rare" and just "rare" are also relative to the collector.

 

how many copies of buzzy70 do you know of?

and how many does it take to fall out of the "extremely rare" category?

 

if anything those "Gotta have any dratted book that is considered to be impossible to get" collectors eventually drive out more copies into the marketplace and in turn everyone gets a better idea of how rare they issue actually is and even drive down the price.

a good thing for the hobby IMO.

 

[Flee-Marquette]

As I followed Ian's quest many years ago, I became aware of his difficulty

in finding Buzzy 70 and it piqued my interest as I am sure it did other forumites.

Why was that issue so difficult? I understand that these boards are a small part

of the overall comic collecting community, but you would have thought with

more awareness, a few more copies would have shown up. I think more collectors put that

comic on their radar not necessarily because they wanted it, but because it

was hard to find. I generally wouldn't look at a Buzzy comic unless it was dirt

cheap, but after becoming aware of #70, any time I saw a Buzzy comic, I quickly

looked to see if it was #70. If I was in a comic shop, I would look to see if

they had one. I am sure there are other forumites who did the same, so there

probably aren't too many dealers who attend cons that didn't have

their store inventory checked for that issue.

 

I don't swim in high-grade waters and my completionist tendencies are beginning

to wane, but I still enjoy comics for the same reason that I collect other pop

culture collectibles: for the thrill of the chase. I am out in the field every weekend

scouring flea markets, thrift shops,used bookstores looking for those elusive issues.

If I were to stumble upon a Buzzy 70, I would buy it (probably for well above guide)

not because I am a huge fan, but because I "found it".

It would represent the enjoyment I get from spending time with the wife

pretending we are Indiana Jones looking for the Ark of the Covenant. There are

many facets to collecting comics and you don't have to be a completionist or a

"gotta-have-it" collector to enjoy a Buzzy #70.

[jerome34]

How many copies of Buzzy 70?

 

I have it.

Ian has it.

Swapto has it.

Gator's customer has it.

 

If my memory is correct, a boardie found one recently for another boardie.

 

Note that two (or three) copies have showed up recently.

 

Scarce, yes. Very scarce, I doubt it.

 

 

[archiefan]

If my memory is correct, a boardie found one recently for another boardie.

 

Yes that was me finding the .5 that Ben (swapto) now has. And I found Ian's for him. One more from the source that Ian's came from was auctioned soon after he got his years ago. So I am aware of 4 that became available since Ian publicized his quest plus yours. When did you get your copy?

[jerome34]

I got mine at least ten years ago. I already had it when Ian and I first got

in contact with each other. In one of our early contacts, I warned him that it

was believed to be difficult to get. At that time, Ian was missing only about 100

books. I think that when he got the Buzzy 70 he was down to about 10.

 

Michele Nolan had, and may still have, a copy. That brings the total up to 6

and of the 6 lucky owners, only Ian is a well known, heavy hitter, collector going

after full runs regardless of common/scarce.

 

I am sure that there are other copies out there; some in the hands of Buzzy

collectors, some in the hands of "Gotta have the scarce books," and some in

the hands of individuals who got a comic lot where the Buzzy was mixed in

with books the collector wanted.

 

I think it is at least as common as the most common Ashcan (see Moondogs'

lists).

[jerome34]

I also suspect Christine has a copy. Making 7.

[Timely]

I also suspect Christine has a copy. Making 7.

 

Mark Haspel has a copy. Making 8 copies.

 

West

[fantastic_four]

Mark Haspel has a copy. Making 8 copies.

 

Why does he have a copy--was he inspired by Ian Levine?

[Zonker]

Mark Haspel has a copy. Making 8 copies.

 

Why does he have a copy--was he inspired by Ian Levine?

 

Scarce comic replicator device in the back room of CGC. Don't tell anyone

 

Apparently they're currently "Making 8 copies." Even as we speak!

[swapto]

As I followed Ian's quest many years ago, I became aware of his difficulty

in finding Buzzy 70 and it piqued my interest as I am sure it did other forumites.

Why was that issue so difficult? I understand that these boards are a small part

of the overall comic collecting community, but you would have thought with

more awareness, a few more copies would have shown up. I think more collectors put that

comic on their radar not necessarily because they wanted it, but because it

was hard to find. I generally wouldn't look at a Buzzy comic unless it was dirt

cheap, but after becoming aware of #70, any time I saw a Buzzy comic, I quickly

looked to see if it was #70. If I was in a comic shop, I would look to see if

they had one. I am sure there are other forumites who did the same, so there

probably aren't too many dealers who attend cons that didn't have

their store inventory checked for that issue.

 

I don't swim in high-grade waters and my completionist tendencies are beginning

to wane, but I still enjoy comics for the same reason that I collect other pop

culture collectibles: for the thrill of the chase. I am out in the field every weekend

scouring flea markets, thrift shops,used bookstores looking for those elusive issues.

If I were to stumble upon a Buzzy 70, I would buy it (probably for well above guide)

not because I am a huge fan, but because I "found it".

It would represent the enjoyment I get from spending time with the wife

pretending we are Indiana Jones looking for the Ark of the Covenant. There are

many facets to collecting comics and you don't have to be a completionist or a

"gotta-have-it" collector to enjoy a Buzzy #70.

 

well said sir

[Ian_Levine]

Ian:

The ones you name are (with the exception of

"How You ...") are ones that will never be common. The

woodwork was cleaned out of those years ago.

 

For you and me, items that we consider "scarce" are ones

the were scarce from when we started hunting until we got

our copies. Then we stop looking but still consider them

scarce. Some of them (due, in part, to our hunts) become

less scarce; some become even harder to find.

 

There are items we found early in our search and got that

are scarce. Some are documented, some are not. For

example, you got your New Adventure 13 early so, for you,

there was no reason to look and no reason to think, based

exclusively on your own collecting experience, that it is scarce.

 

So anytime you, or I, or any other collector names an issue

as being scarce it is implied that it was scarce while we looked.

Probably such issues are at a later date "scarce," "very scarce,"

or just "hard to find."

 

There are many very hard to find items you have gotten for me

and believe me, I appreciate it and will continue to appreciate it.

Were a warehouse find of an issue to appear, it would not cause

any change in my thankfulness for your help.

 

The Dirt-Minator I got you, when I found two copies, is simply the rarest DC giveaway of the lot, and has never turned up since, not anywhere, not one single copy.

 

Why do you exclude "How You Can Defend Your Home" ??

 

Is there something I don't know about ??

[Ian_Levine]

As I followed Ian's quest many years ago, I became aware of his difficulty

in finding Buzzy 70 and it piqued my interest as I am sure it did other forumites.

Why was that issue so difficult? I understand that these boards are a small part

of the overall comic collecting community, but you would have thought with

more awareness, a few more copies would have shown up. I think more collectors put that

comic on their radar not necessarily because they wanted it, but because it

was hard to find. I generally wouldn't look at a Buzzy comic unless it was dirt

cheap, but after becoming aware of #70, any time I saw a Buzzy comic, I quickly

looked to see if it was #70. If I was in a comic shop, I would look to see if

they had one. I am sure there are other forumites who did the same, so there

probably aren't too many dealers who attend cons that didn't have

their store inventory checked for that issue.

 

I don't swim in high-grade waters and my completionist tendencies are beginning

to wane, but I still enjoy comics for the same reason that I collect other pop

culture collectibles: for the thrill of the chase. I am out in the field every weekend

scouring flea markets, thrift shops,used bookstores looking for those elusive issues.

If I were to stumble upon a Buzzy 70, I would buy it (probably for well above guide)

not because I am a huge fan, but because I "found it".

It would represent the enjoyment I get from spending time with the wife

pretending we are Indiana Jones looking for the Ark of the Covenant. There are

many facets to collecting comics and you don't have to be a completionist or a

"gotta-have-it" collector to enjoy a Buzzy #70.

 

Well said.

[jerome34]

I have seen a copy or two of "How You ..." on e-bay in the past couple of years. I

suspect it was fairly widely distributed during the war so I would not be surprised

if extra copies showed up. The fact that it is not normally found among comics and

that you and I may be the only ones who count is as a DC (Thanks again for the info),

may account for it not appearing on comic sites. Issues may show up from

time to time at antique sites/stores.

 

I agree the Dirt-Minator is very hard to find and again, thanks for finding one for me.

As we both know, you have been extremely helpful in filling in major holes in my

collection of DC promos with a remarkable help in finding the really rare items.

[ghoulaid]

Congratulations, Ian! I followed your quest several years ago when I was last on this forum and even tried to find a couple books for you. I am most impressed!

 

I started collecting in 1963 and the first Justice League comic I bought off the rack was issue 23. My collecting goals were quite different from yours as I was only interested in the superhero, science fiction and horror, mystery genres. I never wanted all the other genres. However, in moments of weakness I did buy westerns, war, teen humor, funny animal, etc, books. Plus, I didn't limit myself to DC.

 

Around 1970 I toyed with the idea of getting every comic ever made but finances prevented that. I eventually completed runs of the major and minor titles from 1958 onwards and have a fair number of books prior to 1958 before "retiring" from collecting comics in 1985.

 

What I'm trying to say is, as a veteran collector, your accomplishment should be the stuff of legend.

 

Edited July 17, 2010 by ghoulaid

[swapto]

Congratulations, Ian! I followed your quest several years ago when I was last on this forum and even tried to find a couple books for you. I am most impressed!

 

I started collecting in 1963 and the first Justice League comic I bought off the rack was issue 23. My collecting goals were quite different from yours as I was only interested in the superhero, science fiction and horror, mystery genres. I never wanted all the other genres. However, in moments of weakness I did buy westerns, war, teen humor, funny animal, etc, books. Plus, I didn't limit myself to DC.

 

Around 1970 I toyed with the idea of getting every comic ever made but finances prevented that. I eventually completed runs of the major and minor titles from 1958 onwards and have a fair number of books prior to 1958 before "retiring" from collecting comics in 1985.

 

What I'm trying to say is, as a veteran collector, your accomplishment should be the stuff of legend.

 

great story

how many books would you say are n your collectio in total?

[Ian_Levine]

I have seen a copy or two of "How You ..." on e-bay in the past couple of years. I

suspect it was fairly widely distributed during the war so I would not be surprised

if extra copies showed up. The fact that it is not normally found among comics and

that you and I may be the only ones who count is as a DC

 

It IS a DC.

It was printed and manufactured by All American Comics.

DC themselves recognise it as a DC so any doubt you may harbour is nonsense, frankly.

[ghoulaid]

 

great story

how many books would you say are n your collection in total?

 

Hi Swapto,

 

I'd say around 23,000 give or take. Not many compared to some but they are nearly all pre 1980.

[G.A.tor]

 

great story

how many books would you say are n your collection in total?

 

Hi Swapto,

 

I'd say around 23,000 give or take. Not many compared to some but they are nearly all pre 1980.

that is still most impressive (thumbs u

[Flaming_Telepath]

I have seen a copy or two of "How You ..." on e-bay in the past couple of years. I

suspect it was fairly widely distributed during the war so I would not be surprised

if extra copies showed up. The fact that it is not normally found among comics and

that you and I may be the only ones who count is as a DC

 

It IS a DC.

It was printed and manufactured by All American Comics.

DC themselves recognise it as a DC so any doubt you may harbour is nonsense, frankly.

 

Ah, great to see that you haven't lost that warm bedside manner.

[swapto]

 

great story

how many books would you say are n your collection in total?

 

Hi Swapto,

 

I'd say around 23,000 give or take. Not many compared to some but they are nearly all pre 1980.

that is still most impressive (thumbs u

 

indeed