Honored to be there as "kid" buys his first ASM1 2 2

[Ken Aldred]

On 8/28/2021 at 7:19 PM, Dark Knight said:

I also remembered back then that I would look up phone numbers in the directory and literally call every single comic book/collectible store in my area to ask if they had a particular issue available (these were silver age keys).

Those were the days.  At first we didn't have a phone at home, and the only option was a urine-soaked public call box, an experience these new collectors have been tragically robbed of by 21st century mobile technology.

Edited August 28, 2021 by Ken Aldred

[Terry JSA]

On 8/28/2021 at 1:54 PM, Dark Knight said:

Yeah I was that kid too.. I wish I can re-live those memories because of that excitement I had in my eyes and that feeling of "Oh my gosh, is that an AF 15/ASM 1/DD 1!?" Only difference is that I couldn't afford it and my parents wouldn't hand me the $ to buy them because they thought the price was absurd . 

This was me when I attended my first local comic show back when I was 15. I didn’t think I would be able to see those type of books in person, let alone see people actually buy them in front of me.
 

I remember seeing an ASM #129 ($500 for a raw copy back in 2018) I wanted and asked my dad if he could buy it for me, but he said no. 

[Robot Man]

On 8/28/2021 at 11:22 AM, Ken Aldred said:

Those were the days.  At first we didn't have a phone at home, and the only option was a urine-soaked public call box, an experience we've been robbed of by 21st century mobile technology.

Wow, no phone at home? That must have been weird. We had one with luckily a long cord. Would stretch it as far as possible when talking to girls. With 4 kids, I took a lot of abuse and had to fight for the use of it. 

I remember getting yelled because of my long distance calls to comic sellers in the Comic Book Buyer’s Guide ads. 

We had one b/w TV. Could only watch when my dad wasn’t home. When he was, my brother and I were the “human remotes”. 

In spite of it all, life was a lot simpler and less stressful than it is today...

[Ken Aldred]

On 8/28/2021 at 7:25 PM, Terry JSA said:

I remember seeing an ASM #129 ($500 for a raw copy back in 2018) I wanted and asked my dad if he could buy it for me, but he said no. 

I was wary about telling my father I'd spent £5 on a comic, back in the 70s. 

Those clandestine, Bronze Age days. 

[Dark Knight]

On 8/28/2021 at 11:22 AM, Ken Aldred said:

Those were the days.  At first we didn't have a phone at home, and the only option was a urine-soaked public call box, an experience these new collectors have been tragically robbed of by 21st century mobile technology.

Yep that was a lot of fun. No internet, just strictly hunting, calling and getting lucky. It's funny too because a couple of those businesses I called don't deal with comics (basically like I mentioned earlier they are a collectible store but didn't know what collectibles they sell) and I remembered calling those same stores a couple of times within a few weeks and they would get annoyed and wondered why again I was asking for comic books 

[littledoom]

On 8/28/2021 at 10:22 AM, Terry JSA said:

I liked this story considering I am “that kid” since I’m currently 19-years-old. I remember when I first got into the hobby back in late 2017 when I was just 15. I got interested in the collecting side of things and discovered Green Lantern #76 and I really wanted it due to its significance on comics at that time. 

I was able to eventually buy one after getting my first job and when I got my first paycheck. I went to my LCS, asked if they had a Green Lantern #76 and sure enough they did! It was priced at $250 but I was able to get it down to $175 even. Huge shoutout to Shelton at Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find for helping me acquire my first ever grail! 
 

Overall it’s nice hearing stories people about being able to get their grails, congrats to that guy on getting an ASM #1! 

Green Lantern 76.. I love that particular book. I own several. I remember as a kid that was always considered a big bronze key with Hulk 181 and TMNT 1

[Primetime]

I acquired my first ASM 1 ( a raw VG) when I was 20 years old. I traded a slew of Xmens 2-150 (random issues scattered) plus $500 to a friend. This was in 1995. I got it slabbed in 2000 and it came back cgc 4.0 blue. Here’s a picture. I ended up owning it for 14 years and traded it towards a Suspense 3. 

Edited August 29, 2021 by Primetime

[badback83]

On 8/28/2021 at 10:49 PM, Primetime said:

I acquired my first ASM 1 ( a raw VG) when I was 20 years old. I traded slew of Xmens 2-150 plus $500 to a friend. This was in 1995. I got it slabbed in 2000 and it came back cgc 4,0 blue. Here’s a picture. I ended up owning it for 14 years and traded it towards a Suspense 3. 

Oh my.  I kind of want to slap my own face when I use this word, but that is my “grail”.  I’ve lost sleep over that book.

[Primetime]

On 8/28/2021 at 8:37 PM, DocHoppus182 said:

Oh my.  I kind of want to slap my own face when I use this word, but that is my “grail”.  I’ve lost sleep over that book.

[KCOComics]

On 8/28/2021 at 10:49 PM, Primetime said:

I acquired my first ASM 1 ( a raw VG) when I was 20 years old. I traded a slew of Xmens 2-150 (random issues scattered) plus $500 to a friend. This was in 1995. I got it slabbed in 2000 and it came back cgc 4.0 blue. Here’s a picture. I ended up owning it for 14 years and traded it towards a Suspense 3. 

Wow! There aren't a ton of books I would trade a Blue label ASM 1 for, but Suspense 3 is one of them!!! Beautiful book! I hope you still own it! 

[KCOComics]

This is a great great thread. Love reading all these stories. 

My father worked in construction.  At some point in time he was working with a part time comic book collector / dealer. 

That guy (I wish I could remember his name) invited us to a comic book show and I was instantly hooked. I was probably 12 or 13. It was a smaller local show as most of them were in the early 90s.  My dad's friend had an ASM1 and I remember him saying he was going to put his kids through college with it one day.  I wonder if their two industries that have inflated more since then, than college tuition and funny books? 

Anyway, I can remember the buzz at that show was a Superman #1 that someone was selling for $7k.  I remember it so well because of my father's reaction to someone spending that kind of $$ on a comic book.  

[jimjum12]

On 8/28/2021 at 2:33 PM, Robot Man said:

Wow, no phone at home? That must have been weird. We had one with luckily a long cord. Would stretch it as far as possible when talking to girls. With 4 kids, I took a lot of abuse and had to fight for the use of it. 

I remember getting yelled because of my long distance calls to comic sellers in the Comic Book Buyer’s Guide ads. 

We had one b/w TV. Could only watch when my dad wasn’t home. When he was, my brother and I were the “human remotes”. 

In spite of it all, life was a lot simpler and less stressful than it is today...

Yeah, you would remember "The Twilight Zone" when it was a new show.... we left the house unlocked and keys in the car (sometimes) back in those days. Kids walked to school.

I recently watched a 10 year old buy the 60's Teen Titans #1 for 50 dollars of his own money. My story was a convention in 1975 or so ... it was near the end. I wanted the guy's X-MEN 1 and JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY 85, both around 9.0. He had each one at $ 8 each.... problem was, all I had left was $ 11. He let me have both for $ 11. It probably helped that I had bought from him at another show.... a young man putting himself through Grad School by selling his collection of books bought off the rack. GOD BLESS...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

[MattTheDuck]

Well, I regret to say I never had a shot at a book like this when I was collecting heavy in the 70s.  I told the guy at the LCS that I wanted books like this, but the best he ever showed me was a "reading copy" remaindered FF 10 for $10 which I declined.  If that had been a complete copy, I'd own it today.  For whatever reason, early 60s Marvel books either weren't available, or were being hoarded by someone locally, and I didn't have the brains to go find them somewhere else.

[Robot Man]

On 8/28/2021 at 7:49 PM, Primetime said:

I acquired my first ASM 1 ( a raw VG) when I was 20 years old. I traded a slew of Xmens 2-150 (random issues scattered) plus $500 to a friend. This was in 1995. I got it slabbed in 2000 and it came back cgc 4.0 blue. Here’s a picture. I ended up owning it for 14 years and traded it towards a Suspense 3. 

That’s a trade I would do in a heartbeat. I hate the word but that would be my “grail”. ASM as key as it is and as expensive as it is would be very obtainable if you wanted it bad enough and quite easily. A Suspense #3. One that rarely ever turns up (even back in the day). 

My ASM #1 was one of my big SA books that went toward my daughter’s college education. A very worthy cause that I have never regretted. 

[Robot Man]

On 8/29/2021 at 10:06 AM, jimjum12 said:

Yeah, you would remember "The Twilight Zone" when it was a new show.... we left the house unlocked and keys in the car (sometimes) back in those days. Kids walked to school.

I recently watched a 10 year old buy the 60's Teen Titans #1 for 50 dollars of his own money. My story was a convention in 1975 or so ... it was near the end. I wanted the guy's X-MEN 1 and JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY 85, both around 9.0. He had each one at $ 8 each.... problem was, all I had left was $ 11. He let me have both for $ 11. It probably helped that I had bought from him at another show.... a young man putting himself through Grad School by selling his collection of books bought off the rack. GOD BLESS...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

Yeah, I remember Twilight Zone well. That and Outer Limits really spooked me. Much more than monster movies. Was something that could possibly happen. We walked or rode our Sting Rays to school never locking them. A friend got his stolen and the word went out. Some kid saw another kid riding it. A bunch of us went over and “retrieved” it. That was the end of stolen bikes in my area. 

Wow, two classics for $11 bucks! Probably even then. He was probably happy paying cover price. I am constantly amazed when I sell books I bought off the rack especially these days. 

I long ago learned as a show dealer not to brush off kids. It amazes me sometimes when a kid pulls out the cash.

I recently sold about 5 average Spirit Sections to a kid about 15. I was amazed he knew who Eisner was. I loved his enthusiasm and sold them for half price. Remember, the more young collectors who enter the hobby is it’s future...

[jimjum12]

On 8/29/2021 at 1:54 PM, Robot Man said:

Yeah, I remember Twilight Zone well. That and Outer Limits really spooked me. Much more than monster movies. Was something that could possibly happen. We walked or rode our Sting Rays to school never locking them. A friend got his stolen and the word went out. Some kid saw another kid riding it. A bunch of us went over and “retrieved” it. That was the end of stolen bikes in my area. 

Wow, two classics for $11 bucks! Probably even then. He was probably happy paying cover price. I am constantly amazed when I sell books I bought off the rack especially these days. 

I long ago learned as a show dealer not to brush off kids. It amazes me sometimes when a kid pulls out the cash.

I recently sold about 5 average Spirit Sections to a kid about 15. I was amazed he knew who Eisner was. I loved his enthusiasm and sold them for half price. Remember, the more young collectors who enter the hobby is it’s future...

I don't do shows anymore, but I remember gifting a kid an FF 28 at a Mall show .... his Mom brought him back later to make sure everything was cool. She was cute, too... but I didn't know that when I gave it to him... he had that look on his face like he was handling the Rosetta Stone.... I HAD to give it to him  GOD BLESS...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

[Robot Man]

On 8/29/2021 at 10:09 AM, MattTheDuck said:

Well, I regret to say I never had a shot at a book like this when I was collecting heavy in the 70s.  I told the guy at the LCS that I wanted books like this, but the best he ever showed me was a "reading copy" remaindered FF 10 for $10 which I declined.  If that had been a complete copy, I'd own it today.  For whatever reason, early 60s Marvel books either weren't available, or were being hoarded by someone locally, and I didn't have the brains to go find them somewhere else.

I used to get tons of them at “used book stores” (anybody remember those?) They were only a few years old at the time and were cheap.

Finding any “ten centers” was a HUGE score. Anything if it had a 10 cent cover price. 

Garage sales and word of mouth also brought me a lot of old comics. 

[Robot Man]

On 8/29/2021 at 10:59 AM, jimjum12 said:

I don't do shows anymore, but I remember gifting a kid an FF 28 at a Mall show .... his Mom brought him back later to make sure everything was cool. She was cute, too... but I didn't know that when I gave it to him... he had that look on his face like he was handling the Rosetta Stone.... I HAD to give it to him  GOD BLESS...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

He will probably tell that story years from now just like we are now. 

[MattTheDuck]

On 8/29/2021 at 11:00 AM, Robot Man said:

I used to get tons of them at “used book stores” (anybody remember those?) They were only a few years old at the time and were cheap.

Finding any “ten centers” was a HUGE score. Anything if it had a 10 cent cover price. 

Garage sales and word of mouth also brought me a lot of old comics. 

I take some comfort in the Twilight Zone episodes where people try to go back and fix mistakes they've made in their lives, which efforts inevitably make things worse.

[KCOComics]

There is something to be said for seeing big or rare books in person. I recently bought a cool GA collection that walked into my local comic shop. Nothing I was seeking out, but seeing them and holding them was just too exciting. 

I started out when eBay was in it's infancy and Heritage was still only doing mail order catalogs.  

Finding big keys was a rare treat.  I can remember going to local show at a hotel in East Hartford Connecticut and being mesmerized by an ASM6.... I would just stare at it on the wall. 

When I was 17 or 18 I went to the NYC Con with some buddies I worked with at Kmart and that's where I was exposed to big keys for the first time. Seeing a JIM83 and TOS39 and feeling like they were so unobtainable! I bought a Hulk 181 for $230 which took allot of hours at Kmart to pay for.