Bob Beerbohm, June 17, 1952 - Mar. 27, 2024 5 5

[Cat-Man_America]

My friend Bob Wayne just notified me of Bob Beerbohm's passing yesterday which seemed a bit odd only because he'd just responded to a FB posting very recently, either yesterday or the day before. Those who knew Bob or of Bob, knew him as a cantankerous sort and often stubborn, but a devoted comics fan and a historian ...albeit controversial... on the subject of comics for many years. This probably belongs in the notices section, but most from the GA side rarely venture over to General and this is where he's most known by legend especially to those who ran afoul of his passionate beliefs which he held onto like a junkyard dog. Bob was a devoted family man, collector and comic dealer, active from the late 60's on in the Bay area for many years. His writings, while often contentious, were filled with information and well researched, even when he may have reached conclusions not agreed with by consensus. His dedication to the hobby and advocacy will be missed. Obadiah Oldbuck will have a new chapter with Bob's arrival.

Rest In Peace, dude! 

[circumstances]

On 3/28/2024 at 2:46 PM, Cat-Man_America said:

My friend Bob Wayne just notified me of Bob Beerbohm's passing yesterday which seemed a bit odd only because he'd just responded to a FB posting very recently, either yesterday or the day before. Those who knew Bob or of Bob, knew him as a cantankerous sort and often stubborn, but a devoted comics fan and a historian ...albeit controversial... on the subject of comics for many years. This probably belongs in the notices section, but most from the GA side rarely venture over to General and this is where he's most known by legend especially to those who ran afoul of his passionate beliefs which he held onto like a junkyard dog. Bob was a devoted family man, collector and comic dealer, active from the late 60's on in the Bay area for many years. His writings, while often contentious, were filled with information and well researched, even when he may have reached conclusions not agreed with by consensus. His dedication to the hobby and advocacy will be missed. Obadiah Oldbuck will have a new chapter with Bob's arrival.

Rest In Peace, dude! 

I was just kibitzing with him on Facebook as well. Katy just made the announcement there earlier today. He was very ill for the past several months. Rest in Peace my friend.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

On 3/28/2024 at 1:46 PM, Cat-Man_America said:

My friend Bob Wayne just notified me of Bob Beerbohm's passing yesterday which seemed a bit odd only because he'd just responded to a FB posting very recently, either yesterday or the day before. Those who knew Bob or of Bob, knew him as a cantankerous sort and often stubborn, but a devoted comics fan and a historian ...albeit controversial... on the subject of comics for many years. This probably belongs in the notices section, but most from the GA side rarely venture over to General and this is where he's most known by legend especially to those who ran afoul of his passionate beliefs which he held onto like a junkyard dog. Bob was a devoted family man, collector and comic dealer, active from the late 60's on in the Bay area for many years. His writings, while often contentious, were filled with information and well researched, even when he may have reached conclusions not agreed with by consensus. His dedication to the hobby and advocacy will be missed. Obadiah Oldbuck will have a new chapter with Bob's arrival.

Rest In Peace, dude! 

Well put, Cat. 71 is too young. RIP, Mr. Beerbohm

[jimbo_7071]

I'm very sorry to hear this. I enjoyed his many passionate political Facebook posts during the last election cycle. I had no idea that he was ill.

[Hschwartz]

Very sad news. Many Bay Area fans went to all of his stores and bought comics from him at many conventions throughout the Seventies and Eighties. I particularly remember when he opened a store at Pier 39 in the late Seventies. I was shocked that a comic store could afford the rent at all. Bob pulled out all of the stops and had an amazing selection of vintage Golden Age comics, original art and memorabilia. I remember he had five uncirculated copies of the first Overstreet Price Guide in white for about $75 each. I wish I had bought one but I passed. The store didn't last long probably because of the high rents but it was amazing while it was open. He definitely was one of the more controversial people from fandom's golden age but now we should just focus on the good things he did and remember him as someone who loved comics and  helped many people improve their collections over the years.

[Robot Man]

Very sorry to hear this.

Like him or not over the years, he was a legend in the hobby. He truly loved the medium and gave back so much. We have lost a giant. There are just so few of the old guard left. Real sad.

RIP Bob…

[comicjack]

He always was fair to me in the few deals i made with him.The man had a great history in the comic field rest in peace Bob 

[Dark Knight]

RIP Bob B.  Another old school collector/dealer done with so much knowledge of the hobby.  I know he had some controversial posts, but it doesn't take away the rich history he has when dealing with comics.  They were practically his life!  I wish he wrote a book or have some journal entries about his journey as a comic book collector/dealer.  I would love to read about his experiences.

I did buy a Tec 35 restored FN/VF condition from him back in 2007.  He gave me a fair price for it. Sadly, I sold the book years ago to upgrade for an unrestored copy.  

[jimjum12]

I know this is selfish, but I was so hoping that CBSW was published while he was still with us. I wanted an autographed copy. Bob was intense, with a pit bull tenacity. I didn't always agree with everything, but regardless, he def laid cornerstones in comic fandom. I'm going to miss getting mad at him  Happy Trails, Brother Bob, R.I.P. 

GOD BLESS ...

jimbo(a friend of jesus)

 

Edited March 28 by jimjum12

[Mmehdy]

BB-one of the last great American original comic collectors/dealers has passed.

For our comic book community we have suffered a great loss.

One that cannot be replaced or duplicated.

BB helped more bay area comic book collectors become life-long fans

On a personal note, I was in contact with BB and was told so much GA/SA information that has never really surfaced and BB would always have an answer and if not would research it and get back to me

BB amassed a priceless collection of tapes of interviews of a number of GA creators...that was his greatest fear...that all of that priceless information will lost forever.

Hopefully, this will be donated and transcribed by someone who really cares.

RIP....fellow true comic book collector

[Book Guy]

I posted this in Comics General, but I'm duping it here as this will probably be the main thread.

Years ago I lived and worked in Berkeley and went to his store all the time. Late 1970's and after. I knew a couple of his employees who went on to bigger things pretty well. He was a character even then. From reading his Facebook posts he never changed. I liked him and always enjoyed chatting.

My favorite story about him-and I don't mean this in a negative way as he thought it was funny too-was when we were having a conversation about 'the art of pricing'. Books, Comic Books etc. Bob rattled out a number of examples of where he had priced a Comic quite over where it was 'guided' at and it sold though he had thought it wouldn't. Several stories of this sort one after another all ending with "and I should have priced it higher!" Finally I said "So the only right price for anything is when it DOESN'T sell. That's the correct price then?" Or words to that effect. He tipped his head, thought about it for a sec then laughed and said' Yes! This incident always gave me a chuckle.

I saw him years later at SDCC when he was not in great health and he recognized me (though didn't remember my name-it had been a long time) and we got to chat.

R.I.P. Bob!

[Robot Man]

I remember going up to his store just after he purchased the San Francisco collection. Redbeard, McLaughlin and the boys at The American Comic Book Company had all made purchases and I'd seen the books. I was up in the Bay Area visiting my cousins and stopped by the store. I asked Bob about them and he trotted out several small boxes of them. Wow, they were beautiful. They were of course priced at "Bob's prices". None the less, he had me. After some long mental mental anguish, I pulled out 5 or 6 books I just had to have. He looked me right in the eye and said "pick three". I was a little shocked and I'm sure whined a little. He was animate, no more than 3 per purchase. So I narrowed it down to three paid and left. I ended up with what I wanted though because the next day I went back and got the other 3. He remembered me and was trying to get out of selling them to me until I reminded him of what he said the previous day. I think he was glad to just get rid of me...

I bumped into him at SDCC a few years later and reminded him of the story. His explanation was that he wanted them spread out so many folks could get some. I really think he didn't want to get cleaned out by one dealer asking for a discount. 

We didn't see eye to eye much but we both loved the medium and at the end off the day, that's probably true with most of us. 

 

[The Black Hand ®]

I remember Bob from way back. I'm from the Bay area and had good dealings with him and he was always generous with his time and information. Great guy to talk to about comics. I never had any problems with Bob and liked the guy. Sad to hear of his passing.

[sfcityduck]

There is no doubt that Bob had a lot of facts and stories rattling around his brain about comics, fandom, and their history. And some were really helpful. He and I had a long chat about Dave Wigransky a few years back. It was the only time I ever talked to him. He was pleasant and curious and we shared info.

I will not forget his disappointment when I told him Wigransky had talked to Richard Kyle and Ron Graham back in the early 60s.  He could not believe he didn’t know and he lamented that their knowledge of Wigransky was lost because no one connected the dots until after they had died. He knew both of them and it was clear he felt the loss of that opportunity.

With that I can deeply sympathize.

 

[KirbyJack]

I have Bob to thank for turning me on to underground comics. Bob taught me how to pronounce Alex Toth's name (rhymes with "both"). Bob gave me my first lesson on EC history. Bob had us out to his place in Fremont, Nebraska just to see a complete GA Superman and Action collection. 

And one time, Bob was set up at a comic show, alone as usual. He was, at that time, apparently under the misimpression that I worked for Dean Phillips at Krypton Comics. He needed to smoke and pee, so he grabbed my arm, dragged me to his booth, and told me to watch it. If memory serves, I even sold a cheap book for him. When Bob got back, he immediately accused me of either allowing a comic to be stolen, or stealing it myself. When I was finally allowed to explain that I did not work for Dean, the entire matter was dropped. I assure you, nothing of any consequence was stolen on my watch. I related the story to Dean, and he was not surprised. Apparently, Bob liked to use that tactic to mitigate debt he had with Dean. 

There is good and bad to all of us, but there is no doubt that my life is a little better for having known Bob Beerbohm.  

[CGC Mike]

I met Bob at a dinner that I hosted for the CBCA during NYCC around 2008.  Him and I both stepped outside for a smoke.  I really enjoyed listening to him about how it was with comics long ago.  I also had to remind him that he had not yet paid for the dinner, as everyone else did weeks ago.  He hated to give it up but, I was able to yank it out of his hand.  LOL  RIP Bob

[ThothAmon]

I know I have received packages over the millennia from Bob. I’m sure his personality was honed over decades of seeing all the shenanigans a comic book dealer has to put up with. Hopefully heaven has the musty smell of comics. 

[Robot Man]

On 3/29/2024 at 5:33 AM, ThothAmon said:

I know I have received packages over the millennia from Bob. I’m sure his personality was honed over decades of seeing all the shenanigans a comic book dealer has to put up with. Hopefully heaven has the musty smell of comics. 

True. Dealing comics is a tough business. And guys like Bob and a few others still in the business have become a bit hardened to it. At the end of the day, many still do it not for the untold riches they reap but for the love of the medium that got them there in the first place. That and the fact that most would find it hard to work for someone else…

There are still a handful of real old school dealers which I won’t mention by name. They all have their quirks and weird personalities but have lifetimes of knowledge in the hobby. Love them or hate them, they all have experience in the trenches and wonderful stories. Much more important than just getting a deal on a book.

We have lost an another fountain of knowledge and experience in this hobby we all love so much. 

[Robot Man]

On 3/29/2024 at 5:23 AM, CGC Mike said:

I met Bob at a dinner that I hosted for the CBCA during NYCC around 2008.  Him and I both stepped outside for a smoke.  I really enjoyed listening to him about how it was with comics long ago.  I also had to remind him that he had not yet paid for the dinner, as everyone else did weeks ago.  He hated to give it up but, I was able to yank it out of his hand.  LOL  RIP Bob

[BitterOldMan]

Luckily, I attended UC Berkeley during 1973-76, and frequently purchased from Bob.  I remember attending the BerkeleyCon in April 1973 and buying Weird Science 19 from Bob.  

Bob always found interesting ephemera.  I remember prying the Donald Duck cartoon poster “Drip Drippy Donald” loose from Bob for $60. 

Sadly, I traded the poster and a bunch of SA Marvels  for my first copy of Four Color 9, and never found another copy of the poster.

Edited March 29 by BitterOldMan