Show some love for Speed Comics 2 2

[kent allard]

I'll get the ball rolling ...

I got hooked by the cover to #26, and since then I've been working on assembling a set of the WWII era Captain Freedom appearances (#13 - #38, as I define it).  Most of the stories are pretty lame, but the covers ...

Here's what I've got so far ...

 

 

 

 

#36 is raw, advertised as a VG-

#26 was quite expensive, but when I saw that cover I couldn't let it get away.  In 5 years I have yet to see another one offered for sale.  Per the census, other than #25 of which there are only 3 and I have never seen, it is the rarest in the range with only 8.  As awesome as the other covers are, this one is tops for me.

#17 has got a Library of Congress stamp on it (right under the butt of the guy coming down the tube) - so cool!

Anybody got a centerfold for my #21?  Seems to be a thing with #21.  I wonder if it has anything to do with page 35

 

 

#18 and #19 will be tough, and not cheap.  Ditto #28 and #31.  I doubt I'll be able to get copies at prices I can afford.  #16 and #22 I have couple of times, but missed out and they slipped away.  The others are out there and I expect to snag copies eventually, though #35 has gotten crazy expensive lately, relatively speaking.

 

OK, your turns.  Whatcha all got?

 

Edited August 19 by kent allard

[AJD]

Just one in my collection of war bonds covers

[jimbo_7071]

On 8/19/2024 at 3:01 AM, kent allard said:

Most of the stories are pretty lame, but the covers ...

 

#26 was quite expensive, but when I saw that cover I couldn't let it get away.  In 5 years I have yet to see another one offered for sale.

 

"Lame" could describe most GA stories, unfortunately, but some had good interior art. What did you think of the interior art in the ones that you bought raw?

I have seen #26 before but didn't know it was a Pierce Rice cover; I'd never heard of that artist.

The label says, "Ed Wheelan, Art Helfant and." It looks like "Sam Glanzman art" was cut off. Maybe magazine holders don't have enough room for long comments.

[walclark]

The label does say "Sam Glanzman art."

[walclark]

Here are a few that I have that haven't been posted yet.

[Point Five]

Great stuff so far, and great idea for a thread! I've got a couple, will post up soon.

I've thought occasionally about going after a Speed run; there's a lot to like here. It's one of those weird books like Catman, that is so disjointed across the whole run that it almost looks like 6 or 7 completely different titles, with some fairly jarring changes in logo, cover theme, characters, art style etc etc. But yep, there are some killer covers sprinkled through for sure.

 

[Robot Man]

I love Speed Comics. Got into them pretty late. Thusly, most are pretty low grade. Just happy to have them and to occasionally run into a new one now and then.

Cosmic Aeroplane copy

[Robot Man]

[Robot Man]

[Robot Man]

[Robot Man]

A couple of old group shots

[Robot Man]

And if you think finding Speed Comics are hard, just try finding this membership kit. Only complete one I know of. Came with a blank back side printer's proof cover of issue #11. 

Edited August 19 by Robot Man

[kent allard]

On 8/19/2024 at 3:53 AM, jimbo_7071 said:

I have seen #26 before but didn't know it was a Pierce Rice cover; I'd never heard of that artist.

https://www.lambiek.net/artists/r/rice_pierce.htm

https://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/resources/longbox/59/  (*excellent* write up)

'nuff said

[kent allard]

On 8/19/2024 at 3:53 AM, jimbo_7071 said:

"Lame" could describe most GA stories, unfortunately, but some had good interior art. What did you think of the interior art in the ones that you bought raw?

 comicbookplus is my go-to for reading slabbed comics (shout out ).  Fortunately, it almost *always* has a copy of what I need (to all the contributors - thank you for your service).  The Street & Smith stuff is not there (), but there are other avenues when necessary (from which I obtained my Shadow Comics archive).  Weird Chills #2 is a conspicuous exception - I have not been able to find an online copy anywhere.  I'm dying to read the Hitler suicide story it teases, but unwilling to crack it out.  Patience is a virtue, so I bide my time.

Anyway, in general I'm OK with the art.  I find it hard to focus on the art to the exclusion of the story.  If the story stinks, I sort of tune out - and most of the stories frankly stink in my opinion.  The Young Defenders side-kicks are irritating to me, but the whole package is such a piece of history that it transcends the petty issues.

[kent allard]

On 8/19/2024 at 4:36 AM, walclark said:

The label does say "Sam Glanzman art."

*drool*

 

Oh, I would *love* to hear the backstory on this one!

 

Edited August 19 by kent allard
added comment

[kent allard]

On 8/19/2024 at 9:31 AM, Robot Man said:

 

 

Ah!  A wild copy!  Up to 9.  Who else has one?  Come on, come on ...

Leave it to @Robot Man to have one.  I have followed your postings for many years and would *love* to see your collection and hear your stories in person.  I'm not a con person (did you see what I did there?), but we are both SoCal folks.  Maybe some day?

[kent allard]

On 8/19/2024 at 7:51 AM, Point Five said:

... It's one of those weird books like Catman,...

 

Another expensive title to collect.  This is my only Catman and I can't resist showing it off.  Don't see it around anywhere near as often as the title itself ...

 

Edited August 19 by kent allard
image didn't attach

[kent allard]

On 8/19/2024 at 4:41 AM, walclark said:

Here are a few that I have that haven't been posted yet.

Beautiful!

Where's @MrBedrock?  Come on Richard ... show us your 8.0+ copies

[Robot Man]

On 8/19/2024 at 1:34 PM, kent allard said:

Ah!  A wild copy!  Up to 9.  Who else has one?  Come on, come on ...

Leave it to @Robot Man to have one.  I have followed your postings for many years and would *love* to see your collection and hear your stories in person.  I'm not a con person (did you see what I did there?), but we are both SoCal folks.  Maybe some day?

Thanks. But be careful what you wish for…

 

[kent allard]

  Hmmm ... maybe you're right.

How about meeting up at a Starbucks just to hear the stories ?