Fox Comics Appreciation Thread! 20 20

[Frisco Larson]

A while back I posted shots of Wonderworld #33 and since I was just looking thru my V Comics #1, I thought to snap some pics. Every splash and a few cool other interior shots. Btw, I think Black Terror has a legitimate copyright infringement beef with Black Fury if he cared to pursue it!!! The likeness is a wee bit too close there!!!

Edited February 1, 2023 by Frisco Larson

[RareHighGrade]

On 1/27/2023 at 8:51 PM, Frisco Larson said:

On 1/27/2023 at 8:48 PM, skypinkblu said:

Maybe you can get together with Matt Nelson and finish his pedigree book? Anything I ever learned about Pedigrees years ago was from his synopsis that he had posted.

I had been thinking the same thing and am hoping that some time can be put toward that later this year. 

The sad thing is that, as I understand it, the pedigree book was very close to being completed when the efforts were abandoned.  Almost all (if not all) of the GA chapters had been written and the pages were already laid out with applicable covers/illustrations.  But then, when they were at the 98-yard line, Matt and Steve took on new employment opportunities that prevented them from carrying the ball the last two yards.  If they had just published what they had at that point, all of us would have gladly purchased a copy.  

[Frisco Larson]

On 1/31/2023 at 5:26 PM, RareHighGrade said:

The sad thing is that, as I understand it, the pedigree book was very close to being completed when the efforts were abandoned.  Almost all (if not all) of the GA chapters had been written and the pages were already laid out with applicable covers/illustrations.  But then, when they were at the 98-yard line, Matt and Steve took on new employment opportunities that prevented them from carrying the ball the last two yards.  If they had just published what they had at that point, all of us would have gladly purchased a copy.  

Getting an audience with Matty can be tricky at times, as he's very busy, but I hope to get with him and see the current state of the project. If it's really that close from whatever time it was set aside (half dozen years or better now, I'd guess), there'll need to be a fair amount of new information included just to bring it up to present day due to new pedigrees (Promise Collection for one) that have been unearthed. I think now, maybe more than ever, a current reference book on pedigrees would be a very useful and sought after volume in EVERY serious collector's information arsenal, as well as interesting enough to get some casual readers who are simply interested in history. Bringing this project to the finish line will be a balance. Some on here may forget that this is almost completely a labor of love and nobody's likely to make any money on it when all is said and done, and quite frankly, some may lose money on it, all things considered. So, cooperation and composure are going to be my plan to nudge this forward. Again, I need to see where it's currently at. There may be a way to make this a several volume series and that may mean there's enough done for a solid first volume. 

Edited February 1, 2023 by Frisco Larson

[sagii]

On 1/31/2023 at 7:02 PM, Frisco Larson said:

Getting an audience with Matty can be tricky at times, as he's very busy, but I hope to get with him and see the current state of the project. If it's really that close from whatever time it was set aside (half dozen years or better now, I'd guess), there'll need to be a fair amount of new information included just to bring it up to present day due to new pedigrees (Promise Collection for one) that have been unearthed. I think now, maybe more than ever, a current reference book on pedigrees would be a very useful and sought after volume in EVERY serious collector's information arsenal, as well as interesting enough to get some casual readers who are simply interested in history. Bringing this project to the finish line will be a balance. Some on here may forget that this is almost completely a labor of love and nobody's likely to make any money on it when all is said and done, and quite frankly, some may lose money on it, all things considered. So, cooperation and composure are going to be my plan to nudge this forward. Again, I need to see where it's currently at. There may be a way to make this a several volume series and that may mean there's enough done for a solid first volume. 

Sounds like a plan Frisco!

Good luck, I think Matt would welcome an audience with you given your evident passion on the subject and consideration worthy proposals to get this done.

 

[Frisco Larson]

On 1/31/2023 at 7:28 PM, sagii said:

Sounds like a plan Frisco!

Good luck, I think Matt would welcome an audience with you given your evident passion on the subject and consideration worthy proposals to get this done.

 

Thank you sagii! I'm sure Matt would love to finish the book! I know he's got a lot on his plate and could probably use some help just getting the ball rolling again.

[lou_fine]

Notice this late Wonderworld that sold on Heritage last night and it looks like the Fox runaway train still shows no sign of slowing down here:  

https://comics.ha.com/itm/golden-age-1938-1955-/superhero/wonderworld-comics-32-fox-1941-cgc-fn-60-off-white-pages/a/122306-12013.s?type=bidnotice-outbid

Any boardies here in on the action for this nicely presenting copy relative to its CGC 6.0 grade and no doubt helped by its Hitler cover, but still a very strong price at $11,400 or almost 12X condition guide value?  

Edited February 7, 2023 by lou_fine

[Professor K]

Back from cgc. Previously a 3.0 graded by the other guys. Not too bothered that it came back a full grade lower even though I think it should be a 3.0. Just happy to have one.

[lou_fine]

On 2/13/2023 at 7:12 AM, Professor K said:

Back from cgc. Previously a 3.0 graded by the other guys. Not too bothered that it came back a full grade lower even though I think it should be a 3.0. Just happy to have one.

Big congrats to you on a nice pickup of a fantastic Fox Mystery Men book.  

Not sure about the grading and if both companies handle the tape defect the same way.  I believe CGC grades what the defect would be if the tape was not there which would mean almost an entire spine split, while I am not sure about the other guys across the street?    

[Professor K]

On 2/13/2023 at 11:18 AM, lou_fine said:

Big congrats to you on a nice pickup of a fantastic Fox Mystery Men book.  

Not sure about the grading and if both companies handle the tape defect the same way.  I believe CGC grades what the defect would be if the tape was not there which would mean almost an entire spine split, while I am not sure about the other guys across the street?    

Well if it is a 2.0 its a nice looking 2.0. Great color. Other than the tape it looks real nice.  

[comicjack]

On 2/13/2023 at 11:24 AM, Professor K said:

Well if it is a 2.0 its a nice looking 2.0. Great color. Other than the tape it looks real nice.  

That is a book you take anyway you can get it and yours looks great 

[Frisco Larson]

On 2/13/2023 at 9:12 AM, Professor K said:

Back from cgc. Previously a 3.0 graded by the other guys. Not too bothered that it came back a full grade lower even though I think it should be a 3.0. Just happy to have one.

That's a REALLY nice looking 2.0!!! It DOES say that most of the spine is split, so I see why it was graded a 2.0. For YOU though, you get a book that has the appearance of a much nicer copy, so more bang for your buck! Congrats!!!  

[Professor K]

On 2/13/2023 at 3:23 PM, Frisco Larson said:

That's a REALLY nice looking 2.0!!! It DOES say that most of the spine is split, so I see why it was graded a 2.0. For YOU though, you get a book that has the appearance of a much nicer copy, so more bang for your buck! Congrats!!!  

Thanks!. The cgc holder helps a lot. Book looks almost 3-D. Pretty sure Joe did the inking as well on this cover. I think this and Science Comics 4 are two of his best covers, if not the two best. Both May 1940. When he took over the reins at Fox from Mr. Fine. Pretty big task.

[Frisco Larson]

On 2/13/2023 at 6:23 PM, Professor K said:

Thanks!. The cgc holder helps a lot. Book looks almost 3-D. Pretty sure Joe did the inking as well on this cover. I think this and Science Comics 4 are two of his best covers, if not the two best. Both May 1940. When he took over the reins at Fox from Mr. Fine. Pretty big task.

For the longest time his work on the Fox books was kind of kept quiet, at least I didn't hear anyone talk about it until sometime in the 2000s. I know SOME people knew, but most of the chatter about them centered around Lou Fine's cover and interior work. Joe did some great work for Timely too, but most people knew about that. 

[MrBedrock]

On 2/13/2023 at 6:23 PM, Professor K said:

I think this and Science Comics 4 are two of his best covers, if not the two best. Both May 1940.

Two of my favorite Simon covers...

[Frisco Larson]

On 2/13/2023 at 7:33 PM, MrBedrock said:

Two of my favorite Simon covers...

BOTH great covers Ricky, especially highlighted in the extremely high-grade you have them in!!!  

[Frisco Larson]

Hey, I can chip in a cool Joe Simon cover ... but nothing .... ELSE!!!   Ha! Laughing at myself right there! 

[Professor K]

On 2/13/2023 at 8:33 PM, MrBedrock said:

Two of my favorite Simon covers...

Simon was really on his best game in those months. I know he was doing a lot of interior work and he did the cover for Ken Detective Funnies Jan1940, But it was those two covers where he really proved he could roll with the big dogs. I would think by looking at these two that when took over doing the covers at Fox in May 1940 that he must have studied Fine and Eisner's work beforehand. I see a strong similarity.

And I think I told you already seeing your 9.4 is what inspired me to go after the next #10 that came up. So Im'a thanking you for that.

[Spyder!]

On 2/13/2023 at 4:23 PM, Professor K said:

Thanks!. The cgc holder helps a lot. Book looks almost 3-D. Pretty sure Joe did the inking as well on this cover. I think this and Science Comics 4 are two of his best covers, if not the two best. Both May 1940. When he took over the reins at Fox from Mr. Fine. Pretty big task.

Those are my two favorite Joe Simon covers as well. You have impeccable taste! 

[Point Five]

On 2/13/2023 at 9:26 PM, Professor K said:

Simon was really on his best game in those months. I know he was doing a lot of interior work and he did the cover for Ken Detective Funnies Jan1940, But it was those two covers where he really proved he could roll with the big dogs. I would think by looking at these two that when took over doing the covers at Fox in May 1940 that he must have studied Fine and Eisner's work beforehand. I see a strong similarity.

Joe Simon pumped out a ton of awesome covers in 1940-1941. To be fair though, the flip side of that is that most if not all of his figures were swiped from other pulp and comic covers. I still think they are super cool covers that have stood the test of time on their own. But if you really spent time on it, I'd be surprised if you found *any* covers he did in this period that didn't have any previous sources. At one point years ago I started keeping track of his Fox swipes, and there were quite a lot.

 

[Professor K]

On 2/13/2023 at 10:03 PM, Point Five said:

Joe Simon pumped out a ton of awesome covers in 1940-1941. To be fair though, the flip side of that is that most if not all of his figures were swiped from other pulp and comic covers. I still think they are super cool covers that have stood the test of time on their own. But if you really spent time on it, I'd be surprised if you found *any* covers he did in this period that didn't have any previous sources. At one point years ago I started keeping track of his Fox swipes, and there were quite a lot.

 

Yep. 

 

Edited February 14, 2023 by Professor K