Doohickamabob

I'm pretty sure the bidders in those auctions were counting on the grades actually being much better than the listed VG+. Now that I look at them, you're right, those are FN+ range copies. Maybe higher but none of them had photos that showed interior pages. They had a lot of edge tanning so who knows. Really nice clean covers, that's for sure. Interestingly, at least one of them had an arrival stamp on the back showing it was sold or distributed in Milan, Italy.

Here's my contribution to this thread... At least, it's all I have that's been CGC graded: Two Schomburgs and a Weird Science signed by Mr. Feldstein.

Never seen or heard of that! Does that say 1939? If so, I am surprised at the level of all-out wackiness for that time period.

Good job and thank you.

"If you are interested in it reply me please." Not a native English speaker...

What's been going on lately with comics that have Dan DeCarlo covers? I've seen comics auctioning for $200 that a few years ago would go for $20. These Jetta comics are an example. They've always been tough to find and get, but if memory serves, they used to sell in the $200 to $300 range (at best) for mid-grade copies. Look at these auction results! I've always wanted a Jetta comic (or three), but I am pretty sure at this rate I won't be adding any to my collection. Was Dan DeCarlo recently highlighted in a book, or reprint series, or something? Why is he (seemingly) suddenly so hot?

I really appreciate the scans of the back covers to Personal Love. Nice tribute to some really solid art direction and layout for those back covers.

That's cool! I like the Australian Mads, but they have a lot of crossover with U.S. Mads, which isn't a bad thing, just not as alluring for collecting. Though it does look like one or two of the covers in your group might be Australian originals. Funnily enough - most of the ones to sell quickly (within 1 week) were all USA cross-overs. The 'Australian Exclusives' do move a lot slower - the people and shows are less known to outsiders of course. This is a shout-out to Barbarian to say thanks for the magazines. They arrived last month, but I haven't been on the boards in a while so this is a belated thank-you. One of the mags was a "prize" for researching Portuguese-language Mad covers, and one of them I purchased. The shipping was fast, the packaging was very solid, and both mags are in nice shape. They are cool, weird additions to my foreign-Mad collection.

Thanks for reminding me. That guy's collection is the kind of thing where I look at it and think, "I might as well give up," since these days, it would be nearly impossible to build a collection that great. I love the Mad Kid (pre "Alfred E. Neuman") full-size picture he has.

That's cool! I like the Australian Mads, but they have a lot of crossover with U.S. Mads, which isn't a bad thing, just not as alluring for collecting. Though it does look like one or two of the covers in your group might be Australian originals.

Sheesh! Were these all from the same collection? They must have been stored very well indeed!

$140 is nothing to sneeze at. I would want it shipped very carefully. Did he offer free shipping? He might have balked at a shipping method that would cut into his profit. Just speculating his motives. The strange thing is, I think I would have an easier time finding a box for a 14x17 item than I would in finding an envelope or flat mailer for one. In the eBay exchange you posted, the line that really stands out is this one from the seller: "I am sincerely sorry that you have the spare time to call them. I didn't even know they could be reached by phone." Wow. Injecting snide sarcasm into the process is no way to treat a buyer with a legitimate issue. (Or even a buyer with an issue you don't consider legitimate, though there's no reason that should be the case here.) This seller is just a knob. It's like he's mad you took away his meth money or something.

Commissioned art -- what medium, what size, what artist, what art? Arrived damaged -- how damaged? A scratch, a tear, a bend, other wear? What was the cost of the item? An artist will take a commission, put effort into creating a piece of art, but won't follow through on packaging the work safely? Pics?

That's something that should be negotiated BEFORE buying...

Suspense Comics #3.......

Admittedly, I am a Mad freak...

Here are some of the Brazilian Mads already in my collection. (The covers call them "Mad in Portuguese")

Here's the full list! I might have accidentally included an issue or two that have images from U.S. specials or something, but I think most of this should be pretty accurate! ------------------ Brazilian Mads with original cover art: ----------------------- FIRST SERIES (1974 - 1983): ORIGINAL COVERS #15 is not an original concept, but the typeface and colors are completely different from the U.S. version (which says "LAST ISSUE"). The U.S. version (#91 from December 1964) had pink letters over a black background. #16 #25 #27 #30 #31 #32 #34 #35 #36 #38 #41 #42 #43 #44 #47 #48 #49 #53 #54 #58 #59 #61 #62 #63 #65 #66 #67 #68 #69 -- dual cover, both Brazilian originals #70 #72 #73 #74 #75 #77 -- This concept was used in the U.S. (Mad #160, July 1973), but the characters in the TV were from a different show ("Cannon"). The characters on the Brazil cover are presumably from a popular Brazilian show. #78 #79 #80 #81 #82 #83 #84 #85 -- This concept was used by Mad way back in 1963, (Mad #83, Dec. 1963 issue). However, it did not have a sultry woman like the Brazil cover does, so this is significantly different. #86 #87 #88 -- The U.S. version of this cover (#226, Oct. 1981) featured Superman and the three villains from the movie "Superman II." The Brazil version features Spider-Man, and three unknown characters. I am guessing that the change was made because Spider-Man was more popular in Brazil? Or perhaps the Superman movies had not been released in Brazil yet? #89 #93 #96 #97 #99 -- This concept was used on U.S. issue #191 from June 1977, but for the Brazil version it has been significantly changed/updated with a person standing beside the ransom note. Is that a Brazilian politician? #100 #101 -- Though similar in color scheme and typeface to U.S. Mad #221 from March 1981, the message is clearly different. Perhaps the joke just didn't seem like it would go over well in Brazil. The U.S. version says "Mad magazine shortage coming," etc., and the Brazil version says something about upcoming elections and candidates. #102 ------------------------ SECOND SERIES (1984 - 2000): ORIGINAL COVERS #1 -- This re-uses the concept from U.S. Mad #157, March 1973, which showed an ape from Planet of the Apes removing a rubberized Alfred E. Neuman mask. For the Brazil version, Alfred E. Neuman is removing a rubberized mask of what appears to be a Brazilian political figure. #2 #3 #5 #6 #8 (Menudo!) #9 #10 #13 #16 #19 #20 -- same as U.S. Mad #263 from June 1986, but the Brazilian version is more disturbing because of the addition of mosquitos on Alfred's face. #21 #22 #25 #27 #28 -- reuses the concept from U.S. Mad #151 from June 1972, but changes color from blue to a sickly pink/orange. #29 -- AIDS cover! This would not have gone over well in the U.S. #30 -- reuses the concept from U.S. Mad #255, June 1985, but replaces Ronald Reagan with a Brazilian politician. #33 -- same concept as U.S. Mad #273 from Sept. 1987, but replaces Pee-Wee Herman with what appears to be a Brazilian pop star or celebrity. #36 #38 -- I don't recognize this as a U.S. concept, but it's a not-very-interesting text cover, so even if it's original, it might not be very appealing to collectors. #43 #44 #45 #47 #48 -- Alfred wearing full-body condom. This would be considered too risque for a U.S. cover. #51 -- same concept as U.S. Mad #161 from Sept. 1973. Might be of interest because that U.S. Mad cover is considered one of the most iconic Mad covers from the 1970s, and one of the few from that era not to feature Alfred's face. #52 #53 #54 -- Same concept as U.S. Mad #287 (June 1989), but U.S. version had Roseanne Barr, and this Brazil version has a Brazilian celebrity or something. #55 #56 #57 #59 #61 #62 #63 #64 #65 #68 -- This is funny, because the #15 issue of the First Series of Brazil Mads also used this concept. (See the first entry in this list.) However, this is the first time the Brazil Mad completely copies the Mad typeface and colors from the 1964 original U.S. version. #69 #71 -- Another "pulling off the mask" cover (see comments for Second Series #1 above), but with a different politician or celebrity. #74 #76 #77 #78 #79 #80 -- Same concept as U.S. Mad #309 (March 1992), but completely different characters (probably Brazilian TV celebrities or pop stars?). #81 -- that crazy Michael Jackson cover you posted! #82 #83 -- same "barf bag" concept as U.S. Mad #312 (July 1992) but with different politician. U.S. version had George H.W. Bush and was based on an incident where he actually barfed on a foreign dignitary (the Japanese prime minister?). #84 #85 #86 #87 #88 #89 #90 #91 #92 #93 #95 #96 #97 #98 #99 #100 #102 #103 #104 #105 #106 #107 -- "Transexuals!" #108 #109 -- another "pulling off the mask" cover #111 -- Bingo balls coming out of Alfred's tooth gap? Weird... #112 #113 #114 #116 #118 #119 #120 #121 #122 #123 #124 #124A #125 #127 #128 #129 #130 #131 -- big butt image... #131 -- same "gay marriage" concept as Mad #357 (May 1997), but with different celebrities. #132 -- these four variants were all used in the U.S., but might be of interest because they don't have the yellow border, and also: How hard would it be to obtain four variants that are foreign issues? Seems pretty difficult to me... #133 #136 #137 #138 #139 #140 #141 #142 #143 #144 #145 #146 #149 #150 #151 #154 #155 #156

I have to amend my comment about the U.S. site for covers. Something is wrong and all the thumbnails and images are broken. I wonder if the person running the site knows this? I just checked the "about me" page and it appears the site is run by the webmaster for Heritage Auctions. I didn't know that...

I will be glad to help with this project! (That Michael Jackson cover is disturbing.... But disturbing in the way where I want it my collection...) Interesting about the links you supplied. The site is called MadMania and has a Brazilian ending. These are the same as the CollectMad site in the United States: http://www.collectmad.com/brazilcoversite/ I'll go through these and try to determine all the "Brazil originals" in the lists. The early issues should be easy for me because I have the U.S. versions memorized several times over. I might have to comb more carefully through the 1990s and 2000s issues, which came after I stopped paying close attention to Mad.

That's the bomb! I love those. I have lots of Mad stuff but never managed to acquire one of the Alfred E. Neuman busts (there are two different sizes, aren't there? I can't remember which one is rarer). I've only ever seen a few of the straitjackets, either, and it's even harder to find one with the original lock. I understand the cufflinks are the hardest item to find and had the lowest distribution numbers. Unfortunately, I still haven't gotten a copy of "Collectibly Mad," which is a pretty egregious gap for a Mad freak like myself.

That's some of the best Mad I've seen!

I am very unhappy with the placement of the foreground electrode.

me +1 +2 Cumulatively, due to their misuse, these practices have been very damaging to the hobby.

When you submit to CGC, and the book is incomplete, do you have to ask them to give you a green label? Or do they have a set of criteria for when something should be green instead of blue/incomplete?