Doohickamabob

How much more orange could this cover be? The answer is none. None more orange.

I'm watching some auctions for Matt Baker romance comics and the prices are going through the roof on several of them. Very fun to watch... Makes me feel good about the handful of issues I've accumulated, and bad about all the ones I missed.

Thanks! Cool that you want to track down issues associated with a specific memory... A quick search suggests it's probably Mad Follies #3 from 1965. There's also More Trash #7 (1964) and More Trash #9 (1966). See attached and tell me if one of these covers looks familiar:

Those issues look nice 'n' minty... The JFK issue is not easy to find in grade.

Last but not least.... I was lucky enough to obtain Al Jaffee's original artwork for the bonus "voodoo doll" in the Fall 1970 Mad Special. This is the first "special"-titled special issue, and the first bonus for such. So it's pretty cool to have the Jaffee bonus original artwork. I haven't figured out how to get it framed though -- it's still set up for printing.

Pics of the "Specials" and "Super Specials" -- I almost have a full run of these. When it gets into the early '80s, they stopped numbering the specials and I don't think they put much effort into including bonuses either (though some of the record inserts get very inspired, with "Super Spectacular Day" being a favorite). That's roughly where my interest wanes on collecting them.

I was just shoring up my Mad "specials" collection -- such as it is. This is a work in progress for sure, especially since I am on-and-off about trying to complete it. Sometimes several months go by and I haven't even looked for the Specials that I need to fill gaps in the runs. It's fairly easy to get a full run of the regular Mad issues (with the exception of the early comics but even those are not hard to find, they're just more expensive.) Getting the special issues -- WITH the bonuses complete -- is more tricky and takes some patience. Even though the specials are mostly reprint materials, the bonuses are original and often some very inspired artwork by Mad's best artists. There are also original records and whatnot. And occasionally the Specials contain original cartoon material that for whatever reason didn't run in the regular issues. Recently I filled a few gaps and have been organizing. (Shout out to boardie Ed Owens as one of the best sellers in the forums....) Here's what I've got so far. (See images) Earliest specials are the "Trash," "Worst," and "Follies." These are the toughest. Probably THE toughest is More Trash #8 which I was lucky enough to obtain early on (its bonus is the full-size Alfred E. Neuman poster -- apparently a lot of kids' rooms and dorms ended up with this as decoration). The Specials are easier but still have some challenges. STILL LOOKING FOR: More Trash #3 More Trash #7 More Trash #9 More Trash #10 (with all stickers) Worst From #3 Worst From #6 Worst From #7 Worst From #9 (filler but need one with the bonus record) Worst From #10 Worst From #11 Follies #1 -- (filler with part of bonus missing) Follies #3 Special #11 (have filler but need one with archie bunker record attached)

I took some turtle photos at an L.A. park about 3 weeks ago. Here's a sample:

Glad to see it posted as I've never noticed it before. I see a fair share of True Life Secrets covers since I have a True Secrets eBay search (trying to get more issues of the Atlas run of that name) but I have never seen (that I recall) this particular issue. Now, I'll have to look for one ... It looks like the sequel to TLS #23 Which in turn might be the sequel to Archie #271...

Just finished a super-smooth transaction with Ed Owens. He was patient with me while I lollygagged about the order. Then when I was ready he was quick to work out the final deal, and he shipped very quickly after I paid. The packaging was superb -- very solid and neatly done. Everything appears to be in the exact condition described. Great transaction.

Check out the other Baker prices in this sellers auction. They went for cheap. These uncommon issues attracts the bids. If Ajax Largo's copy of Teen-Age Romances #41 is worth $440, I'm glad I held on to my copy. Maybe the woman on the beach is the day-time alter-ego of Phantom Lady? That would explain the hammer price. I had a copy in almost the exact same condition, I let it go at auction on eBay almost a year ago, and it went for about $65. At the time, I thought that was a fair price. Sometimes I regret a sale. In 2009, the only CGC copy, a 5.5, sold at auction through ComicConnect for $310. Sometimes I don't regret a purchase. Very nice! As good a copy as you will ever see. Maybe so, but this one has a "NOV 9" stamp, so there. (Was part of a group photo, hence the tilted angle.)

Check out the other Baker prices in this sellers auction. They went for cheap. These uncommon issues attracts the bids. If Ajax Largo's copy of Teen-Age Romances #41 is worth $440, I'm glad I held on to my copy. Maybe the woman on the beach is the day-time alter-ego of Phantom Lady? That would explain the hammer price.

I've got a bunch of Golden-Age and Silver-Age comic-book auctions (pre-code horror, sci-fi, Marvel superheroes, etc.) ending this weekend on Sunday night. eBay seller name is Doohickamabob.

Quick note here to direct people to a post I wrote in the Marketplace section about my eBay auctions. -- Here is the link to the full message I am auctioning a full run of Youthful Magazines sci-fi/horror titles that extends from Captain Science (some with Wally Wood and Joe Orlando art), to Fantastic, to Beware, to Chilling Tales (some of which have Matt Fox covers). Some classic pre-code material here. I am sorry to let go of these (took me a long time to put together the full run) but I've always been curious what they would auction for in the open market if listed carefully. Also auctioning some war comics, some western, and some EC's including one with a Moon Girl story. I think you'll enjoy watching the auctions and browsing the listings because I included tons of photos including of the interior splash pages and outstanding panel artwork. Of particular note is a CGC 7.0 (FN/VF) copy of Chilling Tales #16 that's being auctioned. This is the 3rd-highest-graded copy and has cover artwork similar to Venus #18. I hope you enjoy checking out the auctions. Here are some photos but they don't show everything being auctioned (also selling a bunch of Silver Age Marvel superhero comics):

Those are fantastic. Looks like you are well-versed in anatomy (musculature), varying line thicknesses and forms, cool shading and crosshatching, etc. I wish I could draw even 1/10th as well.

Thanks, Slym. Okay, so it's been 10 days or more. I had placed the sealed box of kitty litter and comics high on a shelf where it was easy to forget about. Today I lifted it down and opened up the plastic bag and the bin.... It was the moment of truth: Would my incredibly stinky comics still stink to high heaven? Or would they be cured via the magic of kitty litter? The verdict: The comics are remarkably cured of odor! I am really impressed. This method WORKS, and it works WELL. Whatever the chemical process involved, the odor was transfered from the comics to the kitty litter. There is the faintest residual left-over odor on the inside pages of the comics, but the outer pages and cover have no discernable odor at all, other than for any old comic book. What really makes me happy is that whereas I had downgraded the comics' grades by at least 1 or 2 points due to the odor, now I can legitimately judge their grade at the level they would get based on everything else. So, the comics I considered as GD/VG are now VG or VG+, etc. That means for the outlay of $6.50 (kitty litter) and the time it took to put everything in a plastic bin (about 30 minutes, which would have been less if I hadn't been photographing the steps for this message chain), I come out ahead to the tune of whatever increased value the comics have due to their grades getting significant and legitimate upward bumps. Long story short: I am really happy with the outcome of this effort. It far exceeded my hopes. I am tempted to go through all my other comics just to find the ones with the mustiest odors so I can de-odorize them too. Here's a pic of the "moment of truth" bin-opening with now odor-free comics inside:

I'll post my results in a week or so. My guess is the comics are still going to stink. But maybe somewhat less so... At the very least, I will feel that I've done my due diligence in attempting to improve their offending odor. Worst-case scenario, I wasted $6.50 and about 30 minutes.

(continued from previous message) (5) Begin placing comics. (6) Continue stacking comics until they are all inside. I stacked 4 comics on each side, and each comic is separated from the others by the thin spacers, so there is air between them. (7) Seal up the bin with its lid firmly in place. (8) Wrap the bin in a plastic bag, and tape sealed, to completely contain the air and let the de-odorizing process work its magic (I hope). QUESTION: How long should I leave everything sitting like this? I am probably going to give it a full week, though maybe I'll change it out once to re-arrange the comics.

Okay, so I started de-odorizing my comics. Here are the steps I've taken, and photos to prove it. (1) Gather the stinky comics. Prepare to take them out of their mylar sleeves. (The backings and sleeves themselves either will be aired out, or discarded, since they also stink.) There are 8 pungent comics in all. (2) Prep de-odorizing materials. This includes a 20-pound plastic jug of generic kitty litter ($6.50 -- it's 100% sodium bentonite), a wide flat plastic bin, and a plastic lawn bag to seal everything inside. I also cut thin spacer strips out of styrofoam. (3) Dump the kitty litter in the bin. All 20 pounds of it. (4) Put spacers across bottom of kitty litter, so comics do not come into direct contact with the dusty/grainy material. .... CONTINUED NEXT MESSAGE ....

Again, I appreciate all the suggestions. Although the activated-charcoal and kraft-paper method sounds best, I have cheaped out for the time being and will try the kitty-litter method first. I will post my efforts and results for your entertainment.

I'm not sure what the connection is between Venus Books and Carnival Books but Carnival also published Reckless. Note that they mention that the alternate title of the book is Pleasure Bound. Interesting.... Now I need to get the Carnival book to complete the set... Does this mean Kermit Welles and James Clayford are the same writer?

Here are a couple of recent favorite acquisitions (from the last year or so). It's fun to find covers that were re-used for different titles.

Thanks again for all the suggestions (keep 'em coming if anybody has any other good methods). I might try the "kitty litter and baking soda in a sealable plastic tub" method.

No, it's atom-age (golden-age) stuff -- pre-code sci-fi to be exact. These are comics from the "Nicolas Sawchuck" collection, so named because somebody (presumably a kid) had a fancy stamp made of his name and often stamped it on the inside cover, back covers, back inside cover, etc. As long as they mylar is well-sealed, the odor is contained, but once opened it's really pungent, and not in an "I love the smell of old books" way. More in a "WTF my eyes are watering" way.