Robot Man

I can’t agree enough. Hands down the best collection ever found. For whatever reason he did it, Church either had vision or was crazy. In hand, the most amazing books out there. Bone white pages, perfect structure and just brilliant dripping inks. Oh, and that smell.., Every serious collector needs to own at least one. October, you have some real sweet ones there and looks like you “get it”. In-slabbed and raw. So you can soak in all of what this pedigree is all about. Is that Punch one of John McLaughlin’s “cat pee” copies? I remember seeing a large pile of un-bagged Chesslers just sitting on his living room floor before one of his many cats relieved themselves on them.

On modern stuff probably easy. Add the cost of the book, add the cost of the sigs, add the cost of grading and throw on a little for your time. Modern artists are around and signing. On dead or very old folks, depends who it is and what they signed. Some signed very little like Lily Rene (Friction House). Only once at SDCC that I know of and she is in her 90’s. Others, like Stan Lee signed so much (and much that he never had a hand in), is VERY common. Pre-CGC GA/SA stuff, whatever the traffic will bear. Some people don’t like signed books at all especially on the cover.

They are from the mid 1930’s. From a boxed set. Milton Bradley I think. They just have that bright, colorful eye appeal that always grabs me...

Probably because I bought the only book he had that would be of any interest to any one...

Also found this one. Does “Red Lice” count?

Found this in my phone pictures. Don’t remember the issue number. I’m sure I have more Farrell cover mentions but can’t get to my collection right now.

Wow, Chuck's post is really pretty sad. First off, he is bemoaning what SDCC used to be and how he wished it hadn't changed, second, he is very concerned about his age and turning 65 and third is his 'personal identity". He is kind of begging for some kind of help or understanding. Really kind of sad. Life changes, things aren't always what was warm and comfortable. You get old (hopefully), you change with it and deal with it. Life is always good if you want it to be. Some people just have a harder time dealing with it than me. "I know, it's only rock 'n roll, but I like it!" Mick Jagger

I think the El Cortez. Remember when you could walk up to a lady at a card table, pay $5, get your paper badge and walk in?

"Yo mama's so fat..."

Back in the early '70's at SDCC me and a few other kids would buy a pass then go down the street, make color copies and give them to our friends. Oh, good times...

NOBODY pulls out a stack of books in my booth and says “he will come back later”. If you want them, pay for them now or back they go. I will only hold them for you once you have paid. I sell antiques, toys, and other collectibles at shows as well. Same thing happens there as well. “I’ll think about it” or I’ll come back later” 99% if the time means no sale.

Because online you miss out on the experience of interacting with your friends and making new ones. Buying books at a show is my primary reason for going. In the past year or so it become so much harder. Experiencing the hobby and being with people who share my interest is often the best part. Buying online (especially scarce GA) has also gotton quite difficult, super competitive and just as hard to find any deals. It doesn’t help that I’ve been collecting a LONG time and am pretty complete in most of my interests. The big auction houses are pretty much out for me. High prices, lots of competition as well as high buyer premiums, some times shady auction house practices, shipping and now taxes.... Fir the most part, websites are a waste of time for me as well. Unless you are monitoring them minute to minute, anything I want is either gone before I get there or the better stuff goes to auctions as well. I have just gotton to the point where I go to shows for fun and consider myself lucky to go home with a few scraps. I have other interests and hobbies I can spend cash on anytime I want.

And this. The only comic I saw that day. It was just laying on a table. Only one he had. My wife thought I was crazy. She thought it was, as she put it, just to “well loved”. . I kind of agreed but paid one dollar for it anyway.,.

Junking out of state with my wife. Always fun to hit new areas that I’ve never been. Had a good flea market day yesterday...

There are quite a few Farrell’s with “racial slurs” I believe. This was the mood of the country at the time and quite acceptable. Not unlike the anti German and Japanese covers during WWII.

Thanks for all your posts and opinions. Interesting to see a lot of your thoughts. I guess we haven’t lost our way, we just all travel different roads. It doesn’t seem to make a difference if we like our books entombed or raw we all still love the “thrill of the hunt”. This wasn’t ment to be anti CGC or grading. I understand the need and reason behind it. Myself, it just diminishes the enjoyment when in hand. You can bet on the fact that when I cut loose my better books they will be “processed and slabbed”. But probably not until that happens...

I think they mostly get them from each other or small buys from collectors bringing them to shows. I talked to several dealers at Torpedo. Prices were insanely high. And many had very similar inventories from shows a few months back. They are having a real hard time buying collections anymore. Those with brick and mortar shows say stuff just isn’t walking in any more. eBay and auction houses are getting them. They have to buy from each other at very slim margins. Thusly, crazy prices for collectors. There are very few “deals” any more for dealers or collectors. For the most part, the only deals I can get anymore are estate sales, flea markets, antique stores and my other non comic book connections that are general antique dealers who clean out houses. And those are far and a long time in between. At cons, I spend the time digging deep in boxes and asking dealers about stuff I want. It’s a rough business these days...

On the road antiqueing with my wife. Found this single book laying on a guy’s flea market table. Price one dollar. My wife thought I was crazy. She told me it was just to “well loved”. She might have well been right. I grabbed it any way...

Now we’re talking! Nice pickup. Thought this would be just “new sheet”. Thanks for doing this. I gave it up a few years ago after probably 40 years. Hard at first but I’m over it now. I’d be lying though if I didn’t say I missed it a little... Fun most and very much appreciated!

Thanks Cat. Is that the Knight's of the Long Table? Wow, the spread never ceases to amazes me at this gathering. Looks like you boys had fun. Looks like Bunky is either real tired or stoned... Have fun down there. As much as I say I don't miss it, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for SDCC...

Wow, check out all those rare collector's items!

Kinda slow here these days with the "Con of the Century" going on. Plus I am stuck in my wife's antique show booth helping her out. (Not that I didn't drift around and pick up a couple cool beauties for myself!). There are always a few of those people who have cool things that are just "out of place" in the room... Recently I was able to pick up a very cool pair of books from a boardie who was kind enough to cull them from his collection. Initially, I bought them for the covers. I collect (or rather accumulate) Baseball and Football covers. I also like Motorcycle covers and toys from another life long passions of "iron horses". These sure fit the bill. I also bought them for 2 other reasons... One was a slabbed Edgar Church issue and priced VERY reasonable. One can never have enough of Edgar's old books. The other was a fat GA issue of Boy Commandos also VERY reasonable. Now, I know these have seen their day and are very unloved these days. Not a huge Simon and Kirby fan, but these fat WWII issues are always a very fun read for me. I opened the package and went right away to that slabbed Church book. Smiled at the silly cover, turned it over glanced at the back cover then inspected it to determine why the folks at CGC would put that big "6.0" on the cover. Cool, maybe 5+ minutes of fun and put it aside. The Boy Commandoes, I checked out the nice group of wartime Harley's in Jack's style and opened it up. Checked the condition, counted the pages, smelled the paper (you all know the drill), then sat down and enjoyed the stories, the house ads (dreaming I had all the ones pictured that month and wondering why a kid selected this issue over other obvious choices to me). Maybe 15-20 minutes at less than half the cost of the Mickey Finn. As much as I appreciate slabbed books, understand the need for them and appreciate the extra value they add, they just leave me cold. I know, you can crack them... and I have but felt no need to on this one. The Boy Commandos, I had a "relationship" with. I had fun with and was happy with the money I spent on it. Now days, there seems to be so much attention to the big number on the slab and the front cover. Most folks have no desire to open them and enjoy them for what they are, kid's comic books. Books that transport us to a happier place where life and money sit in the back seat. There are a fair number of us that still remember the wonder of buying these and actually reading and enjoying them. You know, spotting it on a spinner rack, getting a few and sitting in the back of the station wagon on a long family trip. Reading the hell out of them and trading among our friends. As collectors, getting the last issue of a run you love, reading it and that feeling of a quest is over. So I ask you? Is the original thrill gone? Is it really about having the biggest number, posting it on Instagram or here. Having other collectors oh and ahh for a couple seconds and on to the next pretty thing? Am I missing something about graded books? Is it just about the money and the big number or are there still big kids like me that get that "thrill" about getting a new comic and devouring it?

Originally, before I ever saw it, it was just another number on my want list. When I saw it, I was blown away. I love surealistic covers and this one would make Dali proud!

I also like black ones. Condition be dammed but just LOVE those freak of nature high grade ones...

Was looking at some books today and had an idea. We have had several threads on showing us your (what ever color) books. Was thinking about my favorite color books. You know, the ones that grab your attention mainly due to the main color of the cover. Not a title, a character or single piece, the ones that are saturated with your favorite color. My favorite color is green. The color of nature, calming and cool and the color of money. Ha, ha, ha!