E.C. Fan Addict THREAD 27 27

[OtherEric]

In today.  And, with this issue, I complete the Comic Book and the Kurtzman runs of MAD.  I'll post my whole run of 1-31 later today, probably over in the Mad Magazine thread rather than here since I've shown so many of the issues here before.  But this is, by any standard, a big pickup and a big day for me; I remember first reading MAD back when I was 9 or so and my Dad handed me an issue.  I'm lucky in that I had parents who viewed MAD as a good, rather than a bad thing.  They told me they remembered when it was a comic book; I remember how amazed I was to actually find an issue of the comic I could afford.  And even more so in 1993 when I found my battered copy of #1 for $75 in a local comic shop and put it on layaway, that was a LOT of money for a comic for me back then.  But it's the book that showed me that I COULD get key old books... not all of them, but more than I ever dreamed possible.  And the feeling of history in my hand when I finally owned the book was just awe inspiring.  It still is.

So, the book that ends a journey of over a quarter century.  Such a great Kurtzman cover on this one; and the Wally Wood story it goes with is pretty great too:

[Robot Man]

20 minutes ago, OtherEric said:

In today.  And, with this issue, I complete the Comic Book and the Kurtzman runs of MAD.  I'll post my whole run of 1-31 later today, probably over in the Mad Magazine thread rather than here since I've shown so many of the issues here before.  But this is, by any standard, a big pickup and a big day for me; I remember first reading MAD back when I was 9 or so and my Dad handed me an issue.  I'm lucky in that I had parents who viewed MAD as a good, rather than a bad thing.  They told me they remembered when it was a comic book; I remember how amazed I was to actually find an issue of the comic I could afford.  And even more so in 1993 when I found my battered copy of #1 for $75 in a local comic shop and put it on layaway, that was a LOT of money for a comic for me back then.  But it's the book that showed me that I COULD get key old books... not all of them, but more than I ever dreamed possible.  And the feeling of history in my hand when I finally owned the book was just awe inspiring.  It still is.

So, the book that ends a journey of over a quarter century.  Such a great Kurtzman cover on this one; and the Wally Wood story it goes with is pretty great too:

Congrats! Glad you replaced that beater you got from me. Collecting MAD was what got me into actually collecting rather than buying from the newstand or trading with kids. I popped my cherry on #72 which my un-suspecting grandpa bought for me at the cigar store. My first EC MAD was this very copy of #9. I ponyed up $3. for it at Cherokee Books in the mid 1960's. It blew me away. A single digit MAD and I had no idea it started out as a comic book. I had never paid more than cover price so I figure this was the turning point for me. It's been a fun ride.

By the way, my parents didn't care a whole lot what I read as long as I was reading. I was even allowed to have a few Playboys once I convinced my dad I could actually read them. But neither of them liked MAD. They thought it was "subversive". I had to hide them up in a box in the tree house along with about a dozen ECs mu uncle gave me. My mom ripped one up saying it would give me nightmares. (she was right)...

[Robot Man]

Early on, I discovered the "Inside MAD" paperback. I dreamed of finding all the ones pictured on the cover. Took me a while, but I got them. Was SO much harder back in the pre-internet days...

[OtherEric]

4 minutes ago, Robot Man said:

Congrats! Glad you replaced that beater you got from me. Collecting MAD was what got me into actually collecting rather than buying from the newstand or trading with kids. I popped my cherry on #72 which my un-suspecting grandpa bought for me at the cigar store. My first EC MAD was this very copy of #9. I ponyed up $3. for it at Cherokee Books in the mid 1960's. It blew me away. A single digit MAD and I had no idea it started out as a comic book. I had never paid more than cover price so I figure this was the turning point for me. It's been a fun ride.

By the way, my parents didn't care a whole lot what I read as long as I was reading. I was even allowed to have a few Playboys once I convinced my dad I could actually read them. But neither of them liked MAD. They thought it was "subversive". I had to hide them up in a box in the tree house along with about a dozen ECs mu uncle gave me. My mom ripped one up saying it would give me nightmares. (she was right)...

Glad I was able to upgrade that coverless #3 fairly quickly, as well... but was very glad to get it when I did.  #3 isn't as tricky as #5, but it may be the second hardest comic book issue to track down.  I'm also a firm believer in Murphy's law... you skip the filler copy, you'll regret it because you won't see another for years.  I'll need to make sure it finds a good home sometime soon.

So cool that you still have your first back issue like that!  I've still got my first 10c comic (a Looney Tunes), but I know a lot of collectors have long ago let go books like that.  They're landmarks in a collection that you can never replace even if you get different copies.

Here's the first EC I ever got; to my regret I sold it about 15 years ago to help pay rent.  Then, about 5 years ago or so I stumbled across it from a different dealer at Emerald City Comic Con... the copy I had sold, I recognized the wear on it.  I didn't realize how much I had regretted letting it go until I found it again.  It's not leaving my collection now that I have it back, no matter how battered it is.  And amazed that I was lucky enough to come across it!

[Marty Mann]

[Robot Man]

Much to my surprise, the "Package Guy" showed up on a holiday to bring me this gem!

[OtherEric]

A couple in today.  First off, another issue of Weird Science.  I'm definitely filling in the later issues pretty well:

[OtherEric]

And, with this book, I now have all of the New Trend humor books (as opposed to books in other genres that had humorous stories) : Mad, Panic, and one story in this.  It's admittedly one I might want to upgrade at some point because of the chunk out of the cover.  But the price was right, with the two sets of glasses:

[Robot Man]

11 minutes ago, OtherEric said:

A couple in today.  First off, another issue of Weird Science.  I'm definitely filling in the later issues pretty well:

Love the Woody T-Rex on that one. For some reason I've been adding quite a few of the sci fii titles to the boxes lately and at fairly reasonable prices too. I'm getting real close on completing those titles again. I just wish I was doing better on the horror and crime ones. They all seem to be reaching pretty stiff prices again. One thing I have learned about them, is with a few exceptions, most of them come around fairly frequently. It is a matter of the right book at the right price if you are patient.

[OtherEric]

9 minutes ago, Robot Man said:

Love the Woody T-Rex on that one. For some reason I've been adding quite a few of the sci fii titles to the boxes lately and at fairly reasonable prices too. I'm getting real close on completing those titles again. I just wish I was doing better on the horror and crime ones. They all seem to be reaching pretty stiff prices again. One thing I have learned about them, is with a few exceptions, most of them come around fairly frequently. It is a matter of the right book at the right price if you are patient.

Agreed.  I'm finding cycling what I'm focusing on with EC's to be very useful.  Can't find copies of the last few MAD's I need?  Go get War for a bit.  War is getting harder to find cheap issues?  There's quite a few inexpensive issues of Shock around.  (Admittedly, inexpensive Shock is still pricier than War.  But compared to itself...)  Shock is drying up?  Go grab some SF.  I'll probably go after a few of the Two Fisted Tales I still need next, they've been out of the cycle a while and more are popping up.

[KirbyJack]

Very nice acquisitions, OE! I’ve never owned the 3D book.

[Robot Man]

2 minutes ago, OtherEric said:

Agreed.  I'm finding cycling what I'm focusing on with EC's to be very useful.  Can't find copies of the last few MAD's I need?  Go get War for a bit.  War is getting harder to find cheap issues?  There's quite a few inexpensive issues of Shock around.  (Admittedly, inexpensive Shock is still pricier than War.  But compared to itself...)  Shock is drying up?  Go grab some SF.  I'll probably go after a few of the Two Fisted Tales I still need next, they've been out of the cycle a while and more are popping up.

Yeah, there are so many different titles you can always get another genre. No such thing as a bad EC. I still need a Shock #15. I'd be happy with a solid 4.0-6.0. No real biggie. Not one of the top covers or issues. Seems like I have seen it a hundred times but just missed out on a 5.0 on the bay that went a bit nuts.

When collecting runs of most anything, seems like that one or two take forever. Plus, I tend to have to really pay up for. But there is a limit for me on these.

[fifties]

3 hours ago, KirbyJack said:

Very nice acquisitions, OE! I’ve never owned the 3D book.

Quite honestly, as good as EC was with their conventional artwork and story lines, their 3D images sucked.

[OtherEric]

41 minutes ago, fifties said:

Quite honestly, as good as EC was with their conventional artwork and story lines, their 3D images sucked.

I've seen much worse.  But there wasn't a lot of GOOD 3D books in the 50's, honestly... St. John and, to a lesser degree, Harvey, are really the only ones who did anything I found particularly worthwhile from what I've seen.

Does anybody know where the stories meant for 3D # 3 appeared?  I have "Spawn of Venus" in an issue of Witzend, and "The Planetoid" in 50 Girls 50 and other stories.  Not sure where the other two appeared, or if they were even finished.

[Silver]

My first issue of this series!

 

[29dukedog]

3 hours ago, Silver said:

My first issue of this series!

 

Heckuva way to start!  Old label goodness to boot.    

[29dukedog]

My only Gaines copy of an ISF issue...  

 

[Ghastly542454]

This one is on the way to me. It will be quickly sent back to CGC for a new holder as I really dislike the first generation holders. In my opinion, there  is nothing “good” about them!

[Chief1332]

4 hours ago, Ghastly542454 said:

This one is on the way to me. It will be quickly sent back to CGC for a new holder as I really dislike the first generation holders. In my opinion, there  is nothing “good” about them!

Another upgrade..?  What will be your under copy now?

 

[Silver]

4 hours ago, 29dukedog said:

My only Gaines copy of an ISF issue...  

 

One of the best covers!