E.C. Fan Addict THREAD

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Silver · June 22, 2020

On 6/18/2020 at 1:26 PM, Dave Henson said:

Thanks guys for posting the Russ Cochran ads for the Gaines File copies. I was fortunate to buy two file copies HOF 24 (#8) and HOF 26 (#8). Can’t believe it’s been that long!

I still have both books and the certificates.

I wish I had gotten more. Oh the deals and books I passed on!!!

Reading these boards has certainly brought back many memories. I can remember when and where I purchased many of my books and there’s usually a story that goes along with each. And I remember the dealers. All great guys and friends. And the shows - mostly Chattanooga, Atlanta, Knoxville and Nashville but I did venture out to Raleigh, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

I’ll likely start posting some of the books I have and reminisce about them, so please cut me some slack if I’m long winded! LOL. I’m a true collector at heart! Dealing was just never in my blood. I remember Harry Thomas used to laugh and say “there’s nothing wrong with buying high, selling low, and making a lot of friends”! Well, I’m not sure where all my friends wandered off to but I do still have a few beautiful books!

I remember thinking how expensive they seemed at the time! I couldn't afford any, but I sure wish I had bought at least one! Very cool, post the books too!

On a different note, I just got in the ISF 31 I recently picked up, I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was copy #1. Not that it really means anything, its just kind of cool. In the original article I believe it said Bill was going to keep several copies of each book. I always assumed he kept the first couple? He must of sold off whatever he kept at some point I guess. Anyone know? The ads only show the middle copies as being available to the public.

Edited June 22, 2020 by Silver

OtherEric · June 23, 2020

Today's book. Four Two-Fisted Tales to go:

KirbyJack · June 23, 2020

Another impactful Kurtzman cover! So good.

Robot Man · June 23, 2020

8 hours ago, Silver said:

I remember thinking how expensive they seemed at the time! I couldn't afford any, but I sure wish I had bought at least one! Very cool, post the books too!

On a different note, I just got in the ISF 31 I recently picked up, I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was copy #1. Not that it really means anything, its just kind of cool. In the original article I believe it said Bill was going to keep several copies of each book. I always assumed he kept the first couple? He must of sold off whatever he kept at some point I guess. Anyone know? The ads only show the middle copies as being available to the public.

I thought I remember him keeping a set and a set for each of his kids. I thought they were the lower graded ones. Annie Gaines probably inherited his set once he passed.

Robot Man · June 23, 2020

45 minutes ago, OtherEric said:

Today's book. Four Two-Fisted Tales to go:

I think I need 3 but at the rate you are going, you are going to beat me...

OtherEric · June 23, 2020

6 minutes ago, Robot Man said:

I think I need 3 but at the rate you are going, you are going to beat me...

Maybe not. 2 of the 4 I need are the first two issues...

Raze · June 23, 2020

Heres a looooong awaited shout out to @OtherEric for this beat but complete (with added scans of missing content)

Shock SuspenStories 14

ALL the stories were great if you don't have one get one!!! The Orphan was my favorite!

Robot Man · June 23, 2020

14 minutes ago, OtherEric said:

Maybe not. 2 of the 4 I need are the first two issues...

I've really been trying to finish off Vault, Crypt and CSS without much luck. I've been doing well on the sci-fi issues though. I've got one SS and 3 TFT which should be easier when the right copies come along. I've about given up hope on the romance ones. Just NEVER see them available.

OtherEric · June 23, 2020

41 minutes ago, Robot Man said:

I've really been trying to finish off Vault, Crypt and CSS without much luck. I've been doing well on the sci-fi issues though. I've got one SS and 3 TFT which should be easier when the right copies come along. I've about given up hope on the romance ones. Just NEVER see them available.

I would like to get a few more examples, but in general I'm not trying for the pre-trend books in any organized fashion. Good look on all of those, CSS in particular is just loaded with high demand books these days.

fifties · June 23, 2020

5 hours ago, Raze said:

Heres a looooong awaited shout out to @OtherEric for this beat but complete (with added scans of missing content)

Shock SuspenStories 14

ALL the stories were great if you don't have one get one!!! The Orphan was my favorite!

IMHO this issue was the best reader of the entire series. Every story a winner!

OtherEric · June 23, 2020

5 hours ago, Raze said:

Heres a looooong awaited shout out to @OtherEric for this beat but complete (with added scans of missing content)

Shock SuspenStories 14

ALL the stories were great if you don't have one get one!!! The Orphan was my favorite!

I know I said it before, but thank you for giving the book a good home. It's beyond beat but it's got some great reading in it. And I can't stand the thought of EC's going unappreciated.

OtherEric · June 23, 2020

37 minutes ago, fifties said:

IMHO this issue was the best reader of the entire series. Every story a winner!

I really think, given its role as a "sampler" of the other genres, Feldstein and Gaines put a little extra effort into Shock and it shows, at least in the horror, crime, and shock stories. The SF, for some reason, tends not to stand out as much. The one war story in #1 is pretty good too, and interesting in that it's the only War story EC did that I don't think Kurtzman was involved in at some level; although some of the stuff in the latter Frontline Combat and Two-Fisted Tales he had a reduced role because he was ill at the time.

Shock #1 is high on my list, but not until after I finish off Two-Fisted Tales...

Dave Henson · June 25, 2020

I submitted my Shock Illustrated 3 last week to CGC for a clean/press & grade. It was tough trying to put a value on it - there’s just not a lot of recent sale data that I could find so it was a complete guess. I must have guessed wrong because they ended up charging more for grading than I expected .

A good friend owned a comic shop in Chattanooga back in the 90’s. He called me one day and offered this one to me for $300. Of course I bought it and later had it signed by Feldstein (hope they don’t ding the grade for that!).

OtherEric · June 27, 2020

On 6/15/2020 at 5:06 PM, OtherEric said:

The label is wrong... That's a DC or All American book, not an EC. Don't get me wrong, it certainly belongs in this thread... but the label is incorrect.

I still want to get a copy some day, as I think "Death of Jesus" is hilarious as a CGC label notation.

I stand corrected, by the way. The indicia publisher is Educational Comics, Inc.

Well, I was going to file this with the EC's even before I saw that. 9 dollars, including tax & shipping. Well spent, I think:

KirbyJack · June 27, 2020

1 hour ago, OtherEric said:

I stand corrected, by the way. The indicia publisher is Educational Comics, Inc.

Well, I was going to file this with the EC's even before I saw that. 9 dollars, including tax & shipping. Well spent, I think:

Gonna slab it? 😄

OtherEric · June 28, 2020

26 minutes ago, KirbyJack said:

Gonna slab it? 😄

Actually, seriously considering it. It would be as cheap as it gets to slab a GA book, I've got the complete NT edition if for some reason I feel the need to re-read it, and as I've said before I find "death of Jesus" as a slab notation a hilarious comment on our hobby.