What did you find was your hardest run / set to complete? 1 1

[Get Marwood & I]

What did you find was your hardest run / set to complete?

 

Inspired by @Ghostzapper 's amazing achievement here. (well done again GZ):

I was reminded of how difficult it can be to put together a run or set of 'hard to find' comics. During the Completist/Completionist/Nutter years, I had trouble with various lines. Here's a few that gave me (hugely enjoyable) grief:

 

Australian Price Variants

Trying to put together a run of AUS price variants is so hard! Not only do we not really know what exists, but finding any that haven't been used to wipe a dingos backside is, as the French would say, tres difficile. Try it my friends, try it! 

 

Marvel Newsstand Price Variants

 

Jeptha Jude of Israel, these are hard to locate! Especially when, like me, you have the eyes of Mr Magoo.  Online barcode squinting is not a pastime I would normally recommend! But try it anyway!  

 

Mark Jewelers Inserts

For 800 years I tried to get the full ASM set (alongside training Jedi). If ASM #124 has an MJI, it must reside in Australia (see above)! Foolishly, I sold the lot. I could start again I suppose.... 

 

So, over to you guys. What was your hardest run / set to get?

[cranky's]

So far the only copy I've put towards this 4-part series in Canadian newsstand.  They are tough!

[porcupine48]

I've been trying for years to complete my Strange Tales run,1-168.Have #80- 168 filled no problem,issue #1 and about fifty others,but sheesh,some of these are TOUGH!

TTA 1-101(no 27-too pricey) was a breeze compared to ST.

And i'm not going for pencers...

[Artboy99]

A run that I have completed:

For me it has to be Planet Comics.

Related to Planet Comics, is the 4 issue Canadian printings #1-4. Very difficult to find these.

Edited May 28, 2017 by Artboy99

[Get Marwood & I]

29 minutes ago, skrank said:

So far the only copy I've put towards this 4-part series in Canadian newsstand.  They are tough!

The more obscure titles are tough in Canadian prices, for sure. Good luck with the search  (you've got me looking now!) 

[porcupine48]

32 minutes ago, skrank said:

So far the only copy I've put towards this 4-part series in Canadian newsstand.  They are tough!

Is condition a biggie?I'll keep an eye out for you.

[Get Marwood & I]

19 minutes ago, porcupine48 said:

I've been trying for years to complete my Strange Tales run,1-168.Have #80- 168 filled no problem,issue #1 and about fifty others,but sheesh,some of these are TOUGH!

TTA 1-101(no 27-too pricey) was a breeze compared to ST.

And i'm not going for pencers...

Don't dis da pencers bro! 

Which ones ya missin Jim? They don't call me 'I The Locator' for nuffink ?

[Get Marwood & I]

5 minutes ago, Artboy99 said:

A run that I have completed:

For me it has to be Planet Comics.

Yowser! 

How long did it take? Couple of weeks? 

[Artboy99]

Just now, Marwood & I said:

Yowser! 

How long did it take? Couple of weeks? 

a few years.

I was trying to get 5.0+ for condition. After searching for a couple of years I realized that some of the books were near impossible to locate in that grade or better so I finally bought copies that I could accept. Issue 15 was the hardest, I did not want brittle pages, and all the copies that were available had brittle pages. Eventually I bought this copy as it presented well and it had off-white pages:

[porcupine48]

7 minutes ago, Marwood & I said:

Don't dis da pencers bro! 

Which ones ya missin Jim? They don't call me 'I The Locator' for nuffink ?

Oh,I love the pencers..just not actively seeking them.

Many of what i'm missing are just too darn expensive now...ridiculous.#60 is the one I really want. @adamstrange has the nicest copy i've ever seen.

[Get Marwood & I]

4 minutes ago, Artboy99 said:

a few years.

I was trying to get 5.0+ for condition. After searching for a couple of years I realized that some of the books were near impossible to locate in that grade or better so I finally bought copies that I could accept. Issue 15 was the hardest, I did not want brittle pages, and all the copies that were available had brittle pages. Eventually I bought this copy as it presented well and it had off-white pages:

Nice! I suppose you can't be too choosy on grades when the books are this old and scarce.  Congratulations on getting them all 

[Get Marwood & I]

5 minutes ago, porcupine48 said:

Oh,I love the pencers..just not actively seeking them.

Many of what i'm missing are just too darn expensive now...ridiculous.#60 is the one I really want. @adamstrange has the nicest copy i've ever seen.

It's a shame everything is so expensive isn't it. If you're in it for love, the big bucks are a drag. Hope @adamstrange reads this soon and shows us his copy. His copy, I said ?

[Artboy99]

41 minutes ago, skrank said:

So far the only copy I've put towards this 4-part series in Canadian newsstand.  They are tough!

I have a 1-4 set, it might include Canadians as they were purchased here in Canada I will check for you.

 

[adamstrange]

1 hour ago, porcupine48 said:

Oh,I love the pencers..just not actively seeking them.

Many of what i'm missing are just too darn expensive now...ridiculous.#60 is the one I really want. @adamstrange has the nicest copy i've ever seen.

I don't have a 60

[porcupine48]

6 minutes ago, adamstrange said:

I don't have a 60

I was sure you did...it must be a cover that looks similar?Sorry for my mistake.

 

[cranky's]

2 hours ago, Artboy99 said:

I have a 1-4 set, it might include Canadians as they were purchased here in Canada I will check for you.

 

Thanks!

[cranky's]

2 hours ago, porcupine48 said:

Is condition a biggie?I'll keep an eye out for you.

Thanks! Yeah I'm seeking VF up for most copper

[Get Marwood & I]

38 minutes ago, adamstrange said:

I don't have a 60

Well it's about time you got one! 

[Get Marwood & I]

34 minutes ago, porcupine48 said:

I was sure you did...it must be a cover that looks similar?Sorry for my mistake.

 

Nice. I'll put that on the London fair list jim 

[oakman29]

When I completed my AF15, ASM 1-700 I thought I was done with completing full runs.

Now I've been trying to complete full runs of high grade Creepy, Eerie and Vampirella. I am finding it quite the challenge on some books.