n2wdw's Tales of the Comic Book Room 15 15

[Sqeggs]

On 4/15/2018 at 8:10 PM, n2wdw said:

Steel City Con Report Part 1

This weekend I went to Steel City con.  I went for 2 reasons.  First, because my son asked to go to a comic con with his 2 best friends.  And second, because the con is in Pittsburgh where my oldest daughter goes to college.  She's graduating this year so we wanted to see her.  Also, her cosplay video from Katsucon was selected for the Pitt Film Festival so we of course wanted to be there for that.

Here are the 3 boys moments after walking into the con.  My son is on the left.

 

Steel City is a pop culture con like Wizard World (and a lot of other cons nowadays).  They have celebrities and comics ... what makes Steel City a bit unique is their emphasis on toys.  They have the best selection of toys of any con I've ever been to.

While many of the vendors had comics for sale, there was only about 6-8 dealers with most of their booths devoted to comics.  Here are some wall pictures, but there wasn't much of interest.

 

 

 

But, while there were no grails, I found a nice stack of comics for my collection.  Prices are cheaper in the Pittsburgh area so I was able to fill some holes at good prices.  Hot Flips had a good selection of comics at 75% off.  Something I got was this Marvel Comics Index #5 (Thor).  I bought the first issue (featuring Spider-Man) when I was a kid, via mail order.  Since then I've been trying to complete the 12 issue series.  Now I only need #2 (Conan).  Sure, I know I could complete it in 5 minutes on eBay, but I want to do it on the cheap.  I got the Thor issue for $5, which is a bargain.

 

Where I really scored was with Star Trek and Star Wars toys, especially the large figures.  I bought them for about $10 each.  I remember when they were going for 3 and 4 times that.  With these new acquisitions I'm getting close to completing my collection.

 

 

Here are more toys and other stuff I thought were cool but didn't buy.

 

 

 

Looks like Supergirl was having a serious bad hair day. 

[Sqeggs]

On 4/15/2018 at 8:25 PM, n2wdw said:

Steel City Con Report Part 2

I got 3 shopping bags and a short box of stuff at Steel City.

The best deal of the con were these vintage Star Trek The Motion Picture action figures.  They are the rare alien figures, and the Q is even signed by actor.  The cards and blisters are in great VF/NM+ condition.

So I had a momentary ethical conundrum.  These figures are rare and go for hundred of dollars.  They were being offered for $5 each.  Normally I would have no problem with just buying them, but the dealer told me this was a collection of a fan who recently passed away.  The dealer was selling them for the wife.  What would you do?  Tell the dealer to raise the price, or sell them on eBay to have a better chance at getting FMV?

In the end, I didn't say anything and bought them for the offered price.  Honestly I don't feel guilty (well maybe a little).  Anyone can check out the internet for FMV before going to a con.  Also, the wife wasn't poor and didn't need the money for food -- the dealer told me the wife was selling the stuff to clean out the basement. I did buy a lot at the dealer's table to send some money over to the wife.

Here's some other miscellaneous stuff I got at the con.

The perils of passing away without leaving your family a description of what's valuable in your collection. 

[Robot Man]

22 hours ago, n2wdw said:

Back Home From Israel and Jordan

I had to go to Tel Aviv for work.  Israel and Jordan were on my wife's bucket list, so I brought her with me and we spent a few days after my work in Israel and Jordan.

I have to admit I was scared to go to the Middle East.  I thought there was a possibility that me or the wife might not make it back. I guess I've read too many Gabriel Allon novels.  Our friends told us "take care, be safe" before we left.  Usually people say "have a good time" when you go on vacation.  But for the middle east, they said "take care, be safe."  That kinda tells you all you need to know about the perception of Americans when going to the Middle East.

But, as it turns out, there was no drama.  And we went to some amazing places.  Here's the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. 

 

This is inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.  Inside this building is the crypt where it is believed Jesus was born.  You can see the long line to get in -- it actually wraps around and around, and takes about 4 hours to see this holy place.

 

We visited so many incredible sights in Jordan.  If you like Roman ruins, you need to go to Jordan.  Also their deserts are incredible.  This is a picture from Wadi Rum.  If it looks like a foreign planet, then you won't be surprised that they filmed the Martian here. 

 

This is the Treasury in Petra.  They filmed scenes here from Indiana Jones the Last Crusade.

 

I'll show just one food picture, and say that I've never had better hummus in my entire life.

Never been to Israel or Jordan. Back in my 20’s I went to Turkey and Egypt. Standing in front of the Spinyx was just awe inspiring. I was able to go down into one of the pyramids as well. Blew my mind!

Probably the most dangerous place I’ve ever been to was Jarkata, Indonsia for work about 6 years ago. I had no idea until I got there that it had one of the biggest populations of Muslims and the birthplace of Alcadia. Everyone treated me well as I respected their culture. 

[n2wdw]

1 hour ago, Sqeggs said:

The perils of passing away without leaving your family a description of what's valuable in your collection. 

Yes.  Hopefully my judgment day is a ways off, but I've been thinking about how to best pass my collection to my kids so they can get the most value from it.  Part of it is getting valuable comics CGC'd, as that will make it easier for them to determine FMV.  Not perfect but a good start, I think.

[n2wdw]

1 hour ago, Robot Man said:

Never been to Israel or Jordan. Back in my 20’s I went to Turkey and Egypt. Standing in front of the Spinyx was just awe inspiring. I was able to go down into one of the pyramids as well. Blew my mind!

Probably the most dangerous place I’ve ever been to was Jarkata, Indonsia for work about 6 years ago. I had no idea until I got there that it had one of the biggest populations of Muslims and the birthplace of Alcadia. Everyone treated me well as I respected their culture. 

You're lucky you went to Egypt.  We would love to go but it's just too dangerous now.  Maybe some day we'll have a saner (and safer) world.

[n2wdw]

Back From CGC - Planet 34

Over the next few days I'll be posting some books I recently got back from CGC.  First up is Planet 34.  What a great cover.  The "girl with hands tied to pole above head" is a whole genre of golden age GGA.  See, for example, Atomic Comics 1.

[Sqeggs]

6 minutes ago, n2wdw said:

Back From CGC - Planet 34

Over the next few days I'll be posting some books I recently got back from CGC.  First up is Planet 34.  What a great cover.  The "girl with hands tied to pole above head" is a whole genre of golden age GGA.  See, for example, Atomic Comics 1.

Looks like the girl on the Atomic was copied from the Planet. There used to be a thread on cover swipes.  I think this one would fit there.

[n2wdw]

7 hours ago, Sqeggs said:

Looks like the girl on the Atomic was copied from the Planet. There used to be a thread on cover swipes.  I think this one would fit there.

Yes I agree, clearly a swipe, so much so that the Atomic 1 looks traced from Planet 34.  Still, the "girl with hands tied above head" genre has other examples, like:

 

[circumstances]

7 hours ago, n2wdw said:

Back From CGC - Planet 34

Over the next few days I'll be posting some books I recently got back from CGC.  First up is Planet 34.  What a great cover.  The "girl with hands tied to pole above head" is a whole genre of golden age GGA.  See, for example, Atomic Comics 1.

Planet 34 holds a special place in my heart. In the late 70's I bought a copy at the flea market for under a dollar. One of my first golden age books.

[n2wdw]

Sherry The Showgirl

Another comic I recently got back from CGC is Sherry the Showgirl 6.  Sherry's title was only 7 issues and it's tough to collect.  Most eBay offerings seem to be reader copies at high prices.  So far I only have this issue #6. 

 

Sherry also appeared in Showgirls.  I think there are issues 1, 2 and 4.  Was there an issue 3?  Anyway, the only issue I have at the moment is #1.

[Ricksneatstuff]

NICE Showgirls 1! That is some of my favorite DeCarlo work. 

[BitterOldMan]

2 hours ago, n2wdw said:

Sherry The Showgirl

Another comic I recently got back from CGC is Sherry the Showgirl 6.  Sherry's title was only 7 issues and it's tough to collect.  Most eBay offerings seem to be reader copies at high prices.  So far I only have this issue #6. 

 

Sherry also appeared in Showgirls.  I think there are issues 1, 2 and 4.  Was there an issue 3?  Anyway, the only issue I have at the moment is #1.

From gcd,

Part of a convoluted double series:
Sherry the Showgirl #1 to #3 (July 1956 to December 1956);
Showgirls #4 (February 1957);
Sherry the Showgirl #5 to #7 (April 1957 to August 1957);
Showgirls #1 and #2 (June 1957 and August 1957).

 

 

[n2wdw]

1 hour ago, BitterOldMan said:

From gcd,

Part of a convoluted double series:
Sherry the Showgirl #1 to #3 (July 1956 to December 1956);
Showgirls #4 (February 1957);
Sherry the Showgirl #5 to #7 (April 1957 to August 1957);
Showgirls #1 and #2 (June 1957 and August 1957).

 

 

I wondered too about whether there was a Sherry #4 and you just answered that.  Thanks!

[Robot Man]

Great series. I've only ever been able to get #1 and #2. Still looking for the rest...

[jpepx78]

On 5/10/2018 at 7:26 AM, n2wdw said:

Back From CGC - Planet 34

Over the next few days I'll be posting some books I recently got back from CGC.  First up is Planet 34.  What a great cover.  The "girl with hands tied to pole above head" is a whole genre of golden age GGA.  See, for example, Atomic Comics 1.

Atomic #1 cover swipes from 3 different comics: Planet 34, Jungle 65 & Fight 39.

[KirbyJack]

That is amazing!

 

[n2wdw]

20 hours ago, jpepx78 said:

Atomic #1 cover swipes from 3 different comics: Planet 34, Jungle 65 & Fight 39.

Very cool!  At first I didn't understand what you were saying, but then looking at the comics it became clear.  Thanks.

[n2wdw]

Back from CGC - Rangers 24

Recently, I also received back from CGC, Rangers 24.  Rangers is my favorite Fiction House title, that is the issues before #40.  Issue 40 starts the Firehair covers which I don't really like.  And I don't like all the issues before 40, only about 2/3 of them.  One of my collecting goals at the moment is to get nice presenting copies of the ones I like.

 

Speaking of Firehair, she appeared in her own title and I have the first issue.  Which might be kind of ironic given what I just said about not liking the Rangers issues where she is on the cover.  I'm actually not crazy about Firehair #1 either, but I picked it up once as part of a package purchase at the Baltimore con a few years ago.

 

[Sqeggs]

8 hours ago, KirbyJack said:

That is amazing!

 

+ 1

Even I might have been able to cut and paste my way to a career "drawing" comic covers using that method!

[Silver]

Nice Showgirls! I actually have my whole set on its way back from CGC. #4 - 8.5, #1 - 7.0 and #2 - 6.5

Took me a ridulous amont of time to put all three together.

On 5/11/2018 at 7:11 AM, BitterOldMan said:

From gcd,

Part of a convoluted double series:
Sherry the Showgirl #1 to #3 (July 1956 to December 1956);
Showgirls #4 (February 1957);
Sherry the Showgirl #5 to #7 (April 1957 to August 1957);
Showgirls #1 and #2 (June 1957 and August 1957).

 

 

 

Edited May 13, 2018 by Silver