Popular Post badback83 Posted August 25, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted August 25, 2017 Here's the story.... I did a random search on Craigslist last night to see if anyone had posted any comics for sale. I came across a post that was advertising a garage sale that had some comics. There were a few boxes pictured. I decided to stop on my way home from work today because it was relatively close. I pulled up and there were three kids set up with one table each in their front yard. One had books and movies, the other with toys. The oldest, which turned out to be the person who posted the ad, was 14. He was visibly nervous when I walked up and said hello (I'm 6'1 with a giant, foot long beard and tattoos). I asked him if these were his books, he said yes and I continued to make small talk about comics. He had a few dollar boxes and a box of "higher priced" books. We chatted for about 10 minutes and I picked out two Batman books. After a few minutes, he started telling me he how he liked Superman and Black Terror. I was a little dumbfounded. I wasn't expecting Black Terror. He then proceeded to say that he wanted to sell some books to fund purchases for some early golden age. We talked about Marvel Mystery and Captain Americas and how they don't come around in our area very often. I was so shocked that a 14 year old kid had such an appreciation for "older" books, let alone golden age. He was extremely knowledgeable too! He was telling me about how Action 23 is the first Luthor, things like that. He said I'll be right back. Rushed into the house, came right back out with a coverless Action 20 and an Exciting Comics 12 that was about a 2.0 that had the Comic Connect sticker. He told me he had recently won them online. He was so excited to tell me about his golden age. I paid him the money he wanted for the Batman books, said my goodbyes and started to walk away. Before I left he asked if I wanted to sell a Marvel Mystery that I had (I showed him a pic of it on my phone). I said if I do, you'll be the first to know. I drove away feeling surprised and refreshed. It's was really awesome to see someone that young so jazzed about comics. It didn't matter if it was beat or coverless, he was just happy to have it! I feel like sometimes I forget why I love comics so much because of the "money" aspect that collecting vintage comics has with it. The buying, the selling, the profit and in all honesty, sometimes the "cutthroat" aspect of our beloved hobby. Sorry for the wall of text, I just figured I'd share because maybe some here would appreciate the story. Here are the two books I bought: 1950's war comics, Dreamtoreal1, The-Collector and 18 others 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunky Brian Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Pretty cool story thirdgreenham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadroch Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Nice story. I think I'd have have bought a few more books even if I didn't need them. Seed money for the next generation of collectors. Raze 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badback83 Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 Yeah, I definitely thought about that. He is doing the sale tomorrow also, so I might go back. Raze 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kav Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Oh wow I wish I was a GA collector-I would donate a book to that kid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Artboy99 Posted August 25, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted August 25, 2017 we have a young guy who collects golden age horror comics that visits our booth at the Calgary Expo every year. He was 14 when we first met him. Senormac, silverseeker, gino2paulus2 and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comicjack Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 1 minute ago, Artboy99 said: we have a young guy who collects golden age horror comics that visits our booth at the Calgary Expo every year. He was 14 when we first met him. Nice book along with a great shirt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robot Man Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 So did you beat him down on price? Just kidding. That is very cool. There are kids out there who appreciate the "old stuff" thank goodness. A friend of mine's (not a collector) 13 year old son like pre-code horror and ECs. He's gotton a few but just doesn't have the money to buy money. I gave him a stack of EC reprints and a couple of beater originals. You'd think he'd just gotton a year off school. I often give him old books of all kinds and he is VERY happy. It's nice giving back and seeing that love of old books he has. Reminds me of my self at that age. Raze, oakman29 and badback83 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F For Fake Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 That's awesome! I shared a story a few months ago, about watching a kid (probably 14 or 15) with his Dad at my LCS, talking about the money he needed to buy a Planet comic off of the wall. He asked to see it, handled it very gently, and bought it. I know there's a lot of doom and gloom on the boards these days about mass sell-offs and market crashing, but there is at least a LITTLE bit of new blood coming into the hobby. And they have good taste! silverseeker, nmtg9, DeadOne and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vitacura Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Love reading stories like this, thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADAMANTIUM Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 I have often stated that will state again that when I go to the LCS I can hear over my shoulder kids talking about characters and the plans they have heard on the Internet or read about those characters in movies, upcoming video games and COMIC BOOKS!!! badback83 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1950's war comics Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Yep , thats the kind of kid one wouldn't giving some doubles and extra comics too............... as he would appreciate them !! badback83 and FoggyNelson 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MustEatBrains Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Love these stories. Reminds me of when I first started collecting at around 12 years old back in the mid 80s. My dad would drive me and my friends to the local comic conventions in NJ typically at a Ramada Inn or the like. There was this one dealer, Mario who would set-up, he had super long hair, and sometimes he'd have his girlfriend with him and we would always hang out and talk with him about comics. He also taught me how to generally determine the grade of a comic. He would throw me free comic books from time to time. One time he grabbed me and said "I'm going to have lunch, can you watch my booth and sell some comics?" It was such a cool experience going back there and "working". One of the many memorable things that stands out. Always wondered what happened to him. silverseeker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevlnuts Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 That is one of the best stories I have heard in a long time. Glad that I read this, restores my faith in the collecting community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Readcomix Posted August 26, 2017 Share Posted August 26, 2017 Yes, thanks DocHoppus for sharing! I think there's more kids out there like this than we think. There's a flea market baseball card dealer near me who sells a lot of $1 readers and does not want to bother with anything else. When he buys collections, he has a 14-year-old who sorts them for him and sells the hot movie books etc on Instagram. They split the profits. I met the young man one day and he told me how he bought an X-Men 1 and DD1 with his share. They are out there. badback83, silverseeker and kav 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The-Collector Posted August 26, 2017 Share Posted August 26, 2017 6 hours ago, F For Fake said: That's awesome! I shared a story a few months ago, about watching a kid (probably 14 or 15) with his Dad at my LCS, talking about the money he needed to buy a Planet comic off of the wall. He asked to see it, handled it very gently, and bought it. I know there's a lot of doom and gloom on the boards these days about mass sell-offs and market crashing, but there is at least a LITTLE bit of new blood coming into the hobby. And they have good taste! These are great stories to hear. People should check out instagram. There a literally hundreds (maybe thousands?) of young people collecting comics from all eras on there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comicstock Posted August 26, 2017 Share Posted August 26, 2017 14 hours ago, MustEatBrains said: Love these stories. Reminds me of when I first started collecting at around 12 years old back in the mid 80s. My dad would drive me and my friends to the local comic conventions in NJ typically at a Ramada Inn or the like. There was this one dealer, Mario who would set-up, he had super long hair, and sometimes he'd have his girlfriend with him and we would always hang out and talk with him about comics. He also taught me how to generally determine the grade of a comic. He would throw me free comic books from time to time. One time he grabbed me and said "I'm going to have lunch, can you watch my booth and sell some comics?" It was such a cool experience going back there and "working". One of the many memorable things that stands out. Always wondered what happened to him. Mario of Mario's Comics is still around. I run into him at shows in the Southeast. Still a character. We used to do shows all the time back in the 80s in the NY/NJ/PA region. Currently lives around Atlanta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01TheDude Posted August 26, 2017 Share Posted August 26, 2017 Did you happen to mention the CGC forums when talking to the kid? I always ask if someone is a member on the forum just in case I am talking to someone I see here all the time. Or to let them know the website exists to bring more members into the fold. My guess is he does know about the forum-- especially if he is into GA-- the GA forum here has some of the most knowledgeable people in the hobby as regulars. Some times I hang out over there just to drool at some of the amazing books people have from that era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MustEatBrains Posted August 26, 2017 Share Posted August 26, 2017 2 hours ago, comicstock said: Mario of Mario's Comics is still around. I run into him at shows in the Southeast. Still a character. We used to do shows all the time back in the 80s in the NY/NJ/PA region. Currently lives around Atlanta. Thanks very much for that info. If I'm ever around where he is setting up will be sure to visit if in the area. Would love to catch up with him some day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badback83 Posted August 26, 2017 Author Share Posted August 26, 2017 6 hours ago, 01TheDude said: Did you happen to mention the CGC forums when talking to the kid? I always ask if someone is a member on the forum just in case I am talking to someone I see here all the time. Or to let them know the website exists to bring more members into the fold. My guess is he does know about the forum-- especially if he is into GA-- the GA forum here has some of the most knowledgeable people in the hobby as regulars. Some times I hang out over there just to drool at some of the amazing books people have from that era. Hey Dude, Honestly, I forgot to mention the forum, but I will definitely ask when I see him. I know he's familiar with CGC because he mentioned the census. So, he very well might already be here. 01TheDude 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
