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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2015 20:49:06 GMT -5
The colours on these pages seem to leap out better than the latter 70s books. I haven't slabbed this book (yet) but want to ensure the colours remain this way.  |
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Post by Nowhere Man on May 30, 2015 21:57:14 GMT -5
 A lot of Bronze Age comics, like this one from the Claremont/Byrne years, do seem a lot darker and muddier compared to that Superman comic. Browsing through my Marvel DVD ROM's I've noticed a few examples even darker and muddier than this example. |
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Post by Ish Kabbible on May 30, 2015 22:06:55 GMT -5
Around about the mid 70s, publishers were looking at all different ways to cut expenses on comics production. They've already cut back actual story content to about 17 pages and have been increasing the cover price almost every year. Now they switched from using metal plates in the production process to plastic plates which caused an increase of fading of the lines. Cheaper and thinner paper was now in use too. And the actual width of comics shrunk. The quality of comics were rock bottom during the late 70s
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Post by Phil Maurice on May 30, 2015 23:06:54 GMT -5
That's a terrific looking Superman #37! AKAIK, the three fundamental rules of preservation still apply: cool, dark, and dry. If you decide to slab it, please show the result here.
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Post by Nowhere Man on May 31, 2015 1:16:45 GMT -5
Around about the mid 70s, publishers were looking at all different ways to cut expenses on comics production. They've already cut back actual story content to about 17 pages and have been increasing the cover price almost every year. Now they switched from using metal plates in the production process to plastic plates which caused an increase of fading of the lines. Cheaper and thinner paper was now in use too. And the actual width of comics shrunk. The quality of comics were rock bottom during the late 70s Whelp, that explains it. Thanks for the info. I've always wondered about this dip in quality but never knew the specifics. |
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 1:19:50 GMT -5
I didn't realize Golden Age comics used a high quality paper. 70's comics would be pretty much the oldest comics I ever had my hands on I think, maybe late 60's, and it all seemed to be the same dul grey pulp they used in the 80's that I never liked
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 9:30:16 GMT -5
Around about the mid 70s, publishers were looking at all different ways to cut expenses on comics production. They've already cut back actual story content to about 17 pages and have been increasing the cover price almost every year. Now they switched from using metal plates in the production process to plastic plates which caused an increase of fading of the lines. Cheaper and thinner paper was now in use too. And the actual width of comics shrunk. The quality of comics were rock bottom during the late 70s I have a 30c cover Flash comic from '76 I believe that seems to have been printed on 2-ply...it is that floppy. |
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 9:45:13 GMT -5
Golden Age of Comics used a high quality paper and they take great strides in keeping the comic books colorful as possible. For each age, the quality of the paper gotten poorer, colors less vibrant, and most of all what dupont2005 has written is right on the money!
I have seen over 3,000 Golden Age Comics - and they were the best of the best!
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Post by wildfire2099 on May 31, 2015 11:25:23 GMT -5
That sure is a beautiful Superman comic!
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Post by chadwilliam on May 31, 2015 11:44:51 GMT -5
I have a few Golden Age comics and I've wondered why it's my Silver Age issues from the late 50's/early 60's that are the most beat up out of my collection. The comics I have from the late 40's/early 50's don't seem susceptible to cracks along both sides, pock mocks scattered throughout the cover, beat up edges, etc. This goes a long ways to solving that question.
Not to get too far off track though, I have to ask how a Superman comic from 1945 has survived in such great condition? How does any comic from that era survive in close to pristine shape? Sure they're made from sturdier stock and could have been fortunate to have been kept away from light, damp, warm/cold places, but were people really buying comics off the stands that long ago only to leave it untouched for 70 years? I'd have to imagine that even if it were laying flat in a vault somewhere for decades you'd still have to ensure that nothing was resting on top of it to avoid creased edges/rolled spines/etc. |
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Post by benday-dot on May 31, 2015 13:02:37 GMT -5
Hey Murderess, are you the same poster as Ulitimate Jezebel or Jezebel Bond. You quote OO7, you slab your comics, collect golden-age Superman comics, and Jezebel (Biblicaly speaking) was rather a murderess. Just saying, but chastise me if I'm wrong.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 21:35:03 GMT -5
Hey Murderess, are you the same poster as Ulitimate Jezebel or Jezebel Bond. You quote OO7, you slab your comics, collect golden-age Superman comics, and Jezebel (Biblicaly speaking) was rather a murderess. Just saying, but chastise me if I'm wrong.  |
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Post by Phil Maurice on May 31, 2015 22:04:52 GMT -5
That must be interpreted as a "yes." So you may ask another question, Mr. Dot.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2015 12:03:09 GMT -5
Not to get too far off track though, I have to ask how a Superman comic from 1945 has survived in such great condition? How does any comic from that era survive in close to pristine shape? Sure they're made from sturdier stock and could have been fortunate to have been kept away from light, damp, warm/cold places, but were people really buying comics off the stands that long ago only to leave it untouched for 70 years? I'd have to imagine that even if it were laying flat in a vault somewhere for decades you'd still have to ensure that nothing was resting on top of it to avoid creased edges/rolled spines/etc. Someone kept that single 9.0 Action Comics #1 in great shape for decades before it was eventually slabbed. Higher-grade Golden Age books are indeed scarcer, but not impossible to find once your source for books caters for them. Any good comic book convention should have at least a representative sample of them. |
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Post by chadwilliam on Jun 1, 2015 16:16:39 GMT -5
Not to get too far off track though, I have to ask how a Superman comic from 1945 has survived in such great condition? How does any comic from that era survive in close to pristine shape? Sure they're made from sturdier stock and could have been fortunate to have been kept away from light, damp, warm/cold places, but were people really buying comics off the stands that long ago only to leave it untouched for 70 years? I'd have to imagine that even if it were laying flat in a vault somewhere for decades you'd still have to ensure that nothing was resting on top of it to avoid creased edges/rolled spines/etc. Someone kept that single 9.0 Action Comics #1 in great shape for decades before it was eventually slabbed. Higher-grade Golden Age books are indeed scarcer, but not impossible to find once your source for books caters for them. Any good comic book convention should have at least a representative sample of them.
I imagine that given the number of comics printed during the period I shouldn't be too surprised that a small percentage exists in such incredible condition today, but were there really people in the 1930's/40's anticipating that these comics would have value in the future? I've been under the impression for a long time that it wasn't until the 1960's that fans started to worry about condition and collectibility.
That's a beautiful issue Murderess, Congratulations!
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