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Post by MDG on Dec 2, 2019 14:52:08 GMT -5
Sounds like the seller maybe didn't know what was in the back of it. Great pick up though, Crimebuster. Oftentimes unsorted boxes like that aren't really unsorted, it means the dealer has gone through and cherry picked/strip mined of what he/she thought they could get premium prices for (i.e. wall books) and haven't gotten around to pricing the rest, so they are not worried about losing out on stuff in the box, but things get missed as they sort through (sometimes dealers will acquire a collection with hundreds of longboxes days before a show and rush through the pick out the wheat from the chaff and well things slip through. I am guessing this is probably the case with this book. The rough shape probably helped in the dealer overlooking it, as they like keys/wall books that present well. Yeah--even though I don't buy a lot, I see this pretty often lately, especially in stores, where you can tell they picked up a collection, pulled the good stuff and have the rest at a fixed price to keep the cash flow going. The time to find things is after they did the initial cherry-pick but haven't had time to bag/re-bag and individually price the rest.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2019 18:49:12 GMT -5
Speaking of a dealer not quite knowing what they have, I found a bunch of bargains this afternoon. I went out to shop for my Secret Santa, and in my travels, I stopped at a little shop here in town that focuses on used electronics, vinyl, toys, movies and video games. Every so often they have a few comics and vintage sci-fi paperbacks too, so I stop in every couple of weeks to see what they have. When I stopped in today, they had about 5-6 long boxes of comics all priced at $1 or $2 each. Here are some of the gems I found in the $2 box... DC Comics Presents #1 (looks to be VF or better) 2 copies of Showcase #57 (1st Enemy Ace) (both look G+-VG) and Showcase 58 (also G/VG) a bunch of Enemy Ace issues from Star Spangled War Stories including 2 copies of one of my favorite covers #138 (one will eventually be framed/displayed) and not quite a gem but a $2 trade of what I remember being a fun read... and then the following from the $1 boxes... Coyote #11 and #13 completing Coyote for me, I had written off ever getting #11 as it features Todd McFarlane's 1st comic work and I haven't seen a copy at a show for under $75-$100 in a few years and there was no way I would drop that for this issue, but $1 sure... and then a trio of Sgt. Rock issues... the rest is mostly dollar bin fare anyways, but got a little Batman... a little Superman... and a decent run of the Human Fly series... there were some interesting 80s indy books I hadn't seen before in the boxes, but I was on a limited budget this week, so I will have to go back and check them out again ina few weeks to see if they are still there. -M
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 2, 2019 21:56:53 GMT -5
Speaking of a dealer not quite knowing what they have, I found a bunch of bargains this afternoon. I went out to shop for my Secret Santa, and in my travels, I stopped at a little shop here in town that focuses on used electronics, vinyl, toys, movies and video games. Every so often they have a few comics and vintage sci-fi paperbacks too, so I stop in every couple of weeks to see what they have. When I stopped in today, they had about 5-6 long boxes of comics all priced at $1 or $2 each. Here are some of the gems I found in the $2 box... DC Comics Presents #1 (looks to be VF or better) 2 copies of Showcase #57 (1st Enemy Ace) (both look G+-VG) and Showcase 58 (also G/VG) a bunch of Enemy Ace issues from Star Spangled War Stories including 2 copies of one of my favorite covers #138 (one will eventually be framed/displayed) and not quite a gem but a $2 trade of what I remember being a fun read... and then the following from the $1 boxes... Coyote #11 and #13 completing Coyote for me, I had written off ever getting #11 as it features Todd McFarlane's 1st comic work and I haven't seen a copy at a show for under $75-$100 in a few years and there was no way I would drop that for this issue, but $1 sure... and then a trio of Sgt. Rock issues... the rest is mostly dollar bin fare anyways, but got a little Batman... a little Superman... and a decent run of the Human Fly series... \ there were some interesting 80s indy books I hadn't seen before in the boxes, but I was on a limited budget this week, so I will have to go back and check them out again ina few weeks to see if they are still there. -M Ohhhhhh, I have my eye on that DC presents # 1.
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Post by earl on Dec 3, 2019 20:23:21 GMT -5
Never saw that illustrated Harlan Ellison collection before. That is something I might have to look up.
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 4, 2019 21:29:58 GMT -5
Won these on eBay. I'm closing in on the Thors from 180-190's, now.
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Post by junkmonkey on Dec 5, 2019 18:36:57 GMT -5
Picture tomorrow but I just got a chunking great care package from France. It arrived on my doorstep yesterday with 16 books of very varying quality (they were all 1 euro each. (I just grabbed a double handful from the list the dealer sent and hoped my semi-random choosing from a list of utterly unknown titles would turn out well.) My favourite so far has been: "How do you do you make it so the rain doesn't fall on you?" "It's my power! I'm a superhero."
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 5, 2019 19:52:37 GMT -5
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 5, 2019 19:53:28 GMT -5
The First John Buscema Thor.
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Post by chadwilliam on Dec 5, 2019 21:08:52 GMT -5
Superman 205 “ The Man Who Destroyed Krypton!” April, 1968 Script: Otto Binder Artwork: Al Plastino So this is the issue where we learn that Jor-El really was over-reacting when he predicted Krypton’s destruction. Oh, the tremors were real as was the nuclear fission chain reaction at the planet’s core, but according to saboteur Black Zero’s analysis, this would have all died down on its own had he not rekindled “the atomic fires below”. But this story sort of is and sort of isn’t about that. It is, because it’s obviously a significant revelation; it isn’t, because Zero’s destruction of Krypton is introduced into the tale more as a means of establishing his credentials when he promises to do the same to Earth than it is a problem for Superman to address in the here and now. In fact, it’s somewhat chilling the way that this tale treats Zero’s revelation about Krypton as an interesting little tid-bit on his resume and little more. Other stories could have claimed that Zero’s “second opinion” was wrong and likely would have had “The Man Who Destroyed Krypton” ever been brought up again. In fact, I believe from a continuity perspective, it’s been argued that Superman 257’s revelation that Green Lantern Tomar-Re’s attempts to save Krypton explains why Black Zero detected two different readings when he checked on the planet’s status with the dying down of the eruptions being only temporary and not an indication of the planet actually being given a clean bill of health, but regardless, this story treats Black Zero’s claims as facts. Does it matter? You know… As an ardent Superman fan, I should be offended, but I can’t say that I am. There are things which bug me about this yarn – Superman’s arrogant attitude when he’s summoned to The White House and tells everyone to relax when they announce that Earth is doomed is the main thing since nothing can stop Superman – but this isn’t one of them. The story is so confidently brazen in its storytelling abilities that I find it hard not to go along for the ride. There’s something compelling about all the little asides tossed into this story that prevents it from ever moving at anything less than a breakneck pace. Angered by Black Zero’s responsibility for Krypton’s destruction, Phantom Zone prisoner and mass-murderer Jax-Ur implores Superman to free him only for as long as it takes to capture the fiend. Questioning his honesty, Jax-Ur reminds Superman of how prior to Jor-El’s creation of the Phantom Zone projector, Krypton would make criminals swallow a pill which would make their skeletons glow if ever a particular search ray were shone onto their bodies. It’s a pretty neat idea, but utilized here as only to provide background for a sacred oath all Kryptonian criminals took upon the name of the one crook who circumvented the rays and the oath by which Jax-Ur swears to return to the Zone once Black Zero is caught. From the story’s opening line “Gentlemen! Earth is doomed!” emanating from The White House as a parallel to Jor-El’s similar proclamations once upon a time, you can tell that the stakes are higher for this story than usual. Black Zero can’t simply be a creepy looking bald guy in a cape – special emphasis has to be placed on his forked tongue, purple eyes, and lack of fingerprints. Agent 009 whose presence is requested at Superman’s briefing can’t simply walk into the room and give his findings – his ashes have to carried in along with the spool of tape which recorded his final seconds of life. Black Zero. The story can’t conveniently forget that Superman has the entire city of Kandor at his disposal to help bring Zero to justice, but acknowledge this head on by having the villain surround the city with a ring of fire which keeps them where they are. It’s one clever idea after another and it’s only when you reach the letter’s page that you’re only on page eight of the story. And that letter’s page? It’s filled with missives about how Superman’s suit weighs 100,000 pounds, Superman being so “overzealous in his pursuit of criminals that he is willing to cut the very foundations from under our American institutions”, and responses from the editor about how Superman wouldn’t go for “Superman trading stamps” being issued in his name since he wouldn’t “trade” on his name for such a gimmick and an acknowledgement that, yes, Victoria Falls in Tanzania is 283 miles from Bulawayo. Is there anyone who doesn’t love reading these? And something else about this comic. Though I wouldn't rate Al Plastino as highly as I would Curt Swan or Wayne Boring, I do like how sinister his Black Zero is. In fact, I think it's Neal Adams depiction on the cover which does the character a disservice by not capturing the smarmy, demonic, sleezy aspects of the character instead making him look like a fairly generic bald, skinny guy. Oh, and what does x-raying Black Zero's brain reveal? Answer: that he had scientists encase it inside a special plastic which prevents people from messing around with it. Again, just a weird little odd idea tossed in to make sure this story isn't a panel short. Of course, these "weird little odd ideas" can be a bit convenient. I don't think drilling a hole in the Earth from one end to the other and letting Zero's missle pass through that would really work without dire consequences for the Earth but like the contrivance of exposing Jax-Ur to red kryptonite so that he transforms from one type of serpent to another before finally becoming a Medusa whose visage turns Black Zero to stone, the ends sort of do justify the means. Sure, "Now I'm a serpent, now I'm a rattle-snake, now I'm Medusa" is kind of silly, seeing Jax-Ur turn Zero to stone and then smash him to bits simply because he doesn't want Superman displaying Krytpon's murderer next to his statue in The Fortress is somehow twistedly honorable and poetic. eh. So Black Zero blew up Krypton and Jor-El was wrong. Weirdly, this doesn't bother me. Maybe the shock simply hasn't sunk in.
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 6, 2019 9:04:52 GMT -5
Did you buy this comic or is this a review ?
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Post by antoine on Dec 6, 2019 9:14:15 GMT -5
Picture tomorrow but I just got a chunking great care package from France. It arrived on my doorstep yesterday with 16 books of very varying quality (they were all 1 euro each. (I just grabbed a double handful from the list the dealer sent and hoped my semi-random choosing from a list of utterly unknown titles would turn out well.) My favourite so far has been: This one looks great, I'm going to try and track that down. What else did you get?
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Post by chadwilliam on Dec 6, 2019 12:23:55 GMT -5
Did you buy this comic or is this a review ? Both I suppose. Picked it up in fairly decent condition over the weekend with about six or seven Adventures of the Fly Comics and Action Comics 328 for about $20 altogether. It would have felt weird to have simply posted a title, number, and cover and left it at that considering its contents.
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Post by rberman on Dec 6, 2019 13:09:53 GMT -5
Did you buy this comic or is this a review ? Both I suppose. Picked it up in fairly decent condition over the weekend with about six or seven Adventures of the Fly Comics and Action Comics 328 for about $20 altogether. It would have felt weird to have simply posted a title, number, and cover and left it at that considering its contents. I for one like to hear something thoughtful about the recently purchased comic. Thanks!
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Post by chadwilliam on Dec 6, 2019 13:55:20 GMT -5
Both I suppose. Picked it up in fairly decent condition over the weekend with about six or seven Adventures of the Fly Comics and Action Comics 328 for about $20 altogether. It would have felt weird to have simply posted a title, number, and cover and left it at that considering its contents. I for one like to hear something thoughtful about the recently purchased comic. Thanks! Thanks for mentioning it! This story gets a bad enough rap that I wasn't even expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. Given it's reputation, I felt that I should mention why I enjoyed it given both the effort Binder and Plastino put into it and to ensure that by saying nothing, no one thought I didn't like it (not that such a thought would keep anybody up at night). Thinking about it now, I should have posted this in the "Classic Comics you've Read Recently" thread, but, eh, I did also purchase it recently.
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Post by junkmonkey on Dec 6, 2019 18:03:30 GMT -5
That recently bought bunch of BD - now all tidy and neatly filed in my BDGest database (sad I know) The Luciferas were bought from a different dealer. They were stupidly cheap and it didn't take me long to find out why. They are AWFUL! - though the scene where she fellates Satan causing a volcano to erupt is pretty funny.
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