Comic Book Talk

[TONGO]

We dont have a Comic Book thread?! Not a Comic Book Movie thread, but one about Comic Books themselves.


I used to collect Comics. Had a vast collection with many first appearances, total runs of a series ( Had every issue of Thor including Journey Into Mystery except for 50 issues), and many independents.


Had to quit collecting because real life expenses came first, and sold them all for same reason. Marvel Comics actually killed the comic book collecting Camelot which existed with many small comic book shops forced to go out of business when Marvel started distributing for themselves.


Favorite character was Thor (Stan Lee/Jack Kirby, and Walt Simonson runs especially), and Doctor Doom (who Darth Vader was inspired after). Many others I enjoyed too but those guys stood out. Can't count how many frenzied arguments I got into saying how Thor could whoop Hulk or Superman lol!


I dont regret it. Good times :)

[Captain Steel]

Had to quit collecting because real life expenses came first, and sold them all for same reason. Marvel Comics actually killed the comic book collecting Camelot which existed with many small comic book shops forced to go out of business when Marvel started distributing for themselves.


Same here about collecting & expenses.
What's a regular comic cost nowadays anyway?
I started collecting them in 1975 when they cost 25 cents.

But there were other issues to do with my ceasing to collect (and Marvel was really the leader in this, although DC did their share as well)... right before I stopped buying it seemed like everything in each of the big companies revolved around an "event" that spanned almost the entire catalog of their titles. Almost every issue of every title was a "tie-in" to the event. In order to follow the event, you had to buy far more books than you normally would. And as soon as one event ended, a new one began.

Back in the 80's, these events were special because they were few and far between (Marvel's Contest of Champions was nice - an early 3-issue mini-series with no tie ins. DC's epic Crisis On Infinite Earths set the tone with its own tie-ins, but at least it was still a rare & special event in 1985).

Then we had the 90's with the collecting / speculators craze (where virtually every issue was touted as a "COLLECTOR'S ITEM!" or "FIRST ISSUE!" ... and actually renumbering titles so they'd start over with #1's... and all the gold-foil, raised & variant covers & such.)

The entire industry seemed focused on the money and convincing collectors that everything they bought would someday be worth the same as rare Golden Age comics are today - meanwhile they were printing far more copies; which would render virtually all of them from this era almost worthless.

The cross-company events & tie-ins just kept increasing and by the mid-2000's it seemed like comics were nothing BUT these continual events - which were just really continual money-grabs.

As all these money-making gimmicks increased, the quality of the storytelling & artwork decreased.

[TONGO]

Captain Steel Yeah I remember that.period, and they went to bagged comics too so if you wanted to keep one for collection purposes you had to buy 2 just to read it, and don't forget those "priceless" foil covers.

Now I think they're at least $5 an issue, and any continuity throughout their said universes is thrown out the window. Glad we got to them when they had some soul. Some sense of freshness.

Frank Millers Daredevil, Claremont & Byrnes X-Men, Todd McFarlanes Spider-Man, those were some epic runs. By the end I stopped following certain artists and concentrated on the good writers. Cheaper to keep up with and more enjoyable.

[Captain Steel]

In recent years I've been buying the Marvel Epic Collections (full color reprints in a soft-cover format) and catching up on a lot of the Silver & Bronze Age books I missed as a kid.

DC seemed to be doing similar publications several years back - full color on cheap paper, almost making them feel like an old comic - but for some unknown reason seemed to have discontinued that series just after it started. I wanted to collect The Justice League of America from the beginning in this series, but by the time they reached the Bronze Age, they stopped producing the books.

[Captain Steel]

The other day we were talking about Mad magazine here on this site (the subject was broached by Citizen Rules).

Looking back, it occurred to me how much Mad had in common with the MoFo.

Mad magazine was essentially a movie magazine - sure, it spoofed TV shows and lots of other stuff (including its own running gag comic strips like "Spy vs. Spy") but virtually every issue (at least the ones I saw when I was young) featured a spoof of whatever the big movie happened to be that month.

And the movie feature was usually the largest / longest one in the magazine (and was often featured on the covers).

It was also where the best art came into play as some of the greatest caricature artists of all time were employed to produce the movie homages. The likenesses of the caricatures were so good, that the illustrations served as a who's who in Hollywood for those of us not yet old enough to recognize major stars.

(Even though they were spoofs, I learned a lot about what were the current big movies from Mad magazine. I think my first introduction to The Godfather was via Mad - since I was too young to see the movie at the time.)

[TONGO]

The other day we were talking about Mad magazine here on this site (the subject was broached by Citizen Rules).

Looking back, it occurred to me how much Mad had in common with the MoFo.

Mad magazine was essentially a movie magazine - sure, it spoofed TV shows and lots of other stuff (including its own running gag comic strips like "Spy vs. Spy") but virtually every issue (at least the ones I saw when I was young) featured a spoof of whatever the big movie happened to be that month.

And the movie feature was usually the largest / longest one in the magazine (and was often featured on the covers).

It was also where the best art came into play as some of the greatest caricature artists of all time were employed to produce the movie homages. The likenesses of the caricatures were so good, that the illustrations served as a who's who in Hollywood for those of us not yet old enough to recognize major stars.

(Even though they were spoofs, I learned a lot about what were the current big movies from Mad magazine. I think my first introduction to The Godfather was via Mad - since I was too young to see the movie at the time.)

Now you see, MAD Magazine would be something worth collecting. Id have to think itd be a very expensive endeavor, and even harder finding issues in pristine condition. I loved MAD magazine. So very un-woke lol ;)

It was also the little things about it too, like the mini cartoons theyd doodle in between panels. You cant find the equivalent to that today anywhere.

https://www.madcoversite.com/price.html

[xSookieStackhouse]

i collect marvel comics :d

[Captain Steel]

Has anyone ever noticed the similarities between the casts of Spider-Man and Archie?

I never followed Archie, so only have a passing knowledge of the comic's characters (but with a little help from the Internet)...

So, if Peter Parker is Archie, then its obvious that...

Gwen Stacey = Betty Cooper
Mary Jane Watson = Veronica Lodge
Harry Osborne = Jughead Jones / Reggie Mantle (this one's dependent on whether Harry is in his bestfriend mode with Peter or acting as his rival by becoming another Green Goblin)
Flash Thompson = Moose Mason
Aunt May Parker = Miss Geraldine Grundy (the two are practically twins)
J. Johan Jameson = Mr. Waldo Weatherbee? (Not much correlation there!)
The Black Cat (Felicia Hardy) = Sabrina (Spellman) the Teenage Witch (both are platinum blonds with powers that effect reality!)

[John McClane]

i just started collecting, and i have very quickly determined that i gotta put some rules on what i buy. lest i go bankrupt again ;)

first, everything has to be 2020 or newer, as i'm in this hobby to read them first, if i get lucky and they get some value, cool.

second, i will buy foils of issue 1s only. and only if they look cool.

third, **** variants.


with all that said I am currently collecting just about anything to do with Predator and Alien crossovers (i.e. Aliens vs Avengers, Predator vs Spiderman, Predator vs Wolverine), and i have placed a couple preorders for some random stuff that caught my fancy. i'll share some pictures at some point, but i did totally preorder What If…? Goofy Became Spider-Man and i broke rule 3 because it's an oneshot issue and i really did like all the covers.

TL; DR - nerds gonna nerd!!

[Holden Pike]

Oddly enough, I just sold my entire collection a couple weeks back. Had six long comic boxes, full, plus another four smaller boxes of graphic novels and books.

107581
107582

I did not go through and get individual prices for each, a store bought my entire collection for one price. But some of the most valuable individual books I had were the original runs of The Dark Knight Returns and The Watchmen, The Killing Joke, the first books of The Sandman, The Incredible Hulk No. 340 (with Wolverine, art by Todd McFarlane), Secret Wars #8 (first appearance of the black symbiote costume), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3, and my biggest was probably Captain America #100. And on and on. Some good stuff. Lots of crap, too.

[John McClane]

Holden Pike - did ya make out alright? what made ya sell?

[Holden Pike]

Holden Pike - did ya make out alright? what made ya sell?
It was just time. I collected from the early eighties into the '90s, and then sporadically after that (more indie stuff than super heroes as I got older). All my collection was doing was sitting in a closet.

Money wise, I did OK. I could have done much better selling the "good stuff" online, one at a time, but I simply did not want to take the time to do that. Would have also made getting rid of the rest of my collection less attractive to a shop, if all they were getting was the junk with all the diamonds mined from it.

It was time. Very nostalgic going through those boxes (for the first time in probably ten years). Called my brother and then my best friend, chatted about all of the wonderful lost hours of our youth.

All I really kept, for posterity sake, were the two deluxe hardcover slipcase editions of The Absolute Dark Knight and The Absolute Watchmen. Those can stay on my book shelf.

[TONGO]

It was just time. I collected from the early eighties into the '90s, and then sporadically after that (more indie stuff than super heroes as I got older). All my collection was doing was sitting in a closet.

Money wise, I did OK. I could have done much better selling the "good stuff" online, one at a time, but I simply did not want to take the time to do that. Would have also made getting rid of the rest of my collection less attractive to a shop, if all they were getting was the junk with all the diamonds mined from it.

It was time. Very nostalgic going through those boxes (for the first time in probably ten years). Called my brother and then my best friend, chatted about all of the wonderful lost hours of our youth.

All I really kept, for posterity sake, were the two deluxe hardcover slipcase editions of The Absolute Dark Knight and The Absolute Watchmen. Those can stay on my book shelf.
I collected during the same era. I went further back in my quest for collection fulfillment and had every Thor and Journey Into Mystery except for 50 issues. Had Lokis first appearance.
And Wolverines, and Punishers, Giant Sized X-Men #1 and X-Men #94, and so on. My rule for collecting was never spend more than $20 on a comic, and it worked.

As time went on I became less interested in great deals, but great stories. Focused on getting all the Alan Moore Swamp Things, had all the Hellblazers, Sandman, Cerebus. Eventually the cover price of a comic, and having a life took me away from collecting. They’re all gone now, but can remember many a nostalgic day when instead of “putting them in order” I’d reread many. Good times :)

[ynwtf]

I got into comic early 90s I think. Right around the Venom run and Image Comics taking over. Two friends would order in bulk to get that 1 rare print that came with 50+ issues, or whatever it was. I enjoyed Spawn and The Maxx at the time. I was in high school when Bane broke Batman's back, and Doomsday killed Supes. Early college years I found a short run from titled, Blood: A Tale. Looks like this was from the late 80s. I loved it and it deeply affected my drawing and writing styles at the time.

I don't really follow comics anymore, but I will, from time to time, search out a complete set of Blood: A Tale just to have another on hand.

https://totally-epic.kwakk.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/n-P1420041-E-scaled.jpg

[John McClane]

i got these two beauts coming to me via eBay.

107588

i managed to find first printings of issues 1-3 at my LCS, but they changed the cover for the 2nd printing. ****ing Marvel and their ****ing variants! anyways, all i need is a first printing of issue 4 now. gonna try to find it locally first to avoid shipping.

[TONGO]

$7.99 an issue! OMG! :eek: :laugh:

[Captain Steel]

i just started collecting, and i have very quickly determined that i gotta put some rules on what i buy. lest i go bankrupt again ;)

first, everything has to be 2020 or newer, as i'm in this hobby to read them first, if i get lucky and they get some value, cool.

second, i will buy foils of issue 1s only. and only if they look cool.

third, **** variants.


with all that said I am currently collecting just about anything to do with Predator and Alien crossovers (i.e. Aliens vs Avengers, Predator vs Spiderman, Predator vs Wolverine), and i have placed a couple preorders for some random stuff that caught my fancy. i'll share some pictures at some point, but i did totally preorder What If…? Goofy Became Spider-Man and i broke rule 3 because it's an oneshot issue and i really did like all the covers.

TL; DR - nerds gonna nerd!!

I remember buying the first Predator vs. Batman comics. (I believe they were some of the early Predator cross-overs.) I remember the art being very nice, and they may have featured the 2nd major appearance of the Bat-armor since Dark Knight Returns (a version of which we saw in the Batman v. Superman movie).

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A1+SRvmM9JL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg

[John McClane]

$7.99 an issue! OMG! :eek: :laugh:ha! and now you know why i’m talking about collecting new only; if you preorder you can get comics for $3-4.

so i’ll have to be fastidious in my choices. or hope that the issues that don’t get picked up at the LCS don’t turn to shit in their hoarders rat nest and then get them on the cheap.

[TONGO]

ha! and now you know why i’m talking about collecting new only; if you preorder you can get comics for $3-4.

so i’ll have to be fastidious in my choices. or hope that the issues that don’t get picked up at the LCS don’t turn to shit in their hoarders rat nest and then get them on the cheap.
I went into a comic book shop last week here in Stuart. Very small, but it was comics only. No card games, board games, posters, shirts, etc… The owner is a broker and had just sold an old comic for $15,000.00 .

What blew my mind was an issue of “Blue Marvel” on the shelf for $250, and this is a Marvel Comics title that had come out a few years ago, so you know it’s mass produced. He said it has gone down significantly because it got to $1000 at one time, and then Marvel didn’t do anything else with him and the furor dimmed.

So I guess it is still possible to make bank on new comics. What always worked for me was getting First Appearances. My theory was if I thought a character was cool enough I’d get their first appearance, because others will think he’s cool too, and got Amazing Spider-Man #129 for $2 . It was the first appearance of the Punisher, and I had bought all his appearances as a Spidey, Daredevil “villain” until he blew up with getting a Frank Miller makeover and his own limited series. John Constantine was the same way how it worked out. Its best and more fun collect what you enjoy, trust your taste ;)

[John McClane]

TONGO - pretty much my thought. if i’m lucky they will be worth something 30 years from now. if not, well, at least i got good picture books for when i’m old and can’t see for shit

[TONGO]

This other broker I knew back in Bradenton, FL was focused on Golden Aged Comics. So much enthusiasm for that era he would sell his silver aged and newer stuff cheaply out of disdain.

A buddy had tried to get into that briefly, and actually had Donald Duck #3 by Carl Barks, probably from the 40s. It had no cover though, so it was worthless. Amazing! I’ve found hardcover books are the same way. The value will take a hit if it doesn’t have the slick paper sleeve covering it, but no cover?! fugedaboudit

[John McClane]

since today is new comic day at the LCS i will stop in and take some pictures of the place. i really don’t like going in there because i feel like i’m gonna catch a paper borne disease