It doesn’t have the same ring to it when it’s “with leave” but I went with it anyway. I’m up in Blue Mountain for a week and then I’m off to Europe for 3 weeks so please forgive the brief pause in posts. I’m back Monday August 14th and I’ll throw a post up soon after.
I didn’t bring along this week’s pile of eBay auction books with me up north so we’ll have to forgo the Covers/Splashes/Ads sequence. I’ve delved into Covers and Splashes in past columns and am glad I’ve included the Ads into the mix for these Time to Collect posts. Ads have added a lot of fun to my weekly exploration of comics, I hope you’ve found them at least mildly entertaining. There is still a lot to discover with comic books, and just as Thoth Amon spent a years searching for the “riddle of steel”, I’ll continue to do the same with the “riddle of comic books”.
Remember in “The Untouchables” when Al Capone screams “you’re nothing but a lot of talk and a badge” at Elliot Ness? Chris Owen once said that to me when he asked why I never followed through with my planned comic book investing tips relaunch. I’ve been thinking a lot about a post devoted to that lately and hopefully this time away will add enough spark to make that happen, or it could just quash the idea in its place. Much like these posts I’ll rely on everyone’s input and insights; of course I’ll look to revamp our seemingly very restrictive adding comments procedure before I start anything.
We’ll post a Comic Culture up later this week, and one more a week after as Chris and I did find the time to record two shows before I left.
Our weekly icecollectibles eBay auction ended last night with some heavy hitters closing. There were also some more unique offerings up for grabs including these two first print hardcover copies of Batman: Year One and Dark Knight Returns. People have been talking about these first wave graphic novels gaining some traction in the collectibles hobby but that wave did not catch our offering: this lot sold for $26 USD.
That Batman: Year One is a later hardcover release as a “Deluxe Edition”. Unfortunately, The Dark Knight Returns hardcover had its time in the sun but only the signed and numbered edition published with Graphitti Designs holds any value.
Thanks Scott, I guess our expectations of the future value of reprints should be tempered even when you’re dressed up all nice.
Would anyone know what the most valuable reprint materials are in the comic book hobby? Golden Record reprints would be my guess? As far as collected editions go though I have no clue.
Agree on that one Walt! the golden records have really jumped over the past few years as collectors seek an alternate way to completing a run without mortgaging the family home.
The other issue that really hits above it’s weight as a reprint is Marvel tales #106 the red version of ASM#129. That thing commands a premium over it’s cohort – and why not!!! It’s a great story, art with accurate inking treatment with a beautiful red cover and I really like Marvel’s approach in that instance – change up the cover a bit!
Graphic novels/Omni/TPB – absolutely love them*
*for collecting modern books; they’re a fantastic reading experience, that uninterrupted storytelling format without the ‘intro’ or ads is very immersive and impactful. However for vintage books it differs, my appreciation of the older books is the inking palette and how it was created with the paper quality/type at the time, these reprints with garish,bold, hyper-saturated, retina-searing colours are painful. So give me DC Human Target, Max’s Punisher Vol 1&2 or anything in Image’s Reckless run (thank you Mel Taylor for that nugget of a recommendation) any day of the week!!!
continuing thoughts: I have encountered a level of snobbery within the comic community regarding GN/Omni/TPB readers – like they are less of a comic collector because of their chosen format. I think the exact opposite!!! These people are fantastic, do you know why??? Because they read the bloody things! How much more pure do you want!!!
Marvel Tales 137 seems to hold value as well Spider, that AF 15 reprint is the best way to authentically read the book in it’s original format without knocking $5000 off the value after a thorough read. I agree with the harsh colors, on those Marvel Masterworks in particular.
Before I sell off my run of Fantastic Four, I picked up a copy of Essentials 4 and although I knew it was black and white, I was greatly disappointed with the line quality. I may have to keep a few books ( probably the Negative Zone arc) so I can occasionally bask in the glory of the way it was intended! Have a great time in Europe Walt! Our consulate appt. isn’t until October so it may be closer to the end of the year or even January before locating across the pond!
There are valuable collected editions but their price is determined by scarcity. Small print runs and signed and numbered editions have risen to the top, but even then they are up to a few thousand dollars.
Any chance you can do a Comic Culture show while on your vacation with some of the local collector scene?
Perhaps some have listened to your shows and collect local comics or North American comics
ActiveJim, your comment made me smile…I’m picturing Walter standing in the middle of a ancient town square, cobblestones under foot…somewhere in the middle of an Westerrn Bloc European city (imagery of Dr. Doom’s Latveria does spring to mind) with his thick Canadian accent yelling out to the populace: ‘does anyone want to talk about old comic books with me????’
Many thanks to you (and the recreational drugs I imbibed half hour ago) for the chuckle
Jim ! I spent a day in Belgrade and another day much later in the trip in Reykjavik, the rest of the time I was in small villages, Balkan villages! Sadly no one ever heard of Comic Culture 🙁
Welcome back Big guy!
We all hope Chris was there to greet you at the airport, a black limousine vehicle idling at the gutter nearest the baggage claim, it’s windows tinted…you and him slipping straight into the back as the paparazzi ignorantly snap photos (who are those guys, well, they must be famous, just look at the car)…the chink of two frosty cold beers connecting, the red on light of the microphone glaring at you both, awaiting…for the Show Must Go On!!!
I went to Nova Scotia for about 10 days earlier this month visited a few of my Mothers 19 brothers and sisters. Almost all of the girls in the family are still in Nova Scotia but all her brothers left and live and work mostly in BC,Yukon, NWT, Alberta and on went to California.
I didn’t visit a comic store , nor saw any comics.
I just hung out in small towns , stayed at a farm, and no one had any old comics so I left a Wow Comics #1 reprint behind and did a lot of newspaper crosswords.
Sometimes a vacation is all you need.
Sounds like time well spent Jim, one day I hope to visit the East Coast of this great land.