My pal Ron Hobbs popped in for another visit this past weekend, it’s to the point now where I won’t let Ron in unless he brings me something special to touch, to hold to feel. It’s a small price to pay for Ron who seems to have an endless supply of mouthwatering goodies to show off, and besides he like the hors d’oeuvres we serve up at the warehouse. Unfortunately, Ron never lets me keep anything, but he does allow me a quick pic so that I can share these amazing books with you, what a swell guy.
Last week Mike Hiddleston was bringing me Frazetta Ghost Riders to drool over, this weekend Ron Hobbs is bringing in Matt Baker All True Police Cases to drool over. I can’t wait to see who walks in next weekend, maybe I’ll get really lucky and have an old pal pop in with boxes of old Charlton Romance comics? I checked the census on this Police Cases and I believe the highest graded copy is a 5.0, this raw beauty looks at least a full grade point higher. I’ve never held one of these comics and it surprised me how thrilled I was to see it, just one very beautiful, very scarce example of all the treasures the hobby has given us that I have yet to see and hold. My obvious cover of the week.
My splash page of the week is not really a splash page but it caught my eye. From Limited Collector’s Edition C-34, Christmas with the Super Heroes. Just in time for Christmas 1974, and to get you ready for next year DC added this beautiful two-page spread 1975 Calendar. Note to self: Check the DC Christmas Treasury issues for pulled out calendars! My immediate critique is that you get more heroes than calendar, but they left lots of yellow margin so you can make notes with arrows, circling perhaps all the con dates for 1975!
I’m not sure why this ad makes me feel uncomfortable but that’s exactly what it does. Perhaps my mind envisions the types of guys that sent away for instructions on how to become a ventriloquist. Pop culture has not been kind in their depiction of ventriloquists over the decades, though the “close the door, its cold – sorry – it’s all right” skit seemed harmless enough. I’m more worried about the guys Norm MacDonald tried to parody when he did his ventriloquist act over the phone with Dennis Miller! The ad is extra unsettling because they are using a clown to sell a ventriloquist kit, I’ll see myself out, thanks.
Our weekly icecollectibles eBay auction just wrapped up another week late last night and as always there were some interesting results. The raw copy of X-Men #50 pictured below earned us $332 USD. We had it graded a 7.5, I thought the book performed to market which I find a good thing as it means the market is respecting the grades we’re assigning the raw books we list.
Your cover of the week reminds me of Jonathan Majors, which reminds me of the drop in value of Avengers #8, which makes me sad, so thumbs down.
Hardly a splash – that is like what I used to do as a little kid when I – sob – cut up covers and pasted them in my “super album”. No need to check those Treasury Editions for the missing centerfold, because nobody cares about them anyway…
Yes a clown ventriloquist dummy is about as creepy as you can get. You might have given me the idea for my retirement job. “S’allright? S’allright.”
Remember your comment, “then I noticed the small water stain”? I’m sure your grading is sincere and conservative, but there is too much room for error. Let the others pooh-pooh, but above 5.0 or so it has to come in a nice plastic numbered box. But God bless.
Well I love the Police Cases cover! Guess they don’t make plastic cases for Treasury Editions eh! Creepy clowns that throw their voices?? Yipes! I remember doing well on my raw edition of that Steranko X-Men last year… did I say raw…hehehe! Never drank the Coolaide like some people have…!
Nice green cover there Walt, once they get in your head…you can’t help but notice! I was cleaning up a lovely Doctor Strange 182…great Juggs cover and I noted a lovely green background there too.
Speaking of great Juggs; running an eye over Cain Marko’s first few dozen appearances I noted the man makes the cover in a huge portion of them and a large portion are very good quality covers too; I’m calling it here folks: Big Juggs covers, could be a collecting strain to really embrace???
Spider, note the green dress on the Matt Baker cover, I did that for you !
And Meli, I love treasury editions, never bought one, never collected them really but somehow I still love them. Do you still have that “super album”? And as far as raw grading I think 8.0 would be more the barrier of suspicion, at least for Silver and Bronze, major keys excluded.
Gerald I think there are plans to grade treasury editions, I almost don’t want them to, they could be like the last bastion of freedom!
And all are in agreement, clowns are concerning, ventriloquists are worrisome but a clown ventriloquist…
Hey, I also like the new plus minus counter on the comments ! I think the Matt Baker fans have let Mr Meli know their thoughts
Walter, I really dislike the -/+ counter!
In my little universe inside my own mind I was loved and admired by a wide range of lovely Canadian men, who each week softly chuckled at my humour and gently nodded at my insightful commentary on my comic collecting journey…
The lack of upvotes on my comments strongly indicates that actual reality is far different than my perception! 🙂
…and I definitely prefer my perception than the cold light of day!
I wouldn’t have noticed that if you hadn’t pointed it out… but doubt I would use it either.
I am digging the counter. People are clearly tuning in to just down-vote me. I should be getting residuals.
Matt Baker was a gratuitous hack. More Rob Liefeld, less Matt Baker, that’s what I say.
Ha! I just listed Captain America 1-3 by Liefeld siting their collectibility was the fact they represent the pinnacle of what was wrong with 90’s comics!
Spider, your comment inspired me to cast my 1st plus rating, and you don’t need the yanks liking you, they hate everybody, sometimes even themselves
That’s my All-True All-Picture Police Cases 2 and it’s a beautiful Matt Baker girl/cover. 4 (four) on the census. Rare as hen’s teeth.
Wow, what bitchy little girls downvoted my comment on my All-True All-Picture Police Cases. Jealous? Sorry about your low grade Sgt. Fury collection.