Pedigree Warlock & the God of Thunder
Okay, not quite Warlock yet, but “Him” didn’t look as sweet in the title field. Last night this month’s Comiclink Focused Auction came to an end, and it as one of those rare instances that the book I most coveted also turned out to be the cheapest out of the batch. In more ways than one as well, as not only was the Thor#165 the cheapest issue targeted, it was also the least expensive of the surrounding issues of Thor’s in the auction. There were several other examples from the Rocky Mountain Pedigree last night, and I have to admit being a bit giddy at the thought of being able to add to the stack of one of my favorite issues to horde with a pedigree and for less than an extravagant price (kind of), BUT still a beauty.
Dorothy – Still in Skottie’s Kansas
Just wanted to share one of my pages from Marvel’s Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a book that’s now collected in a sweet hardcover and needs to be in the hands of every kid. If you go through the book, you’d probably as, “Why this page?”. With half a book full of fantastic landscape via Skottie Young and interpretations of more iconic moments (like house-on-witch) still available, why go for something mundane? I wanted two things.
Hobgoblin Panel Tribunal
Was directed to this auction at Comiclink of a page from Amazing Spider-Man#238 via lurking the CGC boards. Some discussion came up regarding the asking price (10k–not mine BTW) and it got me thinking a bit on how drastically different our perceptions are depending on what era we grew up in. Unlike some opinions expressed, and indeed in stark contrast, the Hobgoblin – whose first appearance occurs in this issue – is perhaps the definitive Spidey villain of my childhood. I know that for many people he wouldn’t rate in the top 10 when considering the webslinger’s rogue gallery, favoring characters to me that are tired and overrated (like the silly ass Vulture for instance) whose claim to fame is that they debuted in the ’60s, or even worse viewing Hobgoblin as an unsuccessful Green Goblin knock-off. I do, however, have conflict.
First Man Without Fear – Last Silver Key Laying Low
We are in the midst of an incredible rise of Silver Marvel Age keys, setting record breaking prices out of reach to even most of the dedicated collectors. Prices for Amazing Fantasy#15 (first Spider-Man), Journey into Mystery #83 (first Thor), X-Men #1, Fantastic Four#1, Avengers#4 (return of – the real – Captain America), The Incredible Hulk#1, Tales of Suspense#39 (first Iron Man) in high grade have in some cases have put up six figure auction results. Even DC is getting into the act with a surge for Showcase#22 (first Silver Age Green Lantern–Hal Jordan). I honestly think that a lot of these issue were due for a high grade adjustment anyway, but I think we can all agree that looking at the above trends and how they correlate with film announcements does not represent a coincidence (hell, the Ghost Rider film made Marvel Spotlight#5 surged). Not a lot of the truly major key are let standing in striking range for collectors, but Daredevil#1 remains a glaring omission.
The Toughest G.I. Joe Comic?
When talking about the action figures you may have heard me talk about a lack of truly ‘rare’ domestic figures, making collecting them fun, easy, and yes, slightly boring. The comics are no different. Sure, you have your first issue, which I think still goes for higher prices than it should (ample supply, no current foothold in the market outside of what looks to be a mediocre film franchise, and a toyline that’s too close the line of being made for ‘collectors’). You have the a fan favorite G.I. Joe#21, which is perhaps my favorite comic ever, the infamous silent issue and the first appearance of Storm Shadow, but it was exposed as being not nearly as rare in high grade that most people wanted others to believe just 16-18 months ago. What G.I. Joe book would any collector be happy to find in better than VF (“very fine” condition)? Even those that balk at any modern in below Near Mint +? Even Tomio?
Snowcats, Russians, Wild Bill and Frostbite!
2010 has been a great year thus far, and yesterday I landed my second and third pieces of G.I. Joe related original art (see my first!) this year, to keep the streak going! While the my G.I. Joe mythos was created in the regular Marvel run, some of my favorite individual stories ever occurred in the Special Missions title (something Chuck Dixon seemed to agree with when I interviewed him in ‘08). Some may know that I’ve started (which I will be resuming once our redesign is finished) a reread of both Marvel runs (3 from the central title, then 1 Special Mission issue and so on) and in my post about the first Special Mission (which was an extra in Issue#50 of the regular run, before spinning to its own title) I gave an overview of my thoughts on the title as a whole, along with thoughts on the actual story.
No Love For G.I. Joe 1st Appearances
1st Appearance of Beachhead & Wetsuit
Get a group of comic book fans around 25-35 (an age group that unfortunately properly represents the majority of the fan base) how they got into the medium, and with little doubt G.I. Joe would be well represented on the survey. What has always interested me, however, is what seems to be a lack of interest in first appearances in the series. Sure, like most comics from Marvel and DC of this era there are a tons of copies floating around, especially when considering the earlier half of the run which would contain most first appearances, but even from an enthusiast (and not investment) perspective, 1st appearances never struck me as mattering as much to the community.
