My Boss is a comics IDIOT!

[Deathstroke]

My boss went to an estate auction yesterday. He called me at home last night and said he bought a buch of comics. He was bringing them in so I could check them out.

Well I saw them today and as a comics fan, I was thoroughly offended that ANYONE would deign to buy them.

The books were from the 50's and 60's, Dell and Gold Key books, mostly Disney and Warner Brothers cartoon characters, some superhero books and various other things.

However, they were is such horrifyingly bad condition, I wanted to strangle my boss. Torn covers, badly folded up pages, writing on the covers, no protection from the elements, water damage.

I wanted to cry.

[Ontir]

So sad! Even in that condition, they can be enjoyed as simple reading material (assuming all the interior pages are there) though! That's the great thing about comics, especailly OLD comics. Battered doesn't hurt 'em too much!

[Sir Tim Drake]

I hope he didn't pay more than they were worth. But if I found some complete and readable '50s and '60s comics for an affordable prince, then they would have to be really ugly for me not to buy them.

[Jonathan Bogart]

Well I saw them today and as a comics fan, I was thoroughly offended that ANYONE would deign to buy them.
I really don't understand what this means. As a music fan, should I be offended if someone else pays money for a CD I'm not interested in hearing which has a broken jewel case?

It's a lousy investment on the part of your boss, sure. But surely that's his problem, and not yours. There's abso-goddamn-lutely nothing wrong with a bunch of well-loved kids' comic books being preserved for whatever use or enjoyment anyone else can get out of them.

Estate auctions are generally bargain-basement prices. I'd be happy with such a haul myself; not to add to any collection (the few comics I have aren't worthy of the name), but to play around with, maybe cut up and shuffle the panels in appropriately ludicrous orders, or give to my nephew and nieces to read or tear up, as they prefer.

[vazel]

Meh, as long as the content is still readable i see nothing wrong in it.

[Hintermann]

The books were from the 50's and 60's, Dell and Gold Key books, mostly Disney and Warner Brothers cartoon characters.
However, they were is such horrifyingly bad condition, I wanted to strangle my boss. Torn covers, badly folded up pages, writing on the covers, no protection from the elements, water damage. I wanted to cry.

If you're commenting on the condition of the comics for which he paid good money, I agree that your boss made a mistake, although I would wait to find out how much he paid for them before calling him an 'idiot'.

I hope that you are not criticising his choice of titles, though. Not all comic collectors are blind fans of 'Superhero' stuff. I have been collecting comics for almost 40 years and have a LOT of Silver Age comics by Dell & Gold Key, but hardly any Superhero comics.

[Agentum]

And who hasn't made a mistake with things that you don't know much about yet?

[Deathstroke]

If you're commenting on the condition of the comics for which he paid good money, I agree that your boss made a mistake, although I would wait to find out how much he paid for them before calling him an 'idiot'.

I hope that you are not criticising his choice of titles, though. Not all comic collectors are blind fans of 'Superhero' stuff. I have been collecting comics for almost 40 years and have a LOT of Silver Age comics by Dell & Gold Key, but hardly any Superhero comics.

Yes, I'm talking about the condition. You could piss on the books and not make much of a difference in the condition. I put gloves on just to sort them.

[Deathstroke]

I really don't understand what this means. As a music fan, should I be offended if someone else pays money for a CD I'm not interested in hearing which has a broken jewel case?

It's a lousy investment on the part of your boss, sure. But surely that's his problem, and not yours. There's abso-goddamn-lutely nothing wrong with a bunch of well-loved kids' comic books being preserved for whatever use or enjoyment anyone else can get out of them.

Estate auctions are generally bargain-basement prices. I'd be happy with such a haul myself; not to add to any collection (the few comics I have aren't worthy of the name), but to play around with, maybe cut up and shuffle the panels in appropriately ludicrous orders, or give to my nephew and nieces to read or tear up, as they prefer.


But they aren't preserved. They are in terrible condition. Yes, it's not like I'm affected for real personally. It's just horrible to think of these comics being left to rot in such a manner.

[Agentum]

But this is what makes comics valuable:-),the nice ones that is left.

Tell him what those are, no point calling him an idiot, they seems to be readable but not worth much at all, people need to know that comics is about condition, some thinks old comics = worth a lot.

[Jonathan Bogart]

people need to know that comics is about condition
This is my issue. Comics is about comics. Collecting is about condition. There is a vast difference.

[scratchie]

Even in that condition, they can be enjoyed as simple reading material People read comics??

[Mike Kuypers]

People read comics??
That's Red Oak Kid's line.

[gentlesatirist]

...probably got caught up in the whole "old comics are worth a lot of money" mindset that's afflicted this pastime since at least the mid-1970s.

Ask the slew of bitter dealers at the small show I attended in NE Ohio last weekend how they feel about the (non-existent) fortunes they've reaped from their back-issue inventory.


- FE

[founder81]

I hope he didn't pay more than they were worth. But if I found some complete and readable '50s and '60s comics for an affordable prince, then they would have to be really ugly for me not to buy them.


what he said :)

[Scott Shaw!]

Not all comic collectors are blind fans of 'Superhero' stuff. I have been collecting comics for almost 40 years and have a LOT of Silver Age comics by Dell & Gold Key, but hardly any Superhero comics.

Bravo! I've never understood the snobbery of many fans who look down on any comics that are not superheroic in nature. Reading a funny, well-drawn humor comic is every bit as satifying as reading a rousing superhero comic...

...If not even moreso! After all, any doctor will tell you that a hearty laugh is actually good for your health.

The only non-superhero creator that most comic fans have heard of is Carl Barks, but how many of 'em have ever read his stories? And although Carl's stuff is certainly wonderful, there are quite a few other humor comics that are right up there with Carl. John Stanley, Bob Bolling, Sheldon Mayer, Gilbert Shelton, Boody Rogers...the list is a long one!

Aloha,

Scott!

[Deathstroke]

I hope he didn't pay more than they were worth. But if I found some complete and readable '50s and '60s comics for an affordable prince, then they would have to be really ugly for me not to buy them.

I don't know if they were complete. There was an Uncle Scrooge cover that had an issue of Spike and Tyke inside. Or Grandma Duck's Farm Friends that had been pulled off the staples. A Woody Woodpecker that had the top of the cover cut off.

I don't know why people assume I'm locked into superhero comics as being the only comics worth reading. I don't have an issue with the comics that were bought. I watched the cartoons as a kid and the comics would probably be great. I have an issue with the fact that they are just so terribly conditioned.

My boss is definitely locked into the old comics mean lots of money mindset. And since the one true thing he knows about comics is that I read them, it irks me when he just continues along his merry way. He asks what I think and then just ignores it.

[Hintermann]

Bravo! I've never understood the snobbery of many fans who look down on any comics that are not superheroic in nature. Reading a funny, well-drawn humor comic is every bit as satifying as reading a rousing superhero comic......If not even more so!
Welcome to the club. I was beginning to think that I was considered as some sort of freak by the comics community for not being a superhero fan. The situation is even worse here in the UK. In rest of Europe & in the US, comic collectors at least recognise the existence of people like us who like the funny stuff. In that respect, I find the comic dealers in the UK some of the most annoying that I have come across.


The only non-superhero creator that most comic fans have heard of is Carl Barks, but how many of 'em have ever read his stories?
I have a complete collection of all Carl Barks stories, though they are mostly Gladstone-Disney-Gemstone reprints from the mid-80s onwards. Some of the most enjoyable comics that I have read (and still am!). Besides Dell-Gold Key comics, I also collect Harvey, Gilberton Classics, Archie, Dennis the Menace, Frew (the Phantom comic publisher from Oz), Tintin, Asterix etc.

[shaxper]

I started as a superhero-only fan, but have gradually expanded my horizons. These days, I'm an obsessive fan of Usagi Yojimbo and adore Barks' and Rosa's work on Uncle Scrooge and the Ducks. I'm also currently exploring Cerebus, Groo The Wanderer, Bone, and Erma Felna EDF. I also recently discovered Negative Burn, which is a great experimental title for non-superhero stories.

I also love good sci-fi titles, like the Gold Keys (Magnus Robot Fighter, Mighty Samson) and Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth. These are borderline superhero, but really exist in their own genre.

So the Superheroes got me started, and I do love them, but they're not everything. The non-superhero stuff makes up a significant portion of my regular reading now, and I'd go crazy without them. Heck, I coughed up $6.95 today for a current issue of Uncle Scrooge just because I was in Duck withdrawal and needed something non-superhero to go with my new comic day acquisitions.

[Hintermann]

I adore Barks' and Rosa's work on Uncle Scrooge and the Ducks. Heck, I coughed up $6.95 today for a current issue of Uncle Scrooge just because I was in Duck withdrawal and needed something non-superhero to go with my new comic day acquisitions.

Don Rosa is fantastic. Have you read his magnum opus, "Life & Times of $crooge McDuck"? It is a collector's item.

The latest Uncle $crooge (#354) was good, but I thought the original Black Knight story was better.

[shaxper]

Don Rosa is fantastic. Have you read his magnum opus, "Life & Times of $crooge McDuck"? It is a collector's item.

The latest Uncle $crooge (#354) was good, but I thought the original Black Knight story was better.

Life & Times is pretty much the #1 story I want to start reading these days, but I'm holding out for the new and more complete tpb coming in September/October.

The Scrooge issue I picked up was #327 (my local shop owner doesn't really keep up on his Gemstone inventory). I haven't read it yet (saving it with glee!) but it features both a Barks and Rosa story.

[Hintermann]

Life & Times is pretty much the #1 story I want to start reading these days, but I'm holding out for the new and more complete tpb coming in September/October.

The Scrooge issue I picked up was #327 (my local shop owner doesn't really keep up on his Gemstone inventory). I haven't read it yet (saving it with glee!) but it features both a Barks and Rosa story.

One of the best $crooge stories ever written is Don Rosa's "Last Sled to Dawson". It was first published in 1987, but Gemstone reprinted it recently. I think it is one of the #340+ numbers. Try to get that one.

[Agentum]

This is my issue. Comics is about comics. Collecting is about condition. There is a vast difference.
Yes i agree i forgot to put the word "Value" in the sentence, sorry.

[T GUy]

Scott!, The only non-superhero creator that most comic fans have heard of is Carl Barks

What about Jack Kirby?

Or did you mean creator who has never done super-heroes rather than one who has done a few among his vast plethora of work in other genres (Young Romance, Black Cat Mystic, Rawhide Kid, The Losers, The New Gods, 2001, etc.)?

[T GUy]

Scott!, The only non-superhero creator that most comic fans have heard of is Carl Barks

I feel the need to add that most people who identify themselves as comics fans are actually superhero comics fans. Personally, I'm a comics fan and a superhero fan. Which makes life a tad more expensive when I have to buy Doc Savage books and Our Army at War as well as the FF.

[shaxper]

One of the best $crooge stories ever written is Don Rosa's "Last Sled to Dawson". It was first published in 1987, but Gemstone reprinted it recently. I think it is one of the #340+ numbers. Try to get that one.

Thanks for the tip. I'll be on the lookout.

[Hintermann]

Thanks for the tip. I'll be on the lookout.

I checked. It is reprinted in glorious colour in Uncle $crooge #350, actually.

[Agentum]

Scott!,

What about Jack Kirby?

Or did you mean creator who has never done super-heroes rather than one who has done a few among his vast plethora of work in other genres (Young Romance, Black Cat Mystic, Rawhide Kid, The Losers, The New Gods, 2001, etc.)?
And also he means a comic fan from USA, of course people from other parts of the world know some non superhero comic makers.

[scratchie]

Scott!,

What about Jack Kirby?

Or did you mean creator who has never done super-heroes rather than one who has done a few among his vast plethora of work in other genres (Young Romance, Black Cat Mystic, Rawhide Kid, The Losers, The New Gods, 2001, etc.)?While Kirby has worked in a lot of different genres, I think it's safe to say that it was superhero comics that made his reputation.

[Agentum]

While Kirby has worked in a lot of different genres, I think it's safe to say that it was superhero comics that made his reputation.
Absolutly, i don't think he would have been very famous without Fantastic Four and the rest of the superhero stuff made.

[shaxper]

I checked. It is reprinted in glorious colour in Uncle $crooge #350, actually.

Thanks! I'll see if my local shop can still order a copy.

[Scott Shaw!]

Welcome to the club. I was beginning to think that I was considered as some sort of freak by the comics community for not being a superhero fan. The situation is even worse here in the UK. In rest of Europe & in the US, comic collectors at least recognise the existence of people like us who like the funny stuff. In that respect, I find the comic dealers in the UK some of the most annoying that I have come across.



I have a complete collection of all Carl Barks stories, though they are mostly Gladstone-Disney-Gemstone reprints from the mid-80s onwards. Some of the most enjoyable comics that I have read (and still am!). Besides Dell-Gold Key comics, I also collect Harvey, Gilberton Classics, Archie, Dennis the Menace, Frew (the Phantom comic publisher from Oz), Tintin, Asterix etc.

You really ought to drop in on my Oddball Comics website. I feature a LOT of unusual humor comics there, as well as posts from a number of pro humor cartoonists, including Jim Engel, Chuck Fiala, Mike Kazaleh, Dave Bennett and myself.

And this goes for everyone else here, too! Please, register and make yourselves at home!

Aloha,

Scott!

[Lone Ranger]

Ummm...

I don't know where this thread got off track - maybe it was because Stroke never initially explain why his boss is an idiot - but I don't think there is much of a 'pro-superhero/anti-other genres' vibe to his statements. He just said what was in the pile, never that he'd prefer to see more superhero stuff.

Apparently he thought they were just too beat up to be worth buying and that if his boss made the purchase with a eye for profit, he is S.O.L.

I don't know why people started this whole 'non-superhero stuff is great' argument. I think we are all in agreement around these parts that there are plenty of good companies, genres and titles out there. It sort of seems like you are all preaching to the choir.

[Hintermann]

You really ought to drop in on my Oddball Comics website.


Thanks Scott. The site looks very interesting and I have bookmarked it.

[shaxper]

Ummm...

I don't know where this thread got off track - maybe it was because Stroke never initially explain why his boss is an idiot - but I don't think there is much of a 'pro-superhero/anti-other genres' vibe to his statements. He just said what was in the pile, never that he'd prefer to see more superhero stuff.

Apparently he thought they were just too beat up to be worth buying and that if his boss made the purchase with a eye for profit, he is S.O.L.

I don't know why people started this whole 'non-superhero stuff is great' argument. I think we are all in agreement around these parts that there are plenty of good companies, genres and titles out there. It sort of seems like you are all preaching to the choir.


I don't know that there's much of an argument here. I think a point was raised as a side-note that ended up becoming a rallying cry of sorts for non-superhero comic fans. As one of these people, I'm not criticizing anyone for anything here; just enjoying the off-topic sharing :)

[Lone Ranger]

I don't know that there's much of an argument here. I think a point was raised as a side-note that ended up becoming a rallying cry of sorts for non-superhero comic fans. As one of these people, I'm not criticizing anyone for anything here; just enjoying the off-topic sharing :)

Fair enough. Heck, as much as I love superhero books - my reading last night consisted of an Atlas Crime book, a Kid Colt and a copy of Realistic Romances (which really weren't terribly realistic).

I just didn't want Stroke to be made to be the poster boy for the anti-Dell/GK movement, it that's not really what he was saying.

[shaxper]

I just didn't want Stroke to be made to be the poster boy for the anti-Dell/GK movement, it that's not really what he was saying.

Of course not. He was most likely inferring they aren't hot commodities right now (which is true) and that they weren't of interest to him (which is his business). And, if he does think that they're worthless and have no artistic value (which he never outright said), then that's a common misconception that I wouldn't fault him for having. I once had it too. After all, Wizard doesn't put Uncle Scrooge on the cover all that often.

[Rob Imes]

Of course not. He was most likely inferring they aren't hot commodities right now (which is true) and that they weren't of interest to him (which is his business). And, if he does think that they're worthless and have no artistic value (which he never outright said), then that's a common misconception that I wouldn't fault him for having. I once had it too. After all, Wizard doesn't put Uncle Scrooge on the cover all that often.


But the main thing he was saying was that the comics were in putrid condition. I have to admit that condition is important to me to an extent as well. All of us will make allowances for a book's age, but if it looks like the book was peed on and you decide to wear gloves to touch its mangled and soiled pages, then it might as well go in the trash.

[Hintermann]

Rob Imes, I noticed that you have a Richie Rich avatar. Does that mean you are a Harvey Comics fan (as I am, though RR is not one of my favourite characters) or is it just coincidence?

[founder81]

Of course not. He was most likely inferring they aren't hot commodities right now (which is true) and that they weren't of interest to him (which is his business). And, if he does think that they're worthless and have no artistic value (which he never outright said), then that's a common misconception that I wouldn't fault him for having. I once had it too. After all, Wizard doesn't put Uncle Scrooge on the cover all that often.

If there's an Uncle Scrooge movie, he'll make the cover.

Re: Super hero and non super hero

If you're looking for an investment. Super hero titles are worth more on average.

[Rob Imes]

Rob Imes, I noticed that you have a Richie Rich avatar. Does that mean you are a Harvey Comics fan (as I am, though RR is not one of my favourite characters) or is it just coincidence?

Well, I'm pretty much a fan of ALL old comics (and many new ones), but I do enjoy Harvey comics (as well as Archie, Charlton, etc.). See the threads below from last year:

"My back issue purchases yesterday" (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=54931)

"My cheap comics purchases today" (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=81030)

My favorite Harvey comics are the Little Lotta and Little Dot ones.

Around 2 years ago on this board (around the time I started using the Richie rich avatar, I think, which incidentally I think I took from the CBR main page, which had been used to illustrate one of the columns there, possibly Oddball Comics), I posted a few times about my then-recent Mile High Comics purchases which included many Harvey titles for around a buck each, including issues of "Richie Rich and His Girl Friends" and "richie Rich Inventions." Like with most people, my favorite RR title is "Vaults of Mystery."

[Hintermann]

My favorite Harvey comics are the Little Lotta and Little Dot ones.

I love Dot & Lotta stories too. I patricularly like the furtive "Uncles & Aunts" that Little Dot has tucked away all over the world (apart from regulars like Uncle Branes & Uncle Rush). One of my favourite stories is about her 4 Royal relatives living in exile: Princess Hermoine Polka, Maquis Klaus, Aunt Mazurka and above all, 'Uncle' Dwain Rex. I have that comic somewhere.