Rob Imes
09-19-2005, 08:28 PM
Went to 2 comics shops today -- bought nothing at one of them, and spent $14 at the other. Also went to a local public library and spent $2 buying some used books that they had for sale on a table. Here's what I bought (listing the library finds first):
- THE FOUNTAINHEAD by Ayn Rand (paperback book, 25 cents)
- MYSTERIOUS ISLAND by Jules Verne (paperback book, 25 cents)
- THE HAUNTED LADY by Mary Roberts Rinehart (paperback book, 25 cents)
This was a 1988 edition, looks brand-new, of a 1942 novel.
- THE SOWERS OF THE THUNDER by Robert E. Howard (paperback book, 25 cents)
A 1975 book reprinting four non-Conan stories that originally appeared in 1932-33 pulp magazines. The cover painting is by Jeff Jones, while the B&W interior illustrations are by Roy G. Krenkel, who also wrote the introduction.
- A NERVOUS SPLENDOR: VIENNA 1888/1889 by Frederic Morton
(hardcover book, $1.00)
1980 book examining life in Vienna during those years; illustrated with drawings and photos.
The following comics I bought for $1.00 each in a comics shop's $1 box. They had a few dollar boxes, and one of them was filled with all these 1970s-80s Archie / Harvey / Disney comics, some in not so good condition. I'm going to have to make a return trip and get some more sometime. Here's what I bought today:
BETTY AND ME #137 (Archie, January 1984)
January 1984 is my favorite month in comics, and I've decided to collect every comic published during that general period. But I would have bought this comic anyway because of its nice condition and eye-catching Flashdance-inspired cover (http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=fullsize&issue=10155479972%20137). Art is by Dan DeCarlo within. Another cultural reference: the last story has Betty saying that astronaut Sally Ride is her idol.
GENE AUTRY COMICS #26 (Dell, April 1949)
HOT STUFF SIZZLERS #55 (Harvey, July 1973) (double-size comic)
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS #102 (Archie, October 1980)
One of the final issues before the series became part of the "Archie Giant Series" anthology for most of the decade.
LAUGH #381 (Archie, February 1984)
Includes 6 pages of "Katy Keene" by Bill Woggon.
LITTLE IODINE #30 (Dell, October-December 1955)
Includes Dell's "A Pledge to Parents" on the front inside cover, plugged on the front cover, which notes, "The Dell code eliminates entirely, rather than regulates, objectionable material."
PEP #392 (Archie, January 1984)
Includes a "Marvelous Maureen" story.
REGGIE AND ME #125 (Archie, August 1980)
First story was pencilled by Bob Bolling.
The final story was penciled by Harry Lucey and inked by Chic Stone. This is one of the rare times that I've ever seen a credit given to Harry Lucey in an Archie comic. He was a regular Archie artist in the 1960s, but this is the most recent work I'd seen by him. The art and plot have more of an old-time Archie feel, with Reggie and Veronica teaming-up to make a fool of Archie unlike the more current style where Veronica is more likely to chase after Archie (as in this issue's 2nd story). I even found myself hearing Bob Hastings' voice in my head during the scenes showing Archie's exasperation (Hastings voiced Archie in the 1940s radio show). Harry Lucey was one of the all-time great Archie artists and it was a pleasant surprise to find this story in the back of this issue. This webpage (http://www.lambiek.net/lucey_harry.htm) says that Mr. Lucey died in the late 1980s. Anyone have more info about him?
Usually the jokes on the covers of Archie comics don't get much of a laugh from me, but this one did. The gang is at the prom, and Veronica is dancing with Reggie. She looks over at Archie, sitting at a nearby table, and comments "Poor Archie was DOWN in the DUMPS yesterday!" And Reggie replies, "I was wondering where he got that SUIT!" Our eye naturally follows these word balloons over to the sight of Archie overhearing the remark and wincing at the insult and then our eye, continuing to move rightward, moves to Betty, also sitting at the table, who chuckles to herself. A well-done cover by Stan Goldberg, making it look so easy.
Incidentally, the very next issue of Reggie & Me was also the final issue of the series.
SABRINA THE TEEN-AGE WITCH #55 (Archie, Sept. 1979)
The above Reggie comic and this one are the only ones that I've read so far today. And I have to say this was a good solid Archie comic, entertaining to read.
SABRINA THE TEEN-AGE WITCH #61 (Archie, August 1980)
First two stories were penciled by Bob Bolling.
SABRINA THE TEEN-AGE WITCH #75 (Archie, Sept. 1982)
Written and penciled by Bob Bolling. Like Josie (mentioned above), this series was soon cancelled, and instead given a spot alternating in the "Archie Giant Series" anthology. A year after this issue of Sabrina, Bob Bolling took over Archie and Me as writer/artist.
SUPER DUCK #42 (Archie, February 1952)
Looks to be a 52-pager. Some writing on cover. One of the stories has a mention of a character who is referred to in one panel as "Spider man" because he has multiple arms.
WALT DISNEY'S HUEY, DEWEY AND LOUIE BACK TO SCHOOL #1 (Dell, 1958)
A 25-center that is very thick, perhaps 80 pages or more.
WESTERN HERO #96 (Fawcett, November 1950)
Tex Ritter photo cover. Includes stories about Tex, Tom Mix, Gabby Hayes, and comedic western features. 52 pages.
Well, that's all. Whaddya think?
- THE FOUNTAINHEAD by Ayn Rand (paperback book, 25 cents)
- MYSTERIOUS ISLAND by Jules Verne (paperback book, 25 cents)
- THE HAUNTED LADY by Mary Roberts Rinehart (paperback book, 25 cents)
This was a 1988 edition, looks brand-new, of a 1942 novel.
- THE SOWERS OF THE THUNDER by Robert E. Howard (paperback book, 25 cents)
A 1975 book reprinting four non-Conan stories that originally appeared in 1932-33 pulp magazines. The cover painting is by Jeff Jones, while the B&W interior illustrations are by Roy G. Krenkel, who also wrote the introduction.
- A NERVOUS SPLENDOR: VIENNA 1888/1889 by Frederic Morton
(hardcover book, $1.00)
1980 book examining life in Vienna during those years; illustrated with drawings and photos.
The following comics I bought for $1.00 each in a comics shop's $1 box. They had a few dollar boxes, and one of them was filled with all these 1970s-80s Archie / Harvey / Disney comics, some in not so good condition. I'm going to have to make a return trip and get some more sometime. Here's what I bought today:
BETTY AND ME #137 (Archie, January 1984)
January 1984 is my favorite month in comics, and I've decided to collect every comic published during that general period. But I would have bought this comic anyway because of its nice condition and eye-catching Flashdance-inspired cover (http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=fullsize&issue=10155479972%20137). Art is by Dan DeCarlo within. Another cultural reference: the last story has Betty saying that astronaut Sally Ride is her idol.
GENE AUTRY COMICS #26 (Dell, April 1949)
HOT STUFF SIZZLERS #55 (Harvey, July 1973) (double-size comic)
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS #102 (Archie, October 1980)
One of the final issues before the series became part of the "Archie Giant Series" anthology for most of the decade.
LAUGH #381 (Archie, February 1984)
Includes 6 pages of "Katy Keene" by Bill Woggon.
LITTLE IODINE #30 (Dell, October-December 1955)
Includes Dell's "A Pledge to Parents" on the front inside cover, plugged on the front cover, which notes, "The Dell code eliminates entirely, rather than regulates, objectionable material."
PEP #392 (Archie, January 1984)
Includes a "Marvelous Maureen" story.
REGGIE AND ME #125 (Archie, August 1980)
First story was pencilled by Bob Bolling.
The final story was penciled by Harry Lucey and inked by Chic Stone. This is one of the rare times that I've ever seen a credit given to Harry Lucey in an Archie comic. He was a regular Archie artist in the 1960s, but this is the most recent work I'd seen by him. The art and plot have more of an old-time Archie feel, with Reggie and Veronica teaming-up to make a fool of Archie unlike the more current style where Veronica is more likely to chase after Archie (as in this issue's 2nd story). I even found myself hearing Bob Hastings' voice in my head during the scenes showing Archie's exasperation (Hastings voiced Archie in the 1940s radio show). Harry Lucey was one of the all-time great Archie artists and it was a pleasant surprise to find this story in the back of this issue. This webpage (http://www.lambiek.net/lucey_harry.htm) says that Mr. Lucey died in the late 1980s. Anyone have more info about him?
Usually the jokes on the covers of Archie comics don't get much of a laugh from me, but this one did. The gang is at the prom, and Veronica is dancing with Reggie. She looks over at Archie, sitting at a nearby table, and comments "Poor Archie was DOWN in the DUMPS yesterday!" And Reggie replies, "I was wondering where he got that SUIT!" Our eye naturally follows these word balloons over to the sight of Archie overhearing the remark and wincing at the insult and then our eye, continuing to move rightward, moves to Betty, also sitting at the table, who chuckles to herself. A well-done cover by Stan Goldberg, making it look so easy.
Incidentally, the very next issue of Reggie & Me was also the final issue of the series.
SABRINA THE TEEN-AGE WITCH #55 (Archie, Sept. 1979)
The above Reggie comic and this one are the only ones that I've read so far today. And I have to say this was a good solid Archie comic, entertaining to read.
SABRINA THE TEEN-AGE WITCH #61 (Archie, August 1980)
First two stories were penciled by Bob Bolling.
SABRINA THE TEEN-AGE WITCH #75 (Archie, Sept. 1982)
Written and penciled by Bob Bolling. Like Josie (mentioned above), this series was soon cancelled, and instead given a spot alternating in the "Archie Giant Series" anthology. A year after this issue of Sabrina, Bob Bolling took over Archie and Me as writer/artist.
SUPER DUCK #42 (Archie, February 1952)
Looks to be a 52-pager. Some writing on cover. One of the stories has a mention of a character who is referred to in one panel as "Spider man" because he has multiple arms.
WALT DISNEY'S HUEY, DEWEY AND LOUIE BACK TO SCHOOL #1 (Dell, 1958)
A 25-center that is very thick, perhaps 80 pages or more.
WESTERN HERO #96 (Fawcett, November 1950)
Tex Ritter photo cover. Includes stories about Tex, Tom Mix, Gabby Hayes, and comedic western features. 52 pages.
Well, that's all. Whaddya think?