Classic Comic Exchange

[Scott Harris]

Howdy. I was wondering if any of you fine folk would be interesting in doing some trading. I know there's already a trading thread elsewhere on the CBR message boards, but what I have in mind is a little different.

See, the thing about the trading board is that most people posts lists of what they want and what they have available in exchange. My problem is that I already have all the the comics I specifically want (with a few exceptions). So what I'm looking for now isn't a specific series or back issue but just the chance to read classic comics, get a taste of different stuff and maybe find something new. Because of that, when I shop on ebay or at shows, I often find myself just buying random piles of whatever catches my eye. This also means, though, that now I have all of those piles sitting around my house taking up space. And I'm guessing I'm not the only one who owns a lot of extra comics that maybe aren't vital to their collection.

So what I thought we might do if some of you folk are interested is, instead of posting what we want, we post what we already have along with maybe just some basic guidelines (such as "I'm interested in war and romance comics") and then send each other some mystery classic comics. I was thinking maybe 10 comics at a time to equalize the shipping and make sure that even if we get a couple things we've already read there will be other goodies. That way, we can all get a chance to read some new stuff and, who knows, maybe find a title, artist or writer that we've never discovered before. Plus, it's fun to pop open a batch of comics not knowing what you're going to find.

Since this was my crazy idea, I'll start by posting what I'm interested in and what I already have so you know not to send me that stuff. And if anyone wants to exchange some batches of mystery classic comics, PM me with your address and I'll ship some off.


What I Like: Pre-1980 genre comics from the Big Two (so romance, war, horror, western, fantasy, etc.) or pre-1976 DC Superhero stuff. And anything pre-code from any publisher.

What I Have: I already have full runs of genre stuff like Jonah Hex, Warlord, Rom, Unknown Soldier, The Losers, Sgt. Fury (well, except #1-5) and Ghost Rider. For superheroes I have everything I need from Avengers, Captain America and Thor; I'm pretty much familiar with everything Marvel did.

[Aaron King]

This sounds fantastic, especially since I'm (hopefully) moving in the next month; if I know that something's going to a good home, I'll be much more likely to get rid of it. Once I get some giveaways together, I'll be checking back.

[Scott Harris]

Sounds good, Aaron. I've begun sorting through my random stuff to figure out what I want to keep (like, say, those Kirby issues of Jimmy Olsen I somehow ended up with) and what I want to find a new, more loving home for (like, say, those Kirby issues of Kamandi I'm using as a doorstop). It's kind of fun figuring out a good mix of titles and genres to send someone, so hopefully more people will be interested in participating. Otherwise... I hope you like Kamandi?

[dan bailey]

Excellent idea, Scott. I've been meaning for weeks -- more like months ... OK, bordering on years -- to go through my 3 or 4 short boxes' worth of duplicates I've picked up over the last half-decade or so.

I do know, offhand, that I've got most of a complete run of Ms. Tree, including at least a couple of the associated one-shots &/or minis. "Most," in this case, equals more than 30 of the 50 issues, I'm almost positive.

My accumulation of She-Hulk duplicates is probably comparable (except that series lasted 60 issues, of course).

Same goes, more or less, for the first 40 issues or so of Gold Key's Ripley's Believe It or Not -- probably at least 60 percent of that run, all told, including a few of the single-digit ishes.

What I'm interested in -- pretty much everything I don't have.

What I've got -- everything else.

(Sorry to be so absurdly vague, but regulars here know that my collection, like my taste, is horribly eclectic.)

[Scott Harris]

This is going to be interesting, it's almost like a test to see how much we know about each other. Hmm, what do I know about Dan Bailey. Let's see... he likes Sgt. Fury and John Severin and he hates and/or hasn't read everything published after 1980. Except apparently Ms. Tree and She Hulk. Hmm. I think I can put together an interesting package of stuff.

Dan, have you read any superhero stuff from the past 15 years or so? Most of the things I have to send people are from much longer ago than that but I have doubles of a couple things that I actually really like from recent times so I might slip a couple of those in.

PM me your address and I'll send you a secret stash of mystery comics.

Edit: Now, I don't want you to get too excited, Dan, but I put together my secret mystery classic comics care package for you and I found a comic with a Severin/Severin collaboration that I'm guessing you don't have. We'll see if my guess is right.

[dan bailey]

This is going to be interesting, it's almost like a test to see how much we know about each other. Hmm, what do I know about Dan Bailey. Let's see... he likes Sgt. Fury and John Severin and he hates and/or hasn't read everything published after 1980. Except apparently Ms. Tree and She Hulk. Hmm. I think I can put together an interesting package of stuff.

Dan, have you read any superhero stuff from the past 15 years or so? Most of the things I have to send people are from much longer ago than that but I have doubles of a couple things that I actually really like from recent times so I might slip a couple of those in.

Actually, you'd be surprised. A lot of the stuff from roughly '95-now that I've liked a lot has been superhero-oriented ... just not DC/Marvel Universe superhero-oriented. I take a pretty dim view of the Big Two reinventing the wheel every couple of years, which is why I have no real interest in any of the "franchise" titles after roughly 1970.

Even within the confines of the Big Two, I do like the more offbeat stuff -- I've got complete runs of Impulse, for instance, & Young Justice, & Birds of Prey, & everything JSA-related from DC, & from Marvel ... well, probably several things I can't think of at the moment. My Marvel likes tend not to last very long, I guess -- Nextwave, The Order, The Twelve, Agents of Atlas, X-Men: First Class, the latest She-Hulk, etc.

When I was buying new comics like they were going out of style (which they actually sort of are, unless the readership numbers are total fibs), I'd say at least 75 percent of what I was buying was either independent or started that way, including superheroic stuff (Invincible, Noble Causes, Astro City, Powers, etc.).

PM me your address and I'll send you a secret stash of mystery comics.

Done.

[Scott Harris]

The first secret mystery classic comics care package has been sent off into that great beyond, otherwise known as Dan Bailey's house. I'll let Dan unveil the goodies once he receives them, but I will say that one issue features a collaboration between Mike Grell and Sergio Aragones. And no using comics database to look it up, that's cheating.

[dan bailey]

And rest assured I'm waiting with bated breath.

A Severin/Severin job I'm not likely to have? Grell teamed with Aragones?

Veddddddy interesting ...

[Aaron King]

Kamandi? Ms. Tree? I gotta get some comics together to swap.

[zryson]

now this is a great thread! but that aside if youre looking to offload some comics i often tell people give a thought for all the sick children in hospitals. many of them love superheroes and cartoon characters and dropping off a box of comics for sick children or kids who are recuperating from illness/operations is a great way to help others too!

[dan bailey]

I pretty much collapsed last night after getting home, but not before having my evening brightened by the presence of Scott's "mystery comics" shipment in my mailbox.

And damn if didn't hit a couple of particular nails right on the head --

Originally Posted by Scott Harris
a comic with a Severin/Severin collaboration that I'm guessing you don't have.

That turned out to be Spoof #2, which indeed I not only didn't have but am almost positive I never even looked at when it was on the spinner racks.

Originally Posted by Scott Harris
(an) issue (that) features a collaboration between Mike Grell and Sergio Aragones.

That would be Jon Sable, Freelance #33, I found out by looking at the cover (not to mention inside). I have a handful of issues of that series, but I never suspected this one existed. (My initial assumption was that the reference was to something from the really fun Fanboy miniseries from 1999, though I sure didn't recall any Grell cameos in that one ...)

All that & more ... including what as of about 6 p.m. yesterday is what I'm almost positive is the first issue of Charlton's Blue Beetle I've ever owned! And I can also scratch Adventure #413 from my Supergirl-issues want list ...

[Scott Harris]

Glad to hear these arrived safely. I'm curious to learn your reaction to Spoof #2 when you have a chance to read it. The topical humor (which... is the entire comic) is a bit before my time, but I know enough about All in the Family and Tarzan for those strips to work fine. But man, I was totally lost reading that first story, which seemed to be the most painfully unfunny thing I've ever seen. I'm wondering if that's just because the references were lost on me or if it really is just that awful. I suspect the latter.

And if anyone else wants to get in on the classic comic exchange, let me know, I am always getting more and more comics that could use a better home and I'd love to swap them for some mystery reading.

[zryson]

How many comics did you each exchange? I think its a cool idea. Next time I'm at one of the bookstores I'm grab a stack of old comics to read.

[dan bailey]

I believe Scott sent 10. I'll be doing the same; went through my boxes & stacks of duplicates (turns out I have about 4 short boxes' worth, which would translate into about ... what ... 600 issues) about 4 this morning when I woke up & couldn't get back to sleep (a pretty regular occurrence, I regret to report) & should be sending some out by the end of the week.

[zryson]

how come you have trouble when it comes to sleep? too much on your mind? worries? lavendar is really good. also rosehip oil - some of that in a bowl with a flame could be soothing.

ten comics? sounds cool. and 4 boxes of duplicates? wow. i only had around 20 comics.

I believe Scott sent 10. I'll be doing the same; went through my boxes & stacks of duplicates (turns out I have about 4 short boxes' worth, which would translate into about ... what ... 600 issues) about 4 this morning when I woke up & couldn't get back to sleep (a pretty regular occurrence, I regret to report) & should be sending some out by the end of the week.