I also bought some comics at Closet of Comics this weekend: a few issues of JLA, a couple of Zero Girl: Full Circle (by the incomparable Sam Keith), and an issue of The Goon. I started in on Zero Girl: Full Circle, but haven't touched the other yet. I did finally get around to reading the first issue of Dark Angel. It looks good. I think I'm going to enjoy it.
I've also been thinking more about buying comics for resale. I've been thinking about trying to collect a couple of extra sets of 1602 and Thanos, among others. Things that I'm keeping my eye on in the future: Superman by Jim Lee, the Elseworlds series that will be coming out next year, and John Byrne's upcoming run on JLA.
09/03/03
I wasn't planing on it, but I found some good deals on some John Byrne comics and I ended up bidding on them. I won a couple of issues of X-men, at a pretty good discount to price guide value. They are also autographed by John Byrne, so I figure that should add something to the PG value. How much? I'm not sure.
I also finally received the issue of Power of the Atom and Sword of the Atom (that I bought through eBay) today. They're not in great shape (VG to FN) but I didn't pay much for them ($5.50 for 13 comics including S&H) and they are good reading material.
I'm kicking myself now about not bidding higher on that John Byrne piece that I had the high bid on last week. I don't know how high I would have had to go, but it was a nice piece, and given how much some of the original artwork sells for, I think it would have been a bargain even if I had to spend $200 for it.
09/06/03
I went to the Small Press Expo today. I worked at the front door for a few hours and then got to walk around. The funniest moment had to be when one of the exhibitors told me that most of the stuff on display was schlock. Not his words exactly, but he said something like that. It really cracked me up. I ended up buying a few books. I spent about ten or fifteen dollars altogether, not counting the three dollars I paid to park.
It was an interesting experience. I can go back tomorrow, but unless there is a panel that really interests me I think that I'll pass. I have my cousin's rehearsal dinner tomorrow night and I can't stay too late. The other interesting thing that happened to me is that I ran into a former co-worker who is now trying to break into the business as an artist. He didn't have any comics complete, as of yet.
Back to the funny comment, I had to agree with the exhibitor who said most of it was schlock. A lot of it is schlock. A lot of it just doesn't appeal to me. Two things did jump out at me and I bought them. If they turn out to be as good as I thought I just may buy some more issues.
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More Thoughts on SPX
It was a bit of sensory overload for me. Yeah, that about sums it up. I wasn't sure what to expect. There was a lot of diversity among the exhibitors. It went from the larger publishing houses that aren't quite mainstream to the people who draw and publish their own comics. There was some very professional looking work there are some real crap.
Why were people there? I mean the exhibitors? Good question. I think that there are several answers to that one. I think that the more established comic book creators and publishers were there to spread the word, make some sales, connect with the fans, etc. For the most part they didn't seem quite so desperate to sell to me or to get me to look at their stuff. Then there were the people who have had some success and I think are trying to broaden their base. Finally, and I think most of the folks fall into this category, there are the people are there either because they are trying to break into the business or because it is what they like to do. The chances of them making it big are probably slim. I think some people were there just to socialize. Nothing wrong with that, but it's not me.
One reason why I like to shop online and why I don't like to shop in comic book stores too much is that I like the privacy of being able to buy things without someone looking over my shoulder. As crowded as it was yesterday that was definitely not a possibility. I started out (browsing) with the feeling that everyone deserves an opportunity. I did not realize how much crap their would be there. As I said in my last post I found a couple things that looked interesting, but aside from that it was an educational experience.
09/11/03
When I got home I found the issues of X-Men Hidden Years that I purchased through eBay on Monday had arrived. That was fast. They were all in NM to Mint condition and didn't cost me much at all, less than $1 an issue. I am even happier. I also managed to get through the day without bidding on any new items, although there are a few that I have my eye on. My monthly shipment of comics from Mile High Comics' subscription service should be here any day now.
I started reading Lab Rats last night. I recently bought issues 1 - 6 through eBay. Pretty good story, although it does remind me of Next Men in some ways. I also read issue 14 of Negation and issue 81 of JLA. I wasn't too impressed by the plotting in JLA. On the whole I find the writing to be kind of hit or miss. I also like the artwork that the regular team does. Issues 80 - 82 have a guest penciller filling in. The issue of Negation was awesome. I loved it. I'm glad that I finally broke down and bought the issues I was missing instead of waiting for the trade paperback.
09/13/03
I've managed to not bid (successfully) on any items since Wednesday, or was it Thursday? I did bid on a very nice piece of Sam Keith artwork from the Wolverine story he did with Peter David in Marvel Comics Presents back in the early 90's. The top bid was $350, and the reserve had not been met yet. I put in a bid of $400, but was outbid immediately. Oh yeah, and the reserve has still not been met yet. According to the seller it is worth between $800 and $1200. I wonder what he has the reserve set at. I really like it.
I finally got my piece of original Paul Pelletier artwork that I won a little over two weeks ago. It is from an issue of Flash. Now I want to get a copy or two of that issue and get it mounted with the cover, page from the comic and the original artwork altogether. It should make a nice set. I've thought about buying another of his original pieces that is for sale on CrossGen's web site. They have some as low as $50, but not a big selection.
09/16/03
Um, I know there has to be something else, but I cannot think of it. I finally got my monthly shipment from Mile High. The Superman & Batman Generations 2 TPB was in there. I've already started in on it. I've been collecting G3, but wanted to wait until after I read G2 before starting in on it.
09/24/03
I finally got back to some comic book reading with Negation # 17, which unfortunately is not penciled by Paul Pelletier. I picked up issue 21 over the weekend. I also put in my order with Mile High for November comics. Thankfully there were not as many hardcovers and trade paperbacks that caught by eye this month as did last. Those higher priced items really add up fast.
I put in a couple bids on John Byrne art pieces on eBay today. Both auctions end tonight. I got outbid on one, but still have the high bid on the other.
09/27/03
I read a couple comic books (Mark of Charon # 2, JLA # 84). I also read an issue from the 2nd TPB collection of Walt Simonson's work on Thor from the mid-80's. I'm not wild about the art, but the writing I really like. The dialogue comes off as authentic and Simonson does a good job of mixing elemernts of the Norse mythos and the Marvel Universe.
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