One Man's Haul: Raleigh Comic Book Show

I'd like to say hello and thanks to the friendly comic book vendors who displayed their treasures at the Holiday Inn in Raleigh Sunday. I hope none of you caught my cold.

I only recently began collecting comic books again after being out of action for a few years. My comic collection was not satisfying me due to the fact that I had acquired a great many books, mostly modern age, for which I had very little enthusiasm. About a month ago, I made the decision to separate all the post-Bronze Age books ( except certain reprint titles) out of my core collection. My present goal is to collect only Golden, Silver, and Bronze titles. Also, I am a little off superhero comics at the moment, finding more enjoyment with the eclectic and nostalgic pleasures of Archies, Dells, Gold Keys, Harveys, and the like. I'm scouring flea markets, eBay auctions, and even craigslist to find some good deals. I'm also toying with the idea of amassing sufficient inventory to start dealing comics as a sideline in the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives.

In the interest of making this blogging experience more personal, I'm kicking off a new feature called One Man's Haul. Seeing the comics I am collecting should give you a pretty good glimpse into my psyche, not that you requested such a thing. At any rate, old comic book covers are pretty good eye candy.

Here are the bargains I found at Sunday's show, with a little commentary, at no extra charge:

Although superheroes are not a primary focus right now (classic case of burnout), I did pick up a few superhero titles, making sure to give attention to Marvel, a company I've unfairly ignored over the years. I picked up a Captain Marvel because he is a Marvel character of whom I know very little.

I love the look of these early Marvel Team-Up covers, even the price font. Spider-Man is my favorite Marvel character, although Iron Man is moving up the charts with a bullet, thanks to my recent purchase of the Iron Man Omnibus.

The Wikipedia entry for The Black Panther states that he was the "first black superhero in mainstream American comics." Is that true?

Superbaby has always been a guilty pleasure, and I can't wait to learn the juicy details of Krypto's secret life. Just what is he burying in the backyard, anyway?

I'd like to punish the man who destroyed the spine of this great comic.

Lois makes a deal with the devil to marry Supers, and acquires some awesome blues guitar chops too. "Got them dirty, lowdown, no-Pulitzer-having blues chicka-wah-wah-wah..."

Sheldon! Sugar! Spike! Bernie! Good times.

I meant to pick up a few more Archies, but this is the only one I bought. Such exuberance!

No other medium has dared to capture the sight of a ghost scaring the bejeezus out of a pole-vaulting kangaroo while a worried raccoon looks on. Viva comics!

Little Dot has about eight seconds of oxygen left, but...look at all the pretty dots...hehe dots everywhere... dots I tell you! Gasp...dotss...doddssss...gasp...dah...ungh...

The typesetter for this cover forgot to caption Mr. Rich and Reginald's pictures. This increases the value of this comic ten-fold. Not.

I actually hadn't bought a Richie Rich comic in about, oh, thirty years. Come to think of it, Mom bought those. I hope I know what I'm doing.

There's something about this cover that is appealing and very disturbing at the same time. I think it's Sarge's expression of pain.

I only bought one Whitman. I'm a Whitman sampler.

The old "antlers as a hatrack" gag. Next.

I had my pick of several Twilight Zone comics, but the cover on this one really sold me. I think I just got nostalgic for telephone booths.

Oh, I get it. Road Runner's legs are too long to accommodate the see-saw. This should make for a potent rhyme.
This is just a great painted cover. Someone please tell me who drew this! Mel Crawford? Pebble Picasso?

Reprints are allowed in the core collection. Johnny Craig!

I had to break my Bronze Age cutoff rule to own this, but it was worth it. Love me some Bagge.

Crazy magazines don't turn up very often. I scored three issues.

And two issues of Sick! Nice Jack Sparling painted covers.

Last but not least, a 1986 issue of National Lampoon, featuring some cool illustrations by Gahan Wilson, Frank Thorne, Shary Flenniken, Adam Kubert, Bob Camp, and Rick Geary, plus a sexy but sinister cover by Boris Vallejo.

That's "Haul" for now. Until next time, try to collect yourselves.