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Beau Smith
by beloved Smith
I’m lucky when it comes to being a comic book collector. I was a youngster growing up in the 1960’s when, if I kept my comic books as well as sports cards neat as well as off the floor, my parents guaranteed not to throw them away. It was a truly great deal. I kept my space clean as well as they let me archive more stuff than any type of youngster should ever archive.
SIDEBAR: I discovered the word “archive” from reading Stan Lee’s composing in problems of The great Four. reading Stan’s work always had me looking up words in the dictionary. That was always a great thing. I would then flaunt the new word at house as well as at institution up until everybody threatened to disown me or kill me.
Daredevil #1
As an “archivist” of comics, I was able to have near total runs of key Silver Age books such as: The great Four, outstanding Spider-Man, The Avengers, Sgt. Fury as well as His shouting Commandos, as well as many other marvel as well as DC books. By total runs I mean problems #1 with #100. sometimes I have more, however even at an early age I always believed that problems #1 with #100 would be the best. In the situation of Daredevil I have every problem up up until a few years back when it got truly dark as well as ugly. Daredevil was THE book that got me hooked on marvel Comics back in 1964 and, for some reason, I was always able to discover the latest problem in my area.
Once I broke into the comic book business as a professional, both in advertising as well as writing, my heavy travel routine took me around the USA. In 22 years I have gotten to understand a great deal of retailers, dealers, publishers, creators, as well as wonderful comic book readers. These travels to stores as well as conventions enabled me to fill in spaces to my comic book collection that would’ve been almost impossible if I had just stayed in my area. (Most of this was extremely pre-internet/eBay.)
I have been able to discover a great deal of Silver Age, Bronze Age, as well as even golden Age comics that have truly improved my collection. If you would’ve told me I would have this kinda collection back in 1964 my pointy bit head would’ve exploded… in a great way, of course.
My taste in comic books have altered a great deal in the last 22 years. I have ended up being a bit more selective. The cover cost of comics has triggered that as well. Also, by having filled in the spaces on so many comic book series that I liked brought up a whole new problem, “WHAT COMIC books ARE delegated COLLECT??”
Please don’t get me wrong, I do buy, collect, as well as checked out new comics, just not as many as I did pre-1980. ever since I was a young youngster I’ve always been drawn to old things. I’m extremely fond of old books, trucks, guns, knives, as well as most anything with a bit wear as well as tear. new is nice, however I favor character.
Vigilante ad from 1983
I’ve discovered a new twist to add to my requirement to gather as well as checked out comic books. I’ve been haunting the different “Four For A Dollar” boxes as well as other such cut-rate offers when I go to a convention or store. I have been putting together what I phone call mini-runs as well as specialized collections. I put together total runs of publish 1980 comics. I checked out them as well as keep them if I enjoy them. I likewise herd them up as well as make them gifts to my buddies in comics, kids, or my non-comic reading friends. Our business might always utilize new blood. just recently I put together runs of Vigilante (the very first DC series) DC’s effect line, Blue Devil, Grimjack (#1 with #25,) as well as different marvel as well as DC mini-series from 1980-the present.
The expense is next to nothing. just recently at Mid-Ohio con I was able to buy tons of back problems for a dime each from one dealer. At that cost it was like being thrown back to 1964 again.
I now have the excitement of the search back. It’s a fantastic feeling. I continue to buy trade paperbacks as well as hardcover collections. It’s a wonderful method to always have my own simple to get to library of older comics, however I likewise have the new excitement of looking for single problem comics as well as putting together a whole new puzzle. I have when once again ended up being Indiana Jones. speaking of, I just recently put together that collection!
If you’re looking for a method to flavor up your collection of comic books or just the search for them, then please, provide my new method a try. It’s fun, cheap, as well as you get to satisfy a great deal of nice folks. At the next convention, look for me. I’ll be the guy hunched over on the floor digging with the four For A dollar Boxes.
Your amigo,
Beau Smith
The flying Fist Ranch
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