Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
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Because you The Reader demanded it, here's where I launch a brand new feature where the first person to comment gets to set the topic for discussion in the comments section below.
When I say, "New," obviously, it's borrowed from the redoubtable Back in the Bronze Age blog whose Redartz has given me permission to replicate it here. Thank you, Red.
So, anyway, who's going to set the topic?
Posts
15 comments:
Greetings Steve, and best of luck with the new feature! Our mutual pal Charlie Horse 47 tipped me off about your post today, so here's an inaugural question; feel free to use or not...
Recently I've made several comics related purchases, including some back issues and Barry Smith's "Monsters ". Yet like many others among us, I've been scaling back the collection. So, for those who still are buying comics / back issues, what are your parameters? How much is too much to spend? Do you buy for reading, for nostalgia, for investment? Myself, I buy things that, 'jump out at me, or promise a good read. Or have an incredible cover. Perhaps your buying habits are more specific?
Well Steve, that's about all I can co.e up with on a 15 minute work break; lol!
Hello, Redartz. Thanks for kicking things off. I stopped buying new comics, back in the early 1990s, when the price went up to a massive 65 pence, which seemed far too high to me.
When it comes to old comics, I've always had a policy of never spending more than £1 on a comic. So far, it's a policy that's served me well, over the years.
Great question Red!!!
(Sorry I called you at lunch but... I was at lunch and it made sense!)
When the venerable Colin Bray stayed with me so that we could take in Chicago C2E2 in 2019, he looked at my comics and said, "Wow. You are not a collector but more like an accumulator of bits and pieces that interest you!"
I plead guilty and fall in the same category as Red above, lol. I've never been one to want an entire run of a character.
Perhaps the difference among Red and I and Steve is that I have a serious weakness for World War 2 Era comic books as well as the the Quality Comics line. So, when I troll ebay every few years and can find a solid VG copy of something for $20 or less I'll bid.
One example would be Leading 13 featuring the 7 Soldiers of Victory from 1944. I just enjoy looking at the cover... a simpler time.
In 2018 a new comics shop opened which is only a 10-minute walk from my house - previously the nearest comics shop was Forbidden Planet about 20 miles away. In 2019 Marvel regained the rights to Conan the Barbarian and launched 'Conan The Barbarian' #1 and 'Savage Sword Of Conan' #1 and so I took the opportunity provided by my new local comics shop to buy some of those Conan issues during 2019. As a Conan fan since the '70s I'd always hoped to see the words 'Marvel' and 'Conan' reunited on the same cover! The most recent Conan comic I bought was 'Conan: Battle For The Serpent Crown' #1 in February 2020 but then came the pandemic of course and the comics shop was closed for much of the period since. It has now opened again but I haven't been back yet.
Can I point out a problem with this new 'Speak Your Brain' feature? I think it was Charlie who suggested the idea and he said it would be interesting to hear topics from a UK perspective, right? But what about topics that are so UK-specific that our American friends won't have a clue what we're on about?
Tiswas or Swapshop?
The Wombles or The Clangers?
Blue Peter or Magpie?
Lesley Judd or Valerie Singleton?
Pan's People or Legs & Co?
Was Mike Yarwood a bit rubbish really?
Was Keith Chegwin an irritating little twerp?
I could probably think of hundreds of similar questions but Charlie, Redartz, Killdumpster etc wouldn't be able to participate in the discussions.
Colin - that is very thoughtful of you to think of your USA brothers in comics!
That said, I think some of the funniest and interesting things have come out of your UK-specific discussions. E.g.,
SUITS YOU SIR!!!
SO, should you chaps have a UK specific topic, in a way you'd really be giving us USA blokes a door to open to a different cultural experience!
That said, we USA guys talked more about the UK shows we see in the USA on Masterpiece theatre, LOL! So, in a way we'd be opening a portal for you back to your homeland? Weird!
Supersonic or Lift Off With Ayshea?
Look-In or TV Action?
Mr Benn or Tony Benn?
Cabaret Voltaire or Throbbing Gristle?
Does the Yorkshire Party beating the Lib Dums and Greens to third place in t' West Yorks mayoral election mean we could be looking at independence for god's own county in our lifetime?
What are the chances of anything coming from Mars?
-sean
Ooooh, Charlie just got in there, interrupting the flow from Colin's thought provoking questions.
Sorry Redartz, I didn't mean to appear rude. Generally, my spending on comics and whatnot tends to be on the low side, although not to the same extent as Steve's (of course I am not a Yorkshireman).
However, I will go for pricier items if they are something worthwhile, like the Heros The Spartan book that came out a few years back.
Basically, there aren't that many really great comics, but if its worth it I'll pay for it (and probably grumble about the cost).
-sean
Ohhh... newer comics Charlie buys (lately):
Marvel True Believers $1 each. It reminds me of being a kid!
Americana by Image. Post apocalypse survival stuff. Cannibals. Robots. Weak and strong groups. Usual stuff. Issue 4 is the current one.
Cat Shit One. Vietnam War. Pretty doggone decent. Lots of facts and accurate.
Lighthouse. Issue 1 just out. A new spin on Jules Verne "Lighthouse" as in this lighthouse is in outer space servicing ships passing through the various worm holes they serve as a beacon for.
These are all like $4 each so $12 / month. I consider it a tithe to the church of comics to keep the things open for another few years at least... or until I am senile ideally.
No worries Sean! The conversations here at SDC are always pretty freewheeling, half the fun is seeing where we end up!
Oh, and I'd take Cabaret Voltaire over Throbbing Gristle...
Colin- also no worries; speaking for myself anyway. This is one Yank who loves learning about all things Anglo. After all, my Ancestry DNA result focused on England and Scotland, so it's in my blood...
Colin:
"Tiswas or Swapshop?" Swapshop. Tiswas was too tiring.
"The Wombles or The Clangers?" The Clangers.
"Blue Peter or Magpie?" Magpie.
"Lesley Judd or Valerie Singleton?" Jenny Hanley.
"Pan's People or Legs & Co?" Pan's People.
"Was Mike Yarwood a bit rubbish really?" Yes. Even I can do better impressions. The Silly Billy.
"Was Keith Chegwin an irritating little twerp?" He was amiable enough. He was no John Craven but he was still preferable to Noel Edmonds.
Sean:
"Supersonic or Lift Off With Ayshea?" Lift Off With Ayshea.
"Look-In or TV Action?" TV Action.
"Mr Benn or Tony Benn?" Mr Benn. Any children's show that people can attribute a hidden agenda to is alright with me. See also Bill and Ben, The Magic Roundabout and Captain Pugwash.
"Cabaret Voltaire or Throbbing Gristle?" Cabaret Voltaire.
"Does the Yorkshire Party beating the Lib Dums and Greens to third place in t' West Yorks mayoral election mean we could be looking at independence for god's own county in our lifetime?" Yes. Shortly followed by Sheffield declaring independence from Yorkshire. Then Stocksbridge, Beauchief, Dore, Loxley and Dronfield all declaring independence from Sheffield.
"What are the chances of anything coming from Mars?" 100%.
Well, thats all that sorted out then Steve.
Now, what is the meaning of life?
-sean
Tiswas. No contest. Every time I have to work on a Saturday, I always start my shift by announcing "today is Saturday, wear a smile" to my younger, and bemused colleagues, who are probably sick of hearing me say it by now.
I thought it was Tune In Saturday Watch And Smile.
DW
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