Comments on: Unearthing Comics at Flea Markets

By: Antique Book Old Rare Sale

Antique Book Old Rare Sale — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 21:09:55 +0000

Welcome and well done! - I\'m not exactly sure what this has to do with Antique book old rare sale (that\'s what I was searching on MSN when I saw a link here), but I\'m glad I got a chance to read your blog. Thanks!!

By: Mike Thompson

Mike Thompson — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 17:21:35 +0000

Does anybody know of any good flea markets in the Western Mass/Northen CT area?

By: fourth worlder

fourth worlder — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:54:13 +0000

Not quite the topic, but long ago in about 1980 my friend Jeff had been helpful doing yard work and shovelling snow and stuff for an old couple next door to him. He was just that kind of guy, nice, right? Anyway, they got him to clean out the basement, and while he was down there he noted a box full of old comics and magazines. The old lady said, "oh, do you like funny books? You can just take those, now, they've cluttered up this place for years." So he took the box home and called me (he didn't collect comics, just sort of experienced them vicariously through my collection). He talked to me on the phone as he opened the box and looked through it. There were about seventy comics, all from the 1940s. There were early Batmans and Supermans, some Marvel Mystery books including a Sub-Mariner/Human Torch fight, a Captain Marvel issue "proudly presenting Mary Marvel," all sorts of mind-blowing stuff. He lived about three hours away, and said he'd bring the box over the next day. I would figure out their worth and arrange to sell them, and he would let me pick out a third of them to keep. He was just that kind of guy, nice, right? So the next day when he drove up and came to the door not carrying a box, my heart sank. I knew what he was going to say before he said it. "Aw, you know, there was probably a lot of money in that box, and they're old people, on a pension, you know? So I thought about it and I took it back, told them they should get their family to sell it for them. They're going to talk to their grandson about it. But look, they gave me ten bucks!" He was just that kind of guy, nice, right? Nice, nice, nice, dammit, dammit, dammit.

By: James

James — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:50:01 +0000

Aaron -

What, and give away my secret?

It was a store on Thayer St. I don't remember the name, but it was near Tealuxe, and the store had a left-wing/political activist vibe to it (posters on the store front, etc.) Antique store probably isn't the best description - it was more of a vintage store, though the prices for most of their wares weren't low, either.

By: Aaron Kashtan

Aaron Kashtan — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:40:06 +0000

James, which antique store in Providence did you go to? Was it the one on Wickenden Street? I went to that store a few times to look for comics, but there was rarely anything good, or if there was, it was overpriced.

I've gotten a few good comics at antique stores, but I've observed that such places tend to charge way too much for back issues.

By: David Frankel

David Frankel — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:16:42 +0000

I've been searching flea markets and antique shops (the only places that sold used comics) since the 1970s, so my list of finds would make you cry.

The one that really comes to mind was the intro of the original Blue Beetle from 1939 in the bottom of a trunk of linens with a bunch of turn-of-the-century dime novels, at the legendary White Cloud (Kansas) Flea Market, for a quarter.

There was also an incredible stand at the Losantiville flea market in Cincinnati OH. I wish I knew the vendors name; he was the type who would see me thumbing through a bunch of Superman issues and say, "I have some nice Spirit sections and Timelys if you're interested." I think my love of comic book history can be directly attributed to him and to the Steranko Histories.

By: salamurai

salamurai — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:32:28 +0000

I found an issue of Green Lantern Corps Quarterly at a flea market in the early 90's for a quarter.

Not really valuable, but it did get me really interested in Green Lantern for several years. I got the whole run of that series (until it ended with Jordan murdering the corps).

By: Mantistotem

Mantistotem — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:32:17 +0000

Back in the mid 70's I would go to the flea market every week to buy comics from a guy called Red.

He had boxes of silver age comics and would sell them based on a two year old price guide, and always at the 'Good' price. Most actually were VG to Fine.

The stuff I was able to snag over time was awesome. ASM #9, Avengers #16, TTA #36, Marvel Tales #1, an almost complete run of Legion issues of Adventure Comics, FF# 48 and lots more.

The sad part is that I couldn't afford to buy all of the comics

By: Master of Soup

Master of Soup — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 06:16:53 +0000

i found a copy of action comics no. 1 in a used magazine store...i grabbed it paid my 50 cents and walked out. it turned out to be a reprint for an anniversary or something, the thing looked very real to a 13 yr old until i got to the car and opened it. very cool though well worth two caribou (canadian metal!!)

By: JR

JR — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:44:40 +0000

The larger of two local flea markets has two booths that deal in comics and collectibles (old records, toys and magazines usually) one of which has been there for well over a decade and from whom I've probably gotten the majority of my collection. A pretty sizable run of Adventure Comics (featuring either Legion or Supergirl), Mister Miracle, and an issue of Shazam autographed by the guy who played Billy Batson from the old movie serial are probably among my favorite finds.

By: Dan (other Dan)

Dan (other Dan) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 01:32:12 +0000

I got back in town today and was inspired by this post to go to the flea market. My acquisitions (about $26 worth): 15 Gotham Centrals, 6 post Starlin Cap. Marvels, 6 Black Widows with Sienkiewicz art, and a couple issues of Hard Time, Sweatshop by Peter Bagge, the Exterminators, Global Frequency, Flinch (Vertigo horror anthology), and an issue each of Scalped, Greyshirt, Face, an Englehart/Colan Dr. Strange, and a Justice League Adventures by Giffen and Dean Haspiel. I'm not trying to brag; I just want to encourage any blog readers to check out your local resale shop--they're real treasure troves! I grew up in quarter bins. I was a lot better versed in comics 10 years old than I was in what was just released. For a long time, they were the only way I followed comics.

By: Aaron C

Aaron C — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 01:31:40 +0000

In a general secondhand sales magazine, I managed to get ASM 121 & 122 for $5. Couldn't beleive my luck!

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:33:55 +0000

The term for that is "walk-on," actually.

By: SanctumSanctorumComix

SanctumSanctorumComix — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:27:57 +0000

Oh, wait.

You hate the term "cameo" for appearances like that, don't you?

OK... he had a speaking role for one panel.

NOT a true cameo, but not really an appearance either.

Let's split the difference and call it an "appearo" (thus coining a new term that comic collectors can use).

~P~
P-TOR

By: SanctumSanctorumComix

SanctumSanctorumComix — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:20:39 +0000

Yes, yes, Sleestak... as a long time reader/collector/quasi-historian/fountain of comic book knowledge, I know Hulk # 180 is the first "actual" appearance, but it's only a cameo.

As far as price guide "value" goes, it's not as much, nor as "official" a first appearance as # 181.

And, before you go on about it, I read your post about the mysterious disparity between the pricing of # 180 and # 181 when you first posted it last year.
(And just popped over to re-check, to make sure I didn't imagine that was your rant. lol)

The reason for the disparity?
Could be some of the reasons you listed... OR it could just be that # 180 only shows him in one or two panels, and the real intro is in the next issue.

I will, however, agree 100% with you about the false value of diamonds.

That was why when the time came for me to present my wife (then girlfriend) with an engagement ring, I went for stones that are TRULY precious and had a custom made ring with emeralds on it (sure it had smaller diamonds as accents, but they weren't the main focus).

Unlike diamonds, emeralds are very soft and fragile stones (and hopefully, unlike diamonds, aren't mined by slaves or 10cent a day laborers).

~P~
P-TOR

By: Doug Atkinson

Doug Atkinson — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:00:53 +0000

At the Antiquarian Book Fair at the Detroit Public Library (this is a serious event with lots of dealers of old books, mind) I got two Tales of Suspense issues for a dollar each--the first appearance of the Porcupine and the first Giant-Man. (I also got the Supergirl issue with the only major Ambush Bug appearance I was missing from the same dealer--it was sort of an eclectic lot.)

By: Tim Callahan

Tim Callahan — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:47:06 +0000

When I was a teenager, I found the first part of "The Judas Contract" at a flea market. It was only a couple of years old at the time, but it was an issue I was missing. When I got it home, I realized its previous owner has used a sharpie to cover up all the naughty words, like "hell" and "damn." It was still worth the 25 cents, though.

By: DubipR

DubipR — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:19:11 +0000

Every month at Fairfax High School, there's a large Flea Market that covers the parking lot and some of the grounds of the school. I went in just see what kind of garbage these people had. There was some guy that had a box of comics and trades, so I went through it.
As a huge Gene Colan fan, I found a NM condition copy of Stewart the Rat, done by Gerber and Colan. He was selling the book for 2 dollars, so I snagged it. Best part of it was, signed by Gerber and Colan!

By: acespot

acespot — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:07:16 +0000

I've bought most of my collection from back issue bins. Nothing for more than a buck. But I've pretty much tapped out everything I've been able to find in my area. So whenever I go to a new town on vacation, work, whatever, I call all the comic shops I can find to see if they've got any bargain bins. I found this one place is Kissimmee, Florida that had a room with more than a hundred longboxes. Lots of good stuff. Unfortunately, I was limited by weight to thirty pounds or I'd have not been as selective as I was. I got a nearly complete set of Starman (vol.1), a large run of the first issues of the previous volume of Green Lantern, Lots of Morrisson Animal Man goodness, and a whole bunch of other stuff I can't recall right now. The place let me fill a short box for $35. But the best book I've ever gotten was Flash (vol.1) #151, featuring the third appearance of the Shade, and a two Flashes team up. I found a posting on craigslist for a guy selling his comics, and when I got in touch with him, it turned out he's the father of a friend of mine. After going through his collection, he gave me the book for free. In Near Mint condition. I'm not taking it out of the bag-ever.

By: Loren

Loren — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 21:27:34 +0000

For the last few years of my time in college, there was a comic shop at the local flea market that I'd visit every 2-3 weeks. Newer books were typically priced (although at a discount), but older back issues could be bought for about 20 cents apiece. Discounted slightly more if you were a repeat customer.

In my first year or so of going there, I managed to assemble complete or near-complete runs of Giffen's JL and JLE series, Hawkworld, Icon, Static, Hardware, Blood Syndicate, American Flagg, Mike Grell's Green Arrow, Jon Sable: Freelance, The Ray, The Question, Jim Owsley's stint on Power Man & Iron Fist, and, IIRC, Peter David's Aquaman. All at 15-20 cents a pop.

I also bought most of my Suicide Squad run from a used bookstore at about 25 cents per issue.