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Stories this week:

• Exclusive Interview with mrjackal55 (Edwin Price)!

• Did you Know? The First Super Hero Crossover Event

• Sales and Deals from the Community!

• This Week’s Comic Conventions

Comic Book Store Trivia Question (answer at the bottom): What is the oldest Comic Book Store in the US?

Exclusive Interview - mrjackal55 (Edwin Price):

What is your origin story and where does your online name come from?

Early retired nuclear engineer. Forty year comic book store owner, dealer and collector. See me on Strictly Affordable Comics Auctions for vintage silver/bronze books!

User name is MrJackal55. The intellect of the jackal is among its most intriguing characteristics. Jackals are highly clever creatures that can learn new things and adjust to different settings. They’re great at negotiating and making deals. Jackals are also renowned for their ingenuity and aptitude at handling challenging situations. Their ability to outsmart their fellow comic enthusiasts and devise novel methods of snaking great comics makes them outstanding predators. Finally, jackals are renowned for their speed and agility. They are extraordinarily quick and nimble when bidding and binning comics. They take no prisoners.

What’s in your personal collection? What are you collecting, reading, or hunting right now?

I’ve been buying and reading comics since 1965. After a decade or so away from the hobby, I’ve spent 40+ years amassing a collection of vintage golden, silver and bronze age comics. My favorite characters are Amazing Spider-man, Batman, Green Lantern, Daredevil, Sgt. Fury, Dr. Strange and all the original Avengers including Captain America. My most complete run is ASM from AF-15 through #52 with about 50-100 more scattered issues up through bronze age. I also have other grails like TOS 39, Avengers 1, TTA 27, X-men 1, Sgt. Fury 1, etc.

I don’t read new comics. I owned two large comics shops for a total of 25 operating years. Sold out last store in 2018. It’s still operating after 23 years. Over the long period of store ownership, sold millions of $$$ of new comics. Never read any though. But, wow, did I pad my vintage pc during those years!

My favorite comic artist is Steve Ditko followed closely by Jack Kirby and John Romita Sr. I also enjoy the work of Gil Kane, Don, Heck, Gene Colan, Joe Kubert, Carmen Infantino, Neil Adams, John and Sal Buscema, George Tuska, Joe Sinnott and many others… Roy Thomas is my favorite writer.

What are some valuable lessons you have learned along the way? Advice for someone looking to get into comic book selling? 

Start with plenty of money, or don’t start. The best deals to be found on books are at small local Comic Cons or on YouTube auctions. eBay books are too expensive and you’ve got to pay sales taxes. Buying collections has gotten very tricky. Most people think their books are worth much more than they are and don’t understand the importance of condition. Do Not buy these new multiple variant cover books except to collect. They’ll never be worth anything. If you don’t think so, try to sell a few to your LCS. Conversely, older books from 30’s-70’s just keep going up over time. Yes, there will be ups and downs, but mainstream vintage books generally hold their value or increase over time. Also, I am not a fan of slabbed books. The quality of CGC/CBCS etc. graders is not at all what it was 20 years ago. I’ve seen 6.0 books graded 3.5 and 8.0 books graded 9.4 lately. I’m sticking with raw books that I can open and actually read if I desire. I’ve always used Overstreet Grading Standards too.

What are the best platforms right now for selling? 

Small local shows/cons, YouTube Auctions, IG and some people are quite happy with Whatnot.

Do you have any predictions for 2024?

Indeed! Worst economy I’ve ever seen right now. And I was around in 1979-81. Housing, utilities, taxes, food and fuel costs are out of sight. Average working people have little discretionary cash to spend. Only professionals and folks with big money can afford key comic issues. Another thing, LCS’s are failing at an alarming rate. I’m hopeful there will be some major changes in our government and the economy in a year or two that will improve our daily lives.

What services does the comic book community need that currently don't exist? 

IF they going to still make movies based on comic characters, stick to the original concepts and stories that made the actual comics popular. Quit changing things. The guys that wrote vintage books already did a spectacular job. Don’t screw it up.

Where can the community find you online?

IG is MrJackal55. Email is [email protected]. I appear multiple times weekly on Strictly Comics Affordable Auctions on YouTube.

Did you Know? The First Super Hero Crossover Event:

Before the 1984 Secret Wars in Marvel Comics, the first super hero crossover event is often considered to be "Justice League of America" #21 and #22, published by DC Comics in 1963. This two-part story was titled "Crisis on Earth-One" and "Crisis on Earth-Two," written by Gardner Fox and illustrated by Mike Sekowsky.

In this storyline, the Justice League of America (Earth-One) and the Justice Society of America (Earth-Two) team up to confront a threat that spans both of their dimensions! This crossover event brought together characters from different Earths for the first time, setting the stage for many future crossover events in comic book history.

Sales and Deals from the Community!

Shortboxed is officially out of their auction test stage and will have a weekly auction that will always end each Sunday, beginning at 4 pm PT/7 pm ET. They are now accepting items from sellers. Check out their blog for more info and how to submit.

Sands is having another blockbuster auction TONIGHT! 5:05 pm PT/8:05 pm ET.

StricklyComics - VINTAGE COMIC AUCTION!!! - Saturday, March 2 at 5:30pm PST/8:30pm EST.

This Week’s Comic Conventions:

2/29 - 3/3: Emerald City Comic Con 2024 - Seattle, WA

3/2: Dupage Comic Con 2024 - Wheaton, IL

3/2 - 3/3: Hall of Heroes Comic Con 2024 - Elkhart, IN

3/2 - 3/3: PeoriaCon 2024 - Peoria, IL

3/3: CCS Comic Con 2024 - Stone Mountain, GA

Got News! Want to be Featured?

We love to get news from the community! Send it to us at [email protected].

That’s it folks! See you next week!

Comic Book Store Trivia Question Answer: Established in 1961, Golden Age Collectables is billed as the oldest comic book shop in the world. Rod Dyke has owned the business since 1971. More about Golden Age Collectibles.