New York has no deficit of quality comic book stores to go to, but even considering that, I’ve shopped at Jim Hanley’s Universe on 33rd Street just beneath the Empire State Building for over fifteen years now. And this is a good example of why.
About a week ago, I was stopped by Jeff Gustafson, who edits the JHU blog at http://www.jhuniverse.blogspot.com, who indicated that the folks at the store had been reading about my Trading Experiment, and wanted to participate. And they had something choice to offer.
It cost a good chunk of my best trading stock, including CAPTAIN AMERICA #100, FANTASTIC FOUR #20, #29, #48, UNCANNY X-MEN #13, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #52, #92, #129, IRON MAN #2, #4, NICK FURY #2 and the LOKI Trade Paperback. But I think it was well worth it!
Just look at that beauty! That’s SUB-MARINER COMICS #6 from 1942! That’s a real and for-true GOLDEN AGE COMIC BOOK in really nice condition. (The JHU staff estimated it at around a 5.0 for folks who care about that sort of thing, though they said that some minor restoration may have been done to it at some point.)
I’m thoroughly amazed and impressed. Who would have thought that in just four months I could turn five random insignificant comics into a stellar book like this? This is something worth trading a copy of FANTASTIC FOUR #1 for (and there are a lot more FF #1s in the world than there are SUB-MARINER COMICS #6’s.) And even if this is as good as I manage, and I don’t make a single additional trade, I can call this experiment a success, since the Hero Initiative ought to be able to take in a pretty penny for a book like this one!
And it’s available for Trade now—although, no great surprise, you’re going to have to offer me something extremely special to get me to give it up.
Therefore, in recognition of their extreme generosity toward the cause of trading, I’m hereby proclaiming Jeff Gustafson and the team at Jim Hanley’s Universe to be Gold Tradee Number Two, following on the stories heels of Jef Price, our previously-recognized Gold Tradee Number One.
Then, right on top of this exchange, I had another bit of luck strike. No sooner had I posted the update earlier this week featuring the beautiful AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #5 than I was offered a swap for it—for HULK #2 and #4! Again, these books are both in really nice shape, and they get us even closer to an FF #1!
So that’s the latest and the greatest from the world of Trading! (Would anybody part with a FANTASTIC FOUR #1 in exchange for these three books? If so, drop me a line at tbrevoort@marvel.com. And everything else that was listed in the Trading Stack a day or two ago is still on the table for Trades as well!)
Keep on Trading!
Tom B
wow That's just plain awesome.
Seriously, getting from where you started to here is crazy awesome.
Theoretically something like this has always been possible with time and patience - but when you add the internet to being a voice directly from Marvel...crazy things happen :).
Posted by onefinemess on 2009-05-01 18:09:47
Hey look, my (former) Hulk books! Hey Tom! Those are my Hulk issues in your post and I can't wait to get my ASM #5. I hope they bring you closer to FF #1, even though they pale in comparison to your new beautiful Subby #6!
Posted by punkfunkandjunk on 2009-05-01 22:24:55
SM#6 & H#2, 4! You're almost there, Tom! Perseverance pays off! Great news! Thanks for sharing with us!
Posted by Mon Morn Lunatic on 2009-05-02 08:52:02
Good heavens. I would LOVE to have that book. I haven't even seen a Golden Age Subby, much less owned one. But I don't have many old books. I think the most wanted book I have is Uncanny X-men 94, but I know that's not worth the Subby book. :( Congrats, Tom on a GREAT trade and sharing such a great book with us.
Posted by Rheged on 2009-05-04 15:14:25
rare comics im not sure if there rare or not but they may be an interest:Marvel Fanfare issue 9 mint,Marvel 25 anniversary howard the duck 2 in 3 limted series mint,and Machine Man issue 6 mint
Posted by spideyfreak51 on 2009-05-04 17:01:37
Just curious, Tom, but what were the "five random insignificant comics" you started this out with?
Posted by soonerjudd on 2009-05-06 20:21:27
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About this blog: Ramblings and musings from the mind of Tom Brevoort. "It won’t be clean. It won’t be fun. It mostly won’t be coherent."
About the author: Tom Brevoort is Executive Editor for Marvel Comics, and oversees such titles as New Avengers, Civil War, and Fantastic Four.
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