Quick Update: Ended up I did purchase the Hawkman by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol 1 HC from last week’s Insideman’s Pull List. Seems I had made an Amazon pre-order last September, when they were selling the collection at an amazing 57% Off.
From what I remember, it was a fairly decent story… Guess I’ll find out soon enough if it was worth it. :)
I’m wondering if anybody else ever overbuilds a display area to house their Comic Book stuff? Several months ago, I declined to buy the Classic Marvel Statues that Dark Horse started releasing. It wasn’t because I didn’t like them– they looked very cool. I just didn’t have the space allocated for it.
Or so I thought.
Arisia Rrab-- Last of the Women of the DC Universe Busts?
I’d added two new display cases to house my Women of the DC Universe busts. I figured I would need all of the space within a year or so– since DC Direct was bringing them out at a fairly decent clip. With the advent of the THIRD SERIES of busts, DC really seemed to have the production process down to a science… And everything was smooth until I realized DC Direct was slowing way down on offering new busts (and statues).
Obviously, it’s due to slow sales. But with only one Women of the DC Universe Bust being released over the next few months– Arisia Rrab (the Green Lantern of Space Sector 2815)– and no new ones even on the far-off horizon… I’ve decided it’s time to start looking for something else to fill those ugly empty display box holes.
Being a completist, I couldn’t possibly dare myself to start collecting Marvel Busts for 2 reasons: 1) Many will not fit within the required space (the same problem I’ve had with DC’s Heroes of the DC Universe line– the male figures are simply larger than DC’s Women’s line), and 2) Over the years, Marvel has used several providers for their various bust– and there seems to be little rhyme or reason to their releases… And I didn’t feel there was a specific line I could focus my collector’s sights on.
All these factors led me to revisit Dark Horse’s Classic Marvel Character statues. I felt good because only a limited number of figurines had been released to date… Plus they’re small and will fit in the display spaces once reserved for the DC busts. So far none have gone past the 5 and a 1/2 inch height mark (13.97 centimeters). The height limit for each available display space is just below 6 inches (15.2 centimeters) and 4.5 inches (11.4 centimeters) wide.
But (and there’s always a “but”, isn’t there?), when I contacted my new comics retailer— I was quickly and politely given this list of already released– and soon to be released– Classic Marvel Statues:
Iron Man
Dr. Strange
The Thing
Spider-Man SDCC Exclusive
Spider-Man NYCC Exclusive
The Hulk
Spider-Man
Human Torch
Daredevil
Invisible Girl
Mr. Fantastic
Now doesn’t THAT suck! I was ready to plunk down substantial dollars for these statues until I saw the (2) statues I’ve highlighted above: The Spider-Man SDCC and NYCC Exclusives. Really? I understand why companies produce variants and I know that purposely produced variants have existed in TOY LINES for as long– if not longer– than they have in comics.
Ignore the Funko Pop Figures in the Upper Display Case-- They're just temporarily there to fill the empty holes in the case (and my heart!) where more Women of the DC Universe Busts should be!
But here’s the deal: I DON’T want THREE Spider-man Statues at $49 USD each… At least not straight out of the gate! I just want one statue of each character!
Then, like DC— if Dark Horse decides to do another series featuring a different sculptor… Or, say, they release statues based on 70s Marvel characters– in addition to the 60s group they are presenting now– I’m in.
But as I looked at the three (admittedly cool) Spider-man statues, my eyes just got wider and wider in horror… Right around the time I began wondering how many WOLVERINE variant statues they might plan to try to shove down my completist’s throat one day. Good god, how many X-Men Statues would I be forced to buy?
So I’m done with that nonsense… And I am asking for your suggestions. By my count, I have 26 Open Display Spaces and I’m ready for any suggestions. I’ll even consider Marvel Busts too… They just have to fit into the squares. :D
YES, this is essentially an ART BOOK.
And yes, I rather famously wrote (got lots of emails!) on IMJ sometime last year that I did not collect art books. In fact, I wrote I didn’t even like art books. Looking back, all I can say about that mess is this: What an amazingly overreaching, pompous, stupid, shitty thing to write.
After I got all those emails– a few chastising me for my idiocy but most just telling me I was missing out– I started looking at this genre again more closely… And my first art book purchase in almost 20 Years was Ryan Ottley’s Violence & Pinwheels Hardcover Sketchbook. And it was great– really great.
Then I bought Walter Simonson’s The Mighty Thor Artist’s Edition and a few anime and manga-related art books (all sumptuous and sexy– filled with vibrant pop images) and I was completely hooked. I’m not buying them all– not by a long shot… Nothing like my Hardcover and Graphic Novel obsession. But I am buying a decidedly fair amount of them.
Expect to see me on an upcoming episode of A&E’s “reality” show Hoarders. And just like the other sadly troubled (and in need of true help) individuals you see on that series– I have no intention of giving up any of my stuff– especially my art books! Seriously, what’s the point of buying artsy books if you don’t pull them out and look at them every once in a while?
Many members of the IMJ Nation™ know I periodically sell TONS of my books to make room and, most importantly, help my MS-afflicted friend with her medical bills. But some books I plan on keeping forever– or until the next big earthquake hits LA and I get crushed beyond recognition by my falling collection. Still, is a possible grisly death really worth selling these glorious art books?
What’s so cool about John Romita’s Amazing Spider-man Artists Edition is, despite being ridiculously high-priced, it also provides a complete comic book story. You also get a textbook lesson on what creators (pencilers, inkers, letterers) had to go through to produce just one issue of a comic book in the pre-digital age. I cannot begin to tell you how many artist/inkers/letterers have told me they thought they had “died and gone to heaven” when Wite-Out was invented… So you can only imagine how many cried with joy when they were introduced to the marvels of computer wizardry.
If you’ve got the ca$h and you love a particular artist like I do John Romita Sr, then these limited editions are well worth the entry price. (If the outrageous amounts being charged for the out-of-print Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer Artist’s Edition HC are any indication, they are a good investment* too.)
And, for the record, I completely recant my previous skanky comments about collecting art books. I also totally apologize for what I wrote and realize that if I was really cool, I would have noted that I actually started purchasing them several months ago. Damn! Why do I suddenly feel like the Paula Deen of comic book collecting?
Inveterate Media Junkies™ is strictly the publisher of an entertainment site for Intelligent Geeks™ that does not provide personalized collecting or investment advice. We may, from time to time, publish information regarding comics and other collectibles in which we believe the IMJ Nation™ may be interested in and our thoughts reflect our sincere opinions. However, the information on our site is not intended to be personalized recommendations to buy, hold, or sell a particular comic book or invest in collectibles. Therefore, readers will need to depend on their own mastery of the details of collecting and investing in order to handle problematic situations that may arise, including the consultation of their financial advisors as they deem appropriate. :)
A Tale of Sand HC – Runner Up PICK of the WEEK!
Action Mystery Thrills Covers SC
American Vampire Vol 3 HC
Archie Archives Vol 4 HC
Art of Carbon Grey HC
Art of the Dragon HC
Avengelyne Vol 1 Devil in the Flesh Vol 1 HC
Avengers Assemble Vol 2
Avengers Hawkeye
Batman Gates Of Gotham
Captain America and Bucky Life Of Bucky Barnes HC
Fear Itself Heroes For Hire HC
Fractured Fables
Garth Ennis Jennifer Blood Vol 1
GI Joe Vol 2 Cobra Civil War
Green Arrow Salvation HC
Harvey Horrors Chamber of Chills S/N Vol 1 Slipcase HC
Incredible Hulks Fall of Hulks HC
John Carter A Princess of Mars – Interested if Marvel’s take rivals Dynamite’s efforts
John Carter World of Mars – See above
John Romita Amazing Spider-Man Artist Edition HC – HOT PICK of the WEEK!
Korgi Vol 2 Cosmic Collector HC
Life & Death of Fritz the Cat HC – It’s great and it’s a Hardcover!
Lil Depressed Boy Vol 2
Locke & Key Vol 1 Welcome to Lovecraft Special Edition HC – Beautiful & OVERPRICED
Madman 20th Anniversary Monster HC
Metal Gear Solid Omnibus – Hey, J… Any chance this is as good as the Video Games?
Mighty Skullboy Army Vol 2
Rat Catcher – Recommended. Own the Hardcover
Red Skull Incarnate
Superman Reign Of Doomsday HC
Transformers Evolutions Hearts of Steel – Looked interesting…
Vampirella Vol 2 – Better be a HUGE IMPROVEMENT over Volume One
Wally Wood Strange Worlds of Science Fiction Deluxe HC – This Week’s POS*
Warlord of Mars Fall of Barsoom Vol 1
Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey Trivia Quiz Dr Who Companion
Witchblade Redemption Vol 4
Wormwood Gentleman Corpse Vol 2 It Only Hurts When I Pee – Recommended.
Xombi
Young Romance Best Simon & Kirby Comics HC
Afterschool Charisma Volume 5
At Full Moon Volume 2
Cross Game Vol 6 – Manga PICK of the WEEK!
Fairy Tail Volume 17
Hot Gimmick Vizbig Vol 3 (New Print) – Own it
MM9 (Prose)
Secret World Of Arrietty Film Comic Vol 1
Secret World Of Arrietty Picture Book HC
I almost passed this curiosity over. Wow, what a BIG mistake that would’ve been! Tale of Sand is a graphic interpretation of Jim Henson’s (and Jerry Juhl’s) lost screenplay– “as realized” by Ramon K. Perez… And it is gloriously and beautifully conceived from the first page to the last.
I should also note that Tale of Sand is virtually devoid of words— which makes it even more intriguing. (For a great comparison, think of the largely silent “Hush” episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.) Those still skeptical of “reading” a comic with little dialogue, please note: Perez’ art is extremely dynamic and easy to follow. No words are necessary.
Please allow me to geek out on one other small detail: The book’s right corners are cut off diagonally (fans of Ronald D. Moore’s Battlestar Galactica series know exactly what I am describing). Why would something seemingly so trivial be worth mentioning? Well, hardcovers can be heavy. If you’re an avid collector like me, then you’ve most likely dropped your fair share on the floor by accident. This almost always results in unacceptably bent book corners. I’m not gonna test my theory, but if I did drop Tale of Sand on my hardwood floors– I might, just might, get away with not damaging the book. Too cool!
I know. I’m doing it again. Pissing on something I recently raved about. But damn… This makes me mad.
Before I start, I want to make it extremely clear that the POS* designation given this book is NOT for content… It is simply for presentation… And the timing of said presentation.
TWO WEEKS ago, I picked the standard Hardcover of Wally Wood’s Strange Worlds of Science Fiction as my HOT PICK. Then LAST WEEK, the Softcover came out. “Fine enough,” I thought. “That’s it.”
Maybe I’ve just gotten used to the way the “Big Two” release their comic book collections. Marvel Comics prints a Hardcover– then follows with a Trade Paperback 3 to 4 months later. DC brings out a Hardcover, then can wait anywhere from 6 to 12 months before releasing a softcover version.
I know companies like Dark Horse can release a Conan Hardcover one week and then a Trade edition the next. Avatar usually lets fans pick between the two formats straight up front: Hardcover and Trade editions are usually released the same week.
But then– THIS WEEK– Vanguard releases a DELUXE EDITION of the Wally Wood book?!?
WTF? I mean, seriously. Isn’t this release pattern a little more than a bit ass-backwards? Half of it is my fault, of course– as I barely remember what’s in one monthly Previews ordering catalog to the next… So I should have known this edition was still forthcoming.
But here’s what really pisses me off: This Wally Wood Deluxe Edition has 18 additional pages. Whether or not the increased price for the Deluxe Edition is worth the extra coinage is really not the issue… MY love for all things Wally Wood is the issue… But I’ll be damned if I am going to plunk down $69.95 USD on top of the $39.95 USD I’ve already spent on the standard Hardcover– especially just for 18 pages.
After all this, I still HIGHLY recommend the “regular” hardcover. But if you’ve ever wondered how a previous HOT PICK can turn into THIS WEEK’S POS* in just 14 days… This is a great example.
