posted March 18, 2003 11:27 PM               

I couldn't take it anymore...
Against my plans to get on Amazon.com...
I couldn't wait...

I.. I... I HAD to do it!!! I SWEAR!

...

I went by my comic shop before work today and picked up the Aquaman vol. 1 Archive.
50.00 is damned expensive, but I can still make ends meet after buying it and it really looked nice.

Man, you guys sold me hook, line, and sinker!

posted March 19, 2003 01:03 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Green Lantern 2814:
I went by my comic shop before work today and picked up the Aquaman vol. 1 Archive.
50.00 is damned expensive, but I can still make ends meet after buying it and it really looked nice.

Man, you guys sold me hook, line, and sinker!

---

Ba dump bump! Cuz it's Aquaman. I get it.

I'm not really one to endorse paying full price. But if you had to, then you picked the right title. Aquaman is my favorite Archive; stories and art are just awesome.

Have fun with it.

posted March 19, 2003 01:06 AM               

For Golden Age Aquaman (More Fun Comics) try microfiche like I (Don Powers) did.

posted March 19, 2003 10:00 AM               

-Steve

posted March 19, 2003 12:48 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by James Friel:
Do you have a connection with this company, Don?
Your posts read a lot like advertising.

---

posted March 19, 2003 08:10 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by James Friel:
Do you have a connection with this company, Don?
Your posts read a lot like advertising.

---

Nope, no connection to the business. Just want to keep them in business until I acquire all the microfiche I want. Why buy a World's Finest Batman Golden Age Archive alone when I also want the Superman and Zatara and Johnny Thunder stories too in those same issues?

And yes I already have the Batman/Superman solo World's Finest stories on microfiche while the rest of the world has to wait for the archives.

Just got Superman 1-50, Wonder Woman 11-25, and All-American 16-20 today.

If people want golden age, it is already out there. Just not in book format. I want people to be aware that the chances of getting a Boy Commandos or Crimson Avenger Archive are slim, but there is a chance to read those stories from Detective Comics.

My dream, in over 30 years collecting, was to have the chance to read every Marvel, Timely, and DC published. That dream became closer to reality when I discovered Microcomics about 6 years ago. I feel that even though I am just a customer, I should share this info with fellow collectors.

If interested, just check it out or wait 5-10 years to read Superman 50 in an archive or when DC decides to put them on CD-Rom and start all over. I will be reading my microfiche next month.

I am not receiving payment or discounts or any other compensation for my endorsements, in fact they do not know I am endorsing their product. My motives are to keep them in business and to provide others access to golden age material.

posted March 19, 2003 10:59 PM               

They also sell microfiche machines. I bought one on E-bay. Most libraries have them, but not all of them, as I found out one day.

They borrow comics to film. Some issues film better than others.

6 years ago they had sent me a free sample. You can ask if they still do this.

If you want to read golden age features such as Zatara, Crimson Avenger, Slam Bradley, Americommando, etc. and can't afford golden age prices, then I recommend microfiche.

If you want to read only lead features (GA Batman/GA Superman/GA Flash, etc., then you might want to wait for their respective archives to be published.

Remember that the Golden Age of Comics did not always have the greatest stories or art. So spend your money wisely and on those things that will make you happy.

posted March 19, 2003 11:46 PM               

You can get the entire GA GL run, the entire Comic Cavalcade run and the most of the World's Finest run. You can also buy just the issues you want for $8/fiche with a minimum of 4 fiche. They quality is variable but generally readable. The big plus is that you get the Timely stuff which Marvel seems loathe to collect.

For what it's worth.

posted March 20, 2003 05:51 AM               

I thought I had heard that DC pulled Micro- Color's rights so as not to compete with the Archives. I guess I was misinformed.

I have the complete All-Star Comics (1-57), and a set of Action Comics (21-25), Detective Comics (46-50), and Adventure Comics (103-107 and 123-127). The non-All-Star were the samples I bought to convince me to buy the All-Star run.
I have to admit that even though I enjoyed reading them at the local library, I quit buying them when I was sure DC was going to continue with the Archives. Last I bought was in 1993 (I think).
Did I buy the Adventure Comics 103 set because that is when Superboy began his run there? I don't remember, but it makes sense.

posted March 20, 2003 08:22 AM            

DC Comics - [NO LONGER AVAILABLE]

Or is that an out of date website?

posted March 20, 2003 10:23 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Unknown Question:
But didnt they have on their website:

DC Comics - [NO LONGER AVAILABLE]

Or is that an out of date website?

---

The website is out of date and the listing of fiche has also grown from what is listed on their site. At one point years ago, they thought DC was not going to renew their licensing and thus they announced this in a letter to me and on the site, then I rushed to buy my Detective Comics fiche.

This was about three years ago. They keep sending me a list with DC on it and I keep buying them. Last Spring, they issued a supplemental list of additional DC books, not on their main list. I am still buying DC material and Tuesday I received another shipment of DC fiches.

posted March 20, 2003 10:38 AM               

Microfiche=good.

Of course, I am literally several hundred microfiche behind in my reading, yet I still keep getting more... I guess it's sort of an addiction. I like having the fiche on hand so that I can definitely read them some day when I get a chance. You never know when they won't be available any more...

And it really is pretty much the only way to get nice runs of Timely and MLJ stuff to read.

My only problem with some of the microfiche has been the company's inability to open certain bound volumes or squarebound books far enough when photographing the comics. Sometimes a bit of the comic is completely lost in the middle binding. Makes reading the stories problematic when you have to guess what the missing words in word balloons are. This was a big problem with the Black Hood microfiche sets, if I remember correctly.

posted March 20, 2003 12:23 PM               

I looked into an actual microfiche scanner and about choked on the cost. Cheapest unit started around $10,000 and went quickly up from there. I asked the company representative about who buys those things and was told mostly college libraries and such.

So Chris should be able to go to the Rutgers library and scan them. He might have to be a student there as Ohio State has these type of scanners but limit their use to students and faculty.

posted March 20, 2003 07:58 PM            

I suspect that most university libraries will have these machines in the next 10 years, probably much sooner. If you aren't allowed in the door, try to find the appropriate high-ranking librarian (something like Head of Public Services not Reference Librarian) and politely discuss the situation. I'm not saying this will work, but you might be suprised.

posted March 20, 2003 08:24 PM               

I have also experienced a little variance in quality with the microfische but have been satisfied with most purchases. So far the GA Sub-Mariner (which I would be shocked to ever see from Marvel in book form) was especially nice. Strange Tales varried in quality but was worth the variance to read. Yellow Claw also...

I prefer to hold a book (archive) in my hands, but I do love the exact photo of the comic itself with all ads and other features besides the lead intact.

If they had "fisched" SA Superman I would own them by now.

posted March 20, 2003 08:31 PM               

That said, they are a good buy if you are afficianado and just want to read them. Visit the site in the sig if you want to pick and choose the ones you read. I prefer that to buying the whole stash at once.

D.

------------------
Web-Master of:

The Comics Archives - The Source of Record of Golden Age DC
http://www.execpc.com/~icicle/main.html

The Comics Archives II - A significant repository of Silver Age information
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Corridor/6680/Archives/main2.html