Cyberspace Comics market report, reviews and more

May 6, 2011

Guide to Marvel Comics Presents #7

Filed under: Guide to Marvel Comics Presents — Doorman @ 7:49 am

Marvel Comics Presents launched in 1988 as an ad-free anthology showcasing four eight-page features, stuffed inside a wrap-around cover. This guide will tell you everything you wanted to know about the series – and more!


Marvel Comics Presents #7
Cover Date: Late November 1988 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Bob Layton


Wolverine in “Save the Tiger” part 7
written by Chris Claremont
art by John Buscema with Klaus Janson

 
Wolverine and the Tyger miraculously survive the explosion that nearly killed them at the end of last issue’s episode. There’s an interesting moment as Logan and Jess contemplate the future. Roche is clearly evil and Logan wants to take him down but, if Jess replaces Roche as the new crimelord – she runs the risk of being just like him. In which case, Logan will be after her next. Later, Logan and Jess stop Roche’s punkboys from attacking Madame Joy’s brothel. The leader reveals that Roche thinks he knows who the Tyger is! Roche suspects that the Tyger is O’Donnell (from the Princess Bar). As the episode draws to a close, we discover that the crimelord has captured O’Donnell and subjected him to the torments of the Inquisitor.

Man-Thing in “Elements of Terror” part 7
written by Steve Gerber
art by Tom Sutton

 
In Washington, the investigation into Jody Choate‘s mismanagement of government programs continues – linking Latverian arms sales with the Anti-Drug initiative, Freedom Science Studies Institute’s experiments and more. Meanwhile, armed gunmen have been sent to dispatch the loose cannon, Marea. Her companion, the mutated Man-Thing, gets caught in the crossfire.

Master of Kung Fu in “Crossing Lines” part 7
written by Doug Moench
art by Tom Grindberg with Dave Cockrum

 
Shang-Chi, the Cat, Black Jack Tarr and Reston fly off to Argus’ Terrorist Base in Sardinia, where Leiko Wu is being held captive. And, as the others fight through the terrorist forces, Shang-Chi makes his way into the fortress to confront Argus, himself (who’s claiming to have just killed Leiko Wu).

Sub-Mariner in “From Sea To Deadly Sea
written by Steve Ditko with Hollis Bright
art by Steve Ditko

 
Namor, the deposed monarch of Atlantis, discovers a cell of Atlantean pirates who have set up camp in a Dead Zone area, surrouned by noxious undersea gases. But, these aren’t just pirates. Oh no! They’ve got loftier goals – goals of using the weapons they’re stealing to establish themselves as the new rules of Atlantis. Unfortunately for them, Namor defeats their leaders, Ruthar and the mutated Zoga. With the strongest of them defeated, the rest of the Atlantean pirates disband and Namor destroys their stronghold so that it can’t be used against Atlantis again.

The Sub-Mariner story is quite bland but it does illustrate Namor’s great love for Atlantis. Even though he was cast out by his people, Namor still cares enough to ensure their safety.

On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Man-Thing | Shang-Chi | Sub-Mariner
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Man-Thing | Master of Kung Fu | Sub-Mariner

May 5, 2011

Famous Fanmail #57 Ty Templeton

Filed under: Famous Fanmail — Doorman @ 10:12 am

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

Ty Templeton is a comic writer/artist who’s worked on nearly everything! His credits include Batman, Superman, Howard the Duck, Justice League, She-Hulk, the Simpsons, Star Trek and much, much more (including his creator-owned, cult classic Stig’s Inferno). He got a letter printed in Wasteland #7 (cover date – June 1988), praising its ingenuity. And, in issue #11, he got to illustrate one of the Wasteland stories.

Wasteland letters page with Ty Templeton

On Ebay: Wasteland | Ty Templeton
On AtomicAvenue: Wasteland

May 4, 2011

Cyberspace Comics Market Report #9 May 2011

Filed under: Cyberspace Comics Market Report — Doorman @ 11:01 am

I’ve been selling comics in my sparetime since 2002 but I only recently started selling them on a full-time basis. March 2010 was my first full month of full-time comic sales. It’s been a fun ride and it’s allowed me to continue to maintain this daily comics blog. Here’s a look back at the previous month.

Number of listings in eBay’s “comics” section: 1,539,685 (1.31% increase from last month)
Number of those that are Cyberspace Comics listings: 7,005 (1.60% decrease)
My “market share” of comic listings on eBay: .45496% (2.87% decrease)

Number of eBay comic listings that are auctions: 83,882
Percentage of eBay comic listings up for auction: 5.45%

My current eBay feedback (unique): 11,480
My current eBay feedback (total): 23,817
My positive eBay feedback score: 100%

Position Dollar Sales # of Current Listings
First Bad Girls (↑) Bad Girls (844 listings)
Second TPBs (↑) Marvel Comics (702 listings)
Third Underground (↓) Image Comics (608 listings)
Fourth Marvel Comics Other Indies (507 listings)
Fifth Image Comics DC Comics (509 listings)

 
Number of listings on Atomic Avenue: 1,341,278 (1.6251% increase from last month)
Number of those that are in the Cyberspace Comics Store on Atomic Avenue: 29,625 (5.19% increase)
My “market share” of comic listings on AtomicAvenue: 2.2087% (3.51% increase)
My estimated “market share” of AtomicAvenue orders: 6.75%

May 3, 2011

Comic Book Cover Swipes #57 New Warriors

Filed under: Swiped: Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed! — Doorman @ 9:52 am

After looking at hundreds of comic book covers, it becomes quickly apparent that not every cover is 100% original. Whether done intentionally or even underhandedly, there’s something about uncovering these “swipes” that adds a new element of fun to reading and collecting comics.

DonnyB pointed this swipe out to me last week. The first issue was a momentous occasion in Marvel Boy/Justice’s life.

the New Warriors #20
the New Warriors #20
February 1992
Mark Bagley
the New Warriors #48
the New Warriors #48
June 1994
Darick Robertson

On Ebay: New Warriors
On AtomicAvenue: New Warriors

May 2, 2011

One-Shot At Greatness #57 Beta Ray Bill – the Green of Eden

Filed under: One-Shot At Greatness — Doorman @ 2:35 pm

Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!

Secret Invasion Aftermath: Beta Ray Bill - the Green of Eden #1Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: June 2009
Cover Price: $3.99
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Dan Brereton

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

A sect of an alien race of beings has renounced their god-figure and decided that they would create a new religion. They deemed Beta Ray Bill their new deity and were cast out of ther society by those who clung to the established religion. Now that they’re being pursued and persecuted, by the rest of their race, they turn to Beta Ray Bill to save them. Soon after defeating the religious persecutors, our hero will have to determine if he’s comfortable with his new status as their god.

Gillen uses a cosmic super hero story to pose some interesting concepts and questions about religion. It’s also just a cool Beta Ray Bill story, which I can always appreciate (especially since Beta stories seem so few and far between these days – and are usually pretty nifty [especially that Godhunter mini series]). I was excited to see Brereton‘s name on the cover because I can always count on him for very unique and wonderful painted art. However, I was a bit let down to discover that this story featured his pencils, instead – which don’t nearly live up to the quality of his painted art. On the other hand, the Marko Djurdjevic cover is sure nice to look at.

On Ebay: Beta Ray Bill | Kieron Gillen | Dan Brereton
On AtomicAvenue: Beta Ray Bill

April 30, 2011

Minimate Spotlight #50 Thor Movie

Filed under: Minimate Spotlight — Donny B @ 1:05 pm

Action figures have long been a perfect compliment to comic books, since every kid (or kid at heart) has that natural desire to act out adventures with their favorite heroes off the drawn page. Every so often, a unique style of figure comes along that breaks the mold, so to speak. Each Saturday, Donny B will be showcasing various offerings from Art Asylum’s take on the ‘block figure’, with a weekly spotlight on Minimates.

Last week, we looked at the Frost Giant army builders. This week, we’re looking at the other army builder in the Thor Moviemates release: The Asgardian Royal Guards.
But the guards by themselves are a bit boring, so I threw in two of the bigger guns in the Asgardian army: Volgstagg and Lady Sif. These two characters were released in a TRU exclusive 2-pack, and rumor has it, they will be accompanied by the remaining Warriors Three in a future TRU exclusive release.

Behind the Image:

This was extremely straight forward. I found an image of the Asgardian throne room from the Thor movie, printed it out, stuck it behind the minimates, arranged the lighting, and took the photo.
Setting everything up was a bit time consuming, but the process of taking the photo couldn’t have been more simple. Chalk up another win for macro mode 😉

On Ebay: Thor
On AtomicAvenue: Thor

April 29, 2011

Guide to Marvel Comics Presents #6

Filed under: Guide to Marvel Comics Presents — Doorman @ 9:59 am

Marvel Comics Presents launched in 1988 as an ad-free anthology showcasing four eight-page features, stuffed inside a wrap-around cover. This guide will tell you everything you wanted to know about the series – and more!


Marvel Comics Presents #6
Cover Date: Early November 1988 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: John Buscema with K. Janson


Wolverine in “Save the Tiger” part 6
written by Chris Claremont
art by John Buscema with Klaus Janson

 
Jessan Hoan reveals to Logan what she’s gone through since the Reavers abducted her. She explains how her life has been severely altered and that she is the upstart crimelord, the Tyger.

Man-Thing in “Elements of Terror” part 6
written by Steve Gerber
art by Tom Sutton

 
The operation to advance the Super Soldier Serum continues to unravel as we learn that the President, himself, is involved with this covert experiment. Meanwhile, in Casagata, Marea is engufled by the Man-Thing and submitted to seemingly hallucinegenic mental trip, perhaps created by the Man-Thing’s current Super Soldier Serum infection.

Master of Kung Fu in “Crossing Lines” part 6
written by Doug Moench
art by Tom Grindberg with Dave Cockrum

 
Shang-Chi and the Cat pose as drug runners and weapons dealers to get inside Argus’ Terrorist Cell. Black Jack Jarr discovers that Argus has actually advanced the Terrorist Organization in an effort to get the USA to strike back against it and utterly destroy it. I suppose that’s one way to defeat terrorism? Albeit, a strange way of going about it.

Hulk in “Risky Business
written by Bobbie Chase
art by Jeff Purves

 
Ever since the Hulk took the job of the Coliseum’s main bouncer and adopted the name of Mr. Fixit, his casino’s crime rate has decreased to zero while their competitors face rising rates. So, the rest of the casinos hired some thugs to attack Fixit with heavy artillery. Fortunately for the Hulk, he easily survives their barrage … unfortunately for the casinos – the Hulk knows they were behind the attack.

The Hulk story was a little too anti-climactic, for me – and Purves’ artwork has never tickled my fancy.

Note from the Format Dept: back to the single image wrap format again.

On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Man-Thing | Shang-Chi | Hulk
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Man-Thing | Master of Kung Fu | Hulk

April 28, 2011

Famous Fanmail #56 Mark Alan Joplin

Filed under: Famous Fanmail — Doorman @ 2:45 pm

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

Markalan Joplin is best known for writing Robotech: the Macross Saga. He got a letter printed in Eternals #13 (cover date – July 1977), differentiating “Jack Kirby, the artist” from “Jack Kirby, the writer”.

Eternals letters page with Markalan Joplin

On Ebay: Eternals | Markalan Joplin
On AtomicAvenue: Eternals

April 27, 2011

Covers in Motion #2 Spectacular Spider-Man

Filed under: Covers in Motion — Doorman @ 8:05 am

Comics are a visually static medium but, they can also provide a fluid visual through a combination of images. Here’s a look at some covers that fit well together to create a story of their own.

One of Spider-Man’s greatest fears is that the radioactive bite that gave him his powers will continue to mutate him. Spectacular Spider-Man explored this concept in a four issue storyline by Paul Jenkins & Humberto Ramos.

Spectacular Spider-Man - Man-Spider

On Ebay: Spider-Man
On AtomicAvenue: Spider-Man

April 26, 2011

Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed #56 Thor

Filed under: Swiped: Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed! — Doorman @ 1:48 pm

After looking at hundreds of comic book covers, it becomes quickly apparent that not every cover is 100% original. Whether done intentionally or even underhandedly, there’s something about uncovering these “swipes” that adds a new element of fun to reading and collecting comics.

The Destroyer is a powerful weapon forged by Odin, himself. Throughout the past 45 years of Thor stories, it’s been imbued with the life-force of Thor, Sif, Loki, Balder, Thorgirl (Tarene) and more. To celebrate Roy Thomas’ big battle between the Destroyer and Thor (in his ‘new armor’), cover artist M.C. Wyman paid homage to the Destroyer’s first appearance.

Journey Into Mystery #118
Journey Into Mystery #118
July 1965
Jack Kirby
Thor #476
Thor #476
July 1994
M.C. Wyman

On Ebay: Thor | Jack Kirby | M.C. Wyman | the Destroyer

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