| Howdy! Are you ready for a world containing substantially fewer comic books? I ask that provocative question because in my reading of the daily news, I am noting a truly major shift in the comparative ratio of number of new comics being printed, versus the number being destroyed by natural disasters. Simply put, our ongoing pandemic has caused major cutbacks in output at both Marvel and DC, while an incessant number of fires, floods, windstorms, and hurricanes have relentlessly destroyed an extraordinary number of people's homes (and storage units) throughout our nation. While the loss of lives in our natural disasters this year has been blessedly low, many of these perils (such as the huge fire in our Colorado mountains that expanded yesterday by a staggering 100,000 acres) do oftentimes force people to run for safety with minimal advance warning. Family heirlooms and photographs (along with pets and livestock) are oftentimes successfully saved, but comic book collections and libraries filled with graphic novels are almost always abandoned, and are thus frequently destroyed. While this reflection on my part may appear to be somewhat morbid, it speaks to the very important truth that paper collectibles (of all kinds) are particularly delicate and prone to environmental damage and destruction. That explains (at least to me...) why the 30-year cycle remains a truth in comics, even after the publishing excesses of the early 1990's. So what is the "30-year cycle?" It is the remarkable propensity of almost all comics published 30 years ago to suddenly leap in popularity/price as they cross that magic 30 year threshold, regardless of their editorial content. For the longest time I thought that this revival of demand in (sometimes) truly mediocre 30-year-old comics was fueled by nostalgia and/or the advent of a new generation of collectors, but my opinion has changed of late. I now realize that the natural destruction rate plays a far greater role than I originally envisioned. Prices rise after 30 years not because demand increases, but rather because available supplies diminish. I find this near-total alteration in my perception of the economic landscape for comic books over time to be truly fascinating. Returning to the diminishment in overall numbers of comics extant that I mentioned earlier, I am now realizing that climate change has greatly increased the perils for comic books of all kinds. As a direct result, individual issues that sold in the millions in 1990-1992 (X-Men #1, Spawn #1, Youngblood #1, etc.) are now selling like hotcakes for us, even after we have bumped up our list prices in order to slow demand. Issues that sold far lower numbers during that period of time are also rising in price/demand, and are sometimes becoming difficult for us to restock at any price, especially in higher grades. Sadly, so many of the comics from that time period have now been destroyed, that it is starting to make a noticeable difference. Again, I find this all to be fascinating. I could expand greatly on this topic, but I will not. I will leave it (for today) by stating that I believe that we are living in an extraordinary moment in time when more comic books are being destroyed each week, than are being printed. Observing that relentless attrition in the total number of comic books remaining in the world is what colors my own behaviors, and greatly determines the policies that I set at Mile High Comics. Suffice it to say, all of our efforts these days are oriented toward providing shelter in our giant concrete fortress of a building to as many comic book collections as we can possibly afford to purchase, and then safeguarding those survivors as best we can. In a world filled with inexorable diminishment, we work diligently to provide a final safe refuge for our nation's graphic storytelling heritage. 'Nuff said. Moving on to daily business, we can only afford to buy more comic book collections if we sell a few of our existing titles, so our annual 50% off HALLOWEEN! codeword sale is now in effect for you on all ten million+ of the back issue comics and magazines listed on our website. Only new issues, a few variants, and our professionally-graded collectibles are excluded from this huge sale. This Immense half price sale will end a week from Monday, so take advantage, while you still can. Discounts aside, I encourage you to place an order with us right now because I see some degree of risk that we may be forced to scale back our operations in the near future. Colorado (along with many other places) set a new record for Covid-19 cases yesterday (1,300), and there are already rumblings that non-essential businesses in Denver may be forced to (once again) shut down. To be clear, we were allowed to keep our online shipping going during that period of March, April, and May when our Jason St. Mega-Store was forced to be closed. We could not, however, buy any walk in collections during that shutdown. Blessedly, we have (slowly) built a huge backlog of unsorted comics for us to bag and grade during any potential shutdown, but there would clearly be a diminishment in key issues, as those always get graded right away. Just saying... It is also important to note that our local fans need to be aware that shopping for holiday gifts in our wonderland of pop culture collectibles may be severely curtailed (or totally eliminated) if this pandemic in Colorado worsens any further. That is why I am initiating (as of today) a week-long "Buy 2 - Get 1 Free!" sale at Jason St. (only!) on all of our books, toys, Pop! figures, t-shirts, statues, etc. This huge storewide sale is in addition to the 50% off HALLOWEEN! back issues sale, which also applies to all of our back issues in the Mega-Store, except blue-stickered items. I simply cannot do any more to encourage you to shop with us right away. I will close today's newsletter by mentioning that I am, in all honesty, more than a little concerned that this looming 2nd Covid-19 shutdown could gut our entire Christmas season. Fifty years of sometimes painful experiences have taught me the wisdom of giving up some discount percentages now, rather than possibly ending up with nothing, later. Like it, or not, we all have to be pragmatic and foresightful during these extraordinarily difficult times. Please do enjoy these great savings opportunities, with our sincere thanks and gratitude for your continuing support of our family-owned company. Happy collecting! Chuck Rozanski/Bettie Pages, P.S. While we are still allowed to be open, Will and Pam are continuing to spend thousands of dollars each week purchasing collections. Below are a few more highlights from their Premium New-In-Stock MARVEL 5 RONIN TPB (2011) #1 Very Good AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2018) (#1-UP) (MARVEL) #49 LEE Near Mint/Mint CIVIL WAR II (2016) #0 Near Mint/Mint CIVIL WAR II FREE COMICS BOOK DAY (2016) #1 Near Mint/Mint CIVIL WAR II: CHOOSING SIDES (2016) #1 Near Mint/Mint CLIVE BARKER'S HELLRAISER (1989) #1 NEWSSTAND Near Mint/Mint CONAN SAGA (1987) #3 NEWSSTAND Fine FALCON & WINTER SOLDIER (2020) #4 OKAZAKI Near Mint/Mint FANTASTIC FOUR (2018) (#1-UP) (MARVEL) #25 BRADSHAW Near Mint/Mint HULK (1962) (#1-6, #102-474, #600-635)(INCREDIBLE)(MV) #419 Near Mint/Mint INFINITY WAR (1992) #1 Near Mint/Mint IRON MAN (2020) (#1-UP) (MARVEL) #1 PREMIERE Near Mint/Mint JUGGERNAUT (2020) #2 SUPERLOG Near Mint/Mint MANTRA (1993) (#1-24) (MARVEL MALIBU/ULTRAVERSE) #10 FLIPBOOK (Marvel Malibu/Ultraverse) Near Mint/Mint MARVEL FANFARE (1982) #26 Near Mint/Mint MARVEL HOLIDAY SPECIAL (2011) #1 Near Mint/Mint MARVEL SUPER SPECIAL (1977) #2 Good MARVEL UNIVERSE (1983) #1 Near Mint/Mint MARVEL VS. DC (1996) #2 Near Mint/Mint MARVILLE (2002) #3 Near Mint/Mint MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN (2019) #18 LIM Very Fine MILES MORALES: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN (2014) #1 Near Mint/Mint MOCKINGBIRD (2016) #8 Near Mint/Mint MONSTERS UNLEASHED (2017) (#1-5) (MARVEL) #1 Near Mint/Mint MOON GIRL & DEVIL DINOSAUR (2015) #11 Very Fine MOON KNIGHT (2016) (#1-14) (MARVEL) #1 Near Mint/Mint MOSAIC (2016) (#1-UP) (MARVEL NOW) #1 Near Mint/Mint MS. MARVEL (2016) (#1-UP) (MARVEL) (KAMALA KHAN) #11 Near Mint/Mint MYSTIC ARCANA: MAGIK (2007) #1 Near Mint/Mint NICK FURY AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (1989) #37 Near Mint/Mint NOVA (2016) (#1-UP) (SAM ALEXANDER) (MARVEL NOW) (2016) #1 Near Mint/Mint POINT ONE (2012) #1 Near Mint/Mint POWER MAN/IRON FIST (LUKE CAGE, POWER MAN #1-49) (1972) #82 Near Mint/Mint SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN (MAGAZINE) (1974) #25 Good SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN (MAGAZINE) (1974) #118 NEWSSTAND Very Good SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN (MAGAZINE) (1974) #135 NEWSSTAND Very Good SPIDER-MAN (2019) (#1-5) (MARVEL) (J J ABRAMS) #4 PICHELLI Near Mint/Mint THOR (2020) (#1-UP) (MARVEL) #7 SHARP Near Mint/Mint UNCANNY INHUMANS (2015) #11 Near Mint/Mint UNTOLD LEGEND OF CAPTAIN MARVEL (1997) #3 Near Mint/Mint VENGEANCE (2011) #5 Near Mint/Mint VENOM (2011) (#1-42) (MARVEL) #9 Very Fine X 23 (2010) (#1-21) (MARVEL) #17 Near Mint/Mint X OF SWORDS: CREATION (2020) #1 DAUTERMB&W Near Mint/Mint
DC ARROW SPECIAL EDITION (GIVEAWAY) (DC) (2012) #1 Near Mint/Mint DETECTIVE COMICS (1937) (#0-881) (DC) #582 Near Mint/Mint SUPERMAN/DOOMSDAY: HUNTER/PREY (1994) #1 Near Mint/Mint
IMAGE COMICS 39 MINUTES HC (2013) #1 Near Mint/Mint POWERS ANNUAL (2001) (IMAGE) #1 Near Mint/Mint SPAWN (1992) #190 Near Mint/Mint
INDEPENDENTS 100 BADDEST MOTHER F***ERS IN COMICS TPB (2012) #1 (Trade Items) Near Mint/Mint 1000 WAYS TO DIE TPB (2011) #1 (Zenescope Entertainment Inc) Good 13TH OF NEVER GN (2004) #1 (Amaze Ink) Near Mint/Mint 2048 VOL. 1: A STORY OF AMERICA'S FUTURE HC (2012) #1 (Kingstone) Fine 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN (2009) #5 (Viz Comics) Fine 30 DAYS OF NIGHT: JUAREZ TPB (2009) #1 (IDW Publishing) Very Good 500 COMIC BOOK VILLAINS TPB (2004) #1 (BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES, INC.) Good 7 PSYCHOPATHS TPB (2010) #1 (Boom Studios Publishing) Fine 8-BIT ZOMBIE: THE FULL BYTE TPB (2014) #1 (Antarctic Press) Near Mint/Mint AMERICAN SPLENDOR ANTHOLOGY TPB (HARVEY PEKAR) (1991) #1 (Four Walls Eight Windows) Near Mint/Mint AMERICAN SPLENDOR: LIFE & TIME OF HARVEY PEKAR TPB (2003) #1 (Ballantine Books) Good AMERICAN SPLENDOR: OUR MOVIE YEAR GN (2004) #1 (Random House) Very Good BADGER (1983) (#1-70) (CAPITAL/FIRST) (MIKE BARON) #50 (First Comics) Near Mint/Mint BOOK OF MR. NATURAL HC (2010) #1 5TH PRINT (Fantagraphics) Near Mint/Mint BOYS: HEROGASM (2009) #1 (DYNAMITE Entertainment) Very Fine COMICS COLLECTOR MAGAZINE (1983) #10 (Krause Publications) Good COMICS FEATURE (MAGAZINE) (1980) #51 (New Media Publishing, Inc.) Good DUNE: HOUSE ATREIDES (2020) #1 H LEE B&W (Boom Studios Publishing) Near Mint/Mint EERIE MAGAZINE (1965) (#1-139) (WARREN) #80 (Warren Publishing Company) Good FABULOUS FURRY FREAK BROTHERS COLLECTION SC (1988) #2 (Knockabout) Very Fine FAMOUS MONSTERS (MAG) #49 (Warren Publishing Company) Fair FIREFLY (2018) #21 D KHALIDAH (Boom Studios Publishing) Near Mint/Mint FROM A TO ZIPPY SC (1991) #1 (Penguin Book) Very Fine HEAVY METAL (1974) (MAGAZINE) #8108 (Heavy Metal) Very Good JURASSIC PARK: RAPTOR'S HIJACK (1994) #1 (Topps Publishing) Near Mint/Mint JUSTICE MACHINE (1987) #1 NEWSSTAND (Comico) Fine MAGIC THE GATHERING: SHADOW MAGE (1995) #2 (Acclaim/Valiant) Near Mint/Mint MECHANICS (LOVE & ROCKETS) (1985) #3 (Fantagraphics) Near Mint/Mint MESSIAH (1997) (#1) (VEROTIK) (ADULT) #1 (Verotik) Near Mint/Mint MUTANTS GN (BERNI WRIGHTSON) (1980) #1 (Mother Of Pearl) Very Good POISON ELVES (1995) (1-80) (SIRIUS) #22 (Sirius) Near Mint/Mint POKEMON: THE ELECTRIC TALE OF PIKACHU (VOL. 1) #1 (Viz Comics) Fine SOMETHING IS KILLING CHILDREN (2019) #11 D DELLEDER (Boom Studios Publishing) Very Fine TOTAL ECLIPSE (1988) #1 (Eclipse Enterprises) Near Mint/Mint TOTAL ECLIPSE (1988) #3 (Eclipse Enterprises) Near Mint/Mint UNKINDNESS OF RAVENS (2020) #1 D KENNARD (Boom Studios Publishing) Near Mint/Mint WE ONLY FIND THEM WHEN THEY'RE DEAD (2020) #1 2ND PRINT (Boom Studios Publishing) Near Mint/Mint ZIPPY ANNUAL #1 (Fantagraphics) Good ZIPPY STORIES COLLECTION (1984) #1 4TH PRINT (Last Gasp) Fine ZIPPY: NATION OF PINHEADS SC (1982) #1 (And/or Press) Very Fine ZIPPY: PINDEMONIUM GN (1986) #1 (Last Gasp) Near Mint/Mint To be unsubscribed from our e-mail newsletter, please send your request to moulton@milehighcomics.com |
Saturday, October 24, 2020
50% Off HALLOWEEN! Codeword
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