What comics did you buy today?

[Raven]

The creepy books are not quite £40 (well not in my local comic shop) there still pricey but are £26 - £30. I agree 5/6 issues of a comic is not a lot (although they do run to over 230 pages a book) but then the individual comics (if you're after them) are around £10 - £20 plus each now (depending on the issue & condition - older issues are £50 plus) if you can find them that is.

Yes, actually they are mostly about £26 online, those, but quite a bit more in Forbidden Planet-type high street shops; normally thirty-something, I think. It's still a lot for five reprinted black and white magazines, and I think most of these collections do price out all but the loads-of-disposable-income older fan, and have probably started to stretch even them.

I bought the Creepy archives volume one, and though it has some good art, I think the artists had very thin story material to work on - the stories are very generic. Difficult to drum up much enthusiasm for as an adult, and a pale shadow of EC, I thought.

I couldn't resist buying a couple of the Marvel Masterworks Atlas editions, especially Menace issues 1-11; reading it, though, it feels weird to have spent a lot on it as the story material is mostly uninspired utter hackwork, and not really deserving of such deluxe reproduction!

[STARBOY]

One of the big problems facing the US market of course is the fact they seem to be almost totally focusing on the 30 year old plus age band re archives and for most of their comics, certainly the older reader due to a lot of the content (the opposite to the UK where its almost all aimed a kids) eventually the comic scene in the US will implode unless they make the comics for younger folk I reckon , comics should be fun. IMHO.

[Raven]

One of the big problems facing the US market of course is the fact they seem to be almost totally focusing on the 30 year old plus age band re archives and for most of their comics ...

I'd say forty plus!

[colcool007]

I must confess that I haven't got round to getting the Victor yet, but did have a sneaky browse through in my local WH Smiths. At £17, it does seem pricey, but when you consider that new hardbacks can be £20 plus, it's not that bad. Admittedly, I will get my copy ordered in the next couple of weeks, but I would have preferred to have had some art/writing credits or at least some stats about sales.

[Raven]

I nipped into a collector's fair and picked up a nice copy of the 1959 Film Fun Annual for £4. Terry Thomas, Frankie Howerd, and Tommy Cooper strips abound, some in full colour, plus a few western adventure strips like 'Gunsmoke' and 'The Man From Montana.' Also Laurel and Hardy, Abbot and Costello, Jerry Lewis and Red Skelton strips, and plenty of text stories; quite a packed 144 pages.

The front cover photo is a peculiar one, by today's standards, for a children's annual: Terry Thomas lighting his cigar from a cigarette. Thomas smokes his cigar throughout his strips, too.

Some nice names in it, like Milly Merrysort, Ward Robe (who works in furniture), Esau Cometz (a star gazer), Spencer Spoofer, Alec Arfbake, and O. Watt Junk.

[Phoenix]

I bought it when it came out and it was only £8.50 from Amazon.

Not at all. When I said £16.99 was a bargain price I was comparing it to similar books priced at £20 to £40. You've edited my comments in the quote to make it seem otherwise.

The reason I selected those sections from your post, Lew, was not to mislead anyone but to focus attention on just those sections I wanted to refer to, my normal procedure in other words. I was well aware that you were comparing the £16.99 for The Best Of Victor with other hardback reprints such as those from Marvel etc. that you mention, that cost between £20 and £40, because any price of any item in any shop has to be compared by a prospective purchaser with other prices for similar items before he/she can make a decision on whether to buy or not to buy. It was ever thus. Presumably, the reason you chose not to respond to the point I was actually making was because you know I was right. It would certainly not have been because you didn't understand that if a significant number of purchasers buy a book on line, paying only half of its retail price, they are themselves increasing the likelihood that the publisher will eventually decide that such productions are financially non-viable. You only need to look at reports of the difficult trading situation at HMV, brought about, it would appear, largely due to people buying their CDs and DVDs etc. on line because that way they get them cheaper, a bargain you might say. To avoid such a scenario in the world of comic book production, shouldn't enthusiasts such as ourselves therefore bite the bullet and pay the RRP for all items like The Best Of Victor?

[Lew Stringer]

I bought it when it came out and it was only £8.50 from Amazon.

Not at all. When I said £16.99 was a bargain price I was comparing it to similar books priced at £20 to £40. You've edited my comments in the quote to make it seem otherwise.

The reason I selected those sections from your post, Lew, was not to mislead anyone but to focus attention on just those sections I wanted to refer to, my normal procedure in other words.

Then the usual practice is to leave a gap where the section was that you're missing out, not edit it into one paragraph which changes the context.

Presumably, the reason you chose not to respond to the point I was actually making was because you know I was right. It would certainly not have been because you didn't understand that if a significant number of purchasers buy a book on line, paying only half of its retail price, they are themselves increasing the likelihood that the publisher will eventually decide that such productions are financially non-viable. You only need to look at reports of the difficult trading situation at HMV, brought about, it would appear, largely due to people buying their CDs and DVDs etc. on line because that way they get them cheaper, a bargain you might say. To avoid such a scenario in the world of comic book production, shouldn't enthusiasts such as ourselves therefore bite the bullet and pay the RRP for all items like The Best Of Victor?

Quite often I do, but I didn't in this instance. However as I'm sure you're well aware there's a big difference between Amazon selling books for a discounted price which still leaves publishers a profit, and Poundland selling remaindered books for a quid.

Anyway, it's a moot point if there's not enough fans of UK comics who won't even pay the Amazon price.

[Phoenix]

Yesterday I went to Border books in Todmorden as recommended by Phoenix. I often go to Tod but never noticed it before. Very hard to choose what to buy! I got the 1972 and 1973 Dandy books, 1959 Knockout annual and 1976 Hotspur book. Plus some proper books, because he sells them too. Thank you Phoenix.

I'm glad you found some annuals at the Border Bookshop, dishes, but you missed out on the real treasure trove there by not going into the comic room. Presumably you were put off by the No admission beyond this point notice on the stairs up to the top floor, and assumed that all the comic material was on the ground floor and the main room on the first floor. Perhaps I should have mentioned that when you go into the shop you have to say that you would like to see the comics. Victor will then let you have the key to the comic room, which naturally means you can go past the No admission notice. If I spoilt your visit by not mentioning this I apologise, and I hope you didn't have to travel too far to get there because, if it is the comics themselves that you are interested in, as opposed to the annuals, you really must go back. There are thousands in there.

[Phoenix]

Anyway, it's a moot point if there's not enough fans of UK comics who won't even pay the Amazon price.

Yes, in fact it's really quite a sad situation. It isn't helped either when, even on a forum of comic enthusiasts like ours, the members are by no means all singing from the same hymn sheet so no publisher can assume that just for starters they will get sales of all their books or comics to our 600+ members. As in society at large, our members are selective about what they buy. Some may buy just a couple of comics a week by choice, others are not in work and buy only what they can afford, some, like Raven for example, would not buy The Best Of Victor because he doesn't rate the comic very highly, but he would buy annuals, you buy all sorts of comics and comic-related material for various different reasons linked to your job, your craft and your blog, but you would not buy any book that delivered lots of synopses of stories, whereas I would do more or less the opposite. I think Kashgar would buy quite a few books on comics and pretty well everything on story papers. Etcetera, etcetera. The more I think about it, the more I suspect that publishers are relying on a mixture of a gut feeling, some guesswork and Oor Wullie's bucket filled with hope when they decide on which books they are going to publish the following year.

[Raven]

some, like Raven for example, would not buy The Best Of Victor because he doesn't rate the comic very highly

And because it seemed like an overpriced collection of random reprints with no worthwhile editorial content, not even naming artists. Though it's true I don't find this side of trad sporty Thomson stuff appealing (and didn't as a boy); same with Bunty - I did buy the previous compilation, but don't really like the art at all, or anything much about it.

but he would buy annuals

The annual Best of Beano/Dandy compilation, that is - and I previously bought the Legend of Lord Snooty, The Legend of Desperate Dan, Dennis the Menace: Fifty Years of Mischief, The History of The Beano, the boxed facsimiles of The Dandy Monster Comic, Oor Wullie and Broons annuals from Aurum, The Bumper Book of Look and Learn, The Best of Look-In 70s and 80s volumes, Albion Origins, and lots more over the years. If things are well chosen, carefully compiled and thoughtfully presented, especially interesting and sensibly priced, I'll usually get them.

[Lew Stringer]

Some may buy just a couple of comics a week by choice, others are not in work and buy only what they can afford, some, like Raven for example, would not buy The Best Of Victor because he doesn't rate the comic very highly, but he would buy annuals, you buy all sorts of comics and comic-related material for various different reasons linked to your job, your craft and your blog,

That sounds (unintentionally) a bit mercenary. I do buy some just to keep up with trends but I buy most because I'm mad about comics, like all of us here.

but you would not buy any book that delivered lots of synopses of stories, whereas I would do more or less the opposite.

I suppose I'm more interested in the visuals. Each to his own of course but to me, reading long cold text of a comic story synopsis is like listening to the boring bloke at a party telling you the entire plot of a film.

[big bad bri]

If I spoilt your visit by not mentioning this I apologise, and I hope you didn't have to travel too far to get there because, if it is the comics themselves that you are interested in, as opposed to the annuals, you really must go back. There are thousands in there.

where is this aladdins cave and how do i get there by train
brian

[Phoenix]

where is this aladdins cave and how do i get there by train

I can't answer your question precisely, bri, because I don't know where you would be starting from but, if you aim to get off the train at Todmorden in Lancashire, you will be within five minutes walking distance of Border Bookshop, which is on the left hand side of Halifax Road as you walk away from the town centre. I think I'm right in saying that he is open between 10 and 1, then 2 and 5 on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. To be on the safe side, especially if you are travelling any distance, I suggest you ring the owner, Victor Collinge, a day or so in advance on 01706-814721. You will certainly catch him in on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, morning only in the case of the latter if Burnley are playing at home. His wife Carole will be there at the other times.

[dishes]

Yesterday I went to Border books in Todmorden as recommended by Phoenix. I often go to Tod but never noticed it before. Very hard to choose what to buy! I got the 1972 and 1973 Dandy books, 1959 Knockout annual and 1976 Hotspur book. Plus some proper books, because he sells them too. Thank you Phoenix.

I'm glad you found some annuals at the Border Bookshop, dishes, but you missed out on the real treasure trove there by not going into the comic room. Presumably you were put off by the No admission beyond this point notice on the stairs up to the top floor, and assumed that all the comic material was on the ground floor and the main room on the first floor. Perhaps I should have mentioned that when you go into the shop you have to say that you would like to see the comics. Victor will then let you have the key to the comic room, which naturally means you can go past the No admission notice. If I spoilt your visit by not mentioning this I apologise, and I hope you didn't have to travel too far to get there because, if it is the comics themselves that you are interested in, as opposed to the annuals, you really must go back. There are thousands in there.

Oh no, I knew there must be somewhere they kept the comics, but I had no intention of asking to see them because I had no idea what I wanted. The embarrassment of riches was bad enough among the annuals, and quite enough to keep me choosing for one day on an empty stomach.

I will go back many times, as Todmorden is one of my favourite haunts.

Bri, Todmorden is between Leeds and Manchester Victoria. You can also buy Phoenix's book there.

[Lew Stringer]

Felneymike you seem to be buying a lot of comics recently, you must have a big collection?

It's alright XD. Trying to get dad to put some more shelves up! And i have assorted padded envelopes containing odd issues of things, mainly Union Jack, laying around. I take those to work to read.

I was tempted but at a starting price of £25 when the description contains the word "shabby" I think I'll pass

Yeah they're not fantastic, but it'll do. The other two still for sale were reported as having the odd missing page. Oh well if they're still around when i get paid next...

They've been relisted as they didn't sell so I decided to gamble on the 1942 volume, which I've just won. The seller assures me they're in good condition, not brittle, and not from a smoky home so hopefully they'll be ok. At £2 each for 13 wartime comics that survived the London blitz and the paper drive it's not a bad price. Have you received yours yet?