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Post by Ozymandias on Oct 29, 2021 16:05:10 GMT
Bought on the 11th, shipped the same day, received on the 29th via Asendia + Correos. Third LS order to arrive (fastest yet) out of five:
I wasn't planning on getting more USMs, but I reconsidered buying more Ultimate Comics. Case in point:
Completing "Natural Resources" and starting the Cap mini.
"Finishing" the Layton era and getting closer to do the same for the Gruenwald one.
Now I have ALL the Wolfman/Perez issues. (I think Pérez did the layouts on a few more later on.)
I'm waiting for the rest, I ordered these from LS because they're two bucks each but NM. I say "but" because it looks like once they reach $2 they don't care to price them differently. You can order a FN or a NM for $2. This doesn't become apparent by looking at one particular issue, as they only list one grade for each, but the pattern is there if you look at all the issues for the same series with a price of $2.
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Post by Ozymandias on Nov 10, 2021 20:30:36 GMT
Bought on the 26th, shipped on the 29th, received on the 10th via Royal Mail Tracked & Signed + Correos. Comicana (13th order):
"Completing" Next Men.
Completing the Ultimate Cap mini.
Nice two-parter from McKeever.
The first USM story-line I liked in its entirety.
Not all Clone Sagas have been bad.
I already bought half of these recently, but one was a reprint and the other wasn't as good a copy as the others.
Bought on the 21st, shipped on the 21st, received on the 25th via ? (to UK address). UK eBay seller:
I got that HC for about two fivers (including postage).
Bought on the 14th, shipped on the 16th (against agreement), received on the 19th via Royal Mail 2nd Class (to UK address). UK eBay seller:
The last Gruenwald Cap (for the moment).
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Post by Ozymandias on Mar 4, 2022 17:00:59 GMT
OK, the winter loot: Bought on the 30th of December, shipped on the 4th, received on the 11th via UPS. Walt's Comic Shop: I only really wanted the Thor book, but I saw the, already OOP, ASM Epic Collection at basically the cover price and added the freebies to make up for postage. Bought on the 4th of February, shipped on the 8th, received on the 14th via UPS. Walt's Comic Shop: I only really wanted the Moon Knight book, but I saw the, already OOP, ASM Epic Collection at 19€ for 19 issues, and couldn't resist. It also makes up for postage. Bought on the 7th, shipped on the 8th, received on the 28th via USPS Media Mail (3 days for domestic delivery) + GSP (Sending). USA eBay seller: At the same time I won this auction, another one for #168 was in progress at LS. That copy was worse and already going for a higher price before finishing. Is it just my impression of do auctions at Lone Star reach higher prices? Bought on February 14 (released on the 1st?), sent on the 22nd!, received on the 26th via ?. Amazon (UK): At least this one arrived in good shape, unlike the last three TPBs from Amazon. Bought on 1st, shipped on the 2nd, received on the 4th! via Correos. Amazon (DE): Another damaged one, this time I asked for a 10% reimbursement. Too many badly packaged books already. When they ship in proper boxes they arrive well, but when they use cardboard envelopes, it's a lottery. More often than not, they become damaged, which is why I've mostly shifted to Walt. That guy knows how to ship, and books leave his premises in NM condition, is something arrives less than that to him, he sells them at a discount (like the Epic Collection above). Try and find the defect. On the bright side, final price was 65.95€ for 33 issues.
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Post by Ozymandias on May 14, 2022 11:43:31 GMT
Spring loot, part 1. From todocoleccion, paid on the 12th, sent on the 13th, received on the 19th via Correos: Not very interested in any of these, but I got them cheap (about 10€ each with postage). Bought on the 21st of March, shipped on the 22nd-ish, received on the 28th via UPS. 3rd Walt's Comic Shop order: I don't like those round corners on the Toppi HC. At all.
Last Spider-Man Epic Collection I could possibly want (I think). I only wanted some of the issues inside, but going with the Marvel Tales reprint was more expensive, and this one has all the original covers with better printing, so there you go. Bought on March 26, sent on the same day, received on the 29th-ish via Correos. Amazon (ES): I got a 20% discount of these because of bad packaging, damage to the books. What else? 38€ for the duo.
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Post by Ozymandias on May 14, 2022 13:06:44 GMT
Bought on the 12th of March, shipped on the 14th (not signed as per agreement), received on the 16th via Royal Mail 2nd Class (to UK address). UK eBay seller: Already had the floppies, but I've accumulated TPBs for most of Sin City, and this one was at about 10€ (all in). Bought on the 13th of March, shipped on the same day? received on the 16th via Royal Mail 1st Class (to UK address). UK eBay seller: Bought on the 13th of March, shipped on the 15th, received on the 19th via Royal Mail 2nd Class (to UK address). UK eBay seller: Bought on the 13th of March, shipped on the 15th (not signed as per agreement), received on the 17th via Royal Mail 2nd Class (to UK address). UK eBay seller: Bought on the 13th of March, shipped on (no idea), received on the 19th via Royal Mail Signed For? (to UK address). UK eBay (idiot) seller: Bought on the 15th, shipped on the 18th, received on the 26th via ELTA + Correos. Greek eBay seller:
Never bought from Greece before. $9 in postage (yes, dollars!) for two comics for international shipping with tracking is better than Spain to Germany (for example).
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Post by Ozymandias on May 14, 2022 14:04:00 GMT
Bought on the 24th of March, shipped on the 29th, received on the 7th via Royal Mail Tracked & Signed + Correos. Comicana (14th order):
I like these 80s reprints. Steranko and Neal Adams. More on the way from both of them.
The pencils on these ones are really bad, but I keep seeing the Roger Stern Omnibus, so I better buy every floppy I might like or I risk taking the bait.
Never much liked Claremont on his own (without Byrne), but on top of keeping the hunt for the issues missing from the PMS run, I added this one from BWS. About 4€ for a double-sized issue of the X-Men, from the '80s. I don't understand collecting sometimes. Was it a very large print?
I actually ordered the old mini. So I was really displeased to receive these. The seller insisted I was mistaken, so before escalating, I gave them a chance and, who knows? I liked them. There was a chance out of ten I would enjoy reading a totally random comic, really, but this time all went well that ended well.
These ones were on sale. They were even cheaper from an eBay German seller, but grading seemed inconsistent looking and the pictures, and postage looked high to me. So I went with "tried and trusted". I love Immonen, one of the best storytellers out there.
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Post by Ozymandias on May 14, 2022 15:02:18 GMT
Bought on the 18th, shipped on the 20th?, received on the 28th! via Royal Mail 1st Class? (to UK address). UK eBay seller: Longest time to ship I can recall in the UK. And the item had a generic description. At least the grading was accurate, which is the most important thing.
Bought on the 18th, shipped on the 19th?, received on the 25th? via Royal Mail 2nd Class (to UK address). UK eBay seller: I read this one over 40 years ago, it was what made me want the trilogy.
Bought on the 18th, shipped on the 20th, received on the 25th via Royal Mail 1st Class (to UK address). UK eBay seller: I had the originals in the 90s, but sold them 20 years ago. Went with the reprint this time, because of speculation inflating the price a lot, and found the coloring from the 80s suited me better.
Bought on the 19th, shipped on the 19th, received on the 22nd via Royal Mail 2nd Class (to UK address). The 1st one had tracking (!?). Two different UK eBay sellers in sync: Not a fan of neither Deadpool nor Thompson, but the artists made it work. Bought on the 4th, shipped on the 10th, received on the 13th via UPS. 4th Walt's Comic Shop order:
Completing the Aaron run.
I actually wanted the regular cover for the HC, but stock run out while I was ordering!
Some FCBD comics to help with postage.
I ordered the Deluxe, which has half the cover price, but it seems there was a mistake in their inventory. They made me an offer on the Absolute Edition instead. 79.99 69.99€.
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Post by Ozymandias on May 14, 2022 15:20:35 GMT
Bought on the 30th of April, shipped on the 4th, received on the 13th via Royal Mail Tracked & Signed + Correos. Comicana (15th order): I bought this one for the classic reprint of issues 98-100. Pity it doesn't include the covers.
More reprints from the 80s.
I didn't have anything from Marcos Martin, basically because he's done little, and he lets Slott write too many of the scripts . I could've gone with No One Dies, but that's way more expensive. Some nice art by Alan Davis and DelMundo. Greg Pack kept the pace.
Interesting art and script.
Most of the Edmondson/Gerads run. A somewhat different Punisher from the norm (Ennis/Dillon).
Probably the best work I've seen from Bagley, and it was the end of the Ultimate Universe, too.
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Post by Ozymandias on May 17, 2022 10:45:09 GMT
Bought on the 7th, shipped on the 10th, received on the 16th via PostNL + MRW. 2nd House of M order: The one that motivated the order. After searching @ eBay, LSC, MHC (nothing there), this is the most reasonably priced copy I could find:
Finishing Nighthawk, and Gerads run on The Punisher. Also replaced a bad copy of Nightwing.
More copies to replace. The ones II had were NM, but with a lot of glue residue left from bad quality price stamps. I seem to recall I bought them at Gosh Comics, well before they moved.
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Post by Ozymandias on Jun 7, 2022 12:24:17 GMT
Bought on the 19th, sent on the 20th, received on the 23rd via Correos. Amazon (ES): Bought on the 30th, sent on the 31st, received on the 5th via Amazon (that's right, on a Sunday afternoon!). Amazon (UK): Bought on the 20th (below right), shipped on the 20th, received on the 23rd via Royal Mail 2nd Class Parcel (to UK address). UK eBay seller: Bought on the 20th (above left), shipped on the 24th, received on the 27th via Royal Mail 2nd Class (to UK address). UK eBay seller.
Bought on the 20th, shipped on the 23rd, received on the 25th via Royal Mail 2nd Class (to UK address). UK eBay seller:
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Post by Ozymandias on Jun 7, 2022 13:09:32 GMT
Bought on the 24th, sent the same day, received on the 2nd via DHL + Correos. German eBay seller: Bought on the 28th, shipped on the 31st, received on the 7th via Royal Mail Tracked & Signed + Correos. Comicana (16th order):
A couple of minis, Warren Ellis. Not his best work, but below 4€ each, with postage and taxes included, is good.
More Ultimate Spider-Man, they were on sale (not the same thing as "cheap"). Now I have a hole: #156, which is more difficult/expensive because... Bagley returns? I don't know, it looks like any excuse is a good reason nowadays.
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Post by Ozymandias on Jun 7, 2022 13:29:42 GMT
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Post by Ozymandias on Jun 14, 2022 15:06:50 GMT
Bought on the 8th, sent on the 9th, received on the 14th via Amazon. Amazon (UK):
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Post by Ozymandias on Jul 18, 2022 13:56:24 GMT
Changing my tune of late, I started buying some European (or Argentinian) comics at the end of last month. Summer loot, part 1. From todocoleccion, paid on the 26th, sent on the 28th, received on the 29th! via Correos: This is a big one, contains four different albums and it will soon go OOP. I got it with a 20% discount over cover price, even with postage added. It comes from the authors of the best selling Spanish comic of the last 5 decades. You may notice some Joe Kubert influence, but I'd say he surpasses the master. From todocoleccion, paid on the 27th, sent on the 27th!, received on the 30th via Correos: Both where a little worse for the wear, but the seller refunded the one on the right, because his listing didn't reflect the condition. Totally opposite attitude to the one farther down. Speaking of influences, the one on the left changed his style at some point, to ride the wave of success the guy in the compilation above was enjoying. From todocoleccion, paid on the 27th, sent on the 28th, received on the 30th via Correos:
Here he was already imitating the best-seller, although it's not so evident as in some of his contemporary work, because the target of his "homage" never worked in color, or at least, it can be said that Bernet never cared to do the coloring. Ortiz, on the other hand, made and excellent transition from B&W. From todocoleccion, paid on the 27th, sent on the 29th, received on the 1st via Correos: The great Carlos Giménez, active since the 50's, still published his latest work just last year. Obviously he's far from zenith, as seen in the free adaptation of Stanislaw Lem above, but I can't think of any other octogenarian comic book artist. Many compared him to Eisner in the 70's, but I'd say he confers far more emotion without any of the melodrama. From todocoleccion, paid on the 28th, sent on the 29th, received on the 1st via Correos:
This is the seller I was talking about before. Advertises something as "perfect", replies in the same sense to a specific question about the condition, sends something FN and eludes any responsibility at all, after lying some more. One of the worst buying experiences ever.
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Post by Ozymandias on Jul 18, 2022 15:53:23 GMT
Summer loot, part 2. From todocoleccion, paid on the 29th, sent on the 4th (vacation), received on the 5th! via Correos: What Carlos Giménez is to Spain, Horacio Altuna is to Argentina. Although their strengths couldn't be farther apart. Despite his intentions to delve in social issues, as evidenced by his first success as a complete author (Chances), he ended relegated to depicting women as objects, for a very well known American magazine. Paid on the 28th, sent on the 1st, received on the 18th! via Correos (economy). Spanish eBay seller: Same Argentinian writer as the last ones with Altuna, this time teaming up with Breccia's son, Enrique. Very long series which has been compiled in numerous occasions at both sides of the Atlantic. I chose this edition and this issue because it contains the best three stories I've read of the character. I haven't read them all, but enough to know what to expect. Bought on the 28th, sent on the 30th, received on the 4th via Correos. Amazon (ES): Two more examples of the great Italian master's work. Slightly dented, could've been much worse given the "packaging", but partially reimbursed. I ended paying 15€ each. Bought on the 28th, sent on the 30th, received on the 4th via GLS. 4th Universal Comics order: Same guys from the ones in the previous post, were the artist was imitating the guy below, but not they're in full swing. Notice how the face on the left side of volume four is an exact copy of Luca Torelli's famous attitude.
And here we have the original, Torpedo. It's been reprinted so many times and by so many publisher, often in several formats... it's the equivalent of Watchmen. This omnibus is huge, 720 pages of thick paper, the same size Spider-Man By Roger Stern and just as good. The other one is rather peculiar, a favorite of mine. Bought on the 4th, shipped on the 11th, received on the 14th via UPS. 5th Walt's Comic Shop order: Last examples of European comic. Back to super-heroes.
I didn't quite like the series, which is why I turned to the original. Almost anything with Quitely inside is worth it.
Same thing for Brian Hitch, even if he's only around for half the book. Anyway, it was the shop's anniversary and I got it for 20€. NM as usual.
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