Omerta - Mobstirr's VALIANT Tale
Moderators: Daniel Jackson, greg
- mobstirr
- Is it Dee-no or Die-no? Dunno.
- Posts: 505
- Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:54:04 pm
- Location: North Carolina
Omerta - Mobstirr's VALIANT Tale
I've been a member of the boards for a month now, and an occasional lurker for sometime before that. I guess I should tell my tale...
"Call me Ishmael (Moby-Dick reference #1). Having grown up in a small rural town, and in the days before wide spread cable television, I've gravitated to comics as a form of entertainment for nearly as long as I can remember. My older cousin was a huge Conan fan, so I always had access to his collection of Conan titles and various other Marvel Bronze Age comics whenever he visited.
Fast forward to 1982. The Falklands War begins. War breaks out in Lebanon and the Soviets invade Afghanistan. Knight Rider debuts on television and Michael Jackson releases “Thriller.” Blues legend Lightnin’ Hopkins dies and hottie actress Jessica Biel is born. The Commodore 64 is released and the average price for a gallon of gasoline is $1.29. I’m 9 years old. Collecting comics seemed the norm for other 5th graders, and we traded and bartered and borrowed from one another constantly. Due to my cousin’s early influence, I collected Conan but read everyone else’s super hero titles. By the 6th grade I got hooked on Uncanny X-Men and became a “Marvel Zombie.”
A local pawn shop in my home town sold used comics, amid fishing lures and archery supplies, for $0.20 each. I would go there every chance I got since very little money would buy a whole stack of “funny books.” DC’s Weird Western Tales, Gold Key titles, then-current Independent comics – I bought and read everything I could. If I didn’t like a comic the pawn shop always bought comics for $0.10. I guess the older kids would sell their collections when they discovered girls and pot and beer, and I was there to buy them (if my mom would take me).
Probably since I was quiet while reading comics (and wasn’t aggravating my parents or kid brother), my mom was instrumental in my collecting and would let me stop at the two local 7-11’s and various drug stores to browse the spinner racks. Since my parents wouldn’t let me subscribe by mail, spinner racks were the only way I could acquire new comics until…
Fast forward 10 years. The Bosnian War begins. The Soviets announce that they will stop targeting US cities with nukes. Jay Leno begins as host on the Tonight Show. My man Bill Clinton becomes President of the US. Image Comics is founded. Blues legend Willie Dixon dies and Kurt Cobain’s daughter is born. On average, gasoline is $1.12 a gallon. I was working several jobs and attending a local community college prior to leaving for a larger university. Among my many jobs was working part time at a friend’s comic book store (for trade). With an entire shop at my disposal, I read everything I could – and discovered Valiant. Instantly recognizing Magnus and Solar from old Gold Key’s and Whitman reprints, I read a few issues and was hooked. After Unity I added all Valiant titles to my pull list and, like everyone else, began scrambling to accquire those tough to find pre-Unity back issues. You know how this part ends, so…
Fast forward to June 2007. Ongoing wars continue in Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The Soprano’s concludes after 8 years on HBO. Heiress Paris Hilton goes to jail. Gasoline is averaging over $3.14 per gallon. After I stopped collecting comics around 1994, I didn’t pick anything new up until about 2001 when I began collecting again in earnest. Having sold off nearly all of my Valiant collection before the bottom fell out in the nineties (excluding some of my favorite Solar, X-O, and Eternal Warrior issues), I became sentimental and began picking up pre-Unity Valiant’s. While doing so, I discovered ValiantFans.com and learned that the rights to the Valiant characters had recently been purchased and that a new Harbinger story by Jim Shooter is soon to be published.
I decide to finish my Pre-Unity collection. And Golds. Yes, Pre-Unity and Gold incentive issues. And VVSS. Just Pre-Unity, Golds, and the great white whales known as VVSS (Moby-Dick reference #2). And a full run of X-O. Pre-Unity, Golds, VVSS, and X-O. Aw, hell, I’ll just get an entire run of all regular issues. Pre-Unity, Golds, VVSS, and all regular issues. And a CEAR…"
"Call me Ishmael (Moby-Dick reference #1). Having grown up in a small rural town, and in the days before wide spread cable television, I've gravitated to comics as a form of entertainment for nearly as long as I can remember. My older cousin was a huge Conan fan, so I always had access to his collection of Conan titles and various other Marvel Bronze Age comics whenever he visited.
Fast forward to 1982. The Falklands War begins. War breaks out in Lebanon and the Soviets invade Afghanistan. Knight Rider debuts on television and Michael Jackson releases “Thriller.” Blues legend Lightnin’ Hopkins dies and hottie actress Jessica Biel is born. The Commodore 64 is released and the average price for a gallon of gasoline is $1.29. I’m 9 years old. Collecting comics seemed the norm for other 5th graders, and we traded and bartered and borrowed from one another constantly. Due to my cousin’s early influence, I collected Conan but read everyone else’s super hero titles. By the 6th grade I got hooked on Uncanny X-Men and became a “Marvel Zombie.”
A local pawn shop in my home town sold used comics, amid fishing lures and archery supplies, for $0.20 each. I would go there every chance I got since very little money would buy a whole stack of “funny books.” DC’s Weird Western Tales, Gold Key titles, then-current Independent comics – I bought and read everything I could. If I didn’t like a comic the pawn shop always bought comics for $0.10. I guess the older kids would sell their collections when they discovered girls and pot and beer, and I was there to buy them (if my mom would take me).
Probably since I was quiet while reading comics (and wasn’t aggravating my parents or kid brother), my mom was instrumental in my collecting and would let me stop at the two local 7-11’s and various drug stores to browse the spinner racks. Since my parents wouldn’t let me subscribe by mail, spinner racks were the only way I could acquire new comics until…
Fast forward 10 years. The Bosnian War begins. The Soviets announce that they will stop targeting US cities with nukes. Jay Leno begins as host on the Tonight Show. My man Bill Clinton becomes President of the US. Image Comics is founded. Blues legend Willie Dixon dies and Kurt Cobain’s daughter is born. On average, gasoline is $1.12 a gallon. I was working several jobs and attending a local community college prior to leaving for a larger university. Among my many jobs was working part time at a friend’s comic book store (for trade). With an entire shop at my disposal, I read everything I could – and discovered Valiant. Instantly recognizing Magnus and Solar from old Gold Key’s and Whitman reprints, I read a few issues and was hooked. After Unity I added all Valiant titles to my pull list and, like everyone else, began scrambling to accquire those tough to find pre-Unity back issues. You know how this part ends, so…
Fast forward to June 2007. Ongoing wars continue in Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The Soprano’s concludes after 8 years on HBO. Heiress Paris Hilton goes to jail. Gasoline is averaging over $3.14 per gallon. After I stopped collecting comics around 1994, I didn’t pick anything new up until about 2001 when I began collecting again in earnest. Having sold off nearly all of my Valiant collection before the bottom fell out in the nineties (excluding some of my favorite Solar, X-O, and Eternal Warrior issues), I became sentimental and began picking up pre-Unity Valiant’s. While doing so, I discovered ValiantFans.com and learned that the rights to the Valiant characters had recently been purchased and that a new Harbinger story by Jim Shooter is soon to be published.
I decide to finish my Pre-Unity collection. And Golds. Yes, Pre-Unity and Gold incentive issues. And VVSS. Just Pre-Unity, Golds, and the great white whales known as VVSS (Moby-Dick reference #2). And a full run of X-O. Pre-Unity, Golds, VVSS, and X-O. Aw, hell, I’ll just get an entire run of all regular issues. Pre-Unity, Golds, VVSS, and all regular issues. And a CEAR…"
Last edited by mobstirr on Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:57:21 pm, edited 4 times in total.
- TKWill
- Don't squeeze the Deathmate!
- Posts: 4644
- Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:42:43 am
- Location: Richardson, TX
Re: Omerta - Mobstirr's VALIANT Tale
You have all of the symptoms, although it spreading pretty reapidly in your case. I am gonna warn you now to stay away from Knightt and Chiclo they they are the DU pushers around here they have titles that are more insidious and have many more variant issues (Ultraverse). On second thought come with us, Elveen and I are dabbling in the other Dead Universes now, all the cool kids are. You know you want to.mobstirr wrote: I decide to finish my Pre-Unity collection. And Golds. Yes, Pre-Unity and Gold incentive issues. And VVSS. Just Pre-Unity, Golds, and the great white whales known as VVSS (Moby-Dick reference #2). And a full run of X-O. Pre-Unity, Golds, VVSS, and X-O. Aw, hell, I’ll just get an entire run of all regular issues. Pre-Unity, Golds, VVSS, and all regular issues. And a CEAR…"
- Elveen
- I sell comics, I collect Valiant.
- Posts: 25252
- Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:44:48 am
- Location: Educating the future of America, or something like that
Re: Omerta - Mobstirr's VALIANT Tale
ThrillKillWill wrote:You have all of the symptoms, although it spreading pretty reapidly in your case. I am gonna warn you now to stay away from Knightt and Chiclo they they are the DU pushers around here they have titles that are more insidious and have many more variant issues (Ultraverse). On second thought come with us, Elveen and I are dabbling in the other Dead Universes now, all the cool kids are. You know you want to.mobstirr wrote: I decide to finish my Pre-Unity collection. And Golds. Yes, Pre-Unity and Gold incentive issues. And VVSS. Just Pre-Unity, Golds, and the great white whales known as VVSS (Moby-Dick reference #2). And a full run of X-O. Pre-Unity, Golds, VVSS, and X-O. Aw, hell, I’ll just get an entire run of all regular issues. Pre-Unity, Golds, VVSS, and all regular issues. And a CEAR…"
..... um, wait..... ..... well...... .....
- *SQUEE*
- Clinkin' bottles with Aram
- Posts: 2541
- Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 2:48:29 am
- Location: North AM - Alberta Sector
Congrats on the spawn!mobstirr wrote:As tempting as that sounds, I can't afford another dead universe right now. I basically sell comics on eBay just to support my collecting habit. And baby #2 is on the way. Just found out today that it's a boy!
Although I do remember liking Prime, Mantra, and Firearm really well...
- leonmallett
- My mind is sharp. Like a sharp thing.
- Posts: 9444
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- Valiant fan since: 2006
- Favorite character: Shadowman (Hall version)
- Favorite title: Shadowman (under Hall)
- Favorite writer: Fred Van Lente
- Favorite artist: Clayton Henry
- Location: hunting down paulsmith56 somewhere in the balti belt...
Thanks for sharing the story, fella!mobstirr wrote:As tempting as that sounds, I can't afford another dead universe right now. I basically sell comics on eBay just to support my collecting habit. And baby #2 is on the way. Just found out today that it's a boy!
Although I do remember liking Prime, Mantra, and Firearm really well...
Give in to the DU habit, you know you want to...
- slym2none
- a typical message board assassin
- Posts: 37119
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 12:08:46 pm
- Location: Troll- free zone.
First cats, now DU's... this tactic isn't working, Leon.leonmallett wrote:Thanks for sharing the story, fella!mobstirr wrote:As tempting as that sounds, I can't afford another dead universe right now. I basically sell comics on eBay just to support my collecting habit. And baby #2 is on the way. Just found out today that it's a boy!
Although I do remember liking Prime, Mantra, and Firearm really well...
Give in to the DU habit, you know you want to...
-slym
Some people spend their whole lives believing in fairy tales, usually because they don't want to give up the fabulous prizes.
- tarheelmarine
- Ask me about the Mellow Mushroom
- Posts: 3747
- Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2004 4:14:44 pm
- Valiant fan since: 1992
- Favorite character: Magnus Robot Fighter
- Favorite title: Shadowman
- Favorite writer: Jim Shooter
- Favorite artist: Jim Calafiore
- Location: Japan
- leonmallett
- My mind is sharp. Like a sharp thing.
- Posts: 9444
- Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:39:01 am
- Valiant fan since: 2006
- Favorite character: Shadowman (Hall version)
- Favorite title: Shadowman (under Hall)
- Favorite writer: Fred Van Lente
- Favorite artist: Clayton Henry
- Location: hunting down paulsmith56 somewhere in the balti belt...
Are you sure?slym2none wrote:First cats, now DU's... this tactic isn't working, Leon.leonmallett wrote:Thanks for sharing the story, fella!mobstirr wrote:As tempting as that sounds, I can't afford another dead universe right now. I basically sell comics on eBay just to support my collecting habit. And baby #2 is on the way. Just found out today that it's a boy!
Although I do remember liking Prime, Mantra, and Firearm really well...
Give in to the DU habit, you know you want to...
-slym
Because you know you really want cats and more DU's in your life...
- mobstirr
- Is it Dee-no or Die-no? Dunno.
- Posts: 505
- Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:54:04 pm
- Location: North Carolina
It's not actually profit, as the funds always seem to find their way from my PayPal account into CKB's...Stinger wrote:I notice you're trying to make a profit out of me buying your comics on ebay. Just kidding, I'm glad that you have some left overs for me to recover anyway.
But I have been dabbling in buying bulk comics and collections and breaking them down for resale.
- Lightning Strike
- Silent from '04 to '07, then he strikes!
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Re: Omerta - Mobstirr's VALIANT Tale
Congrats on the new baby
- Daniel Jackson
- A toast to the return of Valiant!
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- tarheelmarine
- Ask me about the Mellow Mushroom
- Posts: 3747
- Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2004 4:14:44 pm
- Valiant fan since: 1992
- Favorite character: Magnus Robot Fighter
- Favorite title: Shadowman
- Favorite writer: Jim Shooter
- Favorite artist: Jim Calafiore
- Location: Japan
- mobstirr
- Is it Dee-no or Die-no? Dunno.
- Posts: 505
- Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:54:04 pm
- Location: North Carolina
I thought it added a certain "perspective" to the story. The $1.12 gasoline of our generation is the "$0.05 candy bars and sodas" our grandparents talked about.tarheelmarine wrote:indeed.Daniel Jackson wrote:Nice trip down memory lane, although being reminded of $1.12 a gallon gasoline is enough to make a grown man cry....
And yes, the current gasoline prices make me want to simultaneously cry, vomit, and wet myself.
- cobra_commander
- Dude...one word - Pterodactyls!
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- cobra_commander
- Dude...one word - Pterodactyls!
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- worldsbestcomics
- A CGC 9.8 pre-Unity complete set? Done.
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