Book Description

Remember those great comic books you hoarded and traded as a kid? In their book, Sanjiv Purba and Sandy Sicilia take us into the world of comic book memorabilia collecting. They share their wealth of knowledge on how to maximize your dollars to realize the greatest value of comic books. A great book of comic collecting strategy! They share how to collect wisely and how to avoid making costly mistakes. Researched and documented to identify comic book rarities, this book guides collectors through the different appearances and issues. And it is a great resource for values! 225 color photos. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is Great!!
I have been saving and collecting comics since my youth and this book is very refreshing in that the excellent colour front pages of each of the comics outlined is shown in full detail, this makes it certain that you know you are reading about the same comic as you have (or need).
The book covers and good wide range of comics and is very informative. I can't wait for the next issue to read more interesting facts of comics and review the price guide. ... Read more

Book Description

One of the world's most instantly recognizable super heroes, the Amazing Spider-Man can stick to walls everywhere-either while saving the world or while reminding his millions of fans that it's Groundhog day! The Spider-Man 2006 Calendar offers 12 different images of Marvel Comics' number-one hero. With hit movies and worldwide exposure Spider Man is sure to be one of the most sought after calendars of the year.

Reviews (4)

Comic Book Artist review
I found this book to be very poorly edited. There are a number of mistakes that make it somewhat annoying. I also found the choice of the artists in the book to be poor. This book might have been good back when it came out in 1993 but now in the year 2000 I find it to be dated.

great book that the artists havent seen before
I have shown this book to many artists for autographs and they are amazed because they havent seen this book before...it is great to update

This is a must for anyone interested in comic book art!
This excellent book covers all of the major players in the comic book art world. Kirby's introduction was one of his last written works, and is a must have for Kirby fans. Byrne's article about the art process is definitive. Ohlandt's article about the history of comic books is one of the best. Bravo!

Stunning Thriller
This is the epic tale about Woddy Allen, and his clairanet-esque fantasies of rice, laundramats, and his beloved little girl, Soon-Yi. Kelly captures the scene as if he was the matchmaker himself. I won't reveal the ending. ... Read more

Book Description

This book approaches the subject of Corporate Taxation through the prism of the Federal income tax treatment of taxable and tax-free mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Although the book discusses virtually every section of subchapter C of the Internal Revenue Code, which governs the tax treatment of corporations, the emphasis is placed on those provisions of subchapter C that have the most impact in M&A transactions. The book is structured for use both by students who have not previously been exposed to Corporate Tax and by those who have.

The book focuses principally on domestic M&A; however, because of the growing importance of cross-border M&A, the Federal income tax consequences of these transactions are also briefly examined. The book is divided into four parts. Part I contains an introduction to business tax principles, to basic corporate tax principles, and to the Federal income tax treatment of taxable and tax-free M&A. Part II focuses on taxable stock and asset acquisitions; Part III focuses on tax-free reorganizations; and Part IV focuses on special topic, including acquisitions involving partnerships and S corporations, bankruptcy issues in M&A, and policy issues. ... Read more

Book Description

Attracts comic book collectors like a magnet! Packed with nearly 100,000 clasic and contemporary comics and more than 1,000 illustrations, collectors will find updated listings for Acclaim, Classics Illustrated, Dark Horse, D.C., Marvel, and much more.

Special sections are devoted to the highly collectible Golden Age, Color Comics, Black & White comics, and Underground Comics. Each listing is cross referenced and includes issue number, title, date, artist, and current collector value. Collectors can accurately evaluate and value their collections with the grading guide, current market report, and tips for buying, selling and preserving comic books. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A fine price guide
There are plenty of price guides for comic books. I like this one because it seems the cleanest to read and follow.

Misprint... But excellent Guide!
Overall, the Comics Values Annual 2003 is an excellent Guide for Comic Book Collectors. It is easy to read and understand. The only thing that bothers me is that the Page Numbers are off by 28 Pages compared to the Index. This must be due to the 28-Page Part in the front of the book. The page numbering should have been started over on Page 29 (where the actual Price Guide begins). I keep this guide together with a calculator, look up the comic in the Index and add 28 Pages to that.

Comic Values Annual 2003
The ratings of each comic is very good, however the biggest problem is that the index gives wrong pages as to the location of many of the comics. Then too the binding is coming apart after only 45 days use. It would be a good thing to offer a replacement that is correct and better bound.

Always a pleasure
Well, well, well, it must be a new year because the new slate of comicbook price guides are (finally) out. As always, the best of the bunch is the one put out by CVA. Not only is it the easiest to read, and contains a wealth of information, it is simply the best-organized book of the bunch. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

Packed with nearly 90,000 listings and 900 illustrations of classic and contemporary treasures, Comics Values Annual is the largest, most user-friendly price guide available today. Collectors will find comprehensive listings for D.C., Marvel, Classics Illustrated, Acclaim, Dark Horse and other publishers, plus sections devoted to the Golden Age, Color Comics, Black & White Comics and Underground Comics. Each listing is cross-referenced and includes issue number, title, date, artist, and current collector value. Valuable reference sections, including a grading guide, a current market report and tips for buying, selling and preserving comic books make this the most complete reference for beginning and experienced collectors.

- Eighth edition, from the creator of Comics Collector and Comics Value Monthly magazines
- 90,000 listings and 900 illustrations of classic and contemporary comics
- Current pricing for all popular comics including Marvel, D.C., Dark Horse and much more ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Price Guide for the Rest of Us!
Now this is what I call a Price Guide. One that takes a realist look at what comicbooks are truly sellling for in today's marketplace.
I also recommend Malloy'sAmerican Games: Comprehensive Collector's Guide, and Robert J. Sodaro's Kiddie Meal Collectibles (on which Malloy is a contributor).

The Best Comicbook Price List on the Market
If you are looking for realistic, buying and/selling prices on your comicbook collection (or on comics you are wishing to purchase), then this is the price guide for you. Malloy has a solid handle on the pricing structure of the industry, and his prices are very much in line with what is going on in the marketplace. Rather than pricing comics as what he wishes they were priced, Malloy goes the extra mile to learn what they are being priced at across the country. Also, you might want to check out his board game prices in American Games: Comprehensive Collector's Guide, or his fast food toy prices in Kiddie Meal Collectibles. ... Read more

Book Description

Illustrated in black-and-white. When Ron Rooney happens upon a page torn

from a collector's guide that tells him Larry the Lizard No. 1 is worth

$1,250,000, he's ecstatic. He actually owns a copy! He races home, only to

discover that his little sister has put the comic book in her class's space

capsule on its way to Mars. But all's not lost yet. Maybe Harold Fishbone, the

shrewd fanboy, has a copy and would be willing to part with it for a couple of

dollars. All eyes are on the prize as readers follow Ron on a madcap race

against a fellow comic collector and a strange man from the future. It's every

comic-lover's dream come true...or is it?




... Read more

Book Description

Snail mail's too slow, airmail too expensive, and e-mail's too impersonal. Try Astro-mail, and take your correspondence to great heights.© 2004 Tezuka Productions/Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc. ASTRO BOY character and related indica: ® & © 2004 Tezuka Productions. All rights reserved. Distributed by Sony Pictures Television. ... Read more

Book Description

Comprehensive price guide listed by both artist and by strip. This informative, well-illustrated book by an expert in the field covers cartoon art collecting in two parts. In the first, the author gives a brief history and discussion of the creative process behind the form; in the second, he offers practical tips on collecting and caring for a collection. An appendix lists useful resources for both novices and experienced collectors. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A dependable and substantial reference and value guide.
Collecting Original Comic Strip Art! offers the collector and dealer a detailed historical account of the development and role of comic strip art as a cultural icon and as an authentic American art form. Author Jeffrey Ellinport provides a description of the creative process, terminology, and methods used in comic strip art production; tips for starting, building, and protecting a collection of this ephemeral and delicate art work; an up-to-date price guide organized by artist and by comic strip; recommended readings and detailed listings of permanent comic strip art exhibits, websites, and syndicates. Anyone wanting to explore this fascinating area of memorabilia collecting must begin by carefully reading Collecting Original Comic Strip Art!, the first dependable and substantial reference and value guide dedicated specifically to illustrated comic strip story panels and artwork.

A great resource for the serious Strip Art Collector
As a newer collector I needed some help in learning about approximate values of hard to find "off beat" Strips. This book helped me with that and more! Besides values, the author does a fine job on discussing various aspects of the field that will help any type of collector. I most highly recommend this book.

Good Intentions Do Not a Classic Make
Upon entering the field of Collecting Original Art, too many issues are not immediately obvious and the author does not appear to this decade-tenured collector to be well versed in the subtler issues and the titles and illustrations shown from the authors collection bear this out. The overview is well reasoned, however, and appear well meant, but do not address the great classic strips, the education and research that goes into World Class Collecting, and the examples (many of the finer and classic strip titles of which I've owned and which came to both Russ Cochran or Illustration House through my resources) examples of Originals are not up to par with the finest the field has to offer, by any standard. That written, and outside of the pricing section, which truly begs complaint, the book is on balance a starting point for start up collectors, and does stress,within its limits, the issues of specuation and having a true collecting spirit. Good start, but needs serious revision in future editions

Great for novices and collectors alike.
While this book is obviously geared for the serious collector, it has a lot of very intersting tid-bits, strips, and other information for the Sunday newspaper reader who is casually interested in the Comics.

An excellent book for comic strip collector.
I found this book to be well written and extremely informative. To a collector as myself, the book is an invaluable research tool that I use when deciding on which pieces to purchase for my collection. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A good effort.
As a fan of American comic books and related paraphernalia, I really enjoyed this book. True, it perhaps bit off more than it could chew, but what the heck, it was a really good effort on the part of the authors, who have written on everything from fast food toys, to action figures to non-sport trading cards and comic books. What this book really needs, however, is an update. With the explosion (and implosion) of the late '90s in the comic book field, and the new comic book movies of the early 21st century, I'm sure that there is a ton more stuff that could be added.

Its kind of helpful
Well this book gives out the basic values of almost every comic collectible ever made. I would reccomend it but rigght now you should probably get something better. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Neat little overview
Great for veteran fans and newbies alike, Sanderson offers up succinct histories of the popular Marvel characters, easy-to-read commentary, and best of all, a TON of panel/art excerpts from actual comics. A bit of the material is dated (it was published in '96), so storylines like the Spider-Clone, the 2099 Universe, and the Avengers' "Crossing" may make some wince in sorrowful remembrance. But these certainly do not detract from the overall appeal of this neatly put-together book.

Make Mine Marvel!
If you read Marvel Comics you gotta have this book. I've been reading comicbooks from Marvel for 20 years now, so this title brought practically no news for me, but I love it. It's full of pictures and informative and usefull captions, as well as characters and creators profiles and synopsis of the greatest sagas of the Marvel Universe. So, if you read either Sider-Man, the Hulk or the X-Men this has it all ('till 1996, that is): from Namor's first appearence to the Elektra Saga and Marvels, from Byrne's run is the Fantastic Four to the Age of Apocalypse, Marvel Universe covers it all. 256 pages of pure Marvel. Excelsior! P.S. If you like this book take a look at 'Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades'.

An appreciative and affectionate look at Marvel Comics
"Marvel Universe" is the companion volume to "Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics," but I did not read that volume so I am looking at the volume introducing the superheroes and supervillains of Marvel Comics. Unlike the other volume, which looked at the history of Marvel Comics decade by decade, author Peter Sanderson takes a more thematic approach, although there is a semblance of chronology involved in the order, beginning with the Fantastic Four, the comic book that effectively created Marvel Comics, and ending with the X-Men, the most popular series of today (comics like "Conan the Barbarian" therefore fall outside the scope of the "Mravel Universe"). Specifically the eight chapters divide the Marvel Universe as follows:

1. The Fantastic Four: Marvel's First Family, begins with the working relationship of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, relates the origin of the FF, focuses on the compelling character drama of the Thing, and the group's main villain Dr. Doom. After covering some of the FF's epic adventures, including the first confrontation with Galactus and the Silver Surfer, the chapter looks at some of the heroes that were created in the comic such as the Black Panther and the Inhumans.

2. The Antiheroes: Human Torch, Sub-Mariner, and Hulk looks at how two Silver Age heroes were updated for the modern era but focuses primarily on old Greenskin, including the pivotal issue #140 written by Harlan Ellison.

3. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man looks at Marvel's most popular superhero, drawn originally by Steve Ditko. This chapter covers the problems of a teenage superhero, his remorse over Uncle Ben's death, and the supporting cast, as well as the darker vision of Spider-Man brought to the comic by Todd McFarlane. Special consideration is given to the "Kraven's Last Hunt" storyline and "The Death of Aunt May" issue.

4. Avengers Assemble! covers not only Marvel's answer to the Justice League of America as a group, but the individual comic books of Captain America, Henry Pym and the Wasp, Iron Man, Hawkeye and the Black Widow, the Mighty Thor, the Vision, Wonder Man, and even the Black Knight (so you know they have covered pretty much everybody).

5. Strange Tales: Heroes of the Supernatural covers a lot of ground as well with Doctor Strange, Dracula, The Man-Thing, Howard the Duck, Ghost Rider, and other Marvel monsters.

6. Protectors of the Universe is mostly about aliens such as Captain Mar-vel, the Silver Surfer, Adam Warlock, and Nova. Also covered are such diverse comics as "Power Pack," Don McGregor and P. Craig Russell's "Killraven," and Jack Kirby's last comic creations.

7. Vigilantes and Lawmen starts with Daredevil and the Electra Saga, continues with Nick Fury (both with his Holwing Commandos and as an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and ends with the Punisher.

8. Mutantis Mutandis: The X-Men begins with the original X-Men and Magneto, through the Second Genesis and the Dark Phoenix saga, the ascendancy of Wolverine, to the proliferation of mutants in Alpha Flight, Excalibur, X-Force, and Generation X. Artists Neal Adams, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Rob Liefeld are featured in this section.

My test case for evaluating this volume was the section of 'Tomb of Dracula' (146-48) a minor cult hit all things considered but one of the best comic books I have ever read. Sanderson agrees with the verdict, praising writer Marv Wolfman, penciller Gene Colan, and inker Tom Palmer for their skilled delineation of character. After a concise description of the cast of characters and their complex relationships, there is a description of the choice story line where a character (purporting to be) Dracula, removed his vampire powers. I would have liked to have seen a reference of Dr. Sun, and the comic's wonderful sense of pacing, but this was a decent synopsis.

The key thing to remember her is that Sanderson is juggling a lot of balls. He needs to not only describe the history of each comic book along with the key characters and villains, but also try to work in an appreciation of great artists from Jack Kirby and Jim Steranko to John Byrne and Todd McFarlane, along with some of the key issues and storylines. So I was quite impressed when Sanderson worked in 'Days of Future Past' from X-Men #141 and the Silver Dagger story line in 'Doctor Strange.'

For that matter, I was also impressed that Sanderson worked in some of the most memorable PANELS from these comics: Jack Kirby showing Doctor Doom stripping the Silver Surfer's powers from FF#57, Steve Ditko's Spider-Man struggling free in ASM#33, and John Byrne's shot of Mangeto from X-Men #111. Yes, you can quibble over the details in terms of what was included and omitted, and certainly there is a better way to reproduce comic art than photocopying it or whatever, but Sanderson gets credit for covering a lot of ground and for showing a clear sense of appreciation and affection for these comic books. That is what tips the scales for me in the end.

The bottom line would be that 'Marvel Universe' constitutes a nice walk down memory lane for those who remember buying 10 cent copies of these comic books when they were called Marvel Pop Art as well as a nice history lesson for those who have come to the game when Marvel launched Volume 2 for all of its major titles.

Colourful Overview of Marvel Mainstays
Peter Sanderson's Marvel Universe is brightly coloured and reads along at a sprighly pace. All the major characters are there plus a few (too few) surprises, such as the Zombie. This is a nice book to reminisce with or, for the very beginner, to catch up on past history. Most of the colour remains in the pictures (and there is a wonderful healthy selection of those) as the writing tells the story effectively but without the excitement of the characters being described. The book could have used more opinions (good, bad, or ugly) but this is not that kind of book. It is a straight ahead history looking at the amazing changes and the even more delightful consistencies of the weird lot peopling the Marvel Universe. A nice walk down memory lane (and a chance to see just how much has already changed since this book came out in 1996.)

Marvelous
Like most of Amazon corps page layouts this one gives every symptom of being "designed" by a petty functionary in some brick faced academic institution who is resigned to being ignored for the rest of his/her life, even though he/she probably still wears a backpack and doesn't need to shave.

This along with the ignorant (as usual) Booklist review replete with every nauseating yuppie cliché which an under-appreciated under-graduate can use to satisfy his/her assistant, associate, adjunct, egg-head in diapers community college prof reeks of the kind of effete over intellectualized banality typical of self-loathing PhD's proud of their yellowing diplomas.

They're traumatized by all those Charles Atlas ad's with the scrawny geek having sand kicked in his curd face, with whom they identified. (Titter). ... Read more