Comics Buyer's Guide (1971) comic books 1971-1973

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"The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom" #8, Oct. 1971. On Page 22, publisher Alan Light printed a half-page editorial/letters feature titled "Editor's Space." It was not a regular item, and did not last long. He crammed a fairly lengthy editorial and letter's column in the space, reducing it quite a bit to make it fit. But the feature is interesting today for a number of reasons: First, based on Alan Light's comments, it's clear he and Gary Groth were still pals, so it pre-dates their massive feud a couple of years later. Second, among the letters is one from longtime comics retailer Buddy Saunders (he has a half page ad in this issue). Another of the letters is from a 16-year-old fan publisher named Paul Levitz, who wrote to say his ad in TBG #2 for his fanzine "Etcetera" (which he co-edited with Paul Kupperberg), was still generating orders. Third, there's a nifty little illustration by Sam de La Rosa and Ric Cruz, who teamed up three years later to draw the cover for TBG #66. Eventually, de la Rosa turned pro and is still drawing comics to this very day. Finally, there's a letter from Jerome Sinkovec, who, like Levitz, had no idea at the time they would both later become editors of "The Comic Reader." Sinkovec's letter was in regards to an ad he was purchasing for his venerable newspaper reprint enterprise at the time, "The Menomonee Falls Gazette." 24 pgs, B&W on newsprint.

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24 pgs, B&W on newsprint.

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September 1, 1972 issue.

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The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom # (September 15, 1972) is an early-era comics ad zine featuring comic for sale lists and ads for the many fan publication of the period. This issue features a Jim Hanley cover featuring the Captain Marvel Family. Features an announcement that Don and Maggie Thompson had a baby (Stephen), and an obit for Max Fleischer. Also features a full page ad for George McGovern for president, and a buyer seeking Incredible Hulk #1 for $10. 16 pages, black and white on newsprint, tabloid 11.5-in. x 17.5-in. NOTE: Early issues were mailed free to interested comic collectors; back issues could be ordered at 25c ea. Later the publication moved to paid subscriptions.

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November 15, 1972.

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The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #38, June 15, 1973. This issue consists of two sections and 40 pages, and features a Beautiful Balloons column by Don and Maggie Thompson; and a Now What column by Murray Bishoff. There is no cover date on this issue. The contradictory Covers That Almost Made It cover consists of four rejected covers drawn by four different artists: John Cody, Bob Conway, Mike Nicastre, and Dick Kulpa. It was the only time Nicastres work appeared on the cover of an issue of TBG, but the other three eventually cracked the solo cover barrier later on. Four years later, publisher Alan Light resurrected this feature idea in TBG 227 and 233. However, he relegated it to the inside. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

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The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #39, July 1, 1973. This issue consists of two sections and 44 pages, and features an excerpt from the magazine Inside Comix #1, featuring The 10 Most Powerful Men in Comics. The 10 are, in order as listed in the article: Carmine Infantino, James Warren, Sol Harrison, Stan Lee, John Goldwater, the distributors, Sol Brodsky, Jack Kirby, Neal Adams, and Leonard Darvin. Only real old-timers might recognize Darvin, who ran the Comics Code Authority in 1973. Personally, I (Russ) had problems with the top 10 list when I first saw it back in the day, and I'm sure others did as well. Still, it was a benchmark with which to start the discussion. The photo cover is a plug for the interior excerpt. Circulation: 1,000. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

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The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #48, Nov. 15, 1973. There is no cover date on this issue, which consists of two sections and 48 pages, and features a Now What column by Murray Bishoff, and a Beautiful Balloons column by Don and Maggie Thompson. The Broom Hilda cover is by the strips syndicated cartoonist, Russell Myers. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.