Superman # 30 First Mr. MXYZTPLK

Batman # 40 A great JOKER cover!

I just got out of college, John Herron School of Art, in Indianapolis 1974 and then moved to Great Neck, New York moving in with my mother, she moved from Detroit in 1972.  There was never any thought of ever going back to my home town, 1967 was still fresh in my mind.  So I thought I'd give New York a try.  One thing is for certain, it was wonderful going to all the Comic Book Conventions in the early 1970's!!  Two years later I decided to go back to Indianapolis, apartments were far cheaper than in New York.  I got one right on 16th and Meridian looking south, can you imagine what a view like that would be in New York?  When the 500 came around, it was a first row seat to all the pre-race parades and traffic.

Jump forward to 1977, the year I discovered Mark's COMIC CARNIVAL comic shop!  This was a great place, since there were discounts on comic orders.  Back then, what was the big deal spending $3.00 on 10 comic books and that didn't even include the discount!!  I'd leave with my weekly stacks....joy!  When STAR WARS # 1 came out, I splurged and got a dozen!  Wow, an entire $3.60, but I think the discount was 10% so it was $3.24!!!

Fast forward to 1978.  I wandered into the shop, unaware what waited for me!  Once I took a look at Superman # 27 and # 32, my jaw dropped like in a Tex Avery cartoon!  It was difficult to come across Golden Age, especially copies like these.  I've always dreamed of having the "IT TICKLES!" issue and here I was, holding it in my hands.  Number 27 cost an entire $60.00 and 32, bestill my heart, $40.00!  It was a chunk of money to spend in 1978, but I wasn't letting these get away from my clutches!

Later that night I got a call from my mother and I told her that I spent $100.00 on 2 Golden Age Superman comic books.....she thought I was crazy!!!???

In 1979, I had one of those life-gives-you-a-smack-to-the-guts moments.  Moved back to New York and eventually got over my problem, but was left with the knowledge that doctors can be idiots, thankfully.  This time I stayed and eventually got a job.  Once again the Comic Book conventions were mine to enjoy.

I found Batman # 40 in April of 1981 at one of those conventions and this was priced $40.00.  What a way to waste my money!

I continued to search for Golden Age and in 1982 I went on a vacation, part of it was visiting some friends in Indianapolis.  Since I was here, I thought I'd visit Mark at COMIC CARNIVAL and see how he was doing at his new location.  It was July 10th, 1982 and I actually spent a few hours here.  While looking through a box of older comics I came across Superman # 30 and # 34.  Mark gave me a deal on both comic books, $350.00.  Golden Age was on the way up since 1978, but it was nice having # 30, which is the first appearance of MR. MXYZTPLK!  It was fun while it lasted, but Golden Age went wild.  This of course brought books out of closets & attics, but the prices weren't fun anymore.  Well, one thing is for certain, these will never be on eBay!!!