Sixty Years of Fantastic Four

Quite a few years back. Was doin' some work related research at a public library outskirt of Washington, DC. Wallowing through the isles of books our eye happened to catch the title of a particular volume of interest, Comic Book Prices For Collectors, or somethin' like that. Immediately pulled it off the shelf and grabbed a chair. Was a big comic book fan as a kid and had a big box of old comics, say circa 1958 - 1967, stashed away at the old homestead back in PA. Exactly 500 as we recall last count, had been years. Mostly Marvel Comics ranging from late 50's favorite war, horror and monster tales right into their early 60's transition to super heroes beginning with 1961's Fantastic Four. 

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Totally unknown to us until we picked up issue #5 off the revolving wire comic rack at the local newsstand. After getting home and reading it ten times over, all the while scrutinizing Jack Kirby's brilliant artwork panel by panel, we immediately resolved to seek out issues #1 through #4. Not hard to do back then. The newsstands only kept the current months comics shelved, to be immediately replaced when the next months issues rolled in. The now "back issues" gone from the newsstand for good. There was an Outlet Store (junk shop) in town. They apparently picked up much of the surplus comics from the distributors, newsstands, grocery stores and such. That was the place ya' went to for the back issues - no Amazon, eBay and such back then. They had several large cardboard boxes of comics along a back wall. No order or organization. Considering our recollection of the size of the box of our 500 count, those boxes must have contained 800+ assorted comics. We left with issues #1 through #4 in hand. A fifth forgotten purchase gave us the stores usual bargain price of 5 comics for 25cents.

For the five FF comics alone, lets look at the values indicated in that aforementioned library collectors price guide for modern collectors pricing:

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$25,000

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$8,000

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$5,000

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$5,000

With that issue #5 listed at $10,000 - sounds like we got a heck of a deal back then - all five for 37cents. And that doesn't include the other 495 comics in that "box up in the attic" which we knew included first and all early issues of titles like X-Men, Daredevil, Hulk, Sgt. Fury and Howling Commandos and Avengers to list a few.

Hightailed it back to PA that weekend, first stop the old homestead. Took the second floor staircase two stairs at a time - the attic staircase three. Top of the staircase and a quick scan around the attic. Other than a few old suitcases and Christmas decorations, the attics bare. Back down the stairs five at a time to search out mom. 

"What happened to everything in the attic??!!"

"Oh, I gave all that stuff away a few years ago - what are ya' lookin' for sweetie?"

Somethin' to strangle her with.