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AN EXCITING MONTH AT COMICCONNECT

We should start out this month's edition by welcoming the many, many new subscribers to the ComicConnect newsletter. Lots of people have only just recently joined ComicConnect after learning about the site from all the news stories surrounding the the rare copy of Action Comics #1 CGC 6.0 (unrestored) that is currently grabbing the attention of collectors around the world! For those of you who are new to comic books, we invite you to enjoy the hobby, and all the wonderful titles and genres it has to offer.

 

For readers interested in learning more about the Action #1, just search Google News for "ComicConnect", and over 270 related articles will appear. Last Friday, news stories graced the homepages of MSN.com, CNN.com & FoxNews.com. There are even articles about the auction written in Russian.

 

One of the highlights includes this video interview with our CEO, Stephen Fishler, produced by the Associated Press.

 

This coming Friday, March 6th, our COO, Vincent Zurzolo, will be returning to the Fox Business Channel for a follow-up interview to the one he conducted November 15th, 2007 (click here to see). The interview should air between 10:30 - 11:00 AM EST.

 

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COMICCONNECT RINGS OPENING BELL FOR EVENT AUCTION

Start your engines!  COMICCONNECT’S EVENT AUCTION roared into action Friday, February 27th, and lots are now open for bidding!

 

Headlining the auction is the unrestored ACTION COMICS #1 CGC 6.0 FINE making news across the globe.  Hailed as one of the most beautiful unrestored copies known to exist of the “Holy Grail of Comic Books”, it is the nicest Action #1 to come to auction in a very long time.  Best of all, it’s the first time this particular copy has been on the market since 1951, when it was purchased at a second-hand shop for a mere 35¢ by a young boy.

 

That’s not the only major key comic in the auction.  ComicConnect is very pleased to bring these heavy-hitting rarities to you!

High-grade Silver Age Marvel bidders will rejoice, as will Timely collectors, and here is just a small sample.

 

DC collectors have a huge selection from which to choose, and here are some examples.

Golden Age buyers will jump for joy when they see all the pedigrees and high-grades in this Event Auction.  Here is but a small taste.

As always, ComicConnect.com does not charge buyer’s premiums.  Winners pay the hammer price  plus shipping (and sales tax only if they live in the State of NY).  The Event Auction will conclude in three separate sessions ending March 13th, 14th & 15th between 7 PM – 11 PM EST.

 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL THE COMICCONNECT EVENT AUCTION LOTS!

 

The auction is online.  For assistance creating an account or questions about bidding, email support@comicconnnect.com or call 212-895-3999.  For international callers, dial 001-212-895-3999.

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WHO WON COMICCONNECT'S CASH DRAWING AT NY COMIC CON?

Congratulations are in order to Gary Chen, Brooklyn native, and winner of the ComicConnect.com cash drawing from NY Comic Con.

 

Pictured here, Gary (left) with his friend, Elson Chang (right), came by ComicConnect’s offices to pick up the winnings after being notified via the email he provided to subscribe to ComicConnect’s mailing list.

 

Gary, a fan of Superman but relative new-comer to the comic book hobby, came to NY Comic Con on a lark to see what it was all about. Little did he know that he would be the lucky winner of the ComicConnect drawing!

 

Before leaving the office with a check for $200, Gary refused to promise that he would not “blow all the money on comic books.”

 

On behalf of ComicConnect and their friends, we give three cheers for Gary and welcome him to the hobby!

 

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SHOWCASE #4 CGC 9.2 RACES INTO COMICCONNECT EVENT AUCTION

ComicConnect.com is pleased to announce the addition of an unrestored, high-grade, Showcase #4 CGC 9.2 in their current Event Auction.

 

According to the CGC census, this copy is the third highest graded copy of the historic issue in existence. In September 2008, ComicConnect set records with the sale of a 9.4 copy at $160,200.

 

Showcase #4 was originally published in September of 1956, noteworthy for being the first appearance of The Flash (as we know him today), and is hailed as the first comic book of the Silver Age of comics.

 

“During the early and mid-1950s, the comic book industry was dying,” stated ComicConnect COO, Vincent Zurzolo. “Superheroes were not popular, and parents were being warned that comic books corrupted youth. Publishers were going out of business. It was the debut of the red-costumed Flash that reinvigorated interest, breathed new life into readership, and saved the media from extinction.”

 

Investment speculators may be among the biggest bidders participating in this auction. Last summer’s Batman movie lead to a dramatic upswing in values for early, key Batman comic books, as did the Spider-Man movies for Spidey issues. Warner Brothers currently has director David Dobkin (The Wedding Crashers) attached to direct The Flash movie, but time will tell just when it will hit production.

 

Click here to view the Showcase #4 CGC 9.2

 

This lot is currently accepting bids, and will end in Session III on Sunday, March 15th between 7 PM – 11 PM EST.

 

For more information about ComicConnect and the Event Auction, visit www.comicconnect.com, call 212.895.3999 or email support@comicconnect.com.


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RARE DETECTIVE COMICS #1 - #26 AT AUCTION NOW - OWN A PART OF HISTORY!

Most comic aficionados worth their salt know Detective Comics’ place in history as the longest-running ongoing American comic book series. First published in March of 1937, Detective Comics has entertained generations, spanning 72 years with over 850 issues published. The series not only gave rise to the popular superhero, Batman (who debuted in 1939’s issue #27), the initials of Detective Comics are also where the publisher DC Comics got its namesake. In fact, readers can trace Batman’s roots in his role as a “detective” because of the series’ original theme of hard-boiled detective stories featuring characters such as Slam Bradley (created by Siegel & Shuster) and Ching Lung.

 

Another landmark storyline of the series includes crime-fighter Crimson Avenger, who first appeared in issue #20, and the very first published image of Superman in an advertisement in issue #15. The covers and artwork of each book were adorned by the likes of trail-blazing Golden Age legends Creig Flessel, Fred Guardineer, Fred Chambers and Vin Sullivan (the first editor who drew the cover to #1).

 

Pre-Batman issues of Detective Comics are very difficult to find in any grade, so when a complete run of issues #1 - #26 are split up and brought to market, it is a rare opportunity for serious collectors to acquire them. Between now and Saturday, March 14th, they will have this opportunity in Session II of the ComicConnect Event Auction. These comics, all unrestored and no lower than Good/Very Good condition, and come from a single collector.

 

Click here to see the Detective Comics Event Auction lots!

 

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1ST AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLISHED COMIC COMES TO AUCTION

ComicConnect.com is pleased to bring to auction a very noteworthy comic book. The auction lot, entitled All-Negro Comics #1, is one of the most rare comic books in the world, and was the first comic published and created by African-American creators. The driving force behind the comic was Orrin C. Evans (1902-1971), whom today is credited as being “The Father of Black Comic Books”. To the mainstream world, Mr. Evans is also lauded as being the “Dean of Black Reporters”. By working at the Philadelphia Record, Orrin Evans broke the race-barrier to become the “first black writer to cover general assignments for a mainstream white newspaper in the United States” (source: TomChristopher.com).

 

Prior to All-Negro Comics #1 (and for a longtime after), it was unheard of to see African-Americans portrayed as protagonists in comic books. Mr. Evans sought provide youth, including his own children, with positive stories and morality tales about black heroes and characters. The artists included Orrin’s brother George J. Evans Jr., John Terrill, and two other artists known only as Cooper and Cravat. Evans received additional support from Harry T. Saylor, editor at the Philadelphia Record, and Bill Driscoll, Sports Editor.

 

The stories in All-Negro Comics #1 included Ace Harlem (a chisel-chinned detective), Lion Man (an American-born, college educated scientist dressed in African warrior garb), the Little Dew Dillies (cherub-like little people that only babies can see and talk to), L’il Eggie (an Archie-like character), Sugarfoot and his sidekick Snake Oil (two traveling minstrels), and Hep Chicks on Parade, which was a series of humorous “girlie” cartoons. The comic also contained a two page text story entitled “Ezekiel’s Manhunt”, about a young heroic boy who matches wits against a murderer hiding from the law.

 

The comic series never saw a second issue. Some theorize the 15 cent cover price was a drawback to potential young buyers, because rival comic books at the time only cost 10 cents. By other accounts, the printer refused to do a second run, possibly because their larger client, DC, did not wish to see the entrance of a new competitor at a time when demand for comic books was beginning to decline.

 

According to the Overstreet Price Guide, the comic is “seldom found in fine or mint condition, and many copies have brown copies”. The All-Negro Comics #1 at auction is tied for the top highest graded copy on the CGC Census, slabbed as a 7.5 VF- with off-white pages.

 

The All-Negro Comics #1 CGC 7.5 is part of the ComicConnect Event Auction. This lot is currently accepting bids, and will end in Session I on Friday, March 13th between 7 PM – 11 PM EST.

 

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MOCCA NYC SPONSORS WATCHMENT EVENT

Benefit Screening of WATCHMEN, March 5, 2009
Plus VIP reception, silent auction and Watchmen: Portraits book signing event.

 

This once-in-a-lifetime evening begins with a reception at MoCCA for The Art of Watchmen exhibition, continues with an advance screening of Watchmen at AMC 19th St., and concludes with an author signing of Watchmen Portraits by Clay Enos.

 

5 PM: VIP Reception & SILENT AUCTION at MoCCA
7 PM: SCREENING at AMC 19th Street 890 Broadway
10 PM: AFTERPARTY back at MoCCA with special guests and a signing of Watchment: Portraits by Clay Enos.

 

Tickets are $100 / $75 for MoCCA members, available online, by visiting or calling MoCCA, Tuesday – Saturday. All proceeds from this special event go to support MoCCA programming. 

For more information, please visit: www.moccany.org.

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COMICCONNECT EVENT AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS GALLERY

Below is just a small selection of the 655 Event Auction lots listed in the ComicConnect Event Auction - concluding in three separate sessions ending the weekend of March 13th, 14th & 15th!

Click here to view all the lots included in the auction!