And ASM V2#25 makes it a full run

That's  right, kids, I now have a complete run of Amazing Spider-Man. Yes, that's including Spidey's first appearance in Amazing Fantasy # 15.

The really interesting thing (to me) is that the last couple of issues I needed to collect to complete my full run of this series were not the lower-numbered (earliest) issues, but the ones that came out in the mid-to-late '90s. In fact the final issue I needed (the one I received today) was actually Amazing Spider-Man Vol 2 #25. For some reason this single issue has proven to be harder to track down than some of the more "exotic" issues.

Near as I can figure (because there really is nothing extraordinarily special about it as far as I can tell), is that it came out at a time when Marvel was playing everything close to the vest and (quite literally) only printed what was ordered. Thus proving that scarcity coupled with demand is what determines pricing, not price guide guides or hype.

I've been looking for this particular issue for well over a year now, but most of the time that I saw it (when I could actually find it), the issue was priced well beyond, not only what I was willing to spend for it, but way beyond what the issues on either side of it were commanding.

Sure I wanted it, but no, I simply was not going to pay that much for the issue. As it turns out, I didn't have to (over)pay for it. Even as I searched for it at conventions, I stalked it online at auction sites. I did see it a couple of times priced lower (and missed the bid), but more often than not, I saw it much higher. Finally, the other day I saw it at a reasonable price (a touch higher than I was hoping to pay for it, but not so much so as to make acquiring it painful), so I snatched it up.

Now I just have to look over the other Spider-Titles to see what's missing and then set about filling in those holes as well.

It starts here!

The Ramones, Spider-Man, what more need be said!



My day is off to a great start!

It’s all about the toy

The other day I went to the store to purchase some Cheerios (which were on sale at the time), and one of the two boxes I purchased contained a toy. Sure it was also a (slightly) larger size than the box I had originally intended to buy but it was also the “regular”  Cheerios (I had my sights set on one of the many flavored varieties). What made me change my mind (other than the (slightly) larger size)? Well it was the inclusion of a pull-back car packed in the box.

What can I say, I didn't necessarily want the toy car (it isn’t a Spidey thing), but well, it was a toy.

Oh, and in case you think I’ve gone completely Spidey-less, here is an “ice cup” I’ve had in my freezer for months, that I just took out as I’m really not using it, and it’s just taking up space.

You keep this in your freezer and then when you pour a drink in it you don't need ice. However, it is really a kid’s cup, and never actually held a large enough drink for my tastes. So now it gets packed away with my 42 trillion metric tones of Spidey stuff.

One more Cap toy for the road...

So I was (as usual) at the movies and decided to splurge for a bucket of popcorn (hey, it was my birthday). Well as it turns out, the theater (a multiplex) still had Captain America popcorn buckets left over from this Summer’s Captain America movie. Well, I had never acquired on (and am not even sure I knew that this promotion was going on at the time), so I managed to score me yet another piece of cool Marvel swag (plus it was free refill, so you know I got me some of that as well).

And it goes so well w/my Captain America cup.

Don’t you wish you were me?

Spidey, Iron Man, & Hulk

Here is a cool vid of three of Marvel’s best kicking the bejeasus out of some giant robots. Very cool.

Yes, today is my birthday!

Started today off pretty good, as I discovered the card my lovely daughter left for me. It contained some prety nifty Spidey stuff.

First up, Tattoos:

Then Stickers:

And finally, there was also what appears to be the key to the Spider-Lair!

Pretty cool, eh?

Marvel Oyster Festival Swag

When I was meeting Spidey and Co. at this year’s Oyster Festival, I was able to acquire some cool swag from the heroes. The first one (even though you can’t really tell from the scan), is a hologram “flicker” card featuring Wolverine. 

I was also able to acquire a Marvel autograph card signed by Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, and (of course) the Green Goblin.

I know, you’re totally jealous!

Spider-Man & Friends @ the Oyster Festival

During this year’s annual Norwalk Seaport Association’s Oyster Festival I (for the third, fourth? year in a row) hung out with my favorite superheroes. As always, it was way fun, and well, here are some of the photos I took of them in action.

Then, after the show, I got to pose with the guys, how cool was this?

Now, for the next year, this will be my computer's desktop wallpaper.

It's still about Cap

Yeah, yeah, I know that the Marvel Comics Film, Captain America is over, but just the other day I discovered a Captain America movie cup, and well, I just had to share it with you all.

Pretty cool, eh?

Spider-Man and the Ducklings

You too can be Spider-Man

This concept photo (taken after Spider-Man Two) not only won its photographer a contest, but was amazingly prescient  as it (apparently) foresaw the appearance of a new Spidey.