Conversion of Assets IV

The recent discovery of a small cache of coins lead to a case of 'silver-fever' in the ranks at Clint Carson's Collectibles, and soon the rummaging began for items in the cast-off box to see what could be traded for the "poor man's gold". In short order a vintage Mego 'Mad Monsters' Wolfman Action Figure was uncovered! This 8" action figure featured Glow-in-the-Dark claws and eyes! The Copyright date on the body reads MCMLXXI (1971), though the actual release of the Mad Monsters line was between 1973/74. The figure has its original costume as well, except for the shoes, which went missing over the years. The overall condition of the figure is very good with some signs of wear-and-tear, but most joints still tight and poseable. The glow in the dark plastic of the eyes has softened into a globule near the eyeballs, and there are some other cosmetic issues, but those have no appreciable effect on the quality of the figure. This 'Mad Monsters' Wolfman was sold for $28.48 USD.

In turn, the 'silver-fever' was sated when a series of American Roosevelt dimes were found. In 1946 the new Roosevelt dime replaced the Winged Liberty Head ("Mercury") dime, and, like its predecessor, those minted before the passage of the Coinage Act of 1965 are comprised of 90% silver and weigh 2.5 grams. The price of silver has slid back in recent weeks, and as of this writing a gram of silver valued at approximately $0.96 USD. Regardless, each dime, with a face value of only 10 cents, is now worth $2.16 USD in silver content alone. As such, the Mego 'Mad Monsters' Wolfman was effectively traded for 13 dimes with a combined face value of $1.30! But although the figure was not of the quality that was appreciated here, it has now gone to a new home where, hopefully, it is given the attention it deserves.

Thor 160

Thor issue 160, by Stan (the man) Lee and Jack (king) Kirby, was published by Marvel Comics with a cover date of January 1969. Jack Kirby (August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994), born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor, and one of the most influential creators in the comic book medium. Teaming up with writer/editor Stan Lee on The Fantastic Four in 1961, the series became a hit that revolutionized the industry. The same creative team, joined by scripter Larry Lieber (Stan's brother), debuted Thor in Journey into Mystery 83 (August 1962), an anthology which was retitled Thor with issue 126 (March 1966). With Thor, Kirby continued to expand the medium's boundaries, working with photo-collage and developing new drawing techniques such as the method for depicting energy fields now known as "Kirby Krackle", and other experiments.

Galactus first appeared on the scene in Fantastic Four 48 “The Coming of Galactus!”, and after he left he wasn’t supposed to return for a very long time. Needless to say, Galactus became an immediate hit with the readers and Lee, ever in touch with the fan base, prompted Kirby to bring Galactus back in not only Fantastic Four, but Thor as well. Issue 160 brings us the first part of Galactus vs. Ego! Planet eater vs. living planet - with the colonizers of Rigel, the Recorder, and Thor in the middle! This copy is estimated to be in a very collectible VF+ condition, with nice cover gloss, creamy/white pages, and a tight centerfold. The main critique of its condition is a small 1/3 inch crease on the bottom right-hand corner of the cover. Acquired some years ago for only $10 CDN, the book is both a great work of art and a great investment.

Walt Disney's Seven Dwarfs figurines

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Based on the German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, it is the first full-length cel animated feature in motion picture history. The film premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre on December 21, 1937, to a wildly receptive audience, receiving a standing ovation at its completion from a star-studded audience that included such celebrities as Charlie Chaplin, Shirley Temple, Ginger Rogers, Clark Gable and a host of others. RKO Radio Pictures put the film into general release on February 4, and it went on to become a major box-office success, making four times more money than any other motion picture released in 1938. Further, noted critics and filmmakers, such as Sergei Eisenstein and Charlie Chaplin, praised Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as a notable achievement in cinema.

Frank Seiberling, founder of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, so named in honor of Charles Goodyear who invented vulcanized rubber, also founded the Seiberling Rubber Company in 1921. In 1933, Tom Casey, the company's Vice-President, happened to catch a showing of Walt Disney's Three Little Pigs at a local theater and, according to a 1938 newspaper article, ventured out west to secure the rights to produce rubber figurines based on characters from the Three Little Pigs. Casey also believed Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarf's was going to be a huge hit, so much so that his factory produced 40,000 of the figurines in anticipation of the film's success. The figures appeared in the marketplace two months prior to the film's premiere, and although sales may have been slow to start, when Walt Disney's feature went into general release in 1938, Snow White mania swept the nation. Unfortunately, most of Seiberling's toys have fallen victim to oxidation, leaving collectors hard pressed to find examples in anything better than very good condition.

Spawn Promotional Poster

Spawn is a fictional comic book character, created by writer/artist Todd McFarlane, who first appeared in Malibu Sun #13 (May 1992), and afterward in a monthly comic book published by Image Comics. This promotional poster measures 28 cm by 40.5 cm when fully open, and features a full color image of McFarlane's Spawn. When folded, the poster features two additional black-and-white images by McFarlane. Designed for advertising use, the poster came pre-folded, and is therefore in its original condition. As an advertising piece, this poster pre-dates the release of Spawn #1, and although the popularity of Spawn has faded over time, the launch of Image Comics is still considered a milestone event that rocked the Comic book industry.

Todd McFarlane, born March 16, 1961, is a Canadian cartoonist, artist, writer, toy designer and entrepreneur, best known for his work in comic books. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, McFarlane became a comic book superstar due to his work on Marvel Comics' Spider-Man franchise. After Spider-Man #16 (Nov. 1991), McFarlane left the book due to creative differences with new editor Danny Fingeroth, and helped form Image Comics, pulling the occult anti-hero Spawn from his high school portfolio, and updating him for the 1990s. Spawn was a popular hero in the 1990s, and encouraged a trend in creator-owned comic book properties.