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Your narrator, the Leader
The Leader attended the Virginia Comic Con on 30 September 2017 with his traveling companion Jim Frost. They did not attend this show a few months ago because it was held at a less desirable location but for this September the convention was back in its regular location in the main hall at the Richmond International Raceway and hopefully will remain there. The Leader enjoyed seeing again his friends who usually attend this show: Guy Rose, Donald Jones, Julio Crespo, Robert Griffin and his favorite comic book dealer, Gene Carpenter. In keeping with tradition, the Leader and Jim stopped at Sal’s Italian Restaurant in Williamsburg on their way home.

Click here for the Main Introduction Page to see the Leader’s Reports on the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Con and Baltimore Comic Con

Click on any image below to see it much larger with more detail.

Guy Rose’s Booth
Jim Frost, Guy Rose, Donald Jones, Julio Crespo, Michael Lantz. Veteran comic dealer Guy Rose and his partners Donald and Julio always set up at this show. Jim (at far left) always does some business with Guy. Michael Lantz is dealer Robert Griffin’s associate and dropped by to visit Guy’s booth to see what new comics he might have. Michael’s great uncle was the famous cartoon animator Walter Lantz best known for inventing Woody Woodpecker.
Jim Frost & Guy Rose
Jim Frost and Guy Rose enjoying a moment of levity together.
Guy Rose
Guy Rose always has a good selection of Golden Age comics with these two examples just being the tip of the iceberg: Superman #16, 1942 with the first Lois Lane cover on that title and Superman #8, 1941. Lois Lane’s first appearance on a DC comics cover was Action #29, 1940 which Guy either has had, maybe has now or can get for you.
Gene Carpenter
Veteran comic dealer Gene Carpenter of All American Comics always has the largest and best selection of Golden and Silver Age comics at this show and most of the 40 or so shows he sets up at each year. Here he is in a quite moment surrounded by his massive inventory pondering over a few of his comics.
Gene Carpenter
A recent acquisition by Gene, Another World #5, 1952 with a cover by famous comic book and pulp magazine artist Norman Saunders. The Tomb Of Terror #14, 1952 is a file copy from the Harvey Warehouse bought by Diamond Distributors owner Steve Geppi many years ago.
Robert Griffin & Jim Frost
Robert Griffin always attends this quarterly Virginia Comic Con show and I also see him at the Baltimore Comic Con each year. He told me he was doing better at this show than the Baltimore show last week because he was selling as many comics but the table fees for this show are much cheaper than in Baltimore. Robert looks like he’s having a good time going through Jim Frost’s box of Golden and Silver Age goodies.
Robert Griffin
Robert and Jim did a big trade and cash deal for the first time together at this show and here is one of the comics Robert got from Jim, Superman #57, 1949. Robert said he liked old Superman comics and Jim and I noticed he didn’t have any on his display wall.
Tommy Donovan
I’ve seen Tommy Donovan of Richmond Comix a few before at this show but haven’t taken his picture in a long time. Here’s Tommy with the rare and sought after Marvel b&w magazine Savage Tales #1, 1971 with Conan the Barbarian on the cover. Marvel had tried to break into b&w magazine publishing in 1968 with two Spectacular Spider-Man magazines to compete with Jim Warren’s company. Both those two magazines and this first Savage Tales magazine didn’t cause Warren to lose any sleep. It wasn’t until two years later that the second issue of Savage Tales appeared. The title caught on with the second attempt partly because Marvel by then finally had lots of other b&w magazine titles to form a self sustaining line, at least through most of the 1970s.
Brett Carreras’s Booth
Long time Dave’s Comics store owner Dave Luebke passed away in 2016 and later his partner Brett Carreras who promotes the Virginia Comic Con bought all the remaining inventory from his widow. All or most the nice Marvel comics you see on the display walls here are originally from Dave’s Comics. Brett’s associate Marlin is showing off four interesting comics. From the left to right: Fantastic Four #51 has the noteworthy “This Man This Monster Story” that the fans like and Marvel kingpin Stan Lee says he likes since it tells a dramatic story without the customary violent action of the good guys battling a super-villain. Fantastic Four #25 is always popular because it features the longest and most spectacular battle between the Thing and the Hulk. Strange Tales #120 features an early X-Men cross-over into another title and is the first and only time the Ice-Man and the Human Torch teamed up in the Silver Age. Strange Tales #134 isn’t really a key issue but it has a number of interesting points. It features a Watcher cover. The villain is one of my favorites - Kang the Conqueror. Some fans like this issue because the interior story is inked by famous EC comics artist Wally Would who didn’t do lots of work for Marvel. This is also the last issue that starred the Torch and the Thing before they were replaced by Nick Fury. Heck, with all that unusual stuff maybe it is a key anyway.
Robert Griffin, Michael Lantz, Jim Frost
Right before closing time Jim Frost made another pass at Robert Griffin’s booth and it looks like they did a little more wheeling and dealing to supplement what they had done earlier. Robert’s associate Michael is looking on.
Jim Frost & Gene Carpenter
The show is over but as is customary at this show, Gene Carpenter is the last dealer to break down and hit the road. Part of the custom is for Jim Frost to spend another 30 minutes or more searching Gene’s inventory and maybe continuing to do last minute deals with Gene. Jim is famous for his tenacity and Gene is famous for his patience so they make a good team.
Gene Carpenter & Jim Frost
Gene takes out a few seconds from breaking down his display walls to explain to Jim why there is no price sticker on this copy of Amazing Fantasy, #15, 1962: Gene uses only small price stickers on his comics and the stickers don’t have room on them to write the five digit figure Gene is asking for this comic: $30,000.
Click here for the Main Introduction Page to see the Leader’s Reports on the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Con and Baltimore Comic Con