William Ponseti
Senior NOD Board Of Directors
Senior Overstreet Advisor
Gotham39 on eBay
I have been an active member of the hobby as a collector and/or dealer since the early 1970's. My first convention was the 1974 Phoenix Con. I have sold comics via mail order catalogs, CBG ads, eBay, online websites, auctions and through my former comic book stores in New Orleans (More Fun Comics). I had the good fortune to bring to market several large, well known golden age collections, and have been a Senior Advisor to the Overstreet Price guide for many years. My market reports and articles on comics were published in CBM, CBG, Comics Source and other publications.
I truly believe in our hobby and would like to belong to an organization that fosters a level playing field for all concerned. Keeping the hobby alive and healthy is the most important thing to me, not making money at it.
Paul Janney
NOD Board of Directors
Pope-Pj On eBay
Since X-Men #211 and the Marauders to Golden Age All Stars' and All-American Adventures, I've been a dedicated private collector for over 20 years. During that time, I've enjoyed a little bit of everything and have made the transition from bronze, my original prized possessions, to an appreciation for the early works from legendary artisans such as Lubbers, Schomburg, Feldstein and others from that time period. All great works that more than have my appreciation and hard-earned dollars.
When my head isn't buried in the comic clouds I spend my free time with my beautiful wife and two wonderful kids - Daisy and Caleb - living out our days in Wonderful Wyoming. For the curious, our hometown is about 90 miles away from Edgar Church's original residence, in case you're wondering.
The voice and principles of NOD are valuable and help ensure that collectors are guaranteed a positive collecting experience. I can tell you from my own personal buying and selling experience that learning about restoration after the fact can leave a bitter taste in one's mouth. As a private collector learning more about restoration and being an advocate can only help augment my collecting knowledge. Keep on collecting!
Aaron Stechesen
NOD Board of Directors
PrairieSable.com
I have been collecting since 1979. Though I have interest in all the eras of comics from the Golden Age to now my main back issue focus has been to complete my first series Wonder Woman run. I have been at this task since 1993 when I picked up my very first Wonder Woman book (second series #77).
I have been interested in the topic of ethics in the comics market since CGC came on the scene and started acting like they were the collector's voice. It has become clear to me that much more than CGC is needed to protect the collector. I firmly believe that a ISO style accreditation governing body should be adopted for regulating the grading companies. Only their rigid designs can protect the collector, the companies and their workers. (Turtletwelve On eBay)
I have a B.A. General majoring in Anthropology and Psychology and graduated with Honours from Red River College in Chemical and Bioscience Technology. I am currently happily employed and living in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada where I work in the city's Water Pollution Control Facility lab.
Kenneth DeTora
NOD Board of Directors Alternate
Hillside Vet. Clinic P.C. and Auburn Computers
I have been interested in collecting comics since I was young. My Uncle was a collector in Middletown, CT. I have lived for the past twenty-seven years in Auburn. Ma. Mainly I am interested in collecting for enjoyment and the benefit of my children. My favorite silver age comics growing up were the Metal Men. Currently I am only a buyer on ebay and still learning who to trust. We need to develop and share list of ethical sellers!
My oldest daughter Lisa, has an art history masters and is interested in restoration. Luckily at the Boston Comic show, I met Susan Cicconi. She has been instrumental in guiding me to become a member of the NOD.
I feel honest and ethical information exchange, thru comic book sales, is paramount. People need to go back to basic values, where they trade for mutual benefit. These are the guide lines my parents tried to instill, as I was growing up! I hope to pass on these values to my four wonderful children, Lisa, Michael, Adam and Benjamin.
Jeff Rader
NOD Board of Directors Alternate
Offbeat Archives On eBay
I have been an active collector of anything and everything to do with comics since I was 7 yrs. old in '73. I tend to collect anything oddball and/or rare, though every time I see a Flash #1 or All American #16 I wish eBay would allow me to sell this extra kidney! If a book comes along that most have never seen or heard of then it is usually right up my alley. I sell on eBay, along with my daughters (Cheyenne 16 & Chumani 12), both comic nuts in their own right, under the eBay ID: Offbeat-Archives. While not anti-restoration/conservation/pressing (I studied under Bill Sarill for a short period in '86) I do believe that buyers should feel secure that they are being told everything possible about a book before adding it to their collection.
Before a few year sabbatical I was a regular contributor to the Comic Book Marketplace market reports and regularly unearthed and sold rare to previously unknown books. I also did a stint indexing as a member of the APA-I for awhile.
The comic bug has bitten again with a vengeance and with my take on honesty in selling and dissemination of knowledge joining the Network of Disclosure is only the next logical choice.
Rick Whitelock
NOD Director of Public Affairs
New Force Comics and Collectibles
While we are known as New Force "Comics", we are really known as the largest US retailer/wholesaler of Star Trek toys and action figures (that is our specialty). We sell a variety of action figures and collectibles, and we do offer local and mail order comics subscription services of new previews releases, but don't sell back issues online (only locally). Personally, I collect GA Detective and Batman comics, and the occasional GA books that grabs my attention.
(newforcecomics on eBay)
Marnin Rosenberg
NOD Director Of Operations
Senior Overstreet Advisor
CollectorsAssemble.com / ComicCollectors.net
Hello To All - I have been a Comic Book Dealer from Great Neck, Long Island, New York specializing in High Grade pre-1968 comic books for 31 years now, and a comic collector since age 6. I have been a longtime Senior Overstreet Advisor. My passion as a collector has been more than tainted over the past 7 years due to recent events within the hobby, though I still remain quite passionate about it's current and future health. This is why I began speaking out against the many things that disturbed me about the comic book business in late 2004 via editorials I wrote on ComicCollectors.net. I've learned a great deal since then regarding more efficient ways to voice my opinions, and thus it has evolved to where we are today with the creation of The Network Of Disclosure. In the summer of 2005 I moved all raw comic books from ComicCollectors.net to CollectorsAssemble.com, which launched in June. I am proud to be the foundling member of this organization, and my sincere thanks goes out to all the current Charter Members of The Network Of Disclosure, and to the many new members who have since joined the NOD.
Thank you.
Marnin Rosenberg
CollectorsAssemble.com / ComicCollectors.net
Brad Hamann
NOD Graphics Designer
Brad Hamann Illustration & Design
I began collecting silver age Marvel comics 40 years ago in 1966. I attended my first convention in July of 1968, a Phil Seuling production at the old Statler Hilton Hotel in NYC.
I have been a professional freelance illustrator for almost 30 years, working for many major publications, newspapers and ad agencies across the USA.
I joined the CGC chatboards in September of 2003 and was one of the first persons to raise questions concerning the ethical nature of non-disclosed pressing of comic books. I've contributed my computer imaging expertise to help clarify questions regarding scans of books under scrutiny, and I have become an advocate for basic consumer protection within the hobby. I do not believe in persecuting dealers but in maintaining steady pressure on them to disclose, by educating the average collector to the many risks he faces when considering a purchase of raw and/or graded comic books.
I'm happy to join the Network of Disclosure (for whom I have designed most of its various logos and graphics) and explore the possiblities of turning the tide in favor of the average buyer.
The most fun I have these days is identifiying orphaned Green Rivers and collecting and reading back issues of Comic Book Marketplace.
Jay Fishman
NOD Agent
The Great Spice Company
I love comic books. From my first purchase of FF # 44 to every Wednesday, when my kids, wife and I go to dinner and have our "Comic Night Out" - I love comics. It 's that love that keeps me thrilled week by week and year by year.
I've been a collector since I read FF#44. It's that unique someone that doesn't like gaps and wants continuity that makes a collector. I've never been a "value collector" - someone who buys for "x" and sells from "y", it didn't fit into my love for the hobby. I acknowledge and respect dealers - without them my quest for continuity would be impossible. However, new territories are being broached with newer and newer technologies and there needs to be some definition to this.
I know, that if someone sells something dear to them, a family keepsake, they are doing so for financial needs. The person buying is usually an expert and can discern the value. However, when the appraised value can be dramatically enhanced through undisclosed technologies - two people are being short changed, the seller and the buyer. There's no need for this to be clandestine. Join the NOD and keep the love in our hobby.
Steve Zarelli
NOD Consigliare
Zipper68.Blogspot.com/
I've been an avid comic collector since the mid-70s when I was in grade school. I recently completed my goal of obtaining every regular issue of Fantastic Four published, from #1 in 1961 to the most recent issue. My focus now is Action Comics World War II covers, Superman Annuals, ECs and some miscellaneous Marvels.
I have always been a student of the art/science of grading, and after being burned by undisclosed restoration, I have taken a great interest in learning about restorative techniques. Hopefully, through my blog and postings on various messages boards, I can educate other collectors and help them avoid the pitfalls of the hobby.
In my other hobby -- autograph collecting -- I have been very active in fighting fraud through my website and the UACC. I serve as an Ethics Investigator for the UACC Ethics Board and received the UACC's 2006 Distiguished Service award.
Mark S. Zaid
NOD General Counsel
Overstreet Advisor
EsquireComics.com
Mark S. Zaid grew up on Long Island and started collecting comics in approximately 1974. He had some short stints as a dealer in 1984-85, 90, and since 2004 he has owned and operated www.EsquireComics.com which specializes in high-grade and/or key comics from 1930-1963. In 2006, he was named to the Board of Advisors to the Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.
In his full-time day job he is an attorney in Washington, D.C. specializing in national security cases, First and Fifth Amendment claims and Freedom of Information/Privacy Act litigation. Many of his cases are well-known to include representation of the families of the Pan Am 103 terrorist bombing, noted political commentator Arianna Huffington, Mohamed Al Fayed and Able Danger whistleblowers. He is a frequent commentator on television and radio and often testifies before Congress.
Mitch Jordan
NOD Forum Admin
Master Chief Petty Officer, USN (Ret)
Master Chief Mitchell L. Jordan retired from the United States Navy after 21 years of service in October of 2005. During his military career as a Navy Seabee he held positions of leadership in construction management, project planning and execution, quality control, and education & training.
Throughout his career, Mitch pursued his passion for reading and collecting comic books. The hobby began some fourteen years prior to his enlistment in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he and his brothers grew up reading, collecting, and trading the classic nostalgia of their youth. It is a beloved pastime he continues to share post-retirement with his three sons.
Mitch resides in Southern California with his wife and sons, and is employed by Computer Sciences Corporation as a Senior Instructional Designer where he develops web-based training for the Government.
Susan Cicconi
TheRestorationLab.com
I have been in the business of paper conservation since 1980 beginning with 19th and 20th Century Master drawings, most notably Pablo Picasso. I met William Sarill, the pioneer of comic book conservation in 1982 and apprenticed with him for a few years and eventually bought his business "The Restoration Lab" and have been sole owner and operator since November, 1986. I have worked on mulitiple copies of all major Golden and Silver Age titles. My before/after work photos speak for themselves with extreme attention to structural detail and artistic expression. My expertise is solely restoration/conservation/preservation and I do not appraise, grade or sell comics but I am becoming more and more knowledgeable with comics as investments and particularly lower grade candidates as investments for collectors who cannot afford to buy premium books.
I am now offering Certificates of Evaluation for comic book restoration detection and for raw, untouched books. Each book is entered with a serial number into my The Restoration Lab database with title, date, publisher, provenance, pedigree copy (if available), signed and dated. I will give my opinion as to amateur or professional restoration if book is restored, otherwise it will be declared as in its Original State/No Restoration. These certificates are my professional opinion having handled comics for 25 years and in the business of just finding what is wrong with them to either heal them or declare what has been done to them or give them a clean bill of health. It is a safe, simple, inexpensive investment for any comic one wishes to buy. The comics are not graded or encased in any holder. I believe a comic should be held in one's hand and pages turned to experience the full pleasure of these timeless truly American treasures and works of art.
Court Eilertson
Reliant-5 On eBay
As the first to use the "Press-Free" logo on E-Bay some time ago, I'm glad to have been involved in NOD's early development. I've collected comic books for a long time, ever since I was a kid, back in the 1960's, and I used to have an eye for the highest quality books available back in the day, and there weren't many consistent runs available back then. And, as many, with large gaps in full runs of titles, I had to add in missing copies every 10 years or so, to make sure I had complete runs.
My experience spans some 3 decades, but in the last 21 years, I've been a transportation/traffic engineer, both public and private sector. Prior to that, I was a cartographer, and while attending college I ran a small moving business, where I ended up trading business for some high end comic books. Prior to that, well, I have worked since age 12, so there you go. Thank you.
Brent Moeshlin
QualityComix.com
I have been in business since January of 2000 serving the needs of the high grade collector. I am an ebay gold/platinum powerseller and a dealer member of CGC and advertise yearly in the Overstreet Price guide. I've been active proponent of full disclosure for over 2 years and was the first to disclose pressing on a book sold on ebay (Werewolf by Night #12 CGC 9.8) approx 1.5 years ago. I am passionate about educating the public to be informed about what's been done to books that they are buying which will create a safer environment for all. Personally, I am married with a beautiful 6 year old girl and a new addition - Olivia born in August! Best regards to all.
Jim Wilkerson
Awe4One.com
Hello all...
My name is Jim Wilkerson. Have been a comic collector for over 20 years. Professionally, I retired after 21+ years in the United States Air Force, 14 of those years living overseas in Europe and Korea, and am currently working in the civilian sector supporting the US military.
I wouldn't call myself a dealer but have dabbled selling on eBay (ID: awe4one) and have sold on the con scene in Southern Germany and Austria. I plan to soon try my luck selling at local cons in the Florida panhandle area as well as restart my eBay sales.
I started my website to share my love of comics with others. And to provide an outlet for my Mark Jewelers/National Diamond Sales inserts research. Though I have seriously ignored the site for awhile I do plan to restart regular posting when time allows.
My philosophy towards comics collecting and transactions is relatively simple: be fair and honest in all deals and treat others as you yourself wish to treated. I fully support full disclosure on comics I buy or sell. Dishonesty, even through ignorance, bothers the heck out me and is something I feel strongly about voicing my opinion on any cases that come to my attention. When I reentered comics, I was very naive concerning the back room aspects of this hobby. Not anymore. I believe the more information I and others can put out there to educate new arrivals to the hobby, the better off this hobby will be.
Thanks for listening...
Jon Berk
Born at an early age, I have collected comicbooks for over thirty years. A Marvel zombie at first, my collection served as the major source of the Gerber Photo-Journal to Marvel Comics. I have been collecting GA since the early 1980s with my major focus on early GA especially Lou Fine drawn books. Many of my books, especially "Centaurs" were used in the other Gerber Photo-Journals.
I have written dozen of articles for CBM on comicbook history. My "major contribution" to this wacky obsession of ours was "finding" Lamont Larson (who did not know he had been "lost") and the history behind his books. I am a past president of the American Association of Comicbook Collectors and served on many of the grading committees for Sotheby's and Christies.
I believe that the whole point of this hobby
is to be fun and that integrity should be assumed and not a hope.
Steve Carey
Collecting comics since 1979. Primary interest in early Golden Age (1937-1941). Specializes in Larson pedigree books and Centaurs. Former contributing editor to Gary Carter's ComicBook MarketPlace magazine.
Has had a wide variety of experiences with comic book dealers over the years. Feels that the greatest threat to our passion for collecting are various insidious practices and collusion that occurs due to unrelenting greed on the part of unethical entities (several of whom currently rule our hobby).
Career law enforcement officer. Married with two children. Other interests are military history and hockey.
STEVE
Robert Casali
Atomic Collectibles
Lifelong comiccollector.
Garth Chouteau
I've been collecting comic books for 33 years, since I was nine. My collection of ~5,000 comics includes sizable runs of Uncle Scrooge, WDC&S, Daredevil, Conan, and many other Golden through Bronze Age titles.
I am a communications professional in the high tech industry. That is, I provide marketing and public relations services and counsel to high tech companies, primarily start-ups.
I live in Richmond, CA with my 13-year old daughter, three cats and two lizards.
Ron DellOsso
DellOsso Farms
I'm a third generation farmer in the central valley here in California. I was born in 1956 and have been collecting comics since 1968. My main interest are in pre-code horror books.
Thomas Drew
I am a US Army veteran with over twenty years of service to our great Country. I will be retired on 1 May 2008.
I was an avid collector from the age of 8 until I was 14. After 25+ years I decided to reacquaint myself with the hobby. I am always striving to learn more about the history as well as current state of the hobby, and to be able to share what I've learned, no matter how small, with others. I stand by the principles of full disclosure, no matter what my beliefs and opinions of restoration or other issues may be.
Alan Flenard
Comic collector since 1983.
Interested in pedigree collections since 1988.
Collector and aficionado of pedigree comics since 2001.
Specialist in the Salida pedigree since 2003.
The advent of certification was a huge step forward for the comic book hobby. It provided reassurance to collectors like myself who were leery about actively entering into the more advanced aspects of it. But professional certification hasn't solved all of the problems. Transparency remains elusive. The definition of restoration has become fuzzy. Collectors are still not always 100% confident they are getting what they paid for.
An organization like NOD is an additional resource that dubious collectors, hobbyists, and even dealers can use to reassure themselves that the transactions they enter into are as legitimate as possible. We may never become a perfect hobby, but NOD is a step in the right direction. I am proud to call myself a member of it.
In my professional life I write computer software. My wife of many years and I live in a quiet suburb of Chicago, but dream of ultimately living in southern California.
John Foss
I am strictly a collector of comics with a primary interest in Harvey and anti-Communist material. I have been an avid collector since the early 1980s.
Andrew Greenham
I've been enjoying comics for nearly all of my life, and buying and selling for the past 22 years. My main area of collecting focuses on DC war comics. I believe in what NOD does because the buyer should always be well-informed. If he/she isn't in the know because the seller is holding some information back, that buyer is being set up for future disappointment. A pedigree book losing it's pedigree status due to someone manipulating it and re-submitting the book without this vital information, is just plain sad. We need to have full disclosure with all sellers of comic books and this appears to be a step in the right direction.
Joseph Grisolia
joeypost on ebay
Hello, my name is Joseph Grisolia and I have collected comics on and off over the last 30+ years. Ever since I held my first comic (Thor 210 in case anyone cares) I knew I wanted to be involved in the industry. Early on it was mainly about collecting, in fact the first back issue I purchased were off of Richard M. (tomorrows Treasures) out of a van at the Aqueduct flea market in Queens, NY.
Over the years I have amassed 3 great collections. The first two were sold when I got married and when we purchased our first home. I stared collecting again around 2001/2002 and have not looked back. My main collecting focus is Incredible Hulk books/crossovers and Bronze Age Marvel horror.
I have an MBA in Technology Management and work for Symantec software out of their Heathrow, Florida offices.
Ryan Heshka
RyanHeshka.com
I am a professional artist and illustrator, and comics have been a lifelong inspiration to me and my work. I have been collecting since I was a kid, and have been into golden age books for about 20 years now, and heavily into them in the past three years. Collecting GA material has made me aware of the realities of manipulation of comics, and tend now to only deal with dealers I am familiar with and have had good experiences with. By joining NOD I hope to be able to avoid many of the pitfalls of buying old comics, and support a society of collectors and buyers who feel honesty and integrity are important to the hobby.
Michael and Debbie Jay
Unlimited Realities Comics On eBay
Some of my fondest childhood memories were of going to visit my grandfather. Not so much because of the visit, but because he wanted to get me out of his hair, and would give me money. I would make a beeline to the drugstore down the street and spend what sometimes seemed an eternity picking out comics from the two old wire spinner racks, finally leaving with a nice stack of books, purchased for the princely sum of 2 or 3 dollars.
By the time I was 16 I had thousands of comics, and while I never really lost interest in them, other interests took precedence. Girls, cars, girls, work, girls, all came together to replace the books I loved.
Flash forward 20 years. I have a wonderful wife, who doesn't even roll her eyes when I drag her to the newest comic book movie, or when I tell her how much I love the smell of old comics. When she suggested we open a comic shop on eBay, it was beyond my ability to refuse.
The world has changed in 20 years, though. The days of coming home with a stack of comics for $2.00 are gone. The CGC, the new grading scale, online commerce, and rampant restoration have all had profound impacts on the hobby. It was a bit of a shock, to be honest. Most of it I have mixed feelings about, including restoration/ preservation.
Preservation has a very important place in the hobby. It's a shame every time one of these wonderful treasures is lost to the carelessness of it's previous owners, the companies that produced them from the cheapest materials available, and the toll taken by time itself.
At the same time, irresponsible restoration, for the sake of increasing profit, is one of the larger threats facing the hobby. Restoration techniques have been overused to the point of abuse and beyond by unscrupulous sellers that see comics only as a way to make a buck. Maintaining the integrity of the hobby, and defending it against the parasites who can't see past the profit they make on their next sale, should be one of the foremost priorities of those who love comics for the comics. We believe that NoD may prove an invaluable tool in that pursuit.
Kevin Logan
Kevin On eBay
("Davenport" on messageboards)
I've been a fan and reader of comic books since childhood, and collecting books grew from that.
As a consumer I like things simple and for buying & selling to be mutual. Nondisclosure prevents transactions from being mutual in my opinion, for obvious reasons. The opposite is a level and open marketplace where both parties choose for themselves whether to conclude a transaction, and both walk away happy having done so.
Marc McElveen
mcelveen On eBay
"Skynwalker" on CGC and other forums.
I've been collecting for 32 years, since I was 5 years old. I love buying, selling, and collecting comics. I want to provide buyers and sellers with the best customer service possible and becoming a member of NOD, I believe, will foster more confidence in the people who buy from and sell to me. And every positive transaction makes the comic marketplace better for all of us.
Michael McMurray
Ainsley00 on eBay
I loved comics as a kid in the 70s and got back into collecting in the late 90s. My favorite characters are Doctor Strange, Daredevil and the Avengers. My collecting of Doctor Strange got me interested in Silver Age Strange Tales and lead me to discover Atlas books. I am now, and for the forseeable future, putting together a run of 10 cent Strange Tales, Kid Colts and picking up Everett covers when I can.
I find it very disturbing as a collector to deal in a hobby where I must always worry about potential undisclosed restoration. Comic collecting is supposed to be fun and I'm interested in keeping it that way.
Tom Morrissey
NostalgicAttic.com
I have been primarily a reader/collector since I bought my first comic in the late 60's. I started collecting in earnest in the early 70's and continued through the mid 90's. (Almost 40 years now!) My passion for it stemmed from my appreciation for the art but it was the characters that Stan, Jack and Steve created that kept me coming back. I currently collect late silver, bronze age marvel comics to upgrade my collection.
Professionally, I am currently a partner in an Architectural practice specializing in educational and institutional architecture. Being in the service industry and true to the NOD philosophy, I pride myself in being fair, open, and responsive to everyone in my dealings.
Bob Nastasi
Amazing Comics & Collectibles
As one of the old time collectors / retailers still active in the hobby now for for almost 40 years - I've ALWAYS believed in this principal long before this organization evolved. As a collector, one always has to be on his toes when buying - especially in this day and age of Ebay and the Internet. And as a retailer having the SAME storefront location for over 23 years - honesty and full guarantee on any book I sell is what I take pride in. Joining the NOD for me is another step in professionalizing our "hobby", and at the same time educating the public who want to take the time to educate themselves. It's a win win organization, and I am proud to be a part of it!
(moochamazingcocom on eBay)
James Newbold
Southern California Comics
Co-Owner of Southern California Comics, a comic book store established in 1997 in San Diego. I'm retired from the San Diego Police Department where both my wife and son are officers.
My business partner, Gino Siragusa, and I focus our store's business around comic books and print material. We feel we have the largest, most comprehensive back issue collection at the store level in Southern California , if not greater California. Gino lives in Milwaukee with his wife.
We've attended the San Diego Comic Con for over 30 years and have met many of the national comic dealers at that show. We've done business with many of those dealers and have established relationships with those dealers we feel are good business people.
(socalcom on eBay)
George Panayiotou
1koko on E-bay
I have been collecting comics for over 20 years. My collecting habits have evolved in a similar pattern to many others Copper, Bronze and Silver Marvels (in particular X-Men and Spidey)to Golden Age comics.
Now focus on early Detective and Action comics and GA DC keys. Happy to collect both unrestored and restored comics as long as I am able to make an informed purchasing decision based on the relative merits of that comic.
Jon B. Paradox
ComicParadox On eBay
Comics collector for over 35 years. Special interests are high-grade Silver Age Marvel comics, original art, and high-performance driving (road courses only, no circle track). Certified instructor for BMW Car Club of America.
John Paul
Pug Productions
I entered Kindergarten knowing how to read because of my older brother's comic book collection. I became a "real" collector around the age of ten, and began dealing comics in my early twenties. Since 1991, I have organized over 400 local monthly comicons in NJ! Remarkably, my shows pretty much have stayed off the radar in the NY area, even though MILLIONS of comics have changed hands at them! (Feel free to visit my show website at NJComicBookShows.com) I love our hobby (though, to be honest, the current crop of "computer-generated" comics does not excite me).
I have never knowingly sold a restored comic without informing the buyer, and will ban any dealer from my shows that does so! I am not opposed to restoration to preserve a book, but I firmly believe that a buyer must be made aware of such. I also firmly believe that comics are meant to be read and enjoyed. If all you want is a pretty cover, buy a cover... not a comic that has been pulled from the market and hermetically sealed in what is at best a debatably archival plastic (with chemically treated paper inserted as a bonus) so that it will never rest in the hands of a true fan. Not that most fans are not speculators... who does not get pleasure from something one owns and enjoys increasing in value?
The reality of today's marketplace is that almost every fan or dealer (myself included) will buy or sell "graded" comics. What becomes problematic is when individuals with no actual knowledge of a hobby purchase collectibles as investments, thereby reducing them to nothing more than commodities. This creates an atmosphere whereby those with a bit of knowledge and experience can prey upon fans and investors via deception of grading services. I look forward to aiding NOD in the prevention of such.
Marc Pecorella
I've been an avid collector for many years. I absolutely love this hobby--but have had my share of growing pains throughout the years. By this, I mean I got caught buying items that were not what they were suppose to be (to say the least!). Although I am not a dealer, I have sold many big dollar books to both collectors and dealers alike. Even on items that I've gotten "caught" on, I've never tried to pass my misfortune on any unsuspecting buyer. I do consider those situations an education in grading and restoration detection---but that doesn't make it right.
I'm a firm supporter of letting the buyer know what he's getting. I'm a guy who has never sent a book in for certification. I'm not a supporter or an antagonist in this respect, mind you. But, I do feel that if you are like me and enjoys books and not labels, there should still be a level of intergrity in this hobby, which is why I'm rejoining the NOD. This is not necessarily the only solution (I have many dealer friends who are as ethical as anyone in the NOD). But, I think it is commendable to really take a stand on issues that are sometimes taken for granted by many.
Joel Pollack
Big Planet Comics
Longtime fan/collector (1st convention 1968 SeulingCon). Owned and operated Big Planet Comics retail store since 1986.
If CGC is to have any legitamacy, there has to be oversight. I'm happy to support NOD in its quest for full disclosure for encapsulated comics.
Philip Prasco
TheUncannyXmen.com
CGC forum member : towards2112
I am a private collector / former comic shop owner / workaholic / comic book flipper that has been actively buying and selling comics as a business since 1981. What I buy for my personal collection will probably not see the light of day for many years. I collect what I want and can afford. In that I am indeed blessed.
I am one of the rare breed that is not opposed to comic book restoration and have many very nice restored books in my personal collection. What has concerned me is the disclosure of repairs and the false inflation of a given comic book by persons that are only concerned with a bottom line profit, gained through unsavory means. I am a capitalist from the ground up, but I feel that only through honest statements of grade and condition, and total disclosure of any restoritive processes performed on any specific comic books can the hobby as a whole be viable for long term collectors.
Brian Rempel
JustAFanboy.Blogspot.com
OldGuy100 on Ebay
I'm a bottom feeder (rarely spend more then $200 on a single comic book) and have been since about 1982. I generally buy comics to *read* them. As a result, high grade CGC books rarely make it into my collection. The CGC books that do make it into my collection almost always get cracked out of their slabs, read, bagged and boarded and filed into a box.
In the last several years I've taken an active roll in fighting high grade comic book fraud. Not because I collect high grade third party graded comics (I don't), but because I believe that any fraud in the hobby affects the entire hobby negatively, at least indirectly if not directly, and as we all know, high end books seem to be the favorite target of scammers.
I currently have two websites dedicated to fighting fraud in our hobby, as well as two sites dedicated to collecting my passion, X-Men. All can be accessed through my "just a fanboy" blog.
Bill Ryan
Semi-retired freelance character assassin who has collected comics since the early 70s.
Owned two comic shops on Long Island in the mid 80s, and operated one in Puerto Rico thru the 90s.
Casey Sand
Hi, my name is Casey Sand. Most of you know me as kc120us on the CGC chat boards. I began collecting Marvel comics in the early 80's with the focus on the X-Men. I stepped away from the hobby in the mid 90's for numerous reasons but came back in 2004. While in the process of selling my collection, I rediscovered my love for collecting and have been back at it full throttle.
Jeffrey Shanks
theagenescomics On eBay
I go by Theagenes on the CGC forums and theagenescomics on eBay. I have been a comic book collector since I was a kid in the 1970s, with a decade long absence in the 1990's. When I returned to the hobby several years ago I found a very different landscape than the one I had left. I am very concerned about some of the practices that have become prevelent and I hope that I can help in some small way to mitigate them and thereby improve the hobby I enjoy so much.
I was once a Silver and Bronze Age collector, but in the last few years I have made the transition to Golden Age and fallen in love the period. My collecting focus includes SCi-Fi, ERB titles, GGA and more recently pulps.
In my professional life, I am an archaeologist with the National Park Service based at the Southeast Archaeological Center in Tallahassee, FL.
Scott Sleeper
Grodd On eBay
Scott Sleeper - Rip on the CGC Forum
I've been collecting comics in Northern California since around 1982 and I've been buying and selling rare comics since the early 90's. Currently I'm an Art Director for a business quality magazine.
My collecting interests range from LB cole covers to DC Bronze Horror books. I especially enjoy learning about hard to find ultra rare books.
I believe this is a great idea to help bring honesty and protection to the buyer within the collecting community.
Ken Spencer
paper-flash On eBay
I have been an avid collector of comic books since 1990 and have recently began focusing more on golden age books.
Tommy Stanziola
Diablo3838 On eBay
....I am a collector for too many years now, & I am currently associated with the good folks at CHILLER THEATRE in New Jersey. Favorite titles are anything EC, or other horror titles for that matter, as well as Golden Age Cap, Marvel Mystery, & let's not forget Supes, & the other members of the Justice Society, & League, to be brief...ahem...lol. I've been buying and selling for many years on Ebay, & after many transactions, have become waaay fed up with dealing with crooks, so to stop the further infestation of rats, I'm joining NOD in the hopes that a full disclosure of any goods would sort of work the same way a list of ingredients works on something you might digest.
Greg Starr
I am a long time comic and comic related collector. I have been active since 1972, making my first purchase via mail from Robert Bell. I feel the hobby definitely has a darker side that has only gotten worse with the extremely high prices. I am at a crossroads in my collecting where I am considering stepping away from the hobby and re-focusing my attention elsewhere but before I do it, I wanted to see what the NOD has to offer in terms of a solution.
Mike Strahan
Comics_Transplant On eBay
In the age of anonymous transactions over the Internet and increasing use of hard to detect modifications, disclosure is imperative to insure a fully informed marketplace. A trustworthy market enables outsiders and insiders alike to purchase with confidence. This in turn promotes stability.
Bryan Yagi
Longtime comic reader (since 5 or 6 years old. I may have only looked at the pictures before 5 or 6 years old) and mainly DC Silver Age (some Gold with a small number of Silver Age Marvel books and others) collector (and still reader) since 1983.
I am currently an Administrative Law Judge in California and value honesty - whether in my hearings or personal interactions.
Therefore, I feel very strongly about books being restored and the lack of its disclosure. Allow me to make an educated choice as to whether to purchase such a book or not.