[builderboy]

A couple tonight:

One, a re-up of a recent book, Amazing Man #009. Shortly after I posted it, Pmack sent me improved fiche pages for the 4 centerspread pages (see his improved fiche versions of several other issues!), so here it is again, better than ever.

Secondly, a JVJ Centaur book, scanned by narfstar from 1937, no less!. Funny Picture Stories v1 #003. A gorgeous book. Lacking my usual fact page, but I wanted to get it out there.

[boox909]

A couple tonight:

One, a re-up of a recent book, Amazing Man #009. Shortly after I posted it, Pmack sent me improved fiche pages for the 4 centerspread pages (see his improved fiche versions of several other issues!), so here it is again, better than ever.

Secondly, a JVJ Centaur book, scanned by narfstar from 1937, no less!. Funny Picture Stories v1 #003. A gorgeous book. Lacking my usual fact page, but I wanted to get it out there.

THANKS!!! 

[builderboy]

Another from JVJ's box of Centaurs to narfstar: Funny Picture Stories vol 2 #2. A really nice book with some Dick Ryan, adventure, biographical pieces, etc.

Hope you like it. Thanks to JVJ and narf for letting me in on the fun.

[boox909]

Another from JVJ's box of Centaurs to narfstar: Funny Picture Stories vol 2 #2. A really nice book with some Dick Ryan, adventure, biographical pieces, etc.

Hope you like it. Thanks to JVJ and narf for letting me in on the fun.

I love Centaur...everyone we get into fandom is a joy! Thank you JVJ, Narf, BB -- ya'll wonderful! 

[builderboy]

My FIRST upload that is 100% my efforts. HURRAY, and humble thanks to narfstar, who recruited me for editing and got me hooked on this stuff, and to JVJ who supplied the incredible source material.

Novelty's Target Comics v04 #01.  I got hooked on these long ago, when I found the work of Basil Wolverton lurking in the back pages of the early issues.

Hope you like it. Sorry it got so big, file-wise, but the scans were so nice that I couldn't bring myself to compress them more than I did.

[boox909]

My FIRST upload that is 100% my efforts. HURRAY, an humble thanks to narfstar, who recruited me for editing and got me hooked on this stuff, and to JVJ who supplied the incredible source material.

Novelty's Target Comics v04 #01.  I got hooked on these long ago, when I found the work of Basil Wolverton lurking in the back pages of the early issues.

Hope you like it. Sorry it got so big, file-wise, but the scans were so nice that I couldn't bring myself to compress them more than I did.

Thank you very much! 

[builderboy]

Got a couple of things coming your way, and I'm trying to pick which one's next. One of them is a slightly beat-up  Bluebird version of Fiction House's Wambi #16, which is missing from the site. 36 pages sound just right after the last 68-page monster.

Another is a Dearfield Publishing book, which I don't see on the site, a copy of "Red" Rabbit #15 from Mar 1950.

But I think the next is Captain Midnight #53 July 1947

[narfstar]

j on DCM (which appears to be down right now) would be really happy with the red rabbit

[builderboy]

I have been indexing it on GCD so to have the info complete when I post it. Consider it next, narf.

[builderboy]

Narf,

Halfway in on the Red Rabbit scans, and they are coming out nicely. 

I got the GCD index done, and see, to my amusement that you indexed issue #16.

So where's the scans, fella?   ;-)

[builderboy]

In celebration of receiving my first box of JVJ books to scan and post (I cannot express how cool a thing that is!), I am upping my scan of "Red" Rabbit Comics #15 from small press publisher Dearfield Publication's J.Charles Laue Publishing Co.  We have a decent collection of this title at this point, and this was a nice copy.

JVJ gave me some editing tips, and I think it is my cleanest presentation to date.

I have some others from my own collection that will have to take a back seat, cuz JVJ landed a sweet collection on me.  Get ready, comic lovers!

[JVJ]

Glad everything arrived safely, bb.
And thanks for the reassuring phone call.

I looked at Red Rabbit and I like the scans. If it were me, I'd nudge up the black slider on that Levels Adjustment just a bit (or add another Levels Adjustment Layer and do it) simply because I could and because I think that darker blacks enhance a scan. IMHO.

Peace, Jim (|:{>

[builderboy]

I appreciate the feedback, JVJ. One day, I'll make a visit and maybe you'll show me real-time how you work on images.  I would give my right arm for the experience.

When I am editing, I agonize over the basic question of when to stop on image improvement.  Part of me would want to see the image the way the artist would want to see the image: no color fading or coverage issues, no plate registration problems, and no paper aging coloration. Another part of me is cautious not to take the image too far away from what a comic book actually looks like.

What do any of you think about this?

[JVJ]

I appreciate the feedback, JVJ. One day, I'll make a visit and maybe you'll show me real-time how you work on images.  I would give my right arm for the experience.

When I am editing, I agonize over the basic question of when to stop on image improvement.  Part of me would want to see the image the way the artist would want to see the image: no color fading or coverage issues, no plate registration problems, and no paper aging coloration. Another part of me is cautious not to take the image too far away from what a comic book actually looks like.

What do any of you think about this?

NEVER in my life have I looked at a comic book and thought "Gee, this is EXACTLY the way this artist wanted his artwork to be printed: off-register, faded black ink on crappy, yellowed pulp paper. I bet he or she was delighted to see the final product looking so old." NEVER!! If anyone believes this is what the GA comic artists wanted for their artwork, I will contend that a person with such a belief is NOT an artist. The "Chip Kidd" conceit, that it's not art, it's an artifact, is simply beyond my comprehension.

I reproduce old illustrations from up to 125 years ago in my magazine and the first thing I do after repairing the flaws is to eliminate any tint caused by the aging paper they were printed on when I scanned them. People compliment me on the results. Why comic collectors/appreciators WANT that pulpy color behind their scans is a deep mystery to me. I've gone a LONG way towards convincing people like Greg Sadowsky to downplay the pulp and accentuate the colors on his reprint books. I'm hoping that his upcoming Toth volume (The COMPLETE Toth Standard work - scanned ENTIRELY from my collection - yes, somehow I have ALL of them...) will be even closer to my "ideal". We'll see.

So my answer is obviously that I care very litte for "what a comic book actually looks like." Show me the artwork.

If you're ever in the neighborhood, feel free to call and come by.

Peace, Jim (|:{>

[boox909]

Thanks for the Red Rabbit #15!!! 

B.

[builderboy]

Thanks for the Red Rabbit #15!!! 

B.

My pleasure, boox909.  Next up will be the first from JVJ's box. I have decided to simply run through them in the order that JVJ packed 'em, rather than go thru the angst about which is the worthiest or most requested.

Happily, it's one that is sure to please: Fiction House's Rangers Comics #3 from 1947. All 52 pages were scanned last night, and let me tell you, those issues of FH titles are every bit as lush in hand as I imagined they would be.  I have started editing, and will give some thought about the sequence of how I proceed with this box.  There are a ton of books in here, and it will take some good time just to scan them.  I don't want to keep JVJ waiting forever for his returned books, nor do I want to keep you all waiting forever for the fruit of the efforts.  I have contacted citaltras, who had made an offer of editing assists, and will see if this will work out.

[JVJ]

Isn't Rangers #3 from 1942, bb?

(|:{>

[JVJ]

ps. Don't rush, bb. I was expecting them back sometime in early November. That would be best for me.

(|:{>

[narfstar]

Temperatures are finally going down to the low nineties. It does cool off some more in the evenings. So I might get to bring my scanner out on the porch and get something scanned this weekend. Labor day weekend if all goes well I hope to go on the Sunshine Century in Clarksville, TN. Any other bicyclist in this group?

[builderboy]

Aha! Found the mystery, Jim!  The printer had mis-run the book through the cropper and cut the edge on a slant, removing the second '3' from 'No. 33', making the book appear to be 'No. 3' on the cover. The indicia states it is issue #33 from Feb 1947.

We have an incomplete copy on site, so no loss. I will keep the scans and leave editing to another day, and commence to scanning the second on the stack, Rangers Comics #42.

narf, have fun cycling! Does 'century' have anything to do with how long it will take you to finish? ;-)

[narfstar]

I think I can go a little faster than a mile a year. I may be old but I ain't that old.

[builderboy]

a hundred miles is a pretty impressive number, Buddy!

[MarkWarner]

I know it is a bit late but Jim's (JVJ) post about restoration raises a few philosophical points. I agree with him
but want to rattle his cage. Where do you draw the line?

Do we rewind the Sistine Chapel to when Michelangelo painted it, put back the missing stones on Stonehenge, restore the Sphinx? Or enjoy their fading grace, which might enhance the art.

It's a strange conundrum, as I would like to see both.

I know the post was about fading comic books but it's my 2 penny's worth

Mark

[narfstar]

I understand both points of view. It came up several years ago at GCD. I preferred covers that had "warts" they looked like used comics. The majority preferred the best version. I tend to prefer scans that look like the book in hand wear and tear included. That is the collector in me as opposed to the art aficianado that is Jim. Both are valid points from different perspectives.

[builderboy]

Absolutely! No right or wrong, just perspectives. You can tell by the differing look of the uploads the perspectives of the various editors.  I look at some of the books and say 'Gosh, I would love to see that page without the yellowing paper...or the rip removed from Amazing Man's face'.  Then again, I love the Savage Dragon that Erik Larsen did a while back, all scratched up and dot screened, looking 50 years old.