New Codeword - 200 New CGCs - British Avengers! Howdy! Chuck's African Figures & Art Cases (click on image for larger view) I awoke at 4 AM this morning here at our family farm in Colorado, still a bit on London time. For the most part, however, I have already fully recovered from the rigors of my recent journey. "Rigors" really is the right terminology to use when referring to my return trip, as it turned into a 24-hour long marathon of subways, planes, and buses. Thanks to a kind United Airlines ticket agent in London, however, I was able to fly from London to Chicago (as originally planned...), and then catch a connecting flight straight home to Denver. My original itinerary had me flying back to Orlando from Chicago, to then catch a flight to Denver the next morning. In effect, I traded United two tickets (Chicago-Orlando and Orlando-Denver) for one (Chicago-Denver), and then also gave them a $250 transfer fee. That may sound like a bad deal for me, but you have to take into account that I was going to get charged for three bags out of London, and then charged again for the same bags out of Orlando. I estimated those baggage fees to be in the range of $400, so when the ticket agent offered to defer the bag fees in exchange for the smaller ticket transfer fee, I jumped at the chance. In the end, I saved about $150 in baggage fees, and was also able to make it home a day earlier. If all of the above seems complicated, you're spot on the mark. I genuinely do love traveling all over the country and the world, but between the aggravations of constantly having to be security screened by TSA, and the endlessly changing rules of the airlines, I am continually challenged to find a reasonable path of least resistance. The good news coming out of the London trip is that United's computer system recalculated my miles overnight between Sunday and Monday, moving me back up to their "Premier" level. I can now fly for a year with two free bags. Once my return mileage from London is added, I think that I will be back at "Premier Executive," which will allow me first shot at exit row seating, plus three free bags. That will be critical in just two weeks, as I will be heading with my wife, Nanette, over to Paris to visit with our daughter Aleta, who is currently living in Amiens, France. I'm not sure if United will let me change our seating for this upcoming Paris trip, as I paid for it with my frequent flyer miles. If they do, however, I'm going to work hard to get the most comfortable seats that I can for Nanette. At the very least, we will be able to each take two free bags. Or, bring back a suitcase full of French comics, as the case may be... AVENGERS #1 British Variant (click on image to order) Another good reason for me to have flown back a day early from London was that Boulder was hammered by a huge snowstorm last evening. It's still too dark out to really see, but I'm estimating that Boulder received 12-14 inches. I read on our local newspaper's website that we were approaching Boulder's all-time record for snowfall in a single winter of 140 inches (3.5 meters). Whatever the case may be, I don't think that I can get into work today, as I doubt that my car will make it down the very long driveway at our farm. The good news is that Nanette drove me into the office yesterday, where I dropped off over 500 British variant Marvel and DC comics that I purchased in London. The largest group was an excellent run of AVENGERS (1963), including a "Good" copy of the extremely rare British variant AVENGERS (1963) #1. I also gave Will Moulton some nice British variant X-MEN (1963) issues, including several of the Neal Adams issues, and half a dozen between #95-#110. We were also we able to create and scan 30 extremely rare DELL and CHARLTON Bristish variants that were published around 1960. As an aside, I estimate that the Marvel British variants were published at about a 1:10 ratio (or perhaps even less...), which makes them even scarcer than many current variants created specifically for the collector market. You may think that you have a complete collection of a given Marvel title (such as AVENGERS or NOVA), but do you really if you are missing all of the British variants? These British variant editions were published on the same day, in the same printing plant, as the much more common US editions. Only the black plate on the cover was changed to reflect the "Pence" price. Speaking simply from the perspective of wanting to have scans of all the comics published in America on our website, I know that this trip made me really happy in that I was able to obtain over 250 British variant issues where we have not been able to obtain a scan in the 15 years since we began our online database. Think about that for a second. In over 15 years, during which time we bought and sold over 10 million back issue comics, we have had not one single copy of a great many of the British variants pass through our hands. They may be relatively common in Britain (which is precisely why I go there to track them down...) but they are unbelievably hard to find here in America. 'Nuff said. While it had been my plan for Will Moulton to spend his entire day yesterday scanning and creating inventory records for all of my recently-acquired British variants, fate intervened with another major project for Will. After a hiatus in shipments of nearly three months, CGC flooded us on Monday with over 200 professionally graded issues of Golden Age, Silver Age, and Bronze Age comics, as well as a few very high-grade modern titles, such as DEADPOOL. If you are looking for either high grade or bargain priced CGC-graded comics, we now have a delightful new selection for you to peruse! Here is quick link to the CGC-graded comics that we just received. My final item for today is to announce a brand new codeword. For just the next seven days, I am increasing our codeword discount to a whopping 35% off! The new 35% off codeword is KANSASCITY, which reflects my upcoming buying trip this weekend to Chris Jackson's fantastic PLANET COMICON, in Overland Park, Kansas. In case you're wondering, the reason that the new codeword is in effect for you for only seven days is that I want to make this a special reward just for those of you who take the time to regularly read my newsletter. I am asking Lynne to keep the pre-existing 30% off codeword in effect for those who are just casual browsers of our website, but the 35% KANSASCITY codeword is my personal end-of-the-quarter gift to you for your continuing support of my efforts, and Mile High Comics. As per usual, the new codeword does not apply to books, new comics, supplies, or the Dallas Stephens consignment comics. It does, however, apply to all of the 6 million+ back issues offered on our website, including these new shipments of CGC-graded comics and British variants. Please do note, however, that the 35% KANSASCITY codeword is for one week ONLY, and expires on Wednesday, March 31st, at noon. Happy Collecting! Chuck Rozanski, President - Mile High Comics, Inc. Advance Previews of next weeks comics from Archie Comics PS: Even with the 35% off KANSASCITY codeword in effect, I am still allowing Will Moulton to give away Bonus Book items with each $20 and $50 increment of your order. Please do note, however, that the Bonus Books are earned as a result of your net purchase, after all codeword discounts have been taken into account (please keep in mind the codeword does not apply to new comics, Dallas Stephens comics, trade paperbacks, hard covers, graphic novels, statues, or supplies). Bonus Book Listing New $50.00 Level SCREEN THRILL ILLUSTRATED (MAGAZINE) #8 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $28.00 FREE! SPIRIT (MAGAZINE) #40 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $16.80 FREE! THOR (1962) #170 Fine/Very Fine Retail: $30.20 FREE! New $20.00 Level SPIDER-MAN (1963) #102 Good Retail: $15.40 FREE! STAR WARS (1977) #6 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $16.80 FREE! $50.00 Level 3-D MONSTER MAGAZINE #1 Very Good/Fine Retail: $25.20 FREE! 1990 HOMER SIMPSON BENDABLE ACTION FIGURE Mint on Card Retail: $30.00 FREE! AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1999) #533 San Diego Near Mint Retail: $11.20 FREE! ASTONISHING X-MEN (2004) #1 Incentive Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $46.50 FREE! BARBARELLA GRAPHIC NOVEL #1 2nd Print Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $80.00 FREE! BATMAN (1940) #404 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $21.00 FREE! BATTLESTAR GALACTICA OFFICIAL POSTER MAGAZINE (1978) #2 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $16.80 FREE! BIZARRE ADVENTURES (1981) #27 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $12.60 FREE! BLACK WIDOW: THE COLDEST WAR GRAPHIC NOVEL (1990) Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $30.00 FREE! BLAZING COMBAT (MAGAZINE) #3 Verg Good/Fine Retail: $21.25 FREE! BRING BACK THE BAD GUYS TPB (1998) (Marvel Villians) Near Mint Retail: $20.00 FREE! CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #132 Fine Retail: $12.85 FREE! CAPTAIN GALLANT (1955) #1 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $28.00 FREE! CAPTAIN UNIVERSE: UNIVERSAL HEROES TPB (2005) Near Mint Retail: $18.00 FREE! CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (Magazine) #1 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $22.40 FREE! CREEPY MAGAZINE (1964) #18 Fine/Very Fine Retail: $27.40 FREE! DARK HORSE PRESENTS #56 Near Mint Retail: $28.00 FREE! DARK HORSE PRESENTS (1986) #61 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $28.00 FREE! DARK HORSE PRESENTS (1986) #62 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $33.60 FREE! EERIE MAGAZINE (1965) #4 Very Good/Fine Retail: $21.25 FREE! HEROES HC #1 (Lee) Near Mint Retail: $15.00 FREE! LAZIEST SECRETARY IN THE WORLD TPB Near Mint Retail: $20.00 FREE! MONSTER WORLD (MAGAZINE) #1 Very Good Retail: $20.15 FREE! SIN CITY #1/2 Rare Wizard #1/2 Edition Near Mint Retail: $22.40 FREE! SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR TPB (2005) #1 (7th Print) Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $14.00 FREE! SOMEPLACE STRANGE (1988) #1 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $21.00 FREE! STAN LEE PRESENTS: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN PB (1977) Very Fine Retail: $34.00 FREE! STRANGE TALES (1951) #155 Fine Retail: $25.75 FREE! TMNT: SECRET OF THE OOZE MOVIE ADAPTATION #1 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $37.50 FREE! TOMB RAIDER/DARKNESS SPECIAL TOPCOWSTORE.COM EXCLUSIVE (2001) #1 CGC 9.8 Retail: $84.00 FREE! TOP COMICS (1967) #1 Lassie Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $10.80 FREE! TOP COMICS (1967) #1 Super Goof Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $6.40 FREE! TOP COMICS (1967) #1 Zorro Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $15.20 FREE! TOP COMICS (1967) #2 Snow White Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $11.55 FREE! TOP COMICS (1967) #2 Yogi Bear Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $11.00 FREE! TOYBIZ MARVEL SUPER-HEROES PUNISHER FIGURE Mint on Card Retail: $28.00 FREE! WARREN PRESENTS: MOONRAKER (1979) Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $35.00 FREE! WATCHMEN #12 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $28.00 FREE! WWF BATTLEMANIA (MAGAZINE) #5 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $28.00 FREE! X-MEN (1963) #143 Fine/Very Fine Retail: $30.20 FREE! X-MEN (1963) #507 (Planet Com) Near Mint Retail: $5.60 FREE! $20.00 Level 1989 ERTLl DIE CAST BATMOBILE, JOKER VAN, & BATWING MICRO-MACHINES Mint on Card Retail: $10.50 FREE! 2001 (1976) #1 Fine/Very Fine Retail: $9.20 FREE! AKIRA (1988) #29 Near Mint Retail: $8.40 FREE! ALF TPB (Issues #1-3) (1990) Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $24.00 FREE! AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1999) #1 Near Mint Retail: $8.40 FREE! AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1999) #583 Obama (4th Print) Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $7.00 FREE! AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL. 1: COMING HOME TPB Platimum White Near Mint Retail: $17.50 FREE! AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL. 2 - REVELATIONS TRADE PAPERBACK (Platinum) Retail: $17.50 FREE! ANGEL: HOLLOWER TPB (2000) Fine Retail: $16.80 FREE! ARCHIE & ME (1964) #77 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $8.40 FREE! ARCHIE & ME (1964) #93 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $8.40 FREE! ARCHIE'S TV LAUGH-OUT (1969) #48 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $12.60 FREE! ARRGH (1974) #2 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $16.80 FREE! ARRGH (1974) #4 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $16.80 FREE! ARRGH (1974) #5 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $16.80 FREE! BALLAD OF SLEEPING BEAUTY (2004) #1 FCBD Near Mint Retail: $1.50 FREE! BATMAN (1940) #407 Fine Retail: $7.55 FREE! BATMAN: A DEATH IN THE FAMILY TPB #1 (1st Print) Near Mint Retail: $15.00 FREE! BATMAN: OFFICIAL BOOK OF THE MOVIE (1989) Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $10.00 FREE! BATMAN/TARZAN: CLAWS OF THE CATWOMAN TRADE PAPERBACK Fine Retail: $4.50 FREE! BLADE: BLACK & WHITE TPB (2004) Near Mint Retail: $8.00 FREE! BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: CRASH TEST DEMONS TPB Near Mint Retail: $4.95 FREE! BUZZ & BELL: SPACE CADETS GRAPHIC NOVEL (1991) Near Mint Retail: $15.00 FREE! CABLE VOL. 1 (1993 SERIES): SHINNING PATH TPB (2002) Near Mint Retail: $15.00 FREE! CAPTAIN AMERICA GOES TO WAR AGAINST DRUGS (1990) #1 2nd Print Very Fine Retail: $5.45 FREE! CARE BEARS MARVEL UK MAGAZINE #67 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $9.80 FREE! CHAMBER OF DARKNESS (1969) #8 Very Good/Fine Retail: $12.85 FREE! DAREDEVIL #180 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $21.00 FREE! DAREDEVIL: LOVE'S LABOR LOST TRADE PAPERBACK Retail: $15.00 FREE! DARK HORSE PRESENTS: ALIENS (1992) #1 Platinum Near Mint Retail: $14.00 FREE! DARK KNIGHT (1986) #3 (2nd Print) Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $8.40 FREE! DARK KNIGHT (1986) #4 (1st Print) Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $7.00 FREE! DC GRAPHIC NOVEL (1983) #7 Space Clusters Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $15.00 FREE! DONALD DUCK ADVENTURES FCBD (2003) #1 Near Mint Retail: $3.50 FREE! DRAGONLANCE SAGA GRAPHIC NOVEL #4 Near Mint Retail: $20.00 FREE! 1964 FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #34 in Very Good/Fine (Warren Publications - 1964!) Retail: $25.20 FREE! FATHOM TRADE PAPERBACK Retail: $12.45 FREE! GI JOE #138 Near Mint Retail: $14.00 FREE! GRENDEL: PAST PRIME ILLUSTRATED NOVEL Near Mint Retail: $7.45 FREE! GROO ADVENTURER TRADE PAPERBACK Retail: $20.00 FREE! HELLBOY II: GOLDEN ARMY NOVEL PAPERBACK Retail: $7.00 FREE! MAD MAGAZINE #182 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $15.40 FREE! SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS (1963) #40 Very Good/Fine Retail: $13.40 FREE! SHADOW (1973) #4 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $23.80 FREE! SPIDER-MAN: ELECTION DAY HC (2004) #1 (Variant) Near Mint Retail: $15.00 FREE! STAR WARS: DARK FORCES JEDI KNIGHT GSA TRADE PAPERBACK Retail: $7.45 FREE! STAR WARS TALES: A JEDI'S WEAPON FCBD (2002) #1 Near Mint Retail: $1.50 FREE! SUPERMAN: UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE TPB (2005) Near Mint Retail: $15.00 FREE! TEEN TITANS: GO (2003) #1 FCBD Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $2.20 FREE! ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN (2000) #1 FCBD Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $4.20 FREE! ULTIMATE X-MEN: ULTIMATE COLLECTION #2 TRADE PAPERBACK Retail: $12.50 FREE! UNCANNY X-MEN NEW AGE: END OF HISTORY TPB (VOL. 1) (2004) Near Mint Retail: $6.50 FREE! UNCLE SCROOGE: THE GOLDEN FLEECING (DYNA) #1 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $16.80 FREE! WARLOCK (1972) #14 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $14.00 FREE! WITCHCRAFT (1994) #1 Platinum Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $14.00 FREE! WILDC.A.T.S TPB Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $8.40 FREE! WILL EISNER: A LIFE FORCE GRAPHIC NOVEL (2001) Near Mint Retail: $12.50 FREE! WILLOW GRAPHIC NOVEL Near Mint Retail: $17.50 FREE! WILL EISNER: LAST DAY IN VIETNAM GRAPHIC NOVEL SC 2nd Print Retail: $15.00 FREE! WOLVERINE: BLOOD DEBT TRADE PAPERBACK Retail: $6.45 FREE! WONDER WOMAN (1942) #219 Fine Retail: $9.80 FREE! X-MEN ANNUAL #14 Near Mint (First Appearance of Gambit!) Retail: $14.00 FREE! XENA WARRIOR PRINCESS: SLAVE TPB Fine Retail: $10.00 FREE! ZOIDS SPECIAL COLLECTED COMICS MAGAZINE (1987) #4 Very Fine/Near Mint Retail: $21.00 FREE! In case you missed it, the way my new Bonus Book program works is pretty simple. Place your order with us as you usually would, and then ask in the "notes" section of our order form for your free item(s). If your order totals $50 (just as an example...) you would not only receive free shipping for orders being delivered in the USA, but would also be able to select either two Bonus Books from the $20 list, or one Bonus Book from the $50 list. A $125 order (which is the level at which our International buyers earn free shipping) would earn the right to select up to six items from the $20 list, or a combination of several items from the $20 and $50 list. A couple of quick terms for the giveaway program. First, we have limited supplies on a few of these items, so some will undoubtedly run out over the next couple of weeks. We do have enough for orders received this week, however, so if you order quickly all of the above giveaways should be in stock. As items do eventually run out, even more cool items will be continually added to replace them. My goal is to keep this giveaway program fun, and interesting! Second, you can order multiples of the same item, if you wish. Third, you will need to manually ask for each item you've earned via the "notes" section of the order form, as we have no way to automate this program. Finally, our International patrons need to be aware that we do still need to add the small per book shipping fees to any request for books to be delivered to International destinations. PPS: I just remembered that I promised all of you a special story from London in today's newsletter. Sadly, I cannot include it at this point, however, because of space limitations. Please bear with me, and I'll tell you that very moving tale in Friday's newsletter. Thanks! Current Newsletter