Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for April 11, 2010
Transcript:
Zonker: So how do I look? Mark: Like 500,000 bucks! Zonker: Really? You sure? Mark: No. We'd have to get you appraised. Zonker: Hey, readers! Can you guess what the hottest sector of the collectibles market is? Mark: No way they can, Zonk! Better tell 'em! Zonker: It's comics! Mark: Check it out - a rare copy of this bad boy was just auctioned for one million dollars! Zonker: Just goes to show - if you're patient enough, comics are a great investment! Mark: Are they ever! Zonker: In fact, a good copy of the strip you're now reading could someday fetch a fortune! Mark: Which is why we're stylin' - we want to look good at auction! Zonker: So act now! Just cut this strip out and slip it into an envelope for safekeeping! Mark: You won't be sorry. Noise: Snip! Snip! Snip! Snip! Voices: Good job! See you in 50 years! Hope we don't turn yellow... "99 bottles of beer..."
David Hamilton over 14 years ago
How is this supposed to work? My scissors keep glancing off the monitor!
Davidreefer over 14 years ago
Remember the comics bubble of the early nineties? The death of superman released in a black polybagged special issue? The artists of marvel leaving to start image? Suddenly everyone was buying multiple issues of polybagged special edition comics, and all the comic companies were issuing hundreds of thousands of gimmicky glow in the dark covers, die cut covers, gatefold covers, old titles renamed just to make it a first issue, and then the bubble burst cuz people realized that so many comics were being issued, and so many people were keeping them that they would never be worth anything.
ksoskins over 14 years ago
Hey you never know; I’ve still got my Confederate war bonds in my safety deposit box.
Alabama Al over 14 years ago
Regret to tell you this Sheik, but Section 4 of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution specifically invalidated all Confederate debt. So, those Confederate bonds are literally not worth the paper they are printed on (at least as debt instruments.)
To put it mildly, it is highly unlikely that either a Second Confederacy is going to be established (and I really doubt that new government would be inclined to redeem the bonds of their predecessor) or another amendment will be approved to modify Section 4 of the 14th Amendment.
FriscoLou over 14 years ago
A nickel, do I hear a nickel, I need a nickel…anyone got a nickel? Two for a nickel three for a dime … Thanks Garry.
http://bit.ly/9UeP1z
The first two panels I thought was going to be a gay marriage thing … Zonker! It doesn’t seem like he would have a serious relationship.
Ravenswing over 14 years ago
The comics bubble of the NINETIES? Heck, it was well underway years before that. There were a few titles I got at the time, and I had a subscription for them at the Million Year Picnic in Cambridge. What there was, for the serious collecting fanatics, was a subscription deal where you got every #1, Annual and 50th/100th/X00th copy of every title DC, Marvel, Archie and the leading indie publishers put out, for the term of your subscription.
Completely insane, and I wonder how many of those shrink-wrapped issues are moldering in garages, stacked to the ceiling, most of them worth kindling at best.
FriscoLou over 14 years ago
Ah yes “Scrooge McDuck”, “Archie and Veronica”, “Tarzan”, “Mad”, “Zap”, “Doonesbury” the natural progression/decline.
Bet Doty just read the Classic Comics. (“The Count of Monte Crisco”, “Treasure Island”, “Robinson Caruso”, “Hunchback”, “Moby Dick”, “Gulliver”, “Gilligan’s Island” et al).
phydeaux44 over 14 years ago
My wife and I are still into comics. Whenever we happen to read one, someone will invariably ask us if we’re collecting, and how our investment is doing.
montessoriteacher over 14 years ago
I wonder why so many right wingers read Doonesbury and whine about it? Why bother?
alfracto over 14 years ago
Think of all those moms who tossed out comics worth millions.
Or dads who did the same?
ninetoes over 14 years ago
Dr. Toon, you might want to consider donating your collection to the Michigan State University Comic Art Collection. Just a thought.
http://comics.lib.msu.edu/
mancocapac over 14 years ago
Great, I tried cutting it out and ruined my monitor!
runar over 14 years ago
Two things, Al: Nothing can negate the value of Confederate bonds as collectors’ items. Furthermore, it’s entirely possible that you could find a gullible foreign goverment to redeem them.
That gives me a great idea. How about this: Dear Sir: I am the heir to a vast fortune secured by government bonds. However, because of regulations enacted in my country subsequent to the issuance of these bonds, it is necessary that they be redeemed through overseas intermediaries. All that is required of you is a good faith deposit to finance the transaction fees….
JP Steve Premium Member over 14 years ago
Good one, runar! Spam flagged.
Alabama Al over 14 years ago
“runar”, I realize you are just kidding around, but on your two points:
Why do you think I added that little qualifier about “at least as debt instruments”? Actually, the Confederacy issued so many bonds in its short history that even today you may purchase one from another collector or dealer rather inexpensively.
Any country willing to purchase Confederate bonds after 1868 (the year the 14th Amendment was ratified) would have to be the most incompetent and corrupt regime in all of human history.
FriscoLou over 14 years ago
Sounds like a vast market, Aiabama.
What the … are the Chinese cyber attacking the Doonesbury forum?
freeholder1 over 14 years ago
Actually con bucks are worth more than real stuff these days…The comics fans are soooo young. We used to run a comics club where you pre-ordered the coming issues as many as you want. I’d guess there are still some folks with a few dozen Teenage Ninja Turtles NO. 1’s left over. All of it artificially pumping the market. Ran a consumers mag on collecting called Watchdog. Ran until the Xers killed the collecting market for a time. Then the indies started up and new fire began. I will guess it will eventually die again and for good once the animated stuff comes over you iPad. Nothing like a million dollar Superman comic that quite frankly sucked.
Chrisnp over 14 years ago
Anyone remember the baseball card bubble bursting at the end of the 1980s? A rare card would sell at auction for a record breaking amount, and the media was all over the storey. Baseball card shops sprung up everywhere, people bought them as investments, and prices soared. Of course baseball card makers dumped bazillions of cards on the market, the bottom dropped out, and those “investment” collectors would have done better with Enron stock.
Like yogi said, it’s déjà vu all over again
Joseph Krois over 14 years ago
“Damn you Todd McFarlane!” But seriously how cool was Amazing #300?!
Shikamoo Premium Member over 14 years ago
mancocapac said, about 11 hours ago
Great, I tried cutting it out and ruined my monitor!
My monitor is fine, but my scissors glaced off and nearly stabbed me. They should put on a warning: Do not try this at home.
js over 3 years ago
I predict by 2021, Action Comics will auction for about $3.5 million