Member Since March 2005
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The good old days (from 1987 catalog)

Location: The Good Old Days
Artist: John Buscema (Penciller)

Location: The Good Old Days
Title: The good old days (from 1987 catalog)*
Artist: John Buscema (Penciller)
Media Type: Photograph
Art Type: Other
For Sale Status: NFS
Views: 690
Likes on CAF: 1
Comments: 8
Added to Site: 10/23/2020

More than 30 years later and this piece still haunts me. Probably the single biggest regret of my collecting years (with Zaddick's Golden piece a close second). When this catalog arrived in the mail, I didn't even have to open it because it was on the outside back cover. I could not dial Mitch's number fast enough. Of course as I suspected, it became another casualty of being a West Coast collector. Didn't miss it by much though. But what's the old saying? Close only matters in horse racing. Sigh!

Maikowsky did do a really nice recreation of this one, so maybe I'll just snag that and finally put an end to my misery. LOL

First, let me apologize in advance for the pain I am about to inflict on all of you. Especially if you are the current or former owner of any of these pieces. I figured since I have a near complete set of Mitch’s old mail order catalogs, it might be “fun” (if not masochistic) to take a stroll down memory lane. But take heart. For even though most (if not all) of these posts will be almost unbearable and cringe worthy to many of you, just remember that 20-30 years from now, these will be the “good old days” to some new collector just starting out.

I’ve gotten many wonderful compliments from the fine people of CAF about my collection/gallery. All giving me credit for being smart enough to buy all the pieces I bought way back when. Well, now I’m about to show you all what an absolute idiot I was. Keep in mind that many of the pieces that currently reside in my collection came from these very same catalogs. So the next time you want to call me a genius for all the pieces I did buy back then, just take a look at some of the rubbish I DIDN’T buy! In other words, this is the collection I COULD‘VE had. (Somebody shoot me now! LOL)

What is very interesting to note here is that during this 9-year span of catalogs (1984-1993), there is nothing here that is priced over (or anywhere near) $1000. Actually (with the exception of the Killing Joke page), nothing even breaks the $500 range. Absolutely incredible for pieces that could all easily be five figures (or more) today!

By the way, I’ve got dozens and dozens of these. So I’ll be posting them in chunks from time to time (to prolong the torture).

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Member Since: March 2005
Last Login: July 2026
Country: UNITED STATES
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Davide G. Member Since 2009

Posted On 10/23/2020

Well, Eric, at that time I was a teen and I wasn't collecting anything but pimples on my face and bruises on my arms and legs, but of course I perfectly understand and can't help but sympathize :)

E DLS Member Since 2005

Posted On 10/23/2020

Davide G. wrote:

" Well, Eric, at that time I was a teen and I wasn't collecting anything but pimples on my face and bruises on my arms and legs, but of course I perfectly understand and can't help but sympathize :)
"

I wish I had that excuse my friend. But I was almost 30 by then and should have been smarter. Or maybe just moved to the East Coast for a few years, buy all the art, and then move back to California. LOL

david hitchcock Member Since 2005

Posted On 10/23/2020

Absolutely love seeing this kind of nostalgia, it does, however, kill me to think I may well not have been able to afford them even at those prices back then. Kepp em coming sir :)

E DLS Member Since 2005

Posted On 10/23/2020

david hitchcock wrote:

" Absolutely love seeing this kind of nostalgia, it does, however, kill me to think I may well not have been able to afford them even at those prices back then. Kepp em coming sir :)
"

Thanks David, glad you are enjoying this project of mine. And you are absolutely right. A hundred bucks was a lot of money back in 1987. Even more so when I started collecting about six years earlier and sweeping floors for $3.10 an hour. This would have been about a week's pay, assuming I didn't need money for anything else. But those early years were still some of my best times in the hobby.

Peter Sullivan Member Since 2006

Posted On 10/23/2020

I had only started work when this came out, in a really crappily paid job so this would have been two weeks wages. A kings ransom! You should put these catalogues away and stop torturing us and yourself. Lol.

E DLS Member Since 2005

Posted On 10/23/2020

Peter Sullivan wrote:

" I had only started work when this came out, in a really crappily paid job so this would have been two weeks wages. A kings ransom! You should put these catalogues away and stop torturing us and yourself. Lol.
"

Haha! Hey, this site is all about sharing, right? I'm just sharing the torture. LOL! Stay safe Pete!

JOE JUSKO Member Since 2004

Posted On 10/25/2020

When we both lived on Staten Island back in the late 80's, Mitch Itkowitz brought this and several other Buscema pieces to my apartment, knowing I collected JB art. I bought the splash to Subby 6 and a couple other pieces I don't remember any longer, but I passed on this.

E DLS Member Since 2005

Posted On 10/25/2020

JOE JUSKO wrote:

" When we both lived on Staten Island back in the late 80's, Mitch Itkowitz brought this and several other Buscema pieces to my apartment, knowing I collected JB art. I bought the splash to Subby 6 and a couple other pieces I don't remember any longer, but I passed on this.
"

Wow, can't believe you actuallyl passed on this. Was it the price, or was there something else about the piece you didn't like? Great choice on the Subby 6 splash though. Love those Tiger Shark issues. Probably around the same time, I had a chance to buy the Subby 5 cover from Rich Halegua for (I think) $150. We talked on the phone about it a couple of times, but I can't remember why we couldn't make it happen. Another big regret for me. Stay safe Joe!

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The good old days (from 1987 catalog)

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