You have probably heard of people who collect election buttons — the ones that say things like “I Like Ike” given out during elections by the candidates. But there is a thriving vintage comic pin market.
The objects are rightly called “pinbacks” since they are basically a picture printed on a button with a pin on the back. Logical, isn’t it?
A voluminous collection of these pinbacks is gathered at a site lovingly compiled by Mark Lansdown. I say “lovingly” because it is a free reference. There are many collector’s guides on the web, but I don’t know if anybody else has taken the time to gather all these pinbacks.
If you are a collector — or want to be — Mark maintains a mailing list and will notify you whenever he updates.
WADE
Filed under Vintage Comics by on Jul 10th, 2011. Comment. 
The Comics Reporter reminds us that there is no better way to end the week than a tour of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation web site.
Bob Hope by Al Herschfeld
What? You’ve never heard of Hirschfeld? He was the long-time Broadway caricaturist — his images captured the movies and Broadway plays and all the major players from both.
Go quickly — see the showcase and then keep Googling until you find more great line drawings from the legendary master artist.
WADE
Filed under Vintage Comics by on May 6th, 2011. Comment.
Another from the legendary Alex Raymond. Rip Kirby (script by Dashiell Hammett)
Rip Kirby- by Alex Raymond
Filed under Vintage Comics by on May 6th, 2011. Comment.
Show some love for the wonder-est dog of them all — REX!
No texting, Rex -- just drive!
Former Army K-9 Rex was a test subject for a super-soldier serum, which gave him super speed, stamina and intelligence (and driving abilities?).
Unfortunately, the scientist who developed the serum was killed by a Nazi Spy!~ dirty Nazis!
So Rex was the only super dog of his kind.
After the war, Rex became a crime-stopper and an honorary Forest Ranger (!) as well as a Hollywood stunt dog.
Wow! (Bow Wow!) — talk about a Dog’s Life!
He earned medals from the French Foreign Legion, and was named an honorary American Indian Chief!
When asked about his coolest adventures, Rex modestly spoke of fighting octopi, and glossed over his triumphant battles with T-Rex, pterodactyl, mammoths and even space aliens!
Yes, Rex saved the entire Earth many times — as well as his human handlers.
REX — The Wonder Dog — Haven’t you heard of him?
WADE
Filed under Vintage Comics by on May 5th, 2011. Comment.
Since Superman & Batman had the same agent — er, um … publisher, they would occasionally team-up.
If you click over to Golden Age of Comic Books you can get some recommendations for the best stories where the two caped crusaders worked together … and some dynamite art also.
WADE
Filed under Vintage Comics by on May 2nd, 2011. Comment.
This was really hot stuff back in the day –
Russ Westover’s Tillie the Toiler first appeared 1921. A woman getting a job was a novelty at that time.
WADE
TAGS: comic strip, newspaper, Tillie The Toiler, Russ Westover, vintage, retro
Filed under Vintage Comics by on Apr 27th, 2011. Comment.
Creator Don Heck in “DANGER” Comics!
This ain't Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour!
This is only one of the many, many great things over at Shane Glines’ Cartoon Retro.
If you click on over there, you’ll be able to see all the scanned pages of this story, and you will discover why I love this blog.
WADE
TAGS: Shane Glines, Cartoon Retro, comic books, DANGER Comics, Don Heck
Filed under Vintage Comics by on Apr 26th, 2011. Comment.
When I was young, I discovered a magical place — the public library.
One of the many revelations there was that comics were treated in a scholarly manner. I could get a great big coffee-table book of old newspaper or comic book reprints. It was heaven.
One of the scholars and enthusiasts responsible for these books was Bill Blackbeard, who passed away March 10.
What a great name — totally suitable for the kind of guy who fearlessly collects and preserves comics. I was a big fan of Blackbeard.
If you’d like to find out more about this ultimate comic fan, The Comics Journal has a list of articles written about Blackbeard that you can digest.
We all know that comics is an art form, don’t we? And a valuable piece of history.
WADE
TAGS: Bill Blackbeard, comics, history, The Comics Journal, newspaper, comic books, comic strips, cartoons
Filed under Vintage Comics by on Apr 26th, 2011. Comment.
Dashing and daring, Nikolai Dante — one of 2000AD’s most popular characters, swings into action. The magazine is the roosting place of Judge Dredd — so what is a swordsman like Nikolai doing there?
He’s keeping his fans satisfied. The pirate is propelled by artist and co-creator Simon Fraser.
Check out Simon’s blog and get acquainted with this talented British artist — if you aren’t already a die-hard fan.
WADE
TAGS: Swashbuckler, Nikolai Dante, 2000AD, Judge Dredd, Simon Fraser, comic book, comic art, comics
Filed under Vintage Comics by on Apr 25th, 2011. Comment.
Did you think Frazetta did only barbarian art?
click the image to see the blog with the scanned pages
While on a Frank Frazetta art hunt (a Google hunt, of course) I found this gem. I knew FF did a lot of comic art, but never heard about this one.
The scanned pages are over at Pappy’s Golden Age of Comics Blogzine – which is a real find in itself. You’ll just love clicking through the links and finding more good vintage comics.
WADE
TAGS: golden age, comics, comic book, frank frazetta, fairy tales,
Filed under Vintage Comics by on Apr 24th, 2011. Comment.
