and thank you for all your hard work all these decades in the trenches of ferreting out the data & lore, the previously-unknown people who have surfaced from the semi-coordinated efforts so many of us have built upon each others research, each year the bar being extended as to what was known in the comics world macro-verse.
I long ago gave up on seeking huge fortune at the San Diego Comicon, once the big studios began their push at the vintage mercantilers wot brought em to the party in the first place. then again, I fondly remember my fortunate one on one time with director Frank Capra re earlier comics of his youth he enjoyed a lot. Learned a lot that year he was a guest in 1974.

Heck, I am grateful you printed off a smaller version of The Superman #1 1933 projected-humor publishing company cover that Joe Shuster signed on as I was more in tune with running my multiple store chain operation with a warehouse of a million comic books which consumed much of my time buying selling trading to make sure I made payroll on 23 worker bees.

Here is an URL to where i have a few left of my original 1971 print tun better explained as well

http://cgi.ebay.com/THE-SUPERMAN-1-1933-SIEGEL-AND-SHUSTER-COVER-PRINT_W0QQitemZ230418287699QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a6000c53

The 70s and 80s I pretty much was wrapped up mercantiling, not having much time for comics business history research.

In the mid 90s onwards I plunged into it as a way of working my way thru the crash & burn which followed the untimely death of Rick Griffin, upon whose horse I had hitched, opening that gallery for him in San Fran’s Cannery Feb 1991 thru Aug 15 1991 when he was hit by that delivery van driver who was lost. That driver came in to the gallery a couple months later, introduced himself as the “guy who hit and killed this fantastic artist.” The man was humbled by what his carelessness by not signaling his turn, accomplished.

The Jerry Garcia involvement, the whirl-storm of shock and disbelief.

So I began research which got me back to America’s first comic book, Obadiah Oldbuck, 1842, and I am satisfied there is no such incarnation earlier for this country, at least. I leave it to our Euro-friends to take its origins back way further.

Now that I am hopefully healing more, at least the insane pain is gone now, I am focusing my attention on everything which got dropped 3-5 years ago, trying to make up for more lost time, surviving 43 years feels like saying thanks, am trying hard to make people’s trust in me be well served

Been looking forward to every Comicon since the first one, the day I stop coming will be the day they know to do the obit -:)

There aren’t too many of us left from those “days that used to be” Neil Young did a song about back in 1989. That album was Rick’s favorite up thru the time of his death. He said Ragged Glory changed his life.

Was the only CD he played when he drove that big old Green pickup truck around from Petaluma to points such as the gallery in The Cannery, Bill Graham Presents where we were having over 100 pieces matted and framed special deal worked out with BG hisself, who also used to buy comic books from me when he cruised the Haight, I sold his posters buying them in large quantities from his Winterland Operation,

Or George Meade’s Wet Paint Studio is where I helped him paint the huge twelve foot wide sign of the Crowned Winged Eyeball which graced the double set of doors at the entrance to Comics and Poster Nirvana. Only word to describe over 100 Griffin original paintings, line drawings, etc coupled with work incoming from all the Zap artists and major poster artists all wanting in on this coordinated action. Rick and I were building a shrine place where all these creators – his Zap world and his Poster world – could congregate with safety in numbers, with Rick as the youngster who grew up to being a Guardian Angel, in a way.

So, got off into comics business history research, got a ton of stuff to collate, re-absorb, and continue building a coherent time line. Mayhaps will simply post it onto internet, foregoing a printed paper version.

Hard to say, had to concentrate on the research, expunge my brain. And then tag along with repairing hip joint metal implant replacements now, I feel grateful. Hope I prove to be worth it.