Saturday 7 November 2020

Please Hold For Dave Sim November 2020

Hi Everybody!

It's my time of the month...

For you Audiophiles:

And for you "old schoolers" who want a little "V" with your "A" the A/V versions:

Part 1:
We start with Dave and I having technical issues, and then...
Old business, questions I don't have, and:
Brian West asks:
Questions for Dave: How's Cerebus Campaign 2020 going? Have all the results for the "RED STATE," "BLUE STATE," and "I VOTE FOR CEREBUS" editions of HIGH SOCIETY been tabulated yet? If not, which edition is in the lead so far?

Good man Brian. We should give him a raise...
And then the latest Spawn #10 election numbers, and WHAT Dave's gonna do...

Part 2:
Steve asks:

And my Please Hold questions:

1) Why was the cover to Swords vol #1 changed from the first to second printing? (...I may have already asked this and forgotten Dave's answer...)

(...and as a former pressman, I have to say: knockout text like what's on the back cover is an absolute BITCH to print on a one or two color press!!...)

2) Were any changes made to the art / dialogue / etc when going from the original 'floppies' to the initial phone book printings?

3) What issues during the original 300 run had a second printing, and were all those issues so designated on the front cover?

4) Why the investment in Canadian price variant comics (multiple copies, at that), titles like Ms. Tree, and whatever else?

Is this an investment you think could later be sold to help finance the Archive?

Simply want some clarity on your thinking.

Steve
Part 3:
Michael R. of Easton, Pennsylvania asked on Saturday (I don't know if he sent it through Birdsong after I went to bed):

Hi Dave!

OK, I'm all caught reading all your posts as of 7:58PM.

Unless I get REAL crazy tonight. I might. It is a full moon tonight. I may go for 2 copies. Having the #5 copy is enticing, but having #26 will be TREMENDOUS. 5 is the month I was born. So having 5 and 26 (the day I was born) is REALLY enticing. I can't get too greedy, who knows what you and Dagon have planned for the end of this Kickstarter? AAAARGH!!! LOL!!!

One ... more ... question. Was Gerhard ever considered inking and backgrounds Spawn 10? Morbid Michael R. from eerie, Pennsylvania :)
And:
Jeff Seiler asks:
Question Of The Month From Jeff For Dave: I never noticed it before, but when Cerebus returns to his Regency Hotel suite, in HS, after battling with the Moon Roach and he's doing his diatribe about the Bug, the Elf (Fake Elf?) is wearing his medallions.

Is this, as I think, another example of how Cerebus ceded his control to a female, and was him allowing Elf to wear his medallions related to Cerebus' inability to rein in the Bug?

Also, when is the Regency Edition of HS going to be offered for sale? I call dibs on copy #301. 
I posted the page in question recently. And I don't think he can do that last one...
He also asked (in relation to the hands-through-the-bars Spawn #10 cover):
Way back when SPAWN #10 came out, I and (I think) a coupla other guys did a key to all of the caged superheroes, based on the look of their gloves, drawn by Todd.

I wonder whether Dave changed any of them for this cover?

Part 4:
We discuss Ralph S. and Dave's steps (I posted the images last week(?).)

And then:
Tony Dunlop asked:
So, regarding Damian's link - I just happen to be in " Exodus" right now in my daily Scripture reading, and got to the "blot out the memory of the Amalekites" bit...and I couldn't help but wonder...

Why, if their memory is to be "blotted out," are they being written about in Israel's sacred history?

Maybe Matt can ask Dave what he has to say about that little paradox in next month's "Please Hold?"
He's referring to this comic that Damian T. Lloyd posted a link to:
I...I...I lost it. Sorry.

And: 
Steve asked (after I posted pictures of you signing some CiH? books):
So, I try to be an astute reader, to pay attention, not interrupt when the adults are talking, watch and listen for subtle verbal clues and mannerisms.

But for the life of me I have absolutely no recollection of ever hearing what's the deal with all the signed by Dave CIH? issues as pictured here and elsewhere: where do they go, who gets them, how..

So please, help a wandering, wondering poor soul out and fill in the gaps in my thinking caps.
Steve
Damian T. Lloyd asked:
How much goo would a guru spew if a guru could spew goo? (Sorry; I think the edibles are kicking in.)
John Christian asked:
Did he ever give a name to the guy that had "Filbert" (Sump-Thing) back in issue #25?? The artist guy that was unafraid of the Woman-Thing??

And

There is a great page from that issue coming up for auction soon.
Margaret asked:
From tomorrow's notebook entry, a question arose.
I looked up Superman #165, the title of which is ‘Beauty and the Super-Beast’, and for volume one, that was published in November of 1963, so I’m not sure why Dave wrote down 1979 beside it. I had to look up what the Heatwave Festival 1980 was a reference to. And amazingly enough it has its own entry on Wikipedia. A music festival held in Bowmanville, Ontario – a town on the other side of Toronto from Kitchener, about a 1.5 hour trip (according to Google Maps). Sounds like a question for Matt’s next call to Dave, as I don’t remember Dave ever mentioning it before.

And OH BOY, does Dave answer. I didn't even cut it up, so enjoy an hour of Dave Sim's autobiography:
 
Here's scans Dave sent me of his Superman #165: (click for bigger)





And then Judith in Dave's coat:

Pretty sure my brother had the same coat in 1988...

Okay, RIGAMAROLE:
Spawn #10 Kickstarter"What the HELL is going on with the Halloween exclusive cover:?" Glad you asked:
HALLOWEEN VARIANT

The October 31 flash sale generally worked as planned and was well received. Thank you to everyone who participated.

First, a software issue on the Kickstarter side seems to make it difficult to get the new add-on feature to work on some Android devices. A lot of you left comments and sent us messages about this issue and all we can say is that kickstarter is aware and working on a fix.

For those of you who couldn’t get the variant option to work on October 31, we are offering a makeup window on the last day of the campaign. The makeup edition will be printed with an alternate colored cover to set it apart from the October 31 edition but will otherwise be the same. Also, the October 31 edition and the makeup edition will both arrive individually numbered and both editions will come with the secret trick-or-treat bundle of collectibles exclusive to Kickstarter. The October 31 edition looks to be the rarest Spawn 10 variant so far. Will the makeup edition dethrone it? We will find out!

Second, as many of you are aware Dave Sim offered his own alternate version of this book offsite at the same time our edition we as offered on October 31st. We were not involved in the planning of that variant and we are not publishing or distributing that version. Had we known of those plans ahead of time we would have let everyone know and coordinated both editions. We are in talks with Dave Sim to see if that version can be offered on Kickstarter and will let you know if that will happen. The Kickstarter version has been described as the “Grandma” or “Censored” edition. In reality it is the same front cover art with primarily different text by Dave on the back cover. Nothing is blocked out or obscured as some people may think. For more information stay tuned here or check for similar updates at: momentofcerebus.blogspot.com.

Hi, again, Everybody! 


SKETCH COVER

Some of you have expressed interest in purchasing the sketch cover variant that we currently have listed as a stretch reward. We want to make this campaign as enjoyable as possible for everyone and we consider all of your suggestions and requests. We will offer the sketch cover to every backer in the final 24 hours of the campaign including multiple copy bundles at deep discounts. We will modify the stretch goal so that instead of the sketch cover we will offer a new bonus for every backer regardless of your pledge level so everyone gets something if we hit the target. We will update the campaign page shortly to reflect this update.

We appreciate your suggestions and requests, keep them coming as we approach our final week stretch!
"What the HELL is going on with the Halloween exclusive variant cover from cerebusdownloads.com?" I'm glad you asked that too:
As of Thursday night, the vote on whether to allow a sale of more copies by the first round buyers stood at:
19 Yes
0 No
3 Abstain
6 not voted

After some "Canadian Election Interference", (everybody say "Thanks Dave!"...) it looks like there's gonna be a second shot at getting your crubby little mitts on one. More info in part 1 above.

Original Cerebus Pages/ Remastered Spawn #10 Preliminary Art/ Other goodies. we talked about that above too.


End of the month, the 25th, pick up Spider-Whore. I'm not going to, because my 15 "contributor" copies showed up in the mail today. (I had nothing to do with this issue, but my name is on the cover.) I got issues #175-189 out of 2414. I'm signing and sending Dave five issues of his pick of numbers, but then I'ma offer the rest to the fine folks willing to give me money, kinda like I am with: copies of Vark Wars: Walt's Empire Strikes Back (Signed by Dave, Signed by Dave and me, Signed by me after I scribble out Dave's name, Pretty much available Signed only...)
 
Check out the new Cerebus masks and whatnots. PENIS and XXXXX added. And there's a sale:
Your entire store will be on sale:
Nov 4 – 6
Nov 11 – 13
Nov 17 – 20Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales will be running:
Nov 26 – 27
Nov 29 – 30
Tell your fans! Remind them that everything will be up to 35% off! That means $13 tees, $20 phone cases, $30 hoodies, and way more.
Ya done been told fans!

As you all know, Wilf Jenkins was the Aardvark/Vanaheim lawyer for years, and during that time he was on the comp list. Wilf saved all his copies. Dave and Wilf have signed them, and there's a certificate of authenticity. The books will be available from Looking For Heroes, for $10 (CAD) plus $4 dollars shipping to Canada and $5 dollars shipping to the USA. All the money goes to the Food Bank of the Waterloo Region.

AND:
David Birdsong sent in:
Hey Matt,

I've decided to stop collecting CGC comics for a couple of reasons. They take up space and they drive me nuts wanting to crack them open. I've got a counterfeit #1 that ends tomorrow that has attracted a lot of attention and two bids. I didn't want to ask you to hawk my stuff, but if a loyal AMOC reader wants it they have 24 hours or so (yeah, that again). I've got issues #1 and #2 up right now and 6 others coming soon.

Thanks (if you don't want to then don't worry about it at all),
DB
https://www.ebay.com/itm/233768413148
Next Time: Oliver!

7 comments:

Fumerkeys said...

So Tuesday on Downloads? Be there or be square?

Ralph "cheap and easy" S said...

'Coal entrance' solution:
Dry brick (won't settle, easily removed)

Margaret said...

Dave mentions the 2nd printings of Cerebus being #151, 152, 153, and 154.

I didn't know that #154 has a second printing - never seen it.

I do know that along with those that #155, 163, 164, and 165 had second printings as well. Marked 2nd printing in the number box on the cover. I'm missing a 2nd printing of #154 & 155, but I do have duplicates of the other ones - if someone wants to trade.

Carson Grubaugh said...

That is absolutely wild. I just mocked up an SDOAR page with that cover, knowing it was the first Superman comic Dave had. I had NO IDEA it was the root of his mystical break.

Steve said...


Something I find odd, revisiting the Canadian price variant subject: there are any number of golden age titles that were printed in the US for distribution in Canada, and designated in some fashion on the cover.
For whatever reason, these issues --even with a substantially lower print run -- sell for LESS than the "US" distribution copy.

Similarly, in the mid to late 60's (at least) Marvel printed square back annuals for distribution in Canada -- they have blank inside covers, as the add space would not be legitimate in Canadian distribution.
And same deal: significantly lower printings, but sell for less.

Some of the hardest to find Whitman comics are the 70 cent Canadian price variants -- but given the content (mostly cartoon characters), typically not too valuable.

And I have a small stack of Richie Rich square back giants with a 35 cent cover price -- for Canadian distribution.

Steve

Jeff said...

WOW! That autobiography was a WHOLE lot to process. Starting with: Judith definitely had "kiss" me eyes back in the '80s.

Thank you Dave for your very complete answers to my questions.

A while back, Dave posted on AMOC ( I think) that (I'm paraphrasing here) he had spent the first half of his life sinning (and, apparently, very badly, and that he wanted to spend the second half making up for it.

He pegged it as mid-May, two-thousand and something-something.

But. I gotta say, when you're 30-something and a beautiful woman flashes her eyes like that, well, pretty hard to walk away.

Thank you, Matt and Dave for stealing 3 hours of my Sunday night!

Jeff said...

Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention that I actually (very carefully) walked down those coal stairs when I visited the Off-White House. I said to Dave, "If you do predecease me, it will be because you slipped on these stairs in the winter."

That got a chuckle.