Comic Reviews by Walt

After "passing" on a copy several years ago at Carol & John’s before the "pandemic spike" of absolutely delusional, ridiculous pricing on comics, I figured even a 3rd print of TMNT #1 was out of reach for me, for my price range.

But a couple weeks ago, an email from Kenmore listed some new TMNT acquisitions…which included a 3rd print of #1. And while it was definitely more expensive than the CNJ copy a few years back…it was at a price I was willing to pay, and I jumped on it.

I was introduced to the TMNT in 1989 or so, while Dad was Den Leader for my Cub Scout group. Meeting was at the old house in Eastlake, and someone flipped the tv to this cartoon that I initially thought was dumb, but soon totally got onboard with. I remember Dad taking some of us (I think as friends and not as Cub Scouts) to the 1990 film; I was definitely "into" the TMNT by then.

Suffice it to say I was aware of the original Mirage TMNT #1 cover/image at LEAST by 1992, when TMNT #50 came out (with an updated version of the classic image). I feel like I recall seeing #1 listed somewhere back then in the $300 range and thinking that was absolutely ridiculously expensive and farrrrr outta reach. (Which, to a middle school kid most certainly WAS true).

That’d be a STEAL nowadays in 2023.

However, after seeing that copy at CNJ, I resolved that the 3rd print of #1 was attainable (to me)…if only "someday." Though I grew to DOUBT that, as said, with the spike in pricing the last several years.

This copy I just got now holds the record as THE most expensive single comic I have EVER bought in my life–more, even, than any Omnibus hardcover or other collected volume. It also beats out the copy of Uncanny X-Men #141 that I got at a show in early December 2021 that Dad was SHOCKED at learning what I’d paid, but figured it was my money, made me happy, and not like I was buying drugs or such.

And I’ve updated my "grails" list…though I’m sure there are plenty of other issues I’m also interested in. These now are specifically "notable" though I’m not in any huge rush to obtain them.

With the price of modern new comics’ cover prices also spiking lately to $4.99…I yet again need to be trimming back on what I’m buying. And even stuff I’d otherwise be perfectly interested in is getting hard to justify in the "generic" sense of being "just another" issue to come out any given week. (More on that soon, possibly).

Updated Grails List:

• Mirage TMNT vol. 2 # 10
• Body Count (Image TMNT/Casey/Raph mini) #1
• Body Count (Image TMNT/Casey/Raph mini) #2
• Body Count (Image TMNT/Casey/Raph mini) #3
• Body Count (Image TMNT/Casey/Raph mini) #4
• Mirage Donatello: The Brain Thief #4
• Image TMNT #s 1-18, 21+
• Mirage TMNT #2 (2nd print)
• Mirage TMNT #3 (1st print van cover)
• Mirage TMNT #3 (2nd print splinter vs mousers cover)
• Mirage TMNT #4 (1st print green sketchy cover)
• Mirage TMNT #4 (2nd print Nintendo box art cover)
• TMNT IDW #1 (Donnie cover)
• DC Comics Presents #26
• TMNT IDW #1 (wraparound cover)
• Archie C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa (vol. 1) #1
• Archie C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa (vol. 1) #2
• Archie C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa (vol. 1) #3
• Archie C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa (vol. 2) #1
• Archie C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa (vol. 2) #2
• Archie C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa (vol. 2) #3
• Battletech: Fallout #1 Hologram cover
• Mortal Kombat: Blood and Thunder #1 Hologram cover
• Max Yearbook (1990 Marvel) #1 (hologram cover)
• Onslaught: X-Men gold edition
• Spawn #s 132, 134, 136-149, 151-175, 177-184, 190, 194-198, 203-256

Filed under: 2023 Non-Review Posts, 2023 Posts | Tagged: comics, Grail, Grail Comics, Grails, Ninja Turtles, TMNT |