I posted recently about some digging I'd done in Vancouver, where I'd had some good finds but also felt like I'd run through the stores in town pretty quickly. Thankfully, there was a really nice local comic show at the flea market yesterday—maybe 20 vendors, with the focus squarely on comics, though some folks also had older toys, and there were a couple people with cards and other collectibles. A great variety of material was on display, and I was able to find undergrounds, alternative comics, and a good number of the superhero things I look for.

People were exceptionally friendly, and I had wonderful conversations with the two women who run 'Back Issue Central' especially. After I bought a few issues of Colin Upton's 'Big Thing' from a $2 box, the owner of Nifty Keen Stuff insisted on introducing me to Colin so he could sign them all. Folks were happy to cut deals, many things with price tags on them were from one or two dollar bins, and several sellers had half off all marked prices.

Among the finds, I'm especially happy with a cheap but battered copy of the first Red Sonja appearance in 'Conan the Barbarian' 23, with the near full run of 'Black Hole,' with two issues of Vancouver underground legend George Metzger's 'Truckin'', and with the scarce final issue of the feminist anthology 'Tits & Clits.' Eager to seek out more shows like this in the future!

Local Comic Show Bounty