Comics Buyer's Guide (1971) comic books 1970-1985

Alan Light's "The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom" made its debut with this issue which featured a John G. Fantucchio's iconic cover, a nice introduction article by Jan Steven Strnad, and, of course, ads. Most of the biggest ads were for various fanzines available at the time, such as Bill G. Wilson's "The Collector," various Captain George publications, "Helix," "Infinity," and others. Circulation, according to Light's editorial info in the indicia on Page 2, was "approximately 3,500." Also on Page 2 were the ad rates -- $16 for a full page ad, and $9 for a half-pager. 20 pgs, B&W on newsprint. Cover price $2.00.

This issue, like the first issue, was distributed FREE to potential subscribers. In the "Mail Bag" section, a letter from Buddy Saunders to Alan Light, congratulating him on publication of the first issue of The Comic's Buyer's Guide". 20 pgs, B&W on newsprint. Cover price $2.00.

The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom #3 (May, 1971) is an early-era comics ad zine featuring comic for sale lists and ads for the many fan publications of the period. This issue features a really cool Dan Adkins cover. 16 pages, black and white on newsprint, tabloid 11.5-in. x 17.5-in. NOTE: Early issues were mailed free to interested comic collectors; back issues could be ordered at 25c ea. Later the publication moved to paid subscriptions. Cover price $2.00.

Column by Mark Evanier and Steve Sherman (MESS). Tim Kirk illustration. Neal Pozner fanzine ad. Full page ads were just $16.00 and you could have ordered an Avengers #1 in VG to NM condition (that's how much looser grading was back then!) for just $5.00. Who was the seller? None other than Buddy Saunders, the owner of Lone Star Comics and Mycomicshop.com. We've been in the comic books business a VERY long time, almost as long as we've been collecting comics! 16 pages, black and white on newsprint, tabloid 11.5-in. x 17.5-in. Cover price $2.00.

The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom #5 (August, 1971) is an early-era comics ad zine featuring comic for sale lists and ads for the many fan publication of the period. This issue features a snazzy Bob Kline sci-fi cover. Also features a cool Berni Wrightson drawing in an ad for Metro-Con '71. Page 3 features a half-page ad from Buddy Saunders, who several years later would open the first Lone Star Comics store in Arlington, Texas. 12 pages, black and white on newsprint, tabloid 11.5-in. x 17.5-in. NOTE: Early issues were mailed free to interested comic collectors; back issues could be ordered at 25c ea. Later the publication moved to paid subscriptions. Cover price $2.00.

The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom #6 (September, 1971), and early era comics ad zine featuring comic for sale lists and ads for the many fan publication of the period. This issue features a Dan Adkins science fiction cover. Page four features a half-page ad from Buddy Saunders who six years later would open the first Lone Star Comics store in Arlington, Texas. Buddy also appears in the letters section along with Jan Strnad (Dalgoda creator). 16 pages, black and white on newsprint, tabloid 11.5-in. x 17.5-in. NOTE: Early issues were mailed free to interested comic collectors; back issues could be ordered at 25c ea. Later the publication moved to paid subscriptions. Cover price $2.00.

24 pgs, B&W on newsprint. Cover price $2.00.

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"The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom" #8, Oct. 1971. On Page 22, publisher Alan Light printed a half-page editorial/letters feature titled "Editor's Space." It was not a regular item, and did not last long. He crammed a fairly lengthy editorial and letter's column in the space, reducing it quite a bit to make it fit. But the feature is interesting today for a number of reasons: First, based on Alan Light's comments, it's clear he and Gary Groth were still pals, so it pre-dates their massive feud a couple of years later. Second, among the letters is one from longtime comics retailer Buddy Saunders (he has a half page ad in this issue). Another of the letters is from a 16-year-old fan publisher named Paul Levitz, who wrote to say his ad in TBG #2 for his fanzine "Etcetera" (which he co-edited with Paul Kupperberg), was still generating orders. Third, there's a nifty little illustration by Sam de La Rosa and Ric Cruz, who teamed up three years later to draw the cover for TBG #66. Eventually, de la Rosa turned pro and is still drawing comics to this very day. Finally, there's a letter from Jerome Sinkovec, who, like Levitz, had no idea at the time they would both later become editors of "The Comic Reader." Sinkovec's letter was in regards to an ad he was purchasing for his venerable newspaper reprint enterprise at the time, "The Menomonee Falls Gazette." 24 pgs, B&W on newsprint. Cover price $2.00.

20 pgs, B&W on newsprint. Cover price $2.00.

The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom #10 (Dec, 1971) is an early-era comics ad zine featuring comic for sale lists and ads for the many fan publication of the period. This issue features a Donald Newton cover featuring the Sub-Mariner and Human Torch in battle over the Statue of Liberty. Page 10 features a half-page ad from Buddy Saunders who, years later, would open the first Lone Star Comics store in Arlington, Texas. 24 pages, black and white on newsprint, tabloid 11.5-in. x 17.5-in. NOTE: Early issues were mailed free to interested comic collectors; back issues could be ordered at 25c ea. Later the publication moved to paid subscriptions. Cover price $2.00.

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24 pgs, B&W on newsprint.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #13, March 1972. This issue consists of two sections and 44 pages. It contains no editorial material of note, except for a small featurette about the issues cover artist John G. Fantucchio. In addition to the cover art and featurette art, Fantucchio drew some art adjacent to the issues mailing box. --review by Russ Maheras. 24 pgs, B&W on newsprint.

May 1972 issue.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #16, June 1972. This issue consists of two sections and 60 pages. It is the largest TBG to date, and is probably why publisher Alan Light started thinking about a bi-weekly rather than a monthly publishing schedule, a change he implemented just two issues later. More than anything else, it was the change to a bi-weekly, and then to a weekly schedule that propelled TBG to the top of the adzine heap for good. At the time, most areas of the country did not yet have a comic book store, so the only way to fill the comics merchandising needs of an exploding comics fan population was through conventions or adzines. Conventions were fine if one lived near a large urban area, or if one did not mind waiting for the big annual cons to roll around, but if one wanted to scratch that comics itch more frequently, adzines were pretty much the only other realistic option for the majority of fans, which is why TBGs soon-to-be weekly frequency would quickly put it light years ahead (pun intended) of the competition. TBG #16 contains no editorial material of note, and the Captain Marvel Jr. cover is by Bill Black. --Russ Maheras, contributing

The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom #17 (July, 1972) is an early-era comics ad zine featuring comic for sale lists and ads for the many fan publication of the period. This issue features a Klaus Janson cover portraying Kirby's Lightray and Darkseid. Features an editorial by Alan Light, and a half-page ad from Buddy Saunders who, years later, would open the first Lone Star Comics store in Arlington, Texas. 16 pages, black and white on newsprint, tabloid 11.5-in. x 17.5-in. NOTE: Early issues were mailed free to interested comic collectors; back issues could be ordered at 25c ea. Later the publication moved to paid subscriptions.

August 1972 issue.

August 15, 1972 issue. Don and Maggie Thompson's column, Beautiful Balloons, begins in this issue.

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September 1, 1972 issue.

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The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom # (September 15, 1972) is an early-era comics ad zine featuring comic for sale lists and ads for the many fan publication of the period. This issue features a Jim Hanley cover featuring the Captain Marvel Family. Features an announcement that Don and Maggie Thompson had a baby (Stephen), and an obit for Max Fleischer. Also features a full page ad for George McGovern for president, and a buyer seeking Incredible Hulk #1 for $10. 16 pages, black and white on newsprint, tabloid 11.5-in. x 17.5-in. NOTE: Early issues were mailed free to interested comic collectors; back issues could be ordered at 25c ea. Later the publication moved to paid subscriptions.

October 1, 1972 issue.

October 15, 1972 issue.

November 1, 1972.

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November 15, 1972.

December 1, 1972.

Don Rosa cover. 24 pages of ads.

The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom #35 May 1971 is an early-era comics ad zine featuring comic for sale lists and ads for the many fan publication of the period. This issue features a Now What column by Murray Bishoff; and a Crusader Comments column by Martin L. Greim. Greim incorporated an interview he did of Modesty Blaise co-creator/author Peter ODonnell into his column, making it TBGs first published interview. The Dr. Strange cover is by David Hunt. Black and white on newsprint, tabloid 11.5-in. x 17.5-in. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #36, May 15, 1973. This issue consists of two sections and 40 pages, and features a Now What column by Murray Bishoff; and a Beautiful Balloons column by Don and Maggie Thompson. The cover by 20-year-old fan Bruce D. Patterson, who later turned pro, introduces TBG-Man. This was Pattersons only cover in TBGs first 400 issues. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #37, June 1, 1973. This issue consists of two sections and 44 pages, and features a Now What column by Murray Bishoff; and a Crusader Comments column by Martin L. Greim. The Dr. Strange/Warlock cover is by Jay Massena. NOTE: There is no issue number or date on the cover. Such random editorial omissions were common in the early years of TBG. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #38, June 15, 1973. This issue consists of two sections and 40 pages, and features a Beautiful Balloons column by Don and Maggie Thompson; and a Now What column by Murray Bishoff. There is no cover date on this issue. The contradictory Covers That Almost Made It cover consists of four rejected covers drawn by four different artists: John Cody, Bob Conway, Mike Nicastre, and Dick Kulpa. It was the only time Nicastres work appeared on the cover of an issue of TBG, but the other three eventually cracked the solo cover barrier later on. Four years later, publisher Alan Light resurrected this feature idea in TBG 227 and 233. However, he relegated it to the inside. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #39, July 1, 1973. This issue consists of two sections and 44 pages, and features an excerpt from the magazine Inside Comix #1, featuring The 10 Most Powerful Men in Comics. The 10 are, in order as listed in the article: Carmine Infantino, James Warren, Sol Harrison, Stan Lee, John Goldwater, the distributors, Sol Brodsky, Jack Kirby, Neal Adams, and Leonard Darvin. Only real old-timers might recognize Darvin, who ran the Comics Code Authority in 1973. Personally, I (Russ) had problems with the top 10 list when I first saw it back in the day, and I'm sure others did as well. Still, it was a benchmark with which to start the discussion. The photo cover is a plug for the interior excerpt. Circulation: 1,000. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #45, Oct. 1, 1973. This issue consists of two sections and 48 pages, and features a Now What column by Murray Bishoff; and a Crusader Comments column by Martin L. Greim. The Enemy Ace cover is by Tom Armstrong. He drew a total of four, and the other three graced the covers of TBGs #23, 68 and 75. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #46, Oct. 15, 1973. NOTE: There is an issue number on the cover, but no cover date. This issue consists of two sections and 48 pages, and features a Now What column by Murray Bishoff; a Beautiful Balloons column by Don and Maggie Thompson; and the final excerpts from the Inside Comix #1 preview first featured in TBG #39. The E-Man cover is by Carl Taylor, his first and only cover among TBGs first 400 issues. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #48, Nov. 15, 1973. There is no cover date on this issue, which consists of two sections and 48 pages, and features a Now What column by Murray Bishoff, and a Beautiful Balloons column by Don and Maggie Thompson. The Broom Hilda cover is by the strips syndicated cartoonist, Russell Myers. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.