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Pep Comics #22 First ARCHIE 1941 RARE
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Pep Comics #22 First ARCHIE 1941 RARE
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is a lower grade but essentially complete, readable and presentable and, if you like, restorable, copy of a very rare comic book with the debut of Archie. Pep Comics #22 sports a classic clouds of war cover from MLJ publishing with the first patriotic hero, the Shield, aided by the Hangman as they try to prevent a giant boot of tyranny from descending on America. Just so the imagery doesn't escape you, the boot is stamped with a Nazi Swastika and a Japanese flag. This book was actually on the newsstands In December of 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked and the U.S. found itself finally drawn into World War II. That, and the many cool superhero stories within would be cool enough, But that's not all. This book also contains the very first appearance of one of the most enduring comics characters of all -- Archie Andrews, Ih this issue, Archie appears not to be a teenager but a prepubescent boy who barely comes up to his father's waist. Archie looks a lot like the then youthful film star Mickey Rooney, as Archie does bike tricks and goes to a carnival with Jughead and a not yet curvaceous Betty. If you're reading this you probably know that Archie and gang went on to great success in the U.S. and all around the world. So successful the company soon abandoned all their superhero characters to devote their presses to Archie and his friends. Archie was then and still is the most timely of comic characters. After this issue, Archie's age was increased to a teenager, and he's been one ever since. Hardly any fad, fashion or slang has failed to be chronicled in the Archie comics, making them an ongoing encyclopedia of teen life from the 40s to the present day. Archie comics are still so successful they are read around the world by millions of kids, and are virtually the only comics you can still find easily find not just at comic shops, but also at book stores, newsstands and even supermarkets. The Archie series comics hold the unique position of being the one series that continued to sell solidly and be read by millions even during the many comic downturns, and to be published without interruption for sixty-five years with no end in sight. This book just doesn't show up much. The Gerber Photojournal only estimated a few dozen copies total and to date only six have been graded by the CGC. (as compared to hundreds or even thousands of copies of most other "Key" first appearance issues). T likely are more than a few dozen copies actually out t, but not nearly enough to go around. The price guides don't even begin to reflect the scarcity and the sales figures. It virtually always sells not just over guide prices but for high multiples of it. A copy graded in good condition sold recently on ebay for more than $8500.00. It is not known whether any copies even exist in true near mint condition, but even a certified very fine would be many times that price. This copy would grade under good but is still essentially complete, readable and restorable. The pictures tell the story fairly well. The cover is split down the spine and has pieces missing along the edges of the front and back. But the colors are good and the cover images are mostly intact. The interior is complete and the pages are mostly supple enough to bend and read carefully, but have aged enough to be slightly brittle on some edges, with some cracks and chips out of borders on some interior pages toward the back, but not throughout the book and not affecting the art or story. The first page of the Archie story shows the page quality and worst of the defects fairly well. Sorry I couldn't show the entire page but my digital camera wasn't working today and I couldn't put the full page on the scanner without bending the spine all the way flat, and that is not a good idea with any book. This at least shows a portion of the interior conditions described as well as the beginning of the Archie story. It's a fun read. The words "rare" and "hard to...
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