Found Treasure, Part 2

I finally asked the writer if he would consider returning a few of my Dad's signed comic book covers -- but he should keep his favorites.  I explained I would pay him if he asked.  His reaction was expected -- a bit surprised; taken back.  He wrote he cherished all comic book collecting -- and this would be hard for him to do.  But he would consider my request.  I waited.


Only days later, I received a stiff package in the mail -- with ALL of the covers!!!  I was ecstatic.  I wrote the writer back to thank him and he explained that my appeal had touched his heart -- especially considering my father had passed.  I thanked him profusely (and sent an Amazon gift card - ;-).



Next I set out to display the comics prominently - preferably with full bibliographic information (yes, even comics have bibliographic information!).


The writer's information the comics was sparse.  So I sought additional online resources, ultimately finding the Grand Comics Database, an excellent, community-maintained site.


So here the covers, with all of the data I mined from the database:

Sabres Up!  Wings Comics #116 (1952).  Fiction House (1940 Series).  Pencils & Inks by Bill Discount [as Dee].

Square It For Barney.  War Birds #3 (Winter 1953).  Fiction House (1952 Series).  Pencils & Inks by Bill Discount.

Ploesti Raid!  Jet Aces #4 (1953).  Fiction House (1952 Series).  Pencils & Inks by Bill Discount.

Silence From Planetoid X.  Planet Comics #71 (Summer 1953).  Fiction House (1940 Series).  Pencils & Inks by Bill Discount.

Kill the Tiger.  Danger #11 (August 1954).  Comic Media (1953 Series).  Pencils & Inks by Bill Discount.

And here is the finished project -- two beautiful frames now hung in "our bar" -- downstairs in the rec room: 

Kelly & I are very proud of them.

Found Treasure, Part 1

Recently, I was contacted by a writer for the online magazine Alter Ego.  The writer was trying to track down my Dad, William, who was a comic book artist briefly in the 1950s.  Apparently, my Dad had sent this gentleman several signed covers of comic books he had illustrated (pencils & ink).  This gentleman wanted to write a story on my Dad's experiences for the online magazine.  Not knowing that my Dad had passed away, he had found me online (no, there are not many Discounts out there!)


So I began a correspondence with this gentleman over e-mail.  I answered his questions about my Dad and his career as best as I could -- after all, my Dad's comic book artist career was 20 years before I was born!  I was almost immediately interested in retrieving these authentic artifacts of my Dad.  I have a hunger for truly authentic pieces such as these.  My mother has an original cover of the Saturday Evening Post -- a famous Norman Rockwell painting -- "Do Unto Others..."

It is signed by Rockwell to my grandfather Lowell.  My mother has it framed in her home.  I've told my mother there aren't a lot of family heirlooms I am interested in -- but that is the top of the list -- by far.


And so as I corresponded with this writer I wondered how I might get my father's signed comic books back.  I thought about how much it might be worth to me.  After all, my father worked in comics only briefly -- and he never worked on any major books.  Would I pay?  How much?  $50?  $100?  $500?!?!


I would be completely surprised at his response...