Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Jan 15, 2016 0:04:18 GMT -6
robot6.comicbookresources.com/2016/01/comics-a-m-78-year-old-collector-has-rescued-75000-comics/
Collecting | For the better part of three decades, 78-year-old Ray Brown has been “rescuing” comic books and giving them a good home — namely, his. The South Dakota man estimates his collection includes some 75,000 comics, the bulk of which he purchased from five Rapid City-area stores that went out of business. “They take up a lot of room,” he says. “They don’t eat anything, though.” Brown doesn’t read them, however; instead he simply takes pleasure in saving them from the trash bin. He does sell a few on the Internet from time to time, but he’s in no hurry to get rid them. [Black Hills Fox]
www.blackhillsfox.com/home/headlines/Unbelievable-Comic-Book-Collector--A-Long-the-Way-365026881.html
For generations of kids, comic books were as much a part of American culture as hot dogs and apple pie.
Until the past few years, when they've fallen off the mainstream map.
But Comic Books have a friend in a man we met "A Long the Way" in Rapid City.
If there were a comic book —about comic books: Ray Brown would be a super hero.
"And I don't even read comics–okay? But now without any exaggeration I've got 75–thousand comics, "says Ray Brown.
An unsuspecting character, somehow cast into the role of comic book crusader.
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "The lady said, I have 5 comic books in a cedar chest that's been here for 40 years and if you want them, you can have them real reasonable."
That's how it started about 28 years ago.
And, He's been rescuing comic books ever since.
Boxes here, boxes there,
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "Here's the 6 million dollar man."
Boxes of comics everywhere.
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "There's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."
Enthusiastic about sharing his paper treasures...
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "These were the old fashioned comic books. This is from 1919 and it's called Bringing Up Father."
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "This comic was printed in 1975, so it's a reprint."
Equally enthusiastic about his other treasures like this contraption.
Natural sound of a device fills the air, "(Looney tunes music)...'He told me Bugs was tough little stinker','Ah your mother wears cheap cologne. I resent that'.
At one time he says there were 5 comic book stores in town, now only one.
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says: "Because as the stores were going out they wanted to get rid of whatever they could, they like the Godfather, they made me offers I couldn't refuse."
This is not his job. He does not have a store, he's just a collector, meticulously organized, and having fun doing it.
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says" I not only know how much it is and if I have it, or if I might have 6 or 8 or 10 copies of it, but also where they're located."
Helping preserve a fading page of Americana.
Brown says, "There's Life with Archie. These books are from 1968, they're the old 12 cent books. Now you spend about 3 or 4 dollars for a comic book and you hardly get any pages."
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "These are Batman Cards and stickers and bubblegum."
"Then there's one for Dick Tracy," he says.
But technology has emerged as a sort of comic book kryptonite.
He says, "I think because the kids now can pull a comic up on their phone and they can read it that way if they want to."
Still the books do have some monetary value, at least in theory.
Ray Brown says, "I'm trying to sell them but at the same time you know I'm more interested in helping someone continue or fill spots in their collections."
He's 78 years old, feisty, and not afraid to use the internet as a possible source of sales.
Truth is, there's just not a lot of folks buying.
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "There's about 48 thousand that are on the computer."
But even that, is not working.
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "Not at all"
Which is not a problem, because they already have a home.
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says: "They take up a lot of room, they don't eat anything though."
75,000 comic books, safe from the garbage can, the recycling bin and the paper shredder.
Which is why: If there were a comic book-about comic books-Ray Brown would be a super hero.
If you've met someone cool "A Long the way", please e–mail or call us with your story ideas.
Also, if you're interested in buying some of his comic books, you can e-mail him for more information at:
rbrown7433@aol.com
Collecting | For the better part of three decades, 78-year-old Ray Brown has been “rescuing” comic books and giving them a good home — namely, his. The South Dakota man estimates his collection includes some 75,000 comics, the bulk of which he purchased from five Rapid City-area stores that went out of business. “They take up a lot of room,” he says. “They don’t eat anything, though.” Brown doesn’t read them, however; instead he simply takes pleasure in saving them from the trash bin. He does sell a few on the Internet from time to time, but he’s in no hurry to get rid them. [Black Hills Fox]
www.blackhillsfox.com/home/headlines/Unbelievable-Comic-Book-Collector--A-Long-the-Way-365026881.html
For generations of kids, comic books were as much a part of American culture as hot dogs and apple pie.
Until the past few years, when they've fallen off the mainstream map.
But Comic Books have a friend in a man we met "A Long the Way" in Rapid City.
If there were a comic book —about comic books: Ray Brown would be a super hero.
"And I don't even read comics–okay? But now without any exaggeration I've got 75–thousand comics, "says Ray Brown.
An unsuspecting character, somehow cast into the role of comic book crusader.
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "The lady said, I have 5 comic books in a cedar chest that's been here for 40 years and if you want them, you can have them real reasonable."
That's how it started about 28 years ago.
And, He's been rescuing comic books ever since.
Boxes here, boxes there,
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "Here's the 6 million dollar man."
Boxes of comics everywhere.
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "There's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."
Enthusiastic about sharing his paper treasures...
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "These were the old fashioned comic books. This is from 1919 and it's called Bringing Up Father."
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "This comic was printed in 1975, so it's a reprint."
Equally enthusiastic about his other treasures like this contraption.
Natural sound of a device fills the air, "(Looney tunes music)...'He told me Bugs was tough little stinker','Ah your mother wears cheap cologne. I resent that'.
At one time he says there were 5 comic book stores in town, now only one.
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says: "Because as the stores were going out they wanted to get rid of whatever they could, they like the Godfather, they made me offers I couldn't refuse."
This is not his job. He does not have a store, he's just a collector, meticulously organized, and having fun doing it.
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says" I not only know how much it is and if I have it, or if I might have 6 or 8 or 10 copies of it, but also where they're located."
Helping preserve a fading page of Americana.
Brown says, "There's Life with Archie. These books are from 1968, they're the old 12 cent books. Now you spend about 3 or 4 dollars for a comic book and you hardly get any pages."
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "These are Batman Cards and stickers and bubblegum."
"Then there's one for Dick Tracy," he says.
But technology has emerged as a sort of comic book kryptonite.
He says, "I think because the kids now can pull a comic up on their phone and they can read it that way if they want to."
Still the books do have some monetary value, at least in theory.
Ray Brown says, "I'm trying to sell them but at the same time you know I'm more interested in helping someone continue or fill spots in their collections."
He's 78 years old, feisty, and not afraid to use the internet as a possible source of sales.
Truth is, there's just not a lot of folks buying.
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "There's about 48 thousand that are on the computer."
But even that, is not working.
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says, "Not at all"
Which is not a problem, because they already have a home.
Comic Book Collector Ray Brown says: "They take up a lot of room, they don't eat anything though."
75,000 comic books, safe from the garbage can, the recycling bin and the paper shredder.
Which is why: If there were a comic book-about comic books-Ray Brown would be a super hero.
If you've met someone cool "A Long the way", please e–mail or call us with your story ideas.
Also, if you're interested in buying some of his comic books, you can e-mail him for more information at:
rbrown7433@aol.com