Registered: 10/28/02
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A little background. Its the spring of 1967 and a nine year old shadroch is helping out at a parish rummage sale. Mostly getting in the way, but occasionally helping bag a few purchases and even carrying one or two out to a buyers car. As the sale is winding down, the person in charge tells me to take two or three comics from a stack that is leftover. I select a Spiderman with Kraven on the cover, a classics type comic about Teddy Roosevelt and The Rough Riders and a Boris Karloff comic. Inside the BK comic is a story I found absolutey terrifying. It was about two college kids exploring somewhere where they find a cave with vaults of treasures. To open one, you must perform a deed of evil, and each task gets nastier and nastier. First task was to steal from a blind guy, and it progresses up to killing a whole village of people. While I only have vague memories of the story itself, the implications of a good person gradually turning evil for more and more riches have always stuck with me. I finally figured out exactly which issue contained the story and was about to buy one off eBay when it dawned on me the story can't possibly be anywhere near as good as I remember it being. Odds are it will be pretty lame. I'm almost thinking of buying the book but not reading it, but thats just a waste of money. Issue in qustion is Boris Karloff #13, and is easily found for $10 or less. Why does life have to involve such difficult choices?
Edited by shadroch (08/06/1204:57 PM)
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#5905559 - 08/06/1205:11 PMRe: Buy the book or keep the memory?
[Re: shadroch]
cd4evercd4ever This has been an educational post with no harm or ill will intented towards anyone & may I remind the mods I have been on these boards for nearly 10 years with nary a strike & only one warning & that was years & years ago. So please don't ban me.
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#5905564 - 08/06/1205:13 PMRe: Buy the book or keep the memory?
[Re: conditionfreak]
WhizzerWhizzer
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Buy it, and read it in a spirit of nostalgia. If you read it with the correct attitude you will enjoy it.
If you view it with adult cynicism, it will be a disappointment.
I buy old comics as a way of staying in touch with my childhood and can read them in that context. I'm sure you can too.
I hope you get a great deal of pleasure from reading it and stirring up happy memories from a simpler time.
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Registered: 02/16/11
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Personally, I'd try to get the book. I have similar memories of Creepy magazines that I used to read when I was 8 or 9 years old. I loved those books, and even getting them in adulthood - the excitement wasn't the same. However, I look on those books fondly and use them to remind me of those memories.
I have actually gone out and procured things that were in my collection 15-20 years ago, just to get back the exact item I once had.
I will say that as someone who doesn't have kids - preserving memories and the things that helped make them can be an important task as you get older. Someday memories will be all that you have, and having those items to stir and connect with them are important.
I have found myself in similar situations. I've always bought the book and when I cracked open the book itself I was catapulted back in time to that period. Even smells of the time when I was a kid came back to me - the comic shop soda fountain I used to go, the smells of the streets on the spring day in Brooklyn, etc.
You won't sorry you got it...the story will still be as terrifying as it was then and you will immediately turn seven one more time and experience the world from that perspective once again.
#5905604 - 08/06/1205:29 PMRe: Buy the book or keep the memory?
[Re: Dr. Balls]
Kevin.JKevin.J
FACT if I stop posting, trillions and trillions of transistors would be out of work.
Registered: 01/01/10
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Loc: Surrounded by comics
The comics I read as a kid have really dated compared to today's modern stories, however I can still read them and take away something. Get the book and read it, it obviously influenced you in some way and you may find enjoyment, nostalgia or something else on a deeper level. I have that book and I am going to read it myself.
Buy it. No question. Heck, buy two: one in HG and one to read and enjoy. One of my favorite things about collecting these days is reading those books I loved as a kid and realizing just how bad they are, or being surprised when I find one that's actually still pretty good.
#5905623 - 08/06/1205:35 PMRe: Buy the book or keep the memory?
[Re: shadroch]
BuzzettaBuzzetta
I was posting here when you were in diapers.
Registered: 08/22/11
Posts: 3946
Loc: New York State of Mind
Originally Posted By: shadroch
A little background. Its the spring of 1967 and a nine year old shadroch is helping out at a parish rummage sale. Mostly getting in the way, but occasionally helping bag a few purchases and even carrying one or two out to a buyers car. As the sale is winding down, the person in charge tells me to take two or three comics from a stack that is leftover. I select a Spiderman with Kraven on the cover, a classics type comic about Teddy Roosevelt and The Rough Riders and a Boris Karloff comic. Inside the BK comic is a story I found absolutey terrifying. It was about two college kids exploring somewhere where they find a cave with vaults of treasures. To open one, you must perform a deed of evil, and each task gets nastier and nastier. First task was to steal from a blind guy, and it progresses up to killing a whole village of people. While I only have vague memories of the story itself, the implications of a good person gradually turning evil for more and more riches have always stuck with me. I finally figured out exactly which issue contained the story and was about to buy one off eBay when it dawned on me the story can't possibly be anywhere near as good as I remember it being. Odds are it will be pretty lame. I'm almost thinking of buying the book but not reading it, but thats just a waste of money. Issue in qustion is Boris Karloff #13, and is easily found for $10 or less. Why does life have to involve such difficult choices?
For ten dollars and one more comic book in a stack of comics you already own just buy the book.
We are not talking about going back and buying the first car you ever owned or a large object that will take up much space. I say go for it. There is a good story that goes along with the book for anyone that asks why that book is in the "stack."
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