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Restoration Revival?
Scoop: When did you begin to collect comics? Matt Nelson: As a kid, I was nuts for the G.I. Joe toys. One afternoon I was watching TV and saw a commercial for a G.I. Joe comic. I begged my parents to buy it for me, and after a long, agonizing week, they did. I became hooked on the series after that, and started to hunt down the first 48 issues. This led me to a local comic store, which opened my eyes to many other comics. Scoop: What was the first comic book you remember buying? Matt Nelson: Heathcliff #6, from that Star line of Marvel Comics. I think it came out in 1985. Scoop: What were the circumstances? Matt Nelson: My mother bought if for me at the local grocery store. Ironically, inside the comic was an ad for a poster featuring the cover of Fantastic Four #1. I seem to remember having some knowledge of the Fantastic Four, and being very drawn to the fact that this was the cover of their first issue. Scoop: How long from the time you first bought a comic book until you considered yourself a collector? Matt Nelson: After scooping up all the G.I. Joe I could find, I began to notice the older comics hanging on the wall of my local comic shop. I was lucky that the store carried Silver Age comics, which was a rarity in a small town like Slidell. The shop was run by Rick Weems, a black belt whose primary career was teaching karate. The comic shop was called Comics Plus, and was next door to his karate studio. I once sold some comics to him, and he jokingly threatened that if any books were reprints, he'd have his karate students hunt me down. This may have been a bargaining tactic he used on other collectors. Weems was a big fan of Marvel Silver Age, so I didn't see much else in the store besides that and new comics. This probably accounts for my strong attraction to DC and Golden Age-there being a lack of it at such an impressionable age. Scoop: What were your early favorites? Matt Nelson: My favorites after G.I. Joe were Iron Man, Wolverine, Captain America, Batman and Justice League. I didn't collect independent titles. Scoop: How did your collecting develop from that point? Matt Nelson: After getting into Superheroes, I quickly developed a taste for older books, and started my collection with an Iron Man #1 I got for my 14th birthday. It was purchased from a Robert Crestol catalog, advertised as VF/NM for $60. Of course the book was more F/VF. I eventually color touched it in High School (the irony!), as I did with many of my other books. My best friend Mark McNally and I used to drive to all the nearby cities and raid their comic stores looking for old stuff. Most had little or nothing before 1965, but we'd take anything we could get our hands on. And we did every single show that came to Louisiana, usually setting up to generate cash and buy books. This was during High School, so we were always broke. In 1992 another friend of mine, Bill Ponseti was opening up a comic shop in New Orleans and asked me to work there. How could I say no to such a dream job? And so More Fun Comics opened its doors that December. Our #1 goal was to fill the store with as much Gold and Silver Age comics as we could fit in there. Within two years we had the best back issue selection between Texas and Florida, and it became a haunting ground for many big collectors throughout the rest of the '90s. The greatest find we made at the store was from an elderly lady who walked in the door with Action #1-18. No kidding, she literally lived around the corner, and the books had been in the house since the '30s. Scoop: Did you have other collecting habits, too? Matt Nelson: Comics consumed most of my attention, although I've always been a movie buff, and I love to collect the old posters. I also dabble in WW II memorabilia, particularly war medals and propaganda posters. Scoop: How did your family react to collecting? Were they supportive? Matt Nelson: My mother was always willing to drive me to the local store. When I had a subscription at the Bookworm in East New Orleans, she would stop there after work every two weeks and pick it up for me. My dad was more fascinated by the business end of it, although he had little patience for driving me to all the shops around town, a favorite sideline of mine when we were on vacation. Scoop: Did any of your family members collect comics or other items? If so, what? Matt Nelson: Nobody in my family collects anything whatsoever. I'm an anomaly. Scoop: Did you drift away from collecting at any point as some collectors do, or did you stick with them as you grew up? Matt Nelson: Besides a small period during high school, when teenage interests took precedent, comics have been a steady part of my life since age 11. I was always impressed to meet other collectors who had been continuously reading comics since the early '60s. Some of them still had every single comic they bought. So many things happen in our lives that can divert us from collecting, such as the ongoing cost of collecting and the constant temptation to sell when money is needed. For someone to have stuck with it for 40 years is amazing to me. Scoop: Compare what excited you about comic books early on to what excites you about them now. Is it the same thing? Matt Nelson: I think what has always excited me is what excites many collectors--the desire to acquire what you don't have. That constant drive to conquer or complete, whether it be a full run of a favorite title, the best existing copy of a particular book, or even something eclectic, like all the #1 issues, or everything from a particular year or publisher. There are so many diversities within the realm of comics, and one can spend a lifetime sorting through them. It's like cable TV; so much to choose from, and something for everyone. Scoop: What are the prizes of your collection? Matt Nelson: The comics I cherish most are a small stack of pitiful, low grade books that hold an intrinsic value. I kept a comic from the first Golden Age collection I found when I was 18. Another is Fantastic Four #4, the first book I ever restored. And I still have that Heathcliff #6. As well as another NM copy I'm holding for investment purposes. Scoop: What are you collecting at the moment? Matt Nelson: Currently I'm completing runs of Crime Does Not Pay, DC's big five war comics, Showcase (my favorite run), and some Nedor titles. I also like to buy the rare one-shots, such as Lucky Fights it Through and World's Greatest Pop Songs. And racist comics. I'm fascinated by the way comics reflected society's cavalier attitude towards minorities during the 1930s and 1940s. Of course no one thought it was out of the ordinary at that time. My collecting habits change every so often, but one consistent goal has been to own, at one time or another, the top ten most expensive Golden Age comics according to Overstreet. Currently I'm three short of completing the list - All-American #16, Superman #1 and Action #1. Scoop: Do you have any stories about "the one that got away?" Matt Nelson: The one I still wonder about was a collection my cousin stumbled upon while he was cleaning out his friend's garage. The comics were wrapped in cellophane and belonged to the friend's father, who had fought in the Korean War. So I'm thinking this is a massive find from the early '50s, chock-full of rare DC and who knows what else. I pestered my cousin to get back over to his friend's house and grab the comics, but he dragged his feet until it was too late. They had been thrown out. Knowing what I know now, I realize that what I pictured sitting in that garage was probably much more valuable than what was actually there. But I still wonder... Scoop: What comics are on your wantlist? Matt Nelson: Four Favorites #10. It's a brutal cover, and I've only seen one beat up copy for sale in all my years of searching. Another is Funnies #22, the last Unseen Gold cover I need to have every one missing from the Gerber Photo-Journals. Scoop: How does your business factor into your collecting? Matt Nelson: There are both advantages and disadvantages for a person who is employed in vintage comics and collects. The clear advantage is the incredible books that pass through my hands during the course of business. And I love networking with collectors I meet. The disadvantage is the occasional need for cash flow and good product, which can tempt me to sell books I'd otherwise keep forever. My collection is in a constantly revolving state. But I've owned some really cool stuff over the years. Scoop: How did you get into the comic book restoration business? Matt Nelson: I was that kid that couldn't help but color touch his comics. I remember trying everything to improve my meager comic collection in the early days, mainly out of desperation; I didn't have the funds to buy NM copies, which gave me ample desire to "create" high grades. In The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide a few years back, Bill Sarill was offering a class that taught his restoration techniques. Sarill is considered the father of comic restoration, and taught many of the restorers in the field today. I immediately phoned him, set up a date to train in Boston, and the rest is history. Actually, it wasn't that simple. Learning the techniques was critical, but a very small step towards mastering restoration. It took many more years for my work to reach a professional level. Scoop: How has the restoration business changed in the past several years? Matt Nelson: It's probably changed more since 2000 than the 20 years before that. The market has gone through a complete metamorphosis, and is still changing as we speak. When restoration began in earnest over 25 years ago, it didn't affect comic values all that much. Prices were still relatively cheap, and restored books were not as prevalent as they are now. By the early '90s, when comics were fetching big money, collectors began to debate specific aspects of the craft, opening discussions of what constituted restoration and how restored books should be valued. A lot of books were being slightly restored (cleaning and pressing covers was very popular) and sold as virgin copies because of this gray area "loophole." A grading standard, which would eliminate the gray area once and for all, had yet to be defined and accepted. That loophole closed in 2000 when CGC opened its doors. The restored market crashed as collectors began to snub books that carried what would become the scarlet letter-the dreaded "purple label," the color of the tag used by CGC to denote restored comics. The reasons for this crash are not few, and they are not simple. It was a tangled mess of factors that suddenly converged. Two factors had been steadily building during the previous decade; public mistrust of hidden restoration, and resentment towards large profit margins realized by restoring and selling high dollar comics, especially when their perceived value was now significantly lower. But there was an underlying factor that was not so obvious. CGC's target market has always been the ultra-high grade collector, a demographic that never involved itself with restored comics. During CGC's genesis, consideration was given to grading only un-restored comics, a policy they used in sports cards. Because restoration was so prevalent, CGC decided to grade all comics. As a result, restored books entered the realm of the high end market, where they were not welcome. They were subsequently shunned, further contributing to restoration's tailspin. Scoop: Do you see this as continuing or do you see comic restoration changing in the future? Matt Nelson: Restored comics are coming back strong. People are now accepting "purple labels" for what they are-simply a tool for defining value. Valuing restored comics is much more complicated because there are more things to consider than just grade and page quality. What type of restoration was performed? How extensive is it? What is the quality of the restoration? There are no two restored comics that are alike. You can compare 9.4's and 9.6's, but each restored comic exhibits not only its own traits, but the talents of the restorer as well. The bottom line is this; the purpose of restoration is to preserve deteriorating comics. To invigorate them for collectors who enjoy beautiful comics without paying the high price for un-restored copies. They are not meant to be sealed in a case, but to be handled, read, and enjoyed. For every investor there are 10 collectors looking for the same books in lower grade. And they are the target market for restoration. Scoop: You are a big fan of Pedigree comic collections. How did you become interested in these types of books? Matt Nelson: An old Overstreet price guide mentioned the Mile High collection one year in their market report. It was a very small paragraph, but the descriptions of snow white pages and entire runs of Golden Age comics electrified me. I slowly learned of the other famous pedigrees, like the Larsons, San Franciscos and Cosmic Aeroplanes, but had yet to see any of them in person. When I finally saw my first cherry Mile High, it was as breathtaking as I thought it would be. For all doubters of this collection I always ask, have you seen one? Don't knock them until you have. Because you will become a believer once you do. The page quality, the gloss, the suppleness, the smell, the silver staples-it's simply everything a comic would be if it came fresh off the newsstand. Scoop: What is your favorite Pedigree collection and why? Matt Nelson: The obvious answer would be Mile High, so we'll disqualify that collection. I'd have to go with Larsons, because they have so much character to them. Even though they generally grade lower than other Golden Age pedigrees because of their characteristic defects (foxing, occasional water damage and rust migration), it's these very things that make them so recognizable. When you see the name or number written on a Larson cover, you know exactly what to expect when you thumb through it. Those defects are like old friends. Another is the Cosmic Aeroplane collection, because these books frequently turn up without anyone recognizing them. The markings are on the interior pages, and are very distinct. So you have to flip through a book to find them. But when you do, it's a rush. Another appealing aspect is its mystique; the Cosmic Aeroplane collection was huge, and got scattered upon its discovery and sale. No inventory list exists. Everything from Adventure #40 to Showcase #4 was in there. Scoop: You are currently working on a book on Pedigree comics. What can you tell us about the book and have you had any interesting discoveries from this work? Matt Nelson: I hope this will be the definitive work on pedigrees. To date, the information on these collections has been sparse. And interest in them is at an all-time high, now that many pedigreed comics have been released into the open market. The book will cover 50 pedigreed collections, and reveal the stories behind each one, as well as their original lists. As of now, I've got the lists to Mile High, Larson, Denver, Allentown, Windy City, Chicago, San Francisco, and many others. There will also be a section on how to identify each pedigree, showing pictures of the distinctive markings, such as arrival dates and penciled names. And each collection will be ranked based on size, quality and impact on the market. Some interesting discoveries from gathering data for the book; I'm working on obtaining actual pictures of inside Edgar Church's house, and particularly his basement where the Mile Highs were stored. I'm also in touch with family members of some of the deceased collectors, which may reveal interesting anecdotes. If anyone has anything they would like to contribute to the book, particularly original lists, pictures of collections, or just interesting information, please don't hesitate to contact me. I hope to have the book out by the middle of 2005. Scoop: Have there been any surprises in the comic book marketplace in the past year worth noting? Matt Nelson: I'm constantly blown away by the prices high grade comics are bringing. I wish I had 1)a crystal ball to look into the future and figure out where this train is headed, and then 2)and time machine to go back and get a jump on the market. If I could do both of those things, I'd own Diamond by now. Maybe Microsoft too. Scoop: Where do you see the comic market heading and are you surprised by the interest in comics? Matt Nelson: I'm thrilled that comics are enjoying a resurgence of popularity in our culture, and the resultant flood of new blood into the hobby. It's a very exciting time to be in comics on all levels, whether you're playing the high-end market, reading new comics, or just enjoying the massive explosion comics have caused in the entertainment industry. Comics have seeped into the consciousness of American culture, cultivating awareness on the level of baseball or television. The popular heroes have become modern day mythology. What makes me happy is to see that our hobby has reached such a level of acceptance and fascination. It just keeps getting better.
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