Comic Book Men s06e16 Episode Script
Reverse Stash
1 [upbeat music.]
If you could be buried in a superhero costume, which one would it be? A dignified burial is out of the question then.
[chuckles.]
You can pick a cool one though.
It could be dignified.
Can you dress as their alter-ego? 'Cause you could be, like, Clark Kent.
He looks respectable.
Come on, man.
Let's let's have some fun here.
You know, we're having a fun burial.
You know, we're trying to keep it light.
[laughing.]
So you're the one that died then.
[laughing.]
I'd probably pick the Superman costume.
- Okay.
- But not like the garish blue and red one.
I don't want it to be ridiculous.
It's a funeral, for gods sake.
Of course.
[laughter.]
I know what I would do.
To save money on the coffin Iron Man armor.
- Just bury me in the ground.
- [laughter.]
Do they even lower him down, or do they just kick him - so it rolls into the grave.
- [laughter.]
Put him in the ground.
Come on.
We got thing we got other things to do today.
[laughter.]
I'm buying two cans of kerosene and going out as the Human Torch.
[laughter.]
[heroic music.]
[laughs.]
Hello and welcome to another episode of "Comic Book Men," the only show that excels at excelsior and has a great Caesar's ghost.
- Man, I'm Kevin Smith.
- Bryan Johnson.
- Walt Flanagan.
- Mike Zapcic.
- Ming Chen.
- Okay, what's been going on at the shop this week, Walter? We've had one of the oldest comic books ever to come into the the Stash the other day.
Stop bragging.
[laughter.]
[upbeat music.]
- How you guys doing? - Hey, guys.
Got some, uh, Golden Age comics for you guys to look at.
- Ooh, Mike.
- Oh, wow.
A Golden Age pile.
- "Batman" number 11.
- Wow.
You got a Golden Age "Green Lantern," Golden Age "Flash.
" - "Wonder Woman.
" - Yeah.
"All-Star Comics," "Captain Midni" - [bell dings.]
- Ooh.
- Ah, look at that.
- This is number 2.
I gotta be honest, what I'm really targeting, I think, today is gonna be "The Human Torch" number 2.
You guys know that "Human Torch" number 1 doesn't exist? - Right.
This is like - Right.
the number 1, but it's number 2.
Does that make sense to you? This is number 1.
It's kind of odd, but it's number 2.
- But it's number 2.
- Right.
Prior to this publication of this book, Timely published a book called "Red Raven" number 1.
Had poor sales figures, so they decided, "Let's can that book and just put number 2 on this.
" "All right, let's just call it "Human Torch.
" - That's the way it went? - Yeah.
That's that is history right there.
It's not "Human Torch" number 1.
It's "Human Torch" number 2.
- I'm already lost.
- [chuckles.]
Human Torch's first appearance is in what? - It's not even his first appearance.
- No.
- Now oh, my Lord.
- [laughter.]
There's been three Human Torches.
And then once they got to Johnny Storm, they're like, "Back off, it's done.
" Well, didn't they do a female Human Torch? Yeah, they did.
Her name was Frankie Raye, and yeah.
What happened to the old Human Torch? - Is he still in the Marvel Universe? - Yes and no.
They turned him into the Vision in "The Avengers.
" That's who Vision is in the comics, - is the old Human Torch? - Yes.
- Did you know this? - I did know this.
You just didn't want to share it with me? Seems like big news.
[laughter.]
Would it be possible for me to take it out of the bag, - get a closer look at it? - Sure.
Sure, go right ahead.
I'll be very careful, I promise.
I know you will.
[soft music.]
- 1940, Timely Publications.
- 1940.
Oh, my God.
That is the smell.
[sniffs.]
Man, it just smells like Mayberry.
[laughter.]
Smells like heaven.
Yeah.
I was to smell that for eternity.
Mildew? [laughter.]
Where did you guys get this plethora of Golden Age books? What happened is I bought a house in South Philly.
The owner, he had this big stack of comic books.
And he said, "Would you like to have them?" Yes.
So I've had them since.
- And how long ago was that? - That's 1965.
- Wow.
- Yeah.
Are you guys grandpa and grandson, or or? - Yep.
Grandpa, grandson.
- Yeah.
Grandpa, grandson.
So why are you guys looking to sell them today? I have a lot of work that needs to be done to my house.
I would love to own and be able to put on the wall A "Human Torch" number 2/number 1.
[laughter.]
And then have to explain it to everyone about it.
Right.
We're talking about a book that came out 76 years ago.
There's only 180 "Human Torch" comics still out there.
- Known copies.
- Yeah.
Is there any way you would field offers on just this issue? Uh, I can do about $12,000.
- Ba-dum.
- Shew.
It's got the the drag on the the - Binding.
- Yeah.
It looks like there may be some pen up here.
- Right.
- Is there any chance you could do $5,000? [suspenseful music.]
How about $10,000? How about $6,000? The lowest I can go today is about $9,500.
- That's your drop dead price? - Yep.
I think $6,000 is as high as I can go, fellas.
- Sure.
- Yeah.
Sorry.
- Yeah, well.
- All right, that's fine.
I appreciate you bringing it in.
And I am sorry we couldn't do a deal, but - Well.
- Yep.
- Thank you, guys.
Thank you.
- Yeah, no problem.
- Thank you.
- Pleasure.
Well, well, well.
If it isn't the "Comic Book Men" themselves.
You're Tom Cavanagh.
Tom Cavanagh from "The Flash.
" That's exactly who I am.
[upbeat music.]
Well, well, well.
If it isn't the "Comic Book Men" themselves.
- How you doing? - Hey, guys.
How are you? - You're Tom Cavanagh.
- That's exactly Tom Cavanagh from "The Flash.
" That's exactly who I am, Mr.
Zapcic.
- Pleasure to meet you.
- Nice to meet you too.
Hey.
- Hey.
- How are you? Kevin Smith came and directed our, uh, television show, "The Flash.
" He sang your praises.
Said if I was ever in Red Bank, gotta swing by the shop.
Here I am.
This is phenomenal.
- Thank you.
- Great.
Good to see you guys.
- Kidding! Kidding.
- [laughter.]
Thought we could hang out for a little bit.
I love this guy.
Tom Cavanagh, for those of us who watch and love "The Flash," the show, he plays Eobard Thawne or Reverse-Flash.
One of my favorite characters 'cause it's such a simple premise.
Like, you don't have to wonder, "What's this guy do?" It's, like, Reverse-Flash.
Like, you know, he's yellow instead of red.
And he hates Barry Allen.
So it's like, "When you're back east, "you've gotta go drop by the store.
"You're royalty, man.
Like, Eobard Thawne? "Reverse-Flash? - Yo wore the yellow suit, son.
- [laughter.]
"Ain't many people done that in this world.
" Was it a-a dream role for you to play? Were you a big Flash fan as a kid? Well, short answer would be yes.
I spent part of my childhood in Africa, and we didn't have TV, none of that.
We had comic books, and I liked "The Flash.
" And I thought I knew a lot of stuff.
And then when I joined this show, I realized that I was really, really uneducated.
- [laughter.]
- Right? When you start talking to people who live and breathe this stuff, they're like, "So '63 was a big year for you, huh?" - And I'm like, "What?" - [laughter.]
"That that's when the Reverse-Flash was," and I'm like, "Oh, right.
" That has to be big as an actor, right? Because if you're beholden to some sort of lore or canon, guys like this, like, you guys stomp your feet.
Like, "This isn't the way it was in comics.
" - Yeah.
- Yeah.
[laughter.]
The beauty of "The Flash" is that - it was co-developed by Geoff Johns.
- Well, this is huge.
He's he's one of the premier "Flash" writers in, - you know, all of "Flash" history.
- Yeah.
Having him in our camp and sort of being one of the guys, the the driving force behind our show, gave us instant legitimacy.
The writers knew that the history was was very, very important.
This "Flash" show, I'm telling you, like, every week they make something worthy of cinema.
And it has everything to do with, like, the entire crew and cast firing on all cylinders.
Everyone believes in them.
Nobody's sitting there going like, "Eh, it's a show about a guy who runs fast.
" So when I went to the show, I didn't show up like, "Let me show you people how to make 'The Flash.
'" Like, they know how to make "The Flash.
" I showed up, I was like, "Tell me how you do this.
How do you make a show this good 23 times in a row every year?" Seriously, as fans of the comic, as fans of the TV show, you're doing an amazing job.
That's generous of you.
- Amazing job.
- Very ge very generous of you.
What, uh, what's it like playing an evil genius, though? It's it's tremendous.
I-I love playing the villain.
It's always so much fun to do that.
This one was a well-crafted one with some with some great history.
And I think Stan Lee was one of the guys that said that the antagonist has to be - worthy of the protagonist.
- Mm-hmm.
If it's just a bad guy, it's like, well then, the good guy's gonna win.
But if the bad guy has some charisma and swagger, and despite yourself, you kinda like watching what he's doing, now you want to watch the battle.
And you get to put on a yellow super-suit.
[laughter.]
Well, listen, guys, thanks for having me.
This is unbelievable.
Before you go, though, we'd love to give you a a little gift from the Stash to you.
- No.
What? - Yeah.
Do we still have any of those things that just came in? - You know? - Yeah, we got them.
- Hold on a second.
- Okay.
The Stash did right by him.
We, uh, we presented him with a very special gift.
Ah, a Funko Pop! Reverse-Flash figure.
No.
Too kind.
Are you kidding me? Walt, you guys.
This is tremendous.
Now that's that evil incarnate right there.
Doesn't that terrify you? [laughter.]
- Gentlemen, thank you.
- Thank you.
- Real, real pleasure.
- It's all my pleasure.
My little friend and I are going to head out.
- See you again, I-I hope.
- Come back any time.
- Awesome, yes.
- Cheers, gentlemen.
Now you're never gonna be able to believe that he's so evil 'cause he's such a sweetheart.
That's how the rich get richer.
All those Funko Pops! for free.
[laughter.]
All right, I got some books here I want to sell you.
- The condition is amazing.
- Ooh.
Never been read.
Always in the bag.
These are really in beautiful shape.
By the king, Jack Kirby.
Having peeked behind the curtain, directing an episode of "The Flash," can you reveal any trade secrets, like Absolutely.
I saw on the script it says, "Barry zoops in.
" I asked Bob Crippen, the AD, I was like, "What is this? 'Zoops'?" And he goes, "That's when The Flash comes in a room real fast.
" And I was like, "I've been reading comics my whole life.
"I've never seen the term 'zoops'.
If anything, it's 'zoom.
'" And he goes, "Oh, well, the director of the pilot, "he wasn't a big comic book guy.
"He didn't know the world very much, "so he'd come to set and he'd be like, "'All right, the fast guy is gonna zoop in here "'and he'll zoop over there and he'll zoop over there.
'" "And the writers just started writing zoop into the scripts.
" How they accomplish it is Grant in the suit just walks into the doorway and just stands there.
And then they go, "Action, Grant.
" And Grant goes, "What did I miss?" - And the scene begins.
- [laughter.]
And that little jump is the zoop.
So a digital artist will come in and remove him from the frame, and then put lightning there, and then he'll be there for the last three frames for this, and that's him stopping, and then the scene goes on.
But if you end a scene with him zooping out, like, everything's real tense.
It'd be like, "You gotta save him, Barry.
" He's like, "I'm on it," and he'll go and then he just has to walk out because - he's not really fast in real life.
- [laughter.]
It is sad to watch.
He's like looks like Charlie Brown.
[laughter.]
[upbeat music.]
- You guys all set? - Both: Yep.
[beeping.]
- Enjoy! - Thank you.
Bye.
Thank you.
Bye.
So who do you guys think is the best fictional band - in all of pop culture? - Hmm.
There's so many great fictional bands.
- Come on, Ming, think of one.
- Come on, Ming.
- What are you doing here? - Pfft, I'm thinking.
- Are are there so many? - Yeah.
- What about the Cantina band? - Oh, from "Star Wars"? They're all right.
They were a one-hit wonder though.
Come on, name another song that they did.
[laughter.]
They look great though, you know? All those fleshy little butt-heads.
Their ass hats.
[laughter.]
What about Josie and the Pussycats? - What was their big hit? - [exhales sharply.]
Jeez, I can't even remember now.
You can't remember anything.
All you do is just throw out names.
You have no substance.
Yeah, 'cause I listen to real bands, all right? [laughter.]
I don't sit around debating bands that don't even exist.
Yes, you do.
What are you doing right now? [laughter.]
[upbeat music.]
- Hey, how you doing? - Hey, how are you? Good.
How are you how you doing? Uh, I'm doing good.
How are you doing? All right.
I got some books here I want to sell you.
- "Kamandi" number 1 through 5.
- Oh, yeah? Let me see.
I got the first five issues.
Great Kirby artwork.
- And the condition is amazing.
- Ooh.
Never been read.
Always in the bag.
These are really in beautiful shape.
"Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth," by the king, Jack Kirby.
Recognize it? - I do.
- Really? I often fantasized, when I was young, - that I would be the last boy on Earth.
- [chuckles.]
- Really? - I really wanted an apocalypse - to to rain down.
- [laughter.]
And then live in a post-apocalyptic society.
And I didn't care about apes.
Or rats.
Or tigers.
- Or apes.
- Logs.
- Or, uh, more apes.
- [laughter.]
- So what are Kamandi's powers? - No real superpowers.
He's just the last survivor.
He's gotta survive to keep mankind going.
So when this came out, did people latch onto it? It sold very well.
I mean, every single cover just demands you pick it up.
It it never interested me.
This just looks like a "Planet of the Apes" rip-off.
You don't just trust Kirby? You see Jack Kirby on there, you're not gonna just trust it? You know, Jack Kirby, uh, obviously he had lots of hits.
- But, you know, he - Lots of hits? - He's the Babe Ruth of comics.
- [chuckles.]
His genius was so great that a lot of times it took decades before people realized how far ahead of the curve he was than everybody else.
It's actually spooky.
That's what I'm counting on for me.
[laughter.]
Oh, that you're ahead of your time.
You were like right Yeah, like 50 years from now, people are like, "Oh.
" [laughter.]
We're standing in in the midst of greatness.
I love "Kamandi.
" I thought it was a great character, a great concept, just screamed fun.
But I gotta admit though, definitely, uh, inspired, I think, a little bit by "Planet of the Apes.
" - Oh, you think? - [laughter.]
Based on that cover, I'd say, "Stolen from 'The Planet of the Apes.
'" Uh, but instead of just talking apes, Kirby has every animal that can talk.
So you got talking tigers, talking rats.
Never got the goal of "Kamandi" though.
I mean, I guess every issue he's just trying to survive, right? He wasn't trying to lead a rebellion.
Wasn't trying to get get his world back.
Was he looking for the last girl on Earth? I mean, I remember seeing him, uh, you know, hooking up with a couple of girls in that series, so so I mean, there was more girls that there were dudes.
Did he turn around to the animals and like, "Don't you say anything about what we did"? [laughter.]
Where'd you get 'em? Since I've been five, I've been collecting comics.
- Really? - And I've just been accumulating all these books all my life.
Hey, I like this guy, though.
He shatters a lot of comic book fan myths, though.
You know, like that we're all, like, nerdy this guys.
You guys aren't nerds.
You guys are cool.
Come on.
Yeah you look like a male model.
Oh, man, that's You look like you were created by Kirby.
Jesus Christ.
Yeah, you're right.
You're like the dark-haired version of this guy.
- I wish.
- [laughter.]
Were you born or sculpted, son? [laughter.]
Oh, man.
All right, so let's back to the books.
- Okay.
- I'm interested.
I mean, they are super high grade.
They're issues that I could probably flip.
You know, if I get them for the right price, especially issue 1.
What are you looking to get for 'em? Um, I was hoping al around 60 bucks a pop across the board.
Thr so you're thinking you were going to get - $300 for these.
- About 300 bucks, yeah.
I don't want to insult you, but - I'm about to.
- [laughter.]
A-and I hope that, you know, you you keep in mind all those wonderful things we said about you.
Sure.
I was thinking, like, 50 bucks.
- Whoa.
- Yeah.
I mean, I ca I could flip this one quick.
This is number 1.
- Yeah.
- And make my money back.
But then, you know, getting rid of the 2 through 5 is gonna be difficult.
Everybody wants just number 1.
Yeah.
I mean, how about $150? No, I can't do it, my friend.
Uh, I could do $70, and that is going to be my ceiling.
I think you're getting a good deal for $70 for these.
- $70, really? - Yeah.
Uh, I'll I'll do the $70.
That's fine.
You guys - Okay, $70? - Yeah, you guys rock.
$70.
All right.
Thank you so much.
I assume that these were tested and and approved methods of exercise to give you a superhero's body.
Absolutely not.
"Now go down into a 'kneep dee' bend "before slowly returning to your original position.
" Oh, I'm gonna fall.
- [grunts.]
- [laughter.]
[upbeat music.]
- And $4 your change.
Thank you.
- Thank you very much.
- All right.
- Hey, guys.
How you doing? - Hey, how are ya? I got this, um, book from 1976.
"The Mighty Marvel Strength and Fitness Book.
" Oh, I remember seeing this on the stands at bookstores.
- I had that book.
- You did.
- Yeah.
- I never was able to convince my mom to buy it, but I assume that these were tested and and approved methods of exercise to give you a superhero's body.
- Absolutely not.
- No, I don't think so.
- No? - Yeah, there's some weird ones in there.
Like hair pulling.
Yeah, that's the hair pulling exercise right on the cover there.
This is Medusa from the Inhumans.
- Yeah.
- And she's thinking to herself, "This can't compare with the pulling my hair usually gets.
" Which is kind of a lot dirtier than I'm sure she meant it.
No.
It's exactly as dirty as it was meant to be.
"Usually" is in bold.
That's on purpose.
- Yeah, but I - Give me this.
[laughter.]
I'm a sucker for the oddball piece of merchandise, you know, from, like, the big two.
Like when Marvel did toilet paper, uh - We've seen that here.
Yeah.
- Yeah.
So when the 1970s "Marvel Fitness Book" comes in, I mean, I gotta have it.
Well, the fact that it has the word "fitness" in it, of course, makes it alien to me to begin with.
- They put out an exercise book? - Yeah.
It's funny 'cause when you think of people who are in good shape, you don't really think about comic book writers or artists.
That's not the first people that come to mind.
[laughter.]
All right, let's see some of the exercises in here.
- Okay.
- "The Torchie Twist.
" - Step back and I'll read - Okay.
- I'll tell you what you gotta do.
- All right.
You gotta "stand on your right foot" - Okay.
- " and turn the heel "of your wrong foot" in parentheses, "sometimes known as your left foot" - Is that a joke? I is it? Okay.
- I think so.
- [laughter.]
- Okay, " out as far as you can.
" - Okay.
- "Then turn your left heel in - "as far as possible.
" - Okay.
Oh, lo oh, yeah, you guys got it in unison.
Okay, yeah.
You look like Rockettes.
"Do a half dozen with each foot" "And do a half a dozen at twice the speed.
" - Oh, look at Ming go.
- Yeah.
I gotta say, Ming, you've got a little bit - more flair in yours.
- Yeah.
Yeah, do it like Ming just do it.
Yeah.
Both: There you go.
[laughter.]
How does that feel on your glutes? - They feel tight already.
- I'm a little sore.
[laughter.]
Now we're getting to the partner exercises.
Okay.
"Cap and Falcon's Buddy-Buddy - "Backward Knee Bends.
" - Okay.
"Stand with your backs facing "with a couple of feet between you.
"Intertwine your arms leaning backward.
" I feel bad for this guy.
It's like he's doing with a toddler.
- Okay, wait.
- Wait, I gotta bend down.
- You're a little shorter than me.
- All right, all right, Okay.
"Now go down into a 'kneep dee' bend "and remain there for a few seconds" - Okay.
Okay.
- "Before slowly returning - to your original position.
" - Oh, I'm gonna fall.
[grunts.]
- [laughter.]
- [grunting.]
- Oh, man.
- There you go.
Oh, man, you're turning a a weird shade of purple - right now, brother.
- [laughter.]
Are you sure you want to sell this book? - [laughter.]
- I think you might need this.
Yeah, I might need to do some exercises with it.
[laughter.]
Where did you get this book, man? I mean, I haven't seen one in decades.
I bought a-a short box of "Hulk" comics, and this was just thrown in there.
- Look at it, Mike.
- It's absolutely gorgeous.
No yellowing of the pages.
There's a little upturn here, but I mean, for something that was printed in 1976, it's beautiful.
It's something we should definitely go after, man.
Absolutely.
What are you looking to get for it? Uh, 65 bucks? $65, huh? $65 is probably what we'd ask for it.
So you're coming in kinda close to retail on on this item.
Um, I can give you 30 bucks.
Would you do $45 maybe? How about $40? I think I could do $40.
And, uh, it would be, uh, I think that'd be a fair price for this item.
I'd do $40.
All right.
Done deal.
[register clicks.]
- There you go.
- All right.
Thanks, guys.
- Thanks.
- Thank you.
- Take it easy.
- Good seeing you all.
You know, we're getting we're getting up there.
I mean, we're we're kinda looking a little doughy and fluffy in the middle.
Maybe maybe we should stay after work with the exercise book, you know, - a couple nights a week.
- I'm in.
I agree, man.
I've I've been inspired.
Let's start working out right now.
[laughter.]
- Whew.
- [laughter.]
Oh, don't overexert yourself.
Oh, man, and just like Barry Allen, the time has gone by in a flash and we're done.
For "Comic Book Men," I'm Kevin Smith.
- Bryan Johnson.
- Walt Flanagan.
- Mike Zapcic.
- Ming Chen.
May the speed force be with you, kids.
Good night.
If you could be buried in a superhero costume, which one would it be? A dignified burial is out of the question then.
[chuckles.]
You can pick a cool one though.
It could be dignified.
Can you dress as their alter-ego? 'Cause you could be, like, Clark Kent.
He looks respectable.
Come on, man.
Let's let's have some fun here.
You know, we're having a fun burial.
You know, we're trying to keep it light.
[laughing.]
So you're the one that died then.
[laughing.]
I'd probably pick the Superman costume.
- Okay.
- But not like the garish blue and red one.
I don't want it to be ridiculous.
It's a funeral, for gods sake.
Of course.
[laughter.]
I know what I would do.
To save money on the coffin Iron Man armor.
- Just bury me in the ground.
- [laughter.]
Do they even lower him down, or do they just kick him - so it rolls into the grave.
- [laughter.]
Put him in the ground.
Come on.
We got thing we got other things to do today.
[laughter.]
I'm buying two cans of kerosene and going out as the Human Torch.
[laughter.]
[heroic music.]
[laughs.]
Hello and welcome to another episode of "Comic Book Men," the only show that excels at excelsior and has a great Caesar's ghost.
- Man, I'm Kevin Smith.
- Bryan Johnson.
- Walt Flanagan.
- Mike Zapcic.
- Ming Chen.
- Okay, what's been going on at the shop this week, Walter? We've had one of the oldest comic books ever to come into the the Stash the other day.
Stop bragging.
[laughter.]
[upbeat music.]
- How you guys doing? - Hey, guys.
Got some, uh, Golden Age comics for you guys to look at.
- Ooh, Mike.
- Oh, wow.
A Golden Age pile.
- "Batman" number 11.
- Wow.
You got a Golden Age "Green Lantern," Golden Age "Flash.
" - "Wonder Woman.
" - Yeah.
"All-Star Comics," "Captain Midni" - [bell dings.]
- Ooh.
- Ah, look at that.
- This is number 2.
I gotta be honest, what I'm really targeting, I think, today is gonna be "The Human Torch" number 2.
You guys know that "Human Torch" number 1 doesn't exist? - Right.
This is like - Right.
the number 1, but it's number 2.
Does that make sense to you? This is number 1.
It's kind of odd, but it's number 2.
- But it's number 2.
- Right.
Prior to this publication of this book, Timely published a book called "Red Raven" number 1.
Had poor sales figures, so they decided, "Let's can that book and just put number 2 on this.
" "All right, let's just call it "Human Torch.
" - That's the way it went? - Yeah.
That's that is history right there.
It's not "Human Torch" number 1.
It's "Human Torch" number 2.
- I'm already lost.
- [chuckles.]
Human Torch's first appearance is in what? - It's not even his first appearance.
- No.
- Now oh, my Lord.
- [laughter.]
There's been three Human Torches.
And then once they got to Johnny Storm, they're like, "Back off, it's done.
" Well, didn't they do a female Human Torch? Yeah, they did.
Her name was Frankie Raye, and yeah.
What happened to the old Human Torch? - Is he still in the Marvel Universe? - Yes and no.
They turned him into the Vision in "The Avengers.
" That's who Vision is in the comics, - is the old Human Torch? - Yes.
- Did you know this? - I did know this.
You just didn't want to share it with me? Seems like big news.
[laughter.]
Would it be possible for me to take it out of the bag, - get a closer look at it? - Sure.
Sure, go right ahead.
I'll be very careful, I promise.
I know you will.
[soft music.]
- 1940, Timely Publications.
- 1940.
Oh, my God.
That is the smell.
[sniffs.]
Man, it just smells like Mayberry.
[laughter.]
Smells like heaven.
Yeah.
I was to smell that for eternity.
Mildew? [laughter.]
Where did you guys get this plethora of Golden Age books? What happened is I bought a house in South Philly.
The owner, he had this big stack of comic books.
And he said, "Would you like to have them?" Yes.
So I've had them since.
- And how long ago was that? - That's 1965.
- Wow.
- Yeah.
Are you guys grandpa and grandson, or or? - Yep.
Grandpa, grandson.
- Yeah.
Grandpa, grandson.
So why are you guys looking to sell them today? I have a lot of work that needs to be done to my house.
I would love to own and be able to put on the wall A "Human Torch" number 2/number 1.
[laughter.]
And then have to explain it to everyone about it.
Right.
We're talking about a book that came out 76 years ago.
There's only 180 "Human Torch" comics still out there.
- Known copies.
- Yeah.
Is there any way you would field offers on just this issue? Uh, I can do about $12,000.
- Ba-dum.
- Shew.
It's got the the drag on the the - Binding.
- Yeah.
It looks like there may be some pen up here.
- Right.
- Is there any chance you could do $5,000? [suspenseful music.]
How about $10,000? How about $6,000? The lowest I can go today is about $9,500.
- That's your drop dead price? - Yep.
I think $6,000 is as high as I can go, fellas.
- Sure.
- Yeah.
Sorry.
- Yeah, well.
- All right, that's fine.
I appreciate you bringing it in.
And I am sorry we couldn't do a deal, but - Well.
- Yep.
- Thank you, guys.
Thank you.
- Yeah, no problem.
- Thank you.
- Pleasure.
Well, well, well.
If it isn't the "Comic Book Men" themselves.
You're Tom Cavanagh.
Tom Cavanagh from "The Flash.
" That's exactly who I am.
[upbeat music.]
Well, well, well.
If it isn't the "Comic Book Men" themselves.
- How you doing? - Hey, guys.
How are you? - You're Tom Cavanagh.
- That's exactly Tom Cavanagh from "The Flash.
" That's exactly who I am, Mr.
Zapcic.
- Pleasure to meet you.
- Nice to meet you too.
Hey.
- Hey.
- How are you? Kevin Smith came and directed our, uh, television show, "The Flash.
" He sang your praises.
Said if I was ever in Red Bank, gotta swing by the shop.
Here I am.
This is phenomenal.
- Thank you.
- Great.
Good to see you guys.
- Kidding! Kidding.
- [laughter.]
Thought we could hang out for a little bit.
I love this guy.
Tom Cavanagh, for those of us who watch and love "The Flash," the show, he plays Eobard Thawne or Reverse-Flash.
One of my favorite characters 'cause it's such a simple premise.
Like, you don't have to wonder, "What's this guy do?" It's, like, Reverse-Flash.
Like, you know, he's yellow instead of red.
And he hates Barry Allen.
So it's like, "When you're back east, "you've gotta go drop by the store.
"You're royalty, man.
Like, Eobard Thawne? "Reverse-Flash? - Yo wore the yellow suit, son.
- [laughter.]
"Ain't many people done that in this world.
" Was it a-a dream role for you to play? Were you a big Flash fan as a kid? Well, short answer would be yes.
I spent part of my childhood in Africa, and we didn't have TV, none of that.
We had comic books, and I liked "The Flash.
" And I thought I knew a lot of stuff.
And then when I joined this show, I realized that I was really, really uneducated.
- [laughter.]
- Right? When you start talking to people who live and breathe this stuff, they're like, "So '63 was a big year for you, huh?" - And I'm like, "What?" - [laughter.]
"That that's when the Reverse-Flash was," and I'm like, "Oh, right.
" That has to be big as an actor, right? Because if you're beholden to some sort of lore or canon, guys like this, like, you guys stomp your feet.
Like, "This isn't the way it was in comics.
" - Yeah.
- Yeah.
[laughter.]
The beauty of "The Flash" is that - it was co-developed by Geoff Johns.
- Well, this is huge.
He's he's one of the premier "Flash" writers in, - you know, all of "Flash" history.
- Yeah.
Having him in our camp and sort of being one of the guys, the the driving force behind our show, gave us instant legitimacy.
The writers knew that the history was was very, very important.
This "Flash" show, I'm telling you, like, every week they make something worthy of cinema.
And it has everything to do with, like, the entire crew and cast firing on all cylinders.
Everyone believes in them.
Nobody's sitting there going like, "Eh, it's a show about a guy who runs fast.
" So when I went to the show, I didn't show up like, "Let me show you people how to make 'The Flash.
'" Like, they know how to make "The Flash.
" I showed up, I was like, "Tell me how you do this.
How do you make a show this good 23 times in a row every year?" Seriously, as fans of the comic, as fans of the TV show, you're doing an amazing job.
That's generous of you.
- Amazing job.
- Very ge very generous of you.
What, uh, what's it like playing an evil genius, though? It's it's tremendous.
I-I love playing the villain.
It's always so much fun to do that.
This one was a well-crafted one with some with some great history.
And I think Stan Lee was one of the guys that said that the antagonist has to be - worthy of the protagonist.
- Mm-hmm.
If it's just a bad guy, it's like, well then, the good guy's gonna win.
But if the bad guy has some charisma and swagger, and despite yourself, you kinda like watching what he's doing, now you want to watch the battle.
And you get to put on a yellow super-suit.
[laughter.]
Well, listen, guys, thanks for having me.
This is unbelievable.
Before you go, though, we'd love to give you a a little gift from the Stash to you.
- No.
What? - Yeah.
Do we still have any of those things that just came in? - You know? - Yeah, we got them.
- Hold on a second.
- Okay.
The Stash did right by him.
We, uh, we presented him with a very special gift.
Ah, a Funko Pop! Reverse-Flash figure.
No.
Too kind.
Are you kidding me? Walt, you guys.
This is tremendous.
Now that's that evil incarnate right there.
Doesn't that terrify you? [laughter.]
- Gentlemen, thank you.
- Thank you.
- Real, real pleasure.
- It's all my pleasure.
My little friend and I are going to head out.
- See you again, I-I hope.
- Come back any time.
- Awesome, yes.
- Cheers, gentlemen.
Now you're never gonna be able to believe that he's so evil 'cause he's such a sweetheart.
That's how the rich get richer.
All those Funko Pops! for free.
[laughter.]
All right, I got some books here I want to sell you.
- The condition is amazing.
- Ooh.
Never been read.
Always in the bag.
These are really in beautiful shape.
By the king, Jack Kirby.
Having peeked behind the curtain, directing an episode of "The Flash," can you reveal any trade secrets, like Absolutely.
I saw on the script it says, "Barry zoops in.
" I asked Bob Crippen, the AD, I was like, "What is this? 'Zoops'?" And he goes, "That's when The Flash comes in a room real fast.
" And I was like, "I've been reading comics my whole life.
"I've never seen the term 'zoops'.
If anything, it's 'zoom.
'" And he goes, "Oh, well, the director of the pilot, "he wasn't a big comic book guy.
"He didn't know the world very much, "so he'd come to set and he'd be like, "'All right, the fast guy is gonna zoop in here "'and he'll zoop over there and he'll zoop over there.
'" "And the writers just started writing zoop into the scripts.
" How they accomplish it is Grant in the suit just walks into the doorway and just stands there.
And then they go, "Action, Grant.
" And Grant goes, "What did I miss?" - And the scene begins.
- [laughter.]
And that little jump is the zoop.
So a digital artist will come in and remove him from the frame, and then put lightning there, and then he'll be there for the last three frames for this, and that's him stopping, and then the scene goes on.
But if you end a scene with him zooping out, like, everything's real tense.
It'd be like, "You gotta save him, Barry.
" He's like, "I'm on it," and he'll go and then he just has to walk out because - he's not really fast in real life.
- [laughter.]
It is sad to watch.
He's like looks like Charlie Brown.
[laughter.]
[upbeat music.]
- You guys all set? - Both: Yep.
[beeping.]
- Enjoy! - Thank you.
Bye.
Thank you.
Bye.
So who do you guys think is the best fictional band - in all of pop culture? - Hmm.
There's so many great fictional bands.
- Come on, Ming, think of one.
- Come on, Ming.
- What are you doing here? - Pfft, I'm thinking.
- Are are there so many? - Yeah.
- What about the Cantina band? - Oh, from "Star Wars"? They're all right.
They were a one-hit wonder though.
Come on, name another song that they did.
[laughter.]
They look great though, you know? All those fleshy little butt-heads.
Their ass hats.
[laughter.]
What about Josie and the Pussycats? - What was their big hit? - [exhales sharply.]
Jeez, I can't even remember now.
You can't remember anything.
All you do is just throw out names.
You have no substance.
Yeah, 'cause I listen to real bands, all right? [laughter.]
I don't sit around debating bands that don't even exist.
Yes, you do.
What are you doing right now? [laughter.]
[upbeat music.]
- Hey, how you doing? - Hey, how are you? Good.
How are you how you doing? Uh, I'm doing good.
How are you doing? All right.
I got some books here I want to sell you.
- "Kamandi" number 1 through 5.
- Oh, yeah? Let me see.
I got the first five issues.
Great Kirby artwork.
- And the condition is amazing.
- Ooh.
Never been read.
Always in the bag.
These are really in beautiful shape.
"Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth," by the king, Jack Kirby.
Recognize it? - I do.
- Really? I often fantasized, when I was young, - that I would be the last boy on Earth.
- [chuckles.]
- Really? - I really wanted an apocalypse - to to rain down.
- [laughter.]
And then live in a post-apocalyptic society.
And I didn't care about apes.
Or rats.
Or tigers.
- Or apes.
- Logs.
- Or, uh, more apes.
- [laughter.]
- So what are Kamandi's powers? - No real superpowers.
He's just the last survivor.
He's gotta survive to keep mankind going.
So when this came out, did people latch onto it? It sold very well.
I mean, every single cover just demands you pick it up.
It it never interested me.
This just looks like a "Planet of the Apes" rip-off.
You don't just trust Kirby? You see Jack Kirby on there, you're not gonna just trust it? You know, Jack Kirby, uh, obviously he had lots of hits.
- But, you know, he - Lots of hits? - He's the Babe Ruth of comics.
- [chuckles.]
His genius was so great that a lot of times it took decades before people realized how far ahead of the curve he was than everybody else.
It's actually spooky.
That's what I'm counting on for me.
[laughter.]
Oh, that you're ahead of your time.
You were like right Yeah, like 50 years from now, people are like, "Oh.
" [laughter.]
We're standing in in the midst of greatness.
I love "Kamandi.
" I thought it was a great character, a great concept, just screamed fun.
But I gotta admit though, definitely, uh, inspired, I think, a little bit by "Planet of the Apes.
" - Oh, you think? - [laughter.]
Based on that cover, I'd say, "Stolen from 'The Planet of the Apes.
'" Uh, but instead of just talking apes, Kirby has every animal that can talk.
So you got talking tigers, talking rats.
Never got the goal of "Kamandi" though.
I mean, I guess every issue he's just trying to survive, right? He wasn't trying to lead a rebellion.
Wasn't trying to get get his world back.
Was he looking for the last girl on Earth? I mean, I remember seeing him, uh, you know, hooking up with a couple of girls in that series, so so I mean, there was more girls that there were dudes.
Did he turn around to the animals and like, "Don't you say anything about what we did"? [laughter.]
Where'd you get 'em? Since I've been five, I've been collecting comics.
- Really? - And I've just been accumulating all these books all my life.
Hey, I like this guy, though.
He shatters a lot of comic book fan myths, though.
You know, like that we're all, like, nerdy this guys.
You guys aren't nerds.
You guys are cool.
Come on.
Yeah you look like a male model.
Oh, man, that's You look like you were created by Kirby.
Jesus Christ.
Yeah, you're right.
You're like the dark-haired version of this guy.
- I wish.
- [laughter.]
Were you born or sculpted, son? [laughter.]
Oh, man.
All right, so let's back to the books.
- Okay.
- I'm interested.
I mean, they are super high grade.
They're issues that I could probably flip.
You know, if I get them for the right price, especially issue 1.
What are you looking to get for 'em? Um, I was hoping al around 60 bucks a pop across the board.
Thr so you're thinking you were going to get - $300 for these.
- About 300 bucks, yeah.
I don't want to insult you, but - I'm about to.
- [laughter.]
A-and I hope that, you know, you you keep in mind all those wonderful things we said about you.
Sure.
I was thinking, like, 50 bucks.
- Whoa.
- Yeah.
I mean, I ca I could flip this one quick.
This is number 1.
- Yeah.
- And make my money back.
But then, you know, getting rid of the 2 through 5 is gonna be difficult.
Everybody wants just number 1.
Yeah.
I mean, how about $150? No, I can't do it, my friend.
Uh, I could do $70, and that is going to be my ceiling.
I think you're getting a good deal for $70 for these.
- $70, really? - Yeah.
Uh, I'll I'll do the $70.
That's fine.
You guys - Okay, $70? - Yeah, you guys rock.
$70.
All right.
Thank you so much.
I assume that these were tested and and approved methods of exercise to give you a superhero's body.
Absolutely not.
"Now go down into a 'kneep dee' bend "before slowly returning to your original position.
" Oh, I'm gonna fall.
- [grunts.]
- [laughter.]
[upbeat music.]
- And $4 your change.
Thank you.
- Thank you very much.
- All right.
- Hey, guys.
How you doing? - Hey, how are ya? I got this, um, book from 1976.
"The Mighty Marvel Strength and Fitness Book.
" Oh, I remember seeing this on the stands at bookstores.
- I had that book.
- You did.
- Yeah.
- I never was able to convince my mom to buy it, but I assume that these were tested and and approved methods of exercise to give you a superhero's body.
- Absolutely not.
- No, I don't think so.
- No? - Yeah, there's some weird ones in there.
Like hair pulling.
Yeah, that's the hair pulling exercise right on the cover there.
This is Medusa from the Inhumans.
- Yeah.
- And she's thinking to herself, "This can't compare with the pulling my hair usually gets.
" Which is kind of a lot dirtier than I'm sure she meant it.
No.
It's exactly as dirty as it was meant to be.
"Usually" is in bold.
That's on purpose.
- Yeah, but I - Give me this.
[laughter.]
I'm a sucker for the oddball piece of merchandise, you know, from, like, the big two.
Like when Marvel did toilet paper, uh - We've seen that here.
Yeah.
- Yeah.
So when the 1970s "Marvel Fitness Book" comes in, I mean, I gotta have it.
Well, the fact that it has the word "fitness" in it, of course, makes it alien to me to begin with.
- They put out an exercise book? - Yeah.
It's funny 'cause when you think of people who are in good shape, you don't really think about comic book writers or artists.
That's not the first people that come to mind.
[laughter.]
All right, let's see some of the exercises in here.
- Okay.
- "The Torchie Twist.
" - Step back and I'll read - Okay.
- I'll tell you what you gotta do.
- All right.
You gotta "stand on your right foot" - Okay.
- " and turn the heel "of your wrong foot" in parentheses, "sometimes known as your left foot" - Is that a joke? I is it? Okay.
- I think so.
- [laughter.]
- Okay, " out as far as you can.
" - Okay.
- "Then turn your left heel in - "as far as possible.
" - Okay.
Oh, lo oh, yeah, you guys got it in unison.
Okay, yeah.
You look like Rockettes.
"Do a half dozen with each foot" "And do a half a dozen at twice the speed.
" - Oh, look at Ming go.
- Yeah.
I gotta say, Ming, you've got a little bit - more flair in yours.
- Yeah.
Yeah, do it like Ming just do it.
Yeah.
Both: There you go.
[laughter.]
How does that feel on your glutes? - They feel tight already.
- I'm a little sore.
[laughter.]
Now we're getting to the partner exercises.
Okay.
"Cap and Falcon's Buddy-Buddy - "Backward Knee Bends.
" - Okay.
"Stand with your backs facing "with a couple of feet between you.
"Intertwine your arms leaning backward.
" I feel bad for this guy.
It's like he's doing with a toddler.
- Okay, wait.
- Wait, I gotta bend down.
- You're a little shorter than me.
- All right, all right, Okay.
"Now go down into a 'kneep dee' bend "and remain there for a few seconds" - Okay.
Okay.
- "Before slowly returning - to your original position.
" - Oh, I'm gonna fall.
[grunts.]
- [laughter.]
- [grunting.]
- Oh, man.
- There you go.
Oh, man, you're turning a a weird shade of purple - right now, brother.
- [laughter.]
Are you sure you want to sell this book? - [laughter.]
- I think you might need this.
Yeah, I might need to do some exercises with it.
[laughter.]
Where did you get this book, man? I mean, I haven't seen one in decades.
I bought a-a short box of "Hulk" comics, and this was just thrown in there.
- Look at it, Mike.
- It's absolutely gorgeous.
No yellowing of the pages.
There's a little upturn here, but I mean, for something that was printed in 1976, it's beautiful.
It's something we should definitely go after, man.
Absolutely.
What are you looking to get for it? Uh, 65 bucks? $65, huh? $65 is probably what we'd ask for it.
So you're coming in kinda close to retail on on this item.
Um, I can give you 30 bucks.
Would you do $45 maybe? How about $40? I think I could do $40.
And, uh, it would be, uh, I think that'd be a fair price for this item.
I'd do $40.
All right.
Done deal.
[register clicks.]
- There you go.
- All right.
Thanks, guys.
- Thanks.
- Thank you.
- Take it easy.
- Good seeing you all.
You know, we're getting we're getting up there.
I mean, we're we're kinda looking a little doughy and fluffy in the middle.
Maybe maybe we should stay after work with the exercise book, you know, - a couple nights a week.
- I'm in.
I agree, man.
I've I've been inspired.
Let's start working out right now.
[laughter.]
- Whew.
- [laughter.]
Oh, don't overexert yourself.
Oh, man, and just like Barry Allen, the time has gone by in a flash and we're done.
For "Comic Book Men," I'm Kevin Smith.
- Bryan Johnson.
- Walt Flanagan.
- Mike Zapcic.
- Ming Chen.
May the speed force be with you, kids.
Good night.