Gregory Hecht

I just took a look at the ComicBase website. Other than cover images being included with the Archive weekly updates, it is not clear at all on the website that the content information for weekly updates is different for the different versions of the program.

At this week's Livestream, @Peter R. Bickford talked a bit about how the database should handle items that are sold as a set but which are separable in some way. You can catch the discussion at this link. Here are some different scenarios, each of which might require different editorial handling... 1. Two comics, magazines, and/or graphic novels originally sold together in a polybag. The polybag can be removed and now you have two separate items. 2. A comic sold in a polybag with a trading card, poster, statue, action figure, or temporary tattoos. The polybag can be removed and the items can be separated from the extra items. (e.g., X-Force #1, many different issues of Topps comics) 3. A comic not polybagged but had bound-in trading card (or other item, such as a flexidisc record). The cards can be removed and the comic is still intact. 4. A comic sold as an extra with an item not normally tracked in the database (e.g., a record that includes a comic). 5. A Kickstarter publication of some type that is sent out to backers with additional tchochkes and which is NOT polybagged.... and later on an IDENTICAL and indistinguishable copy of the same publication is made available through regular retail outlets without any of the tchochkes. There may be other scenarios.... I especially encourage @Mark J. Castaneda and @Peter R. Bickford to add any other permutations that they have come across and feel that they need to handle editorially.

The database lists issues #3/A and #3/B for the comic title Frankenstein Undone. I don't think that those issues were ever released as the title was suspended when the Scott Allie stuff hit the fan again. Those two issues should be deleted from the database. (The first two issues -- including variants -- were released, so those should stay in the database.)

This week's update added the comic title The Return of Mark Hamill. That should be cataloged as Return of Mark Hamill, The. Also added was the comic title Rudetoons Sketchbook. Based on the title, it sounds like this contains pin-ups rather than actual comics. If that is true, then it might need to be moved to the Magazine category. Can anybody verify the contents? The title Gold Peanut, the was also added. Should that actually be Gold Peanut, The [note capitalization]?

The database includes the titles Startup and Sitcomics Presents Startup. The latter matches the indicia, so the former should be deleted.

You can also get the same error message if the CB server is down. AFAIK, you don't need an active subscription to submit data corrections.

The database title Conan the King: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus lists three issues: #1/HC, #1-A, and #1-B. There were only two versions of this book. The issue #1-B has creator credits that refer to the Jason Aaron series collection, not the original 1980's series but (oddly) has the cover of #1-A. So #1-B should be deleted. The credits and covers for #1/HC and #1-A are correct (albeit prelim artwork is shown for #1/HC).

The title Tarzan of the Apes (Edgar Rice Burroughs’…) from Dark Horse lists two issues: issue #1, which apparently contains reprints from Dell/Gold Key; and Hardcover #1, which includes the first 127 Sunday-style strips from an online Tarzan comic strip (definitely not Dell/Gold Key reprints). Although these two Tarzan items were both published by Dark Horse, it seems a little odd that they are lumped together. The hardcover just came out a couple of months ago, so I thought I would ask the editorial team if this is how we want to leave the title (before it sits around so long that the "it's too late to change it and mess up everybody's inventory" rule gets invoked).

The new update (9/28/2022) just added back the incorrect and duplicative Marvel Novel Series. Marvel Novel Series should be deleted again. (The longstanding title, Marvel Comics Novel (Pocket), is still in the database and should remain.)

When the new CB2023 comes out (which is very very soon, according to the most recent Livestream), you could change the Media Type for the prop keys to be Newspaper. Then, when you do weekly content updates, make sure that your settings are for the Newspaper category to be not updated. Not the most elegant solution, I know, but it should work for you. Perhaps the best solution would be for CB to add a Media category of "Other" that *NEVER* has anything in it in the master database, but users can use it for whatever other stuff they collect (e.g., DVD/Blu-Rays, trading cards, statues, prop keys, etc). Since the master database wouldn't ever have anything in that category, the content updates would never disturb whatever individual users decide to track there.

Here it is at mycomicshop.com

https://atomicavenue.com/atomic/item/221264/1/XMen-2nd-Series-Annual-1995

That definitely makes much more sense, especially given the title in the indicia!

The 1972 date tells me that is almost certainly not an issue of Captain America but is actually a reprint book of some type (possibly Marvel Super Action or Marvel Triple Action). Edited to add: I have been able to verify that what you have is a copy of Marcel Super Action #2, which contains a reprint of Captain America #101.

I am not seeing it listed under Star Trek (5th series). Not saying that isn't a reasonable place for it, I'm just saying that it isn't there in the master database.

IDW recently published Star Trek #400. Where is this in the database? I can't seem to find it, and the barcode on my version (cover A at this link) does not seem to be in the database.

Have you done a Rebuild Lists lately? Some of the items you mention up above have gone through changes/deletions/etc in relatively recent content updates.

The database lists the second volume of Dune the Graphic Novel as issue #2. To be consistent with the presentation for the first volume (as well as to allow for the possibility that these could come out some day in softcover format), issue #2 should be changed to Issue #2/HC. Also, the #1/DLX book needs to be revisited. Apparently there is a $50 version (which seems to be the version in the database) but also an autographed $125 version (which is not in the database).

Also, make sure that you are holding the scanner at an appropriate distance from the barcode. I have found that holding the scanner too close or too far away can affect its ability to pick up all of the numbers in the barcode.

This week's update added the title The Very Vicky Junion Hepcat Funbook. That should actually be The Very Vicky Junior Hepcat Funbook. Also added was MInd MGMT Rapport D'Operations. Should that actually be Mind MGMT Rapport D'Operations (note capitalization change)?

The database lists the book The Art of Pulp Fiction: An Illustrated History of Vintage Paperbacks as a TPB. As far as I know, this book only exists as a hardcover, so the entry should be changed to HC.

The book title Illustration Art Gallery presents Charles Dickens: Drawings and Paintings by Ron Embleton is listed as containing TPB #1. Is this actually part of a series? The publisher's website doesn't indicate that it is, so I think that should be changed to just TPB. Also, the word "presents" in the title should probably also be capitalized. The publisher doesn't seem to do it, but it would be in keeping with normal conventions. Another book title, Illustration Art Gallery Presents Through the Ages: Drawings and Paintings by Peter Jackson is listed as containing HC #1. Based on the publisher's website, this book is softcover and not part of a series, so I think that should be changed to just TPB.

The database lists a TPB #1 for the book All of the Marvels. This should be an UNnumbered hardcover. It is not part of a series and, as far as I know, the only edition at this time is a hardcover (price etc seems to match the hardcover that I have).

Over the last couple of years, IDW has been publishing Smithsoninan coloring books, and some of these have made their way into the database. Dinosaurs: A Smithsonian Coloring Book • This title needs a capitalization correction (The "i" in "Dinosaurs" should be lowercase) • Incorrect artist is listed (I have submitted this correction) • Incorrect writer is listed. The book lists "National Museum of Natural History" as the author of the text contents of the book. I have submitted this correction, but I am not sure how HC feels about listing an organization as the writer rather than a person. I suggest either list the organization (as it is in the book itself) or, if need be, just leave the Writer credit blank. I prefer the former over the latter. Sea Creatures: A Smithsonian Coloring Book • Incorrect writer is listed. Same issue as above. Airplanes: A Smithsonian Coloring Book • Incorrect writer is listed. Similar situation as above, just in this case it is credited in the book as "Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum"

Although Eternus #4 from Scout is in the current solicitation catalog, Eternus #'s 2, 3, and 4 are apparently being cancelled and will be resolicited in the future. Eternus #1 is apparently on schedule to come out next month, but #2 (which is in the database now) should be deleted. In addition, issues #3 and #4 should not be added to the database until they are resolicited.