thedrifter
06-16-04, 07:36 AM
Comic book, card enthusiasts invade enlisted club
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification #: 200461601217
Story by Pfc. Brandon R. Holgersen
CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan —(June 5, 2004) -- Close to 100 comic book and trading card enthusiasts arrived throughout the day to buy, trade and sell comic books, trading cards and sports memorabilia at the monthly comic book and card show held here June 5 at the Globe and Anchor enlisted club.
Five vendors set up shop in the club, displaying a wide variety of goods available to the patrons.
“We started getting together to put on this show in May 1997 because I wanted comic book and card collecting to be accessible to people living on base without people having to order everything over the Internet,” said Gunnery Sgt. Monroe Stueber, chief instructor for Special Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group.
Some people think the show is just about making money, but Stueber explained that it is for people who appreciate comics and cards.
“There are three types of people (who) collect comics and cards,” Stueber said. “There are collectors, hobbyists and investors. Collectors buy new cards and comics so they have that certain card or comic. Hobbyists buy cards and comics that are (autographed) or worth money to enhance the value of their collection. Investors buy comics and cards so they can resell them at a higher price.”
Stueber, who has been collecting sports cards and memorabilia for 34 years, says enthusiasts can find any comic they are looking for at the show, and if vendors don’t have it, they can find and obtain it for a customer.
“I’ve been a Rams fan since 1969, and I started collecting autographed cards. My collection and love for collecting grew from there,” Stueber said.
According to David Yip, who has been collecting comic books for more than 10 years, a lot of people buy comics from the base exchange or from bookstores, but they don’t offer the variety people can find at the show.
“The show is also a way for people with a common hobby to talk to each other, have a good time and relax,” Yip said.
Despite the stereotype that comics are purely forms of entertainment, Yip said people can learn valuable life lessons from their pages.
“Many comics reflect events that are happening in the real world. They talk about war or tough decisions and sacrifice,” Yip said.
Yip also believes comics are a way for children to read and enjoy reading.
“If children don’t like reading regular books, then parents should give them comics books as a way to get their children to read and help them continue to read,” Yip said.
Collecting comics is a healthy hobby, according to Airman 1st Class Logan Ayala, a F-15 Eagle tactical fighter armament weapons systems apprentice.
“Some people think that people who collect comics are very unsociable, or they are ‘geeks,’ but we are just like normal people just doing what we love,” Ayala said.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200461601614/$file/Release0283-2004-03low.jpg
CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- A collection of Gunnery Sgt. Monroe Stueber’s most prized sports trading cards sit in a professional display at the monthly comic book and card show here June 5. Stueber is the chief instructor for Special Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, and has been collecting sports cards and memorabilia for 34 years. Photo by: Pfc. Brandon R. Holgersen
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200461601841/$file/Release0283-2004-01low.jpg
CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan — David Yip, who has been collecting comic books for more than ten years, holds up his most valuable comic books during the comic book and card show June 5 at the Globe and Anchor enlisted club here. The comic books at the time they were sold were worth less than three dollars and now are worth more than $500. Photo by: Pfc. Brandon R. Holgersen
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/F8743B50A825657185256EB500171926?opendocument
Ellie
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification #: 200461601217
Story by Pfc. Brandon R. Holgersen
CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan —(June 5, 2004) -- Close to 100 comic book and trading card enthusiasts arrived throughout the day to buy, trade and sell comic books, trading cards and sports memorabilia at the monthly comic book and card show held here June 5 at the Globe and Anchor enlisted club.
Five vendors set up shop in the club, displaying a wide variety of goods available to the patrons.
“We started getting together to put on this show in May 1997 because I wanted comic book and card collecting to be accessible to people living on base without people having to order everything over the Internet,” said Gunnery Sgt. Monroe Stueber, chief instructor for Special Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group.
Some people think the show is just about making money, but Stueber explained that it is for people who appreciate comics and cards.
“There are three types of people (who) collect comics and cards,” Stueber said. “There are collectors, hobbyists and investors. Collectors buy new cards and comics so they have that certain card or comic. Hobbyists buy cards and comics that are (autographed) or worth money to enhance the value of their collection. Investors buy comics and cards so they can resell them at a higher price.”
Stueber, who has been collecting sports cards and memorabilia for 34 years, says enthusiasts can find any comic they are looking for at the show, and if vendors don’t have it, they can find and obtain it for a customer.
“I’ve been a Rams fan since 1969, and I started collecting autographed cards. My collection and love for collecting grew from there,” Stueber said.
According to David Yip, who has been collecting comic books for more than 10 years, a lot of people buy comics from the base exchange or from bookstores, but they don’t offer the variety people can find at the show.
“The show is also a way for people with a common hobby to talk to each other, have a good time and relax,” Yip said.
Despite the stereotype that comics are purely forms of entertainment, Yip said people can learn valuable life lessons from their pages.
“Many comics reflect events that are happening in the real world. They talk about war or tough decisions and sacrifice,” Yip said.
Yip also believes comics are a way for children to read and enjoy reading.
“If children don’t like reading regular books, then parents should give them comics books as a way to get their children to read and help them continue to read,” Yip said.
Collecting comics is a healthy hobby, according to Airman 1st Class Logan Ayala, a F-15 Eagle tactical fighter armament weapons systems apprentice.
“Some people think that people who collect comics are very unsociable, or they are ‘geeks,’ but we are just like normal people just doing what we love,” Ayala said.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200461601614/$file/Release0283-2004-03low.jpg
CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- A collection of Gunnery Sgt. Monroe Stueber’s most prized sports trading cards sit in a professional display at the monthly comic book and card show here June 5. Stueber is the chief instructor for Special Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, and has been collecting sports cards and memorabilia for 34 years. Photo by: Pfc. Brandon R. Holgersen
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200461601841/$file/Release0283-2004-01low.jpg
CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan — David Yip, who has been collecting comic books for more than ten years, holds up his most valuable comic books during the comic book and card show June 5 at the Globe and Anchor enlisted club here. The comic books at the time they were sold were worth less than three dollars and now are worth more than $500. Photo by: Pfc. Brandon R. Holgersen
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/F8743B50A825657185256EB500171926?opendocument
Ellie