W-b Twp. Officials Clash Over Budget Cuts

Anthony Gorka 
Dec. 5, 1992 
Anthony Gorka, 69, Of Harveys Lake, Died Saturday Morning In Nesbitt Memorial 
Hospital, Kingston.

Monday, December 07, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





for 10C &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Killer sales expected for &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Death of Superman cards &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 12/6/92 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Nov. 17, 1992, DC Comics killed off one of its oldest and most famous
superheroes of all time, SupermanThroughout a six-issue story, Superman
battled a titanic monstrosity known as Doomsday, only to die from his wounds
suffered while saving the city of Metropolis. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The battle concluded on the final page of Superman #75 , a comic book which
left dealers' shelves faster than any speeding bullet. Demand for the comic
was so huge, comic shops around the country sold out almost immediately after
opening their doors. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We sold 500 copies in 35 minutes," stated Frank Matello Jr., who operates
a card and comic shop at the Wyoming Valley Mall. "People were lining up to
get their copies long before we opened." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The situation was the same at Gema Books in Lee Park. Within an hour, the
store had sold out of the several hundred copies in stock. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Callers to the Comic Vault in Allentown were met with the same "I'm sorry
we sold out of that issue in an hour" response. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Demand for the book resulted in the skyrocketing value for the book. The
plain newsstand edition, which sported a cover price of $1.25, was selling
strong at $5. A deluxe bagged edition, in which the collector received a
commemorative armband, an obituary and a trading card, was selling at ten
times its $2.50 cover price. In fact, the bagged issues were fetching between
$75-100 in New York City. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Demand for the Superman #75 was so great that DC Comics decided to issue a
second and third printing of the comic, this despite originally printing more
than 3 million copies of the issue. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In conjunction with the release of Superman #75 , Skybox Inc., has issued a
100-card set entitled "Doomsday: The Death of Superman" trading cards. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The set provides a powerful artistic and editorial summary of the events
leading up to and including the death of Superman by the artists and editorial
staff at DC Comics. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The first 90 cards cover the battle, from start to finish, with the
maniacal Doomsday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A nine-card subset, called Cover Art cards, preview the artwork which will
appear on the cover of nine future Funeral for a Friend issues of Superman and
related comic books dealing with the aftermath of the superhero's death. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The backs of these cards form a nine-card puzzle of the art prepared for
the poster of Superman's funeral, to be in-packed in Superman #75 . &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The final card will be a checklist for the set. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Four bonus Spectra cards will be randomly inserted into foil packs. The
bonus cards feature original artwork created exclusively for this line of
cards by DC Superman artists and colored by science fiction illustrator and
fan favorite Barclay Shaw, enhanced with Spectra Etch technology to give them
a bold, three-dimensional look. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In addition, two specially designed bonus cards -- which fit together to
form a two-piece, foil-stamped puzzle of a bleeding Superman "S-shield" on the
front and the tomb of Superman on the back -- will be randomly inserted into
packs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Much like the comic book, the Doomsday: Death of Superman trading cards are
just as scarce. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Skybox has produced only 8,000 individually numbered and sealed 10-box
cases. The demand and scarcity of the cards have dealers selling the packs
well over the suggested retail price of 99 cents a pack. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Unlike the comic, however, Skybox will not be issuing a second or third
printing of the cards. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * * * &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Card Show Schedule: Here's a listing of upcoming cards show in the area. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dec 6: Coast to Coast Cards will present a baseball card show at the
Holiday Inn on Route 315 in Wilkes-Barre. Hours for the show are 9:30 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. Admission is $1.50. Door prizes will be given away. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dec 6: WSFL Productions will host a baseball card show at the Independent
Fire Company Ballroom on Sprague Street in Kingston. Hours for the show are
9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and admission is free. Three stockings stuffed with
over 40 wax packs will be given away in drawings at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and
1 p.m. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dec 12: A sportscard show will be held at the St. John the Baptist Church
Hall on William Street in Pittston. Show shours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and
admission is free. The show will benefit the Centennial Fund. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dec 13: J&amp;B Sports Cards will hold a baseball card show at the HoJo Inn on
Route 115 and Kidder Street. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is
$1.50. Door prizes of $25 shopping sprees will be awarded, along with a $100
shopping spree drawing at 1 p.m. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For dealer information, call 696-3363. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dec 13: If you haven't been able to get your hands on Superman #75 , or the
Doomsday: Death of Superman set, here's the place to look. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 WSFL Productions will sponsor the Cosmic Comic Enterprises Wilkes-Barre
Comic Show at the Apples Banquet Hall on 400 Kidder St. Admission to the show
is $2. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Special guest will be Bob McLeod, an artist who has worked on various
titles including Superman and the Incredible Hulk. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For more information, and show hours, contact Jamie at 288-4776. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jan 8-10: A Baseball Card and Collectible show will be held at the West
Side Mall in Edwardsville during mall hours. Admission to the show is free.
The show will feature as special guests former A's pitcher Bob Duliba (Exeter)
and former White Sox pitcher Harry Dorish (Kingston). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 All proceeds will benefit the Make a Wish Foundation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * * * &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Contest: How would you like to win a $100 shopping spree at a card show?
J&amp;B Sports Cards is giving away one $100 shopping spree at its Dec. 13
baseball card show at the HoJo Inn in Wilkes-Barre. To enter, simply fill out
the coupon in today's column. Deposit the coupon at the show in time for the 1
p.m. drawing. One one entry per household and the winner must be present at
the time of the drawing to claim the prize. No photocopies of the coupon will
be accepted. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 THE END IS NEAR -- &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pictured is one of 100 cards from the `Doomsday: The Death of Superman' set

For 10c 
Killer Sales Expected For 
Death Of Superman Cards 
12/6/92 
On Nov. 17, 1992, Dc Comics Killed Off One Of Its Oldest And Most Famous 
Superheroes Of All Time, Superman.

For 10c Killer Sales Expected For Death Of Superman Cards 12/6/92 On Nov. 17, 1992, Dc Comics Killed Off One Of Its Oldest And Most Famous Superheroes Of All Time, Superman.