All I Want for Christmas is...

...this bad mamma jamma. Okay, actually, I already know i'm getting it. Spotted it at Costco of all places for $20 less than the suggested retail price. Snapped it up yesterday, but it's being wrapped by the Mrs. and placed underthe tree until the 25th.

What is it? Well, true believers, it's 'The Marvel Vault: A Museum-in-a-book With Rare Collectibles from the World of Marvel'. A really sharp looking retrospective tome about Marvel comics by master comics writer and former longtime Marvel editor-in-chief Roy Thomas and noted comics historian Peter Sanderson, cool enough in and of itself.

However, it comes loaded w/ a bunch of extra goodies and reproductions of promotional materials, w/ each section includes a plastic holder containing a rare facsimile unique to the era.

Facsimiles featured include:
- Sketches 1941-42 (8)

- Bill Everett's Postcards to his daughter (3)

- Farewell Party poster 1957

- Stan Lee's Fantastic Four synopsis

- 1961 Thing Christmas card

- 1965 MMMS Welcome Kit (4)

- Marvel Convention book 1975 (small version)

- Value Stamps Collection mid-70's (10)

- Howard the Duck Campaign Button 1976

- No-Prize Book 1982 (small version)

- Marvel Visitor Pass 1982

- Spider-Man Wedding Invitation 1987

- Trading Cards 1990 (3)

- Marvel Share Certificate 1993

- Marvel Restaurant Menu 1998

- Andy Kubert's Origin sketches 2001(4)

I looked through one in the store and it's beautfully done...each of the 'trinkets' are organized and enclosed in flat plastic pouches to keep them in good shape, etc. An excellent x-mas idea for the comic book geek in your family.

Some more legitimate holiday poop on the way soon. Stay tuned.