================================[MiNDCRiME]================================ [File #8:] [This is an example of what NOT to send. The article is nice, but it doesn't go with h/p. In the future please only send h/p related articles to us. Unless u have a really unusual how-to, send only h/p. -hc] ______________________________ |[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]| |[] []| |[] /\ []| |[] \ []| |[] \TEALING COMIC BOOKS []| |[] \/ []| |[] []| |[][][][][][][][]][[][][][][][]| ================================ by: kid Eternity For those of you who collect comic books, you probably know that it can be an expensive hobby. For those of you who don't collect comic books, trust me. Even if you don't collect comics, this file may be of some use to you. Comic books, like basball cards, can be(come) very valuable; so you could acquire and sell comic books, or give them away to friends, relatives, etc. Also, to those of you who don't collect, I suggest you start- its damn fun. There are comics for everyone. ===- First, you'll need a place to steal comics from. This could be a local bookstore or a supermarket with a comic book stand. But, the Best place would be either a comic bookstore, or a comic book convention. In a place like a bookstore or a supermarket, you could hide the comic book(s) inside on another, in another book or magazine, or just take it. When I say 'just take it', i mean discretely, like hiding it or something. Stick it under you shirt/jacket, whatever. The best way is to roll the comic book (gently!!! if you bend it, it may not be worth shit!) a little, then stick your hand and forearm through it, then put your sleeve over that. That may seem a little complicated, but I've found it to be the best/most discreet way. Or you could always walk out of the store it. Many times people won't even think that you are stealing it. If they do, just say that you bought it somewhere else. If you are going to say that, you may want to bring along a bag from a comic bookstore plus make up a fake receipt on your home calculator(on that you can print up numbers and shit on), or you COULD do it with your computer/printer. If you bring along the bag, you'll probably get away with taking more stuff. STORES & CONVENTIONS Comic book stores and conventions are sometimes better to steal from because you can get older/more valuable/more rare comic books than at a bookstore or something. Choosing the store is very important. You want to find a store that is poorly run, somewhat spacious, and does not have any employees walking around watching you. At most of the larger comic book stores, they'll have a television with some sort of sci-fi movie playing, if you've seen the movie before, you're in luck. The employees are usually watching the movie. Listen to the employees talking to see if there is a part of the movie that they especially want to see. If that part isn't too far away, you'll want to make your purchase RIGHT before it comes on. It also works to your advantage if the employees are having a discussion If you are a veteran collector, and there is a particular store you hate, because of the owner being an asshole, Whatever, you'll probably want to hit this store. Once you have found the comics you want, you can try a few different things. If you didn't already know, in comic book stores, all back issues are stored in a plastic comic-sized bag with a thin piece of cardboard o the back (but inside the bag) to keep the comic book safe. One thing you can do is get some newer issues off the new issue rack-section-type- thing, then open up the comic bag, look through the comic book a little (as if you are deciding whether or not to purchase it) then, as you are putting the comic away, put a new issue or two inside the bag also. Remember to put these behind the back issue that was originally in the bag. Then look around a little longer, then casually go and buy your comic books. Another thing to try is somewhat easier, but requires more planning, and only works if you have some experience collecting. First of all, you'll need to find a comic book worth stealing. You don't HAVE to for this plan to work, it may even work better if its any old comic, but its just not worth it unless you find a comic worth stealing. I suggest a comic in the $20-$60 price range. Also, and this is the important part, make sure that it is either not very popular AT ALL, or that it has 2nd, 3d, etc printings that look exactly the same as the first printing. Next, go to the comic book store and find that comic book and check to see if they have 2nd or 3rd, etc, printings that are cheaper than the first printing. Remember how the price label looks (you may even want to take a piece of paper and copy it right there - say you're checking how much comic books are in a couple of places to compare prices or something), now go home and make that label again. The next day, go to the store and put that copy of the label that was on the later printings on the FIRST printing (right over its old label). Now the first printing looks like a later printing, and has the same price as a later printing. Now, just like before, wait til the employees are preoccupied, then make your purchase. You may want to buy some other comics at the same time so they don't get suspicious. For those of you who collect comics: a perfect comic to do this with is the Vampire Lestat #1. Conventions can be handled somewhat the same way as stores, but there are usually more people watching you at all times at a convention, so it can be much harder. An essential at a convention is a bookbag and/or a binder. The best thing to do at a convention is to look at the boxes that the dealers have set up under the table; the larger dealers usually keep the stuff they couldn't fit on their table under the table. While under the table, keep your bag right next to you, OPEN. Take out some comics that you'd like out of the box along with some others, proceed to look at some, then put some down next to the opening of your bag, and when no one is looking casually, but quickly, slip them into your bag. But using methods like those above work too, especially putting comics in a bag with other comics and buying just one (with the others in the bag). You can find conventions by looking in comic book price guides or magazines(Wizard, Comics Vaules Monthly, Comic Books Buyers Guide, etc), in a section entitled 'Conventions!'' or something self-explanatory like that. ===- There are more methods than I've described above, but some were little complicated, some too simple, some just variations on stuff above and some i just didn't feel like putting in. Again, if you don't collect, I suggest starting a little before trying any of this, just so you have the general feel of being at a store and/or a convention; and also cuz its fun. For those of you who do collect, be careful and not too greedy. If you have any other ways to get comics, problems with what I wrote, questions, etc, please leave me mail or talk to me on IRC or something like that. Cya l8r.... kid Eternity - eternity@phantom.com ...