HUNDREDS of comic book, toy and record collectors are tipped to descend on Bendigo next month for a new event.
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Peter Pascoe, who has been collecting comics since 1984, is organising the first Bendigo Record, Comic & Toy Fair at the Kangaroo Flat Leisure Centre.
The 44-year-old has about 20,000 comics in his collection with no plans to slow down his purchasing.
“I’m really scared to think about how much I’ve spent on them,” he said with a laugh.
“I’ve sunk quite a bit of money into them.
“There’s a continuous stream of new issues.”
According to Mr Pascoe, there’s strong interest in collectables around Bendigo with the venue nearing capacity with stallholders.
“It looks like we’re going to have about 25 stalls,” he said.
I stood in line for three-and-a-half hours to get him to sign that particular comic
- Peter Pascoe
“I’ve had some people say that they might wear a costume which I think is a good thing.
“It’s not like a Comic-Con where you have writers and artists who have their own booths, it’s more like a flea market specialised for collectables.”
Rarity, age and condition are key factors in the price of comics, according to Mr Pascoe.
His most valued piece is edition 10 of the Fantastic Four, which he had signed by comic legend Stan Lee.
“I stood in line for three-and-a-half hours to get him to sign that particular comic for me,” Mr Pascoe said.
“It has the second appearance of Dr Doom.
“The co-creators of the Fantastic Four, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, wrote themselves into the comics.
“They’re two characters in that edition as well.”
Mr Pascoe regularly buys new comics and sources old editions from a wide range of locations.
The idea to hold a local fair arose six months ago.
“I had about 300 spare comics that I started selling out of the boot of my car in a carpark to friends,” he said.
“We started having a chat about starting a record and comic fair in Bendigo.
“I’d like to make it a bi-annual event if I could, it all depends on how successful this one is.
“If this one doesn’t really get off the ground or for whatever reason doesn’t work, that’s an experiment I tried and we chalk it down to a learning experience.
“I don’t anticipate making a lot of money on this one.
“I might be able to apply lessons from this event to the next event.”
The fair will be held at the Kangaroo Flat Leisure Centre on March 23 from 10am to 4pm.
Entry is $4 with further information at facebook.com/bendigorcandtfair