Taxing comics more than other reading material has got to be
a First Amendment violation, here in the States.
Of course, I think taxing anything we read is a violation.
Have these poltroonish pols no memory of the Stamp Act?
This is the issue Michael purchased. : a "64-page GIANT"
issue, all-reprint. A steal at a buck, depending upon
condition.
http://www.comics.org/issue/23556/cover/4/
http://comicvine.gamespot.com/superman-227-special-all-kryptonite-issue/4000-10874/
Superman #227 June-July 1970 cover date, would have been on US
news stands as early as April. G-72 in the Giant series. That would
be half a year before the SUPERMAN 233 issue which temporarily
banished Kryptonite from Earth.
DC had annuals, which were 80-page Giant reprints, later
cut back to 64. I used to have arguments with the fellow who
ran the candy store with the best comics selection in my home
town that comics, as "dated periodicals" were exempt from sales
tax, the same as a weekly issue of TIME or a monthly issue
of ESQUIRE. Their was a loophole for magazines published quarterly
or less: they got taxed in NY State. Also, the 3-in-one
bags with 3 regular comics were not given the tax exemption.
When NY state first started dales tax (1965) the rate was 4%
and anything cheaper than 25 cents was not taxed, as it would be
less than a penny. So, if the cashier didn't know the law, they'd
try to collect that penny on a quarter comic, the @#%$!*s!
I understand annuals had trouble getting into Canada without
having to pay duty, so DC folded the Giants into the regular
run, which would be exempt. They sold well. There were years
when DC had two "Superman Annuals," and the "80 Page Giant Magazine"
separate numbering allowed them to have more, along with ones
for Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane and Superboy. Even Supergirl got the
GIANT treatment in special issues of "ACTION COMICS."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/80-Page_Giant
Later in the 70s, GIANTS were replaced by "100 Page
Super-Spectaculars." Again, they started as a separate
series, then were folded into the regular run. Some comics
were 100-pagers every issue, at least for a while. They tended
to have 20 pages of new story, the rest reprint.
I loved the old Golden Age stuff they reprinted, so I ate it
up. Some kids only liked new comics. As the TV networks always
said about reruns, if you haven't seen it yet, "it's new
to you!"
Kevin R