Fred McSurley Joins Heritage Comics as Assistant Director of Acquisitions

Dallas, TX -- Heritage, the world's largest collectibles auctioneer, is pleased to announce the addition of Fred McSurley to its staff. Fred came to Dallas a little over three months ago in order to help catalog items for Heritage's record-breaking July Wizard World Chicago Signature Auction, and he never left -- now he is the Assistant Director of Acquisitions for Heritage's Comics Division.

Many collectors and dealers will recognize Fred as the helpful, knowledgeable redhead who has worked behind the Motor City Comics table for the past several years. "I'll miss the extensive traveling with Motor City," said Fred. "If there is a convention, odds are great that Motor City Comics is there -- and always with the most impressive display and comprehensive selection of Golden and Silver Age comics, as well as toys, cards, premiums, and pulps on the entire convention floor." Fred began setting up at local shows regularly in the mid 1990s, and started traveling with Motor City soon thereafter. "It was great seeing everyone in Chicago at Wizard World and I'm definitely looking forward to San Diego - I live for comic book conventions."

Chris Foss, owner of Heroes and Dragons summed up Fred this way: "At first glance he's a likable, quiet and mild-mannered Golden Age comic collector; but in reality he's a hard-working super-comic expert who uses his love of old funny books and his immense powers of comic book knowledge to promote our hobby every chance he gets!" According to Al Stoltz of Basement Comics, "Fred has been a fixture at comic shows for so long, his knowledge and expertise is really unchallenged by the comic community. I could always count on him to appreciate the books I showed him, and to understand their significance." Said CGC Primary Grader, Steve Borock, "Too bad Heritage got to Fred first, CGC would have hired him without question. I have known Fred for many years now and there are very few people I know with his knowledge of comic books, his integrity, and his true love for our hobby."

Fred's first comic was a Marvel Double Feature #3 purchased in 1974 by his father, John McSurley, at Toledo Express Airport for a whopping 20 cents. Fred was six at that time, and still has the tattered copy (featuring Silver Age Captain America and Iron Man reprints) proudly on display. Before the age of ten, he had many Golden Age and Silver Age books in his collection, including: Flash Comics #92, Green Lantern #13, Exciting Comics #42, a CGC-worthy high-grade Planet Comics #47, as well as many others. In his childhood, no comic book shop was ever passed without visit. Fred would avidly study the annual Overstreet Price Guide, which he would purchase every Spring after receiving his first one as a Christmas gift in 1976.

Graduating from St. John's Jesuit High School in 1986, Fred went on to Miami University were he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1991, with a certification in English at the secondary level. His first job out of college was as an English teacher for Vision Quest, a unique outdoor mobile correctional program for delinquent youth. Utilizing horses, mules, and genuine Conestoga wagons, the Vision Quest wagon trains took troubled kids out of the city, and put them into an a challenging environment that was free of urban distractions. Fred served as the "Scout" on the Rough Rider train, directing traffic on horseback as he traveled from Culpepper, Virginia, down to Okeechobee, Florida, then back up to Leavenworth, Kansas. His classroom was a picnic table and a tent, but more often just a picnic table. Preferring the non-traditional teaching settings, he went to Michigan as the Assistant Director of Nature's Classroom, of Howell, MI, and served as Instructor for the Battle Creek Outdoor Education Center (the first center of its type in the U.S.). As a substitute teacher for Toledo Public Schools, Fred encountered nearly every type of teaching situation imaginable. He spent a year of graduate school at Bowling Green State University, where he always admired, and often visited, the Popular Culture Library.

Fred was quick to embrace eBay, where he went by the username of "fredscrypt" to buy and sell. He also helped two prominent dealers from Detroit, Harley Yee and John Procter, get started on eBay, by running numerous auctions for them. A huge fan and proponent of online auctions, Fred is very enthused about the changes that the information super-highway is bringing to our hobby and business.

Last year, Jim Halperin, founder of Heritage Comic Auctions, purchased a book from "fredscrypt" in an eBay auction; it was the Aurora pedigree copy of Mystic #55 CGC 9.0. "First I sold Jim a book?now, I am selling him my username and customer list. I hope that everyone who has ever done business with me will take a look at Heritage, whether buying or selling. Something monumental is going on here, and I encourage you to check out not only our Signature Auctions, but also our Amazing Comics Auction? (which is growing at an exponential rate), as well as our new eBay offerings. Heritage has brought a whole new approach to the buying and selling of vintage comic books, and I am thrilled to be a part of it. Nobody is sharper at buying and selling vintage comics than Ed Jaster, and I look forward to working with him. There is no other place on earth like Heritage - none with our depth of expertise, customer service-orientation, financial and technical resources and infrastructure, and incredible quality material for sale.

Prospective consignors and sellers are invited to call Fred at 214-252-4293 to discuss their rare comics and original art. Or visit http://www.heritagecomics.com/auctions/consigning.asp. Fred can also be reached via email at FredM@HeritageComics.com, or by writing him c/o Heritage Comics, 100 Highland Park Village, 2nd Floor, Dallas, TX 75205-2788.