Val Conder: Comic Book Collector

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Who was Val Conder? I’m sure that there’s plenty of people out there who will spring up and say, ‘Oh, Val? Great guy!’ I hope they do. So why do I want to know?

Because, last week, while doing some research I tripped over this ad from the Leader Tribune (Marion, Indiana).

Amazing! Val, in April, 1964, was going hard to buy back issues of some of the most desirable comics of today. I hope he scored them.

And then I found this!

This letter appeared in Forbidden Worlds #70 (AGC - September 1958). Same name, same location. It has to be the same guy. In fact, I’m sure of it.

So, who was Val Conder?

I never met, spoke to or knew the man, but it would appear that he passed away on 25 February this year. He was born in June 1942, and served his country with pride. The obit for Val Dunn Conder gives a picture of a man who was more than likely the same Val Conder who placed the ad and wrote the above letter.

Val was a proud Mason, and he enjoyed gaming groups, poetry and writing, cats, and feeding birds and squirrels on his home’s patio. He was incredibly generous to his nephews, who fondly remember spending time with Val at Christmases and family holidays filled with joy and laughter.

If, by any chance, Val’s family ever read this, and it is the same Val who placed that ad, then please, do drop me a line. I’d love to know if he got those comics and what happened afterwards. Like everyone, I love a good mystery.

And Val sounds like a damned good person. Hey, he liked cats. That puts him in my good books already. And I hope he never stopped reading those comic books!