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Stu Janis was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn in July 1940 and lived with his mom, dad and twin sisters above a laundromat on Christopher Aveue. Stu was an unusually intelligent young man, starting college at the remarkably young age of 15. In his pre-teen years he manifested a lifelong interest in film, he could talk for hours about beloved classic movie stars like Tyrone Power and Errol Flynn. But, more importantly for us, in his childhood years, he also became obsessed with comic books.
Even in those pre-comic store days, Stu would frequent local shops and buy any old Golden Age issues with what little money he had. His mother would be beside herself that he would spend a dollar on a book marked 10 cents! Stu joined the military and got married in 1959; his collection was soon stored with many of the family’s possessions in a relative’s basement from 1960-62. Upon discharge, his passion for the movies had come to consume him, to the point where he packed his possessions and drove to Hollywood to try his hand at acting. His comic obsession also got more serious at this time, and by mid-1963, the condition of his collection shows a marked turn for the better. Although he enjoyed a few seasons in summer stock, showbiz proved a tough nut to crack. In the late 1960s, he started a dog breeding kennel near Los Angeles, selling dogs to and forming relationships with many Hollywood celebrities, most notably the legendary Orson Welles.
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Years later, at the time of Stu’s death, his house was a true hoarder’s paradise. Among all of his items, tucked safely away, rested 20-odd boxes filled with his treasured comic books. These wonderful glimpses of Americana are now brought to market in this auction, with more to come in future ComicConnect Monthly Auctions.
While condition varies from comic to comic, many are in fantastic condition and show the true love and care Stu applied to his prized collection, including the gorgeous Avengers 2 CGC 9.4, a wonderful Fantastic Four 3 CGC 9.2, and a very attractive X-Men 1 CGC 8.0. This collection is sure to appeal to nostalgic comic collectors and serious investors alike, and provides terrific opportunities for both seasoned buyers and novice vintage fans just starting their journey through this rewarding hobby.
(Note the copy of
All-Star Comics #52 held by little Stu in the photograph on this page – this very comic, is in this auction, an extra-rare glimpse into comics collecting history indeed!)
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