On June 21, 2002, Gemstone Publishing and Diamond International Galleries
launched the first issue of this newsletter. That year we took the weeks of
Comic-Con International: San Diego and Wizard World Chicago off, but with those
two exceptions we’ve delivered Scoop every week since then and done our
best to see that it’s packed with news, interviews and more about the world of
collecting.

Considering how many email addresses we started with, it
might have seemed to some that our initial goal, 30,000 readers, seemed
far-fetched. Now it’s about 300,000 readers ago.

Who knew that the world
was ready for an upbeat, one-stop destination for insight into the fantastic
auctions, incredible items, and interesting personalities in our hobby? The
answer for those of us on the staff is simple: Steve Geppi and John
Snyder.

Steve, as most of our readers know, is the President and Chief
Executive Officer of Diamond Comic Distributors and head of the Diamond family
of companies. John is the President of Diamond International Galleries. Aside
from sharing a friendship of more than 30 years, they have in common an
enthusiastic and infectious attitude about why people collect and how popular
culture has impacted (and continues to impact) the culture as a
whole.

It’s the same mindset that has led to books such as Mickey and
the Gang: Classic Stories in Verse from Gemstone Publishing or, on a larger
scale, Geppi’s Entertainment Museum at Camden Yards, which will open this
summer.

But no matter what their intentions for Scoop, all of this
wouldn’t have happened if our fellow collectors didn’t agree. It wouldn’t have
grown and grown if what we offered didn’t resonate with the readers, who in turn
have told other readers about it.

Many of our readers go straight to the
website every Friday, while a large number take advantage of the free email
sign-up (http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/signup/default.asp,
if you didn’t already know) and have Scoop dropped into their inbox.
Either way, the numbers are still on the climb.

So, first,
thank-you.

Second, we hope you’ll keep telling your friends about it. As
indicated above, we know this wouldn’t happen without your
enthusiasm.

Third, we asked a variety of people in different parts of in
the industry what they thought of Scoop. Here’s what they had to
say:

Friday means many things to many people, but for the past few years,
Friday has been Scoop day, as far as I’m concerned. From its earliest
days, Scoop has been a celebration of all that’s right in our hobbies,
whether it’s comics, coins, sports collectibles, original art, toys, or what
have you. The greatest thing about Scoop is that you never know what
treasures you’re going to find contained within each and every issue, from the
newsworthy to the interesting to the slightly weird to the truly bizarre and

esoteric. Best of all, every article is well-written and engaging, obviously
crafted by someone who is passionate about our shared pop cultural heritage.
Scoop is a welcome breath of fresh air in an otherwise crazy world, and
its arrival makes every Friday that much sweeter. Long live
Scoop!
John Petty
Heritage Galleries &
Auctioneers

I read it religiously and use the archives to find sales
data and interesting articles about the hobby and show biz. From its inception
Metropolis Collectibles and the Comic Zone radio show have utilized the
reaching power of Scoop to let collectors and investors alike know about
new purchases, our company’s current goings on and new guests!
Vincent
Zurzolo
Metropolis Collectibles, Inc.

A periodical like
Scoop is a delight to have supporting the medium. A constant blast of
fresh air, enthusiasm for the medium, and a source of delight. Well-written and
comprehensive, it’s something I look forward to every week.
Ross
Richie
Boom! Studios

I think Scoop is pointing the
way to a new breed of popular culture coverage. It is laying the groundwork of
historical context while keeping up with the latest developments. And it sees
the connections between various areas of the culture that before now have often
been perceived as separate. But we all know in our fannish hearts that to love
movies is to love comics is to love toys is to love books is to love radio is to
love music is to love it all.
Mark Wheatley
Insight Studios
Group

Love the weekly e-mails…the variety of information delivered
directly to me always seems to keep me busy for an hour or two, and its well
written, which I really appreciate. Happy anniversary, Scoop. See you at
#300 soon!
Jimmy Palmiotti
Writer-inker-editor

Friday
afternoons used to mean the start of the weekend…now my weekend starts a
little bit sooner…thanks to Scoop! When the Scoop e-mail pops up
at my work desk on Friday afternoon it means one thing…a break from reality
and a chance to read about all of the cool things happening in the world of
collectibles. I tell all my friends about it…it’s that type of site–you don’t
have to be a comic book geek to enjoy it…just a keen interest in fun events
and a longing for nostalgia is all you need.
Charlie
Novinskie
Century Comics

I enjoy Scoop because of
the array of information and news it brings me not only within the comic
industry, but throughout Pop Culture. I especially get a kick out of the auction
news regarding items sold that I remembered as a kid.

I also dig
Scoop because they did an article on my work last year showcasing the
covers I’ve illustrated for Star Wars. You guys rock!

Scoop is
just plain fun to read.
David Michael
Beck
Artist

Wow, time really flies. Congratulations on
reaching 200!

I read Scoop every week, both to find out what’s
going on in the business (and in the greater world of pop culture) and also to
see what my friends are up to. There’s no quicker, easier way to keep up than
Scoop–and it’s fun reading besides!
Jeff
Mariotte
Writer

Scoop is celebrating a bicentennial!
This is no surprise as it’s one delightfully entertaining news outlet that will
continue to inform us for as long as pop-culture evolves itself!
Billy
Tucci
Writer-Artist

Congratulations Guys (and Gals) for
hitting the 200-issue milestone! I look forward to getting Scoop every
Friday to see what’s going on in the various industries that I have interest in
and that you cover. I love to hear about new finds and hobby records being set,
without having to spend my busy days on the phone. Thanks for also giving my
business website a great start by announcing it in Scoop. I had a mad
rush of sales that first week and am looking forward to experiencing that again
soon, when I make another substantial announcement. You folks definitely show
that you care about the hobbies and certainly go beyond the call of duty to
promote them to the world, as well as to introduce potential customers to hobby
dealers, which there wouldn’t be a lot of going on without you, as dealers are
generally very protective of their client list! My hat is off to you and I look
forward to the next 200 issues!
William Hughes
Vintage
Collectables

I read Scoop every week because it’s the comic
news and info outlet that highlights what matters and comes directly to my
inbox. Scoop’s the best there is at what it does – making comic nuts
slide deeper into fandom. Searching for comic news doesn’t get any easier with
Scoop. Here’s to two hundred more!
Scott Hinze
Fanboy
Radio

Scoop #200? Seems like just yesterday, yet it seems
it’s been around all along. Scoop is an incredible newsletter for
informing the collector in all of us every detail in what we may want to
collect. I always look forward to my Friday email, letting me know just what
wonderful auction I have missed! It, like wine, only gets better with age.
Here’s to 2000!
Marc Nathan
Baltimore
Comic-Con

Scoop gives me what I want as a comics
collector/dealer:

* Information on what’s selling and the actual prices
to back it up
* Information on upcoming auctions
* Information on upcoming
shows
* Interesting stories on the people who make, sell, distribute and
collect comics
* Entertaining tidbits about related collectible
fields

What more do I need? Scoop is the right product at the
right time.

Congratulations to Steve, and everyone at Gemstone on 200
issues. Here’s to 2,000 more!
Gary
Colabuono
Moondog’s

Congratulations to the all the
wonderful folks at Gemstone for reaching this 200th milestone in what seems like
only yesterday! Thank you for your many, many years of support and
friendship!
Marnin Rosenberg

CollectorsAssemble.com

Scoop provides me with both
professional and personal collectible information that I look forward to each
Friday.
Ray Schulte
Ironclad Authentics, LLC

Congrats
on Scoop’s anniversary! For my money, it is, without doubt, the best
comics and collectibles site on the internet. The articles are well written with
just the right “insider’s” touch that never gets too “elitist” nor does it dumb
down the content. Amazing…
Bo Hampton
Artist

Every
Friday I look forward to Scoop. I love the way I can scan the email, know
at a glance what stuff I want to know more about, and the fact that once I click
on that headline, I’m going to get information that is timely, informative, and
concisely written.
Robert
Tinnell
Writer-Director

The 200th landmark edition of
Scoop should be received by its huge subscriber base as a monument to
persistence and excellence in delivering news and interesting stories regarding
collectibles of all types, with virtually no hint of favoritism or bias. The
auction results and sales of major competitors of the Geppi family of auctions
are covered with the same zest and completeness as are the Geppi related
operations. Random Treasures Auctions is proud to be among the companies who can
always count on Scoop for fair and informative coverage of its activities.

Don Flanagan
Random Treasures
Auctions

Congratulations on your 200^th issue!

Scoop has not only become a “must read” every week for me, but
also for most of our employees here at CGC. The variety of articles and the
amount of important news is just amazing! The hard work that goes into
Scoop each and every week by John Snyder, J.C. Vaughn, Tom Gordon and
others show just how much they care about keeping the entire world informed
about collectibles.

Thanks for everything you do for us and here’s to
the next 200 issues and beyond!
Steven
Borock
CGC

What I like about Scoop is that it
literally has something for everyone, from news to auction prices to toys to
trivia. A veritable buffet of goodness for collectors! If I read everything in
it, I’d never get anything done.
Christos
Gage
Writer

I don’t think there are enough nice things one
can say about Scoop, its editor and publisher.

Scoop is
thoughtfully written and easy to use. It presents the best in the collecting
world and reports events and event results with attention to
details.

Graphically, Scoop is just right. It’s easy to read and,
being an Internet product, easy to search.

I’d like to thank everyone at
Diamond International Galleries for making Scoop possible and hope
everyone at Diamond realizes that Scoop has become a viable and valuable
pipeline within the collecting community. Friday’s just wouldn’t be Friday
without Scoop arriving in my mailbox.

Everyone at S/R Laboratories
Art Conservation Center sends the Scoop team heartfelt thanks for a job
well done and continued success.
Ron Stark
S/R Laboratories
Animation Art Conservation Center Courvoisier Galleries

I started out
as a full-time comic book dealer in 1968 and stayed with that hobby for the next
eight years. Over the last 35 years I have dabbled in many hobbies, and for the
past 17 years I have sold movie posters full-time. So for me, Scoop is a
dream come true! With one very convenient e-mail each week, I get to keep up
with all the latest news in all of the collectibles fields that interest me, and
get to see what friends from long ago are currently involved in. I just can’t
imagine how you manage to keep track of all you do! Best of luck on the next 200
issues.
Bruce
Hershenson
eMoviePoster.com

Scoop is 200!

Wow. You know, it’s not often enough that you get to ‘be there in the
beginning’ for something new. I was there for Scoop, and with changes in
the industry over the years, it was about time for something new.

But if
someone had asked me about the life expectancy for a free publication
that comes out weekly and delivers news, reviews, profiles, and historical
articles…

Well, I wouldn’t have bet the farm on it. After all, that is
just not the model that our industry operates upon. ‘Free’ is hard to make a
buck with. But a new business model is just what we needed after all. And
Scoop has delivered on its promise to Fan and Pro alike. Great coverage
on all levels, and it hasn’t cost the consumer a dime!

Why anyone in the
industry (Fan or Pro) would not be reading Scoop is beyond me.
With a weekly publication system, Scoop has guaranteed that they have
first crack at late breaking industry news.

Scoop, if you were a
stock, I would buy you.
Weldon Adams
Collector –
Historian

The world of popular culture has become chaotic and
fragmented. I need a roadmap to lead me to the cool stuff. I depend on
Scoop like Columbus relied on his trusty sextant.
Tom
Heintjes
Hogan’s Alley

Wow it has been 200 issues of some
of the most informative and useful in formation about comics on the net.
Congratulations and keep the news coming!
Doug Simpson
Paradise
Comics

Congratulations, Scoop, on reaching this great
milestone — 200 issues of the best on-line resource for both collectors and the
industry. I’m sure this is just a precursor of even bigger and better
things.
Paul Merolle
PopFun Merchandising, LLC

When Scoop came of the scene many of us felt it would not impact the
hobby much. After all there were other publications that kept us informed, so
how was this going to be any different? Now, 200 issues later, we’re saying what
did we ever do without it. The length, breath and
depth of its content is enough to keep most of us
informed and interested until the next one comes out. It is truly a great way to
finish the work-week and start the weekend.