Uploaded July 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Hey, Everyone! Tonight we have collector Steve Borock hanging in the studio with us. Steve is well known for his association with the comic book side of the hobby, but he is also an original art collector. I first met Steve 23 years ago at a dinner at Gibson's Steakhouse in Rosemont, Illinois when he was holding court with several comic book dealers in order to spread the word about the new business venture he was embarking upon at the time, which was the insane idea of grading and encapsulating comics in plastic holders. Whatever happened to that business? I then connected with Steve again 3 or 4 years later when he bought a cool Mike Nasser Wonder Woman cover off my website. But not being the "Hey, remember me?" type, I didn't mention that dinner from years earlier.
However, I recently had to make contact with someone at ComicLink, where he now works and as it turns out, the automated phone service directed me to Steve's office. During our conversation, he specifically asked me if we knew each other. So I then told him of our previous encounters. I happened to mention that I was having fun, weekly hang outs with other collectors here on this channel and he sounded so enthusiastic about how much fun it sounded, that I ended up telling him he should come hang out as my in-studio guest some time, but as Steve Borock the art collector, not Steve Borock "the CGC guy". He immediately agreed, we found a mutually agreeable Sunday during which he was available and here we are! As always, we'll have plenty of interesting things to talk about so come join in on the fun while we're broadcasting live if you can, otherwise please enjoy it on rewind!
CHAPTERS/TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction - Zyla Parsons: No News is Good New?
03:10 Thanks for watching Karen's Pages!
07:04 Steve Borock steps into the studio - Compliments West Stephan!
09:29 Greetings from Live Chat Crew Members
14:15 Steve Borock, the 12 year old comics dealer!
17:41 Steve Borock & the Grateful Dead
21:13 How certified grading for comics became a thing!
25:41 eBay - The Wild West during the 90's
27:40 Grading (Comics)
30:45 Collecting Pedigree Copies
31:02 Buying More Fun #52 for a record $115k
32:56 Starting & later getting burned out on grading (CGC)
35:59 Steve Borock starts working at Heritage
37:40 Steve Borock leaves Heritage to start CBCS
39:28 Steve Borock leaves CBCS - Goes to MyComicShop.com
40:32 Josh Nathanson Calls Steve Borock
41:16 Steve Borock collects original art
43:57 What does Steve Borock do at ComicLink?
44:57 The Hero Initiative
45:40 Acting as an ambassador for ComicLink
48:07 Managing consignor & seller expectations
49:03 Do me a favour & Google me!
49:33 Please don't wear a suit & tie!
51:51 Enter your name, but not your title at ComicLink!
53:38 This is a jeans & t-shirts hobby
55:59 The Hero Initiative
01:02:55 Getting comics signed
01:06:03 Stan Lee's handler ripped him off
01:06:56 Being Charitable within the hobby
01:10:33 Steve Borock loves our community
01:18:03 Promo for The Original Art Experience
01:20:52 How I met Steve Borock - Chatting about various things
01:33:08 Let's get to the art!
01:34:24 Let's get to the art! (For real this time!)
01:35:02 Wonder Woman #232 Original Cover by Mike Nasser
01:42:24 Grateful Dead Almanac - Fire on the Mountain by Tim Truman
01:44:35 Talking Music & Going Off On Tangents
01:51:52 RIP Mikey Halperin
01:52:38 Is Steve Borock Competitive with Heritage Auctions?
01:56:34 Zatanna #2 Original Cover Art by Stéphane Roux
02:02:07 The Dreaming #2 Original Cover Art by Jae Lee
02:04:36 Talking Jae Lee Art
02:08:38 Starman #7 Original Cover Art by Tony Harris
02:15:58 Friendships in the hobby
02:19:13 Marcus Wai the Most Loyal Viewer!
02:21:27 Steve interrupts me just to say Good Night to Karen of Karen's Pages
02:21:58 San Diego Comic Con is a Zoo
02:26:46 Showing Jerry Garcia's copy of Impact
02:28:08 Will Steve Borock be at TerrifiCon?
02:29:23 What happened to the art bought by Stan Lee's Handler?
02:31:16 Do the Jerry Garcia comics have a smell?
02:32:07 Final Announcements
02:34:28 Steve Borock's quick Neal Adams anecdote
02:35:13 Steve Borock's quick Don Perlin anecdote
02:36:41 Thanking Steve For Hanging Out!
02:38:27 Thanking the Live Chat Crew & All My Guests!
02:39:18 Happy 4th of July!
LINKS:
Steve Borock
comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=10912
heroinitiative.org
Rubén DaCollector
comicbookartgallery.com
comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=30114
facebook.com/ruben.dacollector
instagram.com/rubendacollector
Hey, Everyone! Tonight we have collector Steve Borock hanging in the studio with us. Steve is well known for his association with the comic book side of the hobby, but he is also an original art collector. I first met Steve 23 years ago at a dinner at Gibson's Steakhouse in Rosemont, Illinois when he was holding court with several comic book dealers in order to spread the word about the new business venture he was embarking upon at the time, which was the insane idea of grading and encapsulating comics in plastic holders. Whatever happened to that business? I then connected with Steve again 3 or 4 years later when he bought a cool Mike Nasser Wonder Woman cover off my website. But not being the "Hey, remember me?" type, I didn't mention that dinner from years earlier.
However, I recently had to make contact with someone at ComicLink, where he now works and as it turns out, the automated phone service directed me to Steve's office. During our conversation, he specifically asked me if we knew each other. So I then told him of our previous encounters. I happened to mention that I was having fun, weekly hang outs with other collectors here on this channel and he sounded so enthusiastic about how much fun it sounded, that I ended up telling him he should come hang out as my in-studio guest some time, but as Steve Borock the art collector, not Steve Borock "the CGC guy". He immediately agreed, we found a mutually agreeable Sunday during which he was available and here we are! As always, we'll have plenty of interesting things to talk about so come join in on the fun while we're broadcasting live if you can, otherwise please enjoy it on rewind!
CHAPTERS/TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction - Zyla Parsons: No News is Good New?
03:10 Thanks for watching Karen's Pages!
07:04 Steve Borock steps into the studio - Compliments West Stephan!
09:29 Greetings from Live Chat Crew Members
14:15 Steve Borock, the 12 year old comics dealer!
17:41 Steve Borock & the Grateful Dead
21:13 How certified grading for comics became a thing!
25:41 eBay - The Wild West during the 90's
27:40 Grading (Comics)
30:45 Collecting Pedigree Copies
31:02 Buying More Fun #52 for a record $115k
32:56 Starting & later getting burned out on grading (CGC)
35:59 Steve Borock starts working at Heritage
37:40 Steve Borock leaves Heritage to start CBCS
39:28 Steve Borock leaves CBCS - Goes to MyComicShop.com
40:32 Josh Nathanson Calls Steve Borock
41:16 Steve Borock collects original art
43:57 What does Steve Borock do at ComicLink?
44:57 The Hero Initiative
45:40 Acting as an ambassador for ComicLink
48:07 Managing consignor & seller expectations
49:03 Do me a favour & Google me!
49:33 Please don't wear a suit & tie!
51:51 Enter your name, but not your title at ComicLink!
53:38 This is a jeans & t-shirts hobby
55:59 The Hero Initiative
01:02:55 Getting comics signed
01:06:03 Stan Lee's handler ripped him off
01:06:56 Being Charitable within the hobby
01:10:33 Steve Borock loves our community
01:18:03 Promo for The Original Art Experience
01:20:52 How I met Steve Borock - Chatting about various things
01:33:08 Let's get to the art!
01:34:24 Let's get to the art! (For real this time!)
01:35:02 Wonder Woman #232 Original Cover by Mike Nasser
01:42:24 Grateful Dead Almanac - Fire on the Mountain by Tim Truman
01:44:35 Talking Music & Going Off On Tangents
01:51:52 RIP Mikey Halperin
01:52:38 Is Steve Borock Competitive with Heritage Auctions?
01:56:34 Zatanna #2 Original Cover Art by Stéphane Roux
02:02:07 The Dreaming #2 Original Cover Art by Jae Lee
02:04:36 Talking Jae Lee Art
02:08:38 Starman #7 Original Cover Art by Tony Harris
02:15:58 Friendships in the hobby
02:19:13 Marcus Wai the Most Loyal Viewer!
02:21:27 Steve interrupts me just to say Good Night to Karen of Karen's Pages
02:21:58 San Diego Comic Con is a Zoo
02:26:46 Showing Jerry Garcia's copy of Impact
02:28:08 Will Steve Borock be at TerrifiCon?
02:29:23 What happened to the art bought by Stan Lee's Handler?
02:31:16 Do the Jerry Garcia comics have a smell?
02:32:07 Final Announcements
02:34:28 Steve Borock's quick Neal Adams anecdote
02:35:13 Steve Borock's quick Don Perlin anecdote
02:36:41 Thanking Steve For Hanging Out!
02:38:27 Thanking the Live Chat Crew & All My Guests!
02:39:18 Happy 4th of July!
LINKS:
Steve Borock
comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=10912
heroinitiative.org
Rubén DaCollector
comicbookartgallery.com
comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=30114
facebook.com/ruben.dacollector
instagram.com/rubendacollector
