UPDATED BELOW! Comic retailers and collectors in the general St. Louis area should keep their eyes open for anyone selling Superman memorabilia and comics. A mentally disabled fan from Granite City, Illinois has been robbed of thousands of dollars worth of his personal collection.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that 48-year-old Mike Meyer was robbed by a co-worker two weeks ago. The website says Meyers has been on Social Security for a mental disability since age 23 but has worked part time to supplement that aid.
According to the paper, “Meyer was tricked out of about 1,800 of his favorite Superman comic books, some dating to the 1950s. He also lost many of his favorite collector’s items: lunch boxes, an old-time radio, a Monopoly game and television set — all Superman-themed. The loot is worth about $4,000 to $5,000 in total, according to a friend who also collects.” They recount the story of how the theft occurred:
Meyer said mostly only his friends and family knew of his collection, but he also made the mistake once of telling someone less trustworthy: a guy named Gary whom he worked with at the Hardee’s on Madison Avenue in 1991.
Meyer said he ran into Gary recently while at Kyle’s Baseball Cards and Comics in Granite City. Gary asked Meyer whether he still collected Superman items and asked to see the collection. Meyer first gave an excuse, but then Gary called him later saying he was in the neighborhood and hoped to stop by.
“He just kept talking like a salesman,” Meyer said. “He wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
Meyer said he let Gary into the house that day and gave him a quick tour. Gary asked to see “my most precious comics,” Meyer said.
The next night, Gary was back again, asking whether Meyer would let Gary’s girlfriend watch some of his Superman movies. Meyer said while he and the girlfriend watched, Gary disappeared for a while.
Meyer noticed the theft two days later, on the morning of Aug. 24, and called police. All he knows is that Gary has dark hair, a goatee, is about 35 and drives a silver or gray car.
Meyer said a lot of what Gary stole from him was sentimental, “He invaded my privacy, and he took away my peace of mind.”
“He uses his powers not to benefit himself, but to help others,” Meyer told the paper when speaking about his favorite character, “He’s the champion of the oppressed.” Here’s hoping someone can help Meyer. Granite City police are investigating but if anyone receives any offers to buy Superman comics (Meyer says he owned #99 – the present) or the other items mentioned or sees them online please contact the police immediately with any information.
Update #1 – I’ve been in contact with a friend of Meyer’s and he’s given me the following information of what was taken from him to the best of his knowledge:
Here is what I know is missing: A 1960s Captain Action costume (on a generic doll, ha), a Seinfeld statue (I know these are expensive now), several recent Superman statutes (not sure which ones), most of his Superman Returns action figures and other bubble wrap figures and his complete collection of Superman and Action Comics… mostly 1950s to current and many in not particularly great condition. Also there is a Superman TV set, a Spinball Pinball Game, a Superman clock, and assorted other items. He still has a good part of his collection remaining, but most of his prizes are gone, alas. I am pretty sure none of the Superman statues will be in boxes. he had the boxes in a separate location in his house.
UPDATE #2 – Meyer’s friend has given me permission to post his address. Anyone willing to make donations to Meyer can send them here:
Mike Meyer c/o Bill Smith
7041 Kingsbury Blvd.
St. Louis, Mo. 63130
September 6th, 2011 at 9:22 am
I so badly want to scream bloody murder and proclaim death to this Gary…but I think I will take a page out of Supes’ book.
Let him be found, let him be caught, let the items be returned.
September 6th, 2011 at 9:34 am
Stories like this make me want to cry. How can we treat others like this? I hope Mike gets his collection back. I feel terrible for him.
September 6th, 2011 at 10:22 am
The best we can do is spread this information as far and wide as we can.
September 6th, 2011 at 11:07 am
Thanks for this heads-up, Jill. I’m not in St. Louie, but I’m going to write an article on another site about this to help spread the word. I’ll make sure to credit you and link back here.
September 6th, 2011 at 11:19 am
I really feel for this guy! Guys like Gary are cockroaches. How can you take away Superman from Mr. Meyers? I hope all his stuff is found and Gary gets put away. It makes me want to send Mike Meyers all my Superman stuff.
September 6th, 2011 at 11:39 am
This is the best i can do to contribute: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Superman-Help-Mike-Meyer/147372792019434?sk=wall
This fan page can be used as beacon to grow the awareness as well. Thank you Jill for spread the word!
September 6th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
I would think that since he knows Gary from working at a specific Hardee’s during a specific period, they could use employment and tax records to track this guy down.
September 6th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
It would help if we knew specifically what some of the more valuable issues were. That way we could keep an eye out for them on eBay and the such…
September 6th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Sorry to hear about Mike’s run-in with some less than honest folks. PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON EBAY for specific items, you never know.
September 6th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
I hate hearing about stuff like this. Hopefully enough people will come forward with information on this “Gary” that he will be caught forced to take a large chunk of kryptonite where the sun don’t shine!
In the meantime, is there any way to find out more specifically what was taken…especially in the way of comic books? I have a good-sized collection I was going to start selling off soon, and I’d readily donate whatever Superman comics I have that Mike lost. If anyone has any information, please contact me at MrMAB63-at-hotmail-dot-com.
September 6th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Something about this whole things smells fishy. I feel like I’m not getting the whole story. Withholding judgment…
September 6th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
People who take advantage of the mentally disabled operate on the same moral level as people who kick puppies and drown kittens.
So this Gary jerk worked at Hardee’s on Madison Avenue in either Granite City or Collinsville, Missouri, in 1991? And apparently has dark hair, a goatee, is about 35 and drives a silver or gray car.
Seems like enough information to start an investigation.
September 6th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Re: using tax records to track “Gary” down
Unfortunately they’re not required to keep tax records but 5-7 years and we’re talking about 20 years..
September 6th, 2011 at 10:37 pm
I’ve emailed the author at the newspaper asking if perhaps anyone who wishes to donate items could mail them to the newspaper and then have them forward them on in order to be sensitive to Meyer’s privacy. I will let you know if/when I hear back.
September 6th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
I cried. I hope he gets justice and all the happiness in the world because of this.
September 7th, 2011 at 10:36 am
Gary is going to get what´s coming to him, and so will Mr. Meyer, for comic book lovers all over the world have already started to come together.
September 7th, 2011 at 10:41 am
Update: There is now a Facebook page called Saving Superman, which is working on how to collect donations and other items to help Mike out.
September 7th, 2011 at 11:14 am
I’m hoping he gets his stuff back. Hope the perps get caught and jailed for this epic fail of their apparent lack of humanity. Hope also that DC Comics and Warner Bros. take note and do something cool for the victim.
Hey, DC/Warner Bros.! Give him a bunch of great Superman merchandise/comics (signed and all that) and get him a set visit to the Man Of Steel movie set. Hell, give him a role as a background extra! How cool would that be for him, to be able to see HIMSELF in a Superman film? And of course, let him meet Henry Cavill.
September 7th, 2011 at 11:48 am
“but I think I will take a page out of Supes’ book…”
I’d rather take a page out of the Punisher’s and turn Gary into a pile of broken parts.
September 7th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
In today´s world , where everything seems like chaos, it ended up being my first love, COMICS, that showed me that there can actually be unity among mankind that does not have it´s basis on natural disasters and countless dead? Kudos, mankind, you have actually impressed me!
September 7th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
If we were in Singapore, the perp woulda already been caught and caned by now.
September 7th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Mike did all the right stuff…This guy Gary will be caught because I know Mike has friends and friends never let you down when you need them…Gary will pay dearly for his misguided judgement… PLEASE keep us posted so we know when they get Gary and what happens to him… You go Mike….
September 7th, 2011 at 6:00 pm
I hope people who worked with him back in ’91 read this and can help. Surely SOMEbody must remember a skeeze named Gary who worked with them. It’s sad what happened but so nice to see everyone helping him out.
September 7th, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Something doesn’t sound up front about this story it has a hint of an urban tell to it. If Mike worked with this guy Gary at Hardees then the management will have his complete name and address. (even as far back as 91 tax requirements) It shouldn’t be too hard for the police to track this guy down.
September 7th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
David – read the comments. No company would keep 20 years worth of tax records. It’s a total waste of space and pointless to do.
September 7th, 2011 at 7:47 pm
They’ve found the guy – his name is Gerry Armbruster. Hopefully the police get him today or tomorrow. (Found this out from a family member on the facebook page.)
September 7th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
I am just depressed by this. That someone would take advantage of this sweet guy who’s main pleasure in life is his amazing collection is just wretched. I sincerely hope Gerry goes to jail & Mr. Meyer’s entire collection is returned to him. If I had any Superman memorabilia I would certainly send it his way. Will be posting this story wherever I can.
September 7th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
As a fellow geek with a disability (high-functioning autism in my case), I hope they catch the thief and that Mike gets all his Superman merch back. I think it’s just really sick and mean that people would prey on the disabled like this.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:16 am
if hes 35 now that would mean 20 years ago he was 11……. not workin att hardees at 11…. hope mike gets his stuff back
September 8th, 2011 at 5:52 am
Trish I’m not sure I follow your math. If he’s 35 now in 1991 he was 15 – so could well have been working at Hardees. Plus the article says around 35, so could be older.
September 8th, 2011 at 8:16 am
I think this is his facebook. You can see he’s friends with a “Tammy Armbruster,” who lists him as her nephew, and her location is Granite City.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002331745240#!/profile.php?id=100002331745240&sk=info
September 8th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
I dont know – I feel like with all this world wide attention (as great as it is) will probably cause this Gary character to just chuck and or destroy all the Superman stuff. As sad as that is. I dont think the original items will ever be returned
September 8th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Argh, this kind of thing is so annoying and depressing! What an scumbag (to put it lightly).
I feel for Mr. Meyers so much, my brother has Asperger’s and is hugely into superhero films and comics – he would be devastated if anything happened to the collection he’s amassed over the years! Unfortunately Superman isn’t one of his top fandoms, otherwise we would be sending any extra merchandise his way.
Crossing my fingers that this guy is caught and Mr. Meyers gets at least some of his possessions back!
September 9th, 2011 at 2:40 am
I shall be making a donation, not much but I shall.
I will be sending a small superman I have had since I was a child and also I will be sending a personalized sketch of superman.
p.s. It may take awhile as I live in the Uk.
September 9th, 2011 at 5:21 am
Please!
Somebody. Anyone who happens to get to this “Gary” before law enforcement can catch him. Beat the living shit out of that guy. Hobble that loser, so that he never forgets what he’s done to Mike, because we all UNDERSTAND that “Gary” really cares about nothing but himself; and bitch slap his skanky girlfriend while you’re at it.
September 9th, 2011 at 7:45 am
This story ran on tv last night on Fox 2 in St. Louis
http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-superman-comic-book-stolen-granite-city-man-9811,0,5068312.story
September 10th, 2011 at 4:52 am
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September 10th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
This Armbruster guy looks like he’s a huge Superman fan himself. If he stole the stuff to keep for himself rather than to sell, the police might be able to recover all of it. That’ll be great news for Mike. Here’s hoping.
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