In the Dark

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About this journal

Oblivious to anything new

Entries in this journal

Shaking Up the New Mutants

Or these aren't the X-Men your parents told you about. I've decided to narrow down my sets. At one time I took over the first place position of the New Mutants. I did this by having a single book more than the previous holder and a lot more signatures. This has since changed. Bagofleas regained first place without looking back and I helped him do it. I also built my set by his rules. Nothing under a 9.8 was posted. That is about to change. I'll have three sets and I hope that will dwind

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What if PGX was a threat?

Or Dies CGC even acknowledge competition? I purchased one PGX book. This was a copy of New Mutants #5 in a 9.9 with white pages. I did this at the time since there were no available me 9.8 copies. It is also rumored to be the only book PGX graded the day Michael Jackson died. I also knew that once I sent it to CGC for them to grade, it would be a 9.8. I even cracked it again when I attempted to go after a full signature series line up of my favorite title. It stayed a 9.8. It took no longer th

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The Value of Fast Track

Or should I say the additional Cost of fast track. At Megacon, I turned over a few invoices for onsite grading. One invoice was for comics signed by J. Scott Campbell. This was done for a friend. I was hoping to have them done onsite but that wasn't the case. I waited for three hours in the line, which only moved because they relocated the table that Mr. Campbell was signing at. The good part about this was that it was closer to Bill Sienkiewicz, where Bagofleas and my friend were waiting. Aft

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Taking it easy

Or A moment to breathe For every journal I write I tend to look at all the books I crave. Those cravings normally became purchases. I noticed in the recent months, as my life is going through some changes, including the failed attempt to be hired by CGC themselves that most of these changes have been positive. Money has become more of an issue. Fortunately I still have money for my bills, it's the comic books that have to take a back seat. After two conventions back to back I have to priori

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Signatures, Cross Country Conventions, and the Money Conundrum.

Or nothing but work. It's been a few weeks since I got home from ECCC. Just like last year, it was great. Surfer 99 being there was the proverbial icing on the cake. I do hope to go again next year, even if it might be the only convention I attend. I've been trying to work as much as I can, not only to recoup the money I lose by having off, but to save a bit for more days off. This time for my coming pool tournament. CGC is a rich man's hobby. I calculated what I have spent over two years,

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ECCC: Day 1

Or Having a great day with friends. Day one was a short day for me. In the amount of hours we had there, the two signatures I really wanted were scrawled across my comic books. My Longshot books were finally signed, but the invoice needed to remain open. I still need to get steve leialoha on my issue 34, and Bagofleas 32,33,34, but I also brought my original 32 and 34. I might add one more New Mutants to the mix to have Joe Rubinstein add his signature since I am afraid my 9.8 will drop. Not t

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CGC and the Flight to ECCC

Ok, so the flight is to Seattle, with a stop over in San Francisco. I don't sleep well when I'm excited. I'm sitting in my seat somewhere over the mid-west and trying to nap a bit. I don't want to land in Seattle and sleep the rest of the day, especially when the doctor limited my coffee consumption. I have at least 19 books for signatures and grading, three of which I'm expecting to drop from their universal 9.8 status. So why do I do it? What's the allure to getting the signatures on a comic

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CGC and Meeting my Idol

Or the cosplay scene at Megacon 2014 I heard the cosplay scene was huge at this show. I wasn't disappointed. However, I've noticed it grow at these types of ComiCons. In other words, I'm not talking about pop culture events. Megacon had the right amount of artists, sales booths, and media stars to keep me happy. Yes, I was busy running around with BagoFleas and it might seem like it was very amiable by all his recent journal entries, but you must remember he is a relentless task master. I a

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CGC and the Day After

Or a job well done Megacon is over. I imagine a group of people celebrating after the Super Bowl or World Series. High fives all around, Gator Ade poured over Paul Litch's head, and the Quarterback, Mike B carried on the team's shoulders. Or maybe just a few drinks like it was New Year's Eve.   I have no idea of the number of books they graded, but I know there was a lot. So much in fact that Mike placed RonnyLama's, Bagofleas, and my stuff together in multiple boxes. If you were there and

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CGC and Quality Control

Or I'm thankful for their customer service Ok, I love when CGC makes a mistake, but I don't understand how a signature series cover signed by Bill Sienkiewicz could be confused with issue 31 of volume three over 25 years later. David Lafuente was the cover artist of the latest 31. They are two different styles entirely. And it's not like I can call customer service and expect them to answer. They are all at the show. Fortunately, Molly, being Molly called right away. A couple of hours la

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CGC and the Second Day

Or I'm finished until next week. I'm guessing onsite is closed. Bagofleas let me know it lasted a whole lot longer than it did last year, although I was a bit upset I couldn't get J.Scott Campbell. I am still going to turn over a book today and one next week. I do like the cover of Uncanny X-Men #19 and I have one waiting from him when I get home, including two Superior Spider-Man variants for issue 29. Of course, whether I keep them or not is an entirely different story. A lot of my CGC gra

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CGC and the Line

Or the first line of many It's early, damn early, but Bagofleas and I are standing with a growing group. A group called "the Line". CSC staff is keeping us from going any further, almost like cattle. I'm listening as the others are discussing previous years. People are strolling in. I hope I'll be able to get all my on-site books taken care of, including a book that will not get a 9.8. I'm looking for three signature, for no more than twenty books. The question is can I do what I want here, an

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CGC and the First Day

Or Ouch I was more worried about the cut off time than anything else, and I wasn't getting much done. The thing is I accomplished a lot and I still have two days to go. I had a few more signed by Bill Sienkiewicz to add to my New Mutants collection. I cracked my second printings of Thanos Quest for John Beatty. The final signature I was trying to acquire was for a friend, and after three hours of waiting I forfeited my place in an unmoving line for J. Scott Campbell. Fortunately, CGC will be a

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CGC and the Flight to Megacon

Or this journal has nothing to do with the flight. I never seem to get the proper amount of sleep before a trip. This trip is no exception. I did my best to prepare for the convention itself, I slightly forgot the trivial details, like packing. My books were secure, as well as those I was bringing for others. I decided to wait to crack my other slabs. My time to prepare was dwindling and I needed to purchase a new camera, after all I want to document the event. This is my first conventio

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CGC and a The Comic Book Convention

Or the quest for the perfect set It's happening. The Megacon is only one week away. In less than six days I'll be in Florida and not only do I need to get ready for Megacon, but also for ECCC the week after. In essence, this is my vacation, but wouldn't it be cool if it was my job? Going from convention to convention and getting signatures for others?...I digress. Bill Sienkiewicz will be at Megacon. My first signature series issues were New Mutants 18 and 19. These were purchased off eBa

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But, They're in very good condition

Or Mint? No thanks, I've got gum. There once was a time when I never talked about comic books. I kept quiet, not so much because I didn't have anyone to talk to, but it was my dirty little secret. How would girls react to me reading what most would consider to be childhood stories? Sure, I went into their bedrooms when chance allowed me to sneak upstairs. I saw numerous teddy bears, some of which I purchased for them; but wasn't I supposed to? When a girlfriend (or rather "The" girlfriend) cam

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Order 66

It's not about Star Wars, it's not. Star Wars was a HUGE part of my life. I didn't have lots of toys or comic books like some of my friends or neighbors when I was growing up. Many parents thought this was depicting their love for their children, which possibly means I was not as loved. The few select figures and toy sets I had, I cherished and enjoyed, but it was the numerous times that I went to my "Neverland" thinking I was Luke Skywalker each and every bedtime that I enjoyed most. Star W

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Battling a Budget

Or on the precipice. It's safe to say I get personal when I write a journal. I told the whole community I was going for a job at CGC and a week later had to tell the same community I didn't get it. Now it's about my budget. For the last week I have been out of work, not due to losing a job, but because of a surgery. The worst part is I can not do any proper cleaning around the house. Last week, the day before I went in for the simple procedure, my boss asked me if I would be in Monday, the sam

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A more resourceful CGC database?

Or, a Picture will tell me exactly what to buy... I am trying to put a few sets together. For the most part I know what I need, but there are a few select entries I have no idea what they are. I wonder if many of you feel the same. Some of these issue slots were only created because we asked for them. That means the mistakes made are created into the set we asked for. There are currently seven separate slots for Thanos Quest. The first two are Thanos Quest #1 & #2. Slot three and Four b

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The Bills are alive with Music

Or, who needs a new car when I can have a wallet full of Bills. I always wanted to collect certain titles. The problem being is that once I would start I normally have the desire to finish. It doesn't mean I do. Case in point is my Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars. I have six of them, I have had six for a long time, too long in fact. But, as much as I want to get the remaining six a few things have stopped me. Things like getting signatures on my New Mutants collection, getting books graded to

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It's a LongShot

The Golden Rule... Pass it on... Or I'm blessed because I know Ronnylama.The odds are in my favor.I remember this series (Longshot) being adorned on the wall of my first LCS. To properly describe how each book was displayed, where each back issue was, where every video game lay would have this journal become endless. I still remember the feeling of awe when I was able to enter into the back room.After purchasing my Daredevil #168, or maybe before Marvel's six issue limited series. I'm not sur

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Iron Man 55

Or How I got a Holy Grail Before Marvel started to create a successful blockbuster movie series, one of my holy grails was "Iron Man" #55. My infatuation with Thanos began with "Thanos Quest". This two part, deluxe format comic book opened my eyes to how vicious a villain could truly be. His exploits in the "Infinity Gauntlet" sealed him into my top five of the ultimate, vile, and evil menaces of the Marvel universe. Galactus was a force of nature, the Kingpin was greed and gluttony combined,

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My First Megacon

Or My Second ECCC Life is full of misery and disappointment. Today was no different. But I won't let that stop me. Throughout my life there were a few things that brought me comfort. Star Wars was huge at a younger age. Comic books has been constant. And most importantly are my friends. Combining two out of the three seems the thing to do. I just purchased tickets to MegaCon and confirmed with RonnyLama about ECCC. I look forward to the attempt of back to back comic book conventions. This w

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I'm Furious

After spending three days at CGC I'm still waiting for an answer so until them, how about a review... Even after the news of Star Wars leaving the Dark Horse nest I still respect the company. They have published amazing story and art between two covers all in the form of entertainment and they won't stop now. Their latest super hero comic is "Furious" starting with issue #1. Bryan J. L. Glass and Victor Santos put together in 22 pages what others put in four issues. But, is it any good? And fo

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The Answer

42 Ok, without having you wait a whole journal, here's the answer...I will not be working at CGC. It's not that I didn't try, or that I didn't put my money where my mouth is. The powers that be made a decision. And yes I am disappointed, but I have nothing negative to say about them. This would have been something brand new, but as my father would say, it is what it is. He would probably use a bunch of other cliches' to boot. I still have yet to tell him. I think I'll do that in person, he h

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