Does my title make sense?

I was sixteen and living at home when my comic book collecting expanded into the world of Matt Murdock. Although my first introduction to this blind super hero was with issue #221 (I was unimpressed), I consider the beginning of my collection with what I dub the Miller years starting with issue #158 and ending with #191. I never would have picked these up if not for the comic books shop owner's (Dane) advisement. Since I recently moved into my father's at this age I was able to make the trek to the comic book shop once a week, normally on a Saturday.

The new books were on the left hand side of the store separated by company from the front of the store to the back. In the center were the back issues (all bagged and boarded) in order by company, then by title, and on the walls (oh those glorious walls) where there was space would be the back issues that were hot, desirable or both. The register was by the front door, and if a book was sitting patiently on the wall behind the register area, it wasn't meant to be there long. At this age, I didn't think of what was hot, or a possible investment, I paid attention to what I liked....kind of like now.

This one day, this one glorious day, two covers caught my eye. Covers I never saw before. They were Daredevil #1 and an Amazing Spider-man #129. I asked to see them. Spider-man I have known for a long time but Daredevil was still pretty new to me. My only #1 from the silver age (which honestly I did not know it was the silver age, I just knew it was old) was a copy of Iron man #1. I asked to see the Daredevil #1 first. It was beautiful. I only glanced at it through the bag, I was very afraid of messing it up, and when I asked how much it was, the price was an out of reach $300. I handed it back, somewhat with awe mingled with a little fear. It reminded me of going into a fancy lamp store and I could hear my mother screech "Don't touch anything."

After handing the book back I asked to see the Amazing Spider-Man #129. It was just as beautiful. This had a price tag of $100. More within my reach, but I did not have the money. I handed the book back, paid for the books I did come to get paying with my allowance. I did have a part time job, but hey, free money from Dad is free money. After leaving the store I walked the two miles home and opened them up in the empty house, which feels like now. My music playing in the back ground, the table cleaned, eating Lucky Charms as I read over my new acquisitions. Those marshmallows really stick when they fall on a page. I wonder if that is noted on my books I got graded at the CGC census.

After I read my books I tried to figure out how I could get that Daredevil #1. When my father came home from work I asked him, he said no. I asked again and he gave me the same answer. I told him since I was working I would pay him back, he said no. Give up my allowance? No. Please. No.....Pretty please....No. I begged some more, he said no some more. I bartered, I'll clean, I'll take the trash out, I'll do my own laundry, I'll even water the plant. He told me I had to do that anyway...and the answer is still no. by the way, I was never good at watering the plant, so after all that wearing down, from all those questions I asked I was exhausted, and the final answer was no (how did you guess).I finally realized no meant no.

There was only one way I could get that book, and that was to trade in something else, but what? I looked through my books and grabbed a handful including my Iron Man #1. I went the next day and hoped they were still there, they were. I handed my books over thinking I would get some exuberant amount and buy both. I was naïve. He gave me a cash amount and a higher credit amount. I chose credit. I didn't have enough for the Daredevil #1 but I was close to the Amazing Spider-Man #129. I parted with the comic books and some cash and purchased my first expensive comic book.

I went home and careful read it, no Lucky Charms this time. I placed it back in the bag and read it once more before finally taking it to Wizard World 2008. I looked it over and would have bet it would have been a 9.4. I didn't ever grade page quality before so I didn't this time either. I got the book back and it was a 9.2 White pages. They told me I could call up in about two weeks and ask about the notes. I never did till recently. The only thing they had on the notes was a color break on the spine which made me form more questions on CGC's grading practices. One thing wrong like that should have been a 9.4. Oh well, at least it had white pages.

Then an e-mail came to me that CGC was to have a private signing for their Signature Series. I sent four books in. One of the four was my Daredevil #1 in a 3.5 with White pages. It is coming back the same grade and same page color. I sent my ASM #129 9.2 W along with the Daredevil on the same invoice and checking the site, I saw...wait, what was this. Is this right? How could this be? My Amazing Spider-Man is no longer a 9.2. I finally got the 9.4 grade I thought it would be, but now they have confused me more. I can understand sending in a 9.9 white paged PGX book going to CGC and them grading it as a 9.8 White pages but how could they possible take a 9.2 White pages and grade it as a 9.4 Off-White? And how do I feel about it?

Thanks for Reading

Tnerb