Entering the realm of CGC comics...

So, this is a tad overwhelming in a way. I've always tossed around the idea of taking my collecting to the next step and investing in CGC comics over the last couple of years. I even have a box of single issues that I keep telling myself that I'll drop off at a show or mail off that went from three random modern variants to a short box to a long box now full of key appearances. I've even started "stalking" this board for the last year, reading up on collecting trends, what to avoid, and drooling over all the amazing comic rooms that get displayed. Yet, I've never taken that first step.

Until C2E2 2012 last month.

Knowing the CGC team was going to be set up there, I decided to take a couple books to just see what the experience was like. I decided on sending off my Ultimate Spider-Man #160 1:100 variant and a copy of Saga #1. Two moderns, I know, but if I didn't like what I got back, I was only out a little money verses what I'd been out if I sent off a key Silver or Bronze title. I left the books at the table early Friday and went on about my weekend.

Then I started to see all the vendors selling some beautiful slabbed books. Several of the books were some of the books on my "Hit List", those key books I just had to have. But I kept myself on a leash and didn't give in. Though, I was very, very tempted. I did, however, end up buying a copy of Aquaman #1 and Green Lantern #1 to have Geoff Johns sign at the DC booth. As luck would have it, a member of the CGC staff was there to verify the signatures. That sealed me dropping them off.

Come Sunday morning, I'm wondering what my books were going to be graded at. Would they come back 9.6? 9.8? Could I get lucky and have one of the Geoff Johns issues come back SS and 10.0?! Probably not on that last one. Either way, the bug had finally bit me hard enough that I could no longer resist. I had to buy at least one CGC book at the show.

As I wondered the halls, I decided I wanted to start small. While I had be tracking the prices of several Batman and Spider-Man grades for if/when I decided to dive in, I still wanted to break the ice gently. After a couple hours of pondering and wondering, I purchased this beauty:

While I know that there are just a little over 260 of this issue in the 9.6 grade, it felt fitting to buy as the Black Cat has always been my favorite Marvel Comics female. On top of that, it is a major upgrade from the raw copy I've had for a few years.

So, that's it for my first lack luster posting/journal as a newly indoctrinated member of the CGC Nation. I look forward to growing the quality of my collection, sharing photos of my submitted books, random finds and learning a thing or three from the more experienced collectors out there.

Until then, happy hunting,

XCinX