The darkness beckons and I sleep. The music plays and I dream. And in between I silently curse not knowing which is which.

The night is getting chilly. I sit awake much later than I should. A stack of comic books make its way from one pile to another. Another stack, this particular pile graded by CGC, awaits my decision to either sell, get signed, or keep. The NYCC is coming closer like a thunderstorm rushing on the wind. I have a small stack of books from my younger brother for signatures at this prestigious event while a couple more than a few are on their way. I have one book I want to add three signatures but the rest are a test. Can I really buy to sell?

The New Mutants is my favorite series, as much as it is my younger brothers. I might have surpassed him once, but I don't think I ever will again. We both are getting all our books signed by individual or multiple creators, even with the threat of a dropped grade. We both wish this will never happen. It has happened to me before but not on the books I so love.

For the ones I hope to sell, I wonder will the money I spend on grading come back two fold, or am I just kidding myself? I do have some books that are of value, but are they only of value to me? After the NYCC I have Megacon and ECCC early next year, back to back. How shrewd can I be in my funds? Can I get 15 books signed by Art Adams? Will someone else decide to purchase a book or two off of me to help me continue this habit. Or is it time to stop collecting the way I collect?

I love reading these books, I truly do. I love the stories and the artwork but do I need them graded by CGC? Are my East of West books a hope that I can buy a book and flip them or is the story of the four horseman of the apocalypse truly a masterpiece by Hickman. Is Lazarus that fun of a book, can Ten Grand ever be worth as much, and can Tom Mandrake's return on Sidekick capture me like his cover on New Mutants 15 did?

Maybe I just need more money. Or maybe work more? A combination of both? Or maybe I just need to make a game plan and stick with it. Will I ever reclaim the number one spot again? I don't know. Will I try? Of course, but for some reason I feel that I'm missing something. And that I might have to be rid of everything to figure out what.

Thanks for Reading

Tnerb

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