Risky Business!

Cracking CGC graded comics for signatures is a risky proposition.

You are taking a big chance on the comic book in question. It might fall in grade, making it usually less valuable even with signatures. Of course, you are ultimately hoping it retains its original grade, thereby increasing its rarity and value.

In a lot of cases, you may be creating an OAK with the upgrade to an SS copy. I have done this many, many times now.

However, when the issue fails to retain the original grade, it makes it tough for hardcore collectors like myself. Now I have to find another higher graded copy to purchase to replace the one that lost a little of its former glory.

This is both costly and frustrating.

But when that comic book comes back in its fresn, new case with the Yellow Label at the top and the same grade displayed that it started with, it's the best feeling in the world!!

I had 80 comic books signed at the Baltimore Comic Con! A few were raw copies that I wanted to get signed and try for high grades on, but most of them were cracked out of their CGC cases.

Most retained their grades, but not all of them. Unfortunately, I had 9 New Mutants issues drop from 9.8 to 9.6! This is made even more unfortunate to me since I had all of them pressed before regrading and they still fell in grade!

I have already re-purchased all but one of them in 9.8 condition. I will have to try again sometime for signings on these copies. The next time, I will refrain from pressing afterwards, just in case the pressings had something to do with the fall in grade. After all, if one comes back less than 9.8, I can always resubmit it with a pressing to try and get it back up.

Anyway, as I've posted in journals before, there is great risk and reward for this aspect of our hobby. Below is an example of You Win Some, You Lose Some.

Both of these were 9.8 WP copies that I cracked and had signed in Baltimore. Both were pressed and regraded. The New Mutants #15 now has both Louise Simonson and a rare Sal Buscema signature on it but fell in grade. The Star Wars #107 was a BIG risk but retained its 9.8 grade and is now graced with Joe Rubinstein's scrawling!!!

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