... and stunned!!!

When I decided to start collecting CGC 9.8 copies of Dazzler four or so years ago, Hitman1099 was the top rank of the set. Heck, he was the top rank in a boatload of sets!!

Two years later, I finally managed to pass Hitman1099 for the top spot in the Dazzler set. I can only surmise that this caused him to go ahead and try to sell off his issues to move on to other collecting interests, because it was not long after when he put all of his 9.8 Dazzlers up for sale on Ebay, including the only 9.8 copy of #42!!!

I could not believe it and did not hesitate to snap it right up along with a bunch of the other copies that I did not have yet! This one purchase spree launched me farther into first place and I have not looked back since.

As I write this journal, my 9.8 copy of Dazzler #42 is STILL the only 9.8 copy! The fact that it is the last issue with a low print run and a jet black background on the cover is probably to blame for this.

Up until this past week, I was down to the last nine issues to complete my set. This past week I was astounded to find out that HA had not one, but THREE of the issues I needed going off this past Sunday!!

And ironically, the one issue I was sure would be the last one I would ever get in 9.8 was one of them!

If #42 is hard because of its partially jet black cover, then #21 would be nearly impossible!! It has a photo cover of a model named June MacDonald. She is dressed up as Dazzler and standing in pitch blackness with her hands held up and two bright lights shining out from behind her hands (see below).

This cover has a completely jet black background all the way around the cover edges! Talk about difficult! I figured I would be the luckiest guy alive to ever see a copy in 9.8 for sale or auction anywhere.

I fell out of my chair when I saw it! Then, after pulling myself back up into the chair, I realized that there were two other copies I also needed going off on the same day!

After pulling myself back into my chair a second time, I vowed to get them at all cost. Well, maybe not ALL cost, but I would try my best.

They did cost more than I planned on, but I could not be happier!! I am now down to needing only six issues to complete my set!!

On top of all this, I have begun to get my copies signed! My #1 is signed by Tom DeFalco and Louise Simonson! My #2-6 are all signed by Tom DeFalco and 19 signed by Bob Wiacek and 34 and 36 signed by Geof Isherwood!

I will taking some copies with me to Megacon for Bill Sienkiewicz and some to Supercon for Danny Fingeroth and Tom DeFalco to sign later this year. This should help cement my first place ranking even if someone were to come along and also manage to collect them all.

In fact, HarrisonJohn is currently in the number two spot and apparently has designs to ultimately collect them all in 9.8 as well. I wish him all the best in his endeavor. I know from personal experience that this is a hard goal to accomplish. I have been at it for over four years and have not finished yet!

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