I do so love a good mystery!

I always have. It's like a puzzle just crying out to be solved. A lot of times, even when you can't find a factual reason, the mystery still yields surprising and often enlightening results.

But there are also times when the mystery completely eludes you, leaving you at a loss to explain the results that stare you in the face.

And sometimes, either way can bring you happiness, regardless of whether you come to a satisfactory result or not.

This story starts with a desire; a decision to start putting together the best Mutant Massacre set on the CGC registry. Not an easy task, considering that a few issues for the set can be tough to find graded at all, let alone in high grades.

I began by applying the issues I already had to the set. New Mutants #46 and X-Men #210 through #214 were among the graded issues I already held within my hands, so they were the ones to get my start. They were all 9.8 copies, which was my ultimate goal for the set.

I set out to find the other issues for the set, so I searched the internet.

Ebay, World Wide Comics, My Comic Shop, Comic Link, Comic Connect, Metropolis Comics, Heritage Auctions. You name it, I searched it; for months and months, turning into well over a year.

I acquired Power Pack #27 on Ebay, which was one of the tougher ones to get in 9.8 grade. I acquired X-Factor #10 and #11 on World Wide Comics. The third X-Factor issue, #9, I managed to win off of Ebay. It is the rarest 9.8 copy from the series to acquire in the first ten issues.

Thor #373 and #374 were also found on World Wide Comics. I mainly found everything on either Ebay or World Wide, but there was one I couldn't find anywhere.

Daredevil #238!

I knew I had a copy that was part of my personal, original collection that me and my dad put together years ago, but after a close examination, I was sure it would get 9.4 at best. This was before CGC began offering pressing as an option through CCS.

In the meantime, I had determined that the best way to assure myself of a top ranked set that would stand the test of time, was to get them all signed.

So I started with Megacon 2013. Chris Claremont was there and since I not only wanted to start getting New Mutants issues signed, but also issues for the Mutant Massacre set, I figured #46 was definitely one to get done. So I did.

I sent my Power Pack #27 off to Desert Winds for Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove to sign at SDCC 2013. It came back still enveloped in 9.8 glory.

After that was Baltimore Comic Con, where I met up with Tnerb. That was where I got my Thor #373 and #374 both signed by Walt Simonson and Sal Buscema. It was also where I got all three X-Factor issues signed; one by Louise Simonson and Joe Rubinstein, and two signed by Louise Simonson and Walt Simonson.

Ronnylama had also sent me a copy of Daredevil #238, since I wasn't sure of mine being able to acquire a higher grade. As a result, I sent his copy to CCS/CGC for pressing and grading, not knowing that Sal Buscema was going to be at Baltimore. So when Baltimore came along, I went ahead and took my original copy for Sal to sign, since I had determined that my copy at least had a shot at 9.6 with a press. I decided a SS 9.6 was better than no 9.6 at all, especially when signed by Sal Buscema, so I also had it signed at Baltimore.

When the Daredevil #238 Ronnylama sent me came back, it was Universal 9.6 WP. When the copy I had Sal sign at Baltimore came back, it was SS 9.6 WP.

So that was where I stood for the time being. Everything else I had signed came back retaining their 9.8 grades. Then along came NYCC, and another shot at some signings, I sent my X-Men #210, #211 and #214 to my brother, Tnerb for Claremont and Wiacek to sign. They also came back retaining their 9.8s.

At this point, all of the issues I had cracked for signings had retained their 9.8s, which was fantastic! The only issues I hadn't had signed yet were X-Men #212 and #213.

And, of course, I still didn't have a 9.8 copy of Daredevil #238.

Then along came ECCC 2014! Since I was meeting up with Tnerb at Megacon 2014, and he was going to be attending ECCC the following week, I decided to send both of my 9.6 Daredevil #238s with him for Klaus Janson, Ann Nocenti, Arthur Adams and Steve Leialoha to sign!!

I mean, who wouldn't jump at the chance for four sigs on one comic, all at the same show! And since my original copy had already been signed by Sal Buscema, that would make 5 sigs on it!!

Now, here's where the mystery comes in. When I originally had the copy that Ronnylama sent me graded, I had it pressed first and then graded, and it came back 9.6, just like my original collection copy, which was ALSO pressed before grading.

But after having both copies signed four times and graded a second time, with NO re-pressing, the four signed copy came back as SS 9.8!!!!

My original copy, now with 5 sigs, came back still as a 9.6 WP. But for some reason, without a pressing or anything, the other copy, with 4 sigs went from 9.6 up to 9.8 WP!!

I looked both of these over once they had been pressed and graded the first time, and determined that they would never go above 9.6, but for some reason, the 4 signed copy jumped up a grade.

My original plan was to sell the 4 signed copy once I got them both back. But now, with the 4 signed copy bumping up to 9.8, I can't sell it. And I just can't bear to part with the 9.6 5 signed copy now, since it was part of my original collection from me and my dad,

But the real mystery here is...

Why did the one copy go up? I'm not complaining, of course. This adds 73 registry points to my set and gives me a quadruple signed 9.8 copy of a Copper key Daredevil issue! Not to mention it makes me easily the number one spot for the set for the fore-seeable future. I only have X-Men #212 and #213 to get signed and then I doubt anyone will ever be able to top it!

In this case, there is definitely a mystery, but the result is amazing, so I'm a happy camper.

... even if I can't sell the other copy.

I can't thank my big brother enough for this! He has personally handled four of my big issues for this set and had them signed for me, including this Daredevil #238 that went UP in grade after the signings. It is due to him and Ronnylama that my set is nearly untouchable now. Thanks guys!

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