Nothing like having invoices done on your birthday!

I have a number of invoices in process right now at CGC. All but one are from Megacon. I just had to take advantage of Bill Sienkiewicz attending Megacon. I had never been able to meet him before and he is my favorite comic artist.

So in the few months leading up to the show, I purchased a number of issues that he did covers on. It just so happens that the Bill Sienkiewicz Cover Set that I requested managed to finally be created just a couple of weeks prior to the show as well, so now I had even more reason to get issues signed by him.

Some I had some done onsite, but there were so many copies That I had to get submitted that I just couldn't do them all onsite. At $56 total apiece for onsite pressing and grading, it can get real expensive real fast.

So now I've just been waiting on all of my regularly submitted invoices to work their way into shipped/safe status. Three of them have been completed now, and on my birthday no less!! Yay!! What makes these even more remarkable is that I purchased most of these books raw off of Ebay!!!

Here are the comics that I did NOT get raw through Ebay:

Stray Toasters #4 - SS 9.2 WP Ronnylama sent me some of his extra copies of these and I felt this one would get 9.4. Just missed at 9.2, but it's ok. Just having a graded and signed copy of any of these issues is very cool.

Shadow #1 - SS 9.8 WP Ronnylama sent me this copy a long time ago and I've just now decided to get it graded since I had the chance for Bill to sign it. I knew it was 9.8 and wasn't disappointed.

Daredevil #341 SS 9.8 WP This is an original collection copy of mine. I was very happy to be able to get Bill to sign it!

Blackest Night: Batman #3 Variant Cover - SS 9.8 WP This was a gift from Ronnylama in return for me getting a number of his books signed by Bill. Thank you!!

All Flash #1 (2007) - SS 9.8 WP This was also a gift from Ronnylama for me getting his books signed! You are the best, Ronnylama!!

These are all raw purchases off of Ebay!!.... :

Thing #13 - SS 9.4 WP I thought this had a chance at 9.6 with a press but no such luck. It's the only issue of this series that Bill did the cover on so I couldn't resist getting it done.

XForce #10 Variant cover - SS 9.6 WP Darn! I thought for sure this would get 9.8 with a press. Oh well, can't be right all the time right?

Critical Mass #5 - SS 9.6 WP this is exactly what I thought it would get.

Starriors #3 - SS 9.8 WP also exactly what I thought it would get.

Question Annual #1 - SS 9.8 WP I had this graded at 9.8 but just wasn't sure CGC would agree with me. Almost didn't take it to the show, but now I'm so glad I did.

Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #4 - I was certain of 9.8 on this one and wasn't disappointed! There is only one other Sienk cover from these Before Watchmen books and it's Dr. Manhattan #4 Variant Cover. Still looking for a good copy of that one.

Elektra: The Hand #2, #3, #4 and #5 - All SS 9.8 WP only the first issue of these had no shot at 9.8 unfortunately, so I went with the other four issues and I was right about all them! Very cool!

Comet Man #3 - SS 9.8 WP exactly what I graded it.

Comet Man #4 - SS 9.8 WP also exactly what I graded it.

Comet Man #5 -SS 9.6 WP I also had this at 9.6 like the Thing issue earlier, but I was really hoping that a press would bump it up to 9.8. Again, no such luck. Still cool though.

Comet Man #6 - SS 9.8 WP This absolutely astounded me! This is the last issue of this series and I had it at a solid 9.6 with no real shot at 9.8. It has an all black cover and while I hate being wrong on a grade, I don't mind it when the grade comes out better than I thought. Awesome!!!

Johnny Quest #11 from Comico comics - SS 9.8 WP One of the more obscure Sienk covers. I really was hoping for a 9.8 on this one but felt it was a 9.6. The pressing must have got it to 9.8!! I am so happy about this one!

NOW on to the invoice with four magazines that I had done at Megacon! Here we go:

Starlog #18 - SS 9.4 OW/W Signed by Dirk Benedict and Richard Hatch. I bought this raw through Mile High Comics. I've had very good luck with acquiring top notch copies from them and I was sure this was at least a 9.6, but for some reason, it feel just short of that. Still very cool. It has interviews in it with both of them.

Starlog #28 - SS 9.4 WP Signed by Herbert Jefferson Jr. I also bought this one raw through Mile High. Again it fell just short of what I thought, but also again, it's still very cool!

Howard the Duck Magazine #1 - SS 9.6 OW/W Signed by Michael Golden. I got this raw through Ebay. I was very much hoping for a 9.8 on this one, though I doubted it. Looks like I was right to doubt it. I'm still happy having a nice signed copy of it!

Hulk! #13 - SS 9.8 WP!! I am absolutely ecstatic about this one! I bought it raw of Ebay. When I looked it over, I put it at 9.6. When I sent pictures to Tnerb, he put it at 9.6. The reason I took this one to get signed by Sienkiewicz is because it features the first ever published artwork of his!!! Having it come back on 9.8 is a dream come true! AWESOME!!!

I should receive the mags tomorrow. Can't wait to get them back.

I have become very good at finding top notch raw copies of books through Ebay. I'm currently sitting at about 85% on 9.8s from raw Ebay purchases that I've had graded! That's a pretty good ratio! Overall, I am very happy with the results so far. I still have seven invoices I am waiting on.

Below is the Comet Man #6.

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