Drake Dragoon

I'm glad you folks responded. I'm not going to risk it. Now to figure out if I can carefully buff some scratches out. =P Thanks everyone!

Hello Forum Folks! I finally got my hands on 1 of only 2 CGC graded 9.9 TMNT #1 Mirage Volume 4 (2001)!!! But the case is old and has some wear. I love the darker blue label, as it matches the cover. But I also love the shiny new 9.9 label they stamp on new cases. My concern, if I send it in for a re-holder, is that CGC could determine a lower grade (if someone is having a bad day), or they might be in a rush and damage the comic as they remove/re-holder the comic. 1) Has anyone had issues getting a 9.9 re-holdered? 2) Is it possible to 'buff' the scratches out of an old case without causing damage or newton rings to form? 3) Are comics safe in old cases, or do they need to be re-holdered every so often? THANKS!

This is what it should look like (normal and error):

Luckily my How To Draw TMNT Error slab was graded before they knew it was an error (or someone missed it). The census has a few qualified CGC 9.8's, but apparently there are more 'errors' of this comic that slipped into the 'universal' category. I'll take the blue label all day.

I agree that green labels are worth less than blue labels. Yet sometimes a green label is a rare and desirable manufacturing error - and not an unverified signature, missing page, or other detractor that taints the green label category. That's why I think they should separate the manufacturing errors into their own category (label color) so collectors of error comics can more easily identify the differences and possibly avoid the slab getting undervalued.

...All you have to do to make a double cover comic 'universal' is to remove the outer cover. Therefore it wouldn't make sense to label it as 'qualified' when it's 'universal' under the 1st cover. This is tricky, but starting to make sense =P Thanks folks! I'm learning every day!

Okay, that makes sense. Missing the staples is a one-off mistake that gets missed from time to time, like a double cover gets stapled on from time to time, but it doesn't typically affect an entire batch. That said, a double cover DOES get a universal blue label, and missing staples (apparently) do not - Despite a double cover potentially being a one-off as well (not universal). Maybe that's because missing staples are 'missing' from the book, so it's not technically complete, while double covers are complete, with an extra piece added (another cover). I'm still trying to make sense of the differences, but I hope I'm grasping it.

Wow thanks for all the information folks! I did think I had something special with a 'green' wolverine, but now I see that I do not. It's still pretty neat though.

I agree, accept that the green issue (last pic, image 1) has literally no red ink on it, like it got missed completely. The red ink should blend with the base colors to produce the final color. And probably the ink just completely ran out before it got corrected, and a few copies slipped through. All the other copies in that picture were likely printed while the ink was still running out. Well thank you Forum Folks for helping me determine if this green Wolverine is special or not. It is to me, but I guess not to most people out there. I'm still going to slab it, along with a red copy, and display them together. maybe in the future, the set will be more enticing together.

Absolutely! I've seen plenty slabs with a thumb bend/crease on the very edge of the cover where (it seems) they pushed the comic into the holder. I check every single time now for damage - even though I shouldn't have to. I think CGC is just so backed up that they don't have the time to be careful and slow anymore. AND I bet there's slim pickings for quality graders right now.

Well I have 5 more copies of TMNT #1 5th print that I wasn't going to get graded, but maybe I should. I also have a few issue 7 2nd print (Krang covers) and #4 2nd print (Nintendo covers) that I should submit as well! I guess now is better than ever to get a high grade on those.

I pay more for odd ball rare comics like this. I can't be the only one. But why then does Venom #1 get special treatment (blue label and error remarks) because it's missing the foil?

For example: I have this copy of Solson Martial Arts Training Manual Michaelangelo that completely missed the green ink (yellow turtle). It's ULTRA rare and, to me, very valuable.

I spose I referred to them as color variants (or variations would have been more accurate). But really I'm wondering if they're considered 'Misprints' or 'Manufacturing/Production Errors'.

It only took me about 8 months to get around to it =P

Okay, I posted this elsewhere, but it was the wrong category. Has anyone ever noticed these color variations, where do I submit the data if no one has noticed, and does CGC recognize any of these color variants as a misprint/error? I believe the 2nd image (picture 1) is the intended color scheme and all others are bad quality prints. But the green copy (last image, picture 1) missed the red color completely (as shown in picture 2). It's my opinion that the green Wolverine copy should be labeled as a manufacturing error, and all other bad color variations are simply just bad color. P.S. How come Venom #1 gets Universal Blue Labels for the manufacturing errors, and everything else can go kick-rocks with a Qualified Green Label?

You wanna buy this 9.8? Here are pics of the damage on my comic that started this thread:

Ahh I read that people found the listing that contained the CGC number back then, which ofc is not listed on eBay anymore. I've since learned that CGC isn't very consistent these days and I've seen way worse examples than mine that got a CGC 9.8 slab - so it does happen often. As others have stated in this thread: just because it's CGC 9.8 doesn't actually mean it's a worthy copy, and I should still inspect the comic inside before I buy the slab. I shouldn't have to do that, which is why I pay for comics that have already been professionally graded. But apparently I do. L@@k at this '9.8' slab that I mentioned earlier Lessons learned. TY Thread People!

No one has anything to say about this?

Maybe Drake Dragoon has a keener eye than CGC

Okay thanks for the response! Too bad it gets a green label though... I wish there was a special label for manufacturing errors/misprints for collectors who like those. But the green label is mostly bad because it also includes other detractors like unverified signatures. I wonder why Venom #1 manufacturing errors get Universal Blue labels, and everything else can go 'kick rocks'?

I have a couple TMNT comics from the 1st volume that missed the staples during production. What I love about them is they look amazing! The spine is a perfect fold with no staples getting in the way. CRISP! But the pages are loose so they like to slide out of the book a little, in the comic bag, when I pick it up. Gotta be gentle and tuck'em back in. Would I get a qualified label or universal label? And can it get a 9.8 if the rest of the comic is worthy? Thanks for your reply folks!

It's the 5th print (1988) of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 and it had a very low print run. A 9.8 of the 5th print is worth $1,500 now. But the comic in that 9.8 slab is no better than copies I sell for $50-$100 (raw) - the ones that aren't worth slabbing. Notice that comic has a BAD creased corner on the upper back-spine, several spine ticks/creases, a smashed corner on the upper front-spine, all other corners are blunted/worn, and the guy in the reflection looks like a dweeb =P 8.5-9.0 at best imo. Maybe now is a good time to send in all my damaged books???

But what about this '9.8' folks??? Look at the pics on this eBay listing LOL! Who TF graded this thing!? https://www.ebay.com/itm/165208802517?hash=item26773644d5:g:OCQAAOSwGeFhpWtX

Here's another example: