Tec-Tac-Toe

I have all of my purchased off the newsstand and comic book stores comic books and magazines from late-stage silver age until today as I sill purchase a few new issues. I also purchased a few tons of back issues from golden through modern age, still do although much more limited, from the late 1960s, as a kid, especially through 2020. Ninety-eight percent, perhaps 99%, is raw as I have only had a few of my original owner and back issue purchases graded. I will likely have many more graded in the future. Like Robot Man, I was very picky in selecting copies, looking for the best that I could find although sometimes the best could have been better. I also purchased a great many CGC graded comic books starting in 2002, including all types, minor to major, key issues because, clearly, I love comic books and enjoy having CGC graded copies of the raw issues I own. Over the last two years I have purchased, like other board members, issues, mostly modern, that very few want. I have done so because I like the covers and, similar to other posters the prices for keys and some run filler issues are, despite some recent contraction, high for me especially since I don't need a second, third, fourth, etc., graded copy of an issue. Granted, as I often joke, I'm apparently cheap. Thankfully, as I often note, I only spend comic book money on, well, comic books. Thus, if they become worthless tomorrow I'll be fine financially and although a few galaxies away from the enjoyment, etc., I receive from my loved ones, I will still love having them since I very much enjoy collecting and reading the comic books I do because they are, simply, fun.

That reminds me of the T-1000.

Indeed!

Apparently, CGC charges two dollars per bag (Mike assisted to rescind the charge: Submission issue: if one wants it to bag comic books that were submitted "bag-free." Whether these bags are new or the ones "submitted " by folks is unsaid. CGC did not mention if backing boards are included with the bags or if they are a separate charge.

I have yet to sell any of my comic books, but I very much enjoy visiting Canada.

I have approximately five copies each of Wizard one through 25 and fewer copies each of 26 through about issue 50. I purchased everything, everything, in multiples (a fool and their money and all that). They are my retirement plan. ... ... ... ... I plan to sleep on them.

"Easy come, easy go." (not for me)

CGC transformed that comic book.

Another "superyellow" Okay, another one.

"Right On Man."

"Superyellow"

I have never ordered directly form IDW but will note that if they are in the condition that I typically find them in at the LCS in my area and that I used to receive via pre-orders, they range from VF- to NM+ with the vast majority grading VF. I have not pre-ordered IDW titles in a long time, never will again, since roughly 90% of the copies had multiple color breaking spine ticks on the front and back covers. If I find 9.8 copies, very rare, at some LCS I may purchase them solely for the cover art.

Multi-signature:

Among the greatest.

Does The Thing raise his pinkie to give someone the finger or another digit?

Perhaps CGC has a problem with gremlins.

I had the opportunity yesterday, Friday June 9, to review the 40 graded comic books. All the slabs look good-very little, if any, scuffing, no scratches, no debris inside the slabs, etc., and, surprisingly, I did not see newton rings under different lighting while turning the slabs to countless angles. CGC should always provide such quality product. I'll also note that the two magazines are still "Scheduled for Grading" as of today, Saturday, June 10.

Like a bomb!

As somewhat of an aside, as many board members recall, the shipping boxes of old (circa 2018, perhaps a bit later, and earlier) used to ship 25 comic books were larger and the cardboard that the boxes were made of was thicker. Further, the material that was used to secure the comic books or magazines inside the box was far better than what is currently used. Edit: The same holds true for the old boxes that were used to ship 15 comic books.

True, the slab will likely only last 14 days before melting.

To spin it: Those comic books are on fire!

Do you know the board history of "... Did not have to do that?" If not, my response to your post harkened back to a CGC comment of "We did not have to do that" when grading cost increased.

As others have noted, during the 1980s and to a lesser extent, in my experience, up to the mid-1990s every LCS and comic book convention I frequented and mail order dealers I purchased from graded almost every back issue comic book and magazine, with some difference between dealers, from roughly VF (very often, F/VF) up the "all-encompassing" NM. Having said that, I, like others that have replied, was a NM purchaser but for the expensive issues I had to settle for the highest grading copies that I could afford and, thankfully, I was able to very often place them on "lay-away." As concerns the prices I wanted to pay, I had a list, hand written, that I always carried with me listing the back issues I wanted, including, of course, grade and OPG value. I likely updated that list 500 plus times over many years. I often paid more than what I wanted to because, well, the dealer wanted more $. In hindsight, I'm very glad I paid more than my list "said."