• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

bagofleas

Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1,118

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Journal Entries posted by bagofleas

  1. bagofleas
    Be patient or you may end up being a mental patient!
    All right, have you ever bought a graded comic and felt elated at your purchase, only to watch future equally graded copies sell for less and less until your purchase looks like you must have been drunk off your rocker at the time?
    Of course, you have. Pretty much all CGC collectors have faced this issue at one time or another. Why? No patience.
    We tend to think that just because this is the first copy of an issue thats been graded at it's level, there may never be another one or so few that the value couldn't possibly go down too much.
    Or maybe it because were trying so hard to put a set together that we are willing to pay almost anything for those last few issues we need to meet our goal.
    When I first got into this hobby about 2 1/2 years ago, I wanted Uncanny X-Men #212 so bad that I bought it for just over $400 (going price at the time). I thought, key issue, black background, wolvie vs. Sabretooth, only 25 copies in the grade at the time after 10 years or so of grading. This couldn't possibly drop too much below $400.
    Wrong, wrong, wrong. There are now 111 copies of this thing out there now and they generally sell for around $78 to $95.
    Why didn't I wait? Because I was new to the hobby and I made a bunch of assumptions, that's why. I now understand that there are MANY things to consider when determining what you are willing to pay for something. Don't drive yourself mad wishing you had waited just a little while before buying something you wanted.
    My recent purchase of a signed copy of Jonah Hex #92 (see my previous journal) is an example of my now-learned-patience. I almost went ahead and bought an unsigned one for $250 about a year ago but decided to wait it out. Now I've got the only signed copy of it's grade (out of 14) for $110.
    As an alternate example, I own the only 9.8 graded copy of Dazzler #42 (last issue/see image below) that I purchased for $150. Jet black cover and all! How will this pan out in the long run? We'll see, but for now, I'm a happy camper in this case. But that could change if everyone decides to suddenly send in their copies of this issue and some of them reach this grade.
    So what do we learn from all this? Be selective, be knowledgeable, be rich (HA,HA), and most of all BE PATIENT!!!
    There will almost always be future copies graded at the level you want, and the more that reach that grade, the cheaper you will get them for, unless current events cause the issue to skyrocket in demand for whatever reason.
    Once you've decided what you're willing to pay for something, don't back down off it. When it comes to auctions, wait until the last possible second to put in your maximum amount and hope for the best.
    Think before you buy or you'll drive yourself crazy wishing you had waited!
    So, as my teaser for this journal says, Be Patient Or You May End Up Being A Mental Patient!!

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  2. bagofleas

    This Hobby Of Ours

    By bagofleas,

    Labels Labels Labels
    Im sitting at home. Ive had a few and Im looking through my collection and attempting to come up with a subject to write a journal about.
    How about this hobby of ours in general. It is a very niche hobby full of die hard collectors and nostalgia chasing grown ups. To be truthful this whole grading thing is not all that old quite yet. At first no one was sure if it would catch on or last all that long. I know I waited at least ten years before I considered getting into it. Even then I wasnt sure because of the high cost of these things once they have been encapsulated. Once I found out about the registry I was hooked. The element of competition always brings out the beast in a collector.
    But Ive always wondered about the longevity of these graded comics. I mean once a comic is graded how many years does it have to exist inside its plastic prison before the info on the label becomes wrong? This is especially true with the page quality. It might have been White Pages when originally graded but that could have been ten or more years ago and who knows if it still has that distinction. I wanna say it could have been stored improperly making for faster degradation but being that most of us are extremists in this hobby that probably isnt the case.
    Ive seen where CGC actually recommends having your graded comics reholdered every few years or so in order to keep them up to date in their labels but that would be inordinately expensive. I can see where you might want to get a graded issue with the old labeling system upgraded to a new label but again you are taking the risk that it might drop in grade or page quality.
    Speaking of which Ive seen that issues with the old labels seem to be passed over for copies with the new labels and often sell for less even though they are worth the same amount of registry points. The only time I dont see this is when the issue is an older SA or GA issue. Then it doesnt seem to matter as much that it has the old label. I understand that the new labels look better and are easier to make out the grades and page qualities but why would that translate to more valuable?
    Sorry. Getting off track. Anyway Ive only had occasion to have one comic reholdered and it came back the same grade and page quality as when I sent it. Ive heard of plenty of other experiences however where drops in grade or even in page quality occurred when this is done. Getting a graded issue signed is always a risk too.
    It all depends on who is grading it when you send it in. Ive heard you could literally get three or four different grades for the same comic. That seems ridiculous but I guess it wouldnt be impossible. We all see things differently. My idea of perfect may not be yours but this grading system is supposed to remove most of that difference of opinion by making the grade UNIVERSAL. The truth is they have a number of graders working for CGC down here in Florida who could also see things differently.
    The fragility of these cases is also a subject of concern. You have to be very careful with how you handle these things or you just might cause a crack or scratch or busted corner post. Then you have to consider whether or not to send it in for reholdering.
    Sorry folks. Im rambling on here. Ultimately as long as all of us extreme collectors continue to fall all over ourselves for these unarguably BEAUTIFUL pieces of art and history CGC collecting will probably continue as a hobby for years and years to come. Where it stops nobody knows.
    Hopefully it never does.
    P. S. Check out this cool image of my favorite New Mutant Sam Guthrie AKA Cannonball. Got this out of my loose copy of Marvel Fanfare number one.

  3. bagofleas
    Ok I will play copycat.
    Those of you out there who have kept up with my journals know that I have always been very proud of all my top ranked sets. None more so than my New Mutants set which has held the top ranking for the last three registry awards.
    Tnerb has slowly worked on his set as well and little by little has gained on me until this year when he finally managed to surpass me to reach the top spot. Congratulations Tnerb.
    I have lost top rankings in the past and its always a little aggravating. Especially when you are only barely being beaten out for the spot and are at the mercy of whether or not any issues show up for you to get so you can move ahead again. That is if you can afford them.
    Losing my top spot with the New Mutants set however is very disheartening. Im happy for Tnerb and he has continued to let me know when issues I need show up. We are all collectors in this hobby and having the registry has made it even more fun with the added effect of competition.
    Tnerb has managed to accomplish all this mainly because of his upgrading to SS copies. I have also worked on this but he has been far more successful with it than me. Especially in the New Mutants 85 to 100 Liefield set. There is probably NO way for me to get back to the top spot on THAT set by the next awards no matter what I do. Sheesh....
    Having said all this here is the main reason for this journal. Recently Tnerb has decided to put his set into obscurity in order to work on its presentation and completion. I have also considered doing this with a few sets over the years but never did. So now I figure why not? It will be a new experience for me since Ive never done it before and it might make things even more interesting in this friendly battle for a top spot. So I will play copycat.
    As I said in the title of this journal .... Let The Mystery Begin.
    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  4. bagofleas

    Nostalgia vs. Value

    By bagofleas,

    Making exceptions
    We all want to collect comics that are popular. We all endeavor to try and get those special OAK issues that put our comic over everyone else's or put's our set just slightly ahead of anyone else's.
    Sometimes we pay a lot more for something that's highly sought after, hence more valuable, even if it's Registry Point value doesn't match up to the cost. Signature Series issues are often like this. You can wind up paying WAY more just for the sig that gives you just a few extra points in your registry. This, of course, often means a negative RP/AP ratio. But we, being competitive collectors, can look over that for what it does for us.
    Then there are those issues or series that are not worth many Registry Points at all, but which we personally remember with fondness. They bring a since of nostalgia and we want to get them for what they mean to us personally.
    These often are not hugely popular and we often have to pay much more for them because there are not many of them available because they are not sent in to be graded as often. Some may not even be available to put into the registry yet, meaning no points at all.
    I'm pretty sure that most all of us have a comic or series like this. Something we're willing to pay whatever price necessary to get just because it means so much to us. These constitute exceptions in our collecting, and our trying to get good value for our money with the series we collect. RP/AP ratios go right out the window. We are so proud to own what we have in these instances, even if no one else really cares.
    I have a copy of GOBBLEDYGOOK #1(shown below) that I remember having as a kid. It had two original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stories in it and was my first glimpse at the Half-Shell Heroes. Because of this issue, I went out and got all the TMNT comics I could get my hands on. I got this thing even though it isn't listed anywhere in the registry because it means a lot to me.
    I've tried to get it put into the TMNT set category listing but so far no one seems to think it matters. That's ok, though. I'M GLAD I HAVE IT!
    We're comin' up on Christmas now, and I just want to say MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone. May you always be able to get the comics you truly want!
    I wish the seasons best to all of you and your families.

  5. bagofleas

    OAK Alert! OAK Alert!

    By bagofleas,

    What a Harvey!
    If you've read any of my journals then you know by now that I like to refer to One of A Kind comics as OAK's. I just got my hands on an OAK to die for if you're a Harvey collector!
    I love getting graded comics with dark to black covers in top grades. Typically, the older the comic with a cover like this, the rarer it is to find copies in 9.6 or 9.8, and once you get into the mid 60's or earlier, 9.8's of these become holy grails.
    I recently acquired 1 of only 2 copies in existence of Little Dot's Uncles and Aunts #2 in 9.6 (see earlier journal: Reaching 60,000!!!!!). But when a copy of Little Dot Dotland #16 showed up, I couldn't believe it. Check these specs:
    1) Published in January of 1965.
    2) Jet black to the edge on about half the cover!
    3) Dark image overall.
    4) A MIND BLOWING 9.8!!
    5) Can you believe, with WHITE PAGES!!
    6) The ONLY copy ever found so far in 9.8! Oak Alert!
    7) My RP/AP ratio on this was X 3.7!!
    This is my first issue from this particular series. Talk about kicking things off with a BANG!
    BTW, if you don't know what I mean by RP/AP ratio, read my earlier journal: Registry Point / Amount Paid Ratio's.
    CHECK THIS THING OUT!! UNBELIEVABLE!

  6. bagofleas

    What Would CGC Do?.....

    By bagofleas,

    Marvel Sticker Album
    Remember back in the mid-80's when different companies would come out with sticker sets and then have comic-shaped albums that you could stick them into in order to display your collection?
    I don't specifically remember which franchises did this, but I DO remember seeing quite a number of them. None of them interested me until Marvel took notice of the phenomenon and decided to copy the trend.
    The Official Marvel Series Sticker Set came out in 1986, along with (go figure) a comic book that you could stick them into.
    There were 77 stickers in the set and they came in packs just like baseball cards or whatever. The organization of these packs was completely random. This was before Magic: the Gathering had ever come out. From what I understand, they made the same number of each sticker, but who knew what stickers would come in a pack?
    Anyway, I DID manage to put together a whole set of all 77 stickers AND the Sticker Album to put them in. I went ahead and actually stuck each sticker into it's rightful place in the album, which by the way has other background artwork in it as well.
    Below is a scan of the actual Album. I wonder if I sent it in to CGC, how would they handle it?
    I KNOW it won't get a 9.8, but it might manage a respectable 9.2 or 9.4.
    Would it get a Qualified Grade since items were added to it from it's original state? Would they put on the label that "All 77 stickers are included"?? Would they base the grade on the condition of each and every sticker? How would they do this, I wonder?
    What do you guys think?

  7. bagofleas

    Why?...... Why Not!

    By bagofleas,

    Life, Desire.......... and one of a kind(OAK) comics.
    I often wonder why I feel the way I do about certain graded comics that show up from time to time. Sometimes it's just because I'm trying to put together a complete set. Sometimes it's because I'm just wanting to own a one of a kinder (OAK). Sometimes it's because of how it causes nostalgia from my youth.
    I'm always seeing issues that I would like to bid on, but I'm very careful and selective with what I go after. Otherwise I would literally spend thousands and thousands of dollars in no time at all. I might have some extra money from month to month but I'm not rich by any stretch of the imagination.
    There are many different reasons why I would focus on any given issue, and when a couple showed up for auction that caught my attention, I just drooled over them for a few days.......... then bid on them.......... then won them!
    One was because I'm putting together a set of Dazzler, so getting the OAK 9.8 copy of Marvel Graphic Novel #12 was a no-brainer. But it was also signed by the great Bill Sienkiewicz!!! OH YEAH!
    But there was also a copy of Marvel Graphic Novel #8, ALSO 9.8, ALSO signed by Sienkiewicz, ALSO OAK!!!
    Now, neither of these are necessarily highly sought after, or super valuable, or major movers and shakers in the grand scheme of comic history. But they ARE issues that I need in order to get closer to a complete set of Marvel Graphic Novels, and both are OAK issues. The sigs sealed it for me, so I went for 'em and got 'em!
    Remember everyone, this collecting community is about getting what you're interested in and talking about it with others who understand your feelings and desires when it comes to this great hobby of ours. It's so great to be able to communicate with others who share your love of comics and stories and life in general. You guys are all great, and make this hobby more and more wonderful every day!
    Thank you everybody.

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  8. bagofleas

    Talk About Patience!

    By bagofleas,

    Been waitin' on this one
    I got into CGC collecting about 3 years ago. I started with New Mutants and slowly branched out in my collecting habits. Transformers was a set I wanted to work on but they were far too expensive for what I wanted to pay for them.
    So I waited.
    Issue #1 was originally selling for around $400 in 9.8 back then.
    So I waited.
    Around a year and a half later, I got a 9.8 WP copy of #1 for $104 total! I've seen it sell for more than that just recently thanks to the new movies.
    Issue #80 in 9.8 was selling for an astronomical $800-$900 3 years ago!
    So I waited.
    I have finally acquired a 9.8 WP copy of this rarer last issue for a mind-blowing $189 total!!! Holy cow! I don't believe it! And I know not everyone agrees with me but in my opinion it is an even rarer copy due to its being a news-stand copy! There were fewer of these sent out as news-stand than there were to dealers and those same news-stand copies would not have been treated as well as the direct editions, making THIS copy even harder to come by.
    Say what you like, but I AM ONE HAPPY CAMPER right now! :)
    Keep up the collecting folks!

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  9. bagofleas
    Two more One of A Kind (OAK) issues!
    As usual I'm always on the lookout for what I like to call "OAK" (One-of-A-Kind) issues. Graded comics that are either single highest graded copies or the only SS copies of such. I love to own rare & unique things and my comic collecting is no exception.
    Lately, I've been on a Harvey Publications kick, but I've taken a quick break from it to acquire not one but TWO 1980's OAK issues! While I'm not the biggest Wonder Woman fan out there by any stretch of the imagination, I DO like Perez artwork and these two are fine examples of such.
    2nd series Wonder Woman issues #4 & #6(shown below), both in 9.9 White Pages!!! Both are the single highest graded copies in existence! While both have darker covers, #6 has a VERY dark background. I don't normally have an interest in collecting issues from this set, but to get copies like this are so rare that I just can't help but at least give it a shot.I was very lucky to be able to get these.
    Have you ever acquired something that you normally wouldn't be interested in just because it was an OAK issue?

  10. bagofleas

    Reaching 60,000!!!!!

    By bagofleas,

    Gettin' on up there.
    Due to some recent acquisitions of older Harveys, I've managed to finally break the 60,000 total registry point barrier!
    As you all know, I always look for really good deals on older issues that give me more registry points than what I pay for the comics. RP/AP ratios, as I refer to them, are key to my furthering of total ranking in the CGC collecting world. I also like to get those extremely rare if not one of a kind comics that show up from time to time.
    This beautiful copy of Little Dot Uncles and Aunts #2 (see below) is a fine example of this. Having a jet black background makes this issue extremely rare to find in higher grades, even among the file copies that are available. Only two of these things have reached this grade with none higher, and probably none to reach higher due to the extreme difficulty of attaining these high grades with very dark covers like this.
    I also added on a Spooky Spookland #2 in 9.6 for $76 total, and a registry point value of 750. There are a couple of these in 9.8 but with a nearly x10 RP/AP ratio, I couldn't pass up on it. What a great deal!
    It's so awesome to be able to get rarities like this for reasonable prices. :)
    Let's keep this hobby strong everyone. These comics we all collect are pieces of classic american stories and art after all.

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  11. bagofleas
    My second one!
    Believe it or not, the very first CGC graded comic I EVER purchased was my 10 Gem Mint copy of New Mutants #1! It was the ONLY copy of the issue at the time to achieve the top grade, and it was the issue that sparked my whole interest in collecting CGC graded comics!
    Three years later. there has been ONE other copy to achieve the grade now, but it has not diminished the soaring pride I have in owning a graded comic of it's caliber. After all, as of this journal's posting, there are 496 graded copies of this comic out there and mine is one of only two to reach this pinnacle of graded greatness. Being from the early 80's and earlier make comics nearly impossible to find in the top grade like this.
    After almost three years of dedicated collecting, I have had a few opportunities to get my hands on another Gem Mint 10 copy of a comic, mostly from the 2000's, but NOW I have officially gotten my hands on my second Gem Mint graded comic and it's from the 90's!
    X-O Manowar #0 regular edition, published in august of 1993(see picture below)!! This issue has 233 graded copies so far and 5 of them have reached this grade, so there are a FEW of them out there. But ANY TIME you can acquire a comic from the 90's and earlier in this top grade, it is a reason to celebrate in my opinion! I mean, it took me three years to get another Gem Mint graded comic so this is a momentous occasion for me.
    I hope all of you CGC collectors out there have the opportunity at least once in your life to get a Gem Mint 10 copy of any comic. There is no feeling quite like it. After all, YOU OWN THE BEST POSSIBLE COPY OF A COMIC BOOK AVAILABLE IN THE WHOLE WORLD!
    I pray all of you have this experience!

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  12. bagofleas
    Getting MORE than your money's worth
    I have four main ways of collecting CGC comics.
    1)Getting particular issues that I'm interested in owning. (Cap. America Annual #8)
    2)Getting issues of series that I want to make sets of. (New Mutants, Dazzler, etc.)
    3)Getting issues because they're JUST SO CHEAP. (see my last journal entry)
    4)Getting comics that hit fantastic Registry Point/Amount Paid ratios.
    Part of the joy of CGC collecting is the gaining of registry points to slowly move you up the ranks of other collectors. When I first got into this hobby, there were just over 1100 registered collectors. Now there are over 2300 and as of this posting I am #172. I've been as high as #142 but there's been a lot of action over the last six months that has dropped me a little.
    Out of these four ways that I collect, #4 is one of the biggest things I take into consideration with ANY CGC buy, but most importantly with issues that I don't normally collect. The more registry points you can get compared to how much you are paying for a comic is vital to increasing your rankings.
    I look for a X3 ratio at the least when it comes to getting something I normally might not be all that interested in. But the higher the ratio, the better. If it's something that I particularly want anyway, so much the better!
    Some examples of this concept in my collection are:
    1) Richie Rich Millions #7 9.8 (1100 points/$135) X8
    2) Alpha Flight #51 9.8 (320 points/$95) X3
    3) Infinite Crisis #1 RIE SSx4 9.8 (880 points/$125) X7
    4) Tracy #111 9.6 (600 points/$135) X4.5 (see below)
    The ratios are approximations, but these are just a few examples of what I have acquired specifically to help increase my ranking. The Tracy issue is from 1957 and is the single highest graded copy out there. There are 2 copies of the Infinite Crisis #1 on Ebay right now that the sellers want more for than what I paid for mine, and their copies are not even signed!
    If your goal is to move up as quickly as possible in the total rankings, pay close attention to the issue's RP/AP ratio. In this economy, you need all the help you can get!

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  13. bagofleas

    Heck! Why not?

    By bagofleas,

    Ever get one just because?
    Have you ever picked up a cgc graded copy of a comic that you don't even collect, just because the price was so good?
    I've had a few occasions where I bid on and won an issue that I really wanted and because of combined shipping costs and cheap prices and apparently no one showing interest, wound up getting my hands on 2 or more extra issues REALLY CHEAP!
    I'm talking cheaper than it would cost for me to go out, find a great condition copy of the issue, and pay to send it in and get it graded myself, and maybe not even have it reach 9.8! I find it really hard not to take advantage of these opportunities when they show themselves, even when I'm not really that interested in the particular comic series.
    The most recent of these acquisitions for me is New Teen Titans #11 (shown below). I don't really have any interest in collecting this series outside of Annual #2 (1st appearance of Vigilante), but because of the cheap additional shipping cost, I got it for a grand total of $11.50!!! Heck Yeah! No brainer in my opinion.
    I also acquired my copies of What If #20, Further Adv. of Indiana Jones #33 and the one and only 9.8 graded last issue of Saga of Swamp Thing #171 this way. I just can't pass up on deals like this when they pop up!

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  14. bagofleas

    G. I. Joe #155

    By bagofleas,

    9.8!!
    With only 13 of these actually available in this grade, I didn't think I was going to see one available any time soon. Then a few days ago one of them shows up on Ebay for auction w/ no reserve! I've recently come into some cash and am itching to spend it on some of my more desired acquisitions, so I focused on this beauty. Eventually I won it for just over $600!! Pricey, but worth it to me. G. I. Joe is one of my favorite 80's franchises, along with transformers, any x-series and Star Wars. I'm really looking out for a Star wars #107 in 9.8. Here's to hope!
  15. bagofleas
    Jonah Hex #92!
    I can't believe it! I've been wanting to get my hands on a 9.8 copy of Jonah Hex #92, being that it's one of those Low-print-run-last-issue deals of a character that I like.
    So far, there are only 14 of these out there to get this grade, and they've always sold for over $100. When this thing showed up on Ebay the other day, I was blown away!
    9.8, White Pages and SS signed by cover artist Klaus Janson!? HOLY ! This is currently the only SS 9.8 copy of this thing out there! Talk about one-of-a-kind! This thing has got to wind up going for for $200 or more, I thought. Yeouch!!
    But I had to give it a shot. So after doing some creative account balancing, I decided that I would try for it at no more than around $185 and hope for the best.
    Well I'll be a Hex's uncle if I didn't get the thing for a total of $110 with shipping! I don't believe it! I was pretty sure I was gonna miss out on it.
    This just goes to show you that you never know what something's gonna go for on Ebay. It just depends on who's watching at the time.
    I love uniqueness, and this DEFINITELY qualifies!

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  16. bagofleas
    What If #28!
    I've seen some double and triple cover graded comics before, and while they are definitely interesting, I've always refrained from purchasing any of them.
    Why? Two reasons.
    1)They are usually overpriced for my taste.
    2)The individual covers are graded separately and I've personally NEVER seen them get 9.8 or better on each of the covers.
    That is until now!
    Reason #2 is the biggest requirement for me to even consider purchasing one of these comics but they also would need to have White Pages.
    I've been keeping my eyes out for key What If issues at reasonable prices(translated:I could afford them at the time.) and I've been able to pick up some of them. Then this one showed up and blew me away!
    What If #28 with not only double cover status but with BOTH covers achieving 9.8's! White pages on top of the deal and I just couldn't resist!!
    This is the first time I've seen one of these like this and it's a comic I was specifically looking for on top of it all! This thing is definitely one of a kind and seriously cool! I have officially made my first double cover purchase and couldn't be more pleased.
    I wish the best of luck to everyone else on YOUR searches for YOUR dream comics!
    STEPHEN

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  17. bagofleas
    Something to consider!
    Once Dazzler #1 came out in March of 1981, there were countless 80's issues that have two versions of covers. Those with the barcode on the cover(news-stand editions) and those with an image in it's place(Direct editions). They also vary slightly in the spot where the issue number and price are.
    A fellow collector, TNerb, recently wrote in a journal that he will pass up on any graded comic with the barcode on the cover. Personally, I agree with the choice on a purely cosmetic level. The direct editions are definitely prettier to look at, however, another thing to consider is the simple fact that if the comic was a news-stand edition, it was sitting on some metal rack in a convenience store or on a shelf in some regular bookstore.
    That means that countless people (mainly kids) would handle them or flip through them causing damage of some sort in almost every case. As a result, there are nearly NONE of the news-stand editions that could EVER reach a 9.8 or better grade.
    The art on the cover remains exactly the same between editions, so while I prefer the direct editions, I have no problem purchasing a news-stand edition since in my mind, it is actually A MUCH RARER THING TO POSSESS!
    I would never presume to say that because of this, news-stand editions should be worth more registry points than direct editions. This will more than likely never happen due to the difficulty of updating all the comics involved in the registry, as well as the fact that not everyone will agree with me, but I think it's worth at least talking about.
    So while my copies of New Mutants #17, Alpha Flight #10, Thor #374(in my Mutant Massacre set), and even my Star Wars #103 are news-stand copies, they are THE RARER copies of these issues in 9.8! I might get direct edition copies of some of these down the road, but a 9.8 is a 9.8 no matter which version it is.
    Hopefully this gives you something to think about and gets your mind working considering the possibilities. I've loved comic collecting for most of my life, and having a chance to express my views in a community like this is fantastic.
    Keep up the collecting everyone!
    Stephen

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  18. bagofleas

    Edging Closer!!

    By bagofleas,

    10 to go! Come on Registry Awards!!!!
    It's been a while since I've done one of these so here goes.
    I've been ever watchful for my beloved New Mutants issues and I've been slowly edging my way closer to my goal (all of them, of course!). I recently was able to get my hands on only the second copy of #51 to achieve 9.8 WP status! I am now only 10 issues away from the complete run!
    I was also going to put story summaries of each of the issues onto my descriptions. I started out quick with the first 6 but have since been entirely too busy to focus on it lately. I intend to rectify that soon and get back on it, so stay tuned.
    Since I am down to the wire on those, I don't see needed copies show up very often, so I have been getting other comics that interest me or that I am also trying to eventually get full runs of.
    My Booster Gold(1986) set has a great start at 11 of the 25 issues. These are nearly impossible to find so it will probably take quite some time to get the other 14.
    My Dazzler set also has a great start at 17 issues. I am currently #2 on these behind HITMAN1099, but I plan on breaking past him eventually. I wish I could have done it before this round of registry awards but alas, no. I do have some of the much harder to find later issues in this series.
    My Further Adventures of Indiana Jones set is slow go right now but this series was the second one I started getting when I first got into comics, so I will continue to be vigilant in my search for these elusive issues! There are some on Ebay but they are just too much $ for my taste.
    Warlord is a recent addition to my set building. I have always been a big fan of fantasy art, and just the covers of these issues alone have always interested me. I cant be too picky on a lot of these right now because many of them do not exist in 9.8, especially some of the early ones, but I am on the lookout for top grades on these. I have managed to get #82 and Annual #1 both in 9.9!!
    Marvel Fanfare is another one I'm working on. I really like these because of the CGC case's ability to show the full artwork of the front and back covers. This is another set that I hope to grab the top spot away from HITMAN1099. These too, however, can be very elusive.
    Most of all, folks, like many of you I am a lover of comic art and uniqueness. It doesn't have to be a series I'm wanting all of, but if it's a one-of-a-kind find then I'm all for trying to get it. Items like my Groo the Wanderer #3, Master of Kung Fu #69 SS, Richie Rich Millions #18, and all my difficult to replace SS issues are like landmarks to me every time I get one. I love this hobby!
    I also love being able to see what all of you have accomplished in your endeavors. It inspires me to keep pushing my collecting to new limits. Take the time and make an effort to properly catalog your comics with photos and descriptions. It helps others to really SEE what can be achieved with perseverance. Not to mention help you towards one of those Best Presented Set registry awards!
    Speaking of which, the registry awards are almost here, and I hope to have 5 or 6 top ranks by then. Wish me luck and good luck to each and every one of you out there with the same passion as me!
    Stephen

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  19. bagofleas
    Can he do it?
    I have been in talks with Tnerb for a little while now.
    Great Guy. Lofty Goals (like me).
    I wish him all the luck in the world with his goal of all the new mutants in 9.8. I currently have the same passion and am only 12 away from accomplishing it.
    By the way, Tnerb, I got my #1 Gem Mint 10 on ebay about a year and a half ago. I made an offer and the guy took it (probably still too much $$$$, but I'm happy!).Believe it or not, there are actually 2 copies in 10 now.
    As far as your #15 goes, there are currently 2 in 9.8 of which I have one. I hope you can get one, I'll be on the lookout for you on all of them, except of course the ones I still need (wink).
    It may be pricey, but it can also save you money and/or dissapointment if you save up your money and send in at least 50 of your issues at a time for pre-screening at whatever grade you want or better. They'll only encapsulate and fully charge you for the ones that achieve that grade or better. Worth considering. I'm working on doing it on a bunch of daredevil issues.
    Anyway, best of luck to Tnerb on his goal.

  20. bagofleas
    Gettin' closer, people!
    Well, if you've been following my progress for the last year, you'd know that I'm only 14 issues away from completing my New Mutants set in 9.8 WP or better!
    New Mutants was the first comic book I ever started collecting when I was a kid. The first issue I got was #32 and It sucked me into the whole comic universe and I've never really looked back. I will always have a special fondness, however, for this series. I'm currently in the process of putting a few different sets together but this is the one I'm most interested in completing.
    I see that Tnerb has decided to start his New Mutants collection as well, and I wish him the very best of luck (darn that #47!). Many of these are hard if not impossible to get your hands on right now, and some of mine are single highest graded copies (darn that #47!).
    I am currently in the process of putting story summaries on all of the issues in my registry. This will obviously take some time, especially since I am such a busy guy, but I will get there. Check my set periodically if you like and watch my progress (darn that #47!).
    The issues I'm missing are : 11(mine's OW to W), 17, 47(darn that #47!), 48, 51, 55, 58, 59, 70, 81, 89, 95 and Annuals 2, 4 and 5. I'm SO CLOSE!
    Anyway, best of luck to everyone in their collecting goals (that includes you, Tnerb. Darn that #47!), and may you someday own that dream comic you've always wanted.
    Stephen
  21. bagofleas
    YES!!! I'VE DONE IT!!!!!!
    I've finally done it fellow collectors!!!
    I am now the only person who has managed to put together all 11 of the last issues of GI Joe in 9.8 WP!!!
    I finally managed to get that elusive #151 (see pic below).
    I saw that one popped up on comiclink,com a few weeks ago for $201, but someone had already bought it. I was so upset!!!
    But then one showed up on Ebay a week ago and I set my sights on it! Not only did I get it, but I got it for a cheaper price than the one on comiclink!!! I also managed to get my hands on some other later issues along with this one!
    I now need only three more issues to have the last 20 issues in this grade (#'s 139, 141, and 144)!! This is my next goal

  22. bagofleas
    Only one more to go!!!
    This is great! I now have a 9.8 copy of #150!
    All I need now is #151 and I'll have #145 thru #155, all in 9.8 WP!!!!!
    I never thought I'd be this close. These things are so hard to come by.
    The price was great! I got #150 and #154, both for the same price as a #154 I could have gotten a couple months ago, so that's pretty good!
    I'll put it out there as soon as I get my #151, so stay tuned fellow collectors!!!!!!!!!

  23. bagofleas

    GI Joe #154 9.8!

    By bagofleas,

    Oh yeah,baby! 9.8!!!!
    I had an opportunity to get this about two months ago but wasn't ready to pay the price, so I waited. I'm so glad I did!!
    I got it for a lot less and I'm ecstatic about it!!
    I was also able to pick up #146 in 9.8 along with this one! I've got a chance at #150 in 9.8 and if I get it, I will only be missing #151 to have the last 11 issues, all in 9.8!!!!
    Wish me luck!

  24. bagofleas
    I don't believe it!
    Holy , I just got my hands on the rarest 9.8 gi joe in the very last issues. There are only two of these puppies in the world! I don't frikin believe I got one!
    I am on cloud nine right now. No, make that cloud 152, because that is the issue I just got, #152!!!
    This thing is absolutely gorgeous! I love the cover!
    I should be able to get #'s 150 and 154 soon as well which means that I'll only be one away from having every single one of the last 9 issues in 9.8! The one I'd be missing is #151, but I'm keepin my eyes open!!!!

  25. bagofleas

    Gi joe #153

    By bagofleas,

    9.8 WP!!
    I'm doin' my best to try and get issues 150-155 of GI JOE in 9.8 WP's. So far I managed to get the hardest one (mainly due to price!) #155. I saw a 9.6 copy of #153 on ebay throughout the last couple of weeks, but really wanted to hold out for one of those 17 copies of 9.8 out there. Well a guy who I just got another comic from a couple of days ago put one up on ebay just in time for me to add it to my order, and he only charged me an extra penny in shipping! Hallelujah, baby!! I also have something brewing that may lead me to a 9.8 copy of #154, but I'll save that for another entry later on once I see how it turns out.