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bagofleas

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Journal Entries posted by bagofleas

  1. bagofleas

    7th Heaven

    By bagofleas,

    Scene 7, Getting The Comic You Want, Take 2... click!
    Its not often that you get a second chance at those rare moments in life when you wish you had done something differently. Usually, you have to just live with the outcome of the decisions you have made in the past, but not in the case of #7 on my Purge Survival List (PSL)!!!
    What is it, you may ask? Well, here it is...
    Dazzler #42 9.8
    I remember when I first saw this copy show up on Ebay nearly four years ago for $150. I planned on collecting Dazzler, but hadnt started yet so I passed on it even though it was the only 9.8 copy at the time. I figured that by the time I began building a Dazzler set, there would be other copies and I wouldnt have to pay so much for it.
    Hitman1099 wound up with it. I knew because I saw it in his registry set later on. Little did I know that it would haunt me seeing it in his collection for some time to come.
    A few months later, I started to put together my Dazzler set and began to realize that I had made a huge mistake in passing up on it when I had the chance. I should have gone for it, I thought to myself. About a year after that, it was STILL the only 9.8, but I had managed to gain the number one ranking from Hitman1099 for the Dazzler set, even without it.
    Apparently that was the catalyst for him deciding to sell off his Dazzler issues, including his Dazzler #42!! I couldnt believe it! He put it up on Ebay for $125 if I remember correctly, and this time I did NOT hesitate!
    As I write this journal right now, it is STILL the OAK it has always been!! The extremely low print run combined with the jet black background on the cover have made this one of the toughest last issues and Copper Age issues to acquire in this grade!
    Dont expect me to EVER let this beauty go!

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  2. bagofleas
    Please give me all of your thoughts on this!
    Ok, it has been put forth a couple of times from some of you guys about the validity of graded issues with the Golden State Collection sticker on it.
    Here is the collection as described by WWcomics.
    The Golden State collection was amassed by a meticulous collector residing in the San Francisco area who carefully filed away his newsstand copies each month. The core of the collection ranged from the early 60s to present, but also included a very impressive run of Golden Age as well.
    The owner finally decided to part with the Golden and Silver Age portions of his collection in the early 90s, and much of it entered the market through a national dealer. Unfortunately much of the Silver Age was never documented as the Golden State collection, although one can still find random CGC graded issues floating about. The average grade of this period was 9.4 to 9.6, truly amazing books.
    Fast forward to 2008 The original owner has finally decided to sell the remainder of his collection, which consists of late Bronze Age to present. Just about every single title and issue from Marvel, DC and most 80s independents are there, with the vast majority grading CGC 9.8. Each book will display a Golden State sticker on the CGC case.
    Now while this is NOT a CGC recognized pedigree, that is mainly because they were never submitted to CGC for Pedigree eligibility in the first place. Even without the CGC recognition, this is a HUGE collection containing MANY single highest graded copies as well as top copies that dont have pedigree copies of any kind!
    Having Matt Nelson be the person to middleman the process of acquiring, submitting and selling the issues also brings knowledge and respectability to the Golden State Collection.
    Now personally, I love having the GS sticker on the case of these Bronze and Copper Age beauties! I think it adds another layer of personality and individualism to the copy I own. Something that sets it slightly apart from other copies out there, if there are any other copies out there. It also looks beautiful over an SS yellow label!!
    I believe I have wound up being the first collector to replace Golden State stickers on a slab after signing and regrading. To me they look gorgeous! If you have not read my last journal, go check out my Longshot #6 pictured in it.
    I am curious what everybody else thinks about these Bronze and Copper Age beauties having the GS sticker applied to them. So lets discuss it folks. What is your take?
    Below is a current pic of my copy of New Mutants #76 that I bought as a GS issue from WWcomics and then cracked open, had signed at Megacon, regraded and then restickered thanks to Stephen at WWcomics!

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  3. bagofleas
    But it came up Gold!... And stickered!
    When I went to Megacon, I cracked open a total of 28 issues for signing. That's a lot for someone who up until then had never cracked open a graded comic or been to a Con of that size before.
    I went to shows with my father way back in the 80s and early 90s but they were small local type shows that didnt really feature many well known guests. Now that I have done Megacon, I am way more comfortable with what is involved in getting things done at a big Con.
    But since I was sort of naive about what I could accomplish at a big show, I tried for far more than I normally would have if I had been more experienced. If that had been more experienced, I would have known that getting all this done was a longshot.
    However, all this wound up working to my advantage, because I not only got everything done, but it all came out better than I would ever have hoped! I learned a lot about how to approach getting things signed, dealing with CGC, and organizing my time.
    Mike from CGC, who apparently attends most of the Cons that CGC is at, was absolutely astounded at the sheer volume of items I got signed in less than two hours. He was also pleased with the way I talked with and dealt with both him and the other CGC personnel who were in attendance. He said that I was a helpful and calming presence in a sea of utter madness.
    Thank you Mike!
    Anyway, this longshot of mine turned out wonderful! In fact, one of the issues I took with me on this trip was #6 of the Longshot mini series. Go figure.
    I bought this copy a long while back from Worldwide Comics. There are currently only 7 of these in this grade and until this trip, none were SS. This one was from the Golden State Collection so that set it apart a little bit.
    I bought this copy because I like the character and this is from the mini series that introduced him to the XMen universe. The giant sized darker cover was cool also.
    The only thing that bothered me was that it had a large crack on the front of the case right across the barcode area. I knew that sending it for a reholder would mean losing the Golden State sticker from the old case. So I decided to just live with it.
    That was when the Megacon came along and I decided to go ahead and get Whilce Portacio to sign it even if it meant losing the sticker. After all, it would fix the crack and make it the ONLY SS 9.8 of this scarce issue! So I did it and luckily it retained its 9.8 grade!
    Why do I bring this up now? Here is why. I was chatting with Tnerb a few weeks ago and happened to mention the loss of GS stickers on a few of my issues. He told me to speak with Stephen at WWcomics and see if he would be willing to send me a few stickers to replace the ones that vanished due to signings.
    I took his advice, not sure if Stephen would actually do it or not, but I figured I had nothing to lose so why not? Well after a short conversation, I sent Stephen a list of the the GS issues I have purchased from him that I either already have signed or plan on getting signed over the next year or so. I also told him I would send him pics of the issues both before and after the signings, that way he could be sure of my using them honestly.
    He sent me a number of the GS stickers and I cannot thank him enough! I already liked the guy because we have the same name and he has always been understanding and helpful, but now I have even more reason to love the guy!
    So now I am set for all of the GS copies that I plan on doing for the next year, which includes my New Mutants GS issues! Anyway, below is a pic of the newly signed and GS stickered Longshot #6!
    OAK ALERT!!!!

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  4. bagofleas
    Sorry. Bad Gomer Pyle impression.
    Warning!! This is a long journal!
    In my last journal, I mentioned that I had a couple of stand-out signing experiences at Megacon and went on to tell of my Brent Spiner adventure. Well, here was the other exceptional event.
    I have not said anything about this to anyone, including my good friend and fellow New Mutants collector Tnerb, because I just did not want to reveal it until I knew for sure how it would turn out. I mentioned in a previous journal that there was one surprise left from Megacon that I was waiting on before I wrote a journal on it, and this is it!
    Apparently I got into CGC comics a little earlier than I at first thought, because I registered my 9.8 copy of Marvel Graphic Novel #4 on June 6th, 2009. So it has been in my possession now for almost four years!
    The person I bought it from had just had his house flooded and was not even sure where it was and if it was ok or not. I took a big chance and paid $205 for it. When I got it, it appeared ok except for a small crack on the bottom left spine of the casing. You could not even see it in straight-on pictures.
    I have wanted to send it in for a reholder but have waited until the opportunity to get it signed came up. The jet black cover makes me so nervous to do anything with it. These do not just show up every day either and when they do, they still go for over $200. I should know. Believe or not, I actually purchased a second 9.8 copy just so I would feel a little more comfortable about doing something with it!
    I almost decided to get the newer copy signed, but needing the reholder on the old one decided it for me. After all, I thought, I could always get the other one signed down the road if this one didnt turn out for me.
    Unfortunately, once I cracked this thing out of its casing, I was almost sure it was not going to retain its 9.8. But I soldiered on and prepped it and took it with me to Orlando with a specific mission in mind...
    Having both Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod sign it!
    I decided to have them do it in silver on the back cover since there was so much empty space there and it would not interfere with the cover art.
    Claremont was first and he knew what it had to be even though he could only see blank, black space through the window I had cut out for the sigs.
    He proceeded to sign it and for some reason decided to add 2013 inside the ending flourish of his signature. I have never seen a signature by him where he did this before and was a little surprised. I dont know why he did it unless he was wanting to draw reference to the fact that this was the first issue of these characters he created 31 years ago! Regardless, I am ultimately happy that he did it. It makes it a little more unique.
    But the uniqueness didnt stop there!
    When I went to Bob for his handiwork to be added, I was the only person at the table! I got to speak with him while he signed all the other issues that I had for his signature and mentioned to him that Cannonball was my all time favorite character.
    When he came to the MGN, he asked if it was what he thought it was and I said yes. He also noticed and commented on Claremont having already signed it. Apparently my conversation had really struck him because what he did next FLOORED me!
    He applied his signature and then proceeded to start a little sketch! I know I looked calm on the outside but inside I was a giggling, jibbering mess! I wanted to leap up and down as a small head sketch of Sam Guthrie himself appeared before me!
    When he was done, I shook his hand, surprised that mine was not shaking uncontrollably. On the way back to the CGC table, the witnessor to this commented on how cool that was!
    Since turning this baby in to CGC, I have been PRAYING for it to retain 9.8 but was almost certain it was not going to. So I have refrained from saying anything to anybody until I got it back.
    To make matters worse, it was not listed under my CS number but under the Show number, so I have not been able to keep up with its grading progress online! I was gonna have to wait until it actually showed up on my doorstep. AARGH!
    Well, its finally here and guess what?
    9.8 WP SIGNED & SKETCH BY BOB MCLEOD & SIGNED BY CHRIS CLAREMONT ON 3-15-13 ON BACK COVER
    That is what is noted under the title! I AM ECSTATIC!! This maintains my perfect record of 9.8 retainment when personally cracking, signing and regrading an issue! 32 and counting. I only hope it continues with the ten copies Surfer99 just had signed for me in Phoenix and one that Desert Winds is handling for me.
    Even though this is the very same issue that was #4 on my PSL, the spot should now have SS x2 applied to it.
    There are only two of these in SS 9.8 now and Tnerb has the other one. His is signed by Bob McLeod only, so I can say with absolute certainty that mine is now the only double signed with a sketch copy in the world! OAK TO THE MAX!!
    I am not sure what I will do with the extra 9.8 copy yet. I might try for a sig on it later and then put it up for sell, or I may just hold onto it. Below is a close up of the sigs and sketch. Having my #47 signed and THIS were totally worth the entire trip!
    ROCK ON CHRIS AND BOB!!! YOU RULE!

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  5. bagofleas
    I was shaking in my Federation issued boots!
    When I attended Megacon in Orlando a couple of months ago, I had a boatload of things to get signed. While most of them were fairly routine, there were a couple of stand-outs.
    One of them was my experience with Brent Spiner. He is generally known as a goofball and an impressionist. His impressions of many of the other cast members including Patrick Stewart are hilarious and an absolute treasure to witness live.
    I had a number of magazines with me that I hand picked for the ST TNG cast members to sign, including 7 copies of the Official ST TNG Magazine. One of these was #6 which has a picture of Brent playing Data playing Sherlock Holmes on the Holodeck.
    I had prepped the issue with a backboard on the front with a window for him to sign at the bottom of the issue over the pipe in his mouth. But when he saw the issue, he knew what it was and said that he had signed a few other copies before and wanted to know if it was ok to take it out so he could sign it a specific way.
    I was certain this issue was going to get a 9.8 once graded so I was leary at first to do what he wanted, but then I thought nothing ventured nothing gained.
    So I took it out and laid it in front of him. He proceeded to sign it at an angle and trailed the end of his signature into the pipe! This way it looks as though he is smoking out the signature in the picture!
    This was so neat to me and I immediately was glad I had agreed to go the extra mile for this. In the process, he actually handled the issue as well so all together, it was fantastic!
    The only question was whether it WOULD get a 9.8 once graded. Well, I just got it back yesterday and I am happy to say YES! So without further ado...
    Here, ladies and gentlemen, is the one and only CGC graded copy of this magazine in the world! Signature Series and 9.8 WP!!!
    The moral of this journal? Sometimes you have to step out of your CGC comfort zone and not be a coward to get that extra special experience that you will always remember.

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  6. bagofleas
    The Genesis of my CGC Life!
    Well, many of you have seen this one coming. But instead of just throwing my #1 out there, I will tell you the backstory that most of you dont know yet!
    I can remember seeing CGC graded issues back in 2000, when the company was first trying to get off the ground. At the time, I was not paying any real attention to what they were doing. I would see graded issues selling for ridiculous amounts of money over their regular book values and thought that those people were crazy!
    I thought that like many other fads in this industry, this whole idea would come and go. But year after year went by, and the interest in grading grew and grew, and the voices of the opponents to what CGC was doing to the industry slowly faded away.
    Finally, in August of 2009, I began looking around on Ebay at graded issues, not sure if I really wanted to start what would obviously be a very expensive area of the hobby I love.
    That was when IT happened! One of those moments in your life when you take that first step in what ultimately becomes the catalyst for a life long journey. What was IT you may ask?
    Well, being a huge fan of The New Mutants, I did a search on Ebay and found a Gem Mint 10 copy for sell!! I did some research and found out that this was the ONLY 10 graded copy out there.
    The seller had a Buy It Now price that was high by my inexperienced estimation, but he also had Or Best Offer on it. So I threw an offer at him and was shocked when he accepted it! I had not been prepared for him to actually take the offer and had to scrounge for the money to pay for it!
    As time went on, I found out how difficult it is to get 9.9 and 10.0 grades on comics prior to 1990. So while at the time I did not realize the enormity of what I had just acquired, it became the jumping off point for my involvement in this area of the industry.
    AND WHAT A START IT WAS!!!
    There is now one other Gem Mint copy out there, but this remains both the first issue and the single most important issue in my collection, which has grown immensely over the last three and a half years.
    As Tnerb and I both approach the completion of our respective New Mutants 9.8 or better sets, I can look back on this as the beginning of my CGC life and while I did not realize at the time what I was getting into, I will never regret taking the plunge.
    I will die still owning this issue. Nothing will ever cause me to get rid of it. Not even fire or theft, because it resides within my one-ton-four-drawer-fireproof bank vault at my mother's house.
    Great things CAN come from small beginnings, but in this case, it was a GREAT beginning!! I love being a part of this hobby with all of you fellow enthusiasts and collectors who are so kind and generous in both your thoughts and actions.
    So here is my entire Top Ten PSL List...
    #10 Infinite Crisis #1 RIE SS x4 9.8
    #9 All four of my Copper Age 9.9s
    #8 Little Dots Uncles And Aunts #2 9.6
    #7 Dazzler #42 9.8
    #6 New Mutants Annual #2 SS 9.8
    #5 Jonah Hex #92 SS 9.8
    #4 Marvel Graphic Novel #4 9.8
    #3 New Mutants #47 SS 9.8
    #2 Daredevil #168 9.6
    #1 New Mutants #1 Gem Mint 10 !!!

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  7. bagofleas
    A SHOUT OUT TO Surfer99!!!
    Ever since joining the registry, I have met one member after another who are wonderful, helpful, generous, kind and encouraging. It seems like the vast majority of the collectors here fit into one or more of these adjectives.
    While there are a number of you out there who follow or interact with me on this site, I have had the distinct pleasure of personally dealing with Tnerb and Ronnylama with awesome and unforgettable results. Interactions which I will appreciate and cherish for the rest of my life.
    Now Surfer99 is doing me a GI-NORMOUS favor. I wanted to be able to go to the Phoenix Comic Con this year but simply could not make it happen. There were a few people I wanted signatures from but alas, it was not meant to be.
    Desert Winds is not attending the Con so I had no other options. That is until Surfer99 informed me that he would be attending the first day of the show and was getting some things signed by Peter David, who happens to be one of the people I also wanted an issue signed from.
    I asked if he would be at all interested in helping me out with the one issue and maybe some other issues while he was there and he generously said yes!! He told me to keep it to Peter David and one other person, which I completely understood.
    After all, I did not want him spending all his time at the show for the one day he was there doing nothing but getting things signed for me. Where is the fun in that?
    So after thinking long and hard about it, I decided to have some issues signed by Bret Blevins as the second person Surfer99 would do for me, since Bret did art for a large number of The New Mutants. I had 20 issues I was considering to send , but ultimately whittled it down to just 10.
    I didn't want to overload the poor guy since he was doing me such a big favor. Actually, it works out since he also has an issue that he can have Bret sign for his collection as well!
    So here are the issues that Surfer99 is so kindly having signed for me...
    New Mutants Annual #6 Peter David
    NM #59 Bret Blevins
    NM #60 Blevins
    NM #61 Blevins
    NM #70 Blevins
    NM #71 Blevins
    NM #72 Blevins
    NM #73 Blevins
    NM #79 Blevins
    NM #82 Blevins
    Three of them are the inferno issues and three of them are Fall of the Mutants issues. I cracked all ten of them open, prepped them for signings, and very carefully packed them up and sent them off to Surfer99. He will be at the show tomorrow and I cannot wait to hear how everything goes for both of us!
     
    THANK YOU SURFER99!!! What a guy!

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  8. bagofleas
    FINALLY! And another surprise on the same day as well!
    After wanting it for a couple of years now and requesting it from Gemma a few months back, it is finally here!!
    Starlog Magazine is now a part of the CGC registry!
    I am so happy, I am about to explode!... Or implode!... Or whatever type of -plode happens when you finally get your wish on this glorious registry!
    Ok, maybe I am overdoing it a bit, but I have so looked forward to being able to finally go through my many issues of this magazine and cherry pick the ones that have a great shot at the higher grades!
    And now they will actually count on the registry and once they are graded, I can put them up for all to see! I actually have my first four issues on the way back from CGC as of right now!
    They were signed at the Orlando Megacon by Star Trek The Next Generation cast members along with a bunch of ST TNG official magazines as well. They just entered shipped safe status and I could not be happier!
    Here is how they came out! All got White Pages!
    Starlog #124 SS 9.2 Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes
    Starlog #129 SS 9.6 Wil Wheaton
    Starlog #130 SS 9.8 Denise Crosby
    Starlog #134 SS 9.8 Denise Crosby
    ST TNG #4 SS 9.4 Michael Dorn
    ST TNG #6 SS 9.8 Brent Spiner
    ST TNG #9 SS 9.6 Gates McFadden
    ST TNG #10 SS 9.6 Wil Wheaton
    ST TNG #11 SS 9.8 Levar Burton
    ST TNG #12 SS 9.6 Marina Sirtis
    ST TNG #19 SS 9.6 Brent Spiner
    I cannot wait to get all of these beauties into my hands!
    Now if I can just convince Gemma to add ST TNG Official Magazine to the registry.
    Hmmmmmmm.......
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  9. bagofleas
    There is NO question...
    I will NEVER sell the comic book that sits in the number two spot of my PSL!
    Never never never. Get it? Got it? GOOD!
    What issue demands so much loyalty from me?...
    DAREDEVIL #168 9.6
    Wait a minute, you might say. What is so special about this issue? Yeah, it is a huge Copper Age key and has good value to it, but there are plenty of them out there in both 9.6 and 9.8 condition. You could pick up a copy any time you wanted, including a higher graded copy, so what gives?
    You are correct. I could get a better copy without any problem. In fact, I may actually do that at some point. But the sentimentality would not be there for the higher graded issue. This copy reminds me of my father, who unfortunately has passed away.
    If you go back to my journal titled JOURNEY OF A KEY you will be able to read all the details of this particular comic. But in brief, it was acquired by me and my father 27 years ago in raw form and after holding onto it for all that time, I had it graded at Megacon this year.
    This book holds the most memories and nostalgia of my father and the joy and fun we had collecting comic books together over the years. I start tearing up every time I pick it up and look at it.
    I could not part with this thing even if I wanted to. I just would not be able to bring myself to do it. It is a part of my dad that I still have in my life. So of all the issues in my PSL, THIS one holds the most sentimental value for me. That is why it sits so high on my list.
    What could possibly top such an emotionally connected issue? You will find out in my next PSL journal, where I will reveal my #1 !!!!!

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  10. bagofleas
    The Grimm reality of number three!
    Ok, for those of you who have not watched the TV series Grimm, the title of this journal is not going to make sense to you. It is the title of a particular episode from the show.
    At one point during the show these three coins show up that apparently have been around for centuries and have some sort of controlling power over anyone who touches them or even sees them.
    They give the owner power, glory and an undeniable charisma over other men. If the coins are taken from someone who has had them in the past, the person will be mentally compelled to do anything to get them back, even kill.
    Now that I am entering the top three spots in my PSL, I feel like these are my personal coins just like those from Grimm, without the homicidal tendencies of course. These three issues hold the most nostalgia and sentimentality to me which makes them more valuable to me than any monetary amount.
    So what is #3 on my PSL?......
    New Mutants #47 SS 9.8
    The process by which I acquired this issue is catalogued in it's slot within my New Mutants set, so feel free to go there to check out the story, but suffice it to say, this issue is single-handedly responsible for me meeting and becoming good friends with Tnerb, Ronnylama and a few other collectors in this wonderful CGC registry.
    The generosity, encouragement and kindness of these individuals cannot be understated. It is because of these friends that I have this beauty. As of now it is an OAK being the only SS 9.8 copy out there, but I am sure it will soon have a brother when Tnerb gets his copy signed.
    I hope he manages to do exactly that at some point and I wish him all the best in the endeavor just as he and Ronnylama did for me. Tnerb and I are usually the only two people out there with SS copies of this series.
    So between it being an OAK (for now), a New Mutants rarity and a symbol of friendships acquired and journeys traveled, I will simply never let it go!!!

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  11. bagofleas
    Where it all started!
    Ok the next issue on the list is not an OAK, and I could replace it if I had to at some point, but because of what it represents, I would just hate to have to give it up.
    #4 on the list...
    Marvel Graphic Novel #4 9.8
    Yes, yes it is the first appearance of my beloved New Mutants. There were only eleven 9.8 copies of this big, beautiful book for years until recently when a few more showed up. Even now there are only 17 of them making this a tougher item to acquire.
    The black cover, especially on the back, as well as the large and cumbersome size make it a very hard issue to have in high quality grade. It has sold for around $225 to $250 every time I have seen it purchased.
    While this was not the first New Mutants comic I ever owned, it WAS the very first time these characters appeared anywhere. This was also the very first Mutant team established by Professor X after the X-Men, who he thought to be dead at the time.
    I had just started collecting comics when I got a copy of this. So I thought it was neat to be able to read a popular series from the ground up.
    I plan on having an SS 9.8 copy at some point and when I do, it will replace this copy in this spot on the list. But for now, this one aint goin nowhere!

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  12. bagofleas
    Back to the list!
    Ok, back to my PSL list. The next issue is another OAK in my collection that has some interesting aspects to its acquisition.
    #5 on the list...
    Jonah Hex #92 SS 9.8
    Well here is ANOTHER last issue and another toughie due to the very low print run. 9.8 is the highest grade of this issue and there are currently only 18 of them out there.
    About two years ago I saw a few of them go up for auction one right after the other. Every time one showed up I put a bid on it and every time I was a loser. They went for $299 and $250 and $225 respectively if I remember correctly.
    Then about 4 months later THIS copy showed up on Ebay for auction. It was the only SS copy at the time and I was so glad I hadnt won any of the others because this was the copy I wanted to really shoot for. The problem was that I was sure it would go for $350 to $400 since unsigned copies were selling for over $200.
    Luckily I could afford it at that moment so when the end time came down to the last seconds I put in a max bid of $450 just to be sure I got it. I wasnt paying any more than that if it went over.
    When the final selling price was shown I nearly fell out of my chair!
    $110 !!!?
    Holy discounts Batman! I was floored! Literally. Had to get back up into the chair. Of course once it had actually sunk in that I had just won it for that price I jumped out of the chair and did a little CGC jig. I will have to explain that one later.
    After two years or so 2 or 3 more 9.8 copies have been added to the census but this is STILL the only SS copy in the grade!
    Now THIS is an OAK I will not part with!

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  13. bagofleas

    Deep Sixed!!!

    By bagofleas,

    Just got it done and it is already on my list!
    This journal will have to do for the weekend. I wont get back to the list until Monday or Tuesday. So with that out there, here we goooooo....
    # 6 on my PSL....
    New Mutants Annual #2 SS 9.8
    So here we are with the first issue on my list from the greatest series ever produced by Marvel Comics. At least I think so.
    I have been putting together a graded set of this series for the entire time I have been collecting CGC comics! This is one of the keys from the series and also one of the toughest ones to get in 9.8! For two years I kept my eyes open for a copy to show up and finally was rewarded with this copy appearing on Ebay. It cost me $200. I was ecstatic!
    There were only 9 available in this grade at the time I purchased it. But this happens to be one of the hardest first appearances of mutants to get. It is the first appearance of Psylocke! Tnerb tells me that the light pink cover makes it a tough issue to get in higher grades.
    Earlier this year I decided to take a BIG risk and crack this beauty open to get signed by Chris Claremont and regraded. I was shaking in my boots during the entire process but Tnerb encouraged me and rooted me on.
    It came back SS 9.8!! I was ecstatic x2!... If there is such a thing. .
    There are currently 11 copies of this thing in 9.8 with only one other being SS. This baby is staying right here!!
    #5 ?
    #6 New Mutants Annual #2 SS 9.8
    #7 Dazzler #42 9.8
    #8 Little Dots Uncles and Aunts #2 9.6
    #9 My four Copper Age 9.9s
    #10 Infinite Crisis RIE SS x4 9.8

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  14. bagofleas
    Crazy!!
    Well day two is over at the Megacon and what a day! It was three times more crowded today than it was yesterday!
    I got Patrick Stewarts signature this morning and will get Jonathan Frakes tomorrow since he only showed up today just in time for the Star Trek Special event this evening. He will be doing signings tomorrow.
    It was fantastic seeing all nine original cast members of ST TNG and DeLancie all together in one place at the same time!!!
    I am waiting until tomorrow to inquire about all my comics at CGC. I did not want to pick any up that were finished tonight and have to keep them in my car while I attended the Special event. I am waiting with great anticipation at all of my results!
    I did a lot of shopping around and comic box searching today. I picked up a beautiful copy of Thunderbolts 9 to have framed along with my original art of the first page splash from the same issue that I had signed by Mark Bagley yesterday.
    I also got to take a bunch of pictures that I was not able to do yesterday due to my signature spree!
    Below is me with an R2 D2 unit that was built to life size proportions and perfectly functioning with all the movements and sounds of the real thing.
    I know. Dorky but neat!

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  15. bagofleas
    Whaaaaat?
    I swear I am not trying to copy Tnerb on this list in any way. It just seems like we are generally having the same ideas so far when it comes to the Ages in the bottom three of our lists. He has a Modern Age, a Copper Age and a Silver Age.
    Ditto here, as made true by my #8...
    Little Dots Uncles and Aunts #2 9.6
    I have a number of Silver Age Harveys, but if I had to part with all but one, this would be the one I would have to keep. It came down to either this one or my Tracy #111 in 9.6, but when I really thought about it, I decided that I COULD part with the Tracy if I had to but NOT this one.
    The reasons...
    1 Its the second issue of the series
    2 Its the highest graded of the issue. 1 of only 2 out there!
    3 Its got an impossibly tough black cover in a Harvey comic from 1962
    This issue has become the Gem of my Harvey collection and as such, has earned a spot in my Top Ten!!!!

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  16. bagofleas

    9.9 x 4 = 9?

    By bagofleas,

    The math does NOT add up but the reasoning does... I hope!
    Before anyone shouts out I THOUGHT THIS WAS A TOP TEN LIST SO WHAT GIVES? just know that this is the only one on my top ten that I could not pick just one. To split them up would mean that these issues would take up nearly half of my list and being that they are pretty much the same to me, I decided to group them together
    So here is my #9...
    ALL FOUR OF MY COPPER AGE 9.9 comics!!
    Warlord #82 9.9
    Warlord Annual #1 9.9 (Golden State copy)
    Wonder Woman #4 9.9
    Wonder Woman #6 9.9
    There is a number of reasons for me to group these together. Each are from the Copper Age, each are 9.9, all but one of them are OAKs. I hope to add to my CA 9.9 or better list and if I do, they will also become part of this spot on my list.
    I just love having these super high grade Coppers. Getting them for the prices I did make them even more valuable to me since I know I could eventually sell them for far more than what I paid. But I dont plan on ever selling them.

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  17. bagofleas
    #10 on my Top Ten "Purge Survival List"!
    I really like the idea put forth from Surfer99 to make a top ten Purge Survival List so since Tnerb is making one, I figured I may as well do the same. I know, Im just a copycat.
    For me, number 10 will be the more likely to go of the ten, while number one will have to be pried from my cold dead fingers. The issues that make my top ten list will be there for a variety of reasons. Sometimes sentimental and sometimes availability or demand.
    I will put down in each of the ten journals my personal reasons for having the issue where I do. Being that my collection is now over 700 issues, my list is far more solidified now than it would have been two or three years ago. Of course that also makes it tougher to choose.
    So without further ado, HERE IS #10...
    Infinite Crisis #1 Retailer Incentive Edition SS 9.8 WP!!
    I dont keep up with modern comics for the most part. I dont buy anything new off the shelf and dont even bother to read any of them for the most part. I tend to be strictly a collector now, and in that vein I am stuck in the past. For the most part if it isnt from 1993 or earlier, I dont bother with it.
    I do have a few exceptions though. My Dark Tower and Civil War issues are some of them. But in the end if I had to get rid of all of my moderns except one, THIS would be the one I keep!
    Out of 229 graded copies, 9.8 is the highest grade and there are only 14 SS 9.8 issues out there, and while I dont know if any of the others are like mine, I kind of doubt it. Mine is signed by all four of the creators of the issue!! Jim Lee, Phil Jimenez, Andy Lanning and Geoff Johns!!
    The scarcity of these in this graded state combined with all the sigs make this easily #10 on my list!

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  18. bagofleas
    And they deserved it!
    They were framed in the sense that I took the Original Art for the title splash page 1 from issue number 9 and had Mark Bagley sign it at the Megacon last month and then purchased a pristine copy of the actual comic from a dealer at the same show and had them professionally framed.
    It came out great! The frame is black leather bound and beautiful. The matting around the art drops down at the center bottom to show Mark Bagleys signature. The comic book itself is bright and sharp and vivid and the original art speaks for itself!! This is the first piece of original comic art that I ever purchased.
    I used Photoshop to create the notations below the comic. I painstakingly selected the logo from the comic cover to create the Thunderbolts logo and then added the text for flavor. The photo is not close enough so here is what it says.
    THUNDERBOLTS
    Issue 9 Page 1
    Published 12-97
    This is the original art of page 1 of Thunderbolts 9.
    It was penciled by Mark Bagley and inked by Vince
    Russell. Above is an actual copy of the comic that
    this art was featured in. In this issue Thunderbolts
    members Songbird and Mach-1 defeat Ogur, featured
    in this art, then the Black Widow shows up and offers
    them advice in the form of a tale of the first
    replacement Avengers.
    This piece of hand drawn, original art was signed by
    Mark Bagley on 3-15-13.
    This was not a cheapy frame job. This thing was professionally done and I couldnt be more pleased with the final results!
    Pardon me while I get a mop to clean up ths drool!!!


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  19. bagofleas

    Sienkiewicz OAK!!

    By bagofleas,

    Ronnylama Strikes Again!
    As many of you know from previous journals of mine Ronnylama generously sent me a number of issues that were part of sets I am putting together. He even sent me a 9.8 graded copy of Batman number 405 to help me complete my Year One set!! What a friend!!
    He also sent me a few Vigilante issues since I am also putting together a set of those. This is not a set that most collectors out there are all that interested in outside of number 1. I however would LOVE to eventually have a full set of these graded.
    That is a tall order since about 35 of the 52 issues in the set have not even been graded at all!!!
    One of the issues he sent me just happened to be the only issue in the series with a cover done by Bill Sienkiewicz. After a slow start on my part I eventually came to love Bills art. I have also been working with Gemma to possibly create a Sienkiewicz cover set category. It looks like Gemma is gonna do it!
    I did a lot of research and created a huge list to start with but since many of these dont even exist on the registry yet it may take a while before this new set rears its head.
    Anyway this issue of Vigilante that Ronnylama sent me was number 28. I sent it in along with a number of other issues and guess what....?
    Just like my New Mutants 47 that Ronnylama sent me this one also came back 9.8 WP!! It is the only graded copy of the issue now! OAK!!! It has a really dark cover too! This issue not only counts for my Vigilante set but also for the future Sienkiewicz set when it appears.
    This comic may not hold much historic significance. But for me it is a wonderful gift from a wonderful friend that I probably would never have been able to own otherwise.
    Thanks Ron! You are the best!!

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  20. bagofleas

    Risk and Reward

    By bagofleas,

    A hard choice
    I had a very tough decision on my hands a few months ago regarding my 9.8 graded copy of New Mutants Annual 2. As most of you know this was the first US appearance of Psylocke!
    For whatever reason this issue is one of the toughest of the copper keys to get in this grade. 66 have been graded and so far only 10 have achieved 9.8! I paid $200 for my copy two years ago and that was the last one Ive seen show up!
    So it was a huge risk for me to crack it open and have it signed and regraded. I knew if it was to fall a grade I would have an extraordinarily difficult time getting my hands on another 9.8 copy. There is no telling how long it will be until another 9.8 copy shows up for sale not to mention the money involved.
    With a whole lot of trepidation I very carefully cracked it open along with three other issues and sent them on their way to upgrade history.
    Well after all this time grinding my teeth in anticipation I just got them back in my hands. Here is how they came out.
    New Mutants 4 came back SS 9.8 signed by Bob McLeod
    New Mutants 43 came back SS 9.8 signed by Whilce Portacio
    New Mutants Annual 2 came back SS 9.8 signed by Chris Claremont
    New Mutants Annual 3 came back SS 9.8 signed by Chris Claremont
    Wahoo! They all maintained their grades! So far every single comic I have cracked and signed and regraded have maintained their grade. Awesome!
    Annual 2 and number 4 are both the second SS 9.8 copies out there. Annual 3 and number 43 are the only SS 9.8 copies for now which makes them OAKs!!
    Below is a pic of all four of these beauties! Oh and I send out a thank you to Tnerb for rooting me on for these to come back as they have. Thanks Bud!

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  21. bagofleas

    The 750 Mark!

    By bagofleas,

    Keep viewing folks!
    After quite a while without making any additions, I have finally started things moving again on my New Mutants set!
    I cracked open a bunch of my issues and had them signed and graded on site at the Megacon earlier this month and have been adding them as they became available to do so.
    While most of them have now been added I still have five possible additions in the works as well as looking at a few other possibilities. Almost all of the issues I had signed are now OAKs!!
    But interestingly enough, the number of views of my set by all of you fellow collectors out there has now reached 750!! This does not begin to compare with TNerbs set since he currently has about 400 more views than my set, but that is because he has posted far more journals and other posts about his progress while I post very little. The fact that his set passed mine for the number one spot about a year ago has helped him as well.
    TNerb and I have been helping each other with our sets for over three years now! I LOVE TNerbs set and his and mine are both neat to look at and go through. He has been more consistent over time in his additions while I have been in hibernation for the most part until now.
    I will now start back up on my set with adding extensive descriptions and summaries and page scans on each issue. Until now Ive only completely done up through number 15, so keep checking back and see where I am, and if you havent checked it out in a long while, give it another look and see what Ive added issue wise.
    Does the number of views matter? Maybe so and maybe not, but it does give you, the collector, a feel for how much appreciation other collectors have for your accomplishments. We have a wonderful group of people in this registry who talk, encourage, help and appreciate each others interests.
    Thank You, Everyone!!!!!
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  22. bagofleas
    Useless but Interesing!?
    It just struck me today, and its probably useless knowledge, but I find it very interesting how the cover logo for the first 35 issues of Web of Spiderman was slightly different every month.
    The SPIDERMAN part of the logo never changed but where the spider in the logo was placed seemed to change pretty much on every issue.
    It hangs from the top on every issue except for number 4 where it hangs sideways across the entire SPIDERMAN part of the logo.
    However the spider doesnt even appear on issue 14 (see pic below).
    And on issues 11, 13 and 30, the WEB OF part of the logo is farther to the right than on all the other issues.
    It might be a pointless point, but pointing out these points is pointedly intriguing.
    Dont you think?

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  23. bagofleas

    A Toast!!!

    By bagofleas,

    What a great pair of guys!
    This is a MASSIVE shout out and thanks to TNerb and Ronnylama!
    You two have been the absolute best with helping me reach this point! I am just as overjoyed at TNerbs ASM 129 as he is for my NM 47.
    While his is a huge key, mine is simply a single issue of the series that started my lifelong passion for comics. But as most fans and collectors can attest, it is those personally memorable and sentimental issues that mean more to us than even the big, sought after keys. It helps when those two things match up though, doesnt it?
    I also want to say that I am profoundly moved by both of you guys generosity, encouragement and exaltation! I nearly start tearing up sometimes when I think about it. If I ever get the chance to meet up with either of you, I would love to do so.
    This last part is genuinely from my heart...
    I close my eyes in thoughtful reflection and with glistening at the edges of them, I bow deeply when I send out to both of you.....
    THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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  24. bagofleas

    The Moment of Truth

    By bagofleas,

    Drum Rollllll, Please!
    ALL HAIL RonnyLama!!
    The verdicts are in, the grades are finished, and I could not be a whole lot more happy than I am.
    YES TNerb, the New Mutants 47 came back in 9.8!!! (See pic below)
    I cannot begin to adequately thank RonnyLama enough for his generosity in helping me achieve this goal! This one issue alone was worth the trip for me!
    Now for the rest. Everything got white pages!
    Wolverine 1 came back SS 9.4 (9.6 was my guess)
    Wolverine 2 came back SS 9.6 (9.8 was my guess)
    Transformers 80 came back as 9.8!
    Amazing Spider-Man 300 came back 9.6!
    Marvel Authentix Daredevil 1 came back SS 9.8!
    Longshot 6 came back SS 9.8!
    Daredevil 283 came back SS 9.6.
    G. I. Joe ARAH 59 came back SS 9.8!
    Doctor Strange 1 (1974) came back 9.2 OW/W (only non-WP in the bunch!)
    Now for the surprise!
    I cracked open 20 copies of my New Mutants issues and had them signed and regraded!
    ALL 20 came back SS 9.8!!! Out of those 20 issues, 15 of them are the first SS 9.8 copies to be added to the census!!
    The numbers I did this with are 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 (Bob McLeod) and 13 21 31 41 45 46 47 52 (Chris Claremont) and 75 76 77 (Bob McLeod) and Annual 5 which was signed by Mark Bagley!!
    Oh yeah, almost forgot. The 27 year journey of my Daredevil 168 has finally reached its end! If you havent read my journal entry Journey of a key, go back and check out the history of this particular copy of this comic book.
    Those of you who have read it will be happy to know the result.
    9.6 WHITE PAGES!!!!!! Im sure my Dad is smiling down from above right now.
    CGC decided NOT to do On-Site grading of magazines so I actually have another 12 items being proccessed by them. Mostly Starlogs and ST TNG Magazines signed by Star Trek stars! When I get them back, I will post a journal of their results.
    There is also one other thing I have in the works from this convention but I will wait until it comes through before making any comments on it.
    This was my first convention of this magnitude and I could not have had a better experience! I got to meet and speak with CGC personnel, fellow collectors, writers, artists, stars and more! Not to mention all the fantastic additions to my CGC collection!
    I will have to seriously consider attending again next year!

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  25. bagofleas

    Pressing the Issue

    By bagofleas,

    From reply to personal journal entry
    I placed the following as a reply to the journal entry "The distinction between non-restorative pressing and pressing as restorative technique" by screenwriter3d but decided to put it out as a personal journal entry as well:
     
    I personally feel that pressing of a comic can occur in a number of ways, some intentional and some as a side effect of normal collecting.
    Putting a comic in a tight box for long periods of time can cause a pressing effect. Granted, not necessarily as profound as professional pressing might achieve but similar nonetheless.
    I have cracked slabs and spoken with CGC personnel and I tend to agree with TNerb that the process that CGC uses with their machines that heat-seal the comics into the stiff, tight plastic sheets that contain them within the outer hard plastic casings can cause a pressing effect on par with, if not even more effectual than the "tight box" scenario.
    I can see why die hard purists may frown on professional pressing to some degree or another, but when the final result of doing such an act can also be achieved due to other normal conservation techniques, I simply fail to see the reason for considering it as a detrimental procedure that would reduce the value or purity of the book.
    If you ADD something to it, or REPLACE something on it, or use any kind of chemical on it, then I completely understand. But regardless of any precise definition of the word "restoration", I personally can't justify applying such a term to pressing.
    As far as I'm led to believe, pressing does not remove color breakage due to bends or creasing. It just smoothes out the warps or bends themselves. So there is still only so much that can be achieved through pressing. While grades can be increased by doing this, there are many things that can't be fixed by simply pressing the item.
    Really, what it all comes down to is that CGC, by default, has approved of pressing as a non-restorative process by integrating CCS into their grading and not applying any difference to the labeling procedures.
    You don't have to agree with it, but it is what it is and you will either continue to buy slabbed comics or not because of it.
    But THAT is a personal decision. I have no problem with the current situation CGC has on pressings (whether I choose to take advantage of it or not), but I would ALSO have no problem if they chose to change their labeling or label disclosures for pressed comics.
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