Marbleman3

Another lurker here, long time collector -  long time lurker too. I really do apologize for the lengthy post, I know everyone is busy and time is precious, so who needs another very long post, and there’s lots of jokes and fun repetition on this chain, which I think is fun to read and great to see honestly. I am just compelled to write something and share with you all my thoughts and experiences with this shameful controversy because this hobby is my passion and I have benefited immensely from this community and from CGC’s existence. I dabble in purchasing CGC slabs, but never actually directly submitted myself. My general view at the end of the day was that CGC and similar companies (even if not perfect) were doing a good thing pushing this hobby forward by creating something akin to a commodities market and providing stability to a hobby that sorely needed it post-Wizard and the ‘00s. I respected all of that and would support it silently with my wallet.  

I’m glad all of this is coming to light with a higher profile book, shop and artist, like Crain and newly-coined-in-my-mind “Trash Flag”. I’m a big Miracleman collector and have been annoyed and frustrated for years (!) at the inconsistency of grading those New Dimension stamped copies as blue label slabs. That had always seemed to me as having been swept under the rug and would only come up now and again in my Miracleman internet searches, but never as the focus of real anger from this community, more like a curiosity.  Maybe I missed the boat when that first occurred, but it didn’t seem like anyone cared about much about New Dimension and CGC both ignoring the obvious before this, and maybe people still don’t. And it wasn’t worth getting too upset in my view at the time because it didn’t seem like it would become common practice in the grading industry.

But I can’t be silent on this. This whole grading system isn’t complex math, it isn’t rocket science. These are simple and logical standards set forth by CGC and other grading companies with any brain power, essentially from day one. If anyone (ANYONE!) alters a comic after it’s initially published/produced, it receives a different label from generic blue (previously generic red) to indicate an alteration so consumers can spot the difference. This is just intuitive. You could put 10 children in a room for an hour to come up with basic rules about comic book grading and they would choose that as rule number one. I know there is more than one issue stemming from this convention, but this is the one at the forefront of my mind

You have a company touting that it’s blue label slabs stand for one thing and customers and others rely on that to spend a significant amount of money for that label. If truly created in the way being reported, these blue slab acetates would be bootlegs produced PURPOSELY to deceive. There is no other way to describe it. None.

It’s so sad it has come to this. It also a shame the Better Business Bureau has no teeth.  People may start considering other resources apart from posting on social media and writing articles because if all of this is true, there is a level of deception here that no one should tolerate if they respect the truth. And this is a hobby that is focused on the details. Ebay is a for-profit company, as are the other grading companies, and they are, at the end of the day, only concerned with their own economic and shareholder interests, so they may not be the only ones in a position to resolve matters. 

This forum is incredible and you are all amazing for keeping the momentum going, but I think you need to primarily speak with your wallets as you continue to spread accurate information, as you have been doing.  CGC has been bought and is managed by an investment firm. These entities are profit-oriented and major change is most likely going to occur by (1) keeping up the social media impact, because that is currently how the comic hobby thrives and shares information, and (2) stop feeding this company money if you disagree with current practices until real change occurs.

I don’t know anything about @cgcMike other than he seems to be the point of contact at the moment, but I hope he continues to push this forum’s messaging over to his bosses to effect REAL CHANGE. Agreed on starting to contact others in the organization who have more or real control on policy change. This is pathetic customer service and none of you subscribers, investors or collectors deserve this after all of your time and investment in CGC, which up until now seems to have been a generally solid company all things considered. Honestly not even the private investors in CGC deserve this if they were not a part of this decision making - I would bet there are major concerns and talks going on at the moment, although that is speculation. What I am sure of is my social group will reconsider spending with CGC, even though no one else will blast this over social media because that is just not everyone’s way.

Minimum next step from CGC should be an APOLOGY and AT LEAST an attempt to recall these slabs. To have these slabs on the CGC census (including the 20-30+ yr old Miracleman New Dimension stamped joke slabs) is an affront to the hobby and collecting community. As mentioned many times, this is what CGC chooses to take a stand on? Is nothing respected or sacred anymore? A true failure - would love to read their internal code of ethics policy, if there is one. Don’t get me started on black flag who I will not purchase from again until they get their heads straight.  Just pathetic.  I can’t speak to Crain, as I really enjoy his art and hope he was not involved in this, but I’m sure it’s not a great look for him. Influencers who planned this with CGC and black flag? Shame on you. Those who didn’t (and who did?), please donate any funds from any crap sales to LEGIT charities or orgs.  LEGIT. Do your diligence please.

These are my (very lengthy) two cents.  It’s possible people here may take issue with some of the above. My intent is only to help the community I love.  I love collecting comics and I want to make change and most times I feel powerless because I’m just one person with an internet connection, but I have a brain and I have a wallet. Happy to interact further. Let’s keep it civil if you disagree. 

I’m so, so disappointed in CGC - a place I once dreamed I could support one day maybe even by becoming a grader.  Maybe some day when they get their heads straight. Thank you all for reading.

Hi all - I don’t post much and I don’t mean to offend, but can we please stick to the title “Moderns Heating up on eBay”? I know this is all interesting sidebar, but I’m not so interested in following a discourse on the general trends of the modern market and whether a bubble is about to burst.  I’m just looking to see what people think the “hot” latest issues are. I’m not saying we can’t make comments about this topic, but when it goes on for days/weeks at a time, this thread starts to lose relevance.  I’m sure other followers of this thread would appreciate that too. Maybe take all of this to another new post?