Tnerb

Thank your commenting...and even if it was a year from now or five...even ten... it is never too late to honor the Ronnylama. I am glad you had the opportunity to converse with him. I always felt I never conversed with him enough... especially by text since we had the distance of time. He was extremely good at pressing books. and watching his process which changed from the time I met him until the last time I got visit with him.

It has been a long time since I wrote a journal. There was a time I wrote religously. After my Father died, my greatest sounding board... I stopped. And now I felt compelled. Originally I wrote this in the description for X-Men #12. Imagine having a friend, a friend who allowed you to play in his sandbox anytime you came over. The sandbox of course was a vault filled with comic books...an amazing array of comic books from not only DC and Marvel, but many different companies. I got to view books I loved. I got to hold books I wanted. I got to be surrounded by a collection that was the greatest I have ever seen. And most importantly I got to enjoy the company of my friend. Sometimes friendships end with the passing of time. And sometimes they end bitterly. This one ended due to a fight with cancer. The fight was long, brutal, and it ended in the worst way. Fortunately, as the battle wore down his defenses, my friend died without pain while being surrounded by Family, Friends, and Comics. I have stories about the Ronnylama that make me tear up. I have tales that make me smile. I have memories of this great man who wanted to share his love of Coors Light, Pressing Comics... and DC’s Showcase. Of course he also loved the Marvel’s X-Men. I remember him wanting to get a copy of issue 1. I believe he finally did at the end. Dare I say a life long dream. One of his best comic collecting accomplishments (in my opinion) that I ever held in my hands was his three copies of Giant Sized X-men #1. I would joke about pitting my point five against his singular 9.6 and doubles of 9.8's. He would laugh and get very confused on why I like point fives so much. His early one hundreds were amazing... especially multiples of some of my favorite story.. the Dark Phoenix Saga. He helped me press a CGC Universal X-men 142 graded a 9.2. He didn't press it for me, he showed me how. I couldn't wait to tell him the book I was told by another very reputable presser would never attain a higher grade actually did. It became a 9.6 . I also added signatures to it. By the way... at the time of pressing... he asked me not to tell anyone and I never did...until now. He was very private and public all at the same time. He was generous. And so is his Brother. A package came to me filled with comic books. I call them the Ronnylama collection. They are books that mean more to me to own than to flip...although if I can get that New Mutants 15 cover by doing so I may have to... and I do think that Ron would not mind. Two months have passed, but I still remember when Ron's brother called me on April 19th. Being three hours ahead on the East Coast, it was late. I was sitting in the basement of my Fiancé's father, who was battling his own cancer when my phone rang. I looked at it and dreaded answering, but I knew I had to pick up...for two reasons. One because I knew what the news was...and two the person on the other end needed me. Hours passed and I hung up. I cried. I checked up on Ron's brother and he checked up on me. At times I forgot that Ron was even gone. Mainly this was because during evening phone calls I forgot they sounded alike. They have the same laugh and they say Tnerb almost identically... Ron however enunciated the “T” a bit more emphatically than his brother. I knew the job ahead for Ron's brother was going to be difficult... my suggestion was easy... Keep them... especially a book that both of us tried bidding against him a long time ago. We both lost. I didn’t originally know who I was bidding against and I am not sure Ron’s brother knew either. …but damn that story is a good one to tell… another time perhaps. *I am starting to think this should be a journal, but here it will stay. (As you can see I did decided to add this in the Journals) Ron's brother put aside some comic books that he thought Ron would want me to have. He already gave me a sneak peak of a few books, but as he was ready to tell me about a few other books... I told him I wanted to be surprised... and with this issue, let me tell you I was surprised. It's not a book I ever went after, or thought I would ever own, but it is a book I am proud to have...but I would give it up for one more moment with the great RonnyLama... I do miss you Ron... Be Kind! Thanks for Reading

The New Mutants As it was with collecting comic books, it was the New Mutants that drew me into the grading community. I was new and naive. I did not get the small intricacies between a 9.8 and a 9.6. I didn’t realize what a trimmed cover was or how you could tell if a book was restored, But over the years I have learned that as much as I have learned there is still so much more to absorb. I met Bagofleas through the registry, as I did others, but it was the New Mutants set that I desired to have a complete run of. It wasn’t as complete as it is now. There was only one slot for a Marvel Graphic Novel. The point system was not high…only 25 for a 9.8 in most of the books. I looked over what was the number one set and decided I wanted to be there. Eventually I made it…and lost it again. I reclaimed the spot, but never during a time when the awards were to be handed out again. Money got tighter and the desire and ability to get the whole set in a 9.8 changed to getting the whole set in a 9.8 signed and then wained. Eventually to find happiness again my collecting goals changed. I still wanted the best New Mutants set, but I wasn’t actively seeking the books I needed…and then when I found them, a lack of grade or lack of money stopped me. As I worked on two custom sets earlier this year, I decided to check back to my favorite set and noticed I was no longer number one, but neither was bagofleas…a new upstart has taken over the number one spot although it was obscured I knew he completed what I hoped to one day do…and I knew he had what I was searching for…that vaunted copy of New Mutants 58 in a 9.8. Twice this set has received notable honors. Once by myself in 2012 for the Best Copper Age set. Once by Bagofleas in 2014 for the The Best Presentation and I can only hope that 2020 the underrated under-pointed New Mutants (1983) set will once again belong to a top rated set contender…NashVegas13. If I ever had a crown for this set, I hand it off to you. Well Done…Well done!

Having Fun Again Or In the Pursuit of Happiness One of my first goals collecting CGC graded comic books was to get a full set of New Mutants in a 9.8. By the way, the set is still highly undervalued in the points area. They even added the additional prints of the Marvel Graphic Novel, also undervalued. When CGC first added the Custom sets I immediately added a few…and then left them there. As we all have some extra time I started to spring clean by deleting extra sets and comic books I no longer have. The two sets I still have under the custom category are for my Birthday books and my point five collection. With the new registry set award coming closer I decided I would work on one of my sets. As much as I would love to win again for my New Mutants set…I am having more fun with my custom set. I currently have fifty logged and loaded. For each one of them I plan on having a small synopsis written out for them, including photographs of the front and back covers. I just finished photographing all the front and rear covers…or in some instance rear back pages since the back cover was missing. I had to look twice on one book with another because one book’s (Hawkman #1) back page matched the others rear cover (Green Lantern #21). Collecting these .5’s give me the chance to go after comic books I would never normally go after or even give me cheaper alternatives to books I other wise couldn’t afford. I hope you give the set a look, especially when I am done with it. Thanks for Reading Tnerb

I did have one of these at one point, maybe I should save up for this one...

It depends on how many they have to enter. At past on-site conventions I remember it taking anywhere between a week or two.

All I can say is Awesome.

It’s the only one I need in a 9.8 out of the original registry set.

The box has been open and the cat was dead. I can’t say I’m surprised. I expected a 9.6 to be the highest grade out of the two that I submitted and I’m ok with that. I just have to continue the search. I did hope that I would finally attain that 9.8, but it wasn’t meant to be. I have about six conventions scheduled over the next three months so I’ll be back into the boxes again searching. I even stopped being picky. I just buy them now to have them. The other invoice I turned over was for a copy of Eerie #39. The top of the magazine showed areas I knew that could be pressed out and CCS delivered. It was some of the spine stress I knew would keep the book grading above a 9.4. Not to mention the front of the cover where the black seems to have been starting to rub. Every time I read “Introducing Dax the Warrior...” I immediately think of Iron Man 55 where Drax the Destroyer was introduced. I know... two totally different entities. But why this issue? What made me jump outside the realm of comic books and into magazines? Well, that answer is simple. The publishing date for this was April of 72 and is listed as one of the hundred plus books that I am searching for to complete what I dubbed my Birthday Books. And even as I try to complete a 9.8 set of New Mutants, this book is above the 9.2 limit I have set for myself to try to attain. Suffice to say I am happy. Thanks for Reading Tnerb PS. If I remember correctly the magazine was purchased at Keystone Comic Con from Basement Comics.

I’m sitting here contemplating whether to open the box I just received from Fed-Ex. Last year I submitted two copies of New Mutants 58 to run the gauntlet. This gauntlet of course went through the process of pressing and then grading. I only chose two copies to submit out of some thirty odd assortment of the same issue. I did this with the hope I could finally achieve every single issue in a 9.8 between 1 and 100. This has not been easy. The box in question currently sits on my table and I’m reminded of Schrödinger’s cat. I was tempted to look at my grades once I noticed that they were graded and shipped. I refrained with the help of a small support group telling me not to look... and I do like to look. I don’t think I’ll refrain again. At the moment I believe I have two 9.8 copies of issue 58 sitting in there waiting for the fresh air to release them. I also believe that once I open it, they will suddenly find themselves a much lower grade. Currently, the highest grade I own is my own personal copy (9.6 SS) I purchased when the book just came out. The last I checked the census, there were two copies graded a 9.8. One other package is also on the way back, a magazine from April of 1972. I also had CCS press this before CGC graded it. I’m hoping that after the press this one will be a 9.4... of course I didn’t count the pages so it very well might be a .5. I am debating to open the package I have now and find out what my grades are or leave it in the box until the magazine is delivered tomorrow and allow the cat to live a little bit longer???? Thank for Reading Tnerb

Congrats.

My first Journal was simple. I had a through an dI wrote. Now, thoughts have been few and far between. My life opened and upended again. I am almost exactly where I started and better off for it. However, my collecting has changed, and I don't necessarily mean by grading company. Marvel lost me on all titles but two and that might change to one. I have been visiting more comic conventions in the hope to lose myself into my hobby. Ive been listening to inspirational messages and trying to create my own. My father died over a year ago and I lost the one person I ready everything to. I still read it to him, but now I get no answer. My last CGC book arrived in the Mail a measly 7.5, and I am ok with that. the cover is awesome and it is signed. Actually my last CGC book that arrived was sent to me by a friend that is currently over seas which means I will be missing him at Baltimore. That sucks...so as I write I realize I have no reason to write a journal, or rather no direction to write a journal. I am just trying out this new format. I am hoping I like it, because if I don't I most likely will fade away again. My goals are still the same, to own a complete set of New Mutants in a 9.8 or better, something CGC made harder after adding a few second, third, and fourth prints. Not to mention 5th and 6th. Then there are the BIRTHDAY books. At first I limited myself to 45. Forty five was doable. 45 was clean...45 is not longer the amount I need. Now will Dell, Charlton, Archie, and a few others, I need over a 100. some of these I am buying just to have. Others I hope will eventually be graded, but nothing less that a 9.2. do you realize how difficult it is to find some of these in the first place... and then there is original artwork. Yes, this bug bit me. However I am trying to really limit myself to what I get. I currently own nine pages from New Mutants 15. Two are framed, the other seven need to be still, and two of those I only just got in the last month. Now if anyone could please help me with learning the new journals, I would appreciate that. Image is from Buz Hasson who will be at the Baltimore Comic Con. I recommend seeing him for a commission.

First off let us state who the other guys are. If they are not CGC, then they are the other guys. I have posted books on social media. And the one thing that was a real turn off is that if I posted a book by the other guys it was ridiculed and deemed a gift grade, no matter what the grade was. If it was a 9.2, CGC never would have graded it that high, or an 8.5...WHAT? With that grease marker... A 9.9... They are giving you a gift. If it was graded by CGC there was unadulterated praise. A Gem Ten...Wow, CGC really knows what they are doing. I even experimented a little to see the difference between CGC and the other guys. The results don't matter here, what matters is how another CGC fan boy treated the situation. After that happened I felt betrayed. I lost the impetus to share anything and everything about the grading community. Then the things in my personal life were occurring, the most heart wrenching was the death of my closest friend, my confidant, my sounding board. The thing is no matter who graded the book, we all forgot that it was the book in the first place we desired. If CGC never opened their doors in January of 2000, if grading was still argued over the convention floor, if you had to trust the auction sites to not only accurately grade the book, but to be honest about it, then it comes down to the original material at hand, the comic book itself. I had a book graded by CGC a 9.2, after a signature was added, it was an 8.0. The drop of the grade hurts in two ways, one financially and the other is ego. Can I praise a lower grade book? Can I scream from the roof tops that I have it? Can I look past that it is only an 8.0. Damn straight I can. Will I have it signed and pressed? Yes, I will. Will I be happy if it goes up? Damn straight I will. Will I be happy if it drops... Well, what does that matter? It's the book that is what collecting these things are all about, graded or not, by CGC or... well by CGC or the other guys. Thanks for Reading Tnerb To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Or Let's forget about Surfing There has been so much said about the new case and the waves it created. My problem with the new case is totally different. CBCS has their case, PGX has theirs. And then there is Halo and Vault. The case is essential to the collector, or at the very least it is to this collector. In 2007 I immersed myself back into the comic book world and picked up my first two CGC graded comic books. They were both blue label books, one was a 9.8 (eventually I sold this one) and the other was a 9.0 (which I still have). These labels were after the red labels and showed the numeric grade quite dominantly on the left hand side. Every single New Mutants issue I own have these labels, whether they are blue (universal) or (yellow) they are a complete set. Out of the original 107 issue set (CGC has since added a few) I had 106. The 107th one I need is issue 58. Only one currently exists in 9.8. The problem is that when a second one arises and I get it, the label and slab will be different than the other 106 books in my set. As a completist I'll be happy to have them all. This of course is before they added the multiple prints and summer special that are part of the current set. So what am I to do? Can I get a 58 and trade it with the only one in the new old label? Will bagofleas do that? Or do I just submit them all for the new label? And then what about my original set? Do I continue to get CGC to grade them, or CBCS since I just recently used them to get Jim Shooter and Tom Mandrake? If it comes down to a choice of either purchasing a new label or the old label, I will choose the old label and the only reason for this is my OCD tendencies. Thanks for reading PS. Photo of New Mutants Annual 2 was cracked for signatures and the old new label. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Or I have been "Wallaced" once again. Sometimes my collection is filled not with what I have, but with what I lost. I am a collector. The Star Wars Pepsi cans I had to cut at the bottom to allow the soda to be released without breaking the seal lay in a box some where in storage. The Star Wars action figures are in multiple boxes in multiple closets behind multiple book cases. Should I mention the hardcover novels I like to read, the pops craze that took over my shot glass space, or my digital library that I fear I will lose (or had already lost due to a computer crash)? Lately I have been selling off pieces of my CGC collection. The items I bought with the increase of cash from this purge of books have been for healthcare payments, car payments, even a plane ticket back home for my wife for a funeral. I've been lucky though, since I found a buyer and out of the abundance I sold I only got rid of one book that was a Grail. The others I was happy to see go to a good home. Each time I sold five or six books, I thought I could use that money to buy one book. I didn't. Instead, another payment was paid, rent, utilities, and insurance again. Yes, healthcare is damn expensive. Did I mention I'm at the doctor's office right now? I was watching a few books in the most recent Pedigree auction. One in particular was a beautiful copy of a CGC 9.8 of a birthday book I struggled to find in near mint condition (the struggle continues). Sure, the pages weren't deemed white, but a 9.8 as old as me (Technically older, since most of my birthday books were released in February of 1972) is amazing. I placed an opening bid that I knew would never win. In hours I was notified to try again. I didn't. I hoped to come in and win in the final seconds. I watched and waited. I calculated what I WOULD spend against what I COULD spend. They were vastly different dollar amounts. Suffice it to say in the weaning hours, I was out. It's not that I wouldn't have gone higher, because I would have. It's just that I couldn't. I had something similar happen with a Sub-Mariner #38 which I eventually purchased, although not the same I might add as what I clearly craved. The bidding closed, my data base was not updated and I lost without really playing at all. I hope to find one in the wild, maybe during a game of ComicBookGo, maybe I'll find it in a distant land rummaging through a box here or there. Maybe it will be there waiting for me? Or maybe, just MAYBE, it will sit forever, lost among my collection of never-haves and never-should-be's. Ps: To whomever purchased the item pictured, Bravo. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.