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Tnerb

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Journal Entries posted by Tnerb

  1. Tnerb
    Thinking before buying.....or good-bye Incredible Hulk 181.
    I sold my Incredible Hulk #181. I know that it is a little known comic but it is sold. I have already taken the comic off my registry allowing my points to drop, and I am ok with that. I am trying to be careful with what I am collecting especially now since getting a certified book is so much more expensive than one that is not (an example is any New Mutants from numbers 1-86 could probably be purchased for no more than $3.00 a book, where as encapsulated and graded by CGC would cost an average of $50, compare this to older silver age books and the price compounds exponentially). I know I cannot get the best out there (not yet anyway) but I can get the best I can afford. I was hesitant about selling on E-bay but have found it to be easier than I expected, although not easier than buying.
    Since collecting CGC books I have really enjoyed the hobby again. Being able to convey my thoughts, feelings, and memories have made the experience multiply. At times I have collected by the money in my pocket. If I had it I bought it. Other times I could not collect because I had to choose between food and comics. Food won. As time passed I had to set rules, with paper thin boundaries. As with my raw books I have a good core collection and that is what I am hoping for with my encapsulated books. I want to finish my three major sets, knowing that two of them will be easier than the third. The extra sets surrounding them will primarily be from the series I already collect with one exception.
    This exception will be my first attempt in collecting them encapsulated and not Raw with Tales to Astonish. The covers are great, especially #95. I love picking up new books to read and I love collecting them in a 9.8. With limited funds I truly have to pick and choose what I wish to collect. Should I collect by artist alone, or colorist, by writer, or inker, or do I even collect by my memories. How can I choose? I know I am going to go outside my boundaries, but how conscience of this decision will I be? I have recently begun adding what I spend on encapsulated books to my budget. I hope this will allow me to think twice before I choose to buy something off the internet with the slightest whim. Only time will tell as shelf space diminishes and more books are being released in trades and for digital devices.
    Thanks for reading
    Tnerb
    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  2. Tnerb

    Outside my Means

    By Tnerb,

    If I don't budget am I allowed to buy it?
    When I didn?t budget I bought it. The night the local toy store opened at midnight for the all new Star Wars: The Phantom Menace toys I spent $550.00. I have stopped collecting Star Wars unless it is what I would consider high end, and then I have to budget for it. I especially budget for the auctions I have been participating in, most recently was the auction for the New Mutants #98 Signature Series in a 9.9. That was immediately taken out of my hands.
    I bid and won on my first original piece of artwork. Once it arrived at the house I took it to a frame shop I am comfortable with and had it framed. It?s beautiful. It was also within my means, the next piece isn?t. I am afraid in this hobby there are so many things out there I can?t afford. At this moment the comic book on top of this list is a Daredevil #7 in a 9.2.
    There were two different comics up for auction at the same time. They were Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1 in a 9.9 and a Web of Spider-Man #1 in a 9.9. I want them both. One would add to a series I am trying to collect and the other is probably one of my top ten favorite covers. I knew I could bid on one and only one. Normally these auctions end at separate times and I tend to skip the first one to bid on the second one only to lose out in the bidding on the second when I most likely would have one on the first. Does that make sense? Sometimes I look at this as saved money, other times I think OK what should I get now? Ooh look, the Human Fly and Rom.
    Thanks for reading.
    Tnerb
    PS. Once again for anyone collecting the Human Fly and Rom I am sorry.
  3. Tnerb

    Working for Comics

    By Tnerb,

    Who needs a paycheck?
    Twice in my life I worked in a comic book shop. I was paid an hourly wage (quite decently I might add) and pretty much spent it all at the comic book shop I worked at. It was at these times I tried new books (writers, artists, and assorted back issues). I don?t have that luxury anymore. I did this when I was younger and it was only a part time job, but those four to six hours a week were a blessing. Not only did I work in a comic book shop, I got paid for it (did I mention they discounted my comic books as well.)
    I work overnights in a diner and it is dreadfully slow, so when they throw an extra shift my way I take it. I am one of a few people who are allowed to work the extra shifts. I believe this is true only because I tell them yes all the time. The extra shifts means more hours which equals more tables which turns into more tips?.. I hope.) Anything I make over my weakly (spelled wrong on purpose) allocation is still deposited into my account.
    I have now begun to budget my CGC comics in. At first I only budgeted for new comic books but with my love (addiction?) growing for graded books I need to adapt. Not only do I need to add for auctions but I also have to expand my budget to get my books graded as well. I started with New Mutants issues #1-10 and plan on sending in the rest of the run, but what?s next. I have a great run of Daredevil?s I think will be graded high, I even have a good run of X-men?s that are guaranteed to get a 9.6 at least or should I just set out to buy raw books and see if I can luck out a time or two (multiply the second number by a few hundred please?. I fear I will be collecting for a long time to come.)
    Thanks for reading
    Tnerb
  4. Tnerb

    51% Complete

    By Tnerb,

    Getting closer...oh so closer.
    51% Complete
    I have complete 51% of my New Mutants collection in a 9.8 or better. When I first completed this series back in the early eighties I only had 14 issues to find. I started with issue #15 and by the time issue #32 came out I had the whole collection. By the numbers it was easy, only 14 issues, in reality it was so much more difficult. Comic book shops were few and far between. There was no internet for me and my father wasn?t one to drive all over for me to get a comic book.
    In April of 2009 I picked up my first New Mutants in a 9.8. It was issue #1. I already had a few other CGC graded books but as issue #15 was the beginning of a 12 year old boy collecting comics so issue #1 was the beginning of a much older person?s beginnings to collecting CGC?s. I was already a member of the registry. I just never participated in creating sets, or the journals.
    As time went by I started to log my books and started with ?My first Journal? (16-Nov-09) to let loose what raved inside my mind. I might be closer to completing my goal if I didn?t stray. If the book looked good, I picked it up, if it was cheap, it was mine, and if I had the extra money?well you get the point. I brought myself closer to my goal when I focused my attention to completing my goal when I focused my attention to completing the series (as much as possible anyway). I am now in second place with 51% complete. The down hill process has begun. Over the next twenty to twenty five issues I see a steady progress (as long as money remains fluid) but once I have those I?ll have to struggle and patiently wait for others to be graded. Even go so far as buying raw books and trying my hand in sending them in.
    I have too many that are needed to even begin counting down (53) yet but slowly, eventually it will be easier to complete my run. I applaud Bagofleas who only has eight more to go and I hope to be where he is?.and soon.
    Thanks for Reading
    Tnerb
  5. Tnerb

    What Happens if I don't win?

    By Tnerb,

    It's green paper for four color paper.
    There are currently eight books that Bagofleas needs to finish his New Mutants set in 9.8 White Pages are better. Seven of those eight I need as well. Recently issue #95 was on E-bay. I knew Bagofleas needed this. Once I found out he was bidding on this issue I decided not to. There are two reasons I am doing this, one of those is because he is so close to his goal. If I were to bid on it, it would seem malicious (and I did promise him if I knew he was bidding, I wouldn?t.)
    It?s kind of how we met as one of my first books purchased from WorldWidecomics.com was New Mutants #47 (a book he still needs). The second reason I will bow to his bidding (the actual bidding not his willpower, the force is strong in this one) is because if we both bid on the same book I fear it would increase the price to an amount it is not worth. Currently there are 9 copies of New Mutants #95 in a 9.8
    I normally wake up at Nine thirty pm for work and the auction was to end a few hours before I had to wake up. It was a long day and I went to sleep later than I normally do. Before going to bed I checked my e-mail and noticed an e-mail through the registry from Bagofleas. He notified me that he would indeed be bidding on the aforementioned issue. Of course this meant more sleep for me since I wouldn?t have to wake up to bid in those last precious E-bay seconds. I woke up at my normal time (an hour and a half after the auction ended) and wend about my nightly ritual. After the cat was happily fed I checked to see what Bagofleas purchased the book for. I was surprised to see the book go for $103.50 and a sense of foreboding filled my gut.
    I went to the registry to check to see if Bagofleas won. I didn?t see the book in his registry and after seeing him win New Mutants Annual #5 and post it immediately, I figured he would do the same with this. As the fabric of reality crumbled I sent off a message asking him what I feared. Less than a day later, the truth was told. He placed a bid in the last seconds confident in his final amount. He lost. I know the feeling of placing a bid that could not possibly be beat, and then lose.
    Bagofleas told me about another book that I am beginning to watch and of this writing has a little less than seven days to go. By the time I post this the auction will be over but right now I am thinking only what happens if I don?t win?
    Thanks for reading
    Tnerb
  6. Tnerb

    3X Over

    By Tnerb,

    On No! Doubles again!
    3X Over
    I hated when I bought the same issue multiple times. At times I have done this with a new release, more times than not this constant repetitive buying was with a back issue I forgot to mark off my list (be honest, I am not the only one who has done this). A little over a year ago I purchased a program to keep better track. I picked this program over others because it had an application I could buy for my I-pod touch. This program has five different areas I can label my books as. They are ?In collection?, ?Not in collection?, ?Wanted?, ?For Sale?, and ?On Order?. The ?Wanted? section is what I use for my CGC books. I haven?t accidentally purchased a double since.
    I purchased my first two 9.8 Signature Series off of E-bay. I love the idea of a signed book (just hate the idea of waiting in line) and placed bids on New Mutants #18 and #19 both in a 9.8 Signature Series when I saw them. I won. They were shipped USPS, they never arrived (guess I lost after all.) The post office and I disagreed. They said they delivered it, I said they didn?t. Unfortunately this happened before with a package (another CGC graded book). This incident is the reason I have everything sent signature required.
    The person I won the books off of had two more (one of each). We communicated (after the USPS and I argued) and he said he would part with them for $100 each. I originally won both along with the shipping for less than the price of one. The gold at the end of the rainbow (silver lining, chose your clich?) was he would be at Wizard World Philadelphia 2010 and would bring them with. These two titles became my first duplicates of any CGC book (oops I am wrong?I just remembered that #3). Even though I never received the first two, I still purchased doubles.
    In early September there were eight SS 9.8 ?white pages? New Mutant comic books ending their auctions, three of the eight I did not have at all. In the last moments I bid on the three I did not have and on one that I did. The one I did have that I placed a bid on, although it was a SS 9.8, it had ?Off white to white pages?. The other four I passed on altogether I already had with the white pages, but not signed. I might eventually get those other four because they are signed (just need to save up).
    So now I purchased three graded copies (all CGC) of New Mutants #18 in a 9.8, one is lost (unknown), one I have (off white pages), and one is on its way (white pages). The thing is what I do with the one I have now. Do I try selling it? Keep it? Give it to my son? Any suggestions?
    Thanks for reading
    Tnerb

  7. Tnerb

    How much is too much?

    By Tnerb,

    If I had it, would I spend it?
    I never saved. I just spent, no second thoughts, just charge it and I?d pay for it later. Later never came. I went through some hard financial times and I?m glad I did because if I didn?t learn that lesson then I think I?d be learning it now.
    PedigreeComics.Com recently has an auction with a comic I wanted. I decided on my limit and stuck with it. The book in question was a signed copy of New Mutants #98 by Rob Liefeld graded by CGC in a 9.9. The book sold for $6,601.
    The issue was released in 1991, only a year older than my son. Being a 9.9 (the book, as far as I am concerned my son is a ten) is rare, but being a 9.9 Signature Series makes it even rarer. Is there a possibility that another one will manifest? I believe so, but you have to have ?Longshot?s? luck to be able to come across a gem like that.
    My question is with a 9.8 (as of this writing 593 copies, 36 of which are signed) fetching between two and three hundred dollars (unsigned), is a SS 9.9 (as of this writing 3 copies, 1 of which is signed) worth what was spent or am I just questioning the value because I can?t afford it, and to go further in thought what would it have sold for if this signed copy was graded a perfect 10.
    When I purchase raw books (back issues anyway, I am getting sick of paying $3.99 a book) if the price does not match what I want to pay I pass on it. Third party graded books eases that tension, because let?s face it, no one would dare spend that much ($6,601) on that book (New Mutants #98) if it was bagged and boarded with a sticker saying it was a 9.9.
    I was honestly willing to pay $1000 (which was the opening bid). If I had the money I probably would have topped at $1500. And if I had the $6601 I would have bought the best possible ungraded copies of Daredevil #1 and #7 I could find, send it in to CGC to get graded, and still have money left over.
    Thanks for Reading
    Tnerb
  8. Tnerb

    Moving into Second

    By Tnerb,

    Only three more points to go
    I have been keeping to my word and collecting within the boundaries of the rules I set. I was able to purchase two more issues of Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #3 and #5 in a 9.8 at a very good price. I could not find any more Longshots in a 9.8. I realized I should have purchased them when I had the chance. I was able to add seven more issues to my New Mutants series.
    Four of the series have already been added to the registry, books I purchased directly from a website, the other four I won off of E-bay. As you?re doing the math in your head you?re probably saying?. Wait a minute, that?s eight books. One of the books is an upgrade to my New Mutants #18 Signature Series. The problem is it is a ?9.8 Off-White to White pages?. It does however have two signatures. The new #18 that will be coming my way has one signature but has white pages. The other three are numbers I do not have yet.
     
    I have recently become three points away from second place. Once I get the four books in and add the three I do not have to my registry I will be placed in second. A slot currently held by HiTMAN1099. How long I will be in second I do not know. I don?t say this because I will be in first soon, far from it. I say this because HiTMAN1099 is overall in second place. I am sure if he wanted to he could purchase what he needs to set himself securely in second and pretty sure he could come very close to first if not take over the spot. But until he does I will take my place in second and continue to follow my rules and complete what I can of my favorite series.
     
    Thanks for reading
    Tnerb
    PS this is one of the books that brought me closer...not to mention one of my top 5 favorite New Mutants covers.

  9. Tnerb

    Teetering on the Brink

    By Tnerb,

    I was hoping if I bid a little more it would be mine.
    I don?t know how I do it. I am not bragging, just baffled. Every month I budget for rent, expenses, insurance, food, and comic books. My comic book fund is divvied up every Wednesday for new books. The left over amount is set aside for E-bay, Worldwide Comics, Heritage auctions, Comic link and most recently Pedigree comics. All are .com?s. On the latter was a copy of New Mutants #99 in a 9.9 signed by Rob Liefeld. I saw this book posted a week before the bidding and went over my budget scrounging up dollar after dollar to bid on it. All bids started at $100.
    I did the math in my head on what I thought the book would go for. My guesstimate was $500. I realized I could bid up to a thousand dollars without hurting my ability to pay my bills. I double checked the math on paper. I was set. The auction was to begin 29-Aug-10 to start on a Sunday at 8PM and by the time I signed on and checked to see if someone placed the opening bid of $100 it was only 9 O?clock.
    On E-bay I have learned to bid in the last seconds. This process has both secured me what I was hoping for as much as it has helped others as I cursed my slightly sporadic internet service due to living in a semi-buried bottom floor apartment. Darn Wireless. A few times I have had to bid a few hours before it ended because I had to go to work. Sometime I won, sometimes I didn't.
    For this book I was hoping I would have the following ten days to watch ?MY? book be bid on and slowly make its way up to $300, and then with two days left someone would test the waters and bring the bid to $500, still well under what I was budgeting for. I was floored when the opening bid was a $1000.00. I am out of the running although to be honest I did decide to revisit my budget and see if by all possibility if I could bid on it. I couldn?t.
    I started thinking about this journal when I saw the book first up for preview in the auction. I followed it and watched it end. Although I was asleep at the time it ended I checked the auction to find out how much it sold for. I went to sleep when it was $1449.00 with the reserve not met and only a little over four hours to go. I woke up with the final price $6601.00. And to think I was teetering on the brink of bidding more, and at the end of the day?.it still wouldn?t have been enough.
    Thanks for reading
    Tnerb
    PS. The following photo was what I had no chance to acquire.

  10. Tnerb
    3 posts in 3 days or I love this site
    OK! how happy am I? Less than a week ago I posted a journal, in fact it was only a couple days ago about discussing items on the chat boards. So far I have not been able to do so, until today. I worked the pass 13 hours and snuck checking my e-mail for news I was hoping for. I had begun to act strange, stranger than normal as my co-workers would say when I got the approval to sign into the chat boards with my current e-mail address. I was upset with my internet provider that they did not have e-mail addresses. I know strange.
    I appreciate what the registry has done for me and allowed me the opportunity to enjoy the site even more. I still plan on questioning certain 9.8?s validity and even look into the slab shake problem, although I hear they have improved upon this from earlier years. I like my hobby and although I am not vested in it as others I still care what comes and what goes. And what arrived on the scene about ten years was this company that started to tell you what was wrong with a book and what wasn?t. I didn?t know them at this point and only heard about them five years ago and finally purchased my first encapsulated book three years ago. Only just yesterday (3-Sep-10) did I send in my first submissions.
    So let me end this third journal in as many days. Check out E-bay and heritage auctions, since comic link has a copy of New Mutants 98 in a 9.9 way too far out of my price range (go get it Bagofleas). I hope to learn more about the chat boards before jumping in, although I am sure the water is fine. I have been given this opportunity to easily transgress the free e-mail ban and earn the trust given to me, and a special thank you to Gemma for making this happen.
    Thanks for Reading
    Tnerb
  11. Tnerb
    Two journals in two days.
    I am sitting here in front of my TV at 1am, Season Two of Smallville is playing in my DVD player, a brand new package arrived earlier today (which I am pleased as anything to have received and although comic related is not a CGC graded comic) and I have a box sitting on my coffee table with my first submission to CGC. I am nervous. I am afraid that the USPS will lose them. They are not valuable (they are priceless). They are issues 1-10 of The New Mutants. I will be very surprised if any of them get graded above a 7.0 and feel at a very quick look they should be graded between a 5 and 6.5.
    I was going to spend the time evaluating the comics and grading them myself before sending them in. I have put off joining for a few years and fear that after spending the money (money that could have bought a graded comic) and never taking advantage of being able to send my own books in, If I waited I would only make another excuse for not send something in. I spent some time online, joining through USPS and printed a label. Now I only have to wait till tomorrow and bring it to the post office and then my hesitancy will be over. After this though I think I will make sure that everything I send in will be self graded just to give me a better understanding of CGC?s grading policies, not to mention I like doing it.
    I became addicted to buying encapsulated books, I wonder now if I will also become addicted to sending in books as well. If I knew I could get more 9.8?s out of my collection I would send more of my books in. My total to send in my books getting them there and back will cost me about $220.00. To me that is a pretty good markup if I would sell the books at an average of $50 a piece. Until I have a better ability to ?Buy to Sell? I do believe I will send in my other 90 some odd books to finally have a full collection of 9.8?s. I love the fact that Bagofleas has almost a full collection in 9.8 with white pages and I believe the only way to get a full set before him is to get my own graded. It is because of him that I allowed myself to enjoy collecting CGC books. So I thank him for that.
    I also think it would be interesting to see the years I collected comics as a geologist, the top layer being my 4.5 copy of #15 all the way up to issue #100. What changes did I make in my collecting practices from first hording them in my sock drawer to my first comic book box? After that who knows what I will have graded next. I always thought that I would buy a book and only sell it when I got a better grade and now that I am 100% sure on the grade would I actually sell the first copy I ever got or keep it and read it all over again for sentimental reasons.
    Thanks for reading.
    Tnerb
  12. Tnerb

    Discuss on the Chat Boards

    By Tnerb,

    But wait there's more.....
    I cannot use the registry how I would like too. I have a Yahoo e-mail address which is under the free e-mail banned list for the ability to use the chat boards. I would truly love to be able to join in on the chats to broaden my experience. I called the registry to ask questions about my new membership and how to acquire my 10% discount to send in my books. I thought since I was already on the phone I would inquire about a few more things. I must say that they were extremely helpful. One of the additional questions I asked about was since I was a member if I could somehow be allowed to use the boards. The answer was no.
    I of course did not like the answer I received but I understand why. I tried to get an e-mail address through my provider before through the website but to no avail. This time I tried calling them to find out how to do so. After being on the phone for a bit of time the answer I received was another negative. They did not have internet e-mail addresses they could give me. I have another idea for a ?paid? e-mail address before I decide to cancel my current internet service and move to one that will provide me with an e-mail address that I can use with the registry.
    On one of my journal?s I mistakenly added the link to be able to Discuss on the Chat Boards. I hadn?t thought about doing it, I just did. I recently did it again, subconsciously. Two people mentioned about my journal on the boards and although I could not add to it I did enjoy reading it. It was short thoughts but I look forward to more and more comments for me to at least read and maybe thoroughly delve into during another journal entry. I tried to add it again to allow my journal to be discussed and could not, even with the box checked off. If I knew how I just might continue to add the ability to Discuss on the Chat Boards for feedback on my journals not to mention the hopes that others will share their memories and more importantly discuss their favorite comic books, but until i figure out how to do it on purpose I am going to have to settle for figuring out how to do it accidentally....oops I have to go...the Fex-ex truck is here.
    Thanks for reading
    Tnerb
  13. Tnerb

    Finally hit a 100 Pt. 2

    By Tnerb,

    Only hitting a double bull twice on one round of Darts could be any better than this.
    Finally hit a 100 Pt. 2
    When I first wrote about hitting a ?100? I was so swollen with pride that one of my entries reached that majestic milestone. Now I have reached that at least 40 times with multiple journals not to mention a few that reached over 200. I would be lying if I told you I was not looking forward to hitting 300 views on my journals. No, this 100 is a bit more, I finally have 100 registered CGC certified books. I did reach 100 encapsulated books a small while ago but not all of them are on the registry in sets. At least if they are I have no idea where they are located.
    I am waiting patiently for the likes of the limited series ?X-Infernus? to be added as well as the X-men/Alpha Flight ?2? book series where they went to Asgard. If you haven?t read this mini/maxi (if I remember correctly this also contributed to X-men Annual #9 and New Mutants Special #1 along with a few Issues of their normal series, #200 and #35 respectively) series then I must recommend this one?then slab it when done. The honor of my 100th encapsulated book (on the registry) goes to my copy of The New Mutants #88 in a 9.8 signature edition. I fear I am becoming addicted to the signed books as quickly as I succumbed to getting certified graded comics.
    I understand the rules implemented by CGC for the signature series and I have yet to hear back from them since I found out there will be three collaborators on one of the books I would love to have signed yet have no possible way to get there. I am hoping to send them the book and get all three signatures. Of course it will be my 4.5 of New Mutants #15 and if I can swing it my already graded 9.8 copy of New Mutants #1(dare I do so even with the possibility the book gets?.gasp?.downgraded). I sent them an e-mail and received a response saying that they will forward it along since I am not doing this in bulk. I have not had a response. I plan on calling today.
    Of course I realize I am only a collector, but isn?t that what makes this hobby. Why don?t they (CGC) have instances where we (collectors) can send in these books to get signed? Are they trying to work with stores, companies and Auction sites so they can get a larger percent? I wanted to bid on a copy of New Mutants #98 in a 9.9 condition signed by Rob Liefeld. In the first hour it was already at a $1000 bid (currently at $1,125.00). My absolute maximum I was able to bid without going into my funds that pay for my bills was a $1000. (C?mon winning lottery ticket?.stressing the winning part). Am I OK with that? Yes, but I am not OK with not having the ability to send my book to a company to get signed for me due to the rules and regulations they impose.
    Wow, did I get off subject. Anyway?.I finally reached a 100 and I am happy to have done so. I am on my way to two hundred, of course now that I became a member reaching 200 will be quicker because I am getting ready to send in my New Mutants 1 through 10 to get graded (more on that later). 98% of my books I write about. Most of them are memories dealing with that book or others close to it, if you enjoy my journal?s try reading my experiences with each book. Eventually I will edit them all and make them crisp to read, maybe I should do that for my journal?s too. After all writing these journal?s are fun, sharing the experiences is also fun, and knowing that there are so many of you out there along the journey with me on our own separate ways is enjoyable to think about.
    Thanks for reading
    Tnerb
    PS. Since originally writing this I have made the call to CGC for the answers to some of the things I have ranted for and am happy with the conversation I had. The person I talked to was very informative and patient with my questions which I seemed to remember more and more as we talked. Although I did not yet get an answer about sending in a small amount of books I understand the business stand point and hope they do reassess the abilities they do have to what they hope to accomplish for us as collectors. If that didn?t make sense I might go into it deeper. The second part of this Post Scriptum is although I do have the copy of New Mutants #88 in my possession it has still not hit my registry due to the previous owner has not taken it off of his. (I hope I did so successfully for the ?Incredible Hulk #181? I sold). I hope that this will be resolved before I receive any more CGC graded books. I would hate for The New Mutants #88 to be book 101.
    PPS. Please add the following series to the registry. The picture might be a slight hint.

  14. Tnerb
    How did I do compared to Part 1?
    I hope you enjoyed hearing about Wizard World Philadelphia. I hope whoever goes to the Chicago show could post a few journals. I would like to know how it goes. As for the first day for me I dropped my books off first thing Friday. I got them back first thing Saturday. I then took them to my Father?s because I really didn't feel like lugging ten freshly ?slabbed? books around, and then after I dropped them off all I wanted to do was look at them. The question is how did I do? Did I grade properly, did I score or did I fail?
    The first book I mentioned was a PGX copy of The New Mutants in a 9.9. I guessed that CGC would not honor the grade that their rival company gave and even low balled it at a 9.6. They Gave a 9.8. I am pleased with the grade. (Although I do wish they gave it a 9.9, I wonder what the minute difference was.)
    The Second book I mentioned was Daredevil #505 Deadpool variant. I mentioned that I thought they would grade the book at a 9.8 but once again low balled it to a 9.6. I would rather under-grade and be pleased then the other way around. They graded it a 9.8
    The third book in this grouping is a copy of X-men Vol.1 #42. I purchased this from the back issues bins of my first favorite comic book shop. This one has begins my concerns. I graded this 6.0 by my grading standards (not to mention the Overstreet?s grading guide). Then I started to look at other books CGC already graded and rose what I thought was respectable to an 8.0. We apparently agreed somewhere in the middle and the book was graded a 7.0
    My fourth book graded is X-men Vol.1 #142. This was another book that I decided to compare against others I have graded that I purchased through e-Bay. Comparing it to the #141 of the same series I thought it should have been a 9.6. However I stuck to my guns and graded this 9.2. It was graded a 9.2. I don?t know how I feel about that. I think I might invest in a magnifying class and look them both over and use the numbering system for each defect.
    My fifth book is a copy of Uncanny X-men #213. I no longer have to do the volume count since it is an official title change. I bought this and looked it over at the convention I originally bought it at thinking a 9.8 was assured?.I will never do that again without opening the bag (or at the very least asking them to open the bag). It was graded 9.6. This one is going to go up for sale (as soon as I get the courage) and I am going to try again.
    OK those are my first five out of my ten. If you like compare what I said there to what I said here just so you know I am not full of it. Did I pass?.Did I fail? I?ll let you decide because I think I still need work. For now on though I won?t compare anything to an already encapsulated book?.I will grade the way I know how, not to mention I will ask for any bag to be opened to get a better look at it. I think I purchase a beautiful copy of Sub-Mariner #10 for only $20, but we're not talking about raw books here. Maybe next year I will get it graded.
     
    Thanks for reading.
    Tnerb
  15. Tnerb

    Buy to Sell? Pt 4

    By Tnerb,

    The ball is at the 30, the kick is made and the attempt is......
    I can?t say that I have done it yet but I can say that I am doing it. I have a few encapsulated books and a few raw copies up for sale on E-bay. One of those books I have up for bid is Incredible Hulk #181 in a 3.5 condition. This has been in my collection for who knows how long. I got it graded knowing it would receive a low grade but did so anyway because it was the 1st full appearance of Wolverine.
    Arguably I didn?t purchase this book to sell since as I mentioned I have had it for an unspecified amount of time. The Daredevil #1 (Vol. 1, 1964) though that I purchased only about a month ago I also placed on E-bay. Sure I could be asked why am I selling a book that I waited about twenty years to purchase, a book that is 46 years old?..and well considerably older than I. Well, I am probably doing it to see if I can.
    I do want this book (Daredevil #1, the first appearance of Wolverine?not so much) in a much better condition, at least a 9.0 is my greatest hope. I bought this from an auction thinking there was no way I could win. Since this book has no sentimental value to me I believe this makes it easier with the eventual departure (I hope.) Of course selling it is only a portion of the equation, someone?s got to buy it.
    Thanks for Reading
    Tnerb
  16. Tnerb

    Membership

    By Tnerb,

    Does it have its privileges?
    It only took me a few years since my first CGC comic was purchased to now (16-Aug-10) when I finally decided to splurge the full $39 and purchase a membership. I enjoy the website for what it is. I hope to utilize it more (one day) with the message boards but at the moment I am happy with the journals and the registry. I like placing my books online for everyone else to see as much as I like to see what a few select have.
    Every year I would bring some books to Wizard World in Philadelphia and get a few of them graded. Now I have a plan, both a business plan and a greedy plan. I will send in 10 books a month starting in September. A few I will send in for my collection and the others to sell. In fact I am trying right now to sell my first CGC graded comic book on e-Bay (an Incredible Hulk 181 in a 3.5). I will put a few more up (other graded books not Incredible Hulks)as the week goes on but that will be a journal for later in the week.
    I didn?t get the premium membership because as far as the three free coupons are concerned I have no idea what books I would want to send in (let alone would they be worth it) and do not want to waste those additional funds. Maybe next year I will have a bit more money to spend on a Daredevil #7 high grade and get it graded. I know you have to spend money to make money and I wish I did this before getting rid or a great many books including an Iron Man #1 at one point and more recently an Avenger?s #6. I finally got an Avenger?s #57 and I might even get that graded and in turn sell it. I always wanted to own that book and now that I do I have accomplished that goal.
    Is it greed or is it a means to an end. If I am lucky I will sell a great many things on e-Bay just to clear out my place to make room for more comic books. I hope that having this membership it will allow me to send in my own books to get graded, not so much the ability to but since I paid for it then I should utilize this tool that I have. Of course I will sell some of the books I get graded but I am mostly doing this to get all my New Mutants graded and I will see a year from now if membership has its privileges.
    Thanks for reading
    Tnerb
  17. Tnerb

    White Vs. Off-White

    By Tnerb,

    Does the interior matter if you never open the slab?
    When I was younger the only thing I graded a comic on was the cover. I didn?t raid the back issue bins of the comic shops I did go to, although I should have. It is that whole hindsight being 20/20. I am cheap in my collecting. I will not spend more than what I think a book is worth. I find this to be true with encapsulated books as well. I used to only look at the cover and if it passed my ?eye? test I bought it (now the eye test is followed by the ?will you open the bag and let me look it over? test). I didn?t think about the interior, staples, or back cover. The cover had to pop and if it did I bought it.
    In April of 2009 I decided I would indeed start collecting books graded by CGC. My first priority would be the New Mutants; my second priority would be everything else (this only applies for CGC books. Daredevil is still my first goal, one I am coming close to attaining). A couple thousand dollars later I am realizing my mistake and have gone back to one of my original decisions. First and foremost would be The New Mutants, followed by Longshot and Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars. I want all of them in a 9.8. My amendment to this rule is a 9.0 or greater for Tales to Astonish #70 to #101. (Am I strong enough to do this?)
    I bid on e-Bay like everyone else. I use Heritage and Comic-link as well for my graded comic books. (All my new books are currently being purchased at Fat Jack?s). Of course at this rate I have no idea how I am going to start saving for next year?s Wizard World. I try my best to keep all my books in order. This does not always work so once in a while at 3 in the morning I go through my comic books and subjugate them to more handling then they deserve. As I was doing this I noticed two of my priced possessions (?The New Mutants? #18 and #19) are not only signature series 9.8?s (the reason I bought them, twice) they are unfortunately White to Off-White.
    I of course want the whole series in a 9.8, but I also want the whole series to be in white pages. So how do I treat these? They are beautiful and let?s face it, if it was never mentioned on the outside of the slab I never would have known the pages were not ?White?. This brings up my ability to look over the entire description in any auction just because it is a 9.8 and a double signature series (did I mention that I had to buy them twice) made me overlook that crucial detail until a few months later.
    Another auction that just ended had me going outside my means as I bid on and won ?Uncanny X-men? #180. The first X-men I picked up off a 7-11 rack. I lost a day and a half before on one and when I saw the second I bid crazily for it. I was happy I even paid a 1.50 less than the one I lost, but wait, what?s this. The other one was ?White? pages and this was ?White to Off-White?. Was I denied a great book? I paid a bit less than what my average price for a modern graded book but did I pay too much for something that was not the greatest 9.8 I could get?(dare I mention a hope for a 9.9 or 10?)
    Sure I understand that if this was a Tales to Astonish from the 60?s but something from the early 80?s. I could almost hear Yoda?s voice telling me I have to learn patience, followed by my voice saying ?ah get it you want it.? Then of course I have to readjust what I am going to spend. I mentioned I have no problem spending on a book in a 9.8 for what I think it?s worth but will I spend on the same book what someone else thinks it?s worth?
    Then there?s that pesky page color issue. Can I go back to my youth and just be happy with the cover and not worry about the interior or back cover, and especially not care if part of page 7 in the lower left hand corner has the distinct malfunction to be slightly ?Off-White? compared to the rest of the book. Who knows maybe next they will mark the book if it was in a plastic bag before grading or a pristine Mylar and if it came with a board and ironing instructions.
    Thanks for Reading
    Tnerb

  18. Tnerb

    Lost in Transit

    By Tnerb,

    Is signature required worth it?
    There is nothing more exhilarating than coming home and seeing a package sitting there waiting for you. When I first started purchasing through e-Bay, heritage, and ComicLink I loved the anticipation of the package coming my way. I would check on-line and see when it would arrive. Working overnights makes it easier to get my packages right away rather than waiting to get home from work and hoping it will be there waiting for me. On occasion I am too tired and fall asleep and can?t wait to open the door and have the package that was leaning against my door fall into the apartment. Twice I had the package state it was delivered through delivery confirmation and it wasn?t.
    I had two books scheduled today for delivery and I knew I wouldn't be there to accept them. One was being delivered today through Fed-ex (which I knew would not leave it behind) and the other was through the dreaded USPS. I say dreaded because they lost two of my packages. I called the Post Office to make sure they did not drop it off because being that I waited about 20 years to purchase a Daredevil #1 I did not want them to lose this particular issue. They changed it from delivery confirmed to Signature confirmed. Sure, I have to wait a day longer but I know that I will get it.
    I still remember the three issues I never received and am still upset about it. It felt like throwing away money. At times I wonder where they are (I even have a customer at night tell me that the books will still get to me) and have done all I can to make sure it never happens again. I don?t pay more than what I think a comic book is worth and I have realized that paying a bit more for a signature is well worth the wait.
     
    Thanks for reading.
    Tnerb

  19. Tnerb

    Storage Pt 2

    By Tnerb,

    Oh No! Not again.
    I know I wouldn?t be spending what I am spending on comic books if it wasn?t for the internet. Then again if it wasn?t for the internet I wouldn?t be collecting CGC graded books. I would probably have the same five I got more on a lark than as a collectible. I also would not be rejuvenated in my collecting as I have been. I am trying to cut down on collecting what I read because I think that I would rather have them collected and bound on a book shelf. I might even save some space this way. I wrote about my storage situation months ago thinking I would have a bit more time before the thoughts in my head crashed with the reality I am out of space.
    With the internet I have been purchasing encapsulated books a lot quicker than if I could only get them at a convention. I need to start wondering how I want to start collecting. I can continue doing what I am doing. Buy my books, read my books, and then purchase 9.8?s of the same book. I could stop collecting all but the four main series I really enjoy and then collect 9.8?s 4 the modern books I skipped on and read them when they are released in hardcover trade. The other is to make a list of how and what to trade and stick with it. (How many of you out there are succeeding with this).
    This last Wizard World I decided to start collecting a little bit more. I decided to attempt to collect ?Tales to Astonish? starting with #70. I looked at that particular issue along with 95 and 98. I wanted to read them but settled with purchasing #95 in a 9.0 (in a recent auction) and wondering if I decide to collect them this way and give up the chance to read them should I not splurge and spend the extra money (in this case a few hundred) on a 9.8 rather than settle for a 9.0, which brings me back to the storage issue. If I collect from 70- 100, that is one complete CGC box (which is equivalent to one third of allotted shelf space).
    My first love is reading the books, my second is collecting them, and the third is getting the best possible condition (that I can afford). I just have not decided how I am going to go about it. I do not wish to be back in the situation where I have to dump my books just for room. I don?t want to move to a larger place just to be able to store them (I have a very cheap rent at the moment). I don?t want to stop reading them or collecting. OK the truth is I know what I have to do, I just don?t know if I want to (or if I am able).
    Thanks for Reading
    Tnerb

  20. Tnerb

    Buy to Sell? Pt 3

    By Tnerb,

    I bought, but now can I sell?
    Buy to Sell Pt 3
    I started to purchase raw books to work on an idea. This idea is to live off of buying and selling comic books. I would love to own my own comic books shop one day and I have to start somewhere. I do not yet know if this is a good idea or a bad idea, only time will tell. I purchased a short box of comics hoping to sell and make a small profit. During my quest to purchase lots I placed a bid for a Daredevil #1. CGC graded this book a 3.5
    I wrote about this book and how I wanted at least a 9.0. I only placed a bid on this book as an afterthought thinking there was no way I could ever win, I was wrong. I didn?t spend more than I wanted to and I already feel I?d be willing to sell it at a slightly higher price, something I don?t know if I could if it was in a slightly higher condition. I don?t mind waiting tables but I would so much love to sell comic books as my main means of support.
    I know one of my problems will be the books I buy I will want to keep. Could I buy low graded reading copies for resale cheaply so people who want to read them will be able to read the original for a cheap price? AT Wizard World Philadelphia 2010 one of the people next to me picking up their books was picking up a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15, a book I never wanted, until just then. It was probably what he said that helped me decide to bid on the Daredevil #1, it doesn?t matter what the condition is, it matters that it?s mine.
    I love being part of this hobby. I love being able to set a goal and complete it and I am almost finished my first major run. Once I get my Daredevil #1 in I will only need five more, less that 1% of the full run and then I just might decide to sell it off (the #1, not the full series) and then I?ll finally be able to buy to sell.
    Thanks for reading.
    Tnerb

  21. Tnerb

    My 50th Journal

    By Tnerb,

    And the odds are 50/50
    This is it, my 50th journal. Of course I got my second set of 25 a lot quicker than I got my first set of 25. Having written a 4 part journal about my time at Wizard World Philadelphia 2010 most likely helped. I tried to give a quick summary of my experience there. One of my favorite things was having my books graded there by CGC. The one day wait cannot be beat.
    As I did in My 25th Journal (3-27-10) I touched base on previous journals I have written. I wrote about the Golden State Collection (4-16-10) and whether they were a pedigree or not. I believe the final answer is a no. I wrote about the first two comics to hit the million dollar mark in Action #1 vs. Detective #27 (3-31-10). I am still astonished at the mark up percentile for Detective #27. Of course a month later a second Action #1 sold for 1.5 million dollars, this one graded an 8.5.
    After the elevated feeling of researching for the previous journal I researched a bit more. This was for my two part journal (with two different titles) Pressing the issue (5-28-10) and Ironing out the Details (6-1-10). I still wish to continue with this, even going as far as turning in my ASM #129 for a possible upgrade in condition. It would be nice to have it in a 9.4 or 9.6. I even wondered about the difference between CGC and PGX in CGC vs. PGX (5-5). I took my copy of New Mutants #5 in a 9.9 by PGX (which was stated as the only copy graded by PGX on the day Michael Jackson passed away) hoping for the same grade by CGC but expecting a 9.8. I got a 9.8. I still don?t understand what one company found wrong that the other did not.
    I am going to continue to write. I?ll research on some, rant on others, and reminisce even more. Go back and read the ones if you missed them, or reread them and send along your opinion or ideas. I left the dates to make it easier but now I have 50 done and plan on 50 more, but let?s see what I will have to talk about when I achieve my 75th journal.
    Thanks for reading
    Tnerb
  22. Tnerb

    Trying something New

    By Tnerb,

    It's only expensive if I buy it.
    Years (and Years) ago I asked a person that I have came to know and trust what they could recommend to read. They went directly to the back issue bin and showed me a run of issues of Daredevil. I picked up my first one and was enthralled. After the original series of The New Mutants was cancelled I started to complete my Daredevil run, if I were a better collector I would probably already have the collection complete. I am happy to say that I am only six issues away from a complete run. Although I am having a great time collecting encapsulated books my first and foremost love is to read them.
    I am not a DC fan. Marvel is the company I fell in love with, the characters, the artwork, the stories, and well especially the covers (wouldn?t that be under artwork) but once in a while I enjoy reading a story just for the story. The Blackest Night is the newest story to enthrall me. I knew from the second I saw it that I would love it but I made a decision to not collect outside my collection and this meant not to collect anything I don?t already love. I picked up the All Star Series from DC and lately I love the Batman and Robin and I have collected Green lantern off and on (love the Emerald Dawn series). I now wait for the trade to come out and read the story straight through. (Blackest Night was great after all).
    So here I am at the local Philadelphia Comic-Con Picking up Daredevil #27, marking it off my want list, and the gentleman who owns the comics I am looking at I have gained a respect for, a respect enough to ask him what I only asked one other person, what do you recommend. I wanted a silver age book, I wanted something with a good story, and I wanted something well written. He asked me what I liked, and then showed me a few Batman comics. Even though I don?t collect them I looked them over and thought the covers were great. I picked up Detective Comics #388 & #408 and Batman #237. I haven?t read them yet but I will directly after work.
    Now I know that when I first started Daredevil I was not thinking about getting all of them and I hope that I will not feel that way with The Detective and Batman run, but if I do I know that I will first have to collect the full run of Uncanny X-men and Amazing Spider-Man.
    Thanks for Reading
    Tnerb

  23. Tnerb
    With six issues graded I am on my way.
    3 different boxes (maybe four), 15 different living spaces, and 26 years later from the 7-11 on Krewstown road to my brand new CGC box in a yet undetermined shelf space. All those years ago I am sure I picked up a pristine 9.4 copy of this book, otherwise known as near mint (maybe even a 9.6). I am also sure a month later this would have been downgraded to an 8.0 after my constant reading and rereading.
    This issue was in a box with no bag and no board. In fact for about my first five years collecting I didn?t bag and board any of my books (actually there were a few instances like New Mutants #50 and #54) If I bought it with a bag and board I left them in there. I truly wish someone would have taken me by the hand and taught me how to take care of my collection, or at the very least thought the opposite of why should I waste my money on them when I can just buy more comics. Occasionally as time went on, before my serious archival standards, I purchased Mylar bags at .55 each.
    Going through my things I found an old notebook with a list of my comics, some were graded. This book had my New Mutants #15 in there and what I graded it at. I gave it a 6.5 and ?maybe? no lower than a 6.0. I was so na?ve. In part 4 of my journal ?10 to get graded? I stated I would be lucky if this book received a 5.0, but I thought it would be a 4. I got it back encapsulate (in less than 24hrs) a 4.5, one full point higher than my Incredible Hulk #181.
    This is the beginning. I also got #?s 50, 54, 87, 98, and the Special Edition all graded. These 6 are only the beginning of getting a full set of New Mutants. Of course this set won?t be full of 9.8?s (hopefully I have a few) but they are the ones I had purchased from the shelf, (not including the issues before #15) My original set, the Tnerb collection.
     
    Thanks for Reading
    Tnerb
  24. Tnerb
    The final five...or is it?
    This is part four of the original ten I brought with me to Wizard World Philadelphia 2010 to be graded. I have slowly been putting them on the registry. I have a few that I do not know if I will put on the registry, and then I have a few that I cannot put on the registry. Unfortunately I have a free e-mail access and do not have access to the boards which limits my ability to suggest sets. Maybe that will be a post for another time, but now let?s see how I did.
    As in Part 2 I started with The Uncanny X-men #134. I did not collect this series all together. I already had the trade paperback so I was happy to be able to read them that way. This book though was sold to me at a really good price, but expensive to me at that time. My initial guess for this book was a 9.4 and a lowered my guess to a 9.2 (I tend to always lower my grade so I feel better) and the final grade was a 9.4. However, one thing I have never looked at was page color, this book received a ?Off-White to White Pages? Still, not bad at all.
    My X-men #52 was my biggest ?good? surprise. This was one of those books I bought just to get an older book in a series I wanted to get all of, Daredevil is becoming a closer reality, but this book helped my get a foothold in the Silver-age (side note Uruguay just got a goal) X-men. Not only did it get White pages, it also received a 9.0, As I mentioned a I low-grade but never did I think this would receive above an 8.5 and I was so sure it would be an 8 I didn?t even mention a higher grade so I am very happy with a 9.
    The next book up is #54 from my favorite series The New Mutants. The black back ground and colorful foreground draws my eyes all over the page. A great cover from this series. I hoped upon hope that I would get a 9.8, the first of the series of my New Mutants books, alas so far I haven?t this book only received a 9.6 and I am ecstatic about it. Sure I would have loved this book getting a higher grade but I was 15 when I purchased the book off the rack, read it numerous times and I was still safe with it, as I mentioned I wish I kept all my books like this.
    My fourth book was my ?bad? surprise. I have a copy of Sub-Mariner #38 and I wanted to upgrade to a better condition. I found this one and was very happy with it. I looked it over and was amazed at the condition, I didn?t look close enough. Apparently the book was trimmed. As I look closer I can see the cuts and now I will look for them more closely the next time around. I thought the book would have been graded a 9.0 and maybe if it wasn?t trimmed it would have, but in this case it has a purple restored sticker with a 9.4. One I can live with.
    As for the last book, the comic that started it all, my New Mutants #15?well I?ll let you know next time. I am going to post these four and see where I am on the registry.
    Thanks for reading
    Tnerb
  25. Tnerb

    Finally Breaking 700

    By Tnerb,

    Am I reaching a Milestone?
    I collect what I want how I want and well, quite frankly what I can afford. I love getting My New Mutants run. I am having fun trying to get some Daredevil's and X-men's. I seem to be stagnant in my other two that I wish to complete (Longshot and Marvel Secret Wars). I just entered in a few more books I purchased through E-bay. I have five more in my book bag I will try to enter in tonight.
    Those additional five will throw me over the 700 mark for my registry place. I know this is calculated by points, a point system I do not get. I realize that demand is what places a book in a higher point tier, so does the age of the book, a combination of the two really help ones placement on the registry. until recently most of my books have been 35 points here, and 25 there.
    It has been noted in these journals before(Surfer99) about points (you should read them). One of the books I am searching for in a 9.8 has a ridiculously high price tag compared to the points it would achieve (35). I am fine with that (the points not the price), especially since I am not shelling out that type of money(at least not yet) It is New Mutants #98.
    Do I collect by points? I don't think so. Am I happy when I hit a milestone? I have to admit I am (I was happy when one of my journals got it's first one hundred views) and when I get to work tonight, in the early stretches of the morning (about 4am)I plan on finally entering into the six hundred range. To me it is a milestone akin to collecting a book for a hundred issues straight, or maybe like reaching another birthday.
    (written on the fly)
    Thanks for Reading
    Tnerb