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Holmes

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Journal Entries posted by Holmes

  1. Holmes

    An Old Timer Newbie

    By Holmes,

    Why a collector of 47 years is just now starting on CGC
    While I have been actively collecting and storing (and driving my family crazy with) comics since 1963, I have just recently become involved with CGC graded books. Though I have been buying and selling (mostly buying) comics online for many years I saw no real reason to pay premiums for 3rd party graded books.
    However as the market began to stabilize I got curious and purchased a copy of X-Men 96 (6.5) to see what all the fuss was all about.
    What impressed me most was the care that goes into the encapsulation process. This, to me seemed a perfect way, to preserve some of my own Silver Age books, especially my square bound 80 Page Giants and Annuals. After talking to several dealers who send out books for their customers I decided to handle the process myself and took a premium membership. I figured that if I did not like the process I would only be out the cost of membership as the first three books are graded free with the coupon that comes with premium membership.
    After spending a lot of time with my collection I decided on Annual #1, Adventure #277 and FF #1 (Golden Record Reprint). These books are not actually the cream of my collection condition wise but they are of great sentimental value and I wanted them preserved regardless of the resale value. The Superman Annual #1 in particular is special to me as it is the very first comic book I ever owned and I have had it since 1963. Which was three years after it was first on the stands. The candy store in my neighborhood had STACKS of old comics going back years. (this was long before the advent of the comic shop) With the steel trap logic of a seven year old I figured 80 pages of Superman couldn?t be beat. PLUS, since the book was already three years old I got it for a nickel! In any event that old book and I have been together for nearly 47 years and I figured it was a good time to give it a nice ?retirement? home. Once I get that back I plan to purchase a frame that will accommodate a CGC slab and hang it in my office.
    With the New York Comic Con coming up in a couple of weeks, I have prepared a nice stack of books to submit at the show (including a full run of the Neal Adams run of green lantern/Green Arrow!). So my CGC collection will be growing pretty rapidly in the next few months. I don?t know how much selling I will do but CGC seems like the perfect way to preserve my collection going forward.
    I am curious about how many hobbyists have books encapsulated for resale as opposed to collectors, like me, for preservation.
     
    That?s 30!
    Mitch
    (And just to celebrate I just added a copy Of Killing Joke to the collection)

  2. Holmes

    It's Been A GOOD Day

    By Holmes,

    An old favorite came in the mail and I scored some high grade raw Tomb Of Dracula to send in for grading!
    For as long as I have been collecting comics one of my favorite titles has always been Adventure Comics. Especially those great Legion of Superheroes issues with the covers by the iconic Curt Swan! Today the 7.0 copy of Adventure #349 came in the mail and it looks GREAT! I just got word that the #277 I sent in to CGC got a 6.0 grade. A little lower than i had hoped for but I am still learning my way around here!
    And THEN I scored a raw copy of Tomb of Dracula #1 and #10 at a very sweet price. They are nice high grade copies which I plan to submit at NYCC in a couple of weeks. My long term plan is to get the full 70 issue run ALL in CGC slabs!
    In the mean time check out my Adventure!

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  3. Holmes
    My first experience having books slabbed was a pure 10!
    Today the the first three books I sent to CGC fir grading were delivered. I have to say that the experience was a smooth one and that I am very happy with the service.
    Out of curiosity I called customer service to get the graders notes and the representitive not only took me through the list of items used in grading my books but also took the time to discuss grading in general! As a collector I was interested in seeing what CGC stresses in their grading process and as a consumer I wanted to be able to make good choices about what I consider worth sending in the future.
    The books I had graded were Adventure Comics # 277, FF #1 GRR and Superman Annual #1. The first two graded 6.0 and the Annual at 5.0. I was pleased to see that they were all within a half grade of my own assessment.
    Lastly I had heard some horror stories about turn around times but CGC hit the deadline to the day! I am looking forward to submitting a bigger batch of books at NYCC next week!

  4. Holmes

    The Fox And The Bat

    By Holmes,

    Bob Kane often credited the 1920 Silent Classic "Mark OF Zorro" as his inspiration for The Batman
    As all Batman fans know, young Bruce Wayne was on his way home from the movies with his parents Thomas and Martha when they were set upon by a mugger named Joe Chill. Chill would murder Bruce?s parents, setting in motion the events that would result in the emergence of The Batman. One might say that Chill created Batman?and perhaps there is some truth in this. But Batman had another ?father?.
    Zorro.
    The film that young Bruce saw that night was the classic ?Mark Of Zorro?. It was that same film that greatly influenced Batman?s creator Bob Kane. As a young man Kane saw the 1920 version of ?The Mark Of Zorro? that starred one of the greatest stars of the silent screen. Douglas Fairbanks.
    Fairbanks who also produced the film established virtually all of the devices that Kane would use when he created Batman some eighteen years later. Don Diego, Zorro?s secret identity, is a lay about , somewhat foppish man of wealth. In his alter ego he is a masked avenger striking fear into the hearts of evil doers.
    Zorro is described as a ?ghost? and ?not human? by his foes. Indeed Fairbanks? Zorro DOES seem to appear out of nowhere. Dressed in black and seemingly everywhere at once, Zorro uses the superstition and ignorance of his enemies just they way Batman does.
    Like Batman, Zorro has a secret hideout from which he emerges through a false Grandfather clock. Bruce Wayne had that same entrance to the Batcave throughout the 40?s and 50?s!
    Kane would often credit Faribanks and Zorro for being his greatest inspiration. Last week I had the opportunity to see this film at the Lowes in Jersey City. This was an old 1920?s silent movie palace that has been fully restored right down to the great pipe organ. The film was screened as if it were 1920 with live organ music setting the mood throughout. Along with some 1000 other silent film buffs I found myself transported some ninety years into the past, the flickering black and white images of the great Fairbanks swept me up and the film was as fresh and new as it was four generations ago!
    After seeing this film as it was meant to be seen, I can well understand how Bob Kane would be so inspired by ?The Mark Of Zorro? that he would use the film as the basis for a character whose legend would equal that of ?The Fox? himself.
    For me it was a great opportunity to rediscover an iconic silent film in it?s natural setting and not just on a DVD.
    That?s 30!
    Mitch

  5. Holmes

    Giving Back

    By Holmes,

    Be sure to visit the Hero initiative Booth at NYCC this weekend!
     
    The Hero Initiative creates a financial safety net for comic creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. Since inception, the Hero Initiative has been fortunate enough to benefit over 40 creators and their families with over $400,000 worth of much-needed aid, fueled by your contributions! It's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.Hey all! I will be helping out in the Hero Initiative Booth this weekend at NYCC. If you are there be sure to swing by. This is a great bunch of people who have worked very hard to help out comio creators who are in need of a hand up. That's right folks. Not a hand OUT. That's what you give to strangers. A hand UP is what you give to friends, and comic creators have been great friends to all of us who love this hobby! I won't be spending ALL my time there and plan to post some pictures and Journal Entries of my "hunting expedition" this weekend! Archie #50 and Action #252 here I come!!Be sure to check out the H.I. websitehttp://www.heroinitiative.org/http://www.heroinitiative.org/NewsDetail.asp?NewsId=227That's 30!MitchTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  6. Holmes

    NYCC Day 1!

    By Holmes,

    The show is off and running!
    As you all know Friday is the "slow" day at NYCC. Which means it only took me an HOUR to walk the sales floor. This year NYCC is combining with the Amime Festival so things will be EXTRA hectic tomorrow. My guess is that there will be 75,000 + people at the Javits Center on Saturday.
    I dropped by the CGC booth to drop off a copy of Superman #109 andd #110, TOD #10, Adventure #275 and my pride and joy, a copy of Motion Picture Comics #110 (When Worlds Collide). Business was brisk but all the CGC people were very nice and a good time was had by all. Yes the people at CGC are actual PEOPLE!!!
    Slow going on tracking down Golden Age Archie Comics between #40 and #50 though. I DID see some VERY nice copies of Batman #232 that I am kind of lusting for . One of those bad boys is going to be MINE in the next day or so.
    This evening the DC Animated folks put on a great show! They are releasing a series of shorts, anchored by a 24 minute mini feature. The Origin OF Captain Marvel, which will feature not only Billy Batson but Superman and BLACK ADAM!
    And coming this spring from DC Animated...ALL STAR SUPERMAN!
    I have to tell you that, even by the DC Animated standard the footage from both of these coming releases looks FANTASTIC!
    Off to bed now! Early hunt for those Archies in the morning!
    That's 30!
    Mitch
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  7. Holmes
    A grand on slabbed books since Christmas may have me sleeping outside!!
    I am sure that many of my fellow collectors have been in the same spot at various dollar amounts! While I am VERY happy with all of my recent slabbed purchases I DO have to slow down a little if ONLY to bank some extra cash! I have one kid in college and lately with this hobby it's like having TWO
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