troydivision1

Perfect timing. I just sent my under copy of the Stephen Stills doujinshi to CGC this past Monday.

Giant-Size X-Men #1 purchased raw in 2014 Purchased raw from my LCS. It was priced under market value. It was stored in a Mylar with fullback inside a magazine top loader for a long time. Eventually prices reached a point that it made sense to get the book graded regardless of condition.

As Marvel publishes Star Wars. I think a classic Star Wars logo using the cover of #1 from 1977 (see below) Then a series of labels for each character that has their own individual series. This would also cover those fans that may want to reholder their legacy Dark Horse books for new labels.

Since Marvel publishes Star Wars...any chance on a series of Star Wars custom labels?

July Modern Slow Boat Shipment Shipped to 07/20 Delivered 07/24 Scheduled for Grading Grading / Encapsulation 08/08 (11 business days later / 11 days so far) Grading / Quality Control 08/09 (1 business day later / 12 days so far) Shipped from 08/11 (2 business days later / 14 days total)

This thread has had some wonderful perspectives and counter perspectives regarding comics. I can only add my thoughts as an also Gen-X comic 'collector' since grade school. A (hyperbolic) line I have shared across multiple relationships over the years is - Star Wars is my first love, comic books my second, everything else comes after that. Preinternet / cable / VCR / videogame systems comics were my everyday companions. Rainy days, traveling in the car between homes, school lunches... True story - I never drank or did drugs in high school because at one point all my friends that were into comics with me discovered girls. Then they stopped being into comics / wanting to ride our bikes on Wednesdays. I honestly couldn't imagine dropping something that brought me so much joy in my life like they had. I quit collecting comics the first time during college / working fulltime / getting my own place. There wasn't really money left over for them. Then I rekindled my love in 2009 when I read The Walking Dead after it was featured in G4's Comic Con special. I dove head first back in. Got (almost) all the items on my to-do list. Todd McFarlane / Frank Miller / Stan Lee signatures... Made my inner 'child' super happy. I even had the opportunity to get a book signed that I only ever dreamt of. Suddenly, nothing in the comics space (or life) mattered anymore. I quit the boards for two years and lived life. I've since come back but honestly, I have maybe a handful of books left on my 'want' list. (none of which are recent releases) I don't read comics anymore. Although, I certainly read about comics quite often. I'm still here every other day or so reading about comics and the various shenanigans associated with the boards. I guess this is a long winded way of sharing that comics had their time and place in my lifetime for a long time. Now that time and place is more in the past than the recent present.

A Game of Thrones #1 Retailer Incentive 'Virgin' Variant signed by George R.R. Martin purchased raw in 2013 This book was facilitated by Rich Henn at SDCC. It was completed between Seasons 3 and 4. Honestly, it was never meant to be a long term hold. Originally, I planned to off-load it during the final season when fandom was whipped into a frenzy. We all know how that turned out... It has since stayed in the personal collection due to the combined 'scarcity' of the book and signature.

My local Regal isn't doing well... Guess what it is on Sunday mornings? If you guessed a church then you guessed right. I'm going there this weekend to see Princess Mononoke. I'll snap a pic and update this post with it.

Continued tracking of my 50 piece personal collection's value for insurance purposes. I am utilizing eBay sold items (with auctions taking priority over buy-it-now) to determine FMV. January to February 1.94% decrease February to March 4.25% increase March to April 0.82% increase April to May 2.53% decrease May to June 2.08% decrease June to July 4.19% increase

Fantastic Four #48purchased already graded in 2019My father's favorite Marvel character was the Silver Surfer.This was purchased in memory of him.I purchased this book and another (The Incredible Hulk #181) with profits from eBay sales.The goal was to pick up some low grade keys that would appreciate in value over time.

Only ones in the census.

I have two .5s in my personal collection. Only one has an awesome story. (spoiler alert...its long) One day in early 2011, I responded to a Craigslist ad about having comics for sale. ONE MONTH LATER! I received a reply apologizing for the delay as their internet was cut off, they had moved, and that they still had comics available. They sent me the address. Jumped in my red 1993 Ford Ranger with no A/C, manual transmission, and broken tape deck (this part comes back later) to head to the address they provided. Upon arrival, I discovered it was a consignment shop. I went inside and was directed to 4 short boxes of comics / magazines. What I found in the first 2 boxes were complete garage sale drek. Thinking the drive was a waste of time, I got to the third box and was taken aback by a very familiar cover. I froze. Sitting in a bag without backboard, with a handwritten $2 on a blue circle sticker in the upper right-hand corner was The Amazing Spider-Man #1. My eyes widened and then I looked over both my shoulders to ensure I wasn't being Punk'd. I slowly took the ASM #1 plus the books that were immediately before and after it out of the short box. Then I placed the three comic stack directly in front of me. At this point I should have stopped, but I proceeded to look through the rest of the 3rd box and then the 4th short box 'just in case' another key book was present. During all this my mind was racing. I began thinking every person entering or inside the store was there for comics and would take the book from me. Suddenly, fear gripped me that they may even pull an Overstreet Guide or use their computer to check eBay once I bring the comics to them. After finishing the last box I asked the clerk if the prices on the comics are the prices they'll charge. The clerk confirmed that the price on the sticker was the cost of the comic. I fanned the three issues (top book, ASM #1, bottom book) only showing the stickers in the top right-hand corners. The total was $7 for the three comics. I handed the clerk a $10 bill, said to keep the change, and quickly exited the store without another word. My goal was to reach my truck, place the comics inside, and lock the door in order to prove ownership just in case the police were called. BUT I don't remember walking to my truck. It felt like a dream as I floated there. The truck seemed to pull further from me as I got closer. The entire time I expected the shop owner to come outside and yell and chase me down to return to the store. Upon entering the truck I was overwhelmed with joy and excitement. I wanted to scream and yell and cheer. I 'had' to immediately share this joy with someone. Quickly I called my best friend at work and told them about it. They were excited for me and couldn't wait to see the book in person the next day. After hanging up the phone it took me a minute to remember how to drive. Suddenly, I realized that I didn't want to drive in silence as I felt a once-in-a-lifetime moment like this needed a soundtrack. I racked my brain as to which song in my tiny music library stored on my Samsung Galaxy 1 would work best to be played through the phone's speaker. (again, I was driving a 1993 Ford Ranger with no A/C, manual transmission, and broken tape deck at the time) Somehow the only thing I thought would work best was Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance". It wasn't the lyrics or the song itself...it was being able to drive home singing along loudly whilst it played from my phone. Drove home quickly but safely. Jumped on eBay for current values of 1.8s / 2.0s and was overjoyed. Immediately opened the comic to check if it was a 'Golden Records'. It wasn't. It also wasn't missing any coupons. Then it dawned on my that there may be missing pages. Downloaded a cbr file to check. That is when I noticed that the 1st and last wrap were missing whilst comparing the comic to the digital file. (CGC lists the centerfold is missing. That is not correct at all. Trust me it is the first and last wrap.) I hatched a plan to purchase a complete coverless copy and marry it with my $2 copy's cover BUT I figured I would get caught so I placed it in a mylar with fullback and put it away. A few months later when Desert Wind Comics announced their next Stan Lee signing I realized I could plus up the value of the incomplete book by adding Stan's signature. Got in contact with DWC. Sent them my book. They confirmed it was received. And then they lost it for the signing I sent it in for. Yep...lost it. At one point they were going to send me a check for the value of the book if they couldn't find it before the next signing. They didn't know it was incomplete so in hindsight it would have worked out better for me if they hadn't found it. It was eventually found and got Stan to sign where I wanted and with a silver sharpie like I requested. So that is the story of my Amazing Spider-Man #1 signed by Stan Lee. postscript I was always a little confused by the store / pricing. Went back the following week as they had received more comics. I didn't buy any comics, but I did pick up some Famous Monsters magazines. Got to speaking with the clerk and they explained what the shop did. They cleaned out residences of people who were recently deceased on behalf of family members that are not able to come in from out-of-state to handle such things. Then the shop would determine what to donate and what to consign on behalf of the out-of-state family. They charged the family 15% of the total sale price for doing this. They list the high dollar items (purses, jewelry, vintage clothing, etc...) on eBay and the remainder in-store. Learning this actually made me sad that someone had passed away with no one wanting to handle their comic collection. That their ASM #1 ended up in my hands for only $2. I began wondering if they had bought it for that price many moons before it reached me decades later. The how of it is not something I reflect on often, but when I do it makes me realize that we all need to make a plan for our end of life because often the things we love die along with us. Oh boy, that got way deeper than I expected...

Felix, Yesterday Bryan Lee O'Malley streamed on Twitch whilst working on drawings. He mentioned 20th Anniversary of Scott Pilgrim is next year. Any chance to set up a CGC private signing / sketch / remarque opp? Asking because I remember it was a mission back in 2014 (thank you again) to get my book signed.

Just back from being reholdered and getting a custom label...

Just back from being reholdered and adding a custom label...

Got my tickets for opening weekend.

Yes, numerous. Here's my current favorite...

Detective Comics #880 signed by Jockpurchased raw between 2011 - 2013To me this is the best modern comic cover ever.At one point in time I gave serious thought to getting this image tattooed on my forearm.At another point in time I spoke in-person with Jock's artist rep about purchasing the original cover art.For this signing event, I sent in my two best copies.They both came back 9.8s.Sold one of them immediately to offset the total cost of purchasing the raw books / signing / shipping charges.I guess this could be considered another 'free' book for the personal collection.Bonus picture below is a 1 of 25 hand remarqued print purchased from Jock.(Jock hand-painted / embellished the red 'lips' on the print)BONUS:I dare you to not 'see' former President Barack Obama as the inspiration for this image.

Thank you very much. Will do.

Yes, you can. Just got back two books with custom labels that were in older slabs.

Thank you @MattM CS My issue is that because of the 'pedigree' designation (which I cannot change) the system prohibits me from even checking the custom label option. How can this be addressed / remedied?

I would like to start reholdering my legacy slabs to be consistent with current slabs. This will start with comics that have custom labels. I am trying to enter a comic for a high-value reholder that is incomplete. The system automatically flags it as a pedigree (it is not) and will not allow me to make the choices to view or select a custom label. Coding error or purposeful? Thank you in advance.

I honestly feel like I watch these shows out of fandom obligation more than anything. Truth be told I've fallen asleep during both episodes so far. Used to watch Marvel properties to be surprised, but now everything gets scooped months in advance. (The Marvels movie and end credit scenes synopsis have already posted online...)

Deadline #1purchased already graded in 2019This book was purchased to add to my Tank Girl registry set to retain the top spot, BUT it ultimately led to me losing my top spot.Yes, you read that correctly.It was purchased with the intent to request that this key issue be added to the Tank Girl registry; as it contains the first full Tank Girl appearance.The reason was because the person with the 2nd place set was quickly adding (and replacing) issues at a pace that suggested they'd be able to oust me from 1st place (which I had held for 6 years).Purchased / Received comic in August.Requested registry set addition.Was approved and added.Added my copy and firmly placed myself in first place in September.Sometime in December I checked the Tank Girl registry and noticed I was in second place.Yes, within only 5 months I had pushed myself out of first place of the Tank Girl registry by purchasing this book and adding this book to the Tank Girl registry...The reason I no longer held the top space?The current top registry holder added a beautiful 9.6 copy of Deadline #1 which awarded them so many registry points that made it mathematically impossible for me to compete.Unless, I decided to spend thousands of dollars to try and match / beat their 9.6 copy of Deadline #1.

June Modern Slow Boat Shipment Shipped to 06/06 Delivered 06/08 Scheduled for Grading Grading / Encapsulation 06/19 (7 business days later / 7 days so far) Grading / Quality Control 06/23 (4 business days later / 11 days so far) Shipped 06/27 (2 business days later / 13 days total)