Guardian Comics

Brett is a great buyer...had a rather larger deal of $3k plus go smoother than silk Jim

you can hit a little link on the left to sort to only comics. And so can you, DF. You post these links like you're a genius and we don't know how to use eBay and yet you get feedback on how they could be better and you tell us how dumb we are basically. You have some serious self-esteem issues . . . This has nothing to do with self esteem. Whatever this is, does it need to play out in public? Just use the ignore function if you don't care for divad's posts. I never understood why anybody would use the ignore function...how can you see what stupidity the person you have on ignore says next? Jim

About 3 weeks to a month before. You would think the insufficiently_thoughtful_person who professes to be so knowledgeable about Star Wars comics would know that? Nice catch. Not sure what I was thinking when I posted that. Actually 6 weeks to be exact...Star Wars #1 began shipping on March 8th, 1977 with a street date of April 12th 1977. The first two issues of Star Wars were out before the movie opened up. Jim

Exactly. I don't think that price is out of line at all, assuming it truly is a NM+ copy. Closer to 9.2 me thinks, but still a nice copy: You are probably the last person who should give advice on grading. Although it's probably more of a 9.4 than a 9.6, it sure is closer to the assigned grade than the doozies you come up with. Jim

Didn't you see the credits? Beth is captive in some hospital room - I'll ask the question again - has Alexandria been 'changed' into a 'safe area' in the city somewhere? Beth was certainly in a room at least a few stories off the ground. I don't recall in the comics anything other than single height dwellings. He has Beth. She's been mind effed by somebody, hence her trepidation for coming out with Darryl. Then they'll go back and tell her story this week and what exactly happened. Jim

You know what you're missing from your collection? John Watkiss painted pieces that measure 18x24 inches and look amazing on ones wall Jim

Yes, folks have suggested that it is "rare". I am suggesting that the primary (if not only) reason the second printing has value is because of a mistaken perception of "rarity" that is based entirely on what is currently on the census. Very little from the copper age is actually "rare", and the second printing of asm 361 certainly is not, as evidenced by the 10-20 raw copies that are readily available at anytime. -J. Nobody has said what you are suggesting. I'll explain it again: the market is driven by supply AND demand. It is one thing to say "don't go crazy over this, because it's not really going to be that hard to find:"...but that's only part of what fuels demand, and may not be a factor in any particular person's reasoning for buying it. You have said, over and over again, that "very little form the copper age is actually rare"...and you are quite correct. But we are discussing relative situations, in the Copper Age forum. You could say "well, compared to Blood Is The Harvest, nothing from the copper age is rare"...and you would be correct....but most folks understand this, and it needn't be said over and over again. This is an absolute fact: Amazing Spiderman #361 second print is less common, in all grades, than the first print. Because of production questions, it is also much less common in very high grade. This will always be true, barring some bizarre attrition situation regarding the first print (that would likely also affect the second), because the print run for second prints has *always* (with very few exceptions) been smaller, by their very nature. That all said...the second printing of 361 in 9.8 has value because people value it. If it is valued solely because of a "misperception of availability", that will correct itself over time. And that's obviously not the case, even without that "correction." It is a legitimate variant to an important key in the Amazing Spiderman series. and it's less likely to have survived in ultra high grade than the first prints, for the reasons already mentioned. It assumes that there are hordes of raw copies, just waiting to be slabbed, and that's not necessarily true. How long must someone wait...? The spike in price for #301 happened because people got tired of waiting for all those raw 9.8s to show up. Everyone knows that the only rare ASM #361 is the newsstand editions. Speaking of which, pulled 3 newsstand ASM #361's out of dealers box yesterday. They were priced at $20. So I grabbed them, and didn't even try to haggle at all. After trying to hand him over my $60, he said to me, those are in my 25% off bins, it's only $45. Jim

Seems like that one is on the decline. Yeah...that was a $30-40 book 6 months ago. Although I need to give credit to the fact that it's pretty close to the assigned grade. The board effect at work. Jim

This. WoS #118 contains the first appearance of Scarlet Spider. He played a pretty big role at the time and still has fans today. Also, while not a first appearance, the second print of Spider-Man 2099 #1 sells for much much more than the first print. Exactly...noted on a CGC label as first Solo clone story. And WD #33 might not be a key first appearance but a key nonetheless. It's not as random as WD #34, hence why I brought it up and offered both scenarios. Jim Web 118 isn't acknowledged as a key first appearance in any literature I have seen. Well, the answer, then, is to read more literature. You say such weird, absolutist things. Spidey #361, like most Copper books, faded into obscurity in the late 90's/early 2000's, and while not a dollar book, certainly wasn't even a $10 book until the last couple of years. As far as your claim that "the second will permanently cede its positioning to the first printing, which is the case 99.9999999% of the time"... Will you please tell me the OTHER examples that make up this "99.999999%"? What "decades of precedent" are you talking about? Later printings didn't even EXIST in mainstream comics until the late 70's, and were utterly ignored until just the last 5 years or so. Bingo! You answered your own question. (thumbs u And Web 118 does not constitute a "key first appearance". Sorry. -J. How does it not? It sells for more raw than a MOS #18 first print does. It sells for significantly more as a 9.8 slab, then a MOS #18 does. (double to triple). I'd argue it's a bigger key than MOS #18 but that is not this discussion. Jim

This. WoS #118 contains the first appearance of Scarlet Spider. He played a pretty big role at the time and still has fans today. Also, while not a first appearance, the second print of Spider-Man 2099 #1 sells for much much more than the first print. Exactly...noted on a CGC label as first Solo clone story. And WD #33 might not be a key first appearance but a key nonetheless. It's not as random as WD #34, hence why I brought it up and offered both scenarios. Jim

Oh yeah...Web of Spidey #118, key book, first appearance, the second print will sell across the board in any grade for more than a first print will. Jim

This is one of the rare instances that the first prints seem more desirable than the second. I've noticed this on raws, as well as graded: At this time that appears to be true. The gap is closing recently. Last year it was crazy to see a 2nd printing get over $100+ in 9.8. This year they have been sales of 9.8 2nd printing in the $200's. That's a big gain in less than 365. Just right behind the 1st printing in 9.8 also in the $200's. I'm interested to see if the 2nd printing pulls ahead. (thumbs u If the only thing significant about the book is its current perception of "rarity", I wouldn't count on it. The vast majority of collectors want the first print of books like this. The second printing doesn't rank much above novelty status. It is the first print that is the "key". It is the first print that will go NM 98-style nuclear if/when a movie announcement is made, and it will be the one everyone will be chasing. (thumbs u -J. Be careful. 'A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.' There are a number of examples now where later printings are more desirable. You may end up being right, but I could see things going he other way. "Past performance is the best predictor of future success.". Name one first appearance "key" where a second or subsequent printing is worth more than the first printing (other than the clearly anomalous MOS 18). -J. You've just qualified the argument beyond the parameters that 500 stated. And why is MOS #18 "clearly anomalous"? What if "Hush" becomes a very popular character? Batman #608 second print is worth substantially more than the first. Nearly 30 years ago, the 2nd print of Adventurers #1 was worth much more, because it was the first appearance of Elf Warrior. It is not without precedent. So that's a "none" from RMA. And there's nothing "qualified" about the comparison at all. Hush first appeared in batman 609 actually, unless you count his cover appearance on the 608RRP (which I personally do), and that is by far the most valuable book in the run. MOS 18 is clearly anomalous because it is the only outlier example of a later printing being "worth" more than the first printing, and there is no guarantee that one random exception will even hold over the long term either. The collector base at large wants first prints. If you like chasing unicorns, trying to prove the world wrong, be my guest. But my gut tells me the more likely scenario is you have a batch of second prints to sell. -J. Not a first appearance, but I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the Hulk #377 3rd print here. Much rarer and more expensive than the dollar box status of the 1st and 2nd prints. 2nd, 3rd, etc printings are becoming the new RRP of the copper age. The fact that this comic has a market value so close to the 1st printing really speaks for itself. I think it's silly to discount something like the Man of Steel issue, because there's nothing in particular that's out of the ordinary about that. The Hulk issue, however, was printed years after the first print, which seems to me to be an odd case. There has been some discussion about one of the Ghost Rider reprints being tough to find in high grade. Does that issue in general command a premium compared to the first print. Also, not Copper, but some of the new Valiant titles have second prints of the first issue that go for more, especially X-O #1. Limiting the discussion to an apples to apples comparison of later printings of the "key" first appearance of a character, MOS 18 is indeed the one and only outlier example that exists of a later printing being worth more at the current time. However, like the ASM 300 chromium that was at one time worth more than the first printing of asm 300, there is no guarantee that will always be the case, particularly if they drop doomsday in one of the movies. In order for a hypothesis to be proven correct, the results need to be repeatable. Citing "one" example out of thousands does more to discount your theory than prove it. Believing that the asm 361 second print will somehow buck history and turn out to be the "second" example is probably more wishful thinking than possibility. -J. Walking Dead #33 and #34 are also books where the 2nd prints command much higher prices than their first print counterparts. With #33 being a "key" And although GPA shows them to be about the same, WD #2 second print is more desired amongst WD collectors than the first print would be. I'd also bet dollars to doughnuts that a Vengeance of Bane 9.8 third print would smoke the GPA price of a 9.8 first print, but alas none exist. Jim

I can't imaging how popular he will get if the movie is a success. I can't imagine most of the new fans will be clammering for a NM 98 for $1000 but stranger things have happened. Some young/teenage boy/girl see the movie. Love it. Get into comics. Grow up. Get a paying job. Decide to buy something that reminds them of happy childhood memories. Right now the only driving NM98 are the collectors/hoarders...not the general public. Wait 20 years before we can assess the true impact (overblown hype or the next IH 181?). Name (1) character who is more popular than Deadpool from the copper age to present. Rick Grimes Jim

It was incredible...a helluva start to the season I must say. Jim

I think he can do whatever he wants, but I think it's risky in the sense that most of the books I've seen I would not agree with the grade just from looking at the scans. A book can look a lot different in hand, which on EBay can be both good and bad. It's not that risky. Most ebay buyers can't grade very well. It's a long established Ebay business model: Overgrade, accept completely refunded returns, but count on the fact that most buyers will never return anything overgraded either b/c they don't know or they don't care given the amount of money and the hassle of returning. I suppose you're right, the reward far outweighs the risk when you break it down that way. Plus you can just come here and "Grading is subjective! Hard to grade from scans!!" Would you agree it's fair to say that most people here who've submitted enough books to CGC have a pretty decent idea of what a 9.8 looks like? Gift grades aside. I won't speak for Tranny, but I would agree. Jim And if that's the case, the same people would probably have a good idea of what they would call a 9.8 raw within reason. And if they know this and label something a 9.8 which realistically isn't...would that be considered a little on the shady side? I don't wanna speak for everybody, but I'm pretty sure that is what we are all getting at. :thumbsup: Jim

I think he can do whatever he wants, but I think it's risky in the sense that most of the books I've seen I would not agree with the grade just from looking at the scans. A book can look a lot different in hand, which on EBay can be both good and bad. It's not that risky. Most ebay buyers can't grade very well. It's a long established Ebay business model: Overgrade, accept completely refunded returns, but count on the fact that most buyers will never return anything overgraded either b/c they don't know or they don't care given the amount of money and the hassle of returning. I suppose you're right, the reward far outweighs the risk when you break it down that way. Plus you can just come here and "Grading is subjective! Hard to grade from scans!!" Would you agree it's fair to say that most people here who've submitted enough books to CGC have a pretty decent idea of what a 9.8 looks like? Gift grades aside. I won't speak for Tranny, but I would agree. Jim

Im not a professional by any means but if I got that copy in the mail I wouldn't be happy. Dinged up corner and noticeable spine issues. No chance at that being a 9.8 from even the most generous of graders. Well he only claims it to be a 9.6 but after looking at the scans I don't think even a 9.6 is in the realm of possibility. That's part of the reason he doesn't sell those raw books here with those grades. More suckers on Ebay. That book isn't even 9.4. A 9.2 would be super generous. Quoted for absolute truth...I promised I wouldn't say anything, but I can comment on other peoples posts. I was beginning to think that 4 major spine creases is acceptable in the 9.6 grade. Jim

Just out of curiosity, would you guarantee that numerical grade if someone bought it and sent it straight into CGC without a press? Best question of the thread. Like I said I will never mention it ever again. I just wanna see the answer without "the too many variables" response. Jim Such a troll - go spend some time on your website, where it's really needed. I'm not a troll at all, I was under the impression someday you might actually "get it" but it appears to be a lost cause, that's why I won't point it out anymore. A) Don't need a website, as I can sell a book on reputation alone, sight unseen. B) Secondly, and it's my biggest concern. Sure you might not get many returns, but what you are doing is using the term "9.8" to get your biggest returns, by selling them to people who in reality don't have a clue and are trusting you as the seller to be a better grader than they are. That's the problem. If you used the term NM or higher, you and I would never have an issue at all. You put the term 9.8 in there and you get people to bite. That's why we have an issue. You won't change, so I have given up. It's just not good for the hobby in general. Jim

Just out of curiosity, would you guarantee that numerical grade if someone bought it and sent it straight into CGC without a press? Best question of the thread. Like I said I will never mention it ever again. I just wanna see the answer without "the too many variables" response. Jim

This one's nicer . . . Good grief...I have so had enough of wasting my breath on this topic. If you choose to make money selling this way, that's your choice, but I really have no idea how you sleep at night. A line of dirt all the way down the cover, near the spine. A significant impact crease at the bottom of the spine (very visible from the back) and a smaller one up top. Last time I mention it, cuz you'll obviously keep doing what you do, but man that is just brutal. Jim

I think everyone *knows* that, because there were enough of us around at the time. I think the question is how might one prove it to those who weren't and might doubt that. Obviously every current reference says that, but I don't remember a whole lot of press at the time announcing reprints and showing the new cover logo. Exactly...I don't doubt it's a second print in the least...just wondering why it's not mentioned in the indicia? Jim

Absolutely...it's just weird when I got home and looked inside at the indica and it didn't say second printing at all. I initially had to look on the internet and make sure I bought the right one. Jim When I scanned my copy this morning I checked the indicia and found that mine didn't say it was a second either. But I remember the logo change from when this book came out originally and we were buying copies off the rack. Then just to play devils advocate, just for fun...is it really a second print??? Or say perhaps like an X-Men #317 (first Blink) where there is the silver foil strip edition and the red edition. I'm sure it's the second print, just wondering out loud how we know for a fact? Jim

Absolutely...it's just weird when I got home and looked inside at the indica and it didn't say second printing at all. I initially had to look on the internet and make sure I bought the right one. Jim

Just looked at an X-Men #281 2nd print I bought on the weekend and nowhere does it indicate a second printing on the inside at all...weird. Jim