mzhammer

Makes a World of Difference I just got myself X-Men #141 CGC 9.8 WP. I really had no idea that the point value on this issue was so high. I've watched my overall score take me all the way to about 1100th in a years time, only to sell off a bunch of stuff I wasn't really interested in and dropping back down a couple 100 places. Then I grabbed this book, mainly because I like collecting 1st appearance issues & because the rumors surrounding the next X-Men movie might just follow some of the story line here. Other than terrible prices on eBay, there were a couple copies avaialble at WWC for 155.00. I decided, "if one sells, I best buy the other." And so it happened.... and to my pleasant surprise, 560 points, taking me back to 1160th place. It's one of those.... "Feel good" moments! To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

one hundred days wow you would be fired or go under in my line of work

Sweet Just arrived in the mail today To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Marvel Just Got #1 (9.8 WP) - Sweet! When are they gonna make this into a movie...? I'm ready to see it!

From the UK Just got myself this very cool UK comic. It's big and paper and it's from 1976. Features the first appearance of Elizabeth "Betsy" Braddock, who later becomes Psylocke. I've decided I'm gonna ship this one off to CGC for grading. Really hard to tell how to grade this. It looks quite nice, but I'm going try and be hard on myself... I'm guessing the pages will be off-white and it grades 8.5 - This is my "posted" guess at a grade, so we'll see how i do. I'm probably way off and it returns a 6 or 7 or something.... While I'm at it, plan to include a couple modern comics - new avengers 17 variant w/ ms marvel in the X-Men #101 pose - I jsut love this re-invent of a classic cover - And I've got a campbell variant for X-Men 205 Messiah (1st Hope Summers) - i bought it with a seller convinced it's a 9.8 - What are my odds it comes back 9.6 or 9.4... 2 in 10? and lastly... I was pretty skeptical about the AVX, but I'm totally in! I love the premise!

One to go just got X-23 1 Djurdjevic Variant in the mail. Nice! Thanks Beachbum! This makes the fifth comic I have of the 6 comics that make up the X-Men djurdjevic poster. Being a big fan of his work, this cover is simply Beautiful. I love how each of these covers in this series stand so well on their own and then once brought together show a wicked poster! Too bad he and marvel had to split... Maybe he'll come back someday and do something else extra wicked?!?!?! What are your favorite modern covers? cover artists? To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

...and the Digital Newbie... Because I am only a one-year-old collector, it does not seem odd at all to read my comics digitally... I read them on my droid phone with a comic reader app and those precious books I buy, I never have to open. Well, last night American Idol was so boring, I decided to open a copy of Battlestar Galactica and read it in the "old skool" fashion. The first thing that was such a pleasant surprise was the size! a comic is so much larger than a smart phone. The pages were thick, stiff, bright and shiny! I really dug it! Though I've read a few paper comics over the year, 99% are read digitally. I just read the entire Walking Dead series in one night on my phone - BTW: it was Amazing!!!! Having started with the series last year, I was a bit worried about going "ahead" in the comic... Well, no complaints here, the book and tv show, too me, work incredibly well with one another. It's my favorite tv series now (that and Southland) Anyway, I was just thinking it was time to give a"shout out" to the "paper comic" - it feels good, looks good and if it's old enough, it might even smell good...

First Appearances I just posted in the forum a new collection idea, Women of Marvel - 1st Appearances. Hoping to get some helpful insight, comments, etc... if you have a moment, take a look... Someone i should remove? Someone i should add? Someone i got the wrong issue for? Hope to follow up with a Men of Marvel if this works out. Enjoy! - listed in CGC Registry - Registry Set Polls http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=4811313&fpart=19 To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Adding Collections I saw a Marvel Copper Age 1st Appearances list was created and thought it might be fun to expand on this idea I am working on two lists - Women of Marvel and Men of Marvel first appearances. Needless to say, it is taking a while. Wondering if anyone could help? Have a list handy? Seen one on the web that is helpful? Strictly Marvel - but DC could be next? Once it feels semi complete I will add it to the chats and see what everyone thinks? Thanks for your time!

Hmmm.... Who are your Favorite Cover Artists? It's pretty easy for me to go straight to J Scott Campbell & Marko Djurdjevic as my favorite artists, but I'm a newbie and there are tons of AMAZING artists out there. I put together a list for both and am thinking now I'd like to put one together for McGuinness... Who would you like to see?

FIRST NIC CAGE, THEN ME?!?!! I recently had 2 CGC Graded Books stolen from my patio. I was out of town for a couple of nights with my wife and when we got home I found a package had been delivered by USPS, but was not on my doorstep. My neighbor happened to grab one package for me and made a GREAT SAVE, but unfortuantely, 2 issues of ASM #286 & #330 (both 9.8 WHITE Pages) are... what seems... long gone... There's always the possibility they will "show up" someday, randomly... it's happened w/ USPS, I'm sure.... However, my guts tells me some of the neighbor kids - or "friends of friends" grabbed it. Am now wondering... Can I report it? I've posted a note in the comics here if anyone comes across one, but was wondering if anyone has any suggestions?

Nov. 27th 2011 - Jimi Hendrix Birthday! A year ago tomorrow will be my "One Year Comic Book Anniversary" when I recieved my first order from MyComicShop.com (Lone Star Comics) in Texas. It was isuues #1 through 10 of V For Vendetta, one of my all time favorite movies! Lone star has been good to me this year and & I quite enjoyed their service over along with many others. I have somehow amassed 734 books (including 58 CGC) - ok, I can admit it, I went nuts!!! But, it has been well worth it as I've quite enjoyed the experience. I thought I would offer a few highlights to the year to mark it and ask if anyone else out there has an "anniversary date" and could offer some of their best hightlights as well.... Most Exciting CGC Moment: My Wolverine #1 Campbell variant coming home a 9.8! I had no idea how it would go... Best Deal of the Year: 1/2 off Southern California Comics 1.00 boxes! Uncanny X-Men collection, here i come! Oldest Book: Gene Autry's Champion CGC 9.6 White Pages - for my Dad, I think he'll dig it for Xmas! Favorite Comics / Characters: ASM, Deadpool, Wolverine & X-Men... What can I say, I love Marvel! Enjoy the holidays! P.S. My wife would like me to "Thank Her" for allowing me the opportunity to collect. She's my mentor and suggested I start collecting something in the first place.... Sweet!

The hunt is on! I've been trying to find the source for CGC sized re-sealable bags that basically, "fit like a glove" - Is anyone familiar with these bags and know who makes them? and where to get them...? I've recieved 3 cgc graded books in the past couple of months that came in these bags, but no one seems to know where they come from...? any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Experience with the "Other Grader" As a new collector, one of the first things that came to my attention was grading books. It didn't take long to realize the value and popular choice is CGC... But having read a bit about PGX, I was curious what kind of experiences have any of you had with them? Grading comparability? Turnaround times? Pricing? Etc...? I'm sure there has been a lot of conversation surrounding this topic and considering some of the rants about CGC turnaround times, I found myself staring at the PGX site. It's out-dated, almost as if they have gone under... I found it a little "odd" as to why a business like PGX wouldn't go after "more of the pie" - so to speak... It seems to me if their grading is comparable, pricing competitive, ... if they updated their website & included a DB, they could do well... On another note, I love the new Uncanny X-Force series! it's wodnerful!

What's your Holy Grail? So, as a newbie out here in comic collecting, I was kind of curious to find out what the "Holy Grail" is for many of you? I know we all have them, and I'm sure once (if ever) you find it and add it to your collection, there is probably a new "Holy Grail" waiting to take it's place. But, with that in mind, I was curious to hear any stories about "finding your Holy Grail..." If you have one and wouldn't mind shairng it, I would love to hear it! ...and if you haven't found it yet, I'm curous what your Holy grail is and why? Thanks! To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

I'm reminded of Mr. Miyagi when I look at my Collection here on the CGC Collector's Society... I've been collecting for almost a year and just recieved a new 9.8 in the mail today, NYX #5. 4 down, 3 to go... I'll never be able to grab the #1 spot in the competitive collection, Macculate has an almost untouchable and beautiful set, but it could be my 1st completed collection. What I really need to do is focus on some specific sets. Do you find this problem too? I have a couple of raw collections built up now as well and wonder whether to grade or not...? Hmm... So many decisions need to be made.... To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

My first CGC Comic Book! I received my very first CGC graded comic book yesterday, a copy of Marvel's NYX #3, the 1st appearance of X-23. A 9.8 Universal grade with White pages. Am very excited and have several others coming, but thought I would share the enthusiasm! Woot Woot! To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.