Zombikaze

That is stunning!!!! nice original.

I don't think I've shown this off yet, but I was able to pick this up a few months back from board member Timely.

 

This is the original art to TMNT #54. It's one of my favorite covers from the City at War storyline (along with #50 and #58). The colors are so vivid on it...A.C. Farley did a fantastic job on this from beginning to end.

 

 

I think it is time to revive this thread. Once again, here is something new.

 

Crusade of Comics: Spawn #1 CGC 9.8

- This mini-comic was released inside two promotional VHS tapes at the August 1992 San Diego Comic Convention. VHS tapes are "Todd McFarlane's Comic Book 'Facts & Illusions'" and "Todd McFarlane's Lotus".

 

 

That is cool. Welcome to the club.

I was thinking how cool of a comic that is then you mentioned were it came from and I thought "I have one of them"

back

Does this one count? If not I have others

This is a pen/ink and watercolor on 180 cold press paper. I did this one using my dog "Loki" as the subject matter.

Keep in mind that as far as double covers go, it was relatively common in issue 3 but it wouldn't surprise me to see them for other issues in the run. Mirage didn't use the best printers for their stuff, which is why the variants from issues 3 and 4 are both printer errors. I know for a fact that board member TMNT has a #1 with a double cover (2nd print, I believe).

 

It's a good attitude to have to not kill yourself trying to find a copy, but definitely keep your eyes open because they're not as rare as you may think.

Thanks for the info...now I may be able to get some sleep

one i just got...

The whole world depends on Vampirella...

 

This is a great book any way you look at it, so rare. That being said, it's a shame it's not in mint condition. Given the choice between a signed copy and an unsigned copy, I'd buy the unsigned copy any day of the week, assuming they were otherwise equal. I know this is a debate that's on many other threads and forums, but I try to stick to the true meaning of the word "mint", which is "new or like-new condition". I love Eastman and Laird's work, they'll sign anything if you take it to them in a convention - I once took my grandmother to a convention and had HER signed by them - it's harder to find an unsigned copy than a signed copy. I understand you have a one of a kind book this is just my opinion.

 

You're right. This debate has been had ever since the dawn of Signature Series and it's unlikely that either of us would change the other's mind on the subject, so why try?

 

Instead, I'd like to you by challenging 2 of your statements.

 

1) If you're looking for "Mint", you're looking for a CGC 9.9 or 10 (Mint or Gem Mint, respectively). Technically speaking, a 9.8 is NM/M. Given that definition, there's only been 1 Mint TMNT book from volume 1...a #37. I'm still looking for a "Mint" TMNT book myself. (Admittedly, this challenge was a little facetious, but the next one is valid).

 

2) Saying it's harder to find an unsigned copy than a signed copy could potentially be true when referring to a #1 first print, but really doesn't apply to any other issue. Take a look at the census. For any issue, there are far more Universal copies than signature series copies for any given book save for maybe a few (ones that I got signed with no other graded copies on the census). And take it from a guy who regularly goes searching for TMNT books raw. There are WAY more that haven't been signed than ones that have.

 

Just know that even among TMNT fans, you're not alone. Board member Oroku Saki has gotten on my case a few times about how he strongly prefers Universal to SS labels. To each his own. As far as I'm concerned, any opinion presented in a respectful way is a valid one and I'm just happy that there are other TMNT fans out there to enjoy this stuff with me.

First off I would give my left nut for your #3 Variant...both balls if it wasn't a SS. You have a great book that makes you happy and I love that you are willing to share it. You are right about how the unsigned thing is toward #1 first print. Keep in mind and you should know 3000 copies of #1 and only 500 copies of your book. Now it is 499 with out a signed cover That #3 variant is the only "hard" and "expensive" TMNT comic I need to be able to complete my collection. All I'm saying is if I had the choice of yours or a unsigned copy I would buy the unsigned. I just learned about the #3 double cover and what a COOL comic but as an error I don't feel it is a must to have. On the other hand now that I know it exists I won't be able to sleep at night

 

Awesome book. But werent you worried that getting it signed could have lowered the grade?

 

A few things:

1) The book was never graded before, so I didn't crack out a 9.8 and cross my fingers and hope that it'd come back the same grade. I took the absolute best quality copy I owned and rolled the dice.

 

2) In any SS signing there's a risk that the book will be damaged. Whether it's damaged in shipping, when being moved from bag to bag, or even in the creator's hands, the risk is always there. However, I window bagged all these books myself so I could aim the signature to the desired spot on the cover and I was able to put in no fewer than 2 backerboards the help reinforce the books. On top of that, I sent it a guy I'd trust with any of my books has he's is very experienced with SS stuff (Rich Henn).

 

So was I worried that the books could get lost or damaged? There's always a little nervousness surrounding signings like this. It's the risk that makes the concept of a high-grade signed book even more appealing to me as a collector and it's also a likely reason why the registry favors SS books with slightly more points. The risk is much higher.

 

 

That said, I can't say I'd be eager to crack this out for a Laird signing anytime soon. There are limits.

 

Thanks for the compliments, everyone!

This is a great book any way you look at it, so rare. That being said, it's a shame it's not in mint condition. Given the choice between a signed copy and an unsigned copy, I'd buy the unsigned copy any day of the week, assuming they were otherwise equal. I know this is a debate that's on many other threads and forums, but I try to stick to the true meaning of the word "mint", which is "new or like-new condition". I love Eastman and Laird's work, they'll sign anything if you take it to them in a convention - I once took my grandmother to a convention and had HER signed by them - it's harder to find an unsigned copy than a signed copy. I understand you have a one of a kind book this is just my opinion.

Finally, a new heavy-hitter in my TMNT collection.

 

This is the first ever 9.8 copy of this book. This is the NYC variant that was limited to 500 copies and to date, the highest-graded copy was a 9.6. Needless to say I was VERY excited to see the grade come back on this one.

 

 

Cowabunga!!

It's a shame someone took a marker and wrote on the front cover

Finally, a new heavy-hitter in my TMNT collection.

 

This is the first ever 9.8 copy of this book. This is the NYC variant that was limited to 500 copies and to date, the highest-graded copy was a 9.6. Needless to say I was VERY excited to see the grade come back on this one.

 

WOW!!!!!! nice book, nice grade, great collection piece

I think this is the only DHP I have in my collection...

Keeping true to the forum I started looking through my 80's comics and found a bunch with very low print runs. Yet they are not that hard to find. My TMNT #1 first print is the grail of my collection but you can even find it for the right price. So here is the absolute hardest to find 80's comic I have...EARTHMAN by Space Publications. Story, penciled and inked by Bob Dunn! The first appearance of the Andromedian Vampire!! with the ulta-rare 50 cent variant cover!!! I bought this in the late 80's and know two more existed at that time

This is another of my Pen/ink and watercolor...

This is a pen/ink and water color on cold press paper I did awhile back.

You think thats expensive? You should check out the sellers first feedback!

 

 

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Original Art (#180097047814) US $250,099.00"

 

If I remember correctly thats when Kevin or Peter sold the original artwork for the entire TMNT 1 issue. Quite frankly I would definitely rather have that than a copy of action 1 or detective 27.

 

If you can't find original art you can always use this...

 

Man, I remember when the variant white cover of that book sold for $25 a pop.

Now its not even listed in the PG.

IMO that's what you want for this comic to wind up in the "dollar bin" . So they get bent up and flipped through. Then in a few years they are hard to find in high grade... ...I watched it happen with Marvels G.I. Joe.

You think thats expensive? You should check out the sellers first feedback!

 

 

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Original Art (#180097047814) US $250,099.00"

 

If I remember correctly thats when Kevin or Peter sold the original artwork for the entire TMNT 1 issue. Quite frankly I would definitely rather have that than a copy of action 1 or detective 27.

If you can't find original art you can always use this...

I picked this up today at Baltimore:

 

John Buscema\Tony Dazuniga

 

I Love it ...how could you go wrong?

My last post was a joke...I have had my copy first printing for about 5 years. It's a cool story. I dropped my wife off at the airport and on my way home decided to stop at the local flea market. While looking around I came across this man selling tools and junk. He had a box of Playboys sitting back so kids couldn't just walk up and look at them. I like looking through any type of pulp so I started to dig. I came across some epic mags and Savage Sword of Conan. Then I found a X-men g. novel between them was the TMNT #1(I didn't think much of it knowing first prints were gold). I picked out 20 books and asked how much, he said $20. I bought all of them for $10. It was about a month later that I was on the internet and was reading about TMNT #1. Come to find out I had a first printing in great shape. I never collected TMNT but since then I have been. Now I need the #3 variant cover and that is a booger to find...

How do i join this club?

I finally got the one book I have always wanted the most.

 

I never thought I would actually be holding a 1st print in hand and one

that's now all mine.

 

For me the grade is also higher than I ever thought I would be able to

get so I am thrilled to be able to share a scan of my new prized possession....

 

 

Welcom to the TMNT #1 first print club!!!!!!!!

If this club doesn't exist we should start it

Finally back from CGC!

 

You sent all 3 and they all came back with the same grade? Nice

 

I scored these today at a flea market. The seller had three long boxes hidden back behind a whole load of junk. I got them for $1 each I ended up picking out 14 books, all in pretty close to NM condition, some of which will easily get a 9.8 Was rather surprised that all his good books were bag and boarded

Nice find and the shape of the books are great for the price. Were they in the "dollar bins"? Back when I started collecting comic in the early eighties GI Joe was super hot and hard to find in the small town I lived in. By the nineties you couldn't give them away and lots got put in to the "dollar bin". Now It's hard to find some of the issues in nice shape. I think this happens to a lot of comics but that's just my opinion...glad to see such nice copies making it out alive

This is a cool forum topic! Here is my first 10 issues missing #9. The #1 on top is a first printing and the one low is a 3rd. 2,3,and 4 are first printings but I'm not sure of the rest. This is a series that I'm going to complete over time and it would be cool to get all printings. The issue #3 variant may be the toughest one to come across but having it is a must...How neat will it be to be able to say "I have the complete collection" (including the rare #1 first print)

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Here is a Tim Vigil original art page. It is inked by Tony Bledsoe. It's the opening page to Jack Lantern Ghosts #3