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Professor Pecora

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Journal Comments posted by Professor Pecora

    mattn792

    Posted

    WOW!! What an introspective and deep reflection of your personal life!

    WELCOME BACK MATT!

    I seriously connected with your journal entry here man...I'm not sure if you recall the time back in 2013 in which I wrote a very intense self-reflection journal about my failing marriage and my growing addiction to collecting high-grade CGC comics as a way to cope through the process? This journal entry of yours reminds me of that.

    Here is the LINK: ---> The Professor's Hiatus from CGC Comic Collecting: An Insider's Perspective Into the Life & Times of a CGC Comic Collecting Addict!

    I started dating my now ex-wife in 2010 and got married on July 6, 2012. I was officially divorced on June 13, 2016 (about 2.5 years after I wrote that Journal Entry above)! With that said, I just made my "7th" year anniversary of being single and happily divorced!

    I haven't connected with that special woman yet, but I am inspired by reading your admiration and love for your current girlfriend.

    I can relate to you on so many levels man. I just started my journey a few years before you did, and divorced a while ago in comparison to your timeline. However, you beat me on finding a special lady!

    I have been taking my sweet time. I have dated plenty of women but have not met THE ONE yet. I have a feeling I will soon though!

    I also wrote, recorded and executive produced my debut album entitled "A Dollar & A Dream," which was released on my 41st birthday on October 18, 2019!

    I wrote a very DEEP SONG entitled Changed Ways, which actually is a reflection of my divorce and giving my shortcomings to God in hopes of experiencing a better future with the woman I'll one day fall in love with.

    My Official Music Website Link: 2nd Life Entertainment LLC - Home of 2-Tone Eternal

    I haven't done much with my music since dropping my album more than 3.5 years ago. It's a long story, but I got really disgusted with the entire music industry and just didn't want to be a part of it like that. However, I am proud of my album! I made that happen post-divorce! It's now a work of art that NO ONE can take away from me! I dropped over 30K into completing the album...all thanks to selling my CGC Collection! No Loan! (thumbsu

    I also recently started my Professor Pecora YouTube Channel a few months ago! Here is the link---> Professor Pecora's YouTube Channel

    It's great to hear from you again man!

    Feel free to hit me up whenever you need!

    -Thomas

    AKA Professor Pecora

    Professor Pecora

    Posted

    On 6/10/2023 at 9:51 PM, Hibou said:

    Just watched your video... this is such a great book and congratulations on getting such a prime example!

    Thank you so much for watching! I appreciate it!

    It's such an honor and privilege to own this pristine copy!

    However, it is currently listed FOR SALE in my eBay store and on the @GrailzComix Instagram Consignment Page.

    I don't really want to sell it, but for the right price I would seal the deal. (thumbsu

    We'll see what happens.

    Thanks again for watching my YouTube video! :)

    I will be posting regularly on YouTube, so please subscribe if you haven't already.

    Kind regards,

    -Professor

    Professor Pecora

    Posted

    On 6/10/2023 at 10:10 AM, 1950's war comics said:

    great looking copy !  i never realized until now how colorful the cover is to #132...

    thanks for the list of the first 20 appearances

     

    Thank you! It's truly a vibrant cover that POPS nicely! :)

    You're welcome; I'll be including the list of Bullseye's first 20 comic book cover appearances in the next 12 posts of mine, as I will be posting his consecutive cover appearances. (thumbsu

    With that said, Daredevil #141 CGC 9.8 WP is NEXT!

    -Professor Pecora

    Professor Pecora

    Posted

    On 6/4/2023 at 6:23 AM, 1950's war comics said:

    ahh yes ! .... the famous " HORNEAD " cover blurb error !!

    Yes indeed my friend! 😁

    You would think that a major spelling error wouldn’t occur anytime soon, but yet less than 5 years later, on Daredevil #168 published in January of 1981, Elektra’s name was misspelled as “Elecktra” on her debut issue! 🤦🏻‍♂️

    I just find that super intriguing, as both Bullseye and Elektra are MAJOR supporting characters in the Daredevil title, where Bullseye famously kills Elektra in Frank Miller’s classic Daredevil #181 issue—yet BOTH of their debut covers were mass produced with spelling errors! Crazy Right?

    -Professor

    Professor Pecora

    Posted

    On 8/19/2021 at 5:49 PM, richard8158 said:

    Hey Professor!

    I always enjoy reading your entries! A beautiful book. Congratulations!

    Thanks @richard8158! I really appreciate that! :)

    A lot of the high-grade ASM books that I have posted journal articles for and the ones I will be posting up...are being auctioned off on Heritage Auctions. Ten of my books are currently available for bidding NOW in the September Signature Auction, which lasts until September 11th. I also have 25 other ASM CGC 9.8 WP books (valued between $100 - $1000 each) that will be featured in a weekly auction starting on August 23rd and ending on August 30th. Then, I have another 3 ASM CGC 9.8 WP books in another weekly Heritage Auction that runs from September 13th - September 20th!

    However, I am not selling them all; I am holding onto a few of my BIG books such as ASM #16 CGC 9.6 WP, ASM #50 CGC 9.4 WP and my ASM #129 CGC 9.8 WP along with my copy of ASM #162 CGC 9.8 WP.

    I am reinvesting the funds into another BIG book; a Silver Age Key! :-)

    I'm glad that you appreciate reading my journals! I will be posting a lot more soon! (thumbsu

    -Professor Pecora

    Best2u

    Posted

    Great question @Best2u! I know dozens of collectors who horde multiple copies of particular issues! Sometimes it becomes so obsessive that they accumulate like 10-20 copies!! lol 

    For me personally, I never felt a need to acquire multiple copies of a particular issue, because there are just way too many other books on my want list that will require sufficient capital to obtain, so I just don't have the funds to dump on a duplicate copy!

    However, there are times in which I purposely buy two copies of a particular issue with the intent to FLIP a copy if I feel like that particular book is going take off! I always keep a copy in my PC and sell the other one in this case!

    Other times, if I already own a particular issue, but a better presenting (more perfect wrap and centering) copy comes up for auction, I will acquire the better looking copy and just sell my current copy!

    Just a few times have I purchased multiple copies of a particular issue because I LOVE the cover!

    In general, I focus on acquiring the best possible looking copy on my Want List...check it off...and move onto targeting another one on my list! As you are well aware, CGC collecting is quite an EXPENSIVE hobby, so my $ has to be applied to other books I'd love to acquire!

    On the flip side, there are benefits to hording multiple copies of KEY comic books. I know some collectors who have acquired like 20 copies of Incredible Hulk #181 and Daredevil #1 in various grades throughout the years, which have appreciated significantly since they started stacking their copies up! NOW, they can make some serious $$$ if they choose to start selling them off to apply to a few expensive and otherwise unattainable grails they would like to acquire for their PCs!

    At the end of the day, I think it's all about personal perspective and taste. I say collect what you LOVE and enjoy it; whether that is spreading out your acquisitions across multiple titles, focusing on completing a specific run...or collecting 20 copies of the same issue you love! Just do YOU! (thumbsu

    -Professor Pecora

    Professor Pecora

    Posted

    On 5/20/2021 at 10:24 PM, john ivic said:

    Congrats on your five wins in the Pedigree auction Professor! I figure the crown jewel in this auction had to be be the ASM 20 (first Scorpion ), CGC 9.8, WP Curator pedigree. Winning bid was 65,500!! Funny thing is, collectors expect the Scorpion  to be appearing in the next Spider-Man movie, but there is no verification of that. It must be nice to have that kind of spending money! Good luck with future attempts at acquiring ASM 101.

    Thank you so much @john ivic!

    You are definitely correct about the crown jewel in the May 2021 Pedigree ASM Auction being the ASM #20 CGC 9.8 WP - Curator Pedigree! Yes indeed, there has been a ton of speculation surround the Scorpion's grand entrance into the MCU; so it has been heating up in all grades over the past year! We shall see in the near future what happens! I do believe it's only a matter of "when" and not "if," as the Scorpion is an integral villain in the "Spider-Verse," which Mac Gargan also eventually bonds with the Venom symbiote...so viewing this evolution of major characters on the silver screen one day should be quite interesting! :)

    Yeah, I could have sold a few of my books to attain the ASM #20 CGC 9.8 WP - Curator Pedigree, which I might have seriously considered "IF" it was perfectly wrapped and centered, which it wasn't! It appeared that at least 3/16" of the front cover was wrapped on the back cover, which isn't attractive to me...especially in that top grade! I'd rather own a perfectly wrapped and centered CGC 9.4 WP copy! lol

    The same would be true in regards to the ASM #101 CGC 9.8 OW-WP CVA Exceptional copy I pulled out of bidding after 21K, because for that price, I would need a "White Page" copy! In turn, if that copy had White Pages, I would have made sure I was the final bidder! Then, if I needed to sell a few of my books to help pay for it, I would have! However, that wasn't the case, so I calmly and confidentially stopped bidding. (thumbsu

    Lastly, I also wish I had the type of spending money to drop 60-100K on a book! Maybe one day! lol

    -Professor Pecora

    Professor Pecora

    Posted · Edited by Professor Pecora

    23 hours ago, MGsimba77 said:

    Yes I totally agree with those views! I had a feeling from the beginning there was too much clutter with all those ending at the same time or maybe several minutes apart. They needed to split them over 2 or 3 nights. I'd assume there's maybe some logistical reasons why they couldn't do that but it certainly would have accommodated. Add to that some of those 9.8 bronze copies were not the best wrapped. Some of those also had the marvel banner so close to the top edge the CCA stamp was half cropped. A few 9.8s come to mind that definitely underwhelmed were...ASM #s 55, 65, 39, 129...all could've done better especially that 55!

    As for the 101, it's probably not the best time for that anyway. Whether you choose a 9.8 or 9.6 I think there's plenty of copies out there of both grades. It's not like you won't see another one listed within a couple weeks at any given time. 

    Nice going on the others! Larsen drew Venom wonderfully at the beginning. Maybe even better than Mcfarlane? I'm thinking issues 332, 333 come to mind. His additions to the character were spot on. He drew him just right meaning not too big over the top but not too small. It wasn't until afterward where Larsen made him 10 feet tall with a mouth full of fangs and drooling everywhere lol!

    I actually bought a 162 from you years ago on Ebay. I think you pointed me to it after the IH180. You had it listed as an auction with a high starting bid. Fortunately I was the only bidder but was still a good market price at the time if I recall. I still have it lol! Last but not least that 134 is breathless! Awesome score there man. Curious do you ever collect or sell yellow labels?

    You pointed out the ASM books that I also thought should have went higher. I was expecting ASM #39 CGC 9.8 WP to fetch over 30K and ASM #129 CGC 9.6 WP around 12K. I do think ASM #55 CGC 9.8 OW could have fetched a bit more, but not too bad at 10K for off-white pages.

    Yeah, I will definitely acquire a perfectly wrapped and centered ASM #101 CGC 9.6 or 9.8 WP copy in the near future. I definitely prefer a 9.8, but for the right 9.6 WP copy...I'd go for it!

    Yeah...my favorite Erik Larsen early Venom covers are ASM #346 and #347! I actually own two CGC 9.8 WP copies of ASM #346; both with custom CGC Labels: 1 with a Venom label and 1 with a Spider-Man label.

    WOW!!! I do remember selling my one of my former copies of ASM #162 CGC 9.8 WP on eBay! Congrats! You see how much it has appreciated since then! I just had to come up with $1,605 to acquire another perfectly wrapped and centered white-paged copy! They are definitely hard to come by in that condition, so you have yourself an exceptional copy for sure!

    Thanks on the ASM #134 CGC 9.8 WP! It truly is a pristine copy! It pairs up super nicely with my ASM #129 CGC 9.8 WP!

    I used to own the 1st 50+ issues of Wolverine (1988) ALL in CGC SS 9.8 or higher! I sold all of those Signature Series copies to all of the top Wolverine (1988) collectors. As of 2021, I primarily collect high-grade Universal Blue Label ASM books, as I don't typically like Signature Series books because most of the time the signatures are placed on locations that in my opinion, deface the beautiful original artwork of the cover! However, every once in a while, if a book that I am looking to add to my collection surfaces as a CGC SS 9.8 WP copy AND if it has EXCELLENT signature placement, I may go for it!

    With that said, I just added my "1st" Signature Series book to my ASM Arachnophobia collection earlier this week! You can check it out by clicking on the link below:

    ASM #362 CGC SS 9.8 WP - Second Printing

    -Professor Pecora

    Professor Pecora

    Posted · Edited by Professor Pecora

    2 hours ago, MGsimba77 said:

    Hey Professor did you have much luck in that Pedigree comics ASM auction this week? I recall you had indicated you were going to participate. Well just an observation on my part but there were some real disappointing results there for the consignors despite the overall auction being fairly strong. The big keys did quite well to varying degrees with some blowing the lid off but others....not so much. Mix in several clunker results in there and you end up with sort of a mixed bag.

    If I was Pedigree comics I think I'd probably be a bit disappointed with the overall results considering the strength of this market. I don't know what your sense is but if I ever decide to auction an important book I'm going straight to Comiclink or HA in a second over anyone else! I see Pedigree as being very spotty with their auction results historically. Well anyway there's my rant on that situation for whatever it's worth. Hope you ended up with whatever you were aiming for?

    What's up @MGsimba77! I was actually one of the top bidders on the ASM #101 CGC 9.8 OW-WP (CVA Exceptional), but I decided to pull out after 21K. I figured since I really desire a CGC 9.8 "White Page" copy to match all of my current ASM books in my Arachnophobia set, which ALL have Perfect White Pages along with being Perfectly Wrapped & Centered, I chose to let that one go for that price! It sold for $23,250, which is a new world record sale for ASM #101, and who knows how much it would have sold for if I chose to continue bidding? I know I was one of the top "3" bidders towards the end, but I feel great about my decision because I have a feeling I will eventually secure an even better copy with white pages one day! So congrats to the new owner! (thumbsu

    However, I did WIN KILLER copies of:

    ASM #149 CGC 9.8 WP (1st appearance of the Spider-Man clone + origin & "death" of the Jackal)

    ASM #162 CGC 9.8 WP (1st appearance of Jigsaw (William Russo) & Doctor Marla Madison)

    ASM #340 CGC 9.8 WP (1st appearance of the Femme Fatales)

    ASM #347 CGC 9.8 WP (Classic Erik Larsen & Randy Emberlin Venom cover; homage to William Shakespeare's Hamlet)

    ASM #379 CGC 9.8 WP (Early Venom & Carnage cover appearance)

    So I feel super good about the above acquisitions! These copies will SHINE brightly in my collection as they are truly perfectly wrapped and centered! :) I will also eventually submit ALL of the books in the older generation holders to be reholdered into the new cases! They will present even better once that happens!

    I do agree that several books in the Pedigree Auction were "spotty," but when you literally auction an entire ASM run from issue 17-700, it's kind of expected for some books to "fall through the cracks" because of several reasons. 1) Each book ends a few minutes after the previous one ends; if one is bidding on multiple books, that can become tedious. 2) Due to so many high-grade offerings in one auction, some collectors probably only targeted a few that they could afford...even though there were probably more books they would have bid on. 3) Pedigree Comics does NOT have a social media presence (Instagram, Facebook, etc.), so I believe that hurts the overall marketing and promotional aspect of Pedigree's auctions because there are lot of collectors and investors not being exposed to their offerings.

    Thanks again for your message!

    -Professor Pecora

    Professor Pecora

    Posted · Edited by Professor Pecora

    On 5/12/2021 at 10:54 PM, MAR1979 said:

    Nice write up.

    I feel the better comparison though is to Hulk 182 not 180.   Hulk 180 is the 1st appearance (cameo) of Wolverine. ASM 129 is 1st Punisher, 134 is 2nd Punisher (cameo). Hulk 182 is 3 app (cameo ) of Wolverine.  

     

     

     

     

    Thanks! I hear you, but like you said, Incredible Hulk #182 represents Wolverine's "3rd" overall appearance in the history of comics. In my perspective, whether it's a cameo or full appearance; technically...Incredible Hulk #180 IS Wolverine's "1st" appearance in the history of comics followed by his 2nd appearance / (1st "full" appearance) in Incredible Hulk #181.

    With that said, ASM #129 IS the Punisher's 1st appearance followed by his "2nd" appearance in the history of comics in ASM #134; but it's kind of the reverse scenario from IH #180 and #181 right?...because in this case ASM #129 is also the Punisher's 1st "full" appearance with him on the cover followed by his "2nd" cameo appearance!

    Either way...ASM #134 has historically been undervalued just like IH #180 has for YEARS! However, last night, a copy of ASM #134 CGC 9.8 WP sold on Pedigree Comics for a NEW WORLD RECORD of $5,101! (thumbsu

    -Professor Pecora

    Professor Pecora

    Posted

    20 minutes ago, MGsimba77 said:

    If you have a raw copy its easy to find. All ASMs have it. Its around the middle of the book or so titled "Spider's web" letter page. It pretty much reviews ASM125 from the reader's point of view. 

    Thank You! I actually do not have a raw copy to sift through! I'll have to check it out when I can get my hands on one! (thumbsu

    -Professor Pecora

    Professor Pecora

    Posted

    19 hours ago, MGsimba77 said:

    Bravo professor!!!...Bravo! Yes this is a chronically miswraped issue probably one of the most along with ASM 106. Most of them are miswraped in either direction or have the blue marvel banner way to close to the top edge or crooked to some degree. Most bronze age marvels are highly miswraped but 129 seems to be on the extreme. Wonder why?

    Btw, The letters section here features reviews of ASM 125 with a cool little depiction of the splash page of 125 in there. 

    Spectacular looking copy there Professor!

    What's up @MGsimba77!

    Thanks for your comment! YES indeed! The Bronze Age of Comics had a LOT of issues horribly miswrapped, that's why it's a special treat whenever myself or other collectors acquire high-grade, perfectly wrapped and centered examples! They are definitely a treat to stare at in person! :)

    Although manufacturing flaws such as cover wrap, staple placement, cover (print) alignment and the book's cut are NOT included in a book's overall grade, because they are "manufacturing" flaws, I see the market shifting in the near future to place more emphasis on these "flaws," because it's quite evident that copies that present more aesthetically appealing tend to sell for much higher premiums compared to their less appealing counterparts! This is why companies like CVA have a place to thrive in the hobby by placing their CVA "exceptional" stickers on outstanding presenting copies!

    I'm not sure if I am familiar with the "letters section" that you referred to...hm I will have to check that out because that little depiction of the splash page of ASM #125 sounds interesting!

    Thanks for sharing! (thumbsu

    -Professor Pecora

    Professor Pecora

    Posted

    56 minutes ago, comicginger1789 said:

    Ah but what is the meaning of that number 4, professor sir?

    Even better than yellow cover though? Deep purple covers like Captain Marvel 4!

    Hmmm...not really sure if there is any significant meaning other than it could just be a random sequence between those 3 issues! (lol) However, 3 x 4 = 12 and 129 + 12 = 141, and issue 141 has a partially yellow cover and features the 1st appearance of Danny Berkhart as the new Mysterio! Is this mysterious? :-) :D

    On another note, YES...deep purple covers like Captain Marvel #4 are awesome! I also think a deep cherry red cover like ASM #50 looks phenomenal! :)

    -Professor Pecora

    Professor Pecora

    Posted

    10 hours ago, comicginger1789 said:

    And I thought my copy (which I self grade around 8.5 or so) looked sharp....killer book! I love books with yellow covers they just pop especially when high grade. 

    Thank You! I totally agree with you about loving yellow covers because they POP nicely in high-grade! This is one of the reasons why ASM #129 is one of my personal all-time favorite covers in all of comics!

    An interesting fact is that ASM #121, #125 and #129 all share bright yellow covers AND they are all spaced out between "4" issues! (thumbsu

    -Professor Pecora

    Professor Pecora

    Posted

    1 hour ago, john ivic said:

    Awesome book Professor! Like issue 124, I also bought this one at my local convenience store back in 1973. Ah, those were the days! Congrats and best of luck with your hunt for other first appearance issues of ASM!

    Thanks @john ivic!

    WOW! I could only imagine being alive during your time and purchasing this book from a local convenience store! How cool! :)

    Thanks again man! There are so many left to collect! I am enjoying the journey though! (thumbsu

    -Professor

    Professor Pecora

    Posted

    3 hours ago, MGsimba77 said:

    That's wonderful professor!

    This was one of those transitional issues to the bronze age after the drug issues and 101. I mean all you have to do is look at the splash page with all those nudie mags being moved around by the newsstand guy. Pretty racy for a comic book even if the nudie artwork was sort of small discreet background stuff. What's up with that?...was porn coming of age in the early 70s lol? I don't know I was born in 1980. 

    I went for a 9.6 a few years ago on an impulse. I'm glad I did. I changed it to the new cgc holder and yeah it makes a significant difference in how the artwork pops!

    Thanks man!

    I'm definitely not sure about "porn coming of age in the early 70's!" lol However, based on what you shared, maybe it was! hm

    That's awesome that you acquired an ASM #124 CGC 9.6 copy a few years ago; it has definitely appreciated significantly since then, so you did well!

    I actually have about "10" KEY ASM CGC 9.8 WP books that need to be re-holdered from the old cases into the new holders! Both my ASM #124 and #125 are included in this group; so I cannot wait to enjoy looking at them in the clearer cases with the brighter and bolder CGC labels! I know those bright colors are going to POP to a whole new level! (thumbsu

    -Professor Pecora