Studio 25

or my wallet just got lighter Just got home from Wizard World NYC Experience, and let me say that I had a great time. 1st I waited over by Humberto Ramos's table to sign up to have my ASM 648 sketched (2 copies). I have six more but they will have to wait for another time, since he would only do 2 per person. 2nd I dropped by Arthur Suydam for the same purpose, and dropped off my copy of Walking Dead 109. 3rd I dropped by Desert Wind Comics to have several books signed by Stan Lee as well as others from the Legends Tour. I dropped off: ASM 129 - Stan Lee, John Romita, Gerry Conway F. Four 48 - Stan Lee Inc. Hulk 181 - Stan Lee, Herb Trimpe, Len Wein I had the above three pressed and I am very curious as to see how well they will fair. But they did come back looking awesome. Also submitted was, Thor Journey Into Mystery 85 - Stan Lee, Larry Lieber. This one will most likely come low grade, maybe 5.0 due to some wrinkling and a missing piece in the bottom right corner of the cover. But no worries, they'll have both brothers signature. 4th I had my Wizard World Comic Con Edition of Walking Dead # 1 (regular & sketched, that was given out by WW), signed by Neal Adams and left with CGC on an open ticket. The CGC people were incredibly nice. Thanks to CGC. 5th, I proceeded to Mike Zeck's and had my Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars (issues 1, 7 & 8) signed. Dropped off at CGC, same ticket. Whew! With all that going on I started to walk around and look at all the artwork that was displayed by the various artist. Wow! While I do like the stories written in the comic books, I gravitate more towards the artwork. I mean, isn't that how we all started in this hobby of ours. As a kid, entering the local newstand, and looking at the comics on the rack. One maybe two caught your eye, and a relationship began. I then started to look for some back issues. Since I am mostly a Spider-Man fan, I was looking for and was lucky to obtain: ASM # 5 (v2), 1st appearance of the new Spider-Woman Web of Spider-Man # 118, 1st appearance of Scarlet Spider (Ben Rielly) Ultimate Fallout # 4, 1st appearance of Miles Morales (Spider-Man). (Seeking mostly first appearances.) These look like 9.6's to me, but I will give them a much closer inspection when I get home. I will send them off to CGC for grading some other time. Every so often I would walk back to Humberto Ramos & Arthur Suydam to check on their progress. Nope, working on other sketches. While I was waiting I continue to search for back issues. I came across a raw copy of Iron Man # 55 (1st Thanos appearance). Yes, I purchased it. It too will have to wait. Looks like an 8.0 - 8.5 to me. Walking around some more, I dropped by Rodney Ramos and had a sketch done. Of what? you may ask....... Spider-Man. Chatted with him a bit, great guy. Went back to Suydam and at that moment he was almost done with my book. So I stood there and talked with him while he worked on my book. Very cool guy and down to earth. Once he completed the book I took his picture, thanked him, and told him that I am waiting on other sketches and that as soon as they are done I will get the CGC people and pick up the book. Whew! Getting late and I am tired. Now I walked across the aisle to Humberto and he was almost done with my second sketch. Chatted with him too while I waited. Very nice and humble guy. Once he was done I thanked him and took his picture holding both sketched books. Got the CGC people, completed my transaction and finally left without spending any more money. But what an awesome time I had. Aside from meeting these artist the best part of the day was spending it with my boy. Thanks for reading, looking forward to Comic Con New York in October. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Totally agree with you. I just had over the weekend my Incredible Hulk (4th series) Blank Variant cover sketched and signed by Neal Adams. I gave him the raw book and let him work his magic. To me personally, blank variants are all about trying to get a sketch drawn, signature is obviously a plus also. This book with the profile sketch of the Hulk is my first piece of original art work, which I will treasure and share with my son and grandson for a long time. Now the long wait begins, 'till it returns back home.

Sketchy Went to the show for the purpose of getting my Incredible Hulk (4th series) Blank Variant sketched and signed by Neal Adams. While he was not not artist for the book, He did do the cover for 1/25 variant. Here is the pic before it went out to CGC. This sketch is my very first original piece of art work, and extremely pleased. Thank you Mr. Neal Adams Also had my Marvel Team-Up 100 signed by Chris Claremont who wrote it along with Frank Miller (too bad he wasn't there), also went out to CGC. When they arrive I will post them. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

These came in today

My 8 signature series submissions from way back in March 2012 finally came home. While they are not high grade (I knew this), I am pleasantly pleased. I bought the books from MY COMIC SHOP with their grade and they were on point. Silver Surfer # 1 was 7.0 now CGC 7.0 SS (Stan Lee) Iron Man # 2 was 7.5 now CGC 8.5 SS (Stan Lee) Iron Man # 3 was 7.5 now CGC 8.5 SS (Stan Lee) ASM # 101 was 8.0 now CGC 8.0 SS (Stan Lee) ASM # 121 was 8.0 now CGC 8.0 SS (Stan Lee & John Romita) ASM # 122 was 8.0 now CGC 8.0 SS (Stan Lee & John Romita) ASM # 136 was 8.0 now CGC 8.5 SS (Stan Lee) ASM # 137 was 8.0 now CGC 6.0 SS (Stan Lee) ouch. Didn't see that one coming. CGC has truly reignited my passion in collecting anew. I have been actively involve in purchasing raw books from several sites on-line and haven't been disappointed with the seller's grade, as well as Comic Shops. Will be getting graded. I recently picked up Iron Man 1 hoping for a 7.5 and X-Men 20 looking for a 8.0. NYCCC is quickly approaching and looking forward to it. Now I got to decide what books I should pull out to get signed. Definetly looking to get ASM 400 (3 copies) signed by Mark Bagley. Hmmm, what else, what else... Thanks for reading To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Silver and Copper A few weeks ago I purchase via auction, ASM 40 (Green Goblin origin), ASM 44 (2nd Lizard app). And I am very please with them. Today I walked into the comic book shop to buy a new storage box, and to my surprise there in the glass display were ASM 38 (Mary Jane 2nd Cameo app) and ASM 129 (1st Punisher app), two books that I have been looking for. I quickly scooped them up after a somewhat thorough inspection. All the pages present, no ads clipped, tanning, staples in-tacked, cover no creases. No stains with the exception of no. 38, some water stain on the spine, thou tight spine and flat. Ooh the rush... I have been slowly trying to complete as much of the Silver Age Spidey's as possible. Don't think that I will ever get the real early issues. The oldest spidey I have is ASM 11 in FN cond. Well the hunt continues. Thanks for reading and Happy Hunting to all. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Signed... but... Well, I got my two Spider-Man 1 (1990) back, unfortunately I made a minor newbie error. Signed by Stan Lee not Todd Mcfarlane. I should have told the Desert Wind people to get the second signature...oops. Minor error, yes, Stan is one of the co-creators, so therefore deserves to sign these two books. None-the-less I am very pleased on recieving my first signature series of my originally purchased books. I still have 4 # 1Silver Edition books (original owner) that I hope to get signed by all three, Stan, Steve and Todd. Still waiting on my 9 Silver Age books also signed by Stan Lee and 2 of the nine with Romita signature. Those will not be high grades, sad to say. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

A Complete Set Ok, they may not all be CGC 9.8, but, THEY ALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN. None-the-less, I have the first complete graded set. Here is a group pic. Now I am just waiting for the set to be added in the registry. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

50th and 500 Very nice , don't you agree? To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Continues Love it To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Sunburst Variants Don't they look puurrty! To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

My 1st submission After a long wait, my originally bought comics have finally come back home. 6 - 9.8, 2 - 9.6, 1 - 9.4, 1 - 9.2. Venom: Along Came A Spider # 1 - 9.8 # 2 - 9.4 # 3 - 9.8 # 4 - 9.2 The above Mini Series is the 1st set of this title to be graded. Mixed feelings as I think issues 2 and 4 should have graded higher. But the fact that I have the first graded and/or registered set makes me exciyed. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Family getting bigger Just added ASM 144 9.8 to the registry and made other purchases but not CGC. ASM 34 , 46, 47 To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Collecting anew Well, I just got my delivery of five CGC comics that I purchased and just completed registering them (thanks to the previous owners). Like I said before I wasn't a fan of CGC, but to tell you the truth, it has reignited my passion in collecting.

Re-reading my Silver Surfer # 1 (never again). Reason CGC. When I first heard about CGC, I was never truly a fan on the encapsulation of comics. I've avoided that process for years. Reason being you could never again (unless you crack it open, and lose it's Grade) physically touch your book ever again. Yes I know encapsulation can increase the life and value of your book. But the true nature of collecting is to enjoy your collection by every so often removing them from their protective sleeve and showing them to family and friends (when removing them from sleeve, DON'T LET ANYONE ELSE TOUCH THEM). Telling them that I bought this book when I was 15 and it stll looks like I bought it today. I started buying comics at 15 (1974), and not until I reached my twenties (Overstreet Price Guide) did I realized their value, that's why my collection from the seventies may not be all mint. I have a nice collection of silver age too, somewhere around 400 books and slowly increasing which I slowly been collecting since the 80's. Now, I have been purchasing older more expensive comics. And do not what to lose that $600.00 book to age, I got no choice but to forever encapsulate it. After all, maybe one day Spider-Man 300 may be a $100,000.00 comic that my grandson can enjoy cashing in. : ( To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.