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Score... So guilty little pleasure now has been this new Modern. Weird how a few months ago it was Uncanny X-Force who was all about killing to All New X-Men where its....umm not so much about killing. Best part about this one, I got to share it with my daughter on her iPad and she now enjoys the read along with me. I have to say Bendis does an amazing job of making female characters not seem so weak and helpless and as a father for a daughter who has been looking for an interesting comic to read this one satisfies. And I was able to pick this up from Mr. David Marquez. Can't wait until the next issue now. K To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

More Original Art. So a few days ago I posted up an amazing piece of art that I was able to acquire for an amazing price by an amazing Artist and his wife. There kindness and generosity was truly amazing and they deserve so much following there assistance. Anyways after posting surfer99 replyed with an amazing place where I could post my art to show others. Because individuals such as him tNerb, Grandmaster, SW3D and .... I really could go on forever, lend some wise and great advice I decided to check out the www.comicartfans.com website. After doing so I was amazed, I felt again like a small fish in a large pond. But as with every new fish I jumped in and began to look around. Here I came across a few places to purchase more original art and at an amazing price after contacting dealers that following my first purchase of original art on eBay I bought a few more. Below is a the Page 8 of All New X-Men #6 which has become my favorite pick after Marvel's Now launch done by artist David Marquez and the link to my new comicartfans site with three additions that I acquired on there. Thanks surfer99 this is awesome. K http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=91954 To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Mrs. Eaton you are an amazing woman. I've made it known for sometime that I wanted to have something big or grand for my Avengers vs. X-Men Set that I am currently putting together. Many of my issues are in right now for pregrading / grading and while a man can wish for a 9.9 or 10 Gem Mint these are again Moderns and many times this isn't as hard a feature to find. Still even a 10 Gem Mint truly wouldn't be the center piece I would be looking for in this collection. It would be awesome but not really the oh my god Becky look at that butt Sir Mix A Lot piece. So what does that mean, yep Original Art. I have been able to find a few interrior pages here and there but for the out and out cost I have only been able to buy small inexpensive pieces featuring one guy here, one guy their and the back of someones head. Its nice and all and when framed with a copy of the orignial page and a CGC copy it will look amazing but still nothing grand. I look around on a few sites and found a few cover pages... holy cow pies Batman you want how much??? Ummm thank you, it looks amazing on the comic with color inside a CGC case so no thank you. Until Today. So yes its not a Cover but features an iconic pose of two amazing characters from the series and a small boy who I shall name Kama after my son. Featured is AvX Consequences #3 Page #1 with blue line by Scot Eaton and Inks by Andrew Hennessy. Ironman, Lei Kung, and now as I said before Kama survey the damage done to the Mystic City of K'un-Lun. Thank you Mrs. Eaton for letting me know it was their and giving me a chance at winning it. Enjoy To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

I chose wisely... So with every few days I get on Facetime, Apples version of Skype, and talk to my wife about our kids, bills, how much we miss each other and some personal not for Journal conversations. While doing this she asked me if I had ever gotten around to finishing up my submissions for any of the Con's I had wanted to send some stuff to Desert Winds for and I told her no as while I was on leave last time I just never could get around to having time to do so. Conversation goes in another direction for a few and then somehow she circles back and says "well according to Desert Winds they have a bunch of Con's coming up, do you want me to find some things and send them?" Wait what? This is what I come back with... I have no idea where to go with this conversation. So I ask her if she can be careful with them and she informs me that since I've taken a liking to comics she by extension has to like them as well. So at first all I can think of is aaahhhh honey. Then she ruins it. "That way we can sell them for some money later on and I can get a new purse or something..." Couldn't stop laughing at her for this comment. Anyways while I may not be able to make it to ECCC for the Con itself my books will. We picked out a total of 15 and here's the list by type. Moderns - Yeah I know but they're for me. First X-Men #1 Variant Neal Adams, Christos Gage First X-Men #2 Variant Neal Adams, Christos Gage First X-Men #3 Variant Neal Adams, Christos Gage First X-Men #4 Variant Neal Adams, Christos Gage Avengers vs. X-Men #1 Skottie Young Variant....umm Skottie Young, and Luara Martin AVX: Consequences #4 Mark Brooks AVX: Consequences #4 Variant Mark Brooks AVX: Consequences #5 Variant Adi Granov Economy- or the good stuff. Uncanny X-Men #141 - Yeah... tNerb your older journal put this one in motion. Uncanny X-Men #142 - Read above Avengers Annual #10 Michael Golden, Chris Claremont Iron Fist #14 Chris Claremont Uncanny X-Men #101 Chris Claremont If your keeping count that's 13. Now I need to contact Neal Adams's son Jason again and see if his father can do another commission and if Desert Winds would be willing to pick this up for me. If they are willing to do this then I will actually try for 15 as I am wanting to send him to AvX blanks and have him head sketch a Cyclops on one and a Captain America on another. So back to the wife, she looked for each, which wasn't hard as I'm meticulous in keeping things alphabetized as well as in numerical order, placed them in four boxes with some cardboard and is planning to take them to my LCS to ensure she packs it right and safely. Awesome, like I said in the beginning I chose wisely. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

alphaprimeian01 I am coming for you. All the greats have a nemesis. Batman has the Joker, Superman has Lex Luthor, and the X-Men have Magneto....... or not. Anyways we all have them. It's not to say they are bad in any way and many times simply bring out the best in each of us. While we may not be trying to kill one another we are still in a "Competitive Set" atmosphere. Previously in a far off Journal one of the more active board members on here tNerb mentioned his competitiveness with another bagofleas with response to the New Mutants Set that the two are neck and neck with. If you ever read the two of their profiles for their sets, particularly tNerbs, you see how even though this is a competitive set they still assist each other in finding those hard to find issues. They may have a rivalry but if anything and I hope they comment it shows the caliber of people we have within the CGC group. Being somewhat new I threw many of my past encapsulated finds on here but didn't really see anything that fit me. I enjoy characters such as Cable, Deadpool, and even the Marvel Messiah Hope, but due to last May being my first ever introduction to CGC I felt so far behind that unless I had Bill Gates money I couldn't hope to catch up. Then in early May what started as a simple extension to a hobby became a goal. Marvel released a new series and at that point we were all at zero. I picked up a couple books here and a couple there and the more I started looking for awhile the more I noticed I had the only one of one or another CGC'd with a Signature Series label attached. Wow this couldn't be possible I say to myself. And the excitement began. I started picking them all up.... Which at times with TWENTY different covers for issue #1 got a little expensive. I found I was the only one ordering the extended prints from my Local Comic Shop but who cares, it was my goal and I was sticking to it. So a few days ago I did what seemed to be a 2 day never ending happy dance until I finally got mine. I now have a nemesis. I have someone to comment on with regards to his collection and to attempt to catch. He has an amazing start and honestly one that will be hard to catch up to but one day hopefully I can. So as previously stated, alphaprimeian01 I am coming for you. K To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Yep one of those days... So today I woke up and changed my normal daily routine. Instead of going to the gym first, then showering, and then checking the CGC page I jumped onto the CGC website and checked the status of my Requested Set. Haven't done it in a few days so I figured why not take a look. Yoooou, you got what I nnnnneeeeeeddddd. I haven't gotten the Biz Markie song out of my head nor smiled so much at the gym before. It was like the Hulk had been handed flowers and had no idea what to do with them. I have finally broke 2000 points. Now my goal of 1500. I know, I'm pretty far behind many of you who I have begun to idolize but I'm trying and honestly sticking with issues that I want instead of worrying over big leap numbers. In other news I did pick up a copy of Wolverine issue #2 where he takes on the Silver Samurai and a copy of Daredevil #111 raw so when I get home I can hunt down Stan for his...um Stan Hancock??? Or maybe just his signature. But anyways, its time to dance and add a bunch of numbers, photos, and descriptions. K To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

While it was a month ago I have not forgotten. A month ago to the day, tNerb and a few others wrote a short and to the point Journal in reference to Sandy Hook and the need to take a step back and look at what's truly important to us. Following the events in Connecticut I was able to Facetime with my children and give them a kiss and a hug from a few thousand miles away. Since the shootings I have taken the normal time of ok I love you and extended it to really ensure my kids know how much I love them and appreciate them. Congress is doing its usual slow dance thing of figuring out how to make sense of Gun Control and the 2nd Amendment. We see fewer and fewer stories from the area of Sandy Hook Elementary which honestly is good in the fact that those people need the necessary time to grieve outside of being stared at by all of us. At the end of his journal I asked the question of how to give a little or donate toys or whatever but because we live in a society that preys on generosity it has taken some time for me to finally find a place to donate that wasn't a possibility of being some random stranger out to take my money without doing something good with it. During this same time I was also trying to gain a slabbed 9.8 NYX #3 which is the 1st appearance of X-23. Ever since jumping back on to comics this was one of those issues that I wanted to pick up as I have enjoyed the character and the odd similarity that she reminds me of my daughter. Not the killer part, but the rough interior and the fact that my daughter likes to beat up boys in her Karate class. So back to my point, while I'm not asking for donations for the Sandy Hook School or Community it has come to my attention that there is a website that one can go on to do that or to simply fill out the information for the Sandy Hook Promise. It doesn't take long and simply asks for some of your information in the "encourage and support common sense solutions that make my community and our country safer from similar acts of violence." Whether you do it or not doesn't matter I figure this is simply another way to shed light on an issue that I hope isn't simply forgotten as with all of the other violence that goes on in our day to day lives the website is http://www.sandyhookpromise.org/ One day I will own a copy of NYX #3 but after everything I chose to wait and do something else with my money. I'm sorry this isn't our typical Comic Book appreciation Journal's but will write more about something else comic related tomorrow. Whether you believe in God, Allah, Buddha, or simply the all mighty Superman I hope he or she bless's you and your families as once all is said and done I would simply give up every bit of this to ensure that mine are. K To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Everyday........ So as with my morning routine for waking up, I jump out of bed...which I actually have to do since its about 5 feet of the ground, hit the gym, hit the shower, and then check the updated Set List. Why do I do this? Well the Set I requested for is on the cusp of being added and I would like to finally have a place to put so many of the covers that I am stuck with having to line my hard drive. But as I have noticed nothing... It's as if I am standing at the wait line for the diving board and the guy ahead of me is scared to jump in. Many times I just want to shove his a** in there but as always I am stuck with my arms behind my back while whistling Dixie. So I simply ask the question not to be rude but just as a ummmm what's up? Is Gemma on Leave? Oh well back to my place in line. K To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Who are your's? Spinning from mre1129's conversation of The Walking Dead I thought we would have another on what some of us believe is each Generations defining Characters or comic titles. While I believe the Golden Age would be pretty set and or defined by a single character, Superman, I also believe there are still some who would dispute that Captain Marvel, Archie, or even The Spirit depending on how they perceived these comics. I believe every other Age of Comics would have multiple listings from each of those who stand behind their favorites. So what are yours and most importantly why? Mine: Golden Age -- Superman, I'm not a DC fan nor a Superman fan but by far this one character to me cemented his place atop this list and has been the reigning champ since 1938. Action Comics #1 is by far the ultimate Holy Grail of comics. Not simply of mine or anyone else's but THE Holy Grail. It's one of those things that when we as collectors go into a yard sale or an attic we would die happy men or women knowing we had held and owned a copy of this. Silver Age -- This one can be a tossup depending on which side of the comic coin of DC and Marvel you prefer. DC fans would stand behind The Flash or the Justice League. Marvel may stand behind the response of the Fantastic Four, X-Men, or the Hulk. But I stand firm behind Spider-Man and what I believe every Marvel Holy Grail would be Amazing Fantasy #15. It was this character that made simple everyday kids believe they too could be heroes. They didn't need to be aliens or rich but simply average. Bronze Age -- For DC this was a time when to me there really wasn't an, oh my god I need to get that issue new character. It was more of the Batman, Superman, Green Lantern stuff but nothing really big. Aside from the Teen Titans who were a response to Marvel's new X-Men set I think this was both industries time of either Team-up's or dipping into Sci-Fi. As for Marvel it's hard but simply due to my own bias of a character. I would like to jump up and down and shout Wolverine but honestly his popularity didn't really take off till the end of the Bronze into the Modern Age where he now blankets everything Marvel. For me the defining character for both though would be Luke Cage. Not a popular character by any standards right. But he is the first African American hero I believe to ever have held his own series. This would have to be one of those defining character times where a characters significance dominates his actual presence. A runner up though to me would then be drama. I know not an actual character but with death being pretty prevalent in comics such as with Aquaman's and Spider-Man's series and the issue of drug's coming up in major titles I think the added drama may be noted. Last but confused how we start to separate this one out -- Modern Age -- While I think we are coming up to a point where we need to cut it off and call it something else the Modern Age would be the time of the Independent and of Wolverine as I previously stated. For Marvel Wolverine would have to be the defining character. Why? most would ask. Because I rarely see a comic now a days where he isn't a part of the cover or the team included. He's by himself, a principle in another, against the X-Men in another, an Avenger, a Dictator in one, oh yeah apart of the Fantastic Four, and then anything else he makes a cameo in. For Marvel the only thing left is to give him cosmic powers and send him to space... oh yeah Annihilator's Earthfall already did that. My point is Marvel has placed him pretty poignantly as there go to character. As for DC, there 80's and 90's saw a resurgence of Superman again with his death and rebirth and changing him different colors but again, I'm not a DC fan and probably need to be educated on this one. As for Independent, Spawn was big in the 90's. He was the go to and if we stopped the age at 2000 then I think we would have a winner there but as of late the Walking Dead has shown it is this generations go to. As with the other journal, prices have soared and in all honesty it is the comicbook Holy Grail for the younger crowd. But this is where I think we can also attempt to draw a line in the sand and name the past Age one thing and this current Age the Modern Age. Maybe call it the Adamantium Age off of its defining character. So what are your defining characters and most importantly why? Thanks for Reading K To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Ok now seriously, what the heck??? So I was going to write about something small and trivial or whatever but I just happened to look on the bleedingcool.com website before work and now apparently the Ditko Covers 1:200 variant are going for so much that Marvel just happened to have some extra's laying around and are now including them with the second printings shipments. http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/01/03/amazing-spider-man-700-ditko-cover-now-available-with-second-print/ Called the store where I got mine already at and yep. Apparently they are going through with this idea. His take is that not only are they getting them but will be doubling up on the price due to the need to buy comics that really only collector's are going to want to get. There plan is to order enough to get 4 and send 2 away for grading... This is one of the reasons why even though I love Marvel and many of the story lines I hate the corporate machine. K To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

To Jerry, Kevin Conroy So I'm going to try to do this once a day as tNerb once did. I found myself inspired by his words and found that reading the boards is one of the biggest things I enjoyed about all of this. So here's a short one about my daughters second Con. In May me and the family piled into the car and left for the Dallas Comic Con in which once there my wife simply stated "I'm going shopping on Saturday and I'll take our daughter and Sunday I'll take our son. " Not wanting to the house hold chief off I simply agreed and on Sunday I took my daughter to her second Comic Con. Sunday being the final day I wanted to get a few things signed by George Perez as well as a commission of his. If anyone has ever been to a Con with him his lines are usually long and slow. It's one of those things that you understand is going to happen as he does sketching for a low cost of $25 and almost everyone in line gets one. So the line is going nowhere and my daughter is losing her patience. Being at an age where she can take care of herself from strangers she asked if she could walk around a little for something to buy. Because I was able to keep an eye on her from my position I told her she could and she rushed off. Twenty minutes later she comes back with some collectible unicorn thing and a bunny with a cigarette in his mouth??? Why I have no idea but it made her happy. So the line continues to slowly go and as most of us have gone to Cons we tend to get to know who's in line with us. Many of the gentlemen in line with me were kind of in a hurry because next to us Kevin Conroy announced he would be there for only an hour more before he packed his things up. When I heard this I had my daughter walk over to his line and got him to sign an action figure and to personalize it to her brother. She comes back happy with her new accomplishment and when the others saw this they saw opportunity. Maybe they didn't have to get out of line. This was genius; he's using his daughter to accomplish what he normally wouldn't be able to do. So a few of them ask me to send out my little scout to do the same for each of them and after agreeing to compensate her with a unicorn toy as well I allowed it. I warned them she is an 8 year old girl and may make a mistake but to their confidence in my daughter they simply shrugged and said it will be fine. So two gentlemen hand her a total of two posters and a toy and send her on her way. She goes over and when asked for who to make it out to she shrugged and left the line and came back to us. "Whose stuff is this she asks." The one says Jerry and the other says just have him sign it. So she goes back over and after a short wait comes back triumphantly and hands them their respective stuff. The first, with one poster looks at his and smiles. "To Jerry, Kevin Conroy". He's happy and hands her some money to go buy a toy. The second however couldn't stop laughing at either the toy or the poster. Apparently Kevin Conroy has a one item limit per visit, so she had to get back into line for each item. The first one was the toy she had signed and before coming to ask for a name, Kevin Conroy had asked her what her name was again. She told him Lani and thus the toy now stated, "To Lani Kevin Conroy." The poster since he didn't state his name also said, "To Jerry, Kevin Conroy." Laughing at what he would be sending to his friend as a gift, he hands my daughter some cash and off she went skipping all the way. Its stories like these that make waiting in line at Cons that much more memorable. Thanks for reading. K To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Issue 700 1:200 Variant About a month ago I scored a spot in gaining a copy of the 1:200 Amazing Spider-Man #700 from a store in Austin, TX by paying a preorder amount of $160. This is a copy of the Ditko Variant of Spider-Man swinging in all his glory. As many may know I'm a variant addict. Usually the 1:25's I pass on without a second thought but know that I have a 1:100 or higher and the idea that its more rare is what intices me to usually go out and spend that extra dollar. So today my wife called me and while on a trip down to Austin said she had picked up my copy which had actually been placed in a top loader by the store for safe keeping. She then informed me to my dismay that the sketch one i had also ordered or the 1:150 had been damaged to the point that the owner could not varifiably sell it to me knowing how picky I am with my comics and refunded my money for it. This at first was fine to me. My wife has some extra spending money for her shopping trip, I have my 1:200, and I can always go to eBay and look around for a copy. So during the lull of work I go on and simply type Amazing Spider-Man 700 Variant in the search engine and "HOLY TOLEDO BATMAN" the Best Match first selection is that same 1:200 Ditko issue that is at bidding now along with the other variants for $1600 dollars. In fact bidding completed at almost TWO GRAND http://www.ebay.com/itm/Amazing-Spider-man-700-Variant-Lot-All-Variants-incl-Ditko-Cover-/221170875651?pt=US_Comic_Books&hash=item337ecfbd03 So again WTF? When in the history of time has a MODERN issue ever come out and garnered so much attention. I men I thought the Walking Dead 1:200 or even comixology issue completed prices of three to four hundred was a stretch but two grand, TWO GRAND for an issue that came out under a week ago. So immediately I call the wife ask her to put this thing basicly in a safe while on her trip and not let the kids get remotely close to it. But now comes the question as I like to ask at the end of these. Being a collector I am keeping this thing and told her to take it to my CGC guy under armed security for Fast Tracking grading and to have it sent in the top loader. But what would you do? The hype around this should die down after a month or two and go back to prices around five hundred but would you sell right now at this penecale of hype. Or CGC it and try your luck with for a coveted 9.8 and then sell it. Or would you do as I do and CGC it and hold on to it. Either way as stated in movie 300. "This is blasphomy, This is madness." Nope its just the lunacy of what collecting does to a few of us. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

This is an issue that I had wanted to write about for quite some time now. As a kid I grew up to love and appreciate comics. The idea that one man, or woman, could truly save the day became an appreciated idea that lasted with me for years. Back during this time I was proud to show off my comics and when I could I would take off to school and parade them around my classroom as if they were trophies waiting to be marveled upon. One of my most treasured to show off was Wolverine issue 50. The one with the die-cut cover of claws tearing through the front page was cooler than anything another child could ever possibly show off. The point of this was pride. Pride in the fact that I loved and enjoyed comics. Pride in the fact that when I had one I would show and tell everyone so much that many times they were taken by my teachers and held onto until the end of the day. Now as an adult three to four years ago would have been around the time when I started to enjoy comics again. I had gone home on leave and waiting in this closet was all of these stories that had already been told and many astonishingly had been remembered. While I didn't buy anything at the time and actually had thought about how to sell off my comics I ran into a knowledgeable LCS owner. He pretty much smashed all of my dreams of making it big with money and showed how everything I was looking to sell he still had plenty of. While I had a key issue here and there I didn't have a Holy Grail of comics by any standard. It was at this point that I went home down and distraught that I found my old reliable comic that had originally brought me in. From that point I went back to America's Heroes in Killeen, TX and started in on buying a few here and a few there but under what I thought was the cover of darkness and mainly when the parking lot was empty. The big thing here was at the time I didn't think I fit the ideal description of a comic book reader. At the time I was a Combat Infantryman and was more or less the fit for an Alpha male persona. But one Wednesday (I had no idea this was new comic day) while shopping right before close of business a few other Soldiers came rushing in hoping they had made it before Earl had closed his doors. Each of them looked similar to me and one even asked what I was looking for. Just shrugged and said the ones with the nice cover. Best part was this other Soldier was an Infantryman just like me (It's a uniform insignia thing that sets us apart). After talking to him for awhile and going through past books we liked I started to come in more regularly and even started interacting with others. But still never really did any real collecting. Then in 2011 I saw an ad for a comic convention going on in Austin, TX and with some subtle hints to my daughter about how cool it would be she asked me and her Mom if she could go. Initially my wife was quick on the draw with this one and said, NO. But after some coaxing and showing her how close it was to Halloween we were able to talk her into letting my "daughter" go as long as she behaved. It was at this Con that I saw why there is no type of comic book reader. From the kid's running around in there costumes, funny guy who had dressed up as an obese Batman (What I initially envisioned older comic readers), the normal guys out of costume, other Soldiers still in uniform, to the Lady who was dress up in four of the smallest patches of leaves as Poison Ivy, everyone there was happy and completely ignoring what I had originally thought was the status norm. It was at this point I started becoming a little bit more comfortable with being considered a reader and even bought my first commissioned piece which introduced me to the CGC way of collecting. Then finally the day I would go back to beaming with pride again. Later that December a box was mailed to the house. My wife who usually gets home earlier than I did picked up the box from the front door and once inside texted me that I had mail. After I get home I open up the box and lo and behold there it was. My first owned CGC. An Uncanny X-Force 1, Signature Series sketching of Wolverine done by one of my favorite artists when I was a child, Mark Texiera. My wife looked at me with this confused look that could only be described as, huh... She saw this smile I had as I unwrapped that light plastic wrap around my new idol and almost saw this hard charging husband of hers reform back to childhood running around the room with his trophy in hand. From that point on I have beamed with pride and never again used my daughter's name in Comic Con vain. I'm proud that I'm a collector and not just a reader. I'm proud when I get each set of comics I have sent in and during the elongated waiting times. But most of all I'm proud that I now have something to pass onto my kids other than high blood pressure and stress in the form of art that I can actually appreciate. Did anyone else have a similar start? Or ever believe the four guys on the comic show after the Walking Dead on AMC were the prototypical type? To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

"people_without_enough_empathy, Gripes, Complaints, Stories of Heroism, Valor, Lies to be Told, and Lessons Learned" R.I. WeberThe past few days I have been attempting to purchase a few CGC'ed comics on eBay which is no different than any other time. During said time I have come up with a few things that I have either learned and want to impart knowledge about, or honestly want to complain about as I feel that there are some sellers who may possibly be watching these boards.So my story begins...I have attempted to buy and have a story about four separate eBay transactions. The first was one of those (Reserved) amounts; this is a Complaint by the way. Anyways I typically hate Reserved auctions. If there is a reserve just put the amount in as the starting point. I probably will hit that starting point but if no one else wants to bid on your item or even try it's not going to be sold. Anyways I placed a firm $40 bid on the item. Below market but it at least gets the ball rolling. Problem is that for 6 long days the bidding stayed at 99cents. This means no sale. Why would you do this? Are you trying to tease me with what you have and I don't? Why not put in the description what the reserved amount is and maybe a few bidders will help me raise it. Anyways, A comic I wanted went up for sale and nothing... Lesson learned, STOP Reserving if you don't want to sell it. If you want to sell you item, just put the magic number to start at. Someone may surprise you and go for it. If not and you want to show it off put that in the description or show it on the boards here.The second and third, yes they are together and it's for a reason. A few days ago I came across a seller who was attempting to sell multiple items for which I would like to own. I put my initial, low ball bid, so that I could easily find this in the bid now section so when the true bidding came around (The Last 2 minutes) I would be able to throw in my bids and not get taken for a large amount. Here's where the problem is and my request for sellers, don't put your items up to end at the same time. I wanted to own both and would have probably paid a little more than both items had actually been finally been sold for had I been able to bid on one and then the other, but not at the same time. Space them out maybe by a minute and that's plenty. Space them by a second or two and..... sold to someone who is going to pay less than another. And final CGC...um... non-purchase. This one happened last Saturday. As I stated above I usually find an auction and to make sure I can easily locate it when the time comes to bid I usually put a low ball in. It's not that I don't like the (Watch Item) button, it's just that I would like a seller to know that there is someone genuinely wanting to buy his item. Anyways, I put it in and went on when the auction was ending and placed a higher bid in the final minute of the auction and... nothing. It sold to me. Normally this isn't an issue, I'm happy to get an item under the valued FMV. I love winning under my portioned amount but this time was different. As a buyer, and rarely a seller, I have a genuine respect for the final result. I understand that a comic cost (X) amount of money. I understand that to send even a single comic without an expedited request is going to cost the seller $22.50est. with grading, shipping, and handling. Most of the time, that's my bid for newer books, X + $22.50. It at least means I'm willing to pay up to what I believe the comic costs and what you the seller incurs as a result of grading. To me this insures that I don't go over the allotted amount I am willing to pay, but also that I pay a seller a fair monetary amount. So back to number four. You win, pay now...$1.06 plus shipping and handling. For a brief moment I thought about going through with it. Then I realized Karma is a person_without_enough_empathy. I immediately contacted the seller and let him know via, eBay mail, that while tempting, there is no way I could rob him blind like that. He thanked me offered to help me on future biddings with a discounted amount and no harm no foul. But the point to make is that very few are like that. If you truly are ok with selling it for $1.06 then by all means keep the starting bid at .99 cents but truly be careful of where you start, you may not like where you end.So what are some other thoughts some of you can impart on sellers or buyers for that matter? I for one could use a tip or two.KTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

I'm not dead is what he said... This Journal entry truly shows my age. Unlike a few on here I believe I'm one of the younger members. I didn't grow up with any of the 12 cent, 25 cent, or even 50 cent issues. For me Thanos was a guy who already had a new shiny glove. In fact my first comic ever cost me a whopping $1.75. Yep I grew up in the 90's. Many have come on here explaining their first comic experience and or the story that followed with them so here's mine. In 1990 I went to spend the Thanksgiving holiday at my Aunt's home in Virginia. There my cousin had just returned for his leave while serving in the Navy and was pretty much forced to watch this 9 year old kid. So doing what any 20 something year old would do, he graced me with video games, slurpee's, and comics. In search of this first comic we went to the nearest 7/11 and on the spinning rack was this comic that truly stood out to me. It was a simple picture of a hand and some claws coming up out of the ground entitled "Wolverine." Wolverine, Volume 2, Issue 33. I was mesmerized by this picture at first. Marc Silvestri's art was by far the coolest thing I had ever seen. Then once I opened the issue Larry Hama's story took off. I must have read this issue from this exact comic over a thousand times. Apparently Mr. Wolverine had pissed off the Yakuza and so they killed him, or at least they thought they did. After digging himself out from a shallow grave a very angry clawed character decides to go back and kill everyone. A little violent for a nine year....... Yeah. But this was awesome. From that point on I was hooked on comics. Wolverine became a main stay while the Incredible Hulk, X-Force, Infinity Watch and X-Men all trailed in that oh so close second spot. Since that point I had kept that comic and after I found out that girl's didn't actually transfer cooties or any other infectious diseases I started to walk away from them. Fast forward almost 10 years from the point I stopped and I finally picked it up again. Magically the comic that got me excited about it was the first comic I ever read again. Still smelling of spilled soda and musk that issue revived something in me that had long been let go. I eventually tracked down Larry Hama and got him to sign that very issue from my past. By now this issue is one of those coveted issues tNerb is looking for in a .5 or maybe even worse condition. I'm saying Coke stains, Cheeto stains, maybe a little Koolade, followed by a dab of some Hershey's chocolate, and aged to perfection. First thing he says to me, "you don't want to track down a nicer copy for me to sign." All I could say was "No sir" and begin to explain to him this very story. After hearing this Mr. Hama became the nicest man in the world when talking to him. I literally told this man that he and he alone told a story that forever changed me. I have since purchased a nicer copy and one day our paths will cross again but until that time the signed copy will remain uncased. I never once had a though of getting this issue graded as this was what started my passion with comics as well as reignited that passion now that I've grown. K Below is the Sketch Mr. Hama did on a Wolverine Best there is for me. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Yeah another So my actual goals for this upcoming 2013 year are more of a bleed over from this year. I won't be able to attend any of this coming years Conventions due to my deployment here and that my scheduled mid-tour leave is during which time nothing is going on even remotely close to my State. But this year I was able to pick-up a few comics through eBay which my friendly store owner has said are in great shape. Following David Swan's posting I guess I'm motivated to get at least one of those famed ribbons so of you have. 1) My First and what I believe will be my pride and joy set will be a Modern Set of the AVX. Currently I have a total of 43 comics that are sitting at the CGC verified bin which should probably be there until what seems to be October of next year at the rate things are going. Hopefully some help can arrive but since I can't hold them anyways I guess it really isn't something I should worry much about. 2) Another that I plan to try to make some headway on are on a character that I had enjoyed as a child. Adam Warlock. I found the stories to always be entertaining and after a recent posting by both tNerb and another have rehashed that old feeling towards the character. I know 1st place isn't exactly a viable option as of now, but hopefully I can at least break into the top 5. 3) And the Second Character I plan to work on, Black Bolt. He was always the one character that seemed to have something to say but never got around to it. Having been in the Military and had the name silent professionals thrown around has made me appreciate this character a little more. While there will be work on some other lingering Uncanny X-Men, Sub-Mariner, and Fantastic Four Issues I think these will be the ones that i most likely will gravitate towards. Thanks for listening and I'll see how everyone else starts listing there upcoming goals for this coming year. K To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

His name is "Earl" This year I had set out a goal for a new Modern Set as well as looked through my collection for a few future comics to start adding. I have a couple that I would love to one day send in for grading but based off of condition and the monetary amount that I would have to pay to get them graded I am having to slowly grade these as the one day turn around for a single comic was enough to make me hold my groin in pain. Another large road block, namely a deployment to Afghanistan, also has gotten into my way of adding more in my inaugural year of submitting but I was able to find some help in a friendly and trust worthy comic store owner "Earl" Throughout this year Earl from America's Heroes Comics outside of Fort Hood, TX has helped me in adding some great finds to my hopeful sets for this upcoming year. Initially I was going to try ask my wife to submit my beloved comics but alas I married a nonbeliever. Her initial reaction is why? You won't be able to read them and besides you can always get them with the Sunday paper. I tried to explain it to her but after showing her how much some comics go for on auction websites like Heritage, Comic Link, and even eBay she finally was ok with it. Then came the ultimate test. I let her actually pick one up and to my horror there was no sense of fragility. She simply picked it up with a sense of not caring and I had to put a stop to the madness. So back to Earl. I spoke to Earl one day of my predicament and after many separate stops at his store I found that I had made a friend who understood the nature of my obsession. He graciously took some of my comics into his store and without hesitation has been assisting me each month with there shipment to CGC and my acquiring of others especially in the variant category which I have become addicted to. For those who have seen the commissioned comics I have posted on here those were done with the help of my newly found friend in attending the Austin Comic Con in my stead after I had originally purchased the tickets believing I would be home in time for the event. In this upcoming year once Gemma (Who has been amazing as of late) sets up my soon to be hopeful Avengers vs X-Men set I will begin to post everything. As I do it will be because of Earl's sending and receiving my comics that I will even be able to gain a ranking on any of the sets. Thanks Earl But this coming year is going to have alot. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

I think it is...but what do you think? I enjoy the idea of Signature Series comics. Gaining an autograph from an actual contributor to a comic makes it worth more than any monetary amount to me. Getting someone to sign a comic to me personalizes it in a manner that makes it superior in my mind than not taking the opportunity to gain the signature. CGC in many ways sees this same point of view when assigning graded points but stops short after a single signature. To me the ultimate goal would be to get every contributor for a comic to sign something. Problem is that there is nothing additional in value for points when multiple signatures are assigned. Only on the first. So if I stand in line for one, get it encased and later on find another there is nothing added to the risk of lowering the comics when it comes to these competitive sets. So what brought this up? Today I checked on the status of my comics an saw that iconic word....GRADED. It was like Christmas without the fat guy. So I clicked on the link to check the grades. 1st up the Headpool Sketch by Marat Mychaels on Marvel Projects #1 - 9.8 Awesome start. I liked this one and was hoping for high marks. 2nd the Archangel Sketch by Adelso Corona on Uncanny X-Force - and awesome piece of art - 9.6 damn. But honestly this one was more about the art than the grade. 3rd Avengers vs X-Men #12 Hastings Variant - 9.8 Awesome again this puts me on track doing well for when I get to put up this set. 4th The Age of Apocalypse Wolverine by Mike McKone on an AoA #1 - 9.6 Another heart break but it's still a cool piece. 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th Avenging Spider-Man #1 4 part sketch set by Sam de la Rosa. 9.8 all around. This one had my jumping for joy. I'm sitting in a computer lab in Ali Asleem Kuwait and have a bunch of guys congratulating me as if I just had another child. This is truly a highlight that can't be taken away. and it is taken... last one on this list. Avengers vs X-Men #1 Hastings variant which had been previously signed by Stan Lee and graded at 9.8. Now signed by Carlo Barberi... 9.6. What the Front door... How? It was amazing when encased, amazing when handed carefully as if giving this man my first born to bless, and amazing when given to CGC at there table. So how did this one go down? Must get notes. But this brings about the point. Other than for myself is there any benefit for doing this? And has anyone ever ran into this same issue? To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

She's checking it twice and hopefully I have been nice So as has been my afternoon ritual, today I took my leisurely peak onto Gemma's request list for my usual where are my requests located. Usually I go on and I count where she's at and if she's been able to chip away at the mountains of request's that are already posted. Then I go through and count all of the separate listings which I have become fond of the I posted here first guy, and wait what the list has been update. I love you Gemma. You have made my day by making the mountain seem as if it's finally getting closer to where I can see the peak. While there are several lists on there I have issues to contribute to the one I'm looking forward to posting on is the Avengers vs X-Men Set's. And this is why: I would love to add to to my Uncanny X-Men set's or Incredible Hulk set's or even any Silver or Bronze age set but truth be told I don't have that type of money and am to young to have been interested in comics for those key comics to have been haphazardly sitting in my closet. So I look at some of the sets available to take a run at and many seem either uninteresting or simply small to the task. Then I read a few issues of this past series and became amazed at the fact that Marvel finally did a series right. The fact that nothing is the same with this ending actually caught my attention. *Spoiler Alert* They killed off Professor X Imprisoned the X-Men Leaders Finally finished off what was so great about Hope. Gave me a reason to care about why there where no more mutants. And all with a great ending. Being honest the last shaking of the Marvel Universe I tried to get into was Civil War and following its ending of, we leveled New York, look around, I give up just didn't make since to me. So now I have a series I actually enjoyed. Now the fun part, collecting the best of the best of each variant.... and holy are their ton's of them. I think number 1 has 7 printing's with 12 separate variants alone. That's 19 copies of the same issue and it's only number 1. So to me the hunt begins for that pretty little banner. Thank you Gemma... only 32 more to go. Oh and below is one of my newest received sketch covers. Sketch was done by legendary artist and all around nice guy Neal Adams. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

What A Haul.... A weekend ago I went down to the Austin Comic Con and got plenty either signed or commissioned. Just wanted to share a few things here and get some thoughts on others. Goals: The entire AvX Core Set Signature Series. The entire AvX VS Set Signature Series. The entire First X-Men Set Signature Series. The entire Age of Apocalypse Set Signature Series. Get Neal Adams (my favorite artist) to Sketch each member of the Avengers as was present during his run. Get the entire Uncanny X-Force member list sketched by a different artist. And my new favorite goal, get everything David Marquez (up and coming favorite) has done Signature Series. So how am I doing: This trip down worked hard... paid hard for alot of Jim Cheung Signings to include a AvX #1 Launch party signed, #2 Retailer Summit signed and his #0 Variant, Not to mention the Carlo Barberi Hastings Variants 1 & 12 signed, and the Humberto Ramos Set signed. I do have to say that Jim Cheung impressed me the most with how down to Earth he was and how reasonable his commission prices were. First X-Men: Wow this one again hurt and not just on the CGC fees but on Neals standard payment for signing fee. 1 thru 3 all variants all issues were signed. Didn't get a commision this time around but the Hulk he did for me was absolutely amazing from the Dallas Comic Con back in May. AoA - Got a McKone Sketch done here on a blank. This one was cool and watching him work on it and the amount of time it took him to do a sketch was phenomenal. Uncanny X-Force - This was the highlight of my trip as you can see by the sketch in the photo of Archangel. By far one of my favorite sketch commissions. Adelso Cordona did a phenomenal job and by far could have asked for more. He took his time and did a quality piece but also spoke about a lot of what he's currently working on with the pride of someone who appreciates an opportunity. Genuinely nice guy. David Marquez - You can't beat free. This gentleman did sketch's for free signed for free and kept asking if I wanted more. Really wish his line was bigger as he never stopped to ask for payment. To my understanding he's trying to build a fan base and at least for me has one follower. Additional's: Marat Mychael's sketched out a Headpool which I had done. I really like seeing what some people can do and he didn't disappoint. Finally: Last one here, Sam De La Rosa, haven't heard this name for a minute. Did a four part sketch of a team-up I'm looking for in avenging Spider-Man. So that's about it. Bill came out to some enormous amount so best time to head back out on another year long deployment in Afghanistan if I want to pay this one off in time for the next Con. These things have become increasingly addictive and have proven to be one of the only times I can walk around and say yes I am a collector of comics.... and NO they aren't for my kid. I love this hobby To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

So..... So, does anyone know the average time-frame for adding a Set to the Registry and if they have updated the way we are to request updates? I'm new to this whole experience and typically don't have the large amounts of money to send in the older books and have been relegated to getting more modern's for now. I was looking through past comments and noticed Gemma (Who has typically always been stellar) hasn't been on lately and was wondering if maybe their is a new forum for adding sets as she has stated that she would be doing training or school I think. Any information would be appreciated and if it's simply a patience is a virtue thing than I guess I'll just go back to sitting on my hands. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Avengers vs. X-Men Set Earlier I read a journal another gentlemen posted on his goals and the importance of writing them down in order to help him maintain a clear path. After reading this I said why not. So, in the spirit of being a CGC collector, as all of us are, I decided to attempt to do the Avengers vs. X-Men Set along with a piece of original art from issue 1 -- 12. Before I really get into it I want to start by saying I am not some rich, spoiled New York investor or anything of that type. I don't have a ton of cash set aside to spend. Nothing wrong with them, just not me. I am a Staff Sergeant in the Army who after being on a significant hiatus from collecting walked into a Comic Store with my daughter on Free Comic Day and was once again transported back to my childhood. Anyways, because my daughter and I were the first in the shop on FCB he handed her a copy of Mouse Guard and me a copy of the Avengers vs. X-Men # 1 store Premiere Launch Variant. Needless to say I think I was happier than my daughter once he gave it to me and explained what it was I had in my hands. So, to follow I took my daughter to the Dallas Comic Con where we met and had Stan Lee sign a few things. So now back to my actual subject matter. I now have in my possession: Avengers vs. X-Men # 1 Launch Party Variant 9.8 SS - Stan Lee Avengers vs. X-Men # 1 Hastings 9.8 SS -- Stan Lee Avengers vs. X-Men # 1 C2E2 9.8 Avengers vs. X-Men # 1 1:200 9.8 Avengers vs. X-Men # 2 1:200 9.8 Avengers vs. X-Men # 3 1:200 9.8 Avengers vs. X-Men # 4 1:200 9.8 And an Avengers vs. X-Men # 1 Sketch 9.6 by George Perez and Mitch Breitweiser So now I am looking to get Jimmy Cheung and Carlo Barberi to sign their respective # 1 Variants that Stan signed as well as turn in the rest of the 1:200 variants and see if either of those gentlemen would be willing to do up a blank sketch. I guess once a goal is written down it seems more obtainable, but once it's written down in front of my peers it's necessary. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.