Arkham

Totally get what you mean mate. While some of the drek I collect seems to be calming down, big books still seem bonkers. 
I hope you can land that big fish without letting any of your PC go! 

Nothing major to report...I have picked up a few modern collections of late and I have significantly upped my eBay store (and subsequently sales) and now I am trying to continually just keep adding to it when I can.
The good news is that incoming funds are inching me along closer and closer without having to unload a big key or keys for my collecting goals. For now, I'm ok to continue to scratch and fight my way to an AF #15 (I could get a decent low grade ASM #1 now). Getting some books back from CGC that will be slated for sales will help too, but likely not until early 2022 when I get that 25 book batch back.
However, if the right opportunity presented itself and/or it seems it is not feasible in terms of the rise in value of an AF #15, I could potentially unload some bigger non-ASM keys that are part of my personal collection to reach the goal before I am totally priced out...But like I said, if I don't have to, I'd rather not.

Finally, I was invited to participate at a local show in late September that I have done in the past but with my current family situation (busy toddler) and work...I can't do it and that is not even factoring Covid into the decision.
Even though in my part of Ontario Covid numbers are low and relatively stable, I wouldn't be comfortable mingling with larger crowds right now....Realistically, I can't see me doing a show until late  summer/early fall 2022 at the earliest and I will be "online only" for awhile. 

And a few more samples...

FINALLY got around to beefing up my ebay store this past weekend and posting some of my last CGC subs up and some did not last long at all.
Notable sales (so far) Spawn 1 Newsstand CGC 9.8, Daredevil Vol.2 #9 CGC 9.8, Hulk 1 CGC 9.8, Infinite Crisis #5 CGC 9.8 and raw Spawn #230 and Vengeance of Bane #1.
My goal is to minimally always have 100 items in my store but ideally I'd like to get to 200-250 and maintain that with the occasional small auction.
Of course, I would like more but trying to be realistic with family and regular work responsibilities.
Also, I have managed to pick up some hot and/or fun speculation books that the price was too fair to ignore. Several will be added to next CGC sub.
Samples:
 

I have the other 20 books if you need them :-D

Successful auctions had me itching to buy something and get on with the ASM collecting goal.
I picked up this sweet book for the run and didn't kill my budget for the "big two".
Now need 20 books to complete the run.
Thanks to @AlphaOmega for the great book, stellar packaging and fast shipping.

I think my resolve has been renewed and I am NOT going to unload any of my ASM collection to help me get my grail. There is simply too much work, time, and still love in those books to "give up" now. I am going to keep plodding away and wheeling and dealing but spare my ASM collection. Other keys may continue to circle in and out of the PC vs For Sale categories.
I "buckled down" I just set up a huge auction (well, huge for me, 91 books) to finally try to just offload all the Zenescope books I acquired previously. Those books have brought me good returns but now I am "blowing out" pretty much everything I have left. 
It took some time to set up but I think that is the way...I know I will feel a heck of a lot better making bank towards a grail selling stuff I don't care about than the quicker route.
Tortoise and the hare...

I'm speaking from experience, having collected, completed and then sold a full ASM run. I've posted my feelings about this many times in different threads and there are many aspects to consider. Money, space, desire, age, personal circumstances, changing focus - they all play a part and everyone is different, everyone will reach different conclusions which may or may not work for them in the long run.
But there is one other notable element that I have encountered myself and that is the sensation that comes over you when the goal is almost complete. I have experienced this three times in my collecting life - that phase, as you near the finishing line, where your thoughts turn to selling or stopping or changing course. There must be some psychological process where the act of completing a task has the affect of lessening your interest in it. Once the thrill of the chase is over, what replaces that thrill? If you did complete the full run somehow,  what would you do - dig it out once a year and look proudly on it? What is the point of ownership?
In this phase, it is easy to convince yourself of the merits of a particlar downsizing path as you have largely lost the thrill of the acquisition. And you can easily forget the value of the sheer effort involved in putting the run together in the first place. It's why phrases like "you never know what you've got until it's gone" exist.
My advice is this - complete and keep the ASM #1-200 run as the monument to the achievement. That's where all the best stuff is. That is where Spider-Man really exists, in those Ditko, Romita and Andru panels. And that is where the future value largely sits. Sell everything else other than those books that mean something to you and invest the funds in comic books that you love and which are not hampered by having to fit a run or set or goal. Books that don't break anything, should you sell them. That way freedom lays. Sell ASM #1-200 and you will likely regret it. You've put in a lot of time and effort in to build the set - at least keep the best of it. 
 

Yes - what @thehumantorch says... I like that.  You can keep your current grind of acquiring, grading, selling and saving going while you sort out what you want to do. If you could snag a low grade AF15 and still keep that run? That sounds like a damn fine outcome!

Nothing rash is a good start. 
I'd suggest you focus on an AF15 and get it out of the way.  It's expensive for a reason and I just don't think it's ever gonna be cheaper.  Sell non core stuff to raise funds, save up, realize you're probably never gonna get into a 6.0, or even a 4.0, or hell a 2.0 may be a stretch.  Learn to love a low grade copy.  if you find a low grade copy that isn't too ugly and you can find the money, do you really think you're not gonna love that book considering the cost and commitment you had to make to acquire it??  And do you really think it won't be a bad investment considering how it's value has appreciated for almost 60 years?
And once you have the AF15 it'll be pretty easy from there.  And once you have them all you can consider selling your under copies to upgrade.  I just picked up an upgrade to my FF 4 and I've sent my under copy in for grading.  If I sell it that'll drop the price of the upgrade in half.

Wait about 4 months when my next batch gets back from CGC 
I just sent in over 30 books...Largest single sub yet...Mostly modern era though.

It’s a fairly major crossroads to be at mate. 
Based on today’s market, selling the run will be a decision that would be very hard to reverse in the future without major expense. 
As you know, I’ve sold many of the books in my collection over the years. I’ve sold some keys because I needed to fund stuff for the family and I’ve sold books to consolidate a larger collection into a smaller one full of books that are truly special to me.
I am completely happy with the decisions I’ve made. I’d rather have a smaller collection of 1st appearances, classic covers and novelties like homages of covers I love, than a big collection that I will flick through and look at less often (but still need the space to store). 
That said, I really miss having some books that I’ve sold in my collection - which is probably amplified by the price rises and general feeling that I am unlikely to have them back in my collection in the future. But, I also only sold books that weren’t my key focus. So I am wistful but overall happy with the decision and would do it again.
You’ve been on this journey for a lifetime. Like my experience, I think that if you let the run go you will miss chasing it a little even if you would make the same decision again. 

FWIW - I personally would want the AF15 over a completed run. I’d probably look to keep all the books that are truly special to me from the run (1st apps of characters I love, covers I love) and then put the rest up for sale to get that AF15 before it is unobtainable for mere mortals. 
But that’s only what I would do and collecting is such an intensely personal hobby. Despite the market driving prices up quickly, it also sounds like a decision you can’t rush. Is the crisis new or has it been bubbling away for some time? What decision do you feel yourself leaning towards at the moment? 

nope i would just move on to another hobby, i am just about to get back into coins again..
since i was a young child many of the holy grails in coins (1909 SVDB cent 1916 D Mercury dime , 1877 Indian cent ..etc etc..) now cost less than a 2.0 ASM 14 
i always wanted them ( every child in the neighborhood dreamed of a 1916 D Mercury dime where i grew up at, when i was a kid) and now they look dirt cheap with room to grow compared to comics

Wow...Been a long time since I have posted in this journal.
Not much new to report in terms of personal ASM books...I have been busy working from home during the pandemic, busy with a now 14 month old son and focusing on selling (to save) for the next big Spidey book - An AF #15 or ASM #1 (when I have spare time; which is rare these days).
As I was looking in my comic closet though at my near complete run and the value that is in my personal collection, plus for sale inventory, plus what I have saved from selling and still have that I could sell...I'm wavering and pondering "giving up" on completing the run, keeping a handful of books from my personal collection and move all the rest of my personal ASM collection to my "for sale" inventory.
Why? I still have 21 books to go, all from the Lee/Ditko era and does not include annuals (I don't have ASM Annual #1 either - sad). Those will eat up money. Major keys just keep going up and up and up and I fear if I wait too long, they will be unattainable as I would need to get low grade but I don't want a total dog of a book "just to have one" either. I have some standards . Plus, I am considering what would make me "happiest" in my collecting journey. What would mean "the most" to me to possess? A big run of books, that may never have the two biggest books or a small but mighty collection?
The flip side is there is a lot of memories tied up in all the rest of the run I acquired and there are a lot of books I still really, really like having. So, it is the "collecting crisis" I am having right now...Make a bold decision and let go of a lot of valuable books and accelerate selling to get that big book or just keep doing what I have been doing; wheeling and dealing, clawing away and selling as much as I can of everything else, when I can...
If anyone is reading, feel free to "sound off", love to hear other peoples opinions and/or stories...

Thanks mate. It’s good to be back after the hiatus! Yeah - my old man got me into the Phantom as it was what he enjoyed when he was young.
Full steam ahead on that Bats 189! I’ll send you some candidate pics as I get closer.  

Awesome initial entry and it is so good to have you rejoin the collecting fold!
I enjoyed the story of how you came to be a Batman guy...Didn't know you were into the Phantom.
Now go get that Batman #189 😉! 

And here is my recent little modern cherry pick from a collection

First Collection Purchase of 2021 Completed.
Again, nothing major but it is a nice collection of modern, low print run horror comics and completely done via email/FB messaging.  This is the same source as the Spawn and Star Wars and other recent books (except the GA ones). I was not super keen on these books,  but the price was right and I want the seller to know he can keep coming to me as well; I want to maintain that quick "comics for cash" relationship. I'll post a few pics when they arrive.

Warning for my "millions" of followers 
I haven't had a buyer back out in awhile but this one is interesting. I had the book packed and was going to ship this morning. Refunded. Blocked. And Moving On. For sale on the boards if anyone interested LOL.
 

Sorry, thought I had replied. For sure, when I sub these to CGC and get them back, will let you know.
I definitely lucked out with the two Thor #2's...Those are going to CGC for sure...Christian Bale as God-Butcher and I have two first apps! Might have to fast track those ones LOL.

Nice pickup!! 
It's completely outside my focus, but I'm pretty interested in one of your Spawns when you start flipping buddy.
I only flipped mine because it was CBCS and not CGC and that made me go like this whenever I saw it in my collection: 

Wheels keep on turning...Approached by customer on my Facebook Page to see if I do trades as he wanted my BA #12 CGC 9.6 - I normally don't like to  but customer wanted the book and was not a seller so in exchange for the BA #12 CGC 9.6, I got these two books...

These sold in a flash!
And slowly trying to ramp up my eBay store for the holidays...We shall see how much I can post there...

I wasn't really aware myself...I think Spider-Gwen has a following and that it is a super low print run (apparently) with some new content, but I don't pretend to understand ALL the intricacies of the modern collector!