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SW3D

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Journal Entries posted by SW3D

  1. SW3D
    There's a saying, You can't see the forest for the trees. No... sometimes you can't... not until you take a step back that is... and wait... and close your eyes and clear your mind... then open them... and just look without thinking... then suddenly there it is! Viola! The answer!
    Sadly, I am a fool for not realizing this sooner... for the answer was in front of me all along... hidden in plain sight... but my eyes were blind to it all... caught up in the hoopla... caught up in the novelty of it all... caught up in comic lust.
    Well I can understand the fallacy of it all... where the confusion lies and the deception begins. Such things have shaped the modern world. I can see it in so many places, and the chaos that it brings. Shadows lingering in the open light... you can't see it but they are there... laughing in your face... invisible in sunlight... but laughing none the less.
    But even the best of charades and deceptions come undone.
    Here's another saying: "Who's born as a donkey can't die as a horse."
    Riddles? Perhaps... but everything happens for a reason.
    Sometimes a system is created with only the best of intentions. A system designed to be unbiased and hold itself to the highest of moral and ethical standards... standing for something... something great... something good... something we can all aspire to... an ideal... much like a superhero. But as time and history have consistently shown, even the highest of ideals which begin with the best of intentions are vulnerable, and often veer off course from their intended paths... misguided by a few ethically challenged individuals. Such a sad thing really. But it happens. Every day. Everywhere on God's Green Earth.
    Perhaps you have no idea what I am referring to? Perhaps you have no clue? Well there's a simple solution... stand back... close your eyes... clear your minds... now open your eyes and then you may see the forest for the trees.
     
    http://www.cgccomics.com/news/viewarticle.aspx?IDArticle=3226&
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  2. SW3D
    Robert Kirkman's latest... Invincible 100 Chromium Edition
    I've made this confession before, but I'll say it again... I'm a sucker for key issues... which include First Appearances, Death of Major and Minor Characters, Preview Issues, Return of, First Published work of Artist or Writer, First Issue, Last Issue, Historical Changes to the Character Mythology, and Anniversary issues included.
    So, at my last visit to my LCS, I see Robert Kirkman's Invincible on the new arrivals shelves. There are a total of 8 variant covers, including a rare Black & White cover and a Chromium Edition. That last one sells at a whopping $9.99 cover price and has to be, in my opinion, the most expensive cover price to date. Now please correct me if I am wrong on this.
    So I bought and read the issue, and it is a very quick read! I mean wow!... I read it in the space of five minutes or less. Either I'm so accustomed to reading classical works of literature that have more breadth and scale than modern comic books that I now have the ability to speed-read at a break-neck pace... or comics today have absolutely no meat and potatoes. Surfer99 said it best with his January 13th journal entry "Storytelling has Changed!" But for a "Special 100th Anniversary Issue" I expected heaping spoonfuls of page after page of story and action... like the good old days of anniversary issues. That's what I used to love about the old double-sized formats. You knew for the extra cover price you were in for a treat!
    In regards to the bare-bones story, and I will admit, I just jumped into Invincible with this issue... so I have no frame of reference for this particular story arch which is the obvious climax from a rather epic-scale arch spanning several issues. Truth be told... the only other time I've even read Invincible was its first issue as a free download through ComiXology on my iPhone. You also may remember my journal post where I went after Savage Dragon 102 which has his Mark Grayson's first published appearance in a 5-page preview that predates both Tech Jacket #1 and Invincible #1.
    But getting back to issue 100... I really hate to say this and to spoil the fun for anyone who's a fan or intending to read it... but quite frankly, it is a dissapointment. This one issue reads like a pedestrian or poor man's version of Alan Moore's classic Marvelman/Miracleman with shades of Watchmen... when you throw-in the mass casualties and conspiracy arch: "sacrifice millions in order to save the planet" wildly_fanciful_statement! Dear Lord! This nonesense has become so cliched that I'm starting to hate anything to do with End Times or The Apocalypse! However, in its defense, there is a slight twist that I have yet to see in those other tales... and I won't give that away... but honestly it comes across as so convulted and contrived as to be unbelievable. Perhaps that should be the more appropiate title: "Unbelievable #100!"
    So... at $9.99... I think I should have spent my hard earned cash on other things.
    Just an FYI... to save some bucks... you can buy the other variant covers at $3.99 cover price... so avoid the Chromium Edition unless you're a die-hard.
    Anyway... thanks for reading... feedback and opinions always welcome!
    SW3D

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  3. SW3D

    A 2012 Holdover!

    By SW3D,

    AKA... My Soul Gem: Redux
    It finally arrived!... Marvel Premiere #2. This is a holdover from 2012. I actually purchased it from the ComicConnect auction site back on December 20th. Although not a key, I couldn't resist the purchase based on its high grade and certification from a pedigree collection: Suscha News.
    This little gem takes its rightful place among my proud collection of keys I am currently building on Adam Warlock. To date, I now own:
    1. Fantastic Four 66 (Origin of Him),
    2. Fantastic Four 67 (1st Appearance of Him)
    3. Marvel Premiere 1 (1st Appearance as Adam Warlock, 1st Appearance of Costume, 1st Appearance of Soul Gem, 1st Appearance of Counter-Earth/Earth 616)
    4. Marvel Premiere 2
    5. Warlock 10 (Origin of Thanos and Gamora, 1st Appearance of In-Betweener).
    As I mentioned in my previous journal post, "Keys to the Kingdom!"... 2013 will see me searching out for two specific Adam Warlock keys to complete this collection. However, I have decided to revise this key search to include two additional keys that have caught my attention, which now means I will be looking to obtain a total of four (4) keys:
    *1st Key: Thor Volume 1, No. 165: "Him's" first full appearance as he battles Thor for the hand of Lady Sif.
    *2nd Key: Warlock (The Power of...) Volume 1, No. 1: Finally! Warlock gets his own magazine! This inaugural issue is a continuation of the storyline from Marvel Premiere 1 and 2.
    *3rd Key: Strange Tales No. 178: The first appearance of the Magus... Warlock's evil future self and founder of the Universal Church of Truth.
    *4th Key: Warlock No. 9: The origin of the Magus.
    The late Gil Kane was a master! He's one of my favorite artists. His cover to Marvel Premiere 2 is dripping with dynamic action ala 70's Marvel... check it out!
    Happy New Year and Happy Collecting!
    SW3D

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  4. SW3D

    A Bar Code Trick Revealed!

    By SW3D,

    How to Identify First Print Editions and Variant Covers Using the Bar Code
    Here's a little trick that was revealed to me by the good people at Midtown Comics.
    I asked the question: How can I determine if a comic is a first print edition versus a second print edition and if it's a standard cover or a variant cover?
    His answer: Check the bar code.
    Now let me explain what he meant.
    Take the two available covers of Hero Worship Issue 1 published by Avatar Press. One cover depicts Zenith saving a bawling infant from a driverless runaway rig, a second cover depicts Zenith flying over a city, with what appears to be a metal guardrail ripped from a nearby rooftop.
    Once again, both covers are from Issue 1, but obviously one of them is a variant cover... but which one? Can you guess? Well there's no need to guess anymore. Here's how to tell them apart...
    ...On the back covers of each comic, we discover the bar codes. If we match up the bar codes, their number sequences are nearly identical. But if you take a closer look... they're not. What's the difference? On the right-hand top corner of each bar code, you'll discover a five digit number sequence. The bar code on the left has the following sequence of numbers: 01011; the bar code on the right: 01021. The very last number on the extreme right of each sequence, is the number 1, which denotes that each copy to be a first edition or first printing. The second to last number on each sequence, you'll notice a variation. The bar code on the left has a number 1, while the bar code on the right has a number 2. That number 2 signifies it's a variant cover: cover number 2 of print 1.
    So now you know how to identify the print edition as well as a cover variant of any comic but checking the bar code.
    Note... not all comics have bar codes, especially comics published prior to the mid-70's.
    If you have a comic collecting tip to share, please do so... I'm always happy to expand my knowledge of the hobby.
    Happy Collecting!

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  5. SW3D
    Listing my favorite comics and such.
     
    If I could be a superhero, who would I be?: SupermanMy favorite Comic Book Character: Swamp ThingMy favorite Cosmic Superhero: Tie: Adam Warlock and Silver Surfer.My favorite Classic Superhero: SupermanMy favorite Non-powered Superhero: Batman My favorite Supernatural Character: Phantom StrangerMy favorite Confidence Man: John ConstantineMy favorite Pulp Hero: The ShadowMy favorite hometown Superhero: Spider-Man (from Forest Hills, NY)My favorite Indie Superhero: NexusMy favorite Superheroine (based on looks): Tie: Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers) and Marvel Girl/Phoenix (Jean Grey).My favorite Superheroine (based on heroics/leadership): Tie: Storm and Wonder WomanMy favorite Super Team: Tie: Fantastic Four and X-MenMy favorite Cosmic Villain: Tie: Galactus and ThanosMy favorite Despot Villain: Doctor DoomMy favorite Supernatural Villain: MephistoMy favorite Rogues Gallery: X-MenMy favorite fight between heroes: Daredevil vs. Hulk: Daredevil 163My favorite Golden Age publisher: EC ComicsMy favorite Silver Age Publisher: Marvel ComicsMy favorite Bronze Age Publisher: DC My favorite Copper Age Publisher: Marvel ComicsMy favorite Modern Age Publisher: DC ComicsMy favorite defunct Indie Publisher: Tie: Eclipse and FirstMy favorite Modern Indie Publisher: Tie Dark Horse and ImageMy favorite Silver Age run: Fantastic Four Volume 1: 1 - 100, and Silver Surfer Volume 1: 1 - 16.My favorite Bronze Age run: Tie: Swamp Thing Volume 1: 1 - 10; Warlock Volume 1: 9 - 16; DC's Shadow Volume 1: 1 - 12My favorite Copper Age run: Tie: Uncanny X-Men 129 - 143; Daredevil: 168 - 200My favorite Toy Tie-In: Tie: Micronauts and ROM SpaceknightMy favorite Event Maxi-Series: Tie: DC's Watchmen and Marvel's Civil War. My favorite Mini-Series: Kingdom ComeMy favorite Cross-Over: DC/Marvel Presents: Uncanny X-Men and Teen TitansMy favorite B&W Magazine: Tie: Savage Sword of Conan and Tales of the ZombieMy favorite Foreign Comic Book Magazine: WarriorMy favorite Adult Magazine: EpicMy favorite Anthology Magazine: CreepyMy favorite Graphic Novel: Watchmen My favorite Foreign Superhero: Tie: Marvelman and Judge DreddMy favorite comic book writer (living or dead): Tie: Stan Lee and Alan MooreMy favorite comic book artist (living or dead): Tie: Bernie Wrightson, Michael Kaluta, Neal Adams, John Bryne, Jim Starlin and Brian Bolland.My favorite comic book cover artist (illustrator): Tie: Jack Kirby and Gil KaneMy favorite comic book cover artist (oil on canvas): Tie: Boris Vallejo and Earl NoremWho I believe is the greatest comic book artist ever? (living or dead): Jack Kirby without a doubt!My holy grails (list will grow without a doubt):Fantastic Four 48Fantastic Four 1Fantastic Four 5House of Secrets 92Swamp Thing 1Fantastic Four 66/67Action Comics 1Detective Comics 27Tales of Suspense 39X-Men 1Showcase 22Showcase 4Journey Into Mystery 83Daredevil 1Giant Size X-Men 1Incredible Hulk 181Warrior Magazine 12000 AD Prog 2Nexus Volume 1 (B&W Magazine)Creepy 1Anything ECTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  6. SW3D
    Yes dear readers, today we are celebrating an anniversary... a milestone...
     
    ...Drum Roll Please!"My 100th Collectors Society Journal!"And what better way to celebrate a personal milestone than to talk about my latest acquisition... what I like to call, "A Holy Grail of a Story!"Almost the same time last year, I wrote a number of journals espousing my love for HIM... Marvel's Messiah... the Gold Skinned Christlike figure with a guilty conscious and an future evil self... the one and only... Adam Warlock.Forty-seven years ago, in the pages of the Fantastic Four Volume 1, No. 66 (1967), the comic book world was introduced to eugenics Marvel Style!Four nutty scientists, known as the Citadel of Science (COS), gathered inside a secret mountain complex, and kidnapped Alicia Masters, the blind sculptress and Ben Grimm's lady-love. Tasked to sculpt the bust of the COS's greatest creation, since no man can look with their naked eyes into the blinding energy which bathes their progeny without going blind (scientists without opaque safety googles?), Alicia Masters is given the 311 on the origin of their creation: HIM... the first of his kind... the leader of a superior race... a master race of perfect humanoids... a race of genetically birthed Gods! And for what purpose? To deliver humanity to a Golden Age or to subjugate it?In the subsequent issue, No. 67, Alicia Masters and the readers bear witness to the opening of the Cocoon and what awaits inside... the unholy power of HIM... Man's supreme creation! However, like a Modern-Day Prometheus, in his first appearance, this God-like being emerges to turn on his evil fathers, knowing full well of their nefarious intent, and destroys them... thus saving humanity from an incalculable evil. Realizing his true purpose lies not on Earth but in the Universe which awaits, HIM ascends to the stars for his spiritual growth and development. Thus began the great cosmic odyssey and legacy that is to become Adam Warlock.Where would Counter-Earth be without its Messiah?Where would the Mad Titan, Thanos be without Adam?Where would the Guardians of the Galaxy be without Warlock? And where would we, the apostles of Marvel's Cosmic Universe be without our Grand Savior?Thus I give you where it all began! In these very pages... we are privileged to glimpse HIM... he who emerged from the Chrysalis... and became the Messiah of the Marvel Universe!I am proud to induct Fantastic Four Volume 1, No. 67, CGC 9.6, White Pages, with the Old Universal Blue Label, into my Adam Warlock collection, euphemistically dubbed "The Keys to the Kingdom!"And lastly, I thank you all Dear Readers!... For diligently reading my journals and providing feedback, support and inspiration... for where would I be, a wannabe Writer, without my Readers?For this blessed and most humbling gift... I am forever grateful.SW3DTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  7. SW3D
    AKA: "It's Him! It's Him! It's Him!"
    Well I had to do it; I had to buy another. I have no idea what compels me to do such crazy things like buying multiple copies of comics that I love; it's probably mental illness.
    Since early 2013, I had been searching for another copy of Marvel Premiere #1: a key showcasing the metamorphosis of HIM into Warlock. But I wasn't searching for just any example of Marvel Premiere #1... I had to have a Suscha News pedigree graded 9.6 with white pages. Why? Because I'm obsessed! This beauty of a comic joins my two other Marvel Premiere #1's, which are also Suscha News pedigrees. So now I have a total of three MP #1's and all pedigrees.
    With Adam Warlock's star power on the rise, Marvel Premiere #1, and most any Adam Warlock key has risen in value due to speculator demand. Why? Simply because Warlock is rumored to debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... likely helping the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy battle the Mad Titan... Thanos!
    Many collectors and Adam Warlock fans have debated Warlock's first appearance; Marvel Premiere #1 has gained considerable interest and support as the coveted key, but I respectfully disagree. I still hold Fantastic Four volume 1, number 67 as the magic key. However, in its favor, Marvel Premiere #1 debuts a number of tropes that have since become integral to Warlock's mythology, making this comic a historical key nearly equal to Fantastic Four 66, 67, and Thor 165.
    Here's the low-down on what makes it so special:
    *HIM is given the name Warlock by the High Evolutionary, and, in order to save Counter-Earth from destruction, he becomes a Messiah-like superhero.
    *1st Costume Incarnation: this is the very first time HIM/Warlock dons a costume, which is a playful homage to Fawcett's Shazam incorporating Captain Marvel's jagged lightning emblem and red and yellow colors. The Magus, Warlock's evil future, wears a near identical costume except that his is a gray and white/silver mix, and has a skull embedded in the center of his belt.
    *1st Appearance of the Soul Gem (green colored): this is first of the six (6) colored Soul Gems, aka Infinity Gems or Infinity Stones; the possessor of all six gems becomes master of Time, Space, Mind, Soul, Reality, and Power.
    *1st Appearance of Counter-Earth: a near-perfect facsimile of Earth.
    *Altered Physical Appearance: the first depiction of Warlock without eyes; no explanation is given (Note: Adam Warlock is frequently illustrated without eyes; this can be seen over the course of his appearances throughout various titles including his own, and with no explanation offered).
    So a lot happens in this issue, which also features early appearances of the High Evolutionary, his evil creation, the Man-Beast, and the Fantastic Four, Thor, Hulk and The Watcher as seen in flashbacks.
    Feast your eyes on my triple set... isn't it magnificent!?!
    Now if only I can get a pedigree example of Spawn #9.
    Thanks for reading and as always... Happy Collecting!
    SW3D

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  8. SW3D
    When they became available, I was slow in pulling the trigger on a two or three day pass for NYComicCon. Time passed and I completely forgot about it. Like SDCC, tickets sold quickly. In late summer, a new job came along, and Thursday became the only day I could find a ticket and committ... so I took it... one day is better than none.
    Sadly, with my signature ambitions, one day is/was not enough, especially with the truncated hours Thursday has to offer. If I had Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday, I know I would have accomplished what I set out to do. For example, last year, what I couldn't finish on the first day, I left open invoices behind with the CGC and picked up right where I left off the following day. And I got most everything accomplished. This time around, I had no such luxury.
     
     
     
    I was looking forward to getting Francisco Francavilla's inscription on three (3) different comic titles: Afterlife with Archie #1, and Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, #'s 8 and 9. I had multiple copies of each and would have asked him to sign a total of 9 comics.
     
     
     
    I also wanted to score the signatures of Mark Morales and Olivier Coipel, and was hoping to achieve my first quad signature piece on GOTG 6, but they were either conducting business elsewhere... perhaps somewhere on the main exhibitor floor or in comic panels... or they were no-shows.
     
     
     
    For the most part, I was a denizen of Artist Alley and chose to stay away from the mayhem of the upper level or the adjacent lower level where the panels and celebrity signings take place. I only ventured to see the main floor when i closed my invoices... which i had to do when the Francavilla booth had quietly materialized a handwritten signage reading "Cancelled". Oh well, that's life. I hope to have the opportunity next year to meet the man, and finish what I started.
     
     
     
    What I did get done, I'm really happy with. Coincidentally, the comics i got signatures for and submitted for grading, have one theme in common: an appearance by Angela, aka Aldriff Odinsdotter, Thor's long lost sister, and Asgards newest citizen.
     
     
     
    So this is what the day yielded:
     
     
     
    Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, #5: 4 copies signed by Sara Pichelli.
     
     
     
    Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, #6: 5 copies signed by Sara Pichelli and Justin Ponsor.
     
     
     
    Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, #7: 4 copies signed by Sara Pichelli and Justin Ponsor.
     
     
     
    Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, #10: 4 copies signed by Kevin Maguire and Justin Ponsor.
     
     
     
    Aria Angela European Tour Ashcan: 2 copies signed by Jay Anacleto.
     
     
     
    Aria Angela #1 Tower Records Variant: 1 copy signed by Jay Anacleto.
     
     
     
    Aria Angela #1 Whilce Portacio Variant Cover: 1 copy signed by Jay Anacleto.
     
     
     
    Aria Angela #1 Whilce Portacio Holo Foil Variant Cover: 1 copy signed by Jay Anacleto.
     
     
     
    Aria Angela #2 Gold Edition Variant: 1 copy signed by Jay Anacleto.
     
     
     
    Aria Angela #2 Chris Bachalo Variant Cover: 1 copy signed by Jay Anacleto.
     
     
     
    and lastly...
     
     
     
    Aria #4 Glow in the Dark Cover: 1 copy signed by Jay Anacleto.
     
     
     
    The last comic, for some absurd reason, features Angela on the cover, yet in no way does she appear in the actual story or subsequent issue(s). So why bother to put her on the cover? It kinda acts like a one page preview of the Aria Angela two-issue series, and it happens to be the same cover featured on the Aria Angela European Ashcan Tour.
     
     
     
    As far as a prediction of grades, I am always hoping for the higgest possible example, but realistically, I doubt any of the comics will grade at 9.8. I'm guessing they'll garner grade ranges between 9.0 - 9.6, but I'm hoping fate proves me wrong and gifts me some 9.8's or higher.
     
     
     
    A big shout out goes to the hardest working man at the CGC Signature booth, Michael Balent... you make every year coming back a pleasure!
     
     
     
    Kudos to Bree for her hard work. And lastly, a big thank you to all the red shirt witnesses... thanks for being there for us.
     
     
     
    Although I head back to work tomorrow, I'm already looking forward to next year and hopefully a three (3) days attendance pass.
     
     
     
    I'll leave you tonight with an image of a free comic book given away by energy drink makers SK.
     
     
     
    Best of luck to all those submitting comics this weekend at NYCC.
     
     
     
    Thanks for reading and happy collecting!

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  9. SW3D
    AKA... John Byrne's First Published Comic Book!
     
    AKA... Thank you Marvel Comics and Dan Slott for the Distraction!I went to Midtown Comics Grand Central yesterday during my lunch break. It was busier than normal, and I just assume everyone was there buying up the sickening glut of variant covers of Amazing Spider-Man #700... the last issue and "death" of Peter Parker... well lots of them were, but some shoppers were lucky recipients of X-mas gift cards looking to redeem and take advantage of post holiday sales... myself included!Quite honestly, I really couldn't care much about ASM #700! Dare I say!!! Although I'm not a huge fan of Spidey, I did love the 60's cartoon show. The very bizarre "Revolt in the 5th Dimension" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF8fasFUucQ) is my favorite episode of the series featuring the best soundtrack and score for a cartoon show (that's my opinion)... funny thing... the episode is actually directly lifted from Canada's Rocket Robin Hood episode "Dementia Five" (check it out:
    ), which was written by the legendary Ralph Bakshi best known for Fritz the Cat, The Lord of the Rings, and Fire and Ice animated movies. Any-hoot... I have a bone to pick with Marvel over their consistent maltreatment and abuse of Peter Parker. I know he's just a fictional character, but the poor guy's been through so much misery and pain in his life... he's literally been treated like a whipping boy... enough is enough!!! Easy Spidey... easy Spidey... don't lose your cool. But that is a separate topic of conversation which I may quite possibly broach another time.Meanwhile, back at Midtown Comics... there's a Holiday Sale going on: a whopping 40 percent off on all back issues until December 31st! They do this virtually every year... a great opportunity for savings. So, yesterday afternoon, I began searching through their vintage section looking for a bargain, and lo and behold I spotted this little rare gem: ACA Comix No. 1.What you say? What in the heck is ACA Comix No. 1? Glad you ask. ACA Comix is an Alberta College of Art publication (May, 1971), a "brochure" featuring the very first published comic book written and illustrated by none other than the master... John Byrne. John Byrne, the color-blind, English born but Canadian bred writer/artist, best known for his legendary works on Avengers, Uncanny X-Men, Alpha Flight, Fantastic Four, Superman, and his creations Rog-2000, Doomsday Plus 1, Danger Unlimited, and Next Men, attended the Alberta College of Art in the early 70's ('70 -- '73). For some enlightenment onto ACA Comix No. 1, I decided to take an excerpt (used without permission... please forgive me) from an interview conducted by Jon B. Cooke, which appeared in Comic Book Artist #12:"Comic Book Artist: You mentioned in an interview that your first full-length comic story was Death's-Head Knight back in the early '70s. What was that?John Byrne: Not sure I would actually have called it my "first full-length comic story." Death's-Head Knight was a project done for the Alberta College of Art, which I was attending at the time. The curator of the gallery had brought in a comic art show, and needed a "brochure" to be given away at the door. He asked me if I could prepare something on relatively short notice, and I did, some 20 pages, each double-width. It was a sword-&-sorcery story."To my knowledge, only 500 copies were ever printed... Holy Sh*t! Only 500 copies... incredibly rare! And I Google searched ACA Comix No. 1, in an effort to determine a price-value and any known counterfeiting and reproductions... but my search came up empty. I also cross-referenced the CGC census, and only one... count it... 1... graded copy exists... an 8.0!If you visit John Byrne's website, Byrne Robotics, you can click and view his scanned panels of the comic book brochure: http://www.artofjohnbyrne.com/gallery/earlydays/collegedays/. Amazingly, I bought ACA Comix No. 1 for the incredibly low price of $3.00... that's right!... just three bucks... that was the final price paid after a 40 percent discount from the original asking price of five bucks (see pic for the sticker price). I really can't believe it! I somehow feel it's too good to be true! To be honest, I don't know if it's the genuine article or not... but I'm willing to bet it is. In a way I think it's serendipitous! For the last few months I have been eyeing a CGC 9.4 of John Byrne's classic Charlton title: Doomsday Plus One #1; a high grade copy of Uncanny X-Men #129 (1st appearance of Kitty Pride, White Queen, and Sebastian Shaw: by the way... my very first X-Men comic book back in 1979... which I still own but it is in terrible shape... it's been read to death!); and I've also been aching to buy The Art of John Byrne soft cover portfolio book published back in 1980, which I used to own and carried nearly every day with me in an art portfolio along with my HC copy of How to Draw the Marvel Way... but due to an unfortunate accident involving spilled ink... was forever ruined (along with my late 70's Balantine Book Volumes of The Art of Frank Frazetta)... and in a stupid act of blind rage... I threw it out! God I miss that book... those really slick illustrations of Wolverine... or the painted iconic image of Superman flying through the sun... to the very tech-heavy black and white comic book involving an astronaut (a dead ringer for JB himself), crash landing on an alien barren planet, only to discover a sinister dome/moon base which contains its own artificial "Garden of Eden-like" ecosystem inhabited by a mysterious woman and her giant robotic protector. JB is actually kind enough to include on his website, selected images from The Art of John Byrne... check it out: http://www.artofjohnbyrne.com/gallery/artofjohnbyrne/. So, to be an absolute hypocrite... A "shout-out" and really BIG THANK YOU goes to Dan Slott and Marvel Comics for ASM #700... for helping to distract all those rabid comic book hunters at Midtown Comics yesterday... and of course to Midtown Comics for their always exceptional service and for a very nice and truly historic key!SW3DTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  10. SW3D
    A photo of the back cover to this rare gem.
    I'm actually afraid to touch it, much less read it... but I did, albeit, very carefully, take an exam of its condition... cover (flat, no spine rolls, blunting on edges, minor foxing on back cover) and interior (all white pages, no missing pages, no missing pieces, no rusting on staples, no detectable oxidation odor) and generally no amateur repairs or restoration that I could detect. My conservative guess on its conditon is 8.0 (Very Fine), but my gut tells me it's 9.0 (Very Fine/Mint).
    It's printed on heavy stock paper... thick cloth type... not fragile and prone to brittleness like comic pages.
    On the front cover, in small print, all in caps, appears:
    A MOPPETT*BYRNE PRODUCTION
    The back cover reads in large print, all in caps, and centered:
    THIS CATALOGUE PUBLISHED
    ON THE OCCASION
    OF THE
    A.C.A. STUDENTS' EXHIBITION '71
    A.C.A. GALLERY - MAY, 1971
    And in small print (but also all in caps and includes a company logo) appears on the lower right corner:
    PRINTED BY SAIT GRAPHIC SERVICES
    It obvious it wasn't meant to be a comic book per se, but a free giveaway to those invited guests viewing the gallery. But how many would they realistically print for a gallery viewing? I'm guessing 500 to 1,500 max. I imagine the majority of the recipients were Canadian... mostly students, faculty members, art collectors and the like... but would they have kept them or tossed them away? So the big question is... How many survived? And after 41 years... how many survived in good condition?
    I have a good mind to research this further. My first task would be to contact SAIT polytechnic and speak to someone in archives. I would like to have a full historical perspective on this... give it the best presentation it deserves!
    SW3D

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  11. SW3D
    AKA... John Byrne's Ultra Rare First Published Comic Book!
    Last December, on the 27th to be exact, I shared my little story of how I walked into Midtown Comics Grand Central and walked out with this ultra rare Holy Grail... for only $3. That's right... only three dollars! And the original sticker price on the comic was $5, however, MCGC was running a 40% sale on all back issues. So when all was said and done, I walked away with this piece of comic book history for just three bucks! Incredible!
    And what exactly is ACA Comix No. 1?
    ACA Comix No. 1 is an Alberta College of Art (ACA) publication (May, 1971); a "brochure" featuring the very first published comic book written and illustrated by the man himself, John Byrne, when he was an art student. Fast forward 42 years, and the color-blind, English born but Canadian bred writer/artist, has achieved legendary status for his work on Avengers, Uncanny X-Men, Alpha Flight, Fantastic Four, Superman, and his creations Rog-2000, Doomsday Plus 1, Danger Unlimited, and Next Men.
    From an interview conducted by Jon B. Cooke, which appeared in Comic Book Artist #12, John Byrne states, "Not sure I would actually have called it my "first full-length comic story." Death's-Head Knight was a project done for the Alberta College of Art, which I was attending at the time. The curator of the gallery had brought in a comic art show, and needed a "brochure" to be given away at the door. He asked me if I could prepare something on relatively short notice, and I did, some 20 pages, each double-width. It was a sword-&-sorcery story."
    I honestly have no idea how many "brochures" were printed, but I am going to take a guess and say anywhere between 500 to 1,500 copies. The big question: How many have survived for over four decades? I am confident the vast majority have sadly, ended up in the trash. And according to the CGC Census, what I have in my possession is only the second graded copy... and I am exuberant to know it is the highest graded of the two, having been graded an 8.5.
    If you visit John Byrne's website, Byrne Robotics, you can click and view his scanned panels of the comic book brochure: http://www.artofjohnbyrne.com/gallery/earlydays/collegedays/.
    Anyway... for all you rabid JB fans... here it is... a picture of the ACA Comix No. 1 encapsulated and graded.
    Thanks for reading... and as always Happy Collecting!
    SW3D

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  12. SW3D
    Recently, the CGC has modified the Adam Warlock Keys Set by adding a number of titles where Adam Warlock has made an appearance (comic books which are mostly concentrated in the Bronze Age). Personally, I do not agree with these new additions, since the theme of the set is Adam Warlock Keys, meaning only those comic books which have key significance related to Adam Warlock should be included in this set. Which comic books you may ask? Well, although I am no comic book historian, nonetheless, I will offer my opinion about the keys which I feel have historical and canonical significance not only to Adam Warlock but to the greater Marvel Universe at large.
    But the first question should be, "What defines a comic book key issue?"
    Here is my definition:
    Comic Book Key Issue: a Comic Book Key Issue is a comic book which has historical significance and marks a special event in the canon of a Character, a Title, a Publisher, or even a Genre. Such keys include but are not exclusive to: 1st Appearance(s); Origin(s), Death(s); the Return; 1st Costume; New or Altered Costume; Altered Physical Appearance; New or Altered Powers and Abilities; New Secret Identity or Alter-ego; Secret Identity or Alter-ego Revealed; Revelations, the 1st Professional Work of a Writer or Artist; Premiere Issue or 1st Issue of a Title Run, the Last Issue of a Title Run, Anniversary Issue; etc.
     
    So, if I follow my definition, what are the comic books that should be included in the Adam Warlock Keys set? In order to determine this, I decided to research and reread all the comics which the CGC has included in Adam Warlock Keys set and some others that were not in the set (Thor 163 and 164 where the Cocoon makes a cameo appearance). I read not from the original sources, but from various reprints collecting many of Adam Warlock appearances in the Silver and Bronze Ages. I believe these reprints to be faithful to the source material. The books I've consulted are:
     
    Essential Fantastic Four Volume 4
    *Reprints Fantastic Four 66 and 67
    Marvel Masterworks The Mighty Thor Volume 8:
    *Reprints The Mighty Thor 163, 164, 165, and 166
    Marvel Masterworks Warlock Volume 1: Reprints:
    *Marvel Premiere Volume 1, Numbers 1 and 2
    *Warlock Volume 1, Numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8
    *The Incredible Hulk Volume 1, Numbers 176, 177, and 178
    Marvel Masterworks Warlock Volume 2: Reprints:
    *Strange Tales Volume 1, Numbers: 178, 179, 180, and 181
    *Warlock Volume 1, Numbers: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15
    *Marvel Team-Up Volume 1, Number 55
    *Avengers Annual Volume 1, Number 7
    *Marvel Two-In-One Annual Volume 1, Number 2
    And after re-reading these collected editions, I also decided to include my own key comments which I believe merit inclusion and may have been overlooked by CGC graders and comic book historians. These additional key comments, denoted by me as "overlooked key comments", will follow the CGC key comments quoted from the CGC graded labels of the key issues listed. Other "overlooked key comments" will appear for issues which previously had no key comments; these examples can be considered overlooked keys. Please let me know if you agree or disagree, and preferably, with an explanation as to your opinion.
    So here it its...
    ...The following is my list of those comic book keys which I believe should be included in the Adam Warlock Keys set, with a brief explanation of why they are comic book keys issues:
     
    Fantastic Four Volume 1, Number 66
    CGC Key Comments:
    *2 part Origin of HIM (Warlock).*
    *HIM does not appear.
    *Should be modified to read, "Origin of HIM (Warlock)": contrary to popular belief, HIM's origin is not discussed in Fantastic Four 67, therefore, technically, it is not a 2 part Origin story.
    Overlooked Key Comment:
    *1st Appearance of the Cocoon.
    Fantastic Four Volume 1, Number 67
    CGC Key Comment:
    *Origin* and 1st Appearance of HIM (Warlock) in cameo.
    *Contrary to popular belief, HIM's origin is not discussed in this issue and should be omitted from the key notes.
    Overlooked Key Comments:
    *1st Incarnation of Adam Warlock: Officially, it is the first of three (3) Adam Warlock incarnations in the span of a decade. In this initial depiction, HIM is very much an innocent child-like being, pure of heart, with the urge to understand his purpose of creation and to gain knowledge of the universe at large; HIM can be considered neither villain nor hero.
    *1st Appearance of HIM (Warlock) in the Silver Age.
    Thor Volume 1, Number 165
    CGC Key Comments:
    *1st Full Appearance of HIM*
    *Watcher appearance.
    *Last 12 cents issue.
    *Not to be confused as HIM's/Adam Warlock's 1st appearance; see Fantastic Four Volume 1, Number 67 for Adam Warlock's 1st appearance.
    Overlooked Key Comment:
    *1st Appearance of Thor succumb by Warrior Madness aka Berserker's Rage (2-panel Cameo last page).
     
    Thor Volume 1, Number 166
    CGC Key Comments:
    *2nd Full Appearance of HIM (Warlock).
    *Thor vs. HIM.
    Overlooked Key Comment:
    *1st Full Appearance of Thor succumb by Warrior Madness aka Berserker's Rage.
    Marvel Premiere Volume 1, Number 1
    CGC Key Comments:
    *Origin of Warlock.
    *Thor, Hulk and Fantastic Four appearances in Flashback.
    Overlooked Key Comments:
    *2nd Incarnation of Adam Warlock: HIM is given the name Warlock by the High Evolutionary and becomes a Messiah-like superhero.
    *1st Costume Incarnation: a playful homage to Fawcett's Shazam which incorporates Captain Marvel's jagged lightning emblem and red and yellow colors.
    *1st Appearance of the Soul Gem (green colored): this is first of the six (6) colored Soul Gems, aka Infinity Gems or Infinity Stones.
    *1st Appearance of Counter-Earth.
    *1st Issue of Marvel Premiere.
    *1st Appearance of Warlock in the Bronze Age.
    *Altered Physical Appearance: the first depiction of Adam Warlock without eyes; no explanation given (Note: Adam Warlock is frequently illustrated without eyes; this can be seen over the course of his appearances throughout various titles including his own, and with no explanation offered).
    Marvel Premiere Volume 1, Number 2
    CGC Key Comment:
    *Warlock*
    *Not a key note in my opinion; it should be omitted from the key notes.
    Overlooked Key Comments:
    *Warlock is given the first name Adam by a group of children on Counter-Earth, thus he is now known officially as Adam Warlock.
    *1st time Adam Warlock uses the Soul Gem.
    *New or Altered Powers and Abilities: Adam Warlock, through use of the Soul Gem, can devolve a sentient being.
    *Altered Physical Appearance: Adam Warlock is once again illustrated with eyes (Note: Adam Warlock's eye color is undetermined as the colors of his eyes frequently change over the course of his appearances throughout various titles including his own, and with no explanation offered. The colors of his eyes have been depicted as blue, brown, black, white, red, and yellow. I speculate the variance in eye color may represent subtle changes in his energy levels, moods and emotions, or quite simply, for reasons unknown made by the artist or colorist).
    The Power of Warlock Volume 1, Number 1:
    CGC Key Comments:
    *Origin of Warlock
    *Letters from J. M. DeMatteis and Richard Pini.
    Overlooked Key Comments:
    *Premiere issue or 1st issue of Warlock's solo title.
    *Story continuation from Marvel Premiere Volume 1: Numbers 1 and 2.
    Strange Tales Volume 1, Number 178
    CGC Key Comments:
    *1st Appearance of Magus.*
    *Warlock begins.
    *Clarification is required: Technically, one can argue, this is the first appearance of the Magus (Adam Warlock's future evil self). And although I agree with that statement, however, if you read the story, it is more accurate and
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  13. SW3D
    Actually, in this case I don't mind being by myself.
     
    So, it is official... Spawn #9 is a very hot! hot! hot! little comic. Word of Neil Gaiman's move to Marvel Comics, and his decision to take the Angela property with him has sparked a massive interest in Spawn #9, the 1st appearance of the red haired angelic beauty (I love redheads!).Well, it seems there were about half a million copies of this comic printed back in the day. How many have survived I have no clue, but there are a lot of them available. I've visited eBay and there is a long list of available Spawn #9's... one in CGC 9.8 with Neil Gaiman's signature. Asking price $400 - $600. So landing one for your collection is not difficult to obtain.In fact, I received a newsletter from Mile High Comics, who state they are giving away 1 copy of Spawn #9 with every purchase of $50 or more. Check it out: "Marvel revealed yesterday that Neil Gaiman is moving his sexy heroine, ANGELA, into Marvel's new GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY title, effective with issue #5. This has caused not only our pre-sales of GUARDIANS to explode, but also initiated a mad scramble for all the past appearances of ANGELA in the Image Universe. See the complete Image list at the end of today's newsletter... ANGELA'S first appearance was in SPAWN #9, for which demand has absolutely skyrocketed overnight. Blessedly, we have been stashing back issues of SPAWN #9 for many years, so we still have enough copies in stock to offer you one copy completely for free as a reward for placing any $50 order with us over this next weekend. Just place your order, and then ask for your free copy in the "notes" section of our order form. Limit one copy per client, please..."http://www.milehighcomics.com/newsletter/032213email.html However, there is a variant of Spawn #9 which appears to be rare: the Newsstand Edition... which has the Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode box appearing on the cover, and is printed on newsprint paper, and is missing the Jim Lee poster, and is only 36 pages long versus 40 pages for the direct edition. As I understand it, this makes it variant. I double-checked on all my favorite comic book buying sites looking high and low for a variant/newsstand edition of Spawn #9 and could not find one. I also reviewed all the current Spawn collections on the Collectors Society to see who may own a copy and no one seems to have one. Then I went to CGC.com and checked the census... and to my shock, there is only 1 Newsstand Edition... one and only one! Yes... you have guessed it. I am the lucky winner! I have the sole graded Newsstand Edition of Spawn #9. Check it out: http://www.cgccomics.com/census/grades_standard.asp?ComicID=116184I know my celebration will be short lived... for it is only a matter of time before they start popping out of the woodworks, but it is nice to know, that I hold in my possession the very first of its kind. The very first CGC graded variant of Spawn #9. I copy I bought last year in a back issue bin at my local LCS.I have no idea what it is worth. Mile High Comics is selling a copy... a Very Fine copy for $265.60. They had a Near Mint copy listed for $320.00 but it appears to be out of stock. Here's the link if anyone's interested. http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=enlarge&issue=77934967760%209%20NEWSSTAND What's funny is Mile High is also selling a direct edition near mint copy of only $72.50. Check it out: http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=enlarge&issue=77934967760%209On Bleedingcool.com's forum, the Bulletin, I found a thread about the very subject: Speculator Corner: Spawn #9 By Neil Gaiman And Todd McFarlane, The First Appearance Of Angela. The dialogue exchange about Spawn #9 is quite funny. One poster did state: "The newsstand is the only one worth owning, flipping or grading." FYI: This little lady made her "debut" back in my journal I posted on March 4th called "The Irony of Spawn #9": http://comics.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=13176 Check her out once again. Thanks for reading and Happy Collecting!SW3DTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  14. SW3D
    Well, I woke-up this morning to find my Amazing Spider-Man 256, 9.2 Original Owner Copy Newsstand Edition just sold on eBay! What? That was random? Or was it?
    Last night, before the purchase, I received an e-mail from one buyer interested in my copy asking if I could reduce the already discounted price of $49. And I thought about it and counter-offered offering $45. And I explained to the interested party, at $45 I would just break-even.
    Well, lo and behold, another buyer comes in out-of-nowhere and just swooped-in and bought the comic outright at $49!
    And I'm like... "What? What the heck is going on? Why the fuss over Amazing Spider-Man 256? And why my particular copy at 9.2? Like... nobody wants a 9.2 in this cynical 9.8 day and age!"
    So I do what I always do when I'm in a quandary... I go to Google to find my answers. ?
    And guess what? Apparently the internet is abuzz with movie rumors and Easter Eggs about the one-time Spider-Man villain Thomas Fireheart, aka the Puma.
    Here's the site that started it all: http://thedailybugle.tumblr.com/post/72012128469/by-ned-leeds-city-bureau-smash-the-tail-of-a
    And here's another one recapping what it may mean: http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Amazing-Spider-Man-2-Viral-Update-Features-An-Easter-Egg-About-Puma-40926.html
    Thankfully I still have Amazing Spider-Man 257, the Puma's 2nd Appearance I bought back in 1984, and at a higher grade, 9.4, with White Pages, and the distinction of Newsstand Edition. Here's a link to my eBay site: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Amazing-Spiderman-257-HTF-Newsstand-Edition-Original-Owner-Copy-CGC-9-4-WP-/281164119097?pt=US_Comic_Books&;hash=item4176affc39
    Yes, I know what you're thinking... "It's selfish to self-promote your wares", but if I've learned anything from the masters of self-promotion, Stan Lee and Steve Jobs, it's necessary to toot your own horn to get a-"head" in life (pun intended: read on). So ain't nobody gonna toot or "blow" it for you unless you pay them! Am I right Eliot?
    If any kiddies are reading...sorry for the toilet humor.
    Ironically, I was person_without_enough_empathying to Meshuggah last night about having wrapping fatigue from X-Mas, and being a lazy bear in hibernation mode not wanting to get out and move from my humble abode. Now I gotta bubble wrap and package the comic, and schlep it to the Post Office in the snow. It's freezing out! Does anyone have a snowmobile I can borrow?
    Anyway... I'm going to continue to MANstruate and state that I'm also cranky that my original owner copy of Amazing Spider-Man didn't get a much higher grade than it deserved. Take a look at the photo and tell me if it looks better than a 9.2? It's well centered and I can't detect a blemish on it. And many of you all know, I'm against pressing... so this beauty of a 30 year old comic looks the way it does without "restorative intervention" (please don't kill me on that one... it's just my humble opinion... and I'm Manstruating!... Why? Cause my Cowboys were knocked out of the f*cking playoffs and it sucks to see NFL playoff games that your forced to root for someone else's team! Damn! Easy Spidey! Easy Spidey! Take it Easy!).
    Tnerb... if you are reading this... good luck to the Eagles... they deserve their spot in the playoffs! And to Tony Romo... wherever you are... Get Well Soon Brother! I know everyone dogs you for your valiant and sometime miscalculated gun-slinging efforts (myself included), but I do want to say, thank you for your hard work! It can't be easy with injuries and concussions and playing a sport that's designed to knock you on you're ! I really hope to see you back! Get well soon! And to the Dallas Cowboys Team as whole (includes Jerry Jones)... thank your for all the nail biting moments. Although it seems we always come out on the losing end of the stick, at least its never a dull moment with you guys. And honestly... I love that! Many teams can't say that. Watching their games can be SO F*CKING BORING! The Cowboys always make it EXCITING! Thank you... I'm still a fan... always and forever! America's Team!
    Alright... nuff said... gonna get out of bed and go to the post office. I'll probably more to my peeps at USPS until I've exercised the demons!
    Thank God it's Saturday!
    SW3D

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  15. SW3D
    Thus far, Angela has made three appearances in the Marvel Universe proper. Her first being in the last issue of the Age of Ultron Maxi-Series. Her second and third, in Guardians of the Galaxy 5 and 6, respectively.
    In the latest issue of Guardians of the Galaxy, No. 6, Angela takes on the entire team and manages to utter only one word throughout the entire issue. That's right... just one word! WTF?! What happened to the sexy, flippant, "in-your-face", loquacious Bounty Hunter I used to know and love?
    Is it?: A: "Angela has been resurrected from the dead, and thus far her vocal chords are in a state of flux?"
    Or is it?: B: "In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream?"
    Or is it?: C: "Angela's from another Universe where they speak a foreign language, and without her Universal Language Translator, conversation with aliens is futile?"
    Or is it?: D: "Brian Michael Bendis and company don't give two sh*ts about Angela and won't develop her any further?"
    The answer: Who knows?!
    So far, the main players populating GOTG have been interesting to read, characterized with a marginal amount of depth, flair and zeal, and in some cases... whimsy. But Angela is just plain DULL! She'cold, like a dead fish... flat and one dimensional... it's painful to read!
    So I am begging you, dear reader, if you want Angela to survive beyond a few generic appearances before they castigate her into "Cameo Obscurity", "Guest Appearance Limbo" and the always tragic, "Where Are They Now True Believer Oblivion", let Marvel know! Make your voice known! Stand up and shout! "Neil Gaiman... where ever you are... SAVE ANGELA! SAVE YOUR CHILD!"
    If not... I'll do it! I'll be Angela's savior! I'll come to her rescue and restore her to her former glory and take her to new heights! I got plenty of ideas and stories for Angela that would make her a sensation! Allow me to fire off a few ideas and let me know what you think...
    ...First off, Angela will have a throw down with Thor and give Odinson a run for his money! Why? To establish Angela as Marvel's version of Wonder Woman. As I see it, Thor is to Superman, as Angela is to Wonder Woman, as Captain America is to Batman. And the romantic chemistry between Thor and Angela will be obvious. But, lamentably... it doesn't quite work out.
    Second, Angela will be hired by Shield to bring in the head of the green skinned monster: The Rampaging Hulk! Why? Hulk smashes... runs amok... for the umpteenth time ... and you know who goes toe-to-toe with the behemoth.
    Third, the beginning of: "The Prophecy"... heading out for the stars on another bounty, Angela crosses paths with the Golden Boy: Adam Warlock... and a love affair ensues where Angela is with child and thus may deliver to this universe a very powerful entity... but not before a certain Cosmic Cabal have a say in the matter... bringing about another huge maxi-series, mega crossover, universe shattering event and variant covers galore!
    And how does Warlock eventually save Angela and fetus from forces more powerful than him/her? How else?... by absorbing her into his Soul Gem... protecting them in the Pocket Universe! That's a good Daddy!
    Fourth: Post birth: Angela returns from the Pocket Universe, where Angela plays Mother, Mentor, Protector to her child... and the pair become the Marvel Universe's equivalent of Lone Wolf and Cub! You don't want to mess with these two!
    Five: Angela's daughter turns evil... "The Prophecy" as predicted by those Cosmic Malcontents as seen in scenario number three comes absolutely true! Yes... our heroes got it wrong! Sometimes the good guys do it up! So now it's up to Angela to right the wrong's and take her down. Can Mother kill Daughter?!
    So there you have it! Tell me what you think.
    And with all sincerity, the wonderful and creative minds at Marvel have unlimited potential and mythology to explore with this character... Give her a fighting chance!
    Here's my latest Angela encapsulation, the Angela I used to know and love as she graces the cover of Spawn 97 (see pic). Just compare that gorgeous and sassy Man-Hunter to the dead fish sleep-walking in the Marvel Universe.
    Till next time.
    SW3D

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  16. SW3D
    Essential Reading: Angela Pre-Marvel
     
    Two days ago, I ranted about Angela's current incarnation in the Marvel Universe. I was particularly unhappy with Angela's one word dialogue in Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 3, No. 6, and her rather shallow depiction among other things.I was kindly reminded that GOTG 7 was released on Wednesday, October 16th, and that I should read it. And I promised that not only would I do so, but apologize and retract my earlier comments if I found Angela's ship righted. Okay... so I've read Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, No. 7, and I'm a little p*ssed and somewhat confused! WTF is going on? Why does Angela keep calling her home, the Elysium Fields and Heaven as "Heven"? And why does Angela act as if she's never visited Earth... referring it to something she's read or heard about in stories? The "Heven" reference is made even more confusing if you read Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 3, No. 5, where in her own thought balloons, Angela refers to Heaven, spelled "Heaven" and not spelled "Heven". Did someone at Marvel forget to hit the "Spell-Check" button before going to press? And as far as Earth is concerned, Angela's been there plenty of times... perhaps not "Marvel's" version of Earth, but definitely the Image Universe's version, where Angela visited New York City plenty of times. I'm just going to go-out-on-a-limb here and say, "I think Marvel is trying to distance itself from Angela's Image Comics publication history and origins"... duh... obviously... no revelation there! However, I think that approach is very unfair to: Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane (Angela's co-creators), to Angela fans (if there are any other than myself), and comic book readers in general. In my opinion, even if legal reasons are barring the way, you cannot simply turn your back on a character's prior published history and expect a readership to simply accept it. And I understand, because of copyright law and courtroom settlements, a publisher taking new ownership of a previously published character, may not be allowed to reference or reprint copyrighted/trademarked names and places previously published by another publisher. In fact, Marvel is no stranger to such legalities, as they successfully lobbied against British Publisher Quality Communications over the publisher's use of the word "Marvel" in the pages of Warrior Magazine and its then flagship character: Marvelman, back in the early 80's. And the irony? Marvel currently has 100% ownership and copyright claims to Marvelman, however, it cannot reprint the adventures of Marvelman/Miracleman (written by both Alan Moore and later Neil Gaiman) published in the pages of Warrior Magazine and Eclipse Comics, respectively. However, Marvel does have ownership to the Mick Anglo, Golden Age Era of Marvelman, once published by L. Miller & Son, and have already reprinted a small selection of the Golden Age material. But I say... Marvel, the current owners of Angela, have a wealth of talent, and in my opinion, can birth creative and clever allusions to Angela's Image back-history without sparking a foul cry from Todd McFarlane or Image in a lawsuit... and as far as I understand, "Heaven" is not copyrighted or trademarked by anyone. Allow me to point out another thing from GOTG 7 that really got under my skin: there's a scene on page 14, panel 6 (bottom panel: wide-shot) in which Gamora points a gun to Angela's face, and Angela just shrugs it off and say's, "I admire you." What the !!! If you ever read Spawn 9, Angela 1 -- 3, Curse of the Spawn 9 -- 11, Spawn's 62, 89, 96 - 100, Angela Glory: Rage of Angels (a six issue crossover event), and Aria Angela 1 and 2, then you'll know that Angela is one tough, mean-spirited, take-no-prisoners, and take-no-bullsh*t, fighting machine! Angela is on a power-level par with The Mighty Thor, and some of the other Marvel "heavy-hitters". Angela can kick serious ! And Angela is a proud warrior who doesn't tolerate sh*t from people and authority... let alone aliens she hardly knows. So Gamora putting that gun below her chin in a threatening manner... the Angela I know would have decked Gamora, much less made the attempt to lob her green head off... much like the way she cut-down Groot into wood chips in issue 6. Now I know Gamora is a bad- in her own right. And I've read Gamora's adventures in the pages of Strange Tales and Warlock, and I know she wasn't given the moniker, "Deadliest Woman in the Whole Galaxy" for just any reason. And I know Gamora is very powerful in her own right (and gorgeous), and is considered on an equal power-level to Adam Warlock from "treatments" received through her step-father, Thanos, who augmented Gamora in order to have her assassinate the Magus (Warlock's evil future self).However, we are talking about Angela: an Angel, a Warrior, and a Bounty Hunter, created by God! To have Gamora pull a gun on Angela and wave it in her face is like having Gamora pull a gun on Thor or DC's Wonder Woman... I'd like to see that happen! Angela is cut from the same cloth as the Odinson and the Amazonian. In my opinion, Angela should have decked Gamora for that slight... lights out!Okay... enough of my cry-baby rants. I'm going to drop it from this point on. For those of you who are new to Angela, I've strung together some quick tidbits and facts about the fury angel I've read from comics previously published by Image: Angela was co-created by Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane. (Spawn 9)Prior to moving to Marvel, Angela had been illustrated in the pages of Image Comics by the likes of: Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, Greg Dwayne Turner, Greg Capullo, Rob Liefeld, Jay Anacleto, J G Jones, Joe Quesada, and Ashley Wood. Angela is the Elysian Fields top Bounty Hunter. The Elysium is a floating city in Heaven (not "Heven") as ruled by the ultimate authority: God (depicted as a kindly old lady). Angela has visited Earth several times, and New York City in particular. (Spawn 9, 68, 89, Curse of the Spawn 10, Angela Aria 1&2 (in Victorian Era London), Angela Glory: Rage of Angels)Angela is over 100,000 years old. To celebrate her 100,000th birthday, Angela visits a remote ice planet and kills a dragon... chopping its head off! Happy Birthday! (Angela 1)Angela has killed over 30 Spawns in the service of Heaven! (Angela 1)Angela is the amalgam of 6 female souls. (Origin in Curse of the Spawn 9)Angela has gone toe-to-toe with Spawn (Al Simmons), losing only once, but that was just a lucky move on the part of her inexperienced foe. (Spawn 9)Angela has a twin sister named Lilith, whom she kills by throwing her into the Argus. (Curse of the Spawn 11)Angela and Spawn later become fast friends and develop a romance of sorts (see Angela 1 -- 3, Spawn 96 -- 100). Angela makes her last appearance in the Image Universe in Spawn 100 (December, 2000). Angela is killed by the ruler of the Eight Circle of Hell, Malebolgia, when he lances Angela through the chest with her own weapon. Angela's body is taken back to the Elysian Fields by Spawn. (Spawn 100)Some memorable lines uttered by Angela:"I've been decorated a dozen times in the battle against the forces of Malebolgia. A score of active combat medals. I've personally destroyed over thirty Hellspawn. No one has ever questioned my integrity before... no one who wanted to keep their vital organs intact and inside them..."(Angela 1)"Shut the hell up, unless you wanna use my lance for a tampon!" (Curse of the Spawn 11)
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  17. SW3D
    AKA: Another exciting installment of "For the Love of Angela!"
     
    SPOILER WARNING: Contains information about the upcoming The Tenth Realm and Angela.Yeah... It's been a while. Comics haven't been my thing of late... supplanted by the love for my acoustic and classical guitars I recently bought. I'm practicing two hours daily. My fingers are starting to get numb, tingly, and raw from plucking and fretting the nylon strings. And my left wrist has developed a light swelling and ache... is it arthritis or carpal tunnel? I really don't know as I persevere and play through the discomfort as best as I can. And on weekdays, on the train ride to and from work, I do finger stretching and coordination exercises... regardless of how people look at me like I am some kind of nut. But this journal isn't about any of that. It's about my comic book lady love... the very dull as a brick redhead named Angela. Neil Gaiman... wherever you are... she needs you man! You got mad writing skills... bring her back to life like Ye Olden Image days!Anyway... some big Angela news... for some, this may be a spoiler... for others, this news is old since it was announced nearly a month ago at the C2E2 Con in late April 2014. So what's the BFD?Apparently, it will soon be revealed, as part of the Tenth Realm mini-series (connected to the greater arch Original Sin): Angela is the daughter of the Asgardian All-Father: Odin! Yep... that is right! That one-eyed Norse horn-dog sired a daughter! Which means... Angela is Thor and Loki's sister! Holy Sh*t! How cool is that? Can you imagine this brood gathering for the holidays? Read all about this latest development: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&;id=52410(this link may not work... and if it doesn't, please Google search C2E2: Ewing Leads Thor, Loki and Angela into Marvel's "Tenth Realm"Back in October, I prophesized about a possible Thor Vs Angela arc. My exact words were: "First off, Angela will have a throw down with Thor and give Odinson a run for his money! Why? To establish Angela as Marvel's version of Wonder Woman. As I see it, Thor is to Superman, as Angela is to Wonder Woman, as Captain America is to Batman. And the romantic chemistry between Thor and Angela will be obvious. But, lamentably... it doesn't quite work out."See the original journal, "Angela, Fallen Angel in the Marvel U", I published right here on October 17, 2013: http://comics.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=14465 Well... I doubt there is going to be any romance between the two... being Brother and Sister... like Luke and Leia, but who knows? I'm wondering if the Norse Gods have heard my prayers!?! There were other ideas I batted around... imagine if they come true? Okay... I'm dreaming... but what's wrong with that?So now that Angela is officially a God... I'm just going to reiterate... like I mentioned in a ranting journal from last year... Angela can kick Gamora's ! Yes, with out-a-doubt! So let's go back and rewrite the events of GOTG 5 & 6 and have Angela kick the living daylights of Gamora and the rest of her GoTG cronies... or better yet... kick Bendis' for giving her the personality of a dull brick wimp! Okay... that's enough of my ranting!With the revelation of Angela's kinship to both the God of Thunder and God of Mischief, the spotlight on Angela's origins and its ramifications are going to take center stage beginning in July. So it stands to reason, this is pretty big... big enough that I wouldn't come as a surprise if a movie appearance might be in Angela's future... either in a Thor sequel or some other cosmic themed movie. Anyway... I'm no Oracle of Comics... but it doesn't take anyone with a crystal ball to see there may be some investment value in Spawn 9 (Angela's 1st Appearance). So keep an eye on it. Angela's 1st solo series is also something worth grabbing. In addition, Age of Ultron 10 (Angela's 1st appearance in the Marvel U), also has potential. And lastly, I see GOTG Volume 3, No. 5 (Angela's 1st Appearance in GoTG) as another investment.Funny thing... as fate would have it... earlier this month, a very rare Spawn 9, Newsstand Edition became available... so I grabbed it and added it to my "Kingdom of Spawn 9 Newsstand Editions". How rare is very rare? There are only 9 graded Newsstand Editions versus 808 Direct Editions... that's less than 0.01113861386% or only 1 graded Newsstand Edition for every 80.8 graded Direct Editions. However, the graded copy I bought through MyComicShop, has an error on the CGC label. Can you tell what the error is? Give up? If you take a look at the picture I provided, you will note, it is missing a notation "Newsstand Edition" as well as "Manufactured without Angela poster. Newsprint paper interior." Instead, the CGC has mistakenly labeled this comic as if it is a Direct Edition... which clearly it is not. How do I know this for sure? Direct Editions of Spawn 9 do not have a UPC box on the lower left corner... this one as you can plainly see... does. This also means the current CGC Census Population for Spawn 9 is also incorrect. If we are to include this comic as a Newsstand Edition, then the total population of Newsstand Editions should be at 10 and the Direct Editions should be one less at 807. So there remain four (4) graded Newsstand Editions I wish to acquire. I own I own six (6) of ten (10)... and I'm hoping to find the other four (4). Soon... so very soon... the entire Kingdom shall be mine! And for those who own the other four... PM me if you are interested in selling. Now just imagine if Angela were to some day rule Asgard?... inheriting a throne which may be rightfully hers? "Queen Angela... Ruler of Asgard!" Wouldn't that make for some interesting story? From such humble beginnings, killing Spawns to becoming Asgardian royalty. Who would have thunk it? But I find this turn of events both interesting and rather ludicrous. How can Marvel simply explain away Angela's link to the Image Universe... or in this case... the McFarlane/Spawnverse?... where Angela was truly Angela? And how do they explain Angela's lack of pupil's if she be Asgardian? Do they assume a legion of fans will simply accept things as they are and that's that? Well, sadly... yes. I have to admit, it's fairly obvious... no one really gives a sh*t about Angela and her "Image" origins. The real Angela died in 2000, in Spawn 100. And that's the reality of it. May she rest in peace. I for one will not forget Angela's past and her glory years.Marvel's Angela, however... is like some weird zombie clone. I can't figure her out. It's like she is devoid of a soul... and some much needed personality. But I have hope... because Marvel has talent... deep talent... and some genius writer is going to come along and bring back Angela's bada$$ essence... recapturing Angela's former glory... and then maybe... maybe... Angela will be Angela again... maybe.Here's hoping.Until next time.SW3DTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  18. SW3D
    So here is Angela's first appearance in the Marvel Universe, in the last chapter to Age of Ultron.
    I'll confess, I did not buy any of the first nine issues of Age of Ultron... I had no interest whatsoever. However, when the announcement was made back in May, that Angela would debut in the tenth issue of the maxi-series, I got my money ready.
    Age of Ultron 10 had a number of variant covers, I believe five in total. I was only interested in the Joe Quesada illustrated cover, which prominently features Angela. There are two versions: a color wrap-around (see pic), and a black and white sketch variant. Both variants were expensive: $40 for the color and $75 for the black & white sketch. For the price of one b&w I decided to buy two color variants. My only regret was not waiting for a possible signature from Quesada before grading, but heck you can't have everything.
    I'm hoping one day, this issue will be regarded as a major key as it is Angela's first foray into the Marvel Universe.
    Today, Guardians of the Galaxy 8 will be released. I'm keeping my fingers crossed Angela will play a significant role against Thanos in the latest Infinity saga.
    Thanks for reading!
    SW3D

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  19. SW3D
    Also Known As: The Other Number 9!
     
    Curse of the Spawn 9: The Origin of Angela!I love keys. And I love rare books. And I love OAKs. But I especially love when I am the first to introduce a comic book to the CGC Census, and one that combines all three of these virtues.And I did this once before with the very same character that I have since fallen in love with: Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane's angelic co-creation: Angela. That book in question is the Newsstand Variant Edition of Spawn 9: Angela's first appearance. I had the pleasure to debut this rare key variant to the CGC Collectors Society back on March 4, 2013, a few weeks before the announcement of her return to the four-color page, in a journal titled "The Irony of Spawn #9". Since then, a mere 7 of its kind have turned up in population (4 9.8's, 2 9.6's, and 1 9.4), while the Direct Edition has ballooned to a total of 580. So if you compare, the Spawn 9 Newsstand Edition population is currently only 1% of the Spawn 9 Direct Edition, which makes it very rare indeed! And I just added another Newsstand Edition to my collection, bringing my total to 4 (2 9.8's and 2 9.6's)... which means I own 4 of 7 Spawn 9 Newsstand Editions... or 57% overall. We are all familiar with the current story: Angela has been sold by one of her Father's, author and fantasist extraordinaire Neil Gaiman, to Marvel/Disney. They have exhumed Angela's remains from her quiet resting place in the Image Universe, and forcibly reincarnated her in the Marvel U. The redhead beauty made her ho-hum debut in Age of Ultron 10, with a subsequent appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy 5. Angela, in my opinion, is no longer the sexy kick- rogue bounty hunter of the Elysium Fields. No! She's been converted to an obsequious indentured servant of the House of the Mouse and will probably end up guest starring until her popularity and novelty runs dry. And there is irony to all of this since what I love about Angela is her obvious distaste for authority and flippant nature at anyone who pisses her off. Angela is one of the very few characters that I know (other than Satan/Lucifer) to buck the authority of the highest authority... but now she must bow her pretty little head, and clean up her act, and kneel before her new corporate masters, who have sanitized her with a Quesada-conservative-girl-scout-makeover which just makes me want to puke! WTF!The funny thing is... because of all the legal bruhaha once caused over the battle of Angela's ownership rights between McFarlane and Gaiman, McFarlane unceremoniously had her killed off in Spawn 100: lanced through the chest with her own weapon by Spawn's arch-nemesis... the demonic overlord Malebolgia. Angela bled to death with an open chest cavity in the arms of Spawn. So how did she do the impossible? How did Angela come back from the dead? That's a great mystery to explore. But comics being comics... rarely does a character truly stay dead.Rise o' Angelic one... rise like the undead and bow to your new Corporate Masters! Join the mindless zombie hordes, corporate "yes" men, denizens of the Marvel U, and the thousands of indentured peasant factory workers tilling for pennies in lands unknown, who work day and night to provide an endless sea of Disney product for the world to consume! Join them in the creative malaise of Imperial Corporate America! Join them in the staggering great gulf of cosmic oblivion! Join them onto your doom!But if there truly be Marvel Cosmic Gods... a Mighty Marvel All-Father (not Odin but somebody far more omnipotent), then I fall to my hands and knees and pray and beg to him/her to show Angela mercy and give her a chance... a shot at her very own title (not just a mini-series). I think she deserves it!But anyway... getting on to the New Kingdom: The Other Number 9... This is the other Angela key, the other rare one and OAK, which I have the pleasure to debut to you all: Curse of the Spawn 9: The Origin of Angela. Yep! That's right! In these very pages we get a first hand look at the creation of the heavenly creature Angela. Now truth be told, Curse of the Spawn 9 is not a very rare book. No, not at all. There are plenty of raw copies floating in eBay just waiting for someone to pick 'em up, or discover them in the back issue bins of your local LCS. That's how I got these 6, going from LCS to LCS, amassing a total of 20, but cherry picking these 6 as the best of the best from those 20 and getting them graded. But finding a 9.8 or 9.6 wasn't easy... but I am sure there are plenty of mint copies out there. However, for some odd reason, no collector ever got one graded... that is until yours truly came along. So what you see here are the first batch of Curse of the Spawn 9's ever graded: five 9.8's and one 9.6... only six total... which, I predict, for the briefest of moments, makes them rare indeed. But I am certain the word will get out, and by next week 1,000 more will follow.And although the graders of CGC have erroneously omitted this key detail from the Key Notes, Curse of the Spawn 9 is where Angela's origin is first explained. Here's a synopsis I borrowed without permission from ComiXology on Curse of the Spawn 9: "Angela has been commissioned by the survivors of the planet Pentagus-Fraser to destroy the evil ravaging their planet. Amidst the melee, Angela battles the arachnid beast, Argus. She becomes distracted by the face of the mysterious Deurges long enough to become entangled in Argus' Web. After her capture the legend of Angela's origin is revealed in flashbacks of the lives of the sacrificing souls that were blended to become the Heavenly warrior. In each case the last thing they see is the dispassionate face of Deurges". Visit the page at: http://www.comixology.com/Curse-of-the-Spawn-9/digital-comic/42566And so I lord over my new Kingdom and expel all Disney product for my cherished land, and outlaw all goods which exploit the unfortunate. So Sayeth the Monarch of the CGC Kingdom of the Curse of the Spawn 9!Now I must leave you since I must attend a summit with the other Kingdom (Spawn 9 Newsstand Edition)... and just between us... I am planning a consolidation of power! If you know what I mean. Kill the other King! Mu Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!SW3DTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  20. SW3D
    Here's a nifty comic seldom seen or discussed on the Journals.
     
    The story of Aria Angela Heavenly Creatures heralds us back in time to the heart of the Victorian Era and The Empire, in the afterglow of its most golden jewel, London, in the dark catacombs and complex web which is the English Aristocracy.It is a time ironically known as "The Age of Wonders". An Age where young and noble impressionable minds are dream-filled with endless possibilities contrasted by the suffering and oppressed minds of the lower classes, whom toil and die in the filth and pestilence which is the stark reality of poverty and class separatism... as their Elite Masters practice absolute decadence at the expense of human lives. This fantastic tale to be told is one which is virtually unknown and seldom spoken yet equally wondrous and horrific... where the Elysian Fields' greatest Bounty Hunter and Avenging Angel, Angela, has found herself trapped in the clutches of an equally sinister being... a Living Nightmare, and only one could save her: the immortal Lady Kildare, Princess of the Faeries, known to few as Aria. Okay... What the hell am I talking about?!I'll tell you (If you could believe this fantastic scenario)... but somehow our lovely red-headed fury, Angela, has been captured and held prisoner of a mysterious Theatre Company run by Dr. Peter Traum (think of Mr. Dark from Ray Bradbury's classic novel: Something Wicked This Way Comes!). In the back alleys and auspices of London's seediest underbelly, this Theatre Company puts on a phantasmagorical performance of sideshow freaks and other curiosities, to titillate and excite the most jaded audience member. Our beloved Angela, shackled in chains, is dragged out on stage as the freakshow's main attraction. And one day, Lady Kildare/Aria happens to attend a matinee, and cannot believe her eyes... to see one of God's creatures humiliated and defiled in such fashion. Here's an excerpt: Dr. Peter Traum (to the audience): "And now for my latest and greatest acquisition. A being whose kind is fabled through every land across the globe... cast down from brightest heaven, for trespasses we cannot imagine. She is possessed of unspeakable beauty, and unimagined power! Please direct your attention to the center stage. I guarantee you, you've never witnessed the likes of this before!"Aria, sitting a few rows up in the Orchestra Section with her two companions, is bored and turns her eyes momentarily away from the spectacle on stage. Aria (sighs): "Not likely. Are you two ready to go..."Aria turns her gaze back to center stage and is startled to discover...Aria: "Bloody Hell!"...Angela, shackled in chains, and dressed in rags, has been dragged to the stage for all to see. Angela (to Dr. Traum): "Mark my words... I will destroy you for this!"Dr. Peter Traum (to the audience): "Behold! Heaven's exile, the celestial siren... I give you the Fallen Angel! As her true name is unpronounceable to the mortal tongue, I simply call her Angela!"Later, back stage, Dr. Traum, assisted by two burly stage hands, confronts Angela.Dr. Peter Traum: "Well, that was a rather lackluster performance. Let's see if we can't do a bit better for the evening show."Angela: "Though my race is sworn to protect yours, make no mistake: release me now or I will kill you. Slowly, and very painfully."Angela (con't): "I will bite off your ballsack, spit it out in your mouth... I'll deliver you to Hell myself."Dr. Peter Traum: "Tsk, tsk. Such talk from one so exhaulted. It really has grown tiresome."Angela: "Slowly... And very, very painfully..."Dragging Angela to a bricked cellar, the stage hands open a bolted steel door revealing a cell cast in absolute obsidian. Dr. Peter Traum: "Throw her in."Angela: "Don't think I'll forget about you two. I'll blister the flesh from your bones."Stage Hand 1: "Shut yer Gob, Miss."Stage Hand 2: "Just doin' our jobs Miss."A helpless Angela gets shoved head first into the awaiting darkness.Angela: "I'll..."Dr. Peter Traum (Off-Camera): "And don't bother to feed her. She doesn't need it."The vault-like door closes and the darkness consumes the fallen angel.Narrator (Voice Over): "I cannot imagine what she must have felt, that poor creature, locked away in some dank, dreary cell."Narrator (VO): "A once proud Warrior of Heaven, humbled by mortal mischief. God's crowning achievement, laid low by God's greatest blunder."Narrator (VO): "I can picture her there, anger seething in the darkness, dreaming of escape... their pride, you see, is quite beyond our imagining. So too, is their vengeance."End of excerpt.And that is just a small sampling of this brilliant comic. Brian Holguin's lush and highly detailed -script is the perfect avenue to tell this ambitious dark fantasy, rendered to visual life by Jay Anacleto's skilled hand, whose equally detailed illustrations gloriously capture the essence of this magical fable. As the tale unfolds, it is revealed, many battles and war campaigns fighting for Heaven, has left Angela sorely depleted. Virtually powerless, she crash lands on Earth like a meteorite falling from the cosmos. Found unconscious by the sinister forces of Dr. Traum, Angela's war paint, winged helm, bejeweled lance, dagger, ribbons, belt, and golden breast plate are removed and confiscated. As a prisoner, Angela is cast in a very different light. For the first time, her eyes (a pair of deep coral-blue pupils), betray an innocence and beauty I've never seen in her before. Anacleto renders her strikingly beautiful; in my collective memories, no other artist has yet to capture Angela in a most vulnerable moment.And, as you can imagine, her savior comes in the form of Aria, who, having recognized Angela for what she truly is (Lady Kildare is endowed with the vision to see beyond our world into the supersensible world, where magical beings recognize one another), comes to her rescue. In typical fashion, the two team-up against a common enemy. I highly recommend this 2-part mini series for fans of Angela, Aria, and Dark Fantasy alike. And this mini-series is readily available and very inexpensive. You should be able to procure copies through eBay or your local LCS. The adjoining image is my copy of issue 1, variant cover, which has recently returned from the CGC. I'm happy it got a 9.8. You'll note it was signed by cover artist, J G Jones.As always, thanks for reading and happy collecting.SW3DTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  21. SW3D
    I'm not a huge fan of variants. In my opinion they are a publishing gimmick to get the vulnerable comic collector into spending more cash. Variants are nothing more than a single comic book clothed in multiple shirts; honestly, it's rather foolish of us to fall for such marketing ploys. And yet, I'm probably one of the biggest fools!
    Aria/Angela: Heavenly Creatures is a two (2) issue mini-series published by Image Comics nearly 15 years ago. It features my favorite hellion, Angela, before she became Disney/Marvel property, and the Asgardian heir to the throne. Believe it or not, for a two (2) issue set, there were an astonishing thirty-seven (37) variants published. And as gimmicky as these variants are, I have decided I want to collect them all. But I question myself, "Why am I even bothering with it?" Quite frankly, if it wasn't for Angela's appearance, I wouldn't. Okay... that sounds harsh but it is true. However, it's all part of my greater ambition: a complete collection of Angela published appearances, including variants, before her switch to Marvel Comics. It is a collection I will call "Angela Pre-Marvel".
    The following is a list of the entire set of variants for Aria/Angela: Heavenly Creatures #'s 1 and 2:
    Aria/Angela #1a, Joe Quesada cover
    Aria/Angela #1b, Jay Anacleto cover
    Aria/Angela #1c, Whilce Portacio cover
    Aria/Angela #1d, J G Jones cover
    Aria/Angela #1e, Jay Anacleto's 2nd cover for issue 1
    Aria/Angela #2a, Jay Anacleto cover
    Aria/Angela #2b, Chris Bachalo cover
    Aria/Angela #1a, Limited Edition Holo Foil, J G Jones cover (only 5,000 published)
    Aria/Angela #1b, Limited Edition Holo Foil, Jay Anacleto cover (only 5,000 published)
    Aria/Angela #1c, Limited Edition Holo Foil, Whilce Portacio cover (only 5,000 published)
    Aria/Angela #1d, Limited Edition Holo Foil, Joe Quesada cover (only 5,000 published)
    Aria/Angela #1a, Museum Edition, Jay Anacleto cover; full color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1a, Museum Edition, Jay Anacleto cover; blue color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1a, Museum Edition, Jay Anacleto cover; red color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1a, Museum Edition, Jay Anacleto cover; black color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1b, Museum Edition, Whilce Portacio cover; full color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1b, Museum Edition, Whilce Portacio cover; blue color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1b, Museum Edition, Whilce Portacio cover; red color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1b, Museum Edition, Whilce Portacio cover; black color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1c, Museum Edition, J G Jones cover; full color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1c, Museum Edition, J G Jones cover; blue color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1c, Museum Edition, J G Jones cover; red color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1c, Museum Edition, J G Jones cover; black color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1d, Museum Edition, Joe Quesada cover; full color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1d, Museum Edition, Joe Quesada cover; blue color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1d, Museum Edition, Joe Quesada cover; red color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1d, Museum Edition, Joe Quesada cover; black color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1e, Museum Edition, Jay Anacleto's 2nd cover; full color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1e, Museum Edition, Jay Anacleto's 2nd cover; blue color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1e, Museum Edition, Jay Anacleto's 2nd cover; red color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela #1e, Museum Edition, Jay Anacleto's 2nd cover; black color cover (only 100 published)
    Aria/Angela Blanc and Noir Edition #1, Jay Anacleto cover ("the black and white pencil edition" presents the entire first issue in its original pencil form)
    Aria/Angela Gold Edition #1, Jay Anacleto's 3rd cover for issue 1 (Gold Foil Edition)
    Aria/Angela Gold Edition #2, Jay Anacleto cover (Gold Foil Edition)
    Aria/Angela Tower Records Gold Edition #1, Jay Anacleto cover (only 500 published)
    Aria/Angela Tower Records Variant #1, Jay Anacleto cover
    Aria/Angela European Ashcan Tour #NN
    (cardstock cover, 5 ½ inches by 8 ½ inches, 12 pages featuring b&w illustrations/art from the comic).
    Of all these variants, the Museum Editions present the biggest challenge collecting, simply because they are rare due to their low print runs and carry a fairly high price tag even before grading.
    Funny thing... the CGC has confusingly recorded the title of this series as both Aria/Angela: Heavenly Creatures and simply Aria/Angela. So when you study the census population numbers, you have to search under both titles for the complete graded numbers.
    Yesterday, a package from the CGC arrived. It was a box containing eight graded comics which were submitted last year at New York Comic Con. The two appearing in the photo are the Aria/Angela European Ashcan Tour which were signed by series artist Jay Anacleto on October 9, 2014. I'm happy to say they each came back graded 9.8; grades achieved sans pressing.
    In a few days I'll share with you the other variants and the grades they achieved. Until then, thanks for reading and as always, happy collecting!

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  22. SW3D
    There is not much to say about this one except EYE CANDY!
    What you are seeing is another Angela/Aria variant... the very rare Tower Records Variant. Currently, a total of seven (7) have been graded by the CGC. Although this one is graded an unremarkable 9.4 (considered a low grade by most collectors for a modern tier comic), it just happens to be the only signature series of its kind.
    Damn!... Angela takes my breath away. If only she could jump off that cover!
    Based on looks from this illustration, I have to rate Angela up there with the likes of Jean Grey, Carol Danvers, Diana Prince, and Red Sonja.
    I know I'm forgetting a multitude of gorgeous four-color page women, but I'm sure many of you will submit your opinions on who's the hottest, sexiest, and most beautiful of all.
    SW3D

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  23. SW3D
    My sincerest apologies to the CGC for posting a picture involving a PGX graded comic book, and to anyone else who may take offense, but if it is any consolation, it is my intention to eventually crack it open and submit it to the CGC for grading.
    This journal happens to be my third entry (hence Part III) focusing on the numerous variants published for the Aria/Angela: Heavenly Creatures mini-series, and as I stated in the prior journals, my goal to collect them all. The pair in the picture represents the Gold Edition variants in the series, with the only variable difference being gold foil logos on cardstock covers, with art provided by the main artist of the series, Jay Anacleto.
    I am a big fan of comic book artists, and I come to think of myself as pretty knowledgeable about who's who in the industry. But I will admit, prior to the Aria/Angela series (which I only picked up a year ago), I had no knowledge of Jay Anacleto. Thankfully, Aria/Angela changed all that. What can I say about Jay Anacleto? I met him in 2013 and once again in 2014, both occasions at New York Comic Con. This past October the artist was gracious to sign eight (8) comics for me, one of which is the Gold Edition variant pictured on the right. At the signing, I got the opportunity to browse through a portfolio of his original art he was selling (none of which I could afford on my paltry budget). Of what I can remember, the illustrations were incredibly photo-realistic, dripping with hyper details, making many of the comic book subjects he drew, come to life with eye-popping realism. If I had the money, I would commission a work... probably an image of Angela side-by-side with Adam Warlock. I don't know why, but I keep seeing these two together... maybe it's just wishful thinking.
    In the Aria/Angela mini-series, Jay Anacleto does a brilliant job of making both Aria and Angela seem vividly real... like models torn from the pages of a magazine. And Anacleto does something that no other artist has done before (save JG Jones)... he depicts Angela with blue eyes. JG Jones also did this, coincidentally in the same series, as he is one of a number of artists to provide a variant cover for issue #1. But whereas JG Jones provided just one cover and therefore a single image of Angela, Anacleto illustrates Angela throughout the entire mini-series with soft, glowing, coral blue eyes; "Angelic" would be best to describe them... as a result, it gives Angela a softer tone... perhaps a more human tone... not seen in previous renditions. I believe it's a subtle quality that suits her and would probably make her more accessible to the readership. Perhaps someone from Marvel will read this and take note.
    SW3D

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  24. SW3D
    Batman Presenta: Linterna Verde
     
    Codo a Codo Con Las Mas Sensacionales y Nuevas Superestrellas! Los Hombres Omega!
     
    Translation:
     
    Batman Presents: Green Lantern
     
    Side by Side with the Most Sensational and New Superstars! The Omega Men!When you travel domestically, do you buy comics? I do. And when you travel abroad, to foreign lands where they speak another language... Do you buy comics as well? I do too. My love of comics and natural curiosity compels me to see what comic books look like outside of their natural habitat... It's like watching Star Trek in Spanish, or Seinfeld in French. For eight years I was married to a Swede, and she and I would travel ever year for either the holidays or Mid-Summer, to visit her family, where they live in a suburb called Vallentuna, just outside the nation's capital: Stockholm. We also took side trips throughout Sweden, visiting Sigtuna (the oldest city in Sweden, founded in 980, which saw Sweden's first coinage minted, and is speckled with plenty of Rune Stones), Vaxholm (Castle Vaxholm ominously overlooks the Stockholm archipelago), Uppsala (site of Uppsala University, the oldest university in Sweden, established in 1477), Gothenburg (Sweden's second largest city on the west coast), Salen (a popular ski town where U2 shot their video New Year's Day back in 1982), Gotland (Sweden's largest island and the largest island in the Baltic Sea), as well as parts of Norway including its capital: Oslo. What struck me as odd, maybe because I didn't expect to see this particular American franchise in Sweden, is the proliferation of 7-11's, both there and in Norway. Another thing which caught my fancy is where they sell comic books... in supermarkets... stacked in racks along side gossip magazines, newspapers, books, and even DVD's, parked just before the cashier check-out. Two of Sweden's national supermarket chains are called ICA and Coop. My wife favored the former... I'm not sure why, but I did find a lot of good foods there that I surely miss. Every so often, we would go food shopping at ICA, in Vallentuna Centrum (Vallentuna Centre). There I would buy a Spiderman (Spindelmannen), X-Men, or Fantastic Four (Fantastik Fyra), and even Bamse, "The World's Strongest Bear", created by Sweden's own Rune Andreasson (based on the cartoon show and comic strip of the same name), in hopes that by reading them, I would pick up some of the language. It helped a little, but Swedish is like German, and requires dedication and practice... lamentably, because I procrastinated to a great degree (still do... I'm a lazy f**k), it never happened. Not even Rosetta Stone helped.I also bought comics and vintage car magazines (mostly for my Father-in-Law, he loved vintage cars or bils as they are known in the Swedish language), from a national chain of newsstand outlets called Pressbryan's, found in malls, gas stations, and airports (flygplats), where you can also purchase DVD's, candies (Swedish chocolates are delicious and a lot less sweeter than their American counterparts), ice cream, newspapers, paperback books, lottery tickets, and you can even gamble on the horses (like a miniature OTB). I can't remember the year, maybe 2006 or 2007, but I discovered one genuine comic specialty shop, as well as a fantasy-themed bookstore. The former was located in Gamla stan (The Old Town... my favorite part of Stockholm simply because it transports you back into ancient times), and the other I forget exactly where, but somewhere in the Stockholm centre, which was more of a genre book store that sold fantasy, sci-fi, horror novels, along with graphic novels. Both places sold American and English comics. And without fail, just before the end of each trip, I would give away these comics to my ex-wife's nephew. I also traveled to other parts of Europe and South America, but for whatever reason, the comics I bought on those visits never ended up making the return trip to the States. Maybe I left them behind because I never took them seriously; never felt they had any true value, since they were all reprints of American comics... in foreign languages no less... so why bother? But looking back, I wish I had kept them all... especially a Batman I bought in Barcelona... but... that's life... oh, well. C'est la vie.However, I did keep one foreign language comic, a mini, pictured below, which I purchased back in the Summer of 1985, on a trip with my Father touring Mexico City (a month and a half or so before their catastrophic earthquake, which registered 8.0 on the Richter Scale and not only devastated the city, but claimed an estimated 10,000 lives), and the small resort community of Zihuatanejo (you may heard and seen it as the meeting place for Ellis "Red" Redding and Andy Dufresne after their stint at Shawshank). I am quite certain I bought this mini-comic in Mexico City (an overpopulated metropolis bristling with zipping Volkswagens), but I can't recall exactly where... probably at an outdoor newsstand. However, I do remember dragging my poor Father to see Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (a holdover from 1984, and thankfully in English but subtitled in Spanish), and later, coerced him to buy for me, two vinyl albums from a Mexican record store, at dirt cheap prices: Van Halen's 1984 and Men at Work's Cargo. Anyway, about the comic itself: it's published by EN (Editorial Novaro), and cover priced for less then a peso... probably equivalent to 50 cents in Mexican currency back in the day. The mini's Indicia list a publication date of 27th of January, 1985. The cover is from Green Lantern Volume 2, No. 142 (published back in July, 1981), and inside is a reprint of a story written by Marv Wolfman and illustrated by Joe Stanton, aptly titled "The Omega Men", which contains the second appearance of the Omega Men. There is also a Golden Age Batman reprint from 1955: a story called "The Seven Wonders of the Underworld", which I researched to have been originally published as one of three Batman stories (including the debut of Agatha Wayne... Bruce's aunt) appearing in Batman, Volume 1, No. 89. Overall, I can comfortably say it's in excellent condition for a twenty-seven year old comic, potentially garnering a 9.0 grade (or higher if I'm lucky), if I have it CGC'd. As a goof, if Marv or Joe should make an appearance at NY ComicCon, I might bring it along and have it signed... presumably they would get a kick seeing their works translated into Spanish. So is anyone else out there like me... buying comic books in strange foreign lands? If so, share your stories and maybe a pic or two. I'd love to hear them. Happy Collecting!To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  25. SW3D
    ...AKA...
     
    CGC Means Buying with Confidence!I'm into collecting keys: First Appearances, Previews, Deaths, Return of, Origins, First Costume, First Crossovers or Meetings, First Published Works (by Artist or Writer), Scarce or Low Print Runs, First Issue, Last Issue, Recalled Issues, and Anniversary issues. Why? Because to me they represent a significant event... a special place in comic history... and history is worth collecting. Recently, while looking through my collection, I came to realize I didn't own a Batman related anniversary issue... least of all one in high grade suitable for CGC grading.So I made a decision to search for one, ungraded, and as cheap as possible, with the intentions of eventually submitting it to CGC.My search led me to eBay where I found an ungraded Detective 600, and according to the seller's description was in high grade. So I bought it. Sadly, on the day the package arrived, the seller sent me the wrong comic. What I got instead was Detective Comics 610. Surprisingly, I wasn't as upset as I thought I would be since I didn't spend much on the item. However, I did contact the seller, who acknowledged his/her error, and said very nicely and apologetically, to keep the comic, and proceeded to refund my money (all charges including shipping charges).Lamentably, this was the about the fourth time that I had walked away from an eBay transaction involving the purchase of a raw ungraded comic feeling I didn't get what I truly wanted. But that's life. Live and learn.The first unfortunate incident took place this past summer and involved a purchase I made from an international eBay seller. There was a delay in the delivery of over a dozen ungraded vintage comic magazines... well over a month. I later found out, according to the seller, our Postal Service had tore open the box, and sent it back labeled "Return to Sender". Sadly, many of those ungraded vintage magazines were either lost or damaged in the fiasco. The seller eventually sent me a new batch of replacement magazines, and reimbursed me for the ones lost and no longer in stock, and also sent me an unexpected little extra token gift (which was actually pretty cool). Overall, it wasn't what I wanted, but I knew the risks one assumes in these types of transactions.The second incident, coincidentally, involved another international eBay seller who had sent me a pair of raw ungraded vintage comic magazines, in high grade, but sadly forgot to label the package "fragile, do not bend". To my shock and horror, my postal carrier folded and crammed the magazines into my narrow mailbox along with the rest of my mail. I immediately raced up to my apartment, took a collective breath, and carefully opened the package. What stared up at me was a blaring crease fold down the middle of each magazine. I ranted and raved like a lunatic, and spewed several choice words to the ethos, and cried over what could have been near perfect 9.8's. The poor things had suffered needless debasement at the hands of a mindless and unthinking automaton. Damn you USPS!!!But such is life... one must move on.The third incident (by now you would think I would have learned my lesson), was not postal related, but a seller's miscommunication. I placed a bid on eBay and won an ungraded key which was described as a 9.8, with white pages. What I got instead was more like a 9.2 with page oxidation. I was unhappy and felt, by what I had read on the seller's description, mislead. I immediately left negative feedback about my experience. Little did I suspect that my posting would illicit a surprise phone call from the seller (who turned out to be a really nice guy). After much conversation, which initially started awkwardly, both parties came to an amicable agreement where I would only pay for what I felt was the appropriate fair market value for the comic. I ended up getting a portion of my money refunded and I petitioned eBay to reverse my feedback from negative to positive... which they did.Now, I must admit, even before the advent of CGC, eBay, and the internet in general (we're talking the 80's here), on occasion, I would order raw ungraded comics (the ones I couldn't find through local dealers), from various sellers who advertised their mail order catalogues in the very pages of my dearly beloved comics. It was a hit or miss back then too... so it seems today, little has changed. Sometimes raw comics come to you damaged, or sometimes they come to you in a grade other than expected, or in rare cases, not the comic book you wanted at all, but something entirely different. However, since the advent of CGC, I have purchased all my CGC keys from eBay sellers, and, most recently ComicConnect, and have, so far, been completely satisfied when it comes to transactions involving third party graded comics. The lesson learned: With a third party graded comic, I never have to second guess what I am buying... never need to worry about the unforeseen intangibles. The CGC has essentially taken that away... which means I can buy with confidence. How? Glad you ask...1. Verification: The CGC provides a unique registration bar code number for each comic it grades which can be found on the front label. You can easily cross reference a registration number on the CGC website and view its description.2. Grade: Unlike raw ungraded comics that are in the hands of amateurs, a team of professional graders at CGC have already determined the grade for you... so no worries.3. Authenticity: No need to worry about signature forgeries, reprints, counterfeits, or reproductions... CGC's already done that check for you.4. Protection from Damage: Although not fool-proof, CGC slabs are very sturdy and because of their large sizes, require special packaging forcing shippers to box them... there's no way they can be bent or damaged unless through the sheer negligence and carelessness of the mail carrier or some catastrophic event... but that's Force Majeure... and then you're *d!5. Preservation and Storage: CGC slabs serve as unique instruments for panelologists seeking maximum preservation means, but once you have them in your hands, it's up to you to find suitable storage. So where do you put them? My best answer is anywhere safe from: fire, heat and sunlight; humidity and areas prone to erosion, flooding and water damage including basements, attics, garages, vehicles, and piping; cigarette smoke, vapor, dust, mold, pesticides, biodegradable organic compounds like rotting corpses, and other toxic air quality; sharp objects; insects and vermin; pets; children; food and perishables; piles of junk; your Aunt Matilda; vengeful ex-girlfriends or wives; broke friends; thieves; nosey neighbors; clumsy and dull-witted people; book burners; Celebrity Divas; Nuclear Reactors; Illegal Toxic Dumping Grounds; Military Testing Sites; Drug Wars, Mafia Wars, Raps Wars, War on Terror... War in General; Bigfoot; Extraterrestrials; Aliens Vs. Predators; T-1000; Paranormal Activity; J-Horror Films; Zombies; Secret Societies; Shadow Governments; The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse; and anybody or anything else you could think of that may bring damage or cause accidental or purposeful harm to your beloved collection.Have I given up on buying raw ungraded comics... sight unseen... through the internet or mail-order? YTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.