SW3D

"Where have I been?" That's what some of you may have been asking... others... are probably saying "Who cares?" Well... for those who care... in the beginning of 2014, I was still a passionate comic book collector. Then in late January early February, I fell in love.Before I reveal this new love, I just want to say I am still collecting comic books and still have every interest in the hobby. I keep an eye on the market and visit the CGC journals weekly... but to my shame, I haven't been contributing journals at all. My apologies for that. But it seems like a lot of journalists or usual suspects are also on hiatus. I credit Bag O' Fleas, Tnerb, and Hammership Down, as well as some newbies for keeping the journals alive. Thanks guys! Keep the fire and passion burning!So... back to little old me. What exactly has been my goal when it comes to comics in 2014? It's been selling comics from my original childhood collection which I got graded in 2012 and 2013, and to use the revenue generated from these sales to buy one or two desired comics. In other words, I am focused on downsizing my collection to a small core group of comic books, which will be categorized as my "elite" or "premium collection". Now this decision has been somewhat emotionally difficult for me... since I have to say goodbye to some treasured memories, yet the upside is that with the "once in a blue moon purchase" of an elite comic, I get to revel and bask in the glow of a new cherished memory.But what exactly have I been up to since my last journal? Well, I haven't bought any comics, save for some minor stuff at my local LCS, but I'm delighted to say, I found a new "love of my life". This new love brings a profound joy to my heart, an inner sense of well being... and some cramps and aches to my wrists (no... that's not a sexual reference... get your mind out of the gutter). Alright!... so who or what is it? Who or what is this She-Beast? Who is this Siren who hath captivated my mind and plucked my Heart Strings?Drum roll please!It's playing the guitar!... Specifically Classical Guitar and Acoustic Guitar.That's right! I've gone cuckoo and gaga over the nylon string instruments and genre/style of music/play. For the moment I take an hourly Classical Guitar lesson every week and devote about an hour a day for roughly five hours a week... that is whenever I can squeeze in the practice time between work, exercise, play and rest (yeah... But whose got the time to rest?).So, for the time being, comic books have taken a back seat.Truth be told... I always wanted to play a musical instrument. I briefly tried piano (had an electric Yamaha keyboard in my late teens in college but it eventually collected dust). I also took some voice lessons, but that didn't last. And once I came very very close to purchasing a drum kit... but chickened out for practical purposes... a drum kit is way too space intensive for NYC apartment dwellers and way too loud... I can only imagine how often the neighbors would call the cops on me for the racket... but damn the skins rock! Perhaps one day. But anyway... on a whim... or perhaps the Rock Guitar Gods whispered a subliminal message into my ears... like a mindless Simon Garth mystically drawn by the bearer of the Voodoo Amulet, I walked into Sam Ash Music Store one day and walked out with a Cordoba C3 Classical Guitar and began a new love affair.Since then, after popping my first string (literally the 1st String), I've bought a second guitar and the new obsession has been going strong.I'm still learning the basics... which is not easy. I'm getting familiar with the basic stroke and fretting techniques, reading and interpreting sheet music and composition, learning finger combos, stretching my fingers for dexterity and articulation, and building the stamina required for proper posture, sitting and handling the Classical and Acoustic Guitars. What do I hope to accomplish?... Do I want land a gig at local watering hole? Do I want to go on Tour and Live the Dream? Do I want to make a surprise appearance on American Idol? Nah... none of that. I'll be happy with just merrily playing at home for Family and Friends or to impress a chick with a romantic song. But speaking truthfully from the heart... my hearts' desire is to master playing Classical Guitar from the Spanish, Baroque and Romance periods, Flamenco (ala Paco de Lucia... God rest his soul), popular Acoustic ballads, and the Classic Rock songs of the 60's and 70's I grew up listening to. But mastering any of those will take years of practice, devotion and dedication. Wish me luck on that endeavor because mastering or sticking to anything has not been something I've ever been able to accomplish. As for CGC Journals... don't you fear... I should have a couple of journals written by year end of my latest acquisitions (I got two "holy grails" on my radar). And I feel another Angela journal burning in my heart... when the time is right it will come. I don't know why that Redhead has captured my heart... but she has... even though she is as dull as a brick in the current Guardians of the Galaxy series. I'm hoping Angela will make an appearance in a future Marvel film... I know that won't happen anytime soon... but maybe one day.Anyway... for now I leave you with a snap shot of my two guitars.Till next time.Happy Collecting!SW3DTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

I see you're a big fan of Star Trek. So many years ago... maybe in the early 70's... my father gave me a book on the history of Star Trek... a paperback. It had all this neat info on Gene Rodenberry, the creation of the show, blueprints of the Enterprise, pages of teleplays from the show, and photos of the cast and crew on set and even in Cons which was relatively new for Trek. I lost that book... and do regret that... for I bet it's a collectors item now. Cerebus makes for one mean looking grey bunny! Live Long and Prosper! SW3D

A most awesome submission list! that All Flash 25 (Jitterbug) issue looks to be in very good condition! I hope all your comics come back to you in high grade. SW3D

Although I only hear great things about TWD, I am avoiding most Zombie related movies and shows or books. Why? I guess like the Vampire genre there is just too much of it for me. So I'm taking a break from Z-anything (except for Shaun of the Dead: this one I can watch over and over again). But i would love to see another Kirkman property make it to the small screen or big one. Do you think Invincible has a shot? Love the photo! It's always great to see such a thing... and I image for you it takes the edge off the horror and suspense of the show for just a wee bit. When I was a kid (maybe 5 or 6), I saw the Exorcist. Yeah... now that movie scared the heck out of me. And ever since then I have watched all kinds of horror films... but only a select few give me the creeps and nightmares. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is still scary. And one that I can only watch once in a blue moon is Wolf Creek. My tastes in horror films has grown a lot more sophisticated, so I now gravitate towards movies with great storytelling over just "blood and guts" and special effects. I'm sure in a few years, when I fall in love again with the Zombie genre, I'll pick the series up both on TV and in the comics, and I'll be the only one saying "This is awesome", while everyone else will be like, "Been There, Done That!" Are you planning to collect the Walking Dead now? SW3D

I get a sense LM series falls under the Steam Punk genre... Am I right? This sounds very interesting. I can imagine the readership will grow impatient if each issue takes forever. I know I would. Any other modern series u recommend or currently reading/collecting? I'm trying to get into something and I'm finding myself very bored of the status quo. I need something fresh and new and nothing derivative. 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.

I'm glad it finally arrived. I can imagine how relieved and happy you must be. Now I have to ask, who exactly is Lady Mechanika? And what is she all about? SW3D

Re: Buyers Remorse Sorry to read about your recent woes. Although I never buy restored books, I've been burned a few times from eBay sellers selling raw books they overgrade or package improperly that they get damaged when they arrive. So I generally stick to graded comics and leave buying raw to places I can trust like my LCS or MyComicShop. Hopefully your LM book shows up soon. Keep your head up! SW3D

So true! I've never understood why so many comics (1,500... wow! that's an incredibly high figure) are selling so low... that I also must conclude it's at a loss. Why would they deal in profit loss or low-margin business? My only guess would be to move inventory and potentially lure new customers that will become loyal to the seller. I'm new to selling on eBay. 2013 was my first year. I sold only 11 books since I began in May. In all those sales, I have never settled for a loss. My intention is to make a profit on every item I have available to sell. And if I can't make a profit, than I'll settle for breaking-even... but I will never sell in the red. The lowest profit I made was a measly $1.19 on a 9.8 comic... but it was a profit. Now although I only sold 11 books on eBay, I almost sold an equal amount of books through private sales. This is where I see my greatest profit margin. As much as I love GPA, it is not a perfect instrument. Some auction houses like Comiclink do not report to GPA. In addition, the amount of private sales which occur at Comic Book Stores, Conventions, the WTB Boards on the Collectors Society, and Other, far eclipses the combined sales seen on electronic auction houses. And these sales data are also not reported to GPA. But I still use GPA... it serves it purpose. Awesome topic! I'm really digging your comic book room. It's become a go-to place for me! Keep it up! SW3D

Looks like 2014 is off to a great start for you! I'm thinking you got the sweet life: You got a wife that allows you to buy an expensive comic... and then you obtain that beauty... Cerebus #1! Congrats! Refresh my memory... How do they tell apart the counterfeit from the real mccoy? 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 To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Hey n2wdw, I know you got a wonderful collection of Spiderman/Gwen Stacy building... so when I came across this on eBay I thought of you. In my opinion, it's an outlandish amount of money the seller's asking for, but nonetheless, I thought you might want to see this beautiful comic: http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMAZING-SPIDER-MAN-648-CGC-9-8-SS-TERRY-MOORE-NM-M-Signature-Series-Gwen-Stacy-/350952932096?pt=US_Comic_Books&hash=item51b66cc300 You're inkwell 10's gorgeous... but 5! Hmmm... I don't want to make any accusations, but yeah... that's very unusual. Congrats acquiring having a 10! SW3D

I'll come back with Red Sonja and a host of others... "There Will Be Blood!" SW3D

Hey what a minute! Isn't Pepper Potts a redhead?

I can't believe you forgot my favorite comic blonde, Ms. Marvel... especially the way Frank Cho illustrates her! Damn is she gorgeous! I may have to concede defeat... those first two are powerhouses! Oh well... but watch out the next time... I'll be back with even more powerful reds. SW3D

Who doesn't love bacon? Although Gentlemen prefer blondes, I got a soft spot for crazy redheaded chicks. I'm thinking of posting a journal: "Hottie Thowdown: Comic Book Blondes Vs. Psycho Redheads!" In my corner: Angela, Dark Phoenix, Medusa (Inhumans), Poison Ivy, Black Widow, Firestorm, Mystique, StarFire, Mary Jane against... In your corner... well... you pick your blondes and lets see who wins. SW3D

Damn that food looks good! Especially the fries. BTW: Love your Gwen Stacy collection. Is it me, but it seems the little lady won't stay dead? But honestly... Who do you prefer? Gwen or MJ? SW3D

What's there not to love about Yellow Labels? I blame Tnerb and Bag O' Fleas for the whole yellow label epidemic. Damn did I catch the fever... Yellow Fever anyone? But seriously... How can I not glory the one and only Angela making her team debut in Guardians of the Galaxy 5? Am I not the biggest nutjob for the little lady? And best of all, these variants come by way of my favorite LCS: Midtown Comics in NYC. That's right!... Ya gotta REPRESENT! And equally sweet (still going with the NYC theme), these four beauties were all signed by cover artist Mark Brooks and Sara Pichelli at NYComicCon last year in October. Although the blizzard hitting us tonight may freeze my balls off, I've got Angela to thaw me out! Add Gamora in the mix and I'm going Supernova! It's Yellow Label Madness! SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Well, there have been journals aplenty authored by collectors espousing their CGC firsts. This journal is going to be no different! And it's open to feedback to all collectors who currently own an OAK and who purchased said OAK in raw form, had it graded, and knowingly or unknowingly, contributed the first ever graded copy of its kind to the CGC census (with signature or sans signatures, variant covers accepted). And being that it is the first day of 2014, what better way to celebrate the New Year than by reminiscing about CGC firsts and OAKs. So I invite you to share with us your stories about some of your proudest first moments; splurge on us with some background on the comic (key comments if applicable), how you came to purchase or own it raw, what eventual grade it achieved, and its One-of-A-Kind status today (if it still applies or not). Here's a list of mine: Spawn 9 (1st Appearance of Angela/Newsstand Variant). This was my first OAK ever! I submitted it last year at NYComicCon and it achieved its grade in February 2013, a month or so before the news of Marvel's acquisition of Angela. Direct Editions of this comic were already graded, but no Newsstand Editions had been graded until my submission; getting back the distinction of "Variant Copy" was just pure dumb luck. I bought this particular copy along with a few Direct Editions from an LCS in Forest Hills, Queens, NY called Modesty Comics... but not because it was Angela's 1st Appearance, not because it was a Variant (I was utterly clueless that the Newsstand Edition was different), but because I thought it had an ironic piece of history surrounding it: the litigious battle between Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane over Angela, Medieval Spawn, and Cogliostro's creator rights. If Angela didn't make the move to Marvel, no one would give two for this comic, after-all, Angela had been declared dead by Todd McFarlane for over 13 years in Spawn 100. And although the magic spell for Angela has temporarily worn-off, if comic's history is any indication, Angela's star will be on the rise soon enough. Currently a total of 9 Newsstand Editions have been graded: 4 9.8's, 4 9.6's, and 1 9.4. My copy is no longer an OAK, but for a few dizzying months during Angela's popularity craze, it was sitting all on its lonesome on a throne in a private Kingdom. Read the original journal: http://comics.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=13176 Captain America: Transformation & Triumph No. 1 (Promotional Comic/Free with the purchase of the June 6, 2013 edition of the Wall Street Journal). This was an impromptu purchase made more challenging since: (1) no prior announcement was made of this promotional/free comic that I was aware of; (2) I had to scramble late in the evening to obtain copies from CVS and at a Newsstand; (3) I had to keep them from getting damaged by reckless cashiers, and lastly; (4) from getting soaked wet due to a torrential downpour. What's interesting to note about this comic: I believe it takes place in the Marvel Movie Universe or the Ultimates judging by the costumes worn by Captain America (cover art makes him look like actor Chris Evans) and Nick Fury (cameo appearance). There is a flashback segment to Steve Rogers origin as Captain America. I actually got 4 copies graded in total: 2 9.8's and 2 9.6's. To date, these 4 remain the only graded copies. It all happened here: http://comics.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=14330 Curse of the Spawn 9. I graded 6 in total and 5 came back 9.8 and 1 a 9.6. I found the raw copies from various LCS's in New York City. After falling head-over-heels for Angela, I began a hunt for her back issues from Image. This one is a gem since it is Angela's origin story where it is revealed she is the amalgam of six females souls who lived tragic lives. It also introduced a mysterious and haunting character named Durges, who seems to have a manipulating and diabolical hand in the life and creation of Angela.... where it is revealed in flashbacks, each female witnessed the face of Durges as the last vision before passing unto death. Relive all the fun: http://comics.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=14323 Update: One lucky devil has added a graded copy to the Census, a fabled yellow label bestowed a 9.8. If the owner of said comic is reading this, I would be greatly interested in buying your copy. Congrats by the way! Dark Dominion 7 (1st JG Jones Pro Work). This is the first copy to reach the census, given a respectable 9.4, with a Yellow Label signed by artist extraordinaire JG Jones at Wizard World NYC June 2013. Its main significance being the first pro comics work of JG Jones best known for the outstanding covers for Y The Last Man, Wanted, and the entire 52 series. I originally bought the comic raw from Lone Star/MyComicShop. Happily, as of today, it remains the only sole graded copy of its kind! Walk down memory lane: http://comics.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=14410 Rant 1 (1st JG Jones Writing Credit). Another raw purchased from Lone Star/MyComicShop, is my copy of Rant 1. JG Jones, as previously mentioned, is known primarily as a celebrated cover artist, however, this comic is unique in that JG Jones co-scripted/co-wrote this comic. When I met the artist at Wizard World NY (June 2013), JG Jones reflected that this was to be his first published work, but delays set it back and it was eventually published after his Dark Dominion stint. Happily, Rant came back graded a magnificent 9.6 and bears Jones' inscription. A quick review of the CGC Census reveals it is still an OAK! Another chance to read it: http://comics.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=14466 Superman Special Number 1, by Walter Simonson (The Death of Superman?) The jury is still out on this one, but if you read the ambiguous ending, it is not a stretch of the imagination to at least consider the possibility Superman was killed by the Sand Superman and replaced by him. For this reason alone, the comic is shrouded in controversy and is a must-have for Superman fans and collectors alike. The comic is not very old, about 21 years, yet it is hard-to-find, especially a Newsstand Edition. Before I submitted my original owner newsstand copy for grading, I consulted the CGC Census and discovered none had been graded. And I find that shocking seen it is written and drawn by the very popular Walter Simonson. To date, I own the only graded copy, a 9.2 with White Pages, with the added distinction of triple signatures provided by Geof Darrow and Michael Golden (both artists have pin-up illustrations featured in a bonus art gallery), and the man himself, Walter Simonson. Judge for yourself: http://comics.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=14931 And yet another joins the group: Aria Blanc & Noir #1 Dynamic Forces Edition. Although not the first to get graded, it is the first to have that magical yellow label, as Jay Anacleto's inscription graces this HTF variant copy. According to Dynamic Forces, only 5,000 copies exist. I got this gem through... you guessed it... Lone Star/MyComicShop. For some reason, I get a kick out of being the first to get a particular comic graded. In the early days of the CGC, I'm sure this was quite common, To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

When Peter David was announced as a guest at NYComicCon, I felt it was a perfect opportunity to get these issues signed by the writer. I will admit, I did a terrible job of getting my comics ready for signings. Many on the journals and boards prep each comic the right way by cutting out windows in their protective plastic sheets, color taping the borders of the windows, and adding notes to direct signature locations, even going as far as suggesting which color inks to use. I did none of that and found myself often juggling several comics out in the open, praying that none of them would get abused by the crowds which swelled around me or by the signers themselves. So it comes as no surprise, that out of 32 Modern Comics which I submitted for grading with signatures, only 10 came back 9.8's. The rest were graded anywhere between 9.0 to 9.6... and I didn't get many 9.6's back either... so I will look at this as a lesson learned for next time. But these two came back 9.8's. Why? During the speculator boom of the 90's, I bought these issues solely thinking anything with the words "Spider-Man" stamped all over it would be a worthwhile investment. I am quite certain I didn't bother to read any of them at all, which is the biggest reason I believe the pair received 9.8 grades. Most certainly, back in the day, I plucked each issue from the newwstand rack, got home, slipped them into a plastic storage bag, and filed them away never to see the light of day, until last October. The high grades also have to do with the quality of the publications, as Spider-Man 2099 #1's red foil cover is printed on hard coverstock. And I recall, in the 80's and 90's, as the average cover price of comics soared, so too did the improvement in page quality, with cleaner and thicker Mondo and Baxter paper used in favor of cheap newspaper pulp. Anyway... whatever the reasons for the high grades, I'm grateful they scored high. Of late, I've become a big fan of the yellow labels. Take a look at each comic in their slabs; the yellow label seems to broadcast the indigos, magentas, and crimsons... the cover colors really pop with luster! And the CGC has done a fine job with their encapsulations. These beauties are picture perfect! BTW: According to the census, issue two, as seen here, currently ranks as the highest grade with a yellow label. Yeehaw! Thanks for reading! SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Cheeky, Sexy and Paleolithic: Cavewoman: The Mature Version Who doesn't know Frank Cho? The prolific and downright brilliant artist is an expert on the human figure, particularly the female body. In my opinion, the man is an initiate in the Wally Wood School of Eye-Candy Art: Beautiful Women with Ample Samples! According to Frank Cho, on his amusing and risqué website, Cho states his first pro comic book work was a six-part piece he provided to Penthouse Comix, but it went unpublished: http://apesandbabes.com/frank-chos-first-professional-comic-work/. So technically, this doesn't qualify as his first published comic book work. Thus I searched the high and low for what is considered his first legitimate published comic book work, and the only example I believe fits the bill is a cover he provided for Budd Root's Cavewoman: The Mature Version, in 1998. The publication date of 1998 pre-dates his Liberty Meadows comic book series for Insight Studios from 1999. "Uncle Frank's" been illustrating cartoon strips in college since the early to mid-90's, and Liberty Meadows first went into syndicated publishing as a comic strip in 1997, before it finally graced the four-color page in 1999. So I ask those comic book experts reading this, "Would you agree, is Cavewoman: The Mature Version, cover art by Frank Cho, technically Frank Cho's first pro comic work?" If so, I'm happy to know I got a nice graded copy at 9.6 with White Pages, along with Frank Cho's signature when I had the privilege to meet him at NYComicCon this past October. This beauty of a copy came by way of my favorite internet LCS: Lone Star/MyComicShop. They sold it as a Near Mint Plus, and sure enough, it came back graded a 9.6. According to the CGC Census, only five graded copies exist: three Blue Labels at 9.8, 9.4, and 9.2 respectively, and two Yellow Labels, my 9.6 and another at 9.4. So I'm delighted to know my copy is currently the highest graded Yellow Label of the two! Yippee! Cavewoman creator Budd Root provides a really cool back cover, a horizontal illustration depicting the topless Cavewoman (whose true name is Meriem Cecilbie Cooper), standing beside Harmony (a T-Rex she rescued as a hatchling from Velociraptors), Klyde (her 15 Foot Gorilla friend), and a mini-dinosaur pal of hers, in their prehistoric habitat. So what about this particular issue makes it a "Mature Version"? Well, this comic would fit right at home with the Penthouse Comix set. Fanboys of full front nudity will be delighted to know, there's plenty to see and little is left to the imagination. Root's illustrations are done tongue-n-cheek, so it's not perverse or pornographic... but it will still excite and titillate those looking for adult themed stuff. Keep in mind, if you happen to obtain a copy, and you submit it to the CGC for grading, "Stains from Bodily Fluids" discovered on any pages will affect your grade. So be careful. Perhaps buying one copy for grading and another as an "reading copy" is in order. SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Back in 1992, a few months before Superman was infamously "killed" by Doomsday, DC published a one-shot special by Walter Simonson, appropriately called: Superman Special #1 by Walter Simonson. And what is so special about this comic book?At the moment, it is the first of its kind. Not only is it the first graded example to be introduced to the CGC Census, giving it temporary OAK (One-of-a-Kind) status until others get graded, but it's also further distinguished by its triple signature provided by Geoff Darrow and Michael Golden (both artists contributed pin-ups illustrations), and by the man himself, artist and writer extraordinaire, Walter Simonson. The other things which merit personal praise: it's my original owner newsstand copy I bought from the racks over 21 years ago, and, the grade it has achieved, a 9.2 with white pages (a decent grade proudly awarded sans pressing), assures me all the hard work and efforts I put into keeping my comics preserved have paid-off. But the real speciality is in the controversy connected with the story: Does Superman die in this issue and come to be replaced by a being known as the Sand Superman?The Sand Superman was originally conceived by writer Dennis O'Neil and debuted in 1971. This rather bizarre creation was to play an integral part of a character and mythos re-launch of Superman. The revisionist approach occurred during a time when DC campaigned to re-invent their main characters (Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, et al), in an effort to distance themselves in the wake and fallout of the campiness and puerile nature of the 60's Batman TV show. In an effort to bring Superman to a more "mortal" level, O'Neil devised a way for Ka-El to lose two-thirds his power (much like John Byrne would later do in 1986 with The Man of Steel title). It all started in the pages of Superman #233 (cover art by Neal Adams) and ran through until issue 242. The Sand Superman was introduced as an incorporeal entity from another dimension known as Quarrm, who made its way to Metropolis by way of an extra-dimensional wormhole caused by a freak explosion. The entity was able to siphon energy from Superman, construct a body in the likeness of Superman made of sand, and eventually used the absorbed energy for superpowers that mimicked Superman's. Several encounters and battles with Superman allowed this Golem-like thing to grow as strong as the Kryptonian, all-the-while draining and reducing Superman's powers to nearly one-third of his original level (thus accomplishing O'Neil's mission). However, with the absorption of Superman's powers, the alien parasite also absorbed an aspect of Superman's personality and spiritual make-up, changing its moral compass as it came to the realization that what it was doing was both harmful to Superman and mankind. Ultimately, "Super Sandy" returned on its own volition to its home dimension. This fascinating yet convoluted mess of a story can be read in greater detail through the following links: http://www.supermansupersite.com/1971.html or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarmer or http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Sand_Superman_(Earth-One). In some vague and obscure way, I see some snippets of the O'Neil story, used in the ludicrous plot to the 1983 movie Superman III, where Clark Kent fights an evil doppelganger of Superman, created from the side-effects of the fission of Kryptonite and tar (I kid you not... tar). If you never seen the movie, the absolute best scene, and in my opinion, the only reason to see the movie, is the action-packed fight between the Evil Superman and his "pure" Spirit embodied as Clark Kent. You could see for yourself in two parts, brought to you by comiccollector87 and Christopher Gibbs (thank you both whoever you are): ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL12bbRPUz4. Jumping forward to 1992, Walter Simonson revived the Sand Superman. In this updated story, Lex Luthor, in an attempt to synthesize Kryptonite for a nefarious purpose, accidentally neutralizes its radioactive properties, leading to the creation of an energy parasite composed of sand. The creature forms a construct in the likeness of Superman. And after each successive encounter and battle with the Man of Steel, the sandy doppelganger not only drains and absorbs Superman's powers, but looks more and more like the real McCoy, until you cannot distinguish the fake from the genuine article. AUTHORS NOTE: The following paragraph is my interpretation of the end of Superman Special #1, by Walter Simonson, which admittedly, I could be 100% wrong since it is based on a hazy and spotty memory of a comic book I read 21 years ago and may possibly be co-mingled with my own imagination. So here it is (or how I believe it ended)......In the climactic battle between Superman and Sand Superman in the Fortress of Solitude, where both combatants are indistinguishable, the ambiguous ending, in my opinion, lends the reader to believe that the Sand Superman has killed Superman either by strangulation or by completely draining and cannibalizing Ka-El of his powers and life-force. Victorious yet remorseful, the sand creature rises over the lifeless body of Superman, looks solemnly over his corpse, and vows to carry-on the heroic legacy of Superman. I can only assume from that point, Superman is dead and Sand Superman assumes the mantle of the new Superman. Or has he? Check out this blog site for further speculation: http://siskoid.blogspot.com/2011/05/reign-of-supermen-210-post-crisis-sand.html And still further speculation as channeled through dialogue exchange by fans making some interesting points: http://www.comicvine.com/superman/4005-1807/forums/post-crisis-era-superman-died-in-1988-645961/Well... I met the man himself at NYComicCon, and after getting his inscription, point-blankedly asked him the question: "Did Sand Superman kill Superman?" With equal ambiguity to rival the comic book, Mr. Simonson slyly smiled and replied: "If that is what you want to believe." Well... to be honest, I don't know what to believe. I find it difficult to accept Superman's death at the hands of such an energy vampire, yet I am equally amiss to know Superman would choke a foe to death. That just seems too out-of-line with the Big Blue Boy Scout I've come to know and love. However, the Sand Superman was a bit of a crackpot with a pathological streak, and may have committed murder, only to pull a Talented Mr. Ripley. What do you think? SW3DTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

AKA: Don't Come Knockin' 'Round Here No More! Conflicted, confused, and terrified of her own siphoning powers, Rogue finds herself at a crossroads in her life, realizing her uncontrolled mutant abilities and villainy have had catastrophic consequences. Rogue makes the toughest decision in her life, turning to help from her mortal enemies: the X-Men. But Charles Xavier's gang of mutie hoodlums and bullies ain't gonna have none of that! How dare they chase down such a luscious piece of ! Am I allowed to write that? But seriously, after what Rogue did to Carol Danvers/Ms. Marvel... stealing her powers and memories, Rogue needed a good butt-kicking courtesy of the X-Men. And who better to tell this sappy, soap-operaesque tale of Guilt, Remorse, and Redemption than the dream pairing of Chris Claremont and Walter Simonson? This particular copy is pretty special to me. It's my original owner copy I bought 30 years ago, back in 1983, from the local newsstand racks. I honestly thought it would grade higher (9.4), but 9.2 is pretty respectable considering it was abused from the get-go by the Newsstand Distribution System. It also has remained in my care for three decades and has survived a few readings and nine address changes. And that grade also comes sans pressing, with the additional bonus of white pages. Although the -NM grade deflates both the book value and CGC registry points significantly from what I had forecasted, the comic is given a positive push up with a yellow label featuring three distinct signatures. The first came by way of writer extraordinaire Chris Claremont, most remembered for his iconic run on Uncanny X-Men. While at NYComicCon, I was told by CGC staff, Chris Claremont would charge for signatures if he found out we were slabbing books. In fact, I confessed to the writer why the CGC witness was there, and I was forced to shell out ten dollars for Claremont's signature. I was kinda miffed at that, and should have had the good piece of mind to decry, "Sir, with all do respect, I am trying to exploit your name and this worthless comic by selling it to a greater fool at an inflated price. How dare you insult me and the good name of exploitation by charging me ten bucks!?!" But seriously, I don't mind paying a nominal fee to any artist or writer. Ten dollars is not going to bust my bank, and I honestly have every intention of selling this comic to the highest bidder. It is not a keepsake. If it were, then I may balk at the fee or do my best to inform the artist/writer how important this piece is to me and plea bargain to their fanboy senses. But in the case of most comic book artists and writers attending the con, they need to make money too! They're trying to make a living. So, if the fee is affordable, then I can deal. For the moment, I avoid those artists who charge $20 or more. Claremont has a very distinguished signature. It's very stately... like a politico on an historical document. It's spread long, taking lots of real estate, and quite legible. The second signature was acquired from inker Bob Wiacek, sans fees. I can't remember much of the interaction I had with the inker... it was a quick signing with little to no fanfare. Sorry Bob! But I am grateful for the signing and your work! And the third comes from the very popular Walter Simonson... one of my favorite illustrators whose heyday was in the 80's. Last year I tried to get his autograph for my copy of Thor 344 (1st Appearance of Malekith), but due to logistical challenges, and only a 1-day window, I missed my opportunity. This year, I planned it better, purchasing a 3-days ticket... so I knew there was no way I would miss him. And thankfully on the 12th of October, I got my chance. Look how awesome his inscription is! Pretty cool, huh? At the con, there were a bevy of cos-players dressed as Rogue. I have to admit, her popularity is undeniable. But aren't all Southern Belle's popular? Thanks for reading... and as always, Happy Collecting! SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

AKA: Merry Christmas from Aria and Angela! On Monday and Tuesday, two boxes arrived from the CGC filled with yellow labeled goodies. I purposely waited until this morning to open each box, like an anxious little boy waking-up on Christmas morning and discovering a boatload of presents left by Santa underneath the spruce tree. This beauty was signed by Jay Anacleto on October 11th at the NYComicCon. I got the opportunity to meet the Filipino artist, whose incredible photorealistic illustrations are lush and dripping with detail. If you do not know this man's work, please do yourself a favor an Google image Jay Anacleto and see for yourself. Dear Lord the man is gifted! I picked this image to share with you, because of its unique cover. It is one of the few comic book covers I've seen where Jesus appears. If you look at the image, you'll notice Angela is standing on the left, Aria's to the right, and above them, as part of the stain-glass decor of the church, is an image of Jesus Christ. Jay Anacleto's hyper-detailed work give this cover an extra dose of religious and righteous power! Many may misinterpret what the sneering red-eyed wolf between Angela and Aria symbolically represents. One could come up with a number of hypotetical meanings with such symbolism... the Warrior spirit?... Satan?... A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing?... it's actually neither. There's a nobleman and magical being (whose name escapes me), who is a Lycanthrope and a good friend of Aria. I'm sure he is the wolf. As it stands today, this copy is only 1 of 2 copies graded by the CGC. It is also the highest graded of the two and both are signature series yellow labels. I also happen to own both copies... Obviously!... I'm the only Angela nut who even cares to collect them. If there are any more Angela fans out there... do tell. Anyways... wishing you all a Merry Christmas! SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Thank you for sharing these amazing comics with us. Wally Wood's EC covers are some of my favorite all-time illustrations. I know it is going to sound crazy, but I actually love his art over Frank Frazetta. I also love Walt Kelly's Pogo Possum. Congrats on all these beauties! SW3D