SW3D

AKA: Which Witch is the Witch? My apologies to 109... for I believe I may have inadvertently lifted the name of my last few journals from your award winning collection of Witchblade. I honestly thought I was pirating the name from World of Warcraft, Blizzard's famous RPG, but this morning I paroused through your set and discovered your collection was aptly named World of Witchblade. BTW, your set is very, verY cool. I tip my hat to you for the fine collection you have put together. Speaking of which (or witch), here's one (or three) you may find of interest, it's the 100th issue celebration of Witchblade. Mike Choi provides the interior artwork, and the artist was gracious enough to sign my three copies at NYComicCon on October 11th. My chief regret was not getting Marc Silvestri's autograph on them, but how could I impress Mr. Silvestri to sign these three when he had already signed a total of 12 comics (as seen in the earlier journals). Anyway... I had purchased these three raw from Lone Star/MyComicShop and they have come back 9.8, 9.6, and 9.4 respectively. You'll notice these are three variants from a set of five. Marc Silvestri provides the cover illustration depicting Sara Pezzini holding up a birthday cake. Mike Choi signed his name across it. The second cover is illustrated by Joseph Michael-Linsner and the third by Gonzo Digimation (the Japanese filmakers of the Witchblade animated series). This issue is not only a milestone but it is also a key, since it heralds the temporary hiatus of Sara Pezzini as the bearer of the Witchblade, and the introduction of a new bearer, the beautiful Danielle Baptiste. Why that bit of Witchblade history is omitted in the key comments, once again baffles me. Great job CGC! To show my appreciation, I'll take this quote from the immortal Jim Carrey classic, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective: "That's what turns me on about 'cha, your attention to detail." Anyway... 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.

Yep, more of the same... Darkness early issues: 1 through 3, all yellow labels featuring Marc Silvestri and Matt "Batt" Banning signatures. I was fortunate to acquire the signatures at NYComicCon this past October. The first slab features the Variant black cover of Darkness #1 (1st Appearance of Jackie Estacado as the Darkness) graded 9.6. That one features a striking Marc Silvestri signature written vertically and parallel to Estacado's darkness enshrouded countenance. The second slab is the standard blue cover of Darkness #1, and also a 9.6. Slabs three and four are issues #2 and #3 respectively. I'm actually quite surprised issue #3 came back graded a 9.8... that was a very pleasant surprise! All four copies where purchased raw from Lone Star/MyComicShop.com. Gotta love yellow labels! SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

AKA: Jackie... Turn Off The Dark! First came the Darkness Power, probably best described as a "Living Energy"... composed of the negative Spiritual Aspect of the Universe. See Medieval Spawn/Witchblade #1 (the photo features my original owner copy graded 9.6/White Pages). Then came Jackie Estacado, that lovable rapscallion Mafioso Prince and vendetta-driven homicidal assassin in the pages of Witchblade #10. This 9.8 beauty came by way of one of my favorite troll points: Lone Star Comics/MyComicShop.Com. What's really great about that particular copy is it's a HTF (Hard-to-Find) "Darkness #0 Gold Foil Variant". And lastly, the Darkness Power found and touched dear old Jackie's soul... turning him into a host and the living embodiment of the Darkness. See Darkness #1... also another acquisition from LSC/MCS. I affectionately call this mini-set: "Jackie... Turn Off the Dark!" I hope Disney, Marvel, Bono, and Spidey aren't going to sue me. SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Get your mind out of the gutter! These are four yellow labeled copies of Cyblade/Shi: The Battle for Independents #1, featuring Marc Silvestri's very seductive cover. Shi's green eyes in contrast to her "Death Mask" just mesmerize me. I absolutely love the way Silvestri parts Shi's hair. The full lips on both heroines are another avenue of seduction and drooling. These beauties are pin-ups for sure! The 9.4 and two 9.2's in the pic have triple signatures (Silvestri, Tucci, and Batt), while the 9.6 feature's a lone Silvestri inscription. So, counting the five copies of the Billy Tucci variant (as seen in the prior journal), I have a total of nine signature copies of Sara Pezzini's debut. I'm actually in search of a 9.8 of the Silvestri variant... and if I obtain it, that will make the grand total ten. Am I nuts or what! SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

AKA: Witchy Woman! These five yellow labels just arrived today... my triple signature copies of Sara Pezzini's first appearance in the pages of Cyblade/Shi: The Battle for Independents #1, cover art by Billy Tucci. Featuring the debut of Sara Pezzini and the Witchblade artifact, Cyblade/Shi tells the rather convoluted story of Samurai Assassin Shi (Billy Tucci's gorgeous half-Italian, half-Japanese swordswoman creation), cast under the hypnotic spell of a league of Ninja assassins, while Cyblade (Marc Silvestri's psionically charged mutant hottie), gets caught in the middle trying to bring Shi to her Katana swinging senses. Somewhere along the middle, Detective Sara Pezzini crashes the pillow fight wielding the Witchblade gauntlet, giving Cyblade a much needed helping hand (no pun intended). The Threesome? Sara Pezzini, Cyblade and Shi? Yeah, I wish! Get your mind out of the gutter! It's the aforementioned Triple Signatures: Marc Silvestri, Billy Tucci, and Matt Banning! I was lucky to collect all three signatures at NYComicCon this past October over a two days span: October 11th and 12th. I have to admit, Billy, Marc and Matt are the coolest guys on the planet you could every meet! Humble as hell... so happy to meet and greet the fans... patient... they signed my stack of comics... they made the con for me! If they're back in 2014, I am so there! A special thanks to CGC witnesses Mollie and Paul for patiently sticking with me through the arduous and sometimes frustrating process of trying to figure artists' ever-changing schedules, standing on long lines, and listening to my banal and generally useless banter. Thanks guys! SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Do you remember the tag line, "You'll Believe a Man Can Fly"? It was on December 10, 1978, exactly 35 years ago from today, when Superman: The Movie premiered and forever changed the superhero movie genre, making cinematic history and perhaps more. Many great things happened as a consequence of this film. The late Christopher Reeve was introduced to a world audience, and a 9-year-old boy watched, mesmerized and captivated, as 143 minutes of a spectacle as epic and biblical as anything an impressionable child could imagine, came to life on the silver screen. Superman: The Movie remains my absolute favorite motion picture from the 70's for the nostalgia it represents, and for the joy, wonder and excitement, and above-all, for its pure storytelling magic! And I'm sure I wasn't the only child or movie-goer swept away and left utterly speechless, as a larger-than-life hero captured my heart, my mind, and my imagination. Up to that point, I had never truly experienced "movie escapism" until I saw Richard Donner's masterpiece. Time had stood still when I entered the world of Superman. And yes, on a cold winter's day, as I languidly exited the movie theatre, I looked up to the sky, awe-struck, and I did believe, "A Man Can Fly!" It was truly a miracle! The comic book Superman, like many of our four-color heroes, is a Judeo-leaning concept. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the sons of Jewish immigrants, Superman it can be argued, has Jewish roots. However, the concept of Superman may have been spawned irrespective of religion, from a real-life tragic event when Jerry Siegel's father, Mitchell Siegel, was gunned down in a robbery a year before the creation of Superman. This is a theory attributed to both Brad Meltzer and Gerard Jones: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman But as we draw closer to Christmas, Richard Donner's Superman and the Christ parallels it draws, seem to emerge from the darkness of our blighted times with a powerful light, like a beacon of hope to those willing to embrace its message. You are probably thinking, "What the heck are you talking about? Superman and Christ? I don't see the connection!" Well, a number of Christ and Biblical references were purposely incorporated in the blueprint of the movie by Director Richard Donner and Screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz, giving Superman: The Movie, "The Greatest Story Ever Told" treatment. But don't take my word for it, read it for yourself in the Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_(1978_film) And three-and-a-half decades later, it is undeniable in my mind, this grand vision of Superman, a Christ-like Superman, a "Cinematic Messiah" if you will, is the Superman in the minds of many fans that trumps all the other versions of Superman... from the comic books, radio, television, or the recent darker-toned incarnation presented in Zack Snyder's brooding and self-indulgent Man of Steel franchise. Why? Let's look at it this way, Richard Donner's Superman was the complete package, and is, and will forever remain: A Superman of Light! A Superman of Hope! A Superman of Glory! A Superman of Lofty Ideals! A Superman of Tomorrow! Donner's vision is readily identifiable as the definitive image of Superman. It's what the people want Superman to be. So when all is said and done, who is Richard Donner's Superman? What does Superman: The Movie, really represent? In my opinion, Superman: The Movie, is an allegory for a common Man, a non super-powered man, who, after much "trail by fire", recognizes his "soul-given" responsibilities and purpose, and emerges from behind the glasses, emerges from behind the shallow facade of social convention and social conviction, who sheds the "S" and "Red Cape" and "Red Trunks" or any other costume and uniform and symbol he may don, and comes forth the man who courageously bears his naked soul to the World and to the Universe, and speaks righteously with his Heroism, with his Conviction, with his Compassion, with his Sacrifice, with his Acts of Kindness, with his Love of Humanity and Love of all God's Creatures, and ultimately, with his absolute Goodness. This Man is a Superman... and his Spirit can truly fly! SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Yeah... we all know who he is! There's no denying this young man is a legend and a force to be reckoned with! I'm not going to even go into praising Kirkman for The Walking Dead, Invincible, or Thief of Thieves... but I will say THANK YOU for all you have accomplished in such a short period of time! I can't wait to see what comes next from your mighty pen. Happy Birthday! SW3D BTW: The dude is a freaking giant! Molly and I saw him at NYComicCon when he came out of the Image booth and I couldn't believe how tall he is! To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Yesterday, November 29th, Maggie Thompson celebrated her 71st birthday. Happy Belated Birthday Maggie! Sorry I'm late wishing you birthday wishes.Who? Well, many of you know her as one-half of the husband and wife dynamic duo: Don and Maggie Thompson. And for those of you who don't... Maggie Thompson is a legend in the industry and hobby for many reasons.I came to know of Maggie Thompson back in 1983, when Krause Publications published a now defunct magazine called Comics Collector (1983 - 1986). Before Wizard came along, Comics Collector was my absolute favorite magazine devoted to the art, storytelling, news, history, education and hobby of all things comic books. The first issue of Comics Collector celebrated 45 years of Superman with cover art by Curt Swan. The following issue was dedicated to the X-Men craze of the 80's. I missed issue three, but picked it up again with issue four that journaled Walter Simonson's popular Thor. Issue seven included a comprehensive look at the history and popularity of Batman. Sadly, issue ten was to be Comics Collector's last.Other highlights from Comics Collector's ten issue run include fascinating articles on the history and legacy of Max and William Gaines' EC Comics, DC's The Shadow, Walt Kelly's Pogo Possum, Winsor McCay's Little Nemo in Slumberland, Al Capp's Li'l Abner, E.C. Segar's Popeye and Thimble Theatre, Hal Foster's Prince Valiant, Milton Caniff's Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon, Will Eisner's the Spirit, the life and times of Wally Wood, and Marvel Comics 70's line of horror magazines and comics.Don and Maggie were also behind Krause Publication's other long running magazine: the Comics Buyer's Guide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comics_Buyer%27s_Guide). Although I knew of CBG, I never picked it up. In hindsight, I really regret that. Today, although there are a legion of devoted female fans to our beloved medium, back in the early 80's, Maggie Thompson was probably the first woman I knew of that loved and cared about comic books. I thought that was pretty cool and exceptional... still do!As fans and collectors of comic books, we owe much to Maggie Thompson and her late husband Don. They championed and brought comic collecting to the forefront before many of us were even alive... legitamizing it as a true hobby beyond the scope of what many would consider an immature and puerile form of entertainment and subversive literature targeted for the underclass and less educated. If you think we are passionate and devoted to this hobby... well, I'm just going to say this... and don't take this as an insult... but we can't hold a collective candle to their wind. I learned a lot from the pages of Comics Collector. I learned that comic books, comic strips, sequential art and sequential storytelling is a very special conduit for storytellers, artists, fantasists, escapists, and dreamers who not only love graphical storytelling, but are intelligent and sophisticated souls not given enough credit by societal snobs. Read more about Maggie Thompson via the following wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maggie_Thompson Happy Belated Birthday Maggie! SW3DTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Yes, today is the Master's birthday! So rise from you chairs, work desks, toilets, or wherever you may be, and sing... "Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday Dear Mr. Moore. Happy Birthday to You!" Now blow out them candles, Mr. Moore, and make a wish. Hmmm... I wonder what Alan Moore would wish for? Probably for me to disappear for putting up this corny journal! Anyway... if by miracle Mr. Moore should read this, "Thank you for all your brilliant work and for sharing your divine wisdom with us all. It goes without saying you are a creative genius and a sage. What you have done to legitimize our beloved medium cannot be overstated. Wherever you are (probably roosting at home or at a pub in Northampton), I hope you enjoy your day!" For the readers: Share your thoughts on what you love about Mr. Moore. I could go on forever, but I think it's best for others to share their comments. But before I leave, I just want to say, if you are fan of Alan Moore, or just want to know more of his incredible body of work, pickup a book called "Alan Moore, Storyteller" by Gary Spencer Millidge, published by Universe Publishing in the U.S. (http://www.rizzoliusa.com/book.php?isbn=9780789327116) and The llex Press Ltd. in the U.K. ( http://www.ilex-press.com/books/alan-moore-storyteller/). Awesome Book! Happy Birthday Alan! SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Fair Warning: for those with ADD and/or Journal Fatigue... this is going to be a long one! For anyone else willing to put up with my tedious ... ...In this journal, I will "gift" two things: The reveal of the aforementioned Holy Grail, and, because of the personal impact and what this purchase of said "Holy Grail" really means to me, it has given me some time to reflect on some life lessons or hard roads traveled, or what I like to term, "Comic Book Collecting Wisdom", which is my second and most profound gift to you all. So let's start with my, "Comic Book Collecting Wisdom"... ...Next month will be my first anniversary posting journals on these boards. Allow me a moment to express a long and overdue "thank you" to all you guys and gals who have read and supported my journal addictions and who have put up with my oft times ridiculous opinions (there's another coming in these very pages, so hang on to your hats and cling tightly to your seats!). And since that time, many of you have read what I love to collect, for rarely do I keep anything a secret. I enjoy sharing my passions with you, simply because, as I texted Tnerb the other night, "We share the same DNA". It's in our blood! Yeah... I think Panelologists, Pannapictagraphists, Comic Book Collectors (or whatever the heck we call ourselves), throughout the world, inherently share the same DNA. We are brothers of a unique fraternal order, a special bond, given a special "Calling" and are awaken and electrified by it. Our needs are paradoxically simple yet equally complicated: "We are driven to collect the funny books we love to read, but our voracious appetite for them is insatiable, sometimes leading to a point of obsession." Once our latent "Comic Book Collecting DNA" is actuated, it is nearly impossible to pull the plug. Oh, there are moments we take a break or hiatus, but eventually the "calling" becomes too great and we follow our hearts desire... especially when we reach a point in our lives when we enjoy disposable income. And it's at this point in life where things can get further complicated. We suddenly have access to cash and a credit line we never really enjoyed before as children or young adults. And because we enjoy this hobby so much, we can get a little ahead of ourselves, sometimes driven blindly by the desire for material things that disposable income can get us. And a perceived "affordability" is birthed in our minds, which tempts us to satiate our comic book desires, which can lead many (like myself), to target some "Holy Grails" we always marveled as children which we couldn't afford then, and sometimes, can't afford as adults. But just because you have access to cash or a credit line, can you honestly say you could afford such a purchase? Honestly, most of us cannot. Why? Because firstly, one should never borrow money for purchases one cannot already afford, and secondly, any disposable money one does have should, quite frankly, be put towards better use: Paying off All Debt, Emergency Fund, Savings, IRA, liquid Equity, your Education, or a College Education Trust Fund for your Sons and Daughters, etc. And I will admit, I am a victim of my own stupidity, where I have experienced making a purchase that my brain and rationale screamed out loud, "Don't Do It! You Don't Have the Money! You'll Regret It!", yet I did it anyway. Why? Comic Book Collecting DNA! It's in my blood! "I need to have it!" And once we make the determination to buy a "Holy Grail", and get a taste for it, it can lead to a precarious and dangerous financial situation. This is a red flag, and it often marks the beginning of a "Comic Book Buying Addiction". "Comic Book Buying Addiction's" are perilous grounds where one must tread lightly not to step on a land mine, and really put things in perspective before going any further. But how often do we as collectors temper our collecting habits? Probably more often than we think, however, there are certain situations we face when the temptation to get what we want hands-down proves too great and defeats sound logic and reasoning, and we end-up making poor buying decisions with detrimental financial consequences. Throughout most of my comic book collecting life, I bought comic books like most everyone else: from a Newsstand or Local Comic Book Shop. And I bought raw, ungraded comics with the money in my pocket: I didn't carry credit cards nor did I have someone lend me the money. So, in essence, I bought only what I could afford. It wasn't until 2006, when I was 37, married, and directionless (admittedly so; still am to a certain degree), that by chance, while surfing the internet, I discovered the CGC and a Third Party Graded Comic Book. This was to be a pivotal point in my life, the "re-awakening" of a slow and latent yearning that had been churning and building in my soul for some quite some time: "The need for a Holy Grail!" In those early heydays of the CGC, how did one find graded comics? Not at a local comic store, flea market or convention, but on the internet through eBay and other auctions houses. And how does one usually resort to paying for such comics on the internet? Most of us use credit cards. Like anything else, when it comes to buying things, resorting to a credit card can become a very, very, dangerous practice. From 2006 to the middle of 2012, I bought third party graded comics, little-by-little, but I didn't go "balls out obsessed" with it... not just yet at least. Why? Good Question. Flash forward to December 2012, and I was still the same guy, just a little bit older and now divorced, but still admittedly, directionless. But like a moth to the flame, when I discovered the CGC Journals and found this big beautiful thriving community of third party graded comic book collectors, I found a new home. And it has been a great home, and I feel I am here for as long as my residency allows me (or whenever the journal rent is due, and I can no longer pay it, and the eviction notice gets slipped under my door). Throughout the end of 2012 and 2013, a switch was thrown, and I obsessively sought and purchased many CGC graded comics I desired because they were keys featuring my favorite four-color heroes. Others I bought because the collecting bug can make you do stupid things, like buying multiple copies of the same issue thinking this may end up being a windfall. But I bought just about all of those graded comics with credit cards. I eventually racked up a sizable bill, where I had 5 credit card statements nearly at their limits with high APR's. Whoa! Not a good thing for your Credit Rating. And I looked at my Financial House and realized that at any moment, if I made the wrong move, I could be in big trouble. Thankfully I have a job. But I do not have an emergency fund, nor any savings, nor an IRA, nor any equities, or liquid investments I can rely on if the sh*t should hit the proverbial fan. But why did I make such purchases knowing I really couldn't afford them? I believe the syndrome is called, "Keeping Up with the Joneses"... or maybe I should tweak it to read, "Keeping Up with the CGC Joneses". Now I take full responsibilities for my actions. I am not blaming the CGC, the CGC Community, Stan Lee, Comic Book Men, The Walking Dead, or anyone el To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Fair Warning: for those with ADD and/or Journal Fatigue... this is going to be a long one! For anyone else willing to put up with my tedious ... ...In this journal, I will "gift" two things: The reveal of the aforementioned Holy Grail, and, because of the personal impact and what this purchase of said "Holy Grail" really means to me, it has given me some time to reflect on some life lessons or hard roads traveled, or what I like to term, "Comic Book Collecting Wisdom", which is my second and most profound gift to you all. So let's start with my, "Comic Book Collecting Wisdom"... ...Next month will be my first anniversary posting journals on these boards. Allow me a moment to express a long and overdue "thank you" to all you guys and gals who have read and supported my journal addictions and who have put up with my oft times ridiculous opinions (there's another coming in these very pages, so hang on to your hats and cling tightly to your seats!). And since that time, many of you have read what I love to collect, for rarely do I keep anything a secret. I enjoy sharing my passions with you, simply because, as I texted Tnerb the other night, "We share the same DNA". It's in our blood! Yeah... I think Panelologists, Pannapictagraphists, Comic Book Collectors (or whatever the heck we call ourselves), throughout the world, inherently share the same DNA. We are brothers of a unique fraternal order, a special bond, given a special "Calling" and are awaken and electrified by it. Our needs are paradoxically simple yet equally complicated: "We are driven to collect the funny books we love to read, but our voracious appetite for them is insatiable, sometimes leading to a point of obsession." Once our latent "Comic Book Collecting DNA" is actuated, it is nearly impossible to pull the plug. Oh, there are moments we take a break or hiatus, but eventually the "calling" becomes too great and we follow our hearts desire... especially when we reach a point in our lives when we enjoy disposable income. And it's at this point in life where things can get further complicated. We suddenly have access to cash and a credit line we never really enjoyed before as children or young adults. And because we enjoy this hobby so much, we can get a little ahead of ourselves, sometimes driven blindly by the desire for material things that disposable income can get us. And a perceived "affordability" is birthed in our minds, which tempts us to satiate our comic book desires, which can lead many (like myself), to target some "Holy Grails" we always marveled as children which we couldn't afford then, and sometimes, can't afford as adults. But just because you have access to cash or a credit line, can you honestly say you could afford such a purchase? Honestly, most of us cannot. Why? Because firstly, one should never borrow money for purchases one cannot already afford, and secondly, any disposable money one does have should, quite frankly, be put towards better use: Paying off All Debt, Emergency Fund, Savings, IRA, liquid Equity, your Education, or a College Education Trust Fund for your Sons and Daughters, etc. And I will admit, I am a victim of my own stupidity, where I have experienced making a purchase that my brain and rationale screamed out loud, "Don't Do It! You Don't Have the Money! You'll Regret It!", yet I did it anyway. Why? Comic Book Collecting DNA! It's in my blood! "I need to have it!" And once we make the determination to buy a "Holy Grail", and get a taste for it, it can lead to a precarious and dangerous financial situation. This is a red flag, and it often marks the beginning of a "Comic Book Buying Addiction". "Comic Book Buying Addiction's" are perilous grounds where one must tread lightly not to step on a land mine, and really put things in perspective before going any further. But how often do we as collectors temper our collecting habits? Probably more often than we think, however, there are certain situations we face when the temptation to get what we want hands-down proves too great and defeats sound logic and reasoning, and we end-up making poor buying decisions with detrimental financial consequences. Throughout most of my comic book collecting life, I bought comic books like most everyone else: from a Newsstand or Local Comic Book Shop. And I bought raw, ungraded comics with the money in my pocket: I didn't carry credit cards nor did I have someone lend me the money. So, in essence, I bought only what I could afford. It wasn't until 2006, when I was 37, married, and directionless (admittedly so; still am to a certain degree), that by chance, while surfing the internet, I discovered the CGC and a Third Party Graded Comic Book. This was to be a pivotal point in my life, the "re-awakening" of a slow and latent yearning that had been churning and building in my soul for some quite some time: "The need for a Holy Grail!" In those early heydays of the CGC, how did one find graded comics? Not at a local comic store, flea market or convention, but on the internet through eBay and other auctions houses. And how does one usually resort to paying for such comics on the internet? Most of us use credit cards. Like anything else, when it comes to buying things, resorting to a credit card can become a very, very, dangerous practice. From 2006 to the middle of 2012, I bought third party graded comics, little-by-little, but I didn't go "balls out obsessed" with it... not just yet at least. Why? Good Question. Flash forward to December 2012, and I was still the same guy, just a little bit older and now divorced, but still admittedly, directionless. But like a moth to the flame, when I discovered the CGC Journals and found this big beautiful thriving community of third party graded comic book collectors, I found a new home. And it has been a great home, and I feel I am here for as long as my residency allows me (or whenever the journal rent is due, and I can no longer pay it, and the eviction notice gets slipped under my door). Throughout the end of 2012 and 2013, a switch was thrown, and I obsessively sought and purchased many CGC graded comics I desired because they were keys featuring my favorite four-color heroes. Others I bought because the collecting bug can make you do stupid things, like buying multiple copies of the same issue thinking this may end up being a windfall. But I bought just about all of those graded comics with credit cards. I eventually racked up a sizable bill, where I had 5 credit card statements nearly at their limits with high APR's. Whoa! Not a good thing for your Credit Rating. And I looked at my Financial House and realized that at any moment, if I made the wrong move, I could be in big trouble. Thankfully I have a job. But I do not have an emergency fund, nor any savings, nor an IRA, nor any equities, or liquid investments I can rely on if the sh*t should hit the proverbial fan. But why did I make such purchases knowing I really couldn't afford them? I believe the syndrome is called, "Keeping Up with the Joneses"... or maybe I should tweak it to read, "Keeping Up with the CGC Joneses". Now I take full responsibilities for my actions. I am not blaming the CGC, the CGC Community, Stan Lee, Comic Book Men, The Walking Dead, or anyone el To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Nope, I'm not talking about Ron Howard's 1985 film about a group of old fogies who find the fountain of youth by way of extraterrestrial design in pool waters... I'm talking about everyone's favorite Marvel Golden Boy and Cosmic Messiah: Adam Warlock. So the internet is hot and abuzz with rumors and speculations stemming from the Easter Eggs Marvel Studios has thrown at us in Thor: The Dark World. SPOILER ALERT! The egg I am most psyched about... ...so there's a scene, where Sif and Volstagg encounter the immortal and omniscient-like being known as The Collector. They are concerned with the safety of one of the Infinity Gems, the Aether. From this scene, we come to understand, The Collector has safeguarded a gem with "HIM", while in the background, a very familiar "Cocoon-like" prop can be seen. What's it all mean? Well... read for yourself and tell me what you think: http://www.unleashthefanboy.com/movies/adam-warlock-teased-thor-dark-world-post-credits-scene-spoilers/78749 More can be found here: http://screenrant.com/thor-2-dark-world-easter-eggs-trivia-comic-references/ My opinion... I may have sold Thor 165 prematurely. Oh well... C'est la vie! Luckily I still have FF 66 & 67 where HIM makes his first appearance and Marvel Premiere 1, where HIM becomes Warlock and is given one of the Infinity Gems, the Soul Gem by the Higher Evolutionary. SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

In the last few weeks, many of us have reflected on the hard choices and decisions of selling comic books... none more heartfelt than Professor Pecora's last journal. I can't say my recent selling decisions were motivated or predicated by equal or comparable reasons, no, on the contrary, they were done admittedly for very, very, selfish reasons... to accomplish a comic book collecting goal 34 years in the making: the acquisition of a Holy Grail! Nonetheless, in order to get to the Promised Land, there were tough choices to make, and made they were! I have been collecting comics since 1979, at the innocent yet precocious age of 10. Back in those early days, aside from Family, Friends, Toys, Sports, and Summer Vacation, comic books were the most important things to me. The heroes who sprang out of cheap newsprint pulp were corporeal and alive. They spoke to me in ways that are at times indescribable, through larger-than-life action on an grand scale straight out of The Epic of Gilgamesh. Little did I truly understand these four-color fables were created by Men and Women in their 40's, 50's and 60's. Adults relating to children? How and when does that ever happen? I barely understood my parents, let alone strange adults and their motivations. How could these old dudes understand the language of children? But oddly enough, they did! Or perhaps, it should be said, I understood their language and the messages they were sending. Their stories of courage, valor, integrity, moral code, and justice helped shape and mold me! Men in tights, some flowing with capes and cowls, others with strange and fantastic powers with even funnier names, were my role models. And I wasn't afraid to tell anyone willing to listen (except nobody wanted to listen to a foolish little boy). And in those early days, all those fables I collected... I took care of... immaculate care... as best as a child with limited resources and knowledge of conservation practices could. Why? Because like the Bible and other religious tomes to the legion of faithful... these picture books were sacred to me. They were my heart and soul, and intuitively, I knew, like history and folklore, they needed protection from all kinds of harm and evildoers. Why? To preserve their stories... those wonderful life lessons, like tradition... to be handed down for the next generation to ween on. And back in those days, I vowed to keep my comics... every single one of them... to keep my collection intact... never to part with them... for to relinquish them was to give away a piece of my soul. But the Devil played a trick on me. Old Scratch dangled a carrot before my unflinching eyes: a Comic Book Store. And I entered this House of Temptation, and I discovered a Babylonian world that stole my breath and left me in awe with a desire for things I could not own... but so very desperately wanted. And I fell victim to sin... the pain and ache of coveting they neighbors' property (and sometimes his wife). But like a sacrilegious hypocrite, I did the unthinkable, breaking my sacred vows as I hatched a scheme to win my heart's desire: a Silver Age comic! So I brokered a deal with the proprietor and traded away a stack of minty fresh comics for just one comic: Silver Surfer Volume 1, Number 11. And I walked out of that shop, slightly numb, slightly dumbfounded... with a lump and ache in my throat. "Had I done the right thing? Trading thirty, maybe forty comics for just one?" Course I did! All the reassurance I needed was knowing that beautiful vintage comic was published the year I was born! And that was mind blowing to me! None of the other comics I traded away could say that. That was the first taste of something that I could not put into words, but is commonly practiced every day, and around the world... applicable for almost anything civilization has to offer... Employment, Real Estate, Automobiles, Hotel Rooms, Plane Tickets, Technology, Burial Plots, etc: I negotiated an upgrade! 34 years later, not much has changed. I have bought comics with childlike glee, yet I have also sold comics in order to raise cash to upgrade my collection. And in the beginning, the pain to part with my childhood comics was akin to a member of my family or best friend, saying goodbye forever. But as the old saying goes, "Time heals wounds." Sometime in September, I awoke under the influence of a strange stupor, overtaken by the voracious need to sell. Sell for what purpose I don't know. But upon reflection, this compulsion was unconsciously fueled by a hunger for something bigger and better to add to my collection: a Holy Grail! And maybe, in some fantastic and inexplicable sort of way, if you could believe as such, during my sleep, my Spirit entered the otherworldly dimension known as the Dream Void/Astral Plane and cried out a merciful plea to the Universe, "My heart aches for something... something that is missing! But what could it be?" And the Ethos heard my cries and electrified the atoms of my being with but an answer: "Awake and Prepare... for it shall soon come!" And prepare I did! For deep in the marrows of my bones I could sense something monumental was coming! But what? What exactly was this Thing? I did not know, but I intuitively felt, when the moment was right it would appear to me... like a crack in the clouds as a golden ray of sunshine beams down from the Heaven's upon a Holy Grail... which meant I needed to do something equally big in order to raise the funds! They say all things we truly desire in life come with a price... a truly painful price... a sacrifice. And these last three months have been the most painful and sacrificial of all months in my collective memory... for the inner child has been crying... lamenting... having seen three much loved and treasured comics sold away. What did I sacrifice on the bronze and blood soaked altar of comic book Neo-Paganism? Burnt offerings... ...these are the sacrificial lambs I had given up... ...Jack Kirby's The Demon Volume 1, Number 1: the First Appearance of Etrigan the Demon and his alter ego Jason Blood... ...soon followed by the sale of Strange Adventures 190: the First Costumed Appearance of Buddy Baker as Animal Man... ...and the third and most painful sacrifice of all... ...another Kirby creation: Thor 165, the First Full Appearance of HIM (Marvel's Golden Messiah, later to be named Adam Warlock), and the golden egg it carried: Stan Lee's signature. And that was my first and only comic with the master's inscription. And it was not a gratuitous signature by any means since Stan Lee not only co-created Thor and Him, but he co-wrote the story. Ouch! Giving that one up hurt! I have "sacrificed" these three rare gems I had once so coveted. Each one, a hard-to-find key and historic comic that could easily be the centerpiece to a set. It was painful to see them all go, but I had to keep reminding myself, "One day you'll be reunited with them. In the meantime, there is another who shall soon come. You need to make room for his arrival. This one is going to be big!" And now The Golden Dawn has arrived!... ...To be continued in Part Two. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Super Buyer! Fast payment, Great Communication! Highly recommended! Hopefully we'll do business again! SW3D

You've been probably wondering, "How come I haven't heard nor hide nor hair of SW3D's psycho-babble about Angela lately? Or maybe not? Well, if you missed it (or me), or didn't, either way, I'm back, or should I say, Angela's back! That's right... it's another arousing edition of: "For the Love of Angela!" And in this exhilarating segment, we're going to discuss my recent acquisition: Image Comics' Angela #1. Now to most collectors, and even some die-hard Angela fans, this issue may not appear to be a really big deal. Why? Well... due to availability... Angela Number #1's are available in high quantity at most any grade. And although the total CGC Census population numbers for this particular issue are relatively low (76 currently), as Angela's star continues to rise in the Marvel U, undoubtedly, it will have an impact on its population growth. But there are other factors... key factors and historical notations, in my opinion, that many have failed to realize (or perhaps they're not that significant to warrant mentioning). So what is the BFD (Big f@@king deal) about this one anyway? Glad you asked. These are some of the key notations Angela and Comic Book Collectors alike should be aware of that the CGC has, for whatever reason, omitted (and I'll list these in order of significance): 1. Angela's 1st Eponymous Title/1st Solo Appearance. 2. Angela's 2nd Appearance. 3. Neil Gaiman's 2nd story ever written for Image. 4. 1st Angela work sans Todd McFarlane. 5. Reveal: Angela's discloses her age: 100,000! (Holy sh$t she's a hottie for an ancient relic! I occasionally like my women to be mature but this lady is 1,000 millennia old! Damn!) 6. 1st Appearance of Angela's logo. But the one distinguishing characteristic that makes this one also pretty special: 7. This is the first time legendary Spawn artist Greg Capullo illustrates Angela! And on top of that, this particular comic has the master's inscription. Although other signature copies exist (there are two others on the census), this one is currently in the top spot graded at that magic number: 9.8! I love it! I love it! I love it! About the cover: Greg Capullo chose to showcase the Angelic Warrior with a tight close-up of her noble countenance. The intensity and crimson spots on her face and the warm blood running down her blade and armor can only lead the reader to assume she's hot and heavy in battle, beautifully framed... which makes it an ideal choic as a mantlepiece! But all kidding aside, in my opinion, Capullo captured the essence of this hellion, for when Angela gets into the thick of things, she's speaks with her lance, dagger and sword. Now that's the Angela I know and love! Marvel Comics TAKE NOTE! So, without further pomp and circumstance, I give you... Angela #1, Signed by Greg Capullo. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

With the formal announcement by Marvel Comics (at New York Comic Con on October 14, 2013), of the publisher's planned volume reprints of the 24-issues run of Eclipse's Miracleman (hitting LCS racks sometime in January 2014), and the continuation and perhaps the conclusion to Neil Gaiman's saga of the character, I could not help but get nostalgic about the first time Alan Moore's ground-breaking sojourn into superhero deconstruction, appeared in print. Sometime in 1985, I first read the exploits of Michael Moran in the pages of Eclipse's Miracleman. The artwork and "foreign" feeling to the character really excited me, much like the first time I read Judge Dredd. There was an odd vibe, an air of grey if you will... an almost hallucinatory and bizarre skin to it, common from comics published by the independents, but something that was so very different and lacking from the generic titles which appeared in the pages of Marvel and DC in the early 80's. Yes, I was so very excited, and also somewhat in awe and a bit frightened, much like when I was a child and first beheld a comic book... for I knew I was onto something! Reading the editorial pages, I discovered Miracleman was really a British import known as Marvelman. Little did I suspect back then, Miracleman was also my very first exposure to who was to become my favorite comic book author: Alan Moore (Just an FYI: I read Miracleman before Alan Moore's Saga of the Swamp Thing. Yep, I did things backwards back then... actually still do). Lamentably, due to Eclipse's financial difficulties, which led to long delays on issue releases and much shorter print runs in the low thousands, buying Miracleman became an impossible challenge. As teenage wildlife became the norm for me, I soon gave up on comic books altogether and entered college, missing out on perhaps the best of Moore's and Gaiman's Miracleman saga yet-to-come. Fast forward to late 2005 or early 2006 (memory is foggy), when I bought my first CGC graded comic book ever: Swamp Thing Volume 1, No. 1 in 9.2. This purchase soon fueled the "CGC bug", and eventually I began to search for more comics I always wanted in encapsulated form. Such purchases were representative of titles and comics that really resonated with me as a young collector. But it wasn't until January 2012, when I bought my very first encapsulated Miracleman: Issue #15: the controversial "Death of Kid Miracleman". It's a glorious 9.8 sold to me by fellow boardie EwanUK. EwanUK used to have the number one ranked CGC graded Miracleman collection in 2006 and 2007. The current Miracleman number one rank since 2009 is held by mschmidt, called M's Miracleman. Congrats Mr. Schmidt! Beautiful collection! I bow to you! I was (and still am) very envious of EwanUK's collection, as well as Humbug's (2008's champion), and mschmidt's (who amazingly, has two collections in the two top spots), and wanted to purchase each and every Miracleman issue to compete with theirs, including the fabled Miracleman #1: Blue and Gold Editions, given away at San Diego Comic Con back in 1985. Some of these rare and hard-to-find Miracleman #1's, feature Alan Moore's inscription. Holy Sh*t! But I soon reasoned that there was no point to this pursuit because money's just too damn tight! But seriously, I thought to myself, "Why would I want to dethrone a fellow collector... a champion... who worked so very hard to put together such a magnificent collection? Why? Is there really a point to it? I said to myself, let the champion enjoy the limelight... let the champion enjoy the fruits of their labor... he deserves it!" Instead, I said to myself, "Why don't you just build your very own collection... a new and original collection... a never before seen collection... from the ground up! And build something related to Miracleman and Alan Moore... something you could be equally proud of and not have to rain on someone else's parade!" Then the inevitable questions came, "But what? What could this new, never before seen collection be?" Then it hit me like a bolt of lightning, "Where had Eclipse's Miracleman really come from?" Kimota! Many of you are aware, and many of you are not, but British publisher Quality Communications and Editor Dez Skinn (the UK's answer to Stan Lee), published an anthology magazine in the early 80's called Warrior: The Magazine of Quite Weird Heroes. This adult-oriented, black and white monthly, had a serialized format, with original works contributed by some of the UK's top talent: Steve Moore, John Bolton, Steve Parkhouse, David Lloyd, Brian Bolland, and some newcomers: Gary Leach, Alan Davis, Steve Dillon, Grant Morrison (perhaps you've heard of him?), and including perhaps the greatest living writer of comic books today: Alan Moore. Mr. Moore, if you are somehow reading this, please, take a bow. Marvelman, Warrior's flagship character, was a gritty take on UK publisher's L. Miller & Son and creator Mick Anglo's Golden Age knock-off of Fawcett's Captain Marvel/Shazam. This serial saw Alan Moore's first foray into the land of Superhero Deconstruction pre-dating DC's Saga of the Swamp Thing and Watchmen. The premise was simple: "What would happen if a middle-aged man would awaken from a "virtual amnesia" only to discover he's the by-product of a government experiment that gave him superpowers from the infusion of alien technology? Only later to discover, the suppression of his memories was a government cover-up?" Holy Sh*t what a premise! I love conspiracy theories, and this one read like an X-files before the Chris Carter show ever saw the light of day! Also in these very same pages, came the debut of Alan Moore's dystopian masterpiece: V for Vendetta. A seminal and powerful manifesto, Alan Moore, the "Modern-Day Shaman", injected V for Vendetta with a heavy dose of candid realism and magical realism, and spun a beautiful web... hand weaving a complex tapestry which explored such themes as politics, the human condition, domino effect, and synchronicity, rarely seen in comic books before and even today. If you read and re-read V for Vendetta, and pull back and look at all the details as they link and come together, perhaps you'll understand the genius behind the man, who must be channeling the Universe and Womb of Creation for such insights! Although both serials were critical successes, Warrior struggled with sales and only lasted 26 issues. Its demise was brought about by a confluence of low sales, creator control issues, -script and art delays, and ultimately Marvel Comics trademark suit over the use of the word "Marvel" in "Marvelman". The consequences of Marvel's litigious actions against Quality Communications, also meant that both Marvelman and V for Vendetta never saw their respective sagas completed, until some years later when their ownership rights were sold to Eclipse and DC Comics respectively. Eclipse's Miracleman issues 1 through 6, as well as DC's V for Vendetta's issues 1 through 6, are color reprints from the black and white serials which first appeared in Warrior. In the summer of 2012, leading up last year's NY Comic Con, where I would submit my first comics to the CGC, I decided I was going to make an ambitious and mad-dash effort into putting together a collection. Imagine a collection that featured both Alan Moore's Marvelman and V for Vendetta in the very same pages? Not to mention some other oddball characters the likes of Axel Pressbutton the Psychotic Cyborg (co-created by Steve Moore and Alan Moore; BTW: these two have no relations), Father Shandor the Demon Stalker, illustrated by legendary artist John Bo To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

I may have touched off a firestorm of controversy over what I thought was an innocent question along with, admittedly, my overreaction to two boardies responses. I won't go into the latter... it's best to forgive and forget and just move on. But going back to the journal... I obviously failed miserably to get a point across. What I really wanted to ascertain from the responses of my fellow collectors, was whether or not, like me, they were unhappy or dissatisfied or found things lacking with the current methods to determine valuations on both raw/ungraded and graded comics at 9.4 and above. Using GPA and watching the moving trends based on sales figures can be a very useful tool at times... however, I feel many of us rely on it a little too much. And I have seen some sales from auction houses not registered as sales on GPA. So the data can be incomplete at times. I actually bought a CGC graded book from an auction site, and that sale never registered on GPA. I also was bidding on a comic, which I eventually lost, but for some reason, the final sale of that comic also didn't register on GPA. GPA analytics also doesn't take into account, private sales. Anyway... putting aside math formulas, crystal balls, and all the guessing game formulas many of us incorporate, I am just going to ask two questions: "Would you like to see the Overstreet Price Guide future publications include price valuations of 9.4 -- 10.0 raws/ungraded?" -AND- "Would you like to see Overstreet publish a yearly guide solely dedicated for CGC Third Party Graded Comics?" Just curious what people think. Anyway... peace to you all! Thanks for reading and Happy Collecting! SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Today, November 2, 2013, comic book legend Steve Ditko turns 86 years of age. Many of you know him as the co-creator of Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man. Others also know him as that eccentric artist... a savant with a black and white view of the world. Still others know him as a follower of Ayn Rand's Objectivism. Hopefully history will see him as the way I see him... a man with a brilliant imagination. Whoever he is, and where ever he is, I just want to thank him for giving the comic book world such magnificent and often very weird heroes. I have my Ditko favorites beside Spidey: The Creeper, Doctor Strange, The Question, Mr. A... and perhaps dear reader, you'll reply with your favorites and some beloved memories from reading these and other wonderful Ditko creations. Mr. Ditko... Happy Birthday! To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

This question is particularly directed to any and all Math Geniuses! I've recently purchased the Overstreet Price Guide 2013-2014 Edition (yep... I'm a little late on this). And like I do every year, I scour and research the raw/ungraded values of my favorite comics and those I want to sell and purchase. Like many collectors, I am "condition sensitive" and only collect high grades, and when it comes to buying graded comics, I have my personal guidelines: Golden Age: 8.0 and up Silver Age: 9.0 and up Bronze Age: 9.2 and up Copper Age: 9.4 and up Modern Age: 9.6 and up There are times I will buy below the aforementioned grading scale. And such exceptions are made for comics which are categorized as scarce, rare, or low print runs, or comics with unique signatures from talent seldom seen or no longer living, or comics offered at the right price. Case in point, I purchased a 9.6 Modern recently at $30 ( shipping costs included ), which had a signature and was a key (the 1st Appearance of a Major character). And this comic languished on eBay for I don't know how long, simply because many collectors thumb down on 9.6's from the Modern Age. And the total CGC census population for this comic is low to moderate, with grades evenly represented for 9.4, 9.6, and 9.8 and none above. I personally believe, if there is value to a comic (and there almost always is), a 9.6 which is Near Mint Plus, is an exceptional grade, especially if the comic is over 15 years old (Pre-CGC), then why not go for it if the price is right? And it was, so I did. But anyway... As I was guess-estimating the value of my CGC collection, using OPG, GPA, the CGC census, market trends, and my crystal ball, a thought popped into my head: "Is there a mathematical formula that will help me estimate the value of comics at 9.4 grade or higher based on pricing currently listed in the Overstreet Price Guide?" As you may know, OPG's grading tier tops out at 9.2 for raw/ungraded. So how do I estimate comics graded at 9.4 and above? Now I will admit, I am no math genius. I flunked Calculus in college, and whenever I do numbers crunching, I need the aid of Excel, a calculator, and my digits! Yep... I am mathematically challenged! But using logic and reason, I must assume, there must be a way to predict ascending/appreciating number values by using a mathematical formula or principle that can predict the next theoretical value based on a pre-determined sequence of number values... such as one's already listed in OPG. For instance, for Swamp Thing Volume 1, Number 1, Overstreet has the following values based on raw grades: 2.0 $15 4.0 $30 6.0 $45 8.0 $103 9.0 $227 9.2 $350 Based on these appreciating price values, coupled evenly with ascending grades, what formula could I use to reasonably predict the raw values of a 9.4, 9.6, 9.8, 9.9, and even a 10.0? Any math savants know? I would greatly appreciate your feedback. SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

I caught this article on Yahoo tonight, written by Eric Spitznagel of BusinessWeek. See the link: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/those-comics-basement-probably-worthless-095537403.html I really disagree with it... and I think it's a bit unfair. What are your thoughts? SW3DBarry T. Smith, 44, spent most of his life collecting comic books. And he always considered them an investment. "These books would someday be college tuition, or a house down payment," Smith remembers thinking. "I would lay them all out in my parents' living room, sorting them, cataloging them, writing down entries on graph paper while cross-referencing them against the Overstreet Price Guide."After college he landed a tech job in Silicon Valley but held on to all 1,200 of his comics, including several hundred early issues of Marvel's X-Men, which his research suggested had grown in value every year. The comics sat in a storage unit, boarded and bagged, for close to two decades. When Smith found himself unemployed and in need of money to support his wife and two daughters, he decided the time was right to cash in on his investment.The entire collection sold for about $500. "I'm not too proud to admit, I cried a bit," Smith says.He's not the only would-be investor who's discovered in recent years that his comic collection isn't worth nearly as much as he'd hoped. Kevin J. Maroney, 47, of Yonkers, N.Y., decided to sell 10,000 comics, roughly a third of his collection, on consignment with various comic book stores in Manhattan. Thus far, fewer than 300 have sold for a total of about $800. He's not surprised by the lack of interest. "A lot of people my age, who grew up collecting comics, are trying to sell their collections now," says Maroney, who works in IT support for Piper Jaffray. "But there just aren't any buyers anymore."Frank Santoro, a columnist for the Comics Journal and an avid collector himself, has noticed the same trend. "More and more of these types of collections are showing up for sale," he says. "And they're becoming more and more devalued. The prices are dropping." He recently had to break the bad news to a friend's uncle, who was convinced his comic collection--about 3,000 books--was worth at least $23,000. "I told him it was probably more like $500," Santoro says. "And a comic book store would probably only offer him $200."Stories like these are a stark contrast to what's typically reported. To go by media accounts, 2013 has been a huge year for the vintage comic market. A Minnesota man found a copy of Action Comics No. 1--the first appearance of Superman, published in 1938--in a wall of his house and sold it for $175,000 in June. Three decades ago a different copy of the same comic sold for about $5,000, a record at the time. In August, meanwhile, Heritage Auctions hosted a comic-oriented event in Dallas where a highly-graded copy of the 1940 comic Batman No. 1 sold for a staggering $567,625. A recent piece on the Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch website was especially enthusiastic about comics as an investment strategy, calling them "more predictable than stocks" and "recession-proof." Old comics, the author suggested, could even save your home from foreclosure.Outlandish claims and tales of amazing windfalls elicit only groans from Rob Salkowitz, a business analyst and author of Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture. He also happens to be, in his own words, "a guy in his 40s with a basement full of old comics." He warns that too many people have been deluded into thinking they are sitting on a comic book gold mine."There are two markets for comic books," Salkowitz says. "There's the market for gold-plated issues with megawatt cultural significance, which sell for hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions of dollars. But that's a very, very, very limited market. If a Saudi sheik decides he needs Action Comics No. 1, there are only a few people out there who have a copy." And then there's the other market, where most comics change hands for pennies and nobody is getting rich or even breaking even. "The entire back-issues market is essentially a Ponzi scheme," Salkowitz says. "It's been managed and run that way for 35 years."Bill Boichel, the owner of Pittsburgh's Copacetic Comics, argues that transactions involving high-profile vintage comics happen in an entirely separate market. "Ultra-high-grade books sell for as much or more than ever to doctors, lawyers, brokers, and bankers," he says. Comics like The Amazing Spider-Man No. 1--an Ohio man recently auctioned a copy for $7,900 to help pay for his daughter's wedding--are considered a "blue chip stock of high liquidity, in that there is always a ready buyer for it."On the other end of the spectrum, almost any comic book store owner can supply eye-opening tales of depreciation. Walter Durajlija, an adviser for Overstreet and owner of Big B Comics in Hamilton, Ont., sold a copy of Uncanny X-Men No. 94 in 2010 for a record $26,500. Last year, that same comic sold in his store for only $12,000. "[My] last two sales [of X-Men No. 94] were $9,501 in February of 2013 and $8,089 three short days later," he says. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. "Incredible Hulk No. 181 was getting $20,000; they now trade for $8,000."Todd McDevitt, who owns a chain of five comic book stores in Pennsylvania, remembers when Superman No. 75, published in 1992 and featuring the death of the hero, was selling for $75. Today, collectors are lucky to get $8. "I still get calls from folks who think they can retire after buying what they thought was the 'last' Superman," McDevitt says. (Death, of course, proved only a temporary setback for the Man of Steel and his comics.)Even investors buying rare comics don't always make a profit. Steve Geppi, the Baltimore comic book magnate, agreed in 2006 to pay $1 million for a collection of original Archie Comics artwork from the 1940s and '50s. But when Geppi tried to sell some of his newly acquired pieces, he realized they weren't nearly as valuable as he had believed. By 2010, Geppi was claiming he couldn't afford to pay the remaining half-million he still owed the Archie artist's estate.There are many theories for why comic collectibles have stopped being valuable. Some blame readily available reprints. "What drove the collectibility of the old comics was that they were once genuinely rare," says Salkowitz. Others point to the grading system, which now requires that comics be encased in plastic polymer. "It really is a shady process that's completely changed the marketplace," says Santoro. And there's reason to suspect that the Internet era has yet again worked its magic on prices: "In the '60s, the only way to read these stories was to own the original issues," says Salkowitz. "Now you can go on Pirate Bay and download a torrent of anything you want for free."Opinions are equally mixed on whether the comic collecting bubble has permanently burst. McDevitt alternates between stories that are hopeless and optimistic. He jokes that after a year of turning down collectors trying to sell their worthless comics, he's realized he would make a great doctor: "I'm apparently very good at giving people bad news." But he also has a fondness for the rags-to-riches stories that built up the myth of comics' value. Just ask him about the elderly widow who brought in her late husband's comic collection and "was literally car shopping the next day." Or the couple who paid for the adoption of their first child with profits from the husband's old comics.As for Barry T. Smith, he's now gainfully employed as a senior product manager at Milyoni, and he still has one comic from the collection To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

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

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

Okay, so my last journal (like 5 minutes ago): "Angela: Fallen Angel in the Marvel U" was a mindless rant about of my perceived colorless depiction of Angela in the Marvel Universe. However, as Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski would say "Certain things have come to light!"... basically... I may have spoken prematurely. As my good friends Meshuggah and Tnerb pointed out... GOGT 7 was released yesterday, delving deeper into Angela's new Origin and characterization... thus nullifying my tirade and rant. Call me stupid if you will! I owe Bendis and Marvel an apology. Sorry guys! I'll write on the chalk board: "I promise never to rant about Marvel again!" Someone pass me the dunce cap! Anyway... speaking of rants... here's one that is truly a RANT: artist JG Jones 4th published illustrated work, and 1st Written comic work: RANT #1 published by Boneyard Press. This one is an OAK and Ultra Rare (I like the sound of that). Yeah... it's the only one on the CGC census... only one signed... and no one really cares about it other than me... however, let me know if I'm wrong cause I've been known to make a of myself. What's it about? Good question! I have no idea. I read it rather quickly and threw it into a plastic bag to keep it in the best condition as possible and have completely forgotten what the devil it;s all about! Dear lord! I'm terrible! I vaguely remember it's about some immortal creature or vampire. And when I met JG Jones at Wizard World NYC last June, we talked about it and he mentioned he wanted to revive the character. He also mentioned it would have been his first work, since he completed it before Dark Dominion #7, but it didn't hit the presses and reach the stands until after Dark Dominion's 7, 8, and 9. Tomorrow... I will pick up GOTG 7 and read it for myself. If indeed Bendis and Company have righted the Angela sails... than this boy will write a glowing review and post it on the journals. Until then... enjoy the pic of Rant #1. Thanks for reading! SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

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

Signature Madness Part II My goal today was very simple: close the open invoice from yesterday and begin a new one and see it through. This morning, the sea of humanity swelled to an ocean. More people turned up today than yesterday. There must have been over a quarter million people if not more. Wow! Anyway, I arrived at the con just as the doors were opening. I immediately went into action and headed straight for the Image Booth and procured my ticket for Marc Silvestri at 3:30 PM. With childlike glee I placed that ticket in my wallet and went briskly to Artist Alley. At Artist Alley I scoped the floors to make sure the artists and writers I wanted to get signatures from were present. And luckily they were at their booths (save Pichelli and Simonson who were on their way). So I went to Hot Flips and got Tori to aid me as a witness. The following is a list of books I got signed (which took about 90 minutes tops), in chronological order: 1. Cavewoman The Mature Version: signed by cover artist Frank Choi. 2. Guardians of the Galaxy 5 (Midtown Comics Variant): signed by cover artist Mark Brooks. 3. Uncanny X-Men 171: signed by writer Chris Claremont. 4. Uncanny X-Men 171 (2nd Signature): signed by inker Bob Wiacek. 5. Superman Special by Walter Simonson: Signed by pin-up artist Michael Golden. 6. Guardians of the Galaxy 5 (Midtown Comics Variant); (2nd Signature): Signed by artist Sara Pichelli. 7. Superman Special by Walter Simonson (2nd Signature): signed by pin-up artist Geoff Darrow. 8. Uncanny X-Men 171 (3rd Signature): signed by artist Walter Simonson. 9. Superman Special by Walter Simonson (3rd Signature): signed by Walter Simonson. Whew! I closed out that invoice, turned it in, and lo and behold there was a couple of hours to spare before the 3:30 PM Marc Silvestri signings. To kill time, I walked the floors and met with dealers and exchanged contact info. I may have gotten lucky and hope to get the first jump on a couple of HTF comics yet to be graded and two pedigrees that will be up for auction soon. Keeping my fingers crossed. Before long it was almost 3PM, and I raced back to the CGC booth where my open invoice from last night was waiting. Molly joined me as a witness. This is the second time this lovely lady has witnessed signings for me (1st time back in June at Wizard World NYC for JG Jones). This time around I took a stack of 11 comics to be signed by Silvestri. And I was unusually jittery and nervous. But Molly put me at ease when she told me he's the nicest guy and boy was she right! Marc Silvestri is humble and totally absent of an ego. He really appreciates the fans and makes them feel loved (much like Billy Tucci). Marc signed each comic I placed in front of him and did not ask for any fees in return. In the midst of signings we spoke about the Darkness movie which he informed me Len Wiseman (Director of Underworld) is not only attached to direct, but is a true fan of the comic. In addition, Marc revealed Sara Pezzini/Witchblade will play a significant role in the movie. So expect big things when it comes out. Can't hardly wait! With the Marc Silvestri signatures achieved, I closed the open invoice: Mission Accomplished. Thank God for that! I must say, I am completely exhausted from 2 days of running around. My knees and joints ache! I had a 3-days pass which I arbitrarily gave to a complete stranger dressed as the Joker who only had a Saturday pass and was bummed about not being able to go on Sunday. I said, "Here you go dude... I'm staying home Sunday and watching Football! Go have fun!" The kid was thrilled. Yeah... I gave up on getting Greg Capullo signatures. His signings are scheduled for tomorrow in a narrow 1 1/2 hour window with a 2 book limit. I had designs for him to sign 15 books, but obviously that isn't going to happen. But as I told Tnerb, there'll be a next time. I'm patient. No rush. Next year. Even though I have cut my visit to NYComicCon short by one day, I absolutely feel I got my money's worth and then some. In two days I managed to get 32 comics signed by 14 comic book pros, for a combined total of 60 signatures. That is a huge leap from last year where at the very first NYComicCon I ever attended, I managed only 4 total signatures on 3 different comic books (that was pathetic). I also finally got to meet Tnerb, as well as fellow members Dboy and Studio25. It was a thrill meeting you guys! Keep the love and passion going forever! And lastly, the CGC staff have once again proven to me why I love their service so! A big shout out to MSchmidt, Mike, Paul, Molly, Gemma, Mark, and witnesses Tori, Tom, and Paul... Thanks for your hard work and support! You Guys Rock! I hope to see you all at NYComicCon 2014! 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.