Meta4

Just got my (hopefully) last RRP in the mail, and my gamble of buying raws paid off. Crispy, minty mint 9.8 condition, all day long. This ones going blue label so I'll have a universal to match my double signed copies. Stoked! Now somebody stop me before I buy another.....

I dont really understand the draw to create registry sets. Other than people trying to complete registry sets, I dont think anyone wants to slab 2nd prints. Wouldnt you be better off slabbing 1st prints that will retain some long range value instead?

Probably morpheus (gaimans sandman), john constantine, or hellboy. Although elijah snow (planetary) is certainly a close third.

For reals. Top Registry set for life, huh?

Wow vikingreed, you've got some nice books. Kapzilla, census lists 10 9.9 forbidden planets

You all stay away from my 9.9! It would match my 9.9 forbidden planet perfectly. But it is creeping into "too much" territory quickly.

Basically it seems like it depends how dark the ink spots are, and then, how extensive. If its pencil grey, and relatively minimal, it seems to be passing for 9.8's, if its darker, blackish colored, or spread throughout the back cover, they seem to be grading down. Heres a good example of minimal ink stains on a raw that I think would be acceptable as a 9.8 They almost always appear by the top staple for some reason. See how they're really light in color? And this was the most "questionable" copy I submitted. This is the one copy zi'm not sure of, because the roller lines extend all the way across the cover, even though they're really light. I'm hoping it'll come back 9.8 with the rest of them, but we'll see. I've scoured ebay over the past three months checking out every slabbed 9.8 with a picture of a back cover scan, so I feel like I have a pretty good idea of what passes. I havent seen any back cover scans of slabbed 9.6's and below, so ai can only imagine that its the darker, more pronounced ink stains that are bringing those grades down.

Patience might not be the way to go about getting one. I've seen less and less of them for sale as time goes on.

Im curious as to how many copies have the ink stains. I've seen a handful of them on ebay, but with so few copies actually for sale, its tough to know what percentage of the print run was effected. Between the ink stains and shipping damage, those 9.8's are going to be rare.

Yea, I've got a blue 9.8, and a blue 9.6 that I was thinking about pressing to try a to get it to 9.8. (Its just one corner ding that looks like it should flatten right out.) Wanted a yellow label for a while, but none were available for a decent price.

Thats what I'm saying. Theres only so many to go around, and I'm sure more people that want them in their collections than available copy's. have we hit that point where most RRP's are privately owned in collections and aren't going anywhere?

Vikingreed, you outbid me on the 9.9 #14. Condradulations. I'm glad it went to a boardie.

I've noticed a drop in the number of available RRP's on ebay recently. Other than at one 9.6, theres just an overpriced blue label and two yellows that have been up there forever.these cant be the end of the supplies, maybe people are just waiting until they go back up in price to sell?

Its hard to say, but I think the more gnarly looking ink stains would definately get graded down. The very minor and faint ink stains seem to be treated as a printing defect, rather than damage. For example, something like this would most certainly be graded down, I'm guessing 9.2: http://i.imgur.com/P6v9ZO9.jpg While there are slabbed 9.8's with very minor ink markings, light pencil grey in color usually up by the top staple, like this: http://i.imgur.com/WDrgRpX.jpg I had one copy with a very faint pecnil grey roller line that went across the book by the top staple, like in the first picture, but none of the other dark ink stains. I'm curious how that will be treated, as its the same color as minor ink stains on already slabbed 9.8's, but stretches across the back cover as opposed to just being a smudge by the top staple.

East of west has eisner nomination written all over it. Especially after saga dominated last year. I think sandman overture is the only real competitor I've seen this year. (I'm assuming its amazing because its gaiman and J H williams) And being that its a prequel to an already existing eisner winning series, I feel like the judges would lean towards a new book instead of a prequel.

I guess the ghost variant was released before the RRP (Which is the only other cover The ranger has been on to my knowledge) I just saw someone who posted the first appearance of the rocketeer was a back cover ad on another book. I figured if that was the rocketeer's first appearance and it was in an advertisement, that the ranger appearing on a cover before he appears in the actual book might qualify as a first appearance. I could be wrong though, its certainly happened to me before.

Just had a thought. Should the CGC label notes on east of west RRP's list it as the first appearance of the ranger? Technically it predates his appearance in the series. Thoughts?

But would effectively prevent humidity issues from degrading your book, or exposure to oxygen rusting staples, pages turning off white, etc. Again, what good is the grade if it can change inside the slab?

Which are also not sealed or airtight. I live in oregon, where humidity is definately a problem with paper collectibles, and thought that cgc books were sealed completely airtight inside the inner well. If the books grade can change from inside the case, it effectively negates the grade given by the cgc.

That's F'ed up! I was led to believe that the inner wells are completely sealed, so that no gasses, oxygen, or water could penetrate the inner well or degrade the book. What are we paying for then? A glorified bag and board? Whats the point of a third party grading system if the comic can change grades inside the case?

They're still sealed within the inner well, so water shouldnt be an issue. Cgc makes the outer cases that way so you can remove the book yourself if desired.

What makes you think she'd stop at one, single pair of shoes?

Also, the ink stains from the printers error will play into the rarity a bit too, not sure how many copies were effected, but I've seen a few with gnarly ink stains spread across the whole back of the book. Between that, the book being mailed out, and only havong 300 copies to begin with, this book will surely already is a rare find in 9.8 only 46 graded copies right now, those arent exactly great chances.

I've got a raw 7 thats a sure 9.8 candidate. So #6 will be my challenge. I may just look for raw copys and submit them for blue labels, as I think I might have to be more patient to find signed and slabbed copys.

Y the last man is the perfect book for women to break into comics. Ive given it to many female friends to read, all of whom enjoyed it. My girlfriend doesnt mind comics, I've gotten her to read Sandman: season of mists, saga, and a few others. I think she just doesnt understand the CGC thing. Which is fine by me, becasue I can't understand her shoe addiction. As long as she's happy....