Randall Dowling

I completely spaced that. These are some impressive highlights!

Unfortunately, because this board is sponsored and provided by CGC, they discourage listing other vendors that compete with services that they provide. Having said that, if you read around the boards and this forum in particular, you can probably sort out who provides that service and does it best. Here's a thread talking about the subject.

My grade would be 7.5ish. @Stevemmgwould probably grade it a 7.0. MCS would hurt your feelings with a grade of 5.5. CGC- Who knows? Depends on the day. Could be 6.0-8.5. I don't think I would send it to Heritage. Maybe Comiclink. I may be way off but I'm thinking eBay. Or here.

CRACK. IT. Get that baby out of there and check out Steve Ditko's awesome art in person the same way kids did 57 years ago. It's a time machine, take it for a ride!!

Accept no substitutes.

That is a freaking haul!!!

Yes, these things have and do happen. But I've come to understand and respect the work that a very small number of individuals do as quality work and isn't the garbage manipulation some have embraced. Unfortunately, some of the people engaged in this are pretty big names in the hobby. In fact, there's only one person that I would send my books to if I was going to have them pressed, whose work I've seen and been impressed by. His name rhymes with Chloe Most.

Paging @Stevemmg

Jerry Weintraub had a really great anecdote about the Colonel, Elvis and himself. If you get a chance, it's a great story. https://www.amazon.com/His-Way-Jerry-Weintraub/dp/B00622AQF4

I like this also (and very much agree with your honorable mentions). It's really tough to leave people like Foster, Raymond, Hogarth, L.B. Cole, Schomburg, Bob Kane, Mac Raboy and others out and clearly choosing finalists is greatly dependent on what "importance" means. Bill Everett is particularly big considering his work at Centaur, Timely, Atlas and Marvel over 4 decades. Not many others that were there in the beginning and lasted into the 70s. Similarly, I'm a huge fan of both Kurtzman and Krigstein- both put serious artistry into the work in a way that hadn't been done before. But then, so did Wood and Frazetta. Need a bigger Mount Rushmore!

Welcome to the boards, Grant! Those spots in the white are prohibitive. I agree with these guys, I wouldn't mess with it. Personally, I'd crack it out because that's how I like my comics. But I wouldn't do it expecting to resend in for a bump in grade. Good chance you'll be disappointed by that.

I think this is a pretty strong candidacy: Will Eisner Lou Fine Jack Kirby Carl Barks Painful to leave so many other great talents off but I think these 4 defined the early days of great comic book art. I find it interesting that Lou Fine got his break working for Will Eisner (along with Kirby) and Jack Kirby felt that Lou Fine was his favorite artist. The volume and quality of work that those 3 put out is pretty impressive and hard to compete with. And I just think there would be virtually no duck phenomena without Carl Barks. He created a world that would be a staple for young kids all the way to today.

I like this book. I like it very much.

There are so many copies of that book around that I would just find a raw 9.6.

Lots of great books being posted! I haven't posted for awhile because I've been on a buying hold. But I picked up this book (cheaply) because it reminded me of my relationship with @Surfing Alien- me, the infant being bottle fed, and SA... well, I don't need to explain it all for you guys. You get the idea.

Amen to that! I've evangelized a bit about these early Warrens because I think that in many ways (and for obvious reasons), it's on par with the heady days of the EC offices. Whether it's the incredible Alex Toth narrative work or the Steve Ditko ink washes or the Wally Wood linework, all of these early books have something special in them. Eerie 5 is probably my favorite with the incredible classic "A Matter of Routine" by Goodwin and Colan.

Fumetti are pretty crazy. I've thought about trying to go after a few but have to put the limits someplace. Thanks for sharing, Flex!

I can't believe there's no kudos thread for the Hulk's better half! I've purchased many books from Mike and he's one of the best. A class act all around!

I picked up a cool book from Sharon and she's one of the best on the boards. Thanks again, Sharon!!

I got the same message.

I remember buying these when they came out. Forgot about them until you posted!

Very nice!

Screenshot for posterity. Wish my Vampirella 1 had some color touch.

Here's one of my favorite romance covers. Something about the simplicity of the layout. Or maybe I just dig the headband on the girl- it's so deliciously of the period.