Parabellum

On 3/5/2023 at 8:21 AM, pmpknface said:

Great run! I always loved the ann 15 cover, that's my birthday on the newspaper. And you've got done from one of my favorite storylines ever! The PPSSM Gang War! Killer stuff!

Thank you!!!  That’s awesome it’s your birthday on the cover.

When you finally fill that gap in a set that took years to build.  Also, when someone finally grades and puts up for sale that one book you wish you had in 9.8.

On 3/3/2023 at 11:02 PM, ft88 said:

3rd Print

Sharp looking copy!

On 2/22/2023 at 7:41 AM, grendel013 said:

Since you have the set in 9,6 white I would think that is an option! What makes you think issues 1-3 wouldn’t get the 9.8 after a clean and a press? Were they already pressed? If there was some major defect I’d think they wouldn’t grade 9.6 in the first place. For an $1000 investment you could potentially make a $3000 set into a $18,000 set.
Wow! Now this is REAL gambling now that I think about it. 🤣

😂

Issues 1-3 are solid 9.6’s but each issue has 1-2 small color breaking spine ticks unfortunately.  Primer 2 is the only one that really has a shot.  That would be awesome if they all upgraded to 9.8 with a clean and press.  I would really want to have a good look at 1-3 in 9.8 and compare them to mine.

On 2/21/2023 at 6:06 PM, grendel013 said:

You really have three choices if they ever present themselves.1) Buy an already graded 9.8 and probably pay a whopper for it. (At least there are 42 graded universal blue.) 2) Buy up raw copies as they become available and submit those after a cleaning. (You know you’re not gonna want to chance submitting without a clean and a press now that that has become the norm.) 3) Send yours for a clean and press and then ask for a regrade. 
I needed to do all three over the last 20 years to get the 9.8 set. Do the math and think about it for a bit. Your book isn’t going anywhere so take your time if you’re not sure. I only pulled the trigger when I was ready. 

The only problem with me having Primer 2 in 9.8 is then I will have to get the rest of the set in 9.8…….  Well, I made it happen with my 9.8 Crow set so maybe the comic gods will smile on me once more.

On 2/21/2023 at 11:50 AM, grendel013 said:

My Grendel #1 had the one tiny stress line on the spine as stated in the grader notes but still was awarded the 9.8. The Primer is a different animal because of the black cover. It’s definitely a pricey risk but sending to CGC for cleaning and pressing and then a regrade MAY pay off. But just make sure you let them crack the slab open if you decide to go this route. Then they know that it’s already been graded a 9.6 and you’re paying for the clean and press and the regrade. They may lean towards upgrading to a 9.8 because they see through your submission that that’s what you’re trying to do. They will assign a new certification number if you go this route which I did not realize. Don’t crack it open yourself and do the cleaning/pressing outside of CGC and resubmit as a raw book. Then it lowers your chance of getting the 9.8. Heck, they could lower the grade on you. 

Totally agree with you in regards to a resubmit.  I would never crack this slab myself.  I would want CGC to see the prior grade.  Maybe one day I’ll gather up the courage to do it, hahaha.

On 2/21/2023 at 7:56 AM, grendel013 said:

Someone must have snagged the Grendel #2 9.6 white pager off of Shortboxed. It was listed on there for $300. There were copies on eBay not too long ago for under $200 including the one I grabbed. Someone really should grab the number ones because of the page color and the price. I did contact both sellers and the issues were already cleaned and pressed so I doubt they are candidates for resubmitting to try to get upgraded to 9.8. Folks should keep that in mind if you have 9.6s that were graded prior to cleaning and pressing becoming available. 

I think my Primer 2 could press out to a 9.8.  Grendel 1-3 are solid 9.6’s but not 9.8’s.  The only issue with Primer 2 is one tiny spine tick and a that just barely breaks color and a “wrinkle” on the top right corner on the back.  I have seen this same defect at the same spot on other 9.8’s.  But Im really hesitant to crack the case and resubmit.  I’d give it a 50/50 chance of an upgrade.  

On 2/19/2023 at 10:14 AM, grendel013 said:

Oh! One other thing… (I feel like I’ve taken over the chat board)

No you haven’t.  When you own a white page 9.8 set you can post as many times as you want on here.  As long as you keep posting pics of said set…

On 2/19/2023 at 6:42 PM, grendel013 said:

Oh… and for any one interested in having a complete set of these Grendels all in 9.6 white pages, now is the time to buy. eBay has a Primer #2 for $1600 (now $1500) and two Grendel #1s for $480 and $500. Shortboxed has issue 2 for $300 and issue 3 for $250. So for $2630 (now $2530) plus all the tax and shipping you can have the entire set cgc new universal blue labels 9.6 white pages. I wish it was this easy when I was building my set! I was ordering raw copies from Ed Koch and making deals with Jonny Quest artist Mark Hempel trying to get pristine copies to submit myself to CGC. Geez you kids have it easy these days. 🤣

For me the hardest book to find with white pages was #1.  I managed to get Primer 2 and Grendel 2, 3 within a month; #1 took me almost a year and half to find.  I agree, now is the time to buy.

On 2/10/2023 at 8:51 PM, grendel013 said:

Here they are in all their glory. Next step is to send the Primer #2 and Grendel #3 back to CGC for new labels and slabs. The slabs are in decent shape but the labels need an update. Especially the Primer which was graded in 2003.

Please dont re-slab Primer 2.  Im partial to the old label goodness.

On 2/15/2023 at 6:32 PM, grendel013 said:

Btw... what does anybody think reasonable values would be? I really don't think I'll ever sell these but when I insured them, I think I valued the set for about $18k just to cover my . Thoughts?  At this time I think a set of all 9.6's could be accumulated for less than $3k but considering the rarity of the 9.8's I definitely can't go by the price guide. I think COMICMYLARS tried to corner the market and I never spoke to WASMITH but he's probably like me, a true fan of Grendel and won't let his set go unless a tragedy occurred. Thoughts?

Considering how hard it is to get 9.8’s with white pages I would say 15-18k for the set is about right.  I put a lot of stock in white page copies.  COMICMYLARS’ asking price is just too much in my opinion (due to page quality).  He has notoriously high asking prices anyway.  I look at Grendel like TMNT.  Everyone wants a copy of TMNT 1 first printing just like Primer 2.  The other issues aren’t as “mainstream”.  Those are for the true fans of the series.  I agree that a 9.6 set can be found for 3k or less.  Again, the tricky part is finding white page copies.

Beautiful set BTW, congrats!

On 2/12/2023 at 12:00 PM, mec3437 said:

It's interesting.  They're trying something different so that's not bad.  

I agree.  It isn't Punisher Soviet but I have no complaints.

On 2/10/2023 at 9:20 AM, nepatkm said:

Anybody have any thoughts on the latest (2022) Punisher series? 🧐

I like it so far.  

Sharp copy!!!

I’d pay a little more for a red label book.  I don’t re-slab books unless the there is damage.  For me it’s like preserving history. 

Miller, Zeck, Lee, Golden

On 1/28/2023 at 11:18 AM, nepatkm said:

 

I love that Golden cover!  

Nice grab Mike!

On 1/28/2023 at 3:32 AM, g-man said:

Maybe it’s just me but the corners don’t look that sharp.  Also is that a spine tick to the left of the black arrow “He’s here….”?

On 1/28/2023 at 2:30 AM, lou_fine said:

Some here have said that based upon its current condition and the extent of the SCS damage, there wouldn't be a "9" on either side of the decimal point in the CGC grade.    

I would like to see what the comic looks like now.