Off Panel

To be fair, we all had it coming.

I’d listen to ninanina, who has an excellent track record with these predictions.

Awesome book. I had forgotten this was the first Thanos cover.

That is really cool. I’ve seen census records just enough to recognize what you posted, but didn’t know how to interpret to get to that level of detail. And with Dad as a musician — there was a lot of creativity in that family.

I knew you were going to ask that… I’m going with 1930.

Census record of Ross Andru’s family?

Can anyone truly “own” a PGX 9.8? We are merely caretakers, preserving them for the next generation.

I’ll star a bidding war with you. I just had my annual physical and my kidneys are in NM- condition.

I often get the sense that some dealers only list their books in the Exchange as show pieces. They’ll quickly raise their prices if they think for a moment the books are in actual danger of selling!

I can remember seeing a 106 in 9.8 on the WorldWide Comics site (wwcomics.com) a few years ago. I passed on it at the time because it didn't have white pages. I would like a do-over on that one.

Truer words were never spoken. I did the math on this one for awhile. Last sale in 9.8 on GPA was six and a half years ago. That sale took place on Heritage and looks to be the only one they’ve ever seen. There may have been a sale on CLink during that time, but who can tell? There are 8 CGC 9.8s of this book and zero getting that grade from the competition. It has felt for awhile like these few copies have quietly made their way into private collections, rarely to see the light of day. When I saw Doug was bringing one of those collections to market, I decided I needed to make this book my priority. At least one other guy had the same idea, so the book will have a crazy outlier price in GPA. No regrets though. (Although come to think of it, I could have bought half an X-Men 129 “newsstand” instead... ) That’s awesome, man. Congrats! 106 is a tough book to find in 9.8 and I like any story that adds another one to the world. It’s especially aggravating since you can’t turn around without hitting a 9.8 105 or 107. If you ever have one you want to sell, let me know. Recent auction aside, I’m not a high roller, just an OCD completist. Still I’ve got a little gas left in the tank for a 106.

Isn’t Pedigree one of the sites that reports sales to GPA for inclusion? Although, if so, it hasn’t happened yet...

So, here's another data point that may speak to the "red-hot"ness of this book. Apparently, within the last month, CGC has raised the registry points for a Hulk 181 in 9.8 from 20,800 to 50,000. More than double.

Here's a run I'm working on: I completely hit the wall at 106.

One goal I had for my birthday today was to add my one hundredth post to the boards, which will be this one. Here's what the critics are saying: "At last! The great, long-awaited 100th Anniversary Post! With the wildest shock-ending of all time!" "This is it! The spectacular long-awaited 100th Anniversary Post! Featuring: Off Panel! ADMANTIUM! Spider-Variant!" "Special! Epoch-making 100th Post! GUARANTEE: You'll never read a post quite like -- That's What She Said!" * *Okay, yes. I've got a long way to go before I catch greggy. I'm not getting cocky. Still, one hundred posts is a milestone for me seeing as how I'm so quiet and unopinionated you know.

First of all, thanks for the birthday wishes, ADAMANTIUM! It is indeed my birthday and it’s been a good one. Secondly, thanks for sharing your trick. A few board members have wished me a happy birthday today and each time I’m completely taken aback.”How did they KNOW?!?” Now that I’m in the know, I can spread the birthday cheer to others.

Please don’t change anything about your life (or lack thereof), because I really enjoy your comparisons between Andru’s art and the structures of the day. Completely fascinating!

You did it though. That’s an accomplishment. Sorry to hear that you’ll have to part with it, but hopefully you can realize a nice price to help you with your next priority.

BOOK ENCAPSULATED IN PLASTIC, AFFECTS STORY.

Wow.

My favorite is when sellers label their books to ensure I get the opposite of what I'm looking for. I do a search for "Amazing 300 CGC 9.8" and invariably an early result will be: "Amazing Spider-man 300 CBCS 9.2! Not CGC Not 9.8!" Um...Thanks?

You sent me down a Kyle Dine rabbit hole, Randall. <Finds Epi-Man on Apple Music and gives it a listen.> "Huh, this guy wrote a song about food allergies. Wonder what else he's got...?" <Finds the album Epi-Man is on: You Must be Nuts!> "Wow... this guys wrote a whole album of songs about food allergies." <Finds his next album: Food Allergies Rock!> "@%!!#?. This guy has written MULTIPLE ALBUMS about food allergies...!" I once read an article that said the reason men have had such success changing the world is our tendency to be completely single-minded and obsess over a singular pursuit to the exclusion of all else. I believe it. Of course, sometimes you cure polio and sometimes you build a staggering discography of songs about food allergies.

That is fascinating. You just taught me something new.

Welcome to the Collectors Of A Certain Age club, grebal. We meet monthly at kav’s house and have superhero-themed cupcakes and beer.

To be fair, I was reacting to an eBay seller who saw the CLink February sale for just over $40k and immediately listed his copy for $88,888. (That price does not feel like a careful valuation to me. What I imagine the seller’s justification to be: “I LikE EiGhTs!!”) Even the mid-March Focus Auction didn’t come close to this seller’s dream of All Eights All The Time. Amen, brother.