MAR1979

or was Cates just "effin around" again

I truly wanted CBCS to succeed as folks like me benefit from true competition in the industry, but they put on clinic in what not to do. Their Business plan needed to have included; - Forecast and Expect to take losses their first 5-6 years of operation (Amazon did for at least that long) - Charge enough lower than CGC to ensure submitter's give you a try. A dollar or 2 less won't do it. $4-5 might, then see rule #1 - Grade noticeably stricter than CGC and maintain that. This item is paramount. At first some will be "disgruntled" then slowly you will build reputation and positive perception. CBCS did not do any of that. Those who know Barock also know he is flipper of the highest order. The flipper mentality is a short-sighted and always for "the now".. It does not work well with a viable long term business plan. Yeah Borack has done OK for himself, no argument there, however both him and CBCS could have been the industry standard and leader raking more than CGC at this juncture in time, instead of being an also ran. As result of their short-sighted vision the perception of CBCS will never ever change. P.S. I have 14 books in the CBCS slabs, All 9.8's, only 4 of which i think are deserving of the number on the label. The rest fall rather short IMHO. I also looked at at least 50 other of their slabs at cons. I gave them a fair shot but I was very disappointed.

"The cream always rises to the top", eventually that is...

Buh, Buh, Buh, how can that be ? When ASM361 was selling for $900-1000 sellers on this forum stated it was on an upward trajectory with no end in sight. At NYCC there was at least 1 table that 50% of their wall was ASM 361. I saw another booth with fancy black table cloths and mood lighting that was asking 2k for Direct Sale ASM 361 and I personally witnessed 1 rube purchase one. Keep in mind at the time on eBay they were $950 Those who are seeing that book drop and taking heavy percentage losses may exit the hobby. Which overall will be good for the rest of us. My Rule 2 for collecting "never buy a book when its red hot". My number 3 is never, ever believe any seller's hyperbole on anything they are seeking to sell My regret is I spent $20 to have one of mine graded. Yeah it was 9.8 but I don't sell comics and would have got much more enjoyment for the $20 using it on a something like an average lunch.

From what i noticed the conversation here on dropping prices was focused on HIGH population Modern, Copper and to some extent Bronze. I've not seem much digital ink in posts here mentioning Silver or Gold especially low pop higher grade books. The older the book and the higher the grade generally means the more insulated from taking more than small hits. As for Heritage I take their auctions with a grain of salt anyhow due to manipulation, shilling, potted plants, and in most jurisdictions (but not their home state) what is considered fraud.

“The slickest way in the world to lie is to tell the right amount of truth at the right time-and then shut up.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

Dear folks, the simple solution for handling Heritage is not to deal with them. This is what i have done. The 8-12K I used to spend with them now goes elsewhere and I get more in return for my money and treated with respect. To add insult to injury Heritage sends out emails bragging about how much money they raked in. Money they collect from YOU! The part about it being challenging times and they made record breaking profits - man is that rich! I'm sure every one reading it can sleep much better knowing that Heritage is pulling in that income. BTW: I am employed by a Fortune 20 Corporation, we they net more in 1/2 a day than Heritage does in a year and they don't brag about it - other than the legally mandated reports to shareholders and government . It would be in horribly poor taste to boast about their income via email communication direct to their customers. To do so would truly wreak of being a low class, low rent outfit. It is apropos their website is named ha.com because the ha or joke may very well be on you

Mid Grade apparently but it "presents like a champion". Huh ?

Great cover! Great Demon In A Bottle Era Cover! For me one of those issues that only looks "right" with the UPC code and 40 cents in the box. I'm not a "newsstand" collector so it's not many books I say that about.

Based on the OW/W pages, I know who didn't buy it...

The one on comiclink is the same as the one of the 2 9.6's that were on eBay. I do wonder if same person purchased the only 3 CGC graded on eBay? Had the sellers read this topic they could ended the listings and opened regular auctions and possibly doubled or tripled their sale price. I do see at least one WTB on this forum. In terms of un-slabbed in high grade my thoughts are this: 1) The issue has a Star Wars cover and is from 1977 2) It's a 1970's Marvel Bronze age 1st issue 3) Some sources have shown it to be the first extended universe story for years. 4) Overstreet has been $50 or more on the mag for several years, which is a level many decide to submit a Bronze age book as 9.6, 9.8 usually goes for many multiple more. Based on above my feeling is the book may not have a lot of raw high-grade as if it did there might be more than half dozen in 9.6 and 9.8 on the census. We will see through the year I think and I'd like there to be more so I could snag one. Although I have self-imposed rule against purchasing book when they are hot, still it's a cool item

GCDB: https://www.comics.org/issue/33206/ - also confirms. Below is the original art from a CAF Members gallery. Note Sienkiewicz's signed his name in the top margin used for art return by publisher. Rubenstein supplied inks. Claw figuratively and artistically screams Sienkiewicz ! Great piece of art BTW. Wish I could go back 15 years when Burkey had it for sale at NYCC. As recall he was asking 2K back then . Seriously a 1970's Avengers cover in effect and historic Sienkiewicz first ever published cover art. My guess is today it goes for 14-16x times that 2007 asking price!

@ChazgeeYes please do contact! The more that email/write the better. IMHO it's been real slap in the face to Sienkiewicz for 20 years. I viewed the Black Panther 14 cover art a long time ago. Burkey had it at the same con I found my 9.8 (1/1 at the time). In the margins it mentioned "Sienkiewicz" . It's been locked up in private collection for over 12 years. Can be viewed at CAF. It's a cover of at least minor key status significance in comics.

Sgt Fury 116 is a great cover. IMHO a true key as its 1st skin diving Nick Fury.

Same on my end out of the box but I was able to adjust to my liking.

Wonder if those who purchased in 4K range still think a wise expenditure?

Nice! OT; I use them for displaying Comics Slabs in my home office. The Gibson "mini's" are perfect for trading card slabs especially landscape view cards. BTW - Metropolis uses them for their displays at Cons.

Is that a Gibson stand?

Books CGC Label CGC Total Avg. Grade 10 9.9 9.8 9.6 9.4 9.2 9.0 8.5 8.0 7.5 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.8 1.5 1.0 0.5 Spectacular Spider-Man 90 (5/84, Marvel Comics) 1st black costume in title. Black Cat appearance. Vision & Scarlet Witch cameo. Universal 1,056 9.19 209 261 199 131 93 56 44 22 10 10 11 5 3 1 1 I do wonder if the Scarlett Witch and Vision cameo has also contributed a tiny bit? Also due to the black cover it's condition sensitive. Census pop in 9.8 is very "low" when compared to ASM252 (or ASM194 )

Same month as ASM252, it does surprise me it took that long for most to realize. PPTSM 90 is my personal favorite Black Cat cover. I have my 2 childhood copies sitting in Sarasota since Sept. Perhaps I will receive them back this decade?

Assuming a minimum average reading of age 6 , then all who would read Spidey in say the last year of the 80's (1989) are now 38 years old. If they were reading Spidey in 1980 they now are at least 47 years old. Not exactly a youthful crowd

I was one of them. Guardians 1 changed my mind as it was very enjoyable and fun to watch and made a boatload. Eternals however was boring nearly unintelligible (sorry Jack, I am still a huge fan of yours though) comic book and a boring somewhat intelligible film. I have no desire to see Eternals or Black Knight ever again in the MCU. Guardians on the other hand, as long as it's not a yawn-fest slog like Guardians 2, I am all for seeing.

I'm a huge WW Fan and the movie was disservice to the character if not all humanity. Just how was that the steaming pile of excrement the -script Time-Warner chose? WW1984 may have destroyed what was shaping up to have been DC's most lucrative film franchise. To Geoff Johns - Stargirl is excellent, truly excellent in fact, possible the best superhero TV show ever IMHO, but your vast hubris (and or cash grab) may have destroyed the perception of a Wonder Woman Motion Picture for a generation to come. So thanks for nothing!

My Astonishing Tales 25 has been stuck in CGC purgatory for "only'"4 months. I do wish I had not submitted it as I would now send it in for the signature. I'm not going to seek out another high grade copy to send now Sadly yes. Wish the reasons for that did not exist. Key art also going insane. Decent COIE pages have always been in demand now you needs Buffet, Bezos, Burkey type money to afford them. Ok Burkey does not belong there but some in OCA world may get the reference??

I do know that at least some issues of ASM238 and FF252 were missing the tattooz from the insert. meaning there were never placed into the insert in the first place. It is joke but given CGC has cared about the tattooz themselves (I don't mean the paper insert) for 21 years there is no going back. I do wonder if those in the Tatooz "head office" back then would have ever thought their product name lived on in certain circles 35 years after they went out of biz