MAY1979

If one is purchasing a book in person there are good bargains to be had with CBCS slabs. Still one of the original intents of slabbing was to bring confidence to internet sales, as most know you can only tell so much from a scan compared to holding the graded book slab in hand. I've seen many CGC 9.8 slabs which the books inside are at best 9.6 on a good day, but for me personally I see that even more with CBCS 9.8's. The experiences of others may differ but I know what mine personally has been and I'm consistently more disappointed with CBCS. For those who seek to resell books in short or mid-term it's understandable to want CGC, it's also understandable with current TAT's that to get a good deal on CBCS then crack it and submit to CGC currently is not optimal. Consumer or buyers whether Collector's or Seller's benefit from strong competition in the grading arena. We should want both company's to have equal perception in the market place. However perceptions formed for these type things once they take hold are difficult to change. In some cases they may never be possible to do so. In my opinion out of the gate CBCS needed to be so much stricter than CGC that to have their label would be a badge of honor and they were not. The perception of CBCS being the more lenient graders has permeated the hobby. CBCS to me it appears lost the verdict of hobby opinion years back. Bottom line, buy the book not the slab label. Still if that can't be done in person CGC is currently the safest way to keep one's "investment" stable. Not saying that is good or bad, it just is the situation in the hobby. As for reputable, we're talking many shades of gray for both firms. Appears there are no boy-scouts in comic book (nor trading card) grading

The first new comic as child I ever purchased multiple copies was ASM252. 1 week later the 2nd book for which I did that for was on-sale at my LCS. Just got them back from CGC When I pulled these last August I had not been in my 1980's Peter Parker Long Box in probably 20 years. It surprised me that I had these 2 books in Mylites but without boards. I never used a Mylite without a board but yet here were 2 next to each other, weird...My heart sank a bit until I saw that due to every other book having a boards these stayed nice and flat. The dark background on the front and back covers makes this issue a bit more of a challenge in 9.8 than one would think of book that hit comics stores in Late Feb/Early March 1984 This issue was in effect the first Black Cat solo story as Spider-Man appeared only on the last page. Great corner box! I know there are some people on this forum who have rather uncalled for nasty things to say about the cover artist's work but I very much like this one.

The 90's Marvel Mighty Mouse was excellent! Myself I'm partial to the Perez cover in which he swipes his own Crisis 7 cover. Wish that series had lasted longer but guess it just wasn't the era for fun comics.

Top Dog ain't the top dog. The Star Wars stuff and Thundercats has a decent audience, hope you folks realize that certainly was not part of my nil demand comment.

Yep it sure does defy conventional logic. After purchase+shipping then all ancillary expenses related to grading factored to save perhaps $15-$25 on a book does not seem fiscally wise. Far too much risk, far too little reward given if you get 9.6 you are eating a big percentage loss. I agree simply purchase a 9.8, as a bird in hand....

Yep both supply and demand are required and demand on most of the Star's is nil.

As I recall 5000 of the 2004 were printed, although some sources show it varying both plus and minus. Given right after the series concluded a trade was issued, then the Collector's Edition followed, the numbers seem about right given the market saturation of the material at the time.

Just back from CGC. I do not disagree with the grade but I own 9.8's I feel are in lesser condition. Figured i had a puncher's chance at a 9.8 so gave it shot given the surprisingly low 9.6/9.8 Census pop's on the book. Still not bad for a $2.00 1998 raw purchase.

Agreed it will bring in older collectors that have dropped out of the new release game. IMHO they could have sold out a 20K or possibly a 25K print run. IMHO who ever did their analytics might want to re-think their career choice. I would have got one if I could have had it at cover price. Oh well looks like the low print run has spurred new interest in the 2004 and it's beautiful Perez slipcase art which makes an excellent display price that transcends the limitation of comic book format.

Glad I never opened my collector's edition. Still sealed and inside a OCA sized Mylite 2. It's been on a bookshelf shelf in home office since 2004. Not sure how sealed hardcover slipcases are graded but mine looks like a possible 9.9.

Back recently after an 8 month Sarasota sojourn, the first Disney Comic I ever saw as a new issue at my LCS. I always like to add 1 or 2 odd balls or slightly odd balls or very low census pop books to my submissions. My feeling is the graders see a lot of the same books over and over so something that breaks up the monotony i hope works to my advantage...? While my streak of never having a book pressed will end when a single submission I sent late in Oct returns to me, this book is NOT pressed.

When Essential Vertigo:Sandman came out in 1996 for me it was pretty much redundant as I had the originals. My buddy who owned my LCS agreed and only placed the minimum piece order, seems other shops did the same. So not easy for me to find copies that met my then OCD-ish grading standards. Since it has a low census population I figured let me send in my 1st issue, a mere 8 months later it returned to me. NOT pressed

That is so nice without the UPC code!

My #1 purchased when originally on-sale returned home this week after being away roughly the same amount of time Frye spent frozen in suspended animation. As per my standard the book was Not pressed. Now to grab a cold Slurm!

If you have not already read up on what pressing fill "fix" and what it will not. Also be aware there is additional risk with pressing above the inherent risks of a book being handled for grading

At nycc2021 iirc dealers were asking 2-3hundred for the book in 9.8. i dont speculate but seems like the time to get in early passed a while ago.

Gee I'm starting too feel old, I remember watching the first episode when it originally premiered and thinking I hope it gets a 2nd season, never figured 23 years later would be awaiting the premiere of new episodes.

Proof PTBarnum was right

I've no issue with a spine like that on 9.8 and it would NOT deter me, in fact the wrap on my 9.8 is "worse" than that, but 9.9's and 10's should have practically perfect wraps. and it not even a newsstand...

Far too rare to be hot and being a DC doesn't help : 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 Best of DC 10 (3/81, D.C. Comics) Universal 9 9.58 3 4 1 1 https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/the-penguin-hbo-max-orders-batman-villain-series-starring-colin-farrell/ 1st told origin of the Penguin:

It's bit difficult to find in 9.8, 9'6's and 9.4's are far more plentiful. Not saying the 9.8 is low population, but given the era it does present more of a challenge than many other big selling books of the time It was the book that changed THE Punisher from a mostly obscure Spider-Man villain to an "A-lister" with 3 monthly titles a few years later. Arguably the 2nd most important book for the character after ASM129... 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 Punisher Limited Series 1 (1/86, Marvel Comics) Jigsaw appearance. Universal 2,641 9.16 394 714 561 272 240 182 102 58 50 25 18 7 6 6 3 1 2

I place the minimum opening bid this for book as a joke then won it, which was not my intention. Even though my final win order included other books the added shipping almost cost exceed this slabs cost. There are no 9.8's, this 9.6 is 1/1, its the Last/Final Issue and probably a rather low printed Star Comic, but if demand for this book ever increases it will signal the end of days. 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 1. Hugga Bunch 6 (8/87, Marvel Comics) Universal 1 9.60 1 I do realize after posting this I've lost all my street cred on this forum :sigh:

With 9.8 or higher more than 3x the 9.6 pop and more on the way with everyone like me now sending in their many copies, my opinion is the book is near it's ceiling. A lot more of these will hit the census and market this year.. The question is is how much it hold it's gains hold over the next 3-6 months. Please note I am NOT referring to the newsstand. Something some here may forget in Dec 2002/Jan 2003 when this book hit the shops "Hush" had huge hype. Shops ordered it in great quantities. Collectors like me were purchasing 5-10 copies. The light color background means a lot of 9.8's I would not be surprised if 1 year from now the 9.8 population is in 4 figures. I'd say sooner but not with current TAT's While I do want and am rooting you to be right, as i could trade (I don't sell comics but never say never) 4 of my 5 almost certain 9.8 copies for a nice Bronze or Silver age book, logically I do not think it will grow all that much. In this case whether I'm right or you are its win-win for me Again this post does not refer to the newsstand edition. 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 1. Batman 609 (1/03, D.C. Comics) 1st appearance of Tommy Elliot (Hush). Poison Ivy & Huntress appearance. Universal 1,031 9.68 3 690 209 64 27 25 7 3 2 1

Yes. Sept 1985 could be it? Thanks!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5 from Mirage; looking to find out what month in 1985 it first went on-sale? Thanks folks!