MAY1979

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!

Thanks that was unknown to me. I've been getting lucky then I was keeping it to pre-2008. Still I'd bet i have one or 2 that were affected although if I can't tell by looking at it then at least it was done nicely. Tell you what, in person it's getting difficult to find unpressed even on inexpensive books. Amazing how many $75 or under slabs I've seen with pressed books. IMHO is simply not worth the money to do so on those - go figure

Agreed. If Blackstone purchases a rice paper factory then restoration methods that utilize that will no longer be restoration. BTW: I too consider pressing restoration. If I'm not buying an item in person, tend to seek older slabs that predate CGC and CSS getting all snugly.

At one time art from the 2nd series (v2 1979) was seemingly everywhere and reasonable. Covers were reasonably priced as well. I've noticed since approx 2015 supply has dried up. IMHO the v2 stories were very enjoyable. All were scripted by either Fleischer and Claremont. Good luck in your search!