jimbo_7071

Alliterative Woozy Winks to alliterative Poor Pierre.

I didn't know the story, but I just read that he beat a prostitute to death and was only sentenced to three years!

Drum to drums.

Well, he's drunk in the one I posted. You can tell from his red nose.

Horns to antlers and Hollywood to Holiday.

I wish the Denver copies had nicer pages. Are there any white-paged Denver's?

1st appearance of Banshee O'Brien to 1st appearance of Maximilian O'Leary.

Exotic gal to exotic gal.

I've spent my share of time in northern Michigan. One of the first comic shops I used to go to was in downtown Traverse City. I think it was in the basement of the same building as a restaurant called First National Beef—a building that said "Arcade" on it. (That comic shop is probably long gone.) They never had any GA that I remember, but back then I was excited to get my hands on a beat-up SA or early BA Batman or Tec.

I agree that it isn't an attractive book for the grade. To me, eye appeal and page quality are both more important than the grade, but I guess some collectors feel differently (considering what that book sold for). The whole CPR phenomenon has left me kind of jaded when it comes to grade. I used to refuse to buy anything below 8.0; now I really don't care. I recently bought a 3.5 on CLink and a 3.0 on eBay. Twenty years ago I wouldn't have even bid on one of my grails in either grade. Knowing that many of the higher grades have been manufactured has taken the bloom off the rose, so to speak. A high grade doesn't mean anything anymore.

Since you're a northern Michigander, did you ever go to Don's Drive-In in Traverse City or the Cherry Bowl Drive-In movie theater over in Benzie County? You'd fit right in! I definitely think you should buy that car instead of bidding on comic books.

I've seen that frequently, especially on pedigree books, but I wouldn't say that CGC has been that consistent. Books that have one major defect seem to be graded with less consistency than books that have general wear.

I'd love to know your thoughts on why the Gangsters Can't Win received an 8.5 grade. Have you studied CGC grading enough to have a good idea of how much of a deduction is taken for each common defect? Perhaps you could give a breakdown of how the visible defects on that book contributed to the grade. It appears to show more wear and tear than any of the 8.5s that I've owned.

Zolnerowich interior art to Zolnerowich cover.

Victory Boys back cover appearance to Miss Victory back cover appearance .

Steve Borock's kid sister?

You're right about timing. The thing is, you have a unique situation right now where people's cabin fever has been building for nearly 18 months and they're spending like crazy in order to de-stress. The time to sell the Promise books is NOW, but Heritage is the only one doing that.

Yes. By comparison, the Gangsters can't win appears to be comparable to this typical 6.5: and significantly lower in grade than this typical 8.5:

One Atlas redhead to two Harvey redheads.

Caged people to caged people.

I do think that the percentage is high, but that might be a little generous.

I understand it because it's based on trying to recapture a feeling that cannot actually be recaptured. These guys are remembering the euphoria they felt at age twelve when they finally got their hands on a coveted baseball card or stayed up late reading a new comic book under the covers by flashlight. I get it because I've experienced the same thing. Some people will spend any amount of money in an attempt to recapture that feeling. It isn't possible—their childhoods are gone forever—but they will try. If they can come close, even for a moment, it may be worth it to them. I do the same thing when I spend a few hundred dollars or a few thousand dollars on a book; spending more than that just isn't possible for me. And I do experience a moment of near euphoria when I get my hands on a new comic. It doesn't last long, which is why I have to buy another . . . and another . . . and another. It evokes the memory of how I felt collecting as a kid, but the memory isn't quite the same as the actual feeling; it does fall short. But I suppose I'll never stop trying. I can't, in fact.

Cat-Man wielding a knife against a shark to Plastic Man holding a shark at arm's length while grappling with a knife-wielding villain.

Hawkman with a mouth that's fused shut to Kitten with thighs fused together.

Flying carpet to flying carpet.