MasterChief

Didn't get a chance to post these due to the holidays, but a few more pick-ups from last year...

Thanks, Guys!

Thanks, Barton. And yeah... I'm still fuming over that scan.

I suppose. Not sure why they'd want to, though. If you're implying counterfeiting, I'd have to reject the notion. It's not like the MGC#35 is an alleged Edgar Church book and a constituent of the infamous counterfeiting scheme. No, it's a WM copy whose hand-written pen & ink characteristic mark matches other Bronze Age certified books correctly labeled with the pedigree moniker. The images below represent a sample of CGC White Mountain picture frame books that passed through Heritage last year. The first is the copy I posted missing the designation. The other 11 are all WM copies labeled and sold as such.

Yeah... I noticed that, too. You'd think with all the new Bronze Age White Mountains brought to market last year courtesy of Heritage, that someone would have noticed the missing pedigree designation. But, hey, it's a reprint. Nobody collects those. Their 50¢ box fodder and valueless, right?

Beautiful book! It's happened to me and I found it initially frustrating but CGC quickly remedied the problem. Let me suggest that you reach out to Bree - she's excellent to work with. John Thanks for the tip, John. Much appreciated!

This was under the tree, too. It's the White Mountain copy. The last two digits of the year "72" written in pen next to the publication month/issue number is a dead giveaway. Scratching my head as to how the hobby's pedigree expert and primary grader at CGC could miss the instantly recognizable mark of the White Mountain pedigree.

Here's a couple of books found under the tree on Christmas Day. The ASM#102 would not scan without the darn reflections. Tried everything to compensate. Frustrated, I took the book to Kinkos/FedEx. They have large flatbed scanners that produce great results. However, they told me to pack sand. They wouldn't scan the book. Something about copyright violation as it was someone's artwork. Sheesh...

More books that proliferated the MC collection this year...

Sal Buscema did some great covers for these reprints. Some easily better than the originals. I'm in lockstep with your assessment (and Bob's, too!). I'll just add I wasn't into Sal Buscema's work when I was younger. Perhaps because I was a huge John Buscema fan who felt Big John really knew how to draw comics the Marvel Way. That being said, I have grown to admire Our Pal Sal's work. Especially his picture frame covers!

Cool cover! It made me curious to know when Kane transitioned from Amazing Spider-Man to Marvel Team-Up cover chores. After a bit of research, it's clear that by the time Marvel Team-Up #1 rolled off the presses, Kane had finished his cover run on ASM with issue #105 (FEB '72). Romita then picked it up from there with issue #106 (MAR). But Kane wasn't done with Spidey. He launched MTU with the cover to #1 starting the month after he left ASM, then proceeded to knock out the other MTU picture frame covers during the remainder of the era. And that's just a bit of trivia for those that care. Thanks for posting your book. Keep collecting 'em...

Yes. That is a sweet copy. Here's the nicest issue of MGC I have (certified or otherwise)...

Just noticed the pedigree. Incredible copy. There were five 9.8 copies of CTB#16 in the Suscha News collection. At present, that represents one-third of CGC census. Amazing stuff. The OO nailed that one!

... you're not done yet. I should have known.

Nicely played. Two times two HG beauties and all-WHITE pagers to boot!

Gorgeous copy!

A few PF Westerns added to the collection this year...

Beautiful copy of a tough book. There's still not a 9.8 in the census. White pager Sucha News Great looking copy. Congratulations!

Amazing 25 centers! Cheers to your deal!

The Gil Kane moniker -- Instantly recognizable. (Great looking books, Bob. These bought off the rack, too?)

I dunno, I thought they were usually 2-3 months prior. Interesting thought. You might be on to something.

First Avengers ish that I bought off the rack. From the terrific Barry Smith art, including the opening splash page of the Black Knight aboard an airborne Aragorn, to the Roy Thomas story line involving every hero who was ever an Avenger (and his pointed statement about the space program being reduced to 'games of gratuitous golf'), I was hooked. Still am. As a kid, I didn't get Smith's work on these later issues. I was puzzled by it. It looked weird and completely foreign from his stuff in #66-67. And boy was I fascinated by the art in those earlier books! I stared at and studied the illustrations for hours. Even went as far as copying the work in my own attempts at trying to draw the Marvel way. I get it now. I understand the reason for the earlier Smith work looking the way it does. And I've come to appreciate the later stuff in his style. But issues #66-67 remain special. Always have, always will. Since you mentioned it. A visual splash from #100...

Cool books! That Hulk date stamp is 3 months before the publication month. Whereas the FF#121 posted earlier was one and a half months. Interesting.

Sorry 'bout that. It's been a year since I posted in the thread. Got some catching up to do...