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RelicHunter

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Journal Entries posted by RelicHunter

  1. RelicHunter
    Entering the realm of CGC comics...
    So, this is a tad overwhelming in a way. I've always tossed around the idea of taking my collecting to the next step and investing in CGC comics over the last couple of years. I even have a box of single issues that I keep telling myself that I'll drop off at a show or mail off that went from three random modern variants to a short box to a long box now full of key appearances. I've even started "stalking" this board for the last year, reading up on collecting trends, what to avoid, and drooling over all the amazing comic rooms that get displayed. Yet, I've never taken that first step.
    Until C2E2 2012 last month.
    Knowing the CGC team was going to be set up there, I decided to take a couple books to just see what the experience was like. I decided on sending off my Ultimate Spider-Man #160 1:100 variant and a copy of Saga #1. Two moderns, I know, but if I didn't like what I got back, I was only out a little money verses what I'd been out if I sent off a key Silver or Bronze title. I left the books at the table early Friday and went on about my weekend.
    Then I started to see all the vendors selling some beautiful slabbed books. Several of the books were some of the books on my "Hit List", those key books I just had to have. But I kept myself on a leash and didn't give in. Though, I was very, very tempted. I did, however, end up buying a copy of Aquaman #1 and Green Lantern #1 to have Geoff Johns sign at the DC booth. As luck would have it, a member of the CGC staff was there to verify the signatures. That sealed me dropping them off.
    Come Sunday morning, I'm wondering what my books were going to be graded at. Would they come back 9.6? 9.8? Could I get lucky and have one of the Geoff Johns issues come back SS and 10.0?! Probably not on that last one. Either way, the bug had finally bit me hard enough that I could no longer resist. I had to buy at least one CGC book at the show.
    As I wondered the halls, I decided I wanted to start small. While I had be tracking the prices of several Batman and Spider-Man grades for if/when I decided to dive in, I still wanted to break the ice gently. After a couple hours of pondering and wondering, I purchased this beauty:

    While I know that there are just a little over 260 of this issue in the 9.6 grade, it felt fitting to buy as the Black Cat has always been my favorite Marvel Comics female. On top of that, it is a major upgrade from the raw copy I've had for a few years.
    So, that's it for my first lack luster posting/journal as a newly indoctrinated member of the CGC Nation. I look forward to growing the quality of my collection, sharing photos of my submitted books, random finds and learning a thing or three from the more experienced collectors out there.
    Until then, happy hunting,
    XCinX
  2. RelicHunter
    Entering the realm of CGC comics...
    So, this is a tad overwhelming in a way. I've always tossed around the idea of taking my collecting to the next step and investing in CGC comics over the last couple of years. I even have a box of single issues that I keep telling myself that I'll drop off at a show or mail off that went from three random modern variants to a short box to a long box now full of key appearances. I've even started "stalking" this board for the last year, reading up on collecting trends, what to avoid, and drooling over all the amazing comic rooms that get displayed. Yet, I've never taken that first step.
    Until C2E2 2012 last month.
    Knowing the CGC team was going to be set up there, I decided to take a couple books to just see what the experience was like. I decided on sending off my Ultimate Spider-Man #160 1:100 variant and a copy of Saga #1. Two moderns, I know, but if I didn't like what I got back, I was only out a little money verses what I'd been out if I sent off a key Silver or Bronze title. I left the books at the table early Friday and went on about my weekend.
    Then I started to see all the vendors selling some beautiful slabbed books. Several of the books were some of the books on my "Hit List", those key books I just had to have. But I kept myself on a leash and didn't give in. Though, I was very, very tempted. I did, however, end up buying a copy of Aquaman #1 and Green Lantern #1 to have Geoff Johns sign at the DC booth. As luck would have it, a member of the CGC staff was there to verify the signatures. That sealed me dropping them off.
    Come Sunday morning, I'm wondering what my books were going to be graded at. Would they come back 9.6? 9.8? Could I get lucky and have one of the Geoff Johns issues come back SS and 10.0?! Probably not on that last one. Either way, the bug had finally bit me hard enough that I could no longer resist. I had to buy at least one CGC book at the show.
    As I wondered the halls, I decided I wanted to start small. While I had be tracking the prices of several Batman and Spider-Man grades for if/when I decided to dive in, I still wanted to break the ice gently. After a couple hours of pondering and wondering, I purchased this beauty:

    While I know that there are just a little over 260 of this issue in the 9.6 grade, it felt fitting to buy as the Black Cat has always been my favorite Marvel Comics female. On top of that, it is a major upgrade from the raw copy I've had for a few years.
    So, that's it for my first lack luster posting/journal as a newly indoctrinated member of the CGC Nation. I look forward to growing the quality of my collection, sharing photos of my submitted books, random finds and learning a thing or three from the more experienced collectors out there.
    Until then, happy hunting,
    XCinX
  3. RelicHunter
    Submitted my first books back at C2E2...did I get my money's worth?
    So, about 3 months ago, I submitted my first submission ever to CGC: Ultimate Spider-Man #160 1:100 variant and Saga #1.
    After months of waiting, they finally came in!

    While I was hoping for beginner's luck and scoring a 9.9 or 10.0 on this one, 9.8 was more than fair considering I'd originally had to buy the book off eBay and never got to see it prior to purchase.

    This one I was extremely happy with as I thought it'd come back as a 9.4 or 9.6, so a 9.8 made me a bit giddy.
    All in all, with the exception of the 20 day turn around that turned into 3 months, I was actually pleased with these. I have one more set coming from the Geoff Johns' signing at the DC booth that week that I'm waiting on. Hopefully those will turn out to be as good, if not better.
    Needless to say, I'm hooked and addicted. I do realize I'm going to have to set some guidelines/goals from my CGC collection or else I'll buy way more than I should.
    Happy hunting.

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  4. RelicHunter
    Another new addition to my slowly growing CGC collection, and also the start of my first Registry Set on the site: Harley Quinn #1 9.8.
    I'll admit that I was a bit sad to go through the census/registry and see that there aren't a lot of issues graded and eligible for registry sets for my favorite Clown Princess. So now it is my quest to get her a full set for the Harley Quinn (2000) Registry!
    So based of the Set Score sheet, I need:
    Harley Quinn #2
    Harley Quinn #3
    Harley Quinn #4
    Harley Quinn #15
    Harley Quinn #17
    Harley Quinn #33
    Harley & Ivy: Love on a Lamb
    Harley Quinn: Our World's at War #1
    Batman: Harley Quinn
    Batman Adventures: Mad Love
    Batman Adventures #12
    For Batman: Harley Quinn and Batman Adventures: Mad Love, I'm only going to go after 1st printings for now.
    This should be fun!

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  5. RelicHunter
    ...and a major thanks to CGC.
    I finally got my final shipment in from C2E2 2012. I was really excited to get these back because they were from a Geoff Johns' signing.
    At every convention we go to, my brother and I will choose an item or two to both get to be a sort of remembrance gift of our trip. One year, we bought a set of the FullMetal Alchemist pocket watches. Another was a set of zombie figures. This year, we decided to grab a couple comics and get them signed by Johns. I thought it'd be interesting to get them graded so that they'd branded with the date. I grabbed a set of Aquaman #1 and Green Lantern #1 at a vendor.
    We got up to the table and talked to him briefly. I'd said thanks for giving us "Aquadog" since my brother stole my thunder and thanked him for making Aquaman so enjoyable. He had a stack of first print Justice League #1, signed a couple and said thanks for being a fans and that it was why he does what he does.
    After debating for a minute or two, I decided to include the JL #1s. I mean, they were free gifts, why not? Even if they came back a 9.4 or 9.6 (they were just in a pile, from a box DC gave him), they'd still be an awesome piece as part of the set.
    Fast forward about 4.5 months, and the shipment arrives.
    Honestly, highest grade I expected was a 9.6. The Aquaman/Green Lantern set was bought on the fly from a random vendor. I just wanted to have something for him to sign, really. You can guess my surprise when I open the box to see the top comic is one of the Justice League #1s at a 9.8! Keep going and going, 9.8 after 9.8. All 6 books submitted for the Signature Series grade came back in a beautiful 9.8 yellow banner.
    As such, comes the close of my first adventure submitting anything to CGC. The turn around time not withstanding, it has been fun. All the books I submitted came back what I thought (the Ultimate Spider-Man #160 1:100 variant) or far better than I'd hoped (these books). And the packages seemed to be timed to come in on days that I could have really use the pick-me-up.
    So, for that and the awesome overall experience (especially with me calling to check the status of my books like an obsessed zombie), thank you, CGC. And thanks to this awesome community for finally making me jealous enough to take the leap and start buying and submitting.
    Until next time, happy hunting!

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