CKinTO

per our PM!

Ah, that makes sense. Very helpful, thanks. I've got 1 or 2 books each for 3 creators (other than Jim Lee, where I bought the package) that I'm trying to get signed and witnessed, and I only have one day to do it! (Wife only let me go for one day). Unfortunately had to go on Sat as that's the day of the Jim Lee package signing, so that means it's the busiest day... Trying to pre-plan as much as possible so I can be efficient (and also enjoy the Con!)

Agreed, and it isn't like it's the "Cable" movie, it's Deadpool 2. Now if he gets his own spin-off, then maybe it'll go up more on that announcement, but agree I doubt it would go higher than NM98.

If there isn't a specific "signing session" in the schedule for certain creators (like there is for Jim Lee, or Artgerm), will that mean that they plan to generally just be at their booth for signings? (So you *should* be able to go at any time in the day? Obviously I understand no guarantee they'll be there all day, but just in general) For example, I want to get a book signed (and witnessed) with Tom King. He only has a Creator Spotlight noted on the schedule, but nothing about a "signing session".

Awesome news Eric, great that it worked out! See you and Jim there.

For graded books, especially those that transact a lot, Ebay sold auctions tend to be a pretty accurate gauge on the current "fair" market value for a book. With Ebay, you can use the advanced search to find sold auction listings, and it goes back 3 months. Again for highly-liquid books that transact many times per week, this is an easy, free way to get pretty close to what reasonable prices are. A cheaper alternative than GPA is Go Collect - it only uses Ebay listings, but allows you to get the actual paid prices for Ebay Offers that were negotiated on BINs, but goes back up to 2 years so you have a bit more sense for history than the 3 months you can get for free via Ebay. In general though, if a comic is listed with a BIN price (or very high min-bid price in an auction), and hasn't been bought fairly quickly, it's because it's generally above the fair market value.

I get the difficulty telling off the previous tenant when he's giving you some "free stuff"... but I do think you could suggest urgency in the right tone... maybe something like: "I appreciate you leaving me certain items, but I really need you to come move your stuff today. We are already really behind schedule (as I was expecting everything to be moved out last week). I've been working around your stuff as much as possible, but we're at the point now where your items are keeping my contractors from doing their work, which is costing me more money. If you can't come get pick it up, I'm going to have to move it outside where I can't be held responsible for it." Keep reminding yourself why you're doing this, that this is fun (maybe "Type 2 Fun"), and a month from now you'll hardly remember the stress!

+1!

Yes, it really depends on what #1 it is... unfortunately, the last decade has seen both Marvel and DC come out with numerous volumes, one-shots, limited series, reboots, etc. in order to artificially manufacture more "#1's"... Definitely should not be buying/slabbing any 'ol #1

I tend to prefer blue labels generally, especially for higher-end key books. I know for some, getting a McFarlane sig on an ASM300 would be amazing - for me personally, I'd prefer it without (and my 9.6 will stay blue label). I do have a few CGC SS, and these tend to be more modern low/medium-value books or interesting sentimental books. But that's primarily because my CGC SS is really for me and my personal collection, and not really planning to sell to make a profit. So I'll get certain mid-tier books signed by artists I like (ie. Uncanny X-Men 248 - first Jim Lee X-men book, SS by Jim Lee). I know there's a world out there for potentially making money on signed books, and everyone of course has their own tastes / preferences. But just my own perspective.

That could be really nice - I like that they have both the color and B&W versions available separately. I was quite happy with the Edge of Venomverse cover, I'll likely be getting a B&W CGC SS 9.8 - $100 seems a fairly reasonable price. I will likely hold off a bit longer until I see more of the cover though - given there's no incentive to pre-order "early", makes sense to wait a bit until more of the cover's been revealed

Haha, a pretty safe goal given the "punishment"... I assume that goal would've required you to sell that AF15 6.0? Thx for letting me take a selfie with it

In terms of my LCS loyalty system, they use a frequent customer card. Free to sign up (and can do it in 10 seconds at checkout). Every $100 you spend, you get $5 in credit. After $500 spent, you get $30 in credit (ie. you get an additional $5 bonus after $500). In terms of pull lists, they ask you come in at least once a month to pick up your books. If you reach out and let them know about certain circumstances, I'm sure no problem extending another month. I think they said policy is after 3 months, they sell it off. Best of luck with the opening!

This may be just me, but my buying of raw keys is typically in the high-grade only end, where I'm looking for 9.6 / 9.8 candidates. As such, in this land, where a tiny spine tick or finger press can be the difference between the two grades (and thus the resulting value), I 1) only buy from dealers I trust / know, and 2) generally don't take the book out of the bag. I'll ask lots of questions (confirming no hidden defects, back cover's okay, etc.) and will spend a lot of time looking at the front cover. But in show conditions, having to open a book without a proper table, gloves, etc., I'm more anal about doing damage when looking through it. Knock wood so far I haven't been burned, but I'm sure all it will take is one time for me to change my tune (!)

Anyone else pick up Mister Miracle #1 yesterday? I heard about the book from a comics podcast I've gotten into (Comics Conspiracy), which came highly recommended. Tom King writing. Very interesting book, I enjoyed it a lot, and I didn't have much background on Kirby's Mister Miracle (have since read up on it). Spoilers from the book in the articles below, but the CBR one especially has some good commentary: http://www.cbr.com/mister-miracle-tom-king-mitch-gerads/ https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/08/09/mister-miracle-1-darkseid-ptsd-depression-ever-present-cage/

Really enjoyed #3 yesterday, was at the top of my read pile this past Wed. Really starting to move the story along now!

I decided to pass on all the Generations, as they're all one-shots. I will likely pick up the Marvel Legacy one-shot, and then see about buying some of the Legacy books (#1 or legacy numbered) for the titles I regularly read (mostly X-titles).

Jim, I'll be there, and am definitely on the hunt for a couple slabbed keys! And for your wall books, hopefully you'll be taking into account the stronger C$ when pricing your books in C$ vs US$ GPA? Maybe just for boardies? Hehe

He's going to be at FanExpo Canada (in Toronto), Aug 31 - Sep 3. I don't recall who's facilitating, but I know there are a few (take a look at the master Sig Series Creators thread). Edit: just saw both @dscott and @Kevlar are both taking subs and have threads here for FXC.

It's pretty good - it basically uses Ebay sales to track slabbed comic prices. It goes back much further than the 3 months you can get via Ebay yourself (I think it goes 2 years but not sure), and you can sort by grade, include both or either CGC / CBCS, and also just Signature Series books. I also like that you can click-through individual sales to look at the actual Ebay completed listing (I sometimes like looking at how the bidding went fthe most recent sales or any particular outliers). It doesn't include other auction sites (like Heritage) that GPA would, but it's also about half the price. Unless you're looking for pricing on more rarified books that don't transact frequently on Ebay, it's a very good indicator of where market prices are for slabbed books. Quite a few people on the boards use it as well.

I actually got the same book (though I got the graded 9.8 CGC SS version). Assume you know this, but just confirming - if you bought the signed but ungraded set, and are planning to get it slabbed by CGC, you do know because the signature wasn't witnessed by CGC, you're going to get a green qualified label (and not the yellow sig series label) right?

Agree and empathize with a lot of the points made already. In this day and age of comics becoming less and less popular, and local stores going out of business more frequently, you would think shop owners would be more motivated to offer good service to keep people coming into their stores. It amazes me that some don't, but who knows what their own internal motivations / perspectives are. I'm fortunate to have a really great LCS about 15min from work, which allows me to head over during lunch on Wednesdays to pick up my regular titles. I don't have a pull list (I enjoy the process, gets me away from the desk for "exercise" hah, and I can also pull the mintier copies to keep), but over time, the owner has gotten to recognize me and generally chat for a minute when I'm paying. It also helps that the store has a points system that tracks your purchases (get $5 credit every $100 in purchases), which 1) incentives me to use it, and 2) gives the owner instant access on what and how much I've been buying when I pay. They don't deal in slabbed books at all, but that's fine with me - I buy my regular on-going issues at my LCS, and my slabbed books online (where it would be cheaper anyways).

Yea would be free for your daughter, great idea! My daughter's just 1.5, but I hope to she'll show some interest in this in a few years! (On the ticket page, for the Child tickets, it says: "NOTE: Children 5 and under are free. Children 6-12 require a child pass")

per PM!

Yes, I'm also quite particular about the color of pen and how the signature looks. I have a set of the metallic gold / silver / bronze sharpies in addition to the usual black for use, and really like it when facilitators have strong attention-to-detail and do the same.