SteppinRazor

I would assume that whoever collects the fee is getting some portion of it.

Ok, so as an educator, you make knowledge available to students, for which you earn a salary. You aren't further beholden to students. You don't owe them teaching at any other occasion except when you are paid by the college to teach at designated times. Summer school however is not analogous to a con, because you are still paid by your employer. A more fitting analogy would be if you were invited to a conference to speak on the subject that you teach. It is your own time, for which the college is not compensating you (as a con is for an artist). At that point, you can choose to fly to the conference, stay at a hotel, and lecture for free, or you can ask that the conference organizers pay for your stay. When you get there, you can give your lecture and depart. If someone asks for more from you, it is up to you whether to give that for free. No one should expect or demand that you will give more than your lecture, which you have either been paid to give or chose to spend your own money to get there and deliver it.

I have a real job. Even though it often isn't valued as such. Also, like you, I pay for my computer. I pay for it through working to create something of value and getting compensation for it, as you do in your job. So far I've tried unsuccessfully twice to get a forum member to apply the same logic to their employment, but I'll ask again - what do you do for a living? You get paid for your work, what are you responsible for beyond your hours worked for pay? I don't think it's a question of owing. Artists who are asked to donate are asked for their efforts for free. Art shows are paid for by artists' fees. Galleries earn commissions off of artists. Comics are an art form, pulbishers make money off of the art of writers and illustrators. These middle men are sometimes necessary, but the impetus for all of it is someone creating something for others to purchase. Someone who purchases a comic is not 'allowing' the creator to exist any more than your employer 'allows' you to exist. You generate something at your work every day, and you get paid for it. Not to go off topic, but if you're a painter, you might want to consider only donating by doing live painting. Then you can meet the people who might buy your work and add collectors, while having a reason for standing next to your work.

I'm an artist in a different medium as well. I can't tell you how many times I've had this conversation (even the same words) with friends in the same/similar boat. Somehow making something exist is of little consequence in our society. Instead, you get people who think they're doing you a favor because they like something you made.

PGM Uncanny X-Men 266 Hi all. Perusing my copy of UXM 266, and I flip it over to look at the back and, sonofamotherlessgoat, there's a crease right at the very corner. Thoughts?

I suggest posting a couple of them in the spare a grade forum, might give you a better handle on what to look for. My nemesis is spine tics. And to parrot the others, definitely look at sold listings, both for cgc graded and raw copies. That'll give you the spread. From there, you'll have to do the math for figuring out what's worth grading.

BTW, I read in the grading issues forum there seems to be a crackdown on finger bends if that's what you have in the corner. Maybe someone here or in that forum can tell you if finger bends are pressable.

I don't really know how to grade the tape issues, but if I had to guess, I'd give it a (5.0) (scroll over to see). Without the tape issues, a (6.5) Your corners are pretty good. You've got a bit of color wear near the spine, and the back is a little dirty. Not very many spine tics though, and the front cover looks great other than the tape issues.

You pay for the creativity that you receive when you buy a comic book. You couldn't write your own story and draw your own art and print a product that others can re-sell for their own profit. You pay other people to do those things for you. What do you do for a living? Something you do that others can't/don't, so you can earn money. Artists get paid to be at the con, sure. If you go on a business trip, do you pay for all of it out of pocket, no expensing? And do you get paid for the work you do while out of town? If there's a demand for an artist's time, then they should be paid for it. What is three days of your time worth? Will you go into work and tell your employer that Mon through Weds is on you, he only has to pay for thurs and fri next week?

Pick your freebies?

Sweet, thanks!

Set #4: Sold

Not at all. I think the idea belongs to the Buddha more than me

Looks like the BA12 has color breaks on the spine tics too. I'd give it a: (9.0) (highlight to see) For the IM, the missing corner at the back (or is it a stain?) and the creases on the bottom front put it at a: (4.0) to me

It doesn't apply to just this instance, but somehow even though it shouldn't, it always surprises me how much people decide that the way others find happiness is unacceptable. If a person is happy getting a signature and getting it verified and preserving that comic, what's the harm? If a guy gets a signature and gets it verified and preserves that comic and sells it to someone who wants it and couldn't get it, so what? That buyer's happy. The person who stood in line to do the work makes money they can use to further their happiness or their family's happiness. And for what - to appreciate the creator so much they want his name written on their comic they are willing to go through all that, plus pay the creator. But no, somehow we have to approve or disapprove of how someone else finds a little joy in life. And it usually doesn't even make the judger any happier either

I wonder what's so annoying about it

What's the parking situation - hotel lot/free? Are all the dealers local? Thanks

Wrong letter at the end. Unless it was a surprise ending I suppose

I'm not sure, but I think that was the first elseworlds. Sent mine in as part of a prescreen. It's a good tale.

Price drop Ebay can be hard to use as a guide

New price. C'mon, you can actually read these!

Are the plain priority boxes not flat rate? I take it they aren't free I got the 11 x 8 1/2 x 5 1/2. For my submissions, I wrapped the 5 comic bundles with 1/8" foam (for packaging dishes), then the cardboard. I was also able to stuff a sheet of the foam around the edges once in the box. You're right, it's a tight fit, and the cardboard on the tops and bottoms isn't a whole lot bigger than the comics. I'm surprised the weight of the cardboard doesn't push your smaller count packages to close to the flat rate. In any case, I haven't been too successful selling lots, so it might be a moot point

Which box are you talking about? The flat rate medium box I picked up to test from the post office holds 37 bagged and boarded comics with no padding, and 3 bundles of 5 in a cardboard sandwich with foam/bubblewrap.

If only we didn't have the rule, I would add a joke to this

Aside from the thing we can't see, the only thing I see is a bit of a fuzzy corner on the top of the spine on the back. I would say grade: (9.8) (scroll over) if the invisible flaw is pressed out