RockMyAmadeus

A good lesson. If it makes you happy, it makes you happy, but never expect a return on investment, and always have a contingency plan in place so your heirs aren't stuck with mounds of worthless junk after you go. Easier said than done.

Yes, should. Now, you can disagree about this particular issue, and it's a matter of opinion (mine, too), but I think we can all agree that they should be consistent. Very little of CGC's policies are on paper, after all. I don't know that anyone wants things to change back and forth based on whim, right?

And yes, if the book is legitimate, it belongs in a green label, just like every other error should.

Since you are referring to me and my comments, I will respond. That is wonderful that you have had such a nice experience with them. Truly. However, there are facts which are indisputable, and those facts should not be glossed over or brushed under the rug, just because your own personal dealings with them have been positive. Jon McClure did not discover the 30/35 cent variants. Many collectors knew of these books, long before McClure's purported discovery. Overstreet printed examples of these books in the price guide, going back to about 1979. Claiming credit for a discovery you did not make calls your integrity into question. Irrespective of any other contribution someone may make to a field, claiming credit for a discovery you did not make taints the whole thing. Ben Nobel, and I assume "Angelo" ("The_Investor") called CGC, said they were being "cyber bullied", and CGC suspended me for three weeks, without anything beyond a cursory investigation, did NOT even bother with "my side", and when I pursued the matter with higher ups at CGC, the only response I was given was that "multiple people made the accusation"...as if the number of accusers is proof of the crime. As you, yourself, have vociferously complained, silencing people isn't the way to make your points. As well, Mr. Nobel's blog continues to contain errors and falsehoods which were brought to his attention, which he has refused to fix. This article is one of them, filled with errors, and unprofessional, immoderate gushing: https://rarecomics.wordpress.com/newsstand-vs-direct-edition-comics/ The Direct market started in 1973-1974...NOT 1979. He cites both Jim Shooter and Chuck Rozanski about it, who bother get critical details wrong, such as Rozanski's claim "only the most dedicated newsstands chose to keep comics available after 1987", which is not even remotely true. Comics could be found on newsstands and spinner racks throughout the country, well into the 90s. He cites Chuck's made up "Direct vs. newsstand sales" chart as gospel, when it is complete fabrication from a man who had nothing to do with the newsstand market past the mid 70s. He puts far, FAR too much emphasis on people's credentials..."the fallacy of the appeal to accomplishment or authority"...than whether what they're saying is true. And that's just the surface. So, the question comes back to the same thing it always does: "are you interested in actual scholarship, wherever that may lead you, or are you only interested in advancing your own beliefs, ideas, and agendas?" Until Mr. Nobel makes a serious effort to listen to (rather than attempt to silence) differing perspectives, he falls solidly into the latter camp. There are, indeed, two sides...and more...to the story. Someone once complained to me that a person "ought not be judged based on one bad decision." And that's absolutely true, but there's a caveat: if the bad decision is never resolved, never fixed, never even admitted...then that bad decision is still in effect. You steal from someone, even one time, you're a thief. It doesn't matter the good you may otherwise do, if you never make restitution, if you never pay back that theft, if you never even acknowledge that you did it or attempt to fix it...you're still a thief. All the good deeds in the world won't change that. They want to change that? They can start by acknowledging these things, and working to make restitution. They can make a serious effort to question their conclusions and not be so proud as to be willing to admit, then discard, where they are in error.

For reading? There are several trades of the first 50 issues of the new X-Men, including Dark Phoenix, nearly all of which is outstanding. I loved Mutant Massacre, but it was a little disjointed and unwieldy. That's X-Men #210-213, New Mutants #46, Thor #373-374, X-Factor #9-11, and Power Pack #27. Maybe one or two more. It was a great idea, and, really, the genesis of the Marvel mutant crossover events (the next one would be Fall of the Mutants.) Had they come up with a nifty cover logo, I think it would be even more of a standout. Whatever you do, don't read X-Men #214-267. None of it makes any sense. No, really. It doesn't. Age of Apocalypse is fun, and pretty self contained. All of this is in trade form, or cheap.

Being threatened with a lawsuit by Marvel is a badge of honor. Tell you what...I'll send you a copy of the first phonebook, on me. You read it, and tell me what you think. After that, you can sell it, give it away, shred it, whatever you want. But you have to read it. First 25 issues. Actually, I would prefer you gave it away to someone else, but it would be yours to do with as you please. PM your info, and I'll get one out to you as soon as I can (have to order one; don't know where my copies are.)

My grandmother loved Franklin Mint . The problem? No one got to examine it, admire it, use it. It got stuck on the wall, or stayed in its box, because my grandmother was afraid her "investment" would be damaged by little fingers...which was probably true. What kid is going to have any connection with things that can "look at, but don't touch!" None. So, when she died, we were left with...junk that no one wanted, because nobody cared. Money down the drain.

Serious question, as I don't know: has anything the Franklin Mint produced ever risen in value in the 55 years they've been in business? If not, there's the answer: manufactured "rarities" aren't valuable because people have no connection to them. It's the stuff that we knew at a young age, the stuff that was casual, every day, and commonplace, which we used and abused and mostly threw away, that has value to us as we get older, because it has the uncanny ability to transport us back to those moments, and due to the magic of forgetfulness, we usually only remember the good and the really good. Capturing that feeling is what makes us pay stupid money for these ephemeral pieces of mostly bad literature.

Anyone...quite literally...can buy 50 copies of Hulk #181 in a week. Say, you have a million dollars available, right now. You can have 50 copies of Hulk #181, in various grades, even a 9.8 or 5, in a week...maybe less. No need to pay silly prices; you just pay market prices, and you're good to go....with probably half a million or more to spare. But it does not matter how much money you have...you probably cannot buy 50 copies of Cerebus #1 in ANY grade in a year. You would have to start offering stupid money for owners to give up their copies. And all the money in the world won't cough you up a 9.8, and probably not even a 9.6. When you combine them with their history...Cerebus was a groundbreaker, and both books took part in the "B&W Explosion" of the mid-80s...both books were $100+ at the time Hulk #181 was $20...and you start to appreciate that appeal. Yes, Virginia, there really was a time when Cerebus #1 was the "it" book to own, and Hulk #181 was "who...?" The two most sought after back issues of 1985-1986? Cerebus #1 and TMNT #1. Hulk #181 wasn't even on the radar. Plus, both series and characters have lasted for decades; something incredibly rare in non-Marvel, non-DC terms. And...as the cherry on top, they're both quite epic in scope and substance, quality reads that still hold up, 30-40 years later, and far, far exceed the quality of your typical DC and Marvel of any time frame. That's the appeal of these kinds of books.

Nah. Not quite as small as you think.

No, I'm pretty sure there isn't one to be found. Dave's copies, which he carefully set aside, topped out at 9.4. I think I can say with absolute certainty that no Cerebus #1 exists in actual or potential 9.8 quality. Just like there's no Showcase #22 in 9.8, or Showcase #4 in 9.8 or, FF #1 in 9.8, or All Star #8 in 9.8, or most of DC's output before 1962 in 9.8. Which is kinda sad, all things considered, but there you have it. Quirks of history.

"Yes."

Sooooooo....$100,000+?

Looks just like peach Jello.

You DO remember that one! I didn't mention that it was sitting in the afternoon sun, day after day after day, getting bleachier and bleachier and bleachier. Made me sad. True story: guy kicked me out of the store for "hiding" some back issues. I did that a lot in my early 20s...didn't want it to sell, but didn't have the money, so I'd hide the books I wanted in a run of Godzilla or something and come back and buy them when I finally had some money. While I certainly understand why you wouldn't want your back stock out of order, his reaction was a bit extreme, in my view. I certainly wasn't shoplifting, and I would have eventually bought them. And, as the X-Men #94 story shows, they were terrible businessmen...

#137 is a strange beast. I'm not willing to risk cracking a 9.8 and having it grade "something else", and I'm not at all confident that I could get a 9.4 or 9.6 and have it grade 9.8. I have never been able to grade glued spine books the way CGC grades them. I don't know what they hit, and I don't know what they overlook, beyond broad strokes. That's one I'll probably end up buying already signed: no risk.

Are you talking about it....? PS. If you have anywhere else to sell that's better than eBay, I...er, "the seller"...would probably love to hear about it. Not even remotely. Again: you're talking about it. Maybe the seller understands human nature a little bit...? I am fascinated by what the image is that you think the seller is trying to cultivate, since "cultivate" implies a dedicated effort...

I went to the mall yesterday, and this is what I saw:

It's all relative. There are 538 blue label 9.8 X-Men #141.

That's Tommy. Nobody knows who he is. He's famous.

Well the 1995 Feb. Wizard has Cap # 286 at $ 6.00 in NM if that helps. Yes I have old Wizards need any more prices? That was a bit past the hype. When Deathlok the series came out (1991), the Deathlook appearances were pretty hot. That's back in the day when "appearances" were chased. Now...not so much.

Oh, hi mark!

That is excellent advice.