Iconic1s

On 3/1/2024 at 9:02 AM, Brandon Shepherd said:

When you get a 9.6 grade.

Best of luck!! 

On 9/11/2023 at 7:30 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

A year or two ago, I bought a nice looking copy of Justice League America #70, 3rd printing on eBay. I had aspirations of following in @Iconic1s footsteps, who had made two 9.8 examples of this tough book through his own submissions. I was very happy for him but also, deep down inside, a little jealous. 

The book arrived safely and looked beautiful. I thought I had a great candidate for pressing. A day or two later, I took a closer look and noticed a color breaking stress mark on the spine.

  Reveal hidden contents

No way this copy would get the desired 9.8, even with a press.

Then last week, when I least expected it, a 9.8 third printing was listed on eBay, for a very reasonable price.

I now have the first, second and third printings in CGG 9.8!

I would love to follow again in Iconic1s footsteps and submit a raw copy of the 4th printing to CGC, and make a 9.8. The few raw copies on eBay right now do not look good. As of this writing, he is the first and only one to be successful, it took him several tries to get the lone 9.8 on the census - the 4th printing is not an easy book.

This is my childhood copy, from a Toys “R” Us two pack. The book looks good but the spine has several color breaking stress marks.

I love checking books off this list.

For my new JLA 3rd printing, it turns out the eBay seller is YouTuber James from Mint-Hunter Comics.

At about 1:54 he mentions the JLA 70, turns out the book was only listed for about four minutes before I snagged it.

I have enjoyed watching his videos over the last few years and I’m thrilled to have a book from him.

Happy Hunting!

P.S. I have a sexy coffee table.

 

 

Great looking book!  Congrats on adding it to your collection!!

This one appears to have some foxing and probably should have been a bit lower, but the rest are solid 9.8’s.  Great job!

On 3/13/2023 at 8:50 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

HAF on 9.8 mountain!

This is my first submission with three or more books to get a clean sweep of 9.8 grades.

Awesome!  Congratulations!

On 2/14/2023 at 7:33 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

I’m slipping in my old age. I finally dropped the package containing these books at the post office. 

Good luck!

On 1/31/2023 at 8:31 PM, drjimwillie said:

I was looking at Iconic1s set, the descriptions and pictures are a blast.  I am sure I will spend time looking at the pictures and reading the descriptions. Thank you for that. 

I appreciate that!

On 1/31/2023 at 8:31 PM, drjimwillie said:

What should I do with those books?

I messaged you.  It's cool to see someone new here excited about this set of books, and hope I can offer some worthwhile advice!

Fingers crossed for you!!  They all look great!! 

On 1/9/2023 at 9:47 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Starting 2023 off right!

This is only the second 9.8 in the census for this second printing. The first 9.8 was graded in 2012, that’s quite a gap between entries.

These look really good together.

The fourth printing is VHTF, if another 9.8 for that one come out of the woodwork that would be amazing. What would be even better is if two more Universal 9.8s appeared for the fourth printing, one for me and one for a friend. 

Looks great!  Congrats my friend!!

On 11/18/2022 at 4:57 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Maybe it would look more authentic if I cracked the books out and placed them on top of a giant newspaper mock-up.  If I did that then also I wouldn’t have fret over holder inconsistency. 

Excellent idea!  Just be sure to return the labels to CGC… don’t want this photo-op to be the reason the census ends up being unreliable! 

On 11/18/2022 at 2:10 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Ever get really bored?

That’s awesome!  I think that newspaper was included with one of the sealed packs if you want to give that a try! 

On 11/9/2022 at 7:19 AM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Nooooooooooooooooooo! 

You know what would be cool? If the grade date ends up being November 18th, the 30th anniversary of the death of Superman! 

That would be really cool!

On 10/29/2022 at 8:57 PM, 1950's war comics said:

the odds are astronomical of that happening

You are right!  I also dream of owning a 1969 Boss 429 Mustang!  Reality stinks sometimes! 

Awesome entry!!  Congrats on the 9.8’s!!

On 10/15/2022 at 10:57 AM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Thank you! I gotta keep the momentum going on these submissions. I’d be thrilled to make a 9.8 on the Superman #73. It was a book that eluded me for several years. If it does come back in 9.8 then I’d get to say I made half of the Doomsday teaser issues in said grade. The TPB would be a real home run also.

That would be really cool!  My dream is to submit a 9.9 of ANY book! 

On 10/15/2022 at 8:48 AM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Now to test my packing skills by hitting the sealed box with a baseball bat! 

Good luck my friend!  Really excited about this one for you!

On 9/1/2022 at 7:12 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Boom!

Just four more to go to have the complete Reign of the Supermen line in 9.8!

Beautiful book!  Congratulations!

On 8/8/2022 at 8:20 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Funny story, I got my second printing in 2018, I think it was the lone 9.8 at the time. I went back and fourth with a few offers and got it for I think $75, I don’t  recall how much exactly. Then several months later another 9.8 appeared on eBay, it went for only $25. I was so pissed! Turns out that was your copy! I’ve also cooled down since then. 

Yeah, I’m still amazed I got that one for $25.00!

Congrats again on the third printing!  It’s a beauty!

Those all look great!  Congratulations!!

On 6/30/2022 at 6:21 PM, onlyweaknesskryptonite said:

with the way both of these last in house signings have gone , I have cancelled my auto renew and will not be a paid member anymore. I will not be submitting anymore until they get this chit show together. 

They are certainly making a lot of mistakes!  Again, sorry you are experiencing all this aggravation!

This one is pretty sweet though!

On 6/30/2022 at 5:53 PM, onlyweaknesskryptonite said:

got a CGC 9.8 and the Perez Label! 

Congrats on this one!  And this one!

WOW!

Really bummed they are not getting this right for you!  Great books that deserve to be done right!  Best of luck this time!

On 5/12/2022 at 6:29 PM, onlyweaknesskryptonite said:

So now for the nasty surprise that was hiding and the reason all 3 have to go back.. again..again.... 

hard to see in scan although still wanted to add these as you can see the inner well isn't really heat sealed well in random places on some of them, but the big issue. Puddling..

all 3..   

Seriously CGC WTF?!?!?!

That stinks! So sorry to see this! 

On 4/11/2022 at 9:07 PM, onlyweaknesskryptonite said:

Next two I now have no real way of telling them apart so unfortunately they will both have to go back.

One is signed on interior page by both Terry Austin and John Byrne.  (Really though this would at least get the notation of writing on interior page and possible Green / Yellow label. ) would still take the hybrid label if they would just note that there is at least writing or  signatures . 

The other is a Double Cover. No mention.  No separate inner outer cover grades.  

So again both of these and the other will have to make a return trip.. 

so out of 4 of them 3 will have to go back. Will be contacting them in the next couple days for the label and Mechanical Error.  I will update through this process.  

That’s a bummer!  Best of luck sending both of these back… those are some pretty big misses from CGC 

On 4/10/2022 at 8:47 AM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Here I go again in my ReHolder delirium.

 

Why do I do this to myself!? Two of these are cracked, two are older holders that would look better in new holders due to the darker cover tones. Some covers just don’t do well in the previous generation holders because of the plastic clarity. It’s still risky due to the QC issues, there is also the chance old Newton will put a ring on it, and that inner well scuffing… 

Good luck!  I’m sure all will go well!  I have a few I’d like to send in too… three are signature series that are begging to be in new holders.  The thing deterring me is TATs more than QC issues,  Will be exciting to see how long yours take!

On 3/21/2022 at 7:29 PM, Brandon Shepherd said:

Man, these two look good together!

Congratulations!  Couldn’t agree more… those look great!!

On 2/25/2022 at 8:29 PM, onlyweaknesskryptonite said:

Glad that it arrived safe and that you like it.  It was hard to let go. Out of the three 9.8  currently on the census two of those were mine. One was sold last year.  This one does look good in your set. 

I definitely agree they are ghosts. 

Congratulations!

I join Brandon in thanking you for making more than just this book a reality in 9.8. I have also benefited from your submissions, and have at least one other super hard to find book from this set in 9.8 because you were smart enough to grab these later printings ‘back in the day.’

If I remember correctly @joeypost worked on both books!

Congrats again Brandon, those look great together and it’s so much fun to read about them in your Journal!!