Iconic1s

On 2/19/2023 at 6:47 AM, CGC Mike said:

I have sent an e-mail asking.

Thanks Mike, will be really interesting to find out how this happened. 

On 2/18/2023 at 10:12 PM, CHASEnBLUE said:

Unreal. I have 24 pinks, 17 graded 9.8, and one graded 9.6. The rest will be graded over the next few months.

Can I just get ONE 9.9? 

Best of luck!!

On 2/18/2023 at 9:45 PM, Tnexus said:

Artist comps probably. Also the listing said limited to 300. It doesn't say only 300 exist. (Or at least I can't find that.)

Here’s the link to BTC’s IG post.  All 1000 books were supposed to go to CGC.  CGC was supposed to grade ONLY 300 9.8’s and destroy the rest.  Supposedly CGC was supposed to post a video at some point of the destruction (details are around 6 mins in).  This video doesn’t address artist comps, etc which we know have hit eBay raw.

My GUESS is that the other 20 9.8’s went to CGC or DC employees… otherwise it’s real weird that there are exactly 20 extra 9.8’s and no 9.6’s etc.  Also weird that we haven’t seen any of the EXTRA 20 pop up anywhere for sale anywhere.  Maybe @CGC Mike can shed some light as this was a shared CGC and BTC exclusive.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/Ch7ulqXpN2y/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

On 2/18/2023 at 8:46 PM, ak47po said:

Is BTC going through the whole periodic table of covers?

This is the one that gets me… 320 of a book limited to 300!  Guessing the other 20 aren’t numbered but would love to know where exactly 20 more 9.8’s came from… AND where they went??

On 2/18/2023 at 12:23 PM, 850chris said:

Speaking of milking it, was on ebay and saw a couple of comp copies of a bleeding-S blue foil variant that’s supposedly yet-to-be-released (different from the regular yellow-and-red S, blue-foiled one that BTC released a few months ago). 

There is one 9.8 of the Blue Foil BTC Exclusive in the Census already and two 9.8 ‘Black Foil!’  The Black doesn’t say BTC Exclusive so don’t know the story on that one  Dan Jurgens posted this pic on Twitter awhile ago.,,

There are also 17 9.9’s of the Pink now!  That’s crazy!

On 2/18/2023 at 8:19 PM, CHASEnBLUE said:

I'm gonna go broke getting all these covers...

Agree!  This Platinum is weird cause it’s basically the Adv of Superman 500 Platinum polybag but as far as I know this Superman 1 has nothing to do with the Death/Reign storyline.  Also wonder where the Superman 75 Platinum polygag Foil Edition is?

On 2/2/2023 at 1:37 PM, onlyweaknesskryptonite said:

I am alive.  Doing ok. Definitely been better, but now have been having to take care of my mother as well. Just had to rush her to the er this morning.  She had a blood transfusion yesterday and this morning woke up extremely winded and coughing up blood. 

I appreciate all the thoughts from all of you and definitely miss this place. I will try to check back, but definitely have to take care of heath and family.  

Hope you all are doing well. 

I hope you and your Mother are both okay!

I'm just a bit West if you need anything!  Seriously! 

On 1/27/2023 at 11:06 AM, CGC Mike said:

 

As is standard for CGC the identity of the submitter is never known to the graders. The books are signed before they are graded and at this stage the CGC Sig staff have the invoice information at the signing.

We do not show the artists the invoices, only the books, but Todd asked about this book and this person in particular and we absolutely do shoutouts at signings for cool books with the artists. Customers love an opportunity to have a one on one moment with the artist even from afar.

This is also how we surprise customers with facetime calls from the artists. This is one of the big allures of doing an in-house signing.

Books are not signed differently depending on who they belong to. All customers receive the same signature from the artist.

 

Thank you.

On 1/26/2023 at 11:08 AM, CGC Mike said:

I'll ask about this.

Thank you!  I'm not trying to trip anyone up here, would just like to know.  Honestly though, I think I would be less enthused to submit to future signing if both the CGC staff and the signer is aware of whose books they are signing.  I am completely aware that there are much cooler and well connected people than myself in this hobby.  I don't want to wonder if my request for, for example a 'Doomsday' sketch that came back as a 'Superman' sketch instead had anything to do with my lack of coolness.  Thanks again!

In this video on IG Todd talks about a ‘one of a kind’ book he is signing.  He also mentions the submitter’s name.

I was under the impression that once CGC receives books that they were barcoded and the submitters identity was then unknown throughout the process. I reviewed the CGC grading procedures and it’s clear for ‘grading’ but not for signings.

I asked this question on IG and CGC has not replied to it (I did have some other ‘unhelpful’ people chime in though).

I think it’s a legitimate question that I would like clarity on… during in-house private signings do the signers get to know whose books they are signing?

I think CGC’s silence on IG about this is telling, and I personally think they should NOT know. It’s not like at an in-person signing where you can smooze to get a better sketch/signature. It’s the ‘world’s most trusted third party grader’ taking possession of your books to have them worked on and I think the impartiality goes out the window if it is known who the books belong to when they are signed.  If I’m some cool dude/seller that the signer knows I get an awesome sketch, but if I’m just some average Joe I get the minimum effort.  Even the perception that this is possible is not right.  Again, it’s CGC getting the books signed on our behalf, not us at a show chatting up anyone.

@CGC Mike

On 1/21/2023 at 8:55 PM, ADAMANTIUM said:

you might want to try a regular thread to pose the question but idk, the only person that I can think who 

 

anything might be @Iconic1s for the supes, or @Cpt Kirk for the certain type of packaging for sale, other than that I'm at a loss, but again, maybe they then know someone to tag  I always forget about this thread to check it  

That’s really cool!  I have never ran across that pack in my collecting!  Wish I had though!

On 1/20/2023 at 9:47 AM, wytshus said:

 

It's what I was told to do.

 

Mine is not to reason why.....

Not blaming you at all, seriously!

I know you are just the messenger.

Here’s just an example of a Custom Set and then I’ll just stop…

Notice multiple copies of the same book with custom slot names to suit the owner’s (mine) intention.

I think this makes a lot more sense than two slots for the same Comic ID book in ‘competitive’ sets especially when someone can put a direct in the ‘newsstand’ slot (and vice versa) that was created.  Just super weird.  Take care and good luck!

On 1/20/2023 at 12:40 PM, THE_BEYONDER said:

15 printings. Wow

Do you have them all?

I wish!  I have the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 15th in 9.8.  The 5th in 9.4 and the 6th in 9.6. Problem is that a lot of them look the same and if someone doesn’t already say what printing they are selling I don’t like to ask because then I imagine them cracking it open to check 

I’m always looking though!

On 1/19/2023 at 2:58 PM, wytshus said:

It's not perfect, and yes, either book can be added to that slot.

I really do appreciate what you are trying to do and I know you will never be able to please everyone… but two slots for the same book and naming one newsstand just because?!

On 1/18/2023 at 11:55 PM, Microchip said:

 Is it s something thats likely to change as the newsstand population fills out?

Herein lies the problem. Unless CGC had recognized these books in the Census from day one (which they didn’t), the GRADED number of newsstands will NEVER be accurately known. All this discussion about points is based only on people’s opinions and guesses in regard to how rare a book ‘might’ be.  Meanwhile they are creating slots and we’re still attempting to rationalize a point system based on completely unreliable data.

The only thing that should have been done is to add the newsstand annotation in the Pedigree field and leave it at that… no extra slots, no discussion of points based on rarity/census data.

Honestly, I think the competitive Registry is about to be ruined to please newsstand collectors. @wytshus  What is so wrong with one slot per Comic ID/indicia?  Then, if someone chooses to display their newsstand there with the cool Pedigree note then good for them. Heck, you have two pic slots so display both if that floats your boat!  What is really happening now is two slots in competitive sets where a newsstand exists (but it sounds like either book can be added there).  What this does is give people an edge that decide to collect newsstands also. I joked earlier about creating a slot for Signature Series books (same Comic ID) but I would never actually think that’s a good idea… when I decided I wanted to display my Universal AND Sig Series copy of my books together I created a CUSTOM SET and that’s what these newsstand guys should be doing IMO.

On 1/17/2023 at 2:48 PM, wytshus said:

As far as the registry is concerned, this is NOT considered a variant.  I can, and I have, created new slots with a newsstand title.  However, the book in that slot will be populated with the first run book, and will have the score associated with the first run.

Hello, I'm still a bit confused by this.  If the newsstand and direct have the same Comic ID aren't they then still the same book for registry slot purposes?

If so...

Then basically what we are doing here is adding a second slot to a set for the same book with the same Comic ID and calling it a "newsstand slot.'  If I understand the idea of a 'Comic ID' correctly then it sounds like a person could also add a direct copy of the book in the newsstand slot (Same Comic ID).

Whew!  So if I am tracking correctly what will happen is that we'll have TWO slots for the same book in a set, one just called a 'newsstand slot' but where a person could in fact add either a newsstand or direct copy...

Maybe I'm just misunderstanding but If that's what's happening then this is kind of strange...

On 1/17/2023 at 2:48 PM, wytshus said:

I firmly believe if someone takes the time and expense to submit books to be graded by CGC, they should be able to add it to the Registry.  I also believe that the scoring system is untenable in it's current form.  The Census does not, and should not, reflect the open market.  

I agree and based on the Comic ID there is nothing currently precluding anyone from displaying a newsstand copy in any of the slots where there is a newsstand and direct copy of a book with the same Comic ID right now... it's the same book indicia-wise.

Again, if the Comic ID is the same and you create an additional slot named 'newsstand' all that has happened is that now a person could put two copies of the same book in the set (if I understand correctly).

That said, let's take it a step further.  If the Comic ID is the same and the only difference is a 'newsstand' annotation in the Pedigree field and we create a slot based on a Pedigree field, then to ensure uniformity, shouldn't there be an extra slot added for any other book in any set where a Pedigree labeled book exists (I personally think that's absurd but that will be next if what I think is about to happen happens).

Would sincerely appreciate any further clarification on my above perception.  Thank you!

P.S. Lastly would just say that if this is all being done to please the newsstand collectors then shouldn't extra slots also be added so we can add both a Universal and Signature Series copy of our books in the same set?  I think that's crazy too but hey, as long as we're adding all these extra slots to look after every niche collector, why not?  I think we are super blurring the lines between a competitive and custom set when we have two slots for the same book IMO.

On 1/18/2023 at 11:08 AM, Yorick said:

It looks like they matched the serial # to the book number.  That's pretty neat.  Too bad they didn't have a Superman label to use with this book.

Yeah, I thought that was cool too!  Every one I checked on eBay also lines up… I agree about the label.  I’m not big on the custom labels but this book, and the other 30th Anniversary books would have been a nice occasion for one.

On 1/16/2023 at 1:30 PM, Microchip said:

But then it gives guys a chance to move ranks, newsstands can easily act like tie breakers on the smaller sets.

The problem with this is that some people don’t have any interest in newsstands… again, indicia-wise no difference.  Why should someone be forced to collect a second copy of the same book to compete?  The difference is in a hypothetical of distribution, ‘rougher handling’, destruction, etc.  I know some guys are really into this and have been crunching numbers for years on newsstand distro, etc and still aren’t sure exactly what the distro was on some of these. There is NO WAY CGC can claim to have worked this all out (I’m not even going to mention their claim that they have ‘extensively researched’ multi-pack books and so on).  And, EVEN IF THEY DID FIGURE IT OUT (which they didn’t), it doesn’t even matter… what this all really hinges on is the Census numbers of GRADED copies and with this change coming in 22 years late it will NEVER be correct enough to base scoring on.

For me it boils down to an extra slot for a book with the same indicia, which is pure insanity and/or extra points being arbitrarily assigned to a book because CGC ‘thinks’ it might be rarer.

So what happens when everyone starts submitting their newsstand copies of a low Census book and the newsstand now is two or three times more common in ‘graded form’ than the direct?  Does that newsstand then get assigned less points?

I know the newsstand guys are celebrating this change but I think it’s going to make a Registry that is already nearly unmanageable with the number of ‘variants’, truly impossible to deal with, while also sticking it to anyone not willing to jump on the newsstand bandwagon.  All this based on no REAL data. @wytshus

Again, I’m all for the Pedigree slot being used for those that don’t know what a barcode/newsstand looks like (heck, even break them down in the Census if it thrills someone to look at bogus numbers) but not all this added slot/extra points craziness.

On 1/13/2023 at 7:31 PM, Le Chat Noir said:

The problem with attributing more points to newsstands, is that not all newsstands are accounted for.

Hypothetically, a bunch of people will drop rank and/or not want to resubmit their whole collection.

Or (if you are not a newsstand collector, and don’t intend to be) not care about the competitive Registry at all anymore…

Some people have put way too much work into sets to suddenly have slots added for books that are no different indicia-wise from their direct counterparts… or to see newsstands arbitrarily awarded extra points when the Census of GRADED copies will NEVER be accurate enough to reflect actual relative scarcity…  

Keep newsstand in the Pedigree field and leave it at that…

@wytshus

On 1/14/2023 at 10:45 AM, ADAMANTIUM said:

Picks of the REST!!! LOL

Congrats  Idk it existed  

Nah, just a bunch of DC Bloodlines stuff that no one cares about 

And thank you!! 

On 1/14/2023 at 1:12 AM, CHASEnBLUE said:

A bit worried about OWK @onlyweaknesskryptonite

I hope and pray he is doing okay. From our recent conversations Monday, sounds like he is having a bit of a time...

Hang in there buddy, we're thinking about you.

Definitely!  Many well wishes for @onlyweaknesskryptonite!! 

On 1/9/2023 at 9:14 PM, Joshua912003 said:

Got these back last month. Thought I would share. I was really hoping for a 9.8 on my death of Superman book. 

 

All of those are really nice but that blue ink on Superman 75 looks super sweet!!  Congrats!!