Not A Clone

6 minutes ago, entalmighty1 said:

It's not as "Wild West" as you think it is really.  Most of the people I've gotten to know through IG have been extremely friendly, passionate collectors just like most everybody here. 

Just stay away from those ridiculous raffles.  That's the one thing I can't wrap my head around.  These guys are raffling off books, charging for spots in the raffle.  The only problem is, they're collecting 150-200% FMV for each book they raffle, sometimes more.  Sure, some collector is getting a decent deal, but the person running the raffle is making out like a bandit.  I have no idea why anyone indulges that practice.

Sounds like buying a lottery ticket. How much do they charge? I guess my biggest concern with that would be how do you know it isn't fixed? Seems like that would be easy to do. 

20 minutes ago, Ak49 said:

Well that's been 3 replies (thank you all by the way!) so I will now fess up.. In my limited grading experience I definitely went higher and put it at Very Fine (old scale), or an 8 (number scale). I have no doubt all of your experience is much greater than mine, so I'm guessing I'm off.

I used two tutorials for my grading analysis: Heritage Auctions site, and MyComicShop. The Heritage site actually led me to believe that the color rub that Not A Clone mentions could still allow it to fall at an 8. Also, when I compare my book to others I found on eBay, and looked at their photos and their grades, I could immediately see that the sheen and color of mine was better than many, but this does not come across in my pics because I don't have a scanner, just an iPhone  

So, I am holding hopefully at an 8, but completely open to any of you telling me why it's really more of a 5/ very good.

Thanks again!

I would like to know too  I'll stick with my 7.5

5.5

1.8

4.0

Ok one more for practice. 

More practice pics. Here's a pretty nice John Byrne Iron Fist book. This had a grade sticker on it when I bought it. I'll post it later. 

Nice book! I'd give it a 7.5. That color rub/scratch on the upper left blue above Marvel Comics Group keeps it from being an 8.0 I believe. Have any more you forgot about?

I'm missing something 

7 minutes ago, ADAMANTIUM said:

2.5 or 2.0 can't decide which.....probably 2.5... ratty enough not to be 3.0 and just not too far gone for no return of 2.0....  

I buy raw keys like that all the time Batman 395, All Star Comics 58 etc, just happen to be at the right place and time (not online, shipping would make it cost too much, but more bargain bins etc.), and if they're cheap enough, why not?  

Yeah I think I paid $6-7 for this. Just wanted a reader and I loved the old Iron Fist stuff. He wa probably my 2nd favorite behind Spidey. My only question on the grade is according to "the grading guide" this can't be higher than a 1.0 because the stamp is cut out. Anyone know if this is true for the Marvel Value Stamps?.

More practice pics. The Marvel Value Stamp is cut out of this. Doesn't affect story. 

Just now, ADAMANTIUM said:

Your going to have fun this grading contest  I think there are several throughout the year! I have yet to be too high up in any winner circle though  

I think because in PGM thread, I pick and choose my battles on which I choose to estimate....

Got to get in the practice sometime ha. THANKS for posting the book!

more coming! The GA stuff seems to be  where I have the most problems. I don't have any GA so I try to look at all of the stuff posted here for practice.

11 minutes ago, ADAMANTIUM said:

I think that the back looks good enough to keep it from being 3.5 and the front from a 4.5 ..... it is a bit dirty on the back, but I think at that grade level... it matter's not....  

I remember getting this. I bought a book from someone on EBay and they threw this in the box to get rid of it lol. I'll have to pay it forward.

Just for some grading practice to prepare for the upcoming Grading Extravaganza I thought I would post a few random books for your grading pleasure/practice. 

Awesome miscut on this one  I'm going to have to look it up before I can add my guess. If this was a 9.8 type book with this bad of a cut what would it get? Im saying 7.5. Would love some help on this one though.

1 minute ago, ADAMANTIUM said:

MY initial gut reaction is 4.0..... seems too bad for 4.5 and not "quite" a 3.5....  

That's my guess also. Looks like an average beater.

Just for some grading practice to prepare for the upcoming Grading Extravaganza I thought I would post a few random books for your grading pleasure/practice.

Yep these are both beautiful. 9.0/9.4 If that little bend could be pressed on the 325 I think it could go even higher. Kudos!

28 minutes ago, kav said:

The best find of all is finding a stack of high grade GA comics in a box next to a dumpster.

That would be incredible! 

5.0 

I think the overall condition bumps it up from a 4.0 with the spine roll to a 4.5. 

It fits every description of a 5.0 if you use the grading guide, but something tells me Bob is correct. So 4.5 is you're safer bet. 

2.5

I'm not a TPB collector, but I will buy the occasional Omnibus or TPB of a run or story of something I really enjoyed, but don't collect. An example would be, I loved Jonathan Hickman's Avenger/New Avenger run that lead into the latest Secret Wars a couple of years ago. I bought the first Omnibus and the SW Hardcover and am getting the 2nd Omnibus in July. I'll do the same for Jason Aaron's God of Thunder/Mighty Thor run. I'll sell off the floppies after that. It's one way to keep my space tidy and keep focus on what I actually collect vs keeping everything I read.   

Definitely a find. I don't really do much speculating. Finding a hidden gem in a box or even something that completes a run that has been eluding you is a great feeling. 

1 hour ago, justafan said:

so somewhat similar to the v2 series where they kept the legacy numbering on the barcode but this time will do it on the actual trade dress below the new numbering?  will this be considered Vol 5?

 

I'm not 100% sure but I think it's Vol 6. They had 2 new #1's between 700 & 800. Vol 2 ended with 700.5 I believe. Then 789-801 would be the 5th. At least that's how MyComicShop breaks it down. Superior Spider-Man is now counted in the Amazing #'s which is how they got to 800. It's 701-731 I believe.Here's an example from the newest Black Panther #1. Similar to vol 2. I guess it's their compromise. They feel like they can't bring in new readers who may be intimidated by a high number and also realize people like us hate the re-numbering. However for some reason they didn't do it on every book. Daredevil still has the 600's going. Perhaps they are waiting on the current run to end.

6 hours ago, justafan said:

Ugh I am so tired of this. Why is Marvel bothering doing a relaunch/reboot AGAIN? because of a new artist/writer taking over, because they made it to 800 issues after going through all that trouble justifying how the renumbering would work out, or just because that is the only way they are making money on comics?  they could easily keep the numbering and pump out insane retailer incentive variants regardless of the numbering.  you know they will do it all over again at issue 900 and especially 1000 like or worse than the action comics variants.  why do they keep doing this over and over again?

this is literally the definition of insanity or stupidity, not sure which.

The only good thing with the series that are going back to #1 is they have a 2nd LGY (legacy) number right below the new number. So the new ASM will have a LGY-802 right below the #1.