Davenport

Major difference between "gaming the system" and "a rigged game". Everything about the Grading System is designed to be gamed. CGC sells a point-in-time opinion for a fee. For another fee you can buy another point-in-time, another chance at getting the outcome you desire. And you have definition-caveates and satellite services that allow for and aid in manipulations. All that's different than "a rigged game" where an outcome is bought outright, where both the system and the game are an illusion.

I'm curious how long some posters think CGC graders spend on a book. 12 seconds? 20? Some of the posts seem like they imagine Graders do extensive CSI type investigative exams. I'd think it depends on the book. I'd venture a guess and say 30-60 seconds. Some more, some less depending on era, grade, resto, etc. Really? You think they average that much time per book? Either way, the point being reality is more churn & burn piecework than any imagined CSI treatment. I guess some math-head could average it out. CGC boated in 2012: Grades 2 Million Comic Books. The article states "over the past 11 years", with "submissions increased by 10 percent per year".

I'm curious how long some posters think CGC graders spend on a book. 12 seconds? 20? Some of the posts seem like they imagine Graders do extensive CSI type investigative exams.

Anybody else who thinks different is naïve. +1, this one looks like it will blow over in about one to two weeks. I would guess by mid afternoon the usual suspects will come along to ridicule anyone saying anything negative about CGC followed by a round of inappropriate post to get the thread locked. (thumbs u Yep. This is just a single book. The Ewert excel list had what?, 1300 certification numbers on it? This isn't a fiasco, it's the System being 'visible' for a nano-second. People are screaming "get it right!" about a System designed to "try, try, again". Someone could try for the 7.0 Blue if they wanted. Like scratch-off tickets, they might get lucky.

This part is up to all of us. PGX trashed their rep, the Vault is still new and I haven't heard of any concrete proof of wrong doing. The problem isn't with CGC in this aspect but rather all of us. For every 10 of us that say, screw CGC lets try the Vault or whatever new company pops up, there will at least be another 10 who best case scenario, don't care and keep going to CGC. People are so used to them that it's next to impossible to dethrone them. CGC didn't create monopoly, we the consumers gave them one. Someone has a PGX book we laugh and criticize, same thing with the Vault. We created this, it's our faults. I'm just as guilty, if I wanted a book graded, I go to CGC because people seemingly lose credibility if they don't. "The Difference is CGC" As long as CGC copies continue to sell for multiples of their raw counterparts....the truck will keep on...... truckin'. Is there another Auction House large enough to invest in and sponsor another Grading Company? Who's ever going to do that? ComicLink? And even if it did happen, CGC already has "marketing agreements" locked down across a buttload of vendors and retailers.

Your portal to the future.

Where are you going with this? Can you say it outright? "Comics receive generic barcoding upon receipt and our separate receiving department does not convey any information about the submitter to the graders." So if what CGC states is true what advantage do you think a large submitter would have?

What will be shocking is if this thread matters one whit six or so months from now. A bit of damage-control, a little logic-gymnastics, and life will go on. After all is calm and forgotten this thread can be scrubbed from existence like Ewert threads, Manufactured Gold, and all the other temporary irritant threads that went *poof*.

Yep, Walter White was character make-up, he doesn't actually look like that in daily life. So they could transition Cranston to Lex however they choose, if he were cast.

On of the weird things (to me) about Affleck being cast was the ages/timeline difference: " Bruce Wayne...a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter". If Batman and Superman aren't going to be traditional contemporaries, if they're re-imagining some oddball timeline, why not Cranston as an older Lex? In make-up he wouldn't have to appear as beatdown physically as Walter White was.

Somehow I never read any Dresden Files, but I finally got exposed to it through "Dangerous Women". The 5th story in the collection is “Bombshells” by Jim Butcher, starring Dresden's young female protégé. Man, it was so fresh and imaginative, so I did research to see where she entered the series and started there... Dresden Files # 8 "Proven Guilty". It was the perfect jumping on point and one hell of a tale. (thumbs u I'm thoroughly hooked now. And if anyone's looking for new authors to explore, grab "Dangerous Women". It covers all genres and lots of popular authors. I'm almost through it and have enjoyed every story so far.

Thanks for the link. (thumbs u Amazing work and cool turn-arounds. I guess it's safe to say the vast majority of commercial sculpts are now done inside ZBrush? The level of detail is mindblowing.

No contradiction. I think the word for these types of face sculpts is "aquiline", generic bordering on androgynous. Too-pretty manface, too-manly womanface, you know, same same.

I showed the picture of the statue to my 9 year old son last night and he asked why a man was dressed up as Wonder Woman, Now I feel vindicated. My earlier comments about it having the Seinfeld Supe's face...justified. Thank you highly perceptive small child.

I like it, but I suspect they're thinking it's too hard and severe with the slightest hint of masculinity. My comment about WW having the Bowen "Seinfeld" Superman face was actually the opposite. The Bowen Supes always struck me as having a somewhat feminized face sculpt. That, and probably the particular angle and lighting in that one WW image. So you're saying you are attracted to Jerry Seinfeld? Coz that's what I'm picking up. Hardly. Back when, I had a Superman statue collection in a lighted cabinet. Bowen Animated Superman, Bowen Seinfeld Superman, Alex Ross sculpt, a WB Studio sculpt, and others. A girlfriend at the time was looking them over and asked "What's up with the gay Superman?" When I asked what the hell she was talking about she pointed to the Seinfeld, "That one. The face looks like a fashion model's." And, you know, I couldn't really disagree with her. We'll just say it's an highly photogenic type face. How's that?

I like it, but I suspect they're thinking it's too hard and severe with the slightest hint of masculinity. My comment about WW having the Bowen "Seinfeld" Superman face was actually the opposite. The Bowen Supes always struck me as having a somewhat feminized face sculpt. That, and probably the particular angle and lighting in that one WW image.

thanks for the heads up My 1st thought on seeing this was Wonder Woman has the same face as the ol' Bowen "Seinfeld" Superman. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

yeah that would be a lot better or put her in her place and made her feel like mess. Love the show but wish they'd ease up on that soap opera 'enter scene-deliver two lines-exit scene' directing style. Gives it a stage play feel. And yeah, the Laurel character looks...not good.

Lex's agenda: 1) cure acne 2)world domination I guess the guy who plays the Kick Azz villian was already booked and unavailable.

Great idea and good info. (thumbs u I started a thread titled What An "Educated Buyer" must know and understand... sometime back. Once you get past some of the early-on threadcrapping there's some decent worthwhile information and POVs worthy of consideration in the thread.

If he cracks open the 'comic afterwards' pandora's box wouldn't it be practically endless? That would pull in almost every tv western, spy and sci-fi show ever. If a production had fans, odds are it got a comic book. Roy Rogers, Outer Limits, Man From U.N.C.L.E., Welcome Back Kotter, X-Files, like that. It might end up being less a 'list' and more an Overstreet-style booklet situation.

Thanks! Welcome. (thumbs u I was going to say "A Boy and His Dog (1976)" but turns out that bizarre movie was adapted from Harlan Ellison short stories. Oh well.

After... - Incredible Hulk, The (2008) toss in the "Iron Man" trilogy.

Here's a study/article all you reading-addicts might find interesting (and already knew or suspected). What happens to the brain on a really good novel... Brain function 'boosted for days after reading a novel' Being pulled into the world of a gripping novel can trigger actual, measurable changes in the brain that linger for at least five days after reading, scientists have said. Happy New Year!

Brainiac Attacks is by far the worst DC animated movie ever. I have no idea how it got approved and released. Don't waste your time! What is worth watching: Take the four Darkseid episodes from Superman: TAS, the two Darkseid episodes from Justice League and the two-part series finale of JLU and watch them together as a "movie." It is better than most of the live-action Superman movies. The series finale of JLU is a smackdown in the same vein as the Avengers movie. +1 on the Darkseid episodes. Superman:TAS is still the best screen-translation of the character to date imho. Batman:TAS overshadowed it, but Timm's Superman effort was just as stylish and well written in its own right.