The Green Ghost

I don't mean to sound unkind, but this isn't the death of Superman black bag... it's an envelope with your address on it. I'm not seeing the value in that at all, unless the goal is to hide a stinker 1/2 issue like Darkchylde or something. Open it!

11 hours ago, Lightning55 said:

Or try selling it as graded.  You'd almost expect the buyer to be emailing you immediately that it's not even close.  And you know he's right, but now you find yourself defending the CGC grade.  Or agreeing and taking a return, postage on you, probably, both ways.

Over-grading is just as bad as under-grading.  Both are bad, and that's why we pay to get a professional opinion.  We just want it to be the correct grade so that we can proceed from there.

I did see a seller on eBay, I think it was a Thor 337 involved, who was selling a 9.6 but stated immediately he didn't agree with the grade, so was pricing it $100 lower.  Now that is some bold integrity.

 

I'm keeping the book so not an issue for me unless I decide to sell it and try for a higher grade. It just would be nice to know if it objectively stands at the grade it was given.

On 6/19/2020 at 9:08 PM, brentdevil said:

Was just going to post this, got a book graded in early 2020 where the inner well is loose on all sides. Sliding around about a millimeter like OP said. I don't know how much it "bothers" me as it'll just lay upright in a box unless i move again, but could it cause damage? Could it have come loose in the first place from a bumpy shipping transit? Not sure whether to let it go if it'll affect the comic at all, or not.

Upon further inspection the inner well is completely loose and sliding up/down left/right, but only about in that millimeter of space. In fact, I'm not sure if this happened during shipping, but a small piece broke off of the very top of the inner well and is lodged on the side. It's not moving and is not really in the way enough to bother me though. Is this a major problem that needs resubmission, or more to the point is the well loose enough that this is going to cause damage over the long run? It's snug in the well/sleeve so I can't really see it personally...   

It's funny you bring this up as I also have a 300 with similar back cover issues, and I DID send it for a clean and press. They got the front cover looking practically 9.8, but the back has color break creases that did not leave, which leads me to think just didn't do the back since this same problem on the front was eliminated. It is possible, though, but I agree that it won't substantially improve as that book is a 7.5 dripping wet. I can try to take pics of mine later if it would really help.

I honestly think so. I have a Giant Size X-Men 7.5 that looks like a 6.5 on a good day. I'd give a 6 or 5.5 if it were me. It has multiple creases on the cover itself, folded overlap and a spine tear, yet 7.5 it is. I'm fine with it if it's a legit 7.5, but it drives me crazy thinking if I send it for a press clean and regrade it'll get LOWER.

Someone also mentioned Detective Comics 474 for first modern Deadshot- nowadays is 475 rarer/more key/whatever due to people going crazy for a classic Joker cover, or does 474 still beat it?

On 6/16/2020 at 10:22 PM, steveinthecity said:

Kirby and Batman likely account for over a dozen “keys” from that era.  GL another few. Without including Wonder Woman, war, romance, Bats or Kirby here’s a starter list:

Any GL and WW Crimebuster and the others didn't already list?

I had thoughts on 1st Guy Gardner, and WW 199 seems to be the first Human Target.

Was just going to post this, got a book graded in early 2020 where the inner well is loose on all sides. Sliding around about a millimeter like OP said. I don't know how much it "bothers" me as it'll just lay upright in a box unless i move again, but could it cause damage? Could it have come loose in the first place from a bumpy shipping transit? Not sure whether to let it go if it'll affect the comic at all, or not.

2 hours ago, Myowncollector said:

 

I did see that. Anything more recent, or anyone have any thoughts?

There have been many lists of Marvel Bronze Age keys and a consensus seems to have been reached almost, but I cannot find any good list of the DC Bronze Age keys. Most people just throw the Kirby books and Adams Batman into a list of Marvel titles and call it a day- looking for something a bit more comprehensive.

On 4/24/2020 at 8:29 AM, Bax77 said:

Yeah, if you look at that list there are some cameos between 40 and 96, but I wanted to use proper appearances to fortify my position 

 Issue 40 - Issue 121 1973, with his appearance in the MAIN titles being 96-98. I love how you conveniently leave out the years after to breeze past the point you knew I was making.

20 hours ago, Bax77 said:

This all sounds wrong to me.

https://cmro.travis-starnes.com/character_details.php?character=167

No need to show that like I'm ignorant. The GOBLIN appeared once in the main titles in eight years besides the tabloid book. Norman was around, which is not the same thing.

On 4/21/2020 at 4:34 PM, MGsimba77 said:

Peter starts college. Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborne appearances. Flash meets both of them for the first time. Both 14 31 are very close I have no problem putting 14 ahead but imo the story in 31 puts it ahead. 

I'd actually buy 14 before 31 because the cover of 14 is so appealing but I have to put 31 as the more meaningful story. 

I personally would probably rather own 13 than 14. I find the cover (and Mysterio) much more appealing. 14 has been way overvalued imo, mainly due to the Death of Gwen issues elevating the Goblin when he had appeared in the main title for one story in eight years, and then brining him back years later. If you're going by Spidey's archenemy/Joker, I would probably always consider that to be Doc Ock.

4 hours ago, MGsimba77 said:

As for what's a key, my view on it is more narrow. I think there has to be something highly significant going on in the story for it to qualify. I don't believe an appealing cover, desire or value = key status. There can be such a thing as an important sought after book that's not a key. It's highly subjective however and if someone wants a wider definition than more power to em!  

100 is a classic cover in my view but not a key. 

The only ones I'd include are 121, 122, 129. 194 and 101 are close but I don't quite put them in that class just yet. Maybe they'll get there at some point. They most definitely merit a higher status than most in that 100 - 200 group however.

What would you say are "keys" from 200-400? Or, 1-100, I guess? Everyone lists too many, but I'm curious to your bare minimum approach.

We've really veered off course from the intended topic (as usual on this forum, no duplicate threads but endless pages of catty in-fighting) but I will say that like it or not, things just become keys for whatever reason and we can't control it. If something is heavily desired and valuable, it probably counts as a 'key.' I really like ASM 100 but if it was just me it would not be at all valuable, however there does seem to be outside interest in it. Where we really got lost was in debating Batman 227. I don't really like it and think it's a stupid reason to 'key' something, but it pretty much is one now based on how many people want it through sheer "this comic is rare, I have to have it" desire.

I got a 5.0-6.0 raw for $10 from a guy who had half a box of them in 2004 or so. I would've bought more! There were collectors who were literally rejecting them when they saw the grade and scoffing at his box. Normally I'd agree, but for $10, jeez it was worth it.

On 4/5/2020 at 9:13 PM, MGsimba77 said:

Like ~ 2.5 years ago I had a chance at a reasonably priced 136 9.6 with a Stan sig at the bottom between Peter & Harry. I mean a perfect signature with the custom Stan label...like an insufficiently_thoughtful_person I decided to pass up 

And btw my description of myself was more colorful than "insufficiently thoughtful person" 

I'm lucky enough to have a Stan signed 9.8 book, it doesn't have the custom label and I'm not sure how well placed it is, but one is enough for me. Like you I had a chance at the custom label on a Spidey book for pretty cheap couple years ago, but the seller had also gotten friggin' Humberto Ramos to sign it and jacked up the price as a result. I probably shouldn't have said anything, but he was pretty belligerent when I tried to negotiate. Why he thought that was an added value I have no idea. Never count on someone co-signing a key book while they're still alive to screw it up!

9 hours ago, comicginger1789 said:

Perhaps @Lazyboy can indulge us with the definition of a "key". And even when you do, it will be your definition, not the definitive one.

Issue #100 is a key issue. It marks an important point, numerically only, in Spidey's history in comics. And the cover is enjoyed by many. It is the same reason, generally, why the 100th, 200th and 300th issues of titles generally sell more than those around it. Some of these numbers also happen to have major appearances in them (ASM 300 for example) but others just get the boost because of the number.

It may not be a key you care about, and that is fine. I care about it because it is a Spidey ish and I want an ASM run. I wouldn't care at all for a Cap #200 or a DD #100 because I don't care as much for those titles. But there are people who do and those milestone issues tend to sell for a bid more. So clearly it has value, is desired and is key to some people. 

I have to agree with the 100 as key crowd. The cover is lovely, and if you get one without spine breaks it really pops. I'm lucky enough to have one and it looks gorgeous in a CGC case, as opposed to many of the other Marvel 70s books that are all colored day glo yellow for some reason. I imagine many other collectors feel the same way, certainly there's nothing special about Batman 227 besides people just wanting it for the cover. It's at least needed to say you have every 100th anniversary issue of the title, if that's your thing (it's mine).

6 hours ago, comicginger1789 said:

100-200 is just awesome Spidey fun. It cools from 201-237 (Juggernaut two parter excepting) and then kicks back up with Hobby goodness 

It's a little aggravating how people are now considering 210 and 212 'keys' due to casting rumors, when Hydro Man and Madame Web are about the bottom of the barrel. I am retracting my previous statement about Harry Osborn's importance if we're now keying in Madame Web...

On 11/18/2019 at 4:54 PM, Steelrain41 said:

I'm hoping Iron Man comes down a bit but I have Hull 102 and Cap 100 getting graded right now and will have the special label so now I have to hurry up and get IM1 with the iron Man label so they'll all match. My Thor 126 needs to get graded, I know it isn't one of the 68 series but I want the start of all their solo series with the labels. 

I have always assumed Thor 154 was their version of the Thor "Premiere issue."

52 minutes ago, MetaHuman said:

Probably want to add #102 to the list. It's the 2nd appearance of Morbius plus it has his origin. It's listed at $260 in the 2019/20 annual Overstreet. Only 100, 101, 121, 122, 129 and the price variants are higher between 100 to 200.

That is interesting, people were discounting 100 but I think it's more of a key and pricey than the others, besides 194 I guess.

And this is just for fun, I'm not looking to make a speculation investment or anything, I have most of the issues already. I personally like un-pricey issues like 150 or 185 and consider those 'important.'

On 4/13/2020 at 11:11 AM, Lazyboy said:

Are you looking for keys, or books of (relatively) high value?

At best.

For curiosity's sake, high value (I saw your list of keys), I'd want to see how they'd differ.

Ironically, I got the idea 162 was a 'key' from that MyComicShop list. But he's Punisher's top villain and was in a movie and a tv show, come on, it's more of a key than friggin' Harry Osborn as the Goblin (I don't think he even unmasks in that issue) or a random team up with the Hulk...

57 minutes ago, shadroch said:

Try mycomicshop.com. If nothing else, you can see which books have broken out price wise from their neighbors.

That was actually what I was using. It's a very unreliable source though, as they have consignment items in place of things not in stock priced by them, and as a result 'keys' are all over the map. It's probably what gave me the idea 162 was more a key than 136, but I still have a hard time seeing the value in that one.

3 hours ago, Spider-Variant said:

I think your list has the keys.  I'd par it down personally as I'm not sure Ben Reilly is going to get much bronze age love, nor do I think Jigsaw was a player either.

I guess I'm more curious which are worth the most. It's hard not having a consistent price guide a la the days of Wizard or whatever. Overstreet is always a year out of date.