comicginger1789

I agree with the 7.0-7.5 assessment as it sits As someone who has dabbled in dry cleaning, I think the back cover could clean up, particularly along the spine. That maaaaay get ya into 8.0 territory.

I was wayyyy off. See it is stuff like this that make me want to get more of my own stuff graded as I seem to be harsh a lot of the time. I probably have some books I think are only 7.0-8.0 that have 9.0 potential......ah the learning continues. Thanks for sharing the grade!

I said 9.4 before scrollin...great grade! For those dinging it for a miscut, that only affects or would keep a book from a 9.8. Unless it was a severe miscut that affects the visual of the book. Yes this copy is miscut along the top but not enough to bump it low. Everything else seems sharp so a 9.6 makes sense.

I could see a 6.5-7.0 even with the writing. That sort of thing does not bother me at all. I would rather this copy than my current 3.0-3.5 copy. I dislike scribbles all over a book or someone colouring in parts of a cover but this is fine. Be nice if the scribbles were gone and just the mysterious 241 was present. If the 241 was the only thing there, I agree this could be a 9.0ish book. What does the 241 mean is the fun part....number of comics the guy owned? An amount he owed someone? Funny thing is it looks like there are other number written under the green and blue scribbles...maybe the owner was addign something up and made mistakes before getting the correct answer? Ah the mystery!

If not for the top staple looking like it could pop loose at any moment, you could have a 4.5 book. But there are also a lot of creases which hurts as they are so visible so I feel 3.5-4.0 is more the correct range.

Yeah, if you pressed and cleaned up the back it would present nicer. With the tape pull that large though, I cannot see higher than 3.5. 3.0 as is.

6.0 from me. Lots of corner and edge wear, spine ticks. Not high grade for sure. Not low grade but right down the middle.

Great advice! I always try to think worst case scenario. I too see 9.0-9.2 in this book with a press. Now, mentally, one should prepare for the possibility of getting an 8.5 just so as to not be reallly disappointed. If the grade matter most to you, buy that grade. If you love the book, get it graded. If you are looking to sell, consider the costs and risks involved with getting it graded (might be where you think, could be lower, could be higher) versus selling raw.

We kept our son away from screens (other than to call his grandparents) until he was one and a half. The biggest challenge is for YOU to not be on said devices. Monkey see, monkey do. If you cannot put down your phone/TV/video games and your kids see this, good luck preventing them from being involved with those things. But you are right, it is totally doable in terms of limiting. Our son has no issues, so long as I give a warning, that in 5 minutes his time is up regardless of whether he is finished or not. We limit our 3 year old to an hour max per day (more on days if we Facetime grandparents). No screens at the table is totally doable (he has never had this) and he picked if he wants morning TV or night TV. He chose morning so that is his routine to wake and watch 30-40 minutes. At bedtime, during these times, we watch a 5 minute video (something educational, like wildlife related or Blippi who he loves) and then we read books. I plan on keeping this routine and structure as long as we can.

I don't have duplicate comics so that won't be an issue. However I have had my son play with some of my toys. They are loose and I have only a couple so to see him play with them means more than keeping them tucked away (and they are maybe worth only $30-50 for the couple Joe vehicles I let him play with). To answer the question, I would explain it to your son/daughter. Explain how you buy and sell and that while they are toys, they are worth more as collectibles. Train them young. My son understands that daddy's comics are not to be played with. He is turning 3 and I have my shelves right in the basement in plain view where he plays. "What if he goes through them someday or pulls them all out and destroys them!?!?!" Well, luckily my son seems very understanding of what I have told him. He is careful when I let him carry books out of the bins to be displayed (when we change up my display wall) and I told him he can look at whatever he wants if he asks. He used to like this more when he was between the ages of 1-2 but now is much more content with his own things. I also told him at a young age that I appreciate him helping me to protect these books. Making sure others are careful with and know not to play near them (this has not be so much an issue as COVID has largely prevented play dates from happening and young kids roaming our house). Toys might be a harder one to deal with though. But I think if you involve your child and make it seem like they are a part of protecting or helping the collection in some miniscule way, they can appreciate it. Plus, maybe you set the expectation that once in a while, they can open an older toy (surely there are some cheapo toys that are really worth more played with than sitting in a box for 30 more years at which point they MAY be worth 50 bucks). That is how I felt about my couple loose Joe vehicles and my two He Man vehicles. My son loves them and they get played with every other day at least. That puts a smile on my face more than me pulling them out of a box, staring at them and then returning them to said box. I think the biggest thing is to not be afraid to say no to your child. My son has wanted to open a few of my figures and I told him they are daddy's and for looking and we can do that whenever he wants. We did for a while but he got bored and focuses on his own toys.

Are we at the point of caring this much about Roxxon Oil? Really? Wowza

I understand the hobby has so many niches and I appreciate that. I mean, if you think people will continue to desire “rarer” books, then buying newsstand copies of key issues printed from 1987 and up is a good choice. Before 1987, I personally would argue that newsstands are no more scarce...maybe harder to get in high grade. For me though, it’s about condition. I would rather have a 9.4 direct than and 8.0 newsstand. And I don’t like paying up for newsstands personally. They are neat but at the end of it all, they are ugly. And when you consider that in the 90s, the mentality was that the images in the corner were “cooler” and more desired than the bar code....well maybe that trend comes back and someday people care less about newsstands. Botton line is condition. Get the best nicest copy ya can, regardless of whether Spideys face is the corner or not.

Just two weeks left folks to VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! Remember only those who vote can participate in the contest!

One I just picked up!

Plus 5 to that!!! Solid 6.0 from me. 6.5 would be best case scenario and 5.5 if there some minor stain or something somewhere unseen by these eyes.

7.5-8.0 because of the stains

I just scored a poorly listed Near Mint copy of Spawn 1. Who cares you may say? Well it isssss a newsstand and for under $20, it’s a book that tends to sell for much much more than that these days.

Agreed. I wouldn’t put money in it climbing like other books. A decent key and there are fans but nowhere near as many as Deadpool.

Not sure if with the stain mark on the back and the marker on the cover if 8.0 can be had....maybe. 7.0 is where I feel like topping out at.

I’d buy it from you as a 3.0. I would make up some cockamammy take about how the stamp devalues the book, no one wants it, blah blah please sell me it

Aw man what a sweet stamp on the back. A copy I would die for! It’s nicer than 6.0-6.5 that I have seen. I am thinking 7.0-7.5 personally. Great book!

The big books I worry about possibly never getting now. Really, ASM 1 is the main one I personally would want (AF 15 is a mere pipe dream) but I’m too unfocused with my buying as I buy what I like when I see it for a good price. For example, I’ve spent probably $2000 in the last month in stuff...some lovely stuff but if I was able to refine myself a bit I could maybe knock off some more ASM books. But alas I like collecting variety....I am a quality quantity kinda guy I guess

To answer the second question in the thread title about whether or not to buy...always buy. Just don’t be silly and buy stuff people are overpaying for. You’d be surprised the deals you can find still if you are willing to spend a little time looking. The problem I see is a lot of collectors (maybe they are newer maybe they are not) just click and buy. No patience. They see book for $60 they buy, they get it. When in reality a smidge of patience could find you the book for $30-40. If there is one thing I have learned it is patience when buying. If you want to buy keys related to a show or movie, do it well before the movie or show starts. Other keys or books not in the spotlight can still be found very reasonably priced. You just gotta hunt man!

I am also feeling 7.0-7.5 mainly due to the spine.

Well how about a monkey wrench?