KCOComics

Is there a link to what happened? It was before my time.

Very good break down and kind of summarizes my views. I would go with the WP copy. Good luck.

Not a sarcastic question, but how is it safer? Do the banks step in to stop / reverse checks when there are disputes like this? I have always used PP G/S for people I didn't know, thinking if things went South I would have more protection.

I agree with @shadroch, it's going to be hard to move them all at once and get a reasonable offer. Shipping is going to be a limiting factor and then 90% of those books will be difficult for a seller to move and take up a lot of storage space. If I were selling it, I would pull out the keys and sell them individually and put the rest in lots by title. You'll still have to piece out and ship 20 - 100 individual transactions, but it will get you better ROI. Alternatively you could sell the keys and then contact local comic shops and try to get $0.25 - $0.50 per comic. I suspect most local shops wouldn't want that kind of volume of back issues, so it may be a tougher proposition. Ted at Superworld is in Central MA and another big dealer you could try. I've seen Gary Dolgoff move some massive runs on ebay, so I get the feeling he may be more comfortable with that kind of volume.

For those of us without Instagram can someone post screen shots of the ASM 1 issue?

Have you tried calling? I've always had good experiences when I've gotten them on the phone.

There are a few considerations. Today, CGC only verifies signatures they witnessed. Meaning, because they didn't see Stan sign it, it wouldn't get a yellow label. Now, I understand CGC is starting to verify unwitnessed signatures. I'm not sure if that will mean a yellow label or some other designation going forward, but I would contact CGC directly. On their FAQ, they say this service will start in April, so if you contact them, share what you learn. I personally wouldn't clean and press this book. As you mentioned it's fragile and you could run the risk of doing further damage. Given the wear, I don't see a press dramatically improving the grade. As for the grade - I think a 2.0 is reasonable for this book. I wouldn't be shocked if it came in lower (1.5ish) because it appears to have a full spine split, which was renforced by tape and added staples. For a low grade copy, the cover does present well. I hope that helps.

I'm sorry! That's frustrating. Do the grader notes say where the CT is?

Today, CGC doesn't do signature verification. So even with a COA, it's still an unwitnessed signature and would get either a lower graded blue label or a green label. However - that is changing. I don't remember the date but @CGC Mike has shared plans to start verifying signatures. It may make sense to wait a few months.

I'm generally indifferent to them and don't actually own any. Some of the custom labels looked cool and I wouldn't shy away from them. But I wouldn't reslab a book just for the custom label.

When your dealing with modern books, unfortunately grading is everything. I'm not to familiar with these particular issues, but my guess is, you would have a tough time realizing those prices raw. The NM87 is desirable and if it has NM potential, it will sell raw.

Take

It looks like a lot of the big GA books (Bat 1, Cap 1) struggled a little. Which is interesting, because they've been holding value much better than the SA keys. Mask 2 saw a pretty crazy price! That book is reaching unobtainable levels. Same with Mask1. Which is unfortunate. In a prefect world I would have loved to own them.

Take

And look, if everything is on the up and up, I'll admit I'm wrong and openly apologize to Flake and his business associates who share the same email. I honestly just want victims made hole and Mike to face consequences. Sadly, both of those might be far fetched. Comic book related topics I've admitted to being wrong on: 1) Hero Restoration has a great reputation, I would use them with confidence. 2) Guys, Dylan is just a kid. He'll grow out of this and prove to be a valuable member of our community. 3) Circa 2011ish $1600 for a JIM83??? Its too common! Once the movie hype dies down the price will plummet!! 4) Everyone settle down, I'm sure Mike is facing hard times and will be back on his feet and doing the right thing in no time! 5) High School me... Spawn 1 will be the next AF15! I'm going to buy 10 copies and start counting the money!! I'm sure there are dozens of others. So hopefully Flake proves me wrong.

This is fair enough. But that's why my message to everyone is to excereize extreme caution. Something feels off and I think calling that out is warranted.

How many of your business associates have access to some or all of your email addresses? How many of your "business associates" use your account to make online forum IDs? I've layed off Flake, but there are enough red flags that everyone should be excersizing extreme caution. There has been 0 transparency. Just odd Business associates who apparently also love comics enough to send them in for restoration work.... I don't have a single coworker or business associate that cares at all about comics.... it seems so strange to me that two guys sharing the same email would have sent different comics to Hero. Maybe their business is comics???? But they haven't said that.... they haven't said anything. They haven't told us what books they sent in? What services they requested? How many books? Have the books been sold? They haven't explained their legal strategy, named their lawyers or even talked like real people... Every other victim has talked in a very natural way. Two haven't. Two with the same email address. And look, maybe he is real. And I have great empathy for anyone who was victimized by Mike. But let's not shame the community for questioning questionable behavior.

I feel like there is an inside joke I'm missing. This is the middle school playground all over again! Can someone please tell me what your laughing at?

@The Lions Den explained this once. I think it's basically used at the graders discrepancy, when they feel a comic needs to be stabilized. I can't explain why some comics would need it and other nearly identical comics wouldn't.

How did he remove the trimmed designation? Leaf casted new material?

That would make a lot of sense. Any board members who used him have major restoration done?

You may get more responses in the restoration thread.

Take

And you are one of those people I often consult! Every time we discuss a book, I learn something new and I greatly appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge!

These are some of my favorite books to buy. Lower grade books with great presentations. @Ron Funk I got much better at grading by using the "Spare a Grade" forum here. Basically people posts books and a bunch of board members tell you their opinon of the grade. I participated pretty actively for a year or so and learned a lot. And I'm still not an expert. I often reach out to people here for advice and thoughts.