L Ludwig

I don't have the comprehensive library but I am extremely interested in participating as I can. The educational value here is excellent and appreciated.

Please add the following to the Vampirella (1969) set: Vampirella #63, Cert # 1256587001; Vampirella #71, Cert #1256587001; and Vampirella #76, Cert #1256587017. These are all variants. Regards, L. Slots Already exist

Just got this today after the traditionally epic wait --

The proverbial glimmer of hope (granted it took forever to get through pressing....) 3859296001

Does anyone know how many copies of Zooks, Vaughn Bode,1973, were published by TK II?

Finally used Walkthrough due to a pressing business need. I knew not to expect same day or even same week, but was not expecting so much scheduling creep to the right. Good point on the signings and backlog (which I did not factor). Guess this really is a case of business being too good (and bad).

Sunday's Musings CGC turnaround times have finally gotten to me. I have tried to be sensible and understanding in my reaction to the increased delays in getting comics graded or “pressed.” When checking on my submission status, I couldn’t help but notice under the grading field that CGC is “Now opening comic book submissions delivered the week of May 24, 2021.” I know this in not accurate – I have a submission from late June that has in fact been submitted for grading. However, this is a real tell regarding the pathology of CGC Services – lax, unconcerned, systemic, and remarkable. Walkthrough CGC Grading lists a current Turnaround time of 12 days. This is not walk or through by any definition or expectation. (And these are working days, excluding weekends, etc.) Please, CGC, come up with another category. If it is 5 days or less, then use “Walkthrough.” I said at the beginning I was trying to be understanding of whatever market forces you are dealing with – 5 is generous. Perhaps the category “In the Vicinity” could be applied for the current 12 days. And an appropriate reduction in price applied. Walkthrough CSC Pressing is a bit more problematic and is quite dependent upon submitted condition being addressed. However, 31 days is obscene for this category as is the pricing pleasure for the experience. Perhaps using moon phases and phrases would be appropriate here – Blue Moon comes immediately to mind. I am not going to go into “Express to Economy” schemes. Sussing that out would be cruel and unusual.

Got this set yesterday: Whole Wheat Comics, Ellis-Jackson Comic-Book Company, three issues -- 1977 - 1981 (Kennedy Guide #2210-2212). Forgive the mylar glare, will try to post better photos.

Drawing the complete blank here. Catchy name, however, and I am now considering renaming one of my cats.

I do. I started collecting Marvel and then realized the 60's and 70's were my influencing decades. I sobered up and haven't looked back. (Well, maybe only to gasp in horror at some of the latest prices if truth be told.)

Noticed on eBay two Ebon comix for sale. One is CGC graded at 9.0, the other at 9.4. I understand the backstory for this comix -- first African-American traditional superhero to star in his own comic book. And I understand the dynamics brought about by Marvel Comic Universe upcoming films and the infusion of new and younger buyers for all things memorable. Both effects give dramatic rise to acquisition costs. I am, however, a bit surprised by the asking price for these comix -- $15K and $26K respectively. Yes, Ebon did have a very low print run. But, it was never that popular in its time. And it really only has a historic thread to the black superhero (Black Adam, for example) as character. My question Is do you think that the Underground market might be staging a renaissance? [For the record, I do love museum artifacts and do understand bold sellers.]

Appreciate the information; I really do need to get out more in the other chat rooms. I know that you can only be so creative with the artistic placement of Post-It notes (titles are what they are), but there has to be more creative ways to address whatever issue eBay is addressing -- it shouldn't be a binary solution. I don't use eBay extensively, but like most here, I do use them and do rely on them when all is said and done. I will explore further and make the obligatory "please re-think this approach to them", for what that will be worth.

Is there more you can share on this? I have seen a lot of creative placement of post-it notes there to dissuade prurient interests, I guess. But I am concerned that a good source of undergrounds might be negatively effected by what they started out addressing, ironically.

I do have the Complete FOO! reprint set (Bijou Publishing Empire) which does soften the loss and actually did lead to my slabbing it. That and the fact that my cats are incredible adroit at pilfering and shredding paper products. I have begun to realize that I have a few museum artifacts that I have ended with by accident more than by design or love for the art/comix. The FOO! was definitely in this category.

Not strictly Underground, but my copy of FOO! #1 just closed at Heritage Auction for a much higher price than I was expecting. This coupled with the recent sale of "Crumb's last Zap" at PBA Galleries early this year leads me to wonder if there might be a positive inflection point for key artifacts and Comix? (I have heard that 2008 was the high water mark for Undergrounds.)

Regarding precision calipers, the following information is via Steve Fox: From the measurements I have taken of multiple 1st and 2nd printings, the 1st prints measured from .0060 to .0072 inches. The 2nd prints run from .0032 to .0047 inches. The wide range of 2nd printing measurements is due to the diversity of paper stocks used in different press runs. But if the cover measures under .0050 inches, forget about getting it authenticated as a 1st printing.

Matt: Please create a new set for Death Rattle, Volume 1 -- 1972-1973 / Kitchen Sink Enterprises. Cert # 0990064002, Death Rattle #1 Cert # 1162288017, Death Rattle #2 Cert # 1162288016, Death Rattle #3 Regards, Ludwig Set created on 3/9/21. Thank you

Matt: please create a new set for Skull Comics, 1970-1972/Rip Off Comix - Last Gasp Eco-Funnies. Cert# 0969837014, Skull Comics #2 Regards, Ludwig Set created on 3/9/21. Thank you

Matt: please create set for Lenny of Laredo -- Sunbury Productions/Print Mint Cert# 3720615001 Lenny of Laredo, 1st Print Cert# 3693099001 Lenny of Laredo, 3rd Print Regards, Ludwig Hello @L Ludwig, This is a single book and is not eligible for its own set. Please refer to the set guidelines. Thank you

Matt: please create a set for the Chicago Mirror --1967-1968/ Jay Lynch - Mirror Publishing Please add cert #1198082001 (Chicago Mirror #3); and cert #0791890001 (Chicago Mirror #2) Cheers and Thank You Hello @L Ludwig, I am unable to find the details of this set to see how large the run is but CGC has only graded #2 and #3 which would make it ineligible for its own set. For these smaller runs of books I would suggest a custom set. Thank you

Matt: please add slot #13 to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers for the following: Cert #3700801003 Slot added on 11/6/20. Thank you

Matt: please make set for Harold Hedd -- 1972 - 1984/ Georgia Straight - Last Gasp - Kitchen Sink. Please add cert #1292265002 (Herold Hedd #2). Thank you. Hello @L Ludwig, Unfortunately, there are only 2 issues in this run so it is not eligible for its own set. CGC has only graded issue #1 as well.

Matt: please make a set for Bijou Funnies -- 1968-1973 / Bijou Publishing Empire / The Print Mint / Kitchen Sink Cert #1038825025 -- Bijou Funnies #1, 2nd Print Cert #3693097001 -- Bijou Funnies #8, 1st Print Cert #3693097002 -- Bijou Funnies #8, 2nd Print Regards and thanks. Set created on 1/18/21. Thank you

Matt: could you please create a set for FOO! -- 1958, Animal Town Comics (Charles and Robert Crumb) And please add Cert # 3704479001 (Foo #1). Regards and thanks, Ludwig Set created on 12/3/20. Thank you

Matt: please create a set for Bogeyman Comics -- 1968-1970 / San Francisco Comic Book / Company & Sons Bogeyman #1 -- Cert # 1223471002 Bogeyman #2 -- Cert# 0965719041 Bogeyman #3 -- Cert# 0930901002 Cheers Set created on 12/3/20. Thank you