zzutak

Wrong box, Dog

Definitely!

According to Mike's grade distribution table, 106 players completed Round 3 (down from 131 at sign-up, 121 in Round 1, and 117 in Round 2). Here are the key measures of central tendency for this round (Mean = the average grade; Median = the middle grade in a numerically rank-ordered list; Mode = the most common grade): Book CGC Grade Distribution Statistics # Grade Mean Median Mode 11 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 12 5.5 6.2 6.5 6.5 13 7.0 6.7 6.5 6.5 14 5.0 5.5 5.5 5.5 15 6.0 6.6 6.5 7.0 The Board scored 105 bulls-eyes in Round 3 (20% of all grades submitted, compared to 22% in Round 1 and 15% in Round 2). Here are a few other notable observations based on the data reported above: Book #11 (Wolf Gal #1): The easiest book for the Board as a whole, with 34% at the same grade as CGC and 79% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board matched CGC (4.0 vs 4.0). Book #12 (Aggie Mack #8): A challenging book for most, with only 14% of the contestants at the same grade as CGC and only 42% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board was about one and one-half grade increments more lenient than CGC (6.2 vs 5.5). Book #13 (Lois Lane #5): Another challenging book for many, with only 15% of the contestants at the same grade as CGC but 58% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board was about one-half grade increment more critical than CGC (6.7 vs 7.0). Book #14 (My Secret Life #19): Another relatively easy book for the Board as a whole, with 21% of the contestants at the same grade as CGC and 64% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board was one grade increment more lenient than CGC (5.5 vs 5.0). Book #15 (Junie Prom #6): Another challenging book for most, with only 15% of the contestants at the same grade as CGC and only 40% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board was slightly more than one grade increment more lenient than CGC (6.6 vs 6.0). Mike doing his best impression of Ali, while the rest of us play the part of Sonny Liston.

@CGC Mike The first column of your spreadsheet (the cumulative score column) is missing. And the 11 drop-outs should probably be deleted altogether. A corrected post would be much appreciated. Many thanks!

I always go into this event expecting to see 2~4 WTF grades. And I'm seldom disappointed.

Good eye. A similar metamorphosis took place with Book #15 (Junie Prom #6). Then: Now: "Moderate finger bends on cover" somehow morphed into a "Moderate crease upper left back cover" -- a flaw that nobody (as of this moment) has been able to point out. And did we really need to be advised, up front, that this book has a stain at the upper left edge of the back cover (a blemish that is totally obvious in the scan)?

Junie Prom #6: Moderate crease upper left back cover Somebody out there lend a brother a hand and show me what the heck is being flagged in this note. I see a moisture stain (with a tideline and mildew), and I see a faint shadow along the upper left edge, but my old eyes can't find even a small crease (let alone a "moderate" one).

Book #13 (Lois Lane #5) is criminally overgraded.

I don't think so. This issue has a Feb cover/publication date, and handwritten (or stamped) arrival dates typically predated the cover date by two months. Now, if you can convince me that the inked lettering includes a distributor code and a December date such as "12/29" ......

Your Round 2 bloodbath may have something to do with this.

Agreed. Trimming is an automatic "no go" for many/most. That being said, there is absolutely a market out there for trimmed GA and SA specimens. Here's a link to 350+ CGC-certified trimmed specimens that have been sold by Heritage over the years. Pick the books that are most like yours (in terms of era, grade, and importance), and then run the numbers.

A high-res scan would be useful to those whose advice you seek. Grader notes seldom list all blemishes/flaws. And I've been around here long enough to have seen several of the newer posters describe an arrival date as a "scribble in ink" (which it definitely is not).

According to Mike's grade distribution table, 117 players completed Round 2 (down from 131 at sign-up and 121 in Round 1). Here are the key measures of central tendency for this round (Mean = the average grade; Median = the middle grade in a numerically rank-ordered list; Mode = the most common grade): The Board scored only 90 bulls-eyes in Round 2 (15% of all grades submitted, compared to 22% in Round 1). Here are a few other notable observations based on the data reported above: Book #06 (Mopsy #1): A challenging book for most, with only 17% at the same grade as CGC and only 54% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board was one grade increment more lenient than CGC (4.5 vs 4.0). Book #07 (Revealing Romances #5): The most difficult book for the Board as a whole, with only 7% of the contestants at the same grade as CGC and only 32% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board was slightly more than two grade increments more critical than CGC (4.4 vs 5.5). Book #08 (Dotty #36): Arguably the easiest book for the Board as a whole, with only 17% of the contestants at the same grade as CGC but a whopping 65% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board was about one-half grade increment more critical than CGC (4.3 vs 4.5). Book #09 (Cutie Pie #3): Another challenging book for most, with 20% of the contestants at the same grade as CGC and 59% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board was one grade increment more critical than CGC (7.0 vs 7.5). Book #10 (Farmer's Daughter #2): Yet another challenging book for most, with only 16% of the contestants at the same grade as CGC and only 56% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board was once again one grade increment more critical than CGC (3.5 vs 4.0).

Two friendly and totally non-confrontational comments re these suggestions: Vintage comics (especially "Atomic Age" comics from the 1950s) often suffer from blemishes that are not apparent in flat front/back cover scans, including such defects as spine splits, toning/tanning to the inside covers, and partially/fully detached covers and/or centerfolds. An award-winning grader needs to know how to account for these flaws -- both by themselves, as well as in combination with other defects. @CGC Mike does not grade the selected comics. In fact, I strongly doubt that he's ever had a chance to view anything other than the same digital scans he provides to us. The data he's able to provide to us are limited by the detail present in the archived grader notes -- and I've never personally seen grader notes where the length of a spine split was quantified (2", 3.25", etc). No matter how much we're told, our precision will be limited by the simple fact that one simply cannot grade a book without holding it in hand!

"Moderate finger bends on cover" is apparently the defect du jour.

Díck Swan: Comic World (1969) Some of the old-timers around here no doubt know Díck well. In 1969, when Díck was just 15, he opened one of the country's very first comic shops: Comic World in San Jose. He later became a co-owner of the Comics & Comix retail chain and sole owner of Big Guys Comics in Mountain View. One of the hobby's true good guys. Here's a more recent pic:

Besides, a is waaaaay more reassuring than a !

It's not the signature that makes this book eligible for certification with a Qualified Grade. It's the paper/sticker affixed to the inside front cover.

According to Mike's grade distribution table, 121 players completed Round 1 (down from 131 at sign-up). Here are the key measures of central tendency for this round (Mean = the average grade; Median = the middle grade in a numerically rank-ordered list; Mode = the most common grade): The Board scored 131 bulls-eyes in Round 1 (22% of all grades submitted, compared to an average of 21% in CGC Grading Contests #1 thru 8). Here are a few other notable observations based on the data reported above: Book #01 (Racket Squad in Action #12): A challenging book for many, with 20% at the same grade as CGC and only 53% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board was slightly more than one grade increment more critical than CGC (5.4 vs 6.0). Book #02 (Iron Man #4): The most difficult book for the Board as a whole, with 21% of the contestants at the same grade as CGC and only 49% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board was two grade increments more critical than CGC (8.5 vs 9.2). Book #03 (Comet #1): A relatively easy book for most, with 19% of the contestants at the same grade as CGC and 60% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board was essentially identical to CGC (6.4 vs 6.5). Book #04 (House of Secrets #90): Another relatively easy book for most, with 21% of the contestants at the same grade as CGC and 60% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board was slightly less than one grade increment more critical than CGC (8.6 vs 9.0). Book #05 (Fear #10): The easiest book for the Board as a whole, with 26% of the contestants at the same grade as CGC and 73% within one grade increment of CGC. Collectively, the Board was essentially identical to CGC (8.4 vs 8.5). A decent start for the Board as a whole.

I would've nailed Book #3 (Comet #1) if I hadn't assigned the book a one grade increment deduction for the "unwitnessed" creator signature. If only we had been told that it was appropriately witnessed and that Signature Series encapsulations were fair game. D-oh!