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The following are my keepers from NYCC via EvilAsh & MutantKeys:

Huge KUDOS to both EvilAsh & MutantKeys for my Watchmen SSs! I'm very happy with the services they provided! Pics to come...

Here's yet another mschmidt 9.8 that I was able to wrangle. If I remember correctly, it's the only cover in the series without a character featured in the art (the impression of Phoney is from the interior). The design of the ancient city of Atheia was inspired by a trip that Jeff made in 2001 to Katmandu. He delves into these details in an interview included in the letters section of the book. Note: The crack on the bottom of the slab occurred in an accident that I caused. The book doesn't appear to have been affected.

So you have the other #5 & #6? Nice work!

After the final chapter of the second act of the Bone saga (Bone #37), Mr. Smith went on a short hiatus with two prequel minis: Rose and Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails. Rat Tails was the first to publish and it's a pretty good series. I really like the character of Big Johnson Bone while some of the others can be a little annoying (I believe the story was geared more towards a younger crowd). There's always been talk of a second series but nothing beyond that. I purchased the book itself raw from mschmidt and sent it to Joel for the December signing.

The Holiday Special was polybagged with the December issue of Hero back in '93. The five page story at the beginning of the comic has the cousins celebrating the Winter Solstice with Gran'ma Ben & Thorn while Fone, filled with the holiday spirit, brings a freshly baked quiche to a pair of rat creatures in the nearby forest (which they gladly accept). There's also an interview with Jeff and a few reprints of the old Thorn comic strip from his cartooning days at the Ohio State University newspaper, The Lantern (early 80s).

One of the great Phoney covers! Once again, this was a raw that I sent to Joel for the Flying Colors Comics signing. Jeff went much smaller with his signature back in the day which I will always prefer (you can see what I mean on some of the Qualifieds that float around), but I can't argue too much when he includes a little Ted sketch.

I love this issue. Gran'ma Ben storms into the forest after eavesdropping on Fone and Thorn tell each other about their dreams of the Great Red Dragon and Phoney and Lucius make their infamous wager where they split the bar in two to see who can make the most profit. The weird thing about the cover is at no point in the story are Phoney & Smiley washing dishes. Perhaps it symbolizes their present state of affairs with Lucius and how Phoney is desperately trying to get out of his debt (see The Great Cow Race for how they fell out of favor with Lucius). Anyway, I challenge anyone to find a better dishwashing cover. This comic was a raw that I sent to Joel for an SS. Mr. Elad was nice enough to ask Jeff for a little sketch of Ted the Bug as well.

This is another great cover in the series. I've had bad luck with raws of this particular book but mschmidt bailed me out by selling me this slab (and it happens to be one of the best 9.8s I've ever seen). Does anyone else like covers with rain?

Here is the first of my recent additions to my registry set. This was not my slabbed 9.8 but a raw that I picked up early last year. Graded it as a structural 9.8 but there is a mark on the "B" that I was a little worried about. I'm assuming the graders saw it as a printing error of some sort and didn't downgrade the book . Joel handled it perfectly and Mr. Smith graced it with a Ted doodle (I know it barely qualifies as a sketch but that's simply what Ted is). The "Phoney as Captain Ahab" is a recurring theme in the series but this is his only cover.

They're all spectacular! It must have been a fun time opening the box! It was great! I'm sure you know what that feeling is like.

Posted the books I got done at the recent Jeff Smith signing in the Infinite Signature Thread. I'll probably post the ones I'll be keeping in this thread with the individual stories behind them later next week.

Alright, here's my haul from the Jeff Smith signing on December 6th. All of the below were raws that were witnessed by the great Joel Elad. Most of these also include sketches of one of my favorite characters in the series: the one and only Ted the Bug. Enjoy!

Huge Kudos to Joel Elad for my batch of Bone SSs with sketches!!! :headbang: Pics will go up later tonight in the Bone Appreciation Thread (will post a link in the Infinite Signature Thread as well).

:o ...

, love the Crown of Horns black covers.

That is my feeling as well. Eastman & Laird signed ALOT of the initial 3,000 print run on the inside cover, though there are ovisouly a good amount that have not been signed. From what I have seen, few have been signed on the cover unless a) its a sig series or b) it was signed recently with the last few years. I dont know if thats why they still get blue though. Maybe they are still knocking down the grade a little? I don't think the 1 9.8 and 5 9.6s are signed so maybe there is a max grade this book gets if signed (most of the signed blue have been 9.0 and below I've seen)? As far as I know, if a book has a blue label with an interior signature, it has taken a hit in grade. You can do the same with sigs on the cover but I think those will take a much bigger hit for the universal label.

Big Kudos to mschmidt for the Bone slabs. He continues to be a great seller!!! (thumbs u

Some sweet pick-ups Mr. Schmidt! This #6 though is a reprint. I see the "3rd print" notation on your #1 so I don't know if you knew this or not about the #6. The first print has a red title.

I strongly prefer the black and white.

I wish I had been paying attention when he did a few with the Bone characters about 10 years ago. One showed up on eBay last year but the auction ended early (probably for a private sale ). My avatar is a small piece of one of them.

Looks great Colin!

Don't we deserve a better shot of your 9.2 #1?

Look at bomber-bob's post in this thread on 12/31. They look the same to me. What's the date on the dark green?

I believe that's the 7th.