Lord Gemini

On 8/11/2022 at 1:56 PM, Prince Namor said:

 

Let me know when you get off your high horse. You're no better than anyone else.

On 8/11/2022 at 1:11 PM, Dr. Balls said:

You can eyeroll all you want, but when CGC has spent 20+ years promoting the fact that their grading is superior, that they are trying to improve TATs - and black-and-white evidence of that specifically contradicts those two concepts, people are going to be bent out of shape and vocal.

it’s not about buying or not buying - I’d point out that we have 100 pages of discussion that show that it’s more than that - but I don’t want to appear condescending. 

 

I wasn't talking about CGC. I was talking about variant covers in general.

On 8/11/2022 at 12:49 PM, Prince Namor said:

You can buy whatever you want.

There are people who buy Macafee for their computer - they pay a guy through an e-mail message out of the Middle East and they feel they're protected and cool. 

Same thing.

 

See variants were ramped up, NOT to give us more freedom of choice or to BLESS us with more ART...

They were created to get retailers to buy more copies of comics no one was buying in the first place. They called them INCENTIVES.

But 25 copies get a special incentive. Buy 50 copies get a different incentive. Etc.

Marvel upped their print runs and made more money...

The retailers sold those incentives as VARIANTS for more money and to cover the costs, and CUSTOMERS were tricked into believing that those variants were RARE... believing that a 1:50 was actually something that was printed once for every 50 copies of the regular cover. It's NOT. Marvel would print as many copies of that variant as they wanted.

Forum members here on Modern threads would argue that they WERE 1 for every 50 to LIE about it and make those books seem more valuable. So they could trick people into buying them.

The whole process has been about DECEIT of the COLLECTOR from the very beginning.

So yeah. Go on and buy what you want.

Just understand what you're getting. 

You think I don't know why they were created? Of course it's about money. I don't care.

On 8/11/2022 at 12:26 PM, Dr. Balls said:

Probably because the very existence of those variants trample upon concepts like integrity and decency for the sole purpose of fleecing people out of their money.

I don’t believe it’s a matter of “what I collect is cool, what you collect sucks”. Collecting variants propagates hugely negative attitudes in the hobby because they are manufactured collectibles - not actually organically-developed collectibles. 

Trample upon integrity and decency?  You don't want to buy them? Don't buy them.

On 8/11/2022 at 10:46 AM, Prince Namor said:

I was explaining a variant to a guy once, who actually bought comics for 'reading', and as I explained it, he was looking extremely puzzled. He then said, "So it's the same comic, it just has a different cover?"

I chuckled and said, "Yep. That's about right."

He said, "That don't sound like a good deal at all."

People can make fun of the Midwest all they want (this was Indiana), but that is spot on logic there. 

No, it's a difference of opinion as to what people want. I like cool art as well as a good story, and if I like a variant, I'll get it. I don't see why people can't let others like what they like without the condescension.

On 8/10/2022 at 12:17 PM, THE_BEYONDER said:

Raw books will soon become their biggest competition 

Very doubtful.

On 8/10/2022 at 12:05 PM, NewWorldOrder said:

Referring to the vast majority of people in the hobby.

You really are starting to sound like a rookie newbie today. 

Yeah, I'm not gonna act like they won't still be getting my business despite this being a terrible look for them. As long as no real competition exists, this is the only game in town. Sorry not sorry.

I probably paid way too much, but the book looks fantastic (at least in the pictures). I had to have it.

On 7/12/2022 at 9:56 AM, davidpg said:

I've heard this from a few people, and it's contrary to my experience.  I was helping with advertising for the Montreal ComicCon back in 2008 when he was a guest.  I was invited to the supper with the guests (including Herb Trimpe and his family across from me...who were AMAZING people!), and I was sitting beside Art.  We started talking about things outside of comic books and art and we actually got along really well, and he was really nice.  We also went out partying after the supper and he regaled me with many stories about all the stuff he's done in his life (musician who's played with MANY big names, and other...fun things that Montreal is also known for ;) ). Maybe he's tired of the fanboy stuff, and was happy to not have to talk about art incessantly.  We had a great night!  

On topic, I love the MZ books and have since their first appearance in UFF.  The next day at the show, Art signed my hardcover and my Wolverine books he had just done covers for.  Still have all those books, and a great memory!

I just met the guy a couple of weeks ago, and he was cool with me too.

I've heard horror stories about Fed Ex. I guess I'll just have to see if my experiences line up with those. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a touch worried about this decision.

On 7/12/2022 at 9:52 PM, jcjames said:

 They put Multiverse of Madness ahead of DS1. 

That's all I needed to see 

I fail to see the problem. Multiverse of Madness was awesome. That being said, whoever wrote this article replaced snark for real criticism. None of these films are "unwatchable" or have an "indecipherable plot".

On 7/11/2022 at 1:18 PM, kav said:

can someone explain the staples then?

I can. You need glasses.

On 7/9/2022 at 8:54 PM, Troy Division said:

Question for 'the CGC brain trust' -
How are comic appearances of characters from other media sources (books / TV / movies / video games) considered their first appearance and why do they sell at a premium? 
Honest question, no shade.
I've seen this also referenced in relation to 'Alien', 'Predator', and 'The Last of Us'.

I understand a price bump when characters move from the printed page to TV / movie, but to have it the other way seems odd.

It doesn't make much sense to me either really, but the market is what it is.

Given the huge lag during the last year or so, it's ridiculous how old books drop off the tracking board. At least, if the book is not yet shipped, it should stay on the board.

On 7/11/2022 at 9:37 AM, D84 said:

I didn't say go to CBCS. There is such a thing as raw comics.

The thing is, I'm looking to slab many of my comics. Not a helpful solution.

Yes, I really like this idea.

On 7/7/2022 at 8:57 AM, Wolverinex said:

Nice, congrats.  Looks like there are only a few copies left on ebay so I bet the current auction will go high.  

Have you picked up his batman 124 cover and Agent of Worlde yet?  

 

I heard he has two DC covers coming up soon, both just as awesome, so I can't wait. 

 

Yup. I grabbed both of those I believe.

On 7/6/2022 at 11:13 AM, Wolverinex said:

Deathstroke inc 10 Bratukhin variant starting to move above 50

 

 

That $49 is mine. Ha ha. I'll have to keep an eye on any upcoming covers from this artist.

On 7/5/2022 at 1:57 PM, Axe Elf said:

I don't mind how the outside of a book looks in a slab; I just hate that the slabbing process makes the inside of the comic disappear.

It seems to fly straight in the face of the wise old proverb warning against judging a book by its cover.

Many books I DO judge by their cover though. I love a great story, but I also love a great cover.

On 7/5/2022 at 7:42 AM, lostboys said:

I like having cool covers slabbed.

So in my Xmen collection I have issues 212 and 213 - cgc 9.4s....but I also have reader copies.

They are not big money books but they look cool slabbed and they add a little "pop" to the run if I ever wanna sell.

Same here. Some people don't like how books look slabbed, but I don't understand them.

Never mind. Ignore.

I suspect it's just a printing issue. I had an X-Men #4 I sent in to get graded, and it had something similar on the last page. From the grader notes, it appears that I didn't get dinged for it.

I already have a couple signed and slabbed books of his, but why not one more?