BabyAteMyDingo

On 9/30/2021 at 4:11 PM, Batmanis#1 said:

ComicLink has an auction going for a Cerebus 1 CGC 8.0 restored it is almost at 2800$ with 6 days left.

https://www.comiclink.com/auctions/item.asp?back=%2FAUCTIONS%2FSEARCH.ASP%3FFocusedOnly%3D1%26where%3Dauctions%26title%3DCerebus%2B1%26GO%3DGO%26ItemType%3DCB%23Item_1512464&id=1512464&itemType=0

That would be out the slab. Kill my book for a dot of black atop a staple? Guess not.

On 9/25/2021 at 10:49 AM, namisgr said:

Who's 'Neil'?  

Yeah. I see many EBay vendors who spell it that way too. You know...because they know their artists.

9.4. I determined to collect this run as HQ SS. Did it with the exception of the 608 second print and of course the 608 retailer incentive. The latter is REALLY spendy. The former will eventually be had.

On 9/10/2021 at 1:38 AM, TeddieMercede said:

So.. is Neil the Marvel killer ?!

https://comics.ha.com/itm/bronze-age-1970-1979-/detective-comics-400-dc-1970-cgc-nm-mt-98-white-pages/a/7246-94153.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515

Yow. The 9.8 hype. I quite enjoy my SS 7.5 copy. $64k is too much for my ego to demand from me.

The worst part would be showing it off and people would say "Oh very nice!" then change the subject. Haha. Or hum the theme to the Batman tv show from the 1960's and say "POW! BIFF!" to me. I didn't spend nearly $65k for you to be dismissive and trite. Look at it, I say. LOOK AT IIIIT!

On 9/19/2021 at 10:51 PM, yogi_bear13 said:

Nice centering and WP.  Puts my 8.5 to shame! 

Nothing shameful about an 8.5 HOS. I have a 7.5 I adore.

On 9/24/2021 at 11:25 PM, Sweet Lou 14 said:

Did you get the grader notes?

No, sir. I must call and perhaps they will read them to me. Sometimes they are kind. Perhaps NOT knowing is better?

"Yes sir. Page 10 is ripped halfway down the middle. Otherwise, it would have been a 9.9. SO SORRY, SIR. (Cue sad "Price Is Right" music.) You fell off the Matterhorn game."

On 9/25/2021 at 9:00 AM, LowGradeBronze said:

Popped staples are the worst. I have a really nice looking FF 82, looks like a 7.5 but top staple has popped...grrr 

Ack. A common lament with Batman #222. The bottom staple has let go the centerfold in many cases. Greenie time. but it's a manufacturing problem.

There is a raw Green Lantern #63 on eBay I would like. Detached centerfold otherwise perhaps a 7.0. 1st Neal Adams GL cover. $7.50! WHY CAN'T I PULL THE TRIGGER OVER A LOUSY $7.50??? HA-HA!

On 9/24/2021 at 7:11 PM, Number 6 said:

The top of the back cover looks like it might have a remainder wash all along the top of the book.  I had a raw copy of Detective #409 that had that along with a little bit of the wash splashed on the top spine edge.  I debated about submitting it to CGC but wasn’t sure if they would treat it the same as distributor overspray or hammer the grade. In the end I opted for selling it and buying an upgraded copy.  It’s possible that’s what accounts for the grade here. 
 

Scans like this don’t show everything. I have a Detective #397 that’s graded 9.0 and looks really sharp, it looks at first glance like it could be a 9.2, maybe better. But you tilt the book in the right light and you see three faint vertical non-color breaking creases that were pressed out but are still faintly visible. 
 

It’s possible that with all the QC goof-ups that it’s actually a better book sitting in an 8.5 holder, but I suspect it’s more likely that has defects that just don’t jump out in these scans. 

I see what you are saying. But I have been tipping this book all over the place and I'm still not seeing it. I thought the same. "Well, the scans are killer. I'm sure when I get the book there will surely be something to justify 8.5." Just isn't. So maybe there is a spot or two on a page or a half inch tear somewhere. Seems like the book was treated very gently. Even the remainder wash thing doesn't look like that. That would be a huge drag down from what looks like nearly a 9.6. Really? Perfect otherwise but a teeny line across the top back cover and it gets shot down? Dunno. I have seen 9.6 books with color breaking stress creases down the length of the spine but since they had white pages and were otherwise pristine, they got the nod.

I guess it doesn't matter. I love the cover. Adams isn't getting younger. Gorgeous presentation. 8.5 price. Yes. I'll take the deal all day. I can call and ask for grading notes. I did once for a Batman #3 that presented as at least a 7.0 but was graded at 2.0. They read back the notes. "Front cover crumbled and creased." What? "Yes. As if someone took the front cover off, crumbled it into a ball, straightened it and reattached it." WOT? Not seeing that AT ALL! LOL!

On 9/24/2021 at 5:38 PM, Sweet Lou 14 said:

When a book is this nice structurally, it's possible that they found a water spot or some other invisible defect that they just hammered. 

Someone fighting with their partner or someone suffering constipation and they took it out on the book. What a shame. It really is a grand book. Absolutely spotless. But I was able to get it for 8.5 pricing and not 9.6 pricing so I cannot complain.

6.5

On 8/18/2021 at 10:02 PM, Lazyboy said:

Do you understand what thread you're in? Take it up with the OP.

The only thing more absurd than the asking price, which was multiple times the sale price of any previous copies that actually sold, was the fact that somebody paid it.

Sure. I'll take it up with the OP. Why don't you link me to whatever it is you are raving about? Bet you can't. Only reason I'm calling you out is because you are mostly an "arse" to everyone you comment to. So. Show me the link to whatever you are bellyaching about. Bet you are full of it.

On 8/18/2021 at 8:21 PM, Namtak said:

Funny how people owning a book tends to say it should be more expensive while comics not owned should be cheaper

Is it the same paradigm that says own a book for 20 years and it doesn't increase in value, sell it and it explodes in value the next day?

This doesn't count as a cover, but this is the only copy I have seen of this Showcase treasury say nothing about all the signatures. I bought it from a guy who did a lot of construction work for people "in the business". He had a ton of really nice shape comics signed mainly by Adams and Wrightson. Amazing.

Here's my raw Phantom Stranger #10. Not an easy book to find at all in decent shape. It must have been printed on an ancient Indian burial ground or something. Bought mine from Sweden, of all places. I REALLY was fortunate. I paid about $60 US for it. I was terrified it would have Swedish text but it's English! Cannot believe my good fortune.

On 8/13/2021 at 4:05 AM, comicnoir said:

Due to popular demand.

Damn. A REALLY hard book to find in general. Even more difficult in upper mid to high grade. I scored a raw 7.5-ish after a long search. Congratulations.

On 7/19/2021 at 9:57 AM, dover said:

I secured a high grade copy of this sweet cover. The raw and slabbed will look good together.

THIS is a tough cover to find without problems. Just as difficult as a black cover. Congratulations! I believe mine is a 9.2 slabbed. Had a helluva time finding the right one. Concluded the great Ra's Al Ghul Adams run of 232, (242), 243-245.

On 8/18/2021 at 8:04 PM, ADAMANTIUM said:

I gave my raw copy away in the 1st secret Santa on the boards along with a marvel treasury among other stuff.

I was figuring I'd always upgrade, as it was only a 3.0, but opportunity doesn't arrive all that much!

 

Well, that was very nice of you to do that. I'm sure karma has paid you back many times.

I thought I saw a post of yours that featured a signed and remarked game insert or something to that effect. Fortune favors the kind hearted!

On 8/18/2021 at 5:47 PM, Lazyboy said:

I remember seeing some piece of junk with the supposed first ad for some derivative, third-tier character priced at something like 40 times its reasonable value. What's even funnier is that some fool bought it!

I had no idea anyone needed your approval to buy whatever it is they think is cool or collectible. Live and learn, I guess.

I used to pull the cardboard insulators out of milk bottle tops. Paid $10 for 50 of them. They were what Pogs were fashioned after. They had the name of the dairy they came from and stuff. Junk to you. Treasure to my boys when they went to school and trumped the mass produced Pogs with real rarities from the 1950's. Really WHIZZED the other kids off when they wouldn't trade them off.

One mans trash is another man's treasure, yes?

Superman 233 ought to be in any respectable bronze age collection. Get 'em while they are still "reasonable".

4 minutes ago, Ride the Tiger said:

Go back to the good ole days of 3 grades. Take this whole idea of restoration = practically worthless out of the equation. Go back to a simpler time when a key book didn't cost as much as a car.

Those days will never be seen again.

You folks wanted it this way and now it's this way. Live with it.

1 minute ago, BlowUpTheMoon said:

Very little reaction from the Coinees.

There's only 8 people left who collect coins so.....