Top 10 for 2014 it is!

[surfer99]

Thanks bagofleas for this annual reminder...

 

We spend so much time and money looking for that next great addition to our collections, it's nice to take a moment and appreciate the books we already own. So on that note I will follow bagofleas lead and take stock of my top 10, comparing it to my last top ten from 9/21/2010...been awhile since Ive done this apparently. The one caveat I will make is that this list is specific to graded books, and not any that are currently raw.

 

10. Tales of Suspense 82 CGC 9.4 WP (previously Marvel Team-up #4 CGC 9.6)

New to the list, and a title that's new to my collection. I was drawn to this set because of the early Cap appearances and have not been disappointed. This copy I actually submitted to CGC myself and was very happily surprised it came back NM. It also features the first appearance of the Adaptoid who would then evolve to become the Super Adaptoid in issue 84. I look forward to collecting all the Cap issues in this run in high grade.

 

9. Fantastic Four 28 CGC SS 7.0 OW/WP (previously Hulk #181 CGC 8.0)

New to the list. I have a couple of issues signed by Stan and this one tops the list featuring the second crossover appearance of the X-men. I wish it was in higher grade, but still a keeper any way you look at it.

 

8. Avengers 110 CGC 9.6 WP (previously Hulk #172 CGC 9.6)

This one took a drop from number 2, but is still one of my favorite covers. I remember how excited I was to win this auction and the one for the third part of the story in Avengers 111...the second part of the story was in Daredevil 99 which I also own in the same grade as these. Did I mention I love crossovers?

 

7. Fantastic Four 104 CGC 9.6 WP (previously Hulk #150 CGC 9.6)

New to the list. This is another iconic cover featuring Magneto on his throne with his foes at his feet and their beautiful women his captives. Magneto is best when he plays the egotistical maniac.

 

6. Marvel Team-up 4 CGC 9.6 WP (previously Giant-Size X-men #1 CGC 8.0)

This one moved way up from number 10. With the X-men appearance and tough black cover it was inevitable. Very key book from the X-men the Missing Years collection. Love it!

 

5. Amazing Spider-man 92 CGC 9.6 WP (previously Captain America #173 CGC 9.6)

New to the list. Such a great book. Iceman and Spidey together is always a good time. I remember it wasn't cheap, but I was so excited that I had won the auction...one of those books that really stands the test of time and all the whats hot whats not phases.

 

4. Marvel Tales 30 CGC 9.6 WP Twin Cities, Ka-Zar 2 CGC 9.6 OW/WP, Ka-Zar 3 CGC 9.6 WP (previously Captain America #172 CGC 9.6)

New to the list. If bagofleas can have several books in one category making up one of the top 10 slots then so can I. These will never leave my collection. Each issue is part of a 3 part original X-men story featuring The Angel and the death of his father and it's written by none other than Jerry Siegel...the same Jerry Siegel that created Superman. That would be like Stan Lee writing a Hawkman book or something. How cool is that?

 

3. Amazing Adventures 11 CGC 9.6 WP (previously Avengers #111 CGC 9.6)

New to the list. This is one I never thought I would own in this grade just because of the high cost. Thankfully I got a big bonus at work one year and my wife was very supportive of my decision to purchase this beauty. Awesome black picture frame cover featuring the first appearance of the Beast with fur.

 

2. Giant Size Fantastic Four 4 CGC 9.6 OW/WP (previously Avengers #110 CGC 9.6)

New to the list. Of all the books in my collection, this one proved to be the most difficult to find in grade. It took YEARS of looking at auction after auction. I finally found one during a ComicLink auction one year, but that same auction also featured a copy of FF 104 CGC 9.6 and I could only afford one of the two. I chose the FF 104 at the time because I loved the cover so much. If I had known how hard it was to find the GS I would have picked that one up instead. Fortunately the person who purchased that book from ComicLink also sold it years later on eBay...to me! First appearance of Jamie Madrox the Multiple Man, appearance by Professor X, and a key book in my X-men the Missing Years set.

 

1. Hulk #181 CGC SS 8.0 OW (previously Amazing Adventures #16 CGC 9.6)

This one took a huge jump from number 9. Honestly it should have been number 1 all along, but now even more so since it's been signed by both Len and Herb! This was the first CGC book Ive ever owned, and it was a gift from my amazing wife on 12/25/2006. It was the most nerve-wracking decision to get it signed this year, but it SO paid off...taking something so special to me and making it even more special. Sometimes, the risk really is worth the reward.

 

Lastly, these 10 were on the bubble and honestly could still fall anywhere in the 7 thru 10 range, but this is a top 10 list and not a top 20 so here are the honorable mentions in alphabetical order...

Amazing Adventures 10 CGC 9.4 WP Rocky Mountain

Amazing Adventures 16 CGC 9.6 OW/WP

Daredevil 111 CGC 9.6 OW/WP

Fantastic Four 48 CGC 8.0 OW

Fantastic Four 103 CGC SS 9.4 OW/WP

Hulk 150 CGC 9.6 OW/WP

Special Marvel Edition 15 CGC 9.4 WP

Strange Tales 120 CGC SS 8.0 OW/WP

Giant Size X-men 1 CGC 8.0 OW

X-men 141 CGC 9.6 WP, X-men 142 CGC 9.6 WP

 

Til next time...

 

***

 

See more journals by surfer99

[bagofleas]

A very enjoyable read as well!! That's quite a top ten you have there, sir!! I love that Marvel Tales #30!! Very cool book!

 

And I can obviously see why Hulk 181 jumped to the top of your list. Taking that big risk to get the sigs definitely paid off! I know the feeling as I have also cracked very expensive books for sigs. It's nerve racking to say the least, but when it comes back re-slabbed with those lovely scrawlings on it, there is no better feeling!

 

Congrats on your top ten! Your honorable mentions are fantastic as well. I too have more that could be on my PSL as well.

[Tnerb]

a Very nice collection of books. One of those I NEED. Can you guess which one? I wasn't going to do a top ten list, I was only going to write a journal about not doing one, but as with the first time, I shall follow the Surfer, but I might do a variation...

[surfer99]

Yeah, that Marvel Tales was also extremely tough to find in high grade and took years. I finally found it on Heritage last year and thankfully before xfiles did so I got it super cheap, . Interestingly enough it is the only issue from that title that features an original story...something i wish CGC had denoted on the cover, but oh well.

 

I didn't know I had any books on your must have list Tnerb. I'm going to guess that it's in my top 10 and not on the honorable mention list. I know you like TOS but you only collect the low grade copies so it's likely not that one. Oh! Maybe it's a birthday book for you, April 1972. Let me see if I have any with that date...03/72, 04/73, wait, Hulk 150 is 04/72 so that's gotta be it! "Preview: The return of the man called - Havok! The magnetic might of Lorna Dane! Plus - 'ol Greenskin on a rampage! It's action, cover to cover!" Great book and also hard to come by in high grade. Looking forward to seeing your top 10!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lee K]

*sigh*

 

I guess I'll have to think now...and I wasn't going to do that until January.

 

Nice list Surfer.

 

Now - what would I retain? think think think think....

 

Lee

[Brandon Shepherd]

A great list, Surfer, filled with tales spanning eons of time. Oh the quests taken to acquire these books, it's quite a list indeed. The tales they tell, thanks for sharing!

[SW3D]

I agree with BOF, Marvel Tales 30 is so sweet. I had no idea Jerry Siegel wrote anything for Marvel... those comics have history written all over them and they're keepers!

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

Happy New Year!

 

SW3D

[Comix4Sale]

Great list Surfer. I think some of us went throught the angst with you of whether to get the #181 signed. A decision that turned out well.

 

Happy New Year

 

James