n2wdw's Tales of the Comic Book Room 15 15

[Ricksneatstuff]

It is a problem for lower grades too @n2wdw

This one was so bad they agreed to redo it. 

 

[n2wdw]

CGC's New Crossover Service

I haven't seen much on the boards about CGC's new crossover service (where you can send in another company's slab, and CGC will regrade and slab it; if the grade stays the same or goes up, the cost is 50% of CGC's regular price; if the grade goes down, the cost is only $10).

Part of me admires CGC for what can only be considered a cut throat move against CBCS.  I can only imagine the jaw grinding going on over there. 

So another part of me feels sorry for CBCS.  I don't want them to go out of business.  I think competition is good for everyone, even for CGC.  Also, CBCS offers one service that CGC doesn't -- verifying autographs.  Because of them, I have Cheval Noir 7 signed by Dave Stevens, which is one of my most cherished comics.  I wish CGC would team up with PSA or form their own group to verify autographs.

 

But the biggest part of me is really excited about this service.  Over the years I've picked up a pile of CBCS and PGX comics at auctions and cons.  But CGC is the premier grading service and having comics in other company's slabs have always meant less to me.  CGC slabs also carry a premium when selling.  Okay, not for all comics, but in those cases where a slab will increase a comics value, CGC will provide more of a multiple than either CBCS or PGX.  I know some people will disagree with me (especially as to CBCS), but for me at least, I'll pay a premium for CGC books but not for CBCS.

So I'm collecting all of my CBCS and PGX comics to send into CGC.  I'm not concerned about the grades going down.  I'm expecting they will for the PGX books. 

The only book I'm hesitating on is this Spawn embossed German edition.  It was graded by EGS (apparently a grading company in Europe) and they gave it a 9.9 grade.  I hesitate because I don't want to lose the 9.9 grade, and it's kind of unique (it's the only EGS book I have in my collection; in fact I can't remember ever seeing another one on eBay).  But in the end I decided to send it in.  I figure it'll get at least 9.8, given the sturdiness of these embossed covers.  And if it does come back 9.9, then its re-sale value will have gone up by a pretty good amount.

 

On another topic, if you collect CGC comics, then you eventually get some that you don't like as much anymore.  Maybe because your collecting interests change, or it was an impulse buy, there are a lot of reasons.  So what do you do with them?

I know some people try to sell them.  We see those kind of sale threads all the time.  But I don't like selling my comics, especially graded comics.  Because, while I might not love them as much anymore, I still like them enough that I don't want to part with them.

So what I do is put them on the floor in a stack.  You can store tons of CGC slabs this way, as you're making full use of the volume of your storage area.  Right now I have one stack, and it's about half the max height of the space (because there's a shelf above).  At this rate, in my lifetime, I'll probably only need 2 or, at most, 3 stacks to store my "I don't love them but I don't want to get rid of them" graded books.  Here's my stack, and in the next picture, it shows the stack after I've put other stuff around it.

[jimjum12]

1 hour ago, n2wdw said:

CGC's New Crossover Service

I haven't seen much on the boards about CGC's new crossover service (where you can send in another company's slab, and CGC will regrade and slab it; if the grade stays the same or goes up, the cost is 50% of CGC's regular price; if the grade goes down, the cost is only $10).

Part of me admires CGC for what can only be considered a cut throat move against CBCS.  I can only imagine the jaw grinding going on over there. 

So another part of me feels sorry for CBCS.  I don't want them to go out of business.  I think competition is good for everyone, even for CGC.  Also, CBCS offers one service that CGC doesn't -- verifying autographs.  Because of them, I have Cheval Noir 7 signed by Dave Stevens, which is one of my most cherished comics.  I wish CGC would team up with PSA or form their own group to verify autographs.

 

But the biggest part of me is really excited about this service.  Over the years I've picked up a pile of CBCS and PGX comics at auctions and cons.  But CGC is the premier grading service and having comics in other company's slabs have always meant less to me.  CGC slabs also carry a premium when selling.  Okay, not for all comics, but in those cases where a slab will increase a comics value, CGC will provide more of a multiple than either CBCS or PGX.  I know some people will disagree with me (especially as to CBCS), but for me at least, I'll pay a premium for CGC books but not for CBCS.

So I'm collecting all of my CBCS and PGX comics to send into CGC.  I'm not concerned about the grades going down.  I'm expecting they will for the PGX books. 

The only book I'm hesitating on is this Spawn embossed German edition.  It was graded by EGS (apparently a grading company in Europe) and they gave it a 9.9 grade.  I hesitate because I don't want to lose the 9.9 grade, and it's kind of unique (it's the only EGS book I have in my collection; in fact I can't remember ever seeing another one on eBay).  But in the end I decided to send it in.  I figure it'll get at least 9.8, given the sturdiness of these embossed covers.  And if it does come back 9.9, then its re-sale value will have gone up by a pretty good amount.

 

On another topic, if you collect CGC comics, then you eventually get some that you don't like as much anymore.  Maybe because your collecting interests change, or it was an impulse buy, there are a lot of reasons.  So what do you do with them?

I know some people try to sell them.  We see those kind of sale threads all the time.  But I don't like selling my comics, especially graded comics.  Because, while I might not love them as much anymore, I still like them enough that I don't want to part with them.

So what I do is put them on the floor in a stack.  You can store tons of CGC slabs this way, as you're making full use of the volume of your storage area.  Right now I have one stack, and it's about half the max height of the space (because there's a shelf above).  At this rate, in my lifetime, I'll probably only need 2 or, at most, 3 stacks to store my "I don't love them but I don't want to get rid of them" graded books.  Here's my stack, and in the next picture, it shows the stack after I've put other stuff around it.

Here you go, Mike..... I love Dave Stevens too. GOD BLESS....

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

 

[n2wdw]

5 hours ago, jimjum12 said:

Here you go, Mike..... I love Dave Stevens too. GOD BLESS....

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

 

Thanks for posting Jim.  I love those Stevens autographed books.  I've never seen a Stevens SS book.  Dave died in 2008.  I think CGC's signature series started after that.  Does anyone know?

[n2wdw]

I haven't posted food pics for a while so I'll show you Thursday night's dinner.  This was at Our Harvest in Fenwick Beach, MD.  During the off-season, the restaurants at the beach offer really good specials.  They call this their Bull and Oyster feast.  It starts with raw and baked oysters.

 

Then cream of mushroom and oyster soup.

 

And finally the entree, a half slab of slow cooked ribs and then a pot pie with wagyu brisket.  All for $45!  It was a ton of food.  We took the leftovers home and we're still eating it.

[jimjum12]

2 hours ago, n2wdw said:

Thanks for posting Jim.  I love those Stevens autographed books.  I've never seen a Stevens SS book.  Dave died in 2008.  I think CGC's signature series started after that.  Does anyone know?

I'm under the impression that there are none. His sig is so distinctive and presumably difficult to fake that I feel confidant buying one raw. These two, along with several others I have, belonged to a friend who passed away a couple of years ago (...too young). He was a consummate autograph hound. He spent 30 years amassing 7 short boxes of autographed books. He had EC books that were signed on the splash of each story by each story's creator.... even Ray Bradbury. He had Gil Kane, who also passed away before the SS program began. GOD BLESS....

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

[n2wdw]

1 minute ago, jimjum12 said:

I'm under the impression that there are none. His sig is so distinctive and presumably difficult to fake that I feel confidant buying one raw. These two, along with several others I have, belonged to a friend who passed away a couple of years ago (...too young). He was a consummate autograph hound. He spent 30 years amassing 7 short boxes of autographed books. He had EC books that were signed on the splash of each story by each story's creator.... even Ray Bradbury. He had Gil Kane, who also passed away before the SS program began. GOD BLESS....

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

Gil Kane is one of my all time favorite artist.  I'd love to have a comic with his autograph.

[jimjum12]

3 minutes ago, n2wdw said:

Gil Kane is one of my all time favorite artist.  I'd love to have a comic with his autograph.

There may still be a few left, I'll check. They're definitely legit..... he stood in hundreds of lines to get them. GOD BLESS....

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

[jimjum12]

3 hours ago, n2wdw said:

I haven't posted food pics for a while so I'll show you Thursday night's dinner.  This was at Our Harvest in Fenwick Beach, MD.  During the off-season, the restaurants at the beach offer really good specials.  They call this their Bull and Oyster feast.  It starts with raw and baked oysters.

 

Then cream of mushroom and oyster soup.

 

And finally the entree, a half slab of slow cooked ribs and then a pot pie with wagyu brisket.  All for $45!  It was a ton of food.  We took the leftovers home and we're still eating it.

Is that Oysters Rockefeller ?  GOD BLESS....

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

[AJD]

There are many of your comic books I would like to have myself. Your dinners are all yours though!

[n2wdw]

9 hours ago, jimjum12 said:

Is that Oysters Rockefeller ?  GOD BLESS....

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

Yes!  They were delicious.

[n2wdw]

6 hours ago, AJD said:

There are many of your comic books I would like to have myself. Your dinners are all yours though!

And for $45 for 2 people it was a steal.  We're still eating it.  I'm planning to put the wagyu stew over white rice for lunch today just as the 1pm football games start. 

[n2wdw]

When you look at pictures of my comic room, probably you see an unorganized mess.  But really it's organized and I know where everything is.

Take for example this bookcase.  In front you see two piles of stuff leaning against the the bookcase.  I've labeled them 1 and 2.

 

Let's start with #2 first.  That's my collection of stuff by Philippe Berthet, the artist from Brussels.  Here are a couple of examples:

 

 

#1 is my collection of DC's Bombshell series.  I'm also getting the corresponding statues.  Here are the Supergirl comic and the corresponding Supergirl statue (shown with the white arrow).  It's cool to have it in both 2D and 3D.

 

Here are a couple more Bombshell statues from my collection (I don't have the comics yet).  Thanks for reading.

[n2wdw]

Continuing the tour of that bookcase, I've got a stack of books on the top shelf (labeled as 3) that are my larger size Dave Stevens' books.

 

One thing I'm particularly proud of, I've got the top rated Dave Stevens CGC registry set (you can link to it from my signature).  To the right of that bookshelf are some other shelves, and on top are most of my Stevens' CGC graded comics.  I keep them in 2 stacks. 

 

I also have another shelf where I display some of my Stevens' books:

Edited October 29, 2018 by n2wdw

[n2wdw]

I sent in my cross-over books today.  Came to 22 comics.  Normally I use the Value tier, but the on-line form made me use Standard.  That was annoying, but with the 50% pricing, I just went with it rather than calling CGC to work it out.  I'll be interested if this results in a faster turnaround (Standard versus Value is supposed to be 3 times faster.)  I'm also excited to see the books back.  Will they hold or go down in grade?  Will some even go up?  Will CGC catch more restoration?  I'll report when I get the books back.

[Yorick]

With the CrossOver service, I kinda wish we could pop-out and keep some of the old labels (especially that verified signature label).  I'd just tape it to the back of any new slab.  Awesome Stevens collection!

[n2wdw]

On 10/31/2018 at 4:31 PM, Yorick said:

With the CrossOver service, I kinda wish we could pop-out and keep some of the old labels (especially that verified signature label).  I'd just tape it to the back of any new slab.  Awesome Stevens collection!

Yes, it would be nice if CGC returned the original label.

[n2wdw]

Halloween was an exciting night for Millie the Model eBay auctions.  For the last year or so I've been trying to collect Millie 1-10.  Last night, I lost on 8 and 9 but I was okay with that, due to the writing on Millie's legs.

 

I won though on the one I really wanted, Millie #7 with the classic GGA mirror cover!  Even better, I got it at 70% of my max bid!  Now I hope to get the book before CGC's crossover promotion ends.

[Robot Man]

I love #8 the best...

[n2wdw]

1 hour ago, Robot Man said:

I love #8 the best...

Egad!  Over 7?  Heresy!