A 15-year journey, completed 3 3

[SuperBird]

Action Comics 23: Part One of Four! 

The first appearance of Lex Luthor, and arguably the only “key” book in my run. This was the hardest to get, and was the last one I needed to complete 15-63. 

This post will take a while, because it’s a story. It involves some health issues, and to answer what will be an immediate question, I have so far overcome them. (Consider that your trigger warning.)

The best way to attack collecting a run, so it goes, is to buy the key books first. They’ll go up in value the quickest. I of course did the opposite. In my defense, by the time I decided to go for the complete run, Action 23 was already a $6k+ book in the lowest grades, unrestored. I definitely recall low grade restored book being common “for cheap” in the years leading up to that point, but I just wasn’t looking then. Once I did decide to go for it, my options were limited. I was simply not willing to spend the near-$10k it seemed like it would take. 

I came close about a half-dozen times, all in my price range, among which were: 
• a restored 2.5 I was the underbidder on ComicConnect for
• an underpriced conserved 6.0 BIN I missed on eBay by a half-hour. ( @pointfive texted to give me a heads’ up just a little too late)
• a restored raw copy on eBay that I was negotiating with the buyer about on and off for years, but in the end declined because he would not take returns if it were found to be trimmed or married
• a qualified, married 3.5 on eBay I ultimately declined to BIN as I decided I didn’t want a married copy
• a 1.8 amateur restored copy on Heritage with coloring all over the cover, bad tape stains and a wrecked spine that I was talked out of buying

While my search was going on, I watched in horror as the realized prices for Action 23s went higher and higher. But I stayed pat, refusing to go outside my spending comfort zone. In the meantime I was able to acquire every other issue in the run by the Fall of 2018. 

I was off on an island somewhere with the family, as we did every year (pre-pandemic) when I realized that a sore in my mouth I’d had for a week or so wasn’t getting any better. I had been to the dentist to have a cap put in on a chipped tooth, and something was catching on the underside of my tongue. I went back after we returned to the States, and there was a slight chip on a back tooth, which the dentist smoothed out. I thought “problem solved!”

2 weeks later, the sore was still there, and worse, the pain had spread to my ear on the same side, bad enough that I was popping Tylenol every night. I visited an oral surgeon, who took a look under my tongue and gave me a contact for yet another doctor, saying I should make an appointment immediately. When I called their office, the receptionist answered: 

"Hello, NYU Langone Cancer Center. Please hold.” 

I held. 

---to be continued---

Edited May 6, 2020 by SuperBird

[SuperBird]

Action Comics 23: Part Two of Four

Trigger alert: I had cancer. 

You can skip to the post following this one, if you'd rather not hear about it.

What is it like to think you are going to die? Everyone is faced with death eventually, and I assume everyone faces it differently. I felt what I guess, looking back, can be described as a sort of calm terror. 

I’m almost 50 years old, and during those years I have accomplished basically everything one hopes to in life. I’m happily married, I have a wonderful daughter, a successful career, a nice enough house. I’ve seen half the world. I’ve gone to 100 concerts, eaten every kind of food, drank every type of drink. I am a 3x US Warhammer champion, painting giant armies of little soldiers and rolling lots of dice to victory. Upon forced reflection and introspection, I wanted to live to see my grandchildren, and to retire and goof off for years doing things I loved. I also wanted to see if the Avengers could beat Thanos, and how Star Wars would end. 

But if it was going to end here, I'd had a good run.

My appointment with the cancer specialist wasn’t for another week, and that time was probably the hardest. You know what it’s like when you think you might be sick, have some weird symptoms, and you start googling? Yeah, try that with cancer. I had a 1” lump under my tongue, which either hadn’t spread anywhere else, and I might be OK. Or it had, and I was dead. Not the easiest thing to get up, go to work, come home and go to sleep thinking about.

My wife and I went for the appointment, which left no doubt as to what it was. The doctor was generally kind and reassuring. A few scans would reveal my fate. He took a biopsy, but was pretty certain of the outcome from just looking. (Remarkably, the biopsy did not hurt, although I almost passed out when I saw the results of what he did.)

Another three days to get the scan results. One of the scans used an intravenous radioactive isotope, and it was a kick to be “radioactive” for a day and walk around NYC with a letter explaining my condition to law enforcement, who apparently have radioactivity scanners set up. (I wasn’t stopped, sadly). 

The doctor called with the results: it hadn’t spread. LIFE!

I visited four different surgeons and got four different opinions. Such is health care. Assuming surgery and treatment were successful, I’d end up with some cool scars, but no other real permanent effects. There was another 6 weeks to wait until they could fit me in, however. Every day, the pain got worse, and eating and speaking became a real problem. I really wanted to get surgery over with, like you have no idea. 

January 9^th, 2019, I went in to Mt. Sinai hospital. 

I’m not sure what I expected from the anesthesia, but one minute I was there, and the next I woke up, actually feeling pretty good. The pain was mostly gone, and I could speak normally! I asked for more drugs, because why not. It took a week to get out of the hospital, of which I will spare you the painful details. Bottom line: the operation was a success. I would need radiation therapy afterwards, but not chemo (radiation itself was terrible). I’d need physical therapy for my arm (they turned me into a human Lego set). My odds were about as good as one could hope for—and 18 months later they continue to be.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I came home from the hospital on January 16^th, 2019.

On January 21^st, I received an email alerting me to a message from @Cosmic Boy on the CGC boards: 

“Still looking for an Action 23?”

---To be continued!---

Edited May 6, 2020 by SuperBird

[Cosmic Boy]

Thanks for sharing this story! 

Even more glad I could help you achieve your goal, and that you're doing well. 😀

[SuperBird]

 

1 minute ago, Cosmic Boy said:

Thanks for sharing this story! 

Even more glad I could help you achieve your goal, and that you're doing well. 😀

Thanks, it's appreciated! Your timing was impeccable.

[Yorick]

[SuperBird]

Action Comics 23: Part three of four!

Yeah, yeah, we're gettin' there. 

The PM read: 

"I have a deslabbed 1.8 with slight color touch resto, presents beautifully if you are still looking."

I immediately knew which book he was talking about, of course. It was that damn Heritage copy I passed a few years back. I had regretted letting it go when I had my first chance at it. But life works out sometimes. I definitely wasn't interested in the book "as is"—the amateur color touch was kind of ridiculous, basically a kid with magic markers and colored pencils coloring in Superman and the Action logo—but the book had good bones. The pages were off-white, and the cover had great colors and bright whites. Not knowing anything about restoration, I naively thought maybe the color touch could be removed. But failing that, at least it could be given proper professional color touch and made to look significantly nicer, albeit still a 1.8. 

I quickly came to an agreement with CosmicBoy, and the book arrived 3 days later. And that was it! My Action Comics run was *technically* completed. But to get it into a proper CGC slab would take another year. 

There will be what seems like some criticisms of CGC to follow, but let me get something out of the way ahead of that. CGC is the only reason I collect comics books at this point; I wouldn't feel comfortable buying and selling comics without them. They have really made the hobby what it is today. They have consistently delivered an excellent product and timely service in all the years I've used them. Further, the restoration work they did to my Action 23 is nothing short of miraculous. I was shocked by the results. Whoever worked on my book is a magician; the results exceeded all expectations. I will continue to use them in future with complete confidence. 

Book in hand, I emailed CCS with a few images asked a) could the CT and tape be removed and b) if the CT could not, could they JUST provide professional color touch over it. In my head a copy with just color touch would be better than having pieces added. The reply was that they could not tell without the book in hand, so next step was to send it in. I received an email a few days later to the effect of "Our restoration experts have looked at your book and estimated they can restore it to a Fine/ Fine+ copy." Which sounded great (I had assumed a full resto job would result in. VG copy), but that's not what I asked. So I asked again. I got basically the same response. A non-answer about simply redoing the color touch. I tried calling instead, but was unable to speak to anyone who could help. I was told someone would get back to me, but when they did it was the same deal. At this point, I was tired of trying to traverse the communication gap, and honestly a 6.0 restored copy sounded pretty great to me, so I agreed to the work. The time estimate was up to 9 months, which I knew meant more like a year based on previous experiences. I sent payment, indicating the value of the book as what I actually paid for it. This will come back to haunt me. 

.........

NINE.

MONTHS.

LATER. 

........

Orders you submit to CGC fall off their website after 9 months. So I called to check the status, and was told someone would get back to me. I emailed, asking about the book, just to make sure they actually did still have it, and when I could expect it. I got back a sort of form letter saying in effect "this type of work takes up to a year." But magically a week later it was back on the website, and scheduled for grading! 

As a rule, I always had packages shipped to my office instead of my home, that way someone would be there to sign for them. 2019 also happened to be the year our office lease was up. We had moved downtown in the interim, and the address I had supplied when I sent it in we no longer occupied. I dutifully updated my mailing address on the CGC website. But guess what? That's not enough for orders you've already sent in; they will still send those to the address included on the order. There is no way to change that address on their website. I emailed, explaining the situation, and saying "please respond to this email and confirm you have updated my shipping address." I got no response. I waited. I called again. I finally got a reply, saying "yes! we have updated it." 

You know that tingly excitement when your grades come in? The newly restored Action Comics 23 had not gotten a 6.0, as promised. Nope, now it was an 8.5. 



I called again to triple check they had the correct mailing address, so they read the ADDRESS off to me. I let out a huge sigh of relief. The local post office was a nightmare as it was- they'd lost a page of original art of mine for a month. Thankfully this would be tracked and ensured. But for how much? Only the amount I paid for the book, apparently. 

The book shipped out the next day, and it "arrived" three days later...

...and was immediately returned to sender. Reason: Incomplete address. 

The name of my company had been left off the addressee line on the shipping label. 

---TO BE COMPLETED----

Edited May 7, 2020 by SuperBird

[manofsteel]

Seriously???? Right at the end you bail on us??????? Lol

[Yorick]

I hope there will be a "before and after" picture....

[SuperBird]

3 minutes ago, Yorick said:

I hope there will be a "before and after" picture....

The before!

Edited May 7, 2020 by SuperBird

[Yorick]

3 minutes ago, SuperBird said:

The before!

Lovely deep colors!!!  The tape on the spine bothers me more than the marker.

[SuperBird]

3 minutes ago, Yorick said:

Lovely deep colors!!!  The tape on the spine bothers me more than the marker.

Yeah, removing the tape was always in the cards. 

[SuperBird]

Action Comics 23: Part four of four!

With the package addressed to me, and not my company c/o me, it was sent back to the post office to be returned to CGC. I can just imagine the postman at our front door, looking at the 4 tenants of the building, then turning away, just 10 feet from me. 

I called CGC immediately, and they read the entire address label back to me, where we realized the error. I had misgivings about our local post office already; since our move a few packages had gone missing, but figured since it was registered mail it would be OK. I checked in with the shipping status after a few days, and it still said "in transit back to sender." A few days later, the same. I thought this was weird as it should have arrived back at the sender by now, so called the post office. They confirmed that it was still in transit back to Florida according to their records.

A week passed, with tracking unchanged. I called CGC to make sure they hadn't gotten it. They hadn't. 

Another week passed. 

By the third week, I was pretty sure something was wrong. I started calling CGC to see what were the next steps to take in tracking the package, or escalating the case. I asked what would happen in terms of insurance and refunds. Recall, if you will, that the value I'd marked down was for what I paid for the comic. This did not include the money spent on restoration work, which was nearly as much as the book itself cost. When I asked about whether this would be refunded, I did not receive an answer, although I am 99% certain my credit card would have covered me (see: Action 32 and 53). It also did not account for the new grade. Granted I have no definitive idea what an 8.5 restored Action 23 is worth, but I know it's more than a 1.8 restored copy. Were the book lost, not only would I be out a comic that I had spent years trying to obtain, I'd also be out a not-insignificant amount of money. Psychologically, I'd probably have given up on the run at that point as well. 

After numerous calls and emails, I was put in touch with someone in the claims department at CGC, who worked directly with USPS. Among the half-dozen or so people at CGC I'd dealt with around this whole saga, she was singularly amazing! She took the time to speak with me, explain the situation, called the post office and then called me right back. The news, however, was... not great. 

Apparently my local post office has the reputation of being a complete black hole—even among the USPS. Packages went missing there all the time, and nobody answered the phone, like, ever. The woman on the phone in USPS claims/tracking literally suggested I go there myself to speak with them, because they would not speak with anyone at her office. The package should still be there. They thought. At least according to their records, it never left. Further, they said should I get the chance to speak with the local USPS office manager, please ask her to call central USPS claims/tracking. They needed to have words. 

I hopped on the subway. 

I was second in line at the pickup desk, behind a woman simply picking up one single package. It took 45 minutes. 

Finally, my turn. I showed her the tracking number, explain the situation, and ask her to please physically look for the packaged. Instead, she punches the code into the computer, and tells me it was sent back to the sender. 

"Yes, I know that's what it says. The USPS tracking people say it's still here. Please physically check."

"I just did", she replied. 

I am Jack's inner rage. 

This comedy went on for another 10 minutes, with each of us getting more and more angry as I tried to get her to walk into the back where the package would be, in a locked cage set aside for registered mail. She finally acquiesces says "OK I will check in the back", but then also takes the next customer in line. They go through a similar ridiculous discussion, about a tracking number that the teller claims does not exist, but at the same time refusing to look for it. The teller finally goes into the back, leaving both of us standing there, looking at each other in disbelief. 

ONE.

HOUR. 

PASSES. 

(not even exaggerating)

The woman in front of me has to leave to pick up her kid, so does. Five minutes later the teller comes back— with HER package, but not mine. She says mine is not there, and asks to take my name and phone number. No, thanks, I can see where this is headed. I ask for her manager. She's not there. She gives me a phone number, which as this point I have no faith in, but take it, dejected. I call the number, but there's no answer. I get back to my office and look up the number: it's to a completely different local postal office, and just a general number to boot. Like, to the office itself. Not a manager. I have basically given up at this point. 

The next morning I call the number, and yeah, it's just a post office, but I explain the situation, and they actually do give me the right number: the manager of this woman I'd dealt with the day before. They don't seem surprised. I call her. She seems nice, human, even. Im out on hold for all of 2 minutes before she gets back on and tells me: "Yeah, it's right here!"

!!!!!

I ran back down the the office, picked up my package, and the only thing stopping me from hugging her was the plexiglass divider panel. I opened the box right there and then: 


 

The work CGC did blew away all of my expectations. This book is ridiculously beautiful in hand, and the work is invisible to my eye. 

My wife now asks why I don't collect more 8.5s.

I called back the USPS central claims, as she'd requested, to give her the phone number to call of the woman who'd helped crack my local USPS roadblock. She seemed eternally grateful. 

And with that, my 15-year journey was complete. 

 

 

Edited May 8, 2020 by SuperBird

[comicdonna]

Awesome!  

[telerites]

32 minutes ago, SuperBird said:

Action Comics 23: Part four of four!
 

 

Wow - what an ordeal. 

Love the book and the thread.

[Hollywood1892]

42 minutes ago, SuperBird said:

Action Comics 23: Part four of four!

With the package addressed to me, and not my company c/o me, it was sent back to the post office to be returned to CGC. I can just imagine the postman at our front door, looking at the 4 tenants of the building, then turning away, just 10 feet from me. 

I called CGC immediately, and they read the entire address label back to me, where we realized the error. I had misgivings about our local post office already; since our move a few packages had gone missing, but figured since it was registered mail it would be OK. I checked in with the shipping status after a few days, and it still said "in transit back to sender." A few days later, the same. I thought this was weird as it should have arrived back at the sender by now, so called the post office. They confirmed that it was still in transit back to Florida according to their records.

A week passed, with tracking unchanged. I called CGC to make sure they hadn't gotten it. They hadn't. 

Another week passed. 

By the third week, I was pretty sure something was wrong. I started calling CGC to see what were the next steps to take in tracking the package, or escalating the case. I asked what would happen in terms of insurance and refunds. Recall, if you will, that the value I'd marked down was for what I paid for the comic. This did not include the money spent on restoration work, which was nearly as much as the book itself cost. When I asked about whether this would be refunded, I did not receive an answer, although I am 99% certain my credit card would have covered me (see: Action 32 and 53). It also did not account for the new grade. Granted I have no definitive idea what an 8.5 restored Action 23 is worth, but I know it's more than a 1.8 restored copy. Were the book lost, not only would I be out a comic that I had spent years trying to obtain, I'd also be out a not-insignificant amount of money. Psychologically, I'd probably have given up on the run at that point as well. 

After numerous calls and emails, I was put in touch with someone in the claims department at CGC, who worked directly with USPS. Among the half-dozen or so people at CGC I'd dealt with around this whole saga, she was singularly amazing! She took the time to speak with me, explain the situation, called the post office and then called me right back. The news, however, was... not great. 

Apparently my local post office has the reputation of being a complete black hole—even among the USPS. Packages went missing there all the time, and nobody answered the phone, like, ever. The woman on the phone in USPS claims/tracking literally suggested I go there myself to speak with them, because they would not speak with anyone at her office. The package should still be there. They thought. At least according to their records, it never left. Further, they said should I get the chance to speak with the local USPS office manager, please ask her to call central USPS claims/tracking. They needed to have words. 

I hopped on the subway. 

I was second in line at the pickup desk, behind a woman simply picking up one single package. It took 45 minutes. 

Finally, my turn. I showed her the tracking number, explain the situation, and ask her to please physically look for the packaged. Instead, she punches the code into the computer, and tells me it was sent back to the sender. 

"Yes, I know that's what it says. The USPS tracking people say it's still here. Please physically check."

"I just did", she replied. 

I am Jack's inner rage. 

This comedy went on for another 10 minutes, with each of us getting more and more angry as I tried to get her to walk into the back where the package would be, in a locked cage set aside for registered mail. She finally acquiesces says "OK I will check in the back", but then also takes the next customer in line. They go through a similar ridiculous discussion, about a tracking number that the teller claims does not exist, but at the same time refusing to look for it. The teller finally goes into the back, leaving both of us standing there, looking at each other in disbelief. 

ONE.

HOUR. 

PASSES. 

(not even exaggerating)

The woman in front of me has to leave to pick up her kid, so does. Five minutes later the teller comes back— with HER package, but not mine. She says mine is not there, and asks to take my name and phone number. No, thanks, I can see where this is headed. I ask for her manager. She's not there. She gives me a phone number, which as this point I have no faith in, but take it, dejected. I call the number, but there's no answer. I get back to my office and look up the number: it's to a completely different local postal office, and just a general number to boot. Like, to the office itself. Not a manager. I have basically given up at this point. 

The next morning I call the number, and yeah, it's just a post office, but I explain the situation, and they actually do give me the right number: the manager of this woman I'd dealt with the day before. They don't seem surprised. I call her. She seems nice, human, even. Im out on hold for all of 2 minutes before she gets back on and tells me: "Yeah, it's right here!"

!!!!!

I ran back down the the office, picked up my package, and the only thing stopping me from hugging her was the plexiglass divider panel. I opened the box right there and then: 


 

The work CGC did blew away all of my expectations. This book is ridiculously beautiful in hand, and the work is invisible to my eye. 

My wife now asks why I don't collect more 8.5s.

I called back the USPS central claims, as she'd requested, to give her the phone number to call of the woman who'd helped crack my local USPS roadblock. She seemed eternally grateful. 

And with that, my 15-year journey was complete. 

 

 

Awesome thread....congrats!

Glad to hear your health is better...

It's always nice to hear someone reaching the summit!

[Yorick]

That book looks great!  I have similar frustrations with the post office (and downright theft by Fedex).  My favorite part (or the most disturbing) is where the USPS claims office asks you if the local manager can give them a call.  I hope they had some words....

[Yorick]

...so now that you've finished posting your run down to 23, should the viewing audience post the remaining issues?  Perhaps you can show off the rest of your set (even if there are a missing issue or two)?

[thunsicker]

Thanks for sharing this.  Always fun to hear these stories.  Especially when there are episodes like that last one.

[manofsteel]

Beautiful book, and wonderful story!

[Tri-Color Brian]

19 hours ago, SuperBird said:

The woman in front of me has to leave to pick up her kid, so does. Five minutes later the teller comes back— with HER package, but not mine. She says mine is not there, and asks to take my name and phone number. No, thanks, I can see where this is headed. I ask for her manager. She's not there. She gives me a phone number, which as this point I have no faith in, but take it, dejected. I call the number, but there's no answer. I get back to my office and look up the number: it's to a completely different local postal office, and just a general number to boot. Like, to the office itself. Not a manager. I have basically given up at this point. 

I'm amazed that no customer had ever gone "postal" on that a-h*le...