Modern Grail Club 3 3

[pmWolf]

Okay, maybe this doesn't make too much sense at first...but there are only sixteen 9.8s on the census, and only SEVEN variant 9.8s in existence. (It is very likely that this is the only "old label" TR/WB 9.8 variant in existence). It's the first Lara Croft appearance, and I've always kind of felt it is super undervalued.

My TRUE grail that I've been hunting for, as dumb as it may seem, is a 9.8 copy of "Street Fighter: The Movie." (Yes the Jean Claude Van Damme film). There's only 3 on the census, and no 9.8s. (I'm not pretending it is cool OR will be valuable...but it was the movie my wife and I saw on our very first date). 

[ADAMANTIUM]

On 5/7/2022 at 4:09 PM, pmWolf said:

Okay, maybe this doesn't make too much sense at first...but there are only sixteen 9.8s on the census, and only SEVEN variant 9.8s in existence. (It is very likely that this is the only "old label" TR/WB 9.8 variant in existence). It's the first Lara Croft appearance, and I've always kind of felt it is super undervalued.

My TRUE grail that I've been hunting for, as dumb as it may seem, is a 9.8 copy of "Street Fighter: The Movie." (Yes the Jean Claude Van Damme film). There's only 3 on the census, and no 9.8s. (I'm not pretending it is cool OR will be valuable...but it was the movie my wife and I saw on our very first date). 

I remember being in 6th or 7th grade, around the time of the movie, if memory serves. I had got a street fighter comic around then, I thought I was a big shot

I remember comics being the same as they are now, "that character has this back story, they wouldnt say or do that!"

Lol good times!

[Qalyar]

On 5/7/2022 at 4:09 PM, pmWolf said:

Okay, maybe this doesn't make too much sense at first...but there are only sixteen 9.8s on the census, and only SEVEN variant 9.8s in existence. (It is very likely that this is the only "old label" TR/WB 9.8 variant in existence). It's the first Lara Croft appearance, and I've always kind of felt it is super undervalued.

My TRUE grail that I've been hunting for, as dumb as it may seem, is a 9.8 copy of "Street Fighter: The Movie." (Yes the Jean Claude Van Damme film). There's only 3 on the census, and no 9.8s. (I'm not pretending it is cool OR will be valuable...but it was the movie my wife and I saw on our very first date). 

You may have to submit your own to get a 9.8 on that Street Fighter book. I've found that a lot of weird, B-tier (or Z-tier) Moderns with a handful of books on census just never show back up for sale. I presume they're in personal collections of people who wanted them to begin with.

That book, in particular, is going to be tricky. As I'm sure you know, it was sold polybagged, and we all know by now that tends to make defect-free books tough, if just because of the bag seam. I guess the good news is that, while not exactly common, it isn't one of the really scarce Moderns; making some educated guesses about the Diamond preorder index rank for that month, I'd expect there were somewhere in the 15,000 to 20,000 of these preordered. Which means scaring up a 9.8 candidate (which may need a press because bag seam) will take some hunting, but should be at least possible.

[pmWolf]

On 5/7/2022 at 5:34 PM, Qalyar said:

You may have to submit your own to get a 9.8 on that Street Fighter book. I've found that a lot of weird, B-tier (or Z-tier) Moderns with a handful of books on census just never show back up for sale. I presume they're in personal collections of people who wanted them to begin with.

That book, in particular, is going to be tricky. As I'm sure you know, it was sold polybagged, and we all know by now that tends to make defect-free books tough, if just because of the bag seam. I guess the good news is that, while not exactly common, it isn't one of the really scarce Moderns; making some educated guesses about the Diamond preorder index rank for that month, I'd expect there were somewhere in the 15,000 to 20,000 of these preordered. Which means scaring up a 9.8 candidate (which may need a press because bag seam) will take some hunting, but should be at least possible.

I DID send a copy in to CGC, although I don't think it'll hit a 9.8 (for the reasons you mentioned).

However, I am very likely to have one of the top-3 graded ones in existence when it comes back. = )

[Qalyar]

On 5/7/2022 at 4:40 PM, pmWolf said:

I DID send a copy in to CGC, although I don't think it'll hit a 9.8 (for the reasons you mentioned).

However, I am very likely to have one of the top-3 graded ones in existence when it comes back. = )

I've been trying to find gradeable copies of DC's 2012 Diablo III mini-series for similar reasons. My fiancee and I still couch coop that game periodically. But Diamond orders for those books are more like 5000 per issue, no one cared about them when they launched, and no one has kept track of them since. So I might have to give up on that, and go back to looking for easier books, like poorly-documented promotional giveaways....

[Archaeos]

Would say these two are my mod grails

 

[Qalyar]

I should contribute here. I've long gotten out of most of the traditionally hot books. I made a lot of money doing so, but it just got to feel more transactional than collecting. These days, i chase a lot of low print run promotional material, all of which is rare (sometimes very rare), but usually worth little.

My grail-est book is... back at CGC because they made a shambles of its labeling.  My likely 2nd place book is in line with Joey. But here's another favorite. I was amazed that I got to pick this up at all, and think I probably paid fewer digits than I honestly think it ought to be worth:

This was only distributed at one SDCC morning panel focused on the cartoon, with the producers and a couple voice actors in attendance. There was no announcement that a comic book would be distributed. Estimates are that fewer than 500 books were printed, and there's reason to believe it was more like 200. Very few copies went to people who cared about comics; accordingly, very few have survived. Its entirely possible that only 50 or fewer copies are extant. Mine is the only one I've seen for sale over several years of watching for it, and I know at least one completionist collector of DC promos has never even seen one.

Not sure if this will get slabbed or not. I'd guess this is a 9.0ish book, +/- one grade. A press wouldn't hurt it because there's a slight whole-book bend, but I'm nervous about pressing with the weird foil-y sticker (AFAIK all physical copies have the sticker). And of course, speaking of the sticker, that'll be a green label book... but so are all sorts of pre-signed limited edition books, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Anyway, part of my permanent collection. If you collect appearances of any of the Teen Titans characters, or DC in general, um, good luck with this one! It is 100% a grail-rarity book even if demand is currently low.

Edited May 8, 2022 by Qalyar

[Sauce Dog]

My modern grail trio.


 

[ADAMANTIUM]

On 5/8/2022 at 10:49 AM, Sauce Dog said:

My modern grail trio.


 

A LCS has that dime press for sale, the 1st I'd heard of it, it's a couple grand worth  still that is commitment! Congratulations  

[Sauce Dog]

On 5/8/2022 at 1:30 PM, ADAMANTIUM said:

A LCS has that dime press for sale, the 1st I'd heard of it, it's a couple grand worth  still that is commitment! Congratulations  

Thanks - I thought I was priced out of ever owning one but this copy I jumped on immediately when it was listed on eBay about two years ago for an obscenely low price.

It's a fun oddity, but honestly unless you are a super Hellboy fan it isn't necessary - the SDCC is the actual real first appearance and has a lower print run as well (but not as cool a cover obviously)

[darkstar]

On 5/8/2022 at 10:49 AM, Sauce Dog said:

My modern grail trio.


 

You're missing Dark Horse Tip Sheet #12

[Sauce Dog]

On 5/8/2022 at 4:14 PM, darkstar said:

You're missing Dark Horse Tip Sheet #12

That doesn't have any importance to it as far as I'm aware, it's not even listed by Mignola himself in the Hellboy list. Only one I'm missing is the Salt Lake City Comic Con Program, but I honestly have no desire to pay for it as it's so far removed from the actual final Hellboy it doesn't do anything for me.

[darkstar]

On 5/8/2022 at 3:58 PM, Sauce Dog said:

That doesn't have any importance to it as far as I'm aware, it's not even listed by Mignola himself in the Hellboy list. Only one I'm missing is the Salt Lake City Comic Con Program, but I honestly have no desire to pay for it as it's so far removed from the actual final Hellboy it doesn't do anything for me.

It previews Next Men 21.

[Sauce Dog]

On 5/8/2022 at 5:47 PM, darkstar said:

It previews Next Men 21.

Does it include Hellboy pages? Can't see it as all that important since at this point it's fighting for the 2nd appearance slot (maybe)

[valiantman]

On 5/8/2022 at 10:49 AM, Sauce Dog said:

My modern grail trio.


 

I have a similar trio, without the signatures, but with a fourth book that might be the biggest grail of the four. 

   

[valiantman]

This grail is invincible!

[Qalyar]

On 5/9/2022 at 9:14 AM, valiantman said:

I have a similar trio, without the signatures, but with a fourth book that might be the biggest grail of the four. 

   

That's a really sharp copy of a really tough book. I'm guessing you also have the Hellboy: the Storm #1 BPRD Members Only exclusive (I think CGC just called it "Sketch Variant")?

[valiantman]

The first Bloodshot #0 Platinum discovered, documented, and CGC graded in 2003.  I've had it 5 years.

[valiantman]

On 5/9/2022 at 9:27 AM, Qalyar said:

That's a really sharp copy of a really tough book. I'm guessing you also have the Hellboy: the Storm #1 BPRD Members Only exclusive (I think CGC just called it "Sketch Variant")?

Nope, I only have Fury #3 variant because someone put it on eBay at a low price with a Buy It Now option.  I already had the other three for the early appearances and the Fury #3 was just luck.

[MetalPSI]

On 5/9/2022 at 7:27 AM, valiantman said:

The first Bloodshot #0 Platinum discovered, documented, and CGC graded in 2003.  I've had it 5 years.

So, what are the odds I can get a copy?