SPAWN! A look back at an award-winning collection of graded slabs. 10 10

[newshane]

SPAWN 182 - CGC 9.6 

This is strange. I seem to remember having this in 9.8, but maybe not? It wasn't in my files or on the registry. Embarrassed to post this lowly 9.6! I thought I only had one, but I guess I was wrong. 

I do remember this one being tough. 

 

[LadyDeath]

Never enjoyed this era of Spawn. That logo was atrocious. How low were sales/popularity during this time I wonder?

[newshane]

On 8/11/2023 at 3:37 PM, LadyDeath said:

Never enjoyed this era of Spawn. That logo was atrocious. How low were sales/popularity during this time I wonder?

Bottom. 

Some sources say around 17-20K. 

That changes after issue 185, which was a drastic turning point in the series. I don't really want to give away spoilers...

We also see a peak at issue 200, and then the print runs get even worse. 

I had a line-graph that illustrated the peaks and valleys, but the CGC forum decided to butcher everyone's journals and FORCE them to go to the HORRID new version (I'm still extremely bitter about that), so it's probably lost to time and space. 

I had an awesome journal and they destroyed it...along with everyone else's. 

[newshane]

SPAWN 183 - CGC 9.8 

 

[newshane]

SPAWN 184 - CGC 9.8 

You're going to see some crazy books this week! 185 is extremely important. 

In the meantime, enjoy the headlights. 

[newshane]

Let me go ahead and drop the mic............

 

[waynemel]

On 8/13/2023 at 3:30 PM, newshane said:

Let me go ahead and drop the mic............

 

Very nice!  And you had the sketch Portacio!  Wow.  

It would have been cool if you also had the headless McFarlane cover.  

[Poutine]

This is the most common one?

 

[newshane]

On 8/13/2023 at 2:57 PM, waynemel said:

Very nice!  And you had the sketch Portacio!  Wow.  

It would have been cool if you also had the headless McFarlane cover.  

I did have them all. The headless wasn't in that particular shot, though. 

Since you mentioned it, I'll start with it. 

SPAWN 185 - CGC 9.8 - Todd McFarlane's "Headless" Variant. 

This is the second least common of all 185 variants, behind the B&W sketch. 

 

Edited August 13, 2023 by newshane

[newshane]

On 8/13/2023 at 3:11 PM, Poutine said:

This is the most common one?

 

Yes. 

[newshane]

SPAWN 185 - CGC 9.8 - CAPULLO VARIANT 

What's up with all the headless stuff? 

Spoiler

Al Simmons blows his head off. 

Why is this a mega key? 

Spoiler

Because it's the first appearance of the new Hellspawn. Exit Al Simmons. Enter Jim Downing. 

 

Edited August 14, 2023 by newshane

[newshane]

SPAWN 185 - CGC 9.8 - MCFARLANE VARIANT 

 

[newshane]

SPAWN 185 - SECOND PRINT - CGC 9.8 

Slightly different colors on this one as compared with the first print. A superior look, IMO. You can spot the difference in the robe and the smoke coming from the gun. 

Multiple printings of books are usually pretty tough because they tend to fly under the radar. This is no exception. 

 

Edited August 17, 2023 by newshane

[newshane]

SPAWN 185 - CGC 9.8 - SIGNATURE SERIES - WHILCE PORTACIO VARIANT 

This was one of those cases where I had a backup 9.8 copy in case the book dropped grade during the signing process. 

I'm showing off the signed copy since it's a bit more unique. 

 

[newshane]

SPAWN 185 - SKETCH EDITION - CGC 9.8 

There are 33 total on the census, with eight copies in 9.8 (2 of those are signed). 

So, this is one of six copies in Universal 9.8. 

Don't let the census numbers fool you. I image nearly all of them have been graded by now. 

Back in the day, I heard rumors of print runs as low as 16 (obviously false), but no higher than 100. 

This is the RAREST and MOST VALUABLE Spawn comic out there, at least it certainly was back in my day. I admit that I haven't been keeping up with the series since issue 275 or so. 

This was also the first "super expensive book" that I bought. This was years ago. I saw it on auction at eBay. I was in grad school at the time, and I didn't think it was a responsible purchase, but my girlfriend at the time (who is now my wife) told me to go for it! I didn't need a big push to make the decision. 

If I recall, I got my graded copy for $1600! 

Out of respect for the privacy of all involved parties, I cannot divulge what I received for the book several years later, but I made an exponential profit. 

A few years after I sold the book, I had someone reach out to me to buy it. I was able to track down the guy I sold it to, and I eventually brokered a massive private deal between the two parties. Let me just say that the sale was high enough to buy a lower-end new car. 

Secretly, I was massively sick about it. I made quite a bit of profit, but if I had just waited! I would HATE to see what one would go for now. No recorded sales on GPA since 2013, when a copy moved for $2750. 

I will give massive props to the guy who made the bigtime profit from the book. He was thankful that I was able to negotiate a very high price (he did NOT want to sell initially, but this amount of money would talk to anyone), and he actually gave me a generous finder's fee! I did not solicit for any fee, by the way. I was doing this for nothing. But there are good people out there in the collecting world. He showed me proper thanks, and I'm forever grateful for it! 

This book is the Spawn collector's holy grail, and it would be the centerpiece of anyone's collection. 

I'd love to see images of the two signed copies though! I was WAAAAAY too scared to risk losing that 9.8 grade. 

 

 

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by newshane

[newshane]

SPAWN 186 - CGC 9.8 

Portacio enjoying a little run here. 

I have a SICK original sketch by Portacio that you will see at one point a ways down the line. Honestly, I get pretty sick when I think of letting all of my original sketches go. Almost all of them were absolutely stunning. I remember negotiating the pieces directly with Portacio's wife. Very nice folks, and a properly sick artist who understands the Spawn aesthetic. \

 

[newshane]

SPAWN 186 - 2ND PRINT - CGC 9.8 

Surprise! This one was harder to find than the first printing. 

As we move forward, everyone can saddle up for the variant game that would eventually lead to my total rejection of the series AND the collection. If you thought the 185 variants were ridiculous, just wait until we hit the 200s. 

 

[newshane]

SPAWN 187 - CGC 9.9 

Probably my second favorite 9.9 - right behind my copy of issue #4. 

 

[oldmilwaukee6er]

On 8/21/2023 at 7:28 PM, newshane said:

SPAWN 186 - 2ND PRINT - CGC 9.8 

Surprise! This one was harder to find than the first 

 

This book is a mini monster. Spawn reprints about to be the poor man's incentives ...

[newshane]

SPAWN 188 - CGC 9.8 

Is Whilce trying Jae Lee's trick with the ink splashing? 

Off-topic, but I freaking loved Jae Lee's work back in the day! Namor was awesome! 

If I were God Emperor of the Known Universe, I would show the world the glory of a Jae Lee run on the series! 

 

Edited August 24, 2023 by newshane