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

[newshane]

MOST DIFFICULT BOOKS OF THE REGULAR RUN (VARIANTS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7. - SPAWN 144

8. - SPAWN 207 

9. - SPAWN 201 

10. - SPAWN 26 

 

This was another tough era. Too bad. The stories and art were at the darkest. 

This issue was a census ghost until I finally found and subbed a copy. It was the only census copy for many years. This was was tough one. There are no 9.8 copies on eBay right now. 

 

[newshane]

MOST DIFFICULT BOOKS OF THE REGULAR RUN (VARIANTS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.- SPAWN 182 

7. - SPAWN 144

8. - SPAWN 207 

9. - SPAWN 201 

10. - SPAWN 26 

The series would get a shot in the arm with 185, but the era right before was the first "true bottom" for the character. All this in spite of quality cover art. This was one of the last books I could find. \

I checked eBay out of curiosity and there was only one graded copy for sale - in CGC 8.0. 

 

Edited April 28 by newshane

[newshane]

MOST DIFFICULT BOOKS OF THE REGULAR RUN (VARIANTS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. - SPAWN 203 

6.- SPAWN 182 

7. - SPAWN 144

8. - SPAWN 207 

9. - SPAWN 201 

10. - SPAWN 26 

I've been randomly checking eBay to see if any of the issues on my list are available. The only graded copy of this issue is a CGC 9.4 and the raws are priced as high as 120 bucks. 

 

Edited April 29 by newshane

[newshane]

MOST DIFFICULT BOOKS OF THE REGULAR RUN (VARIANTS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION)

1.

2.

3.

4. - SPAWN 191 

5. - SPAWN 203 

6.- SPAWN 182 

7. - SPAWN 144

8. - SPAWN 207 

9. - SPAWN 201 

10. - SPAWN 26 

This one took forever. Same old song. 

There happen to be a handful on eBay right now, but NONE of them at 9.8

Remember, when gauging difficulty, I'm looking at everything through the lens of "anything below 9.8 is absolutely unacceptable as anything other than a placeholder." Also remember that I'm speaking about my personal experience as a collector. Your mileage may vary, and these lists are for entertainment purposes only! Also, feel free to leave a comment or a list of your own! 

 

Edited April 30 by newshane

[newshane]

MOST DIFFICULT BOOKS OF THE REGULAR RUN (VARIANTS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION)

1.

2.

3.- SPAWN 212 

4. - SPAWN 191 

5. - SPAWN 203 

6.- SPAWN 182 

7. - SPAWN 144

8. - SPAWN 207 

9. - SPAWN 201 

10. - SPAWN 26 

 

How tough was this book? Well, I never found one! One of the three issues preventing me from a 100% complete 9.8 run. 

I'm shocked but there are now several on the census. Twas a ghost in my day. There is one 9.8 copy on eBay right now. Still a brutally difficult book IMO. At least that's the impression I will always have! 

 

Edited May 1 by newshane

[newshane]

MOST DIFFICULT BOOKS OF THE REGULAR RUN (VARIANTS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION)

1.

2. - SPAWN 64 

3.- SPAWN 212 

4. - SPAWN 191 

5. - SPAWN 203 

6.- SPAWN 182 

7. - SPAWN 144

8. - SPAWN 207 

9. - SPAWN 201 

10. - SPAWN 26 

 

Another gap in the collection of 9.8s. This one still frustrates me! I'm pretty sure this was a census ghost 10 years ago, but I must have blocked it out of my memory due to trauma!  

There are a few on eBay right now. You may balk at the asking prices but TRUST ME when I tell you...this is a very tough modern. 

This issue came in a polybag and included an insert. That's what made it so tough. The cleanest copy I ever found was a 9.6 that I subbed. I was really bummed when it came back "not perfect." 

Go find this book in your LCS. It will likely be shot to . 

The boards aren't allowing me to upload the image right now. I'll try in another post. 

 

[newshane]

I've fantasized about putting a few rounds of 9mm through it before subbing it to the CGC. 

I'd love to read those grader notes! 

I may surprise everyone with the results in a few months. 

[ADAMANTIUM]

On 5/2/2024 at 5:29 PM, newshane said:

I've fantasized about putting a few rounds of 9mm through it before subbing it to the CGC. 

I'd love to read those grader notes! 

I may surprise everyone with the results in a few months. 

Christmas, I love it!

[Qalyar]

On 5/2/2024 at 5:26 PM, newshane said:

MOST DIFFICULT BOOKS OF THE REGULAR RUN (VARIANTS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION)

1.

2. - SPAWN 64 

3.- SPAWN 212 

4. - SPAWN 191 

5. - SPAWN 203 

6.- SPAWN 182 

7. - SPAWN 144

8. - SPAWN 207 

9. - SPAWN 201 

10. - SPAWN 26 

 

Another gap in the collection of 9.8s. This one still frustrates me! I'm pretty sure this was a census ghost 10 years ago, but I must have blocked it out of my memory due to trauma!  

There are a few on eBay right now. You may balk at the asking prices but TRUST ME when I tell you...this is a very tough modern. 

This issue came in a polybag and included an insert. That's what made it so tough. The cleanest copy I ever found was a 9.6 that I subbed. I was really bummed when it came back "not perfect." 

Go find this book in your LCS. It will likely be shot to . 

The boards aren't allowing me to upload the image right now. I'll try in another post. 

 

It's obviously a different kind of completionism than even what you were going for, but I'd just like to note that this issue also has a newsstand edition ... and that the UPC identifying it as such is on the back (so not casually visible on a bagged and boarded copy).

[newshane]

MOST DIFFICULT BOOKS OF THE REGULAR RUN (VARIANTS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION)

1. - SPAWN 156 

2. - SPAWN 64 

3.- SPAWN 212 

4. - SPAWN 191 

5. - SPAWN 203 

6.- SPAWN 182 

7. - SPAWN 144

8. - SPAWN 207 

9. - SPAWN 201 

10. - SPAWN 26 

Still no copies in 9.8.........

or 9.6. 

A few in 9.4. One of them belonged to me. 

Jet black inks, relatively low print run, the world's crappiest coverstock, and the fact that it was released at a time when everyone had forgotten Spawn...all this contributes to a truly brutal modern. 

Cheers to the person who finds a 9.8! 

THE toughest main-series Spawn by far. 

 

Edited May 4 by newshane

[newshane]

REVISIONS? ADDITIONS? 

There are a few other issues that are actually tougher than the one's on my personal list. 

If I were making a list for the toughest in general, I might remove #8 (207), #9 (201), and definitely #10 (26) from my list. The rest would remain the same. What would I replace them with? 

8. Spawn 152

9. Spawn 121

10. Spawn 158 

 

 

Edited May 4 by newshane

[newshane]

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The following are books that have a reputation for being tough. Fortunately, I didn't have an issue with these issues.

But...I've seen various sources (Overstreet and certain dealers, for example) advertise them as tough, and they gained a bit of fame for it. 

Spawn 131

Spawn 180 

 

[Qalyar]

On 5/3/2024 at 7:14 PM, newshane said:

MOST DIFFICULT BOOKS OF THE REGULAR RUN (VARIANTS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION)

1. - SPAWN 156 

2. - SPAWN 64 

3.- SPAWN 212 

4. - SPAWN 191 

5. - SPAWN 203 

6.- SPAWN 182 

7. - SPAWN 144

8. - SPAWN 207 

9. - SPAWN 201 

10. - SPAWN 26 

Still no copies in 9.8.........

or 9.6. 

A few in 9.4. One of them belonged to me. 

Jet black inks, relatively low print run, the world's crappiest coverstock, and the fact that it was released at a time when everyone had forgotten Spawn...all this contributes to a truly brutal modern. 

Cheers to the person who finds a 9.8! 

THE toughest main-series Spawn by far. 

 

What really hurts about this one is that it's also a really cool cover. Why couldn't the impossible book be one of the hot garbage covers instead?

At least a future ultracompletionist won't have to find a newsstand copy also, as they stopped ~20 issues earlier!

[captainzombie]

I have to agree with most of that list that you have provided. I think that #156 does top that list for getting it in a 9.8 is very difficult. I also want to add #201 as being even higher on that list. Everyone one of these that I have ever found have had some kind of issue on the spine. I had one I sent in a few months ago that was close to a 9.8, but just never did get it.

I'd like to add a few that are difficult to get in excellent shape due to the covers and I've had my fair share of problems getting graded:

• Spawn #7
• Spawn #61 - Cameo of Jessica Priest
• Spawn #119 - Cameo of Gunslinger Spawn
• Spawn #131
• Spawn #139 - NYX becomes She-Spawn
• Spawn #156 - 1st full Zera; this is one hell of a cover to get in a 9.8
• Spawn #179 - 1st War Spawn; I have had no good luck with this one.
• Spawn #185 - Capullo variant
• Spawn #201 - 1st Bludd; this one is my nightmare of a sub
• Spawn #230 - Batman #423 homage and these are difficult to find in a 9.8 worthy condition

[newshane]

 

On 5/8/2024 at 11:40 AM, captainzombie said:

 

• Spawn #156 - 1st full Zera; this is one hell of a cover to get in a 9.8

Just have to stress that there are no 9.8s. 

At least not at the moment. 

139 is a brutal book as well. 

[captainzombie]

On 5/8/2024 at 2:31 PM, newshane said:

 

Just have to stress that there are no 9.8s. 

At least not at the moment. 

139 is a brutal book as well. 

Yes, you are right about no 9.8's or even 9.6's on the census. Now I remember you talking about it when posting about the book. That would be one hell of a book to get in a 9.8 if there is even a copy of it out there in 9.8 candidate quality.

I got very lucky with #139, I've had two of them hit 9.8. I was very scared sending both in when I did, even though there were no issues, you never know with the grader.

[captainzombie]

I have to also check my Spawn #191. The one that I have, I thought was in really good shape and would be interesting to see if its even in a 9.8 candidate.

Edited yesterday at 12:30 AM by captainzombie