CBCS and Sun

The weather was a lot better in Florida than in Philadelphia. I was surrounded by comic books and those that enjoy collecting them. Even though things didn't begin as planned, the event went over very well. What should be stated first is that even though Steve Borock was an amazing host along with his team from CBCS, this couldn't have been done without Tony Starks, who at the last minute couldn't attend.

After we ate, Steve Borock held an impromptu Q&A session. There were a number of good questions. One was about the grading practices between eras. Another one was about the effect of cover miswraps and other manufacturing defects on final grades. The subject of the equipment being used and not properly maintained allowing pages to be torn rather than cut was also discussed.

Steve also talked about the beginning of CGC, if only very slightly. He mentioned grading guides and then said to forget all about them, unless you were an amateur. And according to the master himself, the best way to learn about grading is getting burned.

Steve answered question after question, then after the tables were cleaned off, he handed out a comic book to each table for some training. My greatest weakness, a square bound book, was the first comic book to grace the table I was at. Also making the rounds were Bronze Age X-Men and Captain America books, and Silver Age copies of Incredible Hulk and Fantastic Four.

We were told to grade them, but not share our answers to anyone. Normally when I'm next to my lil' bro, I ask him his opinion, much like Steve and West do when grading. This time I was made to judge by myself. 

I never did find out what the grades were. Nor did I discuss them with Steve. We were too busy talking amongst our new acquaintances. There were a few questions I wanted to ask, but I was too busy taking notes and even they weren't good enough. So what else happened? Was poetry recited? Were the Dirty Blues played? Was this enough to stop me from using CGC? Was it worth traveling from Philadelphia? 

More to come,

Thanks for Reading

From Near Mint to Good

I can imagine the year is 1962. It is a nice summer day outside and my parents hand me a dollar to leave the house and have a good time. I bolted from the front door, not realizing the $1 I was given was more of a bribe for some needed alone time between adults. I was ten and wouldn't realize until a full nine months later that it was either the best dollar they ever spent or I should have known better and held out for more like my older brother. I imagine going into the local shop and scarfing down some ice cream before heading to the movie house for a film. It was the last day Dr. No was playing. 

Once the movie was over, with money to spare, I headed back to the local malt shop and checked out the spinner rack. I looked at comic book after comic book wondering why there weren't any comic books like what I read in my older brother's collection. What happened to all those great, gory stories; the ones where my sister was freaked out by the pictures? I liked my copy of the Fantastic Four #1, and looked for more that were like it. I leafed through, looking for something that would impress my brother, when I finally spotted it. Amazing Fantasy #15 was sitting there towards the bottom. 

I didn't know it at the time, but it looked different; it looked life-changing. I took a single copy to the counter, leaving behind a handful more and parted with .15 cents. I couldn't believe that comics were no longer a dime. I purchased that and a Hershey bar. I rolled up the comic and placed it my back pocket, munched on the candy bar, and ran for home. It was late and I had to make it back before dinner.

At least that is how I imagine what buying an Amazing Fantasy #15 would have been like. Comic books today are made from paper, just like those over fifty years ago. But there have been so many technological advances to improve the look and feel of a comic book. (This does not include digital). As a recent experiment I decided to combine my two materialistic loves, Star Wars and comic books.

I purchased a few of the newest number ones since I knew what I was about to do was unthinkable to any collector. I intentionally purchased one that I graded at 9.6 and then treated it much like the Amazing Fantasy #15 that the ten year old described earlier might have. The only difference is the first appearance of Spider-Man had over fifty years to age and deteriorate. I was giving the Star Wars #1 just 24 hours.

I rolled it up into my back pocket. I dropped it. I laid it on water. I poured coffee over it. I placed it under my pillow as I slept...the last one, yea my fiancée only just found that tidbit out as she proof read this post. I wanted to see how good of a job I did in creating fifty year old conditions in just one day. I sent it to CBCS under the two day modern tier, which is something I recommend to anyone who wants their books graded right away. Before I wrapped it up, I gave it a quick once over. I just looked it over, front cover, back cover and leafed through the pages. My quick assessment was I knocked the book from a 9.6 to a 4. 

I checked my grade after getting an email telling me my books had been graded and encapsulated only two days after they were received. At first I wasn't going to look since I was planning on picking it up at a CBCS grading seminar. I am unsure if my grade would have been different if I had graded it like I knew they would have, or like I should have. The comic book will make its way to me after CBCS ships it, it never made it to the seminar.  I will have the graded comic back in my hands soon, after all I am looking forward to seeing what would happen if I "accidentally" drop it down a flight of stairs...or two; and then maybe I will be able to crack it again and see if I can get the grade a bit lower.

Thanks for reading

Tnerb

Ant-Man #1: A Roundabout Review

Ant-Man, or rather Hank Pym was a founding member of the Avengers. He is probably also one of Marvel's first failed attempts to revitalize a character. Hank became Giant-Man, Yellow Jacket, and Goliath all early on in his career. During his West Coast Avengers days he gave up and just became Dr. Pym using his Pym particles to do all the work. Marvel once again tried to revitalize Ant-Man using a new character to fill the boots. Scott Lang, a criminal, attempted to do the right thing, much like years earlier when Luke Cage put aside his criminal ways. 

Scott Lang wasn't the greatest Ant-Man. He was flawed as a hero, but as a martyr, he was better. Marvel has a repertoire of heroes who have returned from the dead. Scott was no different. A week into the new year has a new Marvel #1. Multiple variant covers has Marvel feeling this is the next best thing, but how do you get people to believe that Ant-Man is the book to get. I imagine the check list looks as follows:

Bring Character Back from the dead: check

Create huge movie franchise: check 

Spread rumors: check

Hire all star cast: check 

Hire director: check

Publish new Ant Man comic: check.

But how good is it? Nick Spencer created an issue that stands alone. A solid opening with flashbacks allowing new readers and old ones alike get a feel for the character. Ramon Rosanas illustrates the tail with Jordan Boyd. I read along wanting to hate the thing from the beginning. I wanted Marvel to fail so I wouldn't have to spend a little more money every month. It looks like that isn't happening. The first issue is a good opening. The stage is set, now I'm waiting for the curtain to raise.

Thanks for Reading