New Internet Service

I have been lax. I still wrote on the CGC registry but for Comicbooked.com and my ow blog I have let them go. I hope to change that. I am writing with newly purchased music, music I was able to purchase and download with no problem. Something I would never have been able to do without this new service, nor if I didn't lose the bidding on my last comic book auction.

I know and understand as a collect I get carried away in the things I want. In fact I just spent eighty dollars just to have dinner with someone I am trying to see if I wish to know better. Then again, I have to wonder does she want to get to know me. I don't know the signs, I have been out of the game for so long I forgot how to play, and I think possibly cross checking her was the wrong thing to do.

I sent 20 books into CGC which brings the ally to what I owe my father up my a few hundred dollars. I still have to pay someone else for what I had them grade for me as well I have the strong desire to get some original artwork framed. It seems money is becoming an obsession to have.

The diner is becoming more and more difficult to work for and I have decided to see if CGC is willing to hire on someone new. Time will dictate that. If you are reading this I thank you for coming back. look for me continuously at the registry or at Comicbooked.com

Thank you for Reading

Sporadic Service

Verizon Wireless called today and left a message on my voice mail. The claim that the reason I am having sporadic service is due to faulty equipment....again.  In fact It sometimes takes me a half an hour just to post a simple three paragraph blog. It takes five minutes to load my e-mail page. This makes me wish for the days of Dial up because even that wasn't this slow. I have a set of books growing that I wish to sell on e-Bay, something I can't do because to get a picture to load would be...well a lot more than you can imagine.

I don't know what it is with me and electronics these days. I purchased a Blue ray copy of Star Wars and the sound is messed up on Episode 4, you know the original. I need to return that but I also need some sleep. There are things in my life that are spiraling out of my control and others that are coming back into it. I need to juggle better because some of the eggs are beginning to fall. We will keep this blog at two paragraphs maybe then I will only be at my computer another twenty minutes.

Thanks fr Reading

Catching up on Sleep

My toe is feeling better so I decided to catch upon my chores. This didn't work so well since I was also helping a friend of mine with one of his. This was an important chore for him since he was moving the last thing out of his old house and into his new house. It was in the middle of my night. I guess it was like waking up at three in the morning and moving for two hours and then back to be for a little bit. I did get to clean things around my place but just not enough.

I cleaned until I felt tired and then slept, or tried to. My mind is racing with everything I want to do, including brush up on the Holocaust. The comic books I have bought in the past few months are piling up; both my new books and my CGC graded books. In fact I still have to pay off three of my books I bought in one of the latest auctions. Sleep apparently isn’t the only thing I have to catch up on. I have other chores too since one of my friends has to be admitted to assisted living and it looks like I am the best candidate to get this done.

At times I feel that there is so much to do that instead of making a list and methodically checking completed item off one after the other I just want to sleep, but I also have to make sure to sleep since I am fighting off a cold and I hate getting tired at work. I look around my place at things I should be doing other than writing this but I enjoy writing. It is an escape for me and I am about to start my day. As a younger man I hated sleep, I wanted to give up on it but as someone who is getting older I sometimes crave those little escapes.

Thanks for Reading

Winning in an Auction

I don’t know why I did it. I just did. They weren't necessarily a book I wanted to collect but I won on three books on one of the latest comic book auctions. The books were three different issues from Kazar. Each of those issues was from the run he had in the eighties. I never collected them when they came out since I just started collecting comic books and really didn't know about him. I was too busy immersing myself into the world of super heroes to be worried about Tarzan reject.

My curiosity about the character started years and years later, most likely with Vol #1 issue #12 of Daredevil.   I still never searched for any of his books until recently, but still didn’t pick any up. I was too enthralled in completing my New Mutants collection. Now that collection is almost complete I also decided to collect Locke & Key but I wanted to collect something else. Something older and Kazar wound up being that title but only because they were so cheap….and I felt like winning an auction. My losses were piling up.

I won the books and am now trying to think maybe I should have bid on the others because when I checked eBay out for other issues, none of them were that cheap. I think this series will take me a long time to complete because I really do not want to spend that much on them. I also have to decide if I want to collect the other Volumes too because the title character also had small runs in 71 and 74. I think these will go nicely with my copy of X-men #10 (Stan Lee’s Signature Series) which is out in CGC Limbo of verified but on a side not at least the books I had g to San Diego are know in the Waiting to be Graded status. 

Thanks for Reading

Another New Mutants #98

I once thought I would win a signature series New Mutants #98 in a 9.9 for a $1000. I was wrong. The fact of the matter is two hours after the opening bell, the first bid was a $1000.00 Even after thinking of bidding a little more, the end result wouldn't have mattered because there is no way I could of topped the actually selling bid at $6,601. If I did my research i probably wouldn't have bid at all since the first universal grade of New Mutants #98 in a 9.9sold for $12,500 (if I am not mistaken).

Pedigree's September auction had a 3rd copy of New Mutants #98 in a 9.9, this was also a universal grade and not a signature series. I decided to place a losing bid ($300) just to get an e-mail on it. I think I was the winning bidder all for about two hours. I do have a 9.6 copy (this is my original copy) and a 9.8 SS copy I bought from Comics To Astonish. I also tend to look to upgrade any book on the New Mutants set if I can. Hence why many of them are signature series. Issue #98 might just be the only issue i didn't buy a universal grade first and then upgraded.

Even though issue #98 has a slew of first appearances(3) and the more popular character is appearing all over the Marvel map I do not believe that book is worth that much. Maybe I should possibly ay it isn't worth that much tome but since the average price for New Mutants #98 in a 9.9 is over $6000 I could be slightly wrong. If a fourth one comes up I will bid on it again but not an amount that it would be more wisely spent to purchase another book, let's say #168 in a 9.8

Thanks for Reading

Tnerb 

I hate the USPS

I have always told my son not to hate but never have I ever been more frustrated with anything in my life then I have with the USPS. They suck. I am trying to ship a package and I can't. I tend to forget every password I use so I have to rite it down. I don't write everything down about it but enough to make me realize what password is for what site. Trying to sign into the USPS website is crazy. At first I type in my user name and then my password. My password is invalid.

I try again, maybe I missed a key, a number, or letter. Once again it is invalid. I hit the "gorgot password link" and it asks me what is my favorite holiday. I answer. Apparently I answered wrong. Multiple times. How many favorite holidays do I have? I get so frustrated I decide to type in another name and just start over. The name I use is USPSSUCKS. It flags me for profanity. SO I try again with IhatetheUSPS..... this time it was taken. Apparently I am not the only person that hates this organization. I am almost happy to hear that Saturday delivery will be cancelled. Maybe if they did their job properly they wouldn't be having these hardships.

Why do I hate them, because they like to steal packages and then say the neighbor did it. Let me guess he also forged my signature, you know the one that they caught the employee for. Yup, the employee was caught forging my signature...admitted it and all. I did get that package back and when I called back the following week to find out the resolution of this problem....the manager, the one that seemed very amicable...well, she didn't exist. That's right I was told there was no one there by that name. So now after posting this rand...because that is exactly what it is.... I am going to a UPS store to ship my comic books down to Florida. At least then I know they will get there.

Getting Ready to Ship

Getting ready to Ship.

I have the paper work all filled out. I have my ten books ready to be packaged up and after my trip to the comic books hops I have a good strong box to ship them in. The only thing I was afraid of was the graphic novel not fitting. It fits, barely. I will be going to sleep first and I will box it up tonight. I tend to budget close to the wire at times and it hasn’t been this close in a while. Fortunately I get paid tomorrow so I hope that printing out a shipping label after 6 tonight should have the payment clear out of my account by Friday giving me an extra day for my cash deposit to verify.

I am excited and nervous at the same time about sending my books in. The first fear is what if they disappear. Sure I plan on insuring them and will claim the money for them but this isn’t about the money. One of my most valuable books will be in this grouping. Sure it is only a 4.5 copy of New Mutants #15 but I bought this from a 7-11 rack all the way back in 1984. If this disappears, there is no getting this back. It is also the only 4.5 on the registry; I know I say that like it was a gem 10.

The excitement part is because they will be a signature series soon and I have really been trying to get those. At the moment I think My New Mutants Collection is compiled about %20 with signatures. I personally feel that it is pretty cool. The thing is I was never one for standing in line for signatures so it is even better that someone else is doing it. I also am not so much into the points as some other people are but let’s be honest I would not have been able to claim first place in the New Mutants set without them.  But how did I start collecting the Signature series, what made then more special to me than the universal grade and why am I willing to risk a book that is already a 9.8?

Thanks for Reading

Passing on Books

I was recently at a small convention called Philadelphia Comic–Con. There were two CGC graded comic books I was interested in. The first one I saw was a copy of Eternals #1 Sketch Variant in a Gem Mint. They wanted a $100. The second book (at another booth) was a copy of ASM #119 that was graded a 9.2 which made me lose hope that my ungraded copy of ASM #127 would ever attain such a grade. In fact, my book looked awful in comparison.

I brought my ASM #127 to drop off to Keegan from Comic to Astonish, who I originally met at a previous Philadelphia Comic-Con. I met him some two years ago and have purchased comic books from him ever since. I also purchase from an acquaintance of his (I met them separately, old cliché…small world) and asked if they could bring them to the show. I have had multiple problems with the USPS and this seems to be a satisfactory way for me to get my books. This month, the five I was due to get, never made it due to an unforeseen issue.  

I went to the show anyway so I could drop off a check and a comic book to Comics to Astonish. The check was for two previous signature and grading fees. CGC still has these. This time I wanted John Romita’s signature. The first book I had in mind was my CGC 9.4 SS copy of ASM #129. The problem is once the book was un-slabbed for the process there would be no guarantee that it was Stan Lee who originally signed it, the #127 I have was my next best choice, condition wise anyway. The #86 would have been lucky to get an 8.

That ASM #119 had a $160 price tag to it and I was thinking I would buy that and send that along in addition to the raw #127 I just handed over. I wanted too, I really did but with the NYCC arriving next month I needed to hold off. I already purchased a ticked for Sunday and currently have ten books I want to bring with me to get them signed for the signature series. However, planning ahead I knew the one day would not be enough so I called and e-mailed CGC hoping I can send the books to them in Sarasota, FL. They said yes.

Seven of the books are already graded, six of those have a 9.8 grading. Three are raw. My Marvel Graphic Novel #4 is only a 9.4 but how great would it be to have both Bob Mcleod and Chris Claremont sign those.  Eight of them will be re-administered into my collection while two others I am hoping to be able to sell. The only reason I am even thinking about selling the others is because it would help me reclaim what I am selling. I don’t want to make a living (yet) out of buying comic books just pay off what I am spending.

I was thinking about sending my 9.8 copy of New Mutants #15 but the longer I started at it the more I wondered if it was a true 9.8 or a beautiful 9.6 so I decided to send in my original 4.5 copy instead, a book I hope to have signed by everyone involved. I still have books at CGC, which many of you reading this still do. One set if from the San Diego Comic Con and the other set from The Baltimore convention. Most Likely I will have this next set handed over to CGC before I even get the first set back and I realize if I keep collecting this way I might start to have more yellow Labels than blue ones but only if I keep passing on Books

Thanks for Reading

Tnerb

Taking a Day Off

I didn’t mean to, in fact I didn’t want to but after forcing myself to stay up and drive to a comic book convention in Essington PA I came home and fell asleep after a dose of Nyquil. I have been working a lot and I can feel a cold coming on and wished to stop it before it started. I was supposed to pick up five new CGC books for me but somehow that was not to be the case. I am patient so I am OK with that. I still went to drop off a check and a comic book to get John Romita’s Signature. I am hoping for a grade of a 9.2, this grade it out of a ten being the highest.

I did pick up some really cheap books and a few others to read but didn’t spend the big bucks. I almost bought an ASM #119 in a 9.2 as well as an Eternals #1 sketch Variant in a gem ten. I passed o both since it was more than the amount of money I was willing to spend. I had the cash in pocket and am utterly grateful I had the willpower to pass on those books. At least now for next month I have something to save up for. If I didn’t owe out the money I currently do I would have had no problem picking up both of them.

And maybe since I skipped a day I will write another when I wake up. Once again it will be a Nyquil induced sleep. I hate to take the things but I have been working between 65 to 80 hours a week and while you are trying to figure that out, the diner that I work at is open 24 hours. I have been faling behind in a few things, like my chores, but my toe is healing so after a good day’s sleep I plan on catching up on y chores and then updating my collection.

Thanks for Reading

Running Late

I tend to be very punctual; actually I cannot even remember the last time I was late. In the past forty eight hours my sleep has been minimal. This morning instead of writing I opted to sleep for a few hours before helping my friend move some things. It became “a waste of time” as he puts it. I guess I was a bit more optimistic about it because I just chalked it up as time with my best friend. The situation changed and I came back home for a nap. I woke up, not to the phone ringing “The Devil came down to Georgia”, which is the tune I opted to choose when ring tones first came available but I woke from a dream that I was late for work and rushing to get there.

Although I wasn’t late for work I realized I didn’t get a phone call to come back over to his house to help him out. I went to my phone thinking that I slept through his call when I realized he didn’t call at all. He opted to let me sleep knowing my schedule….well sucks. I should be back in bed now, which I will do after I write this but I checked my e-mail and found out someone else was late. I don’t hold this against him, but tomorrow is a Philadelphia Comic-Con. It is a small one day event that lasts for about six hours. I had planned for someone to drop off some books to someone else who would be there. This is because of my distrust of the USPS.

   

I was looking forward to getting those on Sunday and even though I am upset that I have not, I am not worrying about it. They are mine and they aren’t lost so that is a positive. And I wonder, how do I stay so positive in spite of things going wrong? Is it because I work in a negatively charged environment, is it because I have a supportive father, friends, and cat? I do want these books and even though I cannot get them tomorrow I do want them soon, I guess I will have them shipped to my father’s and have the invoice sent to me at my house this way I don’t hear my Father; “How much did you pay?”

Thanks for reading.

How Much do I spend?

How much do I spend?

Lately I have lost track of what I have been spending. I was doing pretty well up to June of this year but have since lost track. I have all the receipts around but it is a matter of finding them and placing them in my log. I have been keeping track of all new books, CGC books and related comic supplies. October is fast approaching and I am getting ready to send some books in. I want to send them under a prescreen lot but afraid I might not know exactly what to look for.

I have sent books in without caring what they were graded and had them be graded at a 9.8, then there were others that I was immensely wrong. I need money for this and last night not only did I work an extra shift, I had no relief this morning. I waited an extra hour and a half before I finally had a message from someone telling me to go home. I been blogging so well though that I didn’t want to miss a day so instead of going straight to sleep I figured I would write about what was on my mind, my budget, and my budget for comic books.

If I continue working like this I should be where I want to b by the end of October…not including getting my books back from CGC. I hope to look back on this journal and be happy where I am bother with my collection and financial status. Either way, as always….

Thanks for reading

Getting Confirmation

Yesterday I picked up a copy of The New Ultimate Spider-Man and I heard that they were bagged because inside was a random chance of a signed variant by none other than Stan “The Man” Lee himself. I would like to tell you that after cutting the bag open carefully with scissors I discovered, that’s right, you read it here first I discovered an unsigned copy of the book. It wasn't like any other book either it was good, signed or not signed. This is the way a number one should start off, not mentioning any other comic book companies…cough cough.

After some people read my entry through comicbooked.com word came back after a day that they received a signed copy. If my internet wasn’t working so sporadically I would add the link to the picture on twitter. Congratulations to that guy. I can’t say that I am upset about not getting a signed copy especially since that is not the reason I got the book in the first place. Nope, I got it because I hope it would be a good read and I wasn’t let down. I really cannot wait till issue #2.

I don’t want to spoil anything but the ending was a classic ending of why I like comic books. I want to know what happens next. I might have to wait a month but I for one plan on rereading it just like my Locke & Key issues. Comics are becoming fun again. I have a few more to read including Fear Itself and Daredevil before going to bed this Thursday morning, late morning anyway. But I wonder with one more bagged number one coming out soon, will I be lucky enough to look in awe one of those coveted golden tickets, oops…sorry Willy Wonka just popped in my head.

Thanks for reading

Rumor Has it!

Rumor has it

I can’t remember the first pre bagged book I ever picked up and I am not talking about back issues either. I remember X-Force bagged with Variant Cards, I remember Spider-Man bagged as well. Both those bags were clear. The Death of Superman was the first bagged book I remember that was not see through. The black background accented the Red S. I bought more X-force books than I ever should have and I learned to curtail my spending for the Superman bagged issue. I only bought two.

So many people thought that would be the next best book, the book that would send their kids through school. I wanted one to read, and one to keep bagged. My readable copy is gone. I still have the bagged copy in between a thick plastic holder much like they use for baseball cards. Variant covers were another gimmick but at least now you have a choice to purchase a “rare” cover, much like a fellow collector on the registry was looking for the 1 in 200 copy of JLA.

When I spent money quicker than I was earning it I would buy comic related cards as well and felt like I won the lottery when I found a hologram card in one of the two packs I purchased. If I remember correctly it is a card of Spider-Man and Venom. I still have the card. I just don’t know where it is. There is something magical about being surprised by the unexpected, much like Christmas Morning. I feel that DC is pulling off a huge gimmick with their whole line starting over at #1 that a lot of people are overlooking the Ultimate line bagging their number one books.

So why are they doing this? It can’t be to stop the readers from gazing through the book. All the new #1’s that the ultimate line is doing are bagged but the variants are easily accessible. Most shops have them bagged and boarded with a price hike. I would have no problem unbagging one and looking through the book to see if I wanted to buy it, much like I did with the September 7^th DC books. I can understand why they did it with the last issue of the Ultimate Spider-Man. Does he die or doesn’t he. I’ll admit I was wrong. I thought Peter would live. So why bag the other number ones?

At my comic shop today, a day I wasn’t going to go, I picked up a fair amount of books including a single DC #1. My LCS was busier today so I was able to talk to the manager and he asked me a question. He asked me if I knew why Marvel was bagging all the #1’s. Admittedly I said no.  I chat with many people about Comic books now that I am writing for Comicbooked.com and even started my own blog with AshotofComics.Blogspot.com but no one mentioned what he mentioned to me and I am curious enough to post this article/journal entry/ blog entry on all three avenues of communication just to find out if it is true.

I have a copy of Ultimate Comics All-New Spider-Man which I had the option of buying a variant but decided since I was already buying another variant I would have to pass. I only wanted the book to read anyway, not collect, maybe a CGC copy down the line, which was the reason why I bought the other variant. Anyway, what I was told that the reason for the bagged copies was inside were random variants which were signed by Stan Lee? Is this true? I don’t know but I would like to find out whether a reader could tell me, or who knows maybe I will be lucky enough to find out right now…….

Thanks for Reading

Tnerb

What about the Doctor?

What about the Doctor

On Wednesdays I buy comic book and on Saturday’s I miss the Doctor.  Every Saturday night Doctor who plays on the BBC. I was introduced to this sci-fi show when I was just a kid. My sister’s best friend told me about t Doctor and I was introduced to him first by the show, then by books, my first Doctor? Tom Baker. I followed him on the NJN which didn’t always have good reception and if I was really lucky I would find him on PBS but one of my most memorable moments of a memory I don’t fully remember was when my Father found me in the library and I lost track of time. Apparently even reading about the Doctor and the TARDIS I was transported through a full day at the library without realizing anything but pages were moving from one side of the book to the other.

I work overnights which is only one of the reasons why I miss the show on Saturdays, the other is I really don’t feel like paying for cable when I would only watch a couple of shows. These shows I would download of I-Tunes to own anyway. Case in point, I am downloading the latest Doctor Who show, I started this Sunday afternoon and my internet is just getting worse. I called my provider and I am still waiting for some resolve. Then a decision might have to be made. I mainly picked the wireless aspect because I wanted to use it on my lap top, but now I have a touch screen desk top, what do I need that for.

As much as I enjoy the television show and have only read the books in the past I don’t see why I don’t pick up a current novelization or even a comic book by IDW, after all I do enjoy Locke & Key as well as the Cape. I never realized how dependant I have become on technology whether it is through my computer or smart phone. The thing is, without these two items I would not be collecting the way I have been collecting nor have the best set of my favorite series with only a few more to complete them. I guess since I have an hour left to download this show, a download that should have taken no more than five minutes I will take a nap when it is finished, or maybe take a nap while it finishes and maybe six hours from now it will be done. As I mentioned I only had an hour left on the timer but this is the third day. 

Once Again with the Internet

I would hate that if my only source of comic books was downloading them through the internet. This isn't a slight against going digital because I am looking forward to it. This is different, this is me trying to download some i-tunes and not being able to. I am working with Verizon Wireless to remedy the situation but I love how they want to insinuate it might have something to do with the walls of the building I am in. Not that it matters that I have had this service for over a year and only started to have a problem last month.

I am thinking of going with another provider just to make sure I can get access even if I have to pay the extra amount to cancel my service. I can try to wait the year but I just feel awkward paying for a service that I am not using, because I can’t use it. After being on the phone with them I like ow they credited me a few dollars because that helped make up for the amount of money I didn’t make over the past week. Thank god for the small things that helps out.

I am still onboard with my budget. If all goes well by the end of next month I will have fifty books sent out to CGC and will hopefully have them back in a month,. In fact after I finish this little bit of writing I plan on looking through the books I have aside. I have had some of my own books graded a 9.8 before but never the ones I wanted. I hope that this works, this idea because if it does I might be able to afford that one special item I really want, after I get a new internet service provider.

Thanks for Reading

To be Delivered....or Lost

Recently I have had to use my father’s address to get my CGC graded comic books. I mostly purchase these through eBay, Heritage auctions, World Wide comics, and a few others; more times than not these places will ship through the USPS. For some reason I have been having a bit too much difficulty in getting what I ordered through no fault of those I ordered from. Of course the post office blames others instead of themselves. It is frustrating to think my seventy four year old neighbor would decide he wanted a comic book for some light reading.

I fought, I argued, I reported over and over with representatives and the person who was my mail carrier. I was more than amused at the insanity behind their thinking. One of the carriers even went so far as to say she had me sign for my package and went so far as come upstairs for my signature. I live in the basement. Unfortunately this has never been resolved and now I try to have the packages be delivered to my parent’s residence.

When the first time happened I was told that it was most likely someone I my building. They said this the second time too. When the fourth time happened I was so pissed off because now they were trying to cover up for someone who worked there who forged my signature. I talked to a manager and when I called back to follow up, no such manager existed. Somehow I wonder why the USPS is having such difficulty. I prefer now to order from those who use different means but if I need to use the USPS I ask for a signature and if need me….insurance. At the very least I want my money back.

Thanks for Reading.

Working with a Broken Toe

It has been a little over a week since I have broken my toe.  Today was also the first day that I made some half decent money. Of course it won’t mean anything if I do not make the rest of what I need tomorrow. My budget isn’t strict but it is the best guideline I have for my bills. If I pretend my bills are $1200 ad month and I pretend I bring in $1200 a month (my father used to say when I asked how much money did you make he simply told me he wasn’t making any money he was only bringing it in.) then I am even. However, if I bring in $1400 a month and my bills are actually $1000 a month then I have a four hundred dollar surplus I can spend on comic books.

Could I spend the money on other things, of course, but at the moment I am content in getting these four color books. Eventually I will budget I a new car but at the moment the one I have is doing what it needs to do.  I hope my toe heels a bit quicker than the allotted time so I can really work some extra hours, especially with the holiday’s coming up. I am going to try to keep plugging away with my current plan, for that to happen though I need to make sure not to break anything else.

I do have some things planned for next year including a cross country trip to San Diego, a cruise or Two, and of course Wizard World Philadelphia 2012. I will need money for all these things so once again I will have to be more diligent in saving, maybe stop getting so many books, or maybe, just maybe I might decide to win the lottery.

Thanks for Reading

An Ever Vicious Cycle

With only the rest of September left to pay off an amount before October I wonder if I will be able to serve the tables as I have done with a broken toe. I am walking better than I was last week but that has not stopped my toe from throbbing or having a supply of Advil while I work. The doctor offered a script for pain pills which I passed on, I joke at work about how pain is good. These days coming up will be a true test, not just how good I am at serving, or how efficient I am at budgeting but also how to see if I can follow through on my promise to myself.

I have books sets aside to send into CGC to get graded. I need to narrow that down to fifty books. I probably have close to a hundred. Some are for me and some are to sell to get more money for more books for me. There is one book in particular that I want; it would be a few hundred the next time it comes around. I would feel really good if I had that money set aside for myself to purchase that book in a CGC 9.8. Not to mention times are tight. I have a small cushion if things get worse but I would hate for that cushion to expire.

Writing and collecting comic books are two of the things that relax me. I write this at about seven thirty in the morning because I have been writing a blog everyday and do not wish to skip this one. I have to be up in six hours to start my day again. If I am lucky after working another twelve hours I will have earned the money I need to put towards my allotted amount. I am already missing a day and I really do not wish to fall behind in my responsibilities because if I fall behind in those then I will fall behind in what I plan to do for my collection. Why do I feel I am living an ever vicious cycle?

Thanks for Reading

Today is the Day….After Pt 2

I can’t believe I am contemplating getting rid of more comic books. These are titles I never should have collected, like FF (not short for Fantastic Four). The Fantastic Four is one of those titles I collected here and there throughout the years. I think my first issue was around #277, or at least around that era. Sue Storm was taken over by Malice, Kristoff repeated sending the Baxter Building up into space while he was Doctor Doom. And the She-Hulk replaced The Thing as the team’s power house.

My latest attempt in collecting the Fantastic Four started with issue #536. Thor’s Hammer was trying to be picked up by a gloved hand was something I knew I had to have. The following storylines kept me on board, even after the title changed from the Fantastic Four to FF with the disappearance of Johnny Storm. I never should have collected it from this point on. After #5, I quit the title.

I look forward to the legacy numbering returning with issue #600 but I do wish the major two would stop playing with their numbers. I was going to start a few titles with DC’s new 52 but decided against it after having some time to skim through some of their titles. I realized I can’t go back to the way I was collecting which was to collect just to collect. Now I have to scour my collection over, again and place some comics aside to sell and use that money to buy back issues of things I really want. I might wait till the trades come out but I could always splurge on an i-Pad and collect them digitally but then I wonder, how will CGC grade those.

Thanks for Reading

Today is the Day Pt 2

Anytime there was a holiday on a Monday in the past comic book shops always had the new comics for the week go on sale Thursday instead of Wednesday. There were many times I forgot and still made my way to the shop to buy my new books. I never felt like an idiot when this happened, just disappointed in myself that I didn’t remember. This year, for some odd reason, the holidays did not seem to effect comic book release dates.

I made my trek into center city to buy my comic books. Since it was a holiday week, it just took longer for the store employees to place them on the shelf. I am patient so I decided to look at the back issues before finally making my way to the new issues. Today was the day I was going to pick up two DC books. Some of them seemed to be up first so I scanned through them. I looked at Swamp Thing since I fondly remember a bit of that series from my youth, written by Alan Moore if I remember correctly. I always thought the un-men were cool.

Of course I also checked out Detective comic books and Action Comics along with Hawk and Dove, and OMAC. This gave me time to think. Which one should I buy? Action should have been a no brainer, that and Detective comic books. Swamp Thing did look good but did I want to spend my hard earned money. I wondered and saw that the only books Marvel had for me this week was New Avengers Annual #1 and X-Men #17. I bought those, two bags and boards and nothing else.

I do like a good impulse buy every now and then, and even looked at Action Comics #508 that I should have picked up but I have to say Sorry DC, this week I think I will pass. It is not that I don’t want to give you a chance but I think I would rather go buy a few Fables trades or maybe just maybe see if Batman and Robin, or Green lantern might hold more of an interest for me when they arrive at my LCS next week.

Thanks for Reading.

This for That

I joined the CGC registry over two years ago. My points recently have stagnated. The only way I can go up in the ranking is to add all my CGC comic books, including the ones I wish to sell, or buy more comic books. I started looking at one of my Favorite websites for that hoping maybe I can get a good deal. I want to do this, I truly do, but then my budget is shot. I won’t have the money to send in fifty books to CGC next month. This is where I take a deep breath.

I have to remind myself to be patient, to wait. What I should be doing is diligently place items on eBay that I don’t want anymore. My issues of FF for instance. I wouldn’t mind selling all five for a nominal price just to get rid of them. If I can start off just selling a few issues and not spend the money the second it arrives in PayPal I might be able to save up for that one particular item I want. This will take time.

I look around my abode and see two of my collections displayed predominantly. They are my comic books and my shot glasses. The other portion of this collection is my Star Wars items. Some are displayed but not all, like my action figures. They are placed in safely in totes and stored in my closet, dry and dark, two of the best things for a collection to be placed in. I should start selling them. Part of me is crying out no, the other part is thinking that they will only be a sacrifice if I buy what I truly want.

It always seems that when I am hurt I try to do more. Waiting tables with a broken toe is no exception. I did this for a couple hours with horrendous results. If I succeeded I would finally be where I was hoping to be with paying off what I owe my Father. All in all I will at least be able to pay off half of it. I was hoping to get the whole lump sum completed so this way I could borrow yet more money to get some books graded, about fifty of them.

September 18^th is the next comic convention in Philadelphia. It is a small con which happens about ten times a year but I get to find some good deals. I will also buy some bags there so I can bag and board the books I plan to send into get graded. If I am lucky I will be able to sell off what I don’t want and keep the ones I do. The funds from this mini venture should pay off what I borrowed from my father and give me an amount to use for a second grouping of fifty. Not to mention being able to add to my Daredevil collection starting with issue #180.

I don’t want to make a living off this but I do want to be able to purchase larger ticketed items, like a Daredevil #168 in a 9.8, this book averages around $700. I won’t pay above five. But the other numbers surrounding that will cost an average of $100 a piece. I can’t afford that at $2.83 an hour no matter how many extra hours I work, of course I just have to make sure I have no more broken toes.

Thanks for Reading

Craving My Addiction

At times when I was younger I needed a comic book much like a smoker needs a cigarette. I am feeling that way now. Unfortunately it is not any comic book I want but the ones I am patiently waiting for so I can add them to my collection. Of course I am talking about CGC graded comic books. I have four that I will not be able to get before the 18^th of September, another which is in transit somewhere, and a few more at CGC itself. All in all I have at least ten more waiting to come to me. I can wait till Wednesday when new books arrive; I don’t yet feel like I need a comic book to read. I still have enough here.

I want to add to my registry. I want to show that I am an avid collector not just by my words but by my collection. This is a nagging hunger, one I have to squelch or I fear it will encompass me and dwindle my funds. This past week was a glorious opportunity for me to jump ahead of the game with extra hours. A broken toe destroyed this hope. Over this next month I will have to budget tighter because next month in October I plan to send in more books to get graded, twenty for my collection and thirty to hopefully sell.

Of course what am I going to do with that thirty??? I am going to sell them to put towards more books. My addiction doesn’t have to control me. With proper thought and planning instead of craving my addiction I can feed it.

Thanks for reading

Benefit of the Doubt

I have collected DC comics in the past but my passion was with Marvel and has so remained with them. I picked up Flashpoint #1 because then ending of the book gripped me much like a novel by my favorite author’s Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Book two became a letdown, but that’s ok because you need to drop after such a climatic first issue and build from there. The series was written like a short story with the highs and lows. The unfortunate circumstance is although you can read the five issue limited as a while story, you don’t get the full effect unless you read the side stores. Something I am not going to do.

Books I collected in the past from this company were JLA, Action, Batman, Detective, JLA Europe (am I remembering that title correctly), Captain Atom, Hawk and Dove, Teen Titans, New Teen Titans (I loved Brother Blood), Captain Carrot, Green Lantern, well I can go on. I was disappointed in the end of Flashpoint that Batman knew The Flash but in JLA he didn’t know anyone. I’ll have to see if they resolve this or if they started off with a mistake. So for the month of September I pledge to give DC a try, after all I will need wrapping paper in December.

I will pick up at least one book for each week of September. These books will be Action Comics, and Detective comics for September 7^th. I will get Batman and Robin along with Green Lantern for Week Two. Legion of Super Heroes and SuperGirl for September 21^st and the last week I will try Teen Titans and The Flash. I only picked the Flash over the Dark Knight because I want to see if they tie up the loose end I so desperately want them to tie up. If they are good, if DC winds me over, then I will stop collecting the individual books and just wait for the trades unless DC can really Wow me in September, they won’t have my business in October.

Thanks for Reading

I am normally off every Thursday. It is my one day off out of the week. This week however, my day off….well it doesn't exist. I don’t mind either because it was an easy day at work. They wanted me to manage and it was so dead managing was easy. The difficult part was watching my fellow coworkers struggle for tables. There weren't any. The other struggle was when a table finally came in I had to hobble them to a seat on a broken toe.

I knew my toe was broken but the adult in me said go to the doctor’s. I did, it cost $15. They didn't want to tell me my toe was broken so they sent me to get an x-ray, it cost $25. I went home after the wait and tried to get some sleep before working my extra night shift. I missed the call from the Doctor and was able to call them back and talk to them right before they closed. Their final verdict was…. It is broken. I spent $40 to find that out. I just bought a copy of X-Men #199 for $36 in a CGC 9.8 with white pages and the shipping was included. Please, you tell me the better deal.

I know I spend a lot of money on comic books. I do. My healthcare increased over a span of six months and I didn't even use it. I know my healthcare will go up again so this time I am trying to get my money’s worth, but another $40 on top of my $200 plus a month just to have the card. Blue Cross Blue shield my ass, it’s more like Blue Anchor, Blue rock.

I was ahead of my budget for the month and now I am set back, I am not blaming the breaking of my toe for taking my extra funds. A lot of that extra money disappearing is due to buying comic books too. I mean I did by the JLA #1 from DC without originally meaning too. I know it was only $4, hold the line at $2.99??? So even though I hobbled and winced with each step I did put in an extra shift, an extra shift which will add to my extra funds which in turn will add to even more comic books. Unless I decide to accidently break the other toe.

Thank for Reading

Today is the Day....After

After getting two CGC graded comic books in the mail and a broken toe which was not in the mail but from getting the mail I went to my LCS to pick up my comic books. The whole way there I denied myself the right to purchase the new JLA. I was getting Flashpoint but there was no singe way I was going to start with the new 52. I said this. I thought this, but I knew I would be buying the New JLA. On the way home I read Flash Point and JLA.

I wanted to see where they were going and unless they can explain something better I am already upset at how this is going. After one book and I already see a flaw, a major one. This is a blog and I plan to rant freely but if you haven’t read the aforementioned books read no further. This is your warning. At the end of Flashpoint Bruce Wayne knew who the Flash was. You could tell they were friends. An ominous entity explained to the Flash as everything was changing that although there were three there is now one (Future story line here for “their” impending arrival). I can deal with that, it is a comic book. I can even deal with the note the Flash took with him from Thomas Wayne to Bruce Wayne. In fact I like that, I like that a lot. It was nice to see an emotional side to Bruce.

What I don’t understand in the next book I read drawn by the Amazing Jim Lee (I never realized how much I missed his artwork). Green Lantern and Batman meet for the first time. Two major JLA’ers coming together fresh and by the end of the issue the third major player is introduced, Superman Not to skip Vic who was also shown amongst the pages as an amazing basketball star but the major three didn’t seem to know each other, and if that is the case how come Bruce Wayne was so knowledgeable about Barry Allen. How can they start over new, not have Green lantern and Batman know each other but still have The Flash know Batman. Unless The Flash knows everyone and everyone knows the Flash I for one am going to be very upset at this re-launch because all they did was start off with a huge mistake. Give it a year and they will explain it away with some kind of Crisis of Infinite Earths.

Thanks for Reading

Today is the Day

I don’t know how I feel. The DC universe is getting a do over. 52 titles are getting the reboot. I can almost feel the collective DC board hoping and praying this marketing scheme will prevail. I for one said there was no way I was going to pick up Justice League of America #1, and I meant it. Didn't I? Here I sit in front of my computer waiting for the USPS service to arrive and drop off my latest CGC graded comic book before heading to my LCS to pick up my new books.

I plan on getting Flashpoint #5 and although I have not been following the side storylines I may pick them up as trades if I really need them for the storyline. But why did I even pick up Flashpoint to begin with? I love cliff hangers. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child are great novelists in my opinion and when I saw the last page of issue #1 of DC’s major story of the year I was hooked. I loved the twist of Thomas Wayne surviving and his son Bruce Wayne was killed instead after seeing Zorro.

So what am I going to do when I am in my LCS skimming through the comic book? Am I going to buy it? Will I pass? Will I love it so much I will spend my hard earned money on a copy in a CGC Gem Mint ten? As a Marvelite, I should pass. As a person who is limited in space, I should pass. My limited funds tell me to pass. But my collector’s heart scrams at me to buy 50 copies. So maybe I’ll just get one, you know, to read it.

Thanks for Reading

Trimming my collection

Working nights hinders the ability to enjoy the day, but every once in a while I escape from my humble abode and walk out into the sky to go pay my rent. This slight escape allows me to bask in the sun and try to darken my pale skin. I make this trek every month and I follow this by creating a budget on how the next month is going to be. This pre-planning helps me collect the comic books I enjoy so much. I am at the end of my New Mutants run that I have diligently pursuing for about over the last two years. I am happy with my collection and what I have accomplished in that time.

The second part I have decided to do was send in fifty books for grading and encapsulation. This has been a hindrance for me because I do not have the cash to accomplish this in one lump sum. Of course this is where my Father comes in. I owe him a little bit more for the computer I have since he put it on his charge card and they put out the money for me to get the insurance on my comic books. If all goes according to my budget I should have that paid off and then I can send in fifty more books to get graded. Twenty are for me. I hope this amount will be mixed between my New Mutants that I purchased off the shelf and copies of my Sandman series.

The other thirty is the tricky part. I have decided to send these in for a minimum grade of 9.6. Sure I might not be able to get a premium price but I can most likely recoup what I spent. For instance I have a copy of WildCats Gold #1 that will probably get a 9.6. Should I send it in with a pre-screen of 9.8 and be denied the grade I was hoping for. A 9.6 would sell for a minimal price and I am OK with that because then it will be in someone’s collection that will cherish it. My collection is growing, although I do not believe it will be at the three hundred I was hoping for by the end of the year it has come a long way from the 166 I had about this time last year.

Thanks for Reading

Under Locke and Key

As much as CGC changed the way I collect comic books I wouldn't be collecting the way I am if they weren't good. A few months ago on FCBD I picked up a whole bunch of comics, both free and not. One of the books that I decided to try was Locke & Key. As with past FCBD’s the comic books were mostly reprints. This was true for Locke & Key but since I haven’t read it before I was enthralled. I was also skeptical…was it really that good. I read it again. It was a quick and easy read. When I read the original in its trade form I noticed the reprint was also edited (formatted to fit your screen). I read the comic book one more time when I realized I had to get this story.

I found book two in a Barnes and Noble and purchased the book deciding I would wait till I purchased book one. With Wizard World Philadelphia approaching the very next month I decided to wait to read it so I can purchase the trades at the show for a discounted price. Unfortunately the first and third trades were at full price (still a bargain at $24.99) when I bought them and I couldn't wait…. I already read book two. It was after I purchased the other trades that I decided I wanted to get this series in a CGC 9.8 “white pages” or better. I checked out eBay and found a Gem Mint ten. I bartered and bought the copy.

When I got the book in I was thrilled to have my second Gem Mint Book. I was going to check out the registry and add it right away when I saw the person who was in first. His set was amazing. I felt once again how I felt when I first saw Bagofleas in the lead of the New Mutants set, which was pretty much I’ll never be able to get a better set then this guy. I was ready to quit before I even started and didn’t even bother with adding the book. I have been checking out eBay and other sources and decided that it was worth collecting.

I started the New Mutants set not because I wanted to be first, but because I wanted them all. They were (and are) my favorite. So after some thought I decided to collect the Locke & Key books after all but I would on get them if they were a 9.8 SS or better. Something I started to do with the New Mutants. I hope to get no lower than a 9.9 but will settle for the 9.8’s. I knew if I was going to get a set of this series then it would be because I like the series not that I have to be the best. I added my set only recently and then saw the person that had the first place was gone.

I don’t know why he is gone but I wish him well. Many other people who are collecting Locke & Key have purchased books from him. The ones that I have noticed have even mentioned this thanking him. It will be a long time before my collection of this title goes anywhere since I will have to be patient. I have learned patience. I only need a handful more of the New Mutants so I feel comfortable in moving on. There are others I thought I would have enjoyed collecting and I might have before Locke & Key but now I feel like selling them off because if they are not something I want to collect, why should I?

Someone wrote how there are collectors who need to complete the whole series. ….. This is how I am for eighty percent of my CGC collection, okay maybe ninety. There are many DC comic books out there, yes DC that I want to get and have no desire o get anymore. I just want them because of the memories they bring. They are also a bit of money to just get and not have a set. I feel odd buying a book just for the one copy and then using it for points. I have to remind myself I am not using it for points. I am getting it because I like it, which of course is why I am starting with the series Locke & Key.

Thanks for reading

Waiting Out the Storm

I was supposed to work a double today. The night was so dreadfully slow that after nine and half hours they asked if I wanted to go home. I figure since I am just working a double again tomorrow I would. I made it home during a slow portion of the hurricane slightly envious that the people at work will still be able to watch the show. I have windows but living in the basement does not give me a room with a view.

For about five days I was not able to use my computer since I thought there was some hidden virus even after doing a virus scan. My best friend looked it over and gave me the clean bill of health, well my computer anyway. It seemed it might be Verizon’s fault with my USB connection the internet. I am updating my drivers and I hope that I won’t have another problem, but this gives me piece of mind because now I can try to update my CGC collection by taking pictures and uploading them to the registry.

I have many pieces of my collection that along with the purchase I was able to download the appropriate photo. Not so with books I had graded myself. Tonight might be a good night to pull some of my graded books out and do my best to photograph them without a flash or reflection and load them to the computer. Afterwards I just have to configure them to be under the required allotted amount of digital space. Who knows, maybe I can do this until it gets so bad….my electric goes out.

Thanks for Reading

Needing Gas

There is nothing like needing gas in your car and when you slip the key in to unlock the gas tank….yup, it’s broken. No the key, but the lock. Someone deliberately stuffed something in there and I wonder if someone just had nothing better to do, did they think the car was someone else’s or some vindictive co-worker. I tend to write about comics here because it is a love that I have, but when something like this happens I get a little frustrated. What compounds this frustration is the fact I just came off one double and I have two more to go.

This means that I have to get up a few hours after I get into bed, wake up, call the mechanic (if not walk over there), and try to get my car fixed all before two o’clock tomorrow. Did I mention anything about Hurricane Irene coming in? My customers mentioned her all day today and my thoughts were when it happens it happens. It’s not bravado on my part or some kind of macho egotistical “I am not afraid) idiocy, nope it is simply I have no faith in the people that report the weather. When it happens….it happens.

So let us assume that it does happen and Septa (The public transportation system in Philadelphia) does close down. Do I try to walk? DO I call a cab? I won’t call out. As I am writing this I am trying to research the storm….and it seems like a heavy rain. I can carry my comic books home in the heavy rain with no worrisome thoughts. I have my car already sitting at the mechanics. I just hope they can work on it right away. I don’t even care if they break the lock and fix it later. I just want to be able to fill my car with gas (Petrol if you are reading this overseas) and get to work, this way, yup you guessed….I can earn money for comic books.

Supporting your Hobby

I never meant to write every day, but it is cheaper to do so than to go out and buy a comic book. I have enough to read, or rather to read over but where do I start? Do I start with my oldest issue? Do I start from where I collected? It seems off that I am having more fun collecting the comic books from my teenage years then I am collecting current issues. I fear that with trades coming out so quickly and on almost every title that I am beginning to think maybe I should just collect those.

I enjoy collecting CGC graded comic books and am currently even upgrading my latest set to a signature series. It was reported new comic book sales declined last month a whopping 8 percent. Eight percent is a lot and I wonder if this is because of Borders closing or the rise of the graded comic book. After all I don’t see sales declining when last month someone purchased a Captain America #1 for over $300,000. I am sure that any single comic shop would love to be able to make that amount off of comic books in a month.

Recently a comic shop closed as well. What does that mean for the future of comic books? Will store fade away? Will online services take over? Will digital take advantage? As a hobbyist I do support my LCS often, once a week often, but I also support my book store. My shelves are far from barren. Unfortunately there is no happy medium. One will succeed, one will falter, I just hope however many years I have left (and I hope they are a lot) that I am not around to see it.

Tanks for Reading

Back on my Computer

For the past few days I have been stuck entering my blogs by my phone. Even though I was fortunate to be able to do so, I started to miss a lot of stuff i took for granted. For instance as I am writing this I am following an eBay item that will be ending in over thirty minutes. Of course this will be for a comic book graded by CGC. a comic book I technically don't even collect anymore since Daredevil went on his own. Either way I plan on bidding on it and if I am lucky will win.

The other item I have been having withdrawal symptoms form is being able to write on Comicbooked. com It has been far too long that i was able to post anything. I plan on getting some sleep first but one i wake up I will persevere through the amount of writing I have to get done. Writing for fun is great, writing with a cause in mind is a bit more difficult. I actually want to continue to write now...but my eyes are getting heave and even now I am hoping I can stay up to bid.

I also miss interacting with the registry members and notice a great many journals have been added over the past five days. I look forward to mentioning on the journals I can and of course adding my own. I think I currently have 169 and hope to grow to 200 by my two year anniversary date. Well I am off to go check out the auctions I missed in the hopes that I might find a book I need, a rare find, or a very cheap deal.

Thanks for reading

Blog by Phone

I worked once again through the night. At the moment I am using my phone to enter another blog entry. Even though it is so much easier to use my computer to do my writing I am glad I am able to blog by phone. I only wish it was easier to add my journal entries on the CGC registry.

I could do it with the same difficulty I am having right now but with all the journals being added my mindset is to stay on the path. I do know once my computer is fixed then I should be back writing with a vengeance. I will also be looking for more CGC graded comic books. The short amount of time that I have been working a bit more than I have been is helping immensely in a financial capacity.

Every Wednesday I make this trek to my Father's for Coffee. A journey I cherish week in and week out. It isn't just the coffee, it is also because he joins me at the comic shop. Sure, he stays outside most of the times but occasionally he does come inside. If I am lucky maybe I can get him to go to the comic convention in New York. The New York part is easy, it's the comic convention that will be the challenge.

Thanks for Reading

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One step closer

I just purchased my last available New Mutants book. It was a signed signature series copy of #87 by Stan Lee. They lowered the price to an amount I was comfortable with. I know Stan Lee had nothing to do with the book but since I had so many of the Liefeld set already set I figured why not.

After I purchased it a second one showed up on eBay. This one was a bidding option. I am going to bid on it to a certain price because it is signed by someone who actually had something to do with the book. I have the extra funds since I am almost done with the set. There are only a few left that I need so I started to upgrade to a signature series for the ones I don't already have.

Twenty percent of my set is signed. I sent out four more to get another couple signatures hoping they retain a 9.8. After I pay those off I'll need to finally send those books in I want to get graded, some to flip, some to keep. CGC has been slow grading and when I sent my books in last October I got them back quickly. By the time I send them in I should have the money.

Thanks for Reading

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Comfortably Numb

It is almost four in the morning and I want nothing more to do than listen to Pink Floyd. A friend of mine, my best friend feels a local radio station plays them to much. This might be one of the reasons I want to listen to them so desperately.

Without a computer I am struggling from writing more about comic books. I watched the fourth Indiana Jones movie. I placed some comic books in order and I glanced at some more eBay items for sale. One of which is a CGC copy of New Mutants #87 2nd print. The starting bid is at .99 cents. I purchased mine at way above that price.

So what does that have to do with Pink Floyd? Nothing. It's just that when I listened to songs like Another Brick in the Wall pt.2 or Comfortably numb I always felt like everything was going to be alright. I could be wrong though..... I might have to listen to Stairway to Heaven.

Thanks for Reading

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Another Good Day at Work

August is normally a slow time for business unless you are located in a prime vacation spot. This is not the case for where I work. In fact August is such a struggle I tend to work the extra hours whenever they are offered. I work 55 hours a week already I figure an extra 16 won't hurt.

As slow as this month gets I am surprised at the amount of tips I am pulling in. I am actually doing so much better then I expected I might be able to get myself the four comic books this month rather than two now and two next month. I will have an better answer later this evening after I make my deposit.

Lately I have been relaxed in my buying of CGC graded comic books. I should laugh at this because it was only a couple weeks ago that I spent over $600 on 11 books, not to mention the additional $120 I spent on one more. I think I feel so at ease because I only need a handful more and should readily be able to afford whatever is asked.

What I should do is start sending the books in my collection to get graded. I have so many ideas I am not quite sure what I should do. I have tried many times to take a one month hiatus and have not been able too, maybe with the computer down for at least a couple days will help continue growing my bank account.

Thanks for Reading.

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A needed time out

My computer has decided to take a holiday and although I have a smart phone there is only so much it can do. I am comforted by the fact I have an app that allows me to bid and buy things on ebay. It is the other sites that I can't function to well when I am seeking the comics I want.

So what happens now? Without having a computer for the next few days I will most likely save money. At times in the past I have imposed on myself a month hiatus on purchasing CGC graded books. This has not always been successful. I would discover a book that I just had to have. With my computer.... Vacationing I have to hope that I don't miss anything I want.

The more difficult part is not being able to write on Comicbooked.com like I have been, or a better example of my withdrawal and not being able to write on the registery as I have been doing for almost two years ago. There is a lot going on over there and I feel out of the loop. Wednesday can't come fast enough for me to not only get my comics fix but my computer fixed too.

Thanks for Reading

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Blogging without a Computer

My computer and I are having a disagreement and although I rudely forced a shut down, the computer is winning. I had plans to update a portion of my CGC comic book collection and update my data base with my new books.

The most difficult part is not being able to write. Sure I can swype a quick blog but it isn't the same. I had a few articles I was finishing up and now I am sitting here trying to express myself through my phone. I work six days a week and Thursday is that one day I can play catch up on my chores and leisurely activities....like enjoying my comic books.

I wanted to start photographing my encapsulated books and although I can take the photos I won't be able to view them properly until my computer is up and running. I tend to start all my blogs/journals with paper and pen but then transfer it to my computer with voice recognition software. Today I feel let down by technology and really wish I had a ribbon for my typewriter.

Thanks for Reading

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Conversations Towards Comic Books

I have collected comic books for so long that it is part of me. I live each day with thoughts about it, whether those thoughts are about the companies that produce it or the titles that I collect. Writing about comic book also is a beautiful reason to always be talking about it. The other day a customer case in, he had a book under his arm and I asked what it was. It was a book written by Mercedes Lackey. Eventually, and quite quickly this conversation turned towards comic books.

I know what does Mercedes Lackey and comic books have anything at all to do with one another. For one, the only book I ever read of hers was collaboration between her and Piers Anthony. Still it seems a pretty far stretch for the Xanth novels author to comic book conversation to occur. Not so. In the nineties there was a comic book company called Innovation which closed its doors entirely too early in my opinion. They were producing a comic book called On a Pale Horse. This prestigious format was fully painted and the paper was not your typical comic book paper that everyone else was using. This was a premium. On a Pale Horse was also written by Piers Anthony.

Another conversation I had the next day was about pool. Once again I turned this conversation into comic books as well. The person I was chatting with was a previous co worker. We never chatted with each other when we worked. It was afterwards when she and I crossed paths between pool teams. We started talking about cue sticks which can cost a bit of money. The one stick I currently want will cost me about $500. When I told her that all I had to do was stop buying comic books for a month and I can get the stick her eyes lit up ever so slightly. Then I revealed the cost of my collection and what I could get for it if I sold it. Once again her eyes lit up.

I wasn’t bragging as much as I was destroying a fallacy. Most people do tend to think of our hobby as some nerdistic (yes, I made that word up) escape and not as a possible investment. I never plan on selling my comic books. I did have to sell off a very large portion of my collection but that money was then reinvested into my current collection. I do have insurance on my collection. One that will continue to go up over the years, but the one thing I might be able to do with an extensive list and proof of insurance is get a loan towards a house. I don’t know if this is true or not but I will look into it one day. How many of my co-workers would stop laughing at my collection if I were able to by a house and only because I collect comic books.

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Comic Books or Novels?

I have been fortunate. Every week I pick up comic books. That is not the fortunate part. That part belongs to being able to afford them Week in and week out. Occasionally a novel will also be release that I was looking forward too. Normally I look forward to them, this past month I had a few surprises. A couple of authors I like are Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. They do write separately and they are good but together they are so much better.

I was able to get through Cold Vengeance in one week, and the only reason why it took so long is I didn’t want it to end. I knew A Star Wars book was to be out that I was looking forward too but a surprise manifested in a title called Choices of one. This was written by Timothy Zahn. Once again this took me a week. This took that long because I didn’t have the time. The one that I was looking for came out a week later. This was also a Star Wars title. Their latest series of Novels is called Fate of the Jedi and the book is called Ascension. I have yet to start it. For a while my expanded universe only consisted of Dark Horse comic book. I have since stopped collecting those for reasons unknown.

It is very rare when I get so many novels that I look forward to reading. I am used to getting my comic books every week, and each comic is like a chapter of a whole story. My comic books for this week will be completed before I go to bed. The novels take a bit longer and when I finish this latest one the 20^th anniversary edition of Heir to the Empire will have been released. And although I have read it before I shall do so again, this time it will be this silver covered copy.

After all these Star Wars books are done I just might go back and try to revisit the Dark Horse Star Wars universe. After all they did a great job on the Sith War introducing Bane, which also became novels, and not to mention the Crimson Empire was a great limited series. What is your favorite Star Wars expanded universe story? Is it a novel or book, Marvel or Dark Horse?

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Comfortable Around Comic Books

I was always able to find comfort in between the pages of a comic book. Some of the ones I read when I was younger were Richie Rich. I read the short stories in between over and over. Each issue had about three stories and a few one page mini’s. I his away from the world many times, sitting in my closet on top of toys and bags of clothing that were to be donated. The clothing was getting donated; the toys were mine to keep.

Nothing went wrong during this time of escape, nothing could. I was transported away from my problems and was kept amused by Dollar, Reginald, Cadbury (was that his name) and of Course Richie Rich, the poorest lil’ rich boy. These days I cannot remember the last time I picked up a Richie Rich. My escape is the Marvel universe with a few odd ball comics also taken form in my collection. There wasn't a day I couldn’t live without A Dark Horse Star Wars book.

Marvel has been keeping my business because they are telling stories I want to hear. Some might stray from what I am looking for. I do love the Ultimate Universe and the fact that anything can and does happen. The case I point was the recent Death of Spider-Man. This death is causing a new Number one and for some reason I can still accept that rather than what DC is doing. I wonder what would have happened if DC would have decided to have a universe like Marvel. Maybe even have Dream from the Sandman, correction Daniel create a brand new universe.

I am regressing. I type this as I have comic books next to me from a recent move, so many in fact that the light is cut off from shining in this corner. It is a temporary switch, one that will change again…although many months from now. I am comforted though that at any time I can just pull a book out and look at it and reread it….CGC withstanding. What do you do when you need to be comforted? Do you read them over, maybe catalog them, or place them on your bed and roll them over you like a blanket?

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What Happens when you Finish?

I am stuck. Out of the current set I am working to finish I only need five more. One is an upgrade and the others I do not have at all. Out of those remaining four, two of them do not currently exist. This might give me a moment to regroup my finances and start something new. I’d say I would give DC a chance but as I did in the past I just stopped collecting. It is nothing against DC, I just think that Marvel has captured childhood memories and I am trying to recapture those. He again I might collect them like I did with the Blackest Night story and get them in trade.

Daredevil is another character that has held solid for me….does that make sense? I only need three more out of the series. Tree more out of a series that went over 500 issues is not bad. Of course they did the unthinkable and started over with a number one…. again. I have wanted to get the Daredevil Miller years starting at issue #158 and ending at #191 in a 9.8. That will definitely add up, but I need a goal and that seems to be as good as any.

At times I have wondered why I collect. I never answered myself. In fact a friend I know hates that I collect, but I think that is only because she doesn’t understand. Have you ever had that, a friend that hates your collection and even more comic books themselves for no reason? This doesn’t bother me. I am old enough now to know comic books are cool, just like bow ties. One day I might find that woman who understands my craving for Wednesdays, and maybe she’ll have that craving too.

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When it's Pouring Down Rain

I hated when it rained on the comic book release date, especially when I was younger. The comic shop of choice at that time was ComicCards. This store is no longer around. It is also the store I base all other stores off of. At the time I walked there, cutting through side streets and a portion of woods called Pennypack Park. These days I would ask my retailer to double bag the comic books just in case. I wish I was smart enough to purchase bags and boards. Maybe if they would have sold them individually like my LCS does today I would have had my comics in better condition.

I would walk home with the double bagged comic books under my shirt. During my walk I would silently curse the rain. This wasn’t because it was raining because I love this aspect of nature. No, this was because I couldn’t read them on the way home. There was a spot I would stop at every week and read at least one or two because I couldn’t wait to get home. I can still read them when I pick up my books from my current LCS because I take public transit to and fro the shop, with a minimum amount of walking.

Since I started going to Fat Jack’s Comiccrypt in Center City Philadelphia I have been fortunate because it hasn’t rained that much on release date Wednesday. Today is the weekend, or a portion of it. The type of day that I was stuck inside and all I wanted to do was go to the comic shop. Days like this I would reread many of my comic books as I would listen to the pitter patter of rain knocking on my window. I am glad that it doesn’t rain as much when I do pick the books up in the first place because I do go through the scenario of what if? What if they get wet? What if I crease them? What if it is so bad I actually have to wait an extra day?

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Working the Graveyard Shift

I guess it is safe to say that I am allowed to sleep all day. My normal hours are 11 pm to 7 am. If I am lucky I get out of work early, I am even luckier if I make the money I need. I budget well. Every month I pay off my bills first. Everything else goes to comic books or savings. But what am I saving for. There is the proverbial rainy day. There is always that IPad for the days I feel like I want to add digital to my collecting abilities. Then of course there is SDCC 2012.

I never went to a convention outside Philadelphia. I never budgeted my money properly before to allow for such a thing. I am older and realized if I want to do certain things I must reward myself. At times I do go hog wild in purchasing a book….or eleven but what about the little things in life. Going places you never went before started to become a priority for me. I have not been to New York in a long time. I’ve never been to Baltimore or Chicago at all. So what if I decided to base all my travel plans around the cities that have major comic book events?

New York of course is closest for such an event and of course they do have a convention in October. This was going to be the first feasible one that I would get to go to. Alas that will not be the case since a friend of mine asked me to go to her brother’s wedding as her date. With this google plus one craze going on I feel the same way. I am her plus one. I don’t mind since my friends are more important then my comic books. I might not admit that much but it is the truth.

I won’t be going to these conventions to buy buy buy, but look. Maybe try to find other hobbyists who need help completing their collection. To teach them how to collect properly which is by setting a goal and what to collect, not as an investment, but as a joy, because whatever you collect it should be something that you love. Whether that comic book be the X-men, Daredevil, Spider-Man, or even Rom.

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The Digital Age of Comics?

I think I am sated. I might be good on collecting CGC graded comic books for the next month. I entered my New Mutants comic books onto the registry for my set. I have four more to still enter for another set and I even have four more that will be added to my signature series. All in all I am moving along at a nice pace. This brings me back to getting raw copies, books I can read. I still need Daredevil issues #2, #3, and #9 to complete that set. I could have finished long ago but isn't there something to the condition you might want. I hate buying a book at an over inflated price.

I could also save for another convention, or maybe something special like an iPad. This way I can start my digital collection. Don’t get me wrong I am a huge fan of having a book in my hands but I am also afraid of damaging my books as well. At a younger age I didn’t care. I would eat pizza and Lucky Charms as I read the tales of my heroes and villains. Every Wednesday I am there to pick up my comic books, with few exceptions. But Digital…should I fight against this?

Tales to Astonish is a series I would like to get. Issues #70 to #101. I have one and it is graded by CGC. I looked for the Marvel Masterworks o this series but have not found the first of the series I want. I would love to be able to buy all the issues for the same price as what I would have spent on a single book. Then I can slowly complete the collection in the best CGC grade I can afford. I don’t want digital to overtake the industry, just compliment it.

What are your thoughts? Do you scream against a digital comic book or rave to have Marvel Follow DC on day and date? I was once highly against CGC encapsulating a book away from a reader and now I enjoy collecting comic books all the more.

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Dropping a Work Shift

I work, sometimes I work too much. The extra hours I put in are rewarded with comic books. One such reward arrived this past Wednesday afternoon. Normally I get these things delivered in the morning and I have to wait till Thursday anyway. Not so this time since my package arrived through a different hub. This destroyed all sleep. Every car I heard made my jump thinking it was Santa bringing me my toys… I mean Fed Ex bringing me my Comic Books.

I just got finished adding my New Mutants issue #’s to my registry. This placed me in first. It took a long time to get here and there is no guarantee I will remain. The books are more expensive. I won’t deny that. For what I spent on new Mutants #98 signed by Rob Liefeld could have netted me the whole series….twice. I am ok with that because it is fun collecting these…over. Not only can I share them with others, they know that to get a better set they will have to compete with me.

I have another set in mind that I want to collect but to get a better set then the current first place holder will be somewhat difficult if not next to impossible. I did get to sleep and am refreshed for the next day after an evening of playing pool and cleaning my residence. I am trying to find a new way to display my comic books…and these things are getting heavier.

Are there any times that you pick up an extra shift just to buy an extra book or two? Did you ever wait all day for a packaged cancelling out anything else you were supposed to do?

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Almost Like Christmas Morning

Every Fed Ex Shipment I have ever gotten was always in the morning, a Wednesday morning. I remember this mainly for the fact that they always had to redeliver since I was with my Father for coffee. This time it was different. This time they delivered in the afternoon…when I sleep. Which let’s face it, how many of you as a child had trouble sleeping before Christmas morning.

My seven New Mutants graded in a 9.8 arrived a little past four in the afternoon. I should have went back to bed because I can only sleep about an hour more before going and hanging out with my best friend. I tossed and turned for fifteen minutes before realizing there would be no sleeping for me. My Christmas package had arrived and was silently pleading for me to open it. Who am I to deny a good package what it wants.

I opened the box, popcorn peanuts, bubble wrap, and comic books are what were inside. I ignored the invoice. Did I really want to recall what I paid? I did make sure all eleven books were in there and decided to start placing them on the registry, which coincidently thrusts me into first place. There are still a few others that I need but it feels so good that the number has diminished. With a series that spanned 100 issues, 7 annuals, 1 Special (by Art Adams no less) and a Graphic Novel for a total of 109 issues. If I don’t have them in a 9.8 I don’t have them at all with the exception of the graphic Novel. The best I have so far is only a 9.4.

The best part about them getting to me in the afternoon is I still got to have Breakfast with my Dad, my Wednesday comic pull list completed, and my package without having to wait an excruciating extra 24 hours.

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Coffee with My Dad Part II

Every Wednesday without fail a package is due to be delivered. Let me explain further because that sounds like I get a package once a week. Whenever I order something, it seems without fail I will have this package delivered to me on a Wednesday. I don’t trust the USPS, they have proven themselves to be unreliable and sneaky even with a signature required. These days I ask for the package to be delivered to my father’s or through Fed Ex. My latest package was ordered over a week ago and somehow I knew it was to be delivered on a Wednesday.

After getting my confirmation that the package was picked up on a Saturday from Ohio I was overjoyed that I would be getting it Tuesday, my weekly Wednesday curse was broken, until I read closer. It stated that the package would be picked up the next business day due to the time. I was foiled again. Don’t these people know that I get my new comic books on Wednesday? Not only do I get my comic books on this day but I also see my father for coffee. I just never had an order this large come in before, or one that I want so bad.

I tend to be ritualistic. Every Wednesday morning the comic books shop, Wednesday night and I hang out with my best friend, Tuesdays and Thursday evenings I play pool, and so on. This package gives me pause. Two reasons both I hinted at, one I been wanting these comic books for so long and two I am afraid I won’t get them…..so what am I going to do Wednesday morning? I am going to go get coffee with my Dad.

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Monday, Monday

Every Monday I know I only have a couple days until comic books come out. This seems unusual for someone who doesn’t collect but no different than someone who can’t wait till Friday to start the weekend with a drink. We all have our rituals weather it is weekly, monthly or even daily. The comic books I choose are the ones I enjoy to read, I tend to stop collecting something if it loses my interest. I just don’t have the extra funds to purchase comic books in that way. I used to. I bought things just to help my collection grow.

I buy trades now on certain Mini-Series rather than get all issues with all variant covers. I want the story. I want to be entertained. Many smaller publishers will have limited series and only limited series. I enjoy this more than someone starting over. I know I am going to get a full story. It is going to start and it is going to end. Many titles that are continuous have added limited runs to add to their story; Magic was such a title for the New Mutants. It nestled in between a few panels of New Mutants #14.

Monday is also that strange day because it is not a day that I wake up and have to start a first day of the week. I have one day off and that is Thursday. My work day starts on a Sunday at 11 and end early Monday morning between 3 and four, this makes it my shortest work day. I also tend to edit some of my articles. In other words what you read is either a first draft that I tend to post and then rehash it over and over for it to be perfect.

Comic books are a simple means to tell a story. Sometimes these stories are grand in scope over decades of writing. Other times they are a small tale that will ripple across a lake. But every Wednesday I make the trek to my comic shop with the full intent to buy new comic books for the day and then on my way home amongst the bustle of public transportation I start to read a few rewarding my week not with a beer but with a story.

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A World Without Comic Books?

Once in a while I feel the need to rearrange my living quarters. I rent so I do not wish to call it my place, I just reside here. It is a small place but cheap and I find that it does suit my needs. Most of these times that I rearrange is for the sole reason of being able to display my comic book collection with the least bit of clutter. I have over 5,000 books in my collection currently. This number was once more that this, much more. Life changes, things happen but I vowed never to have to diminish my collection for reasons of space and money.

My collection of CGC books has increased to over two hundred; three hundred was my goal for the end of the year. This rearrangement process is done alone and takes some time. I had a great idea of separating my collection of CGC books and my raw books, this seems to be failing but as I have already disassembled my bed, moved it, and reassembled it I feel I already have to move forward with this endeavor. In my teens when I lived with my parents and my walls were adorned with poster after poster, comic book after comic book I enjoyed changing the look of my room. It felt wondrous to wake up to a new room. Now it is an apartment and this process takes longer.

During these frantic changes of location of my décor I have yet to reread my comic books. This is something I did when I was younger which elongated the time it took me to complete my goal. I have not done that in a real long time. Take my comic books; sprawl them onto my bed and read a story. The New Mutants are a title I read and reread. My issue #15, my original which happened to be the first book that started my collection was graded a 4.5. It wasn’t the first book I had but the one that without I would most likely not even be writing.

Have you wondered if there was a point in your life that if it did not happen how your life would be? A certain movie when you were five, a first kiss when you were 12, A comic book at the same age, a child being born, a car accident, or a dreadful mistake. We are what our past experiences make us, but ask yourself this, what kind of person would you be without Comic Books?

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