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

In the Beginning

The first comic book I can remember having was given to me when I was five. One rainy day it was sitting on the floor of my Grandfather's car waiting for me. I say Grandfather, but I mean my Pop-Pop. This man, this incredibly kind man gave me something that I never realized until much later on in life, when I was slightly over forty. It was not only a treasury sized edition of Star Wars that he gave me as a kid, it was the passion that I felt for this materialistic item of fancy artwork and words. 

I have purchased comic books many times before, but those were pulled from the three for a dollar rack. They mostly consisted of Richie Rich, Casper, and the occasional super hero comic book. This begs me to answer, what's the difference between the first comic books I ever owned and the first comic book of my collection? A collection consists of more than one, normally this needs a beginning, and this was my beginning.

My first comic books never had me going back for more month after month. They were purchased whenever I was close to a newsstand or comic book shop, including a shop that I frequented when I was ten. Then one day at my local 7-11, when I was twelve, a recent remodel moved the magazine rack to the front of the store. This marketing ploy stopped me from entering the candy aisle; it was also the first time I bought a comic book with my allowance. 

New Mutants #15 was in the front, its cover by Tom Mandrake drew me over. The inside, by Sal Buscema and Chris Claremont, is what made me want to pick up the next issue, I didn’t realize I had to wait a month and headed back to the store the next day where my understanding of the Marvel Universe expanded.  I left with five or six new titles. It was a long time later that I attributed issue #15 as the beginning of my dirty little secret and as I got older I hid them away, only confiding with my closest friends. 

My comics were with me as I started dating, when I moved out, and became a father. These bound papers traversed through my twenties, thirties and entered into my forties. I continued on with these four color books being part of my life's experiences. Comic books have been a part of me for as long as I can remember, especially that treasury sized edition of Star Wars that I hurried to pick up off the floor of the car while my feet dripped from the rain outside. I tossed it to the left, buckled my seatbelt, and picked it back up ready to begin an adventure. The comic book has long since been lost to the trials of life, but I transferred the love that I have always had for my Pop-Pop to the little stapled stories I buy every week, and every week I still go on an adventure. 

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Is Superior Spider-Man, Superior?

I have to imagine when Amazing Spider-Man #700 was released, no one expected what happened at the end, myself included. I associate the final pages of this historic issue with page 271 of Star Wars: Vector Prime. What happened was so unexpected; so terrifying that it had to be read again. I couldn't believe what was on the printed page even after reading it the second time. The final pages of ASM #700 had me experience the feeling of What The...? once again. Dan Slott had me riveted with excitement, followed by dread. The impossible was possible, Peter Parker was no more.

Issue seven hundred ended a series beginning back in 1963. This changed to Volume Two with a new #1 right after issue #441 somewhere in the late nineties (Nov. 98') and reverted back to its original numbering with its milestone five hundred (Dec. 03') while becoming volume one, once again. And if that's not confusing enough, Marvel might start over again to make sure the readers aren't thoroughly confused. Oh wait, they did, this time however, instead of starting over in a brand new direction with Amazing Spider-Man #1 (or #701), they started over with something superior.

But is Superior, superior? A CGC copy of Amazing Spider-Man seven hundred in a 9.8 condition has sold anywhere between $18 and $2550 (with a universal label), variants included. To be fair, the $18 price tag had a broken slab; if you do not include that particular copy then $22 was the next cheapest sale price. If I include the signature series versions, the price tags become loftier. I could only imagine if one eventually turns up with Steve Ditko's signature on it. And if the last issue is fetching these prices, did speculation cause the first issue of Dan Slott's re-visioning of Stan and Steve's 1963 creation to be just as successful?

An encapsulated copy of Superior Spider-Man issue #1 sold for $13 while the highest cost was a variant by Joe Quesada (sketch cover) at $450, (once again, a universal label). This is nowhere near the famous issue where Peter Parker dies (?), which was released only a few months earlier. Covers might not make a comic superior, although it could make it somewhat more desirable, look at the recently released Forever Evil #1 lenticular 3D cover. Although the cover might be the reason to pick the comic book off the shelf, I feel it's the writer that keeps you coming back.

Dan Slott has completed almost two years with an exceptional title, I speak of Superior Spider-man and not the amazing title that preceded it. Even after death threats and hate mail (aplenty) he chugged away to tell a story. It might not be Peter Parker's story, but it is Spider-Man's story, which once again begs me to ask, is Superior Spider-Man superior? With the recent annual released, written by Christos N. Gage, I had the chance to find out. Ever since the first New Mutants Annual was published I always believed the extra issue added to the overall story. This favorite tale of mine, “The Cosmic Cannonball Caper” was written by X-Men scribe Chris Claremont, the same writer of the first fifty four issues; two more in the sixties, one in the eighties, and the first three annuals. Superior Spider-Man could not say the same. 

Christos N. Gage started writing comics in 2004. Dan Slott started in the early 1990's as an intern at Marvel until his big break with his first monthly title, Ren and Stimpy. After his first successful title, of which number one was a scratch-N-Sniff polybagged issue (and yes I bought two), Dan cut and sharpened his teeth on many titles before landing the "big comic book". Although Christos has co-writing credits on a few Superior Spider-Man issues (11, 12, and 13), it was Dan's creativity that filled in the slot. (I am so sorry, I couldn't pass that up.)

With great power comes great responsibility was not only Ben Parker's greatest advice, it was also Peter's greatest crutch, which is what made him Amazing. Otto Octavius wasn't the first Superior Spider-Man. That credit goes to Kravenand J.M. DeMatteis. Otto isn't even what makes Spider-Man superior, as the unexciting annual that was recently released ascertains. 

I perused through the copy at Fat Jack's Comicrypt in Philadelphia and decided against its purchase. The money would be better off spent in other ways, but at least it helped me answer the question of "Is Superior Spider-Man, superior?" Yes it is, but only because of Dan Slott, much like the reason why Spider-Man was so amazing when it was written by Stan Lee.

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Emerald City Comic Con: A Roundabout Review

My first ECCC

The Long if It.

I've heard on the past that CGC hasn't sold too well, this same person who frequents this event annually mentioned there were more graded books on display this year then the last three years combined. This defers widely with the east coast because there is an abundant amount of graded books at booth after booth.

There were also artists and writers plentiful in the masses. Gerry Conway being the main reason I decided I wanted to cover this event. The was also the legendary Neil Adams who I decided to purchase a book from with a character sketch (Pre-sketched) applied with a sticker and then personalized. I think I spent too much and wonder how strong that glue really is. I think I would have been more comfortable just buying the book with a personalization. Of course maybe twenty years from now I can say I met Neil Adams. Of course I can also say I met Gerry Conway,Rachel and Terry Dodson, Matt fraction, David Finch, Brad Guigar ,Skottie Young,Randy Stradley, Fiona Staples, Richard and Wendy Pini , Mike Dringenberg, Tim Vigil, Brian Pulido, David Finch, Chris Claremont and many others I didn't get to see, yes each of the above artists I have either had something signed by or a friend did, if not more.

Then there were the movie/television stars that filled a full floor if their own. Patrick Stewart, Wil Wheaton, Walter Koenig, among a slew of others I don't follow too well. At other conventions it always seems one part of a convention overrides another. This location, this convention, this time seemed perfect . Yes the floor was crowded and at times it felt like standing still was all you were going to do, but even at those times there was something else to look at.

I saw Darth Maul play the bagpipes on stilts. I watched Darth Vader ride on a unicycle in a kilt. There was Lego's galore from Star Trek to Star Wars and everything in between. This convention had a little bit if everything and was worth traveling over 3000 miles for it. As much as I went to experience a west coast con and compete it with an east coast con, it was CGC that I loved the most.

The ECCC was everything it was hyped to be and more. My line was much shorter than everyone else's, but with a friend in line I stood with him after retrieving my pass. After all how can I experience the convention without being a fan and going through what they do. Seattle wasn't as rainy as I expected which was good because for one city block we were escorted outside. I wonder what they would have had us do if it was raining. The good thing is if that's the only negative thing I could see how are they going to improve next year.

The short of it

ECCC wasn't just an event, it was the event that all others have to follow. Make sure to attend in 2014

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Are Statues Worth It? A Roundabout Review

In my teens my expenses were minimal. I had no living expenses, no insurance needs, no utilities, and not many excuses to purchase anything other than my hobby needs. I purchased new comic books every week and once in a while I would purchase something more. In this case, statues.

I was envious when a friend of mine picked up a Sandman statue. I wasn't surprised that it was sold out. I purchased the second Sandman statue that came out, but before I purchased that it was a statue if Batman that caught my eye. I followed these purchases with its matching Robin statue and a statue of Death to compliment Dream. The final statue I purchased was one of the best villains of all, Darth Vader.

Higher ticket items became harder to purchase. I purchased two lightsaber replicas, Star Wars cookie jars, and the occasional older back issue. The only thing that was different were my expenses. I had rent, insurance, utilities, and a beautiful baby boy. It was another twenty years before purchasing another statue, this time from Sideshow Collectibles.


I no longer have an excuse that statues are to expensive to purchase, after all I now have a comic I spent $625 on in my collection. My expenses are still expansive but I budget better then I used to. Spending three hundred dollars each on a pair of "Magik" statues. They sit on top of my entertainment center and I love that I was able to afford them, a third one was sold out before I could budget for it.

At NYCC I found another DC character I decided should adorn my collection : Harley Quinn. I still have yet to find out where to place it but I do love having the three dimensional characters sit silently on my shelves. I have another one on order and am terribly afraid to see what will be at the comic cons this year to tantalize more money out of my wallet.


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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

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.

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?

Thanks for Reading.