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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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What are they Worth?

Looking for the best comic book isn’t always easy. CGC has made it simple and easy for me to find them if they are available, because some of them are not. I will soon have the best collection of new Mutants. That does not mean I am not envious of the current holder of that prestigious title. I realized I did earn it and I hope to keep it. I spent money through different avenues to have the best collection. But do I have the best. His could be argued either way since there are two books that I do not have and most likely out of those two, on one of them I never ill.

E-bay has been a great source for the books I search for. It was my only source until I became more aware of my surroundings. It is funny that way because you don’t realize what a large portion of this comic book universe is without immersing yourself into it. I think of a pool in the middle of summer and instructional swim is first thing in the morning. The pool is till cold from the night before and you ry to step in slowly to adjust when it is so much easier to just jump in.

Collecting CGC is not something you can just jump into, it is expensive. Every single New Mutants issue other than two (87 and 98) could be purchased in a back issue box for no greater that $5 a piece. I have them all. I purchased every single one from issue #15 to #100 at cover price. The first fourteen however I had to track down. Memory falls me on the majority of them but I am 100 percent sue I purchased #8 for $1. I am ninety percent sure I purchased the book in Ventnor, NJ.

I am currently trying to figure out exactly what my New Mutants Collection is worth. A collection is not necessarily worth what you paid for it. For Instance I bought a 9.9 graded copy of New Mutants #1 for 300 dollars. Someone else got a copy off of eBay for 150, and now is trying to sell it for 300. He thinks the book is worth that much. It isn’t. I over spent. I am happy I have it, and happier still that places like eBay give me a chance to see what other people will purchase a book for.

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