Who is Grading Your Comics? Meet CGC’s Grading Team!
Mark Haspel, President, Primary Grader, Restoration Detection and Pedigree Expert
Mark Haspel is one of the world’s leading comic book experts. Mark is considered an expert in the areas of Golden Age comics, Silver Age comics, restoration detection, and pedigree comic books. At age 11, Mark started working at Tropic Comics in south Florida where he grew up around collectors who bought and sold Golden Age comics for many thousands of dollars. Mark became quite the collector, buying many incredible vintage comic books. Dealing in Golden and Silver Age comics helped Mark support himself through college at the University of Florida, where he received a dual degree in Finance and Business Management. After college, Mark held numerous auctions under the company name Comics on Parade, Inc. and became an active buyer at most national conventions to help his client base fill in their want list of Golden Age comics, with an emphasis on pre-code horror. Selling Golden Age and Silver Age material in a retail setting put Mark in touch with many grading opinions of respected dealers and collectors. As a dealer, he was involved in the discovery of the famous Spokane pedigree collection. He is a grading advisor to the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide and has consulted on grading for Sotheby's. Mark joined CGC at its inception. As CGC’S top pedigree expert, Mark has reviewed every book submitted to CGC as a pedigree and has seen more predigreed comic books (such as the Edgar Church/Mile High, San Francisco, Pacific Coast, Curators, Gaines File Copy, Allentown, etc.) than almost any other professional. His experience, ranging from restoration detection to pedigree comics to Golden and Silver Age and all the way to Modern books gives him the type of in-depth knowledge perfectly suited for the CGC grading team.
Paul Litch, Vice President, Modern Primary Grader, Modern Age Specialist, Restoration Detection Expert
A lifelong collector and comic aficionado, Paul has been actively involved in many aspects of the hobby. A graduate of Rutgers University, he founded the Cartoonists Association of Rutgers, which produced a weekly all-comics newspaper, as well as a tri-annual full-color book. He was drawn to CGC by his enthusiasm for comics, especially Silver, Bronze, and Modern Age, and has been with CGC since its inception. As a former journalist, Paul has always had a sharp eye for detail, but his eye for comic book grading and restoration has been sharpened even more through years of working alongside Mark Haspel and Chris Friesen. Paul was instrumental in developing and cultivating the prestigious CGC Signature Series. Also an Overstreet Grading Advisor, his extensive knowledge of all Modern Age variants and manufacturing defects makes him vital to CGC as our Modern Age Specialist.
West Stephan, Grader, Pedigree Expert
West's start into the world of comics actually began in Toys R Us at the age of 12. At 15, he attended his first comic book convention. Shortly after this, he got his first booth at a convention and sold as a dealer. West started collecting high-grade Golden Age books specializing mostly in Edgar Church/Mile Highs and other pedigree copies such as San Franciscos and Larsons. Over the years, he has owned many runs of Mile Highs, including titles such as Action Comics, All-Flash, Boy Commandos, Green Lantern, Leading Comics, More Fun Comics, Star Spangled Comics and Suspense Comics, to name a few. Trusted and entrenched within the collecting community, West brings to CGC his grading experience and his knowledge and study of pedigrees, as well as 15 years of training in restoration detection.
Dave Couillou, Grader, Comic Magazine Specialist
Dave has been a collector of Modern and Silver Age comics since 1981. As a completist, Dave has put together some impressive runs of well-known Silver and Bronze Age comic books. While attending the Joe Kubert School of Art in 1982-83, he was very quickly turned from a casual reader into an avid collector by his love for the art and fantasy of comic books. During his time here at CGC, Dave has found a love for the comic book magazines and Famous Monsters of Filmland magazines. Dave has subsequently become so knowledgeable about them that he now heads the CGC Comic Magazine division.
Shawn Caffrey, Senior Grader, Modern Age Specialist
Shawn has been a collector and fan of comic books since the 1980s. Surrounded by fellow collectors throughout his early adult life, he has expanded his knowledge and love for comics from Golden through Modern Age books of all genres and has amassed an impressive collection. With the guidance and invaluable tutelage from the core CGC grading team, he has developed a keen eye for grading and an in-depth knowledge of the hobby, especially the Modern Age market. Shawn's extensive knowledge in distinguishing variants and manufacturing defects has helped make him the backbone of CGC's Modern Age department.
Chris Friesen, Restoration Detection Expert
An avid collector since 1985 and comics professional since 1987, Chris has experienced the hobby from every angle. Focusing on vintage comics, buying Silver and Golden Age keys and trying to put the highest-grade possible run of Famous Funnies up to issue # 62 (December 1939), he founded Paradise Comics in 1988. Operating out of Toronto, he sold comics through catalog mail order and at southern Ontario area conventions. In September of 1991, Chris opened his own retail store and operated it until 1994. During that time Chris also founded Paracon, a comic convention promotion company. Paracon organized several conventions in Toronto from 1992 to 1994.
Tiring of retail and wanting to incorporate his love of comics with his passion for art, he founded Renaissance Restoration Lab in 1996. For almost five years, the leading dealers and collectors have retained his comic restoration business for their best pieces. Known for high-quality archival and ethical work, Renaissance flourished until CGC recognized Chris’s phenomenal restoration detection ability and picked him to lead its restoration detection department. Seeing that CGC was filling an ethical need in the computer age of buying and selling comic books, Chris decided to close down Renaissance Resoration in 2000 and take one of the most important positions at CGC.
Knowing the secrets behind the latest restoration methods by constantly studying techniques from our hobby and others, plus his analytical attention to detail, makes Chris one of the world’s foremost restoration detection experts in comics.
