From the January 2009 CGC eNewsletter. Click here to subscribe.

Greetings, fandom! Michael McFadden here with an abbreviated look at the holiday season offerings new to the fabutronic CGC DigiGallery. Let's roll…

Avengers / Invaders #1 Dynamic Forces Sketch Edition is not only inscribed by Alex Ross, but also features, by Gary Frank, a dynamite head-shot of Cap (Oops, sorry Cap - I guess “shot” isn't your favorite word right now!) Frank also chips in on another 9.8 copy with a double dose of Spidey and Sub-Mariner. Now, check out Subbie's hair. How much freaking Brylcreem does the fish-man gotta use to keep his lovely do so well coiffed underwater. That alone qualifies as a super power in my book!

A couple of exclusive Frazetta entries grace our pixeled halls this month, notable not only for the Master's signature, but their scarcity in high grade: Tim Holt #21 illustrates the original Ghost Rider and Famous Funnies #210 from his legendary Buck Rogers set. My favorite, though, is a 9.6 copy of Eclipse's James Bond: Permission to Die #1. In the fabled Fortress of Qualitude, we always grok on those uncommon autographs. This one is signed by George Lazenby, who followed Sean Connery in the role in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, a film that is a huge favorite among Bond fans. This signing is the only one we've ever certified from an actor who's played James Bond. The book is a 9.6; SigSeries Finalizer and noted rat Paul Litch wouldn't take my inspired recommendation to grade the copy 007!

Cool number ones and firsts this time include our highest graded Adventure Comics #300 (9.2), the Legion's initial bow in its own feature. Blonde Phantom #12, the first issue, at 8.5 is among the best we've seen. A #13 notched 9.0 as well. Those no doubt caused CGC's Timely expert, West Stephan, to break out in a cold sweat. Calm down, Westinghouse, calm down! For Crom's sake, quit fanning yourself with that Captain America Comics #61 that certified 9.0! High grade Valiants are getting their due in the marketplace now, making Harbinger #1 at 9.8 a desirable collectible. Charlton's Out of this World #1 was 7.0, tied for highest graded. A #1 of Bruce Gentry earned a stellar 9.0. Hmm, didn’t I say “cool” number ones in the paragraph's lead? My apologies. And while not a #1, few would put the hard to find Catman Comics #2 in their quarter box. If you’re one of those who would, I can be contacted at CGC!

Another fabulous addition is a run of early Dell Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies numbers 4 (9.0), 5 (9.4), and 10, 11 and 13, 9.6 all. A lovely run, dating from back when Porky Pig was the head hog at Warner Brothers animation department and before Wascally Wabbit was fully visualized as we know him today. MLJ's Pep Comics #s 14 and 30 both are 7.0; the latter is the first we've seen at CGC in our 10 years. Secret Mysteries #16 was 8.5. Is that title an oxymoron or what? My daughter Tricia, a Wonder Woman uber-fan, would expect me to mention Sensation Comics #20, at 9.4, highest graded.

Quality's Uncle Sam, that bold, two-fisted enforcer of aggressive American foreign policy, carved out an 8.5 with his third issue. He apparently wasn't aggressive enough, though, as the classic Blackhawks invaded and occupied his title beginning their three-decade run with what would have been your Uncle Sam's ninth issue. Adventure Comics #34, at a “mere” 5.5 is still tied as second highest certified ever. Do take time to check out our incredible offering of New Comics / New Adventure Comics / Adventure Comics on the DigiGallery. Impressive, indeed. While you're thinking DCs, grab an eyeful of Detective Comics #s 49 and 62, both 8.5. Most of EC's innovative magazine line faded quickly. A Crime Illustrated #2, the last newsstand distributed issue, is at 9.6 an amazing grade for a book that is not a Gaines File Copy!

At 8.5, Silver Streak Comics #3 from August of 1941 is the highest graded copy we've yet seen. Of course, fairly scarce in nice grades, it is only the third copy we've certified. That's too bad, because it sports a sizzling pre-war war cover featuring Captain Battle and a large upper corner cameo of Daredevil. A back cover ad trumpets that Captain Battle is getting his own book. Excuse me, I mean “the one and only” Captain Battle, because he “is sweeping the country. His popularity knows no bounds.” We're assured one story in the new book offers “more action than you'll find in ten comics.” Wow! I'm sure they wouldn't have printed that if it weren't true... and the way plotlines are padded in current comics, that claim may yet be true today!

You don't have to be a Barbie girl in a Barbie world to dig the File Copy of Barbie and Ken #3 at 9.0. I believe we have Barbielicious copies of all four issues of the pricey Dell run on the DigiGallery now. Another living doll, the Black Cat (not Spidey's mega-squeeze, the Hollywood hottie from Harvey), earned a 9.0 on a File Copy of her first issue. Also from the Harvey files are number ones of Stumbo Tinytown and Richie Rich Jackpots. Hope Richie wasn't gambling with your 401(k)! Speaking of jackpots, the Las Vegas copy of Sparkler Comics #18 pulled the handle on the slot, came up three lemons and paid a healthy 9.2.

Amazing Ghost Stories #14 from the horror heavy Bethlehem collection was 8.5. Among Mile High entries is Black Diamond Western #s 16 (9.6) and 19 (9.8). I wonder if that 9.8 Black Diamond is the same one Eclipso used to wreak havoc with? Perhaps Ellery Queen could solve that? The Mile High copy of his 2nd issue certified 9.4. I wonder if Ellery Queen is related to Oliver Queen? That notion could make you quiver.

Bureau of Statistical Inevitability: any 9.9 or 10 SigSeries book always blows me away. It means not only was the book virtually perfect, but the signee didn't screw the book up when it was signed. Battle of the Planets #1, signed by Alex Ross is one such book at nine-nine. Also at that select 9.9 level are copies of Mighty Avengers #7, Avengers West Coast #100 and Marvel's Captain Marvel #52. Achieving the coveted CGC tenno are Marvel Collectors Classics: Avengers #1, Michael Turner's Fathom v2 #8 Wizard World and Project Superpowers #0 Variant Cover.

And, of course, more freaking Transformers: All Hail Megatron #1 RRP (9.9), Animated: The Arrival #3 RRP (10.0) and Spotlight: Doubledealer #nn RRP (10.0). These books came into the CGC World Headquarters as 3.0s and to our amazement and amusement, they flipped about and neatly transformed themselves into nine-nines and tens. If we could only figure out how to do that to other pedestrian books, we at CGC could - I do dare say it - rule the world!

And the there's Four Color #466, featuring a rare appearance of Rhubarb the Millionaire Cat. In this era of corporate fat cats, it's refreshing to see one who really is a cat. With his frayed ears, its clear this pussy led a tough life, but now enjoys the benefits of luxury. Rhubarb owns the Brooklyn Dodgers, so he must be a real cat of the people. His butler, by contrast, looks awfully snooty. I wonder what he'll look like when he lifts the lid on the serving tray, revealing tasty array of onions, carrots and steaming, fricasseed, dead mice. Not even a flavorful hollandaise sauce or deftly placed parsley accent could make that dish look like anything but a revolting, stomach churning mess. Gee, it must be difficult for a butler to be snooty when he's jet-spewing vomit.

Dude, just don't wipe your mouth on the ten thousand dollar window treatments.

Comments and questions regarding the gallery? We're fans, too. We enjoy hearing from you, unless we don't. You can contact me at mmcfadden@cgccomics.com Thank you for your time and do remember — be good to yourself. Be CGC-ing you!