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Goin' Old School !!

Starting something new. Or old in this case... Throughout my life, I have always had some sort of comic art interest. My interest in animation and comic art originated with Disney cartoons and movies. Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Pluto, Chip & Dale and all of the Disney movies available at the time were my bread and butter. I know I drove my parents crazy when I was like five and every time they asked what I wanted to watch on our $900 VCR, my response was, Dumbo!!!! Yes, VCRs were that expe

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bagofleas

DEFECTED!!

Hey, none of us are perfect either.... right? OK, picture the scene. You're perusing through your raw comic books, searching for those top notch copies to either get signed and graded or just simply graded. You're thoroughly eyeballing each one, checking their spines, staples, edges, corners, fronts, backs, interior pages, surface texture... you name it. On one particular issue, you decide that it looks pristine! A real chance at a 9.8 or 9.9 or even a vaunted Gem Mint 10! Your heart lea

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bagofleas

Status Quo? More Like Status "WHOA!"

Multiple levels of waiting. With 3 Cons worth of comics currently being evaluated, I feel like everything is in varying stages of completeness. I have 3 invoices that haven't even been inputted at CCS yet. I have 9 invoices that are "In Progress" at CCS. I have 6 invoices in "Received" status at CGC. I have 1 invoice in "Verified" status. I have 2 invoices in "Graded" status. I have 1 invoice in "Grading/Quality Control" status. 3 of the CGC invoices changed status today. These

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bagofleas

Going, Going, GONE...

Time is so short. In some ways, cyberspace can produce life, but it cannot stop death. After being alone for so many years, my older brother has appeared from out of the murky anonymity of cyberspace and become a living, breathing reality. Never would I have predicted such an outcome from my decision to start collecting sheets of paper with art printed on them and encased inside clear, protective plastic. My big brother has been an inspiration to me both in CGC and in life. We both share t

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bagofleas

My Last Hurrah For 2013!!

Now the waiting begins.... I have collected CGC comics for over four years now, but its only during this year that I dove into the wonderful world of conventions. Oh, I had gone to a number of cons with my father when I was a kid, but that was back in the 80s and early 90s. And we never went to any of the big cons, just smaller local ones thrown by Tallahassee LCS or ones in nearby towns. Now I have a sudden drive to get a big hunk of my CGC collection signed and turned into SS yellow labele

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bagofleas

New Friends!!

Four years with nothing and now this! I have been collecting CGC comics for four years now and havent actually met any of the other registered collectors until the last week. I have now met two other members in the past seven days! I met with "Tnerb" last weekend for the Baltimore ComiCon (see my previous journals) and now I have met "Tom Skahan", another fellow CGCer (and his lovely companion) who was on his way through Tallahassee on his way to Orlando. He stopped here in town, after an

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bagofleas

Life In The Fast Lane!

But only twice as fast. Being impatient can cause you to make mistakes. It has also been known to cause regret later on after a decision. On the flip side, it can get things done quicker, which can sometimes turn out to be very advantageous and put you ahead of the curve over others. Impatience has its pros and cons. No, I dont mean that there are professionals at being impatient, though some people are habitually so. And I dont mean that there is an Impatient Convention, though I will adm

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bagofleas

Blessings in Baltimore!!

My eyes may be bigger than my signature expectations. Beware, this is the longest journal I have ever written! Baltimore was awesome! I will always remember this show and hold it near to my heart. So without further ado, here we go....! It was a dark and stormy night.... Ok, it wasnt stormy, but it was dark. This was because I left my house on Friday at twelve fifteen in the morning. After all, I was traveling from Tallahassee, Florida all the way up to Baltimore, a 15 hour drive. I kno

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bagofleas

Baltimore with Tnerb

But without the bugs. My phone alarm woke me up at twelve thirty in the morning yesterday, and I proceeded to leave my lifelong hometown of Tallahassee in the great state of Florida and travel the 14 hours and 945 miles up to a little town called Baltimore. The Baltimore ComicCon was scheduled to start Saturday morning with a captivatingly crazy contingency of comic creators and I had a full box of cool stuff for a spectacular series of subsequent signatures to be scrawled upon. The trip

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bagofleas

Last hint!... oh, and I am a crackhead!

These are your comics on crack.... Any questions? Well, the Baltimore show is in just a few days and I have been cracking my comics at an insane pace! There are just so many great classic artists and writers attending the show, that I just have to take full advantage of the opportunity. Even with all of the issues I am getting scrawled on, I cannot do everything. I may have over 50 comics getting signed and regraded, but I have forced myself to remove some issues one at a time during the dec

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bagofleas

Turbo Tampa!

Bing Bang BOOM! Ok, I decided a couple of weeks ago theat I would try to hit the Tampa Comic Con this weekend. There were only a few comics by a few creators that I would consider having signed, but I felt that it was worth it. Since I live in Tallahassee, this is a show I could literally drive down, get items signed, and drive back, all in one day. That is exactly what I was able to accomplish in a VERY short timeframe. Bo Hampton was in attendance at this show, and he did artwork on just

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bagofleas

Gameshow Time!!!

Sponsored by CCG, CGC, CCS and many other three letter companies! Alriiiight, everyone! Its time for GUESS THAT ISSUE!!! Its the gameshow where you, the CGC collector, has to guess which comic, Graphic Novel or Magazine that I, Bagofleas am getting signed at Baltimore! The winner will receive an exclusive contract to write a comic right alongside Stan Lee himself! ...Ok, not really. Just kidding. Shouldnt have gotten your hopes up... blahblahblah. But seriously, folks... really, I mean

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bagofleas

Headaches?... NAAAH!

The stress of getting signatures. Whenever a show is coming together, writers and artists are added and sometimes cancelled as the date for the show gets closer. Deciding which shows to attend can be a headache. Deciding what to take for signatures can be a headache. Getting everything prepped and organized can be a headache. Having someone cancel after having things prepped can be a headache. Doing the show and getting all the sigs can be a BIG headache. Oh, did I mention the amou

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bagofleas

The Ever Elusive Mr. Lee

Oh No, Not Again! Stan Lee has cancelled his appearance at the Baltimore Comic Con. For the second time, I have looked forward to meeting Stan Lee and getting a photo and an autograph or two, and for the second time he has cancelled his attendance at the show. This is very disappointing, especially since I was really looking forward to having Tnerb in the photo as well. Both times it has happened, it has been labeled as DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. Is it just bad luck or timing on my

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bagofleas

BACK AT IT!!!

Baltimore, Harveys and Stan Lee It has been a while since I did my last journal. I have been really busy helping a good friend get moved and established with their own business, and rearranging my condo with a new TV and some new furniture as well as getting a number of prints framed and hung on my walls. Now that all that is done, I have turned my full attention to preparing for the Baltimore Comic Con, which is shaping up to be a Fantastic show with MANY artists and writers that I want sig

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bagofleas

Accidental Genius!

Not involved but applicable nonetheless! Ok, so I was going through my comics tonight, searching for any and all SS possibilities for the Baltimore show coming up in September. I have decided that I am just going to have to go to the show myself since there are too many issues that I want done there. I came up with over 60 copies that could be signed!!! Sheesh! I have whittled that down to 48 now, but I will probably have to cut a few more in order to make it manageable! I have cracked,

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bagofleas

Oh, How The Mighty Are Fallen!!

Fallen Angels , that is!!! Being a HUGE fan of the New Mutants, I have been looking into acquiring some of the Fallen Angels 8 issue mini series. I have scoured the web in search of any of the copies that I felt might have a chance at reaching the high grades. As many of you know, doing this over the web is NOT easy. Not being able to actually hold and closely look over the issues makes it extremely difficult to know exactly what you are getting. You have to rely on what the seller tells

bagofleas

bagofleas

The Surf Is In From Arizona!

More signature goodness!!! As many of you know, I cracked open 11 of my graded copies of New Mutants for signatures. One I sent through Desert Wind Comics to get signed by Jon Bogdanove in Denver, and the other ten I sent to Surfer99 to get signed in Arizona. Annual 7 went to Denver and has now come back to me in SS 9.8 condition! Woo Hoooo!!! I would like to take this moment to throw out a HUGE thank you to Surfer99 for the other ten copies, because thanks to his efforts, all ten came bac

bagofleas

bagofleas

Supercon Story!!

The show was fast and easy, but this journal is very lengthy. Be warned! Ok, so like my last journal said, I was in Miami this weekend for the Florida Supercon! I originally planned on going to the show on Friday, then heading back to Tallahassee on Saturday, but I found out that two people I wanted signatures from were only going to be there on Saturday and Sunday. So Saturday was the day I had to go. Now, Ronnylama sent me a number of his issues for signatures from three of the four pe

bagofleas

bagofleas

Fireworks, Supercon and New Mutants... Oh My!

A lot going on right now! I have a whole lot happening right now! Yesterday, I came down to Sebastian, Florida to stay with my Aunt and Uncle in preparation for going to the Florida Supercon in Miami on Saturday. I would have attended the Con on Friday but two of the people I want signatures from will only be there on Saturday and Sunday. Anyway, last night for the 4th of July, we all went out on a house boat into the bay here in Sebastian to see fireworks! The captain took us out on the w

bagofleas

bagofleas

Marvel Flea-views!

Ok, so I really meant to say Previews... The Flea master is expanding his Marvel Magazine inventory! It is funny that B. Koski should do a journal on his new Marvel Preview #4 since I have just managed to acquire a couple of graded copies of Marvel Preview myself for the first time! Good old Comiclink just got done with their June auction and my Fleas and I managed to acquire a few items, including a couple of Marvel Preview issues! #5 in a 9.6 WP and #18 in 9.8 WP! The #5 is the sing

bagofleas

bagofleas

The Show Is In Town!!

Coming to a registry set near you! Hello all you kiddies out there in CGC Registry land! Its your favorite CGC super villain, Bagofleas! Its time for todays journal entry. This one is about the show. No, No, not my Flea Circus. The show I am referring to is the Florida Supercon! I am in the midst of preparing some of my lovely comics for signatures. Unfortunately, there isnt anyone attending the show this year who was ever involved in the New Mutants, so I will have to settle for what

bagofleas

bagofleas

Ghostlands Galore!!!

Bagofleas has struck again!!! The evil mastermind, Bagofleas is still at it with the Harveys! They have been coming up for auction one right after the other over the last four weeks! I have mainly put my focus on Casper Ghostland issues, acquiring 15 graded copies! Those who have tried to outdo me have fallen by the wayside now that my indestructible Flea Ring Circus has been revealed to the entire CGC collecting community for what it really is. Check out my first victim, TNerb's last jour

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bagofleas

Finally more Harveys!!

It's been a while There have not been any Harvey comics show up for months now that I have any interest in. That has turned out to be a good thing actually, since I have had so much going on with Megacon and upgrading my New Mutants issues. It is almost like sellers knew I would have other things going on and held off until I was ready to get back on some Harvey issues. While I am still busy with prepping for Supercon and getting some things ready for Baltimore coming up later this year, I a

bagofleas

bagofleas

Striving For Signature OAKs!!

Being more selective now! After my experience at Megacon, I have begun to look at signature opportunities a little differently. Its not just about getting a signature to me anymore. Its also about where and how to set up the sig on the comic. Where is the best place for the sig? What is the best color to use? What issues will look better with a yellow label on them? Not only getting a signature, but getting it to look somehow dynamic or extremely interesting has seemed to become a real fa

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bagofleas

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