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XXXPHOENIX

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Journal Entries posted by XXXPHOENIX

  1. XXXPHOENIX
    Have all become Variant slaves?
    Hello to everybody!
     
    I decided to post about what I call the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VARIANT MADNESS. We have been seeing variants over variants of the same issues in the last few years... and I wonder:
    DO WE NEED THEM?
    1. I HATE THIS HABIT OF ARTIFICIALLY MAKING A VARIANT BOOK "RARE" JUST BECAUSE IT COMES OUT AT A 1:50 RATIO
    2. DO ALL THESE SO CALLED "NEW ARTISTS" DESERVE TO DRAW AN AMAZING SPIDER-MAN COVER? I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT AN AS COVER SHOULD BE THE FINAL NOT THE INITIAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR A PENCILER!
    3. ISN'T ALL OF THIS DAMAGING THE HOBBY? I MEAN... WHO'S EXCITED BY A VARIANT COVER NOWDAYS?
    The following is a pretty complete list of all the AS issues (+ variants) from issue 525 to date...probably some DF versions are missing but I think it's quite complete....
    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
    525
    525B Variant Cover
    526
    526B Variant Cover
    527
    527B Variant Cover
    528
    528A Wieringo Incentive Cover. Limited to 1 in 8
    528B Spider-Ham Sketch Incentive Cover
    529
    529A Second Printing
    529AA Dynamic Forces Signed by Ron Garney (Only 50 Made) 2nd Printing
    529B Third Printing Variant Cover
    530
    531
    532
    532A Second Printing Civil War Tien In
    533
    533A San Diego Comic-Con 2006 Sketch Exclusive
    533B Dynamic Forces Signed by Ron Garney (Only 181 Made)
    534
    535
    536
    537
    537A Second Printing - Garney Variant Cover
    538
    538A Clayton Crain Incentive Variant Spoiler Cover. Limited to 1 in 50
    538B Midtown Comics NYCC Exclusive Cover
    538C Dynamic Forces signed by Ron Garney (only 150 made)
    539
    539A Las Vegas Comic Oasis MEDINA Variant Cover. Limited to 5,000
    539A Las Vegas Comic Oasis MEDINA Variant Cover. Limited to 5,000. SIGNED by Medina
    539B Second Printing -Yu Variant Cover
    540
    541
    542
    542A Dynamic Forces Signed by Ron Garney (Only 100 Made)
    543
    543A Dynamic Forces Signed by Ron Garney (Only 265 Made)
    544 Joe Quesada Cover (One More Day Part 1)
    544A Marko Djurdjevic Variant Cover (One More Day Part 1)
    544B Dynamic Forces Signed by John Romita (Only 50 Made)
    544C Dynamic Forces Signed by Joe Quesada (Only 185 Made)
    544D Dynamic Forces Signed and Remarked by Randy Emberlin (Only 499 Made)
    545 Joe Quesada Cover (One More Day Part 4)
    545A Marko Djurdjevic Variant Cover (One More Day Part 4)
    546 Regular Cover
    546A Bryan Hitch Retailer Incentive Cover. Limited to 1 in 10.
    546B Steve McNiven Retailer Incentive Cover. Limited to 1 in 50
    546C 2nd Printing
    546D SuperRare "Book Market Variant" Not for resale Variant
    546E Marvel's Greatest comics Variant
    547
    548
    549
    549A (1:20) Variant Cover by David Finch
    549B Dynamic Forces Variant Cover (Only 2000 Made)
    549C Dynamic Forces Variant Cover Signed by John Romita (Only 1500 Made)
    550
    551
    552
    552A (1:20) Adi Granov Retailer Incentive Cover
    553
    554
    555
    555A (1:20) Simone Bianchi Incentive Variant Cover
    555B Dynamic Forces Signed by Bachalo & Romita (Only 20 Made)
    555C Dynamic Forces Signed by Bachalo (Only 255 Made)
    556
    557
    558
    559
    560
    561
    562
    563
    564
    565
    566
    567
    568 New Ways To Die Book One (John Romita, Jr. Cover)
    568A Alex Ross Green Goblin Cover
    568B John Romita, Sr. Retailer Incentive Cover. Limited to 1 in 25
    568C Retailer Incentive Sketch Cover. Limited to 1 in 75
    568D Dynamic Forces Variant Cover (Only 1499 Made)
    568E Second Printing Variant Cover
    568F Baltimore Comic-Con / Toronto Fan Expo Variant
    568G Dynamic Forces Signed by Alex Ross (Only 999 Made)
    569
    569A Adi Granov Venom Cover
    569B 2nd Printing John Romita Jr Variant Cover
    570 New Ways To Die Book Three (John Romita, Jr. Cover)
    570A Luke Ross Peter Parker Variant Cover
    570B Monkey Retailer Incentive Variant Cover. Limited to 1 in 10.
    570C 2nd Printing John Romita Jr Wraparaound Variant
    571 New Ways To Die Book Four (Romita Jr. Cover)
    571A Variant John Romita Jr Anti-Venom Cover
    571B 2nd Printing John Romita Jr Variant Cover
    572 New Ways To Die Book Five (Romita Jr. Cover)
    572A Variant Bullseye Face Cover
    572B 2nd Printing John Romita Jr Variant Cover
    573 New Ways To Die Book Six Romita Jr Cover (50/50)
    573A Kevin Maguire Cover (50/50)
    573B Stephen Colbert Variant Cover
    573C Marko Djurdjevic Retailer Incentive Zombie Cover. Limited to 1 in 10.
    574
    575
    576
    577
    577A Incentive Sal Buscema Variant Cover. Limited to 1 in 10
    577B Dynamic Forces Signed by Paulo Rivera (Only 75 Made)
    578
    579
    579A Incentive Shocker Variant Cover. Limited to 1 in 10
    580
    581
    581A Incentive Molten Man Variant Cover. Limited to 1 in 10
    582
    583
    583AA Dynamic Forces Signed by XXXXX (Only 199 Made)
    583A Barack Obama Variant Cover
    583B Phil Jiminez Recolored Barack Obama 2nd Printing Variant Cover
    583C Phil Jiminez 3rd Printing Barack Obama Variant Cover
    583D Phil Jimenez 4th Printing Obama Variant
    583DD 4th Printing Dynamic Forces Signed by Tedd Naught (Only 200 made)
    583E 5th printing
    584
    585
    586
    587
    588
    589
    590
    590A Wolverine Art Appreciation Paolo Rivera Variant Incentive Cover
    591
    592 Quesada Regular Cover
    592A Wolverine Art Appreciation Paolo Rivera Variant Incentive Cover
    593
    594
    595
    595A Adi Granov Variant cover
    595B Dynamic Force Signed by John Romita Sr. (Only 175 made)
    596
    596A Second printing Variant cover
    597
    597A Second printing Variant cover
    598
    598A Second printing Variant cover
    599
    599A 70s Decade variant cover
    600 Alex Ross Regular Cover
    600A John Romita Jr. Regular Wraparound Cover
    600B Joe Quesada Wraparound Variant Cover
    600C John Romita Sr. Variant Cover
    600D Dynamic Forces (Ross) (Only 3499 made)
    600E 2nd Printing John Romita Jr Variant Cover
    600F Dynamic Forces signed by John Romita (Only 50 made)
    600G Dynamic Forces signed by Alex Ross (Only 1499 made)
    601
    601A 70th Frame Variant Cover
    601B Second printing Variant cover
    602
    602A 70th Frame Variant Cover
    602B Second printing Variant cover
    602C Dynamic Forces Signed by John Romita (Only 100 made)
    603
    603A 70th Frame Variant Cover
    604
    604A Dynamic Forces Signed by John Romita Sr. (Only 150 Made)
    605
    605A Dynamic Forces Signed by Brian Reed (Only 100 Made)
    605AA Dynamic Forces Signed by John Romita Sr. (Only 50 Made)
    606
    606A Long Beach Comic Con 2009 Cover
    606AA Long Beach Comic Con 2009 Cover Signed by Campbell at Atomic Comics
    606B J Scott Campbell Half Sketch Incentive Cover
    606C Dynamic Forces Signed by John Romita Sr. (Only 150 Made)
    607
    608
    608A Marko Djurdjevic 70Th Anniversary Variant Cover
    609
    610
    611
    611A Second printing Variant cover
    612
    612A Adi Granov Varant Grav
  2. XXXPHOENIX
    Why not suspending the submissions of post year 2000 books at least until the company can guarantee more reasonable turnaroud times?
    I wonder if CGC is trying to find a solution to improve the turnaround times....
    Nowdays the VALUE and ECONOMY TIER turnaround is 100 working days (!!!!), the MODERN TIER is 45 days (!!!) instead of the forecasted 20 days...
    I have 103 books sitting at CGC facility....
    Date No. of Comic Status
    03/30/2012 28 Verified
    03/30/2012 30 Verified
    06/05/2012 30 Received
    05/29/2012 15 Received
    Does it take so much in terms of time and investments to "graduate" a grader to the CGC standards?
    Do these delays come from an increase of submissions?
    Why not suspending the submissions of post year 2000 books at least until the company can guarantee more reasonable turnaroud times?
    THANKS
    FEDERICO - ITALY
  3. XXXPHOENIX
    CGC vs XXXPHOENIX grading contest PART 6 : 112 books just graded!
    Hello to everybody!
    CGC just finished grading my 112 books....let's compare their grades with my forecasts!
    MANY MONTHS AGO I submitted 112 MODERN books to CGC...they were received between 8/8 to 8/12 2011...and it took 2 MONTHS to switch from verified to graded status...As soon as I receive them I will add them to my numerous registry sets.
    Hey CGC...hire more graders please!
    Most of these come from my personal collection. They were all purchased as NM books before the CGC era...Anyway you can easily guess how hard it is to build a high grade comic book collection with the unique&only option of buying my books via (air)mail... to ITALY!
    You can't imagine how many dealers just throw the NEW books in padded envelopes without further protection...
    This is what I got! 43X 9.8 , 32X 9.6 , 19X 9.4, 10X 9.2, 4X 9.0, 2X 8.5, 1X 8.0, 1X 7.5 .
    As usual most of my forecasts were pretty exact and remained in a +/- .2 range in comparison to CGC grading standards...with few unexplainable exceptions (check the *).
    I will keep in my collection all books graded 9.4 or higher and few of the 9.2.
    TITLE ISSUE FORECAST CGC
    Alpha Flight 19 9.4-9.6 // 9.8
    Alpha Flight 28 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Amazing Spider-Man 303 9.6-9.8 // 9.0 * WHY?!
    Amazing Spider-Man 305 9.6-9.8 // 9.4
    Amazing Spider-Man 314 9.6-9.8 // 9.4
    Amazing Spider-Man 316 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Amazing Spider-Man 323 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Amazing Spider-Man 388 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Amazing Spider-Man 500 9.4-9.6 // 9.8
    Avengers 1II 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    Daredevil 319 9.6-9.8 // 9.4
    Daredevil 321 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Daredevil 323 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    Daredevil 324 9.6-9.8 // 9.4
    Daredevil 325 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    Earth X 0 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Earth X 1 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Earth X 0DF 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Fantastic Four 1II 9.4-9.6 // 9.2 * WHY?!
    Fantastic Four 254 9.4-9.6 // 9.4
    Fantastic Four 255 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Fantastic Four 257 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Fantastic Four 260 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Fantastic Four 267 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Fantastic Four 285 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Fantastic Four 1A 9.6-9.8 // 9.4
    Ghost Rider 15 9.4-9.6 // 9.2
    Ghost Rider 15A 9.4-9.6 // 9.4
    Hearth of Darkness1 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Hellstorm 1 9.4-9.6 // 9.8
    Heroes Reborn the Return 1 9.4-9.6 // 9.8
    Heroes Reborn the Return 2 9.4-9.6 // 9.4
    Heroes Reborn the Return 3 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Heroes Reborn the Return 4 9.4-9.6 // 9.4
    Heroes Reborn the Return 1A 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Heroes Reborn the Return 1B 9.4-9.6 // 9.0 * WHY?!
    Heroes Reborn the Return 2A 9.4-9.6 // 8.5
    Heroes Reborn the Return 3A 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Heroes Reborn the Return 4A 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Incredible Hulk 331 9.2-9.4 // 7.5 * WHY?! * WHY?!
    Incredible Hulk 333 9.2-9.4 // 9.4
    Incredible Hulk 334 9.2-9.4 // 9.4
    Incredible Hulk 335 9.2-9.4 // 9.6
    Incredible Hulk 336 9.2-9.4 // 9.8
    Incredible Hulk 337 9.2-9.4 // 9.4
    Incredible Hulk 338 9.2-9.4 // 9.2
    Incredible Hulk 341 9.2-9.4 // 9.2
    Incredible Hulk 342 9.2-9.4 // 8.0 * WHY?! * WHY?!
    Incredible Hulk 343 9.2-9.4 // 9.4
    Incredible Hulk 344 9.2-9.4 // 9.2
    Incredible Hulk 345 9.2-9.4 // 9.6
    Incredible Hulk 346 9.2-9.4 // 9.6
    Incredible Hulk 393 9.4-9.6 // 9.8
    Incredible Hulk 400 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Infinity Gauntlet1 9.2-9.4 // 9.6
    Infinity Gauntlet2 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Infinity Gauntlet3 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Infinity Gauntlet4 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Infinity Gauntlet5 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Infinity War 1 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Infinity War 2 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Infinity War 3 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Infinity War 4 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Infinity War 5 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Infinity War 6 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    Marvel Fanfare 1 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Marvels 0 9.2-9.4 // 9.4
    Marvels 1 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    Marvels 2 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    Marvels 3 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Marvels 4 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    New Mutants 88 9.6-9.8 // 9.4 * WHY?!
    New mutants annual 5 9.2-9.4 // 9.0 * WHY?!
    New Warriors 1A 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    Nomad 1 9.4-9.6 // 9.8
    Sleepwalker 1 9.4-9.6 // 9.2
    Spider-Man 1 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 10 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Strange Tales 1 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Tales of Suspense1 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    Tales to Astonish1 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    The secret Defenders1 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 214 9.4-9.6 // 9.0 * WHY?!
    Uncanny X-Men 216 9.4-9.6 // 9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 217 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 218 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 223 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 227 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 228 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 229 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 233 9.4-9.6 // 9.4
    Uncanny X-Men 242 9.4-9.6 // 9.4
    Uncanny X-Men 254 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 255 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 297 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 298 9.4-9.6 // 8.5 * WHY?!
    Uncanny X-Men 299 9.4-9.6 // 9.2 * WHY?!
    Uncanny X-Men 301 9.6-9.8 // 9.4
    Uncanny X-Men 302 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 304 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Warlock Infinity Watch1 9.4-9.6 // 9.8
    Web of Spider-Man90 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Wonder Man 1 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    X-Factor 3 9.4-9.6 // 9.2 * WHY?!
    X-Factor 4 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    X-Factor 7 9.6-9.8 // 9.2 * WHY?!
    X-Factor 8 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    X-Factor 9 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    X-Factor 10 9.4-9.6 // 9.8
    X-Factor 23 9.4-9.6 // 9.4
    X-Factor 25 9.6-9.8 // 9.2 * WHY?!
    X-Factor 26 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
     
    CIAO!
    FEDERICO
  4. XXXPHOENIX
    Are you curious to see some rare vintage italian Marvel variants?
    PLUS.... get some free vintage Marvel italian books if you join the competition....Hello fellow collectors...Probably few of you are aware that Italy is probably the 3rd/4th largest comic books market in the world...Still today i.e. Mickey Mouse (Topolino) sells 700.000 copies per week(!).99% of the comics sold in the country are italian editions and are very different from their american counterparts.For what concerns Marvel comics, a part from few stories published in 1967-1968 in anthological magazines, we had to wait until 1970, when, an Italian publisher (Ed. Corno) purchased the rights to print Spider-Man etc etc from MARVEL!The first MARVEL comic published in Italian language was L'UOMO RAGNO #1 (SPIDER-MAN #1) in april 1970, followed in may 1970 by DEVIL #1 (DAREDEVIL #1). Many Marvel series were published in that decade: THOR, CAPTAIN AMERICA , FANTASTIC FOUR etc etc. Each book usually contained 2 or more stories instead of 1 as it was in the USA and once in a while you could find posters and stickers attached to the comics. Strangely, the first 50 issues of L'UOMO RAGNO and DEVIL were half in colour and half in B/W to save on printing costs!A month ago I still had not decided how to use my free collector society coupons so I opted to submit three books that had been sitting in my multiple-books-box for decades...I know they were not in good shape but I thought they would display nicely once graded!!!L'UOMO RAGNO 1 - 4/1970DEVIL 1 - 5/1970THOR 1 - 4/1971I have some multiple RAW ITALIAN Marvel books from that era ...SO I have decided to send some of them for free to the first 2 collectors who will able to associate the cover art of L'UOMO RAGNO 1, DEVIL 1, THOR 1 to the original american issues!!!To join the competition you need to post on the message board and not write me privately!CIAO!!!FEDERICOTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  5. XXXPHOENIX
    CGC vs XXXPHOENIX grading contest PART 4
    In march I sent to CGC 30 books...They received them on the 16th of March, and in almost exactly 40 working days (12th of may 2011) they were finally graded.
    Most were modern plus a bunch of Eternals (I want to build a set in high grade asap!).
    This time I am quite satisfied ...with my forecasts being met for most of the books or within an acceptable "grading range".
     
    One comment about the eternals must be made though...I bought them raw 3-4 months ago by a well known and respected US dealer... He graded them as mint 9.8-9.6 but once again dealers tend to overgrade what they sell ...
    TITLE ISSUE FORECAST CGC
    Eternals 3 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.4
    Eternals 4 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.4
    Eternals 5 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.2
    Eternals 6 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.0
    Eternals 7 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.4
    Eternals 8 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.6
    Eternals 9 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.8
    Eternals 10 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.2
    Eternals 11 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.4
    Eternals 12 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.4
    Eternals 14 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.6
    Eternals 15 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.4
    Eternals 16 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.2
    Eternals 17 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.2
    Avengers/Invaders 1 9.0-9.2 - CGC9.4
    Spectacular Spider-Man 200 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.8
    Spectacular Spider-Man 229 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.6
    X-Men 1A 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.8
    X-Men 1B 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.6
    X-Men 1C 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.8
    X-Men 1D 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.8
    X-Men 1E 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.4
    X-Men 54 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.6
    Alpha Flight 2 9.4-9.6 - CGC9.8
    Alpha Flight 3 9.4-9.6 - CGC9.6
    Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends 1 9.6-9.8- CGC9.8
    Marvel Comics Presents 2 9.4-9.6 - CGC9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 205 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 244 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 256 9.6-9.8 - CGC9.8
  6. XXXPHOENIX
    AVENGERS THE MYTH - EXHIBITION MILAN (ITALY) 28/3/2015 - 31/5/2015
    Hello Avengers fans!
    With great pleasure I would like to announce that in occasion of the release of the new movie "Avengers age of Ultron", a fantastic exhibition devoted to the Avengers is being held from the 28th of march to the 31st of May 2015 at the prestigious Museum of Cartoons of Milan - ITALY
    And ... with great pride I wish to announce that many prestigious vintage pieces on display (MEGO and Marx Toys, 60/70s posters, memorabilia and CGC comics from the Silver and Bronze Age) come directly from my personal collection ...
    The exhibition is organized in 5 sections: Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Shield. In each area you can find objects, comics, vintage memorabilia, original drawings, movies costumes etc etc. all accompanied by explanatory panels that guide the visitors through the decades from the '60s to today.
    There are also various sections devoted to Avengers-themed toys and models and a couple of interactive sites.
    The national media have given a lot of prominence to this initiative!
    A television report aired on the most important news channel of Italy (TG1) on the 1st of April 2015...You can watch it at minute 25:45
    http://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/programmi/media/ContentItem-fde5fb7f-4e68-4344-8918-0610cbba2b82.html#p=
    Another interesting TV report can be found here...from minute 1:13
    http://www.movieforkids.it/news/alla-scoperta-degli-avengers-a-milano/28008/
    Some pics of the exhibition are posted here:
    http://blog.screenweek.it/2015/03/avengers-il-mito-la-nostra-visita-alla-mostra-di-wow-spazio-fumetto-a-milano-421654.php
    This is the official website of the exhibition:
    http://www.museowow.it/wow/it/avengers-il-mito/
    And this is their Facebook page:
    https://it-it.facebook.com/SpazioFumettoWOW
    It's the third time I lend some of my beloved vintage collectibles from my Marvel collection: I love to share hard or impossible to find items with other Marvel fans.
    These are the links of the other two exhibitions I lent my items to:
    SPIDER-MAN THE MYTH - EXHIBITION MILAN (ITALY) 19/5/2012 - 29/7/2012
    http://comics.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=11676
    MARVELMANIA POSTERS at MOTORSHOW!
    http://comics.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=16201
    If you happen to come to Italy in this period or you plan to visit EXPO in Milan...why not stepping by the exhibition?
    CIAO!
    FEDERICO PICCININI - Sassuolo (ITALY)

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  7. XXXPHOENIX
    CGC just graded 30 of my books....let's compare their grading with my forecast!
    Hello to all!
    I have submitted 30 nice modern books to CGC...and this is what I got! 1x 8.5, 1x 9.0, 4x 9.2, 10x 9.4, 10x 9.6, 4x 9.8
    My forecasts did not go that far a part for a couple of book I had graded 8.0 (the authentix Romita sr DF books) that CGC graded 9.4 and 9.2 and for 6 books that CGC strangely graded much lower than my predictions...
    Anyway I am quite happy both for the grades and my grading skills!!!
    One last note...getting a 9.8 is really as difficult as hell!!!!
    TITLE ISSUE FORECAST CGC
    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 600 9.6-9.8 CGC 9.8
    AVENGERSINVADERS ATX DF 1 8.0 CGC 9.4
    AVENGERSINVADERS ATX DF 1 8.0 CGC 9.2
    DAREDEVIL MAN W/O FEAR 2 9.6-9.8 GCC 9.4
    DARKHAWK 1 9.4-9.6 CGC 9.6
    FANTASTIC FOUR 232 9.4-9.6 CGC 9.4
    FANTASTIC FOUR 234 9.4-9.6 CGC 9.6
    FANTASTIC FOUR 250 9.4-9.6 CGC 9.2
    FANTASTIC FOUR 283 9.4-9.6 CGC 9.4
    FANTASTIC FOUR 286 9.4-9.6 CGC 9.6
    FANTASTIC FOUR 288 9.4-9.6 CGC 9.6
    FANTASTIC FOUR 292 9.4-9.6 CGC 9.2
    MOON KNIGHT II 1 9.6 CGC 9.6
    NAMOR THE SUB-MARINER 1 9.4-9.6 CGC 9.4
    NEW MUTANTS 87 2nd 9.4 CGC 9.8
    NEW MUTANTS 89 9.6 CGC 9.6
    SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN 50 9.4 CGC 8.5
    SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN 69 9.4-9.6 CGC 9.6
    SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN 81 9.4-9.6 CGC 9.4
    PUNISHER WAR ZONE 1 9.6-9.8 CGC 9.8
    SECRET WARS II 5 9.6 CGC 9.6
    SECRET WARS II 6 9.6 CGC 9.4
    SECRET WARS II 7 9.6 CGC 9.4
    UNCANNY X-MEN 160 9.6 CGC 9.2
    UNCANNY X-MEN 222 9.6 CGC 9.0
    UNCANNY X-MEN 241 9.6 CGC 9.4
    UNCANNY X-MEN 248 9.6 CGC 9.6
    WEB OF SPIDER-MAN 100 9.6 CGC 9.8
    WHAT IF II 1 9.4-9.6 CGC 9.4
    WOLVERINE 2 9.6-9.8 CGC 9.6
     
    byeeeeeeeee
    I will post more forecasts vs CGC if you like it!
    FEDERICO
  8. XXXPHOENIX
    CGC vs XXXPHOENIX grading contest PART 3
    CGC just graded 3 more of my SILVER AGE books....let's compare their grading with my forecast!
    This time I was VERY unsatisfied. All books were purchased from very reliable dealers few years ago...but 2/3 of my books were graded one full grade below my forecast when I got them!
    TITLE ISSUE FORECAST CGC
    Amazing Spider-Man 29 9.4 CGC 8.5
    Amazing Spider-Man 32 9.2 CGC 9.2
    Amazing Spider-Man 43 9.4 CGC 8.5
    I should resubmit them....the books that got a lousy 8.5 are FLAWLESS!
     
    CIAO!
    FEDERICO
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  9. XXXPHOENIX
    read read read
    HELLO fellow collectors...
    last month I received an email from CGC with the opportunity to submit books for a private Stan Lee signing. I thought it was a great thing so I bought a relatively cheap Amazing Fantasy 15 on ebay and took out from of one of my boxes my favourite book: Amazing Spider-Man 33.
    The AF 15 had been badly restored in an amateur way decades ago so I decided NOT to have the book PRO-restored... The book was effectively not worth the pain of being PRO extensively restored just to get a purple 6.0 slab...
    So I submitted it to CGC for the private Stan Lee Signing! I think that owning THIS book in a purple/yellow signature series slab is a much better investment...
    I may keep the book forever too: Hanging on my office wall the first Spidey book officially signed by Stan Lee and CGC certified is not bad...what do you think?
    The cover of AS 33 is surely one of the most dramatic and intense in the entire Spidey story....and owning it in high grade with a certified Stan Lee signature ....is A M A Z I N G
    And these are the grades:
    AF15 CGC 2.5 SS MA
    AS33 CGC 9.2 SS UNIVERSAL
    I am very happy!!!
    FEDERICO
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  10. XXXPHOENIX
    Did you know that.....
    HELLO overseas friends!
    Few american collectors are aware of how many international editions of Marvel Comics exist...and even less are aware that Italy has been and still is one of the largest comic books markets in the world...
    Did you know that comics like Tex and Mickey Mouse still sell 750.000(!!) copies per issue in the Italian version nowadays?!
    And now ...some MARVEL-IN-ITALY-INFO for dummies!
    0) The first Marvel comic book was published in Italy only in march 1970 (Spider-Man 1 = Uomo Ragno ). FF appeared in some comic magazine in 1968 but nothing else... A poster (a small size reprint of the mythical 1966 USA Spidey Personality poster) came with the book.
    It took 2 decades to reach the american production. In 1984 they were still publishing the Marvel USA 1980 issues!
    1) MARVEL comics in Italian edition printed in 1970 to 1985 are very very nice collectible items and HARD to find in high grades (according to US standards at least..) especially if complete with their gadgets. Italian collectors are not sophisticated about conditions as US collectors!
    It would take too long to explain but in Italy nobody uses the American grading system...
    Grades are very unaccurate and superficial and it's VERY hard to find 9.0 or better Italian books from the 60s-80s in accordance with the US grading standards...
    Average Collectors just refer to POOR / GOOD / VERY GOOD / FINE / VERY FINE / NEAR MINT / MINT....
    2) The first Marvel publisher was "Editoriale Corno" from Milan. The company went into bankrupcy in 1984 leaving Italians orphans of Marvel comics 'till 1987...
    In 1987 - 1994 plenty of publishers (Star Comics, Play Press....) got the rights to print various Marvel books...at least until Panini/Marvel in 1994 took direct control of any Marvel related publication in Italy...
    3) The first 50 issues of Uomo Ragno, Devil (Daredevil), Fantastici Quattro (Fantastic Four), Thor were printed half in colour and half in b/w to save on printing costs...
    4) Many issues from the 70s and 80s had gadgets like posters and stickers...
    5) The eyes of Spidey were painted in yellow 'till 1987!!
    6) In Italy the standard "SuperHeroes"-comic book had 2-3 stories per issue from various american series, with very limited ads.
    I.E. : UOMO RAGNO 18 - 24/12/1970
    Stories:
    Amazing Spider Man n.22 (03/65) "La minaccia in agguato" (LEE / DITKO)
    Doctor Strange n.180 (05/69)"Eternità" (parte 2 di 2)
    Doctor Strange n.181 (07/69) "Se un mondo dovesse morire prima che io mi svegli" (parte 1 di 2)
    Cover:
    Graphic re-elaboration from Amazing fantasy 15
     
    AND this is an essential list of Marvel books published in Italy in 1970-1984 by Editoriale Corno...I left some Italian words but if you want I can translate them for you!
     
    MARVEL SERIES PUBLISHED IN ITALY IN ITALIAN LANGUAGE (1970-1984) by EDITORIALE CORNO
    L'UOMO RAGNO (1a serie) 283 issues (from 30/4/1970 to 6/3/1981)
    IL SETTIMANALE DE L'UOMO RAGNO 43 issues (from 17/3/1981 to 5/1/1982)
    L'UOMO RAGNO (2a serie) 58 issues (from 4/3/1982 to 9/2/1984)
    L'INCREDIBILE DEVIL 126 issues (from 6/5/1970 to 6/3/1975)
    I FANTASTICI QUATTRO 259 issues (from 6/4/1971 to 18/3/1981)
    IL MITICO THOR 243 issues (from 13/4/1971 to 1/8/1980)
    CAPITAN AMERICA 128 issues (from 24/4/1973 to 8/3/1978)
    GLI ALBI DEI SUPER/EROI 49 issues (from 2/5/1973 to 5/3/1975)
    HULK E I DIFENSORI 44 issues (from 20/3/1975 to 11/11/1976)
    L'INCREDIBILE HULK 38 issues (from 4/80 to 11/83)
    I DIFENSORI 15 issues (from 5/79 to 7/80)
    CONAN & KA-ZAR 44 issues (from 19/3/1975 to 10/11/1976)
    GLI ETERNI 29 issues (from 3/78 to 7/80)
    SHANG/CHI, MAESTRO DEL KUNG/FU (1a serie) 54 issues
    SHANG/CHI, MAESTRO DEL KUNG/FU (2a serie) 5 issues
    CORRIERE DELLA PAURA 22 issues (from 6/74 to 3/76)
    DRACULA 18 issues (from 4/76 to 9/77)
    SUPERFUMETTI 17 issues (from 3/76 to 4/80)
    EUREKA POCKET 82 issues (from 12/68 to 1/84) with Marvel Horror stories in issues 8, 14, 19, 25, 30, 38, 43, 50, 55.
    MARVEL REPRINTS 1970-1984 published by EDITORITOE CORNO:
    L'UOMO RAGNO GIGANTE 93 issues - from 7/76 to 3/84
    I FANTASTICI QUATTRO GIGANTE 39 issues - from 3/78 to 6/81
    DEVIL GIGANTE 40 issues - from 4/77 to 7/80 -
    CAPITAN AMERICA GIGANTE 14 issues- from 4/80 to 5/81
    I FANTASTICI QUATTRO(2a serie) 16 issues
    THOR (2a serie) 42 issues - from 26/5/82
    CAPITAN AMERICA (2a serie) 29 issues - from 3/6/82
    I VENDICATORI GIGANTE 14 issues- from 4/80 to 7/81
    CONAN 9 issues - from 5/80 - to 9/81
     
    CIAO!
    FEDERICO

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  11. XXXPHOENIX
    CGC vs XXXPHOENIX grading contest PART 5
    Hello to all!
    CGC just graded 30 of my books....let's compare their grades with my forecasts!
    MANY MONTHS AGO I submitted 30 modern books to CGC...they were received on June the 23rd 2011...and it took 2 MONTHS to switch from verified to graded status...
    Hey CGC...hire more graders please!
    This is what I got! 4x9.2 3x9.4 13x9.6 10x9.8
    I am VERY happy both for the CGC grades and my grading skills!!!
    TITLE ISSUE FORECAST CGC
    Avengers/Invaders1 8.0-8.5 9.2
    Alpha Flight 6 9.4-9.6 9.2
    Alpha Flight 7 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Alpha Flight 8 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Alpha Flight 9 9.4-9.6 9.4
    Alpha Flight 11 9.4-9.6 9.2
    Alpha Flight 12 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Alpha Flight 14 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Alpha Flight 15 9.4-9.6 9.8
    Alpha Flight 16 9.4-9.6 9.8
    Alpha Flight 18 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Alpha Flight 20 9.4-9.6 9.8
    Alpha Flight 22 9.4-9.6 9.8
    Alpha Flight 27 9.4-9.6 9.8
    Alpha Flight 51 9.4-9.6 9.6
    DC versus Marvel 1 9.6-9.8 9.8
    DC versus Marvel 3 9.6-9.8 9.8
    DC versus Marvel4 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Incredible Hulk 314 9.4-9.6 9.6
    She Hulk 1 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 185 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 200 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 202 9.4-9.6 9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 206 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 207 9.2-9.4 9.4
    Uncanny X-Men 208 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 210 9.0-9.2 9.2
    Uncanny X-Men 257 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 258 9.4-9.6 9.4
    Uncanny X-Men 300 9.6-9.8 9.8
    byeeeeeeeee
    I will post more "grading contests" since I have 4 more comic lots in verified status....
    FEDERICO
  12. XXXPHOENIX
    When dreams come true!
    I can't believe it...my AS 1 was CGC GRADED as a 9.0 with WHITE PAGES!!!
    How many books in such a nice shape still exist?
    This copy has an almost unbelievable story? My father travelled to NY in 1963(!) for a business trip.
    He saw some superheroes comics at the newstands and bought a bunch of them. The cover of Spider-Man 1 looked so intriguing to him that he carefully placed the comic in the middle of his papers and brought it back home to Italy.
    Once there he put the book inside a closet under a heavy pile of books...where it remained for 45 years!
    When I found it a couple of years ago, I could not believe my eye? such a precious jem remained in a dark and dry enevironment for so long! It looked to me a 9.2 with almost zero defects (no visible spine stress, no chipping, no wear!). Cgc graded it 9.0 with white pages on 24/05/2010(WOW)!
    I am incredibly happy with this find as sometimes dreams come true!
    FEDERICO - ITALY
  13. XXXPHOENIX
    CGC vs XXXPHOENIX grading contest PART 7 : 58 books just graded!
    Hello to everybody!
    CGC just finished grading 58 books....let's compare their grades with my forecasts!
    MANY MONTHS AGO I submitted 58 MODERN books to CGC...As soon as I receive them I will add them to my numerous registry sets.
    Most of these come from my personal collection. They were all purchased as NM books before the CGC era...Anyway you can easily guess how hard it is to build a high grade comic book collection with the unique&only option of buying my books via (air)mail... to ITALY!
    You can't imagine how many dealers just throw mint books in padded envelopes without further protection...
    This is what I got! 27X 9.8 , 12X 9.6 , 4X 9.4, 7X 9.2, 4X 9.0, 1X 8.5, 2X 8.0, 1X 6.5 .
    As usual most of my forecasts were pretty exact and remained in a +/- .2 range in comparison to CGC grading standards...with few unexplainable exceptions (check the *).
    I will keep in my collection all books graded 9.4 or higher and few of the 9.2.
    TITLE ISSUE FORECAST CGC
    Alpha Flight 4 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Alpha Flight 5 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Alpha Flight 6 9.6-9.8 // 9.2
    Alpha Flight 10 9.4-9.6 // 9.8
    Alpha Flight 11 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Alpha Flight 13 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Alpha Flight 17 9.4-9.6 // 9.2
    Alpha Flight 24 9.6-9.8 // 6.5 *ARGH!
    Spider-Man 2 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 2 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 3 9.6-9.8 // 9.0 *WHY!?
    Spider-Man 4 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 4 9.6-9.8 // 8.5 *WHY!?
    Spider-Man 5 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 6 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 7 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 8 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 9 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 10 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 11 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 12 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    Spider-Man 13 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 14 9.6-9.8 // 9.4
    Spider-Man 15 9.6-9.8 // 9.0 *WEIRD
    Spider-Man 16 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 17 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 1 GOLD 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 1 POLY 9.6-9.8 // 9.4
    Spider-Man 18 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 19 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    Spider-Man 20 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    X-men 2 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    X-men 3 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    X-men 4 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    X-men 5 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    X-men 6 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    X-men 7 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    X-men 8 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    X-men 9 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    X-men 10 9.6-9.8 // 8.0 *OPS!!!?
    X-men 11 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    X-men 13 9.6-9.8 // 9.0 *ARGH! POLIBAGGED book
    X-men 14 9.6-9.8 // 9.2 *ARGH! POLIBAGGED book
    X-men 15 9.6-9.8 // 9.0 *ARGH! POLIBAGGED book
    X-men 16 9.6-9.8 // 9.2
    Amazing Spider-Man 300 8.0-8.5 // 8.0R Restoration includes: small amount of color touch on cover. BOTTOM EDGE TRIMMED. *WHAT THE *** ...restored?
    Amazing Spider-Man 313 9.2-9.4 // 9.2
    Amazing Spider-Man 331 9.4-9.6 // 9.8
    Amazing Spider-Man 666 9.4-9.6 // 9.6 ITALY COMICS
    Amazing Spider-Man 666 9.4-9.6 // 9.4 ITALY COMICS
    Captain America 253 9.2-9.4 // 9.6
    What The 1 9.4-9.6 // 9.2
    Spider-Man Unlimited 1 9.4-9.6 // 9.4
    Fantastic Four 243 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Fantastic Four 248 9.6-9.8 // 9.6
    Fantastic Four 251 9.4-9.6 // 9.6
    Fantastic Four 256 9.4-9.6 // 9.2
    Fantastic Four 258 9.6-9.8 // 9.8
    FEDERICO
  14. XXXPHOENIX
    SPIDER-MAN THE MYTH - EXHIBITION MILAN (ITALY) 19/5/2012 - 29/7/2012
    Hello fellow collectors and Spider-Man friends,
    With great pleasure I would like to report that in occasion of the 50th anniversary of Spider-Man, a fantastic exhibition is being held from the 19th of May to the 29th of July 2012 at the prestigious Museum of Cartoons of Milan - ITALY (sponsored by the city council, the Mexican and U.S. consulate !).
    And ... with great pride I wish to announce that many prestigious pieces on display (posters, memorabilia and CGC comics from the Silver Age) come directly from my personal collection ...
    A special occasion for me and for those who want to soak up the atmosphere of America's most beloved superhero and enjoy virtually unique pieces for their rarity and degree of conservation.
    I attended the inauguration on the 19/5/2012 and I was amazed by the job made by the curators.... Everybody was really impressed!!
    Even the national press gave a lot of visibility to the exhibition with enthusiastic comments like this " From now on, this (exhibition) becomes the benchmark for any comic-related character in Europe!!!".
    The exhibition is divided over the five decades with large displays of rare material from all periods and with good captions and explanatory panels.
    Either the original American editions or the Italian variants are on display!
    I hope that the number of visits will reward this initiative that has the aim of celebrating an ICON like Spider-Man.
    For this event they released:
    1. Catalog (really sooo well done!)
    2. * Postcard
    3. * Small Poster
    4. * Poster
    5. No.3 VIP passes with different subjects
    6. Orange postcard that advertises a competition (http://milanomilano.eu/uomoragno.php)
    * Same image
    In these links you can find dozens and dozens of photos of the show!
    http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.291000030993330.65290.100656493361019&type=1
    http://www.uomoragno.org/articoli/mostra%20wow%20milano.htm
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvEaFiWgWHg&list=FLnXHXaVU0maOXzPaSjITqEA&index=1&feature=plcp
    And here an interesting review (in Italian but you can translate it with Google) of the same:
    http://www.postcardcult.com/articolo.asp?id=4377&sezione=11
    If you happen to visit Italy in this period....go the fantastic city of Milan and spend some time with SPIDEY!!!
    Friendly SPIDER-GREETINGS
     
    FEDERICO PICCININI - Sassuolo (ITALY)

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  15. XXXPHOENIX
    CGC vs XXXPHOENIX grading contest PART 11 : 90 (!) books just graded!
    Hello Collectors Society friends!
    Several weeks ago I submitted a big lot of books I had purchased raw off ebay or from www dealers in 2012. I find so challenging to hunt and select books to submit for my registry...it's much more interesting than purchasing them already graded!
    The majority of the submitted books comes from the late bronze / early copper age.
    I find this period particular challenging because books were not immediately bag&boarded after purchase and the low quality of the paper and cover means spine stress and corner dings even in unread copies...
    Some books are cursed: It's at least the third time I submit a MINT unread copy of FF261 for my FF Byrne set...and I this time I got another lousy 9.0! The same story for Amazing Spider-Man 309 and Alpha Flight 24!
    Most Uncanny X-men and the other FF issues I submitted received 9.4-9.8.
    I also got a 9.8 for Marvel vs DC #2 a book that together with DC vs Marvel preview in 9.2 allows me to reach the top the ranking.
    Avengers/Invaders 1 Dynamic Forces in CGC 9.6 sketched by Romita is a real treasure! So far I have put together 5 different copies of Avengers/Invaders 1 Dynamic Forces sketched by Romita (5/100 wow!).
    The boxes sent to CGC were three with the following turnaround times (from "received" to "shipped/safe" status -- MODERN tier)
    n.1 112 working days -- received by CGC on 11/13/2012
    n.2 61 working days -- received by CGC on 01/24/2013
    n.3 62 working days -- received by CGC on 01/24/2013
    STATS for my 90 graded books:
    8.5 6x
    9.0 5x
    9.2 9x
    9.4 18x
    9.6 33x
    9.8 19x
    I am quite satisfied since only 11 books graded way below my forecasts...Unfortunately for me most 8.5 were Miller Daredevils I had purchased from an unread/uncirculated lot of books. They looked flawless...but I won't spend a cent to get the grading notes!
    TITLE ISSUE FORECAST CGC
    Alpha Flight 17 9.4-9.6 /// 9.4
    Alpha Flight 23 9.4-9.6 /// 9.4
    Alpha Flight 24 9.4-9.6 /// 9.0 UHM!!!!
    Alpha Flight 25 9.4-9.6 /// 9.6
    Alpha Flight 26 9.4-9.6 /// 9.6
    Alpha Flight 6 9.4-9.6 /// 9.4
    Amazing Spider-Man 303 9.4-9.6 /// 9.8
    Amazing Spider-Man 309 9.4-9.6 /// 9.2 ...I can swear the book was flawless!!!
    Amazing Spider-Man 332 9.6-9.8 /// 8.5 UHM!!!!
    Avengers/Invaders 1 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Daredevil 173 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Daredevil 174 9.6-9.8 /// 9.4
    Daredevil 176 9.4-9.6 /// 8.5 ...I can swear the book was flawless!!!
    Daredevil 178 9.6-9.8 /// 9.4
    Daredevil 183 9.4-9.6 /// 9.4
    Daredevil 185 9.6-9.8 /// 8.5 ...I can swear the book was flawless!!!
    Daredevil 186 9.6-9.8 /// 9.8
    Daredevil 188 9.4-9.6 /// 9.4
    Daredevil 189 9.6-9.8 /// 9.8
    Daredevil 190 9.6-9.8 /// 9.2 ...I can swear the book was flawless!!!
    Daredevil 191 9.6-9.8 /// 8.5 ...I can swear the book was flawless!!!
    DC vs Marvel preview 1 9.2-9.4 /// 9.2
    Fantastic Four 236 9.6-9.8 /// 9.4
    Fantastic Four 252 9.2-9.4 /// 9.6
    Fantastic Four 256 9.6-9.8 /// 9.4
    Fantastic Four 259 9.2-9.4 /// 9.6
    Fantastic Four 261 9.4-9.6 /// 9.0 this book is cursed...I submitted three MINT copies in the recent past and never got anymore than 9.0!
    Fantastic Four 265 9.4-9.6 /// 9.6
    Fantastic Four 270 9.4-9.6 /// 9.4
    Fantastic Four 274 9.4-9.6 /// 9.6
    Fantastic Four 277 9.4-9.6 /// 9.8
    Fantastic Four 289 9.4-9.6 /// 9.6
    Fantastic Four 291 9.4-9.6 /// 9.6
    Fantastic Four 292 9.4-9.6 /// 9.6
    Incredible Hulk 331 9.4-9.6 /// 9.6
    Incredible Hulk 332 9.4-9.6 /// 9.2
    Incredible Hulk 339 9.4-9.6 /// 8.5 UHM!!!!
    Infinity Crusade 1 9.4-9.6 /// 9.6
    Infinity Gauntlet 6 9.4-9.6 /// 9.8
    Marvel vs DC 2 9.6-9.8 /// 9.8 NOW I AM N.1 in the ranking!
    Spectacular Spider-Man 200 9.6-9.8 /// 9.8
    Spider-man 3 9.4-9.6 /// 9.8
    Thor 337 9.4-9.6 /// 9.6
    Thor 339 9.4-9.6 /// 9.2
    Thor 340 9.4-9.6 /// 9.0
    Thor 341 9.2-9.4 /// 9.8
    Thor 343 9.2-9.4 /// 9.6
    Thor 344 9.6-9.8 /// 9.4
    Thor 345 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Thor 346 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Thor 347 9.4-9.6 /// 9.4
    Thor 349 9.4-9.6 /// 9.6
    Thor 352 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Thor 354 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 184 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 209 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 211 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 224 9.6-9.8 /// 9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 226 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 249 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 259 9.6-9.8 /// 9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 272 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 167 9.4-9.6 /// 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 203 9.6-9.8 /// 9.4
    Uncanny X-Men 214 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 215 9.4-9.6 /// 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 219 9.6-9.8 /// 9.2 ...funny I chose this one out of 3 #219 BAH!
    Uncanny X-Men 225 9.6-9.8 /// 9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 230 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 232 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 235 9.4-9.6 /// 9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 245 9.6-9.8 /// 9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 246 9.4-9.6 /// 9.4
    Uncanny X-Men 247 9.6-9.8 /// 9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 252 9.4-9.6 /// 9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 264 9.6-9.8 /// 9.4
    Uncanny X-Men 265 9.4-9.6 /// 9.2 I could not spot any defect!
    Uncanny X-Men 273 9.6-9.8 /// 9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 274 9.4-9.6 /// 9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 278 9.4-9.6 /// 9.4
    Uncanny X-Men 279 9.4-9.6 /// 9.0 How is it possible!!!! For the third time I got a lousy 9.0 on this issue!
    Uncanny X-Men 299 9.4-9.6 /// 9.8
    Web of Spider-Man 100 9.6-9.8 /// 9.8
    X-Factor Annual 1 9.4-9.6 /// 8.5 ...I can swear the book was flawless!!!
    X-Factor 27 9.4-9.6 /// 9.4
    X-Factor 28 9.6-9.8 /// 9.2
    X-Factor 5 9.4-9.6 /// 9.6
    X-Factor 7 9.4-9.6 /// 9.2
    X-Men 11Silver 9.4-9.6 /// 9.0
     
    CIAO!
    FEDERICO - ITALY
  16. XXXPHOENIX
    ...and How I acquired my 900th CGC comic!!!
    Hello Collectors Society friends!
    Several weeks ago I submitted another large lot of books I had purchased raw off ebay or from www dealers in 2013. I find very challenging to hunt and select books to submit for my registry...it's much more interesting than purchasing them already graded!
    The majority of the submitted books comes from the late bronze / early copper age.
    I find this era particularly though because books were not immediately bag&boarded after purchase and the low quality of the paper and cover means spine stress and corner dings even in unread copies...
    These are the turnaround times (from "received" to "shipped/safe" status -- MODERN tier):
    36 working days -- received by CGC on 28/10/2013, 28/11 verified; 5/12 scheduled for grading; 6/12 graded, 18/12 shipped/safe :36 working days
    This is one my best grading performances...ever!! STATS for my 90 graded books:
    9.8 x28
    9.6 x25
    9.4 x3
    9.2 x4
    The winners are a #1 Spider-Man UPC Gold Cover in 9.6, a #700 Amazing Spider-Man Ditko Cover in 9.6, the Chromium Marvel Collectibles all in 9.8 with with just 2 exceptions in 9.6. I am particularly proud of the Silver Surfers and the Punisher runs too!
    Now I own 920 CGC graded books, 900 of which are in my registry sets!!! Considering that I discard/sell books worse than 9.0 of any age, it's not a bad result, isn't it? My target for 2014 is to hit the 1000th registered book!!!!
    9.9 is still a mirage to me...I keep on submitting perfect books but no 9.9 yet sigh sob. 0/920 is not a good average ... but, probably, if I only submitted more worthless modern books I would be luckier...
    TITLE ISSUE FORECAST CGC
    Amazing Spider-Man 666 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Amazing Spider-Man Ditko version 700 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Amazing Spider-Man Midtown Comics 700H 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Amazing Spider-Man Quesada 700E 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Daredevil 252 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Ghost Rider 2099 1 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Hulk 2099 1 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Infinity Crusade 2 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Infinity Crusade 5 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Infinity Crusade 6 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Marvel Collectible Classics: Avengers 1 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Marvel Collectible Classics: Spider-Man 1 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Marvel Collectible Classics: Spider-Man 2 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Marvel Collectible Classics: X-Men 1 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Marvel Collectible Classics: X-Men 2 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Marvel Collectible Classics: X-Men 3 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Marvel Collectible Classics: X-Men 4 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Marvel Collectible Classics: X-Men 5 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Marvel Collectible Classics: X-Men 6 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Mighty Thor 338 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Mighty Thor 342 9.6-9.8 9.2
    Mighty Thor 353 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Mighty Thor 360 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Mighty Thor 364 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Mighty Thor 365 9.6-9.8 9.4
    Mighty Thor 371 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Mighty Thor 372 9.6-9.8 9.2
    Mighty Thor 373 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Mighty Thor 374 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Moon Knight 1 9.2-9.4 9.2
    Punisher 1 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Punisher 2 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Punisher 3 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Punisher 4 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Punisher 5 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Punisher 6 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Punisher 7 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Punisher 8 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Punisher 9 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Punisher 10 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Punisher 2099 1 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Ravage 2099 1 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Silver Surfer 1 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Silver Surfer 2 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Silver Surfer 3 9.6-9.8 9.4
    Silver Surfer 4 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Silver Surfer 5 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Silver Surfer 6 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Spider-Man Gold UPC Cover 1 9.2-9.4 9.6
    SuperMan Man of Steel 1A 9.6-9.8 9.6
    SuperMan Man of Steel 1B 9.6-9.8 9.8
    SuperMan Man of Steel 2 9.6-9.8 9.8
    SuperMan Man of Steel 6 9.6-9.8 9.8
    The Falcon 1 9.4-9.6 9.2
    The New Mutants 1 9.6-9.8 9.6
    The New Mutants 2 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Uncanny X-men 237 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Uncanny X-men 239 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Wolverine 3 9.6-9.8 9.8
    X-Men 2099 1 9.4-9.6 9.4
     
    Just a note about some of the books... The following comics had originally some flaws but I considered they were perfect candidates for pressing...and thanks to Matt Nelson services they had an enormous improval!!!
    TITLE ISSUE CONDITION before pressing CGC
    Infinity Crusade 2 Rolled spine 9.2-9.4 9.6
    Infinity Crusade 5 Doesn't lie flat 9.2-9.4 9.6
    Infinity Crusade 6 Doesn't lie flat 9.2-9.4 9.6
    Spider-Man UPC gold 1 Lower left corner crease 8.5-9.0 9.6
    Uncanny X-men 237 Slightly rolled spine, light fold 9.2-9.4 9.8
    Uncanny X-men 239 Rolled spine 9.2-9.4 9.8
     
    CIAO AND BUON NATALE!!!
    BYE AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
     
    FEDERICO - ITALY
  17. XXXPHOENIX
    MODERN Books and the rare X-MEN vs Micronauts!
    Hello to everybody!
    CGC received my books on the 24th of August 2012 but were graded on the 4th of January 2013: approx 94 working days later....let's compare their grades with my forecasts!
    Most of them were purchased off Ebay recently as NM/M...The X-Men and Micronauts miniseries, instead, remained buried in my collection in mint condition for 2 decades...and CGC agreed with me: these four books are real treasures in CGC 9.8 9.8 9.6 9.8.
    Once again the FF Byrne books came back with some disappointing grades...I will discard the FF books in less than CGC 9.4.
    I don't understand why on earth it is so difficult to find flawless marvel books from that period (approx 1984-1991).
    18 books to go...and all my FF Byrne Books are in 9.4 or better!
    My Byrne Alpha Flight set is also almost complete now!
    This is what I got! 9.8x7 9.6x9 9.4x8 9.2x2 9.0x2 8.5x1 8.0x1
    A part from 4/30 books my grading standard remained extremey close to CGC's!
    TITLE ISSUE FORECAST CGC
    Alpha Flight 21 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Amazing Spider-Man 600B 9.2-9.4 9.4 Hard to find in High grade due to corner splits!
    Fantastic Four 263 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Fantastic Four 264 9.6-9.8 9.4
    Fantastic Four 271 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Fantastic Four 279 9.6-9.8 9.0
    Fantastic Four 280 9.6-9.8 9.4
    Fantastic Four 281 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Fantastic Four 282 9.6-9.8 8.5
    Fantastic Four 283 9.6-9.8 8.0 DOOOOOOOH!
    Fantastic Four 284 9.6-9.8 9.6
    Fantastic Four 347 9.4-9.6 9.6
    Fantastic Four 348 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Fantastic Four 349 9.6-9.8 9.8
    Incredible Hulk 377 9.6-9.8 9.6
    New Mutants 59 9.4-9.6 9.2
    New Mutants 60 9.4-9.6 9.4
    New Mutants 61 9.4-9.6 9.4
    New Mutants 75 9.4-9.6 9.2
    New Mutants Annual 5 9.6-9.8 9.4
    Punisher War Zone 1 9.8-9.8 9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 269 9.6-9.8 9.8
    X-Factor 11 9.4-9.6 9.6
    X-Factor 24 9.6-9.8 9.4
    X-Factor 37 9.4-9.6 9.0
    X-Factor 38 9.4-9.6 9.4
    X-Men Micronauts1 9.4-9.6 9.8 really flawless books!...My set is now #1 in the ranking!
    X-Men Micronauts2 9.4-9.6 9.8 really flawless books!
    X-Men Micronauts3 9.4-9.6 9.6 really flawless books!
    X-Men Micronauts4 9.4-9.6 9.8 really flawless books!
     
    CIAO!
    FEDERICO
  18. XXXPHOENIX
    CGC just graded 6 more SILVER AGE /BRONZE AGE books....let's compare their grading with my forecast!
    I just noticed CGC finished grading more books I submitted...
    They were some very nice Spidey early annuals + a Silver Surfer (1st series) 14 + a what if 1977 1...
    Once again I was quite satisfied ... no books below the 9.0 and an average 0.2 difference between my forecast and their grading...
    Modern age books are much easier to grade, but when I submit bronze or silver age books, due to some hidden flaws or due to the colour of the paper (a factor I take into ZERO consideration) ...CGC grading is usually stricter than mine!
    TITLE ISSUE FORECAST CGC
    Amazing Spider-Man A4 pgx 9.2 CGC 9.2
    Amazing Spider-Man A5 9.4-9.6 CGC 9.0
    Amazing Spider-Man A8 9.2-9.4 CGC 9.0
    Amazing Spider-Man A9 9.4-9.6 CGC 9.2
    Silver Surfer 14 9.0-9.2 CGC 9.0
    What if 1977 1 9.4 CGC 9.2
     
    CIAO!
    FEDERICO
  19. XXXPHOENIX
    MISSION ACCOMPLISHED .... I have just completed the X-Men #94-#143 SET !!
    YEAH! I did it!! It took years and years to complete this CGC graded X-Men #94-#143 SET...
    One of my favourite runs EVER, E V E R !...and now I am so proud to own them all in high grade: 94/105 in 9.2-9.4 , 106/142 in 9.6!
    http://comics.www.collectors-society.com/registry/comics/PeopleSetDetail.aspx?PeopleSetID=32404
    In 2005 I was smart enough to buy GSX1 in CGC 9.4 + X-MEN 94 in 9.2 at a decent price...then in 2009 I decided to complete the set.
    It was very challenging because even if I already owned a raw high grade run (at least that's what I thought) of these books, when I submitted the first lots I started receiving some disappointing 8.0 - 8.5 from CGC .
    Probably the grading standards of the 80s and 90s were much less stricter than CGC's...SIGH
    So I had to hunt all books on Ebay, Metro, Comiclink , Highgradecomics, WWW comics...with the target of not exceeding $200 per book.
    As soon as I can I will post all the pictures of these beauties!
    CIAO from ITALY
    FEDERICO
  20. XXXPHOENIX
    CGC vs XXXPHOENIX grading contest PART 8 : 30 books just graded!
    Hello to everybody!
    IT TOOK A LIFE .... CGC received my books on the 5th of June 2012 CGC but graded them early this week....let's compare their grades with my forecasts!
    All of them were purchased thorugh internet, mainly on ebay as NM/M...
    This is what I got! 5x9.8 8x9.6 6x9.4 3x9.2 4x9.0 2x8.5 1x8.0 1x7.5
    I am quite disappointed this time. Considering I bought them as NM/M (mostly uncirculated)and that I thought of having carefully graded them ...getting 11 books below 9.4 is probably my worst submittance performance ...ever
    One of the few nice surprise was NEW MUTANTS 95 second printing in 9.8! HIGHEST GRADED!
    If neither Tnerb nor bagofleas owns it...it really must be rare in this grade!
    Marvel books from 1982-1991 are probably the hardest modern books to be found in high grade due to the low quality of the paper and to the spine stress normally found even in uncirculated books.
    No surprise it's so hard to build a high grade Byrne Fantastic Four or McFarlane Spidey set...
    I will keep in my collection all books graded 9.4 or higher and few of the 9.2.
    TITLE ISSUE FORECAST CGC
    Amazing Spider-Man 302 9.4-9.6//9.4
    Amazing Spider-Man 303 9.4-9.6//9.2*
    Amazing Spider-Man 304 9.4-9.6//9.4
    X-Men Alpha 9.6-9.8//9.8
    X-Men Omega 9.6-9.8//9.8
    X-Men Prime 1 9.6-9.8//9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 281 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 282 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 283 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 292 9.6-9.8//9.6
    New Mutants 97 9.4-9.6//9.6
    New Mutants 95A 9.4-9.6//9.8
    Marvel Comics Presents 1 9.4-9.6//9.4
    Marvel Comics Presents 4 9.4-9.6//9.0*
    Heroes Reborn the Return 2 9.4-9.6//9.8
    Infinity Crusade 1 9.4-9.6//8.5*
    Infinity Crusade 2 9.4-9.6//9.0*
    Infinity Crusade 3 9.4-9.6//9.6
    Infinity Crusade 4 9.4-9.6//9.6
    Infinity Crusade 5 9.4-9.6//9.0*
    X-Factor 25 9.6-9.8//9.2*
    Fantastic Four 259 9.4-9.6//9.0*
    Fantastic Four 261 9.6-9.8//8.0*
    Fantastic Four 262 9.6-9.8//9.4
    Fantastic Four 265 9.6-9.8//7.5*
    Fantastic Four 266 9.6-9.8//9.4
    Fantastic Four 268 9.6-9.8//9.4
    Fantastic Four 269 9.6-9.8//8.5*
    Fantastic Four 270 9.6-9.8//9.2*
    Fantastic Four 278 9.6-9.8//9.6
    CIAO!
    FEDERICO
  21. XXXPHOENIX
    XXXPHOENIX HITS 100.000 !!!!
    Just to let the CGC Collectors society know that....I finally HIT the 100.000 target.
    I am so excited! When I joned this community I thought that this rank in the registry was close to impossible to achieve....but I did it!!!!!!
    Considering I live in Italy it's a huge success...
    371 MARVEL COMICS cgc books in my collection .... 353 made it into the registry!
    AND...no book grades below 9.0!!
    CIAO
    FEDERICO
  22. XXXPHOENIX
    103 working days later...CGC vs XXXPHOENIX grading contest PART 9:
    MARVEL TEAM UP & ETERNALSHello to everybody!CGC received my books on the 29th of May 2012 but were graded today: 103 working days later if I am not wrong (VALUE tier)....let's compare their grades with my forecasts!Most of them were purchased thorugh internet, mainly on ebay as NM/M and from Metro... The Eternals books, instead, were found inside a VERY old ETM/American Entertainment unopened package I had forgotten in my parents' home ehehehThis is what I got! 9.8x1 9.6x5 9.4x4 9.2x3 9.0x1 8.5x1It seems I tend to undergrade a bit my bronze age books!I will keep in my collection all books but one....TITLE ISSUE FORECAST CGCEternals 9 9.4-9.6 // 9.6Eternals 10 9.4-9.6 // 9.8Eternals 11 9.4-9.6 // 9.4Eternals 12 9.4-9.6 // 9.6Eternals 13 9.0-9.2 // 8.5 *Eternals 14 9.0-9.2 // 9.4Eternals 15 9.2-9.4 // 9.4Eternals 16 9.2-9.4 // 9.6Eternals 18 9.2-9.4 // 9.6Marvel Team up 5 9.4 Metro // 9.6Marvel Team up 6 9.4 Metro // 9.2Marvel Team up 7 9.2-9.4 // 9.2Marvel Team up 8 9.2 Metro // 9.2Marvel Team up 9 9.2-9.4 // 9.0Marvel Team up 11 9.2-9.4 // 9.4CIAO!FEDERICO
  23. XXXPHOENIX
    ...once again no 9.9
    HI Guys!
    In February I submitted 60 more comics (mostly late bronze/early copper age) to CGC.
    Most of these were selected during 2013 and 85% of them came back in 9.4(the minimum grade I usually accept for post 1980 books) or better...
    17x 9.8, 23x 9.6, 11x 9.4, 4x 9.2, 4x 9.0, 1x 8.5
    Not many key books this time but i filled many holes in my sets.
    The gem is surely a NM+ DD179 I paid $20 that came back in CGC 9.6.
    Unfortunately after 34 submissions to CGC for a total of 745 books I still haven't received a single 9.9
    Ok..I don't submit post-2000 books so the chances for a 9.9 are thin for bronze/copper age books but I still feel very unlucky.
    Turnaround was about 40 working days.
    CGC COUPON ISSUE FORECAST CGC
    Alpha Flight 24 9.6-9.8//9.4
    Avengers 233 9.6-9.8//9.8
    Captain America 247 9.6-9.8//9.2
    Crisis on Infinite Earths 3 9.4-9.6//8.5
    Crisis on Infinite Earths 7 9.4-9.6//9.6
    Crisis on Infinite Earths 10 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Daredevil 179 9.4-9.6//9.6
    Defenders 100 9.6-9.8//9.4
    Marvel Comics Presents 73 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Marvel Comics Presents 74 9.6-9.8//9.8
    Marvel Comics Presents 76 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Marvel Comics Presents 77 9.6-9.8//9.4
    Marvel Comics Presents 78 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Marvel Comics Presents 79 9.6-9.8//9.0
    Marvel Comics Presents 80 9.6-9.8//9.6
    New Mutants 3 9.4-9.6//9.4
    New Mutants 18 9.4-9.6//9.6
    New Mutants 21 9.4-9.6//9.6
    New Mutants 59 9.6-9.8//9.2
    New Mutants 60 9.6-9.8//9.8
    New Mutants 61 9.6-9.8//9.8
    New Mutants 86 9.6-9.8//9.8
    Thor 351 9.6-9.8//9.4
    Thor 358 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Thor 359 9.6-9.8//9.0
    Thor 361 9.4-9.6//9.4
    Thor 369 9.6-9.8//9.4
    Incredible Hulk 332 9.6-9.8//9.4
    Incredible Hulk 367 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Incredible Hulk 371 9.4-9.6//9.6
    Incredible Hulk 372 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Incredible Hulk 374 9.6-9.8//9.8
    Incredible Hulk 375 9.6-9.8//9.8
    Incredible Hulk 376 9.6-9.8//9.8
    Incredible Hulk 380 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Incredible Hulk 381 9.6-9.8//9.8
    Incredible Hulk 382 9.6-9.8//9.8
    Incredible Hulk 383 9.6-9.8//9.8
    Incredible Hulk 384 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Incredible Hulk 385 9.6-9.8//9.8
    Incredible Hulk 386 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Incredible Hulk 387 9.6-9.8//9.8
    Spider-Man vs Wolverine 1 9.6-9.8//9.0
    Uncanny X-Men 238 9.6-9.8//9.2
    Uncanny X-Men 250 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 260 9.6-9.8//9.8
    Uncanny X-Men 261 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 263 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Uncanny X-Men 277 9.6-9.8//9.4
    Uncanny X-Men 279 9.6-9.8//9.2
    X-Factor 3 9.6-9.8//9.6
    X-Factor 7 9.6-9.8//9.4
    X-Factor 12 9.4-9.6//9.0
    X-Factor 13 9.6-9.8//9.8
    X-Factor 25 9.4-9.6//9.6
    X-Factor 28 9.6-9.8//9.4
    X-Factor 37 9.4-9.6//9.6
    Iron Man 256 9.6-9.8//9.8
    Iron Man 258 9.6-9.8//9.6
    Iron Man 259 9.6-9.8//9.8
    CIAO!
    FEDERICO
  24. XXXPHOENIX
    What if Marvel invaded motorsport?!
    It has passed a while since my last post...
    Last week I loaned my precious Marvelmania posters for a show called MOTORSHOW being held in Bologna (Italy) from the 6th to the 14th of December...
    www.motorshow.it
    This is one of the greatest MOTOR shows in Europe with hundreds of racing cars on exhibit (Rally, F1, FCART, NASCAR etc etc...) and racing for the joy of the public(!!), simulators and various entertainment events for the automotives-addicted.
    Weirdly...the guys from the Milan Comic Museum asked me to support them with some of my rare Posters in one of the entertainment side-events...and I could not say no!
    Especially because they were placed right next to a vintage Ferrari Formula 1 (F1126C2) Car driven in 1982 by the mythical Gilles Villeneuve!
    The lucky visitors will be able to see altogether the following original posters:
    1. Spider-Man by John Romita (1969)
    2. Captain America by Jim Steranko (1969)
    3. Silver Surfer by Jack Kirby (1969)
    4. Hulk by Herb Trimpe (1969)
    5. Thor by Jack Kirby (1969)
    6. Doctor Doom by Jack Kirby (1969)
    7. Fantastic Four by Jack Kirby (1969)
    8. Captain America -- Cap goes wild by Jim Steranko (1969)
    9. Black Knight (1969)
    10. Spider-Man (1966)
    11. Hulk (1966)
    Ciao!
    Federico

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  25. XXXPHOENIX
    MARVEL SUPERHEROES - THE SCIENCE OF THE SUPERHEROES
    ...loaded with pics!!!Hello fellow collectors!Last week, while visiting the beautiful city of Valencia, Spain, I took my wife and my two children to the fantastic City of Arts and Science and to my surprise I found a pseudo-scientific exhibit of over 1000 square meters inspired to Marvel Superheroes .The exhibit is temporary and will last only until 15 September 2013.I decided to document it because the level and quality of the show is so high that it would be a crime not to share it!This is the Intro I have cut and pasted from the official website:http://www.cac.es/museo/exposiciones/ficha/?contentId=107908&languageId=1"MARVEL SUPERHEROES - THE SCIENCE OF THE SUPERHEROESDiscover Spiderman's secret and imitating the Daily Bugle's photographer by scaling a wall, investigate into whether there is a scientific base behind The Hulk's rage. these are some of the interactive proposals that the Science Museum is offering with the "Marvel Superheroes" exhibition located inthe third floor. Until 15th September 2013With the slogan "Long live comics! Long live science!", this exhibition is set up such that the visitors are invited to immerse themselves into the comic world and discover little by little how the superheroes bring science into their adventures. Genetics and evolution with X Patrol's mutants; the development of sensorial abilities with Daredevil; ; states of matter with Robert Drake, the Iceman; or the study of spiders with Spiderman -- these are concepts that are explained in different interactive modules."In short, in the initial part of the exhibition, on large panels you can read the evolution of Marvel superheroes, then proceeding in the visit you will encounter several sections: Dr. Ock, X-Men, Iron Man, Hulk, Daredevil, Spider-Man, Thor etc etc in which the powers and characteristics of superheroes are explained "scientifically".Then you can touch and manipulate objects trying to swing like Spider-Man, X-raying Wolverine, get mutant DNA tested, touch two huge ice frozen Iceman hands, scream in the X-Men Danger Room like Banshee to defeat the sentinels, test the lightning of Thor, transform from Banner to Hulk, try a sphere that rotates 360°;, challenge Daredevil super smell....In short, an exceptional interactive sensorial experience that has no equal in the world!The whole area is also dotted with life-size statues of our heroes, huge comic pages and giant panels with descriptions of the characters and of their powers!I have documented everything here ... I hope to have done something pleasing for you overseas friends!http://imageshack.us/g/1/10305289/Excelsior!Federico - ItalyTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.