Shivabali

I purchased X-Men 14 9.6 for a great price. He’s a generous seller. I sent him a personal check (which was my preference) and once it cleared, he sent the book out immediately-great communication throughout. Book was expertly packed. Don’t hesitate to purchase from Terry!

I'll take x-men 14

Hi Joey, I'll take this here Thor.

Would you do $320 shipped for the Avengers 105? If so, I’ll take it. Oh, I see your 15% is basically what I offered. You can send me a PM to work it out. Thanks.

I'll take this! I'd like to pay by paypal. I can pay right away if you give me your email. Thanks! Mark Richardson (Shivabali on the boards) You can email me direct at mnrich@gmail.com

Really? I just wanted to share as others have of my CBCS graded comics being resubmitted to CGC. Before I disclose the findings, I'd like to say that CBCS graded books don't fetch as high a price as CGC books, so I bought a couple CBCS graded books for a "good" price knowing that I'd crack their case and submit to CGC. I was hoping CGC would grade them the same or better (obviously) but I was very disappointed. CBCS grade Amazing Spider Man #22 9.2. Came back as TRIMMED 8.5. So a two-grade drop + the dreaded purple label. F'n great. CBCS grade Thor #196 9.8. Came back as a 9.6. So I'm going to steer clear of CBCS books as I can't trust their grading standards. I look forward to reading other collector's tests on this. I remember a collector who submitted some Harvey books where CBCS didn't catch a trimmed book, and in general, the CBCS grading was not as stringent. WTF CBCS? I haven't received the comics from CGC yet, or else I'd post the images. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Man, your aunt had good taste...imagine if all those were 9.2s...we can only dream. But the memories are the important part and it's cool that you held onto them. The comics from my extreme youth 4-12 or so are long gone. At 7-11, I liked picking up Conans, Spider-Man and Iron Man. It's sad that collectors nowadays can't experience the fun of newstand comic shopping at the local drug store or mini-mart like 7-11. Progress? I think I was 4 or 5 and got Frankenstein #1 with the 45 record so you could read along. It was quite dramatic. IT'S ALIVE...I can still hear the tone and tenor. I'd listen/read along to that thing over and over. I also had a Spider-man w/ record, but for the life of me, can't remember the issue. I just remember that Ploog cover of Frankenstein coming off the table in all his gruesome glory. Now I have the complete Frankenstein run (18 copies). That was a crazy hard set to complete, and I couldn't have done it w/o the one and only Doctor Joe. Now if he'll just sell me some of his Werewolf by Nights...

The importance (or not) of a comic 9.8+ "Hello? Is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me. Is there anyone at home?" How interested are you readers and collectors into the rarities. The 1 of 1, 1 of 2 or 3. The rarity is reciprocal to the amount submitted. That's why many "keys" like Nick Fury #1, Iron Man #1, can garner a 9.9 grade and soar in price. There have simply been multiple-hundreds submitted and a one 9.9 stands out, garnering untold thousands. I don't trust the 9.9 grade, or the 10 for that matter. I have one gem mint 10, a Secret Wars #8. I've been offered 2k above what I paid and didn't budge. But when I look at it, it doesn't inspire me. Looks like a 9.8...everything perfect. I'd have to get out a loupe to see any reason why it is perfect...my naked eye doesn't compute. So I think it's strange that we'll fight and spend massive amounts of dosh for comics we can't even differentiate with our own sight. The points are more important than the senses can detect. I appreciate folks who say they don't purchase anything above a 9.6. That is truly a safe zone and smart. I'm still stuck in the why's and how's of the 9.8+. So my ultimate question is to you collectors out there who have 9.9's and 10's? Buyer's remorse? Would you spend an extra 3 grand to upgrade ASM 252 from 9.8 to 9.9. Is it madness? Only a question one collector can ask for him/herself. Good Luck peeps. I'm coming to a conclusion that above 9.8 is foolishness. Engage...what say you? To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Who hasn't? So I got pissed at getting sniped today (and other days) and so decided to write a song to alleviate and extrapolate the feelings. Not to say I'm not a sniper...I'll snipe the sh*t outta you. But it goes both ways. Here's my song. I would love Kirby Krackle to supply the melody. RIP: Herb Trimpe The Snipe Song I bid, you sniped, I'll get no sleep tonight... That 9.8 I watched all day, When I close my eyes it won't go away. You're just another black hat thief, Filling me with bidding grief. I wish "my eBay" was my own, That all you snipers don't call home. Don't you know how long I've looked? To you it's just another comic book. Last time I read it I was 8, Who are you to dis my fate? Chorus: To all of you sniping fools, Splashing late into the pool, Destroying all our comic hopes, Our collections are on the ropes. When the book arrives, you sniping hack, I hope the case has a massive crack. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Or, two minds work better than one Before the indelible ECCC 2014, Tnerb and Bagoffleas were at Wizard in Florida. While there, Tnerb (knowing that I had yet to acquire something higher than a 9.4 Marvel Graphic Novel #4) spotted a raw one. He and Bagoffleas concurred that it would fetch a 9.6. Tnerb graciously picked it up for me (35 bucks I think? AWESOME price) and brought it with him to ECCC. I submitted it a month ago, and got the results this morning. 9.6!!! Stoked! Hopefully next year I will take Ronnylama's advice and have someone sketch something in silver on the solid black back cover. Tried to manage a sketch this year, but on Saturday, all my chosen artists were already consigned to the max. One of the advantages of attending on Friday is getting books consigned I reckon. Well maybe next year McLeod will attend!!! Along with the MGN #4, I also submitted a FOOM #2 that Ronnylama picked up for me (and pressed) a few months back. Came back an 8.0. Still a worthy grade on such a rarity. Hopefully this week I'll get the results in for the rest of the ECCC SS lots...seems everyone is starting to get them back about now. Lastly I have to give a shout out to CGC for grading these mags so quickly. They received them on 5/19, and were shipped out today...so under 3 weeks!!! Thanks CGC graders! Maybe mags go quicker because there are not as many submitted? The photo is of Ronnylama's backside at ECCC 2012. Enjoy!!! Thanks again everyone for making this hobby more than a hobby! To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Is he talking about Steranko again? Jim Steranko makes me happy...a fantastic artist, and an even greater human. He loves his fans like all the greats do (or should...Ditko?grrr). He also has a track record of collaborating with the "little guy." Are you a small independent publisher with a good idea? He just might create your front cover. It's not just Marvel and DC for Mr. Steranko. He understands and supports the art and artists within and throughout and knows the business and passion and nuance of art, especially commercial/pop/comic art...a category that is hard to decipher. That's one of the reasons it is so fun to collect Steranko's work. It takes you all over the place. As collectors know who register their collections with CGC, it is great added fun to collect sets, complete sets, and fret your hair to baldness over becoming #1 in your favorite set. I collect many titles, and Spider-Man and Conan are probably my favorite comics to collect. But my favorite SET is the Jim Steranko Cover set. Before I go deeper into my story, I'd like to say: People, you should check out the set and get to know the powerful art that spans his 50+ year career. Many of his covers are oil on canvas and great pieces of fine art in their own right. His subject matter covers Marvel and DC heroes and villains as well as Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror, pop art, book covers, the list goes on. I love art, his art is worth knowing. Sorry (sort of) for my shameless sale's man plug. I have a lot of happy and a few disappointing stories regarding many of the books I've acquired within the set. Many of them I purchased raw and got them slabbed (lower grades than anticipated, of course). Those haps and mishaps are for another journal. I'm just happy to have them encapsulated. This journal will finally get to the point about a specific comic within the Jim Steranko Cover set: Foom #2. This book has eluded me for years. First of all, it's a Marvel "fan book" that you had to sign up for back in 1973. (I was 4 years old!). From Wikipedia: Foom ...a four-issue yearly subscription was US$3. An additional dollar bought a club membership I.D. card, six decals, and a poster. The membership kit was also available separately for US$2.50.. The whole story is here for those interested. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FOOM The acronym FOOM stands for "Friends Of Ol' Marvel". Sort of a silly title, but the rarity of any of the books in high grade is not silly. Back in the 70's, once you signed up and paid the cash, the books were sent to you through the mail. (I have a raw copy with the mailing label still attached...qualified? Don't know.) And this logistical problem of being sent through the mail made for a comic that inevitably had bent corners or worse. High grades anyone? Not likely. Not only that, but the paper is newspaper grade, not just the interior like most comics, but the cover as well. It's not surprising that the unleashed from bondage Hulk that Steranko rendered looks to be a quick sketch. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome cover, but you can tell he didn't spend a lot of time on it. He rose to the occasion of what the book was: a promotional piece. But that also adds to its appeal. It came through the mail. It is "cheap". It is simple. It is haphazard. It is rare. As an aside, this book has a lot of attention as perhaps being a proxy 1st Wolverine appearance. As a promotion within this issue, they put on a contest where they asked fans to create new super-heroes/villains, and they would publish the best ideas. One of the published ideas was a hero with a metal skeleton and claws that predates 181...hmmmm. Don't know where that is going, but I'll stick with the Hulk for now as the 1st app.. That's just an added bonus if it ever gets steam, but I don't advocate it, and that's not why I love this book. Did I say a page ago I was going to get to the point? Sorry. I must do justice, and brevity isn't working for me right now. Here goes Act II. If you are an avid collector, you probably have created many automated "want-lists" on various websites, but hopefully you also have collector friends who are "looking" for you. People out there who might stumble upon something that they know might spark your interest. If you are a serious collector, "completionist" or one whose tastes tend to dwell in rarity, these friends are invaluable in helping to locate the most elusive books. Well, one of these talented friends of mine who fits the above description linked me to a listing on the CGC boards for a Foom #2 SS 9.6. He wrote a simple note. "Weren't you looking for one of these?" Holy mess! I fumbled with the keyboard while contacting the seller (who I will call LB for the rest of this journal). LB accepted my offer and we completed the deal within the hour. When I paid I asked if he had it signed or bought it that way. Here's where the story gets some unexpected spice. What I forgot about this book is that the backcover has a cover reprint of "Monster of Frankenstein #2" drawn by great Mike Ploog...another of my comic artist heroes...yup, another f'n journal. LB lives in the UK, and in 2012 Ploog was a guest at a Comicon in Bristol, and viola. Magic happened. Attached are a couple photos LB provided as Ploog perused and signed the Foom. Now how many people have the SS label AND a couple photos to tell it. Too cool. You can see from the pics that Mr. Ploog is handling the book out of the bag. JB prepped a sig bag (you can see it in the second photo) but Ploog said he'd never seen the inside of a Foom and wanted to take a look. "You mind?" Ploog asked as he started pulling the book from its protective sleeve. LB said "sure", inwardly freaking out, but ultimately helpless. We've all been in that quandary...nothing you can do, but hope for gentleness. LB said Ploog handled the comic with care and enjoyed the quick peek. The 9.6 attests that he was gentle. I still don't know where LB picked up the Foom in the first place. It has no address label. It was in the UK. Did it go to foreign LCS's for distribution after the US market was done with them? Interesting. I hope all the photos show up ok...there should be 4 in all. I couldn't figure out how to upload separate photos so just put all 4 together in one. Thanks for reading if you made it this far. Sorry for such a long journal, but I rarely post, so I didn't hold back my ramblings... To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

quatrains people First off...thanks David Swan for the choice of Mr. A as a potent theme for comic characters and thought provocations...I'm happy the "eyes" allowed the theme to progress without altercation. Here the first and last quatrains are about Mr. A...the two middle ones are just comic horror. Is life Black and White or the color Grey? Mr. A believes there is no Grey in Living. Perhaps if Evolution weren't true, Mr. A wouldn't be so blue. Mr. Thomas created me, but Ploog was my master; A hairy violent Lycanthrope disaster. I fought monster Frank and the Vampire too, But now they only care about my fight with the Moon. There was a blood-soaked hair-clipper in his bathroom. It must have taken hours to cut his flesh to this point of doom. His life was normal, but all this blood...I guess he's dead. "I didn't get the right hair-cut," his last note read. Rorschach is Mr. A's recreation, With the same vigilante reaction. With a shifting ink-blot mask confusion, Moore shows Ditko's insane profusion. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

If you like words and riddles... Posting is an interesting thing. I like to read them all...some are dumb, some are bland, some are off the wall, most are informative and smile-invoking...there are more good than bad here. Writing about the services of CGC (poor/ok/ontrack etc.) have become tiresome. They perhaps would be ok if CGC actually responded to the many complaints. But they don't, so it's just a rant fest. OK. Keep the posts coming in-case they one day read them and react. I have some friends here and there who have prompted me to "publish" some of the stuff I write. Mainly quatrains...an interesting style that evokes quick thoughts/actions/feelings and hopefully can even carry a narrative. Maybe it's the West's answer to the haiku. Anyway, most of my work is dark and usually deals with someone dying in some strange and perhaps existential or profound way. I also delve into the comic world which I love, and the quatrains here are more "guess who I am" type of things. Don't know. Just jumping out on a limb and sharing something a little different than what usually gets posted. A big thanks to TNerb and Screenwriter3d for putting out posts that aren't always "comic related" but somehow still fit the medium and are good reads...therefore I don't feel so "out there" posting this kind of thing. There is a character behind them all. Most are pretty easy to guess...esp. if you are a Marvel creature. I watched the red and gold iron come crashing from the sky, I wondered if a billionaire could keep his soul alive, He owns his own creations, and plans the rest at best, He never thinks twice when firing from his chest. Green is glory and power, no jealousy here, With fists the size of suitcases there is nothing fear, Except the blackout feast of gamma transformation, Something always safeguards this desperate mutation. I was always strong, and became thus, Yet orange and rock, I won't discuss. It's all about keeping a grim brutality, I struggle to end conflicts without fatality. By Crom I must have that thing, Glistening in the moonlight on the summit's ring. The Picts guard her with minute precision, She is a Goddess! I've made my decision. It should be a protuberance, the Earth stuck between my teeth. Perhaps I could have used a silver surfpick to clean it underneath, Or a nova storm to burn it clean. Oh my minion children! One day the Earth will no longer keep me thin! You must never free Akira, Your life will become a cyberpunk thriller. Dystopia regime is not the thing, But has Tetsuo already lost the ring? There is nothing but the fist. That is my iron core. I've smashed six-inch canines and didn't tire, I even mopped Stark off the floor. Now I am looking for a hero to hire. Red, red, red. It's the color of feasting on the fool, I see red as blue and green as red. With that being said, I don't understand the color of red. Perhaps it's all the zombie blood I drool. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

The Canada thing for me is just HIGH shipping costs. But yours was $8, so I wouldn't think twice about buying from you. It does take a bit longer, but there are no customs charges or extra hassles. You can also get your ranking up quickly through purchases instead of selling...buy some raw books for a buck each, etc. But eBay selling is fickle. No real way to predict why one week a book goes for $150, and the next it goes for $125. Lots of luck involved imo. And the Walking Dead angle could be a factor.