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SW3D

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Everything posted by SW3D

  1. This debate can go on forever, but I firmly believe Adam Warlock makes his first full appearance in Fantastic Four #67 (and its not a cameo). Definition of a Cameo: "A small character part that stands out from other minor parts". It's clear from reading FF 66 and FF 67, HIM/Warlock is the main focus of the two-part story: his role is a major role, not a minor role or cameo role; he is the impetus and very reason for the story (as told in two parts). In Part One: We have his Origin and Creation explained in FF 66 by The Enclave. In Part Two (FF 67): we explore Him/Warlock's interactions with Alicia Masters. Throughout FF 67, Him/Warlock appears in the Cocoon and telepathically communicates to Alicia Masters. From the Cocoon, HIM displays his awesome power and eventually emerges from the Cocoon in full splendor to confront his evil creators. The two-part story concludes open-ended, exactly as Stan Lee had intended, with a possibility of HIM's return in a future story. There is really no debating that this is Adam Warlock's first full appearance, as it does not satisfy the definition of a cameo since he is crucial to the entire plot. Recap: FF #66: Origin of HIM; first appearance of the Enclave. FF #67: First FULL Appearance of HIM (later becomes Adam Warlock); first appearance of The Cocoon. HIM's next appearance is Thor 165 and Thor 166, where he battles the goldrn Asgardian after kidnapping Sif. But there's not much to his development; it's the same character from FF 66/67. And, from my previous explanation, there is no reason to believe Thor 165 is Him/Warlock's first full appearance... that is clearly an error or misunderstanding. At best it's his 2nd appearance. Interestly, CBCS grading considers Thor 165 his third appearance overall, as they consider FF 66/67 his 1st and 2nd appearances respectively. In Marvel Premiere #1, we see his next stage of development and this is arguably his most important stage of development where the High Evolutionary bequeaths the Soul Gem and bestows the appellation upon Him as Warlock. The newly named Warlock also crafts a costume to round-out his new superhero status. This is by far his most important key after FF #67, but it can be reasonably argued that this is when Warlock becomes Warlock, meaning it's the most vital stage of development in Warlock's history. I hold this issue as having much greater importance to the canon of Warlock than Thor 165. Recap: Marvel Premiere #1: 1st Appearance of HIM as Warlock; 1st Appearance of the Soul Stone; 1st Appearance of Warlock in Costume; Origin re-told. Lastly... Let's look at the CGC Registry points for each comic: FF #66: 9.8 Universal: 2,760 FF #67: 9.8 Universal: 3,312 Thor #165: 9.8 Universal: 1,280 Marvel Premiere #1: 9.8 Universal: 1,600 So the CGC has adjusted the registry points for Adam Warlock keys in accordance with the importance of these issues as they contribute to his canon, with FF 67, FF 66, and MP 1 individually getting more points than Thor 165. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude FF 67 is the most important Adam Walock key above all. These are my thoughts and opinions, substantiated in part by comic sources. It's okay to disagree... and let's be respectful about it. Happy Collecting! SW3D
  2. Hello fellow collectors, Just added some more great comics to an already awesome list on eBay: ACA Comic No. 1: John Byrne's first published comic book; extremely rare and highest graded at 8.5 with white pages Swamp Thing Volume 1, Number 1: CGC 9.8; White Pages; 1st Appearance of Alec Holland (the modern Swamp Thing); Origin of the Swamp Thing Marvel Premiere #2: CGC 9.8; White Pages; Suscha News Pedigree Go to the eBay link for further details: https://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?item=283542117621&hash=item42046d5cf5%3Ag%3A1bgAAOSwTm9dI6te&_ssn=screenwriter3d&_sop=16 Thanks for looking. SW3D
  3. Hello fellow CGC Collectors, I'm offering opportunities to acquire several keys from my personal collection including: Adam Warlock: Fantastic Four #67: CGC 9.4; White Pages; 1st Appearance of HIM (Adam Warlock) Fantastic Four # 66: CGC 9.4; White Pages; Massachusetts Pedigree (Origin of HIM aka Adam Warlock) Marvel Premiere #1: CGC 9.6; White Pages; Suscha News Pedigree (1st appearance of the Soul Stone and what many believe to be the first true appearance of Adam Warlock) Fantastic Four #66: CGC 8.0; White Pages; Origin of HIM aka Adam Warlock Invincible: Savage Dragon #102: Signature Series; CGC 9.8; White Pages; 1st Appearance of Invincible (in a 5-page preview which pre-dates Invincible #1); Signed by Robert Kirkman (creator of Invincible and The Walking Dead) Masters of the Universe #1: CGC 9.8; White Pages; Gold Foil Edition; 6-page Preview pre-dates Invincible #1 Witchblade: Cyblade Shi #1 The Battle for the Independents: Signature Series; CGC 9.6; White Pages; Variant Cover; 1st Appearance of Sara Pezzini (the Witchblade); Signed by Marc Silvestri (creator of Witchblade), Billy Tucci (creator of Shi), and Matt Banning (superstar inker) Cyblade Shi #1 The Battle for the Independents: Signature Series; CGC 9.4; White Pages; Standard Cover; 1st Appearance of Sara Pezzini (the Witchblade); Signed by Marc Silvestri (creator of Witchblade), Billy Tucci (creator of Shi), and Matt Banning (superstar inker) Witchblade #100: Signature Series; CGC 9.8: White Pages; Marc Silvestri Variant Cover; 100th Issue Anniversary of Witchblade; Signed by cover artist Mike Choi Angela: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, #5: Signature Series; CGC 9.8; White Pages; Variant Cover; 1st Appearance of Angela on Guardians of the Galaxy; Signed by Sara Pichelli (main artist) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, #6: Signature Series; CGC 9.8; White Pages; Variant Cover; Angela joins the Guardians of the Galaxy; Signed by Sara Pichelli (main artist) and Justin Ponsor (colorist) In addition... HARD TO FIND NEWSSTAND EDITION comics from the Cooper and Modern Eras. Come take a look on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?item=282508313615&hash=item41c6cec40f%3Ag%3A000AAOSw8HBZMyko&_ssn=screenwriter3d&_sop=16 And message me with any questions. Thanks for looking! SW3D
  4. June 6, 2019 It's been a long time since I posted a comment or written a journal. I've been on the sidelines watching the world of comics vicariously through the movies, TV shows, the internet, and auction houses. What brings me back is the sad and dissapointing news that the DC Universe has pulled the plug on the new Swamp Thing series after having only aired one episode. It's a head scratching decision since the show was given absolutely no chance to succeed, yet it has drawn glowing critical reception from fans and critics alike. What were the suits at AT&T thinking? Sure... there's talk about a new Warner streaming service to debut sometime soon, which may mean all Warner related media gets scooped up and thrown-in a central service blender, including all things DC, but then why not keep the show going until then and simply allow DC Universe subscribers to migrate over after the consolidation is complete? Why not allow this high-quality show to keep going and gain momentum and be the anchor show the DC universe really needs? I'm sure if it was ported to the Warner platform, DC fans would follow. Apparently the high production costs, lack of faith, and changes in the direction of the entertainment division killed the Guardian of the Green, as well as the Doom Patrol... which is really a bad move considering there are so many remedies to get the DC Universe profitable and get the cash flow moving towards producing more and more content to keep suscribers happy and attract new ones. I for one was about to subscribe, because of Swamp Thing, until today. I was hopeful to see Swamp Thing, Doom Patrol, and perhaps hundreds of other heroes and stories that deserve to be told. Imagine an Animal Man series, or Gaiman's Sandman, or Kirby's The Demon, or Ditko's The Creeper, or Moore's Hellblazer? Imagine Vertigo's line of comics finally made into live action series. Imagine a Green Lantern's corps, or a Dr. Fate, or Deadman, or hundreds of others? James Wan, Len Wiseman, Gary Dauberman, and Mark Verheiden need to be congratulated for producing the best looking Swamp Thing to ever grace the silver or small screen. Quite frankly, the costume is breath taking. It's a shame all this artistry won't be given a chance to blossom. It's so very sad. SW3D
  5. Wow... just so awesome! It's like a candy store! SW3D
  6. Hello N2WDW, I'm glad to see you are still posting journals. I'm looking forward to the next entry. SW3D
  7. Pretty cool! Gotta admit... someone at DC was having fun with this. SW3D
  8. SW3D

    Swamp Thing #7

    Such as strange and twisted tale! I'm a really big fan of Swamp Thing, but I largely avoided anything that wasn't written by Len Wein or Alan Moore... and now I know why. But still... your summary has me intrigued and I may look for a reprint collection of these comics before the Alan Moore run. I'm looking forward to your next entry. SW3D
  9. Things are good. I'm trying to change things up with my collection... but still not sure what direction I should go in. My gut tells me "less is more". I feel I have another "holy grail" calling in my future. SW3D
  10. Hello Professor Pecora, Congratulations on acquiring such a beautiful example of Incredible Hulk 181. As always, I'm impressed by your passion for comics. You are an consummate collector with an eye for detail... can't wait to see what you acquire next. Thank you for sharing these wonderful things with us. SW3D P.S.: Love the rich details and history of your journal... it's a great read!
  11. SW3D

    Swamp Thing #6

    Hello FutureFlash, Great review! I'm really enjoying your journal Into the DC Swamp. Looking forward to the next entry. SW3D
  12. Hello All, Just posted for sale on eBay a beautiful copy of the 1st Full Appearance of Hellboy in San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2; CGC 9.6; White Pages; see link: http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?item=282505330232&hash=item41c6a13e38%3Ag%3A0AYAAOSwjL5ZMMyz&_ssn=screenwriter3d&_sop=16 Plus there is a listing of other key comics. If you have any questions about any of the items for sale, do not hesitate to send me a message. Thanks for looking. SW3D
  13. Savage Dragon 102 CGC 9.8 Signed Robert Kirkman 1st Invincible Super Hot Key! 1st Full Appearance of Invincible in Preview (Pre-dates Invincible #1 and Tech Jacket #1) CGC 9.8; White Pages; Signature Series: Signed by Robert Kirkman (This is the first Savage Dragon 102 ever signed by Robert Kirkman in 2011) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Savage-Dragon-102-CGC-9-8-1st-Invincible-Preview-Signed-by-Robert-Kirkman-/282508492738?hash=item41c6d17fc2:g:~nIAAOSwKytZM1lE According to Image Comics, Savage Dragon 102 was published on August 1, 2002 predating Tech Jacket #1 (published on October 30, 2002) and Invincible #1; see links below for verification of my source. https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/savage-dragon-102 https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/tech-jacket-2002-1 Incredible Price: $999.00 or make best offer; includes free shipping (USPS Priority Mail Medium Box; Continental U.S. Only); latest sales for Invincible #1 at 9.8 suggest $1,200 and above; see GPA. Outstanding Eye Appeal: has High Gloss and Reflectivity and is Very Well Centered; clean case... see photos. Packing Assurance: I know what it's like to collect comics, and every collector needs assurance that the condition of the comic book isn't compromised during the shipping process. Each graded comic I sell is expertly packed in bubble wrap, and, for further protection, the interior USPS box is filled with styrofoam chips. In addition, the exterior of the box is clearly labeled: "Fragile, Do Not Bend, Handle with Care!" Buy with Confidence: Check out my growing Reputation and Seller Feedback! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Savage-Dragon-102-CGC-9-8-1st-Invincible-Preview-Signed-by-Robert-Kirkman-/282508492738?hash=item41c6d17fc2:g:~nIAAOSwKytZM1lE
  14. ACA Comix No. 1 John Bryne Holy Grail for Sale! eBay Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ACA-Comix-No-1-CGC-8-5-WP-John-Brynes-1st-Published-Comic-Book-/282505330232?hash=item41c6a13e38:g:0AYAAOSwjL5ZMMyz John Byrne Holy Grail! ACA Comix No. 1, The Death's Head Knight... John Byrne's 1st Published Comic Book Ever!!!! CGC 8.5, White Pages; Highest Graded on the CGC Census; 1 of only 2 copies. Ultra Rare! Highest Graded Copy: 1 of only 2 copies graded by the CGC. Ultra Rare: Although I cannot prove what the statistics are for this publication, my research leads me to believe no more than 500 copies went to press. How many examples currently exist graded or raw? From the comments of many John Byrne enthusiasts and collectors, this is probably his rarest comic book as few copies surface for sale. Key Notes: ACA Comix No. 1 is the first published comic book work of John Byrne; but note, it is not Byrne's first published work nor is it his first professional comic book work, but it is his very 1st published comic book ever. Background: Considered a prized "Holy Grail" to many collectors, ACA Comix No. 1 is a comic book both written and illustrated by John Byrne. As a student, John Byrne attended the Alberta College of Art (ACA) in Canada, and was asked to pen and illustrate a comic book specifically for a Student Art Exhibition whose theme was Comic Book Art. The exhibition was held at the college sometime in May 1971, and copies were distributed free of charge for those who attended. The statistics on the total published copies are currently unverifiable; not many known copies are said to exist. Buy It Now Price: $9,500.00 Price includes USPS Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box and Registered Mail Restricted Delivery (Continental U.S. Only; No International Shipping) Payment: PayPal Only; Payment must be received within 5 business days of purchase, no exception. Delivery: USPS Registered Mail Restricted Delivery (Added Insurance and You Must Sign for it!) eBay link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ACA-Comix-No-1-CGC-8-5-WP-John-Brynes-1st-Published-Comic-Book-/282505330232?hash=item41c6a13e38:g:0AYAAOSwjL5ZMMyz
  15. Awesome journal... and a most awesome introduction into the world of comics. I can't remember the very first comic I ever came across or seen. It may have been Superman 295 where on the cover he confronts father time, circa 1976. I believe I saw this on the newsstand rack and I was in awe of it. Another very early one is the Amazing Spider-Man 155 which has an action-packed montage of spidey taking on several threats. The image of villain choking Spidey with the metallic hands always fascinated me. Who was that guy? And why was Spidey always in big trouble? This is got my mom to buy for me. I also remember Magnus the Robot Fighter 42, my first indie comic from Golden Key, which had a cool painted cover by Russ Manning, 1976. I remember that comic being so different from the others... maybe because it was very violent, futuristic and apocalyptic and had an underground feel to it... like a B-movie. And I also recall my father bringing home several DC treasury sized editions... featuring Superman, Batman, JLA... mostly reprints of the Silver Age, but so very cool with those oversized covers and pages. And like you, I barely read them, just stared at the artwork for hours as i tried to piece together the story. I even tried my hand at tracing and drawing. Sadly, I don't own any of these comics any longer... they ended up in the trash or given away. But my first comics I ever bought with my milk money were Fantastic Four 209 with Herbie on the cover, Iron Man 124 with a great cover of Iron Man battling Blizzard, Whiplash, and Melter in Atlantic City, and The Mighty Thor 289 where he battles the Destroyer with the spirit of his beloved Sif trapped inside. Batman 315 and Superman 341 were the first DC titles I ever bought. But Iron Man, Fantastic Four, Thor were the titles high on my pull list and the ones i bought religiously; that was about 1979 and that was when it really began for me. Thanks for sharing and evoking some cherished memories. SW3D
  16. SW3D

    A Pedigree Trifecta!

    AKA: "It's Him! It's Him! It's Him!" Well I had to do it; I had to buy another. I have no idea what compels me to do such crazy things like buying multiple copies of comics that I love; it's probably mental illness. Since early 2013, I had been searching for another copy of Marvel Premiere #1: a key showcasing the metamorphosis of HIM into Warlock. But I wasn't searching for just any example of Marvel Premiere #1... I had to have a Suscha News pedigree graded 9.6 with white pages. Why? Because I'm obsessed! This beauty of a comic joins my two other Marvel Premiere #1's, which are also Suscha News pedigrees. So now I have a total of three MP #1's and all pedigrees. With Adam Warlock's star power on the rise, Marvel Premiere #1, and most any Adam Warlock key has risen in value due to speculator demand. Why? Simply because Warlock is rumored to debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... likely helping the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy battle the Mad Titan... Thanos! Many collectors and Adam Warlock fans have debated Warlock's first appearance; Marvel Premiere #1 has gained considerable interest and support as the coveted key, but I respectfully disagree. I still hold Fantastic Four volume 1, number 67 as the magic key. However, in its favor, Marvel Premiere #1 debuts a number of tropes that have since become integral to Warlock's mythology, making this comic a historical key nearly equal to Fantastic Four 66, 67, and Thor 165. Here's the low-down on what makes it so special: *HIM is given the name Warlock by the High Evolutionary, and, in order to save Counter-Earth from destruction, he becomes a Messiah-like superhero. *1st Costume Incarnation: this is the very first time HIM/Warlock dons a costume, which is a playful homage to Fawcett's Shazam incorporating Captain Marvel's jagged lightning emblem and red and yellow colors. The Magus, Warlock's evil future, wears a near identical costume except that his is a gray and white/silver mix, and has a skull embedded in the center of his belt. *1st Appearance of the Soul Gem (green colored): this is first of the six (6) colored Soul Gems, aka Infinity Gems or Infinity Stones; the possessor of all six gems becomes master of Time, Space, Mind, Soul, Reality, and Power. *1st Appearance of Counter-Earth: a near-perfect facsimile of Earth. *Altered Physical Appearance: the first depiction of Warlock without eyes; no explanation is given (Note: Adam Warlock is frequently illustrated without eyes; this can be seen over the course of his appearances throughout various titles including his own, and with no explanation offered). So a lot happens in this issue, which also features early appearances of the High Evolutionary, his evil creation, the Man-Beast, and the Fantastic Four, Thor, Hulk and The Watcher as seen in flashbacks. Feast your eyes on my triple set... isn't it magnificent!?! Now if only I can get a pedigree example of Spawn #9. Thanks for reading and as always... Happy Collecting! SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  17. FF 81 was one of the first 12 cents, Silver Age comics I ever bought. I read that comic many years ago, but like I always do, I never read the editorials and letters page. Now that you quoted Stan's Soapbox from this issue revealing such a profound message, the book now has more personal value than ever before, not to mention garnering greater respect for Mr. Lee! Thanks for sharing. SW3D
  18. I have mixed feelings about the subject. On one hand I agree, there are too many Lee signatures adorning works he wasn't involved in (e.g.: Spawn #9 1st Angela), but on the other hand, as he ages, very soon, there will be a point when the signatures cease... and that is going to be sad. If I could afford it, I would love his signature on Menace #5, FF 5, 48, 66, 67, Silver Surfer 3, 4, AF 15, and just about any Silver Age Marvel he co-Wrote with, Romita, John Buscema, Ditko, and the King, Jack Kirby. I am sure Lee is well aware of the exploitation of his signature, but I'm sure he loved the fact that he is still popular and in demand. God bless him! SW3D
  19. You got great taste in covers my friend! SW3D
  20. If memory serves me correctly, this may have already been discussed on a journal topic or two, or on the chat boards, but I can't seem to find it. And if anyone knows of the discussion I'm referring to or something similar, I would be grateful if you could point it out. Anyway... the other day I noticed on eBay, a seller has on auction, Daredevil 181, the infamous, "Death of Elektra". It's the Newsstand Edition in 9.8. In his seller's description and characteristics, he provides the GPA Analysis stats of Daredevil 181, and goes out of his way to point out the stats for Newsstand Edition sales as compared to the Direct Edition. Basically, he champions the idea that Newsstand Editions are recognized as rarer and as a result, sell at a higher value than Direct Editions. He effectively uses the latest GPA sales figures for Daredevil 181 in 9.8 to prove his argument. I decided to log on and see for myself. And lo and behold, he's right. GPA Analysis, for Daredevil Volume 1, Number 181, makes a clear distinction between the Newsstand Edition and Direct Edition, with listings of the latest sales for grades from 7.0 to 9.8. As far as I know, other than Spawn #9 (which is more about the variance), this seems to be the only other comic book that GPA provides distinct sales figures for, between Newsstand and Direct Editions. I'm curious... Is this a new trend for GPA or just a one-time experiment? Are we going to see GPA give more and more comic books similar treatment? And if so, will Newsstand Editions become prized possessions? Just to clarify, I'm specifically referring to Newsstand Edition comic books published and distributed during the Direct Edition era. Somewhere between the Mid-to-Late 70's and into the 80's, when Direct Editions became the norm, Newsstand Editions became the 2nd class citizen comic book. It is well known that Newsstand Editions were published in fewer numbers and received far harsher treatment than Direct Editions, which is why it's more challenging to find them, let alone in high grade. Sadly, today, modern Newsstand Editions are virtually non-existent. For me, that is nostalgically, Newsstand Editions have a special place in my heart over Direct Editions. I grew up buying comic books off newsstand racks for many years before I discovered a comic book specialty shop. And even when that happened, I didn't immediately embrace the LCS concept, nor did it provide the convenience it could have simply because it was located miles away from where I lived, and that was enough of a hassle for me to choose my neighborhood newsstand over the LCS ninety percent of the time. Of course, today, as an adult, the LCS wins out hands down. The LCS offers a far greater variety of comics and back issues than any newsstand could ever carry, and, sadly, newsstand nowadays, just don't carry a lot of comic books, especially Marvel. Ever since I started collecting CGC Comics, I noticed a small but growing niche among collectors and their positive attitudes toward Newsstand Edition Comics. There seems to be more and more collectors accepting and embracing Newsstand Editions... and I like that! I like that younger collectors, through our exchange of information and reminiscing, are given insights as to how comic book collecting was like before the advent of the LCS and Direct Edition distribution. It reminds me of what I read and learned about those collectors buying comics in the Golden, Silver and early Bronze Ages. Those collectors faced a whole set of challenges I could never really understand as a child, but appreciate now as a seasoned collector. I will admit, I was fortunate to begin collecting when the hobby was reaching maturity and becoming mainstream... and therefore I recognize how much easier I had it... much like how much easier the modern child has it as compared to boys and girls growing up in the 70's and 80's. And of course, this trend will always self-perpetuate as the decades roll along. The "old" guys will talk about "back in the day" as a "new" audience listens. So where will this go? Will the modern comic book collector feed their curiosity and collecting habits by seeking out Newsstand Editions? Will the GPA lead the charge in this endeavor? Will the CGC follow suit and change things up in their census by distinguishing Newsstand Editions and Direct Editions? Will comic book dealers and sellers fuel the fire further by jacking up the prices of Newsstand Edition comics (Mile High comics anyone?). I guess only time will tell. What are your thoughts? Before I go, I would like to share a scan of my original copy, Newsstand Edition of Daredevil 181. I can't remember the exact newsstand I bought it from, but more than likely it was purchased from a stationary store with a spinner rack in my neighborhood growing up. The CGC graded it a respectable 9.2 with white pages. Although it may not be a 9.8, nonetheless I'm happy with the grade because I know it got rough treatment from the get-go. And all things considering, after 32 years or so it was under my care, it received a near mint grade... a grade achieved without pressing... that's something to be proud about. Thank you for reading, and as always, Happy Collecting! SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  21. Incredible! Simply incredible!... Stevens had the knack for illustrating sexy women. I especially love PC#1's cover and the USA Magazine/French Edition. I'm sure you would drool if DS had illustrated Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane in similar vein. Thank you for posting. SW3D
  22. I love your Dave Stevens comics! That cover to 3-D Zone #16 is a wet dream! I know you have shared with us your DS collections in the past, but could you repost your absolute favorite Dave Stevens cover and your most valuable Stevens comic again? Also, do you own any Dave Stevens Original Art? SW3D
  23. Although not a Marvel magazine or Curtis Publication, may I suggest the rare Warrior Magazine #1 from Quality Publications. It's a key for two reasons: 1. 1st Appearance of V for Vendetta by Alan Moore 2. The return of Marvelman by Alan Moore (now in reprints by Marvel Comics). I've been trying to get a copy for the longest but it is VHTF in high grade and I'm a stickler for high grade. Sadly, this magazine is oversized and the CGC will not slab. But still, a great and important magazine to own. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrior_(comics) SW3D
  24. My sincerest apologies to the CGC for posting a picture involving a PGX graded comic book, and to anyone else who may take offense, but if it is any consolation, it is my intention to eventually crack it open and submit it to the CGC for grading. This journal happens to be my third entry (hence Part III) focusing on the numerous variants published for the Aria/Angela: Heavenly Creatures mini-series, and as I stated in the prior journals, my goal to collect them all. The pair in the picture represents the Gold Edition variants in the series, with the only variable difference being gold foil logos on cardstock covers, with art provided by the main artist of the series, Jay Anacleto. I am a big fan of comic book artists, and I come to think of myself as pretty knowledgeable about who's who in the industry. But I will admit, prior to the Aria/Angela series (which I only picked up a year ago), I had no knowledge of Jay Anacleto. Thankfully, Aria/Angela changed all that. What can I say about Jay Anacleto? I met him in 2013 and once again in 2014, both occasions at New York Comic Con. This past October the artist was gracious to sign eight (8) comics for me, one of which is the Gold Edition variant pictured on the right. At the signing, I got the opportunity to browse through a portfolio of his original art he was selling (none of which I could afford on my paltry budget). Of what I can remember, the illustrations were incredibly photo-realistic, dripping with hyper details, making many of the comic book subjects he drew, come to life with eye-popping realism. If I had the money, I would commission a work... probably an image of Angela side-by-side with Adam Warlock. I don't know why, but I keep seeing these two together... maybe it's just wishful thinking. In the Aria/Angela mini-series, Jay Anacleto does a brilliant job of making both Aria and Angela seem vividly real... like models torn from the pages of a magazine. And Anacleto does something that no other artist has done before (save JG Jones)... he depicts Angela with blue eyes. JG Jones also did this, coincidentally in the same series, as he is one of a number of artists to provide a variant cover for issue #1. But whereas JG Jones provided just one cover and therefore a single image of Angela, Anacleto illustrates Angela throughout the entire mini-series with soft, glowing, coral blue eyes; "Angelic" would be best to describe them... as a result, it gives Angela a softer tone... perhaps a more human tone... not seen in previous renditions. I believe it's a subtle quality that suits her and would probably make her more accessible to the readership. Perhaps someone from Marvel will read this and take note. SW3D To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  25. Thanks for sharing the cheeky eye-candy... keep it coming! "I'm working to reduce my collection to under 100 long boxes, so it'll fit in the home we plan to retire to. This means reducing my collection by about 25,000 comics. Not easy, but surprisingly liberating, and it's an exciting opportunity to focus my collection so future buying will be more fun. Not ready to provide details, but I'll share my experiences eventually." Wow! Reducing your collection by 25,000 comics! How many total comics do you currently have? I have maybe 1,500 raws, and about 100 or so CGC'd. "Sometimes I wonder if my collecting focus is getting too CGC focused. What happens if CGC goes out of business? How will that impact my collecting and the value I put on these encapsulated books? Does anyone else worry about this?" When I first started buying CGC graded comics, these questions lingered in my mind, but after 15 years of continued excellence as an industry leader, and the ever-growing and thriving fan base as its support, I don't see it being an issue any time soon. So I think we are okay. But even if the worst were to happen, and the CGC were to collapse, the collections in themselves will still be valuable since the industry as a whole, and collectors in general will still value the books. In addition, what the CGC has done to date, has given their reputation, services and products, enormous credibility for years to come... Thus anything marked CGC will equate synonymously with quality, craftsmanship, service excellence, professionalism,and passion that will yield strong and continued demand. "How do you feel about cracked cases? I picked up this Planet Comics for significantly below GPA, I think because a corner of the case is cracked. I have about a half dozen CGC books with cracked cases. I figure someday I'll submit them for new cases. But maybe not, I'll save the money for more comics as the cracks aren't that bad. Anyway, for me I'll take a cracked case if it comes along with a significant discount under market value." I have no problem with minor cracks here and there that yield no impact to the the integrity of the comic themselves, but any such defect and damages to the holders must be fully disclosed... otherwise I will feel cheated. Twice, and only twice, did I purchase comics with cracked holders, but these details were not disclosed in the auction specs, which upset me. Had I known of the condition of the holders, I would more than likely have passed on them. Looking forward to more of your entries. SW3D