XILEFR

Funny, at no point did CGC or The Hero Initiative asked for it back since its stolen property. Go Figure .

I submitted my Hero Initiative 100 Blank Cover to CGC and they refused to grade it. This was the email I received: "Dear XXXX, We were processing this invoice of 3 books to be graded. I just wanted to let you know that we will not be able to encapsulate the Walking Dead #100 Heroes Initiative blank sketch cover. As requested by the Hero Initiative, these books are only to be graded with sketches done for their charity. These covers are not supposed to be circulated in the market without one of their commissioned sketches, therefore, we will return the book back to you ungraded. If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to call me in Customer Service at the number below. Best, Alexandra Vargas " I then wrote a letter to them for further explanation: "Now at this moment I have 25 books of mine being graded at your company. My understanding was that I was having my book graded to determine their condition and encapsulated to protect them. I don't understand how that has anything to do with how the blank cover was acquired. I don't mind having something added that states that this cover was not released to the public or that is was not meant to be available without a sketch but to deny grading just because The Hero initiative says so seem ludicrous. How about The Walking Dead 100 Lucille unsigned edition. That cover was not supposed to be released without the signature of Kirkman, yet it was still released and graded by your company. It seems like denying a book to be graded just because some other organization says so it just plain wrong. I did not think my fees for CGC were to police how books are released to the public but rather to be graded based on their condition and encapsulated to preserve that grade. I really hope you reconsider your decision and we can try to find a middle ground on this situation. Looking forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, XXXXXXXX" Then I received the official response from Eric Downtown: "That book is technically property stolen from Hero Initiative and they asked us not to grade them. As a courtesy for the phenomenal work they do for our industry, we will honor that request. The Walking Dead Lucille edition copies that were released erroneously were graded only after we got permission directly from Skybound and Robert Kirkman himself. I am sorry, but we will not knowingly grade something we know to be stolen. If you had a friend that sneaked a book past us then he got lucky, be assured that it will not happen again now that we are aware that these books are out there." I went so far as to meet with the person in charge of the Hero Initiative in person at Long Beach Comic Con and offered to donate $1,000 (the amount I paid for the book) to their charity since I feel they got cheated out of the profit made by the person who sold the book to me. He refused and said that they will not allow any of them to be graded. Seems so stupid to turn down $1,000 for your charity just because of a huge ego, but I guess that's their official stance. Maybe one day CGC will get off their mighty high horse and realize that its just another variant and just grade the damn thing.

How did you get that witnessed. I got the guy from CGC to come by and wait in line with me. There were 2 other people that wanted their sketches graded also so he had time to waste :-)

Just go this back yesterday. Marc Silvestri was doing free sketches at Comikaze in Los Angeles. Waited in line forever but it was definitely worth the wait. One of the most down to earth and friendliest artists I've ever met.

Where you the one that got it on ebay? if so nice one! Respect! WTTB! Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome :-) I was the second highest bidder on the 1st auction a few weeks ago. Couldn't place my last bid at the last second because a stupid alarm popped up on my iPhone screen at the last second when I was trying to place my next bid I thought I'd never see one of these again and then a few days later another one surfaced and I wasn't going to miss my chance this time. Talking to Shawn last night we figured out where the two leaks came from and how they came about. I'm just glad I got this one because I don't think there's going to be that many more chances of getting one of this. My #100 OCD can now rest More than two have leaked out Sorry, I was just referring about the only two blanks I've seen listed on ebay. I've never seen Hero Initiative completely blank ones listed before, just the bootleg ones.

Where you the one that got it on ebay? if so nice one! Respect! WTTB! Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome :-) I was the second highest bidder on the 1st auction a few weeks ago. Couldn't place my last bid at the last second because a stupid alarm popped up on my iPhone screen at the last second when I was trying to place my next bid I thought I'd never see one of these again and then a few days later another one surfaced and I wasn't going to miss my chance this time. Talking to Shawn last night we figured out where the two leaks came from and how they came about. I'm just glad I got this one because I don't think there's going to be that many more chances of getting one of this. My #100 OCD can now rest

Just got these two on the mail yesterday.Last variant needed to complete my #100 collection. Hopefully no more #100 variants. I asked Kirkman tonight and he said no more of them. I got to meet Robert Kirkman and hang out with Shawn today at the Hollywood guitar signing and got this sketch done after getting two awesome guitars signed. Great event. Getting ready to ship the blank hero to CGC tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed.