UnRestedSpectre

Hiyo! Oh how I miss you all... I cannot stand this movie, but you (seanfingh) makes me miss you all and I will return with my collection!

So maybe I have been a little lazy and probably have no excuse for not providing a update on my collection as of late! Hiyo! Whoa! Look at the distance in time since my last post of update of my ever growing collection of comics! Maybe a little too big of a time gap!? Well I think of it as... a tough, third and long situation (Thats Football-lingo for you clueless comic readers!) and I need to convert now and not later, because stretching this to fourth-down situation... is not up for discussion. ... and with that said lets try and fill in the gap or make the yards needed for the first down, shall we? So lets see... Last journal post was on 13th of September, and so I should probably tell you of my hunt for, All-Star Batman and Robin and the Boy Wonder #10(the recalled mis-printed varient version), because not only was it completely hard to track down, but many of them was selling for $100+, whether in bundles with the regular non-varient or by just by itself... on eBay! After not giving up, I finally able to acquire someone selling a perfect near-mint condition from a collector on the Collector Society's Message Boards and not only did my All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder #10 (Regular non-varient) came in the mail perfect this past Saturday on the 20th of September, but the varient verson done by Frank Quietly, came in on the 25th of Spetember! So here goes an update as relate to purchases ($69.64)to this past last week new releases on the 17th of September at my local comic book shop: Action Comics (DC) (#869 of On-going series) All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder (DC 2005-2008) (#1 (+ Varient, Robin), #3, #6 (Varient, Frank Miller), #8 (Varient, Neal Adams) of 12 Issue On-going Mini-series) All-Star Superman (DC 2006-2008) (#12 of 12 Issue Mini-series) Billy Batson and the Magic of SHAZAM! (JohnnyDC 2008) (#2 of On-going series) Brave and the Bold, the (DC 2007-2008) (#17 of On-going series) DC Special: Cyborg (DC 2008) (#5 of 6 Issue On-going Mini-series) DC Universe: Decisions (DC 2008) (#1 of 4 Issue On-going Mini-series) DC/WildStorm: Dreamwar (DC 2008) (#6 of 6 Issue Mini-series) Final Crisis: Legion of the Three Worlds (DC 2008) (#1 (2nd Print) of 5 Issue On-going Mini-series) Rann/Thanagar: Holy War (DC 2008) (#5 of 8 Issue On-going Mini-series) Robin (DC) (#178 of On-going series) Simon Dark (DC 2008) (#12 of On-going series) Tangent: Superman's Reign (DC 2008) (#7 of 12 Issue On-going Mini-series) Titans (DC 2008) (#5 of On-going series) Trinity (DC 2008) (#16 of On-going series) Yeah I know... my insufficiently_thoughtful_person-self walked out there not realizing til I got home and online that... I am missing BatGirl #3 and Batman and the OutSiders #10! So I decided to try out a different store since I was looking to pick up all of books and varients for All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder and All-Star Superman issues, because my regular local comic book shop did not have all the issues! On the 20th of September... I went to this other comic book shop looking for any/all books and/or varients pertaining to All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder. I got off work kind-of early (10AM early) and had to wait in the parking-lot for the store to open at 12PM... so I read my paperback copy of, Stephen King's The Stand, in the car. When the store finally opened up I saw the the store only had All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder #2 (Varient, Frank Miller), but I did not pick it up, because it was pretty beat-up. I did though after looking around the spectacular store, walked out spending $62.98 on the following... BatGirl (DC 2008) (#3 of 6 Issue On-going Mini-series) Batman and the OutSiders (DC 2007-2008) (#10 of On-going series) Justice League of America (DC 2006-2008) (#14-18 of On-going series) Jack Kirby's Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth (Got this Near-mint/Very Fine for $7... slashed from $25) (DC 1972-1978) (#2 of the Silver-Age series) Superman/Batman (DC 2003-2008) (#11, #14-15, #18, #22, #25, #28, #30, #34-38, #47-49 of On-going series) Now since this past Wednesday on the 24th of September was new releases... lets update you on my recent purchases ($62.92) from my local comic book shop on the following... All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder (Non-Potty-Mouth Version) (DC 2005-2008) (#10 (+ Varient) of 12 Issue On-going Mini-series) Ambush Bug (DC 2008) (#3 of 6 Issue On-going Mini-series) Batman: Gotham After Midnight (DC 2008) (#5 of 12 Issue On-going Mini-series) Jonah Hex (DC 2006-2008) (#25-35 of On-going series) Reign In Hell (DC 2008) (#3 of On-going series) Superman (DC) (#680 of On-going series) Superman/Batman (DC 2003-2008) (#52 of On-going series) Teen Titans (DC 2003-2008) (#63 of On-going series) Trinity (DC 2008) (#17 of On-going series)

Did you heard about the "All-Star Batman and the Boy Wonder" #10 having a visible potty-mouth, because I got one coming! Hiyo! Well, well, well... I love new release days, like the one this past Wednesday on the 10th of September! Not only did I had to be on a budget ($60), but also unknowingly picked up second print of Action Comics #866 (Red-overlook of the same first print didnt trigger me) thinking it was the next issue. Then, I notice upon walking out and getting home... I am missing something! So check out my haul of $54.87... 2 100pk Comic Poly-bags (Current Comic Size) 2 100pk Comic Full-back Boarders (Current Comic Size) Action Comics (DC) (#866 (2nd Print) of On-going series) Booster Gold (DC 2008) (#12 of On-going series) Final Crisis: Revelations (DC 2008) (#2 (+ Varient) of 5 Issue On-going Mini-series) Green Lantern Corps (DC 2006-2008) (#28 of On-going series) The Stand (Marvel 2008) (#1 of On-going series) Trinity (DC 2008) (#15 of On-going series) Wonder Woman (DC 2006-2008) (#24 of On-going series) Now's here a part two of the events! After getting my comics I realize when I went home and was checking out next week releases for comics I was missing some issues this week... All-Star Batman and the Boy Wonder #10, DC Universe: Decisions #1, Simon Dark #12, Superman #680. After realizing that... I didnt think much of it and would ask the next day. Next day... I forgot about going up to the comic book shop after getting out of work and decided to call them and see if they had those books and why wasnt Simon Dark #12 out on the table for new releases. It was too early to call, since they didnt open til 12PM and I got off work around 9:30AM and so I went home and went online to the Collector Society's chat boards... and thats when I learned of All-Star Batman and the Boy Wonder #10! Hilarious I thought, but also thought it was weird to be burning comic books in this day and age. Then saw the selling of the books by comic stores on Ebay, even though they wasnt suppose to... and had to get in the action! I found a nice fellow on the Boards (Here!) who had extra copies and wouldnt mind selling one to me and boom! After a lengthly conversation and agreement... I got a All-Star Batman and the Boy Wonder #10 coming and hopefully I can find someone willing to sell the varient version to me! I am so happy! Cannot wait till it gets here! P.S. (*Email me if you have All-Star Batman and the Boy Wonder #10 (Potty-mouth varient) that your looking to sell!)

Is it bad to walk over to the Marvel section and feel drunk and/or dizzy after staring at all the "Spiderman" & "X" titles for more than 3 minutes? Hiyo! So the fourth of September rolls around and so does the new releases for DC moderns! Today, I was a man on a mission... to get my comics and not be their too long, but also stay within my budget for this week. Funny thing happen while getting my comics! I found a misprinted mint condition (No nick or nacks!) copy of Nightwing #147. The alignment for the cover print was off, so the cover started half-inch down from the top. I was thrilled, because it was also completely mint condition and the clerks didnt notice it, because if they did... they probably would not sell the issue and keep it for themselves. When I came up to the counter to be rung up, the lady-clerk (Co-store owner) wanted to take the issue and asked me to get a different copy of the issue, but I told her that I like to have at least something geniuely unique in my comic collection. I also added with saying that if I am maybe the only one with the misprinted copy... wouldnt that be cool? My budget for the 4th of September was $40 and I left only spending $38.13! Check out my haul! Detective Comics (DC) (#848 of On-going series) El Diablo (DC 2008) (#1 of 6 Issue On-going Mini-series) Green Lantern (DC 2005-2008) (#34 of On-going series) ManHunter (DC 2004-2008) (#34 of On-going series) Nightwing (DC) (#148 (+ Misprint cover issue) of On-going series) Rann/Thanagar: Holy War- Adam Strange Special (DC 2008) (#1 of One-shot Special of On-going, Rann/Thanagar: Holy War mini-series) Secret Six (DC 2008) (#1 of On-going series) SuperGirl (DC 2005-2008) (#33 of On-going series) Titans (DC 2008) (#4 of On-going series)

Anybody reading this, would truly be proud of my newest hard-fought for series I just acquired for my collection! Hiyo! Lately, I havent been truly honoring the title I choose to recoginize myself by (Undying Spectre) as a member here since I joined the Collector Society... way back when. Many times, I felt my collection was incomplete, because even though I truly love the character, The Spectre, and find him truly fascinating... I didnt have any of his early series comic issue runs in my collection. Dont get me wrong! I have tried to acquire vast sums of money at my FedEx job, but even then it didnt matter, because noone I found had a complete run of his series... and I did not want to collect the trade-paperbacks of... The Spectre. Not until a nice stranger poped into my local comic book story on the third day of September in 2008. Here's how it went... After work, I had to go up to a local car-shop to replace a tire I lost in a accident, because I dont think you can use spare donut tire too long. After shelling out over $200 dollars for a new tire, wheel alignment, and getting the car serviced (Fluids and stuff)... I was off to my local comic book shop for the newest releases of moderns by DC. When entering the store, I notice that the new release table was complete naked and wonder what up. To my dismay, because of the holiday this past Monday of Septmenber the new release shipment wont come in til the next day or on the fourth of September. So I decided (Since I already used up gas to come out there) to stay a bit and maybe pick up some back issues since im missing the first 20 issues for the new series run on Green Lantern (Not Corps!). After forty-five minutes of going through their back issue stock for NM/M(+) or (-) conditions of the Green Lantern series... a man came in asking if he could possibly sell off a huge stock of comic books (1-3 short-boxes) he had, because he didnt think that they would probably buy off the whole collection (Right off the back!), because he had over 45 short-boxes and a small car. The conversation intrigued me (I was also waiting behind him to be rung up for my Green Lantern issues), because he said he had alot of completed series runs of old DC and Marvel comics, but the lady-clerk (Whose also part-owner of the comic shop with her son) said that she couldnt take a look at the collection today, because he was sick and also due to an injury to her foot (That required her to have crutches). She also went on to say about how that her son not available to come in to the shop (Out of the city) to appraise his books, but told him if he came back in early on Monday that they could help him. Thats when I told the lady that I didnt want to buy anything and follow the man out of the door and asked him about his collection. I have read too many stories on the chat boards to pass up this opportunity! I asked the elderly man upon holding the door out the shop... if he did not mind if I was to look at his comics he was purposing to sell off and told him of my comic collecting and even showed him the pictures I have on my collection... on my Ipod Classic. He was totally thrilled with my pictures and told me he only has 3 short-box right now with him of mostly DC comics. After what seemed like and half-hour of talking outside the door of the comic shop... we walked into the parking-lot toward his car. He was not lying about the collection he racked up in comics. Though alot of the books were off-white pages and some with a cream color... they all ranged in grade of (What look like to me!) Mint to Very Fine/Near Mint condition. They were beautifully bagged, but without boarders! I told him that I know he wanted to sell his books to the comic shop, but I would love to purchase alot of his books from him and he agreed after I maticulously looked through the books and pages of every book. He even nicely commented about how I didnt like to hold or touch the cover and pages, as though I was some official appraiser, because I used a capped pen to go through the book's pages. He was so thrilled with me and even after I told him that I would love to buy the majority of what he had now even though I work at FedEx and CVS and was not rich like many other comic collectors was so... he purpose this ideal: 1) He would meet me at the parking-lot every other week on Friday and bring 3 short-boxes with him. 2) That he would sell his collection not so expensive to me since we talked about the DC storylines and the comic related movies (I even told him the reasons why I didnt want to see the Dark Knight movie and he even agreed with me!)and realize that I truly love comics for the story and art and not just as a comodity. So he said he would not sell his collection to the comic shop until after I looking through his entire collection and found what I was looking for. So I said it was like perfect ideal since he seemed to live far away and I worked two jobs. So heres what I picked up for just $125! Beware the Creeper (Silver Age) (DC 1968-1969) (#1-6 of mini-series) The Creeper (Modern/? Age) (DC 1997-1998) (#1-11, #1 Mil of 1st run series) The Spectre (Silver Age) (DC 1967-1969) (#1-10 of 1st series run) The Spectre (Modern/? Age) (DC 1987-1989) (#1-31, #1 Annual of 2nd series run) The Spectre (Modern/? Age) (DC 1992-1997) (#0, #1-62, #1 Annual of 3rd series run) The Spectre (Modern/? Age) (DC 2001-2003) (#1-27 of 4th series run) Wrath of the Spectre (Modern/? Age) (DC 1988) (#1-4 Mini-series) P.S. These was just in 2 of the short-boxes and the rest was Marvel's Punisher books. I cannot wait to see him in two weeks with another 3 short boxes! Stay tuned till next time with... "The day I turned up the notch to my comic collection, part two!"

So its here! This is the "last week of new modern age releases" for comics and DC has taken home the "Heisman" trophy! Hiyo! Sorry to disapoint this time, but no "strange adventures to my local comic book shop" or "checkbook/budget crisis" this time! So without delay! Let commence with "my list" of my lastest purchases ($79.57 worth of purchases!) for my ever growing DC collection! Ambush Bug: Year None (DC 2008) (#2 of 6 Issue On-going Mini-series) Batman: Gotham After Midnight (DC 2008) (#4 of 12 Issue On-going Mini-series) Catwoman (DC) (#82 of On-going series) DC Universe: Last Will and Testament (DC 2008) (#1 (+ Varient) of One-shot Issue series) Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge (DC 2008) (#2 (+ Varient) of 3 Issuse On-going Mini-series) Final Crisis: Superman Beyond 3-D (DC 2008) (#1 (+ Varient) of 2 Issue On-going "3-D" Mini-series) Justice Society of America (DC 2006-2008) (#18 (+ Varient) of On-going series) Reign In Hell (DC 2008) (#2 of On-going series) Superman (DC) (#679 of On-going series) Teen Titans (DC 2003-2008) (#62 of On-going series) Trinity (DC 2008) (#13 of On-going series) Year One: Teen Titans (DC 2008) (#6 of 6 Issue Mini-series) I also picked up one shortbox bring my shortbox total to fourteen!

So, I know I have been slaking-off as of lately, but that doesnt mean I dont care. Right? Hiyo! Usually when I do these journals... they are 1-3 days after the "new release" day for "new moderns" and I tell you about my crisis in staying within my budget while getting and/or catching up in the "DCU", but I have been a busy/lazy boy! Lets try catching you up on my ever growing collection, okay? It starts on last week Wednesday, August 20! So I got out of work and went straight to my "local comic book shop" (About 2 1/2 hours early), because I had alot of running around to do before I had to go to a second job I got...CVS. After a little nap in the parking-lot, the store opened at 12PM and I strolled over to the slab (they call it a table) where the "new releases" sat and saw a "horrible sight" that left me... stupified! I dropped my jaw, pointed and yelled, "What the is going on here?" I totally lost my mind, because I forgot that the store was packed (about 12-15 people) and they were all stared at me in wonder... until the saw what I was pointing at. They all saw it and laughed and also held up the same issue of... Robin #177 with "Red Robin" on the cover. After the stroke I had... I got myself together and sifted through the moderns to make sure I got only NM/M+ condition books and walked out spending $73.12 on the following... BatGirl (DC 2008) (#2 of 6 Issue On-going Mini-series) Batman and the OutSiders (DC 2007-2008) (#10 of On-going series) Brave and the Bold, the (DC 2007-2008) (#16 of On-going series) DC Special: Cyborg (DC 2008) (#4 of 6 Issue On-going Mini-series) DC/WildStorm: Dreamwar (DC 2008) (#5 of 6 Issue On-going Mini-series) Final Crisis: Legion of the Three Worlds (DC 2008) (#1 (+ Varient) of 5 Issue On-going Mini-series) Justice League of America (DC 2006-2008) (#24 of On-going series) Robin (DC) (#177 of On-going series) Seven Soldiers of Victory (by Grant Morrison) (DC) (#3-4 of 4 Volume Trade Paper-Back series) Superman/Batman (DC) (#51 of On-going series) Tangent: Superman's Reign (DC 2008) (#6 of 12 Issue On-going Mini-series) Trinity (DC 2008) (#12 of On-going series) You thought that I was done? Nope just getting started, but I need to do a "flashback" though! Bare with me on the story of... My first ever order for E. Gerber's products! Last week Monday, August 18th... I order for my first time, some Mylars! After getting my "economic stimulant tax rebate" from the kindness of President, George W. Bush Jr. I got to thinking... maybe I could finally get some Mylars that alot of people are always talking about to protect my comics, but I did not know where to get them. I looked them up on the "Collector Society's Chat Boards"... and found a decent thread that talked about... "How to protect your comics from the elements!" Using this little formula... (Mylite-2 + Full-Back Board + Comic)+ Archives Mylar = Perfect! So I put a order at E. Gerber (Better to buy it from the creator/source of Mylars!) of 100 for the Mylite-2 (700M2), Full-Back Board (675FB), and Archive Mylars (725R) and I only spent $99.00! Friday, August 22nd... it finally came and I am totally "stoked" and cannot wait til I have enough money to make more future orders to put all my comic collection in E. Gerber's Mylars! Ok! Flash back over! Now we are up to speed and now its Saturday, August 23rd! I had to go back up to the comic book shop, because my stupid self forgot about getting the new issue of Rann/Thanagar: Holy War. After getting out of work and taking a hour nap in the parking lot... the store is open and I go in and leave after spending $158.64 on the following... Batman/Lobo: Deadly Serious (DC 2007) (#1-2 of 2 Issue Mini-series) Justice Society of America (DC 2006-2008) (#1 (Varient), #2 (Varient), #4 (Varient), #5 (Varient), #6 (+ Varient), #7 (+ Varient), #8 (+ Varient), #9 (+ Varient), #10 (+ Varient), #11 (+ Varient), #12 (+ Vareint), #13 (+ Varient), #14 (Varient), #15 (Varient), #16 (Varient), #17 (Varient) of On-going series) Rann/Thanagar: Holy War (DC 2008) (#4 of 8 Issue On-going Mini-series) Simon Dark (DC 2008) (#1(2nd Print), #2-3, #5-11 of On-going series)

Journal entry with guns, sex, lies, and deciets with a splash of harsh ultra-violence and comic book collecting? Sounds R-rated, eh? Hiyo! So, I may have "over-stated/over-exaggerate" the topic of today journal entry... maybe a just a tad-bit? So heres where my journey starts off... Its August 11th or 12th. ----------------------------------------------------------------- (It is the day before the "new release" of the new "modern comics" and I called my local comic book shop on the phone.) Some dude: Hello... this is "(insert here) Comic Book Shop"! Me: Hi, my name is (insert here) and im a regular to your comic book shop. Been coming their since February and I need you help. Some dude: Ok... are you the one that wears a old, black "Michael Jordan" hat? Me: Surprisingly... yes! See, I usually am able to make it in when the "new release" for comics are in, but I wont be able to make it in tomorrow. Right now, I got no money and I dont want to write a check when I know I dont have the money in their now, because I dont get paided til Friday. Some dude: Okay? Me: My sister though has a "pull-membership" thing with you... her name is (insert here), and I was wondering ... Can you pull my comics and hold it under her name until I can make it in on Friday? Some dude: Sure... what comics are you looking for? Me: Sweet! Ok... Action Comics #868, Batman #679 and also I heard there is a varient for the Batman issue... could I get that also? Some dude: Sure... that all? Me: No, also Booster Gold #11, Final Crisis: Revelations, Green Lantern Corps #27, Trinity #11, and Wonder Woman #23. Also for Final Crisis... I need both cover books! Some dude: Ok, well I will put it under you sister's "pull folder" and will be ready for you when you or your sister would like to pick them up! Me: Okay! Thanks alot, but I also have another favor... Some dude: Ok? Me: Now, I dont wanna sound very annoying, but I never actually done this "pull thing" ever, because usually I like to come up and get my comics personally, because I like to get my books as mint or near to mint as possible. But your comics alot of times during the "release days" looks to have alot of "nicks and nacks" on the book's ends' and plus when you have them stacked on that "slab of a table"... theirs alot of "folds" and "beat-up" new issues out there. So I was wondering when you pull my comics... could you pull the ones that not so "beat up" or "nicked" up badly? Not mint ones, but "near-mint" at least? Some dude: Uh.. sir? We do not do any request to the pulls, because when the "new releases" comes in, we look at the list for who/what to pull and pull comics as randomly... meaning from the top of the stack off the "slab of a table". We do this randomly to keep it fair and you get what we pull for you, but if their still some issues left and you find a better condition one, then thats fine! We dont check the condition while we pull though, because it takes up too much time! Me: Uh.. ok? But are you telling me you dont even check the condition of the comics that you are pulling for customers, because it takes up too much time and you think thats fair? Some dude: Yes. If you dont like the "condition" of your comics when you come in, then might I suggest that you find another store that may have the condition of the comics your looking for. Me: Uh... thanks anyways, we'll see when I get their, but thanks alot and ill be in there on Friday! ----------------------------------------------------------------- I dont know about you, but after a conversation like that on the phone with your local comic book store... I was pissed. Not only did they "written-off" all the business I contributed to them since February of this year (Hundreds of dollars mind you without even a discount!), they seem to dont even care to lose a "big spender" (I like to think of myself as) to their store. So when Friday rolls around... I find that my issues that they pulled and put under my sister's name was "nicked-all-to-be-damned"! But, I was so lucky to find some mint/near-mint replacements on their "slab of a table". On top of this though... I find out that one of my checks from two weeks ago, "bounced". Then, the check from week later... she hasnt cashed yet. So... I did my "count to 10 to calm down" and apologize and went out to my car to make a few phone calls to my bank. After finding out that I did have the money in the bank on the time of the check... they didnt let it go through, because it seemed suspicious!!! After a few cuss-words and rants... my bank apologize and corrected it by credit the charge to my account of the $33 overdraft fee. Then, after another lengthly coversation with my bank... I got out my car and closed the door and went in the store and paid my debt of the bounced check, the week later bill, and my current comics books I venture to the store to get... total bill: $278.78. Luckily, my tax refund got "direct deposited" to my account that Friday... since I filed for a "extension" long ago and mailed it in on August 1st... very fast process, eh? So here's my expensive, expensive haul... Action Comics (DC) (Issue #868 of On-going series) Batman (DC) (Issue #676, #679 (+ Varient) of On-going series) Booster Gold (DC 2007-2008) (Issue #11 of On-going series) Final Crisis: Requiem (DC 2008) (Issue #1 (2nd Print/Varient) of One-shot Issue) Final Crisis: Rogue's Revenge (DC 2008) (Issue #1 (2nd Print/Varient) of 5 Issue On-going Mini-series) Final Crisis: Revelations (DC 2008) (Issue #1 (+ Varient) of 5 Issue On-going Mini-series) Green Lantern Corps (DC 2007-2008) (Issue #27 of On-going series) JLA/Hitman (DC 2008) (Issue #2 of 2 Issue Mini-series) Trinity (DC 2008) (Issue #11 of On-going series) Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters (DC 2007-2008) (Issues #2-8 of 8 Issue Mini-series) Wonder Woman (DC 2007-2008) (Issue #23 of On-going series) P.S. After paying for my comics... I find out that I locked myself out my car and had to wait from 12:30PM til 5:00PM (Sister got off work at 4:30PM) for my sister to get my extra car key at home. So I missed my chance to go to the movies to see "Star War: The Cone Wars" before I had to work! I just love being me sometimes!

The origins, plot twists, secrets, discovery, and even revelations with past/future predictions of my life in the "comic fast lane"! Hiyo! Now I bet your wondering... "Whats with the title?" You usually have your JOURNAL ENTRY tell about your exploits/journey to your "local comic book shop" and what been installed into your ever growing comic collection of mainly "DC titles". I have been doing alot of thinking and reading (Whether it be in the community forums of "Collectors Society" or that of "DC Comics") about... "How to improve on my comic collection (Meaning: Get back issues with all varients of old series I dont have) and how to properly archive (Whether with "Mylars" and/or sepcial furniture) my comics safely?"..., but I keep coming back to the question of... "Why and how did I get to this point in this HOBBY of mines?" So I thought why not start my JOURNAL ENTRY with my... "Origins": When I was starting out in "pre-school" in elementary school(I lived in Detroit, Michigan)... I didnt actually read comics back then. Even though my dad was the first collector of comics in my family and my mom was just a avid reader when she worked as a nurse at a hospital. They bought and read comics. My mom was into Superman and my dad was into Conan the Barbarian, Spiderman, Superman, and X-Men. My brother's crowd was Amazing Spiderman, Batman, DareDevil, Punisher, and X-Men and other "X"-titles. While my sister was into Stephen King books, but I on the otherhand was a avid cartoon watcher. It didnt matter if it was the "cutsey" "Disney" cartoons/movies or the old and/or new "Warner Bros." cartoons. Man I could recite any cartoon episode if you asked me. I could even remember their first appearances and what the cartoon was about. But it wasnt til about 1994 (Still in elementary school in 3rd or 4th grade) when my dad died that I started to read/collect comics... my first was "Batman: The Legends of the Dark Knight- Halloween Special: Madness (1994)" by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale. But when I mean collect... I stole/kept it from my brother when I saw the cover. Now to the... Plot Twists: That "Batman" issue was the only comic I ever had until around 1996 (Middle School now) when I actually started my first collection of a comic series. It was a new independent upstart company when I starting my collection with... "Top Cow"'s, "The Darkness". Me and my sister started collecting comics about the same time, but her collection was Aria, Books of Magic, Buffy, Fathom, Sam & Twitch, Spawn, and WitchBlade. I on the otherhand collected all things "the Darkness" until the first run of the series ended and the first issue of the second run on the started, but due to the long wait for the new series and couldnt find anything else worth reading... I was left with nothing to collect. So I stuck with my Pokemon, DBZ trading card game, and game magazines. Secrets: When 2004 rolled around in November... My mom, sister, and me had to move out my grandfathers/mothers' house (My dad's side of the family), because my aunt (my dad's only sister out of 5 children) has issues with my mom (Due to my mom marrying my dad)and charged us rent (after my dad died) to the point when we had to leave when she wanted to raise the rent because of her expensive bills at her own house. Even though it was the second house I ever lived in Detroit, Michigan (From age 7-18), but in the moving process... was when I discovered the vast quantities of of my dad's Conan & Superman comics (other comics were reduced to pulp from water damage) and my comic love was rekindled after reading them. Discovery: I didnt buy any comics afterwards, but just read the ones my dad had (After my mom laid the story on me about their "comic collecting days" and even a story about my dad skipping out on paying the mortgage to buy comics)... besides his PLAYBOY collection. But after my mom died in 2006, losing my job in April of 2007 and along with my house and everything that was ever apart of my family, but save some of my furniture, a TV, clothes, my video game systems... I lost everything. I was only able to to save my dad's "Conan the Barbarian", a comic magazine of "The Death of Superman" by NEWSTIME, and trade paperback of the "events taking after the Death of Superman", because I gave the comics and stuff to my sister to hold on to after my mom died. Revelations: To me... my life ended after April 3, 2007 when I lost my job and house with everything dear to me. Even though, my lifeless body afterwards wanted to wander the streets of Detroit, Michigan until my body finally died. I somehow agreed to move in with my sister in Cleveland, Ohio. Since getting a job at FedEx in August of 2007 and also trying to adjusting to life in Cleveland, Ohio... I found myself need something to rekindle myself and I think I found it with my... ever growing collection of comics since February of 2008. Refection: Since February of 2008 when I found a local comic book store and started back my collection with... Black Adam: The Dark Age (DC 2007-2008) and Suicide Squad: Raise the Flag (DC 2007-2008)... I havent look back! NOWADAYS, everything is a little too expensive for me to DWEVLVE INTO right now. Especially... sinces seeing the prices for submission to "CGC" (I wanted to show off some of my comic mini-series in my collection under the REGISTRY on the "Collector Society") whether through mail or going to a convention... is a little too pricey for my blood. I was even thinking of "EBay" in terms of... a) acquiring the older series in a inexpensive way, but it seems too "suspect" when just looking at scans and trusting people not to "jip" you. Plus, I doubt I ever go on a "online auctions house site" (Unless I find a really high paying second job), because it seems that it can be too costly/expensive and doubt I even win/out-bid anyone. Too bad "Collectors Society" does not have a way to show NON-CGC/REGISTER COMIC COLLECTIONS of its members. Well here's my way updated you on my comic collection. Check out my $33.33 HAUL-IN from 07/30 and $148.31 HAUL-IN from 08/06: (Still made my budget! ) ) Action Comics (DC) (Issue #866 of On-going series) Batman (DC) (Issue #677 (Varient) of On-going series) Batman: Death Mask (DC/CMX 2008) (Issue #1-4 of 4 Issue Mini-series) Catwoman (DC 2002-2008) (Issue #78-81 of On-going series) Countdown Special: New Gods (DC 2008) (Issue #1 of 1 Issue One-shot) DC Special: Cyborg (DC 2008) (Issue #3 of 6 Issue On-going Mini-series) Detective Comics (DC) (Issue #847 of On-going series) DC Universe Special: Superman/Mongul (DC 2008) (Issue #1 of 1 Issue One-shot) Final Crisis (DC 2008) (Issue #3 (+ Varient) of 7 Issue On-going Mini-series) Final Crisis: Director's Cut (DC 2008) (Director's Cut of "Final Crisis" Mini-series issue #1) Green Lantern Corps (DC 2006-2008) (Issue #24-26, #30-33 of On-going series) Infinity Inc. (DC 2007-2008) (Issue #12 of (Now) 12 Issue Mini-series) Joker's Asylum: Two-Face (DC 2008) (Issue #1 of 1 One-shot Mini-series of 5) Justice Society of America (DC 2006-2008) (Issue #1 (Annual) of On-going "Justice Society of America" series) ManHunter (DC 2004-2008) (Issue #31-33 of On-going series) NightWing (DC) (Issue #147 of On-going

Whoa! I bet you wondering where have I've been up to... intrigued? Hiyo! Long time no journal I must say, so let me catch you up on my collecting life... Long, long time ago (Ok, maybe like July 23rd)... I was in deep trouble with my super arch-villian called, "bills". Car note bill was creeping up on me and also a storage fee (In Michigan) that I would soon have to deal with at the beginning of August, which was "coming around the block soon"("Sotospeak"). I must say that I hate being overwhelmed with bills to the point when I cant even enjoy the one (and only) hobby (reading and collecting DC comics) Im glad I found my way back to, you know? Shoot, I even had to factor not only my bills, but the potential gas that I would be needed to buy next week so that I can even go to work. I have been trying to find a second job, but with "too" many people that are "tightening their belts" to survive... im reduce to waiting by the phone or the computer for an email, from the many job applications I put in. Life is becoming hard to not only children "nowadays", but also and many, many more times... adults too. So... to continue on... When life gives you lemons, when you ask for "kool-aide", someone (God hopefully!) will give you the pitcher so you can make some lemonade! And thats what happen to me and here's how it went down... my sis me off a month ago (In beginning of June) by paying for my car note for June, becuase she got a raised at her job and wanted to help me out since she got herself out of a bind. I wanted her to save her money and dont worry about me, but you know how much sisters like to listen to their brothers. When on July 22nd I was looking for my car note bill so I can pay it, because I was pissed I couldnt get comics for the next day for the 23rd release (Ambush Bug, Batman: Gotham after Midnight, etc...) and I couldnt find my bill (So I can mail in a check) and didnt know if it came yet in the mail. Then... long and behold my sis walks in the house from work and I asked her, "Have she seen my car note bill for July?" (because she like to go through my mail) and guess what she said? "Oh that bill? I paid it already... didnt I tell you in June I was gonna pay two of your car note's months?" - My sister You wouldnt believe how fustratingly angry and overly happy I was, because I have been since the 17th was trying figure out... "how was I gonna be able to keep gas in my car for the rest of the month, pay my car note by the end of the month, and to then take care of my staorage fee in Detroit, while still be able to have my LCS to hold my comics and pay for them when came time to pick them up!?!" Let just say in the end... I hugged my sister and gave her a kiss on the forehead and told her, "No you didnt, but thank you!" So I treated her by taken her to the comic store and paid for her comics (and got mines) and ice cream (She's easy to pleased!) on the 23rd and later got some more comics when I got my pay and went back to the comic shop on the 26th. I spent $30.05 for my comics on the 23rd and $148.05 on the 26th, but stayed within my budget... so I have gas. I also spent a total of $111 on my sis for her comics (She likes "Locke & Key" and "Buffy")... and so without further waiting heres what I hauled in: Action Comics (DC) (Issue #865,867 of On-going series) Ambush Bug (DC 2008) (Issue #1 of 6 Issue On-going Mini-series) Batman (DC) (Issue #673-675, #677-678 of On-going series) Batman Confidential (DC 2006-2008) (Issue #18 of On-going series) Batman: Gotham After Midnight (DC 2008) (Issue #3 of 12 Issue On-going Mini-series) Birds of Prey (DC 1999-2008) (Issue #118 of On-going series) Booster Gold (DC 2007-2008) (Issue #1,000,000 of 12 Issue Mini-series) Brave and the Bold (DC 2007-2008) (Issue #12-15 of On-going series) Countdown (DC 2007-2008) (Issue #19-01 of series) DC Universe Special: Reign In Hell (DC 2008) (Issue #1 of One-shot) Detective Comics (DC) (Issue #844-846 of On-going series) Flash, the (DC) (Issue #240 of On-going series) Joker Asylum: Scarecrow (DC 2008) (Issue #1 of One-shot On-going Mini-series of 5) Robin (DC) (Issue #172-173, #175 of On-going series) Robin: Teenage Wasteland (DC) (Trade Paperback of Robin #154-162 of On-going series) Superman (DC) (Issue #675-678 of On-going series) Teen Titans (DC 2003-2008) (Issue #58-60 of On-going series) Trinity (DC 2008) (Issue #8 of On-going series)

You know... trying to balance your life with bills and comics is a hard task to consistently keep up with or even for one to accomplish. Add economic woes of holding down a job in the picture with high food and gas prices... you are stuck between "a rock and a hard place", you know? Hiyo! So yesterday after coming back from work... I did some number crunching and some intense "outloud one-on-one conversations" of... "How can I pay my bills in two weeks and have enough money for gas and afford the new week of comics?" yesterday. I must say that what yesterday showed me was the following... 1) That I may have inherited my mothers "psychological" problems of "schizophrenia and deep depression". 2) That "out-loud" conversations with only yourself, while intriguing neighbors that are outside the open doors and windows when you are cooling down the house, only confirm your "schizophrenic problems". 3) That you could have an "intense conversation" with yourself and not notice your only talking to yourself. ... and lastly... 4) That you might need a "womenly companion" so you dont lose the last of your "sanity" with only yourself. So after convincing myself that I can still closely pay my bills and have enough to get gas for work... I can get me some comics! So here's what I got after budgeting myself for $61.41: BatGirl (Back In Her Own Series!) (DC 2008) (#1 of New/On-going series) Batman and the OutSiders (DC 2007-2008) (#9 of On-going series) DC/WildStorm: Dreamwar (DC 2008) (#4 of 6 of On-going Mini-series) Final Crisis: Rogue's Revenge (DC 2008) (#1 (+ varient character cover) of 3 Issue On-going Mini-series) Final Crisis: Sketchbook (DC 2008) (One-Shot) Joker's Asylum: The Joker (Found in Perfect condition!) (DC 2008) (#1 One-shot of On-going series) Joker's Asylum: Penguin (Found in perfect condition!) (DC 2008) (#1 One-shot of On-going series) Joker's Asylum: Poison Ivy (Found in perfect condition!) (DC 2008) (#1 One-shot of On-going series) Justice Society of America (DC 2007-2008) (#1-2,#3 (Varient),#5 of On-going series) Robin (DC 1993-2008) (#172-173 of On-going series) Tangent: Superman's Reign (DC 2008) (#5 of 12 Issue On-going Mini-series) Trinity (DC 2008) (#6-7 of On-going series) P.S. Too bad I couldn't budget in some "modern age: comic bags", back boards and even a new comic storage box. Im soooo... gonna find me a second job to support my ever so growing comic book collection!

You know whats the worst thing about not finding the comics your looking for for the past 2 weeks? Them telling you either you might have to wait for a second printing or not having enough money in your budget to get all your comics. Wait... isnt that a tie? Hiyo nurse! You would not believe the "heartaches" and "near passed out moments" that almost occurred to me yesterday on my way to my local comic book shop! First things first though... I ended up going to my local comic book shop not at 12:30pm that I planned and confirmed with doing with my older sister the day before, but instead had to wait for her slow boyfriend to come over, also after breakfast she wanted to make, and after watching some frigging movie (The Golden Compass) she wanted to finish seeing... I didnt get to the comic book shop until 4:30pm or half-hour from my local comic shop closing, since everyone knows most closes at 5pm on a Sunday! Second thing now... when I finally get in the place, I found out the following... 1) "Billy Batson and the Magic of SHAZAM!" is sold out again, becasue he just sold the last copy he had and plus the "varient" 20 minutes before finally getting there! 2) "Final Crisis: Requiem" books were also sold out today and missed that opportunity from when they opened. (Note: When I buy Final Crisis books I get both character & story cover) 3) ALL (I MEAN ALL!) of the "Joker Asylum" issues were in crapped-up condition. It was like someone was chewing on every issue that he had. On-top of the fact that my budget for comics after paying rent on a storage locker in Detroit, Michigan and paying my cable bill (Darn you "DishNetwork!") left me with only about $15, because I also need to have $40 to fill my tank later on in the week. So im already bumming out, but with this new set of revelations... "Im totally pissed off!" So here's what I got from my local comic book shop, spending only $18.39 (Yeah I know!): Justice Society of America (DC 2006-2008)(#17 of On-going series)(Didnt get varient!) Robin: The Big Leagues (DC 2008)(Trade PaperBack of Robin #163-167) Year One: Huntress (DC 2008)(#5 of 6 Issue Mini-series) You thought I was done eh? Nope this is a 2-part adventure! So today I was determined after yesterday, because I was gonna get back issues of "Justice Society of America" (DC 2008) since I couldnt get the comics I did want, but I was pissed so I got my final trade paperback of the series for Robin to finish my collection, so that I can now start collecting the series comic issues. To get back to the adventure... I called about five other comic shops (that truly wasnt "local" to me) and finally found one with both "Final Crisis: Requiem" books and "Billy Batson and the Magic of SHAZAM!" and drove out there immediately today (15 min drive) and picked them up. Guess what... they was in "perfect" condition too! So at this "not so local comic book shop" I said, "To hell with my budget!" and spent $9.70 on the following: Final Crisis: Requiem (DC 2008)(One-Shot Issue)(Plus varient) Billy Batson and the Magic of SHAZAM! (Didn't have the varient) (JohnnyDC 2008)(#1 of on-going series)

Oh yeah... the July 4th holiday of Independence Day could be one, but I got my comics yesterday. Long awaited returned of a old/new hero in the "Billy Batson and the Magic of SHAZAM!"... that could be it if it wasnt solded out the day before I finally strolled into the comic book store... then what else? Hiyo! Well Duh! Getting everything else "sotospeak" (so to speak) that you've been waiting for to read! Anyways! Happy July 4th of 2008 or also known as "Independence Day"! The adopted day when *our (*those who are legal citizens of this United States of America) country declared independence from Great Britian or King Henry the VIII. The day when United States was born! I must say that I love this country where liberty rings and freedoms are celebrated even though there are other countries that do not allow the such. A country that would accept you into the country if you oppressed in another, legally, and help you start over anew and work to build a life, because this nation strives itself on the principles that all people deserved a "American way of life" which includes a job, personal bank account, a wife, a house you own outright, 2 1/2 children, 2 car garage, full front and back yard surrounded with white picketed fences. Even though of rough times we still have our liberties and freedoms to celebrate with and a hope to strive for that "American way of life". With all that in mind lets check out my lastest purchases of comics from yesterday for this 4th of July weekend read... Oh and guess what? I STAYED ON MY BUDGET OF $55 WITH ONLY SPENDING $54.25! Batman: Gotham After Midnight (DC, 2008) (#2 of 12 Issue mini-series) DC Special: Raven (DC, 2008) (#5 of 5 Issues mini-series) Final Crisis (DC, 2008) (#2+ #2 (varient) of 7 Issue mini-series) Huntress: Year One (DC, 2008) (#4 of 6 Issue mini-series) Infinity Inc. (DC, 2008) (#11 of on-going series) Justice League of America (DC, 2006-2008) (#19-22 of on-going series) Justice Society of America (DC, 2006-2008) (#14-16 of on-going series) Rann-Thanagar: Holy War (DC, 2008) (#3 of 8 Issue mini-series) Trinity (DC, 2008) (#4-5 of on-going series)

I bet when you get your comics that you probably have the store owner pull your comics for you and you pick which you can afford to get now and later, but staying within your budget... thats doesn't seems to be the case with me, because when I leave and glance at the receipt... I go, 'Wtf happen to not over $40 dude!' Hiyo, I must start off saying that I am glad that im a son of a father who was a mathematic teacher with two masters in math and one in science. I also am a proud son of a mother who was a great register nurse for over thiry years who also took psychology classes, because if I didnt I probably owe money to the "comic book mafia" and constantly be in and out of jail on robbery charges stemming from a "constant need of a comic book fix" and while also using a random but not really abandon house as a secret place to stash my comic book plunder... or just a really broke person who doesnt pay his bills on-time or either not-at-all. With all that said... check out my $147.29 plunder when I went to the comic book shop after cashin my check yesterday with a budget of only $40-45 for comics: Batman and the Outsiders (DC, 2008)(#8 of on-going series) Countdown (DC, 2007-2008) (#29-20 of 51 issue series) Countdown to Adventure (DC, 2008) (#2 of 8 issue series) Countdown Presents Lord Havok and the Extremists (DC, 2008) (#1 of 6 issue series) DC Special: Cyborg (DC, 2008) (#2 of 6 issue series) DC Special: Raven (DC, 2008) (#4 of 5 issue series) DC/ WildStorm: Dreamwar (DC, 2008) (#3 of 6 issue series) Gotham Underground (DC, 2007-2008) (#2-9 of 9 issue series) Huntress: Year One (DC, 2008) (#3 of 6 issue series) Robin/ Spolier Special (DC, 2008) (One shot issue) Salvation Run (DC, 2007-2008) (#1-2,#6-7 of 7 issue series) Tangent Comics- Tangent: Superman's Reign (DC, 2008) (#4 of 12 issue series) Teen Titans: Year One (DC, 2008) (#5 of 6 issue series) Titans (DC, 2008) (#2-3 of 5 issue series) (Yeah I know! Mistakenly bought another darn #2) Titans East Special (DC, 2008) (One shot issue) Trinity (DC, 2008) (#2-3 of 6 issue series) Wonder Girl (DC, 2007-2008) (#1-6 of 6 issue series) P.S. (I think I got a problem or in need of a good stern accountant.)

Guess what the best thing to do after seeing "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" and "Kung-Fu Panda" at your local theater? *Movie Spoiler Alert* Hiyo! So after a gruesome work day I thought to rewarded myself with some "one-on-one" time with my local big screen theater yesterday. I must say... going early to the movies for the 11:50am "Kung-Fu Panda" and then 1:50pm "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" was the best thing to do, because I didnt feel like dealing with teens or too many kids and adults since I didnt shower and came from work. But I must say that both movies were the greatest, funniest, heart-touching movies that Jack Black and Harrison Ford could have ever done since they consistantly and constantly puts out great movies for adourning fans of theirs and movies alike. *"Kung-Fu Panda" Spoiler Alert* Yeah... there was some other voices in "Kung-Fu Panda" like Jackie Chan (voices the monkey) and Angelina Jolie (voices the tiger and Like I give a about her anyways!) but the only voices that stood out to me was Dustin Hoffman (play's Pandas' master) and my long time favorite voice and actor, Michael Clark Duncan (voices a rhino prison warden). This was truly a Jack Black movie that everyone should go see! Oh and the "Deadly Finger hold w/ the Pinky" is the deadliest thing I've ever seen! Then it was off for my 2:50pm showing for "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" cause I missed my 1:50pm showing when "Kung-Fu Panda" let out later that expected, but i was still in a "'Kung-Fu Panda' high" so I didnt mind sitting and talking with my sis til the next show. *"Indiana Jones" Spoiler Alert* 3 things about Indiana Jones movie: One, really good if your a fan of the series and if not you will be caught up with events and like it still. Two, did i say its consistent with the series with the history lessons and funny scenes with Jones and other characters as the argue and end up getting the "punch of the lifetime". Three, Jones and Henry (the Kid and actually his son) journey was funny and loyal to the series of other Jones and kid team-ups in the past movies. All in all, these are all "must go see movies" at your local theater and you will enjoy the fact that you saw them! Oh yeah! I went to comic store after movie time and even thought I was only gonna spend about twenty dollars... 15mins later I left spending $63.01 (Damn you DC and Grant Morrison!) So here's a look at my $63.01 haul-in yesterday! Countdown (DC, 2007)(#39-30 of 52 Issue series) Robin: Wanted (DC, 2007)(Trade Paperback of Robin #148-153) Seven Soldiers of Victory (DC, 2006-2007)(Trade Paperback vol.2 of 4 volume series)