bUff_mOnkEy

Congrats and nice PQ!!! It is definitely a beauty, though I think you might have been cheated out of an extra 0.5 points. It's been frustrating, though at the same time a relief of sorts, to passively watch as others have been so actively continuing to add great books one after the other to their collections while I took last year off. It is good to be back, however. You have no idea how hard it was to abstain when it seemed like there were so many amazing books added to the CGC census in 2009. BTW, hi Tim.

Before I continue to discuss and show the books in my collection, I just had to post the upcoming cover of Green Lantern v5 #36. It doesn't actually come out until December 10, but I think this is just an awesome cover, in the true sense of the word. It continues the lead off to the upcoming "Blackest Night" storyline and the tie-in to Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns. It shows a ferocious, dominating, and beautifully illustrated Atrocitus, with an intense and powerful Hal Jordan rising in front of him. Just amazing!

Jumping to the next book in my collection is Green Lantern v2 #11 9.4 Off-White to White (OWW). To be honest, I've never really cared too much for this early Silver Age GL cover, though it was the first to show off the amazing diversity of the Green Lantern Corps. The other significance of this issue is that it includes the third story dealing with the renegade Green Lantern, Sinestro. Hal Jordan is exiled to the anti-matter universe of Qward where he falls into his nemesis' hands. That's three appearances in five issues for the "Yellow Lantern", with another two to come in GL #15 and #18. All I can say is "kudos" to the writers and artists that realized what an amazing arch-villain they had with Sinestro. Battles between Jordan and Sinestro are what got me hooked on Green Lantern and why Green Lantern #7 9.6 is my "grail book", where the evil one makes his first appearance. Not to mention, the recent Sinestro Corps War was a stroke of genius among the writers of DC Comics. I know that I was hooked after the first page. Green Lantern v2 #11 9.4 OWW (Sinestro appearance)

With a special thanks to tth2 for allowing me to add this important book to my collection, this next post is for my collecting buddy Mercede, who has some of the most beautiful key DC issues in his own collection. The book is Green Lantern v2 #8 9.4 Off-White (OW), topping out the Census on its own. Difficult to find in high grade and highly desired by collectors of all stripes, as well as Green Lantern aficionados, Gil Kane's amazing 50's-style monster cover uses the "grey tone" technique, also known as the "painted cover" because pencil or charcoal underlying the original pencilled image is used to enhance the effects of light and shadow to produce a more aesthetic quality. The cover has a noticeably richer depth with its richer hues. This book is also notable for having the first 5700 A.D. storyline, where humans from the future transport Hal Jordan to help them. His memory is modified so that me may take on the role as Solar Director of that time and save humanity from a race of ray-blasting mutant gila monsters. On an aside, if any of you wonder why I always use the designation "v2" in my book titles, it is to distinguish these books from the Golden Age Green Lantern (Alan Scott) series. Green Lantern v2 #8 9.4 OW (First 5700 A.D. story. Grey tone cover.)

Well, it seems like there still is some life in this thread. It's great to hear from and see posts from friends and those I haven't had the opportunity to actually have any real interaction with. As promised, I'm posting the second of my most recent acquisitions, Green Lantern v2 #24 9.6 Off-White to White (OWW) from the Pacific Coast collection. I have been eyeing this book for at least two years (ever since I discovered the Pacific Coast collection), but had to keep pushing it back on the priority list because of other opportunities that came up. Nevertheless, this is one of my favorite early Kane covers (similar to Green Lantern #57, where Hal Jordan is standing between the hand of Major Disaster and the Earth). Further, having a black cover and being an early SA comic, it is a very difficult book to find in the highest of grades, as evidenced by this being the solo 9.6 with no 9.4s in the Census. The significance of this book is, of course, in that it introduced Shark into the Green Lantern narrative. Shark won't appear on a cover until GL #28, but he is one of the GL villains that has remained prominent from the Silver Age to the most recent storylines, like Sinestro, Hector Hammond, Black Hand, Star Sapphire and a few others. Of course, the current Geoff Johns & Ethan Van Sciver Shark looks much different than the original, as you can see below from the cover of Green Lantern v4 #5). Shark started as a tiger shark that was mutated by nuclear waste, a frequent origin story in Silver Age comics, as the atomic bomb had exploded onto the historical stage. His powers included telepathy, telekinesis, energy bolts, and the ability to cause fear in others. In GL #24, it was the last of these gifts that he tried to use against Hal Jordan (DC's "man without fear") and though he discovered Jordan's weakness to the color yellow through his telepathy, he was still unable to defeat the stalwart hero. Since there is life again, for the moment, in my favorite thread, I will continue to post my collection in order, starting where I left off, which means the next book will be Green Lantern v2 #8, a favorite among collectors (both GL and other). Green Lantern v2 #24 9.6 OWW Pacific Coast pedigree (Origin and first appearance of Shark)

Someone suggested this board needed livening up, so here goes... (BTW, I only stopped posting my collection on the board because it became apparent to me that the thread wasn't being frequented enough.) My Silver Age Green Lantern collection is one of my life's passions and I am happy to share it with anyone who is interested, so let other people know that I will continue to post my books if people become engaged. The first of two recent acquisitions for me is one that is hard to find in high grade and highly-desired by both Green Lantern and Flash collectors. I had a copy in 9.0 and knew that the solo 9.4 was in a collecting friend's permanent collection, so I was truly fortunate to add Green Lantern v2 #20 9.6 White from a late spring Heritage Live auction. IMHO, this outstanding Gil Kane cover with both GL and Flash is the first that faithfully represents both of the iconic DC superheroes (better than both Green Lantern #13 [Kane] and Flash #131 [infantino]). The green hues on the cover also make this one of the most recognizable of all of the early Silver Age GL books. I will post the second recent acquisition tomorrow (hint: it's got the first appearance of a vicious mutated fish.) Again, if there is enough interest, I will continue where I left off about six months ago with GL #7 9.6 and fill in #8 through #19. Enjoy!!! Green Lantern v2 #20 9.6 W (Flash crossover)

My GRAIL book In most people's collections, there are certain "must-have" books, and those that are "must-have must-have's", generally known as so-called "grail" books. When I was collecting Amazing Spider-Man, that book was Amazing Spider-Man #149 9.8, featuring the first appearance of Spider-Man's clone (that book is now in Worldsbestcomics' Spidey collection). I knew when I shifted into my all-time favorite superhero, Green Lantern, that the first appearance of Sinestro would be my "grail". Well, here is my grail book, Green Lantern #7 9.6. It turned out to be a extraordinarily difficult book to find. For a long time there was a single 9.6 atop the Census, followed by the next highest grade at 8.5, making it one of the most difficult early Silver Age books to find in grade. Over the past year or so, a duet of 9.2s and a single 9.0 have been added to the Census. Fortunately, I was lucky to be able to acquire that solo 9.6 -- my "grail" book. In fact, the grade of 9.6 is so rare in early Lantern books that between issues #1 and #15, there is only one 9.6 currently in the Census -- Green Lantern #7 9.6. Among the key books in the Silver Age of Green Lantern, I personally believe that #7 is the most important and has had the most influence on future storylines for both Green Lantern and the Corps. If there was anything I looked forward to when I was a kid, it was waking up on Saturday morning to watch Green Lantern battle Sinestro on Challenge of the Superfriends (the series that introduced the Legion of Doom). Frankly, what disappointed me about Green Lantern #7 was the cover. While it is a well-drawn cover, as almost all Silver Age Lantern covers were, it did nothing to show the emergence of the villain who would become Hal Jordan's greatest nemesis. I have to believe that the writers knew that this particular villain had the potential to become one of Green Lantern's greatest foes, since Sinestro (an ex-Green Lantern) was in league with the Qwardians after being sent to Qward by the Guardians as punishment for abusing his power as a former Green Lantern. In issue #9, Sinestro and Green Lantern grace the cover together in the issue where Sinestro has crafted his infamous yellow power ring with the help of the Weaponers of Qward. To be honest, it isn't until issue #15 that I believe Sinestro was fully drawn to Gil Kane's artistic potential (but that cover will come within the next two weeks, so stay-tuned). In the same issue, there is also a second story of where an intense dream of Hal Jordan's turns his friend, Pieface, into a bird at a very inopportune time when Pieface's girlfriend is to arrive. Green Lantern #7 9.6 (Origin and first appearance of Sinestro)

And next in the sequence of my collection is Green Lantern #6 9.0, a book whose highest grade in the Census thus far is a 9.2. It is significant for one major reason -- the introduction of the first non-Earth/Sector 2814 Green Lantern, Tomar-Re of the planet Xudar. Tomar-Re, who becomes a favorite of Green Lantern and GL Corps readers, is drawn beautifully by Gil Kane on the cover of issue #6. On this cover, Kane shows the non-Earth Lantern summoning Hal Jordan to help him defeat what is clearly a monstrous menace. In the story, Tomar-Re called for help because he was facing threats on more than one front. The actual illustrated introduction of the Green Lantern Corps does not come until Green Lantern #9 when Sinestro decides to exact revenge against the Corps. Green Lantern #6 9.0 (First appearance of Tomar-Re)

Skipping over issues #3 and #4 and published in the spring of 1961, the next book in my collection is Green Lantern #5 9.4. According to the CGC Census, this 9.4 is alone at the top and obviously difficult to find in high grade, as are most Silver Age DC comics from and before 1963. Much is significant about this book. To begin with, it has the first appearance of Hector Hammond, though he has yet to become wheelchair-bound and disfigured (occurs later in issue #22). Second, the villain is the first of Green Lantern's recurrent enemies to haunt him throughout the Silver, Bronze and Modern Ages. Interestingly, Sinestro, while appearing more times than Hammond in the early Silver Age issues, is not the first supervillain for Green Lantern. The cover of this book is also a departure from each of the issues which came before it, including Showcase #22 - #24, as well as Green Lantern #1 - #4. While Hector Hammond may be main evil character, the cover of Green Lantern #5 is really the first to not show either a monster, villain or weapon -- but to rather ambiguously suggest the story within. Once you get past the cover, you also realize that in this issue, the writers have dispensed with the usual two or three separate stories, and instead decided to create one long story. SPOILER: In an intricate plot, Hector Hammond, a criminal on the run, discovers a meteorite which has the ability to change the evolution of that which is exposed to it. He kidnaps four scientists and exposes them to the rock which heightens their intellects, as well as saps their will power. So that Hal Jordan can find the missing scientists, he asks his friend, "Pieface", to pose as the Green Lantern while he continues the search. The scientists in their weakened condition build a machine that is supposed to bring Green Lantern to them, but instead it yanks a duplicate power ring off of Pieface instead, both of which fall into the hands of Hammond. By now, Jordan has surmised that Hammond is the kidnapper and the two eventually have a power ring duel across Coast City which Jordan wins when the duplicate power ring loses its 24 hour charge. Green Lantern #5 9.4 (First appearance of Hector Hammond)

The next book in my collection is Green Lantern #2 9.4 from what is often casually forgotten to be the second Green Lantern series, with the first being the Alan Scott era of the 40s and the Golden Age (For my own purposes, I label this book, Green Lantern v2 #2 9.4 since it is more accurate). Obviously difficult to find in high grade, there is a single other 9.4 that sits alongside this one in the Census, with one of the highest number of submissions for a Silver Age Green Lantern. Every Gil Kane cover is in some ways another Kane masterpiece -- he was easily, IMHO, the greatest cover artist in comics, creating some of the most memorable covers for DC Comics in its Silver Age. His palette is always wonderfully rich with some of the most improbable colors and interesting hues. Besides being the second appearance of Silver Age Green Lantern in his own title, this book is also significant for the start of a three-part story arc that continues over the following two books, GL #3 and #4. In these issues we learn about the parallel anti-matter universe of Qward, which also happens to be yellow in color and the ultimate origin or Sinestro's yellow power ring. We also learn about the evil inhabitants of that universe, the Weaponers of Qward. In the first of two stories, Green Lantern learns about the existence of Qward from an escapee and about its inhabitants' intentions to invade the Earth-One universe. The second story also holds great significance since it includes the first appearance of Thomas "Pieface" Kalmaku. In it, Hal Jordan finds out that his mechanic, Pieface, is returning to his native Alaska, and Green Lantern thwarts the efforts of a gang of crooks in finding a gold mine. Any thoughts from onlookers? Green Lantern #2 9.4 (1st Qward anti-matter universe. 1st Weaponers of Qward. 1st "Pieface".)

Here is the first, Showcase #24 8.5. It was published in January/February 1960 and features the third appearance of the Silver Age incarnation of Green Lantern in the Showcase title. It is a very difficult book to find in high grade, as evidenced as this 8.5 being the second highest grade. It includes two stories, the second of which is illustrated on the cover. In the first story, Green Lantern traces a spy ring to a museum after top secret plans are lifted from Hal Jordan's pocket. The second story is the better story and is also more significant. In it, Green Lantern battles a monster made of cosmic rays and discovers that even his ring seems useless against the yellow beams from the monster's eyes, reinforcing the notion that Green Lantern's ring is not effective against the color yellow. The cover of this book falls into one of my favorite types of early Silver Age covers which had 50's-style, nuclear-era giant monsters, similar to Green Lantern #8 and #34. Showcase #24 8.5 (Third Silver Age appearance of Green Lantern)

I figured I would share my Silver Age Green Lantern collection by posting a book every day or so, including descriptions of the story(ies) and significance(s) of each issue, and see how it is received by Green Lantern collectors and others who are interested. I would love to hear what others think about the book, its contents and why, in particular, they might like it. Enjoy...

That Green Lantern #45 is one of the most collected books in the Silver Age Green Lantern series, but interestingly, not a single 9.8 or even 9.6 have been "discovered". I've always been very intrigued by the absence of higher grades, especially since there isn't anything unusual or obvious about the cover that might lend itself to being difficult to find in higher grades. Needless to say, I'm still waiting for a copy that fits into my collection. I love the colors on that Green Lantern #39. They're so conflicted. Just another example of Gil Kane et al's brilliant cover art throughout the Silver Age on both GL and other titles. I'm still looking for a 9.4 or 9.8 to add to my collection (no 9.6s in the Census yet), so if you ever hear of anything... Congrats on the new pickups.

I am going for two reasons. The main reason is to just see what a comic convention is like since it's just a few miles away from me. And the San Diego Comicon is in July and that's also in my backyard, so I plan to go this year -- finally. The other reason is to look for books for my Silver Age Green Lantern collection. With two exceptions (#18 and #30), all of the books in my collection from GL #16 onwards are 9.6 or 9.8. Pre-#30 books in 9.2 and 9.4 would be great. Is there anything I can keep any eye out for you? Regardless, though, I know I will have a good time since it will be a new experience for me.

I'm going to my first comic convention this weekend, Wizard World LA. Anyone have any advice or words of warning? Can a collector find good books at places like this?