n2wdw's Tales of the Comic Book Room 15 15

[n2wdw]

On 1/3/2019 at 5:51 PM, MrBedrock said:

Why do you suppose CBCS might be a little tougher when CGC  downgraded 40% of your submission of CBCS graded books?

You're right.  I got that backwards.  I just took another look at the CBCS crossover books, and in fact one of the books went up.  So 1 up, 2 down, and 2 remained the same. 

[n2wdw]

On 1/3/2019 at 5:57 PM, telerites said:

What does the comparison of grader notes look like?  I believe CBCS provides free notes and since you subbed to CGC, you have access to the notes.  Just curious how the detected defects compare.   And also what about PQ - stay the same?

PQ stayed the same

[n2wdw]

On 1/3/2019 at 5:35 PM, PeterPark said:

I'd be curious to see that list...

 

My list is mostly based on the list in the Amash book.  I've added a few based mostly on discussions here in the Baker Romance thread.  Also, I've added a few as I include reprints that have Baker art.

[telerites]

30 minutes ago, n2wdw said:

PQ stayed the same

Did you look at the notes by any chance to compare their findings especially on the ones that varied in grade?  

[n2wdw]

2 hours ago, telerites said:

Did you look at the notes by any chance to compare their findings especially on the ones that varied in grade?  

I haven't yet.  I've been busy as we're getting our house ready to sell.

[n2wdw]

2018 Year In Review - Completing Runs

I completed 2 major runs in 2018.  The first was Tomb of Dracula.  I completed this run in January with buys on this board of #3, 7 and 33 (for a total of $11).  That left only #1, so I decided to splurge for a nicer copy.

 

I also completed my Legion of Super-Heroes (LOS) collection.  I've been a big fan of the Legion since I was a little kid, and I've been collecting them all my collecting life.  I have complete runs of these series:

 

• Adventure Comics (1958; 247, 267, 282, 290, 293, 300-529)
• LOS Series 1 (1973; 1-4)
• Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes (1977; continues from Superboy; 231-258)
• LOS Series 2 (1980; continues from Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes; 259-313 + Annuals 1-3)
• Tales of the Legion (1984; continues from Series 2; 314-325)
• LOS Series 3 (1984; 1-63 + Annuals 1-4)
• LOS Series 4 (1989; 0-125, 1000000, Annuals 1-7)
• Legionnaires (1993; 0-81, 1000000, Annuals 1-3)
• LOS Series 5 (2005; 1-50)

 

Yes, I know there have been many series after Series 5 in 2005.  But at some point you have to stop, and I decided to let it go after Series 5.

But to top off the collection, I decided to get a copy of every appearance of the Legion prior to Superboy and the LSH #231.  This is the issue where the Legion became regulars in Superboy (and the title changed to include the Legion).

Here are all the appearances of the Legion prior to Superboy #231:

• Superboy 86, 98, 100, 147, 173, 176, 183, 184, 188, 190, 191, 193, 195, 197, 198 and 200-230 – becomes Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes with #231
• Action 276, 285, 287, 289, 290, 298, 309, 319, 331 and 377-392
• Superman 147, 149, 152, 155, 156, 157, 172, 173, 221, 295
• Superman’s Girl Friend Lois Lane 47, 50
• Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen 72, 76, 85, 100, 106, 117
• World’s Finest 142, 168

It actually wasn't hard to get these comics, as I already had most of them.  I got the last one from a sale here on the boards.  I'll close out this post by showing my copy of Adventure 247, the first appearance of the Legion.

 

 

[telerites]

7 hours ago, n2wdw said:

I haven't yet.  I've been busy as we're getting our house ready to sell.

Hopefully bigger comic room 

 

[n2wdw]

13 hours ago, szavisca said:

Oh man... the house where that amazing comic book room is?? That’s terrible.

No, that comic room -- the one you see here in pictures -- that's in the house we are moving to.  It's been our vacation home (it's close to the beach), and now it'll be our primary home, although we'll also have a small apartment close to where I work. 

The house we are selling is the one where we raised our kids.  But my youngest kid is a HS senior and will be going to college, so by September we'll be empty nesters.  So we are downsizing by selling this house.  I do have a comic room in the house we are selling, but I've mostly moved everything out.  Here are some pictures of that old comic room.

 

[n2wdw]

2018 Year In Review - Lady In White

2018 was a good year for my Lady in White collection.  As a recap, a few years ago @miraclemet put together a collection he called Lady In White.  Then after putting it together, he decided to sell it.   I remember reading with great interest his posts about putting the collection together, and then how sad I was when he decided to sell it (but of course I think we all understand wanting to change collecting direction from time to time).

Anyway, I decided to put together a Lady In White collection.  But what to call it?  Damsel In White?  Gothic Chicks?  Really, "Lady In White" was the best name.  So I PM'd Miraclemet, and he gave me permission to use the name "Lady In White."

To be in the set, the cover has to have a gothic feel to it, with a damsel in distress wearing a flowing white dress or gown.  The books have to be silver or gold, perhaps bronze, but definitely not modern -- although I'm rethinking this requirement.  For bronze and silver my threshold is at least 9.0.  I haven't decided yet for gold.  Again, I'm rethinking the 9.0 requirement.

As of this moment, I have 21 books in this collection.  Average grade is 9.4.  Average cost is $97.  The high I've paid is $200.  The low is $25.

But anyway, there are the Lady In White books I picked up in 2018.  I got a few others but they won't be back until later this year, so I'll report on them when I get them back from CGC.

 

[n2wdw]

Here are some random pictures of my comic room.

Edited January 19, 2019 by n2wdw

[comicjack]

Flash 123 is a favorite and have those JSA book ends which i love also 

[n2wdw]

Tomorrow is the big day.  We're moving the stuff out of our house to put it on the market.  That includes moving the rest of the stuff from my old comic room. 

Most of my collection is already in my new comic room -- that's the one I post pictures of here.  But I still have about 10 mag boxes that hold my magazine collection, and about 10 long boxes that hold my miscellaneous alphabet.  I'm moving this stuff to a storage unit, along with all the other things from our house that we want to keep but don't have room for in our beach house. 

Then on Tuesday the liquidation company is coming to clean out the rest of the house.  At that point we'll paint it and put in new carpeting, and put the house on the market.  This is the house we've lived in for almost 25 years.  Whew, big life changes.

I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned this here, but my wife and I also collect wine.  So as part of this move, we've got to move about 1500 bottles of wine.  That's something we'll tackle next month.

Below is a picture of the wine cellar in the house we're selling.  (My wife and I are way younger in the picture, and for me, thinner!)  I'm going to miss this wine cellar, but life goes on I guess.

 

Edited January 18, 2019 by n2wdw

[jimjum12]

6 hours ago, n2wdw said:

Tomorrow is the big day.  We're moving the stuff out of our house to put it on the market.  That includes moving the rest of the stuff from my old comic room. 

Most of my collection is already in my new comic room -- that's the one I post pictures of here.  But I still have about 10 mag boxes that hold my magazine collection, and about 10 long boxes that hold my miscellaneous alphabet.  I'm moving this stuff to a storage unit, along with all the other things from our house that we want to keep but don't have room for in our beach house. 

Then on Tuesday the liquidation company is coming to clean out the rest of the house.  At that point we'll paint it and put in new carpeting, and put the house on the market.  This is the house we've lived in for almost 25 years.  Whew, big life changes.

I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned this here, but my wife and I also collect wine.  So as part of this move, we've got to move about 1500 bottles of wine.  That's something we'll tackle next month.

Below is a picture of the wine cellar in the house we're selling.  (My wife and I are way younger in the picture, and for me, thinner!)  I'm going to miss this wine cellar, but life goes on I guess.

 

I knew you were a Gwen Stacy fan, but I had no idea that you actually married her, Mike..... way to go. GOD BLESS....

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

[mlansdown]

I'm looking forward to more photos of your comic book room and your latest comic book acquisitions.  This thread is how I originally found the CGC boards and rekindled my passion for old comic books.  

I hope your move goes well!

[n2wdw]

On 1/18/2019 at 9:42 PM, jimjum12 said:

I knew you were a Gwen Stacy fan, but I had no idea that you actually married her, Mike..... way to go. GOD BLESS....

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

Yep, my wife is my real life Gwen Stacy.

[n2wdw]

21 hours ago, mlansdown said:

I'm looking forward to more photos of your comic book room and your latest comic book acquisitions.  This thread is how I originally found the CGC boards and rekindled my passion for old comic books.  

I hope your move goes well!

Thanks for your kind words!  Lately I've been busy with the move so haven't posted much, but hope to start up again soon.

[n2wdw]

Report - Terry's Con 2019

It's amazing how much things change in a year.  Last year I was very much into going to Terry's con.  I stayed all day and spent tons of money (for me), and I picked up a bunch of great comics.

This year, my wife and I are in the process of selling our house.  Downsizing, as our last kid is going to college in September.  Packing and moving your keepsakes that you accumulated over 20 years -- while your kids grew up -- was ALOT of work.  Then we hired a cleaning company to clean up 20 years of cobwebs and dust.  Later this week, the painters come in to paint the entire house, then we get all new carpeting.  Hopefully by the end of Feb, the house will be on the market.

Whew.  Big life changes.  People ask if I'm sad to move.  If I'm sad to pack up all my kids' stuff.

No, not really.  Maybe a little melancholy.  Mostly though I'm excited.  This entire process is incredibly liberating.  I remember 25 years ago, when my wife and I had just gotten married, I talked to the mother of a friend.  She said there are 2 stages in life.  The accumulation phase, and the simplification phase.  I didn't really understand her then, but I understand her now.  My wife and I are definitely in the simplification phase of our lives.  With the kids gone, I want to get rid of this big house and move to the city for the last phase of my working career.  I want to walk or bike to work, and maybe sometimes take those fun scooters that are popping up all over the place.  I want to be able to walk down the street with the wife to bars, to restaurants, to clubs. 

And here's the thing about kids.  Yes, they are getting older and we don't see them as much, and that's a bad thing.  But they get more interesting as they grow.  You don't get the hugs and snuggles like when they were babies and children.  But they are turning into adults and that's really something to watch.  I think we have a few years before they start getting married and having kids.  That will be another new phase of our life.  I'm looking forward to that too, but I'm in no hurry (as long as the kids are happy).

I'm a collector by nature.  I have spent the last few years moving my comic collection to our little beach cottage.  Those are the pictures I post here.  That process is done.

I also collect wine.  At this moment, I have about 1600 bottles.  In my old house (the one we're selling), I have a temperature controlled wine cellar where I store the wine.  For the last 2-3 years, while getting ready for this life transition, the wife and I talked about what we would do with our wine.  One option was to store it with a wine company who offered such services, like Zachys.  But there are alot of drawbacks with that, which I won't go into here.  Another option was to buy wine refrigeration units -- again, they have their drawbacks. 

At the end of the day -- and we just made this decision this past summer -- my wife and I decided to build a temperature controlled wine cellar at our beach house.  So that's what I've been focusing on and why I couldn't really get into comics at Terry's con this year.  Our new wine cellar will have a small footprint.  About 10'x14'.  But, like my comic room, I've planned it out so it can hold about 2600 bottles of wine. 

Below's a picture of it.  We actually call it a "wine tower," somewhat reminiscent of the glass wine tower at Aureole in Vegas.  Hopefully, by the end of March, the wine tower will be finished and we'll have move all the wine over.  That'll be another adventure!

 

[HouseofComics.Com]

That is really cool!

[n2wdw]

My New Favorite Collectible -- Dave Stevens and Bettie Page

I got this from a seller on eBay.  It's a Topps card of Bettie Page by Dave Stevens, signed by Bettie Page.  This is special to me, because I learned about Bettie Page through Dave's Rocketeer series.  Both Dave and Bettie sadly died in 2008.  This is the only item I've ever seen where she signed something by Dave.  There are a few of these signed cards on the market.  Apparently, a friend of Bettie got her to sign some of these after the card was shown (maybe released) at a Glamourcon.

I bought this from a seller on eBay, as I mentioned above.  I sent it in to PSA.  They will authenticate signatures, and also grade the sig and the card.  I was very happy that her sig is authentic, and it got a perfect 10 grade (I've sent other things to PSA where they told me the sig was fake, but that's another story).  The card itself was just one step down, with a 9 grade.

I tried to get PSA to give Dave a credit on the label.  But I guess there wasn't enough room. 

So here's my new favorite item in my collection:

 

[Robot Man]

On 1/28/2019 at 8:19 PM, n2wdw said:

Report - Terry's Con 2019

It's amazing how much things change in a year.  Last year I was very much into going to Terry's con.  I stayed all day and spent tons of money (for me), and I picked up a bunch of great comics.

This year, my wife and I are in the process of selling our house.  Downsizing, as our last kid is going to college in September.  Packing and moving your keepsakes that you accumulated over 20 years -- while your kids grew up -- was ALOT of work.  Then we hired a cleaning company to clean up 20 years of cobwebs and dust.  Later this week, the painters come in to paint the entire house, then we get all new carpeting.  Hopefully by the end of Feb, the house will be on the market.

Whew.  Big life changes.  People ask if I'm sad to move.  If I'm sad to pack up all my kids' stuff.

No, not really.  Maybe a little melancholy.  Mostly though I'm excited.  This entire process is incredibly liberating.  I remember 25 years ago, when my wife and I had just gotten married, I talked to the mother of a friend.  She said there are 2 stages in life.  The accumulation phase, and the simplification phase.  I didn't really understand her then, but I understand her now.  My wife and I are definitely in the simplification phase of our lives.  With the kids gone, I want to get rid of this big house and move to the city for the last phase of my working career.  I want to walk or bike to work, and maybe sometimes take those fun scooters that are popping up all over the place.  I want to be able to walk down the street with the wife to bars, to restaurants, to clubs. 

And here's the thing about kids.  Yes, they are getting older and we don't see them as much, and that's a bad thing.  But they get more interesting as they grow.  You don't get the hugs and snuggles like when they were babies and children.  But they are turning into adults and that's really something to watch.  I think we have a few years before they start getting married and having kids.  That will be another new phase of our life.  I'm looking forward to that too, but I'm in no hurry (as long as the kids are happy).

I'm a collector by nature.  I have spent the last few years moving my comic collection to our little beach cottage.  Those are the pictures I post here.  That process is done.

I also collect wine.  At this moment, I have about 1600 bottles.  In my old house (the one we're selling), I have a temperature controlled wine cellar where I store the wine.  For the last 2-3 years, while getting ready for this life transition, the wife and I talked about what we would do with our wine.  One option was to store it with a wine company who offered such services, like Zachys.  But there are alot of drawbacks with that, which I won't go into here.  Another option was to buy wine refrigeration units -- again, they have their drawbacks. 

At the end of the day -- and we just made this decision this past summer -- my wife and I decided to build a temperature controlled wine cellar at our beach house.  So that's what I've been focusing on and why I couldn't really get into comics at Terry's con this year.  Our new wine cellar will have a small footprint.  About 10'x14'.  But, like my comic room, I've planned it out so it can hold about 2600 bottles of wine. 

Below's a picture of it.  We actually call it a "wine tower," somewhat reminiscent of the glass wine tower at Aureole in Vegas.  Hopefully, by the end of March, the wine tower will be finished and we'll have move all the wine over.  That'll be another adventure!

 

That's really something Mike.  Wouldn't it just be easier to drink a lot real fast or just have a big party?