n2wdw's Tales of the Comic Book Room 15 15

[n2wdw]

Here's a modern Baker for you.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 4, 2018 by n2wdw

[n2wdw]

Dave Stevens

This post is about Modern comics rather than Silver or Gold, but it's about the late great Dave Stevens so hopefully you'll bear with me.  To me, my biggest collecting milestone in 2017 was taking over the top spot in the Dave Stevens Covers registry set. 

If you want to compete in this set, you must have 3-D Zone 16 in CGC 9.8.  But, while it's kind of pricey, it's not rare or hard to get on eBay.  I actually got my copy on C-Connect (or maybe it was C-Link, I don't remember).  I also have a bunch of raw copies that I bought for grading purposes before getting the graded copy.  One or two might grade out at 9.8 but neither is a slam dunk so they sit in mylar with an acid free board in my "Dave Dups Box."

 

Here's my only 9.9 Dave Stevens comic.  And what a comic, right?  If a 10.0 of anything Stevens ever hits the market I will be all in and I * WILL * NOT * BE * DENIED!

 

I went directly to the publisher for this Sirens.  He had a few uncirculated boxes in his basement.  I bought about 5 copies and he agreed to pick the best ones.  One came back 9.8 and another 9.6.  I have the others in the Dups box.

 

Here's maybe my rarest Stevens comic -- rare only because I've never seen another copy. 

 

This is of course the same cover of Cheval Noir 1.  My copy is only 9.6.  There's a 9.8 on eBay right now but at $300 it's too rich for me.

 

Finally, here's maybe my most treasured Stevens' comic, Cheval Noir 7.  It's autographed by Dave, and his signature is verified by the other company.  Look, I love CGC and I use them exclusively as my grading company.  I've never submitted anything to any other company except this book.  Because, this is a service that CGC doesn't offer -- to verify signatures, as opposed to (what CGC does) certify creators signing books.  Although, this is probably a small market so I can see why CGC doesn't do it.  But I wish CGC would add this service so I can add books like this to my registry sets.

[comicparadox]

51 minutes ago, n2wdw said:

 

IBTL

Edited January 4, 2018 by comicparadox
Very nice Cheval Noir 7

[Robot Man]

Awsome stuff Mike. I really miss Dave. I used to know him pretty well when he lived in LA. I could tell you lots of stories. One day while at his place, we were in his studio and there was a trash can full of sketches. I pulled a couple out and asked if I could have a couple of them. He flew into a tizzy and told me to put them back because "they wern't finished". I swear, these were beautiful. I can't imagine anyone not blowing their mind looking at them. He actually burned them in the fire place.

Dave was a real good looking guy and always seemed to have a different new lady friend. But actually, he was really a geeky comic book nerd. He never really thought he was a good as his idols like Kirby and Alex Schomburg. He was every bit as humble as he was talented. He was taken way too soon.

It's great you got a nice signed book. I have many he signed over the years. None are "verified" but each one is precious to me.

Before he passed away, he gave me these two old toys because he knew how much I appreciated them. I have no proof, but I know. If you are a Dave Stevens collector, you will recognize the silver rocket sled as a prop on one of his books.

[n2wdw]

On 1/3/2018 at 9:54 PM, Robot Man said:

Awsome stuff Mike. I really miss Dave. I used to know him pretty well when he lived in LA. I could tell you lots of stories. One day while at his place, we were in his studio and there was a trash can full of sketches. I pulled a couple out and asked if I could have a couple of them. He flew into a tizzy and told me to put them back because "they wern't finished". I swear, these were beautiful. I can't imagine anyone not blowing their mind looking at them. He actually burned them in the fire place.

Dave was a real good looking guy and always seemed to have a different new lady friend. But actually, he was really a geeky comic book nerd. He never really thought he was a good as his idols like Kirby and Alex Schomburg. He was every bit as humble as he was talented. He was taken way too soon.

It's great you got a nice signed book. I have many he signed over the years. None are "verified" but each one is precious to me.

Before he passed away, he gave me these two old toys because he knew how much I appreciated them. I have no proof, but I know. If you are a Dave Stevens collector, you will recognize the silver rocket sled as a prop on one of his books.

That's really an amazing story RM, thank you for sharing.  How lucky you are for knowing him.  I met Dave only once.  It was at a SDCC, and he was looking frail.  He signed his sketch book for me, and said hello, and that was it.  Nothing monumental, but I remember it, and looking back I regret not chatting with him more (talking in real life to people is not one of my strong points). 

[n2wdw]

Sunday Dinner

Here's on tap for dinner on Sunday.  Forget football, forget comics, who cares if I've got this in front of me.  I plan to start with a martini with olives, and then a good Cali cab. 

 

[jimjum12]

51 minutes ago, n2wdw said:

Sunday Dinner

Here's on tap for dinner on Sunday.  Forget football, forget comics, who cares if I've got this in front of me.  I plan to start with a martini with olives, and then a good Cali cab. 

 

Is that the one in the Baltimore ? GOD BLESS...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

[n2wdw]

1 hour ago, jimjum12 said:

Is that the one in the Baltimore ? GOD BLESS...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

We're going to the one in Reston VA.  You have to be in their Landry club for this deal, which is like their frequent flyer miles.

[Tri-Color Brian]

I have a small Dave Stevens collection...48 comics...and while i love the Cheval Noir 7 cover, I have to think this one is my favorite...and I checked my 3-D Zone book, and it isn't a 9.8...

The non-9.8...I'm glad i don't care about competing...

Edited January 6, 2018 by Tri-ColorBrian

[n2wdw]

I'd be hard pressed to name my favorite Stevens cover.  3-D zone is right up there.  So is WOW 2.  I got this on-site graded at WW Philly about 3 years ago.  It was my first experience with on-site grading.  I was kinda surprised it came back 9.8.  It made me wonder if maybe the standards of on-site grading is a little lax, not on purpose, but just because of the rush to get things graded.  Or maybe CGC is just stricter now, as my last couple Modern invoices (not on-site) have been somewhat disappointing with the grades coming back.

 

Also love DNAgents 24.  This comic is an example of the obsession of collecting.  I bought a 9.6 and then within a week this 9.8 hit eBay so I bought it too.  Fortunately, a few years later, I was able to use the 9.6 as part of a trade.

 

My biggest fail in terms of grading is Moviestar News.  I've never been able to find a high grade copy.  This is my best copy so far.  I've got a few raws in my Dups box and probably will get more as I try to upgrade to 9.8.

 

Edited January 6, 2018 by n2wdw

[n2wdw]

GGA In Latest CGC Invoice

In my latest CGC invoice I got back some GGA comics (what else?).  First up is a dastardly bondage comic, Planet 30.  I bought it deslabbed, and unfortunately it dropped a grade from 6.0 to 5.5.  Oh well, what can you do?  Just proves again that there's subjectiveness in grading.

 

The next one is another dastardly bondage comic, the classic hanging cover in Rangers 38.  I looked around a while for a nice copy of this comic.

 

One of my favorite GGA covers is the Molly O'Day one-shot.  So, where did Molly hide those 2 guns in that dress?

 

The last 2 is a Venus, and finally a Baker (one of those full cover romantic covers with limited lettering).  The DS took a hit because of a frail spine, but the cover presents well so it works for me.

[Ricksneatstuff]

That is very interesting on that Planet 30 drop.  The 6.0 was unpressed- so it was de-slabbed and pressed and went to 5.5 and went from White to OW/W. 

Definitely some subjectivity in the process.

[n2wdw]

37 minutes ago, Ricksneatstuff said:

That is very interesting on that Planet 30 drop.  The 6.0 was unpressed- so it was de-slabbed and pressed and went to 5.5 and went from White to OW/W. 

Definitely some subjectivity in the process.

I think CGC's grading has been tougher lately. 

[Ricksneatstuff]

Just now, n2wdw said:

I think CGC's grading has been tougher lately. 

See, I kind of agree with that sentiment a little more than "old label goodness", implying grading was stricter then. My thought process is the more things you see over a period of time you tend to become more critical and refined in your taste. For instance, when I was 10 I would have liked Ponderosa steak. Now, I need Morton's or Ruth's Chris or I gotta spit it out. I liked Fruit of the Loom when I was a kid- now only Persian silk boxers- OK, I am getting a little carried away . The point being, I think if anything grading gets a little tighter over time- for that individual grader- rather than looser.

Of course, I could be wrong. 

[n2wdw]

6 minutes ago, Ricksneatstuff said:

... when I was a kid- now only Persian silk boxers-

Okay, a little bit TMI

But I agree with what you're saying.

Edited January 6, 2018 by n2wdw

[Yorick]

On 1/6/2018 at 9:40 AM, n2wdw said:

That is a fine grade for this book!  Congrats!

[n2wdw]

On 1/7/2018 at 4:44 PM, Yorick said:

That is a fine grade for this book!  Congrats!

Thanks!  I'm just happy to have a copy.

[n2wdw]

New Addition to the Lady In White Collection

I got this from Lone Star.  They had a 9.6 and a 9.4, which is pretty amazing for a 1979 magazine.  I saved money for Terry's con by going with the "undercopy."

 

Edited January 10, 2018 by n2wdw

[comicjack]

1 minute ago, n2wdw said:

Thanks!  I'm just happy to have a copy.

And that is how it should be,just be happy to have a copy 

[n2wdw]

New Comic Room Pictures

This weekend, the wife and I went to our beach house.  This is where I have my comic room, so I was able to add and organize my new additions.  One thing I did was move the big Supergirl print.  Now you can see my Lady Mechanika collection, which I keep on the top shelf on this picture.

 

Here's the flat screen TV that's under the LM shelf.  I bought a new sound bar for the room.

 

Here's the Supergirl print, which I put Upstairs.  This is in front of Toys (if you're looking at the map on page 1 of this journal).

 

Recently I finally got Gerber's Marvel guides (Vols. 3 and 4), so I've completed that little part of my collection.

 

I'm also working working on completing my collection of the EC Library.  Here are 4 sets I've gotten recently on eBay, that's in the Nook (again, see the map on page 1). 

 

Here are a couple more pictures of the Nook.