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Rating spec books
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354 posts in this topic

8 hours ago, the authority said:

Sometimes...rarely...but sometimes I regret selling all of my copies of a book. Especially when they’re in really nice shape. The Sensational She Hulk #40 AKA the jump rope issue is one of those books for me. 😝 

John Byrne was the artist and there is a well disguised naked jump rope scene that he drew to hilarious perfection. Byrne is a special guy anyway. His run on Fantastic Four was amazing. This is one of his and She Hulk’s more memorable books. I believe it will become more desired as it ages. 

 

Like I said, I have zero copies. 

Rating

raw NM = 6 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 7 out of 10

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The Vanity Fair cover (#34) has always been tough to find "in the wild" and always in demand.

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6 hours ago, Lazyboy said:

There's nothing to accept. Domino (the real Domino) appears in X-Force 8. Fact.

@Lazyboy Thanks. You’re correct that the real Domino does appear in this book in a flashback. I’m adding it here. We comic guys have lots of quirks. Different types of appearances are accepted as THE one to have in your PC. 

I still believe that #11 is THE book that most collectors have accepted as the book to own but that could also be due to the early Deadpool cover too.

Issue #8 isn’t overly expensive and for that reason, you can’t really go wrong here in my opinion.

I have lots of these copies in everything from VF up.

rating 

raw NM = 4 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 5 out of 10 ( one of these sold for $50 recently. Hard to go wrong here.

 

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Edited by the authority
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@RockMyAmadeus pointed out that The Sensational She Hulk #34 is also a nice addition and I agree. The Demi Moore Vanity Fair homage was a neat idea. John Byrne had a fun run on her book and really broke down the 4th wall with her books. A lot of people seem to think that started with Deadpool but Byrne spoke directly to us through her on a regular basis if I recall correctly. By the way, I’m not saying the 4th wall thing started with She Hulk because I don’t remember where it started. I do remember liking it when a writer acknowledged the audience.

I own 1 copy in probably VF/NM of this book. 

Ratings 

raw NM = 5 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 5 out of 10

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19 hours ago, Broke as a Joke said:

According to CGC, first full appearance and origin of Grail is Divergence FCBD 1.

@Broke as a Joke pointed out that CGC designates Divergence FCBD #1 as the Origin and 1st full Grail. That makes this book something to seek out and you might find it in the dollar bins. A nice find if you do. Very inexpensive spec book.

I own 2 NM+ copies of this book.

raw NM = 5 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 5 out of 10

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Next up we have Adam Legend of the Blue Marvel #1 though #5. He has appeared in the Mighty Avengers and probably the most superpowerwd Ultimates ever written. This series had pretty low distribution numbers which doesn’t hurt its long term potential. Issue #1 is the book to own but #2 through #5 aren’t exactly easy finds. I like them all.

I sold my only #1 and wish I hadn’t already. I own 1 each of #2-#4 and 3 copies in #5. All in roughly NM-

ratings 

#1

raw NM = 7 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 8 out of 10

#2 - #4

raw NM = 4 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 4 out of 10

#5

raw NM =5 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 5 out of 10

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Next is Gotham City Sirens #1. A teamup of Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn. In addition to that, I’m throwing in Harley Quinn #3 ( the best cover ) and Detective Comics #850 ( 1st time as a group ? )

For me it’s simple. Gorman City sirens #1 is the book to own. Others think differently and that’s why I’ve thrown in the other two books. Everyone has an opinion on these. 

The Hotman Coty Sirens has a variant cover that is the ultimate book to have of all of these.

I own 1 of each in NM

ratings

 

GCS # 1

raw NM = 7 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 8 out of 10

 

HQ #3 and DC #850

raw NM =6 out of 10

CGC 9.8 =6 out of 10

 

 

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Next up, 100 Bullets #1. Brian Azzarello is hit and miss with me. I’m not a huge fan of of his Superman or Batman books. I’m a die hard fan of 100 Bullets. He and Russo absolutely nailed it with one. What a great idea for a story and even though it’s been around forever, I don’t want to spoil it for new readers. This would make a wonderful TV series.

I own 1 NM copy

raw NM = 7 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 8 out of 10

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Next up, Southern Bastards #1 and #4. So I and a whole lot of other people got a little overzealous about Image books that came out between 2012 and 2014. Every book was potentially the NBT. Looking back, I ended up buying some  books strictly for resale and not because I wanted them for my PC. 

There were a few like Saga, East of West, Monstress, and this series that will always be a much loved part of my PC. Jasons  Aaron and Latour were perfect in every possible way. From the gritty and purposeful storytelling to the dingy, dirty, and red tinted art, this series was amazing. It’ll make you a little angry when you read it. 

To me, there is no comic better suited to cross over into a TV series than this one. The story centers around a very small group of people in a couple of small towns. It has near endless potential to expand from there. 

Ive lived in towns as small as a population of 40 or so people and lived in cities like Houston that seem endless. They all are both beautiful and maybe a little dangerous. Southern Bastards captures the dangerous and skips the pretty side of the Deep South.

issue #1 is where it all begins. There a a lot of variants on this one. The primary cover really stands out to me though there are variants worth owning. Issue #4 has two important events that take place so I think unlike most independent books where only #1 is the book to own, this one is nearly as important.

I own more than 10 issues of both books including some in CGC 9.8. I’m buying when people price them too cheap.

 

rating

#1 

raw NM = 5 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 6 out of 10

#4 

raw NM = 4 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 4 out of 10

 

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Speaking of Monstress, let’s talk about issue #1. It’s a good read with great art. That covers every issue in the series so far. It doesn’t look or feel like anything else on the shelves. 

Its a tough book in CGC 9.8. Its thick and the paper its printed on is pretty unforgiving when it comes to tics. 

This is a great book to own. If Disney somehow got their hands on it, it would become unaffordable but that is very unlikely. Still, someone might and who knows where it would go from there ? It’s worth buying if nothing outside of comics ever becomes of it. High quality storytelling. 

I own 2 NM copies of #1 and another set of #1 through #10. I’ve sold3 CGC 9.8. Wish I still had one of those. 

Rating

raw NM = 6 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 8 out of 10

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Star Wars Darth Vader #3 is the 1st appearance of Dr. Aphra. Talk about potential. She literally has it all. This book has a variant that is just scorching hot and later prints that are gorgeous. She has her own series that seemingly goes unnoticed despite having Ashley Witter covers. She also has 2 or 3 action figures. All of this without ever hitting the big screen. That’s why I’m in on this one.

i own 2 CGC 9.8 and sold 3 more of them. I also own at least 2 NM copies raw.

rating 

raw NM = 7 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 8 out of 10

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Not exactly high dollar stuff but X-men #25 and Wolverine #75 go hand in hand. I remember reading these the day they came out and being somewhat shocked at what happens. 

 

Wolverine always has been toughest of the tough guys and this proves it. The hologram covers were pretty cool and some collectors search out certain color holograms and pay premiums for them.

These are cheap but an important part of Marvel’s rich history. 

I own several of both and highly recommend them to any Wolverine and/or X-men fan.

ratings for both

raw NM = 4 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 5 out of 10

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Next in line is another personal favorite. Batgirl #12. This is a regular cover not a variant. Artgerm did the artwork and he made it as beautiful as can be while capturing the brutality involved in being a ground level hero in Batman’s world.

DC needs to figure out how to get get Batgirl into movies. I’ve been a fan of the character since Yvonne Craig played the role in the old Batman TV show. I’ve liked every version in between.

I own 2 NM copies. I sold 2 CGC 9.8.

rating 

raw NM = 8 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 8 out of 10

if this were a limited variant, it would be a 10 based on the cover alone in my opinion.

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Next up is Hulk #449, featuring the 1st appearance of the Thunderbolts. The team is a great and the Deodato ( love his stuff ) cover is super sharp. Everyone knows who these guys are now. When they 1st arrived on the scene, I doubt that any of us thought they’d have over a hundred issue run in their own series. Really nice book.

I own 1 NM- copy

rating

raw NM = 7 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 7 out of 10

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I’m going to be discussing some Michael Turner DC books later. I’d suggest buying any of them. He is extremely stylistic. He may not be everyone’s favorite but he has a pretty huge following.

So this is Witchblade #1. Not the 1st appearance of Witchblade but the biggest book I can think of in what I think of as Image’s 2nd wave. This was a wall book for the 1st year or two after it came out. Definitely makes me think of visiting my buddies at the comic shop. 

I own 0 copies of this book but I’m going to get it again in the near future. 

Rating 

raw NM = 5 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 5 out of 10

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You may be asking yourself, how have we come this far into the thread without mentioning Adam Hughes and Catwoman in the same sentence ? Wonder no more, the next 4 are 3 blue chip covers and one that should be in my opinion.

Issue #51 is THE Hughes Catwoman that will always the most love. Issues #70 and #74 are on equal footing in a tie for 2nd place while #46 has the most possible room for growth. 

Issue #46 reminds me of Sophie Turner who plays Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones. She wasn’t popular yet when this book came out. 

I own them all in NM- to NM.

ratings

#51

raw NM = 8 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 8 out of 10

the rest

raw NM = 6 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 7 out of 10

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Last group before a break. I’m a pretty big fan of Kevin Smith. Clerks was superb. His standup comedy is hilarious because he is one witty guy. He also feels like one of us. He is a comic book guy and was before it was popular to be one. 

I like his comics too and feel like a couple might be undervalued. The first is Daredevil #1 by him, Joe Quesada, and Jimmy Palmiotti. Three movers and shakers in the comic industry over the last two plus decades. This wa s a great read. Loved it. Still brings decent money but not what I’d expect. 

Green Arrow #1 is another one of his books that I enjoyed. I personally hadn’t cared about Oliver Queen for a long time outside of the JLA stuff. I was a Green Lantern /Green Arrow fan around the time Mike Grell was doing covers.

Green Arrow had some nice covers too. Loved the Quiver storyline. You can buy Green Arrow #1 for around $3 to $5. 

These are the kinds of books that you expect to always be cheap...until they aren’t anymore and you end up paying a premium because now someone else figured out it was great too. Such if the life of a comic guy or gal. I’ve learned many lessons. This is one of them.

Daredevil is more popular but the Green Arrow is way too cheap so opportunities in both of them.

I own at least 2 NM copies of each.

rating

Daredevil #1 and GA #1

raw NM = 7 out of 10

CGC 9.8 = 7 out of 10

 

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