CGC Certifies the Spectacular Eric Groves Collection Ahead of ComicConnect Auction

An extraordinary collection of Golden Age comics, expertly assembled over decades by collector Eric Groves and graded by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®), is now available for bidding in a ComicConnect auction on February 23, 2026. The collection includes some of the most iconic key issues, first appearances and high-grade Golden Age grails!

“CGC is proud to have been entrusted with certifying and preserving these books,” said CGC President Matt Nelson. “In honor of Eric Groves’ lifelong passion for comics and the amazing collection he assembled, CGC has included ‘The Eric Groves Collection’ attribution on each label, ensuring that his legacy will not be forgotten.”

Groves spent nearly 55 years as a successful attorney in Oklahoma City, but his love for comics began at age five, clipping Sunday newspaper strips and laying them out on the living room floor so he could follow the story week to week. His father would give him a dime to buy comics such as Boy Comics at the drugstore. Popular comics such as Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon sparked a fascination that later defined how he collected comic books.

As an adult, Groves shared his expertise as a member of the Oklahoma Alliance of Fandom and an advisor to the Overstreet Comics Price Guide. In the late 1960s, he attended his first convention in Houston. Eric thrived in that environment, trading, buying and building relationships that would fuel his collection for the rest of his life.

His philosophy was simple and deliberate. “I may not pay what the others will pay, but I will come and pick them up.” That willingness to travel led him to collections across the country, often far from major markets. His focus remained squarely on the Golden Age of comics.

Among the many iconic issues in this amazing collection, Walt Disney Comics & Stories remained a personal favorite for Groves, along with Steve Canyon and Terry, The Spirit, Dick Tracy, Boy Comics and Little Lulu. When Eric passed away in July 2025, several of those books were found in a box beside his bed.

“One of the most impressive books in this collection is a legendary key issue, Detective Comics #1 graded CGC 8.5, which makes it the highest graded copy in the CGC Population Report,” Nelson said. “The quality of this rare, nearly 90-year-old comic is remarkable, with off-white to white pages and vibrant colors.”

Other highlights from the hundreds of books in this extraordinary collection include:

• an Amazing Fantasy #15 graded CGC 5.5
• a Blue Beetle #1 graded CGC 9.2
• a Captain America Comics #5 graded CGC 8.0
• a Flash Comics #1 graded CGC 6.5
• a Four Color Comics #16 (Mickey Mouse) graded CGC 7.5
• a Mystery Men Comics #1 graded CGC 8.5
• a Sub-Mariner Comics #1 graded CGC 6.5
• a Superboy #1 graded CGC 7.5
• a Victory Comics #1 graded CGC 9.4
• a Wonder Woman #1 graded CGC 7.5

Now expertly graded and encapsulated by CGC Comics, each book in the Eric Groves Collection has been carefully preserved to document its condition, authenticity and historical significance. CGC’s grading provides clarity and confidence for bidders while honoring the integrity of the collection Eric Groves built, allowing each book to continue its journey in the hands of those who value both preservation and history.

What began as a private, lifelong pursuit has now been transformed into a professionally protected collection, prepared to endure and be appreciated by future generations of collectors.

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services.

CGC is part of the Certified Collectibles Group, a global provider of expert and impartial authentication and grading services for collectibles. Since 1987, the Certified Collectibles Group companies have certified more than 100 million collectibles, including coins, banknotes, comic books, cards, autographs and stamps.