ArtisticallyChill

While on vacation in San Diego and attending the San Diego Comic-Con, my friend, Yul, picked up a 9.8 CGC (Certified Guarantee Company) graded comic. The comic was a 1st print issue of Uncanny X-men, Vol. 1 # 266. This issue was the first full appearance of Gambit. He got it at a good price too. He talked the dealer down from $400 and paid only $300. Yes, three hundred dollars.

Since then, I’ve wondered about whether or not to go through some of my older comic books and getting them graded at Chicago Comic-Con. Rummaging through the boxes containing comic books from the 20th century, I found a few first issues of a few series I never ended up collecting. I found a few older comics from when I used to send for them in the mail, having sent actual money in mail, then I got caught by my parents because apparently your not suppose to do this. Then I found a few of the comics I picked while I was in the Marines. One of those comics was The Witchblade Vol. 1 # 1, 1st printing, published by Top Cow and signed by Michael Turner. This comic was co-created by Michael Turner and features his artwork on the cover and the interior pages. Before this, Michael had only done background illustrations for Top Cow titles. The comic was also signed and I remember paying $10 for this at the local comic book store outside of Camp Pendleton, in Oceanside, California. And since then, after reading it nearly 14 years ago, I’ve had it bagged and boarded. So, I figured this comic would be the first one I would get graded.

So I swung by the CGC booth at Chicago Comic-Con, nervous at thought of someone else handling my comic book, and dropped off my Witchblade comic book to be graded. The following day I picked up my newly CGC graded Witchblade # 1 and was surprised at the result:

A 9.8 (out of 10)! That’s amazing considering how long I’ve had this comic nearly 14 years and that I’ve managed to keep it safe from the elements and transport from California to Illinois.

After showing Serena my newly CGC graded comic, she decided to get her copy of Wonderful Wizard of Oz # 1 also graded, but not before getting it signed by Skottie Young. For the CGC Signature Series, the signature must be witnessed by a CGC rep or have the rep go get the signature for you. The graded comic is also distinguished by the yellow colored grade banner. So I dropped off the comic book and picked it up at the end of the show on Sunday:

Another thing I’d like to point out is that the folks at the CGC booth were very nice and helpful. They addressed all my questions and also gave me some great tips in what to look for when deciding whether or not a comic book is worth grading.

I wonder what some of my older comic books would grade at. Not all of them look like they would score above a 9.0. I actually have a comic book from 1986, it’s still bagged and boarded but I can tell it’s seen better days. But I was 9 when that comic and didn’t know any better. But there are a few worth giving a second look. Who knows, maybe there will be another one worth getting graded that will be worth more in the future.

~ LoneWolf

With the insanity of the week about half passed, I was looking forward to my visit to the comic book store, last night. I was bit bummed that Serena wasn’t with me, and Keith and some of the crew asked me where she was. I explained what had been going on and they told me to give their condolences to Serena the next time she called me. I stayed for bit, not wanting to rush home right away. I need some time out of the apartment and to be surrounded with good peoples. So I hung out while a few other regulars were playing what sounded like a Babylon 5 card game. Keith, Mickey and I watched some biopic in which a young Jon Favreau plays Rocky Marciano. Then the lady from Mario’s Pizza came in saying that she had to close early and left us some free slices of pizza. I had a generous slice of sausage pizza finished the movie and then called it a night. I’m a bit behind on reading since I haven’t had time to read much of last week’s pull. Hopefully, I’ll be able to start reading again when this week is over and done with.

• ANGEL: NOT FADE AWAY # 1
• AZRAEL: DEATH’S DARK KNIGHT # 3
• BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL # 29
• BOOSTER GOLD # 20
• DEADPOOL: SUICIDE KINGS # 2
• FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: ESCAPE # 1
• GENEXT: UNITED # 1
• GREEN LANTERN CORPS # 36
• ORACLE: THE CURE # 3
• SECRET SIX # 9
• TITANS # 13
• TRINITY # 50
• THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ # 6
• WOLVERINE # 73
• X-FACTOR # 43

PICK OF THE WEEK: THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ # 6

COVER BY: SKOTTIE YOUNG
WRITER: ERIC SHANOWER
PENCILS: SKOTTIE YOUNG
INKS: SKOTTIE YOUNG
COLORED BY: JEAN-FRANCOIS BEAULIEU
LETTERED BY: JEFF ECKLEBERRY

THE STORY:
Now that the Wicked Witch is dead, Dorothy possesses the Witch’s magic—including the Winged Monkeys. But how did the Winged Monkeys first become magical slaves? The answer involves a powerful sorceress’s love for a mortal boy and her eternal revenge for a practical joke. Then discover the dreadful truth of the Wizard of Oz’s secret identity. All Dorothy’s hopes of returning home teeter on the brink of annihilation.

EPIC FAIL OF AN ISSUE: WOLVERINE # 73

So I look at the issue and ask Keith, “Wait a minute, did I miss the OLD MAN LOGAN story arc finale?” He says ‘No.’ Apparently with the release of the X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE movie (another EPIC FAIL), Marvel wanted to release a Wolverine comic that has a story in the present time-line of Wolverine instead of releasing the conclusion of OLD MAN LOGAN since it takes place in the future. With the finale already running late, Marvel thought it would be best to just skip issue # 72 (which is reserved for the finale) and put out issue # 73 as well as do more reprints of the OLD MAN LOGAN issues tease us even more that the finale isn’t on the shelves yet. I feel like # 73 was put together sloppily and is just something to throw out there since they had to release a Wolverine issue. To make it even worse, it introduces to two separate stories. The damn comic book isn’t even a complete comic book! They crammed the start of two stories that could have easily been stand alone issues or one-shots (which Marvel has no problem crapping out, especially with Wolverine). It’s times like these that I really ask myself, “Why do I even bother with Marvel’s BS anymore?”

~ LoneWolf

Braving the cold, I met up with Serena at the comic book store after she got off work. When we called for the next Dial-A-Ride, they said they wouldn’t be able to pick us up til 9pm. So rather than wait around for 2 more hours and possibly go broke impulse buying (I now want the Ami Com PVC Statues), Keith asked one of our friends to give us a ride home. Hopefully, I’ll have a car by early next week before our next trip to the comic book store!

• BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL # 25
• BOOSTER GOLD # 16
• DEADPOOL # 6
• FINAL CRISIS # 6 (OF 7)
• GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY # 16
• GREEN LANTERN CORPS # 32
• NIGHTWING # 152
• NO HERO # 2
• RUNAWAYS: PRIDE & JOY PREMIERE HC
• SOULFIRE: SHADOW MAGIC # 2
• TITANS # 9
• TRINITY # 33
• THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ # 2
• X-INFERNUS # 2

MY PICK OF THE WEEK: FINAL CRISIS # 6

Written by Grant Morrison; Art and covers by J.G. Jones and Carlos Pacheco and Jesus Merino
As the entire world turns against them, the last of Earth’s Super Heroes must face the unstoppable power of the Gods of Apokolips for the final time. Supergirl vs. Mary Marvel! Superman vs. Darkseid! The fate of the Flash! And the incredible return of the New Gods! The End of Days has come and the ultimate war between good and evil will at last be decided on the battlefield of a broken world!

And as the skies bleed, as the walls between universes crumble and fall, the ultimate threat to life makes its presence felt as an evil beyond imagining arrives to claim its prize. Mandrakk the Dark Monitor is coming and the DC Multiverse will never be the same again!

SERENA’S PICK OF THE WEEK: THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ # 2

COVER BY: SKOTTIE YOUNG
WRITER: ERIC SHANOWER
PENCILS: SKOTTIE YOUNG
INKS: SKOTTIE YOUNG
COLORED BY: JEAN-FRANCOIS BEAULIEU
LETTERED BY: JEFF ECKLEBERRY

THE STORY:
Double origin issue! Find out how both the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman came to be. Romance and dismemberment, spontaneous life and evil spells—this issue has all sorts of surprises. Plus, you’ve never seen a Cowardly Lion before like Skottie Young’s big bashful ball of fur! Join young Kansas farm girl Dorothy on the road through the Land of Oz as she collects companions with severe identity issues.

~ LoneWolf