By Terrence J. Brady
DECEMBER 2003
Attention K-Mart shoppers!
Christmas season approaches and don't have enough money to buy your
loved ones the presents they deserve? Need to find extra sources of cash
or figure how to better budget your finances?
Well, look no further, 'cause I have the perfect gift that will help you
save thousands of dollars, yet still allow you to obtain mounds of
slabbed comic books -- at a fraction of the cost. Sound too good to be
true?
Here's the story ... I roll out of bed last Sunday, flop directly onto
the couch and power up the tube. Surfing through the land of cable, I
stop on one of those infomercials. (Football doesn't start for a few
hours, so I got time to kill). Anyhow, here's a nifty product... the
Tilia FoodSaver Vac 800.
So, they're showing how their machine works by sealing up leftover fish,
strawberries, Spider-Man #3, cauliflower, pickled bee... huh?
Spider-Man, did you say?? Yes, indeed. Here they are -- vacuum-sealing a
copy of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #3 with the FoodSaver Vac 800!! I almost fell
off the damn couch in disbelief.
I started thinking .... who needs the CGC when you can vacuum pack your
own books in the privacy of your home? Not only does this device store
your comics in a 5-layer bag but the vacuum suction is so strong, it can
crush an empty can of Coke! Can you do that CGC?
Yes, the Tilia FoodSaver Vac
800. Helps to diminish those expensive CGC slabbing fees PLUS
makes six-month-old sushi taste like it was just caught yesterday.
Mmmmmmmmm....
Okay. Onto this month's inductees and boy, do we have some serious turkey
leftovers for you. First up is my personal favorite of the month....
Uncanny X-Men #266 - Mint 9.9
Price: $1120.00
Non-slab price: $20 - $40
Seller states: "This is your chance to own a moment of history. If the
rumors of Gambit appearing in X3 are true, this issue could be your
retirement fund!"
Retirement fund? Sure, pal. And if ya pull my other leg, it plays "Jingle
Bells."
With 39 bids, I watched in disbelief as this book shot through the
stratosphere. Besides featuring the 1st appearance of GAMBIT (Aug '90),
the second selling point was it being billed a mint 9.9 (just one of
two) - with zero 10.0's in existence. A year or five from now, I have a
feeling that figure might change, don't you?
Going to back to GAMBIT ... Yes, an X3 flick is slowly starting to
generate some buzz but we're looking at 2006 for a release date as other
Marvel films take precedence. Will GAMBIT be in X3? Who knows - but even
if he is or isn't, the X-universe has hundreds of characters (all with their
own first appearances). So, if you want to be on the safe side on that
retirement fund, why not buy up EVERY single 1st X-appearance? (But
better hurry 'cause ya have less than three years!)
Thanks to James K. (who was the first of several readers) for submitting
this X-travagant auction to the hall.
Next Men # 21 - NM/M 9.8
Price: $275.00
Non-slab price: $15 - $25
John Byrne had a brief but healthy success with his Dark Horse series
NEXT MEN; 1992 - 1994. Unfortunately, the series went on hiatus (after
issue 30) leaving many a disappointed JB fan.
While the series enjoyed a loyal following, these books have never been
on anyone's "hot-list" for collectibles that'll make a truck load of
money. But then, there's always the exception.
In December '93, NEXT MEN #21 featured the 1st appearance of Mike
Mignola's HELLBOY and now, ten years later, it's finally getting the
recognition it deserves. How dare dealers sell this comic for cover
after a decade? Surely its worth more if we slab it and get a fancy 9.8
grade from the CGC, yes?
Well, some poor soul got duped (or is a really BIG fan of the World's
Greatest Paranormal Investigator) but now that a Hollywood feature is
coming (4/2/04), many are trying to cash in (once again) on the
comics-to-film promise of big returns on their investments.
NEXT MEN #21. It has finally reached the limelight. To get it there, it
only took an incarnation from hell, Hollywood and the CGC. (Feel free to
insert joke here). Thanks [mate] to Vinne B. of Perth, Australia for
submitting.
JLA/Avengers #2 - Mint 9.9
Price: $61.95
Non-slab price: cover
I know what you're thinking: "Didn't I just see this in the store last
month?"
Yes, you did - but not for long. The second issue of this four-parter is
quickly selling out as the much anticipated cross-over between two comic
giants finally arrives.
I know what you're thinking again: "Didn't they already do this
cross-over?"
No - though it sure does seem that way. Allow me to explain ..... Many
moons ago, DC & Marvel put out a handful of inter-company x-overs (ex:
SUPERMAN vs. SPIDER-MAN). Discussion then arose to pit their two
greatest super teams in one book and the legend of JLA vs. AVENGERS was
created. Fan-fave George Perez was slated to draw, with Gerry Conway
picking up the writing chores.
Jim Shooter (CEO of Marvel at the time) pulled the plug stating he
wasn't happy with the way the project was headed and Perez, who had
already completed 22 pages, put his pencils away and the project faded
into oblivion. Over the next decade, rumors of renewing the project
appeared from time to time but nothing materialized. In the meantime,
new x-overs appeared. Some were mediocre, at best, and others downright
lame.
During the '90s, we were subjected to the DC vs. MARVEL miniseries (where
readers voted for the winners of specific battles) and then, there was
"Amalgam Comics." This latest x-over concept featured one-shots where DC
& Marvel characters were merged into one; such as LEGION OF GALACTIC
GUARDIANS 2099. Later, other one-shots emerged (FANTASTIC FOUR/ SUPERMAN
and GREEN LANTERN/ SILVER SURFER - to name two). Sure, it was a novelty
but where's JLA/ AVENGERS?? Enter Quesada.
When JQ took over the Marvel reins, he revived the long lost dream. Kurt
Busiek and Mark Waid were going to co-write the book with Perez handling
the art. Once again corporate nonsense came into play, Waid went to
CrossGen Comics, etc., etc. -- but, the deal was eventually sealed. The
x-over in the making since Reagan was in office had finally arrived.
Written by Busiek and artwork by Perez, each issue is 48 pages jammed
pack with action and retails for 5.95 (US). While there's puh-lenty of
copies printed, some may horde this mini-series by the pallet and create
a false sense of supply/demand. Don't fall into this trap. DC/Marvel
knew this series would be ultra-hot and wouldn't cut back on circulation
numbers just so a few speculators can get rich with inflated CCG copies.
If you don't get your hands on the first print at cover price, I'm sure
we'll see either a second printing or, at the very least, a trade
paperback in the near future. Thanks to Adam J. of Minneapolis, MN for
submitting.
Want to know how you can become part of the CGC H.O.S.? Just
follow these simple rules: (1) The comic must be Modern Age - 1980 to
the present. No Gold or Silver Age books please. (2) The comic must be
from an on-line auction house; like eBay. (3) The comic must be CGC
graded and fetch a minimum winning bid of 10X Overstreet Guide. Please
included your first name and last initial with your city/state (or
city/country).
Finally, I want to wish all my readers a safe and joyous holiday season.
If you have little ones that you need to buy gifts for this season but
not sure what to get, then perhaps you might take a gander at this 2000
article, 'Tis The Season; written by yours
truly. As you'll see, comic books are more than just something we can
stick in a sealed bag and store away for our "retirement."
See you in the new year and remember .... spread some of that
Good-Will-To-Men during this holiday season! Peace.
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