Sunday, May 19, 2024
Scoop is a totally free e-newsletter, produced for the benefit of the friends who share our hobby!
Group1
Group2
Group3
Group4
Search
Carl De La Cruz followed an unlikely path to his current passion for
collecting comics. In fact, you could say that Laura Croft, Tomb Raider, lead
him there. Finding in childhood his love of the four-color world
accidentally reinvigorated, he discovered he really enjoyed searching for (and
finding) high-grade comics of various ages. Though a specialist in Bronze Age
and Modern Age comics, his interests have continued to widen. He was recently
named an advisor to The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.
The first comic I remember seeing was probably some Whitman/Gold Key Donald Duck and Scrooge Disney comics. I remember treating them like coloring books. The first I remember actually reading through, understanding and enjoying on a comprehensive level was Defenders #14 with Nebulon, Man from the Stars. I was 4 years old, so it must have been a back issue. My mom brought it home one day to help me read and to foster an interest in reading on my own. I'd work through the words and pictures. I loved the Hulk because of the currently popular TV show.
It took a long while to start collecting. I read Highlights and the daily comics in the paper. Collecting didn't really start until I was in 2nd grade and I traded some baseball cards for comics. Being a man of limited means at the time, barter was the popular form of currency on the school playground.
My first collecting experience happened when I accompanied my mother into a thrift shop and they had 5 - 10¢ comics in a bin. I went through them curiously and found myself more interested in the Marvel Comics. I picked up some more Defenders from that pile because I recognized the Hulk. I did pick up the Wolverine Limited Series when it hit the newsstands. My uncle used to take me with him grocery shopping and I was quickly bored and needed something to read. Comics were the answer! When I was in the 8th and 9th grades, Spider-Man caught my attention and the art of Todd McFarlane was captivating. His innovative artistic style was very appealing to a high school freshman. I tried recreating all my school art projects in that manner, but it came out terrible and I knew I had not one ounce of artistic talent. I collected comics on and off and not really heavily until 1989-1992; and it was all Marvel - Amazing Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man, Web of Spider-Man, X-Men, X-Factor, Iron Man, and Hulk (The McFarlane run of course). All I could afford at the time on summer or after school job earnings.
My sister and I collected the little Smurf figures since my mom would bring us one each every week. We play with them all the time. I collected GoBots and G.I. Joes as well. My sister collected Barbies but she got tired of them. Not fun collecting those with a big brother who always abducted Beach Babe Barbie to be hostage to terrorist Smurfs standing against G.I. Joe rescue teams.
Wolverine, Spider-Man, GI Joe, Transformers, and X-Men were cool among my group of friends. We all pretended or role-played as a Marvel character. Anyone wanting to be Superman or Batman was ostracized. Anyone wanting to be Aquaman or Plastic Man, we made sure played over with the other little girls. [Laughter]
When I come across my early favorites now, I still give them a once over, more for nostalgia's sake. I usually sit down and read my Defenders when I get a chance. It happens a lot when I'm sorting my “stock” and looking/pulling issues for an online customer or comic buddy. I'm always glad to see my books. If I didn't like them for one reason or another, I would never have bought them in the first place. I may end up selling off some of the ones I have extras of, or don't find as appealing/important as a my next goal, but it is always a good reminisce.
I drifted away from comics during high school. It was all part of growing up. Girls, sports, high school clubs, activities, then college and higher education that called and kept me from reading comics and enjoying. So I had a wonderful social life, got an education, met my wife, and got a job that same timeframe. All that time I was away from comics, I'd consider well spent.
But eBay brought me back. Thanksgiving of 1998, I proposed to my wife. I remember it well. That same year I was obsessed with the Phantom Menace hype and had to have all the toys. I went on eBay and learned how to bid. Unfortunately I won multiples of the same figures. I was intrigued by the varying prices achieved for the sales for the same item and correlated end price with factors like advertising, auction layout, feedback and service. My first few sales were very successful and I was hooked. I made a tidy profit on Phantom Menace figures, picking them up locally at a Toys R' Us as well and selling them for multiples or retail, all be cause they were “exclusives.” I was also into PlayStation games and constantly looking for deals on eBay on used games. I loved RPGs and fighting games but I played Tomb Raider almost all the time because my wife also enjoyed that particular game. It was something we could do and enjoy together. Then one day, as I was searching for Tomb Raider on eBay, a mislisted Tomb Raider comic comes across my search results. A Tomb Raider comic? I clicked on it and that's all she wrote. I met and interacted with some other collectors/sellers and got to talking comics and business. I met several great people who I've loved working with all over the world. Nothing better for a “newbie” like myself than networking and interacting with others in the business that can provide their viewpoints based on years of experience.
I really can't say much is different in my collecting nowadays; it's still collecting what I like. I'm more wary of comic condition when buying. I didn't care as much when I was younger, but even then I bagged and boarded. I also like to return business to sellers that do right by me. My eBay favorite sellers/stores list is full but consistent. And people reciprocate as well and come back my way when they want quality goods and service. I collect more along theme lines nowadays, rather than just mass accumulating. It's collecting with a purpose.
In my opinion, there is really no secret technique to finding high-grade comics. It is having a hypercritical eye for condition. And a magnifying glass and the proper lighting helps a lot in tracking these high grade down. It is also a boon to have a consistent supplier of high quality books. With modern comics, it is easier. Being essentially fresh of the presses, even with handling, new comics will come out of the case in NM. I use gloves, a magnifying glass to inspect the spine and corners, back and front of the comics and new supplies ( bags and boards) when sorting which books to submit. Then my insurance policy comes in: CGC PreScreening - submit en masse and have them make the call on grade. When I pre-grade books myself for a range of 9.8 and up, it just culls out the lower condition chaff and the books that make it to CGC are already close. They just make it official and more liquid for online sales.
There are currently 6 perfect 10.0 copies on Wolverine: Origin #1 on the CGC census and half of those came from my submissions. I know I was lucky to have these gorgeous copies, but I didn't know right off that they would have gotten 10.0s. I was just shooting for 9.8s. I had a mass submission pre-screened by CGC. I submitted 20 Origin #1s when the book first came out. Then another 60 copies, 3 weeks down the road and got my 10s that way the next summer. I thought this was an impossible grade to attain. I believe that improper storage, like a store rack display, heavily decreases the chances that your Origin #1 will fetch a perfect grade. I would have to say that with the cardstock covers, you see flaws more evident than you would with regular covers. There is spinal fraying along the very edge, showing white from wear. Opening a cardstock cover beyond a certain angle will cause a permanent alteration of the paper fibers, leaving a lasting impression easily detected. Also roller pinches were prevalent on this book on the top left and bottom right edges as well. They may not affect the grade by much but still is probably seen as a slight imperfection.
Independent grading has been a positive influence on the hobby. The arrival of CGC has forced dealers to reconsider their own grading in comparison to this industry giant who has increased the trust in the hobby and the liquidity of online comic sales. The premiums paid for high grade certified books are just side effects of this increased trust and there will always be people who are willing to pay the most for the best.
My buys range from Golden Age Jungle and Bondage covers to Marvel Bronze age Price variants to Marvel's Ultimate line. It is from talking with other collectors who share their passion for a genre that have allowed me to sample each and incorporate what appeals to me in my collecting. Some of my recent purchases from eBay or Heritage Comics Auctions include Amazing Spider-Man #23 CGC 8.0 Winnipeg pedigree, and several CGC 9.6 copies of Marvel Price variants stand out. I have never purchased a CGC 10.0 comic (I prefer to submit and “make” them myself!).
I'm starting to appreciate Golden Age Matt Baker covers and picking up Silver Age Marvel reading copies when I can find a bargain, but I still spend most of my time on Bronze and Modern books.
My Origin #1 CGC 10.0 is my pride and joy of the collection. My quickly amassed collection of Marvel Price Variants, (certified and uncertified, though inevitably all will be encapsulated in the near future), and my growing Defenders certified collection are also among my recent treasures.
Currently my focus is finishing my 30¢ Marvel Price Variant collection in highest grade/condition possible. I know where some of the ones I'm missing are, but they appear to be staying put for the time being.
e d u c a t o r s n a t i o n w i d e , i t t a r g e t s t h e
p e r f e c t a u d i e n c e f o r o u r o b j e c t i v e s . < b r > < b r > " I t i s r e w a r d i n g t o k n o w t h a t
s t u d e n t s a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y , i n c l u d i n g m y o w n a t P S 1 2 4 i n B r o o k l y n , a r e u s i n g
C . O . M . I . C . S . i n t h e i r c l a s s e s a n d h a v i n g g r e a t s u c c e s s . I h a v e h a d s o m e o f t h e
m o s t o u t s t a n d i n g r e s p o n s e s f r o m s t u d e n t s u s i n g t h e g u i d e , a n d r e a d i n g c o m i c
b o o k s , " s a i d D a n T a n d a r i c h . " H o w e v e r , t h e b e s t r e s p o n s e h a s c o m e f r o m m y
p r i n c i p a l w h o p r a i s e d m y s t u d e n t s ' p r o g r e s s b y d e c l a r i n g m e t h e ' C o m i c s K i n g '
a n d a s k i n g i f I w o u l d l i k e t o l e a d a p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t s e s s i o n f o r t h e
s c h o o l o n u s i n g c o m i c s t o t e a c h . " A n o t h e r g r e a t r e v e r s a l o f f a t e , s i n c e
p r i n c i p a l s h a v e b e e n t h e l e a d f o r c e i n d e n y i n g t e a c h e r s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o t e a c h
u s i n g c o m i c b o o k s . < b r > < b r > F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n C . O . M . I . C . S . g o t o o u r
E d u c a t i o n C e n t e r a t & l t ; A
H R E F = " h t t p : / / w w w . n y c c b m . o r g " & g t ; w w w . n y c c b m . o r g & l t ; / A & g t ; . Y o u c a n e v e n a c c e s s
t h e a r t i c l e s I ' v e m e n t i o n e d a n d u s e t h e m t o c o n v i n c e y o u r o w n n a y - s a y e r s o f t h e
v a l u e o f c o m i c s . < b r > < b r > E m a i l u s a t & l t ; A
H R E F = " m a i l t o : n y c c b m _ c o m i c s @ h o t m a i l . c o m " & g t ; n y c c b m _ c o m i c s @ h o t m a i l . c o m & l t ; / A & g t ;
i f y o u w a n t t o g e t C . O . M . I . C . S . i n y o u r s c h o o l ! < b r > < b r > U n t i l n e x t
t i m e . . . < b r > < b r > < i > T h i s i s a w e e k l y c o l u m n f r o m o u r f r i e n d D a v i d J a y G a b r i e l ,
E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r a n d F o u n d e r o f t h e N e w Y o r k C i t y C o m i c B o o k M u s e u m . Y o u c a n
f i n d o u t m o r e a b o u t t h e m u s e u m a t < / i > & l t ; A
H R E F = " h t t p : / / w w w . n y c c b m . o r g " & g t ; < i > w w w . n y c c b m . o r g < / i > & l t ; / A & g t ; < i > < b r > < b r > < / d i v >
< / b o d y >
< / h t m l >
l r e e n O ' S u l l i v a n < / b > i n
1 9 1 1 ; a c t o r / d i r e c t o r < b > D e n n i s H o p p e r < / b > i n 1 9 3 6 ; a c t o r s < b > B i l l P a x t o n < / b >
( " A p o l l o 1 3 , " T w i s t e r " ) i n 1 9 5 5 a n d < b > B o b S a g a t < / b > i n 1 9 5 6 ; b o x e r < b > " S u g a r
R a y " L e o n a r d < / b > i n 1 9 5 6 ; a n d A m e r i c a n s t a r s o c c e r p l a y e r < b > M i a H a m m < / b > i n
1 9 7 2 . < b r > < b r > < b > M a y 1 8 < / b > b a b i e s i n c l u d e E n g l i s h p h i l o s o p h e r a n d m a t h e m a t i c i a n
< b > B e r t r a n d R u s s e l l < / b > i n 1 8 7 2 ; G e r m a n a r c h i t e c t < b > W a l t e r G r o p i u s < / b > , f o u n d e r
o f t h e B a u h a u s , i n 1 8 8 3 ; f i l m d i r e c t o r < b > F r a n k C a p r a < / b > i n 1 8 9 7 ; A m e r i c a n
c o m p o s e r < b > M e r e d i t h W i l l s o n < / b > ( " T h e M u s i c M a n " ) i n 1 9 0 2 ; s i n g e r < b > P e r r y
C o m o < / b > a n d d i r e c t o r / s c r e e n w r i t e r < b > R i c h a r d B r o o k s < / b > ( " K e y
The first comic I remember seeing was probably some Whitman/Gold Key Donald Duck and Scrooge Disney comics. I remember treating them like coloring books. The first I remember actually reading through, understanding and enjoying on a comprehensive level was Defenders #14 with Nebulon, Man from the Stars. I was 4 years old, so it must have been a back issue. My mom brought it home one day to help me read and to foster an interest in reading on my own. I'd work through the words and pictures. I loved the Hulk because of the currently popular TV show.
It took a long while to start collecting. I read Highlights and the daily comics in the paper. Collecting didn't really start until I was in 2nd grade and I traded some baseball cards for comics. Being a man of limited means at the time, barter was the popular form of currency on the school playground.
My first collecting experience happened when I accompanied my mother into a thrift shop and they had 5 - 10¢ comics in a bin. I went through them curiously and found myself more interested in the Marvel Comics. I picked up some more Defenders from that pile because I recognized the Hulk. I did pick up the Wolverine Limited Series when it hit the newsstands. My uncle used to take me with him grocery shopping and I was quickly bored and needed something to read. Comics were the answer! When I was in the 8th and 9th grades, Spider-Man caught my attention and the art of Todd McFarlane was captivating. His innovative artistic style was very appealing to a high school freshman. I tried recreating all my school art projects in that manner, but it came out terrible and I knew I had not one ounce of artistic talent. I collected comics on and off and not really heavily until 1989-1992; and it was all Marvel - Amazing Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man, Web of Spider-Man, X-Men, X-Factor, Iron Man, and Hulk (The McFarlane run of course). All I could afford at the time on summer or after school job earnings.
My sister and I collected the little Smurf figures since my mom would bring us one each every week. We play with them all the time. I collected GoBots and G.I. Joes as well. My sister collected Barbies but she got tired of them. Not fun collecting those with a big brother who always abducted Beach Babe Barbie to be hostage to terrorist Smurfs standing against G.I. Joe rescue teams.
Wolverine, Spider-Man, GI Joe, Transformers, and X-Men were cool among my group of friends. We all pretended or role-played as a Marvel character. Anyone wanting to be Superman or Batman was ostracized. Anyone wanting to be Aquaman or Plastic Man, we made sure played over with the other little girls. [Laughter]
When I come across my early favorites now, I still give them a once over, more for nostalgia's sake. I usually sit down and read my Defenders when I get a chance. It happens a lot when I'm sorting my “stock” and looking/pulling issues for an online customer or comic buddy. I'm always glad to see my books. If I didn't like them for one reason or another, I would never have bought them in the first place. I may end up selling off some of the ones I have extras of, or don't find as appealing/important as a my next goal, but it is always a good reminisce.
I drifted away from comics during high school. It was all part of growing up. Girls, sports, high school clubs, activities, then college and higher education that called and kept me from reading comics and enjoying. So I had a wonderful social life, got an education, met my wife, and got a job that same timeframe. All that time I was away from comics, I'd consider well spent.
But eBay brought me back. Thanksgiving of 1998, I proposed to my wife. I remember it well. That same year I was obsessed with the Phantom Menace hype and had to have all the toys. I went on eBay and learned how to bid. Unfortunately I won multiples of the same figures. I was intrigued by the varying prices achieved for the sales for the same item and correlated end price with factors like advertising, auction layout, feedback and service. My first few sales were very successful and I was hooked. I made a tidy profit on Phantom Menace figures, picking them up locally at a Toys R' Us as well and selling them for multiples or retail, all be cause they were “exclusives.” I was also into PlayStation games and constantly looking for deals on eBay on used games. I loved RPGs and fighting games but I played Tomb Raider almost all the time because my wife also enjoyed that particular game. It was something we could do and enjoy together. Then one day, as I was searching for Tomb Raider on eBay, a mislisted Tomb Raider comic comes across my search results. A Tomb Raider comic? I clicked on it and that's all she wrote. I met and interacted with some other collectors/sellers and got to talking comics and business. I met several great people who I've loved working with all over the world. Nothing better for a “newbie” like myself than networking and interacting with others in the business that can provide their viewpoints based on years of experience.
I really can't say much is different in my collecting nowadays; it's still collecting what I like. I'm more wary of comic condition when buying. I didn't care as much when I was younger, but even then I bagged and boarded. I also like to return business to sellers that do right by me. My eBay favorite sellers/stores list is full but consistent. And people reciprocate as well and come back my way when they want quality goods and service. I collect more along theme lines nowadays, rather than just mass accumulating. It's collecting with a purpose.
In my opinion, there is really no secret technique to finding high-grade comics. It is having a hypercritical eye for condition. And a magnifying glass and the proper lighting helps a lot in tracking these high grade down. It is also a boon to have a consistent supplier of high quality books. With modern comics, it is easier. Being essentially fresh of the presses, even with handling, new comics will come out of the case in NM. I use gloves, a magnifying glass to inspect the spine and corners, back and front of the comics and new supplies ( bags and boards) when sorting which books to submit. Then my insurance policy comes in: CGC PreScreening - submit en masse and have them make the call on grade. When I pre-grade books myself for a range of 9.8 and up, it just culls out the lower condition chaff and the books that make it to CGC are already close. They just make it official and more liquid for online sales.
There are currently 6 perfect 10.0 copies on Wolverine: Origin #1 on the CGC census and half of those came from my submissions. I know I was lucky to have these gorgeous copies, but I didn't know right off that they would have gotten 10.0s. I was just shooting for 9.8s. I had a mass submission pre-screened by CGC. I submitted 20 Origin #1s when the book first came out. Then another 60 copies, 3 weeks down the road and got my 10s that way the next summer. I thought this was an impossible grade to attain. I believe that improper storage, like a store rack display, heavily decreases the chances that your Origin #1 will fetch a perfect grade. I would have to say that with the cardstock covers, you see flaws more evident than you would with regular covers. There is spinal fraying along the very edge, showing white from wear. Opening a cardstock cover beyond a certain angle will cause a permanent alteration of the paper fibers, leaving a lasting impression easily detected. Also roller pinches were prevalent on this book on the top left and bottom right edges as well. They may not affect the grade by much but still is probably seen as a slight imperfection.
Independent grading has been a positive influence on the hobby. The arrival of CGC has forced dealers to reconsider their own grading in comparison to this industry giant who has increased the trust in the hobby and the liquidity of online comic sales. The premiums paid for high grade certified books are just side effects of this increased trust and there will always be people who are willing to pay the most for the best.
My buys range from Golden Age Jungle and Bondage covers to Marvel Bronze age Price variants to Marvel's Ultimate line. It is from talking with other collectors who share their passion for a genre that have allowed me to sample each and incorporate what appeals to me in my collecting. Some of my recent purchases from eBay or Heritage Comics Auctions include Amazing Spider-Man #23 CGC 8.0 Winnipeg pedigree, and several CGC 9.6 copies of Marvel Price variants stand out. I have never purchased a CGC 10.0 comic (I prefer to submit and “make” them myself!).
I'm starting to appreciate Golden Age Matt Baker covers and picking up Silver Age Marvel reading copies when I can find a bargain, but I still spend most of my time on Bronze and Modern books.
My Origin #1 CGC 10.0 is my pride and joy of the collection. My quickly amassed collection of Marvel Price Variants, (certified and uncertified, though inevitably all will be encapsulated in the near future), and my growing Defenders certified collection are also among my recent treasures.
Currently my focus is finishing my 30¢ Marvel Price Variant collection in highest grade/condition possible. I know where some of the ones I'm missing are, but they appear to be staying put for the time being.
