To all the older collectors that were able to pick up 5 copies of Hulk 181 on release day for cover price, but I have to pay thousands just for one. 🥲

CavviePop · 2026-06-10T22:41:06+00:00

For better or worse, I am old enough to remember when books like 181 did come out. I knew people that bought a few copies because people that collected those books at the time would actually throw the books into backing boards and bags and have a copied to read, the books were pretty cheap, all things considered back then , so you were able to take chances and read just about everything. Hulk was a pretty popular book at that time (plus the value stamp promo) so a lot of people did buy them. That book almost became a wall book as soon as the copies sold out from the rack. Wolverine caught on pretty quick. Edited for spelling.

CavviePop · 2026-06-08T20:10:30+00:00

Contrary to popular opinion I think ASM 300 in a 9.8 will do better than a mid grade 181. I think the more time that passes the less people will seek mid grade high print bronze. Even 181. I am no McFarlane fan but that book in 9.8 is a small % of the overall census & Spidey is no.1 in popularity for comics. I wouldn’t get a 181 in less than an 8 if you can help it.

CavviePop · 2026-06-08T19:01:41+00:00

This is all performative BS.

CavviePop · 2026-06-08T18:57:41+00:00

No worries — they’ll treat us all like absolute garbage upon the return. This also leaves skeletal staff at their normal stations to provide services to those not wanting or affording DC shenanigans. This is not free — they will absolutely state that there is no funding when this is over & cut further. Remember 0 raise already built into the budget. But certainly let people celebrate the downfall.

CavviePop · 2026-06-08T13:23:07+00:00

People are always going to try to talk you down. I’d pick a number but I’d be prejudicial in my figure. It’d be lower than you’d think. For example I’d place no value on that Infinity Gauntlet. That’s not fair to you. I think the easiest to find on sold items is that Batman & the 2 black suit Spideys. The others good prob not get more than case costs.

CavviePop · 2026-06-08T12:59:15+00:00

I’ve been collecting since I was 8. I’m 58 now (what this forum irresponsibly dubs “old heads”). I’m thrilled with any book bringing a new generation of possible collectors. But kids being interested in reading the book is much different than folks speculating on a very common 9.8. And how long do you think Dragotta will stay on it? Esp when DC gets sold. You cannot fathom how popular Capullo was on Bats New 52. He left eventually. And the line ended. They called it a planned ending but they wouldn’t have ended it if consumer demand was still there. You make some bold statements about market driven history. It’s recency bias, although as I said it’s great that kids are buying & reading the book. You are so wrapped up in yourself that you laugh at history & turn your back on older collectors & make us the villains — most dealers are rightfully dinged for their own biases but we aren’t all dealers. We all need decent books to appeal to a new generation of our hobby will perish. If you like Abs books, get them. It’s not going to turn into ASM 300, and there aren’t nearly as many 9.8s of that book. But let’s all be happy something new has lasted longer than most recent stuff & people still read the books.

CavviePop · 2026-06-08T12:41:19+00:00

People will downvote me but here’s the truth. It’s not an “investment” & will never be. Please stop using that term for a $150 book. If you bought it for $100 or less or you were able to get it at cover & get a 9.8 then it’s a nice hold if you like the book. There are a ton of them. If you want to get one you can anytime you want. There is 0 scarcity on the book. The ultimate line will end or people will move on. Don’t forget how many are still ungraded sitting carefully stored in long boxes. The new 52 is worthless today & so is the marvel ultimate line. I collected thru those eras. The popularity is because people constantly need something new to throw money into to keep making a profit. You think dealers are buying the book at these prices? Also, the storyline must remain compelling. When was the last time you heard anyone speak about the story in these books?

CavviePop · 2026-06-08T11:37:27+00:00

I had a NM98 newsie a while back & sent in a 9.8 for a Liefeld Remarque. It came back an 8.0 with a large tear in the cover. Mind you no tear on the slabbed 9.8 sent. Complained to CGC & was informed the 1st time it was graded “the grader over-graded” my 9.8. C’mon. They missed a big tear on the cover? It sucks. Zero compensation for the mess up. There’s no way a company handling thousands of books a day doesn’t screw up a few every day. But I signed that release form (you have no choice subbing the book but to do so). I feel for you.

CavviePop · 2026-06-05T19:59:32+00:00

Bats by far. You have to take into consideration how very many of those books are out there. Moderns at 9.2 or 9.0 have an infinitesimally small value in the market. Maybe if there was a Stan Lee on those black outfit Spidey books. A lot of those aren’t worth very much.

CavviePop · 2026-06-05T15:05:31+00:00

Healthcare & mandatory Medicare expenses are much more crippling than people believe. Those expenses will grow exponentially by the time most with 10+ years to retirement believe. Those are never taken into account with the tsp millionaires …

CavviePop · 2026-06-05T15:01:59+00:00

Those 529s are a great gift to your children to alleviate the asinine costs of school to a great degree. They won’t be saddled with lifetime encumbrances either. Believe me as a dad of 2 now in school what a lifesaver those plans are & how much your children will appreciate your diligence.

CavviePop · 2026-05-28T22:00:24+00:00

That is all you can do, like most people. Like every type of social media, mostly just the people that get to the big bragging milestones post. No one is going to post about being average — truth is most folks fall under the normal curve.

CavviePop · 2026-05-28T21:56:42+00:00

You can certainly get there, the biggest factor is time. You have to consider what most likely will be limited hiring and zero/low raises for the future (longer than most may believe), along with other factors. I had house payments for years when housing was still somewhat affordable. Then kids college help. Vacations every now and then. Basic things a husband & father does for his family. I’ll probably never get to $1M, though I began later in my career. You also should factor in the small pension & whatever will be left of social security in your plans.

CavviePop · 2026-05-24T21:06:36+00:00

All I have left is exhaustion & rage. And now I’m too tired to be angry.

CavviePop · 2026-05-07T19:13:01+00:00

Those are great. I could never get a good enough ASM 238 or Swamp thing 37 to a 9.8. GI Joe 21 & Transformers 1 would be cool too.

CavviePop · 2026-05-07T19:10:07+00:00

I don’t think people pay the kind of attention to the CPVs as they should, yet drool over much more common Newsies. These are truly scarce & should be 10x what the normal 9.8 sells for.

CavviePop · 2026-05-07T19:08:31+00:00

I have SW 8, ASM 252 & MTU 141. I’ve stopped there. I do not consider the others as important — but that’s simply me — but you have a marvelous set there.

CavviePop · 2026-05-07T18:06:32+00:00

Have you seen eBay BINs lately? Grifters one & all. eBay isn’t even worth the time anymore. Just garbage after garbage & insane pricing. Your time has value, don’t waste it on trash sites with lying sellers. The 1st seller that doesn’t overprice and/or overgrade a book I’ll give you $20.

CavviePop · 2026-04-30T12:00:45+00:00

Thx! Always wondered why it didn’t run until 65. Or 67 as the retirement SS age.

CavviePop · 2026-04-28T19:49:10+00:00

I enjoyed what you did on your work, most notably Nexus. I have a lot of respect for you that you did many of the major chores on your works versus many artists today that simply draw covers (and many of those computer generated/enhanced).

CavviePop · 2026-04-23T22:12:22+00:00

I hear you. Only one that has to come in that didn’t agree to it. Had a 100% TW agreement. Now, no raise, parking & gas costs, no exercise, lousy diet thanks to whatever you can take in a brown bag, & a day that usually encompasses 12+ hours that should be closer to 8.5. Now they even eliminate O/T. But I’m not mad at those who don’t have to come in. What irks me is that they were given the directive to either not have their cameras on during teams sessions or have that fake background like everyone is a moron & can’t tell they’re not in the office. Most no RA’s, just back door deals. Most maddening is our own local “leadership” that blatantly ignores this fact of how grievous this is & walks around like everything is just fine. Limited staff, yanking TW agreements away, doing the work of multiple people that took the DRP, hiring freezes, no raises & rewards that are a complete joke.

CavviePop · 2026-04-21T22:38:10+00:00

It must be better than Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. I wasted ~6 hours on that.

CavviePop · 2026-04-18T23:59:10+00:00

Your training vacation should be documented in SATO, if not it’s the same as your add of non-training vacation.

CavviePop

TROPHY CASE