My 2015 NSCC Wrap!

Well, the 2015 Nation Sports Card Convention (NSCC) has come and gone.  
Much like every other year, we spend 51 weeks waiting for it, and then the
week FLYS by WAAAAAY too quickly.

For me, The NSCC is about seeing friends, old and new alike.  This year was
no different.   Seeing Great Friends, Friends and making NEW Friends is why
i keep going back year after year.  

Collect anything long enough, and you get to be in a "comfortable" place with
your own collection.  Add something new? Fantastic!  Don't? No worries, as
you've already got a lot you can call your own.  It's often difficult for us
collectors to take a step back and look at what we ALREADY own, always
focusing on "what's next?!?!"

Pictures will be posted at the bottom, so if you've gotten this far, Thank You! :)

i met so many great people this year.  you know who you are, so to avoid
stepping on any toes, you shall all remain nameless :)

For this years show, it was the first one that i didnt have a #FOCUS going into.
That can be VERY dangerous, but for me it wasnt.   My main goal (other then
going to Gibsons ;) was to cross some stuff over from BGS, have some pack
pulled cards slabbed and have two cards Reviewed, as i felt one was certainly
under-graded and one that had a fair shot at a half point point-bump.

As far as pickups, i always have my eye out for Low-Graded, High-eye appeal
Centered Mantles.  I've been priced out of the market the last 18 months or so,
but when i find one, it makes it even sweeter.  Luckily i was able to fine one!

ok, on to the pictures, which thanks to having no idea how to post them on this
website, you are going to have to C&P into a new browser, or whatever it is that
you can do to see them.  Sorry about that :/

My 620-less Streak continues, unfortunately.  That RB card is part of a Twitter #WalletCard thingie, check it out if youve not yet!
[IMG]http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af341/GradedRookieCards/Stuff/9EE2B9D0-3546-4C2D-83DB-6C7987EDE9AC_zpsvuf6nyp0.jpg[/IMG]

Group Shot of the Successful Crossovers and Raw Subs
(The Mantles were in SGC 40's, the Wiggins/AD were Raw and the rest were in BGS 9.5 True Gems)
[IMG]http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af341/GradedRookieCards/Stuff/700C8BF6-6733-4BCB-B5FE-4060B796F762_zpsaoghgnpx.jpg[/IMG]

The Mantle Crossovers
[IMG]http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af341/GradedRookieCards/Stuff/C9119209-718A-4B13-A0E2-74427041D62A_zpsnmdkayzd.jpg[/IMG]

As soon as i got this in the mail, i KNEW it was an undergraded PSA 7.  Thankfully They agreed with me. Successful Bump!
[IMG]http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af341/GradedRookieCards/Stuff/D594D529-A410-489E-9BFE-2D84006FDCAA_zpsc803pc6c.jpg[/IMG]

And finally, my lone pickup at the show:
[IMG]http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af341/GradedRookieCards/Stuff/830FF71D-BD52-4888-A134-1414DF39075A_zpsdwjvammf.jpg[/IMG]

i will also add that Topps Digital KICK BUTT all week long.  Their people that worked the show
were all very nice and couldn't have been kinder with all that they offered and did.  i see big things
on the horizon for Digital collecting.   Yea yea, i know how most "old school" people feel about it,
but thats another discussion for another time :)

Again, Thank you to you all, as that is what makes the NSCC what it is, and why i keep going back! :)

Digital Trading Cards (Wait, WHAT?!?)

i know, i know..... 

What? they aren't real cards Eric!  You don't own any physical copy, WHY would you want to collect them????

i used to feel that way as well.

The Star Wars Card Trader came along in March.  Free app, free credits, free free free!  i was in, hey it was free after all, right? lol

i enjoyed building up my daily credit ration, ripping packs here and there.   i had a good time and enjoyed interacting with some

of my card collecting friends on Twitter that were also playing the game.

There are plenty of places to go about reading "How To Play" and the like, so i wont go into that here.

As of this writing, i am totally enamored with Star Wars Card Trader (SWCT).  Simply cannot get enough.  The eCards look amazing 

on the retina screen.   They are fun to chase down, fun to trade and just plain fun to interact with others that feel the same way.

i understand that they are not "physical" cards and they are not for everyone, and thats fine.  its not anyones place to tell anyone else

how they should or should not collect whatever it is they like.  But if one can accept that they are not physical cards, there is a LOT of 

enjoyment to be had in many aspects of collecting.

Like to rip wax but hate all the space that can be taken up by whats left? Not a problem with digital

Like to buy singles, but hate to wait for them to arrive in the mail(or not get lost in it)? Not a problem with digital

Like to collect cards and are too ashamed to admit it to your friends? Not a problem with digital

A friend mentioned something that rings very true, ripping Digital Packs is like playing a Modern day Slot Machine, you land a "Hit" 

and your phone lights up/vibrates and confetti splashes all over the screen, its quite fun actually.  Its also cool to "screen cap" it and 

share it with your buddies.

Star Wars is Universally Popular, and with the new movie on the horizon and Disney backing Topps on this one, 

i see only Bright things in the galaxy far, far away :) 

There are also MLB/, NFL and Soccer versions of the app, and they're fun as well, but more geared towards what happens in 

the real life games then about collecting, but im sure there is a fair share of those collectors as well.  

As always, enjoy everything

-Eric


ETA:   This entire Digital Card Trading thing reminds me a lot of when MTG started up and had a ton of nay-sayers.   22+ years later, MTG is as strong as ever.

What is "Third Party Grading" when it comes to Sports Cards?

i get this question a lot.  
The gist of it is that they are companies that provide their "expert" opinions on what they view the condition of the card(s) to be. 
There are three Third Party Graders (TPG) worth bothering with.  There are also a bunch of others, and seemingly more pop up from time to time to try to take advantage of people. 
BGS/BVG, PSA, SGC
Now, everyone has their preferences, and thats fine, as there is no "wrong" way to collect.   Here are, IMO the Pros and Cons of each company:

BGS/BVG
Pros:
- Fantastic Protection for the card, easily the "best" of the TPG.
- They do not require membership to submit your cards.
- They provide Sub Grades (Centering/Edges/Corners/Surface) for each card they grade.
- STRONG Modern Release Presence.  They are the "go to" TPG for Modern Cards
Cons:
- for cards prior to 1981, BGS becomes BVG (Beckett Vintage Grading) and Sub Grades are not provided
- While they scale from 1 - 10, with half point grades, they use different color/material Flips (the slip showing the card description and grade)
Grade 1.0 through 8.0 = White, paper flip
Grade 8.5 & 9.0 = Silver, metalic flip
Grade 9.5 & 10 = Gold, metalic flip
i feel this can be seen as "punishment" for the owner of the card.... oh, it's a lower grade? "F" You, heres an inferior flip because of it. This
also creates a visual eye-sore when cards of various grades are displayed together imo.
- BGS/BVG Slabs take up a lot more room vs the other two.

PSA
Pros:
- Longest Presence in the hobby.  Started in 1991.
- The power of their Registry Program cannot be denied.
- Strongest following in the overall hobby, especially in post-war through the 1990s due to their Registry Program.
- They also grade from 1 - 10 with half point grades, but unlike BGS, they use one color/material for all their flips, this leads to amazing
eye-appeal when cards of various grades are laid out together.
Cons:
- Membership is required for card submission
- Lack of Sub Grades is a turn-off to some.
- Slabs are considered by many to be "flimsy"

SGC
Pros:
- They are very good with pre-war cards
- They require no membership for submission
- They have a black "frame" that surrounds the card
Cons:
- They use a numbering system that i have still not memorized, using a 1 - 100 scale, with various skipping depending on the strength of the cards grade.
- They have a black "frame" that surrounds the card

SO, which TPG should you use?  Of course there is no clear cut answer.  Use what YOU prefer!  As mentioned, each has their Pros & Cons.
NONE of them are "Perfect", and thats ok, because thats how it goes.   I own lots of slabs from all three, and there have been times that ive
gotten in a slab and said "WTF? how did it get (grade here)?"
i have friends that only collect PSA, some that only collect BGS and some that collect from all three.  

I've got gobs and gobs of worthless slabs of players that never panned out to anything.  It wasn't until 2008 that I started taking a serious
look at the players i was collecting.  it was then that i put my foot on the gas pedal and started seriously chasing the PSA Post War HOF RC Set,
which i i was fortunate enough to "complete" at the show last year.

With that completed, I am in a bit of a FOCUS limbo, going here and there, but it really does always come back to Rookie Cards for me. 
i love rookie cards, always have, always will.  i guess its just how it goes for collectors my age and how things were when we were young.

i am always willing to help out my fellow collectors however i can, please feel free to ask anything you care to.

Thanks Again for the read,
Eric

My Mind MGMT Volume One Money Back Guarantee

About a year ago (in fact it was October 23rd of 2013) i posted a blog about my love of the comic book "Mind MGMT"

This is a C&P of that blog: ================================================================== 

This is an independent monthly comic book released by Dark Horse Comics that you probably have never heard of.

it is 24 pages of STORY. there are NO ADVERTS within the front and back covers.  Any ads that are there are there to advance the story, and/or items related to the story. 



i will not tell you what the story is about, because i want you to experience it for yourself.  i will say that for the most part, it is most likely unlike anything else you've ever read when it comes to comic books.  That is especially true if you are strictly a "Big Two" reader, and more-so if you are all about the superheroes (not that there is anything wrong with that)



Matt Kindt writes, draws, colors and letters this book.  That's correct, he does everything that you see when you read Mind MGMT (pronounced Management).  Not only does he color it, but it is colored using water-coloring, pure awesomeness!



Now, his style may not be for everyone, but i for one, love it.  i have so much respect for the fact that he creates all aspects of this book.  That is a pretty rare feat in todays comic book world.



There are three trades out so far, which cover the first 18 issues (plus some neat bonus stuff).  The Trades themselves are a thing of Beauty.  They are Hard Cover Collections, at Soft Cover pricing. 

Not only that, but the paper stock used for the pages within are second to none.  To try to describe it here would be doing them injustice really.

i cannot recommend this book enough. 

i want this book to be read by as many people as possible.  if you have any questions, please feel free to ask, as i love talking about this book (and any of the other great books that Matt has done) ================================================================== 

Well, as a humble brag, i've turned on about a dozen people to the book in the last year, maybe more, i never did keep track.   Now i would like even more people to jump on board and read this masterpiece.  And in doing so, turn them onto the wonderful mind and world of Matt Kindt.

Matt has a nifty website ... www.mattkindt.com where you can order the Amazing Volumes of Mind MGMT, as well as most of his other creations (ALL of which are Brilliant).

For the purpose of my offer, i would hope you order it directly from him (it helps him out after all! :) But, if you must, you can also order it on Amazon. Order it, read it (and read it again!;) and if you absolutely do not like it, i will PayPal you $20

That's right, you will get your money back! i LOVE This Book and want as many of you people to love and experience this book as well.  There You have it! Order, Read, Re-Read, and most importantly, ENJOY!

Your Friend,
Eric

2014 NSCC Show Recap

The 2014 NSCC Show has come to an end.  The sads have already set in, but that is normal, as it always happens to me after attending the show.

Needless to say, i had a great time. it's really difficult NOT to have a great time when attending the NSCC Show.  This was my fifth one, and of course
it did not disapoint overall.

i will say that its times like these that i miss my scanner.  So i will be adding scans at the bottom  of this blog, incase its TLDR :) (Edited to add: This site will no longer allow me to add photos, sorry about that.  please ask me on twitter if you'd like to see pics)
Also, twitter has spoiled me into wanting everything to be 140 or less.  Speaking of twitter, you really need to be on it if you arent already. 
its a great way to interact with people WORLD wide, but thats for another blog post.

This was the first year that i drove to the show.  JetBlue doesnt fly there, and i didnt feel like taking a flight that required a changeover, just not a fan.
i packed up a bunch of commons that a friend said he wanted, rather than me throwing them away.  i also brought some other stuff to move that just
do not fit into my collection, or that i had dupes of that wouldnt be missed.

The drive there was about as smooth as can be.  Left home around midnight Tuesday morning, and got to Cleveland right around 8am. Met my friend
Dustin at his hotel for breakfast, while waiting for our friend Kirk's plane to arrive.    While waiting, Dustin called our hotel to see what time we'd be able
to check in and drop off our stuff.   It was then that we learned the hotel over-booked itself and we were not going to have a room.  Dustin solved that
issue (amongst others :) and we had a room for the week.  Kirk arrived on time, and we just about picked him up on time as well :)

After picking up Kirk, we headed right to the show, rather then dropping his stuff off at the room (his choice).  Tuesday at the show is dealer set up day,
and about 50% of the dealers were setting up, maybe less.  Its a good day to walk around and see old friends and possibly scope out early deals.
First thing i noticed was that the overall space of the place seemed "small".  Now when i say small, we are talking vs past shows, as it was not small
in any sense of the word (TWSS) when it comes to card shows.

My first pickup of the show was a memorable 1! After walking the floor without much success, i was pointed in the direction of a table that was blowing out
"junk wax" boxes, so i went to take a look.  and what did i find you ask? a SEALED BOX of 1991 Pro Set Music, for a BUCK! YUP! ONE U.S. DOLLAR! :)

i had a voucher to use with PSA and wanted to find some Mantles that i am collecting in SGC/BVG form to cross over (as it would be free with the voucher)
after looking around for a bit on Wednesday, i found a dealer that had a nice selection of what i was looking for.  Picked up a '62, '63 & '66.  in SGC 3/3/3.5's
respectively.  Sadly only the '66 crossed over to a PSA 2.5, the other two did not meet the "required" 2 or greater.  Oh well, thats the way these things go. i
may try them again next year, we'll see.  That was the extent of my pickups on Wednesday, so i went ahead and submitted everything to PSA because you
want them to get them back to you at the show asap.

Thursday and Friday turned out to be frustrating on the pickups side of things, as i was not able to find anything.  i know, i know, boo hoo lol   But i was starting
to think that i would not find anything more while i was there.  i was coming to grips with it, i really was (i know you dont believe me:)

On Saturday things started out really well as Kirk worked on a dealer that had a really nice Aaron Rookie.  He got him to lower the price some, but not enough
that Kirk was interested in it, so he passed.  i let him know that i was going to get it if he was going to pass on it (On wednesday, the same dealer that i got
those Mantles from had another that i wanted, but would not accept my offer on it (packaged with the other three mind you), but about an hour later sold it to
Kirk for the same price that i offered).  i guess that the whole thing was a wash as he took that Mantle i wanted, and i was able to walk away with the Aaron.
(price difference in the two be damned! LOL)

Also on Saturday i upped the search for a Paige rookie.  ive been looking to pick up a paige rookie for about five years now.  originally i wanted the Leaf, but
over time i was looking for either the Leaf or the Bowman.  it IS strange that as far as the Registry goes, both are equal weight, even though scarcity and
price differences are huge.  Sized one up that i would want, but the dealer was pretty firm on his asking price, so i let him know i would think about it, and
was on my way.   Having the Aaron in hand, i was totally content with how Saturday ended as far as the cards went. 

Saturday early evening though, mean that Dustin & Kirk were both going to be heading home.  That's always rough for me, the saying farewell.  ive never been
good at it, and i never will be, thats the way it is.  

Saturday evening was spent with card friends old and new, at a local eating establishment, followed by a nice "round table" discussion at the local DQ.

Sunday.  Ahh Sunday.  Sunday's at the NSCC can go either really well, or the opposite.  Last year in Chicago, Sunday was pretty flat/dead right from the time
the doors opened.  Many many dealers had already packed up (or were in the process of doing so) and left, leaving the place looking fairly barren.  That sucked
because i had my flight home in the evening, and with most of my friends having left for home early that evening or the night prior, i was there for the day anyway.
But in Cleveland, the floor still looked pretty good upon opening.  i had my car, so i could leave at anytime if i chose to do so, but i decided to stick around. 
There were still plenty of people around to talk to, and i was all the more glad for it. 

i got to talking to a friend of mine about the Paige, and the pricing that the dealer was asking.  He mentioned amongst other things that i should pony up and
get it.  he made some really good points and essentially talked me into it.  i thanked him, and headed over to the dealer to pick it up.  im glad i did.  its certainly
not the best looking "PSA 1", but its far from the worst as well.  i will go on record here (as i did at the show) that that will be the last "ugly" slab that i purchase.
ive been working on the Post War HOF RC PSA Collection since 2005 and it feels really good to be at 100% for the first time.  (This set grows with every new
inductee)   After picking up the Paige, i walked around some more, but didnt find anything else (and that's ok).  Also took time out to say my goodbye's with everyone and
hoped that id see them in Chicago next year.

in closing, i really had a great time and the best part really was meeting friends, old and new a like.  There are so many to mention, that i would feel awful leaving
anyone out to mention everyone by name here.  You know who you are :)

i hope you've enjoyed my take on this years show, and if i can help convince you rto go next year, that would be fantastic! :)

MTG ... Magic The Gathering

if you've collected sports cards over the last twenty years, you know damn well what MTG is.  Dont deny it, you know it.

As much as most sports card collectors dislike Magic: The Gathering, i have a news flash, it is NOT going away.  Not anytime soon, that's for sure.  i recently started looking at MTG again for the first time in 19 years (you read that correctly).  i was a casual player back in 1994/95.  Revised Packs were $3, and Starter Decks were ten bucks. 

Playing with friends was fun, and i never went in for the tournaments, but i still had a good time.  i started playing friendly matches with other people, and grew bored with playing against people that would for example, use an "all red deck" and be content with ending the game in 5 to 10 turns.  Great, you "won", but damn that was boring and quite unimagineative.  bleh.

So, back in 2003ish i wound up selling all my magic cards (whoopsie).  sure i should have held on to them, because some of them now are pretty big bucks, but it is what it is.

The game now appears to be more popular than ever.  MTG celebrated 20 years of existence last year.  That's pretty crazy when you step back and think about it.  Talking to others about it, its going to continue to get more popular and appears to actually benefit from the online version, go figure.

From the purely speculative aspect of MTG, take a look at all the releases so far, and how many of those releases that are still around in unopened booster (wax packs, essentially) box form sell for less than $100 a box?  Now, im not saying that "investing" in them (or anything really) is a "good idea",
but one has to wonder as the popularity fo the game  grows, what the corresponding pricing will be.

There are a lot of things about the game that have changed since i last played, and that means there are a lot of things to learn, but i seriously have to wonder about the future of the unopened product, as with each passing year, there is less and less of it.

Food for thought.

Modern NHL Rookie Card Discussion

After doing a fair amount of research, i feel that i have a good handle on the current state of NHL Rookie Cards.

Let me start with saying that "The Cup" is hands down, "the best RC" that anyone will have available from 2005 onward.  That being said, there are other options for people that want to collect NHL Rookie Cards, but dont have a huge bankroll to do so.

If oncard auto RCs are your thing, but you dont have pockets for The Cup, then i suggest SP Authentic.  They're numbered to 999, so there are a nice amount of the to go around.  They can get a bit pricey depending on the player(s) you want.

If you want a nice looking Rookie Card, but do not require an auto, and/or individually numbered cards, then i suggest going with "Young Guns".  With all the super premium wax being released each year, UD Series 1 and 2 remain one of the (if not THE) most popularly collected sets across the Hobby.  That's probably why Young Guns rookie cards are considered by so many to be the most popular rookie cards made.  They are readily available, not TOO pricey (debateable) and on top of all that, they LOOK FANTASTIC, featuring an on-ice action shot.  The colors just pop on most of them.
Im a big fan :)

There are other brands as well that have a nice assortment of RCs in them, but honestly the above sets have a long running tradition of quality/history that will continue for the foreseeable future.

Learning is Difficult (Steppin' back into NHL Cards)

So, ive been to two NHL games this month.  Given my addictive personality, ive begun looking at hockey cards again, because who doesnt love addiction? lol

it's been a learning process for sure.  i was a huge hockey card collector 20 years ago, and even dabbled it in a little back in 2009 when John Tavares was a rookie.  But then it kind of tapered off (again)

So, now its all new and fresh again.  lots of learning.  when starting a new focus, it gives you a fresh start, and you get to do it the way you want to.

NHL Hockey Cards are difficult.  Collectors are very very picky.  Team alliance is STRONG.  almost to the point of them HATING players on other teams.  that leads to a lot of hobby "coldness" for some players that you would think would be popular across the country.  that just doesnt seem to be the case.

There are a lot of really good young scorers in the NHL right now.  i wonder if there will ever be a day when the hobby comes to love a player that is not from North America, specifically Canada.   Sure Ovechkin is popular, but his card prices would be higher if he were not Russian.

Ive settled on two brands that id like to focus on.  Knowing me, this is bound to change.  Hell, it's changed a few times since last week even! ha.  .... Upper Deck Young Guns and SPA Future Watch.   That covers the base card, and the oncard auto card.  Naturally, then will be in BGS/PSA form, but with more desire to own them in BGS form.

Old Is Gold (Talkin' Baseball Cards)

Talking about Baseball cards this time, but i suppose it could apply to all collectables, really.

Sure i like picking up Trout & Harper RC slabs every now and again, but there's something that's just missing (#ThanksTopps).  The baseball card market is just too flooded with Rookie Cards.  What is and what isnt will always be a heated debate, no denying that.

i miss the days when players had one "Rookie Card".  Of course there are exceptions to every rule.  Take a look at Mickey Mantle for example.  His 1952 Topps issue is NOT a Rookie Card (it's his 1951 Bowman), but it will always be the one that is thought of when most people think Mantle Rookie.

What im getting at is that "Old Is Gold".

Hank Aaron's Rookie Card will always be 1954 Topps.  They arent making any more.  What they are making more of is "Relic" Cards containing pieces of jersey/patch/etc with and without autographs.  They'll be making those for the foreseeable future, thanks to sticker autographs.

Willie Mays' Rookie Card will always be 1951 Bowman.  They arent making any more.  What they are making more of is "Relic" Cards containing pieces of jersey/patch/etc with and without autographs.  They'll be making those for the foreseeable future, thanks to sticker autographs.

Frank Robinson's Rookie Card will always be 1957 Topps.  They arent making any more.  What they are making more of is "Relic" Cards containing pieces of jersey/patch/etc with and without autographs.  They'll be making those for the foreseeable future, thanks to sticker autographs.

Tom Seaver's Rookie Card will always be 1967 Topps.  They arent making any more.  What they are making more of is "Relic" Cards containing pieces of jersey/patch/etc with and without autographs.  They'll be making those for the foreseeable future, thanks to sticker autographs.

Rickey Henderson's Rookie Card will always be 1980 Topps.  They arent making any more.  What they are making more of is "Relic" Cards containing pieces of jersey/patch/etc with and without autographs.  They'll be making those for the foreseeable future, thanks to sticker autographs.

i get the "collect what you like" aspect of the hobby, i really do, but to me, Old is Gold, and i wish more people felt the way that i do.   Believe me, ive collected more then my share of the shiny new shit, hell i still do from time to time, but there is nothing like the days gone by.

Going to have to make some major Pull List Cuts

Going to be cutting my Monthly Pulls to 10 titles.

Lately reading floppies seems more like a chore then an enjoyment, which is NOT a good thing.

This is not easy, but it has to be done.

Monthly Books:

The Walking Dead
SAGA
Mind MGMT
Revival
East Of West
CHEW
Invincible
Rachel Rising
The Sixth Gun
TODD

TPB Reading:

Bedlam
Clone
Five Ghosts
Ghosted
Lazarus
Manhattan Projects
Nowhere Men
Rat Queens
Thief Of Thieves
Think Tank
American Vampire

A Beginners Guide: The Ways To Read The Walking Dead Comic Book

With The Walking Dead TV Show getting more popular then ever, i am somewhat surprised how many of the rabid TV Fans have not read the comic.  As good as the TV Show is (and it's real good), the book is just SO much better IMO.  it is not restricted by AMC restrictions, or the restrictions of TV itself.

i have written up a summary of which ways someone that is new to the book can get started and/or caught up on the book:

Floppies/Monthlies:  Starting in October of 2003, Image Comics released The Walking Dead as a monthly release (meaning that it was released one a month, and it has pretty much remained true to that format for each month since then for the last 10 years.)  The floppies feature full color covers, and after each issue a Letters Column where fans write in and discuss/ask questions about the book.  Some floppies also feature sneak
previews of future Image comics.  These issues, while meant to be read, are also highly collectible, making this the most costly way to read the series.  There are currently 156 floppies. There is no "end point" in sight, and i'd expect it to go at least 300 issues.
Cover price is $2.99

Trades/Trade Paper Backs/TPB : These are released about every six months.  Each TPB contains six floppies.  There are no covers or Letter Sections included, and the individual issues are not separated, it reads straight through.  There are no bonus materials included.  There are currently 25 TPBs of TWD. 
Cover Price is $14.99

Hard Cover Trades/HC : The Hard Cover Trades consist of 12 floppies, with the pages being literally a larger format. Essentially, each Hard Cover contains two TPB's.  There are bonus materials included including a collection of the covers in the back of the HC.  The Letter Section is not included, and the individual issues are not separated, it reads straight through.  There are currently 12 HC Collections.
Cover Price is $34.99

Omnibus/Oversized Deluxe : These collections contain 24 floppies each, or four TPBs/Two HC.  These pages are even larger then the HC, and comes with a slip case.  Packaging overall is Very Well done.  There are bonus materials included.  There are currently 5 Omnibus'
Cover Price is $99.99

Compendium : These Collections contain 48 floppies each, or Eight TPB/Four HC/Two Omnibus'  The pages are the same size as the floppies and the TPB.  There are no special features in the Compendiums, strictly 48 floppies from first page to last. Since these contain 48 floppies, they tend to take years to come out between releases,  48 floppies is 4 years of monthly releases, so its a safe bet (there is nothing set in stone) that a
Compendium will come out every few years. UPDATE! Volume 3 is OUT NOW!
Cover price on these is $64.99

i am a monthly floppy reader, have been since issue 98 i think it was.  i know some people that wait for the TPB to come out, but i have no idea how they have that kind of will power! LOL

When re-reading, i prefer the Hard Cover Trades/HC format.  i feel it is just the right right size when held in my hand, the increased page size is nice, and since its a hard cover, it is just an over all better experience imo.

The most economical way to read TWD would be The Compendiums, but keep in mind that these are HEAVY! i think they weigh about 7 pounds each.

Like anything else, do not be afraid to shop around for the best price you can find.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. i can literally talk about TWD all day.

Mind MGMT By Matt Kindt

This is an independent monthly comic book released by Dark Horse Comics that you probably have never heard of.

it is 24 pages of STORY. there are NO ADVERTS within the front and back covers.  Any ads that are there are there to advance the story, and/or items related to the story. 

i will not tell you what the story is about, because i want you to experience it for yourself.  i will say that for the most part, it is most likely unlike anything else you've ever read when it comes to comic books.  That is especially true if you are strictly a "Big Two" reader, and more-so if you are all about the superheroes (not that there is anything wrong with that)

Matt Kindt writes, draws, colors and letters this book.  That's correct, he does everything that you see when you read Mind MGMT (pronounced Management).  Not only does he color it, but it is colored using water-coloring, pure awesomeness!

Now, his style may not be for everyone, but i for one, love it.  i have so much respect for the fact that he creates all aspects of this book.  That is a pretty rare feat in todays comic book world.

There are three trades out so far, which cover the first 18 issues (plus some neat bonus stuff).  The Trades themselves are a thing of Beauty.  They are both Hard Cover Collections, at Soft Cover pricing.  Not only that, but the paper stock used for the pages within are second to none.  To try to describe it here would be doing them injustice really.

i cannot recommend this book enough.  i want this book to be read by as many people as possible.  if you have any questions, please feel free to ask, as i love talking about this book (and any of the other great books that Matt has done)

2013 NYCC Thoughts, Ramblings ... Recap.

The 2013 NYCC has come to an end.  The sads have already set in, but that is normal, as it always happens to me after attending a big show.

Needless to say, i had a great time. it's really difficult NOT to have a great time when attending the NYCC.  This was my second one, and it was
different then last year.  How? you may ask.  it's hard to explain i suppose.  Last years NYCC was the first comic show that i had ever attended. i
was still so "green" when it comes to collecting comics.  i had a lot to learn. still do. Thankfully we all are always learning some thing new at all
times really.  thats one of the wonderful things about collecting. always learning something new.

This year, there were a handful of artists that were not going to be attending. initially i was a little bummed about this, but i understand that real
life gets in the way sometimes, it happens to everyone, thats the way it is.  But that didnt mean that i wasnt going to make the best of it, it was
NYCC afterall!!!

Well, i think it all worked out for the best because i was able to spend so much time involved in great conversation with those that were there :)
There are bound to be people and things that i will unintentionally leave out of this re-cap. it is not intentional, it just happens.

OK, where to even begin.

The days prior to the show i was having trouble falling asleep due to the excitement of the show approaching.  When it came to the night before
the show, i knew that sleep would not be an option.   i left my house a little after 1am on Thursday morning, hoped on the 1:49 LIRR Train to
Penn Station.  i arrived at Javits at approximately 3:15am.  i was expecting to see people there hanging out when i got there, but i was the first
one there, nobody around.  Still dark, not too cold, and relatively quiet for it being Manhattan and all.  About an hour or so later, a cosplayer
arrived, and we waited around until slowly other people started to show up.  it was about 7am before a bunch of people really started showing up.

They told us that they'd let us into the waiting que at 12 noon.  not a shock that they lied, it was after 12:30.  The show was to start at 3pm. This year
they came up with the "great" idea that all badge holders had to "tap in" to enter the show, and "tap out" to leave the grounds.  Yes, that was as
dumb as it sounds.  Of course, mine didnt "tap in" properly when they finally let us in, so my first in line was more like 30th when they finally got
my badge to work.  i was pissed, but all they could do was say "sorry". ugh.

When the doors opened, we all rushed in like a pack of zombies.  my first stop was the Skybound booth to secure some of the WD #1 B&W
NYCC Exclusive Variants, and to say hello to the staff that ive become friendly with over the year thanks to the twitter.  Mission completed,
and it was then around the corner to the Image Comics side to pick up the East Of West Hardcover NYCC Exclusive, as well as some other
things that people asked me to pick up for them.

Then it was time to check out the main floor where there were corporate booths and dealers and such.  Lots of comics and all types of collectables
to buy.  Of course, lots of high prices on stuff, especially WD floppies! LOL  no shock really. it is what it is.  did that for a while, just to give the
artists that were in Artists Alley time to get set up, and settled in.  Then it was time to head over to AA. 

Last year, Artists Alley (AA) was a complete game changer for me.  i didnt really know what it was all about, and when i learned, i was blown away.

This year, i learned that DC had given up their big fancy main floor booth, in favor of setting up at AA.  that had me completely worried.  i was worried
that DC would fuck up AA and exploit it, like the BigBloatedTwo like to do with everything else that is enjoyable.  Thankfully i was wrong.  DC had
an insignificant representation at AA, all the way in the back.  infact i didnt even realize they were there until late friday, when i made my way all the
way to the back wall.  good riddance.

Those that know me (and anyone reading this, really) know that the two people that i really wanted to meet most this year were Charlie Adlard (who
draws TWD) and Matt Kindt (The amazing Creator, Writer, Drawer, Colorer, Inker, Letterer of Mind MGMT).

Charlie lives in England and is sort of a big deal.  Image brought him over just for this show, so i knew that getting to chat with him was just not going
to be possible.  Turns out that i wasnt completely correct. i got to interact with him a little, but as much as could be expected given the situation.

i knew that Matt wasnt going to be setting up at AA until later in the evening, so it was time to check out who else was there.  Just like last year, there
were PLENTY of people who i had no idea who they were, but thats ok, it happens lol.  There were a lot of people set up and it seemed like there
were more artists set up then last year.  Not a lot of "empty tables" which was nice, since it was Thursday and all.  Speaking of which, this year NYCC
sold individual Thursday passes for the first time.  This meant that there were a LOT of people at the show Thursday, and that was not more evident
then just seeing the crowd at AA.  i will say that there were more people in AA Thursday evening this year, then there were Friday evening last year,
and thats saying something.  i love how packed AA gets, as its all about the artists, and for the most part, smaller artists that are not getting rich from
"Big Two" work.

Last week or so, i came out with an idea of a new collecting focus when it comes to getting commissions that i am a fan of.

As you may or may not know, i am a huge Walking Dead Comic Book fan.  Rick Grimes is my favorite character.  For this Focus, Rick Grimes, i approach
the artist and ask them if they are doing commissions.  if yes, i explain to them what i would like, and if they agree, then we move forward.  Here is what
i require, just three things.

1) No Hat
2) No Hand
3) Grungy/Unkempt looking, facial hair. (Basically Post ZA)

The rest is up to them.  Whatever is in their mind, i'd love for them to translate it onto the blank comic page. if they are up to it, then i give them a
Walking Dead 109 blank, and pick it up when its finished.

The nifty name i came out for this? "The Grimey Grimes Project (GGP)"  heh, i thought it was catchy.

Ok, well now it was time to see if anyone was interested in my GGP.  First person that i recognized while walking around was Ryan Browne.  Ryan
is the current artist for a book i like called "Bedlam".  Ryan and i have talked before on the twitters, and when introducing myself he remembered.
We chatted for a bit and then i asked him about GGP and he said it sounded like a good idea.  (yes!).

Then it was time to talk to other artists and see if they'd be interested in GGP.  Some of the artists i met last year, some this year for the first time. Most
agreed to participate in the GGP, which i thought was awesome!

All in all i was about to add eight pieces to my GGP (one is being completed today and mailed to me)

ok, where was i ..... oh yea, then it was more walking around to see who else was there at AA.  Again, so many, no need to mention them all by name.

Then it was time to see if Matt Kindt had gotten to his table at AA.  indeed he had.  he was all set up with his lovely wife, who was also amazing to chat with.
i love meeting great people in this hobby.  i simply cannot even recall all the amazingness that Matt and i talked about.  over the course of the four days i
would have to say that we chatted for at least two hours. it was so fantastic!   i have so much respect for him, it was a true honor to meet him in person

Then it was time to wrap up day one and head to the LIRR to get home in time to grab literally a few minutes to shower, rest and return for day two.

Friday was day two.  (a lot of what happened during day one was repeated each day, really)  i got to Javits around 6am.  The line wasnt too bad, couldnt
have been more then 200 people or so.  By end of day Friday, i had some of my GGP's back in hand.  Damn they were nice.  i was showing them to friends
and other artists as well.  all enjoyed what they saw.

Friday night i was able to get 80 minutes of sleep before heading into the city for Saturday.  On Saturday i got to Javits at about 5:30 in anticipation of a
very long line.  well, it wasnt. i was almost in the same exact spot as the morning before.

Saturday was, of course, packed.  i was able to spend literally 30 minutes on the sales floor (10:00 - 10:30) before the crowds started POURING in like
blood from a freshly cut wound.  CRAZY times indeed. i spent pretty much all day in AA on Saturday.  Not that that meant that there wasnt anyone there,
because it was packed there as well.  im sure attendance records were set this year.   had to have been.

i was supposed to go to the Zombie Escape Walk on Saturday night, but i was far too tired to even think about it. i was home by 11pm-ish and was able to
get 6+ hours sleep before getting up to go to the last day of the show.

i got to Javits just a little after 10am on Sunday.   LOTS of people awlking from the Penn Station area over to the show.  i was surprised to see that i was
just about able to walk right in without much wait at the gate.   There were already a ton of people inside, so getting around wasnt all that easy.

It was such a good time, it really was.  Sucks that it had to come to an end. i was able to get home around 8pm last night and get ready for TWD Season 4 Premier.

Here are some pickup pics:

oh look, a post! ha

There was a time where i wrote a LOT more of these! LOL

oh well.  it happens i suppose.

NYCC 2013 is 13 days away.  i AM excited for it, but not as excited as i was a month ago. a lot of artists are not going to be there that were there last year.  Sucks, but it is what it is.

i have a bunch of WD Blanks that i would like to get Rick Grimes Sketches on, but so many artists are not going.

GRRRRR

i'll still make the best of it, and it'll still be awesome, but ya, you know.

i hope you are all doing well,
eric

2013 National Recap - When Quality wins out over Quantity, but doesnt always mean "High" Grade

As i type this, it is nearing 4:00am here in New York. My body is still on Central Time, thinking it's 3:00am. Reason being, this years National was held in Chicago.

Well, THE Show has come to an end. The collectors have gone home, as have the dealers. It's 51 weeks until The 2014 National. Yes, i am pretty sad as i am typing this. Happened to me last year after Day Five was over, and i was back home in New York (it was in Baltimore last year).

Here is my personal 2013 National Experience.

As always, The Show runs from Wednesday through Sunday. Wednesday is "Preview Night" meaning the show runs from 4:00 until 8pm. Friday through Saturday its 10-6, and Sunday is 10-5 VIPs are given access 30 minutes prior to the listed opening times above, which comes in handy if you are into getting in line to grab the many different Promotional Proceeds going on from any number of the Corporate Sponsors.

On Wednesday i arrived early in the day due to travel plans having to work out properly. Met up with my friend and roommate for the week, got checked in, then headed to the show.

This year was different. i didnt have a SOLID Focus going in, but i had an idea of what i would have liked to have started working on. When i hit the show floor for the first time, i did not get that "punch drunk" feeling that i have gotten the last three times ive gone. it was a quiet calm, almost like something in me had changed. For the worse or for the better i suppose will only reveal it's self as time goes by.

Almost immediately i started to see people that i hadn't seen since last years show. as i would meet them, we'd talk to each other like only days had gone by, not an entire year. its kind of surreal really. We are all in a Fraternity, a Cardboard Collecting Fraternity. Its a wonderful thing. Ive met some wonderful people in this hobby over the years, and The National has only strengthened the bond that we all share.

Then it was time to look around. i have pretty much given up on the Leaf Paige, opting for the Bowman instead. Also, i wanted to see if i could pick up nearly perfectly centered graded copies of Pre-War Legends, specifically the First Five Guys that were elected into the HOF. (Cobb, Ruth, Wagner, Johnson, Mathewson), plus possibly some of the other very well know Legends. The "catch" to this Focus is that the card has to be from when they were an active MLB Player first and foremost, there is no exception to that particular rule. The other thing is that i prefer that the players card feature an action shot. When i say "Action" that pretty much means anything other then a portrait, as there are not all that many options for cards of the time. That last rule is not all that strict, and can be changed by myself at anytime, especially if the Portrait looks more like the player (literally) then the "Action" Shot. The last thing, and certainly not the least thing is that the card must have as close to dead centering as possible.

Ok, so a mixture of all the days were spent like this.... Chatting, looking, chatting, looking, meeting new people, looking, chatting, introducing new people to old people, going to Wrigley Field, looking, buying, chatting, looking, resisting the temptation to buy cards that do not fit into my new Focus, especially on the Centering aspect.

The first four days of the show were very well attended, there were a lot of people with all kinds of teams' jerseys, etc on. it was very nice to see a pretty good number of young children not only there, but interested and enjoying the hobby.

After Saturday, all but three of us in the Fraternity had headed home, back to the "real world". i really do miss those sons-of-brilliant people! ;)

Sunday was disappointing as some of the dealers didnt even bother to show up, and most others started to trickle out after a few hours. by 2pm the place was pretty much dead. Shortly thereafter i began to make my final rounds and say goodbye to my dealer friends, wish them safe travels and hope to see them again next year.

Onto my pickups (which im gathering, is the only reason that some people read these posts ;)

i did a LOT of walking around, searching for the cards that would qualify for my new focus. i was unable to find a Paige that was reasonably priced, so that hunt goes on.

Please pardon the large pictures, but i think they are better then no scans at all, eh? :)













The Gehrig is interesting as a good friend of mine was the one that found it, ON SATURDAY! i know, right? go figure. i looked and looked, and missed it each time. (Also note that it is the #160, which is known to be more "rare" then the #92)

one other thing that i forgot to add. if you are ever in that area, like steak, and are able to eat at Gibson's Steakhouse, i cannot recommend it enough. yes, it is expensive, but WOW it is simply amazing!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my recap. i hope i was able to express and share how enjoyable it was for me, and maybe convince those that have not gone to do so next year? :)

-Eric

My Pull List, as of July 2013 ...

Here is my current pull list:

Monthly Books i would buy even if released weekly:

The Walking Dead
SAGA
Mind MGMT

The rest in no particular order:

Revival
Bedlam
CHEW
Clone
East Of West
Five Ghosts
Invincible
Lazarus
Manhattan Projects
Nowhere Men
The Sixth Gun
Thief Of Thieves
Think Tank
Todd The Ugliest Kid On Earth
Rachel Rising
American Vampire

This list does not contain mini's for obvious reasons.  If you'd like to discuss any of these books, feel free to contact me.

So, you're an adult who'd like to read "Comic Books", but don't know how to go about it (or are afraid to ask).

Long time no write.  Yea, i know, nobody cares :)

its not from lack of wanting to, its from lack of time.  been really busy with work.  i do have some down time, but not enough to sit at a computer and write
up a proper blog.  i spend a lot of time on Twitter.  i highly recommend it.  it really is like how AOL chat rooms were back in the 90's (for those of you that
were around then, that is lol).  Its a nice challenge to try to say what youve got to say in 140 or (usually) less characters.  its also a great way to talk to
comic book industry people.  the format is really good for that type of thing.  Look me up on there (if you dare! hah), ThoseBackPages .

I've been trying to come up with a way to "spread the word" when it comes to reading comic books, especially for those of us that are adults.

when i started reading comics again last year for the first time since the mid 80s, i kind of found my way around on my own.  not that there is anything
wrong with that, but i wish i would have had someone to point me in more of a direction that i am in now, if that makes any sense. 

"Comic Books"

most people hear that term and think .... Superman, Spiderman, Batman, XMen and the like.  Maybe thats because that's what the media pushes as
the main idea what a comic book is.  Marvel and DC Comics are "The Big Two" as far as comic book publishers go.
Maybe its time for that to change.  The only way that can change is through spreading the word.  The internet is a great way to do that.

Look, the "Big Two" are not going to go away, maybe not ever, but certainly not anytime soon. 

i am here to tell you that there ARE alternatives, if that is something that you might be interested in.  Not EVERYONE wants to read superhero books,
AND THAT IS "OK".  Hell, *I* am one of those people.  There is only one "capes" book that i read.  ive blogged about it before (it's called Invincible),
so no need to go over all that again.

im here today to tell you that there are comic books to read and enjoy (and "collect" as well, if you so choose) that are not "superhero" books, and not
released by the BIG TWO.

There are a LOT of "independent" comic book publishers.  they rely heavily on sales of comics, because they dont have tons of movies or Disney
backing them up financially.

But enough negativity.  i want this blog post to be about how i can help spread the word.  would it be easy enough for me to type out what i currently
read monthly, give you a synopsis of what each is about? sure, that would be easy enough, but there's not much fun in that.  hell, you can google any
title i list, and boom! instant "reviews" from many sources.

What id like to do is offer to either send you some reader copies of select books i feel that you would like to read, or offer you some sort of paypal deal
if you pick them up yourself and do not care for them, to the point that you tell me "Eric, what is this shit? i HATE it!" ive done this one other time (last year)
and it went over well with people.  Even the creators thanked me for doing so (not that that was the point of it, but it was nice to hear them say it)

Here are the Genre's that i like to read

Horror/Drama
Horror/Violent
Horror/Comedy
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Sci-Fi
Nior

Pretty vague list now that i look at it, but it is what it is.

In closing .... There are some great comic books out there that are not all about flying men punching buildings, with unlimited special abilities, kicking the
shit out of each other. There are comics that the characters die, and STAY DEAD permanently.  There are books that are emotional, that are funny, that
are "real" (as real as can be, as these ARE comic books afterall, but you know what i mean). 

There are comic books out there for adults, and when i say "adult" i dont mean porn. not that theres anything wrong with that either (and there ARE comics
for that purpose as well).  What i mean is that there are comics out there that people over the age of 30 can (AND DO) enjoy. 

THEY ARE OUT THERE PEOPLE, and with my help, i really hope i can help you discover and enjoy them! 

Its time to put the stereotype that comics are for kids to bed once and for all!

So there it is.  i want to get the word out there for the books that i love.

Let me know what you think.

Hit me up on Twitter (@ThoseBackPages) if you'd like to talk about this some more, shoot some ideas back and forth and such.

As Always,

ThoseBackPages

Twice the "legal" limit.

Today is my 42nd birthday.  im really not sure where this blog post is going to go.  like always, i had some ideas in my head, but theyve come and gone.
To be honest, i never thought that i would make it to this age.  at the same time, i generally do not FEEL my age, and most of the time i do not act it.

Life has gotten harder the last few months.  i am changing.  Maybe its the diabetes, maybe its just getting old.  i dont heal like i used to, and i feel tired a
lot of the time.  not much interests me anymore.  i still love my job, but even that has changed.  i still love baseball cards, but i feel as if they no longer feel
the same.  my passion for comics is still there, but has cooled off a bit as well.   2012 was just so good overall as a year of collecting for me.  2013 is
bound to be a letdown in that department. For the most part, that has held true.

im tired of the foods that i am able to eat.  i wouldnt say that i "miss" the "bad" foods, but i just cant bring myself to eat them, no matter how much in my
mind that i want to.  it's been nearly 40 months now with this disease.  i guess i can admit that it has me, i dont have it.  in the beginning i was an active
member of a few of the diabetic message boards, three i think it was.  now i barely belong to one.  the changeover rate is so high, the people that were
also new when i signed up there about three years ago are no longer there, not at least when i pop myself in to say hello. sucks, but thats how it is
with this disease.  People come and go. People start out strong, then give in and say "fuck it", fall off the eating/exercising wagon.  ive seen it happen.
Hasnt happened to me yet though.  i still follow the as-low-as-possible daily carb intake diet, and still get in my exercise daily, weather permitting.

i like to think im a nice person.  i have flaws like everyone else.  im self admittedly VERY stubborn.  i still think i have knowledge to offer others, especially
when it comes to collecting cards and more with each passing day, comics.  i like good conversation, but hardly find it anymore.  i dont physically talk to
very many people, everything is online nowadays.

well, this has been a rant of some sort i suppose.  just wanted to type something.  im not the type of person that wants the "birthday attention" and dont
seek it out.  hey, at least i thought up a catchy subject lol

Rest Easy Brother, RIP Jason Molina

i learned today that one of my favorite musicians died over the weekend.  His name was Jason Molina and he was an alcoholic.  He was just 39 years old.  His organs seemed to have given out and he died of "natural" causes.

He wasnt a "famous rock star" to the masses, but he was to me.

i discovered his music about 10 years ago.  After my fiance died in the summer of 2003, i spent the better part of 6 weeks not leaving the house.  i returned to working at the record shop.  it was there that a co-worker, after prodding him about wanting to listen to "something different", turned me on to Jason Molina's (and some other bands as well) music.

i fell immediately in love with the music.  i was in a very dark place, and could relate totally to what Jason was singing.  it was like he was speaking directly to me.  it was that good.

i got to see the band play twice.  i would have seen them more times,  but they didnt get to New York City all that often.  Each time, after the show (and once before one) i was able to have coversations with Jason (and Pete (the bassist)).  it was just small chat, i told him how he helped me through the dark times after my fiance died, he was very humble and thankful that i was a fan of his.  he came off as an everyday type of fellow that made music and was on the road for a living.  the last time we spoke he had to cut it short because it was time for him to pack up the van and head to the next town.

for the better part of this year, ive been listening to his album "Didn't It Rain" as my music of choice to fall asleep to each night.  if it wasnt Animals, it was Didnt It Rain.  its been that way pretty much for the last six months or so.  

i am absolutely shattered about this.  maybe i shouldnt be, but i am.

You can't always git what you waaaant

Thanks Mick!

but yea, you really have to sometimes step back and take a look at what you've already got.  cant spend all your time looking ahead to what you do not have yet.  it just isnt the right way to go about things.

Having a Tight Collecting Focus can lead to "dry times" when things you want just arent available.
it's during those times that you have to STAY FOCUSED and wait it out.  the thing to keep in mind is that there is always SOMETHING to collect, but keeping that Focus helps you maintain a level head (i suppose lol)

i guess i am writing because i am trying to talk myself out of something.  theres a recently available WD cgc that i would like to own, but i feel is a bit overpriced.  now, ive semi-imposed a tighter WD CGC Focus, unless the pricing is just too good to pass on.  this book is not crazy priced, and it's relatively new.  the thing is, the "print run" on it is 2000.  that may seem like a lot, but it is, and it isnt.  its somewhere in the middle.

im trying to finish 1 - 99 with the Keys and Variants in CGC Slabs.  ive made good headway, but am not quite there yet.  You'll notice i did not include #100.  that is intentional.  as of now, there are a crazy amount of variants to chase down.  i am going to play the waiting game with these.  the naysayers are saying that the comic "bubble" is going to bust.  the sooner the better for me! :)  thats when i'll pick those up.  sooner of course, if a deal is available.

As always, thanks for reading my crap :)