Great topic and video, Regie. I have always considered 9.8's as overrated and overpriced and have purchased 9.6's instead, using the money I saved to buy the best Silver and Bronze Age grade grails I could afford. This strategy has worked out quite well for me. I subscribe to several comic book UA-camrs and none of them can consistently predict if their CGC submission would come back as a 9.8 instead of a 9.6. The best was eta nick who taught himself how to grade books. There are strong 9.6's and weak 9.8's. If someone had one of these and repeatedly cracked it out and resubmitted to CGC I bet half the time they would come back as a 9.6 and the other times a 9.8.
Yeah, I agree, I usually go for the 9.6 unless its a long-shot spec and the 9.8 is cheap enough; I'll even take down to a 9.2 if the price is much cheaper as a percentage than the next grades up. If a comic really pops, it will drag the next grades up by more as a 9.8 will be out of most people's price range and they'll still want a copy.
I still believe that at some point in the future, as the collector's market continues to mature, that 9.6's will gain in popularity and see a price hike. Whether it actually closes the gap with it's "big brother" 9.8 is another matter. Personally I find the delta between both grades to be kinda silly. Sure there are times when scarcity is a factor, but when two high grade books are nearly indistinguishable from one another, and when you can send either back to CGC as a cpr candidate, and suddenly the 9.8 is a 9.6, and the 9.6 becomes a 9.8....I dunno. I'm a collector, too so I see what happens. But personally, with my budget, I will buy 9.6's all day for a steep discount vs the 9.8.
I’ve had 9.4‘s which look better than some 9.8’s. Once I noticed this, I stopped spending ridiculous monies on 9.8’s. I’ve been focusing on 9.4’s and 9.6’s.
I will never own a 9.8 nor would I want one because it will cost me hundreds or thousands more and there is little to no visual difference, It's all a prestigious illusion.
The 9.8 fuss is a bit of finnickiness. It's the same with stamps, coins and cards. The immaculate ones command a premium. In reality, if you bought 6 months worth of brand new issues, and mainly 1st appearance issues from DC & Marvel, and had them graded instantly to get a big chunk of 9.8s, wait a while and the simple fuss over the issues at that grade will get you your high return. It's just the fuss.
Few months back i sent my copy of Marvel Voices 1 variant cover signed by the cover artist. The comic was still sealed when i sent it, i was expecting it to be at least a 9.8 but came back as a 9.6 🥲 no grader notes included when i scanned the QR code at the back of the slab.
It is all about status. There are just minor differences between 9.8 and 9.6, and it is subject to human error. 9.6 display as well as 9.8, but because of the minor difference people assign outrageous extra value.
I have 19 graded books and 9 of which are 9.8. Buying 9.8s are not really what I try to do. It is a matter of what I want to spend on a given book. If the price difference is a matter of $50 above or below my budget, the purchase will be made. Some books lower grades are much more affordable and realistic for my personal collection.
9.8 is mint condition it doesn’t have to be perfect it just has to meet the criteria for that grading standard. Setting new comics aside through the passing of time comics get damaged as they are read multiple times. This is why the delta exists as it becomes scarcer to see a 9.8 the value rises and collectors place a higher emphasis on having those higher grade books. It’s basic supply and demand if the demand is higher then the prices will be higher
Does the census take into account the number of issues cracked open and regraded? I can imagine that the number of comics graded are actually a lot less if it's the case that they are just added as another issue.
It does not. That’s something that I’ve covered in other videos. Crack, press and resubmit is only part of the problem. There is also the issue of cross grading. A few years ago, the community decided that it was a good idea to send the same book to CGC, CBCS and PGX. There was also the regular crack/press and cross grade going on. Long story short, the census counts are a mess but potentially less with the 9.8 versus the other grades.
@@RegieCollects That's a shame. It seems like a problem that can be fixed by cross referencing barcodes on the comics but that would only help zero in on news stand copies. I wonder what can be done to resolve that issue to help determine the actual count of graded comics?
Man what a great video. A very interesting case I came across is Avenger 196 (first full taskmaster), there was even a huge difference among the 9.4 and 9.6 prior to the 9.8 vertical slope. That said the chart and pricing for avengers 196 is a great example of price due to character, demand, lower prints, and rather even spread until 9.8 arises. With this book in particular, going back to sold items across different platforms you will see 9.4s and 9.6s selling in each others range due to the visible difference in quality rather than the assigned grade
@@Comicbookyoutubersrock Ha! The dealer in question is the smartest guy I've ever met on the subject of comics. But you go ahead and keep counting spine ticks and shelling out $$$$ for your 9.8s.
@@RonSM2112 So the random dude on the internet that proclaims to know the smartest guy on this subject 🤣. Yeah I’ll take your word on that one for sure 🤣🤣🤣. Or is it more likely you both don’t know shit about grading 🤷♂️. Look, I’m not saying CGC gets it right 100% of the time, no one’s denying that. But anyone who knows anything about comics can make distinctions between 9.4’s to 9.8’s. Anyone who says differently is just likely a upset they get more 9.4’s than 9.8’s when submitting books 😂
It makes sense a 9.8 is worth more based on everything you said. What doesn’t make sense is the huge exponential jump in value from 9.6 to 9.8. It doesn’t make sense bc a 9.6 could be a 9.8 on a different day and vice versa. Or I have 9.4’s with no grading notes. This subjectivity of grading should allow for a small gap between these grades not the massive one.
If 10.0 is the best there is, then grading companies should start grading from 10.0 then down…imo there would be a lot more 9.6 that become 9.8 if they did
That’s sorta how CGC does it. At least for the higher grades based upon my interviews with Matt Nelson. Lower grade books have defects that knock them down immediately so there is no need to count down from 10. Chunks from covers, subscription creases, severely worn covers are just some of those major defects.
Visually for me 9.0-9.8 can be very similar. I have cgc comics some of which I think should be higher and others like a Negan lives silver 9.8 that looks lower as it has visible marks on the silver logo. These days I am happy to go down to a 8.0 with modern comics. Often double or triple the price doesn’t feel worth it, other than the mild satisfaction of having a 9.8. Especially if the comic doesn’t present flawless. I have a couple 9.0s that look like 9.8 based on the cover and once it’s slabbed who’s going know other than by the number. Overall for me it’s all about how it presents rather than the marking of flaws that aren’t noticeable
I collect only raw books in the best possible condition. I can read them and enjoy the inside art...and my kids can worry about the value when I am dead. Raw books in really great grades are even much cheaper ..
I don't know if you remember, but a few years ago you helped motivate me on my goal to press books on my own. I now have 4 out of the 50 9.8s in Newsstand Secret wars 8 and 1 out of the 48 of the newsstand ASM 252s. Thanks, Regie!
I think, the hype around owning a 9.8 is very real and causes some FOMO of having the BEST. 9.8 is what you hear many collectors are searching for. I don't see that as a bad ting or a good thing. What I do find interesting is the subtle differences between grades and the price delta. I have heard people say "I will never own that book, because it has out priced me". I find that very sad. I looked further down the list on all 4 books cited. Here is what I think is interesting for collectors who simply want to get that book in a "okay" grade to add to their collections. Ultimate FO 4 9.2-9.4 only $100.00 delta, Sentry 9.2-9.4 $20.00 delta, Moon Knight #1 9.2-9.4 SAME FMV, Spawn 9.2-9.4 $20.00 delta. I think a book Graded 9.0 or higher should be a very acceptable book in any collection. Most of mine are not graded and I own very few 9.8's. I haven't broken the bank collecting books I would like to have. Its personal preference, and what you are comfortable with.
I agree that most any book 9.0 lr better should be completely collectable. My criteria for what goes in the PC is that it's it's at least vf/nm range and doesn't smell like anything but newsprint. So many books off the rack are only in this range...
Well said. This same thing comes up when I talk about Must Have or Snag these Books now. Folks ask me for “more affordable” options and those options are literally the lower graded copies on the screen.
I’m not that big of a comic book collector to spend thousands but I’ve been collecting here and there throughout 20 years I have very highly collectible books that are not graded but I’ve bought some n. 9.0 and 9.4 And I think they’re just as great I don’t care if they’re in CGG plastic graded as long as they have a hard back and you take care of them I think they’re all great don’t get too caught up on perfection just like life you’ll never get it so I’m happy with the 9.0 and an 8.4 any day
Is there a rule when it comes to the age of the book? I feel for modern books the grades are expected to be high but I try to not be closed minded and maybe leave room for the grades to be between a 9.0-9.8 depending on the key significance and age of the book. I’m sure I am even more open to lower grade copies when it comes to silver age or even early Bronze Age books.
There are no rules, just preferences. I personally think the newer the book the higher the grade should be. This is rooted in the cost of older books set against the availability of modern books couple with the value cliff between a 9.8 and 9.6.
@@RegieCollects thank you. I just purchased a few modern keys at 9.6. Champions issue 1 and Sword Master 1 both selling for little under $30 which I thought was very cheap for a slab book.
Did you reference a pricing guide before purchasing? I ask because Champions 1 at least seems about right. The current value is less than $24. Most recent sale was $21.
@@RegieCollects I don’t know where to look for price guides but I just do comparisons of asking prices from other sellers. The 9.8 average asking price was around $50. I’m just wondering if these sellers are even making any money when a graded comic book is sold for less than $50 only because of the cost for them to get graded in the first place.
You should look into a pricing guide that allows you to see exactly what things sold for. Looking at listings can be misleading if everyone is overpriced which typically they are due to eBay/platform fees. It’s hard to know if they are making money but you have to keep in mind that grading only costs $25 and certain account types get a discount on top. A low acquisition cost on the book means that they can be making $25+ on a book that they couldn’t sell raw for that same amount.
Another great video Reggie, I think you hit the nail on the head when you said it's really up to what matters most to you. I agree with some of the posts here, differnece between 9.6 & 9.8 is so small I don't know why they even bother with the tiers. Question on price guides tho, I noticed that Comic Book Price Guide and Go Collect have different prices for the same graded book with Go Collect being smaller. Is this because of how they interpret the sales data? Also, would love to see you do a video on what makes a good CPR candidate. Thanks again for all you do brother!
Different pricing services pull information from different sources. It’s a combination of eBay, auctions, dealers. The data is also pulled in, scrubbed and reported out at different times. Long story short you can’t compare one service to another. There are videos on the channel about this and CPR. If you search for Regie Collects plus a term you will probably find videos on most topics. Let me see if I can find one of each for you.
Scored a good amount of 9.6’s where I sometimes saved double the amount of money that I would of spent if I had went for a 9.8 instead. Especially for older books and some moderns I’m fine with a 9.4 depending on how it displays, signatures, and if I’m lucky enough creator remarques.
Same thing happens with cards...a 10 (PSA, BGS, SGC, etc) holds a ridiculous premium over a 9 or an 8 when I've seen an 8 with better eye appeal than some 10s. People care more about the label than they care about the actual card in a lot of cases. As a collector, give me a nice presenting 8 over a 10 (and the price tag that goes along with it) any day!
"Defacto Perfection" - a good psychological contributor to the price gap between 9.6 & 9.8. With 9.9s and 10s remaining so exceptionally rare, the 9.8 becomes the highest logistically attainable condition and so remains the target for most collectors. To your point there are many books with more 9.8s than all other conditions combined (especially modern comics), but the vast majority of all comic books ever published have no known 9.9s or 10s and therefore have instilled a perception of 9.8 as the "defacto perfect" copy and that feeds demand at an inordinate rate that pushes higher grades exponentially higher in price. As prices soar above reasonable expense the trickle-down effect begins but rarely closes the gap even as more books get graded. Collectors are more likely to be fine with a 9.6, but that sometimes exponentially higher 9.8 value is always going to be the goal for an investor. Great video, Regie!
In terms of investment, 9.8s are the thing to go for. If you are into reading comics, well raw comics, and cgc is lovely, but the hobby is buying the books to enjoy reading them.
“The hobby is buying books to read enjoy reading them?” Says who? So an investor doesn’t part of the hobby? What if the investment reads comics as well. How about the cover art collector? Are they excluded from the hobby as well??
@@RegieCollects Most collectors mix their hobby with investment also. And there are lots of cover art collectors too. But the primary point of a record is to listen to the music. If it becomes rare and valuable that's a bonus. Same with comics. It's to read them and enjoy the pictures. If they become valuable that's a bonus. In the end speccing is sort of pointless, as the only ones which count buy the comic because they want it in their collection to read it. And people like that often buy runs to complete series.
Great video Reg, I personally will get the highest grade I can afford and also try to consider if it’s for the PC or if it’s an investment. Something I’d like to hear your opinion on is ‘ghost copies’. Copies of a 9.4 that someone cracked and pressed then resubmitted. As far as I know, there’s no way of tracking books that have been resubmitted, so some of the grades, and total numbers, seem like they could be inflated. To what degree I have no clue, but I’d like to hear your thoughts.
That’s correct. The mess that is the census is something that I’ve spoken about in other videos. Not only do we have to deal with CPR (crack, press, resubmit) but cross grading as well. A few years ago the community decided that it was a good idea to send copies of the same book from PGX to CBCS to CGC to “test” the grading standards of each. Additional there are also the regular cross grading where a PGX or CBCS book is cracked and resubmitted to CGC. With that said, you potentially have more accuracy around 10, 9.9 and 9.8 versus the other grades. I say that because you have fewer folks cracking and resubmitting those books. Same with CGC signature series.
So the only argument for 9.8’s is that they’re sometimes rare 😂 If you’re buying 9.8’s it’s not because you care about wanting a book in great shape considering most collectors can’t tell the difference between a 9.8 and a 9.6. I’m convinced people just buy 9.8’s because either they’re resellers or trying to keep up with the Jones’s.
One of my big take always is that not all 9.8s are created equally. It’s important to look at the data and the book itself to determine if a 9.8 warrants a premium. With that said, why are you concerned about resellers and people keeping up with the Jones’s?
I think you have it right with *perceived* rarity and the desire to have the "best" copy, rather than actual rarity. Because I don't think many people are actually doing the research you just did to see if things are actually rare.
9.8 is the pinnacle grade. But the 9.6, 9.4 are just as good for collecting. Your still NM in those sub grades. But there will always be a premier grade which is 9.8 and now that's being turned sideways by the 9.9 and 10 grades. Which are ultra rare. Have fun collecting no matter the grade. It's the journey, not the destination we should find fun
The closer to perfection, I can see why a 9.8 would be worth more. And seeing how almost everything perfect gets a 9.8 way more often than a 9.9…so yes. I’ll gladly pay more for a 9.8 vs a 9.6. Though if a 9.8 is way out of my price range but a 9.6 is…I’ll buy the 9.6.
To me it's simple supply and demand. Older books 9.8s are super rare and lower grades demand a better price, however on any book released in the past 20-30 years, high grade availability is so much higher. Better paper quality, collectors that actually collect (often never read) so there is a much higher supply of 9.8s, thus the demand to settle for a 9.6 or lower isn't really there. Thus ONLY the 9.8s have value, but who knows, maybe in 20-30 more years, that won't be the case. For example, X-Men 1 and Nyx 3 both have about 6k (actually 500 more Nyx 3 graded) on the CGC census. There are only 2 X-Men 1 in a 9.8 and 2456 Nyx 3s in a 9.8. So I'll settle for a much much lower grade of X-Men book, but Nyx 3.. I WANT that 9.8 and don't want to settle. So you know why 9.8s go for so much more, just hard to explain because there are so many variables.
I think you’re literally explaining in different words what I described in the video. 🤣😂 It’s partially ego/desire, supply/demand, mix with some inexperience buyers. Buyers that are paying for a 9.8 because it’s a 9.8.
Fact: there are 25 possible grades (26 counting no grade) there only 7 grades I count as "high echelon (9.0+and up) but in reality there only 3 grades (9.8,9.9,10) that really snobby collectors care about,face it 9.6 is red headed stepchild to them,this how should be if your book makes to 9.0 or better know that it made it past 18 points to get there and that is a achievement in it own right!!!!!
Yooooo reg u should hav put a 9.8 isolation !! Book there I kno u got one!! I jus get a book inlike and want it to look good so a 9.8 I can’t afford in most books so I anit got it lol
Curious why no one is mentioning that of the books graded why it doesn’t break it down by page colour if white pages means a lot to some. Maybe I am wrong?
@@RegieCollects Meaning if 9.8 are considered books to buy for bigger money would the perfect 9.8 be considered white pages then make it more desirable or being off white to cream less money as an 9.8. I’m curious if white pages are being bought at higher values than off white?
I wish I could give you a simple answer. Lol. CGC allows for 9.8s to be off white or better. CBCS is off-white/white or better. Some books are so rare that page color is irrelevant. Folks are using advanced cleaning techniques that will improve page color in a way that can’t be detected. Newer books don’t even have white pages so the designation is virtually meaningless. Will a 9.8 with white pages go for more money, potentially but is that because of the white pages or because it’s a 9.8 or because there are few copies at a 9.8? Does the book actually have pages that are white? If so, have those pages been artificially enhanced. Long story short, I’m sure that someone can look at the data and give use answers with lots of caveats.
I have a stack of books. And I know the readers are correct. The 9.8 and 9.6 aren't much different. Luck in some cases. When I feel I have a good book. That means I feel like I have a book that is a (9.8 or 9.6 ) Because it's true.... Very little difference
Don't the 9.8 and 9.6 get skewed as you get to newer books. So there will be more 9.8 , even 9.9 and 10.0, for new books than older say copper age and back as opposed to modern...so 9.8 in older books warrent the higher value than in newer books?
Lol. I totally get that. 🤣 I asked because I’m seeking to understand the question behind your question. Or, maybe you’re just making a point that due to survivability older 9.8s are more rare.
What can you say... 9.8 is the best of the best, and people are programmed to want that 9.8 grading. Every other grade after that is negotiable. Great Video Regie, and I'd like to hear more of your thoughts on this Topic.
I always dislike the notion if grading being an "art". Art is creating something. Grading is a list of criteria. Of course the human error margin is there, and people may disagree about how much something affects the book; but there is no reason why companies like CGC cant and shouldn't have an extremely detailed criteria that every grader can follow. The margin of error should be very small. Especially concerning newer, high grade books.
Are you aware that medicine and law are practices as well? A mixture of art and science. There is the law, there is the science but there is also the application of those things. There is right, there is wrong but there are shades of grey. Judgement is important. Take a moment and think about how much comics have changed of the last 100 years. Why would we expect more from a 23 year old grading company versus that of the institutions of medicine and law? 🤓 Too much? 🤣😂
@@RegieCollects Well I suppose it's that old nut of whether we're willing to call everything an art or not because there's some form of self expression no matter what we do. But that's perhaps way too much a digression to get into. I understand that things become more subjective as books get older, that's why I suggested that the more egregious inconsistencies had to do with modern books. I do think we are too accepting of these inconsistencies because we keep using the services and over valuing a 9.8 when it is obvious that the resulting product is like a lottery. We all have books in 9.8 slabs that don't belong there and we've all had books that by all appearances seem like they deserve a much better grade and are not given adequate explanation why that's so... A 9.8 is the easiest of those to assess. We arent talking books where there's foxing and brittleness and heavy cover wear etc... To be fair, I think things like medicine and law are far more complex to really compare. Just my opinion. I agree that judgment is a huge factor. But that's why medicine and law work to be as specific and detailed as possible and we hold the worst errors in judgment with the most contempt. With something like CGC I really feel that it's completely feasible to be more transparent with the customer and create a more universal grading structure to hold employees accountable to. Again, especially with newer books you can make it almost entirely a science and take most of the "art" out of it. Thanks for taking the time man, always love to hear what's on your mind with the hobby.✌
If people are involved there is a certain amount of subjectivity that will always be present. The only way to address this is to remove the human element entirely. But, I’m not certain that is what we want to do. You say that law and medicine are more complex than grading comics. Absolutely but less complex doesn’t mean simple. Did you or did you not break the law? Do you have this symptom or that symptom? Is there or is there not a bindery tear? The response seems like it would be straightforward but what if there was extenuating circumstances for the law breaker. What happens when one disease mimics another? How about the entire comic run has bindery tears due to manufacturing. In all of these cases, sticking with a hard and fast rule versus applying subjectively and judgement can result in less desirable outcomes. Innocent people jailed. Misdiagnosis of disease. Entire print runs getting less than a 9.8 due to production defects and poor paper quality during a shortage. In the case of the law and medicine there are damages that can be assessed through lawsuits and insurance when an error has been made. That isn’t the case with comics but as we agreed, these three things are not the same. It’s a dang hobby. 🤣😂 Appreciate the exchange.
We drive the market. The consumers. The 9.8 is much more expensive and the disparity between that and 9.6 is very large because that’s what we’ve decided. We make our decisions with our money. The 9.8 is expensive because we’ve decided it’s expensive. In the same way we’ve decided that X-men 266 is gambits first appearance even though it’s not. We create the market with our desire and drive the market with our money. Nuff said
I fully admit I'm a sucker for the 9.8 graded book as it often represents the pinnacle grade for most books, particular those from the bronze age forward. For me I enjoy collecting both as a fan of comics, as well as the sense of pride I get in owning the highest generally attainable grade available of books that speak to me. Silly as that may be, it's no different from those that collect comics vs sport cards or Pokemon. As collectors, we collect what appeals to us and I think the same can be said for 9.8s vs other grades. Sure this particular idiosyncrasy may seem odd to some, but clearly it's something that is commonly shared across the hobby, which is what largely contributes to the delta in price between a 9.8 and 9.6. Plus, it helps knowing that if I do decide to get out of the hobby someday, I am more easily able offload my collection due to them being very high grade. As a result my general approach to collecting has been to buy a grade within the top 15% of the overall census, which tends to mostly be 9.8's unless you get deep into the Silver Age or some bigger Bronze Age keys like Hulk 181.
Graded comics have ruined the industry. People care more about a grade than the comic itself. What good is a comic that you can't look through, read, touch or even smell? People/collectors have been suckered into thinking this is how "serious" people collect. How can you take it seriously when a grade can vary form grader to grader. At least wait until it becomes automated somehow so ever book is graded exactly alike.
Again, you’re stating your opinion as if it were a fact. I have a lot of comics that are graded that are an investment that I have also read. I read them either digitally or before I got them graded. To tell me that I’m not in it for the love of the hobby is just factually wrong. Being a collector or investor are not mutually exclusive. Two things can exist simultaneously.
I started reading comics in the early 1960's and collected from 1978 to 1988. The only reason I returned to the hobby in 2005 was because of graded comics, collecting mostly Silver and Bronze Age grails. I had no desire to buy potentially restored comics. I had already read the stories from the originals or reprints.
You couldn't answer that? SUPPLY vs DEMAND! There are a whole lot more 9.6's than 9.8's in general. And in the end, why do they go for so much more? Because someone is willing to pay that amount for them.
My guess is that you didn’t watch the whole video. If you had, you would have known that I had already prepared for this argument. Prepared by showing an example where there are actually more 9.8 than 9.6 so no it’s not just about supply and demand. 👊🏾
I'm the king of 9.6s and 9.4s. I prefer picking them up because they are still beautiful and so much more affordable. ☕💥✝️
I collect 9.6 all day at half the price of 9.8. Great video!
Yeah, sometimes its like 70% less for a 9.6.
I own a 9.8 that is totally a 9.4 - 9.6
Was bummed when I got it in the mail, because it was so obvious!
Great topic and video, Regie. I have always considered 9.8's as overrated and overpriced and have purchased 9.6's instead, using the money I saved to buy the best Silver and Bronze Age grade grails I could afford. This strategy has worked out quite well for me. I subscribe to several comic book UA-camrs and none of them can consistently predict if their CGC submission would come back as a 9.8 instead of a 9.6. The best was eta nick who taught himself how to grade books. There are strong 9.6's and weak 9.8's. If someone had one of these and repeatedly cracked it out and resubmitted to CGC I bet half the time they would come back as a 9.6 and the other times a 9.8.
There is a lot of truth to that. With that out of the way, there are certainly Very obvious 9.8’s as well.
Yeah, I agree, I usually go for the 9.6 unless its a long-shot spec and the 9.8 is cheap enough; I'll even take down to a 9.2 if the price is much cheaper as a percentage than the next grades up. If a comic really pops, it will drag the next grades up by more as a 9.8 will be out of most people's price range and they'll still want a copy.
I still believe that at some point in the future, as the collector's market continues to mature, that 9.6's will gain in popularity and see a price hike. Whether it actually closes the gap with it's "big brother" 9.8 is another matter. Personally I find the delta between both grades to be kinda silly. Sure there are times when scarcity is a factor, but when two high grade books are nearly indistinguishable from one another, and when you can send either back to CGC as a cpr candidate, and suddenly the 9.8 is a 9.6, and the 9.6 becomes a 9.8....I dunno. I'm a collector, too so I see what happens. But personally, with my budget, I will buy 9.6's all day for a steep discount vs the 9.8.
CGC seems to be grading harder so a 9.8 a decade ago will be a 9.6. So I believe there will be many more 9.6.
I’ve had 9.4‘s which look better than some 9.8’s. Once I noticed this, I stopped spending ridiculous monies on 9.8’s. I’ve been focusing on 9.4’s and 9.6’s.
I enjoy these number/data crunching that you do. It does expose the value investing and the grading subjectivity.
I will never own a 9.8 nor would I want one because it will cost me hundreds or thousands more and there is little to no visual difference, It's all a prestigious illusion.
Bravo Sir and well said!!!💯💥🙌
The 9.8 fuss is a bit of finnickiness. It's the same with stamps, coins and cards. The immaculate ones command a premium. In reality, if you bought 6 months worth of brand new issues, and mainly 1st appearance issues from DC & Marvel, and had them graded instantly to get a big chunk of 9.8s, wait a while and the simple fuss over the issues at that grade will get you your high return. It's just the fuss.
Few months back i sent my copy of Marvel Voices 1 variant cover signed by the cover artist. The comic was still sealed when i sent it, i was expecting it to be at least a 9.8 but came back as a 9.6 🥲 no grader notes included when i scanned the QR code at the back of the slab.
It is all about status. There are just minor differences between 9.8 and 9.6, and it is subject to human error. 9.6 display as well as 9.8, but because of the minor difference people assign outrageous extra value.
I have 19 graded books and 9 of which are 9.8. Buying 9.8s are not really what I try to do. It is a matter of what I want to spend on a given book. If the price difference is a matter of $50 above or below my budget, the purchase will be made. Some books lower grades are much more affordable and realistic for my personal collection.
9.8 is mint condition it doesn’t have to be perfect it just has to meet the criteria for that grading standard. Setting new comics aside through the passing of time comics get damaged as they are read multiple times. This is why the delta exists as it becomes scarcer to see a 9.8 the value rises and collectors place a higher emphasis on having those higher grade books. It’s basic supply and demand if the demand is higher then the prices will be higher
9.8 is still a near-mint grade (NM/M). Only 9.9 and 10 are considered true mint from CGC.
Does the census take into account the number of issues cracked open and regraded? I can imagine that the number of comics graded are actually a lot less if it's the case that they are just added as another issue.
It does not. That’s something that I’ve covered in other videos. Crack, press and resubmit is only part of the problem. There is also the issue of cross grading.
A few years ago, the community decided that it was a good idea to send the same book to CGC, CBCS and PGX. There was also the regular crack/press and cross grade going on.
Long story short, the census counts are a mess but potentially less with the 9.8 versus the other grades.
@@RegieCollects That's a shame. It seems like a problem that can be fixed by cross referencing barcodes on the comics but that would only help zero in on news stand copies. I wonder what can be done to resolve that issue to help determine the actual count of graded comics?
There is nothing that can be done. I don’t say that lightly but I don’t think this can be corrected.
As someone who goes all Homer Simpson when numbers come up - I appreciate this analysis #doh 🍩
Man what a great video. A very interesting case I came across is Avenger 196 (first full taskmaster), there was even a huge difference among the 9.4 and 9.6 prior to the 9.8 vertical slope. That said the chart and pricing for avengers 196 is a great example of price due to character, demand, lower prints, and rather even spread until 9.8 arises.
With this book in particular, going back to sold items across different platforms you will see 9.4s and 9.6s selling in each others range due to the visible difference in quality rather than the assigned grade
"There is no more futile an effort than trying to distinguish the difference between a 9.4, a 9.6, and a 9.8" -- my local comic dealer.
You’re local dealer would be incorrect. Any true grader can absolutely see distinctions.
@@Comicbookyoutubersrock Ha! The dealer in question is the smartest guy I've ever met on the subject of comics. But you go ahead and keep counting spine ticks and shelling out $$$$ for your 9.8s.
@@RonSM2112 So the random dude on the internet that proclaims to know the smartest guy on this subject 🤣. Yeah I’ll take your word on that one for sure 🤣🤣🤣. Or is it more likely you both don’t know shit about grading 🤷♂️. Look, I’m not saying CGC gets it right 100% of the time, no one’s denying that. But anyone who knows anything about comics can make distinctions between 9.4’s to 9.8’s. Anyone who says differently is just likely a upset they get more 9.4’s than 9.8’s when submitting books 😂
Ask him if he’s prepared to sell a CGC ASM #300 9.4 for the same price as a 9.8…
@@ianellis395 You totally missed the point. But thanks for playing.
I'll also go for 9.8 because they are rare and i grade other collectibles where it's a bigger deal
It makes sense a 9.8 is worth more based on everything you said. What doesn’t make sense is the huge exponential jump in value from 9.6 to 9.8. It doesn’t make sense bc a 9.6 could be a 9.8 on a different day and vice versa. Or I have 9.4’s with no grading notes. This subjectivity of grading should allow for a small gap between these grades not the massive one.
If 10.0 is the best there is, then grading companies should start grading from 10.0 then down…imo there would be a lot more 9.6 that become 9.8 if they did
That’s sorta how CGC does it. At least for the higher grades based upon my interviews with Matt Nelson.
Lower grade books have defects that knock them down immediately so there is no need to count down from 10. Chunks from covers, subscription creases, severely worn covers are just some of those major defects.
Logically a 9.6 should be just as good as a 9.8 but logic has no place in collecting. Lol
It's a great video Regie. Very informative. 👍
Visually for me 9.0-9.8 can be very similar. I have cgc comics some of which I think should be higher and others like a Negan lives silver 9.8 that looks lower as it has visible marks on the silver logo. These days I am happy to go down to a 8.0 with modern comics. Often double or triple the price doesn’t feel worth it, other than the mild satisfaction of having a 9.8. Especially if the comic doesn’t present flawless. I have a couple 9.0s that look like 9.8 based on the cover and once it’s slabbed who’s going know other than by the number. Overall for me it’s all about how it presents rather than the marking of flaws that aren’t noticeable
I collect only raw books in the best possible condition. I can read them and enjoy the inside art...and my kids can worry about the value when I am dead. Raw books in really great grades are even much cheaper ..
I don't know if you remember, but a few years ago you helped motivate me on my goal to press books on my own. I now have 4 out of the 50 9.8s in Newsstand Secret wars 8 and 1 out of the 48 of the newsstand ASM 252s. Thanks, Regie!
Boom 🔥🔥
Thank you for the knowledge. I'm getting back into comic collecting and you have definitely helped with that.
You are very welcome bud. There are a lot of great videos on the channel that can help you. Let me know if you need something.
@@RegieCollects the best Spider-man comics to get these days are....?
Great examples. I’m a big fan both groups who need strive for rarity and those who are just happy to have a great book in any grade.
I think, the hype around owning a 9.8 is very real and causes some FOMO of having the BEST. 9.8 is what you hear many collectors are searching for. I don't see that as a bad ting or a good thing. What I do find interesting is the subtle differences between grades and the price delta. I have heard people say "I will never own that book, because it has out priced me". I find that very sad. I looked further down the list on all 4 books cited. Here is what I think is interesting for collectors who simply want to get that book in a "okay" grade to add to their collections. Ultimate FO 4 9.2-9.4 only $100.00 delta, Sentry 9.2-9.4 $20.00 delta, Moon Knight #1 9.2-9.4 SAME FMV, Spawn 9.2-9.4 $20.00 delta. I think a book Graded 9.0 or higher should be a very acceptable book in any collection. Most of mine are not graded and I own very few 9.8's. I haven't broken the bank collecting books I would like to have. Its personal preference, and what you are comfortable with.
I agree that most any book 9.0 lr better should be completely collectable. My criteria for what goes in the PC is that it's it's at least vf/nm range and doesn't smell like anything but newsprint. So many books off the rack are only in this range...
Well said. This same thing comes up when I talk about Must Have or Snag these Books now. Folks ask me for “more affordable” options and those options are literally the lower graded copies on the screen.
9.8 are for the seller/collector.
9.6 is for the collector / holder
Maybe a little too simple of an approach. I think investors also play a roll. Same with speculators.
Bragging Rights, that is all 😂
I’m not that big of a comic book collector to spend thousands but I’ve been collecting here and there throughout 20 years I have very highly collectible books that are not graded but I’ve bought some n. 9.0 and 9.4 And I think they’re just as great I don’t care if they’re in CGG plastic graded as long as they have a hard back and you take care of them I think they’re all great don’t get too caught up on perfection just like life you’ll never get it so I’m happy with the 9.0 and an 8.4 any day
Is there a rule when it comes to the age of the book? I feel for modern books the grades are expected to be high but I try to not be closed minded and maybe leave room for the grades to be between a 9.0-9.8 depending on the key significance and age of the book. I’m sure I am even more open to lower grade copies when it comes to silver age or even early Bronze Age books.
There are no rules, just preferences. I personally think the newer the book the higher the grade should be. This is rooted in the cost of older books set against the availability of modern books couple with the value cliff between a 9.8 and 9.6.
@@RegieCollects thank you. I just purchased a few modern keys at 9.6. Champions issue 1 and Sword Master 1 both selling for little under $30 which I thought was very cheap for a slab book.
Did you reference a pricing guide before purchasing? I ask because Champions 1 at least seems about right. The current value is less than $24. Most recent sale was $21.
@@RegieCollects I don’t know where to look for price guides but I just do comparisons of asking prices from other sellers. The 9.8 average asking price was around $50. I’m just wondering if these sellers are even making any money when a graded comic book is sold for less than $50 only because of the cost for them to get graded in the first place.
You should look into a pricing guide that allows you to see exactly what things sold for. Looking at listings can be misleading if everyone is overpriced which typically they are due to eBay/platform fees.
It’s hard to know if they are making money but you have to keep in mind that grading only costs $25 and certain account types get a discount on top. A low acquisition cost on the book means that they can be making $25+ on a book that they couldn’t sell raw for that same amount.
Another great video Reggie, I think you hit the nail on the head when you said it's really up to what matters most to you. I agree with some of the posts here, differnece between 9.6 & 9.8 is so small I don't know why they even bother with the tiers. Question on price guides tho, I noticed that Comic Book Price Guide and Go Collect have different prices for the same graded book with Go Collect being smaller. Is this because of how they interpret the sales data? Also, would love to see you do a video on what makes a good CPR candidate. Thanks again for all you do brother!
Different pricing services pull information from different sources. It’s a combination of eBay, auctions, dealers. The data is also pulled in, scrubbed and reported out at different times. Long story short you can’t compare one service to another.
There are videos on the channel about this and CPR. If you search for Regie Collects plus a term you will probably find videos on most topics. Let me see if I can find one of each for you.
Pricing Guides: ua-cam.com/users/lives_11o0F_jKo?feature=share
Cracking: ua-cam.com/users/live4iOL_fzEplM?feature=share
@@RegieCollects You never cease to amaze me Reggie, you're truly a fountain of knowledge! Great recommendations, thanks again.
Simple because people keep paying the outrageous prices asked for a 9.8, so why not keep charging $$$$.
Scored a good amount of 9.6’s where I sometimes saved double the amount of money that I would of spent if I had went for a 9.8 instead. Especially for older books and some moderns I’m fine with a 9.4 depending on how it displays, signatures, and if I’m lucky enough creator remarques.
what kind of shelfs are those for the comics?
Same thing happens with cards...a 10 (PSA, BGS, SGC, etc) holds a ridiculous premium over a 9 or an 8 when I've seen an 8 with better eye appeal than some 10s. People care more about the label than they care about the actual card in a lot of cases. As a collector, give me a nice presenting 8 over a 10 (and the price tag that goes along with it) any day!
"Defacto Perfection" - a good psychological contributor to the price gap between 9.6 & 9.8. With 9.9s and 10s remaining so exceptionally rare, the 9.8 becomes the highest logistically attainable condition and so remains the target for most collectors. To your point there are many books with more 9.8s than all other conditions combined (especially modern comics), but the vast majority of all comic books ever published have no known 9.9s or 10s and therefore have instilled a perception of 9.8 as the "defacto perfect" copy and that feeds demand at an inordinate rate that pushes higher grades exponentially higher in price. As prices soar above reasonable expense the trickle-down effect begins but rarely closes the gap even as more books get graded.
Collectors are more likely to be fine with a 9.6, but that sometimes exponentially higher 9.8 value is always going to be the goal for an investor.
Great video, Regie!
So, I’m not crazy. 🤣😂
Great video!
Your a good man Reggie 🎉
In terms of investment, 9.8s are the thing to go for. If you are into reading comics, well raw comics, and cgc is lovely, but the hobby is buying the books to enjoy reading them.
“The hobby is buying books to read enjoy reading them?” Says who? So an investor doesn’t part of the hobby? What if the investment reads comics as well. How about the cover art collector? Are they excluded from the hobby as well??
@@RegieCollects Most collectors mix their hobby with investment also. And there are lots of cover art collectors too. But the primary point of a record is to listen to the music. If it becomes rare and valuable that's a bonus. Same with comics. It's to read them and enjoy the pictures. If they become valuable that's a bonus. In the end speccing is sort of pointless, as the only ones which count buy the comic because they want it in their collection to read it. And people like that often buy runs to complete series.
Great video Reg, I personally will get the highest grade I can afford and also try to consider if it’s for the PC or if it’s an investment. Something I’d like to hear your opinion on is ‘ghost copies’. Copies of a 9.4 that someone cracked and pressed then resubmitted. As far as I know, there’s no way of tracking books that have been resubmitted, so some of the grades, and total numbers, seem like they could be inflated. To what degree I have no clue, but I’d like to hear your thoughts.
That’s correct. The mess that is the census is something that I’ve spoken about in other videos. Not only do we have to deal with CPR (crack, press, resubmit) but cross grading as well. A few years ago the community decided that it was a good idea to send copies of the same book from PGX to CBCS to CGC to “test” the grading standards of each. Additional there are also the regular cross grading where a PGX or CBCS book is cracked and resubmitted to CGC.
With that said, you potentially have more accuracy around 10, 9.9 and 9.8 versus the other grades. I say that because you have fewer folks cracking and resubmitting those books. Same with CGC signature series.
If you want to collect, get a 9.6, if you want to “invest”, get a 9.8.
Honestly if you want to collect, get a raw copy.
So the only argument for 9.8’s is that they’re sometimes rare 😂 If you’re buying 9.8’s it’s not because you care about wanting a book in great shape considering most collectors can’t tell the difference between a 9.8 and a 9.6. I’m convinced people just buy 9.8’s because either they’re resellers or trying to keep up with the Jones’s.
One of my big take always is that not all 9.8s are created equally. It’s important to look at the data and the book itself to determine if a 9.8 warrants a premium.
With that said, why are you concerned about resellers and people keeping up with the Jones’s?
Love the new wall display, celebrating black superheroes for black history month! That’s what’s up. Great vid 👍
👊🏾
Crazy to think with 30,000 copys of that book graded there are more slabs out there than a lot books have print runs these days.
Facts! It’s says a lot that could make up content for several videos. 🤣😂
I think you have it right with *perceived* rarity and the desire to have the "best" copy, rather than actual rarity. Because I don't think many people are actually doing the research you just did to see if things are actually rare.
I think you could be right about that bro. 🤓
I think the simple answer to this is what the market has dictated.
9.8 is the pinnacle grade. But the 9.6, 9.4 are just as good for collecting. Your still NM in those sub grades. But there will always be a premier grade which is 9.8 and now that's being turned sideways by the 9.9 and 10 grades. Which are ultra rare. Have fun collecting no matter the grade. It's the journey, not the destination we should find fun
The closer to perfection, I can see why a 9.8 would be worth more. And seeing how almost everything perfect gets a 9.8 way more often than a 9.9…so yes. I’ll gladly pay more for a 9.8 vs a 9.6. Though if a 9.8 is way out of my price range but a 9.6 is…I’ll buy the 9.6.
Facts.
To me it's simple supply and demand. Older books 9.8s are super rare and lower grades demand a better price, however on any book released in the past 20-30 years, high grade availability is so much higher. Better paper quality, collectors that actually collect (often never read) so there is a much higher supply of 9.8s, thus the demand to settle for a 9.6 or lower isn't really there. Thus ONLY the 9.8s have value, but who knows, maybe in 20-30 more years, that won't be the case.
For example, X-Men 1 and Nyx 3 both have about 6k (actually 500 more Nyx 3 graded) on the CGC census. There are only 2 X-Men 1 in a 9.8 and 2456 Nyx 3s in a 9.8. So I'll settle for a much much lower grade of X-Men book, but Nyx 3.. I WANT that 9.8 and don't want to settle. So you know why 9.8s go for so much more, just hard to explain because there are so many variables.
I think you’re literally explaining in different words what I described in the video. 🤣😂 It’s partially ego/desire, supply/demand, mix with some inexperience buyers. Buyers that are paying for a 9.8 because it’s a 9.8.
@@RegieCollects agreed, we are on same page.
Why? Because wannebee posers can't flex a 9.6 modern online
9.8 is security if u have sell it most likely sell where is 9. 4 9. 6 unsecured especially with mordern
Fact: there are 25 possible grades (26 counting no grade) there only 7 grades I count as "high echelon (9.0+and up) but in reality there only 3 grades (9.8,9.9,10) that really snobby collectors care about,face it 9.6 is red headed stepchild to them,this how should be if your book makes to 9.0 or better know that it made it past 18 points to get there and that is a achievement in it own right!!!!!
Yooooo reg u should hav put a 9.8 isolation !! Book there I kno u got one!! I jus get a book inlike and want it to look good so a 9.8 I can’t afford in most books so I anit got it lol
Isolation 9.8 for days over here. Lol.
I have a raw copy but I don’t have a 9.8 I think I need one.
Let me know. I may have a copy.
U let me kno I would grab a 9.8 from u
Curious why no one is mentioning that of the books graded why it doesn’t break it down by page colour if white pages means a lot to some. Maybe I am wrong?
What are you referring to when you say “it?”
@@RegieCollectsCGC of the 9.8 or whatever grade breakdown on page colour would you find that prices also differ because of that?
@@RegieCollects Meaning if 9.8 are considered books to buy for bigger money would the perfect 9.8 be considered white pages then make it more desirable or being off white to cream less money as an 9.8. I’m curious if white pages are being bought at higher values than off white?
I wish I could give you a simple answer. Lol.
CGC allows for 9.8s to be off white or better. CBCS is off-white/white or better.
Some books are so rare that page color is irrelevant. Folks are using advanced cleaning techniques that will improve page color in a way that can’t be detected. Newer books don’t even have white pages so the designation is virtually meaningless.
Will a 9.8 with white pages go for more money, potentially but is that because of the white pages or because it’s a 9.8 or because there are few copies at a 9.8? Does the book actually have pages that are white? If so, have those pages been artificially enhanced.
Long story short, I’m sure that someone can look at the data and give use answers with lots of caveats.
I have a stack of books. And I know the readers are correct. The 9.8 and 9.6 aren't much different. Luck in some cases. When I feel I have a good book. That means I feel like I have a book that is a (9.8 or 9.6 ) Because it's true.... Very little difference
“Very little difference” means that their is still a difference, correct? Hence the distinction between a 9.8 and 9.6.
collect veve comics, its by mint numbers
And, a great example of artificial scarcity which I addressed a few weeks ago. 😂👊🏾
Don't the 9.8 and 9.6 get skewed as you get to newer books. So there will be more 9.8 , even 9.9 and 10.0, for new books than older say copper age and back as opposed to modern...so 9.8 in older books warrent the higher value than in newer books?
Did you watch the entire video?
@RegieCollects If you talked about it I must have missed it...the distraction that is kids
Lol. I totally get that. 🤣 I asked because I’m seeking to understand the question behind your question. Or, maybe you’re just making a point that due to survivability older 9.8s are more rare.
What can you say... 9.8 is the best of the best, and people are programmed to want that 9.8 grading. Every other grade after that is negotiable. Great Video Regie, and I'd like to hear more of your thoughts on this Topic.
10s are the best of the best.
Perfect 10s are like 🦄 🤣😂
@@rayengstrom1905 I hear y'a, but how many 10's do the PEOPLE have...🤔! Apparently, we're not Rich like you... sir.
@@RegieCollects Thank You 1G!!!!💥💥💥
@@seth1184 Why do you think people who think 10's are better than 9.8's are rich? 🤔
I always dislike the notion if grading being an "art". Art is creating something. Grading is a list of criteria. Of course the human error margin is there, and people may disagree about how much something affects the book; but there is no reason why companies like CGC cant and shouldn't have an extremely detailed criteria that every grader can follow. The margin of error should be very small. Especially concerning newer, high grade books.
Are you aware that medicine and law are practices as well? A mixture of art and science.
There is the law, there is the science but there is also the application of those things. There is right, there is wrong but there are shades of grey. Judgement is important.
Take a moment and think about how much comics have changed of the last 100 years. Why would we expect more from a 23 year old grading company versus that of the institutions of medicine and law? 🤓 Too much? 🤣😂
@@RegieCollects Well I suppose it's that old nut of whether we're willing to call everything an art or not because there's some form of self expression no matter what we do. But that's perhaps way too much a digression to get into.
I understand that things become more subjective as books get older, that's why I suggested that the more egregious inconsistencies had to do with modern books.
I do think we are too accepting of these inconsistencies because we keep using the services and over valuing a 9.8 when it is obvious that the resulting product is like a lottery. We all have books in 9.8 slabs that don't belong there and we've all had books that by all appearances seem like they deserve a much better grade and are not given adequate explanation why that's so...
A 9.8 is the easiest of those to assess. We arent talking books where there's foxing and brittleness and heavy cover wear etc...
To be fair, I think things like medicine and law are far more complex to really compare. Just my opinion.
I agree that judgment is a huge factor. But that's why medicine and law work to be as specific and detailed as possible and we hold the worst errors in judgment with the most contempt.
With something like CGC I really feel that it's completely feasible to be more transparent with the customer and create a more universal grading structure to hold employees accountable to. Again, especially with newer books you can make it almost entirely a science and take most of the "art" out of it.
Thanks for taking the time man, always love to hear what's on your mind with the hobby.✌
If people are involved there is a certain amount of subjectivity that will always be present. The only way to address this is to remove the human element entirely. But, I’m not certain that is what we want to do.
You say that law and medicine are more complex than grading comics. Absolutely but less complex doesn’t mean simple.
Did you or did you not break the law? Do you have this symptom or that symptom? Is there or is there not a bindery tear? The response seems like it would be straightforward but what if there was extenuating circumstances for the law breaker. What happens when one disease mimics another? How about the entire comic run has bindery tears due to manufacturing. In all of these cases, sticking with a hard and fast rule versus applying subjectively and judgement can result in less desirable outcomes.
Innocent people jailed. Misdiagnosis of disease. Entire print runs getting less than a 9.8 due to production defects and poor paper quality during a shortage.
In the case of the law and medicine there are damages that can be assessed through lawsuits and insurance when an error has been made. That isn’t the case with comics but as we agreed, these three things are not the same. It’s a dang hobby. 🤣😂 Appreciate the exchange.
We drive the market. The consumers. The 9.8 is much more expensive and the disparity between that and 9.6 is very large because that’s what we’ve decided. We make our decisions with our money. The 9.8 is expensive because we’ve decided it’s expensive. In the same way we’ve decided that X-men 266 is gambits first appearance even though it’s not. We create the market with our desire and drive the market with our money. Nuff said
I fully admit I'm a sucker for the 9.8 graded book as it often represents the pinnacle grade for most books, particular those from the bronze age forward. For me I enjoy collecting both as a fan of comics, as well as the sense of pride I get in owning the highest generally attainable grade available of books that speak to me. Silly as that may be, it's no different from those that collect comics vs sport cards or Pokemon. As collectors, we collect what appeals to us and I think the same can be said for 9.8s vs other grades. Sure this particular idiosyncrasy may seem odd to some, but clearly it's something that is commonly shared across the hobby, which is what largely contributes to the delta in price between a 9.8 and 9.6. Plus, it helps knowing that if I do decide to get out of the hobby someday, I am more easily able offload my collection due to them being very high grade. As a result my general approach to collecting has been to buy a grade within the top 15% of the overall census, which tends to mostly be 9.8's unless you get deep into the Silver Age or some bigger Bronze Age keys like Hulk 181.
Graded comics have ruined the industry. People care more about a grade than the comic itself. What good is a comic that you can't look through, read, touch or even smell? People/collectors have been suckered into thinking this is how "serious" people collect. How can you take it seriously when a grade can vary form grader to grader. At least wait until it becomes automated somehow so ever book is graded exactly alike.
I would argue that people looking down their noses at other people is what can damage the hobby. People don’t have to agree and that should be okay.
@@RegieCollects When you buy comics you can't read then you're in it for the investment/money and not the hobby.
Again, you’re stating your opinion as if it were a fact.
I have a lot of comics that are graded that are an investment that I have also read. I read them either digitally or before I got them graded. To tell me that I’m not in it for the love of the hobby is just factually wrong.
Being a collector or investor are not mutually exclusive. Two things can exist simultaneously.
I started reading comics in the early 1960's and collected from 1978 to 1988. The only reason I returned to the hobby in 2005 was because of graded comics, collecting mostly Silver and Bronze Age grails. I had no desire to buy potentially restored comics. I had already read the stories from the originals or reprints.
You couldn't answer that? SUPPLY vs DEMAND! There are a whole lot more 9.6's than 9.8's in general. And in the end, why do they go for so much more? Because someone is willing to pay that amount for them.
My guess is that you didn’t watch the whole video. If you had, you would have known that I had already prepared for this argument. Prepared by showing an example where there are actually more 9.8 than 9.6 so no it’s not just about supply and demand. 👊🏾