I am an old school collector I love my raw comic books, it might be weird to some people but I love to open a comic I bought back in the 80s and look through it and the smell of old print brings back those memories. I guess for me it takes me back to a simple time when I didnt have to worry about anything except school,friends and reading comic books at my LCS with those friends.
Slabbing a necessity for most when buying high value books . Not many people can assess all defects accurately (to 0.5 grade ) and / or restoration. So on a 4 or even 5 digit book - are you going to take that gamble ?
It really blows my mind that so many collectors aren't interested in reading at all. I got into comic collecting because I wanted to read as much Batman as I could. I definitely feel like the collecting space has become very superficial and it is not helping to bring in new people. I wish there was more talk about the stories inside, because unfortunately a lot of people don't know how great they can be. Great video! Welcome back 🎉
It's catered towards the people who collect cards. That's why there are 50 variants for each hot book. It doesn't matter what's on the inside, just the face of it.
Completely disagree with your take, Stick. The grading market has actually done a lot of good by weeding out dealers who tried to pass off restored or cut-up comics as legit, especially in today’s world where people are buying online and can’t inspect books in person. Sure, grading has its flaws, but it’s a safeguard for collectors against dishonest sellers, which is something the hobby desperately needs. And grading isn't just about preserving comics or keeping them locked in a slab for display. Plenty of collectors crack open those slabs-they just want to be sure they’re buying something legit. This anti-slabbing narrative doesn’t make sense to me. Yeah, there’s hype and price inflation, but overall, grading is a positive force for the hobby, ensuring transparency and trust.
He's made this video like ten times already. He got burnt by slabs and now has a personal grudge. If he greatly benefited from is slabs he'd be singing a different tune but he's deep in the red.
I think 3rd party grading is essential for the hobby, especially for new collectors and serious collectors. With a graded book from CGC you don't have to worry about restoration. You know exactly what you are buying. I am trying to get into the rare first edition book hobby and there is no 3rd party grading. You have to put A LOT of trust into the dealer. I have found it hard to pull the trigger to buy an expensive book, only because they are not graded. I think I would probably leave the comic hobby if there was no grading. EDIT: if you don't like the slab, then crack it out.
This rhetoric needs to end. There are enough slabbed and raw copies of literally almost any book out there to be able to buy what and how you like. The only thing causing friction is the pretend narrative that it is "slabbed collectors VS Raw collectors" When really, everyone is just " a collector."
That's the point,only where as older pre slabbing 80s and under mostly even if they had big print runs their are a inherently less of them in mint/or neat perfect condition making the higher grades worth alot more if you took care of them where as now there are 1000s of 9.8+ right off the press before NCBD and we even get them ensuring in the future their will be no shortage of perfect copies of them essentially making them pretty much worthless and not at all scarce in any grade and the older ones will become more and more expensive bc theirs just not as many of them in the condition we want.If that makes sense.Im not against slabbing just slabbing everything especially every modern book it's just limiting our potential for growth of value in the future.
What else is going to make content about? Man is running out of ideas and is back on the bash CGC train. Rather see a ComicTom skit than this rehashed rant.
I think grading is good for golden age and early silver age books. It’s crazy to see people slabbing new books like the first appearance of Spider Gwen, etc.
I agree with you for the most part. But, if I had the first appearance of Spider-Gwen or Miles Morales in perfect condition, I may want to get it slabbed for protection. And when I eventually pass on, my next of kin will know what it is and will be able to sell it (if they choose) for a fair price - but that is only if it were to appear to be in perfect condition. But for the most part, I do agree with your sentiment.
I mostly agree. I'm one of the raw collectors. I own 9 slabs I got for cheap when I was exploring slab collecting in general. None of the slabs are high end books. I try to stay neutral, thinking the slab/raw community should be unified. But you're right, in a lot of cases it's not. Even so, it COULD be. I can buy a slabbed comic and crack it open to get to the book. I have done that. And my neighbor can buy a raw comic and have it slabbed. For better or worse, slabs are likely here to stay. Collectors simply have to choose what they want to collect and why, and try not to get caught up in the stuff they don't like. Personally, I'm sticking with raw 99% of the time, but I may pick up a slab and keep it slabbed here and there.
The grading market destroyed all the dealers with restored or cut up shit trying to pass it off as legit. Those are the people whining the most about CGC and graded comics in general. I immediately think they're complaining because they cant scam the customer anymore. No no no, its a 8.5 swear. comes back 6.0. Yea like it or not, there's a need for it. Especially these days when purchasing something online.
I couldn't agree more with what you said. I think the price of graded books should be the price of a raw book plus the cost of slabbing. I'm not going to give someone 5x or more for a slabbed book.
For those older pricey books, better use a black light for all those touch ups. Grading was intended to protect the buyer and buy a grade that was inspected by a professional grader. It's too bad CGC has tainted everything and grading is so subjective anyways. I agree that most aren't worth grading but unless you can physically and really inspect the raw book, you are taking a chance that it was tampered with and sucks to fork out 1000 of dollars on a book that's been screwed with.
CGC did provide us with the comfort of knowing that their banana-shaped inner wells were "totally normal" and really prompted trust from their clientele (Heritage, ComicConnect, ComicLink, Pedigree) who are definitely not in this for the money. These are passionate collectors who took the hobby to the 'next level' and while it may appear to be a pyramid scheme to some, it is clear that we can count on the makers of the 'WATA Games Fiasco', 'Reholdering Crack and Swap', 'Banana-Gate', and '9.9 Giant Size X-Men 1 that is totally a 9.9' to keep this hobby honest.
Comedy genius, sir. It's good to hear that the discerning collector still has absolute faith in the slabbing and grading professionals. They've proved time and again to be infallible and in it for the love of the medium.
Brit here. Tend to stick to eBay. When I want something big I often find the best deals and auctions are across the pond, so I have to go slabbed (a blue label, namely) because it guarantees the book is complete. I've lost out before and returning books thousands of miles is a longterm headache. Preservation is important also as I'm a clumsy f*** and I don't trust myself 🤷
If you have vintage books, you are in it for the money, if you are buying slabs you are in it for the money. You are jaded from buying high and selling low. It was clear as day the comic market would crash, most of us have been through the same cycles in other hobbies. Streetwear, shoes, sports cards, crypto, stocks. Anytime people get burned they look to blame it on everyone but themselves.
Yea but it didn't crash it was the perfect storm to inflate them for a few years but they are back to pretty much normal now I wouldn't say that's a crash just leveling out.
I like your channel! I have never bought a graded comic, it was ‘73 when I first started reading Marvels. I took them with me everywhere, on vacations, short trips. A lot of mine are in read conditions! I still like picking up books they way I used to. No hype or what’s popular! I’ll just pick it up because I like a character or I like the way it looks. A lot of other channels rant about a writer, or a direction a books takes. I just want to enjoy the books because I like it. You always help people with good advice and positive thoughts on collecting! Thank You!
Ruined collecting? No. I have slabbed many books but, my PC has raw duplicates. Books I can enjoy while having a set protected. I have the number one Sensational She-Hulk graded collection and a great complete reader collection. I have five complete sets of Elfquest and I will be slabbing my best set to protect it. Not worth much but I want to. Do I slab for profit, yes, but that gives my customers a sense of security. Believe me, the phrase "high-grade", "Near mint", "Perfect", and the like is wildly subjective with raw books and the sellers. Are grading companies flawless? No. But a damn mile better than what Uncle Bob's evaluation is. Finally, buying to trade/sell is different than PC buying. PC buying is for books I enjoy while trade/sell buying is to support my PC. I don't care about the story of trade/sell. I care about my PC stories and characters. It's two mindsets and values. One supports the other. One is a means to an end.
Also, I love content that explains the ins and outs of the hobby. Everyone loves drama but at the end I am looking for knowledge about the hobby. What are some of the do and don’t aspect, and tips on ways to preserve your collection by giving opinions on what works best for you. I come to comics to getaway from all the outside world noise and day to day living. Just grab one of your prized grails and just get lost in your childhood.
Been watching you for a while, through the good times and the bad times. Finally hit the subscribe button today. In regard to this video, I am not against slabs and f that’s what someone wants. It is not what I want because of the same points you made here. Though I read comics as a child whenever I could afford them and find them (I grew up in a very rural area in south Georgia), I only started collecting on May 6, 2023, as I wondered into a comic book store out of curiosity and discovered Free Comic Book Day. I also found this hobby to be like my other interests: it’s only as expensive as you want it to be. I have learned a lot over the past year and a half, coming to appreciate many titles, artists, and creators, as well as deepening my fandom of Captain America. Comic book reading is my release from the stress of being a special education teacher of children with severe behavioral issues, so a slabbed comic doesn’t do it for me. As far as preservation goes, I have found that a nice bag and board coupled with an inexpensive picture frame presents just as nice, at least in my opinion.
It's also disappointing sending in a flawless book and getting a 9.4. Now you have a set value putting you in the red. Taking a few L's makes no longer wanting to grade your collection.
All I know is that whatever the younger generation is into will be the collectable of the future. If grading comics keeps kids from reading them then the hobby has a limited life expectancy.
I don't really agree with you on this but it always good to hear different perspectives. For me I often appreciate the covers and buy graded books to more easily handle them without causing harm to the books. I really appreciate the slabs for display.
I recently sold a property that I own. The "expert appraiser" appraised the property 40 thousand less than I sold it for. She didn't appreciate the home like I did or the buyers did. No buyers cut throat or bidding the price up on the home. It sold for what I asked the Realtor to list the home for. My Price ,my value. So the moral of the story is the Experts built the Titanic and the Amateur built the ARK. On a side note buy what you love to collect,there is so much out there to buy and so many ways to do it. Also don't compare your house (comics) with your neighbors house(comics). Be happy with you have.
I think its an of the evolution of the business aspect of comics as a piece of history much like stamps and coins. In contrast, the reprint draws new collectors that are interested in the story and experience of reading a piece of fantasy. Inevitably that experience can endear them to the hobby and as a result they may want the original and want it graded and protected. Just thoughts after 52 years of collecting 😂
I also am a old time collector. In my opinion, the pros outweigh cons when it comes to graded comics. I have purchased raw comics thinking it was near mint when I looked at it the book was worse. Graded comics gives the collector peace of mind on their purchase. Reading the book doesn't bother me. If I wanted to read the book, I would buy the graphic novel or a reader version. Nuff Said.
I mainly read TPBs, but I actually like when the condition isn’t perfect. For one, it’s cheaper to just read the stories, and for another, there’s not as much pressure to not keep it pristine when I’m reading it
It's a relevant point here. The CovrPrice guys estimate around 10 percent of the sales they track are slabbed. The other 90 percent are raw. And that's only essentially the eBay marketplace they can keep track of. There's a good argument for certain books being slabbed, but just recognize is still a niche part of the hobby.
I only buy graded books (CGC,CSBS,etc) if I already own a ready copy, OR I can read the book in a physical higher quality format (i.e. omnibus, epic collection, absolute, etc). CGC grading is imperative with online purchases or higher dollar silver age and golden age books from individuals that are not trusted. From a shop like mycomicshop I trust that a non graded book is going to be just fine.
This opens up a good conversation... As far wanting a higher grade, its not that different from having a raw copy. Sometimes I get a raw copy of a book just to have it, but in the back of my mind, I know I'll want to grab another raw copy in better condition down the road. I've done thata bunch of times. As far as not being able to read the book, I usually grab a facsimile of a slab, or a tpb and that's good for me. I still enjoy the slab. I think the answer is probably somewhere in the middle, I think slabs have absolutely changed the comic book collecting game. I think an over-emphasis on slabs make comics less fun, but I love having books that I truly love in a slab.
My local comic shops near me won’t even buy any comics unless it’s silver or golden age and then they will go off price guidelines to make offers accordingly. If you have anything else they don’t even look at they make like $50 offers for entire long boxes. Something like that speaks volumes it tells me the comic market is falling out…
I am a new school collector, brought into the hobby from my father. We both are of the mindset that for books in pristine condition that have value, should be slabbed. There is no reason to open up a near mint Daredevil #1 to read it when it’s a piece of history, and can be read on the internet. Not to mention with a book like that, the difference of one mere point at the top of the scale can be the difference in realized value of 100% or more. I have bought raw books listed as NM that look good in scans or photos and come with color breaking defects or other issues that prevent it from being a perfect copy.
Well, I have cracked open every slab I've ever bought - hundreds by now, mostly Golden Age - because once a book is slabbed it essentially stops being a book and turns into a plastic container. That's not what I've set out to collect. I keep the labels and put them in the mylars with the books, to ease the burden of selling them for my heirs. What this has also confirmed, time and again, is just how sloppy and inconsistent the grading is. And buyers will usually lose out, since the only stakeholders who really know all hidden issues of a book are the consigner and the grading company. And both have the same interest: grading the book as high as possible, since the grading fee rises with the assigned value, at least for expensive books. Which is very problematic and would not fly in a regulated market, apart from simply being ridiculous - the work is the same, no? The whole thing is just suuuuch a racket. But what can you do - some books are very hard to find raw in decent condition these days. As a side note, I really prefer getting CBCS for Golden Age, they usually grade stricter and more consistent. They're a little more annoying to crack open though. Already dreading having to wrestle PSA slabs...
I'm not for slabbed books. I wanna read my books, flip thru them, smell the old pages. What I find really dumb is sending last week's new releases off to cgc. People are slabbing anything just for a 9.8 and they end up spending 40$ to grade a dollar bin book.
Love the video man and I resonate with your journey as someone that got in during covid. After picking up some issues and getting enamored with the story and art but then being swept away with slabs and profits. Completely falling of reading but finding it again and the love for these stories and art even if I can't get the physical copies I'll read online I just want to read these beautiful runs. I only really buy raw copies & tpb also to invest and deals to flip for books i want, as you say money is always an aspect. I believe long term investments can still be had in the hobby but it's mainly a bonus to the love of collecting. I genuinely hope that everyone that entered the hobby find their path back to the reason they started which brought them such joy and other new & old collectors get to disocver the magic in these pieces of paper.
The Goose is back! It's catch twenty two. Raw comics sell a lot easier because there are people wanting to buy it raw and others wanting to get it graded. Graded comics are only really for people who want it slabbed, people who collect raw don't want to pay the premium of it being already graded and it having a definitive value with the grade. I like having both but having a book graded takes away the real comic book experience of finding it in a comic box somewhere and being able to flip through the book, smell it and trying to see it the damn thing is complete! Great thought provoking video.
Collector of over 45 years and agree with alot of what you have said. Restoration is a problem and cannot always be spotted so I like buying graded when needed.
I struggle with this all the time. I tend to stick with raw 97% of the time. Using comic capsule allowed me to enjoy raw books and also display them on the wall. I have stopped buying graded altogether now. I don’t see them moving as fast as a raw book from what i observed over the past year. Great video and I have to say I agree with you on opinions on the graded vs raw.
They are called cover collectors. I never buy slabs for more than $40-50. The slabs I have are not high priced books but nostalgic books that I love and always have a raw copy. I do sell books, a majority of the books I sell are raw and usually the slab would be like a buyers givey. I do t have a super large collection so anything I can’t sell I’m happy to keep in my collection.
I’m a guy. No matter what grade it is. If I want it in my collection. I’m going to get whatever I can afford. But as a graded Not raw. I only want raw if I know I’m going to a con and want someone to sign it
You covered all the bases; this has all been an ongoing debate. I only have 40 or so graded comic books, but I got disenchanted with that and the most joy I get from my collection is reading the stories and enjoying the art. I even enjoy reading stuff from the public library; either borrowing hard copies or reading them electronically on Hoopla. I hardly bought comics during the Pandemic, but I've heard collectors did so, graded and ungraded. I agree, thin ice is a good way to put it given the closures of comic book stores over the years.
Wisdom. One of your best. I'm old school, have read comics since a was 4 or 5 years old, loved the pop of the colours and art, the feel of the paper, the smell of the print, and the awe, wonder and sometimes sheer craziness of the stories. None of those experiences are available to those who slab these beauties. Yet companies like CGC are making millions from sucking the joy out of a unique medium which, as it's best, has given us some of the finest creators on the planet.
Thanks for saying what I also have been feeling about comics . I read all my comic books that’s why I collect so I can go back and read it whenever I want
Just a quick thought. Why don't Marvel and DC advertise their comic book lines before and after their movies? If you are a kid watching the trailers before a movie and see some really great art and a quick rundown of the story, would you not want to go check it out? I don't know the movie business, just an idea that I feel would help boost some raw book sales.
My only gripe is you shouldn’t need a grading company to tell you a book is a 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, or a 4.0 and a especially a 1.5! These grades should be easily detectable for average collector and priced accordingly to FMV not an inflated price because it’s in a plastic shell. That’s why I will never by a mid grade book or lower in a slab. It makes no sense. You are paying extra for plastic that takes up space. I get the reading aspect of it but people have so many comics in their collection it’s almost impossible to reread the books. I have been struggling to make time to read some of my back issues. Still, it’s great to know I can enjoy the interior as well as the covers in my collection.
@josephbarbera9220 It’s not just about getting a grade-some people can’t always spot when a book has been restored or tampered with, and there are some really skilled scammers out there. CGC and grading companies are great for that-they protect buyers from getting ripped off by identifying these issues. Not everyone has the expertise to catch these things, and grading offers a layer of security that’s crucial for collectors, especially when buying online. Grading isn’t perfect, but it shields us from scams and ensures we know exactly what we’re getting. That’s why it’s so important for the hobby.
Many people just trying to make money from comics and don’t care about the ‘magic’ they used to provide. I learned to read and draw because of comics. Encapsulation isn’t for me. I don’t collect for money. I just love reading old comics
Personally, slabbing means I might be willing to spend an extra $25 - $50 on a book that is worth a MINIMUM of $250. If the book is worth less than that I am unwilling to pay a "slab premium". For books in the +$1,000.00 range, I could see paying more for a slab just because it weeds out damages, restoration, incompleteness, etc.
There is a pricing range for slabbed comics, but there are still plenty of LCS that sell raw comics and they're not influenced by those online prices, you can still buy them for $1-$10. With the re-holder scammers, CGC employee thieves & books "lost in shipping" there's a number of reasons not to slab. And all those dealers selling slabs at the comic cons are not being nice to be buddies, they're not "helping" the comic book community either, they're out there for themselves, for the $$$.
Agreed 100%. As much as I like slabbed books, I don't like how the value for a book varies so much based on fractions of a point. A whole point I understand. I don't understand how a 9.8 can be worth $100s more than a 9.6, just because the 9.6 has a flaw that can only be seen when Mercury is in retrograde with Venus, and the light source you are looking at the slab with is 42 degrees off the most ideal angle.
Sticky...One counter point here. I only own 20 or so slabs and mostly for my top keys (i.e. FF5). I do think keeping them in the case preserves the condition of the book. Any book that is a 3.0 or less are super fragile especially Silver Age and older. What if the grading companies provided a reprint book that can accompany the slabbed book? Would that change your opinion if that happened? I do think grading anything modern is a waste of time though. Keep posting great content.
You mean the market is still tanking, LOL?? I slab/sell for part of my living. I don't take up too much brain matter on whether slabbing is good or bad. I flow with the market. The market sucks right now. I have just started back up with clean/press/slab after doing nothing since June. I had been consistently slabbing 25 or 50 books a month for the previous three years, sometimes 75 even. I work late Bronze and Copper. Now, with most books if I can't confidently get 9.8s, some 9.6s, I don't gamble anymore. I'll sell them raw...
I think the idea behind graded books is you slab, or purchase, the highest grade you can afford. Then, you purchase a beat up version, at a far cheaper price, to read. This goes with many collectibles. I have my favorite Capcom fighting games opened that I play. But I also have sealed, untouched copies of the same games. Why? I believe holding a sealed copy of a game, or the highest graded copy I can afford of a comic book, takes me back to that exact moment when i purchased the item. It’s a way of freezing that precious moment in time. That nostalgia is why sealed copies of anything is kept. Additionally, people who collect sealed items pay more for those items compared to those who purchase raw items. In that sense, sealed items are investments. Yes, there is a larger group of people who purchase raw or opened items. But they spend far less for that item than a sealed collector would.
The art in its graded sealed case is still very desirable. I do enjoy seeing markets fluctuating, although having to many graded books does take up a lot of room and I do miss having the option of reading them. You do have a good point for sure
To be upfront I can the need for grading, especially high dollar collectibles, but you are spot on when it comes to people waking up to the business of it. CGC has quite honestly abused it's spot in the market, and has been giving a sub par product to even CBCS of late - especially with QA and "yea we do 9.9's now"? C'mon stop kidding yourself they're playing on the market and collectors. I got back in a few years ago after collecting as a kid, and bought my first slab; LOVED it. Continued collecting them, but I've started seeing through what (at least CGC) is doing, and having 2 of 4 submissions outright damaged (banana gate victim here of the Wolvie 50th too) I've moved away. Heck I've sold graded books to acquire raws (that are very likely higher in grade) and didn't lose money. Bottom line is it's about the book, raw or graded i guess, but too much is put on that "subjective" number
Great video. I personally dont have a great deal of graded books in my collection, less than 5%. Though I do think there is a space for graded. Especially when comes to peace of mind when buying or selling on. I'll only purchase slabs when they are more "rare"/"fragile" or "old". On fomo of buying a grade and then chasing the next book. That is your choice and whether you are happy. Depends how easily you are at peace with what you bought. Never look back, only look forward. Great video, enjoy the goose being back.
You pose an interesting set of questions. I believe they just have to all fall into the personal preference column of ones collecting/investing habits. If you are curating a collection, then the best copy, slabbed or raw, is your goal. That means you may find it in either environment. If you want to present your collection, then you need some way to hold and display them whether that be in J Channels or some other way without damaging what you have. So, it may not matter if they are slabbed or not. If you are dealing and flipping and don't want the hassle of arguing over the condition, slabbed is the way to go, especially if you are not a professional dealer. I agree that not all books need slabbing, and that way too many should be sold raw at raw prices. I have a local LCS that will sell you a raw book, but only at the slabbed price! Even today, I ask why, and can they guarantee that it will hit the condition they profess...I walk away and don't buy from them. I agree that the mentality of slabbed = more $$$ is everywhere.
Recently purchased a slabbed ss#4 on a cgc n/g . Worth very little compared to your cgc 6.0. I bought it for the cover art solely, already have it in other formats. so purchased it as a curiosity but my point is sometimes the collecting bug hits us all differently . Prefer raw, but will buy slabbed occasionally specifically for the aesthetic aspect of a comic character that i love or an artists interpretation of that character. Grades or re-sale value never come into mind when doing so. How it presents is far more important than the grade for me + plus cost factors into it. Sometimes cheaper to buy slabbed than raw !! Crazy i know but thats life..
The only thing worse is that you can only buy comics now at comic shops so kids aren’t collecting like we used to when every convenience store had comics.
You're 100% correct SG! I collected when I was young. Stayed single most my life and drunk as well and in celebration of my sobriety I spent the rest of my money on the books that I've always wanted which was around $10,000 including a raw overpriced ASM 300 for $1300 last year. I am still tempted to buy more books but I know the hopeless emptiness very well. We should start Comics anonymous
Im going to slab my Ferrari. And after that im going to slab my all my clothes and have already started slabbing my garage. My wife made an amazing cake last night and it was so good that we are getting the remainder of what we didnt eat slabbed. So little time, so much to slab.
I hate slabs. I want to buy copies of FF #1 and X-Men #1 to read & enjoy but can't find unslabbed copies any longer! So I would have to pay triple price for a slab and lose thousands if I crack it open to read!
It should be the other way around, raw and pure books should hold much more value than its encapsulated counterpart, slabs take away from the experience of collecting, and it deprives the collector from experiencing the artist artistic expression.
What's kind of funny to me is how the grading companies ( CGC in particular) have taken such heat for posioning the hobby. I'm fine with slabs, own about 200 and have thousands of raw books, because uou can have both. Who I feel gets off Scott Free and is rarely mentioned in these "thoughtful" looks at the hobby and pants pissing of the bust is the rise of online Pice Guides and App. Key Collector, GoCollect, GPA, Covrprice and Comic Book Price guide have all fueled this fire more than any grading company, but ignore the men behind the curtain. They make the days of Wizard Price guide look quaint. And no one wants to hold them accountable because people want to be able to say therir collection has value Raw or Slabbed. What a bunch of dopes!
1)Read 2)Covers 3)Nostalgia 4)CGC I totally agree with you, but if you can beat them join them I’m not planning to sell my books now you remember my childhood
It’s not that divisive. Unless it’s ultra-rare it doesn’t need a slab. Slabs are all about money. So people into slabs either loves them or is stuck with them. Nobody else cares at all. Everybody else just loves their comics and protects them however they prefer.
Through out my time of collecting it comes to nostalgia growing up as a kid what I read and loved , majority of my books I have are graded and signed , but I do have reader copies. I like to buy Raw copies if I can get my hands on them , I only slab my valuable books which are signed to preserve them , especially Legendary artists that are no longer with us. It is a hobby that in all forms people have their view and take on it , its your money do it as you see fit , get what you love or want in the end of the day.
I’m a raw collector but I can’t agree with your explanation of the early point in your video because the same thing is true of raw books. I have a raw VG copy, it has creases on the corners. I see your VF copy, it’s pretty, I want a better copy. How is that different? I agree with the later point about seeing the inside which is one reason I prefer to collect raw. The price point I agree as well.
I agree on alot of points with this. One thing i feel is cgc should set a standard of what could be graded... i know thats not a good business model but people are submitting the dumbest books just to increase the price and people new to the hobby pay the price
I agree with all your psychological assessment of collectors. People collect and invest differently. The hobby is like a roller coaster. Once marvel and dc get their cinematic universes back on track, so will comic market.
I agree with 99.9% of what you said here. I honestly only buy what I read nowadays. Do I bag, board, and box those books I just read though? Absolutely 😂
I've only just got back in to Comics I'm 48 now and last purchased a Comic when I was around 10, Coming in as a noob to this Slab thing I think Slabbing is ok but I think it has to be an absolute Classic Comic I know there are a lot of Keys but the Key category is really bloated like a 2nd appearance isn't really a key to me, Tell me it's Spider-Man's 1st appearance or debut then yes something along thatl ine. I see new comics being slabbed and I suppose if that's your choice for wall decor/display purposes then yeah go ahead but it's not really for me. Really digging this channel going through the older videos, Much love from the 🇬🇧 👍
Ask yourself this; Does CGC slab books for the sole purpose of preservation? Do people use CGC for the sole purpose of preservation? No? Then you (the public) are the product.
I don’t mind slabbed books. Especially ones that are higher grade or present very well like amazing color strike etc. it is good to preserve it. I own multiple copies of most books I own…usually have beater copies to read. Even if you didn’t…there’s so many ways to find the comic online. You’re not going to read the books a bazillion times lol. I read and collect slabs…just a different way to collect. Just cause they slab it…doesn’t mean they don’t read or care about the book. It’s also nice for resell. Also…if you don’t like slabs…why do you still have slabbed books? Just curious.
There are a few older books in my collection that are slabbed, but that's because they were in most cases cheaper than buying in raw, or I couldn't find them in decent condition in raw. But my main reason for collecting and has been for 60 years now, READING! Oh and I will get that #205 one day, my name depends on it, lol!
if your buying a new book then immediately slabbing it then your point is correct when you have a book like the first ghost rider for example why would you even take a risk of damaging it when its worth so much and you can read it online 🤨 things are rare and important to the hobby the reason why slabs go for more than raw books is that you can handle a slab without damaging the book as with a raw that can get damaged at any time comics are also collectibles just like trading cards they may have more to them but still are collectibles just like the same car thats in better shape would sell for more that’s anything in life 😭😭☠️
Imagine if CGC and CBCS both offered facsimile copies of every book they grade as part of the package and cost. I know its easier said than done but if they had their own comic book presses then it would be possible. But not practical. Just a thought LOL
When you slab a comic book, you’re spitting (not exactly the word I want to use) on the efforts of the writers and artists who provided the greatness contained inside. When a raw comic is dwarfed in value by the exact same thing that then takes away 99% of its appeal, you’re dealing in nothing but a money making scheme, and in turn, spitting once again on the medium itself. By Christ, I hate slabs. Can you tell?😂
I disagree. I have sold many 9.2, 9.4, 9.6 (I deal with modern books which is the equivalent of 7 and 8 for silver) people like them for how they present. Half, a third, a quarter the cost but presents damn near the same. Looks great on the wall and affordable. I sell more good looking affordable, than hard line collectable because $50 is "why not" money, while $150 is "do I need it money" - especially in this economy.
I think a lot of people on the _positive_ side of slabs aren’t doing it for preservation or for an understanding of what they have. Collectors may do that for books they want to keep in their personal collection, but I think most do it because they want to sell it as soon as they possibly can - especially when it comes to Modern books. If Modern books (for the most part) don’t get that 9.8, it will not be worth the cost of having it graded, encapsulated and shipped.
I’m late. I have about a dozen key graded issues. That’s it. I never got into it past that. I have a friend with hundreds. I just can’t understand owning complete runs of overpriced 9.4+ issues.
Graded books are doubly hurting the comic collecting hobby. Raw prices are rising significantly now for higher value key books. So now you have "Joe" wanting to sell a beat up or "high grade" raw copy for nearly the same price as a graded book. Anyone hunting for a raw copy will have to pay a premium.
I am an old school collector I love my raw comic books, it might be weird to some people but I love to open a comic I bought back in the 80s and look through it and the smell of old print brings back those memories. I guess for me it takes me back to a simple time when I didnt have to worry about anything except school,friends and reading comic books at my LCS with those friends.
Same
They are paper time machines.
Same here. I bought & read comics in the 1970's & 80's because I loved it. Also the term "slabbed" wasn't a thing back then.
Me to!
Same
Slabbing a necessity for most when buying high value books .
Not many people can assess all defects accurately (to 0.5 grade ) and / or restoration.
So on a 4 or even 5 digit book - are you going to take that gamble ?
It really blows my mind that so many collectors aren't interested in reading at all. I got into comic collecting because I wanted to read as much Batman as I could. I definitely feel like the collecting space has become very superficial and it is not helping to bring in new people.
I wish there was more talk about the stories inside, because unfortunately a lot of people don't know how great they can be.
Great video! Welcome back 🎉
It's catered towards the people who collect cards. That's why there are 50 variants for each hot book. It doesn't matter what's on the inside, just the face of it.
@@VolkswagenGamer They are just large trading cards.
Completely disagree with your take, Stick. The grading market has actually done a lot of good by weeding out dealers who tried to pass off restored or cut-up comics as legit, especially in today’s world where people are buying online and can’t inspect books in person. Sure, grading has its flaws, but it’s a safeguard for collectors against dishonest sellers, which is something the hobby desperately needs. And grading isn't just about preserving comics or keeping them locked in a slab for display. Plenty of collectors crack open those slabs-they just want to be sure they’re buying something legit. This anti-slabbing narrative doesn’t make sense to me. Yeah, there’s hype and price inflation, but overall, grading is a positive force for the hobby, ensuring transparency and trust.
I agree 💯. Couldn't of said it better myself.
He's made this video like ten times already. He got burnt by slabs and now has a personal grudge. If he greatly benefited from is slabs he'd be singing a different tune but he's deep in the red.
I think 3rd party grading is essential for the hobby, especially for new collectors and serious collectors. With a graded book from CGC you don't have to worry about restoration. You know exactly what you are buying. I am trying to get into the rare first edition book hobby and there is no 3rd party grading. You have to put A LOT of trust into the dealer. I have found it hard to pull the trigger to buy an expensive book, only because they are not graded. I think I would probably leave the comic hobby if there was no grading. EDIT: if you don't like the slab, then crack it out.
This rhetoric needs to end. There are enough slabbed and raw copies of literally almost any book out there to be able to buy what and how you like. The only thing causing friction is the pretend narrative that it is "slabbed collectors VS Raw collectors" When really, everyone is just " a collector."
Facts
That's the point,only where as older pre slabbing 80s and under mostly even if they had big print runs their are a inherently less of them in mint/or neat perfect condition making the higher grades worth alot more if you took care of them where as now there are 1000s of 9.8+ right off the press before NCBD and we even get them ensuring in the future their will be no shortage of perfect copies of them essentially making them pretty much worthless and not at all scarce in any grade and the older ones will become more and more expensive bc theirs just not as many of them in the condition we want.If that makes sense.Im not against slabbing just slabbing everything especially every modern book it's just limiting our potential for growth of value in the future.
What else is going to make content about? Man is running out of ideas and is back on the bash CGC train. Rather see a ComicTom skit than this rehashed rant.
I think grading is good for golden age and early silver age books. It’s crazy to see people slabbing new books like the first appearance of Spider Gwen, etc.
I agree with you for the most part. But, if I had the first appearance of Spider-Gwen or Miles Morales in perfect condition, I may want to get it slabbed for protection. And when I eventually pass on, my next of kin will know what it is and will be able to sell it (if they choose) for a fair price - but that is only if it were to appear to be in perfect condition. But for the most part, I do agree with your sentiment.
Everyone said the same thing about comics when slabbing and grading started. But the one's who did now have value that they missed out on.
I mostly agree. I'm one of the raw collectors. I own 9 slabs I got for cheap when I was exploring slab collecting in general. None of the slabs are high end books. I try to stay neutral, thinking the slab/raw community should be unified. But you're right, in a lot of cases it's not. Even so, it COULD be. I can buy a slabbed comic and crack it open to get to the book. I have done that. And my neighbor can buy a raw comic and have it slabbed.
For better or worse, slabs are likely here to stay. Collectors simply have to choose what they want to collect and why, and try not to get caught up in the stuff they don't like. Personally, I'm sticking with raw 99% of the time, but I may pick up a slab and keep it slabbed here and there.
raw is the way to go!
The grading market destroyed all the dealers with restored or cut up shit trying to pass it off as legit. Those are the people whining the most about CGC and graded comics in general.
I immediately think they're complaining because they cant scam the customer anymore. No no no, its a 8.5 swear. comes back 6.0.
Yea like it or not, there's a need for it. Especially these days when purchasing something online.
Oh yea grading killed scamming lol
I couldn't agree more with what you said. I think the price of graded books should be the price of a raw book plus the cost of slabbing. I'm not going to give someone 5x or more for a slabbed book.
For those older pricey books, better use a black light for all those touch ups. Grading was intended to protect the buyer and buy a grade that was inspected by a professional grader. It's too bad CGC has tainted everything and grading is so subjective anyways. I agree that most aren't worth grading but unless you can physically and really inspect the raw book, you are taking a chance that it was tampered with and sucks to fork out 1000 of dollars on a book that's been screwed with.
CGC did provide us with the comfort of knowing that their banana-shaped inner wells were "totally normal" and really prompted trust from their clientele (Heritage, ComicConnect, ComicLink, Pedigree) who are definitely not in this for the money. These are passionate collectors who took the hobby to the 'next level' and while it may appear to be a pyramid scheme to some, it is clear that we can count on the makers of the 'WATA Games Fiasco', 'Reholdering Crack and Swap', 'Banana-Gate', and '9.9 Giant Size X-Men 1 that is totally a 9.9' to keep this hobby honest.
Comedy genius, sir. It's good to hear that the discerning collector still has absolute faith in the slabbing and grading professionals. They've proved time and again to be infallible and in it for the love of the medium.
Thank you for bringing up WATA. How nobody went to court over that is insane to me
Brit here. Tend to stick to eBay. When I want something big I often find the best deals and auctions are across the pond, so I have to go slabbed (a blue label, namely) because it guarantees the book is complete. I've lost out before and returning books thousands of miles is a longterm headache.
Preservation is important also as I'm a clumsy f*** and I don't trust myself 🤷
If you have vintage books, you are in it for the money, if you are buying slabs you are in it for the money. You are jaded from buying high and selling low. It was clear as day the comic market would crash, most of us have been through the same cycles in other hobbies. Streetwear, shoes, sports cards, crypto, stocks. Anytime people get burned they look to blame it on everyone but themselves.
If I would buy vintage books, I wouldn't be in it for the money. I like to read my books.
Facts!!
Yea but it didn't crash it was the perfect storm to inflate them for a few years but they are back to pretty much normal now I wouldn't say that's a crash just leveling out.
I like your channel! I have never bought a graded comic, it was ‘73 when I first started reading Marvels. I took them with me everywhere, on vacations, short trips. A lot of mine are in read conditions! I still like picking up books they way I used to. No hype or what’s popular! I’ll just pick it up because I like a character or I like the way it looks. A lot of other channels rant about a writer, or a direction a books takes. I just want to enjoy the books because I like it. You always help people with good advice and positive thoughts on collecting! Thank You!
Love your informative videos and your mancave setup. Beautiful clean, organized and the led lights make it pop.😊
1% of comics are even worth grading maybe less than that.
💯
Ruined collecting? No. I have slabbed many books but, my PC has raw duplicates. Books I can enjoy while having a set protected. I have the number one Sensational She-Hulk graded collection and a great complete reader collection. I have five complete sets of Elfquest and I will be slabbing my best set to protect it. Not worth much but I want to. Do I slab for profit, yes, but that gives my customers a sense of security. Believe me, the phrase "high-grade", "Near mint", "Perfect", and the like is wildly subjective with raw books and the sellers. Are grading companies flawless? No. But a damn mile better than what Uncle Bob's evaluation is. Finally, buying to trade/sell is different than PC buying. PC buying is for books I enjoy while trade/sell buying is to support my PC. I don't care about the story of trade/sell. I care about my PC stories and characters. It's two mindsets and values. One supports the other. One is a means to an end.
Also, I love content that explains the ins and outs of the hobby. Everyone loves drama but at the end I am looking for knowledge about the hobby. What are some of the do and don’t aspect, and tips on ways to preserve your collection by giving opinions on what works best for you. I come to comics to getaway from all the outside world noise and day to day living. Just grab one of your prized grails and just get lost in your childhood.
Been watching you for a while, through the good times and the bad times. Finally hit the subscribe button today. In regard to this video, I am not against slabs and f that’s what someone wants. It is not what I want because of the same points you made here. Though I read comics as a child whenever I could afford them and find them (I grew up in a very rural area in south Georgia), I only started collecting on May 6, 2023, as I wondered into a comic book store out of curiosity and discovered Free Comic Book Day. I also found this hobby to be like my other interests: it’s only as expensive as you want it to be. I have learned a lot over the past year and a half, coming to appreciate many titles, artists, and creators, as well as deepening my fandom of Captain America. Comic book reading is my release from the stress of being a special education teacher of children with severe behavioral issues, so a slabbed comic doesn’t do it for me. As far as preservation goes, I have found that a nice bag and board coupled with an inexpensive picture frame presents just as nice, at least in my opinion.
It's also disappointing sending in a flawless book and getting a 9.4. Now you have a set value putting you in the red. Taking a few L's makes no longer wanting to grade your collection.
All I know is that whatever the younger generation is into will be the collectable of the future. If grading comics keeps kids from reading them then the hobby has a limited life expectancy.
Reading is the most important to me as well. Variants and slabs are secondary to me.
"A hollow shallow experience." Yes indeed.
I don't really agree with you on this but it always good to hear different perspectives. For me I often appreciate the covers and buy graded books to more easily handle them without causing harm to the books. I really appreciate the slabs for display.
I recently sold a property that I own. The "expert appraiser" appraised the property 40 thousand less than I sold it for. She didn't appreciate the home like I did or the buyers did. No buyers cut throat or bidding the price up on the home. It sold for what I asked the Realtor to list the home for. My Price ,my value. So the moral of the story is the Experts built the Titanic and the Amateur built the ARK. On a side note buy what you love to collect,there is so much out there to buy and so many ways to do it. Also don't compare your house (comics) with your neighbors house(comics). Be happy with you have.
I think its an of the evolution of the business aspect of comics as a piece of history much like stamps and coins. In contrast, the reprint draws new collectors that are interested in the story and experience of reading a piece of fantasy. Inevitably that experience can endear them to the hobby and as a result they may want the original and want it graded and protected. Just thoughts after 52 years of collecting 😂
I also am a old time collector. In my opinion, the pros outweigh cons when it comes to graded comics. I have purchased raw comics thinking it was near mint when I looked at it the book was worse. Graded comics gives the collector peace of mind on their purchase. Reading the book doesn't bother me. If I wanted to read the book, I would buy the graphic novel or a reader version. Nuff Said.
🤑
When did a.book become the "reader version"?
I mainly read TPBs, but I actually like when the condition isn’t perfect. For one, it’s cheaper to just read the stories, and for another, there’s not as much pressure to not keep it pristine when I’m reading it
It's a relevant point here. The CovrPrice guys estimate around 10 percent of the sales they track are slabbed. The other 90 percent are raw. And that's only essentially the eBay marketplace they can keep track of. There's a good argument for certain books being slabbed, but just recognize is still a niche part of the hobby.
I only buy graded books (CGC,CSBS,etc) if I already own a ready copy, OR I can read the book in a physical higher quality format (i.e. omnibus, epic collection, absolute, etc).
CGC grading is imperative with online purchases or higher dollar silver age and golden age books from individuals that are not trusted. From a shop like mycomicshop I trust that a non graded book is going to be just fine.
This opens up a good conversation... As far wanting a higher grade, its not that different from having a raw copy. Sometimes I get a raw copy of a book just to have it, but in the back of my mind, I know I'll want to grab another raw copy in better condition down the road. I've done thata bunch of times. As far as not being able to read the book, I usually grab a facsimile of a slab, or a tpb and that's good for me. I still enjoy the slab.
I think the answer is probably somewhere in the middle, I think slabs have absolutely changed the comic book collecting game. I think an over-emphasis on slabs make comics less fun, but I love having books that I truly love in a slab.
My local comic shops near me won’t even buy any comics unless it’s silver or golden age and then they will go off price guidelines to make offers accordingly. If you have anything else they don’t even look at they make like $50 offers for entire long boxes. Something like that speaks volumes it tells me the comic market is falling out…
I am a new school collector, brought into the hobby from my father. We both are of the mindset that for books in pristine condition that have value, should be slabbed. There is no reason to open up a near mint Daredevil #1 to read it when it’s a piece of history, and can be read on the internet.
Not to mention with a book like that, the difference of one mere point at the top of the scale can be the difference in realized value of 100% or more.
I have bought raw books listed as NM that look good in scans or photos and come with color breaking defects or other issues that prevent it from being a perfect copy.
Well, I have cracked open every slab I've ever bought - hundreds by now, mostly Golden Age - because once a book is slabbed it essentially stops being a book and turns into a plastic container. That's not what I've set out to collect. I keep the labels and put them in the mylars with the books, to ease the burden of selling them for my heirs.
What this has also confirmed, time and again, is just how sloppy and inconsistent the grading is. And buyers will usually lose out, since the only stakeholders who really know all hidden issues of a book are the consigner and the grading company. And both have the same interest: grading the book as high as possible, since the grading fee rises with the assigned value, at least for expensive books. Which is very problematic and would not fly in a regulated market, apart from simply being ridiculous - the work is the same, no? The whole thing is just suuuuch a racket. But what can you do - some books are very hard to find raw in decent condition these days.
As a side note, I really prefer getting CBCS for Golden Age, they usually grade stricter and more consistent. They're a little more annoying to crack open though. Already dreading having to wrestle PSA slabs...
I'm not for slabbed books. I wanna read my books, flip thru them, smell the old pages.
What I find really dumb is sending last week's new releases off to cgc. People are slabbing anything just for a 9.8 and they end up spending 40$ to grade a dollar bin book.
I made it a personal rule that I will not slab unless I have another copy. To each their own.
Love the video man and I resonate with your journey as someone that got in during covid. After picking up some issues and getting enamored with the story and art but then being swept away with slabs and profits. Completely falling of reading but finding it again and the love for these stories and art even if I can't get the physical copies I'll read online I just want to read these beautiful runs.
I only really buy raw copies & tpb also to invest and deals to flip for books i want, as you say money is always an aspect. I believe long term investments can still be had in the hobby but it's mainly a bonus to the love of collecting.
I genuinely hope that everyone that entered the hobby find their path back to the reason they started which brought them such joy and other new & old collectors get to disocver the magic in these pieces of paper.
The Goose is back! It's catch twenty two. Raw comics sell a lot easier because there are people wanting to buy it raw and others wanting to get it graded. Graded comics are only really for people who want it slabbed, people who collect raw don't want to pay the premium of it being already graded and it having a definitive value with the grade. I like having both but having a book graded takes away the real comic book experience of finding it in a comic box somewhere and being able to flip through the book, smell it and trying to see it the damn thing is complete! Great thought provoking video.
I love reading my silver age comics I’ll never grade them!
Collector of over 45 years and agree with alot of what you have said. Restoration is a problem and cannot always be spotted so I like buying graded when needed.
I struggle with this all the time. I tend to stick with raw 97% of the time. Using comic capsule allowed me to enjoy raw books and also display them on the wall. I have stopped buying graded altogether now. I don’t see them moving as fast as a raw book from what i observed over the past year. Great video and I have to say I agree with you on opinions on the graded vs raw.
I didn't know about comic capsule - thank you.
@@redoracle7759 l learned about it from watching sticky goose channel to be honest. It’s a really great product in my opinion.
They are called cover collectors. I never buy slabs for more than $40-50. The slabs I have are not high priced books but nostalgic books that I love and always have a raw copy. I do sell books, a majority of the books I sell are raw and usually the slab would be like a buyers givey. I do t have a super large collection so anything I can’t sell I’m happy to keep in my collection.
I’m a guy. No matter what grade it is. If I want it in my collection. I’m going to get whatever I can afford. But as a graded Not raw. I only want raw if I know I’m going to a con and want someone to sign it
AI bot
Huh?
"Blame it on the slab yeah yeah"
You covered all the bases; this has all been an ongoing debate. I only have 40 or so graded comic books, but I got disenchanted with that and the most joy I get from my collection is reading the stories and enjoying the art. I even enjoy reading stuff from the public library; either borrowing hard copies or reading them electronically on Hoopla. I hardly bought comics during the Pandemic, but I've heard collectors did so, graded and ungraded. I agree, thin ice is a good way to put it given the closures of comic book stores over the years.
Wisdom. One of your best. I'm old school, have read comics since a was 4 or 5 years old, loved the pop of the colours and art, the feel of the paper, the smell of the print, and the awe, wonder and sometimes sheer craziness of the stories. None of those experiences are available to those who slab these beauties. Yet companies like CGC are making millions from sucking the joy out of a unique medium which, as it's best, has given us some of the finest creators on the planet.
Thanks for saying what I also have been feeling about comics . I read all my comic books that’s why I collect so I can go back and read it whenever I want
Just a quick thought. Why don't Marvel and DC advertise their comic book lines before and after their movies? If you are a kid watching the trailers before a movie and see some really great art and a quick rundown of the story, would you not want to go check it out? I don't know the movie business, just an idea that I feel would help boost some raw book sales.
The junk slab age has begun!
My only gripe is you shouldn’t need a grading company to tell you a book is a 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, or a 4.0 and a especially a 1.5! These grades should be easily detectable for average collector and priced accordingly to FMV not an inflated price because it’s in a plastic shell. That’s why I will never by a mid grade book or lower in a slab. It makes no sense. You are paying extra for plastic that takes up space. I get the reading aspect of it but people have so many comics in their collection it’s almost impossible to reread the books. I have been struggling to make time to read some of my back issues. Still, it’s great to know I can enjoy the interior as well as the covers in my collection.
@josephbarbera9220 It’s not just about getting a grade-some people can’t always spot when a book has been restored or tampered with, and there are some really skilled scammers out there. CGC and grading companies are great for that-they protect buyers from getting ripped off by identifying these issues. Not everyone has the expertise to catch these things, and grading offers a layer of security that’s crucial for collectors, especially when buying online. Grading isn’t perfect, but it shields us from scams and ensures we know exactly what we’re getting. That’s why it’s so important for the hobby.
Many people just trying to make money from comics and don’t care about the ‘magic’ they used to provide. I learned to read and draw because of comics. Encapsulation isn’t for me. I don’t collect for money. I just love reading old comics
Personally, slabbing means I might be willing to spend an extra $25 - $50 on a book that is worth a MINIMUM of $250. If the book is worth less than that I am unwilling to pay a "slab premium". For books in the +$1,000.00 range, I could see paying more for a slab just because it weeds out damages, restoration, incompleteness, etc.
There is a pricing range for slabbed comics, but there are still plenty of LCS that sell raw comics and they're not influenced by those online prices, you can still buy them for $1-$10. With the re-holder scammers, CGC employee thieves & books "lost in shipping" there's a number of reasons not to slab. And all those dealers selling slabs at the comic cons are not being nice to be buddies, they're not "helping" the comic book community either, they're out there for themselves, for the $$$.
I only get 1st app slabs that I can afford for my pc only. No lower than 9.0 for mordern books. ($40-80) Slabs present well imo.
Agreed 100%. As much as I like slabbed books, I don't like how the value for a book varies so much based on fractions of a point. A whole point I understand. I don't understand how a 9.8 can be worth $100s more than a 9.6, just because the 9.6 has a flaw that can only be seen when Mercury is in retrograde with Venus, and the light source you are looking at the slab with is 42 degrees off the most ideal angle.
Sticky...One counter point here. I only own 20 or so slabs and mostly for my top keys (i.e. FF5). I do think keeping them in the case preserves the condition of the book. Any book that is a 3.0 or less are super fragile especially Silver Age and older. What if the grading companies provided a reprint book that can accompany the slabbed book? Would that change your opinion if that happened? I do think grading anything modern is a waste of time though. Keep posting great content.
You mean the market is still tanking, LOL?? I slab/sell for part of my living. I don't take up too much brain matter on whether slabbing is good or bad. I flow with the market. The market sucks right now. I have just started back up with clean/press/slab after doing nothing since June. I had been consistently slabbing 25 or 50 books a month for the previous three years, sometimes 75 even. I work late Bronze and Copper. Now, with most books if I can't confidently get 9.8s, some 9.6s, I don't gamble anymore. I'll sell them raw...
What if you grade something and the artist turns out to be Gerard Jones or Jeff Latour? Will keep it?
I think the idea behind graded books is you slab, or purchase, the highest grade you can afford. Then, you purchase a beat up version, at a far cheaper price, to read. This goes with many collectibles. I have my favorite Capcom fighting games opened that I play. But I also have sealed, untouched copies of the same games. Why? I believe holding a sealed copy of a game, or the highest graded copy I can afford of a comic book, takes me back to that exact moment when i purchased the item. It’s a way of freezing that precious moment in time. That nostalgia is why sealed copies of anything is kept. Additionally, people who collect sealed items pay more for those items compared to those who purchase raw items. In that sense, sealed items are investments. Yes, there is a larger group of people who purchase raw or opened items. But they spend far less for that item than a sealed collector would.
The art in its graded sealed case is still very desirable. I do enjoy seeing markets fluctuating, although having to many graded books does take up a lot of room and I do miss having the option of reading them. You do have a good point for sure
To be upfront I can the need for grading, especially high dollar collectibles, but you are spot on when it comes to people waking up to the business of it. CGC has quite honestly abused it's spot in the market, and has been giving a sub par product to even CBCS of late - especially with QA and "yea we do 9.9's now"? C'mon stop kidding yourself they're playing on the market and collectors. I got back in a few years ago after collecting as a kid, and bought my first slab; LOVED it. Continued collecting them, but I've started seeing through what (at least CGC) is doing, and having 2 of 4 submissions outright damaged (banana gate victim here of the Wolvie 50th too) I've moved away. Heck I've sold graded books to acquire raws (that are very likely higher in grade) and didn't lose money. Bottom line is it's about the book, raw or graded i guess, but too much is put on that "subjective" number
Great video. I personally dont have a great deal of graded books in my collection, less than 5%. Though I do think there is a space for graded. Especially when comes to peace of mind when buying or selling on. I'll only purchase slabs when they are more "rare"/"fragile" or "old". On fomo of buying a grade and then chasing the next book. That is your choice and whether you are happy. Depends how easily you are at peace with what you bought. Never look back, only look forward. Great video, enjoy the goose being back.
You pose an interesting set of questions. I believe they just have to all fall into the personal preference column of ones collecting/investing habits. If you are curating a collection, then the best copy, slabbed or raw, is your goal. That means you may find it in either environment. If you want to present your collection, then you need some way to hold and display them whether that be in J Channels or some other way without damaging what you have. So, it may not matter if they are slabbed or not. If you are dealing and flipping and don't want the hassle of arguing over the condition, slabbed is the way to go, especially if you are not a professional dealer. I agree that not all books need slabbing, and that way too many should be sold raw at raw prices. I have a local LCS that will sell you a raw book, but only at the slabbed price! Even today, I ask why, and can they guarantee that it will hit the condition they profess...I walk away and don't buy from them. I agree that the mentality of slabbed = more $$$ is everywhere.
Recently purchased a slabbed ss#4 on a cgc n/g . Worth very little compared to your cgc 6.0. I bought it for the cover art solely, already have it in other formats. so purchased it as a curiosity but my point is sometimes the collecting bug hits us all differently . Prefer raw, but will buy slabbed occasionally specifically for the aesthetic aspect of a comic character that i love or an artists interpretation of that character. Grades or re-sale value never come into mind when doing so. How it presents is far more important than the grade for me + plus cost factors into it. Sometimes cheaper to buy slabbed than raw !! Crazy i know but thats life..
The only thing worse is that you can only buy comics now at comic shops so kids aren’t collecting like we used to when every convenience store had comics.
You're 100% correct SG! I collected when I was young. Stayed single most my life and drunk as well and in celebration of my sobriety I spent the rest of my money on the books that I've always wanted which was around $10,000 including a raw overpriced ASM 300 for $1300 last year. I am still tempted to buy more books but I know the hopeless emptiness very well. We should start Comics anonymous
Im going to slab my Ferrari. And after that im going to slab my all my clothes and have already started slabbing my garage. My wife made an amazing cake last night and it was so good that we are getting the remainder of what we didnt eat slabbed. So little time, so much to slab.
Then make sure to put the slabs in a protective plastic or Mylar sleeve, so as to not scratch the slab. 😂 so tired of the word SLAB.
@@fuzzy8593 I agree. The word slab is like death or slob or some other grim value robbing word
I hate slabs. I want to buy copies of FF #1 and X-Men #1 to read & enjoy but can't find unslabbed copies any longer! So I would have to pay triple price for a slab and lose thousands if I crack it open to read!
It should be the other way around, raw and pure books should hold much more value than its encapsulated counterpart, slabs take away from the experience of collecting, and it deprives the collector from experiencing the artist artistic expression.
With TOM CRUISE / Theo Von wig, powerful model look
Without the wig, mere mortal 😞 Happy Friday SG
What's kind of funny to me is how the grading companies ( CGC in particular) have taken such heat for posioning the hobby. I'm fine with slabs, own about 200 and have thousands of raw books, because uou can have both. Who I feel gets off Scott Free and is rarely mentioned in these "thoughtful" looks at the hobby and pants pissing of the bust is the rise of online Pice Guides and App. Key Collector, GoCollect, GPA, Covrprice and Comic Book Price guide have all fueled this fire more than any grading company, but ignore the men behind the curtain. They make the days of Wizard Price guide look quaint. And no one wants to hold them accountable because people want to be able to say therir collection has value Raw or Slabbed. What a bunch of dopes!
1)Read 2)Covers 3)Nostalgia
4)CGC I totally agree with you, but if you can beat them join them
I’m not planning to sell my books now you remember my childhood
if you've been burned on restored golden age raw books you might see things differently.
It’s not that divisive. Unless it’s ultra-rare it doesn’t need a slab. Slabs are all about money. So people into slabs either loves them or is stuck with them. Nobody else cares at all. Everybody else just loves their comics and protects them however they prefer.
For modern books only 9.8s are worth the grade.
Never thought about it this way. Real food for thought good stuff man.
I don't own any slabs, but I wouldn't mind picking up slabs of some of my favorite issues at some point.
Through out my time of collecting it comes to nostalgia growing up as a kid what I read and loved , majority of my books I have are graded and signed , but I do have reader copies. I like to buy Raw copies if I can get my hands on them , I only slab my valuable books which are signed to preserve them , especially Legendary artists that are no longer with us. It is a hobby that in all forms people have their view and take on it , its your money do it as you see fit , get what you love or want in the end of the day.
I’m a raw collector but I can’t agree with your explanation of the early point in your video because the same thing is true of raw books.
I have a raw VG copy, it has creases on the corners. I see your VF copy, it’s pretty, I want a better copy.
How is that different?
I agree with the later point about seeing the inside which is one reason I prefer to collect raw.
The price point I agree as well.
I agree on alot of points with this. One thing i feel is cgc should set a standard of what could be graded... i know thats not a good business model but people are submitting the dumbest books just to increase the price and people new to the hobby pay the price
I agree with all your psychological assessment of collectors. People collect and invest differently. The hobby is like a roller coaster. Once marvel and dc get their cinematic universes back on track, so will comic market.
I agree with 99.9% of what you said here. I honestly only buy what I read nowadays. Do I bag, board, and box those books I just read though? Absolutely 😂
You’re finding your voice! Great video, you’re creating good dialogue.
Sticky is back! 🎉
I've only just got back in to Comics I'm 48 now and last purchased a Comic when I was around 10,
Coming in as a noob to this Slab thing I think Slabbing is ok but I think it has to be an absolute Classic Comic I know there are a lot of Keys but the Key category is really bloated like a 2nd appearance isn't really a key to me,
Tell me it's Spider-Man's 1st appearance or debut then yes something along thatl ine.
I see new comics being slabbed and I suppose if that's your choice for wall decor/display purposes then yeah go ahead but it's not really for me.
Really digging this channel going through the older videos, Much love from the 🇬🇧 👍
Ask yourself this; Does CGC slab books for the sole purpose of preservation? Do people use CGC for the sole purpose of preservation? No? Then you (the public) are the product.
Totally agree
I don’t mind slabbed books. Especially ones that are higher grade or present very well like amazing color strike etc. it is good to preserve it. I own multiple copies of most books I own…usually have beater copies to read. Even if you didn’t…there’s so many ways to find the comic online. You’re not going to read the books a bazillion times lol. I read and collect slabs…just a different way to collect. Just cause they slab it…doesn’t mean they don’t read or care about the book. It’s also nice for resell.
Also…if you don’t like slabs…why do you still have slabbed books? Just curious.
There are a few older books in my collection that are slabbed, but that's because they were in most cases cheaper than buying in raw, or I couldn't find them in decent condition in raw. But my main reason for collecting and has been for 60 years now, READING! Oh and I will get that #205 one day, my name depends on it, lol!
if your buying a new book then immediately slabbing it then your point is correct when you have a book like the first ghost rider for example why would you even take a risk of damaging it when its worth so much and you can read it online 🤨 things are rare and important to the hobby the reason why slabs go for more than raw books is that you can handle a slab without damaging the book as with a raw that can get damaged at any time comics are also collectibles just like trading cards they may have more to them but still are collectibles just like the same car thats in better shape would sell for more that’s anything in life 😭😭☠️
Imagine if CGC and CBCS both offered facsimile copies of every book they grade as part of the package and cost. I know its easier said than done but if they had their own comic book presses then it would be possible. But not practical. Just a thought LOL
When you slab a comic book, you’re spitting (not exactly the word I want to use) on the efforts of the writers and artists who provided the greatness contained inside. When a raw comic is dwarfed in value by the exact same thing that then takes away 99% of its appeal, you’re dealing in nothing but a money making scheme, and in turn, spitting once again on the medium itself. By Christ, I hate slabs. Can you tell?😂
I disagree. I have sold many 9.2, 9.4, 9.6 (I deal with modern books which is the equivalent of 7 and 8 for silver) people like them for how they present. Half, a third, a quarter the cost but presents damn near the same. Looks great on the wall and affordable. I sell more good looking affordable, than hard line collectable because $50 is "why not" money, while $150 is "do I need it money" - especially in this economy.
Not meee sticky saw it was a scam right when I started collecting again
The graded comic has one advantage over a raw for me. It keeps my kids dirty fingers off it. That’s important to me
I think a lot of people on the _positive_ side of slabs aren’t doing it for preservation or for an understanding of what they have. Collectors may do that for books they want to keep in their personal collection, but I think most do it because they want to sell it as soon as they possibly can - especially when it comes to Modern books. If Modern books (for the most part) don’t get that 9.8, it will not be worth the cost of having it graded, encapsulated and shipped.
For me, I really just love the signature series.
I’m late. I have about a dozen key graded issues. That’s it. I never got into it past that. I have a friend with hundreds. I just can’t understand owning complete runs of overpriced 9.4+ issues.
I think the guy from Mile High comics said it best,” they’re like oversized baseball cards”.
Graded books are doubly hurting the comic collecting hobby. Raw prices are rising significantly now for higher value key books. So now you have "Joe" wanting to sell a beat up or "high grade" raw copy for nearly the same price as a graded book. Anyone hunting for a raw copy will have to pay a premium.