I know I’m a little late on getting this to everyone – and I’m sure you’ve already heard – but another comic book has broke two previous records.

Action Comics #1 sold for $1.5 million dollars!

This particular issue was owned by a private collector and was found tucked inside of an old
movie magazine.

WOW! What a find?

This comic is considered the Holy Grail of comic books to own due to the debut of Superman, so very highly collectible.

The comic was sold through ComicConnect.com, bought minutes after they posted it to another private collector.

Goes to show you, that if you keep your eyes open you might end up with a very highly sought after collectible. Don’t quit looking and you also could could come across a comic that could bring in a nice chunk of change. Maybe it won’t be a million in a half, but you never know.

One has to wonder, are there going to be anymore that crop up in as good condition as this one (they say this has been the best one yet) or will it take another 10 to 20 years.

Here’s to finding that one collectible!

Patrick “the comic guy” Whitson

According to Heritage, there is no copy graded higher than an 8.0 CGC
universal grade and herein lies the point, higher grades sell for higher
prices. Here is what Heritage Auctions said about this beautiful comic:

Detective Comics #27 - First Batman

This clean, beautiful copy really delivers when it comes to eye appeal.

As far as this issue is concerned, most seasoned Golden Age collectors would be prepared to accept any number of flaws, but they will find only inconsequential ones, and none that mar the very strong impression you get the moment you lay eyes on the book.

Issue #27’s solid yellow background is ordinarily very prone to smudging, yet this copy somehow avoided it. The red block with the Detective Comics logo also discolors easily, and is almost never seen as the solid block you see here without a color break marring it somehow!

Also, note the absence of spine splits, creasing, and most other things that are known to mar comic books of this vintage. We can only encourage the prospective bidder to examine the scans of other unrestored Detective #27 copies in our online auction archives to fully appreciate how unusual this copy is.

You can read Heritages description of Detective Comics #27 at their
website.

Unusual indeed, a very nice collectible comic book that any comic collector
would want in their own collection to cherish and enjoy. Although, out of my
range for what I can purchase, this gives each comic book collector who has
been looking for a particular comic book hope that they also may find one in
as good condition, or possibly better, as Detective Comics #27.

Congratulations to the winning bidder of this gem!

Patrick “The Comic Guy” Whitson

I have another case study for you, so I hope you enjoy it.

A new customer e-mailed me in late September the following:

Greetings Patrick…long story short I’ve been intrigued about
you and your methods for a while. I’m just coming into
possession of a Hulk 181 that to put it bluntly I overpaid for.
My mistake and I won’t bore you with the details but
if you’re interested I’d love to send it to you to take a look at
to see if your services might make sense for this particular book.

Without having it in my hands I think it might grade out in the
4.5 – 5.0 range (general dirt, corner creases) etc. You might be
able to help it along and lessen my blunder…

This customer ended up sending me the comic book along with a
couple of other ones, but he decided in the end to put his money into
the Hulk 181 as it would be worth it if I could improve the grade even
a 1/2 or 1 point.

Good Grief Batman, Look At The Improvement
On That Comic Book

Here is a video of the before and after shots of the Incredible Hulk 181
that I prepped for this customer:

Incredible Hulk 181 Comic Prepping Case Study Video
(I re-uploaded the video to keep the customer name private)

Now that you’ve seen the video, what do you think of the comic
book after the prep has been applied?

I appreciate your feedback and comments below about these
results and if you believe that this is a valuable service to the comic
collecting industry.

Here is the end result of the comic safely protected in a mylar bag
backed with an acid-free backing board (every prepped comic that I
do I place in a new bag and back with a new board):

It’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it!

I’m looking for 10 comments before I make another post, so please
leave your comments below on your thoughts about comic book
prepping, collecting or anything related to that.

Thanks to all of my customers for making this a joy in improving your
comic books.

Patrick “the comic collector” Guy

It seems I get to writing something on here every couple of months or so BUT I do want to bring you original content and information that you can put to use to help you in your comic book collecting. As many of you know, one of my specialties is prepping comic books and I think it is imperative that you see some results of what this process can do for high-grade comic books.

“I Wanted To See What Your Work Could Do…”

Back in Setpember of 2008 a client sent me a few books to prep for him so he could get them graded by CGC. I wrote an article called 5 Defects That Prepping Can Fix To Increase The Grade Of Your Comic Book and near the end of that article I mention the client and I display the end result of his prepped comic book. Take a look at that article and refresh your neurons.

Last week, I received an e-mail from this client and here is what he had to say about my service:

Hello, Patrick. Several months ago I sent you a copy of Spider-Man #103 which was an 8.5. I wanted to see what your work could do. After you performed your process, which was done at a very cheap price, I received it back and sent it in to be graded with my last CGC order. I just got my CGC books back yesterday and amazingly enough.. the Spidey #103 is now a 9.4!! Wonderful! I will now begin to search the comic shows for higher end books which will benefit from your services. I’m impressed.

I couldn’t of said it better myself, but of course, it’s best to come from a satisfied customer. That’s all for today.

P.S. Want to get high grades for your comic books. Sign up for my CGC Prep Service today!

Great success in your collecting,

Patrick Whitson

Once again, it’s been awhile since I posted here and I apologize for that. Today I have some New Years information for you that, I believe, you will be excited about.

First, I hope that all had a Merry Christmas and will have a Happy and Exciting 2009 ahead.

How To Improve Your Comic Book Grade By Two To Three Points

I have a client who specializes in collecting Pink Panther comic books. Yep, that’s all he collects. One of his focuses is to put together the highest grade collection of Pink Panther. He e-mailed me one day asking if I would prep a couple of books he just had purchased off of eBay. I, of course, obliged.

Now these books were in the condition I speak about once you follow the steps in the article 7 defects to look for before prepping your books for grading. Meaning, they were in the range of 9.2-9.4 when he purchased them.

My client went ahead and had the eBay seller send the books directly to my address so I could prep them for him. Once I received them, I prepped them and then sent them back to him to be shipped out to CGC for grading.

NOTE: It’s important for me to receive your input and comments on my service. This gives proof that this service works but also helps me to improve my service to you as my client.

Ok, onto the rest of the story…

So, what kind of grades did my client receive from CGC, you may ask?

Take a look at the pics he sent back to me once he opened up the package from CGC:

Pink Panther 85

Check out the grade – A 9.8 White Pages

Pink Panther 87

Another CGC 9.8 White Pages

My client was ecstatic to receive those grades (originally he didn’t think it was feasible) and add these gems to his collection.

I hope this helps you to see that receiving a high grade on your comic book by prepping them IS possible.

Make sure you follow my defects articles to know what to look for before having your books graded.

Want To Know How You Can Get One Of Your Comic Books Prepped For Free?

As an end of year special to my site readers and comic collectors who have been hesitant to try my services – you can get one comic book prepped for FREE!

Here is how to participate:

1. Post a comment that you want in on the End of year special. You MUST mention “End Of Year Special” in your comment. Please leave me your e-mail address written out like this “patrick AT comicbookcollecting DOT net”.

2. Those who comment will receive an e-mail from me on the details of the special and where to send your comic books.

3. Send those comic books that were prepped to CGC and enjoy them as my above client did.

4. Give me a testimonial, and send me your pics of your graded books so I can add you to my list of satisfied clients.

That’s it. Number 4 IS NOT required to get your FREE prepped comic book but is a way for you to get exposure for your high grade comic and give my service a boost for those who haven’t or are new to comic book prepping.

Oh, I almost forgot – this is a TIME LIMITED OFFER and will only last until January 4th, 2009. Get your comments in by 11:59 PM January 4th or you lose out.

Yours For High Grade Comic Books,

Patrick Whitson