Professor Pecora's Bio
Only a true collector can understand the passion, motivation and drive to collect specific physical objects that one finds appealing. If you have ever felt compelled with an undeniable urge to acquire and catalog items such as coins, sports cards or comics…then you have experienced the “collector’s itch,” which means you were born with a gift to assemble and preserve a piece of our cultural history.
With that being said, I initially experienced my collecting itch in the summer of 1986. I was at a convenient store with my mom and when she was paying for her items near the cash register, I noticed a bright crimson colored box displaying what appeared to be a Cabbage Patch Kid pressing a detonator and exploding his brains into a huge fiery mushroom cloud! I was totally captivated and without any hesitation, I asked the store clerk what they were. She mentioned that they were Garbage Pail Kids stickers and took out a pack to show me. The wrapper was black with the same character I saw on the box display — ADAM Bomb, but with a caption stating, “ALL NEW! 5th Series!” At that point I was hooked and instantly SOLD in my little mind!
I asked my mom if she could buy me a pack, and she was so kind to purchase 4 packs for $1.00! I opened up each one admiring the creative and beautiful artwork and going through the 5th Series Checklist—I wanted to collect them ALL! As a result, that’s exactly what I did and collected the entire original 15 series and displayed them proudly in a huge binder in protective trading card sleeves!
As the years passed by, I expanded my collecting interests to Wacky Packages, Rare Coins, Sports Cards, Marvel Superhero Cards to finally…you guessed it…Comic Books!
I was born and raised in the City of Rochester, NY and started collecting comic books when I was 12 years old in the early 1990’s. Some of my favorite titles were Amazing Spider-Man, X-Men and Wolverine! I would save up my weekly allowance money and purchase as many comic books as I could! However, I would rarely read my books because I wanted to keep each issue in pristine condition. I would immediately place my newsstand fresh comic books in plastic bags with backing boards and organize each title alphabetically and numerically. Sometimes I would buy a “reader copy” to enjoy the stories, but I was mainly interested in collecting comic books because of the beautiful cover art!
I was a hardcore comic book collector until I was about 16 years old. Then, due to hormonal changes and shifting my personal goals and interests to purchasing a car and dating girls, I stopped collecting as I ventured into my young adult life.
It wasn’t until nearly two decades later in the fall of 2011 when that collector’s itch was summoned from its deep hibernation. It started when I visited my younger brother and his family for Thanksgiving; we walked up to his attic to find an item he needed, and I stumbled across a few old short boxes of my comic books that I had amassed as a teenager. As I pulled out each book meticulously stored in their protective plastic sleeves with acid-free backing boards, the love and passion for collecting these beautiful comic book masterpieces was officially reignited!
In early 2012, as I was conducting online research of specific comic books and their corresponding market values, I learned all about the CGC from its inception in 2000 to the grading criteria across the 10-point scale. I loved the idea of having a non-biased, third party professional grading service for comic books to help propel the market to new heights. It seemed really cool to have your favorite comic books beautifully displayed in state-of-the-art holders with the publication date, specific key comments and all of the writers and artists who contributed to each particular issue included on the label!
From my first impression, I knew I was going to become a professional CGC comic book collector, so I purchased an elite membership package and mailed in my first submission of 30 modern Wolverine (1988) books and waited patiently for the results! I received a few 9.8s (NM/M) with the majority graded as 9.4 (NM) or 9.6 (NM+); not too bad for my 1st submission!
Furthermore, I wanted to learn as much about the CGC comic book market as I possibly could, so I also purchased a GPAnalysis membership and the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide. I studied the comic book market like the Dow Jones Industrial Average! I created an eBay account and became really savvy towards buying and selling CGC books and developed countless relationships with dealers and collectors across the nation!
CGC COLLECTOR HIGHLIGHTS:
2012 Best Presented Set Award – Wolverine (1988) “Against All Odds!”
• Award Time Rank #6 (Advanced to Rank #4)
• Wolverine #1 CGC SS (Stan Lee) 9.9 WP! (1 of 1 at the time)
• Wolverine #145 (Nabisco Variant Cover) CGC SS (3x + sketch) 9.8 WP!
• 10 CGC SS 9.8 WP books (went to 50+ post award)
• 1st collector in the Wolverine (1988) Set Type with issues #1-#30 ALL in CGC SS 9.8 WP or higher!
2012-2013 Top Ranked Set – Wolverine Limited Series (1982) “The Inaugural Slashing!”
• Issues #1, #3 and #4 ALL in CGC 9.9 WP!
• Issue #2 CGC SS (Stan Lee) 9.9 WP!
• Trade Paperback #nn (1987) 9.8 SS (Stan Lee) WP!
#2 Ranked Set – Incredible Hulk #180-#182 Wolverine “Enter Wolverine!” (5+ years!)
• Issue #180 CGC 9.8 WP – Suscha News Pedigree
• Issue #181 CGC 9.8 WP – Mile High 2 Pedigree
• Issue #182 CGC 9.8 WP
Other Notable Books Previously Owned:
• Amazing Spider-Man #16 CGC 9.8 WP – CVA Exceptional
• Amazing Spider-Man #16 CGC 9.6 WP
• Amazing Spider-Man #41 CGC 9.6 WP
• Amazing Spider-Man #50 CGC 9.4 WP
• Amazing Spider-Man #100 CGC 9.8 WP
• Amazing Spider-Man #121 CGC 9.8 WP
• Amazing Spider-Man #122 CGC 9.8 WP
• Amazing Spider-Man #124 CGC 9.8 WP
• Amazing Spider-Man #129 CGC 9.8 WP x 3
• Amazing Spider-Man #134 CGC 9.8 WP
• Amazing Spider-Man #135 CGC 9.8 WP
• Amazing Spider-Man #194 CGC 9.8 WP x 3
• Amazing Spider-Man #300 CGC 9.8 WP x 3
• Daredevil #1 CGC 9.4 OW-WP
• Daredevil #1 CGC 9.2 OW-WP
• Daredevil #2 CGC 9.4 WP
• Daredevil #3 CGC 9.6 OW-WP
• Daredevil #4 CGC 9.4 OW-WP – Pacific Coast Pedigree
• Daredevil #5 CGC 9.4 OW-WP – Pacific Coast Pedigree
• Daredevil #7 CGC 9.4 OW-WP
• Daredevil #81 CGC 9.8 WP
• Daredevil #111 CGC 9.8 WP x 3
• Daredevil #131 “Mark Jewelers” Insert CGC 9.8 WP – CVA Exceptional
• Daredevil #131 CGC 9.8 WP – CVA Exceptional
• Daredevil #158 CGC 9.8 WP x 4
• Daredevil #168 Newsstand Edition CGC 9.8 WP – CVA Exceptional
• Daredevil #168 CGC 9.8 WP x 3
• Giant-Size X-Men #1 CGC 9.8 WP
• Iron Fist #14 CGC 9.8 WP x 3
• Marvel Spotlight #5 CGC 9.6 WP
• New Mutants #98 CGC 9.9 WP
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 CGC 9.8 WP
• X-Men #58 CGC 9.8 WP
• X-Men #94 CGC 9.8 OW-WP – Mile High 2 Pedigree
• X-Men #95 CGC 9.8 WP
• X-Men #96 CGC 9.8 WP
• X-Men #97 CGC 9.8 WP
• X-Men #98 CGC 9.8 WP
• X-Men #99 CGC 9.8 WP
• X-Men #100 CGC 9.8 WP
• X-Men #101 CGC 9.8 WP
Notable Books Currently Owned:
***CURRENTLY ON A COLLECTING HIATUS***
CGC SELLER HIGHLIGHTS:
1st seller in the world to break the 15K sale price for ASM #129 at 15.5K on eBay (9/3/2017)!
• Wolverine #1 CGC SS (Stan Lee) 9.9 WP – SOLD for 10K on Pedigree Comics (June of 2013) – Record Price!
• Incredible Hulk #181 CGC 9.8 WP – SOLD for 23K on eBay (9/3/2017)! – 3rd Highest Recorded Sale at the time!
• New Mutants #98 CGC 9.9 WP – SOLD for 11.7K on eBay (11/2/2017)! – Highest Recorded Sale at the time!
• Helped to market and promote the 2nd largest and highest-graded Wolverine auction in history on Pedigree Comics in June of 2013!
• Over 125 books sold on eBay (300 + overall) including private sales
• Broke several world record sale prices through PRIVATE SALES (not recorded on GPAnalysis) totaling to 250K! Most recent sales include:
• Daredevil #111 CGC 9.8 WP – SOLD for $6500 (6/29/2022)
• Daredevil #131 CGC 9.8 WP – CVA Exceptional – SOLD for $8500 (6/29/2022)
Professor Pecora's Origin
Although I am very proud of the aforementioned achievements, I am often reminded of my humble beginnings, which helps to keep me grounded and appreciative of the small things in life. My mother never graduated from middle school and became disabled at a young age and my father is an immigrant from Sardinia, Italy who worked hard as a structural steel fabricator. My three younger brothers and I did not have a lot of money growing up, but my father always made sure we had a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs.
Unfortunately, my mother was an alcoholic since I was a child and she progressed into taking prescription drugs and eventually crack cocaine. My father and I did not have a good relationship either and I turned to the streets to find solace and acceptance. My parents divorced when I was fifteen years old and I dropped out of high school in the ninth grade. I’ve basically seen and experienced a lot of things as a teenager that most people will never experience in a lifetime.
After witnessing several of my friends die from gunshot wounds, I knew I had to make some life changes. Some neighborhood mentors suggested that getting my education was my ticket out the hood and a way to make a better living. I thought about it for a while and finally made the decision to enroll myself into a GED/ Job Readiness program in the fall of 1996. I was already holding down a full-time job working as a cook at an Italian restaurant for two years, so I would literally go to school from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm and then to work from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm Monday—Friday.
I was determined to improve my life and I received my GED in April of 1997! The program director pulled me to the side and said, “I have never seen such a young man work as hard as you! Your essays are already at the collegiate level and you have a tremendous amount of talent! I am going to stand on my hands and feet to help you get enrolled into a 4-year college or university!” After a few months of completing college applications and personal interviews, I got accepted into St. John Fisher College through their Higher Educational Opportunity Program (HEOP)! I couldn’t believe it! Half of my tuition and 100% of my books were paid through my scholarship! I took full advantage and did very well! I even had my picture displayed in the 1998-1999 National Dean’s List Award Book! I graduated with honors and received my Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English Education in August of 2001!
After that, I immediately enrolled in graduate school at New York University (NYU) where I completed 13 credits towards a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Music Business. Unfortunately, I did not complete that degree because of the 9/11 tragedy; it’s a long story, but I lived roughly three miles away from the World Trade Center and I eventually left NYC in April of 2002 back to Rochester, NY to be closer with my family. However, I relocated to Garfield, NJ in July of 2003 and moved to the Bronx in 2005, where I started working as an upper elementary and middle school math teacher. In 2008, I enrolled into a graduate education program at Hunter College of the City University of New York. I taught full-time middle school mathematics at one of the roughest middle schools in the Bronx, NY and attended classes in the evening. In September of 2010, I earned my Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) Specializing in Math & Science! I even graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 3.945 cumulative GPA!
Shortly after I received my Master’s Degree, the Assistant Professor of Mathematics and the director of the graduate math/science childhood education program contacted me. He mentioned that my thesis paper and presentation entitled, “Misconceptions of the Equal Sign” was outstanding and that he would love to offer me an opportunity to teach a graduate mathematics education course! I couldn’t believe it! I was absolutely honored and immediately signed the work contract!
Although I was a bit nervous with my new graduate adjunct lecturer position, especially because I knew I would be teaching some of my peers who were in the same cohort as me, I remained confident because I made sure I was well planned and organized leading into my first class! I can still recall the puzzled faces of some of my students as they walked into my classroom, as some of them were much older than me with more years of K-12 teaching experience! There was a brief silence until one of my former classmates inquired, “Are you our…Professor?” I replied, “Indeed…I AM!”
It was a long rugged road I had to travel on to go from being a ninth grade drop-out in the streets to earning my Master’s Degree! To be honest, it took me some time to really own the title of “Professor.” When I initially heard my students calling me Professor Pecora, my subconscious would flash statements of disbelief or self-doubt such as; “You’re no professor! You’re from the hood and you’ll never be respected as one!” However, as I shared my story with my students, the complete opposite occurred! I received the utmost respect and many of my students have written phenomenal end-of-course reviews expressing how much I have inspired them!
As I reflect, I am thankful for all of my experiences—good and bad, because they helped to mold my character into the resilient man I am today. I can now say it proudly with conviction; I AM…Thomas “The Professor” Pecora!