Set Description
I think it's pretty self-explanatory, but if you need a helping hand: I'm collecting all Keys related to Angela, from her Image days to her current Marvel incarnation.
Set Goals
I really can't explain or articulate my fascination with this character. It all began quite innocently and accidentally by discovering that Angela's birth in the pages of Spawn #9 "spawned" a litigious fued between her two creators: Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane. The battlle was over Angela's ownership rights and whether Gaiman had any "rights" to the character.
My discovery of this controversy drove me to acquire several copies of Spawn #9. After I submitted these issues for grading, one of them returned from the CGC with a unique stamp... "Newsstand Edition". It was at this point that I learned I had stumbled upon the very first graded Newsstand Edition of Spawn #9. Since then, I became obssessed with owning these unique variants and also putting togetther a set of all things Angela.
Angela lived and breathed in the pages of Images comics from 1993 until 2000. In her short life of seven years, Angela battled Spawn, fought and defeated the Argus, teamed-up with Glory, Team Youngblood, and the fairie Aria. I can only assume the stress and strain of the lawsuit brought upon by Gaiman, drove McFarlane to make an impetuous decision on the fate of Angela in Spawn 100: the sexy and sassy redhead came to a unglorious end at the hands of Malebolgia when the Lord of the Eight Circle of Hell drove the angel's spear into her back and through her chest, killing her instantly. Angela's body was eventually returned to Heaven by Spawn himself, and the book on the heavenly angel had been closed forever.
Well... forever is never really forever especially when it comes to comic book characters. Thirteen years later, Gaiman and McFarlane settled their differences, and the gorgeous hellion made her return to the four color page... but with a new owner: Marvel Comics. Angela made her long-awaited debut in the Marvel Universe, in Age of Ultron #10 and has since become kin to Thor and Loki. The former angel is now an Asgardian and starring in her own comic book: Angela: Asgard's Assassin. These are glorious times for fans of Angela... and for this particular Angela fan... I'm enjoying the journey.
But what about Angela's keys? Well that's easy... so let's go through the list of key events in Angela's publication history:
Spawn #9:1st Appearance of Angela.
Angela #1: Angela's first titled comic book; 2nd Appearance of Angela, 1st Greg Capullo art on Angela.
Curse of the Spawn #9: The Origin of Angela.
Spawn #100: The Death of Angela; Angela's last Apperance in Image Comics; last Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo art on Angela.
Age of Ultron #10: The Return of Angela; 1st Appearance of Angela in the Marvel Universe; New Costume.
Undoubtedly, as Angela's saga continues in the pages of Marvel comics, new keys will emerge... and my collection and this set in particular will grow. Glory to Angela!
Thanks for reading.
SW3D
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| 1st Appearance of Angela; Direct Edition. |
Spawn 9
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9.8
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Owner's Description:
Publisher: Image Comics
Publication Date: March, 1993
Age: Modern Age
Writer: Neil Gaiman
Artist: Todd McFarlane
Grade: 9.8 (Near Mint/Mint)
Grade Description: Nearly perfect with only minor imperfections that keep it from the next higher grade. The overall look is "as if it was just purchased."
CGC Key Comments: 1st Appearance of Medieval Spawn and Angela.
Owners Key Comments: 1st Appearance of Cogliostro.
CGC Census Population: Highest Graded Copy.
Submission Date: June 29, 2013 (Wizard World NYC)
Grade Date: August 22, 2013
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| 2nd Appearance of Angela; 1st Eponymous Title; 1st Greg Capullo Angela art; 1st Angela Logo. |
Angela 1
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9.8
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You've been probably wondering, "How come I haven't heard nor hide nor hair of SW3D's psycho-babble about Angela lately? Or maybe not?
Well, if you missed it (or me), or didn't, either way, I'm back, or should I say, Angela's back! That's right... it's another arousing edition of: "For the Love of Angela!"
And in this exhilarating segment, we're going to discuss my recent acquisition: Image Comics' Angela #1.
Now to most collectors, and even some die-hard Angela fans, this issue may not appear to be a really big deal. Why? Well... due to availability... Angela Number #1's are available in high quantity at most any grade. And although the total CGC Census population numbers for this particular issue are relatively low (76 currently), as Angela's star continues to rise in the Marvel U, undoubtedly, it will have an impact on its population growth.
But there are other factors... key factors and historical notations, in my opinion, that many have failed to realize (or perhaps they're not that significant to warrant mentioning).
So what is the BFD (Big f@@king deal) about this one anyway?
Glad you asked.
These are some of the key notations Angela and Comic Book Collectors alike should be aware of that the CGC has, for whatever reason, omitted (and I'll list these in order of significance):
1. Angela's 1st Eponymous Title/1st Solo Appearance.
2. Angela's 2nd Appearance.
3. Neil Gaiman's 2nd story ever written for Image.
4. 1st Angela work sans Todd McFarlane.
5. Reveal: Angela's discloses her age: 100,000! (Holy sh$t she's a hottie for an ancient relic! I occasionally like my women to be mature but this lady is 1,000 millennia old! Damn!)
6. 1st Appearance of Angela's logo.
But the one distinguishing characteristic that makes this one also pretty special:
7. This is the first time legendary Spawn artist Greg Capullo illustrates Angela!
And on top of that, this particular comic has the master's inscription. Although other signature copies exist (there are two others on the census), this one is currently in the top spot graded at that magic number: 9.8!
I love it! I love it! I love it!
About the cover: Greg Capullo chose to showcase the Angelic Warrior with a tight close-up of her noble countenance. The intensity and crimson spots on her face and the warm blood running down her blade and armor can only lead the reader to assume she's hot and heavy in battle, beautifully framed... which makes it an ideal choic as a mantlepiece! But all kidding aside, in my opinion, Capullo captured the essence of this hellion, for when Angela gets into the thick of things, she's speaks with her lance, dagger and sword. Now that's the Angela I know and love! Marvel Comics TAKE NOTE!
So, without further pomp and circumstance, I give you... Angela #1, Signed by Greg Capullo.
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| Origin of Angela. |
Curse of the Spawn 9 Universal
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9.8
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This is the very first one ever graded! YES!
Curse of the Spawn 9: The Origin of Angela!
I love keys. And I love rare books. And I love OAKs. But I especially love when I am the first to introduce a comic book to the CGC Census, and one that combines all three of these virtues.
This is the other Angela key (see Spawn 9 Newsstand Variant), the other rare one and OAK, which I have the pleasure to debut to you all: Curse of the Spawn 9: The Origin of Angela. Yep! That's right! In these very pages we get a first hand look at the creation of the heavenly creature Angela.
Now truth be told, Curse of the Spawn 9 is not a very rare book. No, not at all. There are plenty of raw copies floating in eBay just waiting for someone to pick 'em up, or discover them in the back issue bins of your local LCS. That's how I got these 6, going from LCS to LCS, amassing a total of 20, but cherry picking these 6 as the best of the best from those 20 and getting them graded. But finding a 9.8 or 9.6 wasn't easy... but I am sure there are plenty of mint copies out there.
However, for some odd reason, no collector ever got one graded... that is until yours truly came along. I currently (as of October 6, 2013) have the first six Curse of the Spawn 9's ever graded: five 9.8's and one 9.6... which, I predict, for the briefest of moments, makes them rare indeed. But I am certain the word will get out, and by next week 1,000 more will follow.
And although the graders of CGC have erroneously omitted this key detail from the Key Notes, Curse of the Spawn 9 is where Angela's origin is first explained.
Here's a synopsis I borrowed without permission from ComiXology on Curse of the Spawn 9: "Angela has been commissioned by the survivors of the planet Pentagus-Fraser to destroy the evil ravaging their planet. Amidst the melee, Angela battles the arachnid beast, Argus. She becomes distracted by the face of the mysterious Deurges long enough to become entangled in Argus' Web. After her capture the legend of Angela's origin is revealed in flashbacks of the lives of the sacrificing souls that were blended to become the Heavenly warrior. In each case the last thing they see is the dispassionate face of Deurges". Visit the page at: http://www.comixology.com/Curse-of-the-Spawn-9/digital-comic/42566
Curse of the Spawn 9!
Thanks for reading.
SW3D
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| The "Death" of Angela; The "Death" of Malebolgia; Last Angela appearance in Image Comics. |
Spawn 100 Modern
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9.8
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Spawn 100: Angela Variant Cover/Wood Cover Artist: The "Death" of Angela.
Before co-creators Todd McFarlane and Neil Gaiman came to terms over Angela's ownership, McFarlane wrote her off in the 100th Anniversary issue of Spawn, by having Angela meet her demise at the hands of Malebolgia. Lanced in the back and through the chest with her own weapon, Angela solemnly died in the arms of Spawn. After Spawn defeated and "killed" Malebolgia, Angela's body was taken to Heaven.
This issue marks the last appearance of Angela in an Image Publication or in any comic book for that matter, until 13 years later when Angela made her debut in the Marvel Universe (616) in Age of Ultron 10.
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| The Return of Angela; 1st Angela Appearance in the Marvel Universe; New Costume. |
Age of Ultron 10 Modern
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9.8
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This is it... Angela enters the Marvel Universe and eventually becomes an Asgardian... her new name: Aldrif Odinsdottir! Okay... I can live with the retro origin... but the name... Ugh! Let's stick with Angela.
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