Set Description:
My first attraction to the comic hobby was in 1994 and it involved Linsner's Cry for Dawn.
I was attending the Mid Ohio Comic Convention with a friend who was an avid collector. A college student with little money, I marveled at the many Spider-Man and Batman comics on display.
I spent the better part of the day sifting through long boxes beside my friend looking for the various books that I had been instructed to pull for him. I was more interested in striking up conversations about college football than anything else. After all, this was the same Saturday afternoon of the infamous 31-31 tie between Florida State and Florida.
Towards the end of my day at the con, I happened to catch a glimpse of a book with a striking redhead on the cover. The book was so unlike anything else that I had seen that day. I was instantly transfixed. The beautiful image of the scantly-clad-fiery-redhead, the expression of surprise on her face, the chastity belt and the wizardly setting were so very appealing. The book was a copy of Cry for Dawn #4. I paid the asking price of $25 for the book.
It wouldn't be until years later that I would actually develop an affinity for comics and the collecting hobby. Coincidently, it would be that same issue of CFD #4 that would entice me into the hobby. While packing for a move in 2008, my wife found the issue in an old box of college papers and textbooks. Given the cover and subject matter, some good natured teasing ensued. | |
Unlike the first time when the attraction had been only to the art, this new discovery prompted me to actually read the stories. This was something that I hadn't done up until this point. Rotation Play, Killing Old Man Heesner and a Short and Fat Little Christmas story were shocking stories of violence and the human condition. They took me back to some of my favorite shows and movies like Creepshow, The Twilight Zone and late night viewings of a Hitchcock film or two. The art was as incredible as I had remembered. For me, JML’s style and lines remain unmatched and without equal.
The book that had caught my eye all those years before, finally succeeded at pulling me into the hobby. A few eBay purchases, a few other titles, a lot more eBay purchases and the discovery of the CGC forums has brought me to where I am now and the collection here in this set.
Although I have ten or more raw copies of each issue (including a couple Horror Con #3's), these graded copies represent the finest CFD books that I have ever seen and will be cherished for many years to come…
Hopefully never again finding storage with my musty old college papers. |
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| Slot: |
Cry For Dawn 5 |
| Item: |
Cry for Dawn 5 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1075069008
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Owner Comments
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General:
Page Quality: WHITE
Notes: None
Art/Cover: Joseph Michael Linsner
Writing: Joseph Michael Linsner and Joseph Monks
Edition/Printing Size: 16,000 Copies
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Purchase History:
Purchase History: Purchased graded from eBay in June 2012.
Purchase Price: $170
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Grade Notes:
Condition: No noticeable defects.
Grading: Graded on 6/6/2012.
Census: Highest graded; 1 of 8 non-qualified and non-restored copies in 9.8 in the census. (05/12/15)
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Summary:
After published tales that primarily dealt with murder, revenge, abuse and hatred, issue five seeks to deal with more mainstream issues. Albeit with a darkness one would not be able to find in their local newspaper.
In the first story titled Everything is a dark look at necrophilia. The story provides insight into a medical coroner's thoughts as he travels to his lab where the object of his desire awaits.
The second story, The Belt, chronicles a man and a woman who happen on a family that has become curse by a strange belt. The man, having performance issues, follows a woman down an alley where he is snatched. The wife meanwhile was snacheed by the male patriarch of the family. The story closes with the man having been transformed in to part animal and part man, wearing the belt. The story written by Monks is difficult to follow and lacks many of the points and narrative to truly present a complete story to the reader.
The last story is Burns Brightest and is by far the best and darkest of the three. Despite proclaiming by each that they had never done such a thing, the young man in the story takes part in a one night stand at a party. Not long after, the man learns that he has contracted AIDS. Aware that the young girl at the party had transmitted the deadly disease to him, his anger at the opposite sex compels him to begin a systematic spread of the disease by having unprotected relations with as many women as possible. After confronting the woman at the end of the story and threatening her with a handgun, the man leaves to continue his spread of the disease. The story, written by Linsner, is a great example of the dark extremes of social problems that the series explored so well.
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Special Note:
Pictured in the below image are a few special items from my collection. These are the original editing copies of Cry for Dawn issues #1, #2 and #5. These copies have the first versions of the comics with notes to outlining the changes that need to take place before print.
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| Slot: |
Cry For Dawn 5 Second Printing |
| Item: |
Cry for Dawn 5 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0148257015
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Owner Comments
___________________________________________________
General:
Page Quality: WHITE
Notes: Second Print with Alternate Cover
Art/Cover: Joseph Michael Linsner
Writing: Joseph Michael Linsner and Joseph Monks
Edition/Printing Size: 10,000 Copies
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Purchase History:
Purchase History: Purchased graded from CGC forum member in February 2011.
Purchase Price: $100
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Grade Notes:
Condition: Slight color loss on top right corner.
Grading: Graded on 10/10/2007.
Census: Highest graded and one of only two 9.6's in the census. (4/21/15)
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Summary:
The second printing of issue number 5 does not contain any new material. It repeats the stories contained in the first print.
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Special Note:
The image from the cover of the second print of issue number five is one of Linsner's most recgonizable pieces of art. This image has been reprinted several times and used on a number of products. I have a recreation of the image that Linsner did earlier this year at a convention.
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| Slot: |
Cry For Dawn 5 Limited Edition |
| Item: |
Cry for Dawn 5 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0185390004
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Owner Comments
_____________________________
General:
Page Quality: WHITE
Notes: Limited Edition
Art/Cover: Joseph Michael Linsner
Writing: Joseph Michael Linsner and Joseph Monks
Edition/Printing Size: 1,500 Copies
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Purchase History:
Purchase History: Purchased raw on eBay in January 2015.
Purchase Price: $70
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Grade Notes:
Condition: No noticeable defects.
Grading: Graded on 04/30/2015.
Census: Highest graded and only 9.8 in the census. (5/15/15)
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Summary:
The limited edition of issue issue 5 does not contain any new material. It repeats the stories contained in the regular print. However, there is a nude centerfold featuring Dawn which does not exist in the regular print. There is also a signature and the book is numbered 1002 of 1500 on a revised inside front cover.
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Special Note:
CFD Productions offered a "Church of Dawn" membership in the early nineties. Solicitations for the membership were printed in the CFD Productions books. The kits were delayed for a period, given issues with the quality of the pins that were to accompany the kits. There were different versions of the kits, but as a whole they contained newsletters, prints, sheets offering Cry for Dawn comics and merchandise, the pins, a welcome letter, and stickers. Later versions contained the limited edition copy of issue number 8. The first 1,000 kits contained a special print set that was signed and numbered. Some kits also had an apology letter with artwork from Linsner about the kit shipping delay. Also, membership cards were sent in a limited number, prompting many to question if they were part of the kits. Linsner mocked this himself with a piece of art that he once posted on Linsner.com. The below image is that piece of art showing Dawn herself holding a Church of Dawn membership card and explaining that "Yeah, I never got mine either."
The reverse image is of my personal copy of the Church of Dawn Membership Binder. My copy has all of the regular items, the limited edition copy of issue 8, the apology letter and the limited edition print set that is signed and numbered. My kit also has an authentic-signed membership card. Sorry Dawn!
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| Slot: |
Cry For Dawn 7 |
| Item: |
Cry for Dawn 7 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0970870046
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Owner Comments
___________________________________________________
General:
Page Quality: WHITE
Notes: None
Art/Cover: Joseph Michael Linsner
Writing: Joseph Michael Linsner and Joseph Monks
Edition/Printing Size: 22,000 Copies
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Purchase History:
Purchase History: Purchased graded from CGC forum member in February 2011.
Purchase Price: $150
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Grade Notes:
Condition: No noticeable defects.
Grading: Graded on 03/27/2009.
Census: Highest graded; 1 of 14 non-qualified and non-restored copies in 9.8 in the census. (05/12/15)
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Summary:
Issue seven contains two stories. The first story is Corporate Ladder, written by Joe Monks, and the second is Dropping Anchor, written and illustrated by Joe Linsner.
In Corporate Ladder Matt Riker is an up and coming financial advisor. When his mother passes away, he is given the contents of the attic at the family home. There he discovers a chest that has his grandfather's trunk. The grandfather had been a Nazi commander. Dealing with being passed over for a promotion, Matt finds strategy in his grandfather's journal. Tipping off his new bosses wife about an illicit affair isn't enough, so Matt kills the owner of the company. The story closes with Matt deciding to run for mayor, having developed the hatred that powered his grandfather's success in the german army.
The second story, Dropping Anchor, is a tragic tale of a young father that hates being a young father. Throughout the story the young man fantasizes about allowing his young child to fall from the balcony of their appartment. At the end of the story the young man sees the error of his ways, but it is too late as the child has fallen from the rail to a certain death.
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Special Note:
Linsner has released many prints of his artwork over the years. The below is one of my favorites which features an alternate take on the cover for the first Cry for Dawn issue.
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| Slot: |
Cry For Dawn 9 |
| Item: |
Cry for Dawn 9 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0900055001
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Owner Comments
___________________________________________________
General:
Page Quality: WHITE
Notes: None.
Art/Cover: Joseph Michael Linsner
Writing: Joseph Michael Linsner and Joseph Monks
Edition/Printing Size: 23,000 Copies
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Purchase History:
Purchase History: Purchased graded from CGC forum member in February 2011.
Purchase Price: $150
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Grade Notes:
Condition: No noticeable defects.
Grading: Graded on 10/13/2008.
Census: Highest graded; 1 of 9 non-qualified and non-restored copies in 9.8 in the census. (05/12/15)
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Summary:
Issue nine features one really good comic story and a couple of writings by Linsner and Monks. The writings highlight and foreshadow the issues that the pair had dealing with producing the comic as well as each other.
The main story within the issue is titled Angelique. The story explores relationships, death, suicide and satanic destiny by following two characters. David is a man who is a committed relationship. While out at a dinner with his significant other, David observes an attractive and dangerous appearing woman leaving the restaurant. Excusing himself, he quickly follows her and a one night stand takes place. As the woman undresses, David sees a strange scar along her throat. The two have other encounters until Angelique calls David at his home one night and demands to see him. Upon his arrival, David finds a man in a pentagram on Angelique's floor. At Angelique's request, David dismembers the body and dumps it along the highway. David wonders if the exercise is a test and confronts Angelique. After a struggle, the two fall to the floor and embrace.
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Special Note:
On June 12, 1993 Linsner held a party at New York's Webster Hall to celebrate the launch of his solo endeavors with Sirus. Below is a signed invite from the event.
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