Set Description:
It all starts here with this one. In the early 90’s I had become addicted to comics. I bought anything and everything comic related with special emphasis on Marvel. I would scourer the pages of Wizard magazine, hunt down Series cards especially looking for those hologram insets and play every game no matter how cheesy… remember the Wolverine: Berserker one? Anyways after a while I finally got into some other things. Girls. Learned that at that age most didn’t want anything to do with comics. So sadly I placed them aside and walked away.
As the years went by I still remembered some of my favorites such as Cable, Deadpool, Anyone on the X-Force or X-Men, the Hulk and the list goes on as well as some amazing series such as Fatal Attractions and X-Cutioner’s Song. Two years ago, 2011, I happened to allow curiosity to take over and entered a local comic store (Americas Heroes Comics) in Killeen, Texas and started to ask around about a few. Earl the store owner pointed me towards the TPB section and gave me a few story lines to possibly read up on and I came to find out that my favorite character not only had a kid but at that time was seemingly dead… Damn you Marvelllll. Anyway’s I got hooked on the Hope Story lines. I started to pick-up anything and everything related to her and Cable and became once again addicted. Then later in the year, around October I saw a post card size advertisement in his store of a man with a jacked metal arm and a glowing eye and it stated he would be back for one day to ensure the survival of Hope. Immediately I smiled knowing that this was the return of Cable. As the days got closer to December I became more and more excited and the moment Earl opened his doors I was in and hadn’t even paid for my issue yet when I began to read the Avengers X-Sanction story line.
He’s back….. Yay!!!
So following the X-Sanction was another advertisement listing for the deemed story of stories where everything would be changed type of event in Avengers vs X-Men. Pitting the two largest franchises in Marvel against one another in a winner takes all system.
At this point I realized something. I needed them all. Not just the 1st printings, or the I’m with this side or that, not just the 1:200’s. I needed all of them.
Later as I started to find more and more of them I somehow happened into dumb luck to get a page of original art and from that point on I realized I had the goal of goals for myself. I found what Tnerb and Bagofleas had in there New Mutants runs. I had a series to be passionate about.
First and foremost for this set I have to thank a few individuals for helping me out here. While I’m not done or even close to tapping out these individuals have truly helped make my Set at least worthy of looking at.
Galehaut, while not a board member this individual was an eBay seller that I have come to both respect and befriend. While looking for some things this seller went out of his way to message me and let me get first crack on my first 9.9 ever. Thanks for this one and a few others.
Tquella or Twin Cities Auctions, Has helped me obtain a few signatures for my Set and continues to always help me with all of my AvX needs. He has since helped me get a hold of Scottie Young for a commission and I can’t wait until that Con comes up to see what the outcome is.
Earl, of America’s Heroes Comics Killeen, TX. You are no longer the man who runs my LCS but truly are a friend. Earl has gone out of his way to ensure anytime I needed something for this set he was Johnny….Earl on the Spot… and got everything I could have ever wanted. He was able to assist me in a few signatures by some artists that I would not have been able to gain due to some of my deployments to Iraq and or Afghanistan.
Scot and Claudette Eaton, The artist who’s pencils graced the interior of AVX: Consequences #3. They’re kindness has graced me with the first piece of art for this series. Please check out AVX: Consequences #3’s Gallery for why I make special emphasis on this one. In addition to this art they were charitable to give…not sell me some additional pages of art for some previous back issues.
Surfer99, You pointed me into a direction to which there is no turning back from. You helped in gaining a few additional pieces of original art for this series with pages from Avengers vs X-Men #3 and #12 in addition to setting me on the path for a few additional artists which culminated in my Ultimate piece which when an All New X-Men set is made will be shown for Issue 5…it’s a new “Beast” of a page.
Overall there are so many to thank that this was where I chose to do it. While I could get on here and say how awesome the series is and everything else I figured I could save that for the descriptions.
Enjoy
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| The gallery tab shows only items with images. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. |
| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 0 |
| Item: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 0 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1116392004
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Owner Comments
PERSONAL COMMENTS:
Originally I had picked up a pristine copy of this one and got it slabbed and graded. 9.8… Yay… yet it just still didn’t look good enough. While I would love to find the single 9.9 or maybe even get a 10 Gem on my own I figured this would take many submissions and probably an attempt at a good old pressing before I got close to it. So one day checking out the old bay and I see this copy on their signed by Cover Artist Frank Cho. Needless to say while I was salivating at the chance to get a 9.8 SS I also had no need to break the bank. So threw up a bid of what I believed it would cost for comic and slabbing yep $28 bucks and let it ride. Three days later, Congratulations here’s your invoice. Holy crap I won. I won. Yessss says the man jumping for excitement about comics while others in camouflage attire looking like bad asses stare with confused and bewildering looks.
Needless to say I was stoked about getting this one. I am now this much closer to getting a 9.8 SS for every 1st print for the core series.
PERSONAL FAVORITE LINE:
But I'm not your dead wife, Scott. That's not my story. – Hope Summers
Man do I love the Character they are building Hope into.
NOW FOR THE BORING STUFF
Published: May 2012
KEY ISSUE: It is the start of the war that breaks friendship’s, brings upon the world destruction and eventual rebirth, and kick starts the mutant gene again. Not to mention someone pretty big dies and with the follow on of Uncanny Avengers I have no idea how they can bring him back from death after this one.
Brian Michael Bendis and Jason Aaron story
Frank Cho art
Frank Cho Cover – Gotta say I truly hope Frank Cho puts this cover up for sale. The Original Art looks amazing.
First off there are NINETY FOUR of these graded with a crap load of printings and variants. Of those 1 is a 9.9…MUST FIND IT… and to include this one 82 are 9.8’s with 17 SS’s included. I guess for now I’m content with the one I have but until I can find the single 9.9 or submit one of my own I will have to keep my hands on this one. I may however look to getting the other one I have cracked and signed by Bendis, Aaron and Cho then pressed. See how that goes.
Story Title: Prologue – With a title like this you would think yawnnnn boring but you’d be wrong.
MY TYPE OF SUMMARY:
So in the opening pages we immediately see things are going to go boom with this series. One of the coolest characters, Scarlet Witch uses her…. Witchy Powers??? On Big Head (MODOK) Always thought of him as a lame bad guy. Anyways Big Head wants to get to an ex-A.I.M. scientist and Scarlet Witch is all like NO.
Lots of things go wrong for MODOK while Scarlet Witch uses her witchy powers and eventually Ms. Marvel and Spider-Woman shows up and to me I would give up just to be hand-cuffed and talked dirty to by them.
So after all of that the two Avenger Hotties ask Wanda to come home with them as if that will really go over well. Cause the annihilation of the Mutant race and killing her friends and causing the death of another’s child is just easily smoothed away in the course of one battle.
They get to Avenger Land and oh no who would have thought, Vision doesn’t really care for his Ex anymore. Seems a little cold and all but after everything I think I would be a little as well. So off goes Wanda in tears and Vision goes to his room to pout also.
Next we cut to a scene on Utopia, X-Menville, where Hope is preparing to use her newly acquired jet pack. Love it, she can take any mutant power she wants yet is still unable to simply give up on a jet pack… Go figure. So her and Scott get into it. She re-informs him that his wife is dead, which is bad assed and flys away after using his optic blasts against him… he now knows how Wolverine constantly feels.
So she interrupts a bank heist by another group of lame ducks the Serpent Society and takes guys that used to take the entire Avengers squad and turns them into D-List villains. Best part is watching her go all muscled out, “hey are you a mutant by chance.” So while she’s punching Cotton Mouth to a pulp Scott and Emma show up and are all you are ready for the Phoenix. She tells Scott duhhh!!! And now she’s back on Utopia. Yay… It’s Coming.
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| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 0 Cheung Variant Cover |
| Item: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 0 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1078021003
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Owner Comments
Brian Michael Bendis and Jason Aaron story
Frank Cho art
Jim Cheung Cover
SO HOW MANY ARE THERE K???
This was the 1 in 25 Retailer variants which meant it would be slightly harder to find than a regular one right??? Well at a grand total of Fifty Five it isn't to bad and is slightly more than half the normal regular ones. In addition of the 55 there are a total of 43 9.8’s with 12 of them to include this one at the 9.8 SS.
So while there are fewer ones here this was still a pretty popular issue. I think I saw 3 on ebay right now so… while supplies lasts right.
As for story, synopsis, plot, or whatever you want to call it. This is a Variant of the original cover. So the story is the same as the one I wrote earlier. I could copy and paste it but seriously…. Why??? On the cover a lot is going on with this one but honestly this cover should have been held onto until number 1 or 2 when all hell breaks loose.
PERSONAL STORY OF HEROISM…
Yeah nothing here on that kinda front but…
I would love to sit here and tell you I got this one signed at a convention or whatever, but truth be told this is another eBay purchase. I do own a raw one and had some plans for it but now I think I may get that one signed and see if I can have a pair of brothers.
But anyways this one was won in a very aggressive eBay bid off hoe down type of way. I didn't have to pay my max amount on bidding but was willing to go the distance no matter who wanted it also.
Its signed by Jim Cheung the cover artist of this variant and the cover artist of the 1 - 12 regular series and I was able to talk to Jim while signing another set of issues but that's another story.
For the raw one I have right now, I would like to get either Stan Lee to sign it in black right across Captain America's shield or maybe even Bendis one of the writers to sign there. Whichever comes first I guess.
Enjoy
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| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 0 Third Printing |
| Item: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 0 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0194652007
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Owner Comments
Brian Michael Bendis and Jason Aaron story
Frank Cho Art
Frank Cho Cover
SO HOW MANY ARE THIER K???
This was the 3rd Printing so on the census there is 13 CGC'ed with 12 holding the top spot of 9.8 and a single OAK Signed and at 9.8. I guess its good to be the king???
As for story, synopsis, plot, or whatever you want to call it. This is the third printing of the original cover. So the story is the same as the one I wrote earlier.
PERSONAL STORY OF HEROISM…
Yeah nothing here on that kinda front but…
So I fought off two dragon's to click the mighty mouse of doom to allow ebay to place this in my cart, where I voraciously put in my payment method and a few weeks it was dropped off...
Aside from that another ebay pick-up
Enjoy
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| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 0 Fifth Printing |
| Item: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 0 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1057821008
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Owner Comments
Brian Michael Bendis and Jason Aaron story
Frank Cho Art
Frank Cho Cover
SO HOW MANY ARE THIER K???
This was the 5th Printing which honestly amazes me that this comic actually needed this many printings. Don’t get me wrong but I am really getting tired of these multiple printings. Hopefully with Digital comics picking up steam the comic companies will cease and desist with this unnecessary printing. Anyways, grand total of 6 of these have been graded with all of them having obtained the 9.8 stature. Not a single SS in the group so may need to get Frankie to sign off on this one.
As for story, synopsis, plot, or whatever you want to call it. This is the fifth printing of the original cover. So the story is the same as the one I wrote earlier.
PERSONAL STORY OF HEROISM…
Another ebay pick-up so no real story here. Got this one off a fellow boardies (Dre) ebay listing and a few days later it appeared on my door step. What can I say I’m a completionist…
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| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 |
| Item: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0192044027
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Owner Comments
PERSONAL COMMENTS:
I like putting the PERSONAL COMMENTS first. I mean really most of you that are looking at this right now have probably already read through this comic so me telling you the copy and pasted Synopsis from Wikia is well…. Cheating and honestly if you wanted to read that stuff you would have gone to google and typed it in.
The one that started it... wait never mind there's a zero issue. In fact there are like 11 different issue zero’s so not even close but at least they start fighting here.
Another eBay special. Special shout out to galehaut I have bought so many CGC's from this guy... or girl. But he’s the one that hooked a brotha up on this one even though I had another already ready for CGCing anyways. I guess with that in mind I’ll have to get one of those signed by Jim Cheung.
I guess this is simply the stare off before the actual fight. Favorite part of this cover is how Black Widow is holding a gun under Iceman's head. I guess if all else fails he'll chill out... du dum dum tish.
As with my goal I will either like I said above get this one signed or one of the like four I have on hand signed.
PERSONAL FAVORITE LINE:
I know Captain America better than almost anyone, if he is here, it’s already, as you say ramped up. – Namor
NOW FOR THE BORING STUFF
Published: June 2012
KEY ISSUE: It is the start of the war… Ok maybe not the start seeing as there is a Zero issue but it is number 1 and we know how number 1’s go right??? No ok well its when we first see this entire thing become an us versus them scenario.
Brian Michael Bendis story
John Romita Jr. Pencil’s
Scott Hanna Ink’s
Laura Martin Colorist
Jim Cheung Cover
Oh holy hell… How many are there of this one issue graded? ONE HUNDRED…. And What??? FIFTY THREE. Wow so this one being worth something down the road is throw out the window. So with this one the pinnacle so far is 130 9.8’s total. At least that one 9.9 out there is still ungraded. Of those 28 were 9.8 Signature Series so I really need to get on the ball with this one. Probably just crack this so I don’t add to the massive number. But if I don’t I would like to get all of the 5 listed to sign somewhere on the cover. It’s a little crowded so it may mean signing in the A and X.
Story Title: Avengers vs. X-Men (Part One) – Original title right...
MY TYPE OF SUMMARY:
So at first we see Porcupine Boy on a distant planet and because Porcupine boy doesn’t strike fear into the heart of a big giant burning bird he’s alive long enough to say daddy before Marvel wipes him off the face of the Marvel Universe. Sucks I was really hoping for an origin story.
Anyways then cuts to Nova flying at like Mach 1 Billion to Earth to warn the Avengers but when he gets here he forgets “oh yeah I’m suppose to slow down before I land.” So he slams into a plane a building and a few other things, probably kills a bunch of people and the Avengers are ready to kick has ass before they realize, “oh this is a kid Nova so its ok.” He tries to warn them but instead takes a nap.
Later Tony doing his smart thing finds out the Phoenix Force is on a pretty good trajectory for Earth. You would think eventually this bird would check out the billions of other life forms as well but I guess not.
Cut to Cyclops committing child abuse. I guess if you shoot them with lasers and kick them in the face you can call it “training” but still child abuse no matter how you look at it. So finally he pisses Hope off and she blows up. I mean actually boom blows up and not just gets angry. So she’s on fire, he’s on fire, and Magneto and Emma look on with there jaws hanging wide open.
Cut back to the Avengers. “Mr. President, We’re screwed”… yep that about sums it up there.
Then Captain America goes to see Wolverine at his new school.
CAP - “Hey Wolverine”
WOLF BOY – “Hey Cap”
CAP – “Need you to stab a girl in the chest because my morals won’t let me and you have none, also if you do it I can then make you feel bad while I still feel good about myself.”
WOLF BOY – “Ok”
So now it comes down to it. The Avengers go to Utopia and Cyclops is all, you can’t have the girl she’s one of us and because you suck and one of your Avengers committed genocide and you did nothing you still suck.
Cap calls Cyclops a bad name, Cyclops calls Cap a bad name and next thing you know Cap gets blasted away by Cyclops. Not to be undone Cap calls in the Avengers and by Avengers I mean, East Coast, West Coast, New, Old Secret, Super duper Secret, and every Avenger in between.
Not to be out done Cyclops yells X-Men Assemble and we have the beginning of an amazing series...
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| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 Convention Edition |
| Item: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1096400011
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Owner Comments
Brian Michael Bendis story
John Romita Jr. Pencil’s
Scott Hanna Ink’s
Laura Martin Colorist
Oliver Coipel Cover
SO HOW MANY ARE THERE K???
This was the C2E2 Convention variant for which only 1000 total were created. So this one took a few attempts at getting. Of all of the comics I have ever attempted to buy this one was probably up there with the most tries ever. I guess with C2E2 there was an issue with keeping these in good order while others were grabbing them.
It took not three tries, not four, but seven... and by the seventh time he rested as I finally got tired of looking around for that perfect 9.8 and just got one that was CGC'd 9.8 already. Way more than I had intended to pay but I finally said to hell with it and just hit Buy Now.
Funniest part is that Wolverine has whiskers on this cover.
So after cornering a small portion of the market with attempts... There are a grand total of 65 graded so as I have found its not as rare as I thought. In addition of the 65 there are a total of 38 9.8’s with 11 of them to include this one at the 9.8 SS. But there is one lone OAK at 9.9 SS.
As for story nothing different from the original. Its a Variant of the original cover and honestly not a very good one. Not to go against Mr. Coipel but not really a fan of this one.
PERSONAL STORY OF HEROISM…
This one was one of those never say quit stories. I tried but it just seemed either someone didn’t know how to ship properly or the ones being picked up just weren’t the NM+ as advertised.
I would like to say I will get this one SS’ed but honestly I’m not 100% sure I want to chance it after everything I went through with this one.
Enjoy
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| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 Diamond Select Toys Edition |
| Item: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1148159079
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Owner Comments
Brian Michael Bendis story
John Romita Jr. Pencil’s
Scott Hanna Ink’s
Laura Martin Colorist
Jim Cheung Cover
SO HOW MANY ARE THERE K???
This was the suppose to be a coveted you have to buy the sign variant. So when it first was put out there was a grand total of three known to exist due to some issue with Diamond. Yeah that rumor and listing lasted maybe a week. Quickly after that though it seemed like this variant exploded on the census. Now there is a total of FIVE HUNDRED and TWO on the registry. Of those I currently own both a 9.6 and 9.8SS with a single 9.9SS out there somewhere. I think everyone of the ones they created were slabbed
As for the cover I actually like this Sketch variant better than the other one currently out. Something about the original cover was cool to see down in the simple black and white.
PERSONAL STORY OF HEROISM…
Originally this was one of the issues that came out and was suppose to be sold along with some neon light up sign of Iron Man's face. While I'm not an Iron Man fan I am a Avengers vs. X-Men fan and since this was suppose to be a rare variant I was all about it.
So my local store put in a purchase for it and when he went to sell it we opened the box and... No comic... What the? So Earl calls around to Diamond asking what had happened and was informed that the comic was going to be shipped separately. Not wanting to sell something incomplete we waited, and waited, and waited some more. Nothing. Then one day he gets a group of Diamond Variant Captain America's by Neal Adam's. While this isn't what I wanted and not thinking this was the comic still he calls and is told that this comic wasn't going to be sold with the sign anymore and that the Captain America's would be what replaced the Avengers vs. X-Men.
I was a little down to be honest. I always enjoy these sketch variants and while they eventually did come out with a Sketch variant for this comic it wasn't the coveted Diamond one.
So one day just to be curios about another Avengers vs. X-Men issue on the census I look it up and low and behold there are a bunch of these graded with the word Diamond variant.
WTF??? I thought they didn't make them. So I scan left and right and finally come up to a few on eBay.
While they were on there for a while I never found one I liked for the price. I did ask where all of them got there's and no one ever seemed to want to share. Diamond conspiracy??? Anyways after a few months had gone by I saw a listing for one with all of these amazing signatures.
So I added the Price of the sign and comic combo, CGC SS fees, Stan's normal fees, and the cost of the Con tickets and all and just happened to use that figure and ask if they would be willing to sell it at my price. To my amazement and enjoyment he or she agreed.
Now for your eyes my copy of Avengers vs. X-Men Diamond Variant signed by Oliver Coipel, Mark Morales, Cover Artist and all around great guy Jimmy Cheung and just to make it pop a little a bold red signature of Stan "The Man" Lee.
Boom Diamond in your face, it does exist. Now if I could only find a Unicorn...
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| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 Hastings Edition |
| Item: |
|
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1147018006
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Owner Comments
Brian Michael Bendis story
John Romita Jr. Pencil’s
Scott Hanna Ink’s
Laura Martin Colorist
Carlo Barberi Cover
SO HOW MANY ARE THERE K???
This is the one that pissed me off and will most likely be resent after being pressed. So total there is 47 that have been graded with 20 CGC 9.8 and 12 CGC SS 9.8. Saddly this isn’t one of either of those. Originally and heart breakinly…if that’s a word this one was number 13 of the 9.8 SS group. But I wanted to have more than one signature on it and had the slab opened to add the cover artist Carlo Barberi add his signature to it. Now it is one of 7 9.6 CGC SS’s out there. Hopefully they can smoosh this one out and I can have it go back to the 9.8 that it deserves to be.
On a side note love the cover and applaud Hastings for there choice. Having Deadpool collecting bets from some of the best villains in Marvel was a cool idea and really does work here.
PERSONAL STORY OF HEROISM…
Soooo this one. I guess I'll start from the beginning. So I get a copy from the Hastings down the street and head up to the Dallas Fan Days (Dallas Comic Con) and hop in line for Stan Lee. Not meaning to get this one signed I looked through my small box and realize once I get to the front I had actually left the wrong box in the parking lot and I'm about 10 people short before its my turn to have something signed. Not wanting to wait forever again as his line is usually lllllllllooooooonnnnnnnggggggg, I had him sign both this one and a copy of the Retailer specific variant of Avengers vs. X-Men. This one and the Retailer variant are actually the ones that got me hooked on wanting to complete this collection. It was from the time I sent this one until today that I had been waiting to through this on the Set Board.
So anyways its graded everyones happy and I am elated on the grade. At the time there were a few CGC 9.8's but this was the first and only CGC SS 9.8 out of the group and to have that first and only just feels right.
Continuing on, The Wizard World Austin comes up and I look at the main attractions. Oh my God, Carlo Barberi the cover Artist is going to be there. Not wanting to settle on one signature and having a copy of the final issue #12 Hastings Variant also I thought the stars were aligned and that this was a sign that I should crack this one and get them signed together...
Or not, when I got the grade back for this one I almost cried. This was a perfect one and only Stan Lee Signature Series'd Variant and I tossed it all away for another Signature and *gasp* a grade reduction to 9.6. While I wasn't happy with the change I am still happy at being its owner. Maybe one day I'll find another and try it all again... or not.
Below is the first grade of 9.8 and as soon as I can get a cover scan of the new 9.6 I'll throw that one probably on the reverse image so as not to tarnish the memories.... ah.
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| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 Midtown Comics Edition |
| Item: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1118828022
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Owner Comments
OWNER'S DESCRIPTION
Brian Michael Bendis story
John Romita Jr. Pencil’s
Scott Hanna Ink’s
Laura Martin Colorist
Skottie Young Cover
SO HOW MANY ARE THERE K???
Of all of the series this one had to be the most popular among fans and had the most talk behind it. Why do you think I believe that? Because come one they wrote A-Babies vs X-Babies based just on the cover and how much fan based built up off of it. For this one there was a grand total of 119 of them graded with 103 at 9.8 and 33 at 9.8 SS. Plan on sending this one back to be regarded and pressed so hopefully it will make 34 9.8 CGC SS but for now this is one of only 6 9.6’s out there.
PERSONAL STORY OF HEROISM…
This one was one of my Daughters favorite covers. So much so that I had to buy her a copy of the A-Babies vs X-Babies when it came out.
I have to say this one was an amusing cover done by Skottie Young who has made it on my bucket list of artists to gain a sketch from. After I saw this one and found myself smiling from ear to ear I had to further my collection of Skottie Youngs with the other Marvel Baby collection covers.
Additionally my daughter has been a huge fan of OZ so I guess this was a win win for both of us. With this specific issue it was signed by Jonathan Hickman, one of the AvX series writers and while 9.6 isn't the goal it is a start. Hopefully I can bump this one up to a 9.8 and if anything slide this one over to the Reverse Image to show where I came and where i am type of thing.
Of note favorite fighting set on this one was Magneto in the Onesie and stripping Iron Baby out of his uniform.
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| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 Sketch Cover |
| Item: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0195822001
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Owner Comments
OWNER'S DESCRIPTION
Brian Michael Bendis story
John Romita Jr. Pencil’s
Scott Hanna Ink’s
Laura Martin Colorist
Ryan Stegman Cover
SO HOW MANY ARE THERE K???
So this one was cool as it coincided with my first CGC coupon thingy. Anyways there are a total of 64 in the world and of the 64, 21 of them are 9.8 and 18 are 9.8 SS goodness. While this one isn’t a SS I think I will hold out and not tempt fate here with this one. After looking through ebay I really don’t want to pay the price of a 1:200 again for a while.
PERSONAL STORY OF HEROISM…
In May of 2012 I received my very first CGC get four free certificate when I signed up for my very first CGC premium account. At the time CGC was still very new to me. I had received my first every CGC which also happened to be my first signature series and had purchased a few on-line but this would be my first attempt at sending anything away.
I looked around and while I had plenty of choices from a few old Uncanny X-Men's to a few Old Secret Wars to a few newer items I decided I would take my certificate to Dallas Comic Con and use it there. But wait, we don't accept this here. Hopes are smashed dreams are dashed and I go home with four comics that shoulda, woulda, coulda, but didn't.
So this gave me some extra time to really think on what I wanted to send off. I had just finished sending in three Avenger vs. X-Men's for CGC SS at this Con and it was here I would truly get into the Pokemon gotta catch'em all fever of CGC'edness. So looking at what I had I sent this and the next four Sketch covers off.
And after my first submission I guess I had first timers luck because I sent out four and got back four 9.8's
Happy Dance time....
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| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 Sketch Edition |
| Item: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1176857021
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Owner Comments
OWNER'S DESCRIPTION
Brian Michael Bendis story
John Romita Jr. Pencil’s
Scott Hanna Ink’s
Laura Martin Colorist
Who Ever You Want Cover – But this one has George Perez and Mitch Breitweiser on it.
SO HOW MANY ARE THERE K???
These I enjoy. They are the blank variants in which we the reader get to choose who creates the cover and what it will look like. Currently there are a total of 185 graded and soon there will be an additional two more on here from me as well. This one had a pretty good story and the others are still currently in CGC Limbo. But for now there are 133 9.8’s with 7 of them being blank…. Wait…. What??? I don’t get that at all. Why grade a blank with no cover on it??? Oh well and 126 9.8 SS with an additional 42 9.6 SS’s with this one included. Hopefully with the other two sent off those will grade at 9.8 and help me a little in the Registry Set.
PERSONAL STORY OF HEROISM…
So this one had a fun story. I was attending the Dallas Comic Con this past May. Prior to going I read the attending list and saw two of my favorite artists. First was the amazing George Perez. As soon as I saw his name I pulled out my old Astonishing Tales #25 with Deathlok and low and behold found out it was his first Marvel Comic.
So with this I knew I wanted something drawn on a blank cover but didn't know quite what yet.
Then I saw one of my favorite cover artists was going to be there as well as his wife. Mitch and Elizabeth Breitweiser. This duo is out to conquer the world. Elizabeth with her art in Winter Soldier and Mitch with what is still to this day one of my favorite covers ever Captain America: Chosen #1. If you haven't seen it you should pick it up for the cover art alone. Its a simple water color of Cap's shield with him lightly placed in the background and I knew I needed to score there respective signatures on a few things to include this favorite of mine.
So I get there and went straight to Mitch's both when I arrive. This is also when I learned that if you want to be on someones list you should always look for them prior to going to a Con. But I get there first in line with both the Chosen in hand as well as this Avengers vs X-Men blank and ask for a Captain America quick and fast. He then apologizes to me right there and says that he's already go a full stock of commissions for this Con and asked what else I brought.
Sadden and distraught I show him my lowly issue of the chosen. I guess this was one of both his and his wife's favorites because as soon as she saw it she looked at me and asked why this one. I told her why and that I had loved the simplistic art and water color of this and after talking about how he actually didn't mean to turn in that art for it and some other stuff his wife asked him for a commission for me.
That was awesomeness all rolled into one. He asked what I wanted and I asked him if he would be ok sharing a cover with someone else here at the Con. As soon as I told him it would be George Perez I had never seen someone so excited about a commission and quickly went to work.
As soon as he finished I was amazed and politely tried to pay when his wife said the conversation was enough for this one. I handed it back to someone to escort for CGC SS and oh shit... She touched the ink and it hadn't dried.
I almost cried and even though he asked if I wanted another I honestly could be selfish of his time. I thanked him and off to George Perez for a lllllllloooooooonnnnnnnngggggggg wait.
In the end this was still a great piece for me. I got to talk to three amazing artists and had a wife stand up for me and request a commission on my behalf. The story alone was worth it to me.
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| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 Variant Edition |
| Item: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 1 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0193236001
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Owner Comments
OWNER'S DESCRIPTION
Brian Michael Bendis story
John Romita Jr. Pencil’s
Scott Hanna Ink’s
Laura Martin Colorist
Ryan Stegman Cover
SO HOW MANY ARE THERE K???
Another cool one but without all of the cool story stuff….. honestly have no clue what I will write about when I start doing the 2nd – 9th Printings. As for this one short and sweet, 59 total graded, 23 9.8’s, 12 9.8’s CGC SS and 1 9.9 OAK out there. I’ve seen it pop up on ebay a few times and would love to take a shot at it but then again… he or she listed it a little high for my blood. At least for now.
PERSONAL STORY OF HEROISM…
So with this one, I had popped my cherry with SS's, sent off my first CGC certificate ones, and sent off my first true Con adventure, what's next?
How about my first adventure in having to pay for them... This one was fun and packaged again with loving care. And would you look at that. luck of the Iri.... ummm luck of the Hawaiian???
Anyways four of a kind beats a full house right?
Four 9.8's. More Happy Dance time.
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| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 2 Pagulayan Variant Cover |
| Item: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 2 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0195654029
|
Owner Comments
Jason Aaron story
John Romita Jr. Pencil’s
Scott Hanna Ink
Laura Martin Colorist
Carlo Pagulayan Cover
SO HOW MANY ARE THERE K???
A few less than the rest of the series but total there are 36 of this variant CGC’ed with 26 CGC 9.8 and only 7 CGC 9.8 SS’ed. Might have to consider doing that to mine as well or taking the one I have raw and doing it as this was a cheap ebay pick-up.
PERSONAL STORY OF HEROISM…
This one was one of the four that I sent out on my dime. Nothing big nothing fancy nothing to special. Aside from that its also when you start to see everything slow down a little with this series in the relationship of sending out for CGCing.
Kind of wish someone would have told Pagulayan that the only hulk in here until issue 11 was the Red Hulk. Then at least it would have been a little better. Still yet it was a cool idea, although aside from making the Hulk take a nap I don’t see this being a good fight for Emme in her Diamond form. I guess no one told her scissor’s cuts paper, paper cover’s rock, and Hulk smash’s Diamond…
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| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 2 Sketch Cover |
| Item: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 2 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0195822002
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Owner Comments
Jason Aaron story
John Romita Jr. Pencil’s
Scott Hanna Ink
Laura Martin Colorist
Nick Bradshaw Cover
SO HOW MANY ARE THERE K???
So a few less than the previous ones but still an easy one to find on ebay. Grand total of 34 graded with 22 including this one at 9.8 and only 6 at 9.8 SS. While as tempting as it is to want to get a Signature on it I think….ummmmm…. No.
PERSONAL STORY OF HEROISM…
I really liked this cover. Yeah it's a sketch and there no color but the idea that all of the avengers are in the water off of Utopia having drown was cool. It almost seems if Colossusnaut??? and Namor have beaten Dr. Strange, Hawkeye, Spiderwoman, and Luke Cage so now its time to take on the heavy hitters of Thing and Rulk???
Aside from the funny names of some of the guys, this was one of the issues I had sent in with my free submission certificate so I think 9.8 means I got my money's worth.
Anyways, Wolverine goes shink!, Hope blows up, Cyclops blasts Cap, and for some reason he still feels to throw his shield. I don't know call me crazy, but I may actually use a shield for its intended purpose instead of always throwing it at people. I mean seriously if I'm Magneto the first thing I do with that thing is launch it into space.
It's made of metal right??? Or just take it and throw it at him a few times and see how he likes it. But this was a good one cause we finally got to the actual vs. point of the story.
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| Slot: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 2 Variant Edition |
| Item: |
Avengers vs. X-Men 2 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0193236003
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Owner Comments
Jason Aaron story
John Romita Jr. Pencil’s
Scott Hanna Ink
Laura Martin Colorist
Nick Bradshaw Cover
SO HOW MANY ARE THERE K???
So wow this one is even more rare to find than the sketch one. By a single graded copy. Still Rare…. Anyways total of 33, 23 CGC 9.8’s, 4 CGC 9.8’s SS and this one actual has a good shot at possibly going that route as well. It is 1 in 100 so it is rare but its not as rare to find in high grade as the sketch.
PERSONAL STORY OF HEROISM…
So yeah, take everything I said about the sketch one copy paste boom comments complete.
Anyways some of the gripes I had were in how the matches were set up against each other. Take the oh my god fight that everyone wanted to see between Non-Iron Man vs. Magneto. That one was a fight between a guy who's title is iron but hasn't been made of that stuff since the 80's.
I think we got it Marvel, Tony's smart and didn't keep making his suit out of Iron. So why not put Magneto against the entire Helicarrier. I mean that's bound to be made of metal. Why not show him smash that thing onto Rulk just for fun. Then again if it smashed the hell out of the Sentry then it just might kill Rulk. And if there’s no Rulk who else will smash…. Oh yeah the Green one, the three girls ones.
Just a thought...
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