For This Is the Day… That a Superman Died
Adventures of Superman 498

COMIC DETAILS

Comic Description: Adventures of Superman #498 Universal
Grade: 9.8
Page Quality: WHITE
Certification #: 2120276016
Owner: Iconic1s

SET DETAILS

Winning Set:

For This Is the Day… That a Superman Died
Date Added: 6/5/2020
Research: See CGC's Census Report for this Comic

Owner's Description

<b>This book was very difficult for me to find, especially for a first printing with a healthy census inventory! This was the <i>last</i> first printing from this entire set that I needed at 9.8 and its addition put my set at 92 of 98 books graded at least 9.8.</b>

This book replaced a 9.6 ss book that I had in this slot. When I originally added the 9.6, I had four empty slots and was trying to get my set to 100 percent completion. I had the other three books submitted to CGC at the time and was waiting on grades.

I was <i>trying</i> to either buy a 9.8 of this book or find a raw copy worthy of submission before putting a book in this slot. It should have been <i>relatively</i> easy to find with 17 Universal and 5 Signature Series in the census at the time, but a 9.8 never came up for sale during the entire time I was building this set. <i>This was also the last of the four printings of Adventures of Superman 498 that I needed 9.8!</i>

I had bought multiple lots/copies of this book raw. I eventually had over 50 copies of this book, with no 9.8 candidates among them. I finally decided to buy the 9.6 ss in order to get a book in this slot to achieve 100 percent completion. All things considered, a 9.6 ss was nothing to be ashamed of either. I also figured that with my luck sometimes that if I went ahead and bought the 9.6 then a 9.8 would pop up for sale right away. <i>This book did not make it that easy though!</i>

During my search for this book, I met a CGC forum member through a WTB post I started; he had recently bought a large collection of 1990's raw books. He had a great looking copy of this book (as well as Action Comics 690 that I also had 9.6 at the time) and submitted them to CGC for me. I committed to buy both if they come back 9.8. The Adventures of Superman 498 ended up grading 9.2. On the bright side, the Action Comics 690 came back 9.8 which finished up all of my <i>Reign of the Supermen</i> books graded 9.8, and also made this book the last of the first printings I needed for this entire set.

I then met another member through the same WTB post and he sent in a copy of this book for me as well. His copy also looked great so I once again crossed my fingers. In the meantime, I finally found three nice raw copies that I thought all had 9.8 potential. I submitted them for pressing and grading in two different submissions due to the timing of finding them, while waiting on the other member’s copy to be graded.

At long last there was some success with this book… the second forum member’s book graded 9.8 and I quickly agreed to the purchase. I am finally able to include a picture of all four printings of this book graded 9.8 in the second picture slot… <i>this is the only set where this is possible!</i>

Thank you <i>sd2416</i> for your help finding this book.

The grade date of this book is 26 May 2020 and it is the 18th 9.8 Universal Label book to join the census.

My wife and I were fortunate enough to see Engelbert Humperdinck in January 2020. He was 83 years old at the time and put on an amazing show. For a long time, the 9.8 of this book reminded me of the lyrics from one of the songs he performed that evening. The song was originally an Italian pop song from 1962 and Engelbert first recorded it in English in 1968.

<i>Tell me when will you be mine,

Tell me quando quando quando…</i>

<b>I no longer have to wonder <i>quando</i> I will have this book in this set, here it is!</b>
  
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