The Bug
Black Hole (Fantagraphics) 9 Second Printing

COMIC DETAILS

Comic Description: Black Hole #9 Universal
Grade: 9.6
Page Quality: WHITE
Certification #: 3709501015
Owner: Qalyar

SET DETAILS

Winning Set: The Bug
Date Added: 2/22/2021
Research: See CGC's Census Report for this Comic

Owner's Description

This is one of two oddities in the series. <i>Black Hole</i> #5 and #9 are the only two books originally published by Fantagraphics that went to a second printing. Why? I really have no idea. There's nothing special about these issues. There's nothing unusual about Diamond's reported ordering numbers. Was there some unusual demand? Did some percentage of the printed first edition copies fail quality control, warranting a reprint? I tried reaching out to Fantagraphics for information -- and to confirm that there are no second printings of #4, #6, or other issues lurking out there -- but never received a response. So it remains one of this series's little mysteries.

There is no reliable method to distinguish the two printings without opening up the book and looking at the indicia. Even taking that into account, this book (unlike the second printing of #5) is demonstrably rarer than its first printing equivalent. I suspect that is because of the extremely late release date. This printing was produced four years after the initial release of #9, and a full year after the release of #12 and the end of the series. In fact, the hardcover collected edition was released by Pantheon Press in October 2005, so this reprint even post-dates the availability of a compilation! I really have no idea why it exists.

I purchased this copy pre-slabbed from an online seller. At the time, I felt that I fairly aggressively overpaid, especially given the 9.6 grade as opposed to a 9.8 that is achievable for most of the run. At this point, with this copy still tied for top of census, I'm not at all sad about pulling the trigger on it. Along with the 2nd printing of #2, I think this is one of the hardest books in the set.
  
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