How I Bought My 1st CGC Grail COMIC BOOK 

I am a pure buyer at this point. Working on several SA runs. Haven’t sold anything in years, if not a decade or two. That being said, I like how Gem has done it. I’m not sure if there is anyone better on RU-vid or anywhere else right now who’s as honest and open about how he has got the things he’s acquired and what it took to get them. He gives you the blueprint on how to work yourself up to buying the more expensive books and other items that may seem daunting and nigh impossible to get. It isn’t too hard to do it if you have the desire and ability.

i get too attached to things so ill never be able to make the hobby fund itself :(

I came to this channel as a pure statue collector. Now i'm collecting comics and reading more. You are contagious!

HOUSE OF PAIN, LEFT YOU ALOT MONEY. THEN YOUR SOLO CAREER BLEW ONCE. A HUSTLER, ALWAYS A HUSTLER COOL VIDEO.💎👊🏽

I’m in the process of flipping my way to an AF 15. I’m still a longs way away but I’m loving the journey.

My dad told me he had all those keys when they were first released but my grandma gave them to some kid down the block after my dad moved out 😆

X-celsior!!! Spiderman has ALWAYS been, and ALWAYS will be my favorite

This is one of those videos I've been waiting on for a looong time. Thanks for the info!

It's so hard to let go of some slabs even when you have a grail you're working towards. Videos like this definitely help prioritize why you're collecting in the first place. Loving the content and stay safe!

You are certainly not the only one to do this best way to get the stuff you want without burning huge holes in your pockets. Its all about the hustle.

Collecting and selling is like stock trading, invest and hold or flip fast. As long as you beat inflation or the best 1/2/3 year interest rates you’ll win. Knowing when to step back is the hardest bit.

Gem you're an absolute G man!!! The way you collect makes comic collecting such a fun hobby!!! Literally the dopest channel out there!!!

Like the origin story. I always like to look back in time. Great video.

Gem Mint Origin story! Thanks for sharing.

The outtakes are so funny!! Major upgrade from the old Gem Empire

Awesome video my man! I have also bought things sold them off to buy something a little more expensive gotta keep upgrading!

Thanks Gem for the story and I actually enjoyed it. It is what I do myself, put runs together and resell them for that 1 grail book! Glad I am not the only one who does this.

Did the smart thing and used the hobby to continue collecting towards your grail. New collectors should definitely watch this video.

I've posted so many comments about that Thanos statue XD and I won't stop until that livestream!!

Your blooper reel at the end of your videos is hilarious!!!!

U R THE MANNNNN I love these these types of videos

huge s/o to Gem & Comic Tom, you guys have really helped me appreciate my collection so much more & how to get more bang for my buck! Love the channels!

My first slab was CGC SS TWD custom label #115. i still remember how excited i was when it arrived. Thank you for sharing your experience. Stay safe and minty fresh!

I have stopped collecting a long time ago, but still look fondly on the books that I have right now, still read them, they are important books to me and not just items to be resold. While I understand collecting, I could never hustle like you do to get those pieces I once really wanted. I think that fire is gone. Great videos though, I enjoy them quite a lot!

I just cant bring myself to sell my stuff haha

"How I Bought My 1st CGC Grail COMIC BOOK"? the 10 minute-game! Joking. Love you content.

As a kid, I had a dope stack of silver/bronze age comics. I moved away from home, left my stash in a box. Then my parents moved. When I came back, my comics were nowhere to be found. I only had my Sub Mariner #1 and I carried that with me to this day (prob 8.0 raw). I am a writer, and an aspect of the current novel I am writing is about a 17 year old comic fiend. I figured that I should get back to comics if I ever am going to do it. It has been fun pulling all of my old books back. Bidding on keys and pulling CGC slabs. I don't think I will ever sell them. My method is to grind and save. If I pull a comic and hustle for it, it will be a lifer. Great vid, and keep that blooper reel coming!

Thanks for the history lesson of how you started in this hobby. I give you a lot of credit on how u would chase down comics and eventually flip them to buy something else.

Just got a 9.8 spawn 1 newsstand edition just got it back from cgc this hobbies is an investment. The movie is coming in a couple years can't wait.

I admire your ability to just part ways with something you have worked for a lot, and then turn it into something even more amazing

You do a great job of making diverse videos that don't feel random, and they're always top quality. You guys have a great day

I’m small time collector. It does get exciting to see all these comics.

Really appreciated this video! Love the “hobby should fund itself” mentality

Buying, selling and trading is what I do. My collection is huge now but I still sell and use it to fund new books all the time. I'm even in the mystery box game now.

I love those bloopers at the end lol.

I am relatively new in this hobby, but if you would have some wisdom to share to newcomers let me know. I buy weekly comics from my LCS but have not sold that many from it, I buy lots or runs from comic shops and buy Tpb’s, hardcover, OHC, omnis, absolutes but never a big book. The max I spent on a book is Hellblazer #1 CGC 9.6 and that was about 75$. Let me know what you guys in the community think. PS:- Love that behind the Scenes Gem

Wow that's cool, such drive is inspiring.

Did exactly this when Ebay was actually Yahoo Auction. Bought and sold my run of Ultimate Spider-Man, Dynamic Forces editions, Hush fun and other Key issues. Had to sell for money as just started a family. Still collecting my panini World Cup soccer albums and moved on to watches.

Yo Gem, solid info! Flipping is a great strategy for building collections!

Wow..that's a cool timeline of re-investing. You've had some classic milestones pass through your hands. 👍

Good job, man. I should start flipping my collection, but the wife would come along, sniffing for her cut.

That old wall with the comics looked crazy

I feel the exact same way. If you're not into a particular collecting aspect anymore, flip it into what you enjoy. I've always been that way- I sold my NES to get a Genesis back in the day.

That’s what I be doing, resell grails and other collectibles and get what I really want.

That’s sick that the gem on the left goes to the channel. Looks n feels hella proper.

This video still hits the nail on the head. Great advice and congrats on reaching your goal back then!

I’m trying to do this but I don’t wanna let go of anything 😂

You manage your collection like you would manage a bussiness! It's like a hobby inside a hobby, loved the insight

You are the perfect youtuber not being emotional about your collection 💎👑

Yes Gem! Thanos is banging! You're smashing it by the way!

I never knew comics could be worth so much. Guess I need to really keeps mine. Keep safe and be healthy man.

I really enjoy these video where you talking about getting started and how your collection has evolved though the years.

Have started selling most of my comics over the years and moved over to Mezco one:12, that’s my real jam.

Love these videos about how you built your empire. Definitely my favorite! Also dig the bloopers at the end! 🤙

Really enjoyed this one on showing how to get the grails Gem 💎 Most definitely re-evaluating my collection and getting ready to flip towards my 181!

I think I'm going to use this strategy for my grail books as well.

This is a great story, and the old gempire looked awesome!

I have some comics I got strictly to resell, but grails like AF 15 would be hard to let go I think. I have noticed the nostalgia wears off fairly quick on things though. The grails are cool, but I love the commission pieces I have! Great pieces from Rags, Georges, and some others 🤩 it's amazing to meet the artist and see them work. Truly inspiring!

The Thanos looks amazing🤩 and the bloopers were hilarious 😂

I'm trying this approach to getting so milestones and key issues. Glad to hear it's worked for someone

The way you built your collection makes sense, if you're willing to let go of the filler and minor keys. I know some horders who refuse to let go of the minor stuff. I tell them once you get to the top is easier to get back to the bottom and get all that stuff back. It's all about a plan and focus. Thanks for the great content.

Could we get more videos/stories like this please? great content gem

Your outtakes at the end were hilarious! Love your channel and much respect to all the work that you put into it, great job!

Watching this video made me think about how I acquired some of my key issues. Wolverine and the Hulk are my two favorite characters in Marvel. I went into my local LCS to buy some comics from my subscription, however I noticed a Incredible Hulk # 181 on the back shelf. I ended up talking to the manager of the store, We worked out a deal in order for me to get the Incredible Hulk # 181. I gave him some money as a down payment. After that when I got paid I would come into make a payment until it was paid off. I also have a guy that specializes in silver age comics. Right now I'm working on collecting Amazing Spider-Man # 1 to 102. Great video Gem. Stay safe.

Those comics hung just below the ceiling as a border almost is pretty cool decoration.

Dang Young Gem pics. Kinda like flashbacks to polaroids. Another solid video!

Just started collecting the CGC slabs. Finding it difficult to let go some of my old items, but know its necessary to fund the hobby!

This is a great rundown! I’ve considered selling weekly completed runs and such as well. Definitely think a hobby should fund itself when possible.

Really interesting, mate, and I really admire the way you collected all those pretty hard-to-find comics and then, BOOM, you just sold them all to buy a single grail! If I get a book that's tough to find, I hang onto it like grim death. I wouldn't have what it takes to do what you did!

I recently sold most of my baseball cards BGS 9.5’s to get some comics I had when I was younger

I appreciate the guidelines on how to get these big bad books! I've been following your map! Thanks Gem! Enter me for that statue!

Great blue print..on the hustle..loving the outtakes..lol

I've been into comics my whole life. Started buying new comics at the lcs as soon as I got my first paycheck then dipped out of the hobby for a few years after I read Joe Quesada's Amazing Spider-man One more day run. Came back into comics because of Spawn issue 200 in 2011? or 2012 and finally gave Marvel another chance in 2016 because of X-men Blue and Gold plus the return of Eddie Brock as Venom. Had I known how crazy the values for silver age comics and even some bronze age keys would just keep going up and up in value I would have started picking those up sooner and doing something like this. The come up doesn't seem that easy anymore. I still want to get an ASM 15 and X-men one someday but since I don't sell much the grind is gonna be slow and painful lol. I've always been more of a new comics guy but I'm thinking about chunking most of Marvel and Dc out of the window already and just focusing on Silver Age floppies and collecting Marvel Epic Collections. I'll probably finish Marvel's Venom, Immortal Hulk & Thor runs then dip the fuck out. As a huge X-men fan I don't think the Jonathan Hickman era is that great at all. Too much bloating. I'll continue to collect every Spawn variant though , probably Saga too , Oblivion Song and Gideon Falls.

I wish I could fund my collectibles like that but I’m too attached and I don’t want to get rid of anything.

Before I found this channel a year back, I felt so ashamed selling off bits of my collection (No matter what form of media it was) to get new stuff. Now I know I'm not alone and we turnin' and burnin' like it's nobody's business 😂

I've been collecting comics since i was a kid my grandma use to buy them for me at the local pharmacy or gas station magazine rack,but about 3 years ago when the retro game market was at its peak I did something similar I sold alot of my old retro games to buy comic books, my theory was i rarely played the games anymore since i PC game mostly i'd keep the ones that had sentimental value to me like ones my grandma bought me when i was a kid and just sell all the others. I bought alot of grails doing that and comics take up way less space than games lol so that was an added bonus. Although i've been buying some statues so that space is getting filled back up fast lol.

You are so close to collecting all 75k subscribers for your infinity gauntlet! Almost there!

I just had a similar conversation...fellow collector is gathering the keys, I mentioned that some subscribe to the belief that it is better to try and get the big book first. Love the content! Long time subscriber, first time commenter 😄

this video is lowkey underrated... should be the guidebook for a lot of new guys

I really enjoy the videos teaching us how you fund yourself.

I like having the raw books. I might not have a huge collection but it's constantly growing

Great content. I hang onto everything feeling I'm going to let something go that I still wish I had instead of looking what I could have. This is my first time watching one of your videos. I look forward to seeing more.

Awesome video man. Just got back into collecting last year after being out about 15 years. I find your content extremely helpful understanding how to collect. Thank you.

Loved this video, I’m building my collection right now, trying to get an AF15 too later on !

I just made the switch to collected editions...we’ll see how this goes. As always, I appreciate the content. Good work.

We are getting closer boy and gals to 75k....Let's get it👍 😂😂😂 those out takes

Always appreciate the bloopers at the end 😂😂

I've recently started following you and am really inspired by your style of collecting. I've been collecting all my life but never really did any trading. Now, I'm ready to start and have been learning a lot from you and Comictom101. Thanks!!

This was my plan too. Just getting back into comics after a long period of being an outside lover but not being into it. Stopped collecting when I was probably 13 years old... 23 years ago lol hopefully some of those old books are still in my mom's basement

Bruh! I agree 100% with allowing collectibles to pay for themselves. Investors hate on collectibles as an investment but i have to say it's a very good hedge. I sold my magic the gathering graded collection for $30k last year and now it's only worth half of that. Sometimes it's all about selling for the right time. I've yet to make any graded comic purchases recently but I'm looking at it right now with how the markets are tanking. I also sold a graded Kobe card for $550 earlier this year to build up my omnibus / absolute collection.

That’s so cool you managed to pick up Amazing Fantacy 15 by trading up for it!

I need to adopt that mindset of letting things go, to get to the next one.

Enjoyed your journey to AF 15....thanks for sharing

Great insight in how it all started. Keep the videos coming. Need more bloopers😂😂

I've just started to sell some of my pieces to fund other collectibles but I find it hard to let go.

I think most collectors dream's is AF #15 but not many will ever get it, nice one!

Very interesting insight. Thanks for sharing! Those bloopers LMAO!

Great vids! I love seing behind the curtain of the Gempire!

That’s an awesome way to go get started. Thanks for keeping your Channel going.

I switch hobbies pretty frequently but omnibuses are my new addiction. I am really enjoying the hunt for certain omnibuses.