Should You Get Your CGC Comics Signed? Here's the Facts 

I understand why these grading companies have moved toward these mail in signings, (covid and because it makes them a boat load of money) but I personally hate it. Not only do far too many people send in books to get signed by people who had little to do with the actual book, but the signatures detract from the cover and the best part about getting a collectible signed is meeting the creator. Just mailing them away feels empty.

Thank God I found your channel. I am a veteran collector and after only watching two videos, I learned a ton about the in's and out's of slabbing and cgc and cbcs. You rock.

I just got into slabbed comics and it's solely because I *collect* signatures on my favorite books and creative teams. Everything about this vid was on point! Another option for signature hunters, getting the signatures from creators at Comic Cons. Can be a lot of fun and potentially cheaper. Glad I found your channel!

I'm new to collecting comics and spent the past few months going to conventions and getting signatures because I thought it was really cool and a good investment. I've spent thousands of dollars doing this and by the end of the day you're losing money because its so expensive.. Your vid has amazing info and all very true. It's easier and cheaper to just buy the yellow label books from eBay

It wasn’t my dream or anything, but Kyle Higgins was doing a signing at a convention I attended years ago. He had written the winter soldier miniseries the year before, so I brought the first issue for him to sign, and I was cosplaying as the winter soldier. Long story short, he was a complete jerk. I told him I liked his series and if asked if he wouldn’t mind signing my comic. He just said sure, signed it and leaned back in his chair. Whereas there was nobody else in line, or nobody anywhere near us at the time, I asked if I could get a picture with him and he said okay, but I’m not coming around the table, you lean on the table, and I’ll do the same. I thanked him and said I really enjoyed the series. He just said yeah I was proud of it. And that was that. The person I was with who took the picture looked at me after and said, “well he was kind of an asshole.” I said OK, it wasn’t just me who thought that then. This was almost 2 years before Covid by the way, before some of you comment saying maybe that’s why he was acting that way.

That honestly blows my mind. I always thought you had to go to Cons and meet with the Artists with a CGC Member witness present. I had no idea you could send them into CGC by mail and they'll do it for you and another thing I didn't know is that you could submit graded books to CGC. Great Video! New Subscirber!

Your editing is amazing man. I rarely comment on videos but had to give you props, I can tell you truly care about this channel and people who watch your videos.

Another great video man! I've always felt that the signatures that really have value are from the guys gone long before third party grading even existed. King Kirby, Joe Simon, Bob Kane, etc. Stan the Man may he r.i.p. signed EVERYTHING!

Excellent video! Really enjoyed your flat out truths in this one! Thanks

This might have been one of the most useful grading related videos ive seen.

I get my books signed all the time at cons and comics stores and they never have cgc witness to see it autograph. If anything I’ll send them to cbcs

Great info keep up the videos man

This was super helpful ! Thanks!!

CBCS does yellow labels now for authenticated sigs not witnessed. They got rid of the red labels.

I have maybe a weird personal rule for me,a book either gets signed or it graded. To me it means more to me to be there when a book is getting signed. I have books signed by Stan Lee,Todd Mcfarlane, Frank Miller, John Romita Jr and many others. My personal favorite though is my gijoe #1 signed by Larry Hamma.

Wow, awesome video. Very informative. CGC really charges an arm and a leg for grading books. It hardly seems worth it. But there are a few signatures I wouldn’t mind having. Thank you for the video

Just saw you on cable access 9 - very interesting - look forward to watching your episodes

Once again, nailing your topics for vids. Tempted to send a few things in for Tynion but might wait for your books to come back and see how that went for you and catch Tynion the next time.

Great content! Keep it rolling.

Just found your channel. Love the content. This video was very helpful. Thx man

What up, James? Good advice. Thanks...

Great vid dude, sigs can get expensive hahah but its worth it!

Good info! I only have the one yellow label (First Xmen #1 from 2012, signed by Neal Adams and Stan Lee) in a 9.8, and to be honest, I think I prefer the blue label, something about leaving the book as is and original I guess, great vid!

I got Frank Miller's signature on Wolverine #1 mini series. That was the book that got me into comics as a kid and I got George Perez's signature on my copy of infinity gauntlet #1. Those are the only two books I sent to CGC and it was years ago.

Went to a con in January. I was able to get 10 books signed (1 got a remarque). No grading company was present so at some point I'm going to have to send them in to CBCS. I just started getting books signed in person last year. It's been really good meeting the people that work on these books.

Amen 🙏, that’s why I recommend purchasing them already signed. Placement, clarity, color of ink, grade etc is already defined. Best way to go. If you send them in, highly recommended getting them cleaned and pressed after the signing for sure of obvious reasons, new handling damage. You could even experience a grade Bump if it has preexisting issues.

Thanks for the 411, subbed!

Love this. Have done McFarlane, Eastman and Claremont. Expensive but selective. Sent in some 9.6 keys. Worked for ASM 300, Spawn B/W variant 1, and X-men 129, among others, accepting risk Raw to Eastman, books I wanted to get graded anyway. Still deciding on Tynion. Great info, Thanks!

Good stuff

Trying to decide if I want to send in my set of Ultimate Fallout Djurdjevic connecting variants in for the Bendis signing....probably going to do it!

Honestly I don't actually care anymore about getting things signed after the Peach Momoko incident. When I met Darwyn Cooke I just shook his hand and talked to him about art. I cherish that so much now than having a signature but to each their own!

Good video, I have had many experiences sending in slabs to CGC for signatures. Most of my books remained the same grade, however I have recently had 1 book drop from a 9.6 down to a 9.4 and I have had another book go from a 9.6 to a 9.8. so there is that chance as well.

I was lucky to have Stan lee sign my Avengers 2, Captain America 100, Iron Man 1, X-Men 9 and Amazing Spiderman 50 when he was still signing for $50 a book. Was a memory of a lifetime. Did not CGC witness but kept the stubs, very much considering CBCS signature verification.

I got Stan Lee’s signature on Amazing Spider-Man #1 (not great condition) from the first Silicon Valley Comic-Con. My sister got Steve Wozniak to sign a brochure at that same show (he signed my iPhone) I really want to put them together, gives verification of when and where Spider-Man was signed (beyond the COA) and adds more interesting context to both signatures, considering Stan passed away a couple years later. R.I.P. Excelsior!

This is a fantastic video. Thanks for the great tips...that I’ll have to win the lottery to be able to do from Australia. As a comparison, I recently saw a Batman The Animated Series:The Adventure Continues #1 (regular cover) for $150 (Aussie dollars) in my LCS. So rare to see a CGC comic in the flesh but a crazy high price! Thanks ridiculous shipping costs. 😔

I just got my first cgc return. I went to a Tony Fleecs signing and got some of my Stray Dogs books witnessed signed and submitted. My Silence of the Lambs, Scream, and Friday the 13th covers got 9.8s.

Really informative video. I strongly prefer 9.8 and only in extreme cases wouldn't settle for anything less. I had no idea about the Pre-Screening for that grade. I always got them the old fashioned and painful way at the cons directly. Including signatures. Most of the signatures I get are from actors (Star Trek, Star Wars, DC, and Marvel) and I get them to sign the covers that had the actors on them (Preferably movie/photo). I agree, I never submit a key issue because of fear of damage. One of Stan Lee's Goons mishandled the book at his table that I provided (Stan was nice though). For me, those cons are a stressful process. If the line is long you have to call the CGC Witness and hopefully he gets there on time. One time the witness didn't and a con volunteer was giving me crap for holding up the line (which I wasn't doing. I let them all pass till the CGC guy got there) But when its done its a satisfying process. I'd never get an autograph from a third party unless its Upper Deck or a CGC Yellow Label because of its authenticity. One thing I like about the CBCS Signature Grades is that they give information on where the book was signed. A buddy has a Cavill autograph that was signed from the Man from Uncle Premiere

The last time I did this (was many many years ago). I deslabbed a Marvel Collectible Classic: Spiderman #1, otherwise known as the ASM #300 Chromium version. Was a CGC 9.8, gave it to Desert Wind to get Stan, McFarlane and Michelinie, and it came back a 9.6. Took a several hundred dollar loss because of that at the time. I decided at that point too risky to deslab a high grade key for sigs.

I have early Harley Quinn appearances that are signed by both Paul Dini and Bruce Timm who were both at the same Calgary Expo. One day I will CGCS them. It is a safe bet that future generations will seek signature slabs from CGC and CGCS as those creators will no longer be with us. My favorite pick up signature series CGC is Catwoman number 1 9.8 signed by Darwyn Cooke. He left us way to soon and in the prime of his career. I love Signature comics for that reason. Also, as a collector, I much prefer witnessing the signature myself and talking to the creator and taking a picture of him or her signing the comic. It is a more personal experience and I appreciate CGCS more for that reason, because they understand the reality of collecting signatures. It is about the experience of meeting the creators and having them sign. I never had the privilege of meeting Darwyn Cooke but I would trade in my CGC signature (that I never witnessed) in order to have met him myself and personally witnessed the signing.... and then CGCS the comic. [Because, as you say, it's not about the money to me. It's about the memory and the whole experience]. Great video as always. Keep up the great work, bro!

I've got a copy of Batman #13 (Death in the Family) signed by Scott Snyder from NY Comicon many years ago. So dope. I also have a Chris Claremont signature but it's on the NYCC brochure bc I didn't have any comics when I ran into him there.

I'm a sucker for signed comics , ever since I was a kid , its just something I like to have or look at on the wall , never really thought about CGC

In-depth!

I have a few comics signed - not through CGC Justice league #57 Zack Snyder Justice League variant - signed by Ray Porter (voice of Darkseid) Earth-Prime #2: Superman and Lois photo variant - signed by Alex Garfin (Jordan Kent) Earth-Prime #4: Stargirl photo variant - signed by Brec Bassinger (Stargirl) DC RWBY #2 - #5 Artgerm variants of Ruby, Blake, Weiss, Yang - signed by the respective voice actors all were witnessed by myself - none are CGC

“About to join the world of the signature series collecting guy” LOL!!! I really enjoyed this video and I’m sure it’s informative for a lot of other collectors. I love getting my books sent to get signed for my personal collection, I don’t do it for resale. Prime example: to go with my statue collection, I try to get the first appearances or classic covers of Batman, his allies and his rogues gallery. Can’t get your hands on a Detective Comics 27 or a Batman #1? How about a Detective Comics #387 that has him holding a tec27 and Batman #1? It’s also a Robin, Joker and Penguin cover, which I have and will get signed by the legendary silver age Batman artist and inker Joe Giella, who is up there in age in his 90’s so time is of the essence. This one along with the first silver age app’s of Scarecrow and Riddler will also be getting signed

From a value/resale point of view, it’s rarely something that you can make money on (which you covered well in the video). Since I don’t go at it from a profit angle, I prefer to get books signed that I don’t intend to sell and then use the CBCS verification service.

I've only owned one cig cgc, TMNT #4 IDW incentive variant cgc 9.6 I won off a TMNT Facebook channel for free 4 years ago. I recently sold it a few weeks ago off Craigslist. Now, I do have a copy of Marvel Fanfare #1 I sent in 3 years ago and came back 9.4, but on the label reads: "Michael Golden signed 1st Page". Seriously, I bought 2 new copies off the shelf at Mile High Comics in '82 and never knew one copy had been signed. I must have read the other copy and sent the better condition copy to be graded. MG must have signed a bunch of those books before distribution to comic stores, I'm thinking. But it was a cool surprise!

I submitted 2 CGC 9.8 Star Wars issue 107 books, got them signed in-house and both books came back. one a 9.6 and one 9.4. It happens all the time. And that was with CCS services also uselessly paid for. Their entire process with CCS is a joke.

I get books signed at shows, and don't worry about them getting slabbed. Don't care. It's my collection and I know it's real...plus, the whole CGC witnessing is just a lot of money for little return. I did it once for J. Scott Campbell, because he typically hasn't been going to shows.....and I have an Uncanny X-Men 510 variant cover. I was going to get more signed, but like you said, it's so expensive, and I didn't have too much of his stuff that is worth more than the $70 cost of getting it signed and graded. The 510 book is, so I took a chance. I just sent it in...he signed it in a nice spot and I got a 9.6 grade on it. I was happy with that (obviously would've wanted the 9.8), because I only spent $15 on the book, and now it's worth a bit. But again, that's the only one I have done (whereas every show I go to I try and get some books signed....I have 354 of my 600+ Uncanny X-Men books signed, by everyone from Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Neal Adams, Jim Steranko, Tom Palmer, Scott Lobdell, George Perez, John Byrne and Chris Claremont...just to name a few).

I own a 2010 Jan/Feb issue of Playboy magazine with Tara Reid’s autograph on her cover. CGC Signature Series 9.2 white pages. Census, 1 of 1, with 1 graded higher.

Payed Art germ collectables $ 125.00 to get a comic signed...I got a 9.8 Blue back..CGC Sent the comic back free postage...and got a yellow 9.6..the whole process took 16 months...I used CBCS too.

Infinity gauntlet 1/ thanos quest 1&2!!! Both at terrificon!!!

I bought a signature Todd McFarlane Spawn #1 9.8 on the secondary market. It’s the only CGC book I have and will probably be the only one I ever get

I’m new to CGC and I just shipped my Freddy vs Jason vs Ash comic out to them… so my plan is get it graded first then have it signed by the film actors on the slab and then jsa authenication for signatures.. cost more bust just looks better than than green label which effects your comic investment

I wish they’d make a discount price say if you sent in 5 comics instead of paying $70 a piece it would be $50/55, or say instead of $150 a pop maybe $120/130? I think that’s more than reasonable. If that was the case I would ball the fuck out every time they had one of my favorite artists (such as the current John Romita Jr. event! There’s so many books I’d love to get signed not to try and get a huge return rather to have a book with art I absolutely love signed by the guy who made it).

I actually will buy or use a lower grade copy of the book I intend to get signed.my thinking Is that the signature will at least increase the grade by one! Plus you save your pristine copy of same book for enjoyment.

Add in $20 for CGC pressing, $40 shipping, $5 admin fee, $5 custom label, AND mailing to my presser to Crack press and bag another $45

The grade dip freaks me out. On that Hell Arisen if your 9.8 goes to a 9.6 You go down maybe $100. But what if you send in a Hulk 181 9.6 and it goes down to a 9.4? That's like $10 Grand. Yikes.

Nice review and informative, thank you. Minthunter, i have one comicbook raw with four signatures on them and planning to get a fifth signature by another artist in the future to be sent to CBCS, is it safe to get my raw signature comicbook to get it cleaned and pressed or is it better to get it pressed than cleaned to for nice grade? Also would the cleaning and the pressing would affect the signatures on the cover of the raw comicbook and does CBCS carry a comicbook protector to safely clean and press a comicbook to prevent any damages or fading of the signatures on the cover? Thank you.

I personally will just buy the book I want directly off eBay. It's worth it to me to pay an extra $100 to $200 and get a GUARENTEED 9.8 white pages signature with yellow label or more depending on how famous or sought after the signature signer is. I don't even submit books myself unless there's a real sentimental reason or something.

Yup

I've sent in about 20 books this past year to all of the signings and haven't had any issues at all. I've gotten them pressed, signed, and slabbed. I also had a few remarques. No issues.

Jim starlin/ Ron lim! 20.00 per book!!! Yea baby!!!!🙃

i only own two SS and one of them is an amazing spiderman #1 blank variant and the artist john rivett literally drew an entire hobgoblin art piece on it and Steve Lydic coloured it and signed it like he coloured it proper xD love them for that i would never sell it i dont do anything for profit its all for me baby

I have a signed poster of the question by Denys Cowan and it's my prized possion. It's literly the one and only. The other one I have is the question issue 1 signed by dennis oniel and Rick maygar. I hope to have it signed by cowans some day and get the signatures variefied by cbcs. But for cgc varified I almost have the complete signature series of a special con covers for steven universe. There are only around 10 in existence and I have 3

I got my X Men 141 signed by Stan Lee and then later by Claremont. It’s only a 6.0 but it is my prized possession.

I always get a kick out of Stan Lee signatures on comics he had nothing to do with.

The false narrative that CGC supervised every signature needs to be permanently dispelled. They receive books submitted by mail by artists and writers with nobody on site to verify that the artist actually signed them. In the case of older artists who have arthritis or submissions of massive qtys you may very well be getting the signature of their spouse or offspring. There are also instances where you can attend a CGC on-site signing and slip in a book you got signed by that person at a non-witnessed event. So I really wish that everyone would stop giving CGC the benefit of the doubt. Tens of thousands of CGC yellow label signature series books recieved that classification with NO witness present.

Channel like yours has a nightmare vid about sending a slab in to get signed. Sent in a 9.4, it came back a 9.0 and the signer desregarded where the person wanted thier book signed. The signature was a scribble. And i mean a scribble. All over part of the cover title. Cover was dark. Title yellow. Black sharpie. Couldn't read half the title after it was scribbled on. Totally detracted from the look of the book. Suffice to say I'll never get a book signed by them.

Was gonna get a bunch of Frank Miller signatures, After adding up the total cost, ended up submitting about half of what I had.

Love the vids man but I gotta question. You said that a slabbed CGC book can be sent in to get signed and reholdered, does CBCS do the same thing or do they not offer that service. Personally I use CBCS more for the budget I have and mostly just for sending a book here and there. Thanks for any insight.

Love the content will u do a graded comic giveaway contest it will be 😎 🆒️ bro

When it comes to purchasing a comic I definitely prefer CGC signed book. I don’t like the fact signatures where not witnessed. I have PGX books I have witnessed being singed and should of just sent them in to CGC at the time.

Did you send a window bag with the slabbed books? for them to use?

A signed high cgc comic is the most valuable grade you can buy

Batman 227 signed by Neal Adams... sadly CGC didn't give me a yellow label. I had a COA from Midtown comics.... they gave me a blue label but gave me a lower rating.

I would like to get a Spawn#1 black and white cgc ss but those go for alot on ebay as well.

$70 price is not bad. It’s similar to getting sports memorabilia signed. At least your comic is encapsulated and graded as well. It just depends if you fell the artist is worth the price or not. If pay $100 for a Mike Trout signature on a baseball but I would not pay more. And it wouldn’t even include authenticity or a case for it. Yeah, $70 is not bad at all.

I submitted a 9.8 newsstand asm 316 for Todd. Came back 8.5. Will probably never send in to get sig again.

I have a retailer incentive The Last Ronin #1 signed by K. Eastman with a turtle sketch. If that's submitted, it gets a green slab? If I send it in for Laird's signature witnessed, what kind of slab does it get?

hey there, if I may ask, what type of stands are you using to hold on the CGC comics and from where if you don't mind. love your videos, new subscriber

Spider-Man 1 signed by Mcfarlane and Stan Lee :)

HELP!!! I have conflicting info on this. I have a signature series CGC signed by Margot Robbie. It got lightly cracked in the back corner. If I send it back for reholding, sending in the full slab with the yellow label. Will they re-slabb as a yellow label???? Some say yes and some say no. They will see the cat # and barcode they originally gave it but some say it will come back as a green qualified label....writting on the front cover..Any advice??

i did score DK returns 3 john romita jr/ frank miller9.8 cgc signature series comic off of ebay for 100$

CBCS does the gold label now i believer for verified sigs, it will just say verified in the label still, i believe they don't do the red label anymore

I have 8 copies of Spawn 1 cgc 9.8 and Im debating submitting them all for the upcoming Mcfarlane signing. The value appears to be there. Just worried that somehow my 9.8 won’t all come back 9.8.

I always wondered do authorised dealers count as CGC witnesses? My LCS is an authorised dealer and they do in house signings with local artists but can they send those out for yellow labels?

Daredevil #600 Joe Quesada variant C signed by Joe Quesada

No, I did it once with new comics at CGC. They were 9.8 condition. They came back at 9.2 & 9.4, never again. The corners got bent and a slight crease. Never again. It really does nothing for me if it is signed.

Question for u. I came across a video from the World of customs statues. I think this is the company you spoke of before period they have several statues I would love to get. Red tornado. Alan Scott Green Lantern. Black lightning. And a few more. However I am not on Facebook. Is there another way to get on the program?

I think it’s hilarious knowing that a bunch of these people submitting for signature series have probably never seen the artists work inside their books LOL

To get a good value for your comic book signature you said its valuable if the comic book is a key. Would that include first appearances?

In your experience. Theres a 3 minute video of Mcfarlane describing what he will and will not sign. While I know he created and admits to anything Venom... Would You think that means Venomverse also??? Asking sincerely. Anything venomverse/venomized signed by Mcfarland would be it for me.

What if there is a certificate of authenticity. For example those purchased from J Scott Campbell websites directly?

To me a sign is more meaningful when u get it in person

What if the signature is not on the cover, but instead on page 1 or 2? I was looking a some of my single issues the other day as usual. SOme of them have one or two pages were they have written who the writer, artist, editor etc are and some times are to background black. If i got a signature a place like taht, could i theoretically avoid that the issue felt in value?

I like to get the actual case signed after its been slabbed or I will take some of my favorite but non key covers to get signed

hi i know this gonna be a weird question but do people get the outside of the slab signed? bought an already slabbed comic and was wondering is that normal to ask a person to sign the outside of the slab?

I got Joker volume 1 issue number 1, and batman 1989 comic book adaptation signed by Dennis O'neal and did not pay the extra 75$ per book to get them cgc certified. SMH

I got a Soulfire#1 virgin variant cgc ss by Michael turner on ebay and it has an amazing cover but i am still trying to get a Hulk#181 but they crazy over priced and don't know if i will ever get one cause yheu go for thousands of dollars and is there any other book that will hold its value like the hulk#181? I have been looking at Amazing Spiderman#129 cause that book is more in my price range any thoughts on this subject would be great.

I still don't get how a signature makes the book more valuable if you weren't the one getting it signed by the artist. Isn't it the artist that shakes your hand (or dabs your foot post covid) and their presence of being there that really brings the value up?