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| Item Description: |
Spawn 9 Universal |
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CGC 9.6 |
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Owner Comments
This is the very first one ever graded! YES!
Spawn 9: The Ultra Rare Newsstand Variant!
Only 7 Newsstand Editions Currently Exist as compared to 584 Direct Editions (CGC Census Numbers as of October 6, 2013).
Publisher: Image Comics
Publication Date: March, 1993
Age: Modern Age
Writer: Neil Gaiman
Artist: Todd McFarlane
Grade: 9.6 (Near Mint+)
Grade Description: Nearly perfect with a minor additional virture or virtues that raise it from Near Mint. The overall look is "as if it was just purchased and read once or twice."
CGC Key Comments: 1st Appearance of Medieval Spawn and Angela, Newsstand Edition, Newsprint paper interior, Manufactured without Angela poster.
Owners Key Comments: 1st Appearance of Cogliostro.
Submission Date: October 12, 2012 (NY Comic Con)
Grade Date: January 24, 2013
Owners Notes: "The Irony of Spawn #9"
This issue is unique in many ways. Not only does it mark the initial appearances of the above mentioned characters (who play key roles in the Spawn mythology), and that it is the first graded ultra rare Newsstand Variant of Spawn 9, but it would eventually become the center of a heated legal battle between two modern icons of the comic book industry: Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane.
Back in 1992, Todd McFarlane's Spawn made its debut under publisher Image Comics. Formed that same year by some of the biggest creators in the industry, Image Comics was unique for it was the champion of the hot issue of the 90's: creator-owned properties. Eight of the biggest names in the industry: Todd McFarlane, Rob Leifeld, Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri, Erik Larsen, Jim Valentino, Whilce Portacio, and Chris Claremont, left Marvel Comics in a dispute over ownership and creative control over their works.
Sometime in 1993, in an effort to promote Spawn, Todd McFarlane's Productions, the studio owned and run by Todd McFarlane and producer of Spawn comics (published under the aforementioned independent Image Comics label), hired Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Dave Sim, and Neil Gaiman, to write a single issue for the new title. Neil Gaiman's contribution was published in Spawn 9 and introduced the characters Angela, Cogliostro, and Medieval Spawn, who were also illustrated and designed by series creator Todd McFarlane. These characters proved vital to the Spawn mythology, giving it a far richer texture and tapestry it initially lacked and grounded the Spawn character with much needed history. The trio would continually reappear throughout the course of the next decade, and were subsequently republished in various Spawn volumes and reprint formats, and also appeared in other Spawn-related media: the 1997 Spawn film, and the HBO animated series Todd McFarlane's Spawn.
Flash-forward to 2002, and Neil Gaiman files suit against Todd McFarlane, claiming he co-owned these characters and was entitled to royalty payments and creative control. McFarlane's defense was based on "work-for-hire" and therefore Gaiman was not entitled to co-ownership. Eventually the courts ruled in favor of Gaiman, and granted joint ownership to Gaiman and McFarlane. To this day, all three characters are co-owned by both men.
And this is why I bought the comic to begin with... because of the irony it represents. I have never even read it. I actually own three copies: all bought sometime last year, and have just recently returned graded from the CGC. But I never read one of them. Instead I own a reprint of it, which appears in Spawn Origins Collection Volume 2... but I have yet to read that as well. And I imagine the story is quite good, for Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite writers and Todd McFarlane is equally awesome. But McFarlane's failure to recognize Gaiman's co-creatorship and legal rights to the characters he co-created is the irony that draws me to this comic... for McFarlane was one of the principal forces behind the creation of Image Comics... and creator-owned properties the very reason he left Marvel Comics.
Isn't that ironic?
SW3D
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| Item Description: |
Spawn 9 |
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CGC 9.8 |
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View Comic |
Owner Comments
Owner's Description:
Publisher: Image Comics
Publication Date: March, 1993
Age: Modern Age
Writer: Neil Gaiman
Artist: Todd McFarlane
Grade: 9.8 (Near Mint/Mint)
Grade Description: Nearly perfect with only minor imperfections that keep it from the next higher grade. The overall look is "as if it was just purchased."
CGC Key Comments: 1st Appearance of Medieval Spawn and Angela.
Owners Key Comments: 1st Appearance of Cogliostro.
CGC Census Population: Highest Graded Copy.
Submission Date: June 29, 2013 (Wizard World NYC)
Grade Date: August 22, 2013
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Spawn 9 |
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CGC 9.6 |
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View Comic |
Owner Comments
ULTRA RARE: Spawn 9: The Newsstand Variant
Only 8 Newsstand Editions Currently Exist as compared to 638 Direct Editions (CGC Census Numbers as of October 30, 2013).
Owner's Description
Publisher: Image Comics
Publication Date: March, 1993
Age: Modern Age
Writer: Neil Gaiman
Artist: Todd McFarlane
Grade: 9.6 (Near Mint+)
Grade Description: Nearly perfect with a minor additional virture or virtues that raise it from Near Mint. The overall look is "as if it was just purchased and read once or twice."
CGC Key Comments: 1st Appearance of Medieval Spawn and Angela, Newsstand Edition, Newsprint paper interior, Manufactured without Angela poster.
Owners Key Comments: 1st Appearance of Cogliostro.
CGC Census Population: Highest Graded Copy: Only 8 Newsstand Variant Editions have been graded.
Submission Date: June 29, 2013 (Wizard World NYC)
Grade Date: August 22, 2013
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Spawn 9 Modern |
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CGC 9.6 |
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View Comic |
Owner Comments
Mislabeled: The CGC Universal Blue Label failed to denote this copy as a Newsstand Edition and has been erroneously included in the CGC Census Population as a Direct Edition.
Variant: Newsstand Edition (NE) versus the Direct Edition (DE): NE's have a Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode box on the cover (whereas the DE's do not); NE's are printed on traditional comic book newsprint paper, whereas the DE's are printed on glossy paper; the NE's are published without the Jim Lee poster insert whereas the DE's include the poster; the NE's are shorter in page lenght at 36 pages versus the DE's at 40 pages (due to the Jim Lee poster).
Rarity: Newsstand Editions are very rare. Currently, if we include my mislabeled example, there are only 14 CGC graded Newsstand Editions versus 945 graded Direct Editions (the census reflects 946 but my copy has been mislabeled as a DE. This represents a CGC Census population equivalent to less than 1% (0.1481%) compared to the DE's, making it pretty rare indeed.
Key Notes: 1st Appearance of Angela (now a Marvel Comics property; aka Aldrif Odinsdotter); 1st Appearance of Medieval Spawn; 1st Appearance of Cogliostro.
Controversial History: Although now having been settled in a court of law, this comic has a unique history as it sparked a litigious and controverisial battle between two comic book heavyweights: Spawn creator and Image Co-Founder Todd McFarlane and writer Neil Gaiman. Back in 1992, Todd McFarlane's Spawn made its debut under publisher Image Comics. Formed that same year by some of the biggest creators in the industry, Image Comics was unique for it was the champion of the hot issue of the 90's: creator-owned properties. Eight of the biggest names in the industry: Todd McFarlane, Rob Leifeld, Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri, Erik Larsen, Jim Valentino, Whilce Portacio, and Chris Claremont, left Marvel Comics in a dispute over ownership and creative control over their works. Sometime in 1993, in an effort to promote Spawn, Todd McFarlane Productions, the studio owned and run by Todd McFarlane, hired Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Dave Sim, and Neil Gaiman, to write a single issue for the new title. Neil Gaiman's contribution was published in Spawn #9 and introduced the characters Angela, Cogliostro, and Medieval Spawn, who were also illustrated and designed by Todd McFarlane. The new trio of characters would continually reappear throughout the course of the decade in Spawn and various Spawn related titles and Image published titles, and were subsequently republished in various Spawn volumes and reprint formats, and also appeared in other Spawn-related media: the 1997 Spawn film, and the HBO animated series Todd McFarlane's Spawn. Flash-forward to 2002, and Neil Gaiman files suit against Todd McFarlane, claiming he co-owned the aforementioned trio of characters and was entitled to royalty payments and creative control. McFarlane's legal defense stood on the grounds of "work-for-hire" which claimed Gaiman was not entitled to co-ownership. Eventually the courts ruled in favor of Gaiman, and granted joint ownership to Gaiman and McFarlane. In March 2013, the character Angela, became the legal property of Marvel Comics.
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Spawn 9 |
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CGC 9.6 |
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View Comic |
Owner Comments
Spawn 9: The Ultra Rare Newsstand Variant!
Only 9 Newsstand Editions Currently Exist as compared to 769 Direct Editions (CGC Census Numbers as of March 11, 2014).
Publisher: Image Comics
Publication Date: March, 1993
Age: Modern Age
Writer: Neil Gaiman
Artist: Todd McFarlane
Grade: 9.6 (Near Mint+)
Grade Description: Nearly perfect with a minor additional virture or virtues that raise it from Near Mint. The overall look is "as if it was just purchased and read once or twice."
CGC Key Comments: 1st Appearance of Medieval Spawn and Angela, Newsstand Edition, Newsprint paper interior, Manufactured without Angela poster.
Owners Key Comments: 1st Appearance of Cogliostro.
Grade Date: October 18, 2013
Owners Notes: "The Irony of Spawn #9"
This issue is unique in many ways. Not only does it mark the initial appearances of the above mentioned characters (who play key roles in the Spawn mythology), and that it is an ultra rare Newsstand Variant of Spawn 9, but it would eventually become the center of a heated legal battle between two modern icons of the comic book industry: Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane.
Back in 1992, Todd McFarlane's Spawn made its debut under publisher Image Comics. Formed that same year by some of the biggest creators in the industry, Image Comics was unique for it was the champion of the hot issue of the 90's: creator-owned properties. Eight of the biggest names in the industry: Todd McFarlane, Rob Leifeld, Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri, Erik Larsen, Jim Valentino, Whilce Portacio, and Chris Claremont, left Marvel Comics in a dispute over ownership and creative control over their works.
Sometime in 1993, in an effort to promote Spawn, Todd McFarlane's Productions, the studio owned and run by Todd McFarlane and producer of Spawn comics (published under the aforementioned independent Image Comics label), hired Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Dave Sim, and Neil Gaiman, to write a single issue for the new title. Neil Gaiman's contribution was published in Spawn 9 and introduced the characters Angela, Cogliostro, and Medieval Spawn, who were also illustrated and designed by series creator Todd McFarlane. These characters proved vital to the Spawn mythology, giving it a far richer texture and tapestry it initially lacked and grounded the Spawn character with much needed history. The trio would continually reappear throughout the course of the next decade, and were subsequently republished in various Spawn volumes and reprint formats, and also appeared in other Spawn-related media: the 1997 Spawn film, and the HBO animated series Todd McFarlane's Spawn.
Flash-forward to 2002, and Neil Gaiman files suit against Todd McFarlane, claiming he co-owned these characters and was entitled to royalty payments and creative control. McFarlane's defense was based on "work-for-hire" and therefore Gaiman was not entitled to co-ownership. Eventually the courts ruled in favor of Gaiman, and granted joint ownership to Gaiman and McFarlane.
And this is why I bought the comic to begin with... because of the irony it represents: McFarlane's failure to recognize Gaiman's co-creatorship and legal rights to the characters he co-created is the irony that draws me to this comic... for McFarlane was one of the principal forces behind the creation of Image Comics... and creator-owned properties the very reason he left Marvel Comics.
Isn't that ironic?
Well... flash forward to March 21, 2013 (nearly 20 years from the date Angela made her debut in Spawn #9) and Marvel Comics, Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane settle the whole Angela debate. How? I honestly don't know. But both Angela and Miracleman are now 100% intellectual properties of Marvel Comics and parent company Disney.
Angela has mysteriously returned... after Todd killed her in Spawn 100. Marvel Comics has brought her back to life in Age of Ultron #10; to this day, Marvel has not provided an explanation on how the angel has managed such a feat. But I'm sure they're working on it... and I hope it's a doozie!
In the meantime, I'm following her exploits in Guardians of the Galaxy, and do look forward to the possibility of a solo series... and even an appearance in a Guardians of the Galaxy movie... maybe. If Angela can come back from the dead, she can definitely work miracles and movie magic!
SW3D
March 11, 2014
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Spawn 9 Modern |
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CGC 9.6 |
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View Comic |
Owner Comments
So this is number 8, which I bought off eBay last week. I almost passed it up, but Angela has become a bad habit I can't seem to drop. Why the need to own all of these? I have no idea... but a Man's has to have a special cause of some sort, so I made this mine.
ULTRA RARE: Spawn 9: The Newsstand Variant: Only 18 Newsstand Editions currently exist as compared to 1,098 Direct Editions (CGC Census Numbers as of March 1, 2015).
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Angela 1 |
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CGC 9.8 |
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View Comic |
Owner Comments
You've been probably wondering, "How come I haven't heard nor hide nor hair of SW3D's psycho-babble about Angela lately? Or maybe not?
Well, if you missed it (or me), or didn't, either way, I'm back, or should I say, Angela's back! That's right... it's another arousing edition of: "For the Love of Angela!"
And in this exhilarating segment, we're going to discuss my recent acquisition: Image Comics' Angela #1.
Now to most collectors, and even some die-hard Angela fans, this issue may not appear to be a really big deal. Why? Well... due to availability... Angela Number #1's are available in high quantity at most any grade. And although the total CGC Census population numbers for this particular issue are relatively low (76 currently), as Angela's star continues to rise in the Marvel U, undoubtedly, it will have an impact on its population growth.
But there are other factors... key factors and historical notations, in my opinion, that many have failed to realize (or perhaps they're not that significant to warrant mentioning).
So what is the BFD (Big f@@king deal) about this one anyway?
Glad you asked.
These are some of the key notations Angela and Comic Book Collectors alike should be aware of that the CGC has, for whatever reason, omitted (and I'll list these in order of significance):
1. Angela's 1st Eponymous Title/1st Solo Appearance.
2. Angela's 2nd Appearance.
3. Neil Gaiman's 2nd story ever written for Image.
4. 1st Angela work sans Todd McFarlane.
5. Reveal: Angela's discloses her age: 100,000! (Holy sh$t she's a hottie for an ancient relic! I occasionally like my women to be mature but this lady is 1,000 millennia old! Damn!)
6. 1st Appearance of Angela's logo.
But the one distinguishing characteristic that makes this one also pretty special:
7. This is the first time legendary Spawn artist Greg Capullo illustrates Angela!
And on top of that, this particular comic has the master's inscription. Although other signature copies exist (there are two others on the census), this one is currently in the top spot graded at that magic number: 9.8!
I love it! I love it! I love it!
About the cover: Greg Capullo chose to showcase the Angelic Warrior with a tight close-up of her noble countenance. The intensity and crimson spots on her face and the warm blood running down her blade and armor can only lead the reader to assume she's hot and heavy in battle, beautifully framed... which makes it an ideal choic as a mantlepiece! But all kidding aside, in my opinion, Capullo captured the essence of this hellion, for when Angela gets into the thick of things, she's speaks with her lance, dagger and sword. Now that's the Angela I know and love! Marvel Comics TAKE NOTE!
So, without further pomp and circumstance, I give you... Angela #1, Signed by Greg Capullo.
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Angela 2 Modern |
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CGC 9.8 |
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View Comic |
Owner Comments
I've been patiently searching for this one for a long while. Avoiding the labor, expense and risk of searching for raw examples that may or may not grade at 9.8, I decided I was going to buy one already graded whenever the opportunity presented itself. Low and behold it finally did, and I jumped on it.
This is a purchase made on May 28, 2015, listed on eBay but administrated by Heritage Auctions. I won't disclose the cost, but I can say it was at a bargain price (in my opinion). Although not a key by any means, it should be noted that it is only the third example of Neil Gaiman writing his co-creation Angela before his last turn for the third issue, as his relationship with Todd McFarlane soured over the co-ownership rights of Angela, Cogliostro, and Medieval Spawn.
Long time Spawn artist Greg Capullo provides the cover and interior art. In my humble opinion, Greg Capullo remains one of the few artists who best expresses Angela's raw essence like it was meant to be. What Capullo does differently from the Marvel example is embue Angela with a grace-like vitality, ferocity, sass, and sexiness. With Marvel, Angela is a bit stiff, and I hate to admit this... quite ugly. The redesigned costume (as seen in the new series, Angela: Asgard's Assassin) is ghastly.
As of the writing of these comments (June 6, 2015), there are only 17 graded examples of Angela #2, with only 7 at 9.8 (which includes 1 signature series yellow label example). I am going to presume the low census population reflects a lack of interest for this comic by the general public since this issue is readily available as a raw example. I'm delighted to include it in my personal collection.
SW3D June 6, 2015
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Angela Special Edition 1 Modern |
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CGC 9.8 |
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Curse of the Spawn 9 Universal |
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CGC 9.8 |
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View Comic |
Owner Comments
This is the very first one ever graded! YES!
Curse of the Spawn 9: The Origin of Angela!
I love keys. And I love rare books. And I love OAKs. But I especially love when I am the first to introduce a comic book to the CGC Census, and one that combines all three of these virtues.
This is the other Angela key (see Spawn 9 Newsstand Variant), the other rare one and OAK, which I have the pleasure to debut to you all: Curse of the Spawn 9: The Origin of Angela. Yep! That's right! In these very pages we get a first hand look at the creation of the heavenly creature Angela.
Now truth be told, Curse of the Spawn 9 is not a very rare book. No, not at all. There are plenty of raw copies floating in eBay just waiting for someone to pick 'em up, or discover them in the back issue bins of your local LCS. That's how I got these 6, going from LCS to LCS, amassing a total of 20, but cherry picking these 6 as the best of the best from those 20 and getting them graded. But finding a 9.8 or 9.6 wasn't easy... but I am sure there are plenty of mint copies out there.
However, for some odd reason, no collector ever got one graded... that is until yours truly came along. I currently (as of October 6, 2013) have the first six Curse of the Spawn 9's ever graded: five 9.8's and one 9.6... which, I predict, for the briefest of moments, makes them rare indeed. But I am certain the word will get out, and by next week 1,000 more will follow.
And although the graders of CGC have erroneously omitted this key detail from the Key Notes, Curse of the Spawn 9 is where Angela's origin is first explained.
Here's a synopsis I borrowed without permission from ComiXology on Curse of the Spawn 9: "Angela has been commissioned by the survivors of the planet Pentagus-Fraser to destroy the evil ravaging their planet. Amidst the melee, Angela battles the arachnid beast, Argus. She becomes distracted by the face of the mysterious Deurges long enough to become entangled in Argus' Web. After her capture the legend of Angela's origin is revealed in flashbacks of the lives of the sacrificing souls that were blended to become the Heavenly warrior. In each case the last thing they see is the dispassionate face of Deurges". Visit the page at: http://www.comixology.com/Curse-of-the-Spawn-9/digital-comic/42566
Curse of the Spawn 9!
Thanks for reading.
SW3D
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Curse of the Spawn 9 |
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CGC 9.8 |
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View Comic |
Owner Comments
Owner Comments
Publisher: Image Comics
Publication Date: May, 1997
Age: Modern Age
Writer: Alan McElroy
Artists: Dwayne Turner, Danny Miki, Todd McFarlane
Grade: 9.8 (Near Mint/Mint)
Grade Description: Nearly perfect with only minor imperfections that keep it from the next higher grade. The overall look is "as if it was just purchased."
CGC Key Comments: None
Owner's Key Comments: Origin of Angela
Submission Date: June 29, 2013 (Wizard World NYC)
Grade Date: August 22, 2013
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Curse of the Spawn 9 |
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CGC 9.8 |
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View Comic |
Owner Comments
Owner Comments
Publisher: Image Comics
Publication Date: May, 1997
Age: Modern Age
Writer: Alan McElroy
Artists: Dwayne Turner, Danny Miki, Todd McFarlane
Grade: 9.8 (Near Mint/Mint)
Grade Description: Nearly perfect with only minor imperfections that keep it from the next higher grade. The overall look is "as if it was just purchased."
CGC Key Comments: None
Owner's Key Comments: Origin of Angela
Submission Date: June 29, 2013 (Wizard World NYC)
Grade Date: August 22, 2013
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Aria 4 Signature |
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CGC 9.6 |
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View Comic |
Owner Comments
Aria 4: Glow in the Dark Variant featuring Angela on the Cover. This is an oddity simply because Angela does not appear or play a part in the story of this issue in any way. So I ask... why does Angela make an appearance on the cover? I can only speculate it's a marketing gimmick to draw attention to the Aria Angela mini-series which came out a few months later. Anyway... since Angela was on the cover, I decided I must have it. FYI: This cover is also featured in black and white on the Aria Angela European Ashcan.
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Spawn 97 |
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CGC 9.8 |
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View Comic |
Owner Comments
Owner's Description
Publisher: Image Comics
Publication Date: July, 2000
Age: Modern Age
Writers: Brian Holguin & Todd McFarlane
Artist: Greg Capullo & Danny Miki art
Grade: 9.8 (Near Mint/Mint)
Grade Description: Nearly perfect with only minor imperfections that keep it from the next higher grade. The overall look is "as if it was just purchased."
CGC Key Comments: Angela appearance.
Grade Date: August 22, 2013
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Aria/Angela: European Tour Ashcan nn Signature |
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CGC 9.8 |
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View Comic |
Owner Comments
Such a lovely pair: two Ashcan's of Aria/Angela signed by master artist Jay Anacleto at NYCC in October, 2014; both given the coveted graded of 9.8!
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