How I Bought My 1st CGC Grail COMIC BOOK

[@UncannyMike]

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

[@ShadyDBZ4]

The Uncanny Mike I feel you Mike. That’s all me.

[@ghostshadowcollectibles2256]

The Uncanny Mike I’m the same way. I eventually found some things I didn’t mind selling so I sell them to help me fund it.

[@crazybeire]

saaaaameee

[@superiorherocollectibles5831]

The Uncanny Mike 100% uncanny mike

[@superiorherocollectibles5831]

Shady same here

[@eddydoo4221]

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

[@bboyd1176]

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

[@Creech786]

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.

[@georgemoss8729]

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

[@benmccall8932]

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!

[@adambostick7734]

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.

[@Lou13Cyf3r]

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

[@edwindiaz8257]

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

[@kdan4241]

Will you explain what you mean please I don't know that much about his background but I'm curious

[@edwindiaz8257]

@@kdan4241 HI, THAT IS JUST A JOKE. HE A REGULAR GUY. HE IS REALY COOL PEOPLE.

[@kdan4241]

@@edwindiaz8257 thank you for answering lol I saw you had 19 likes so I thought maybe everyone knew something I didn't 😂 sorry I'm new to this channel

[@Swantonbomb.]

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

[@filipkasavica842]

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

[@harpoquondraxmarx805]

Hahaha I love the outtakes at the end.

[@peterswatton1889]

Great tips on getting those big books. Can't wait to get my AF book.✌

[@hamzamrkaljevic9406]

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

[@alemor0614ify]

I do the same thing. Get the low grade keys, sell to eventually get the higher grade key. Definitely agree with letting the hobby fund itself. I would have held on to that X-Men 1 and Hulk 181 though :🙂

[@EricCKeys]

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

[@douglassmith9445]

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

[@davidmoreno5258]

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

[@cannon0412]

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

[@nozkaian]

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

[@borders22]

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!

[@sandwhichism]

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

[@tylarrolnik2932]

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

[@RockYourBrand]

I've got a lot of key issues in great condition but I've never gone to the effort to get any slabbed and graded yet from CGC. These are all comics I bought when they were first released back in the 90's and have been stashed away in boxes. Thinking I might send off my New Mutants #87 (first Cable) and #98 (first Deadpool) for my first slabs :)

[@corbinowens2437]

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!

[@mysticmuth8411]

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

[@OFFICIALJRGAMING]

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.

[@josephcitelli9357]

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.

[@DriverAndChaser]

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!

[@hellmau2352]

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!

[@ruadhan4466]

I love your mindset . I try to do the same with selling some collectibles to get bigger pieces but sometimes I get too attached. Great vid Gem

[@pedrojzepeda469]

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

[@guerrillacollector4682]

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

[@dylansmith3691]

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

[@cpreims8050]

Man this is my number one grail! Maybe one day!

[@timsgotissues3581]

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

[@JR112]

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

[@Nick_Larking]

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

[@ojibwe_86]

I bought my grail 6 weeks ago, and I looked at my other CGC SS collection signed by Stan Lee, and I am in talks of selling it, combined with my hockey card collection to a buyer. I kind of did the reverse of what you did, but I enjoy you sharing how you obtained your grail. There needs to be more videos like this. My grail book that I purchased, is the 1:4999 variant of Star Wars : Vader Down #1 . I waited 4 years for it, because it had to be signed by Stan Lee. I just saved up my money, and also whenever I would lose an auction on eBay for a CGC SS book signed by Stan, I would save that money and put it away until something else better came up. I think that's one thing to remember, no matter what, a book will always pop up in the future.

[@tricky9161]

U R THE MANNNNN I love these these types of videos

[@reapsvstheworld1521]

Thanks for showing us that, Gem Mint. I get too attached to my figures, comics, etc. I have a mentality that I will never be able to get them again. Also, I only purchase stuff that I want. I can't hustle and resell. Dope vid though!

[@ELFMAN44Z]

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

[@bixx9463]

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

[@systemo20]

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

[@ernestsmith5771]

That is a nice way, for some of my key issues I use to trade key issues for older ones.

[@DioMCM]

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

[@GemMintCollectibles]

so true...especially now with the channel, the facebook group, and the online store

[@jackmcfadden636]

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.

[@Joseph_inc.89]

That vid of your old room looks like mine now except with graphic novels. Gives me hope for my room to look like yoir current one day

[@cclarke_tx]

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.

[@anthonygarcia8749]

Always appreciate the bloopers at the end 😂😂

[@ComicBookCollector]

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

[@notorious.k.i.p.]

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 😆

[@thanos7459]

that sucks

[@ryankaggie5362]

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

[@phunter2475]

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

[@sircupsalot81]

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.

[@butteredswan4436]

Gem giving us the game tapes. Been following for a couple months. Love the content.

[@sudarshaniyer6201]

To be honest - I, uh, took the video where you first talked about your hobby very seriously. I don't have any LCS near me. I mean there are book stores in India, but they don't sell American Comics. I have identified few key books (with low CGC ratings) that I wanna buy. I'm saving up for that. My aim is to get Action Comics #001 (1938) after selling those low grade keys. Even if that book (Action Comics #001 (1938)) has the lowest grade( 1.0 or 4.0), I'd like to buy it. Same goes for Amazing Spider-Man #001 (1963). Both of these books mean a lot to me. It's a veryyyyyy long term plan, yeah.

[@Akstergrind]

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!

[@brownyjak1010]

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

[@darthsneaky]

This is fantastic hobby advice. I want to do the same thing. I'm working on getting my books graded to sell. I dont want to have 20 or 30 long boxes full of useless comics. I want the keys!

[@danielhopkins9512]

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.

[@matthewsanders4978]

Loving your method of collecting maks me want to start collecting official so bad !!😂😂

[@robertvolpe5859]

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

[@comicbooktherapy9556]

Thank you GEM! Your collecting tips have greatly helped and guided the comic book and collecting community! Always stayin Minty Fresh! Cheers!

[@TheAdrianAPM]

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.

[@JJNM56]

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

[@Popesize]

Dude, i wouldn't really be able to sell my collections. It would be like selling my memories! Some of the comics i remember how i got them. Where i was when i got that issue that completed the collection. When i got a paperback signed, or that comic, that first issue of a now 50 year old comic magazine, still in print, that i finally sent in to CGC for encapsulation. Can't sell those. Not for a long while anyway! Keep up the good work, and stay safe and healthy!

[@MrSteviej893]

I'm enjoying this series of how you got started and how you have the hobby fund itself. Hoping to win

[@MrReekred]

I love those bloopers at the end lol.

[@officialdozer5619]

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

[@richiekicho3930]

That old wall with the comics looked crazy

[@davidcross2217]

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 😄

[@Ptricks206]

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

[@silveragesurfer_COMICS]

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.

[@richtan2]

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

[@jovillson]

I still keep all my comics and never tried to sell a copy. Just a little wary with the need of CGC just to be able to sell a comic to their true value. Can't put my trust on our local CGC here being aware that they are just middlemen that I'll just end up spending more for those certifications aside from the other possible concerns. Great job in buying and selling it's a fast way to upgrade our collections.

[@gabrielibarra3711]

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

[@dbox_8]

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!

[@shunter2678]

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!!

[@steveryall8070]

Great insight into how you view the hobby and amassed an amazing collection

[@AgnusDeiSoldier]

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

[@GemMintCollectibles]

thanks? lol

[@williambethea8703]

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.

[@williamk2412]

Gem Mint Origin story! Thanks for sharing.

[@blacksun7471]

Just keep those nuggets of entertainment comin'

[@XizEA]

Appreciate the videos while the COVID lock down is in place! I haven't collected in awhile but these videos are tempting me to get back into the game

[@jacobbornowsky4013]

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

[@ishra8926]

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

[@Shapirmy]

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

[@Rayvon_GSi]

Thanks for telling your story, it's interesting the way your interests evolved

[@dustys1110]

I just got a key issue in the mail today. Love this hobby

[@JW-nc3zr]

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!

[@comickhan761]

That's my endgame, amazing fantasy 15. Dont have the job for it but hopefully somehow I can pull it off.

[@Christopher-ni2uu]

Just getting back into collecting. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[@andrewpetrey2128]

Sign me up for Thanos! I got back into weekly comics in 2018, I need to start selling my runs to get good keys, thanks for the vid Gem!

[@SuperRedVeg]

Gem, thanks. Always awesome in how you share! Looking fwd to see you get to 75k. Well deserved bro.

[@matthewporter5048]

Wow that's cool, such drive is inspiring.

[@baheej1000]

Slim Gem mint the hustla!!

[@jeremiahstoltz4092]

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

[@SONOFFALLAN]

I just cant bring myself to sell my stuff haha

[@archangel0891]

What lachlan said☝️

[@JC_COMICSANDCOLLECTIBLES]

Thats why i buy multiple copies

[@pika9752]

If I think it will be worth something I'll buy another copy

[@Sevatar_VIIIth]

Right there with you man....putting together a full soon to be 310 spawn for my first full collection (just started) and I'd fkn die selling even one.

[@justacooldudeuknow28]

Ikr? LOL.

[@loonacy4]

I am the same way. I have no problem selling off my old hobbies for new ones.