The CGC / Jason Ewert / MicroTrimming Scandal

[Red Hook]

A question came up recently regarding the 2005 incident wherein it became clear that CGC's ability to detect trimming were, shall we say, a bit overstated.

It also became clear that there are hundreds and probably thousands of new collectors that aren't familiar with the details of the incident. So I am going to post a few graphics with comments to try and set up a basic summary of what happened. Feel free to add your own comments. And if you are reading this on the other side of the tracks, feel free to hijack any of the images or content for use elsewhere.

I want to make one thing clear. I personally accuse no individual. Jason Ewert took the fall, but it's never been proven without a doubt that he was the only individual involved, or if he did anything illegal or if in fact he did anything at all. The so called "resolution" to the matter was based on pure anecdotal input.

All I wish to do is present facts, and let them speak for themselves. Draw your own conclusions, and feel free to connect the dots in your own way. To begin, I present a timeline of the initial outbreak of the events.

http://www.macartistry.com/corral/timeline.jpg

[Red Hook]

Here is the thread were it all began.... the individual Abrams is thought by some to have been Danny Dupcak aka Hammer aka half-the-names-in-the-floral-park-phone-directory.

http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=884232&fpart=1

[Poe]

CGC, to this day, can not detect micro trimming.

[stupidman]

"Response from CGC" thread:

http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/947557/site_id/1#import

[Red Hook]

CGC, to this day, can not detect micro trimming.

Well, let's just say they haven't proven they can.

When you think of the high grade end of the hobby these days... think

Wild West.

[The Charlton Guy]

I will chime in. And keep it short (imagine that).

After over seven years of being pretty closely and sometimes too intimately involved in what is and isn't considered restoration, after following the exploits of the various well-known and not-so-well-known manipulators, grade-bumpers, back-room slabbers and "professional" graders, micro-trimmers, color-touchers, hot-pressers. cold-pressers, dis-assemblers and staple-replacers, scan-toucher-uppers, guaranteed-un-restored hucksters and wanna-be experts who wouldn't know a manipulated book if it came up and bit them in the elbow, I can guarantee you one thing:

I will never buy a "high grade" Silver Age book without seeing, touching and inspecting it first person. Slabbed or not. In fact, I may very well never buy another "high grade" book unless I am 100% sure it is from an original owner collection. I am officially done rolling dice. The odds are just way too ugly.

Too many Frankenbooks. Simple as that.

Yours truly,

Chicken Little

[marvelguy]

I will state this, so I can feel better about what I buy, I love LG books. It's the best way to get it cheap and you can read it without fear of creasing the spines, etc...

[The Charlton Guy]

I'll go one step further (true confessions time).

At this point? As far as exorbitantly expensive SA keys and high grade book go? I'm almost ready to forego them entirely (other than my cherished FFs).

I'm about 99% sold on Marvel Omnibus, Masterworks and other hardbound editions for all other titles. Less pain and angst involved...(I know: wimpy wimpy)...

[marvelguy]

Omnibus! I love 'em! Sometimes, the materials reprinted has been color touched, but not for profit.

[The Charlton Guy]

Omnibus! I love 'em! Sometimes, the materials reprinted has been color touched, but not for profit.

#whack#

[marvelguy]

#whack#

:D

[jaydeebee]

I always like the part of the Ewert story where Borocko tells him that he has to leave the hobby, as if it's Borock's call on who gets to be in the hobby.

"Jason Ewert, thou hast committed unclean acts upon the holy slab, thou must therefore be banished for eternity to the non-slabbed wilderness of the forbidden zone! Now kneel Ja, son of Ewert, kneel before Borock!
I. AM. BOROOOOOOCK!"

(man, how many sci-fi references can you find in that?)

[Red Hook]

The sad thing is, most of the CGC board bought that little bit of melodrama without asking for any proof. Ultimately, Borock had this to say, which basically proved he had no idea what Jason was up to....


Hate to ruin everybodys fun, but.......there was no deal, no list, no deep throat, no aliens.

I have not spoken with Jason since the fiasco.

I did tell Jason to leave the hobby, but the choice, in the end, was really his.

We (CGC) dealt with a bad situation, learned from it, and moved on. Period. We love this hobby, but CGC is also a business, whether you want to hear that or not. We lost a lot of time and $, not to mention the bad press we got, because of that situation.

You can moan all you want, but ANY of you could have worked at it and started some kind of lawsuit or investigation, but did not. Or the collectors that bought those books could have, but did not. I am not saying you or they should or should have, but I do believe that some of you would rather complain about things than getting them taken care of.

Go back to enjoying comic books.

Poppies will make you sleep!

I sent a few bucks to the fund to prosecute guilty parties and eventually had it returned to me. So I made more of an effort than CGC did, that's for DAMN sure.

Red

[jaydeebee]

I did tell Jason to leave the hobby, but the choice, in the end, was really his.



Good stuff. :D

[Quato]

I will chime in. And keep it short (imagine that).

After over seven years of being pretty closely and sometimes too intimately involved in what is and isn't considered restoration, after following the exploits of the various well-known and not-so-well-known manipulators, grade-bumpers, back-room slabbers and "professional" graders, micro-trimmers, color-touchers, hot-pressers. cold-pressers, dis-assemblers and staple-replacers, scan-toucher-uppers, guaranteed-un-restored hucksters and wanna-be experts who wouldn't know a manipulated book if it came up and bit them in the elbow, I can guarantee you one thing:

I will never buy a "high grade" Silver Age book without seeing, touching and inspecting it first person. Slabbed or not. In fact, I may very well never buy another "high grade" book unless I am 100% sure it is from an original owner collection. I am officially done rolling dice. The odds are just way too ugly.

Too many Frankenbooks. Simple as that.

Yours truly,

Chicken Little

I buy just to own a copy of what I like. If my guideline is followed then all that matters is whether I like the book and whether the price is right. I don't buy based on grade because I don't care what anyone else thinks about the book. So far I think the graders are idiots or retarded. Then again I've seen pictures of them in their pamphlet, so my opinion might be biased.

Q

[Red Hook]

I'd settle for calling them human and sometimes inconsistent.

I do think you could probably give a weekend seminar to a group of experienced collectors and have 25% to 50% of them be able to grade as well or better than the Sarasotans by Sunday night.

Of course, the advantage CGC has is the fact that Chris Freisen, one of the more talented restoration experts in the country, spends 100% of his time down there doing restoration checks.

[The Charlton Guy]

Of course, the advantage CGC has is the fact that Chris Freisen, one of the more talented restoration experts in the country, spends 100% of his time down there doing restoration.

Fixed that for ya...:D.























JUSSSSSSST kidding!

[mordo]

Fixed that for ya...:D.























JUSSSSSSST kidding!

That is too funny.

[Red Hook]

Actually, I think there is some truth in that. Why would anyone in their right mind leave any $$$ on the table?

Right?

[The Charlton Guy]

One would think so, but hey, what do I know.

I suppose if he is compensated appropriately for his detection skills and free to perform his own off-hours restoration at will, them it might make it worthwhile for him.

As long as he doesn't take any of the submittor's books home and doesn't bring any of his home work to work.

But who watches the watchmen anyway?