CGC Creates New Custom Label for FANTAST Collection Comics
Posted on 3/8/2023
One of the most highly sought-after comic books of all time, which is certified by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) and features the very first custom collection label for the FANTAST Collection, will make its debut in a Heritage Auctions sale on March 30, 2023.
The first book with the FANTAST Collection label that will be offered in an auction is a Batman #1 graded CGC 8.0. This book originated in a collection of more than 300,000 comic books that were collected by Michigan attorney Dale Watts. The FANTAST collection is the focus of an upcoming documentary film, “Selling Superman,” by filmmaker Adam Schomer.
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As boxes filled Dale Watts’ family home, his collection became an obsession and eventually tore apart his family. His son, Darren, wasn’t allowed to look at the books, and Dale’s wife became so frustrated with the clutter and boxes she eventually filed for divorce. After Dale passed away in August 2020, Darren found what might be considered one of the greatest comic book collections of all time, certainly worth millions of dollars.
While this might sound like a dream come true, it left Darren with a moral dilemma: What to do with it. He moved the comics to a secure location and set about having many certified by CGC before having them appraised for his father’s estate.
This collection was awarded provenance status by the experts at CGC and named the FANTAST Collection in honor of Dale Watts’ online pseudonym. This is also the first time CGC has issued a special custom label for a single collection, featuring artwork by Erik Hodson. The front of the label commemorates the “Selling Superman” film, while the back features images that tell the story of Dale Watts’ life and collection.
The FANTAST label is only available with books from this collection.
Other comics in the collection with a FANTAST label include a Superman #1 graded CGC 7.0, an Incredible Hulk #1 graded CGC 7.5, an Amazing Fantasy #15 graded CGC 5.5, an X-men #1 graded CGC 7.0, a Daredevil #1 graded CGC 8.0, Amazing Spider-Man #1 graded CGC 8.0 and a Tales of Suspense #39 graded CGC 7.5.
Darren Watts is selling the comics in hopes of recovering some of the costs associated with their storage and appraisal, and he hopes the comics will find a home in the collection of someone who really appreciates what the books mean.
“I’m just trying to do the best I can with this. That’s what this is about. My dad never would have done anything close to this. He would have been completely over-the-top uncomfortable, but this is what the stuff deserves. I’ve run into countless people that have acquired something from this collection that have been incredibly emotional about getting it,” Darren said.
Other CGC-certified comics in the Heritage auction include:
- an Amazing Fantasy #15 graded CGC 7.5
- an Amazing Spider-Man #50 graded CGC 9.6
- a Batman #1 graded CGC 7.0
- a Batman #1 graded CGC 1.8
- a Detective Comics #27 graded CGC 6.0
- a Detective Comics #140 with a Promise Collection pedigree graded CGC 9.6
- an Incredible Hulk #181 graded CGC 9.8
- a Marvel Comics #1 graded CGC 7.5
- a Seven Seas Comics #4 graded CGC 3.5
- a Superman #1 graded CGC 8.0 Restored
- a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 graded CGC 9.6
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