Iron Man Vol. 5 #18, Hajime Sorayama Metropolis Variant graded CGC 9.8
My main focus on this site — which should be obvious from the URL — is Iron Man’s Ablative Armor. I’ve written a couple of dozen blogs about it so far detailing its inner working, how it would actually do in outer space, and my hopes for seeing it in the upcoming Armor Wars Disney+ series.
But sometimes I like to switch it up a bit and talk about other stuff, like Iron Man’s codpiece or Iron Man 3. And as much as I wish everyone got here wanting to learn about Axol the Ablative, my article about Hajime Sorayama’s Metropolis Variant (found on the cover of Iron Man Vol. 5, #18) has been the article that has brought the most visitors to my site. And I, for one, am very happy that I’ve been able to help people learn about it. (And if I’m lucky they tool around for a bit and learn something about Axol.)
As a big fan of the Sorayama variant and as an on-again/off-again comic book collector, I was interested in getting a high-grade copy of the Sorayama cover that started it all. I don’t collect CGC comics, but for this site I make an exception and have slabbed Iron Man #416, #417, and Infinity: Heist #3 (the only three narrative issues in which the Ablative Armor appears). And while the Sorayama might not be the Ablative, I’m happy to add the following to my collection.
Iron Man #18 Vol. 5 Sorayama Variant in CGC 9.8
Now, this was not an easy task. First, the issue is a 1:50 variant; only one copy exists for every 50 copies of the regular cover. This means that around 750 copies were printed. Most of these hit collections and just stay there.
Second, in order to get a CGC 9.8, you have to find a copy that’s right next to perfect. Before my submissions, only two copies were graded, a 9.8 and a 9.6.
I was able to get two copies of this issue to send to CGC. After all, more issues increase my odds of getting the 9.8. I got one copy from an online store; they only promised an ungraded 9.4. The second I found in an eBay auction with about ten other Iron Man variants. They only said all of them were “like new,” which on eBay usually means between a 5.0 to a 9.6. Amazingly it was on the upper end.
So I send two off to CGC with the hopes of one getting a 9.8. If I get one, I can check off “get a 9.8 of the Sorayama Iron Man variant cover” from my to-do list.
In fact, put two checkmarks next to that one. Awwwwww yeahhhh.
