Personally, I like newsstands. I never went out of my way to get them but if I was at a book store and saw an issue I wanted or a series I collect I would pick it up. Might be cool to eventually get a Transformers set in both newsstand and direct…At least for the first year or two! 
Regardless, it looks as though you are having a good time with it and that is the most important. After I get my Eternals set graded…looking to have all 19 issues plus the annual in 9.6 I was thinking of getting a high grade Transformers or GI Joe set started.
Honestly, I just want a good looking book in a slab. There is real no discernible difference between 9.6 and 9.8 except to those chasing grade as an investment. These really aren’t about investments for me…just enjoying the thrill of the hunt and some of these do not appear on eBay very often…Its taken me 3 years to get where I am…and in that time I’ve found the newsstand 9.6s to be much more more scarce than Direct 9.8s.
That doesn’t necessarily translate to more valuable…but I have enjoyed buying up 9.6 newsstands at “bargain” prices compared to 9.8 Directs. A few years back I was grabbing these for $20-$30…lately they’ve set me back $40-$60…so there is a slowly building market it appears.
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If you ever get that off the ground, I have a bunch of earlier GI Joe in high grade raw that I’m willing to part with.
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It’s been a while since I even looked at mine. I have such fond memories collecting them as a young collector its hard to believe that I haven’t checked them out in a few years. I’m sure they all have to be pressed. I have always kept my #21 with my favorite comics and that one pressed real nice. When I get around to it I’ll let you know if there are any I need.
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Does the CBCS one have the spelling error on the label? Aerialboths?
How apt!!
I would take the 9.6 Newsstand of UF4 over a Direct 9.8. Why? Look at the sold listings and it’s pretty obvious. The newsstand is much more valuable and scarce in any grade. Just re-read what you said but comparing a first appearance and second appearance doesn’t really compute to me.
As far as the Transformers, newsstands were more common and the only choice for a lot of collectors who didn’t have local shops. Myself I’d keep the newsstand because that’s my main area of collecting.
It does appear that way…(sigh).
Good catch. I’d better look over the rest of them now…
The silly thing is 1st appearances outside of Prime, Megatron and the Donobots don’t even matter…