shaxper
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Posts: 22,874
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Post by shaxper on May 25, 2014 19:32:32 GMT -5
For collectors, as well as readers, trying to track down that key issue inexpensively, here's a thread to discuss books that are significantly under-valued, books that we feel are over-valued, and books that we notice are increasing or decreasing in value significantly. What is, what should be, and what should never be in terms of market values -- here's where we discuss it.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,874
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Post by shaxper on May 25, 2014 19:37:39 GMT -5
I'll start:
I picked up Fantastic Four #13, the first appearance of The Watcher, today after years of waiting for the right price. I scored one today in G/VG for $120. That's not a small amount of money but, when you consider what other key first appearances from that era generally fetch, FF #13 is waaay undervalued. I can see why -- as much as The Watcher is an integral part of the Marvel Universe, he's seldom the protagonist, rarely the guy in the spotlight causng people run to shows in order to snag up his first appearance. But the Watcher IS a big deal, and it's inevitable that he's going to play a major role in whatever upcoming Marvel film finally addresses the Infinity Gauntlet. Who knows -- we might see him in Guardians of the Galaxy. Once that happens, I think it's inevitable the price of this issue is going to triple.
I'm really glad I got it now.
Some of the most over-valued back issues that come to mind for me:
- Silver Surfer #4 ("low print run" back then meant 300,000 copies. That doesn't make an otherwise unremarkable book worth $100+)
- Incredible Hulk # 181 (I could spend all day arguing this one, but I won't. You guys can go there if you like)
- Batman #100 (I'm seriously lost as to what makes this book worth $500+ other than the fact that it's #100)
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Post by Pharozonk on May 25, 2014 19:51:33 GMT -5
Batman #436
You would think the first appearance of Tim Drake would be worth a lot more.
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Post by Icctrombone on May 25, 2014 19:55:43 GMT -5
I had a gap in my Thanos collection for a few years. I was missing #9 of the run of 12 and it was priced at 10 bucks and up. I don't know why other than the Thanos cameo in the Avengers movie. I finally got one for under 4 bucks. I remember getting a Warlock #15 in a dollar box around in the early 90's. Prices go up and down depending on the current popularity of the characters. It seems like Wolverine is here to stay, so that book will continue to rise in price from year to year.
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shaxper
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Posts: 22,874
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Post by shaxper on May 25, 2014 19:59:56 GMT -5
Batman #436 You would think the first appearance of Tim Drake would be worth a lot more. Two problems with that, though: 1. Everyone and their mother bought two copies of this issue. I'm still finding them in dollar bins from dealers who bought large quantities of Year 3 back in the day, expecting it to be the next Year 1. If you started to organize mass Batman #436 burnings across the nation, there'd still be more copies out there than anyone could possibly ever need. 2. Tim Drake's true first appearance is a matter of serious debate. #436 is his first appearance in flashback as an unnamed three(?) year old, #440 is his first modern day "appearance" if you can call being a disembodied first person narrator an "appearance," and he doesn't actually show up on the page until Batman #441 (I think). |
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Post by Pharozonk on May 25, 2014 20:24:31 GMT -5
Thanks for the info shax! Since I was born years after the issue hit the stands, I never knew it had such a massive print run.
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shaxper
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Posts: 22,874
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Post by shaxper on May 25, 2014 20:25:15 GMT -5
Thanks for the info shax! Since I was born years after the issue hit the stands, I never knew it had such a massive print run. I've got three extra copies, if you'd like one  The other reason for this that I neglected to mention is that #436 was the issue on stands when the 1989 Batman film hit theaters. DC planned for Year 3 to coincide with that, and smart dealers placed large orders in preparation. |
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Post by Pharozonk on May 25, 2014 20:33:46 GMT -5
Thanks for the info shax! Since I was born years after the issue hit the stands, I never knew it had such a massive print run. I've got three extra copies, if you'd like one I actually found one in a 50 cent bin this weekend so I guess my theory is negated.  |
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on May 25, 2014 23:44:58 GMT -5
Speculation is just out of control these days. Just about any first appearance - except, of course Tim Drake - seems to be going crazy because people are hoping the character will end up in a movie. So there are tons of books I thnk are way overpriced right now. The first appearances of Rocket Raccoon and Starlord being prime examples 1 and 2. I also think the crazy price jump for Tales of the Teen Titans #44 is wackadoodle. First Nightwing name and costume. Okay. So? Dick was still the exact same character he had been for the previous 45 years. A book I always think is undervalued is Justice League of America #75. Very tough to find in nice shape due to the black cover, which is also an iconic cover. This issue basically introduces the Silver Age Black Canary, which is the Black Canary everyone knows and loves. She crosses over from Earth-1, joins the Justice League, gains her canary cry power and begins her relationship with Green Arrow in this issue. Everything we associate with Dinah is from this issue with the exception of the fishnets, which, again, are spotlighted wonderfully on the cover. Other than golden age Flash Comics #86 and #92, this is the key issue for Black Canary fans, but it lists at the same price as #74 and #76.  |
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shaxper
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Posts: 22,874
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Post by shaxper on May 26, 2014 6:47:12 GMT -5
Speculation is just out of control these days. Just about any first appearance - except, of course Tim Drake - seems to be going crazy because people are hoping the character will end up in a movie. So there are tons of books I thnk are way overpriced right now. The first appearances of Rocket Raccoon and Starlord being prime examples 1 and 2. Agreed, but I sure enjoyed selling my 1st appearance of Star-Lord last month  I think it's about time, personally. I'd been grabbing copies out of dollar bins for years now, waiting for this inevitability. Dick Grayson growing into his identity is a very big deal to some of us, even if the costume sucked. [/quote] Good call! |
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Post by Icctrombone on May 26, 2014 7:20:47 GMT -5
yeah that Tales of the Teen Titans 44 is the only issue I haven't replaced to rebuild my Wolfman/Perez Titans run I had sold off when I moved, and it's p[rice is killing me. I keep hoping to find a low grade reader at a show but haven't seen a reasonable copy in the 2 years I have been looking. The only other issue in the entire run I paid more than $1 for was #2 with the first Deathstroke and I got that for $5 (DC Comics Presents I had held on to for the Starlin main story, so I didn't need to replace that one). -M I had England copies of both New Teen Titans #1 and 2 , and decided to get Us copies. I found #2 for a dollar although it was a bit water stained. |
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Post by Icctrombone on May 26, 2014 7:23:17 GMT -5
Due, I just looked on ebay for NTT #44,the lowest price i saw was 44 dollars!  |
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on May 26, 2014 7:48:05 GMT -5
I always find early ASM books all over the map. Generally, I am looking for VG-FN copies, but will settle for lower if they still look decent. I find the greatest value when I am exercise my buyer's patience. For example, I have been trying to fill in my ASM collection from 80-100, and #91 was a book I needed. I could have spent $25-40 at any time to add it but in waiting, managed to secure a solid mid grade copy for around $13. Its why I love frequenting ebay once or twice a week to scour the auctions and take my time in getting the best deals.
Overpriced? Hmm how about Batman Death in the family arc from the 80's or even the Year One arc from the same period. I managed to get my single issues for both runs at around $2-3 per book. But I see collections of all 4 for each going as high as $30-40 or more! Yes they are classic but again, a very available time period and I always see these issues around (I now pick them up and sell them because they fetch online). Also overpriced is Miller's Dark Knight run. Again, managed to find #2,3 and 4 for around $2 each but finding the first issue is seeming impossible unless I wanna spend $60-100!
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Post by wildfire2099 on May 26, 2014 7:51:50 GMT -5
yeah that Tales of the Teen Titans 44 is the only issue I haven't replaced to rebuild my Wolfman/Perez Titans run I had sold off when I moved, and it's p[rice is killing me. I keep hoping to find a low grade reader at a show but haven't seen a reasonable copy in the 2 years I have been looking. The only other issue in the entire run I paid more than $1 for was #2 with the first Deathstroke and I got that for $5 (DC Comics Presents I had held on to for the Starlin main story, so I didn't need to replace that one). -M I bought it for cover when I was reading Titans from the back issue bins in the early 90s (2nd thing i bought after Iron Man).. kinda crazy it goes for up to $100 bucks CGC'ed |
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Post by Jesse on May 26, 2014 8:03:06 GMT -5
I picked up Fantastic Four #13, the first appearance of The Watcher, today after years of waiting for the right price. I scored one today in G/VG for $120. That's not a small amount of money but, when you consider what other key first appearances from that era generally fetch, FF #13 is waaay undervalued. I can see why -- as much as The Watcher is an integral part of the Marvel Universe, he's seldom the protagonist, rarely the guy in the spotlight causng people run to shows in order to snag up his first appearance. But the Watcher IS a big deal, and it's inevitable that he's going to play a major role in whatever upcoming Marvel film finally addresses the Infinity Gauntlet. Who knows -- we might see him in Guardians of the Galaxy. Once that happens, I think it's inevitable the price of this issue is going to triple. I wouldn't be surprised if it shot up in price now because they just killed off the Watcher in Original Sin. Silver Surfer #4 ("low print run" back then meant 300,000 copies. That doesn't make an otherwise unremarkable book worth $100+) You take that back John Buscema's Silver Surfer is priceless! Batman #436 You would think the first appearance of Tim Drake would be worth a lot more. I would assume that issue had a huge print run. |
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