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Post by Icctrombone on Mar 24, 2019 17:37:32 GMT -5
I hear stamp collecting is dead and Baseball Card collecting has faded.
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Post by String on Mar 24, 2019 17:55:52 GMT -5
Well, one factor in your favor is that, as others have mentioned, the story arc in this issue (part 2 of a three issue arc) is pretty ho-hum. Gambit partners up with a de-aged Storm against the Shadow King, Nanny, and the Orphan Maker. Nothing really outstanding thus, what you are paying for really is the first (apparent) appearance of the character.
In contrast, more popular arcs like Dark Phoenix contain numerous firsts within it. #129 has been a stickler for me to acquire due to the first appearances contained within it and being the first part of the arc. So naturally, mitigating factors like that can drive up the cost fast so in this case, you're only facing one such hurdle.
Or, if you really just to want to read the story, it (and the whole 3 issue arc) has been reprinted in Gambit Classic Vol. 1 TPB which also collects his first solo miniseries from '93.
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Post by MDG on Mar 24, 2019 17:57:49 GMT -5
2 weeks ago I bought The below issues for 1 dollar each in a discount box. Admittedly, they ranged from fair to Good to poor, but just the thought that someone had them available at that price means older readers and collectors are less in number than they used to be. I'm not sure how serious you are here, but your good fortune in finding four Superman comics a few weeks ago doesn't by itself indicate a global decline in interest in comic book collecting. It indicates only that you have a nose for bargains, quite a gifted one it seems.  What I've been seeing the past couple years is dealers buying collections, picking out key books and things in VG or better condition and just dumping the rest at $1-$3 each. It's not worth the time and energy to grade and bag books that are "readers." |
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,220 
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Post by Confessor on Mar 24, 2019 18:18:17 GMT -5
Unless a genre is kept alive, it will lose its value. There are people who don't know who the Beatles are. In terms of record collecting, I think that original pressings of The Beatles' records will always command a premium price, simply because it's The Beatles. For other collectible 60s and 70s artists, such as Jimi Hendrix, The Stones, Beach Boys etc, I can definitely see the prices dropping as the baby boomers die off in the next 10 to 20 years. Especially if the current vinyl revival fad has gone out of fashion by then...which I fully expect it to have. So yeah, I can definitely see the majority of high grade Silver Age comics coming down in price a lot in the future for the same reason. Your Amazing Fantasy #15s, Fantastic Four #1s and the like will always command high prices. But I predict the bottom will fall out of the Golden and Silver Age comic market, for the most part, in the next 10 to 20 years. |
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Post by Icctrombone on Mar 24, 2019 18:21:22 GMT -5
Especially if digital takes over the comic industry like it took over the recording industry.
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Post by MDG on Mar 24, 2019 20:46:52 GMT -5
Especially if digital takes over the comic industry like it took over the recording industry. Well, it’s the question of people who want to read/listen and people who want to <i>own</i>. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2019 21:14:27 GMT -5
Tangential to this, is something I ran across a few days ago by a collector who has a youtube channel that I check out from time to time. It's about collecting physical media (books, movies, music etc.) in general but applies to collecting comics fairly well, and a lot of it is pretty obvious or self-evident (or should be), but there are a lot of collector's who need to hear this, it was his 5 tips to collecting, and I will paraphrase them here...
5. collect/buy only what you care about-don't worry about what's hot, what's not, what other people think you should be collecting, don't worry about snagging deals to flip stuff, etc. get the stuff that brings you joy and you want to own and ignore the rest, so at the end of the day you never have buyer's remorse, because ultimately your collection is an extension of you and an expression of your personality.
4. do your research-know what's coming out, what's available in what formats, what's out of print, what going rates are, etc. so you can make informed decisions about how to use your resources, especially if you have limited resources to spend. This includes being aware of nostalgia cycles, upcoming movies or tv shows that will influences prices on books you want, etc. A tangent to this in comics is know what formats are available and which you want to look for too-do you want a single issue or is trade ok, physical or digital, 1st print or later printings, etc. Know your options.
3. be patient-don't jump on something the first time you see it if the price isn't right or the circumstances aren't right for you to pull the trigger. Most likely you will see it again and could find a better deal somewhere else. Don't pay premium prices for something that is riding a short term nostalgia wave or inflated demand for some reason that will go away, etc. Play the long game, it will eventually reward you.
2. Know where to look. Ebay and the LCS aren't always your friend when it comes to prices on stuff, especially stuff that is in high demand currently. Look for other places, look at upcoming shows, get to know dealers, cultivate relationships with dealers and other collectors who might have stuff you are interested in, etc. Find other places that might sell stuff you are interested in. The more options you have, the more likely you will find what you are looking for at a price you are comfortable with.
1. Keep it fun. If you aren't enjoying doing this, why are you doing it? If it is a source of stress, etc. you're probably missing the point of what a hobby is supposed to be, it should add pleasure, enjoyment, and satisfaction to your life, not detract from those things.
-M
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Post by brutalis on Mar 25, 2019 7:51:24 GMT -5
For me anymore, no original comic is ever worth more than their cover price. Unless it has NEVER been reprinted. Why is there a reason to pay out big bucks if that comic has been reprinted umpteen times in various formats? Save the effort and money to buy a newer reprinting. If you cannot get ANY version cheaply then feel free to spend hard earned nickels and dimes. I prefer to save my coins for spending upon other things.
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Post by Phil Maurice on Mar 25, 2019 8:46:05 GMT -5
. . .I predict the bottom will fall out of the Golden and Silver Age comic market, for the most part, in the next 10 to 20 years. I'm a bit more optimistic than you, I suppose. I've heard this forecast inaccurately a few times in the past, though it also wouldn't surprise me if you were 100% correct. I've always found it difficult to make predictions, especially about the future. |
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,220
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Post by Confessor on Mar 25, 2019 9:15:32 GMT -5
. . .I predict the bottom will fall out of the Golden and Silver Age comic market, for the most part, in the next 10 to 20 years. I'm a bit more optimistic than you, I suppose. I've heard this forecast inaccurately a few times in the past, though it also wouldn't surprise me if you were 100% correct. I've always found it difficult to make predictions, especially about the future. Well, what can I say, some of us have "the sight".   |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2019 12:14:21 GMT -5
. . .I predict the bottom will fall out of the Golden and Silver Age comic market, for the most part, in the next 10 to 20 years. I'm a bit more optimistic than you, I suppose. I've heard this forecast inaccurately a few times in the past, though it also wouldn't surprise me if you were 100% correct. I've always found it difficult to make predictions, especially about the future. I'm a bit more optimistic than you, I suppose. I've heard this forecast inaccurately a few times in the past, though it also wouldn't surprise me if you were 100% correct. I've always found it difficult to make predictions, especially about the future. Well, what can I say, some of us have "the sight". or if you cry wolf often enough, eventually there will be a wolf there one of those times or even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while  (and I certainly resemble that blind squirrel in a lot of instances) -M |
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