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In April, a Library of Congress press release announced to the world, that the original art for Amazing Fantasy #15 has been gifted by an anonymous donaor. Interested parties may make an appointment with the LOC to view the pages. The first appearance of Spider-man by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko is a cultural icon and a holy grail for many collectors. The ability to see the 1st work done on the charatcer is said to be exhilirating and revalatory. Among the items that stand out are the discovery that he was first called Spiderman (no hyphen) as seen on the cover of AF #15 by Jack Kirby and an early alternate logo that was reworked and pasted over.

Much more commentary on the original art as well as pictures can be found at Ditko Looked Up.

Amazing Fantasy #15 on ebay

If ever there was a great day to celebrate comics - It’s FCBD!!!

Be sure to spread the word about your local events and maybe even give away some of your own.

Free Comic Book Day Website

According to Urban Dictionary, Incredible Hulk #181 is “the most overvalued comic book in existance. Very common in high grades, and yet very highly valued.”  There is some truth to this statement, but it is not entirely accurate.

It was not too long ago that this particular issue was devalued in the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (OSPG).  It went from $480 to $465 (NM- condition)in the 1999 and 2000 editions.  So, how did it get back up to $1400 for a Near Mint minus copy in the 2007 OSPG?  There are so many factors at work for this specific book and it would be impossible to name all of them.  However, a brief overview will allow us to appreciate how buyers tripled their top bids for what has become one the Holy Grails of many comic book collectors.  But first a little history.

Published in November 1974, Hulk 181 was written by Len Wein and illustrated by Herb Trimpe.  It featured the deut of the animal-themed character, Wolverine.  Originally created as a throwaway character for an adventure in Canada, Wolverine had a very brief introduction in Incredible Hulk #180.  It was this cameo that was considered his first true appearance for quite some time.  Sometime within the last ten years the issues flip-flopped and Hulk 180 was knocked down to cameo status.

In 1975 Wolverine appeared in Giant-Size X-men #1 as a new team member.  Over the next decades his popularity and legend grew until he was starring in his own mini-series and eventually a solo title in 1988.

While the value of Hulk 181 has enjoyed some prestige over the surrounding issues of Incredible Hulk for quite some time, the climb in value was steady until the advent of the Certified Guarantee Company (CGC) in 2000.  Third-party comic graders, CGC, changed the way the supply of comic books were perceived.  No longer were prices dictated by how many were available by mail-order or on a convention floor.  Rather, there was now a census of professionally-graded comics for all in collectordom to see.

Once the first appearance of Wolverine became a commodity based on condition, prices paid for higher grade copies took off.  There is one 9.9 (out of a 1-10 scale) graded copy, which according to rumor has had offers up to $60,000, which were turned down.  While a very small percentage of collector’s will busy themselves with the pursuit of such ultra-high grade (copies graded 9.8 have been fetching between $10k to $20k), there are still plenty Wolverine fans out just trying to get a “nice” copy.  One thing that all dealers can agree on is that the book is none scarce by any means.  That does not mean that the demand is not there.  For every copy of Hulk 181 that makes it to the marketplace there are enough buyers present to keep the prices bouyed up the their current levels.

Recently, following the success of the X-Men movies, there was an announcement that a Wolverine film was in the works.  It is probably a good bet that his elevation to movie star will only bring more attention to his first appearance.  In the end, the character’s status as a Marvel Comics headliner, on par with “classic” characters like Spider-man, Hulk and Captain America will create the perception that Hulk 181 is a good investment going into the future.

Some Wolverine Keys on eBay:

Incredible Hulk #180

Incredible Hulk #181

Incredible Hulk #182

Giant-Size X-men #1

Wolverine #1 

We all knew that Frank Miller’s comic titles were high-quality. It just took Hollywood some time to catch up. Well, now we know that Warner Bros. will be adapting Miller’s Ronin mini-series into a motion picture. This is a great opportunity for comic book investors to get in on the ground floor.

With full sets of Miller’s 300 mini-series by Dark Horse still selling for between $50-100 months after the successful movie’s debut, the lesson is that a long-forgotten comic can maintain demand if the adaption is done right. Hype was the downfall of this post-Daredevil Miller creation as it went from widely-anticipated to serious let-down. The story about a samurai reincarnated in a post-apocalyptic New York was apparently too far off field for an audience that wanted more like the Elektra Saga. Back in the early 80s there was no way to know how far Miller would come, so back issues for Ronin sat and collected dust in dealers’ boxes for two decades.

There have been numerous accounts on internet discussion boards about collectors finding limited availability of this series at their Local Comic Shop. It seems like #1 is somewhat hard to find and #6 is an even greater challenge. As the movie’s premiere nears, full sets will most likely be some of the hottest items for collectors and the curious. So, it will probably be a good idea to get out there and start hunting now!

Ronin auctions on eBay

Frank Miller’s 300 auctions on eBay

No review is needed for the blockbuster, that is 300. The Box Office returns say it all. Frank Miller has another winner on his hands, as do collectors lucky enough to have a set of the original limited series.

Online sales of this title has been brisk both before and after the release of the movie.
Normally, sales speed up prior to a comic book movie and slacken off afterward. But there has been a noticeable reversal with 300. Modest prices in the $25 to $100 range have been seen as of the film’s third week. The five-issue limited series seems to have caught the attention of the broader movie-going audience. This population is large, young and eager to get their hands on the original source material.

An additional factor that contributes to these prices is the limited number of issues available. There haven’t been any exact distribution numbers quoted, but the fact that this was a pet project released by Dark Horse Comics for Frank Miller suggests that orders were probably on the low side.

The only other question about the collectible nature of 300 is whether there is any staying power. Since the DVD has not yet come out, one can imagine renewed interest when that audience experiences the story for the first time. And for the long haul, only time will tell whether the cult-status of the movie will continue to drive sales for years to come.

There will be much comment in the coming days and weeks about the death of Captain America in the current series written by Ed Brubaker. Many will lament the character’s passing and some will eulogize his attributes and contributions to the Marvel Universe.

However, what we really need are the Vegas odds on his return. Come on, we all know that a good death never lasts. If Superman can’t pull of that stupendous feat, then can a “small fry” like Cap?

As of the time that this is being written, copies of Captain America #25 are selling for between $80 and $400. Outrageous, considering that this is the same sort of thing that happened in the 90’s with the aforementioned Man of Steel.

Well, sit back and enjoy the ride, because the frenzy is only getting started!

More more info check out these links:

http://lyriacomicexchange.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2403&start=0

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=9914

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7770294

http://boards.collectors-society.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1601816&an=0&page=0#Post1601816

Well, its Christmas/Chanukuh/Kwanzaa-time again. And that means shopping for a lot of us. It is also time for many people to assess their financial situations before hitting the mall. While it is not always the case - one can find back issues at great prices at this time of year.

One cause is that the competition on eBay can be slim while people are thinking of the 1 million things that are going on around them during the holidays. Also, collectors may be trimming their collections to fatten their wallets prior to going shopping. Lastly, collectors are usually looking for back issues when comics are most on their minds - namely, convention season.

So, here are some pointers if you are going to try to take advantage of any sales online.

1) Shop off-peak. Just like going to the mall when the crowds haven’t formed, keep in mind that the most bidders are online between the hours of 5pm - 10pm. For nightowls, between 2am and 5am EST you will see some shockers from time to time. You’ll have to factor timezones into this, as well.

2) Make a list and check it twice. Go into the fray with your wishlist in mind. There may be such a deluge of good deals that you may spend your bankroll before the book that you really want comes up for bidding.

3) Snipe away. Try to be there for the closing moments of the auction. If you can get the last bid in, there’s a chance that you may be the winner. Consult the many guides to bid sniping that are available online. Here are two pages where you can start:
http://lifehacker.com/software/ebay/ebay-hacks-how-to-be-an-ebay-sniper-212282.php
http://www.tblightning.com/ebay/tcpb_help.html

4) Do your research beforehand. If you are cruising the late night deals and you come upon a Holy grail back issue, you may not have the time to look up the fair market value or scarcity of it. So I recommend getting that info by doing a “completed listings” search on eBay prior to going shopping.

5) Be socially conscious and shop at the same time. Check out eBay’s auctions that funnel money to charitable causes, that way you can donate and get great stuff at the same time.
http://pages.ebay.com/givingworks/index.html

6) Don’t forget about the non-auction sellers. Everyone is likely to be strapped for cash, not just eBay-savvy sellers. Check out comic message boards, craigslist and newspaper ads for more people trading their collections for Holiday merriment.

There you go! There is more that one way to bring a smile to your face this season. For the shoppers looking for premium back issues, be sure to check out the CGC 9.8 auction list that is at the bottom of the Home Page of ComicBookShopper.com

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There has been much discussion lately about the Spider-man 3 movie and its impact on back issue sales. The Spider-man franchise has been arguably the most successful in comics history. The newest installment, due may 4th 2007 will introduce three villains: Sandman, Venom and a new Goblin (Green or Hob). We’ll also see the classic Spidey girlfriend, Gwen Stacy.

So, the big question for collectors is,”what are the key issues that will be affected by movie-generated interest?”

Let’s see. We have the following First Appearances:

Sandman: Amazing Spider-man (vol. 1) #4
Venom: Amazing Spider-man (vol. 1) #300
Hobgoblin: Amazing Spider-man (vol. 1) #238
Green Goblin II: Amazing Spider-man (vol. 1) #136
Gwen Stacy: Amazing Spider-man (vol. 1) #31

Unfortuantely, all of these issues are trading for a premium already, but there is still hope. Good deals can probably be found at cons and flea markets where competition tends to be lower. And those who have these books, rejoice! This is the perfect sellers market. There is some debate about whether this is the right time vs. one or two months before the film’s release. Whatever you decide - good luck. And feel free to share your buying or selling experiences in the comments section of this blog.

P.S. There are also a handful of non-key issues that may be affected by the movie, but that’s for another day.

It’s a fact that classic marketing techniques have been with us for some time. By “with us,” I mean in the comic back issue market. Dealers have been declaring certain issues as the great get-it-while-you-can for decades. And the fact is, many of us fall for it. Why is that? Well there are a number of good reasons.

1) They’re right. Sometimes an Incredible Hulk #181 or Batman #232 gets identified as having potential for future growth and those who jump on early reap the reward. So, when advertisers say “jump,” why not ask “how high” or “how much?” Well, how about because advertisers and hobby magazines rarely call them right. For every Marvel Spotlight #5 that someone calls attention to when its $20, there’s a dozen flavor-of-the-month variant covers with a quick climb, only to be forgotten five years later.

2) We are too short-sighted. Whereas the sellers see the potential for short term gains. If enough attention can be brought to an Adventurers #1 or Infinite Crisis #1RRP then the sellers know that they can get in and out before the buying public (that’s you and me) can realize that they paid ten times what the book will be worth in five years. Its like listening to stock tips on MSNBC. The names of hot stocks are thrown out in the morning to create a price spike that enable holders to sell at. The audience think they have a winner to hold onto, but instead it crashes at the end of the day. And this is repeated daily. It is like holding a lollipop out for a kid to grab and pulling it away at the last moment. And then doing it ten times in a row so that you can laugh at their gullibility.

3) Buyers can be as greedy as sellers. There is a high liklihood that many of us have bought books that were promised to be hot with the intent to flip them. “If this book is skyrocketing, and it can be found half-way to it apex, then it can be unloaded for double its price.” How many buyers have thought these thoughts? The number is probably countless. Let’s be honest. In the age of eBay, this is what drives much of the back-issue market. “Day Traders” are following the lead of the big boys and getting burned most of the time.

4) Collectors need to believe. We hobbyists are collecting comics for a multitude of reasons. One of which is the belief that a comic bought now will continue to go up in value. Without this feeling of potential growth - the market loses a lot of its steam. Many of us are aware that Bob Overstreet has a system in place in which certain sectors of the market receive 2-20% increases annually. Critics find no basis for most of these gains, since they run contrary to the law of supply and demand. But where would the average collector be if a 1990 price guide were the same as the 2005 edition? Ultimately, the “Hot Comic” is a reminder that there is a dimension to collecting that focuses on return on investment.

Currently, Wizard Magazine is the central figure in the comic-hype machine. If one were to look at their picks that urge readers to “find it cheap…for now” it would be clear that those issues rarely have the staying power that would make them worth our while. Recently, at the Wizard Philly show, I looked through a box labeled (yup, you guessed it) “Hot Comics.” None of which were priced. I handed him a stack and waited for his asking price. He wanted $9 bucks each - firm. I handed them back to him, because it was easy to turn down books that will be available for half that price soon enough. So, next time you’re reading a Spider-man or Batman from the 80s and 90’s and you see an ad for New England Comics and Mile High announcing which comics are “Red Hot” take a second to reflect on how the old trap is still out there.

So, you’re waiting for the next Comic Convention in your area. And you’ve been outbid time and time again on eBay auctions. To make matters worse, your Local Comics Shop (LCS) is slow to restock back issues!

Meanwhile you’ve got a wantlist as long as your arm and your favorite hobby is stalled.

What do you do? Do what I do. Check Craigslist.

It’s as easy as:

Step 1. Go to http://www.craigslist.org

Step 2. Look at the right hand column > find your home state and the closest city or town

Step 3. On the left there will be a “search craiglist” box > select “for sale” in the drop down choices > type “comic” in the box

Step 4. Scan through the results for people selling collections > look for garage sales and people who say that they are trying to get rid of a large collection

That’s it! This method has been panning out over and over again. Recently, there were two sellers with silimar circumstances. There was a death of someone close and each person just happened to be collecting comics for the last twenty years. The sellers knew that the collections meant a lot to their brother/friend, but they didn’t know what to do with the 20/50 boxes of comics that was sitting in their house. So, they put word out on craigslist and it was first come, first served. We will not say what was found at these sales, you can use your imagination to fuel your own hopes should you try this method. But it can be said that the price paid was pennies-on-the-dollar for hundreds of Very High Grade (in some cases very hard to find) comics.

Surely, it need not be said, but just a reminder not to try to rip off little old ladies. If the seller has an NM Amazing Fantasy #15 and says, “I have no idea what this is worth” there is a course of action that may work. Tell him or her that the book(s) is worth a lot of money and that you can’t afford that price and make an offer. You are not under any obligation to quote the going price, because unless you are a retailer-type professional or sitting in front of the results of every sale in the last year, that answer will not be fair to either of you. Just invite the person to do their research and let you know if they accept your offer.

In both cases mentioned above, the sellers were computer savvy and had already researched the collections enough to know that they should just try to unload the whole thing rather than do more research.

This tried and true method has been great for adding to the collection and where did the inspiration come from? From Chuck Rozanski over at Mile High Comics. In his “Tales from the Database” column he spells out the basics:

How To Invest In Comics

Buying Comics In Bulk

Good Luck!!!