2/9/2020
Topic:
The Invincible Iron Man - 1967 Vol 1 No 89
Defiant1
|
Coverless. The cover is missing. |
2/9/2020
Topic:
Marvel VS DC!
Defiant1
|
I only care about Marvel characters, but all modern comics suck. For that reason, I'm not picking a favorite. |
2/9/2020
Topic:
Marvel VS DC!
Defiant1
|
rixmaxx wrote:
Defiant1 wrote:
I only care about Marvel characters, but all modern comics suck. For that reason, I'm not picking a favorite.
Way to live up to your name! 
I've quit collecting comics. So, yes. You are probably correct.
I've stood on my soapbox and described precisely what I don't like about modern comics and
what types of expectations I have as a consumer. I've challenged people in the industry to make a product that appeals to me.
Creators nod and understand, but they go back and make the exact same comics I detest.
It's not like I woke up one day and decided I didn't like modern comics.
The industry changed and the knowledge of the ages on how to make comics fun, engaging, thought provoking, and interesting is being lost.
I was attending local comic shows and the back issues I want to collect were appearing less and less. The condition of the stuff they did have was in lower grade than ever. The prices are higher than ever.
Finally a dealer confessed that he can't restock on the types of stuff I ask for. He says the market has dried up on supply and he just can't get the stuff anymore.
For that reason, I quit collecting entirely.
I have probably comics 10,000 including Amazing Fantasy #15, FF #1, Hulk #1, X-Men #1 (2 copies), Strange Tales #110 (3 copies), Hulk #181 (2 copies).
I'm not getting rid of anything people want because I don't need the money and I still like the comics.
I could sell off the junk I don't care about, but it isn't worth my time. I can make all the overtime I want at work and selling comics doesn't earn me money at the same hourly overtime rate.
Modern comics are essentially a money pit unless you spend hours monitoring price fluctuations and capitalize on a steady flow of quick flips. I still make more money at my regular job.
For the sake of reading, I have thousands of old comics I have never read. I bought them in bulk for about a dime a piece when stores were closing left and right in the 90's. I get more enjoyment reading a 10 cent comic with more story content than a $4 or $6 modern comic.
I attempted to stay connected to the hobby by researching old comics and making online cover galleries. Published historians know about my discoveries and we've shared info in the past. I just scanned a piece of original art I own and donated some of my research information to an upcoming fanzine. I've asked the publisher to not give me credit, but they will likely do so anyway.
I've decided to quit all that also. The web is changing and free web hosts have been randomly deleting my sites because I don't convert to their pay model and let them up-sell me to something I don't need. I'm donating content to their site, so I feel that gives their domain relevance where it had none. I'm not going to pay for hosting. I was already giving away my time on the research.
I guess the real question is... why am I here? Because my comics still have value and this site is a price guide. It's no different than buying stock and checking the newspaper periodically to see how it's doing.
Take care...
Defiant1 |
2/10/2020
Topic:
Autographs/Signatures on Comics!
Defiant1
|
I will get something signed as a personal reminder that I met a celebrity or creator. It's more of a novelty to me. Most signatures mean very little to me otherwise. The only signature that brings me joy is perhaps that of Mike Judge because he's not someone that I believed I would ever meet and I consider him to be a comedic genius. He did not sign a comic. He signed my ticket stub from an animation show he was hosting. In most cases I consider any signature on a comic to be an act of defacing that comic. I have signed a dollar box issue for a store that had my letter printed in it. I did so to amuse them, but I would cringe at doing so it the comic had any great value. I used to sign a local magazine for people because they had my cartoons published in them. I always added a comment or added line of humor that tied back to may cartoon to make it more than just a signature. Seeing a signed comic that someone else got makes me want it less. To each their own. |
3/8/2020
Topic:
Mighty Marvel Superheroes Fun Book
Defiant1
|
Some books like this do have comic art in them. You can't always make assumptions.
This book has some very early New X-Men comic book art introducing an X-Men puzzle. It came out shortly after X-Men #94.
This is a coloring book, but it's filled with story art.
 |
3/8/2020
Topic:
Two Things
Defiant1
|
R.I.P. Len Wein. When he had a house fire and lost both comics and art, I donated some replacement comics to his collection. Mark Evanier was spearheading the project to get him copies of everything he'd written. |
3/9/2020
Topic:
Mighty Marvel Superheroes Fun Book
Defiant1
|
collectibleshop wrote:
Defiant1 wrote:
Some books like this do have comic art in them. You can't always make assumptions.
This book has some very early New X-Men comic book art introducing an X-Men puzzle. It came out shortly after X-Men #94.
This is a coloring book, but it's filled with story art.
No one said anything about whether these types books have comic ART, as they all do. That's not the criteria in question, otherwise there'd be thousands more listed. They have no STORIES is the problem (one or 2 pages of an actual previously released comic book story to color is not enough story to qualify), hence they're not comic books CPG would or should list. While CPG does list a couple from a while ago, the Marvel one, according to the cover blurb, may have a simple story to go with the maze puzzle, so that may be why it's listed. It may also be that after that was listed CPG changed their minds about coloring books. I don't see the Bucky O'Hare one in the CPG guide.
edited by collectibleshop on 3/8/2020
edited by collectibleshop on 3/8/2020
What is your definition of a story? Are collections of Bloom County cartoons a story? It's technically a lot of stories. The Marvel Mazes book has single page "stories" introducing some puzzle. They aren't generic "comic art". They are story pages unique to this specific book. They have panels and dialogue with word balloons. I think it's highly significant given the time frame of when it was published. I don't care what the guide lists. I just think it's ridiculous to exclude things that are comic related when collectors tend to care about the stuff. The Bucky O'Hare Coloring Book is a full blown story that you can color. The Bucky O'Hare Coloring book was sold through Neal Adams' site. It was probably never solicited through Previews.
My point was that you can't make assumptions.
People might assume this coloring book isn't a comic, but it is:
 |
3/12/2020
Topic:
Hot Comics from a Different Perspective
Defiant1
|
I have all but 3 of those comics. Bought most of them when they came out. |
3/21/2020
Topic:
Mighty Marvel Superheroes Fun Book
Defiant1
|
Jayc13 wrote:
now that I'm catching up, I completely disagree! other databases have all comic periodicals, calling it as EXCLUSIVE COMIC ART related is wrong.
and technically, it wasn't a coloring book. I would think all the Fireside books would be here.
explains why some of the magazines I've looked for, are never found on here. having magazines like Comic Book Artist is here, but not having Comicology books baffles me when other websites includes it all.
edited by JayC13 on 3/18/2020
My point of view also. A Fireside Book of Marvel Content is of more interest to collectors than a dead indy company that published one comic in B&W in the 80's with grade school art. It's not my site, so I don't care. I respect the right of the owners to list whatever they want. |
3/21/2020
Topic:
Mighty Marvel Superheroes Fun Book
Defiant1
|
I recall an editor at Overstreet mentioning that the Overstreet Price Guide listed the Atlas/Seaboard "My Secrets" magazine in their guide. I said, "you do realize that it's not a comic" He never responded back. There is absolutely nothing comic related about it except a model wearing a Captain America shirt on the cover. I thought it ironic that a guide which limits what they list to a fraction of what's published had no problem listing a non-comic magazine. |
3/25/2020
Topic:
Blonde Phantom #19, Canadian Edition
Defiant1
|
collectibleshop wrote:
comics.org lists 8 issues, which they note are just Canadian reprints of American issues:
https://www.comics.org/searchNew/?q=%22Blonde+Phantom%22&selected_facets=facet_model_name_exact:issue&selected_facets=publisher_exact:Bell%20Features
don't know if that's all they did, but you'd think after all this time if there were any more they'd have found them or been told.
Some of the Canadian reprints are so rare that scans have never surfaced online. I started collecting scans of the Canadian EC reprints done by Superior about 10 years ago. I know some exist, yet scans have never surfaced online in that time period.
http://comicchecklist.atwebpages.com/EC/Superior/Superior_EC_Index.html |
4/12/2020
Topic:
Beavis and Butthead issues
Defiant1
|
I may be overlooking it, but I don't see the TPB or a tab for it.
https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Beavis_and_Butthead_TPB_Vol_1_1:_Greatest_Hits
Just letting people know.
I quit submitting books a long time ago.
No one could keep up. |
4/20/2020
Topic:
Crazy! "2020 Visions #1"
Defiant1
|
People have been predicting things like this for awhile. It does make you think. |
4/20/2020
Topic:
Gwenpool 1st appearance
Defiant1
|
There is no mystery on what types of comics will ultimately hold value or increase. First appearances of new characters always have potential. Some people focus on them and target them for their collection. For every comic that becomes hot, there are five more that have the same potential. Some people are sitting on current duds that will eventually increase in demand. |
4/20/2020
Topic:
Comic Milestones that go uncollected?
Defiant1
|
A lot of those mini-series sold in high numbers when they came out. They also ended quickly, so they become out of sight and out of mind. The supply outweighs the demand. |
4/22/2020
Topic:
How do you define a first appearance?
Defiant1
|
I define the tenth appearance as the first appearance so that I can hype the tenth appearance as being more valuable. I define the 9th appearance as the zero appearance. The actual first appearance is defined by me as the negative 8th appearance. Any background appearance of a character is defined by me as the prototype of some character that followed. Uncle Ben is a prototype of Gwen Stacy. Clark Kent is a prototype of Barry Allen. It's really quite simple if you don't think about it. I hope that helps! |
4/22/2020
Topic:
Gwenpool 1st appearance
Defiant1
|
Taskmaster wrote:
Then explain how Punchline was so popular and sold out even BEFORE the issues she was in ever hit retail shelves.
Only certain people knew she was coming and had no idea about her appearances until the last minute.
edited by Taskmaster on 4/22/2020
Sorry. I'm not buying comics anymore. I don't know who punchline is.
Do you read Previews? Do you talk to enthusiastic creators at conventions?
There are plenty of ways to find out about something before it comes
out. People can get advance tips.
I used to buy three copies of every comic I bought. One to read.
One to remain unopened. One to sell if it increased in value. Some
people look at comics the day they come out and then immediately order extra of the
things they think will be hot from online retailers or other local
stores.
I own my copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 because I was
really good at predicting what comics would be hot. I traded a short box
of "modern" comics in the 90's for a $900 copy of Amazing Fantasy #15.
My copy is now worth over $12,000. I predicted what new comics would be
hot then and I traded them for an old comic that knew would increase in
value. It's not really rocket science but it can be extremely risky with
modern comics. They cost too much and the gamble isn't worth it unless
it's for personal amusement and testing your ability to invest wisely.
edited by Defiant1 on 4/22/2020 |
4/26/2020
Topic:
Poll Question: Spending More Time or Less Time
Defiant1
|
I work in manufacturing doing quality control. The volume of work for me has been about 6 times normal. Three people are helping and I can't keep up. I had already quit collecting though, so other than seeing what trends here, I'm not doing anything with comics. |
4/26/2020
Topic:
Gwenpool 1st appearance
Defiant1
|
drewzer15 wrote:
Taskmaster wrote:
Defiant1 wrote:
There is no mystery on what types of comics will ultimately hold value or increase. First appearances of new characters always have potential. Some people focus on them and target them for their collection. For every comic that becomes hot, there are five more that have the same potential. Some people are sitting on current duds that will eventually increase in demand.
Then explain how Punchline was so popular and sold out even BEFORE the issues she was in ever hit retail shelves.
Only certain people knew she was coming and had no idea about her appearances until the last minute.
edited by Taskmaster on 4/22/2020
I don't know how you missed Punchline. I don't follow any spec sites and knew she was coming a month before hand. But there are 2 kinds of comic buyers the ones that go pick up their books and leave, and then ones like me that practically spend the whole Wednesday talking comics with the owners and customers.
I avoid new comics like the plague. I can't stand them. I used to hang out at multiple stores. I used to have dinner with the owners or managers after the stores closed. I don't even like walking into them now because they have nothing I want. Most of the stores I liked have closed and the employees sought more lucrative ways to earn income. I still have around 10,000 comics. I like the art form. Back when I was in the thick of it, stores were asking me what was going to be hot. They sold me comics at 40% off cover price or more because they wanted me to hang out more and pick my brain for insights into what would be hot. |
4/29/2020
Topic:
Ultraforce Spider-man #1
Defiant1
|
I'm only aware of 2 issues. This is my checklist.
http://comicchecklists.coolpage.biz/Ultraverse/Ultraverse_Checklist.html |
