The following are tidbits of knowledge that are important to collectors and investors alike. It is news gathered from the field from visits to comic book stores, retail venues, comic conventions, and talking with fans. This information creates a more in depth picture of the market. Hype is not a factor. Facts are the basis for this report.
I. Red Hulk is Dead Hulk
Trailer miss
Talked to a friend about the latest trailer for the next Captain America movie. The conversation quickly turned into the Red Hulk. He quickly offered me a copy of Hulk #1 saying to "get on it before everyone else does". He said had SEVERAL copies he was hoarding since rumors of his MCU appearance began and now he was looking to make a deal. It would only cost me a good Silver Age book. He said rarer books are his target and not common fare.
Breeding like rabbits
That is the problem with books from the Modern Age and the MCU. They are out there both graded and raw. Demand goes up but so too the supply. Sometimes supply outpaces the demand. Over 4,300 graded copies exist at the time this article was written. 9.2 have a 30 day average of $71 when the 1 year average was $97. Except the 9.0 grade (outlier sale?) the other affordable grade of 8.5 is also down. The 9.4 and above grades are up, but not to the level that warrants consideration.
Do not follow the leader
These books are chased by speculators who want to make a dollar quickly. It is a key issue but with so much supply out there it well exceeds demand. Many wanted to sell but few wanted to buy. A quick survey of peers revealed the only buyers were looking to purchase books well below the FMV so they could sell them at a profit. One indicated that there were "plenty of fish in the sea" and they could find copies for sale with little effort. That is not a good outlook when it comes to investing in MCU keys.
II. Golden Age Gold
But they are too expensive
Many believe Golden Age books are out of their price range. The problem is that investors and collectors only believe that Marvel, DC Comics, and pre-code horror are in demand. Quietly another trend has been discovered that should not be ignored. Investors and collectors are scooping up war related and other sub-genre covers that may not be affordable in the mainstream books. One of these type covers is from a title one would expect would not be irrelevant any more.
Say his name
Shazam the movie brought attention to Captain Marvel keys. Most of the important keys are out of the reach of most collectors. That does not mean all the keys are priced high. Captain Marvel Adventures #29 has two things going for it. This is the first cover appearance of Mr. Mind. He was a villain important enough in the DC universe to warrant a post credit scene. This reveal could have led to something more significant if future Shazam films were in development. There is another thing that makes this book desirable to collectors that investors should take notice.
War drums
This issue has a cover appearance of a Chinese soldier with stereotypical overtures. This is a Word War II cover that is not what investors would consider a war comic, and thus not desirable for many. Take note that a nice 7.0 sold in February of this year for $288. That is not bad for a comic book that is over 80 years old. Fawcett titles have a lot of WWII and other themed covers that fans desire. They are also very affordable. These books and more are being scooped up by people that realize the value in such a small population of books. Get in on it before others realize what a value these book offer to collectors and investors.
III. Disney Kills MCU Advantage
Fangless
The Blade fiasco is a telling sign. A film announced years ago is still in developmental limbo. Many sites hyped Blade related minor keys as the next hot thing. These books had potential but FOMO took over and priced these minor keys beyond any reasonable returns that normally could be expected from inclusion in the MCU. This was the start of a bad trend.
Such a witch
Agatha All Along is the next television show of phase five in the MCU. This is a tie in to Wandavision that continues the tale of Agatha Harkness. Kathryn Hahn is a talented actress and the show features a nice supporting cast. That does not mean the character's first appearance in Fantastic Four #94 is a wise investment. Sites started to proclaim that this book was worthy of sale prices higher than more important Marvel keys. Investors have all but forgotten the one thing that warrants investing in anything.
Quality does matter
Disney has a large library of characters to incorporate in a film or television series. The problem is that in the past the mere inclusion in a MCU property elevated the perception of the character's importance in the collectibles market. This is a collectible fallacy. The character must also have the ability to generate a following and make people care. Fan is short for fanatic. The character must illicit those aforementioned emotions in consumers. As a result, a product must be of great quality or have some compelling reason to invest in a book.
Ignore customers at your own risk
The market for the MCU is getting cold. GoCollect's new CPI shows that Marvel Bronze Age books are a drag on the index these last two years. The MCU failed people and they are showing their frustration. Diving all in to the MCU pond is not what the comic book buying community is doing right now, but...
IV. Gunn is Good
Fire the starters Gunn
James Gunn is generating a buzz for DC properties. Fans may not all loving the Guy Gardner or Superman costumes, but they are giving him a benefit of the doubt once reserved for the MCU. DC Comics once ignored are now in vogue. Fans are looking to these once undervalued books to spend their money. That is driving the prices up on some major and minor keys. There still are some interesting books out there that are being ignored by the MAJORITY of fans. That means not all fans are heading to familiar territories.
The junior varsity squad
Gunn likes to take obscure characters and make them important. The reason is that there is more room to play. Fans know of the minor characters but accept artistic license to alter them in ways one would not allow for Batman, Superman or the like. Some investors thus are looking for these type of characters. Other collectors realize that there are some very under appreciated books that have aged well but not generating heat that makes them desirable to the masses.
Gold, iron, lead, mercury, platinum, and tin in Silver
One such book they have set their sights on is Showcase #37. This is the first appearance of the Metal Men. These characters are a little off the wall, but that CGI could translate well onto a digital medium. That is one reason this book is starting to generate some interest in the community. The other is the affordability factor. A 7.5 has an FMV of $975. That is an affordable price for a 60 year old key.
Surfing the waves
Collectors and investors were diving into DC Comic keys while everyone else was hypnotized by the MCU wave. These books are moving at shows under the radar because most focus on the wall books. Mid-range DC Comic keys are in vogue because they are undervalued. The hope too is that magic can strike twice and Gunn brings his tricks to DC Comics. Investors and collectors alike see value in this and many more DC Comics. Is this a trend for the future?
V. The Sweet Spot
Strike zone
Dealers realize the economy is not the best to purchase higher end books. Buyers may be able to afford a key, but even heavy hitting buyers are out there realizing that major books are sitting and not drawing interest. This even goes for supposed cannot miss hot books. Prices are dropping and these individuals may be afraid to make purchases today when tomorrow they may drop a few hundred dollars.
Not clawing out of the darkness
Incredible Hulk #181 has our favorite Canadian who is the co-lead in a film that will top the box office soon. This is a book that is identifiable by the vast majority of collectors and investors on site. Mention Wolverine and this is the book that many think of immediately. One would think that this book is topping the sales charts and rising in value. Nope. 9.0 to .5 are actually down when one compares their one year FMV to the 30 day values.
Outer limits
Interested in buying costly books? Think major and minor keys in grades below the $1000 threshold. Many vendors said $500 is the magic number, but great deals can be had going up just a little above that mark. If you see a first appearance of Sgt Rock for $800 do not walk away just because it is above that $500 barrier. DC Comics have value so do not ignore them. Prices may have yet bottomed out, but if a collector sees a gem that was once thought beyond one's means, now may be a good time to target that book. An interesting problem though is that people are pulling those type of books because it is a buyer's market and sellers want to wait out this time to see prices rise.
Final Word
It is interesting to visit conventions both big and small as well as stores. These places are the battleground where one can actually see what is happening in the market. Trends start to emerge that one must see to not overpay no matter if that person is a collector or an investor. GoCollect number crunches and writers are there to help.
Gone are the days when mere opinions are expressed. Writers are conducting research and going out to see what is happening. The why's are just as important as the prices being paid. The data team has implemented and modified indexes that assess different segments of the market based upon actual sales. The industry is now so complex that not knowing what is happening could lead to costly mistakes. Readers deserve better.