Many fans miss the discussions between collectors that was once commonplace at the local comic book store. Fans were always sharing wisdom developed over decades to those who were less experienced. Many thought why would people share the tricks of the trade, but old timers realized that only when the hobby was growing would it survive. In that vein here are a few words of advice that should help you up your game.
Open Your Mind
Artistic License
A while back this author recommend the purchase of keys involving Marvel's Richard Fisk. The reason was because of speculation that Michael Gandolfini was cast in Disney's Daredevil: Born Again. People are now downplaying those rumors because it does not fit into the past storyline plot details. That is a bad way to think. Writers have retconned many characters to make them more timely or to better suit a story. Richard Fisk may turn out in the MCU to be an illegitimate child of Wilson Fisk. Marvel Comics stories are not canon to MCU writers. How would you explain Thanos being part of the formation of the Avengers if that type of thinking was true.
Aim Small Miss Small
Betting on characters appearing in the MCU is not like it was years ago. Investors will not hit the home runs they once hit when a minor character's status was elevated to major star in the MCU (GotG). That does not mean these appearances do not provide opportunities for a small windfall. Many books are being ignored by the vast comic book collecting and investing audience. This means the possibility to find a hidden treasure exists. All one has to do is open your minds.
D List Hero
The initial Daredevil run is under appreciated by fans. There are a few keys in that run that should not be ignored but many languish on shelves. Daredevil #150 is only truly valued, if at all, because of the issue number. This issue also has the first appearance of Paladin. He is a mercenary that could very well be adapted to many stories in the MCU. A 9.6 will only cost you around $150. This is very affordable for a high grade book that is close to 50 years old. No one is paying attention to a character like this but high grade issues have great potential to rise in value even if he never appears in the MCU.
Bronze Age Gold
Bronze Age minor keys in high grade are still affordable but they will not be for long. These books offer great potential because of their grade and age, but if the characters ever hit then bazinga! Many of these books can be found in bulk sales or lots that most people tend to ignore. High grade books can be found for small initial investments. Even higher graded books can be purchased for pennies because vendors see these books as not desirable because the time it takes to sell them. The more they sit on a vendor's shelf the less desirable they are to the seller. Use their lack of interest to your advantage.
eBay Fatigue
A "Secret" Spot
eBay is a great place to buy comic books. It is a "megastore" where many issues can be purchased. EVERYONE knows this fact. That means that there will be very few deals to be scored. Instead the opposite occurs. People tend to overpay for a book because of the competition for these books in micro bidding wars. The rule is eBay is not a secret spot where hidden stashes of books can be found. Fans have to open their horizons to where they buy their books.
GoCollect Finds
One of the GoCollect differences is that rather than writing from a closed environment or based out of a store the team of writers research articles. Recommendation are not purchased, but rather based upon observations. Many times this means that the article was prepped and researched over weeks and months to best provide accurate information. Reputations matter if the hobby is to survive. This also means sometimes divulging information that might be better left known only to a select few. That type of thinking will not grow the hobby so sometimes long term benefits are better than short term gains.
Brother Power
In the past few years Harris Brothers Auctions in Michigan has been reviewed for both their customer service and offerings. They are very knowledgeable when it comes to their offerings and will actually answer a call when buyers want to know more about their catalog. One of the most interesting things about this smaller auction house is that they have had some very unique comic books and other collectibles comes through their doors that can be quite uncommon. Many times these items do not even appear in an eBay current listing search. In addition, many of the final hammer prices were below that on eBay (factoring in buyer fees). Sadly only a few are aware of auction houses like Harris Brothers Auctions and other smaller houses. GoCollect will shine a light on these places to provide readers with more honey holes to drop your lines.
Advice
Auction houses like these offer the potential for finding unique items that will not involve too many bidders. That means a bidding war on a much smaller scale. It also means finding books that do not normally come up for sale on sites like eBay. Review their offerings and judge for yourself, but it is always nice to have more than one hot spot to find books. Finally, bid on smaller items before making a major purchase to evaluate customer service and delivery. That bit of advice should be used with any new seller.
Pokemon and other Collectibles
The Name is GoCollect, Not GoComics
If you have not noticed, GoCollect has introduced many different collectible price guides. The latest is a Pokemon Cards price guide. Many comic book collectors and investors NEVER read any article or use these other price guides. That is a wrong way of thinking. The reason is that when someone collects their focus may have been on more than one area. That provides opportunities even to hardcore comic book collectors.
Collectors Never Sell
Over and over again collectors state that they never sell their collections. They are not investors but hobbyists who save each and every comic book purchase. That should never apply to items that are not the focus of your collection. The problem is that when that is quoted many people only take it to mean comic books. GoCollect has given many people the chance to score great investments but most miss out on these opportunities even when they are sitting right there before them.
A Great Asset
Lauren Sisselman is a great writer for GoCollect. She covers it all. Read her articles because it will allow one to expand their mindset when it comes to things that may be collectible. Things that this author has come across during their search for comic books at garage sales, flea markets, and online auctions were ignored original comic book art; vast inventories of Pokemon and Magic the Gathering cards; advertising collectibles that included comic book legends art; WWII gear; and many more items. The one thing that they all had in common was they were sold at a profit to allow a comic book collection to increase. The best score was a collection of one sheet movie posters from a former theater employee who sold boxes of them for $10.
Beanie Babies!!!!
Not all collectibles are worth money. Many are not worth the effort to purchase. Others may not be originals but instead cheap replicas. Educating oneself in even a small way can be a source of a good windfall. More importantly, keep these type of buys at a good risk level. Spending $5 on an old toy or Coke cooler may advisable because the risk is so small it may be tolerable. Use the other price guides to help you evaluate if a purchase might be hot or not. Also make connections and talk to other collectors even if they are not into comic books. Great trades or sales could be made when they come across books like Iron Man #54 and #55 being offered at an estate sale that did not mention comics (true score). They were both priced as if they were from Iron Man Volume 2!
Books that may be Wise to Buy
Space is Limited
There are many topics that can be covered in these articles so let's try to pack even more information readers might want to use instead of a paragraph summary. In the future this author will try to always put in books readers can seek out that should be on their radar. Here are a few books that have positive characteristics that may be wise to buy now rather than wait for later.
Dracula Lives #1. A Curtis magazine that features Dracula. Magazines are hot. A 9.6 will only will cost $400. Try to find Marvel Dracula keys with artists and writers like in this issue and see what it will cost.
World's Finest Comics #252. Poison Ivy origin. Many do not know her origin exists in this book. An 8.0 has an FMV of $20. The grading and mailing fee to send in is more than the FMV and that means this book is really undervalued.
Batman #190. This is a classic Penguin cover and yet a 9.0 has an FMV of $450. Key Batman book's are always in demand. Most Batman collectors know this issue on sight.
Spectacular Spider-Man #1. First issues are always in vogue. 9.8 with an FMV of $350. Did I read that right? A Spider-Man key that is under $500 in high grade is really undervalued.
X-Men #95. Early appearances of the new team with one dying. A 9.6 with an FMV of $575? This book should be much higher and yet so ignored.
The Joker #1. A Joker key where a 9.6 has an FMV of $350. This book is approaching fifty years old and thus deserves more respect than it is getting.
Amazing Spider-Man #122. The death of Green Goblin. This issue was a major key years ago and yet it has fallen out of favor in today's market. A 9.4 with value of $700. Again, Amazing Spider-Man keys are prized by many. If you see one of these books get it.
Marvel Features #1. First appearance of the Defenders. A 9.4 will cost around $650. All these characters have appeared in the MCU. One may see a variation of these characters teaming up in the MCU in later films. That said, this book was always overlooked by collectors and investors.
Star Trek: The Next Generation #1. The first appearance of the TNG of Star Trek. Trekkies are like cockroaches because the world could experience a lot but they still will exist (I love Trekkies!). A 9.8 has an FMV of $230 when there are less than 200 total graded copies. The irony is many times at shows and stores this book is not around and on eBay when it is listed it sells at a premium. What does that tell you?
Justice League of America #21. Fans would wait for the JLA/JSA team up every year. It was the two issues that fans would want from the series. Collectors always are looking for this issue and yet it sells for big bucks. The sweet spot seems to be 8.0-7.0 because the significance of the issue meets the price point fans will pay. Find it below those FMVs and you found a good deal.
