As digital collectible apps like VeVe, DCNFT, or others enter the market, understanding how each class (physical + digital) interacts with each other could hold significant value as this industry explodes in popularity.
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Let's First Review The Importance of PHYSICAL Comic Collecting (Marvel Comics #1 as an Example):
A) Historical Significance: MC1, published in Aug 1939, marked the beginning of Marvel Comics and introduced popular characters like the Human Torch & Sub-Mariner.
Its historical importance and impact on the comic industry are undeniable, and often sought by collectors interested in the history of the overall industry itself and "First Appearance" titles due to their longevity sill enjoyed today.
B) Influence on Popular Culture: MC1 (and other early comics like Fantastic Four #1 or Amazing Spider-Man), deeply shaped popular culture, inspiring numerous adaptations in other comic series' & media like movies, TV shows, video games and Halloween Costumes.
Popularity often breeds collectibility!
C) Rarity: MC1 is iconic & extremely rare or hard to find, making it valuable simply on scarcity. Of the original ~860,000 copies printed, today just 67 graded remain. Popular titles that are difficult to find trend well on the collectibles sphere.
D) Condition: Well-preserved & cared-for copies with measures taken to ensure a book's condition are simply more valuable. For instance, a 9.2 CGC sold in 2022 for > $2.4 Million! (See GoCollect).
E) Personal Importance: MC1 helped solidify the brand we love, flourishing stories that shaped our youth and personal memories or sentimental values (what kid didn't ever have a Spidey Halloween costume LOL).
For instance, I prefer Marvel characters & shows over DC, impacting my collecting decisions for years. AF15 (Spidey's FA), Captain America #1, Superman #1 or Action Comics #1 all equate to the list of collectible features above, obviously challenging the dominance of MC1, and why personal preference is so important...if you only had the funds for ONE, how would you choose - nostalgia? ROI potential? How your kids engage today's characters?
F) IS FOR...FLEX: Flexing one's ownership of such incredibly rare "works of comic history art" can be immense. To be in a position to invest significant dollars towards this is a dream for most, so just having a copy can be incredibly show-worthy!
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Obviously, the importance of MC1 to a collector depends on their individual interests and goals. Some prioritize rarity or historical significance, others may focus on personal interest or the comic's condition. Still, some seek return on investment or access to larger markets, which was more difficult in the past. These all impart how a book sells on auction sites like Heritage, which is certainly fun to see the outcomes!
The buyer of that MC1 noted in the New York Times image/article above? He found a copy that included written / recorded payments owed to illustrators...THE needle in a haystack of personal preference IMHO!
HOW COULD DIGITAL COMIC COLLECTIBLES IMPACT THEIR PHYSICAL COUNTERPARTS?
1) Demand for Products & Accessibility: Digital collectible comics are easy to buy & read, and can be accessed from any device, anywhere & read without ever degrading.
This could raise physical values as owners can now read their licensed IP digitals repeatedly, while keeping their prized physical assets sealed-up, free from damage. More readers = more awareness = more popularity = more buyers & collectors = more value!
Jim Lee Launches THE FLASH on DCNFT2) Demand for Physicals: As digital collectible versions become more popular, will demand for physical copies decrease? Maybe a bit more for common, new age or high print-run physicals, or audiences not interested in owning physical items in the first place, or newer enthusiasts. However, I do NOT see this risk for key physicals like MC1 or other scarce key grails.
3) Demands on Grading: Could more digital owners start to erode the number of books sent for grading? After all, digital versions are basically 9.4+ in terms of quality (I'm leaving wiggle room up to 10.0 grades to account for 'new variables' such as historical or fancy mint #'s associated with blockchain-minted books, referenced in my earlier blog on Mint numbers), where further, they do not require the risks & timelines associated with mailing physical books.
4) Demands on Real-Time Market Dynamics: The DCNFT & VeVe marketplaces are certainly dictating real-time pricing & selling, but there are instances where current market impact seem at odds with traditional comic buying.
Take for instance, the recent release of Miles Morales in Across the Spider-Verse. ' The 'secret rare' variant cover (available in short supply) in the VeVE app currently lists for over $1,000 USD, with only around 20 of its 600 drop-release total editions left for sale. Yet, the physical variant cover has a current 1-year GoCollect average of $34,000!
However, Mint #90 (of 250 released) Miles Morales 'Secret Rare' variant (NFT) collectible, recently sold on VeVe for an incredible $11,000 USD! So although the SR comic variant seems to be lagging considerably in its digital valuation, the NFT / Collectible version of the character is one of the hottest items throughout the entire app right now, based on tremendous focus, heavy speculation on future potential & full animation in A/R for this key asset.
Will digital assets impact sales of physical Miles statues as owners move to pair phygital assets to their collections?
5) Demands on Physical Printing: There is little debate physical books take their environmental toll, requiring trees, heavy production, distribution, packaging & storage needs (think all those plastic covers & storage bins needed for comics alone). Digital versions do not carry these impacts - learn more by reading how VEVE NFTS ARE CARBON NEUTRAL!
Like phone books & newspapers, publishers may decline or cease physical production altogether making it more difficult to acquire printed books, which would certainly escalate values to key issues or rare physicals. Let's not forget the impact digital had on the behemoth newspaper industry as a clear example!
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WHAT BENEFITS MIGHT WE SEE FROM SURGES IN DIGITAL COMIC COLLECTING?
1) Increased Demand for (Rare) Physicals: Collectors will always view physicals as valuable as they are tactile, fun to show off & exciting to hunt in LCS's & garage sales. Yet, as digital use expands to new audiences & more advanced tech, many collectors will, and are, seeking out physicals to pair or match with their newer, readable digital versions.
It is CLEAR from the VeVe Community activity alone, that the growing popularity of digital comic collecting is sending newer buyers EN MASSE to physical comic stores, pairing comics, posters and statues with their digital assets...
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Example: A group of VeVe digital asset enthusiasts in Vancouver, BC (the VeVeVancouver Crew), recently met up to get to know each other OFFLINE. Where was the initial meet-up location? GOLDEN AGE COLLECTIBLES on Vancouver's famous Granville Street. This small group now holds THOUSANDS of digital comic assets from the VeVe & DCNFT apps, storing up supply as fast as they can before the mainstream comic fans find out what is happening.
The net result of that meeting? Increased page views to GoCollect + A BIG SALES DAY for physical comics at the LCS as the group paired & matched physical books to their digital partners. I alone bought TEN BOOKS including (3) more Daredevil / Bullseye sequenced books to my physical stack...It was thrilling!
VeVeVancouver Meet Up March 2023 @ Golden Age Collectibles
Daredevil vs BullseyeOR,
What happens when a group of big-time, real-world / now VeVe digital enthusiasts get together in California? VeVe OG Whale SiliconSecure takes the crew on a tour of his MASSIVE real-world collection.
This group, which includes Disney Collector VeVeMagic, Physical-Meets-Digital Collector YouTubers ComicsandCrypto and AMAZEBALLS Writer & Director for Film & Commercial MetaVerse Lyfe, found each other from a digital collecting app, but have formed powerful friendships based on physical assets & shared nostalgia that drives inspiration to 100's of thousands of new fans.
CollectorsAtHeart2) Increased Demand for Digital Copies: As more collectors turn to digital collectible comics, there are already fewer copies of each asset type available by platform (Ex: VeVe, DC). Over time this should begin raising prices, while potentially pushing enthusiasts to acquire and “lock up” key physicals that NFT collectors may seek out.
There will always be a market for physicals, but it could grow as more people become aware of these fantastic assets, the artists, beautiful covers, and history attached, who want to own more of either the digital or physical versions.
Remember, MARVEL & DC COMICS are ALL OVER the new digital industry - they see where this is headed, and are positioning EARLY to take advantage of future growth. Collectors, both physical & digital, should be very aware of this fact...
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This poses questions on quality vs. quantity where newer audiences for instance, may be less critical of historical character flaws than older audiences. For example, the Ben Affleck Daredevil movie was not well-liked by its fans (LIKE ME!), whereas the Netflix 3-season release was ADORED. In turn, though, this could raise demand for new physical books, stories & merchandise enjoyed by comic artists to store owners alike.
Disney+ & Marvel launching EIGHTEEN episodes of Daredevil in Season-4 is proof in action. Also, the VeVe app now has multiple digital books & NFT collectibles related to Daredevil FA characters since October 2021 (FA Daredevil #1 drop), including Daredevil #131 (FA Bullseye), Daredevil #25 (FA Elektra as Daredevil), ASM #129 (FA Punisher) & more, aligning marketing efforts by Marvel & Disney to grow awareness, and enhance character appearances in the pending show!
TO WRAP UP
Interest has renewed in Marvel Comics #1 from its release on VeVe, with 60,000 copies (of which only ~300 or 0.05% of the total release, are available at the time of writing in VeVe's secondary market). Imagine how exciting it will be should a physical 9.6 or 9.8 CGC counterpart fetch $10,000,000 or more in its next Heritage Auction, as popularity surges again around the comic & Marvel global fandom?
And that's JUST MC1: AF15, FF1, ASM1, Detective Comics 1...all could see new all-time highs as the passion for collecting these incredible assets continues to increase in the months and years ahead.
SO...WHICH FORMAT WOULD I CHOOSE, PRINT OR DIGITAL?
I'm fortunate of being able to own both: 100s of physical books collected over a 30+ year journey, while now holding > 1,000 digital assets I could have NEVER found space for! If I had to remove that 'deeply loaded question aimed at my forehead" though, my apologies to those this will upset, but I'm now digital asset first, physical second. WHY?
See my previous blogs on why I've moved to PHYGITAL COLLECTING. The ease of use, buying, selling, reading anywhere I choose & fun of hunting key mint assets + the removal of resale, storage, insurance, damage, transporting & plastic use has my current focus on acquiring & stacking high-value assets in digital format.
Printed Newspapers? NOPE
My career in digital tech & media has also clearly shown we are ALL DIGITAL FIRST today. And most important, I've connected with an absolutely incredible community to (phygitally) share this journey with, which I just so enjoy!
Of course, it all depends on the preferences or habits of each collector. It's possible digital comics may decrease demand for some physicals, but my hunch is we will see overall increases in demand, especially for rare & historically significant physical versions, as more (new) comic fans enter the digital market & look into the history of these books & characters.
Titillated Indeed, and Thanks for Reading!
