Classic Comic Exchange

[Scott Harris]

Thanks, zryson -- I appreciate that. These days, my entire (anti)social life pretty much consists of posting here &, usually to a much lesser extent, at Baseball Think Factory. Sad, isn't it?

Sports and comics? That's not sad, it's a life goal!

[Aaron King]

I still fully plan on participating. I just finished a big move, though, so I need to get all my short boxes in a row. I'm pretty sure I have some Duck comics and some random horror/sci-fi books that I'd be willing to send out; I just have to find them.

[dan bailey]

Sports and comics? That's not sad, it's a life goal!

An unhealthy number of my (& a lot of other people's) posts on BTF are comics-related, actually ... like mine from a few minutes ago positing Galactus as the owner of the Yankees. (Other people's nominees include the Kingpin, the Red Skull & various evil clones of Captain America.) It helps that the main instigator of most threads is really fond of posting Silver Age Legion panels with his links ... Several of those guys would (& at least a couple already do) fit right in here &/or in other CBR forums; heck, I first learned of Creig Flessel's death from one of 'em a couple of years ago.

[Jolly Mon]

Yes, it's impressive, but with a humble well worn copy you can dive into it fearlessly. Such "commoners" are, shall I say, much more inviting... old friends rather than rarefied specimens. A 9.4 is condemned to a sad and lonely retirement, a totem in box, a frigid virgin in its closet. A 2.0-4.0 you can share a beer with around the kitchen table, show it all the love it wants... and there's the jolt.

I like the "frigid virgin" analogy, which applies particularly well to slabbed comics. The comic that's sealed in plastic because it's much too valuable to read is similar to those who collect wines that are much too valuable to drink. You have it, but you can't enjoy it the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

Sort of like comparing the slabbed (or sealed in mylar) "frigid virgin" to the lower grade comic's "lusty tavern wench", eager to provide enjoyment to all.

[CromagnonMan]

Yeah, i often wondered why people collected pristine comics, it must be because they see them as a good investment rather than to read.

[shaxper]

Yeah, i often wondered why people collected pristine comics, it must be because they see them as a good investment rather than to read.

I've always wondered how much of a big deal condition was prior to the early '90s when non-comic readers suddenly decided that comics were a better investment to jump into than real estate (which, in a sense, proved to be true).

Certainly, CGC has created a new hyper concern over 9.2 versus 10.0, which never mattered to anyone ten years ago.

In the end, do we worry about condition because we assume that others are worried about condition (I can't sell this for as much, or I won't get the same bragging rights), or does the inherent value of the comic change when you own a VF+ instead of a 10.0 minit?

[Jolly Mon]

Yeah, i often wondered why people collected pristine comics, it must be because they see them as a good investment rather than to read.

I think you're exactly right, though I would add "bragging rights" in there too.

After all, folks like Ultimate Jezebel have said on numerous occasions, including a little further up this thread, that they have their pristine copy, and then they have a reprint or reader copy to read. Fine for them, but I can't see the point of more than one copy of a comic, except as you say as an investment.

The few duplicates I have out of my 7500+ comics were mostly accidents due to failing memory. Except for a couple that stand out in my mind:

There was the New Teen Titans/X-Men crossover that I bought, and then I got an autographed copy free as a promotional thing from ordering another comic through the mail.

Then I have a 100-page issue of Justice League #112 (I think) that is totally beat up, but I've had it since I bought it new. I recently got a better copy in an ebay lot of #110-112, but I'm keeping the old ratty copy too, out of sentimental value.

[CromagnonMan]

or does the inherent value of the comic change when you own a VF+ instead of a 10.0 minit?

yep, the price variation will be hundreds of $$$ or £££'s on rare issues most probably.

[Jolly Mon]

yep, the price variation will be hundreds of $$$ or £££'s on rare issues most probably.

I would argue the difference between "price" and "value", but like most things, it's in the eye of the beholder.

[shaxper]

yep, the price variation will be hundreds of $$$ or £££'s on rare issues most probably.

But does the price difference match the difference in inherent value? Is the book truly worth hundreds of dollars more to you, or do you just pay that much more because a guide says you should?

In my case, I just don't see the big deal. As many of you know, I've spent lots and lots and lots to acquire key issues over the years, but I do not pay for pristine. Generally speaking, VF is fine for me, and I'll even drop to G- for pricey Golden Age issues. Having one in Mint or Near Mint just doesn't matter to me. I have trouble understanding why it does to anyone. I guess its cool for it to have that "like it was printed yesterday" feeling, but then where the heck does the concern for 9.8 and 10.0s come from? Most comics on the stand were NEVER in that condition in the first place.

[dan bailey]

I can only assume that certain people fear money is toxic, & that to lessen the danger it poses they have to get rid of it as soon -- & as frivolously -- as possible.

Fortunately, I suppose, I don't have that problem. More like the opposite ...

[Jezebel Bond]

I guess its cool for it to have that "like it was printed yesterday" feeling, but then where the heck does the concern for 9.8 and 10.0s come from? Most comics on the stand were NEVER in that condition in the first place.

That's why they command a higher premium in terms of price when compared to a copy that's still in great shape but has obviously been handled.

And again, it simply boils down to preference. When I handpick my copy out of a pile of 20, I don't just take any one...I take the one that has the best eye-appeal to me.

[dan bailey]

But then of course the slabbing nonsense just ups the ante for no reason whatsoever except the purely monetary ...

... but that way lies madness.

[Jezebel Bond]

But then of course the slabbing nonsense just ups the ante for no reason whatsoever except the purely monetary ...

... but that way lies madness.

The slabbing nonsense keeps my high-grade copy...high-grade. If it also earns me a steep premium SHOULD I decide to sell it, compared to someone else's copy that's simply bagged and boarded and has a dog-ear in the lower-right corner, well that's a bonus.

But many slabbers are licking their wounds on the resale market...simply because they chose to slab crap and can't even recoup the original slabbing cost. To these poor souls...I point and laugh...

The same can't be said for books which have stood the test of time and are always in demand. Those are the ones to keep safe.

[shaxper]

I just don't get it. The whole looking for 9.8s because they're hard to find and slabbing to get a higher return if/when you sell bears no relationship to the charm/appeal of the comic itself. Why not just collect restaurant menus in 9.8 condition and slab those?

Comics are meant to be read...aren't they?