...and in this corner.

The comic shop I have frequented for the past five some years has decided to close up at their current location and open up at a new location. Until that happens they have decided to forgo getting any new releases. This puts me at a dilemma. Where do I go to get my books and do I continue to go there after they move. On the 17-Feb-2010 five books from Marvel were released. I went to the comic book shop only minutes away (and that is by walking). I was not able to make it on Wednesday so I waited the extra day. I shouldn?t have. They had Dark Avengers and Uncanny X-Men, only two of the five I wanted, I walked out without them.

I decided to wait the extra week and try another comic book shop. This one I knew about from when I worked in the area (it also had a cameo in the movie Unbreakable.) So the 24th of Feb. arrived and I took the elongated drive. I brought a list of eleven comics (I made the list because knowing myself as I do, I would forget to pick up at least one.) They were missing two: Dark Avengers and DoomWar. I purchase the nine and had a quick decision to make. I could go home or go to another comic book store yet even further away.

I was back in my car and within a few blocks I picked to go to the other store. I drove to center city Philadelphia to go to a place called Fat Jack?s. I frequent them from time to time (hey I like comic book stores). Parking is always a pain in the city so when I knew I was close enough I parked at the first spot I found. It was a half a mile away. I locked my car, fed the meter, and made my way to the store, quickly (comic books get very expensive with a parking ticket).

I found both the books I wanted but they only had the Deadpool variant for the Dark Avengers at a premium price of ten dollars (ok so it was 9.99). I asked if they had any of the other cover. They didn?t but mentioned if I waited a week or two a second printing might be out. I already passed on the book the previous week. I looked at the cover as my brain was telling me no. I do have trouble purchasing a book that should still be the cover price (should I mention I also decided to buy the New Mutants #10 Deadpool variant at the same price).

I purchased two copies of DoomWar, one of the normal cover and the second was the Storm variant. I only bought the Storm cover because it was cover price (I was already buying two variants at 9.99 each I would not pay that price for a third). I also purchased it because it looks like it could be a 9.8, if I send it in then I could sell it (OK then I could use selling it as an excuse to get it graded.) Plus it did not have the pesky bar code on the front cover. I am digressing?.again.

So I have to get to the point. What is better, a second print or a first print variant? In the past between a newsstand edition and a direct edition I would prefer going to the comic book shop and getting a direct edition rather than the sub standard newsstand version at the 7-11. (I am sorry I do not like barcodes unless they are on a pack of gum). My first preference on covers is any of them at normal cover price. If more are at cover price then I?ll pick what I like but when it comes to the topic matter?. Well?..apparently I would rather get a premium priced variant (check my wallet, it?s lighter) rather than a second printing I would still have to wait for.

Thanks for reading

Tnerb