Mark 1

Congrats! Great cover. You also have an awesome collection.

If there really is $400K-500K for this cover NOW, then it's not coming from the hobby. It will be someone from outside the hobby who would pony up an amount that will be the second or third highest ever for any piece of American comic art. That would, btw, likely be a first, as most everything on the current list has been bought by established collectors. And I only say "likely" because some buyers haven't been verified...my bet, though, is that everything was bought by known collectors. I'll grant you that in 10 years time, things may be different, and there may be a crazy WD fan who enters the hobby in the interim who will be the one to pay that much. But that's also assuming the OA market stays the course...which is no sure thing. For right now, though, the pieces don't fit for a $400K-500K sale: Current BSD collectors don't pay up for modern art. Modern collectors don't spend six figures on individual pieces (let along mid-six figures). I'm not saying it's impossible...just highly, highly unlikely. Not that this means anything, either, but I compare the WD phenomenon to TMNT in the '80s. The entire TMNT #1 issue, cover and interiors, sold for $250K circa 2007. Admittedly, a totally imperfect "comp"...just throwing it out there for fun. I agree and was thinking about someone outside of the hobby who would pony up to buy it. Someone like a rock star (Rob Zombie, Kirk Hammett) is possible. It's fun to speculate. I'd love to see it happen!

My feeling on this quite honestly is if McFarland's $328 cover and the SM 1 cover sold for that much money when they (are close to modern books)...then WD could as well. Now, the history of ASM is undeniable. I don't think WD 1 OA would sell for a million but I definitely think 400-500k would be possible now or even in 10 years. Just my opinion.

This is an interesting point but speculation here is not without historical data to use as a basis to form an educated guess on the final hammer price. Looking at the prices attained for some much lesser titles, I don't think it's too far fetched to believe an astronomical number (as the others on that list) could be attained. It's all theoretical until the art is sold. Then we'll know. In the meantime, we may as well say $10M as $1M...both equally meaningless. We know that...that's obvious. It's interesting to debate it.

It's only hard to believe as an outside observer. Again, we can all speculate about what something like WD #1 would sell for...but the BSDs who are the buyers at that level are the ones who will decide. Can't say down the line, but I will say that there is no chance it will get anywhere near $1M today. If you talk to long-time collectors, most will tell you that they're surprised the WATCHMEN covers sold so HIGH. These covers have not been held in high regard-- traditionally, WM fans have preferred nice pages. These covers were floated (as a set) to BSDs for years for much less than what they auctioned for now, and there was minimal interest. Personally, I like the covers when displayed as a group, and I agree that the #1 cover is key. But the reality is that during the auction, there were three bidders at $80K, and then two guys took it to the finish. The pool is not that deep when we're talking these types of numbers. Having said all that, I think the WATCHMEN #1 cover is a decent "value", relative to some of the other high-dollar entries on that list. Agreed, which is why I just don't think TWD #1 is pulling 1 million. I love TWD, but you can tell from that list that the ingredients for a top dollar sale are legendary artist + well known/regarded character or franchise. TWD is on it's way, but it isn't ASM. And Tony is one of my favorite artists of the modern era, but his lack of available art to me is a big reason why his pieces have so much attention. I am constantly amazed at how easily people can throw around huge numbers when speculating on value, and I can't help but feel that a lot of this has to do with the fact that most of us, when speculating on such things, are nowhere near being in a position to make such a purchase, and so it's akin to valuation with Monopoly money. It might be easy enough to say that xyz should be worth $1M...but there is a HUGE difference between speculation when you don't have it, and spending it on comic art when you do. This is an interesting point but speculation here is not without historical data to use as a basis to form an educated guess on the final hammer price. Looking at the prices attained for some much lesser titles, I don't think it's too far fetched to believe an astronomical number (as the others on that list) could be attained.

Thanks! In the other picture it sure did look like a diamond. My first cover and i'm so happy about it.

I agree 5 is too young. My son is 8 and he is still to young for it. I'd say 13 is the youngest I would go. I have a friend who lets his 9 year old son read WD and watch the show. His son even makes his own zombie movies on his iPhone. I'm a bit worried about him.

Turns out that it's exactly the same on both

Thanks! I can't stop looking at it!

OH im jelly! Very nice! If I saw you with that I would def try to buy it from you On the original the card in Gambits hand looks like the ace of spades, but then is clearly the ace of diamonds on the book. That's an interesting observation. I wonder why...

AMAZING! Congrats!!!

Thanks! Luke McConnell

Awesome Retro! And you got a 9.8 on that midnight sketch 115. What would that 114 9.9 go for?

This needed to be bumped from page 3 My current slabbed Iron Man collection (everything else is raw)

Quick response to this.. Yes it is used in the comic and not the tv show. Not because of the impact of rape but because a mature comic has much more leeway than a tv show. As for it being thrown in as a plot device, I don't know if that's right or not. I know it hasn't happened a lot in over 115 issues of the comic. I'm not Kirkman and don't know his motivations. I think it's an adult comic and your shock or disappointment is completely fine. Just don't expect us to agree in the walking dead fan thread. Lastly, the comic is not causing men to consider rape or to make it any less heinous. Those old enough to read it (and kids should not be buying or reading it) should know better it's fiction and not be influenced or desensitized to the atrocities of rape. Now bring on the walking dead happy discussions! Anyone see my WD sale?

Last year at this time, there were 7 cgc 9.9's. Now there are 15. It seems like the people that wanted a 9.9 and had the means to buy it, have done so. Now the prices are dropping to the next tier buyer. I stole this link from ExcludedTim on the TWD thread http://www.cgcdata.com/cgc/issuehistory.asp?comicid=43829 Interesting data. Thanks for sharing, I don't think that the WD 1 9.9 selling for $7600 had anything to do with CL and their clientele. The number 19 in 9.8 sold for $620 or about $100 over the 12 month average price. The number 7 in 9.9 came in right at the last recorded GPA sale. So there appears to be plenty of WD collectors at CL's auctions. The downward trend on 9.9's is most likely as you've said - there are twice as many 9.9's now as there were a year ago. But not 2x as many people looking to pay the 9.9 premium. This is exactly the reason why WD 9.9 pricing will continue to tumble. There needs to be a 10 and then we will see some crazy pricing. why wouldn't this same argument hold for 9.8's? a little over a year ago there were 400 9.8's, now there are 650. given the huge surge in supply, it's impressive the book has held steady or even increased slightly since then. Because in 9.8 it's still affordable enough for the demand and the price has maintained value due to the demand.

Last year at this time, there were 7 cgc 9.9's. Now there are 15. It seems like the people that wanted a 9.9 and had the means to buy it, have done so. Now the prices are dropping to the next tier buyer. I stole this link from ExcludedTim on the TWD thread http://www.cgcdata.com/cgc/issuehistory.asp?comicid=43829 Interesting data. Thanks for sharing, I don't think that the WD 1 9.9 selling for $7600 had anything to do with CL and their clientele. The number 19 in 9.8 sold for $620 or about $100 over the 12 month average price. The number 7 in 9.9 came in right at the last recorded GPA sale. So there appears to be plenty of WD collectors at CL's auctions. The downward trend on 9.9's is most likely as you've said - there are twice as many 9.9's now as there were a year ago. But not 2x as many people looking to pay the 9.9 premium. This is exactly the reason why WD 9.9 pricing will continue to tumble. There needs to be a 10 and then we will see some crazy pricing.

Thanks! I am super excited that I picked this up! I recently learned about Clay Mann. I need to check out more of his work.

Awesome art TPB! Any of those 11x17?

That's an insanely dumb response. YES, a hundred times yes! That's one more thing I hate about it. I made the point before - it's always used to show just how "evil" a guy is. It's so far from what rape actually is. It perpetuates the myth that rape is only committed by evil monsters lurking in dark places. This is exactly why M.Millar got flack. He explained that he used rape in the story to show how bad the guy was. You don't need to tell me how common rape and other awful things are. I don't think that holds any weight for the argument you're putting forward though. In fact, I think it weakens it in this particular case. "A plot like rape" in any story, not just TWD isn't inherently lazy writing and isn't always used for shock. I've already said that. In this case, the rape-revenge issue was most definitely shock for shock's sake. I honestly don't know how you can argue otherwise. I mean, that was Ennis level torture porn. Reading the story, it felt like the only purpose of the rape was to have that torture scene afterwards. That really *spooned* me off. It's so unbelievably lazy and completely disrespectful. It's a dude writing about a woman getting raped and then having revenge torture. That's introducing rape into a story for the shock factor and for "entertainment". And I honestly don't buy the argument of a story like this being "expected" to have rape or that it somehow needs rape to remain realistic (it's about zombies ffs). I'll back up my opinion of that by pointing out there are plenty of similar stories, either end-of-world scenarios or zombie stories that don't have rape and cope just fine without having rape. I mean, if you saw a zombie movie where people were acting like animals and there wasn't a rape scene would you think afterwards "yeah, that was really cool, but the lack of a rape scene really spoiled it for me"? Is this what you're saying? Cos it sounds ridiculous to me. Also, the tv show doesn't have the rape or the torture scene. I've never said Kirkman's writing is plagued with sexism. I even pointed out myself that I was glad Michonne at least had a personality (if I'm remembering correctly) before the rape and it certainly wasn't the definition of her character or the only reason for her being in the comic in the first place. So please don't use strawman arguments. You are entitled to your opinion about rape being present in TWD. Yes, it has happened a couple of times. And, to some women comic fans, I can see how this can offend you. But, look at it from a perspective that this WILL happen if society is broken and no laws or people to enforce them are around. If men like Negan or the Governor were in charge...you'd be wrong thinking this wouldn't happen. It's an unfortunate fact but back in ancient times rape was extremely prevalent. Read about it. Doesn't make it right and I can see how a woman could be sickened by it. Kirkman is only exposing realities that would happen in a post apocalyptic world. Mad men running around with no police or legal system? If I were a woman, I'd be very scared in that world. With that said, we get you don't like it.

Agreed, that is awesome art!