BassGMan

I wasn't going to sell until early next year, but hey, I've got an idea for an experiment. When I get this HoM lot (of the four I just bought) I am going to split it up, accurately grade each issue (to the best of my abilities) and sell it off in 10-15 different listings on Ebay all at the same time. Nothing more, nothing less, just parting it out as is. I paid $108 for the lot. Any guesses as to what it will net parted out on Ebay? I'm saying $225. Once that I receive it I'll update on this thread and post the link to all the auctions once that they are started. Here's the link again. Any other guesses as to what I'll net? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2280908270&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT

Yeah, I'm not planning on getting rich with these, but for the price I think IMO they came pretty cheap. I've sold some small lots of 5-20 readers in much worse condition than these before (G to F range) and they have actually sold for higher than I expected. Plus at cons the individual issues should do well. At least considering what I paid for them. I'm not gonna start flipping these or any of my Bronze horror until at least next Jan or Feb anyway. Plus I may even keep the better ones for my own collection. I realize that Halloween flooded Ebay with this stuff, that's why it made for good buying opportunities. I even considered selling some horror over Halloween, but then I smartened up and realized that it is easier to make money when the supply isn't so great (that should have been obvious ). ----Sid

Hi guys. OK, you all know how much I love these books but I also love to flip 'em. This post is just about the flipping side. I found a seller on Ebay (cards-n-comics) who I just think is outstanding. I bought a complete TOD set from them not too long ago that was above expectations. This is a case of an UNDERgrader, or at least very strict and honest at the least. These guys just auctioned off some nice mid-grade bronze DC horror lots which I am thinking based off of the scans and history with this seller, to be potentially undergraded again. Now there are no "gems" here. Just a nice lot of better quality readers and issues to fill some holes of people not going for "grade". Anyway, so I bought the four lots for what I think is pretty cheap. My thinking is that at conventions, and even individually (or in small groups of five) on Ebay that I can make out quite good with these. I know mid-grades do not sell for OS prices as this dealer has calculated out, but some collectors are still willing to pay fair amounts for nice readers to fill holes. I was just wondering on the opinions of my fellow Bronze horror brothers. Of course I'm not getting rich off of these cheapo issues, but it's still fun to play with new bronze books while at least making some nice small dollar profits. Four links below. -----Sid http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...me=STRK:MEWN:IT http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...me=STRK:MEWN:IT http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...me=STRK:MEWN:IT http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...me=STRK:MEWN:IT

Sterling, thanks for the detailed description. It also made me realize one more thing. Sounds like this is a way to defer your credit card payment closer to when you are going to receive your books back so that you are not paying off four months worth of interest (of course assuming you carry a balance on your card). OK, so even with pregrading they need an invoice for each 30 books, but that you can submit several invoices worth of books together in the same box. Wasn't sure about that before. Kind of funny, you are hoping that most books make it through pregrade, but the more that do, the higher the cost. I guess that's the point. I'll check about the 50 minimum thing. I can do that alot easier than 100. Not due to the cost, but doing my own cherry picking, and then my own pre-grading is very time-consuming. 50 is very doable. Thanks again------Sid

Sterling, what is the exact procedure with submitting books for a pre-grade. I've heard a little about it but I know that there are several steps to submitting, paying, receiving back rejects, etc. Could you explain the exact process? Also, I thought the minimum was 100. I guess they lowered it to 50 now? Thanks------Sid

Thanks for the review of DC Special #4. I like "book reviews" like that, they get me excited about buying the issue or at least flipping through it again if I already have it. -----Sid

Snagged! Check this one out, I just bought Ghosts #1-100. Not high grades, but a nice lot of mid-grades for an average with shipping of $2.33 each. Not bad. I love picking up large lots like this. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=12592&item=2281084368&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW -----Sid

I just received an Ebay purchase in the mail today including a complete VF/NM set of Vampire Tales. Some nice mags!

I wouldn't call flipping as investing at all. But I would call seeing an oportunity like the new interest coming into bronze horror as an opportunity to invest in some nice books and profit in two to five years. THAT is what I am talking about (as an example) regarding investing, and we are currently in the 21st century, so I think it applies. No guarantees, but prospects look good. Same thing for other genres (mainly select superhero books) over the last several decades including the last several years (2000 and beyond). Hey, it works for me. ---------Sid

Goodness, if that's not one of the most uninormed, or just plain wrong quotes I've heard in a long time, I just don't know what is. Bull...it's a very apt quote. Comics aren't guaranteed to be worth more in five years or even two. Anyone...and I mean anyone...who are throwing all their retirement funds into buying comics in the hope that 30 years down the road they'll be living the high life is living a pipe dream. People are more secure putting their money into legitimate retirement funds than comics. There is no growth in new collectors coming into this hobby. As the old ones die off there won't be an equal number of newbies to take their place. This will eventually cause a "glut", for a lack of a better term, of material in relation to the number of collectors out there. Lowering the price... To think otherwise is being misinformed... Jim Bull, it's a very (un)apt quote. I don't think anyone here is talking about throwing their retirement funds into comics, or even thinking 30 years down the road. No specifics were mentioned in the quote so I am talking investing in comics generally. There is and has been MANY fantastic opportunities to invest in comics as years go by. It has been that way, and will stay that way (at least for the next decade or two). For me, I buy in lots on Ebay and at conventions. I buy books that I believe are undervalued and underpriced. I do not buy slabbed books for investment. I strictly buy raw. There is so much opportunity out there for both flipping AND investing (one to ten years) that I wish I had more money and time to take advantage of it all. NOTHING is guaranteed to be worth more in five years, not land, not stocks and not comics. And who is talking about living the high life down the road? Just simply talking investing in comics in the current age and making money at it is all. Geez, no reason to get so serious or to go any deeper than it is. And this really isn't off topic. My buying, selling and investing over the past year or so has primarily been in bronze horror. As good, if not better than most other genres out there for investing right now.-------Sid

Goodness, if that's not one of the most uninormed, or just plain wrong quotes I've heard in a long time, I just don't know what is. Regarding investments, they don't all work out, but comics that I have purchased over the last few years and am selling now, are for the most part VERY profitable. Great investment opportunities out there right now in comics, IF you know what you are doing, and IF you do your homework. Also great deals to be had under the same circumstances. I'm a collector and small-time dealer. I'm finding great books at great prices to buy, sell and keep. Of course I pass up many books that are not priced low enough to meet my criteria, but there are enough books that are priced right for me, in the desired grade that makes for a very good investment or treasured keeper. ----------Sid

I surely hope no Sea Monkey Cocktails were ever served.

Well, for starts, WHAT were you collecting in the Copper years and what was your outlook on the whole comics thing at that time?

ARCH Thanks, gives us 30ish and 40ish guys a room to play in with comics that were coming out in our teenage an early adult years. Cool, now I gotta go dig out my 80s books and get all nostalgic on ya' all.-----Sid

Absolutely yes. I for one am just waiting. I don't even use the current Modern Forum since the main focus there is mainly on brand new books and current storylines. I don't have the patience to scan all the pages looking for 80s or even 90s comic talk. A Copper forum would give people like me another location to participate in. I'm willing to guess that it would gather more interest than either the Comic Magazines or Comic Events Forums. Copper Age Forum: BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME

I realize that trying to define a starting and stopping point for the Copper Age is fodder for great debate, and that can be entertaining. Gives us another topic to geek out about. That's fun. But for more practical purposes, developing a Copper Age Forum (whether it starts in 1980 or 1984 and ends in 1990 or 1993 etc. doesn't matter) would give us an area to talk about books that were published after Bronze but are not anywhere near being new. 10 years ago, 20 years ago whatever. Point is, we do need a middle ground but I don't care where the exact boundry lies on either side, give or take a few years . -----Sid

What's wrong with the Modern Forum? It seems to me that 80s books, and to a lessor degree 90s books are overlooked in the Modern category. "Modern" seems to focus more on current moderns, as in the past couple years, or even months. Not that there is anything wrong with that, as that is where alot of interest is. But by focusing on a more specific time period, like the 80s specifically, it would bring out more collectors such as myself that are not interested in last month's books. It just bugs me sometimes to go to the Modern boards and see all these threads about current storylines, so for the most part I just avoid it.----Sid

I guess disco would be Bronze age music whereas Culture Club (w/Boy George) is Copper age music? But seriously, some disco is great. And as a musician myself I see alot of real musicianship and good writing and production going on in much of that music. Jackson 5, KC And The Sunshine Band, Village People? That is good writing, singing, playing and production. Some better than others, and some disco really DOES suck. Listen to 70s BeeGees. That music is masterful. Stayin' Alive! Genius. I'm not kidding. I am also seeing more appreciation for it now than I have in the last 20 years. Watch out, it's comin' back. -----Sid

That's what I mean about it taking a while to gain some respect for 80s books. It just hasn't been long enough. Give it another 5-10 years and all of a sudden the "Copper Age" books will be treasures and highly touted. It seems that what was hot, then cools down, becomes totally uncool, until it is really old, then it is cool again. Like disco. Disco was laughed at all through the 80s and 90s. Now it is getting some respect again.

I'd certainly like to see it. Next to Bronze this would be my next favorite decade of comics. I'd love a place to post all my fave 80s covers. It may take a while to get a little respect. Seems like not too long ago Bronze Age was hardly worth recognizing.-----Sid

I was just flipping through a reader copy of HoM 257 and came across this ad, just had to share. Sea Monkeys, actually SUPER Sea Monkeys . You know, when I was a kid I actually thought for a long time that if I bought some of these things that they would actually look like they did in the ad, with little human-like faces and all. I believe my mom told me after years of believing this that they would look nothing like that. I never did actually buy any, but there are no other ads from the 70s that stuck to me like these did. I actually think these ads are deceptive as at the time, I think these comics were marketed towards kids and I imagine many other little ones like me also believed they would look like this. I never paid attention to the little circle on the bottom with the more realistic drawings, kids just see the fun stuff.-----Sid

Great post Sterling. Like I have said (speculated) before, I know that these books really would take off in value, as they appear to be starting to now, if only more of the mainstream comic collectors and readers were aware of the quality of these books. A year ago and farther I always just brushed off DC horror thinking they were just lame reprints (wrong assumption) and had nothing on the "superhero monsters" of Marvel books such as WBN and TOD. To me, Unexpected, HOS, HOM and so on were just readers at best. Of course I was naive at the time, I just never even paid attention. And I AM a huge horror fan. It really wasn't until early this year and hanging out on these boards that I gained my appreciation for these books. Now I am selling all my ASM and X-Men to buy more. I only bring this up because I believe there are many, many more like me, like I was. The more press they get, the more "talk" is being talked, the more they will be noticed and others will get hooked as well. Thus, increasing values. Although prices are more than they were two years ago, they are nothing compared to where they'll be in five years from now. Remember, buy low, sell high. I've been buying. -------Sid

Wow! I just scored a nice TOD lot off of Ebay. This has got to be one of the best transactions I have ever had on Ebay and this seller was outstanding in every respect. We are talking about UNDERGRADING on this lot. The described #1 in VF+ I would grade at NM- and each book should be bumped UP one or two grades. White pages, fresh bags and boards, outstanding. Anyway, just had to share my excitement on this beautiful bronze horror lot. ------Sid http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=12592&item=2268780741 to cards-n-comics

Ze-man, thanks for your review of WH #1. I have it and now may have to read it. I'm not much of a reader normally but when I hear a good review like that it makes me want to read the book or story. We are focusing mainly on covers and art and high grade copies here but I'd like to hear from anyone that has a few favorite BA horror stories. If you could maybe briefly write what the story was about and why you liked it then it would be great. This may help me and others dig out unread books to give them a shot. Thanks-----Sid

Hi guys, I haven't been around much recently, been busy ya' know. Just wanted to check in and say "hi" to the Bronze Horror gang and throw up a cool cover that may or may not have been posted yet. ------Sid