CongoBill

Wow! High-Grade Pre-Code Horror!

That is FANTASTIC!

Yeah, they are fun. I'm missing #163, #164, and #167 so maybe there is a zombie on one of those covers.

Just picked up these cool Ghost Gallery cover issues of Jumbo Comics. Anybody collect these?

Wow, for a moment there I almost thought I killed the thread with this post. Nothing from anybody on this one? Nobody cares about these books? They're definitely "hot." Look at the eBay auctions going on. I think it's interesting to see a little publishing venture come out of nowhere and gain some traction and buzz. Not an easy thing to do.

I don't know if it's been discussed in this thread (my apologies if it has) but it looks like two very hot moderns right now are "Space Riders" and "We Can Never Go Home," both published by Black Mask Studios. I wasn't even aware of these until I saw the latest prints of Space Riders at my LCS yesterday. First prints of both series are bidding upwards of $50 on eBay, with plenty of bidders. Probably very small print runs. Both first issues are in third printings, with #2 and #3 in second printings. I'd seen some of the Black Mask titles on the racks but didn't pay any attention, but I purchased Space Riders #1, #2, and #3 yesterday and really enjoyed it. Kind of a mashup of Paul Pope, Johnny Ryan, and a little Steve Mannion thrown in. Wacky and fun stuff. Haven't read "We Can Never Go Home" as my LCS had zero copies.

Very cool! What is the condition on that TMIH #15? It looks really nice. That is a pretty tough book.

Awesome group of books there! Congrats!

Awaiting delivery on these two beauties from a fellow boardie. Wow, those are fantastic looking books! Congrats!

Awesome book!

Here ya go. Not high grade, but it's one of those books I'm just glad to have. Tough to photograph these slabs - tried to minimize the glare.

Steve, it was great meeting you, and it's cool to see the TMIH on here. Looks nice! For my first contribution to this thread, here is a book I won in the recent ComicConnect auction. I just got it in the mail today. Makes a nice companion for my Strange Tales #28.

For what it's worth, on the latest issue of Unity with the Valiant 25th anniversary variant cover, it notes that Livewire was established in 1993. But as with some other characters, there are significant differences in the old and new characters. So you're looking at potentially two keys. Three, perhaps, if you consider her appearance in #15 of the original series as a cameo, which it pretty much is. She's in action in the next issue. I may have to pick up Harbinger (V1) #16! Thanks!

Thanks for the info! I wasn't aware of the Randy Cartier character. I see she first appeared in X-O (V1) #21 and had a pretty significant role in that series.

What is considered the true first appearance of Livewire? I'm talking about the Livewire that has become such a prominent player in the current VEI universe. Is it Harbinger (V1) #15 or Harbinger (VEI) #3? Harbinger (V1) #15 is listed as the first Livewire, but I just read that book and, unless I missed something, there is nobody referred to as Livewire in that book. There is an Amanda who makes a quick appearance, but she's white! The current Livewire (also named Amanda) is African-American. I never read the original Harbinger series so I don't know if that Amanda from Harbinger #15 becomes Livewire and what her powers are. Does she have the same powers as the VEI Amanda/Livewire? I'm just trying to figure out if the new Amanda/Livewire is an updated version of the same character from the V1 universe, or a brand new character.

Does ANYONE count the first (non original) apps of the New Valiant as keys? Like to I care about first Ninjak or Archer and Armstrong? Is it essentially like the first Batman in New 52? Not sure about that... it does seem like the first Batman in New 52, but there was 15+ years of no Valiant. Would it be more like Captain America returning to Marvel in Avengers #4? There seem to be three types of "firsts" in Valiant 2012-present 1) First appearance of an all new character (Bleeding Monk) 2) First appearance of an almost completely new character (Livewire) 3) First 2012 appearance of prior character (X-O Manowar) I guess it's similar to 1992's Valiant Magnus #12 being the first appearance of Turok in the Valiant Universe. His true first appearance was Four Color #596 from 1954, but Magnus #12 was a Valiant key. Yeah, they certainly aren't true first appearances, but the new VEI universe feels very different and seems completely removed from those original incarnations, at least in my mind. There isn't really much of a connection between the original Valiant comics and the VEI comics, other than in name. And as somebody who has been been reading all the new VEI titles published since 2012, I feel the first appearances in the new VEI universe are significant in their own right. While most collectors will probably always go after the original Valiant Comics first appearances, I just don't find myself caring that much about those books. That may be due, in part, to the fact that the original Valiant books are so plentiful that there really is no challenge in collecting them. If you want them there are plenty out there for everybody. But many of the new VEI books, especially some of the rare variant covers, are legitimately tough to get. It's like there are two completely different eras of Valiant comics, both unique, but excellent in their own ways.

I recently ordered one from Midtown along with a small pile of other VEI variants and it arrived on Saturday. I was worried about condition but this copy looks stellar. Admittedly, I am a novice when it comes to understanding what (in CGC's mind) separates a 9.4 from a 9.6 from a 9.8 with these modern books, but this copy looks flawless to me. I am pleased.

I haven't read the new VEI Rai series but I'm going to check it out. I did buy the whole run of X-O Manowar on Comixology last week when they were having a bundle sale. I'd read it through issue 12 or something when it originally came out but dropped it. I started reading again with #23 and it's really good. I also liked the first two issues of Divinity.

WOW! All of those for a buck a piece? I've been scouring my local comics shops and they all seem hip to the renewed interest in older Valiants. The few keys I've seen have been priced up, but the reality is I haven't seen that many Valiant keys at all (I'm in San Diego, btw).

It's a little early to know who will be a main character less than 3 years into the relaunch, but... Totally New Characters since Valiant 2012: Bleeding Monk Cronus Darpan Divinity GIN-GR Kay McHenry A few of the old Valiant characters are so different, they're basically new: Livewire Dr. Mirage Vine (formerly Spider Aliens(?)) Here's some discussion on the ValiantFans.com board: http://valiantfans.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=45390 It is fun to speculate on stuff like this but what are people's thoughts on the viability of VEI? Even with the new movie deal the deck is still stacked against them as those movies will actually need to be made (which is a long way from being "in development") and also be great (and successful) movies. I say this because there is very little chance the publishing operation will sustain them, especially with how much money they are clearing pouring into what they are doing. Hiring top creators and designing, producing, packaging, printing, and marketing great looking comics is not cheap. You have to sell a lot of comics to start making that kind of money back. And while it seems like VEI is making all the right moves in terms of creating a quality line of comics I have to wonder how many people are actually buying them. It'd be interesting to know the print runs of the new VEI comics -- probably not as big as we might think. Obviously it's all about the movie deal for VEI, but even with that it will be tough for them since their characters aren't known outside of fandom. And even in comics fandom the Valiant characters aren't THAT popular when compared to DC and Marvel. I certainly hope they can pull it off and not be another operation with big plans who ends up fizzling out, but we've all seen it before where people with deep pockets get into the comic book publishing game and then flame out when the money runs out. The original Valiant had phenomenal initial success but could not sustain it. And anybody remember Crossgen? I'm not saying that is where VEI is heading but they have a long, tough road ahead of them. At least they do have a movie/TV development deal in their pockets. That will theoretically keep them going for while even if the movie/TV plans don't pan out.

can anyone imagine this being a 'big score' 2 months ago. I could have. But thats because December / January are my Peyote months.

Nice! Love the obscure titles!

It's interesting they mention the last issues being rare. That is exactly what I was thinking as I was reading through this thread. I bet the last 10 or so issues of each run had pretty small print runs and very few people were probably collecting them at that point. Most probably ended up getting dinged up in quarter bins. I'm not saying those last issues will surpass the more significant key issues in value, but they are definitely scarcer. The final issues are definitely scarce, but I wouldn't advise reading them. ...if you value your sanity in any way. That bad, huh?

It's interesting they mention the last issues being rare. That is exactly what I was thinking as I was reading through this thread. I bet the last 10 or so issues of each run had pretty small print runs and very few people were probably collecting them at that point. Most probably ended up getting dinged up in quarter bins. I'm not saying those last issues will surpass the more significant key issues in value, but they are definitely scarcer.

I bought all the Valiant books off the stands when they originally came out and really enjoyed them all. And when they got hot and started selling for crazy prices I sold 'em all for hundreds of dollars. It was quite a haul for a stack of new comics for which I'd paid cover price. I also remember enjoying the Ultraverse titles as well.