Jaydogrules

One thing you don't know about the census is if any were cracked and resubbed. Only 8 9.8's. This is true but if you look at cgcdata you can see that they've hit the census regularly. No chance for re-subs really. It is fairly obvious there are more of the book than were originally advertised , though still a long way from being "common". There's 7 unique raw copies on eBay alone right now. -J.

That same copy has "sold " a few times.... Also, I have seen at least 30 unique copies on eBay. There are 19 copies on the census too. So yes, definitely more than 14 printed. It's unlikely less than one case (~200-250) were printed. -J.

I could probably stretch the list out to 25, but after that things would get pretty convoluted.... -J.

Hey that does looks nice. Thanks jreezy! -J.

9.2-9.4, a few color breaking spine stresses on the front and a small dog ear on the bottom. Back looks good, some non-color breaking spine stressing. Okay yes I was thinking pretty much in the 9.0/9.2 range as well. Green label of course. But even those have been getting near blue label prices in grade of late. -J.

Yes I saw that too. What grade would you say that book was? -J.

The politically correct answer is that you can only ballpark the "distribution" of an RI variant based on the numbers reported by comichron., not the literal print numbers. However, since it is highly unlikely that publishers are randomly over-printing books by excessive amounts that retailers are not actually ordering, and equally highly unlikely that the entire RI programs of all publishers are a complete fraud, ballparking the print numbers from the comichron reports are not only reasonable , it really is the only method we have (barring any additional information that may come to light on a specific book). -J.

Okay gents after double checking GPA here is the updated Dirty Dozen: #12- Amazing Spider-Man #688, J. Scott Campbell (2012)- Did you really think we'd get very far on this list without seeing a JSC? Typically known for his pin-up work, this cover by him is actually kind of scary, and has broken $1500 in a 9.8 as the folks who missed it when it first came out (or did not even realize it was a JSC cover) scramble to add it to their collections before it moves even further up the list. #11- Amazing Spider-Man #700, Ditko (2013)- A ridiculous 1:200 ratio made this ridiculously expensive right out the gate, with some SS copies skyrocketing as high as $4000 upon its initial release. It has since settled down, but a recent uptick in prices, coupled with the strength of its past sales earns this the #10 spot. #10- X-23 #1, Dell'Otto (2010)- Another great and hot artist lodges his first cover here. Combined with the fact that X-23 may be Marvel's hottest female character right now, a rumoured movie appearance, and a breath-taking cover, and you have a book that has been fetching $1300+ in a 9.8 and $600+ raw. #9- Saga #1 RRP (2012)- Image's premier issue of its second best selling title gets the nod here. A signed copy has gone for as much as $1900, and its cult status should keep this book held in high regard for years to come. #8- Walking Dead #100, Lucille/Red Foil Editions (2012)- The introduction of the iconic Negan in these crazy- rare issues has some people paying as much as $1800 for a 9.8 since word first leaked that he would (finally) be making his appearance in the show. Depending on how they ultimately end up depicting him there, these books could easily move up the list! #7- Siege #3, J. Scott Campbell (2010)- A bizarre retailer incentive that involved destroying other comic books, a super hot artist, and one of Marvel's most trendy characters flossing on the cover are the perfect recipe to catapult this book to $2000+ in a 9.8. #6- Spawn #185, Sketch (2008)- One of Image's original and longest running titles checks in here with its most valuable RI variant to date. Clocking in at $2750 the last time a 9.8 copy came up for sale publicly, the scant census numbers should keep rare variant chasers on their heels and this book in high value and esteem for the foreseeable future. Shout out to Topnotchman for pointing this awesome book out. #5- Batman #608 RRP (2002)- The granddaddy of the RRP's (and possibly all modern variants) makes the top 5. And why not? It's Batman, a first appearance of a new villain, and Part One of a story line that put the Batman title back on top. Oh yeah, and it has Jim Lee art. With prices at well over $3,000 for 9.8's and copies seeming to have disappeared into personal collections, don't expect to get this one on the cheap ever again (if you can even find one). #4- Uncanny X-Men #510 Partial Sketch Cover, J. Scott Campbell (2009)- Without a doubt the most valuable and hard to find convention book out there, 9.6 copies of these have sold for $2800, and only proves once again that Campbell + crazy rarity + beautiful pin-up art = salivating fans and $$$. All things considered, it wouldn't take much for this book to jump up higher on this list. #3- Wolverine #1, J. Scott Campbell (2010)- Yet another JSC cover, this one his best, lands at #3. Featuring a stocky Wolverine bulging out of Deadpool's costume, this book easily commands $3k+ in a 9.8 and is very strong in all down grades, as well as raw. It was another "destroy comics" incentive to retailers, an incentive that was so derided in the industry that it has yet to be repeated, but resulted in a book with a very low print run and insatiable demand. It was the uber-high sales prices of this book a couple of years ago that really got the JSC train going at 100 miles per hour, and if it ever stops chugging along, people will still be paying big money for this book. #2- Amazing Spider-Man #678 (2012)- This now classic and oft-reprinted and homaged cover features Mary Jane in mid-possession by the alien symbiote known as Venom. Its character mash-up and spoof elements made it an instant hit right out of the gate and it never looked back. A 1:50 variant released when ASM sales were barely cracking 50,000, this book has gone for $3500 in a 9.8 (on the rare occasion they're offered), and still breaks $1000 in an 8.5! Raw copies routinely break $1000 and its scarcity on the market, its "modern grail" status, and presence in the ASM run should keep it at the top of this list for a very long time. #1- Amazing Spider-Man #667, Dell'Otto (2011)- Really? Like, what else was it going to be? We're talking about a book that sells in raw, 8.0'ish condition for $2500. Possibly one of the rarest books of all in the entire ASM run, this book is a completionist's nightmare, and a rare variant hunter's wet dream. Hardly ever offered for sale, in any condition, there have been rumours and reports that as few as ~200 of these were produced. Whether this is true or not, however few copies there are seem to have already disappeared into permanent collections, and it is a veritable feeding frenzy when a copy does find its way to market. If there is such a thing as "Golden Age rarity" in the Modern Age (whether that rarity is "manufactured" or not), the ASM 667 Dell'Otto has it, and at this rate, there could easily come a time when years go by without a copy seeing the light of day. ***Waiting in the Wings*** Batman #1, Sketch (2011), Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Black Cat #1, J. Scott Campbell (2010), Uncanny X-Force #20, Venom Variant (2012). -J.

Yep. Good call. That definitely needs to be dropped into the Dirty Dozen. I will update the list a little later. -J.

That's interesting. I don't think those are technically first prints. Are there even any that sell for at least $1000 on the regular in a 9.8? -J.

Nice pick up! Why doesn't that ever happen to me..... -J.

Not old enough (10/13), but If the book still goes for what it did when it first came out the next time one comes up for sale, I will gladly update the list. And really, no need to derail the thread with petty personal attacks. Thanks. -J.

Can someone with GPA access post this books history? Thank you, I'm not very familiar with this books history. What was the highest recorded sale and going price in universal 9.8 when it was more sought after than it is has been the last few years. There were three random sales for over $2000 in 2006. It has averaged under $1000 since then.... -J. Thanks Jay No problem. -J.

Can someone with GPA access post this books history? Thank you, I'm not very familiar with this books history. What was the highest recorded sale and going price in universal 9.8 when it was more sought after than it is has been the last few years. There were three random sales for over $2000 in 2006. It has averaged under $1000 since then.... -J.

My pleasure, it was a blast! These kinds of discussions are like catnip to a variant freak such as myself. -J.

The Black Panther #1 NYCC was considered, but there just are not enough public sales, just that one 9.6 sale is not enough to validate a place on the list (as even the $800 price tag is well below even the average of the Batman #1 Sketch in the #12 spot). Same issue with the Ultimate Spider-Man Pichelli Sketch. There is one sale in a 9.8 for $1009 (too low in a 9.8 to make the list), and then another 8.5 sale for $2700 two years later that looks way too outlier-ish (and is unsupported by any other public sales) to be considered at the moment. As for 9.9's, recalled/error books, etc, and/or non-variants with many highly sought after signatures, those aren't variants as intended by the publishers, and have value for other reasons. -J.

Cooled off, but still not cheap. Hasn't broken $1000 in the last year in a 9.8, so it didn't make the list. As for Danger Girl #2 "Ruby Red", I see it as more synonymous with the '90's style "variants" like McFarlane's Spider-Man #1 and Legends of Batman (though obviously nowhere near as mass produced) than the others on the list. Perhaps even a pre-cursor or a bridge to the style of variants that we have today (hence the term "modern" variant, not necessarily "modern variant"). But if the consensus is that Danger Girl #2 is a "modern" variant consistent with what we know them to be today, then let's include it. If we do, based on the limited public sales available , it would slide in at around the #11 spot and knock the Batman #1 sketch off the list.... -J.

Sex Criminals #6, still way too new (6/2014, also, the sales price was actually $1500 not $2249), and Uncanny X- Force #20 Venom variant got an honorary mention , but missed the cut-off. -J.

Good points all around buddy, everyone should read your reply for sure. These books could crumble, or skyrocket, or lay dormant, no one knows. But I think these are the ones in the MA least likely to take an utter nosedive. If it were me, I'd swap out the WD 100 for Danger Girl #2 Campbell Ruby Red Variant. But I can assure you the cover has nothing to do with it. Jerome Thank you Jerome I really like the significance of the Ruby Red, but if I'm not mistaken that may fall in Copper Age. Its from '98 IIRC. Jerome Definitely a modern, hard to find, and on the pricey side, but I didn't include it because it doesn't really fit the "modern variant" mold, in that the only difference between the covers is the colouring of the title lettering. -J.

I looked at that one! Book has topped out at $800 (once) in a yellow label. She's flying higher than before but still has quite a ways to go to crack the Dirty Dozen. Thanks for all of the feedback so far guys. I didn't expect to make a post like this without making some waves. -J.

Despite some of the occasional negative jibber-jabber about modern variants, they in fact are some of, if not the most, valuable and highly sought after books of the modern age. I recently decided to do an analysis of the values of the current top variants in the hobby, and rank them in value. Obviously this list will be fluid, but as of now, these are your top books. In coming up with the list I gave the most weight to historical 9.8 sales. I included all label colours. Where the books are so rarely offered in that (or any) grade I factored in strength of 9.6 and down grade sales, in addition to raw sales. All closed sales used are public information (meaning I did not count private sales even if I personally knew them to be valid). Where the rankings were close I used the strength of non-9.8 sales and raw copies as a tie-breaker. The criteria: 1) Book must be at least three years old. No newly released "hot" variants were used, as we all know, the vast majority of them do not hold value. The books used need to have shown some kind of staying power; 2) No recalled/error books were used. Those are not "variants" as intended by the publishers; 3) First prints only; 4) Blank covers and/or sketched books were not considered. With these standards in place I came up with a "Dirty Dozen" list of books. Not very many at all, considering how many variants are released by the publishers in a given year. The list is so small, in fact, that it validates the warnings by many who advise against "over-spending" on a variant the day (or even year) it comes out. But these books are the exception. They are the cream of the crop. The diamonds in the rough. These are your modern variant keys: #12- Batman #1 Sketch Cover (2011)- Batman, Batman, Batman. It's not surprising that the most popular DC character would have a spot (or two) on this list. This hard to find cover easily breaks $1k in a 9.8 nowadays, and why not? It's the first issue in the run in one of the best artistic pairings on the title ever. #11- Amazing Spider-Man #688, J. Scott Campbell (2012)- Did you really think we'd get very far on this list without seeing a JSC? Typically known for his pin-up work, this cover by him is actually kind of scary, and has broken $1500 in a 9.8 as the folks who missed it when it first came out (or did not even realize it was a JSC cover) scramble to add it to their collections before it moves even further up the list. #10- Amazing Spider-Man #700, Ditko (2013)- A ridiculous 1:200 ratio made this ridiculously expensive right out the gate, with some SS copies skyrocketing as high as $4000 upon its initial release. It has since settled down, but a recent uptick in prices, coupled with the strength of its past sales earns this the #10 spot. #9- X-23 #1, Dell'Otto (2010)- Another great and hot artist lodges his first cover here. Combined with the fact that X-23 may be Marvel's hottest female character right now, a rumoured movie appearance, and a breath-taking cover, and you have a book that has been fetching $1300+ in a 9.8 and $600+ raw. #8- Saga #1 RRP (2012)- Image's premier issue of its second best selling title gets the nod here. A signed copy has gone for as much as $1900, and its cult status should keep this book held in high regard for years to come. #7- Walking Dead #100, Lucille/Red Foil Editions (2012)- The introduction of the iconic Negan in these crazy- rare issues has some people paying as much as $1800 for a 9.8 since word first leaked that he would (finally) be making his appearance in the show. Depending on how they ultimately end up depicting him there, these books could easily move up the list! #6- Siege #3, J. Scott Campbell (2010)- A bizarre retailer incentive that involved destroying other comic books, a super hot artist, and one of Marvel's most trendy characters flossing on the cover are the perfect recipe to catapult this book to $2000+ in a 9.8. #5- Batman #608 RRP (2002)- The granddaddy of the RRP's (and possibly all modern variants) makes the top 5. And why not? It's Batman, a first appearance of a new villain, and Part One of a story line that put the Batman title back on top. Oh yeah, and it has Jim Lee art. With prices at well over $3,000 for 9.8's and copies seeming to have disappeared into personal collections, don't expect to get this one on the cheap ever again (if you can even find one). #4- Uncanny X-Men #510 Partial Sketch Cover, J. Scott Campbell (2009)- Without a doubt the most valuable and hard to find convention book out there, 9.6 copies of these have sold for $2800, and only proves once again that Campbell + crazy rarity + beautiful pin-up art = salivating fans and $$$. All things considered, it wouldn't take much for this book to jump up higher on this list. #3- Wolverine #1, J. Scott Campbell (2010)- Yet another JSC cover, this one his best, lands at #3. Featuring a stocky Wolverine bulging out of Deadpool's costume, this book easily commands $3k+ in a 9.8 and is very strong in all down grades, as well as raw. It was another "destroy comics" incentive to retailers, an incentive that was so derided in the industry that it has yet to be repeated, but resulted in a book with a very low print run and insatiable demand. It was the uber-high sales prices of this book a couple of years ago that really got the JSC train going at 100 miles per hour, and if it ever stops chugging along, people will still be paying big money for this book. #2- Amazing Spider-Man #678 (2012)- This now classic and oft-reprinted and homaged cover features Mary Jane in mid-possession by the alien symbiote known as Venom. Its character mash-up and spoof elements made it an instant hit right out of the gate and it never looked back. A 1:50 variant released when ASM sales were barely cracking 50,000, this book has gone for $3500 in a 9.8 (on the rare occasion they're offered), and still breaks $1000 in an 8.5! Raw copies routinely break $1000 and its scarcity on the market, its "modern grail" status, and presence in the ASM run should keep it at the top of this list for a very long time. #1- Amazing Spider-Man #667, Dell'Otto (2011)- Really? Like, what else was it going to be? We're talking about a book that sells in raw, 8.0'ish condition for $2500. Possibly one of the rarest books of all in the entire ASM run, this book is a completionist's nightmare, and a rare variant hunter's wet dream. Hardly ever offered for sale, in any condition, there have been rumours and reports that as few as ~200 of these were produced. Whether this is true or not, however few copies there are seem to have already disappeared into permanent collections, and it is a veritable feeding frenzy when a copy does find its way to market. If there is such a thing as "Golden Age rarity" in the Modern Age (whether that rarity is "manufactured" or not), the ASM 667 Dell'Otto has it, and at this rate, there could easily come a time when years go by without a copy seeing the light of day. Well there's the list. Not surprisingly it is Marvel, J. Scott Campbell, and ASM heavy. Let me know if you think I'm way off base or missed any that you think should be a part of the "Dirty Dozen" instead of the ones that I've selected. As I said, the list is fluid and I would like to keep it updated as the market moves and changes. Honourable mentions to Amazing Spider-man 648 Colour, J. Scott Campbell (2011), Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Black Cat #1, J. Scott Campbell (2010) and Uncanny X-Force #20, Venom Variant (2012). They don't quite make the cut now, but hey you never know what will happen later! If you made it this far, thanks for reading. It was fun to put together. -J.

I wouldn't slab and sell them as a set unless they were all 9.8 candidates. If the 2 and 7 are, I would slab those and sell them separately. If none of them are, I would do a no reserve and sell them as a lot. -J.

I think he's spot on with his 9.2/9.4 estimate. Amazing copy, amazing price. -J.

It's as if DaVinci were to design a superhero. -J.

Awesome pick up ! -J.