vint43

I have just been doing this by myself (I only pull it once a year to check in on Star Wars). The cgcdata site is great. Thanks for the link.

Star Wars Trend Analysis I am a run collector for Star Wars graded comics. Over the past few years, I have been putting together a 9.8 run of the original 107 Star Wars comics. As part of this, I took a snap shot of the census 2 years ago. I did it again yesterday. I thought there might be others that would be interested to see how the census has changed over the past 2 years (which basically captures all the Disney activity around the franchise). I highlighted the first 10 issues to better see how the columns of "net change" flow (increase # followed be increase % for 9.8 then 9.6). NOTE: I am not sure if there was an error in my data OR an error in the census two years ago - but issue #69 lost qty 10 - 9.8s according to my data. I very well could have just messed up that row. Mar-17 Mar-15 2 YEAR DELTA (# & % Growth) Issue #9.8 #9.6 # 9.8 # 9.6 ^ 9.8 % 9.8 ^ 9.6 % 9.6 1 501 1306 303 828 198 40% 478 37% 2 101 248 74 168 27 27% 80 32% 3 131 215 94 135 37 28% 80 37% 4 86 150 55 59 31 36% 91 61% 5 102 128 55 69 47 46% 59 46% 6 54 121 42 68 12 22% 53 44% 7 98 95 57 54 41 42% 41 43% 8 62 99 33 52 29 47% 47 47% 9 107 95 91 60 16 15% 35 37% 10 89 79 78 54 11 12% 25 32% 11 47 47 31 32 16 34% 15 32% 12 35 62 26 41 9 26% 21 34% 13 75 54 59 37 16 21% 17 31% 14 46 49 39 34 7 15% 15 31% 15 62 53 47 38 15 24% 15 28% 16 33 47 23 35 10 30% 12 26% 17 51 43 35 31 16 31% 12 28% 18 51 56 39 37 12 24% 19 34% 19 50 42 27 37 23 46% 5 12% 20 44 36 27 25 17 39% 11 31% 21 22 24 16 11 6 27% 13 54% 22 27 48 20 38 7 26% 10 21% 23 30 48 20 31 10 33% 17 35% 24 50 30 35 18 15 30% 12 40% 25 19 24 16 19 3 16% 5 21% 26 19 26 14 17 5 26% 9 35% 27 20 29 16 22 4 20% 7 24% 28 35 39 23 34 12 34% 5 13% 29 37 25 23 16 14 38% 9 36% 30 31 36 19 23 12 39% 13 36% 31 36 29 26 15 10 28% 14 48% 32 38 34 30 26 8 21% 8 24% 33 14 21 8 16 6 43% 5 24% 34 35 32 23 25 12 34% 7 22% 35 36 38 28 29 8 22% 9 24% 36 28 35 18 24 10 36% 11 31% 37 26 32 22 22 4 15% 10 31% 38 25 27 19 19 6 24% 8 30% 39 93 114 61 76 32 34% 38 33% 40 81 53 56 42 25 31% 11 21% 41 58 50 47 31 11 19% 19 38% 42 172 283 88 109 84 49% 174 61% 43 99 52 65 26 34 34% 26 50% 44 94 75 56 44 38 40% 31 41% 45 34 24 27 14 7 21% 10 42% 46 38 25 27 20 11 29% 5 20% 47 35 34 24 23 11 31% 11 32% 48 35 41 21 31 14 40% 10 24% 49 72 31 41 17 31 43% 14 45% 50 79 50 56 32 23 29% 18 36% 51 26 25 18 20 8 31% 5 20% 52 54 31 37 18 17 31% 13 42% 53 40 28 26 19 14 35% 9 32% 54 38 20 29 9 9 24% 11 55% 55 28 27 23 18 5 18% 9 33% 56 64 23 43 15 21 33% 8 35% 57 66 36 46 17 20 30% 19 53% 58 54 30 41 17 13 24% 13 43% 59 74 34 50 21 24 32% 13 38% 60 35 24 27 18 8 23% 6 25% 61 16 11 14 9 2 13% 2 18% 62 29 15 23 11 6 21% 4 27% 63 48 30 31 18 17 35% 12 40% 64 21 21 15 10 6 29% 11 52% 65 35 21 24 14 11 31% 7 33% 66 42 22 31 10 11 26% 12 55% 67 51 26 38 17 13 25% 9 35% 68 101 232 32 43 69 68% 189 81% 69 28 21 38 17 (10) -36% 4 19% 70 26 22 19 15 7 27% 7 32% 71 47 20 31 14 16 34% 6 30% 72 28 22 20 14 8 29% 8 36% 73 41 27 31 19 10 24% 8 30% 74 62 23 43 14 19 31% 9 39% 75 35 28 26 17 9 26% 11 39% 76 30 27 22 19 8 27% 8 30% 77 44 22 34 15 10 23% 7 32% 78 38 26 28 19 10 26% 7 27% 79 38 26 28 19 10 26% 7 27% 80 14 21 10 11 4 29% 10 48% 81 45 38 28 17 17 38% 21 55% 82 23 17 19 10 4 17% 7 41% 83 17 18 10 14 7 41% 4 22% 84 21 13 18 9 3 14% 4 31% 85 28 28 20 20 8 29% 8 29% 86 42 21 29 15 13 31% 6 29% 87 27 18 21 13 6 22% 5 28% 88 30 30 19 5 11 37% 25 83% 89 24 14 19 5 5 21% 9 64% 90 51 20 38 14 13 25% 6 30% 91 36 16 23 10 13 36% 6 38% 92 20 24 16 16 4 20% 8 33% 93 23 22 17 14 6 26% 8 36% 94 30 20 18 12 12 40% 8 40% 95 31 22 22 14 9 29% 8 36% 96 17 23 15 15 2 12% 8 35% 97 31 24 25 17 6 19% 7 29% 98 35 26 27 17 8 23% 9 35% 99 50 24 35 10 15 30% 14 58% 100 43 29 29 17 14 33% 12 41% 101 26 19 18 13 8 31% 6 32% 102 29 27 23 20 6 21% 7 26% 103 49 23 41 18 8 16% 5 22% 104 19 20 15 12 4 21% 8 40% 105 26 27 21 21 5 19% 6 22% 106 38 33 29 23 9 24% 10 30% 107 80 186 54 126 26 33% 60 32% Avg: 28% 35%

I realize I am late to this topic. My wife and I ran a brick and mortar retail business for 4 years. This was after several successful BtoB companies. I can tell you, retail was the hardest challenge I faced as a business owner in terms of making it profitable. It was the easiest in terms of generating "some revenue" but very hard to make it truly profitable. That is what makes it maddening for me. You get a positive sign one day, bleak the next. You keep working it to try and "crack the code". However, we never really did. These are some items I would point out generically for professionals considering retail: 1- Retail is a social business. However, in reality, I am not *really* social. In retail, you were always "on". This was hard for me. Sometimes, I just did not want to be outgoing that day. That was not an option in retail. 2- Dealing with the "general public" is extremely different than dealing with people in a business setting (most of our prior business experience was BtoB). You really are not sure who is going to walk through your doors. 98% of the general public, for us, was fine (& many are great). There is 2% of the public (probably even much less) that is a nightmare. They steal from you, attempt fraud in various ways, have irrational expectations that can just dumbfound you, and can generally suck the life out of you as a business owner who is just trying to survive and make your customers happy. In extreme cases, they can be violent (and with my wife working the store that thought bothered me several times). Thank goodness we never had a situation deteriorate to that level. If you are not the type that can just "move on" and let it go, it can eat you up dealing with that 2%. This is just a heads up. In retail, you have a business where just about anyone "walks in" and you have to manage that situation. 3- Understand who your real customer is and decide what attracts them. My concern, looking at the comic book situation, is the environment that might attract families with kids might be the same environment that repels hard core comic adults. The same in reverse. I often found ourselves trying to make too many customer segments "happy" with our store. However, that course might actually work against you. The things you do for some group might repel the next. You need to understand, within a small radius of your store, what segment of the population can truly sustain your business (hard core comic people, families, etc.). Once you identify that segment, do everything for them. Trying to appeal to everyone will most likely make you less appealing to everyone. It is a brutal part of the business because everyone that walks into your store is "potential". However, to sustain the business, the people that keep returning to your store is what matters. It took us too long to fully focus on our profitable customers. The store became "diluted" over that time with non-effective inventory, displays, etc. that did not build upon our most profitable segments. Getting this wrong, unfortunately, is a death sentence for the store. So, the old saying "understand your customer" is life and death in retail - not just a saying. Building a store for hard core comic people to find out 65% of your traffic is a Mom with kids is a real problem. 4- Hiring at $12 an hour was really tough. I will not get long winded about this but hiring in this business was hard. I wish you the best. There were many things we enjoyed about the store. It has its highlights. For us, however, it is not missed. We enjoy working in a BtoB environment. However, that is us.

Unfortunately, it is the same guy. The same person that paid over $1,800 for #1 originally (twice) is now leading this auction. Someone posted the entire run of Star Wars (almost) in 9.8 on eBay. I needed 26 issues they listed and I put in solid bids for all of them. This same bidder is now outbidding me for 12 or 13 of those issues. All are being sold from the same seller (including the #1). He is also setting a very high price for issue #33 (low census). A 9.6 now over $200.00 bid. It is not even a 9.8. I know someone who needs it to complete a 9.6 run and is equally frustrated. I have stopped bidding on auctions when this guy shows up.

I think even most casual shoppers know when auctions/prices have been manipulated on ebay at this point. And comparing this book to BA 12- another one with heavy market manipulation and false data being reported to GPA through bogus ebay transactions- is probably about right. -J. J, as you might remember, I am collecting the run. Since your prior post, I have kept my eye on e***3 on my other auctions as he purchased two of the 9.8 #1's you had the most trouble with. He has been active in several of my mid run, non key issues in Star Wars. He is currently outbidding me for issue #48 and jumped on the annual #3 at $140 on a 9.6 that I thought was over priced and never bid. This bidder looked very suspicious to me as well but they have continued to stay active in what I would consider very low interest issues in the Star Wars run that would have little value in shilling and continues to bid for some of those issues. At the same time, he is absent from several other issues. So it is somewhat selective as if they were filling a run. Don't get me wrong. I totally agree with you this was a large jump on #1 outside of the market trend and perhaps not sustainable. However, if you continued to monitor this bidder, it looks like a collector is going for a run here from the other auctions I have seen and the continued activity this same bidder has had across a set of low interest issues. I've actually watched both of those bidders from those sketchy auctions in a few other auctions as well. I saw them both participating in (and running up) auctions for #1 9.6's in addition to the 9.8's. Nobody has iron clad proof of their intentions either way, but IMO it does appear that those two bidders are attempting to steer the SW comic book market (mostly the #1's). -J. I do not really track the 9.6 auctions so I am not sure what is happening in those. Here is the summary of the current Star Wars 9.8 eBay auctions and e***3 participation: Return of Jedi #3 - 9.8 - current winning bidder Star Wars #13 - 9.8 - bid - but not winning Star Wars #3 - 9.8 - current winning bidder Star Wars #40 - 9.8 - not bidding at all Star Wars #43 - 9.8 - not bidding at all Star Wars #24 - 9.8 - current winning bidder Star Wars #28 - 9.8 - current winning bidder Star Wars #29 - 9.8 - current winning bidder Star Wars #48 - 9.8 - current winning bidder Star Wars #21 - 9.8 - current winning bidder These have multiple different sellers (some have the same seller). Many of these have a current diverse bidder list - so they are outbidding different people in different auctions. Clearly, they are very active in the Star Wars run. And yet it's interesting that neither one of them one-bidded any of the auctions for a 9.8, #1 that was more than $125 less than any of the other other auctions that they themselves ran up the bids on just a few days earlier. -J. J, to be fair, I think you could have taken the data either way (if they had purchased it or had not purchased it) and used it to support your theory that these people are illegally manipulating the market. I would add one word of caution. Shilling, as you know, is an illegal activity. It is also very specific. It is done to improve the outcome for the sellers. The buyer is a stooge. The seller is the lead criminal when you call something "shilling". In this case, here are the four active sellers involved with this person's current auction activity for Star Wars comics: ****(3033) 100% positive feedback ****(18484) 100% positive feedback ****(1038) 100 % positive feedback ****(617) 100% positive feedback I did not include the eBay names out of courtesy. In two of these cases, they are long standing comic shops selling on eBay with outstanding reputations across a very broad set of comics. The other two also have perfect reputations for selling comics (just not as long). I would be very leery to accuse such people of a crime with no other data then someone paid too much for a book - twice - and happens to be bidding on their items. I do not believe any of these sellers even sold the #1. Given this person's continued activity across a broad set of reputable sellers and issues in the Star Wars run, I think calling them "shills" is just not appropriate because it accuses a lot of innocent sellers of a crime there is simply no evidence to support. I think you are left with people trying to manipulate a market without a strong connection to the underlying, current sellers. To me, that does not make much sense.

I think even most casual shoppers know when auctions/prices have been manipulated on ebay at this point. And comparing this book to BA 12- another one with heavy market manipulation and false data being reported to GPA through bogus ebay transactions- is probably about right. -J. J, as you might remember, I am collecting the run. Since your prior post, I have kept my eye on e***3 on my other auctions as he purchased two of the 9.8 #1's you had the most trouble with. He has been active in several of my mid run, non key issues in Star Wars. He is currently outbidding me for issue #48 and jumped on the annual #3 at $140 on a 9.6 that I thought was over priced and never bid. This bidder looked very suspicious to me as well but they have continued to stay active in what I would consider very low interest issues in the Star Wars run that would have little value in shilling and continues to bid for some of those issues. At the same time, he is absent from several other issues. So it is somewhat selective as if they were filling a run. Don't get me wrong. I totally agree with you this was a large jump on #1 outside of the market trend and perhaps not sustainable. However, if you continued to monitor this bidder, it looks like a collector is going for a run here from the other auctions I have seen and the continued activity this same bidder has had across a set of low interest issues. I've actually watched both of those bidders from those sketchy auctions in a few other auctions as well. I saw them both participating in (and running up) auctions for #1 9.6's in addition to the 9.8's. Nobody has iron clad proof of their intentions either way, but IMO it does appear that those two bidders are attempting to steer the SW comic book market (mostly the #1's). -J. I do not really track the 9.6 auctions so I am not sure what is happening in those. Here is the summary of the current Star Wars 9.8 eBay auctions and e***3 participation: Return of Jedi #3 - 9.8 - current winning bidder Star Wars #13 - 9.8 - bid - but not winning Star Wars #3 - 9.8 - current winning bidder Star Wars #40 - 9.8 - not bidding at all Star Wars #43 - 9.8 - not bidding at all Star Wars #24 - 9.8 - current winning bidder Star Wars #28 - 9.8 - current winning bidder Star Wars #29 - 9.8 - current winning bidder Star Wars #48 - 9.8 - current winning bidder Star Wars #21 - 9.8 - current winning bidder These have multiple different sellers (some have the same seller). Many of these have a current diverse bidder list - so they are outbidding different people in different auctions. Clearly, they are very active in the Star Wars run.

I think even most casual shoppers know when auctions/prices have been manipulated on ebay at this point. And comparing this book to BA 12- another one with heavy market manipulation and false data being reported to GPA through bogus ebay transactions- is probably about right. -J. J, as you might remember, I am collecting the run. Since your prior post, I have kept my eye on e***3 on my other auctions as he purchased two of the 9.8 #1's you had the most trouble with. He has been active in several of my mid run, non key issues in Star Wars. He is currently outbidding me for issue #48 and jumped on the annual #3 at $140 on a 9.6 that I thought was over priced and never bid. This bidder looked very suspicious to me as well but they have continued to stay active in what I would consider very low interest issues in the Star Wars run that would have little value in shilling and continues to bid for some of those issues. At the same time, he is absent from several other issues. So it is somewhat selective as if they were filling a run. Don't get me wrong. I totally agree with you this was a large jump on #1 outside of the market trend and perhaps not sustainable. However, if you continued to monitor this bidder, it looks like a collector is going for a run here from the other auctions I have seen and the continued activity this same bidder has had across a set of low interest issues.

Because everyone knows those auctions were shilled? -J. I agree with your prior estimate as well. I think the market coming out of last year was headed to $1,000 to $1,100 for this book (which was still high growth). $1,800 was a big jump whether it was fake or just two aggressive bidders, it was a large jump. Sellers are now testing the market at this higher price. It might settle back to the prior growth it was seeing if these books stagnat for awhile at this higher price. Having only watched this particular book closely over several months I have no idea if such peaks, etc., are normal for fast moving books. To me, there is no shame in this book being price above $1k. It was surprising to me when I first started and saw it priced at $500 - $600. That appeared relatively cheap compared to other bronze books from minor characters.

The 30 cent reprint was clearly the 1st reprint by marvel. The blank UPC and price was printed by National Book Store, Inc. I know very little about this arrangement but here is a link that provides a little info: (Some sites even refer to this as a "variant". It was reprinted by another company. ) http://www.comiccollectorlive.com/LiveData/Issue.aspx?id=f11cadb0-ee45-4ab8-bd1f-e73ec42fd775

Why, the condescension is strong with this one as well. A lovely trait! Sorry you are so intimidated by logic. I thought it was fairly obvious that I was speaking within the context of investing the money on comics. I guess you have a hard time inferring what was implied within the context of the conversation, so I will be sure to spell it out for you more clearly in the future. Look forward to that. Please proceed whenever you are ready Are you fabricating quotes now, too...? No, it's not. Rare is rare. Demand might be relative to supply, and vice versa, but RARE is certainly not relative. So, wait...are you saying it's "rare"...? Sadly, my 10-year-old self still has a better grasp on this market than you do. You really loaded up on that reply! I probably deserved it. However, you did take the first cheap shot with the cool aide! Believe it or not, the only thing I am trying to figure out is the initial print run for Star Wars #1. The rest is just prideful noise from me. I have an email into Marvel asking for any help they might provide. P.s. I did think my obscure reference to "From Justin to Kelly" had some humorous value for American Idol fans.

Read my other posts. Stan Lee did not believe in this book and was reluctant to do it. I am taking the leap of faith he also did not have a real problem with trees, and therefore, would not just print hundreds of thousands of extra books "just in case" when no one, and I mean no one (not even George Lucas), saw what was coming. He also specifically carved out 100,000 in the initial agreement. Why would he settle on such a number? Lucas was willing to give him the farm. He thought that number was the farm. Yet, he would triple or quadruple that print run with zero evidence he wasn't correct in the first place to be leery of this title? Also, he immediately had to issue a reprint after the movie. Obviously, the initial print run went very quickly once the movie hit. He had to issue a 30 cent reprint - something with a short shelf life given the change to 35 cents that was coming. That speaks to fairly quick shortages in the initial print run. Out of all of these facts, you guys claim, with no data, the print was XXX,XXXX. Perhaps you are right, but you really offer nothing to support it. That is what is causing my responses. I would love to find the final source that simply says "Marvel printed XXX,XXX of the initial Star Wars #1 prior to going to reprints". Trust me, I have looked, I cannot find it. Perhaps someone will. For now, I only have the data about how this deal was done and the climate around the comic prior to the movie. None of that speaks to a "massive print" of 400,000, etc. It just does not fit the facts. However, if someone finds out that Marvel "had to print 300,000" or something due to a print contract, massive price discount, etc., that would change it. It would have to be something that forced Marvel to print so many because it was not their belief, their contract with Lucas, nor their excitement over the issue that drove it. They thought 100,000 was plenty.

+100 and my last post on this topic ! the print run is definitely over 100,000 copies probably like 400,000 cause i don't think those 200,000 plus supposed returns where destroyed. don't know for sure and really don't care anymore i have seen hundreds hoarded in the last year. I am just using this as an example because multiple people post the same thing. Nothing personal. Do you guys have any actual facts or do you just keep repeating the same myths shared by others? Where on Earth did you hear there were 200,000 returns for Star Wars #1? I have never seen that in all the books I have read about Star Wars that cover this story in detail. Why in the heck would Stan Lee print 400,000 of a comic he did not believe in prior to the movie where he only agreed to it thinking he would never have to pay royalties over 100,000? He was selling through 280,000 copies of his best selling title at the time (Spiderman). He was burnt by many the other "tie in" movies and did not want another one. He had to be convinced to "give it a try" on a completely unknown movie. With all of that, he then decides, what the heck, lets print more then we have ever sold through in our best selling title? What actual data supports this story? From the data I know, it does not fit any of the facts around the movie and this comic.

Why, the condescension is strong with this one as well. A lovely trait! A drug bing? Setting it on fire? Going to see "From Justin to Kelly" 1,000 times in the theater until the money was spent? None of these made your lists of worst ideas but this purchase did? I am trying to provide "facts" here. People keep claiming they printed "millions of these things" "one for every man woman and child", etc. and they have no actual data on how this book was printed and the dynamics around the initial print and reprints. "Rare" is relative. Even if they printed 100,000, it was highly collected by many and the survival rate would be high I would think relative to other more common titles. That could result in a supply much above some bronze age comics when you consider survival rates even with a lower initial print run. However, it is a far cry from the "millions" people claim have been printed and the "boxes and boxes" they claim are still lying around supposedly waiting to be opened by the 7th movie. You can mock me for thinking it is not as common as you think by providing data that actually uses real life facts to determine the initial print run. In the end, today, we have just over 300 CGC 9.8 in the census. Given people's theories on this massive print run and hoarding and the fact we all agree it was widely cherished at the time, it is not very big. If that data sounds like cool-aide to you, I guess I should enjoy the cool-aide. I find it more satisfying to do some actual research on the topic then to listen to a story about a boy who was 10 at a convention and making that my "definitive data" on how rare a book actually is.

This is what I liked to call the "missing link" reprint: http://www.comics.org/issue/954337/cover/4/ Notice, with this pic of all titles of Star Wars #1, there is a 30 cent reprint. It is on the lower left. That reprint could have only lasted for a few short months back when the movie was released. By issue #5, all comics had went to 35 cents (including the reprints). However, at the time of the movie, issue #3 was being prepared and it was still 30 cents. This issue #1 reprint @ 30 cents could have only existed during the time of issue #3 and issue #4. That is the exact time when the movie hits and becomes a big success. This means, as the movie hit and fandom grows, Marvel went immediately into reprints for #1 to satisfy the demand and those only lasted 2 months or so prior to them reverting to the commonly seen 35 cent reprint of #1 by issue #5. So, the only question is how many regular issue #1's did they print prior to the movie being released and the need for this 30 cent reprint which almost immediately appears with the release of the movie? Given they were skeptical of movie tie in comics with their lack of success in the past, and the fact they were given 100,000 royalty free, I have a hard time believing they immediately printed 280k in the initial print prior to the movie - which would have matched the sell through of their most popular comic at the time. Did Stan Lee just like to kill trees? There is no way he thought this was going to match the sales numbers of Spiderman prior the movie. 100,000 is the logical initial print run here. Having been wrong, they had to immediately issue a reprint at 30 cents during the short time period between #3 and #4 issues. In fact, I am very curious "how rare" this 30 cent reprint of #1 would be because it had a short shelf life. I think it is a hidden collector piece in this mess of a story.

There are a few sources for both the royalty free arrangement and the 100,000 copies: First paragraph: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_(comics) Second paragraph: http://nothingbutcomics.net/2015/01/19/star-wars-original-70s-adventures/ I cannot find the text online, but the book, "How Star Wars Conquered the Universe" researched by Chris Taylor goes into detail about this negotiation. George Lucas was a large comic fan. He could not get Marvel interested in the movie in his first attempts with a "traditional" royalty arrangement so they went back and basically said "print it for free and we will only return if you sell over 100,000". That gave the person the "green light" to go back and resell it to Stan Lee who had already passed on the project. So, I ask you, if it was so clearly "not interesting" to Marvel at the top, and they had to push to the point of giving the first 100,000 to them for free to get them to print the book, why would Marvel turn around and print 280k books? The 100,00 was like a "free trial" on something you had strong doubts about. So, you print 280k? It does not make sense. Now, I cannot find a specific reference that says "we printed 100,000" copies. That is the mystery here. It is implied in all the readings but not specifically stated. So, there is room for interpretation but my interpretation follows logically from what has been documented about this process. They did not believe in this book. It was "pushed on them" until they decided to give it a try. That is why it would have a lessor print run to start. They also had to renegotiate the book after 100,000, it would be natural for them to do reprints AFTER that negotiation was completed. Why print 180k books (180k over the 100k) not even knowing how much they were going to cost you in royalties? Did you read your source material? Plain as day it says 100,000 was exceeded very quickly. Lee negotiated a publishing arrangement with no royalties to Lucasfilm until sales exceeded 100,000 at which point legal arrangements could be revisited.[1] Marvel Comics Group published a series of Star Wars comic books from 1977 to 1986, lasting 107 issues and 3 annuals. According to former Marvel Editor-In-Chief Jim Shooter, the strong sales of Star Wars comics saved Marvel financially in 1977 and 1978.[2] Marvel's Star Wars series was one of the industry's top selling titles in 1979 and 1980.[3] The only downside for Marvel was that the 100,000 copy sales quota was surpassed quickly, allowing Lippincott to renegotiate the royalty arrangements from a position of strength. Yes, of course, it was in reprints. Issue #1 and issue #2 were already printed before the movie (that was the initial run). After the movie, when demand skyrocketed and they had to renegotiate, they would have moved into reprints to satisfy the demand beyond the initial 100,000. In fact, early on, there were several "types" of reprints: Straight from the Star Wars Wiki: "The original cover price for this issue was 30 cents, but Marvel printed a 35-cent version with a limited distribution of about 1500 copies to six markets within the US. Due to the low print run, the 35-cent version is considered more valuable than the 30-cent one. There were also several reprint versions. Reprints are noted by the word REPRINT that runs along the spine of the book inside of the logo box, the phrase "THIS IS A REPRINT OF A PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED ISSUE" on the inside indicia, or both. There is a common misconception about using a diamond vs. box to identify reprints in this series. This misconception was first widely spread when the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide published the technique as a valid method of differentiation. The Overstreet guide stated that issues #1-9 were reprinted and that they should have the word "REPRINT" in the upper left-hand corner of the cover or inside, "or price and number inside a diamond with no date or UPC on cover." In actuality, not all reprints from the early part of this series have the price and number inside a diamond, and not all copies that have their price and number inside a diamond are reprints. "

There are a few sources for both the royalty free arrangement and the 100,000 copies: First paragraph: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_(comics) Second paragraph: http://nothingbutcomics.net/2015/01/19/star-wars-original-70s-adventures/ I cannot find the text online, but the book, "How Star Wars Conquered the Universe" researched by Chris Taylor goes into detail about this negotiation. George Lucas was a large comic fan. He could not get Marvel interested in the movie in his first attempts with a "traditional" royalty arrangement so they went back and basically said "print it for free and we will only return if you sell over 100,000". That gave the person the "green light" to go back and resell it to Stan Lee who had already passed on the project. So, I ask you, if it was so clearly "not interesting" to Marvel at the top, and they had to push to the point of giving the first 100,000 to them for free to get them to print the book, why would Marvel turn around and print 280k books? The 100,00 was like a "free trial" on something you had strong doubts about. So, you print 280k? It does not make sense. Now, I cannot find a specific reference that says "we printed 100,000" copies. That is the mystery here. It is implied in all the readings but not specifically stated. So, there is room for interpretation but my interpretation follows logically from what has been documented about this process. They did not believe in this book. It was "pushed on them" until they decided to give it a try. That is why it would have a lessor print run to start. They also had to renegotiate the book after 100,000, it would be natural for them to do reprints AFTER that negotiation was completed. Why print 180k books (180k over the 100k) not even knowing how much they were going to cost you in royalties? Found another reference: http://www.totalcomicmayhem.com/2014/11/star-wars-key-comics.html Not to beat a dead horse - 4th paragraph: https://books.google.com/books?id=i9jABAAAQBAJ&pg=PT49&lpg=PT49&dq=1977+star+wars+comic+royalty+100,000+lucas&source=bl&ots=qLvNudw_CQ&sig=NkFx-6q_IlG-gzog7_T2JZWYT00&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TzznVIKbM9W1sQTXkIDIBA&ved=0CD4Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=1977%20star%20wars%20comic%20royalty%20100%2C000%20lucas&f=false

Not sure how this pic deals with Star Wars #1? I see about 3 in this pic? Star Wars was not a "typical" main run comic in 1977. It was based on a movie that became instantly "hot", that prior, was completely unknown. The initial print was 100,000. That is the number that was given to Marvel royalty free by Lucas prior to the movie release. Frankly, Marvel didn't think it would ever sell that many so it appeared to be a completely royalty free comic. The reprints took it over 1M. Given Spiderman was printing 280k at the time it, the initial print was a mid level print. After the movie released, the initial print quickly sold out (which was extremely rare for Marvel at the time). Many of Marvel's comics were over printed by as much as 50% during this time period. This created a huge surplus where "boxes" could be purchased and held for very cheap as the market dumped that surplus in many of their normal, main line comics. That is not what happened to Star Wars. The original Star Wars #1 did not bulk up until the reprints. So, there were no "boxes" just sitting around for people to hoard at a cheap price that the market wanted to "dump". You would have had to pay a premium to get a sizable hoard once the movie hit because all the dealers wanted them and could sell them above list price (which, for hoarders, is not attractive). Before the movie hit, hardly anyone would have noticed the comic. The mix of circumstances around this comic was completely different then Nova, Ms. Marvel, etc. at the time. Hoarding this comic would have been expensive because by the time the hoarder wanted the comic, everyone else did too. That alone would have made it less prevalent. Secondly, the franchise cycled twice already (after the initial trilogy and after the prequels). Within those were several strong hype cycles followed by what looked like slow, declining interest. None of these could shake these "hoards" free? Then why now? Is $1,500 such a magical number that now everyone who has waited 38 years and through 6 movies (with two very distinct hype cycles) will suddenly decide "open those boxes and get all my pristine 9.8 copies ready to sell" because movie #7 was announced, and for the first time, I think it will never get better then this? Instead, is it not more likely that the census for Star Wars #1 CGC 9.8 will continue a steady, slow growth in numbers just like the last several years vs. this sudden explosion in numbers these stories of "hidden hoards" are strongly suggesting? I would think the "explosion" in numbers in the census, should they occur, will be grades below 9.6. That is due to the fact that tons of raw copies that have been circulating for years but were never considered "CGC worthy" will now be graded. That is the true "hoard". That might cause a bump in 9.6 in above average pace because some of these copies will prove to be better then expected. However, not many will have missed a 9.8. That will probably just keep its current steady pace.

Other than ebay, where has this book "sold" for at these prices ? The couple by Greg on the boards? His price point was influenced by those shilled ebay auctions which were run up by the same two "bidders" all three times and "won" by the same "buyer" twice and were subsequently reported to GPA. That an uninformed or casual shopper might believe the book is actually now "worth" this only proved yet again why shilling works and is done in the first place. Fruit from the poisonous tree. As far as other books in the run also going up in value. No that isn't surprising at all either, since a rising tide will raise all boats. -J. Ok, I think at this point you are really stretching the influence of two auctions in the last few weeks. Prices have been on the rise since last November for the entire run. #1 was getting $1000 at the end of December up from $700 in November. I realize you got burnt but you might be over stating what a few auctions have done. This started way before those auctions. They might be fraud but the overall movement was happening and, if they are fake, they just took advantage of movement that was already happening. They did not create this movement on their own with two auctions. #1 was sold for $1,500 on the board prior to Greg's listing. This is not all a big scam. Perhaps the latest auctions are sketchy but they are not the whole story that explains price increases across the entire run over the past 3 months. P.S. I should have clarified this. I am not sure what the "natural price" should be with this book. Perhaps $1,800 is artificially influenced (maybe not). However, it use to be a $500 book for awhile. I believe that price was going away with or without fake auctions. Where it would have landed I have no idea. My only point was movement was going to happen. These auctions, if fake, were taking advantage of new energy behind this issue not creating energy on their own.

My #1 was a gift. I am collecting the run. I have a lot more frustration trying to find a #92 & #96 in cgc 9.8! The prices for #42 #68 #107 and #2, #4, #5, and #6 are all climbing. A low census #25 9.8 (or around there) bid to almost $300.00. It is a non issue. It was just low census. I thought I could buy it for $125 given what I was paying in November. I wasn't even close. Several guys I have gotten to know in this effort were buying 9.8s in the run for $50.00. I found one under $100 in the last 2 months. Perhaps I just stink at finding better deals. Getting the #1 was easy! I could care less what it is worth now. However, when you see the entire run get more expensive every week, there is something more going on then a few fake auctions. Call it a bubble but it has affected more then just #1 and the scope is much larger then two auctions on eBay.

They will be a good blue chip now. Star Wars was the most popular comic book of the 1970s. So many people were introduced to comics because of Star Wars. Star Wars kept Marvel in business. Star Wars comic saved Marvel. Leave it to Roy Thomas to add a little common sense to the over the top exaggeration: “Marvel benefitted tremendously,” Thomas says. “At that time, comics were having problems because newsstands and mom and pop stores were drying up. I don’t know if you could call Star Wars the comic that saved Marvel, but it certainly came along at a time when it made a big difference.” There aren't a lot of numbers for publisher's during that time, but Amazing Spider-man went from 273,000 in 1975 total paid circulation to 281,000 in 1977, a small dip in 1978 to 258,000 (no numbers in 1979) to 296,000 in 1980. Similar type of deal with other Marvel Comics during that period. I think saying Star Wars kept Marvel in business is an extreme over statement. +1 To all of this. And it also underscores how utterly common the book really is. This book and a few others in the copper/modern age are on very serious "bubble watch" right now. -J. Predicting the price trend of a comic would appear to be very tricky stuff. 1- How many 9.8 copies of the title exist in raw form that will be graded? First basic question of supply cannot be answered. We know current census but we cannot predict the ultimate supply by that alone. We can only guess. Frankly, the board cannot even agree on the initial print run. A very carefully written book about Star Wars claims 100,000 copies for the initial run because that was the number Marvel was allowed to print "royalty free" before the movie. Others have disagreed and claimed Marvel printed more in initial prints. However, it was the re-prints that took it over 1M and they have nothing to do with this supply question. 2- How many people will still desire to own the book at price X under Disney ownership with planned movies, park attractions, new comic releases, TV shows, etc over an unknown period of time (after all, Disney could keep this going for 10 years or 50+ years)? Second basic question of demand cannot be answered. We can only guess. 3- How many people will decide to sell their book at price X simply because it is now price X? Third basic supply question cannot be answered. It comes down to who eventually owns the supply of books. If it is hard core collectors that truly love the series and/or movies, they may not sell even at high prices. If it is a bunch of speculators they might sell quickly at even lower prices. We can only guess on the number of current speculators holding the book. However, over time, as prices go up, it eventually trend towards collectors owning the book and that will actually restrict supply. So, with all these guesses. Some say "it is a bubble" and some day "it is only going up". The one thing they have in common is they are both guessing.

As mentioned (just to keep it clear), the book was released before the comic: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_From_the_Adventures_of_Luke_Skywalker

Star Wars #1 was definitely on the stands before the movie. Star Wars #2 could have been on the stands as well. So....would that make it the first appearance of Luke and the gang? No it would not. It is still only a late bronze age comic book adaptation of a movie. -J. J, is this another one you missed the boat on ? Nope! Common books do not organically "double in price" in two weeks for no reason usually either. Oy vay, don't get me started. -J. I am not sure about "no reason". Marvel just released 1 million copies of Star Wars #1 into the market in January. If .1% (1,000 issues) of those found new readers now interested in the initial series, it would cause a dramatic uptick in the market for the initial Star Wars #1 almost instantly. So you mean this time will be different ? (I kid, I kid. Sort of) -J. I took your initial comment to mean you could not find a reason for the sudden spike. I think the reasons are actually pretty obvious (release of new movie trailer, release of new Star Wars comic series by marvel, etc). However, I think what you are really saying is you doubt this spike will sustain itself and it is just a "bubble" that will eventually burst as supply will quickly outstrip demand given this "common book". I think that is a completely understandable point of view! Time will tell. As a side note, I personally could care less about the money side of this over time. I collect Star Wars because it was the first movie I remember as a kid sitting through and being blown away at the movie theater. It stuck with me and I waited for each movie to come out after with great anticipation. I sat, dumbfounded, at the end of empire strikes back because I never sat in a movie before that so clearly left so much "unanswered". I could not believe I would have to wait months and months to finish the story. It brings back some great memories. They could be worth zero to everyone else in 10 years and would still be worth a lot to me just for those memories alone!

Star Wars #1 was definitely on the stands before the movie. Star Wars #2 could have been on the stands as well. So....would that make it the first appearance of Luke and the gang? No it would not. It is still only a late bronze age comic book adaptation of a movie. -J. J, is this another one you missed the boat on ? Nope! Common books do not organically "double in price" in two weeks for no reason usually either. Oy vay, don't get me started. -J. I am not sure about "no reason". Marvel just released 1 million copies of Star Wars #1 into the market in January. If .1% (1,000 issues) of those found new readers now interested in the initial series, it would cause a dramatic uptick in the market for the initial Star Wars #1 almost instantly.

Star Wars #1 was definitely on the stands before the movie. Star Wars #2 could have been on the stands as well. So....would that make it the first appearance of Luke and the gang? Hello? Anyone want to chime in here? A ghost written novelization of the movie was the first item released about 6 months prior to the movie release: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_From_the_Adventures_of_Luke_Skywalker So it would be the first public appearance of the characters. Issues 1 & 2 of the comic were both released prior to the movie. Given the numerous late edits around the film both proved to have "never put in the movie" moments. One of the initial curiosities in the comic is Darth Vader holding a coffee cup on the Death Star. For one, how does Darth Vader drink coffee in a conference room? However, the initial -script had Darth Vader levitating a coffee cup through the conference room where he chokes the officer for his lack of faith in the force. There are several little bits like this in the book and comics. The book had even larger deviations given it was written much earlier and the writer took several liberties with the story along the way.

Given this thread started with posting your #1, here is mine. I only have a "family photo" Current Status: 9 issues out to grading. 3 issues yet to find!