vint43

From the history I have read about the movies the initial print run was 100,000 for #1. SIDE NOTE: The #1 issue went on to sell over 1 million copies in reprints after the movie was released. Perhaps this is where it got the reputation for being such a "massive print". However, this is not how it played out for the original print. Both #1 and #2 were released prior to the movie release in 1977. The comic rights were basically given to marvel because they were desperately trying to create a ground swell in the "geek" community for the movie. The original print did not sell out. At the time, many many people (including George Lucas himself) were very concerned Star Wars was going to be a flop. I find it hard to believe under the circumstances this book would have been widely "speculated" given most people would have seen this as a completely unknown and crazy sci fan film with low prospects. Even Kenner did not start making toys for the movie until after the release causing them to have nothing to sell at Christmas besides a card that said "you will get the first 4 characters when they are ready". They had not wanted to take the risk of making figures prior to to movie release in case it was a flop. Star Wars took almost everyone by surprise. The fact that #1 came out before the movies means no one knew it was going to be a major hit when it was printed. So how many of the original 100,000 remained in prestine 9.8 condition under those circumstances? Who knows. However the idea that this was a massive print that everyone collected and preserved because it was Star Wars is just not true per the history of the film. The information I have read places the print run of the first print of Star Wars #1 at between 250,000 and 350,000. As other have already said, it did not sell out until after the movie was released. Unlike most comics from this era, most of those printed issues did sell. The sell through was pretty miserable for comics with upwards of 50% of a print run being returned. This was a large reason why the direct market was born. The top seller was Amazing Spider-Man when Star Wars was released. If I recall, Marvel published circulation numbers in select issues back then, so I'm guessing the print run information was derived from that. I realize "sources" can be wrong. The only reason why I thought my book source made sense is it was widely understood from multiple sources that part of the deal with LucasFilm is no royalty would be paid until over 100,000 copies were sold. Given the complete unknown nature of the movie at the time, this was the equivalent of "giving it away" because no one expected (especially at Marvel) for it to sell more. Given this, making the print run 100,000 would make sense because it would have represented 100% of their royalty free copies. This is directly from "How Star Wars Conquered The Universe" by Chris Taylor. He could be wrong but he appears extremely diligent in this book. Another side note. I know it was a much broader effort to go to 35 cents at this time. However, it is interesting all the reprints of #1 went to 35 cents. Perhaps the fact that royalties for Star Wars were about to kick in on a book about to sell over 1 million copies finalized that decision. I have no sources that is true but it is very convenient for marvel that their biggest selling issue for that period is exactly when the price increase occurred and royalties began.

Makes sense. As the original lot did not sell out prior to the movie, after it became a hit, I am sure those extra copies were quickly consumed. Some of which would have been speculators. After this many years, how many of those are still around and would now grade a 9.8 remains the question. However, at the same time as Star Wars, Spider-Man was printing 280k copies per issue. So, again, it was not a "massive print" and the popularity was not clear until several months after the first print. Clearly all the initial sales prior to the movie were probably not speculators. BTW, if you still have those your investment will pay off nicely! I would think a $1000+ per graded 9.8 copy will start flushing out a lot of these "hidden" speculator stashes. If not, I am not sure what price ever will! Time will tell.

The original print did not sell out. To clarify, until after the movie was released. They had a hard time moving the 100,000 prior to the movie actually being shown.

From the history I have read about the movies the initial print run was 100,000 for #1. SIDE NOTE: The #1 issue went on to sell over 1 million copies in reprints after the movie was released. Perhaps this is where it got the reputation for being such a "massive print". However, this is not how it played out for the original print. Both #1 and #2 were released prior to the movie release in 1977. The comic rights were basically given to marvel because they were desperately trying to create a ground swell in the "geek" community for the movie. The original print did not sell out. At the time, many many people (including George Lucas himself) were very concerned Star Wars was going to be a flop. I find it hard to believe under the circumstances this book would have been widely "speculated" given most people would have seen this as a completely unknown and crazy sci fan film with low prospects. Even Kenner did not start making toys for the movie until after the release causing them to have nothing to sell at Christmas besides a card that said "you will get the first 4 characters when they are ready". They had not wanted to take the risk of making figures prior to to movie release in case it was a flop. Star Wars took almost everyone by surprise. The fact that #1 came out before the movies means no one knew it was going to be a major hit when it was printed. So how many of the original 100,000 remained in prestine 9.8 condition under those circumstances? Who knows. However the idea that this was a massive print that everyone collected and preserved because it was Star Wars is just not true per the history of the film.

Unless someone ripped off this image on eBay, I think you are hoping $6,000

I guess I can provide an "outside" perspective with virtually no experience. I decided to collect the Star Wars original 107 issues + annuals last November after being a Star Wars collector for the last 25+ years. I read comics on and off but never really considered collecting them prior to late last year. In reality, most of the original series of collectibles around Star Wars are priced beyond belief. Try and collect the original set of action figures and the money is crazy. When I started looking around for a possible collectible that was around the original series, that I could still afford, I found the comic run actually pretty reasonable in comparison. When I first started looking in November, I found #1 9.8 at about $700. When I checked "gocollect" I noticed the book had been rising from about $500 to about $700 in past few months. I hesitated in buying #1 because I needed so many other issues and I could pick those up for $100 and below at 9.8 for the most part outside of a few keys. This is also started to change. I followed the last 3 months of #1. It went from $700, $800, to $1000 in about 1-2 months. It held at $1000 for 30-45 days, then suddenly this auction popped at $1,700. While matching, I noticed another dealer had listed qty 4 - #1 9.8 white pages at $1000. In the course of 5-6 days, it went to $1,100, $1,300, $1,500, and now he is asking $1,800 having sold one. This occurred over 5-6 days. He obviously was watching the same auction. Side note, I was completely lucky, a good friend bought me a #1 9.8 white pages as a gift as he realized I had started collecting the series. Problem solved :-) I guess my only point is, if the Star Wars collector crowd really shows up in force (no pun intended), I would expect this whole series to move. Star Wars people are truly "completest", so unlike the comic crowd that has moved to keys, I think Star Wars will be one of the few that still collect full runs. The comics, in my opinion, have been one of the last "original series" collectibles to truly move. I think it will be driven by Star Wars people as much as comic people that jump in once they see the movement. Lastly, "slabbing" has actually made it more attractive to Star Wars collectors IMO. People that have not been paying attention to the comics world (like myself), completely missed the graded - slabbing process that was created 10+ years ago. I realize that is highly "debated" in the comics circles, but for Star Wars people, it takes away the grading process (that they have no clue about) and provides a product that "feels" like a true collectible in a case. It draws in a new crowd for comics for the more general collector. It did for me. So as complete outside novice (who is probably totally wrong!), I expect the entire run of Star Wars comics to move in high grade (especially 9.8), slabbed form as Disney continues to build this franchise over the next 10+ years. It will be in the parks, on the movies, etc. It will allow fathers to pass on their love the movies to their kids. It will continue to drive interest in the original series collectibles. It will allow many of us, I hope, to forget the prequels, and use this new wave to pass on our interests :-) In fact, the mid-issues that have very low census numbers at 9.8 will get high money. Once you get a few Star Wars guys all trying to complete the best run, it does not matter to them if it is #1 or #28, they need it. I think this will surprise some comic people. Just a theory from a non-comic guy!