joe_collector

You're lucky Bug isn't here to dress you down. The pages are encapsulated and certified, not graded.

Working on his MVS book, which is 95% complete... and no, I don't have a Shanna the She-Devil stamp.

Actually, I've found him to be extremely prompt in our dealings, but it may have to do with our first names and country of residence.

Watch out, that's senility talking. Go take some Geritol and hit the sack.

Exactly, and how does this prove your point? Do a poll and ask collectors and specs if the market is going to crash and the resounding majority would vote NO.. and they will be wrong.

I know exactly what you mean. I remember chumps coming into my office, and boldly stating where the NASDAQ would be in 10 years, laughing about their "paper profits" and vowing to ride that horse to the moon. When I brought up any mention of market factors virtually guaranteeing a correction, I was deemed a "negative thinker" and definitely not someone who was "in tune with the market". Not a few months later, the party ended and after a period of mourning, these same chumps were suddenly my best friends and asking for advice. It'll be the same here, with few people understanding the basic framework of a collectibles market, and instead expecting the insane prices to increase and the market to sustain itself. It's never happened before and it won't happen here. I do hope the fallout is not as bad as I think it will be, but as the sportscard biz has shown, all bets are off with "soft, new money" like this.

Of course, a collectibles market doesn't dry up, as the true collectors remain no matter what. The point is always the relative demand and pricing, not the fact that people are still buying. In the sportscard biz, collectors are still buying their PSA cards, but the fact remains that there are lots of PSA 10's that are selling for 1-10% of their previous high value. I think comic books will be a viable hobby for many in the future, but the investment angle has been dwindling out, and I really don't see prices staying where they are. The Perfect Storm is coming to an end, and while I will maintain my collection and continue buying (where they ain't), I see no logical reason to buy an uber-expensive book now, rather than waiting for the inevitable a few years down the line.

Oh I agree, that's the danger of using past trends to project future ones. Do you really think stamp, coin, or sportscard collectors didn't think this same way? At a certain point in time, prices spike, demographics fade, and then it's time to send everyone home. I do agree that certain GA comics like Det 27 and Action 1 have achieved a "historic importance" and have moved to the nex tier, but otherwise it's tough to see any factors for increased demand in the future.

It's becoming quite apparent you're just pulling my leg, so I'll just bow out.

Sure but the OS Guide is supposed to reflect trends, not create them. If you say prices will rise in the OS, then what will cause the OS to receive higher sales prices from dealers?

VM, I'm talking about "real-world" prices, and not those "dealer buy at 30%" values that Bob adjusts by 10% each and every year. You're talking about something I refer to as "Price Guide Fantasy" where you look back at 1986 and really believe you could have bought a NM ASM 14 for the price listed. So yeah, in 10 years, Bob may still be instituting his 10% annual price increases, but will collectors be paying them for raw comics?

Currently we're in a period of unprecedented price-growth for many comics, with Hollywood movies, CGC, EBay and other factors creating what I see as a "Perfect Storm" for comic prices. This is certainly a great time to be a dealer (or greggy) but I'm wondering what possible factors will contribute to future growth? The movie machine is winding down (at least for Marvel/non-DC), the Census can go nowhere but up, the collector base is "graying", and we've already had a few very noticeable "market corrections" already. So what factors would have you believe that comics will continue their incredible price growth in the years ahead?

That is definitely where we disagree, but what you feel "feedback is for" is all up to individual choice, and there are no hard and fast rules. You're not right, LH isn't right, you both simply differ in the way you choose to run your EBay transactions.

I'm not disagreeing, only stating that everyone has the freedom to choose (unless you're from Cuba) and that worrying incessantly over when feedback is posted demonstrates a certain personality type.

That's a great policy and something even I've done after looking at a seller with 1K buyer feedbacks, yet has left on 20 or so in return. Still, if they're selling nice books, I could care less about my "feedback points".

Mostly it's newbies and people that wach their feedback rating like hawks. Obsessive compulsive crack-heads like to complain about sellers and buyers not leaving feedback; EBay veterans use EBay to get quality merchandise not feedback points...

Exactly, and be your own man and stand up to the whiners!! If they want to complain, you don't need their business.

I loved the GL/GA books, but I just don't see any DC book providing the impetus to create/launch all of the Bronze Age trends I identify with. Plus, all the Key Bronze Age first appearances are Marvel.

My opinion on this whole debate is that the main trends I see as comprising the Bronze Age, such as anti-heroes, increased violence, heroes killing villains, villains killing heroes/bystanders, minority representation (as both heroes and villains) and an influx of brand-new characters exhibiting these characteristics.... Had little or nothing to do with DC comics. Sure, DC did produce some exceptional Bronze Age trend-setting stories like Manhunter and Spectre (both of which might have been better than the Marvel counterparts) but in 1970-72, it was Marvel really taking the ball and driving it to a new and different territory. Just my opinion.

Reading Comprehension 101: "I'm gonna stay with what I know when making my "Personal Favorites" list (Silver/Bronze/Modern) so no jabs for not including Simon or Eisner."

I look at it differently, and simply as Pete growing up a bit and evolving into an adult.

No joke, considerring the Ultimate Spidey is a rehash of old Lee/Ditko stories. And regardless of what the artists say, Ditko certainly got the ball rolling, but Romita's art gave the book a jazzier look and far more accessibility. Basically, this led to ASM being Marvel's best-seller and the Spidey being their bread-and-butter through the 70's and 80's. Not taking anything away from Ditko in the least.

Hmmm, that's not what I read, more like he had a guy on his back and a rope...

quote] This is Vaughn Bode ! Did he draw Fraggle Rock?

I'm gonna stay with what I know when making my "Personal Favorites" list (Silver/Bronze/Modern) so no jabs for not including Simon or Eisner. 1) John Byrne & Neal Adams (tie) - I can't pick between 'em, as both defined their eras. 2) Alan Davis - Possibly the most underrated and unappreciated comic artist/genius on the planet. 3) George Perez - High quality, high detail, long term excellence. 4) Jazzy Johnny Romita - The man who made Spidey what he is today, and icons of Gwen and MJ. 5) Dale Keown - Shoot me, but this guy is talented, and coulda been a contender.