jabats

This. it will correct sometime. but in the long term, it will appreciate. It may also stay flat for a several year timeline however so flippers beware!

That was before my time as a collector. But as a "relatively" newbie collector (5 years collecting as an adult), my impression has been that EC is "hot". Not like it has any mega keys competing with GA DC superhero books. But the random pre-code issues (especially horror) seem to have strong demand for them. Were these EC books in higher demand in the 80s?

How about the 2.0 on eBay... only 2 sales in past 12 months, but otherwise looks legit?

Every 5 year old on the planet knows who Superman is. I'm in my mid 30s and am only vaguely aware of the Lone Ranger and slightly more aware of Tarzan. No idea who Flash Gordon is except "heard" the name on this board and elsewhere. I get it, Superman is the "Boy Scout" and the "bad boys" like Wolverine, Batman etc may always be "cooler". That said, go to Old Navy, Target, any mass market retailer with pop culture stuff for sale, and you see a ton of Superman merchandise (along with Batman, Spider-Man, and of course Avengers including Cap). So Superman is inarguably relevant today, and including among the young generation (toddlers). In that way I don't think Superman is similar to characters like Lone Ranger, Flash Gordon (whoever that is) etc who in another few decades will be little more than a footnote in pop culture history. Supes may never again be a "top 3 most popular superhero" but I doubt he will ever slide out of the top 10, either.

Supes 1, Bats 1, Cap 1.... all are historically significant! But when you hold a Supes 1 in your hands... it emanates mystic energy. A certain gravitas if you will. moreover, it has been scientifically proven that Superman can beat any other superhero (marvel or D.C.) in a 1v1 fight. This isn't even debatable batman at the end of the day is just a rich dude with a few gadgets. And Cap is nowhere near the top of popularity in the marvel universe. If "Spider-Man Comics 1" was a golden age timely book, its value would rival or beat action 1. But cap is what.... like the 10th most popular marvel character? I used to think Cap 1 wouldn't catch Bats 1 in price... I think I was wrong about that But Supes 1 is in its own league. Almost , but not quite , in a tier w Action 1 and Tec 27. of course many of the folks in this thread own one or more of these books, so don't take anyone's word as objective! Just assume everyone is "talking their book" ;-)

Thanks to everyone on the boards with whom I've had positive transactions!

Sign of a bubble about to end... the last of the bears capitulate. we're not quite there yet with AF15 ... plenty of bears to keep this bull run going !

A lot of the theories here suggest that "hard asset classes overall" (including fine art, coins, comics, etc) might drop 20% to 50% as a whole, at some point in the future. I don't necessarily disagree with that. But I'd suggest that that notion alone, is not damning of this specific book's recent run up (AF15). If Golden/Silver/Bronze comics as a whole, drop, say, 33% across the board on average, that doesn't in and of itself imply that AF15 is currently overvalued relative to other high value comics from different eras (e.g. compared to Hulk 1, Hulk 181, Superman 1, etc) The run up in comic values as a whole may indeed be mainly related to ZIRP, overheated economy, etc. But the "extra" recent run up in AF15, is, IMO, a reflection of the supreme popularity of Spider-Man compared to other (even very popular) Silver Age superheroes. In my opinion, even at its prices of 2 years ago, it was an undervalued book relative to other Silver Age keys when you consider the characters' relative global popularity.

It may be the "dumbest book" but on the other hand, to buy at today's prices you need "brass you know what's". Yes, I'm talking my book... But I don't think the market consensus is "can't lose at these prices"... if anything, there are a lot of bears ... isn't that a bullish signal?

No argument about modern comic circulation. Although TPBs and web/app readers have contributed to that too. but I think golden and silver age collecting has very much decoupled from modern comic collecting. Some overlap of course but not as much as many might think. Sure Dwindling sales numbers for new issues, meanwhile many back issue runs are selling better than ever (and to younger collectors)

I agree with much of the above except the reported "demographic problem" of the hobby. of course we have the "old guard", collectors in their 50s, 60s and 70s who own what are now extremely valuable books (less so when they originally acquired them) And, the market for golden and silver age westerns, cartoon animals, etc does not seem to be picking up new and younger collectors at the same rate it's losing the older collectors. As far as I'm aware, these sub niches within the hobby have already stagnated or are in decline price wise. contrast that with golden age and silver age key superhero books. If anything I am surprised by all the collectors in their 30s and early 40s. I'm not just talking about Hulk 181s, I see younger (30something) collectors chasing Cap 1s, Superman 1s, AF15s, Hulk 1s, etc. the popularity of superheroes has never been higher. look at the lines outside a comic con or at an Avengers movie. All the young faces, teens, 20s and 30somethings. Of course not all will start collecting comics. But many do. And many of those who do, gravitate towards bronze, silver and golden age books. I know I did.

Just curious, what recent sales are you referring to (aside from the Berk Action 1 & Tec 27)?

313 on the Tec 27

Awesome colors

Action 1 can make a person behave a little cuckoo?

Seems like something i would do while panicking during extended bidding for a key book... I can see it happening

I saw as well. anyone seen this before at auction?

393, you said it wouldn't hit 400! jealous of the new owner

Can they manually extend the time? i noticed that too...

Doesn't the increment increase to 5k at some point? (Or 2500) still, I like where your heads at!

Did you stop bidding?

389... I want to see it hit 600k , but in +2k increments every 179'seconds!

Maybe I'm in the minority, I like the book better with the new staples

Action 1s don't grow on trees!

Laugh if you must! I personally like this new designation if the market prices "conserved" mega key books at "normal restored" prices, I'd definitely be a buyer.