Joosh

I’ve been looking for those too. I found the best way to get high grade is to buy the action figures in package and surgically remove the books. I imagine most ppl opening those packages folded the books across the spine in doing so, based on the package design.

Just finished this up for my brother. SS 4 swipe with a little ASM 361 thrown in. 18”x12”

The newer newsstand marvel books sometimes have the wrong title in the upc box. I wonder if the code would scan for the incorrect title in that instance. For instance, my Morbius #1 newsstand from 2013 has “Spider-Man Limited” in the upc box. Would it scan as a Spider-Man book?

I’ve kept to simply asking about the actual item pictured when possible, trying to avoid tipping them off. I did have to specify newsstand on an item with multiple available, much like OP’s situation. In that case the seller just stated they were all exactly as the one pictured and so I bought all 10. Sure enough they were all newsstand. Only a few were actually NM+ but I was happy.

I’ve had to return a few books for this very reason. Nowadays I make sure the seller says the item in picture is what I get, be it in description or in messages. Even then I’ve still had it happen. Returns work for making it right but the added time and annoyance is irreversible.

Soooo.... yeah. That’s a thing. Let’s say copper age books may not apply to differentiation tactics, because someone at Marvel screwed up on Alpha Flight and Dr Strange in the 80’s. The 80’s were a strange time.

CleverParasite, You are correct, your Gambit #2 is a direct edition and the other three books are newsstand. Another tell that helps: Notice the barcode is actually two separate barcodes. The smaller of the two barcodes is only 2 digits on newsstands. I’ve yet to see where this method fails. There is a lot more to it (like what those codes mean) but this basic knowledge is a great way to tell quickly.

Agreed. We can only make an educated guess on relative rarity based on our interpretations of the evidence. I was merely sharing my experience and thoughts having personally searched these books out. I’m happy most sellers don’t know the difference as it allows me to collect what I like with very little competition.

I feel nothing. he can set whatever price he wants, if people still line up for it, more power to him. I would charge for my sig if I could too.

Are you referring to the Doc collection?

Going with the logic that dealers have the biggest presence selling large quantities of direct edition back issues, it further proves the scarcity of the newsstand books. If you can’t find it on eBay where else shall you look? If individuals who purchased new are the majority owners of these and simply aren’t selling them in large quantities, I must conclude there is likely no large stack of them waiting to be put up for sale, and the survivors’ conditions are suspect. Speaking to marvels 2011-13: Regardless of whatever ratio of newsstand/direct there may be, (I think that ratio is different across different titles) in every case the direct editions are the proverbial haystack.

I’m a huge newsstand junky myself, mostly out of nostalgia. My main focus for the last 1-2 years has been late Marvel newsstand books, 2011-13. In my experience I will see some pop up on eBay at a 1:50 news/direct ratio and others at a 1:100 or less. I don’t think the distribution was consistent. For instance, a hot seller, new avengers 8 9 10, 1st Black Order/1st Thane; I’ve watched hundreds if not a thousand of these roll through eBay and seen newsstands of: 3 #8’s (none better than 9.2) 4 #9’s, (at least 2 at 9.4) 0 #10’s None of these had newsstand specified in title or description. A few were VG/F at best. im still looking for a New Avengers (2013) #10 newsstand...

I think we all need closure on this story now. We must see this book.

Another pen and sharpie that got sent out with a sold comic.

A pen and sharpie of Carnage on cardboard, I shipped this out with a comic I sold.

There are a lot of ASM 361's out there and if you look for this particular kind of mis-wrap your pics show it is highly prevalent, at least in these 1st printings. I own 1 9.8 1st print copy with a miswrap only slightly less severe than yours. I also have a 2nd printing in 9.8 with perfect wrap(silver background); the 2nd prints all seem to have great alignment.

So the seller advertises NM or better, the book arrives at a 9.0-9.4 which equates to VF/NM to NM. And you are upset? Refund and apology why? What am I missing?

I’m not familiar with grading low grades but I have been practicing. My thoughts were 2.5, 3.0 with press. Excellent candidate for a trim, probably get into the 4.0 territory ? (Yes I’m kidding)

My older brother won the grand prize raffle, a copy of ASM 129! He wouldn't give it to me for some reason. At least he let me hold it for a photo. I had a great time! It was fun meeting Matt and Nick, you guys both have some very nice books, thanks for the deals! I bought way too much overall. The sheer amount of $0.50, 1, 3, and 5 boxes was amazing. I literally ended up with almost a longbox of books. I got sigs from Moore, Larsen, Messner-Loebs, Medina, and Zahler. These guys are all super cool and fun to talk with. I didn't even get to Steranko, and Friday night he didn't even have a line. The only book I have I want him to sign is my 9.6 copy of Nick Fury and His Agents of SHIELD (1973), but I couldn't bring myself to crack it open. Pictured is one of the signs set behind Jim Larson's booth, signed and sketched. My younger brother won this in the raffle, then got it signed and sketched, then gave it to me! The other pictures show an original sketch by Angel Medina of my favorite villian Carnage.

I’ll be the there to buy stuff! I went last year as my first con and got some great deals. I’m the guy in my avatar and I’ll have a fantastic handlebar mustache

I don’t feel strongly either way. Personally I do not typically care about cover variants; more specifically any limited incentive marketing ploys that create variations of the same product. Engineered collectibles are no fun to me. Reminds me of beanie babies. I simply move on. The whole comic book collecting thing is too much fun to get worked up over certain books. If there is an Uber limited variant cover that I really want for the art I can probably get a print of the art cheaper than buying the book, so no hard feelings ?

Kirk, I’m one those 3 or 4 people who appreciate and understand what you did and why. I’m currently hunting down all the last marvel newsstands. If you have any 2011-2013 marvel newsstands I’m buying. ? your runs are definitely second to none and something to take pride in. I mentioned before I think such a complete and high grade run as you’ve amassed has the makings of a pedigree in the future as these books age.

Late to the party, but I finally found some Image newsstand books in a dollar box, had to share. Not much for high grade, a few are NM-, most are F/VF

Kirk, Once again, great info, Thanks! If there any "last" books you don't have photo confirmation of that I have in my list, let me know and I'll post photos of them.

I thought the last Simpson’s Treehouse of Horror was funny; made me laugh. Regular series is hit or miss. I don’t have much Deadpool but a few stories have cracked me up.