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My perspective on this particular topic: 1) Current variants are marketed toward more middle-aged collectors. So, the Rule of 25 does not apply, if we can agree on that point. 2) The world of teenage boys is difficult to understand, even if you get paid to advertise to them. I teach teenagers and their interests are so diverse, that it is almost impossible to summarize what they are into. I'd list YuGiOh, Pokemon, Marvel movies, iPhones, all modern gaming systems and games, as well as fads like, Kendama in my guess for the youth of the 21st century (so far). Don't forget that today's girls may also grow up to be collectors, so Disney, MLP and a few other properties are possible. We are into Funko pops! but that has mostly been an adult phenomenon, so many in our 'cult' are attempting to gauge how much of a lifespan they'll enjoy. 3) Reading the commentary around the Rule of 75, it looks like some folks are focused on the publication dates of Golden Age books. At that time, comics were 10 cents, shared and swapped, meaning there was not too much of that wish-I-could-get-that feeling. For Golden Age comics, there were a lot of us young boys staring at OSPGs in the 70s and 80s, when they were at the height of their popularity, and dreaming of the day when we could track down older books. That pushes the expiration date for comics of the 40s and 50s up about thirty to forty years after their publication.

Greetings! I really appreciate your focus on OA and the commitment that it has taken to maintain the blog for as long as you have. The market reports have been informative and will undoubtedly exist as useful reference material for future art research. I am a dedicated speculator in comics and art, but unfortunately would not be inclined to blog with your dedication. If you are ever looking for a topic to write about - it would be fun to read your picks for future areas of investment or advice for newbies who would like to dip their toes in collecting affordably. Keep up the good work and let me know when you're ready to sell those Thanos pages for $50.

Because, if we publicized how awesome this weekend is, the lines would be longer, the competition talking to the hot, half-naked attendees would be greater AND a lot more buyers would move in on what is trove of uncontested books. Seriously though, I dropped nearly a grand on fine art in the annual Art Show and my comic expenditures were a close second. There were so many great books, that I couldn't even begin to pick up everything that I wanted. I attended all weekend (Thurs thru Mon, actually) and had so fun that it felt like it was only a two day show.

This is an extremely timely thread! I was at Dragon*Con yesterday and asked to see a MM15 on a dealer's wall. It was somewhere around a 9.0-9.4 and priced at $75. I asked if he could go lower and he answered in the negative. When I got home I looked that book up and was shocked by how much it had dropped. NMs are barely breaking $100! A few minutes later, I found that this thread had been started a couple hours earlier. For the record, I believe in MM15 and it's place as a Copper key. 'Once hot, now not, now hot again' is part of the natural back issue cycle. Just look at McFarlane books at this point in time.

Sweet art! Both covers are great examples of fun ways that the characters' (Dazzler, Black Bolt, Absorbing Man) powers could be used to fashion unique stories.

I remember standing in a comic shop as a youth, maybe a little more than 30 years ago, listening to the clerk talk to a customer. He was describing a scene in which Dazzler was performing a concert and she absorbed the voices of everyone in the audience and turned it into light (why? I have no idea). But the idea grabbed my brain and an imagined image of that sequence is still with me. I think it was from Dazzler the Movie. So that is what I remember from her series...oh and that she fought Galactus!

Pretty neat! Hembeck had some great running gags over the years. He single-handedly kept a semblance of focus on Brother Voodoo (albeit as the butt of jokes) through the 80s. Thankfully, Marvel figured out how to bring him into the New Avengers. Check out House of Hem #1 (2015) with excerpts from some of his best work or the era. House of Hem #1 (2015)

Show Report: after Day 2 Space: Huge! GA World Congress Center is more than adequate for the number of dealers, attendees and cosplayers. Dealers: A great selection of just about everything. It was nice to see a large number of $1 and $2 boxes. But there were walls full of premiums, too. Also, tons of original art, toys, and every other type of collectible. Promotion: I seems like a decent effort was made to get the word out. That has been the downfall of many previous attempts at a large ATL con. I ran into A LOT of locals who knew that this was going down. I scoffed at the price and almost didn't attend. In the end, I feel like $60 is worth it as long as I can make for the whole weekend. If I'd gotten the tix and only had access on Fri and Sun, then it would have been prohibitive. The one-day prices seemed to bring in a moderate number of attendees, but but I'm eager to hear from dealers to find out if the numbers justified setting up at this con. This is neither here nor there, but this show owes a HUGE shout out to Mother Nature. I took MARTA each day and that would have been a pain in the azz if it were pouring down. The skies looked threatening and I think it may have gotten wet outside when I was happily digging through boxes. However, a day or two of solid rain would have kept many fans away. All-in-all, it was a good show for someone (me+GF) who just comes to shop for comics and Funko pops. I just wish it wasn't scheduled the week after Atlanta Comic Convention (and a month after Heroes). The wallet can only stretch so far! Hey, organizers! ATL needs a good Winter con. That's when I'm flush with $$ but no one wants to go up against the Big Guy in the red suit.

I visited a LCS this morning and as I rummaged through their back issues, I eavesdropped on a conversation taking place 5 feet away. A grandmother had brought her 8 year old grandson into the store, because he had just seen Infinity War and wanted to read the IG TPB. The store was sold out but the clerk assured them that they could order it and he would have it for them in four days. What happened next caused me to become part of the scene. The kid was hungry to read some comics: now, not four days from today. But the clerk made no attempt to steer him toward an alternative. I jumped in and began to suggest $1 Thor and X-men books that I had noticed in the boxes. Grandma was happy to buy him $15 worth of back issues to satisfy his need to read about characters, like the ones that he saw on the screen. If Wal-Mart's efforts gets a few more kids into reading (anything is great, but comics would be a plus for us) then I say, "Thank You!" I have two daughters who wanted to know more about Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel after seeing Avengers:IW - I had to search about three or four stores for a TPB. The fact is that the comics community (publishers, stores, all of us) are doing the bare minimum to support the medium. Even with the biggest, most popular advertisements showing in theaters a couple times a year. Here in Atlanta, we have around 10 cons annually and 5-10 stores that sell new books, yet there is no outreach when people walk out of a showing of Batman, Avengers or My Little Pony.

I had the PA reminders telling me what a great show it had been, while I was trying to prevent its end AND my gf in the other ear telling to stop rifling through the last 50-cent table. But I was still finding great stuff after the show was over - what's a collector to do???

2018 was an awesome show! I filled more than 3 long boxes over the weekend. Mind you, we did some shopping on the way up and on the way back. We are looking forward to seeing everyone in roughly 51 weeks! For those of you going for the first time in June 2019, I'd just like you to know that I shopped the floor from Friday morning until I was kicked out on Sunday evening. I definitely did not have enough time or money. Start saving and budgeting now, for the best possible experience at one of the most enjoyable comic cons in the country.

Likewise, @G.A.tor - man, I was just talking you up to the GF this morning. I was recounting the story of meeting you at the H*C CGC dinner nearly ten years ago. And then soon after when I was shopping your booth at MegaCon I purchased two cgc 9.8 books that were at the top of my list for a very, very good deal. I was explaining to her how I came across the current values of She-Hulk #1 and Sentry #1 SDCC and felt great gratitude that our paths crossed. I can't reiterate enough how great H*C is for finding deals and meeting the best people in the business.

We are as excited about this year's H*C as anytime that I can remember. The travel plans are made (hotel and driving route) and we are volunteering for the third year running. So, the part that you guys care about: we are coming to shop lots of dollar books (me) and Funko pops (mostly her). If you have pops! in your inventory and want to know what we're looking for - PM me and we can discuss off-line.

That is by far the quintessential Lobo story, IMO. I always pick these up for a buck when I find them - to pass on to other comic readers. If I had to pick one book that would deserve emulation in order to guarantee a successful movie - this is it. I do recall the Superman Adventures cartoon version as a hoot, also.

I haven't posted on this forum in ages, but I just came across your thread and....OH MAN! I am very happy to hear that the initial start up was mostly positive. I saw all of the friendly advice that urged you not to do it and laughed! That would have been my advice. Even the best stores are a haul - and that's with sufficient hired help. I have never owned, worked-in or in any way invested in a retail establishment. However, I do spend MUCH of my income in other people's stores. I just wanted to mention how I shop, so that you have a little more input in the mind of another customer: My girlfriend and I embark regularly on road-trips around the country (mostly in our region - Southeastern US) and we hit every comic shop in the radius. She shops exclusively for Funko pops! and I am in the market for 90% comics and 10% anything collectible (e.g. toys, art, mags, books, etc.). We use all tools at our disposal to locate retailers. So, making certain that your presence on Google, Yelp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Comic Shop Locator, Funko Store Locator and all local resources is essential. We recently drove down to Florida and I put the name of one of our destinations in Craigslist - a comic shop that failed to come up in any of our other searches showed pictures of its interior and inventory. You can bet that we went 150 miles out of our way to check out a hole-in-the-wall in Alabama, that had exactly what we were looking for and we spent a ton of cash there, too. Let me pause to mention that you should be aware of your competition at all times. We frequent Toys r Us, FYE, Hot Topic, BAM, Barnes and Noble, McKays, 2nd & Charles, Go! Calendars and more, as often as comic shops. Your location may or may not leave you vulnerable to their massive inventories and savvy pricing, but stay aware of what they are up to. For example, you said you sell pop! vinyls - most of the locations that I mentioned have exclusive pop! figures. No matter what you order, the only way that you can get your hands on them is by either buying them in person, ordering from their websites or buying them from collectors. We see all of this happening in a big collectible swirl from state-to-state. If you give collectors more reasons to come to you, instead of those other stores - your traffic (quality and quantity) will change. That being said - be sure that you are FINDABLE!!! God! We go to so many shops that make us work to find them. Poor directions, impossible-to-figure-out-hours, insufficient signage, inadequate parking and out-of-date phone numbers are a few of the issues that we have to deal with, when we are 500 miles from home, tired, hungry and burned out by poor customer service. The easiest way to prevent most of this...post all pertinent information on Facebook. If something changes - update immediately! Post plenty of recent pictures of the interior, exterior, stock, staff, events, etc. The more you post, the more viable you look. We constantly look up stores that don't have a working phone and their last FB post was from 3 years ago in 2015. Then, when they are 50 miles away - we have to do the detective work and make the judgement call whether they are worth the stop. Next, promote your store like an SOB! We love to see what is on the shelves of the store. One of the best indicators whether we should stop in is a picture of new stock that you just bought from a collection. If she sees a pile of new pops on the counter that were purchased in the last few months - you can bet that we are making a beeline to your door to hand over as much money as we can give you. *We have called stores that refused to give a clear answer about what they sell, how many back issues they had or what their prices were like* There is nothing better than a FB pic of a store flyer announcing the current Black Friday/Xmas/New Years/Arbor Day/whatever sale that is going on with all current discounts. Our BIGGEST pet peeve, when shopping are those stores (Lord, there are so many!) that do not price their merchandise. Then when I walk in and inquire about prices, they say "bring it up and I'll let you know." The usual next step is - they look up each book, one-by-one online and come back with market prices for everything that I just spent half-an-hour pulling. Those are the worst stores and the ones that let me know that our return business is not needed or appreciated. On that note and understanding that margins are tight - the store clerks or owners that see that I am about to buy $150 in comics or that my GF is willing to plunk down $500 for pops, but don't automatically offer a discount of some kind are not going to see us again. Sure, it seems entitled, but I like to feel that you want me to spend at your store. Usually, when offered a percentage off of marked prices - we continue to shop and will add significant quantities of merchandise to our respective stacks. Remember, while it may not be true for many of your clientele, we are coming from far away, with gas, food and hotel costs to spend our money in your shop. We frequently walk into stores, where we get surly service and I could literally blow dust off of the back issue stock, but the person at the register gets offended that I would ask about a reduced rate if I pull a large quantity of books. Referencing the people who came into your store to sell a collection and expected unrealistic sums - I have been in a few shops when similar transactions were happening. One of the best practices, that I have seen is: 1) seller walks in and asks if you buy comics or cards or whatever 2) retailer automatically answers with a set response. Usually it sounds something like, "Yes, we pay 5 cents for books that we are going to sell for a dollar and we'll offer 25% of what we will charge for books over a dollar." That is what my LCS does - of course they are a used book store, that just happens to sell comics as well. Lastly, I have to say that you are making the right move by adding gaming. Nationwide, that is the trend and it is profitable for most businesses. However, stay alert to the market and be prepared to change with the winds. Gaming and pops WERE NOT the norm 4 years ago when we started our little shopping trips, but they are a major economic driver in the Sci-Fi, comic, fantasy and related markets now. That could change and only the stores that are ready to pivot will survive to tell the tale. We saw that with the early direct comic market in the 80s, with the collectible card craze of the 90s and the first decade of this century was a healing time for those stores that could not adapt. A new cycle has begun and any store that is open now is guaranteed to see quite a few swings in interests and shoppers. Be sure to entice female shoppers by catering to their demands. Bring young readers and gamers through your doors with age-appropriate material and events. Don't forget that in the summer and during winter and spring breaks, college-aged customers will be returning home and may not know that you exist. How will you ensure that they try you out? FCBD and event movies are not always maximized by some shops - try not to make that mistake. We always walk out of a store with mental notes of our experience. We then compare impressions during our long ride to the next town. Make sure that you read online reviews of your store and take them to heart. Everything that I just wrote is based on dozens of visits to stores in large and small towns, where the stock can change, but our expectations and hope for a good shopping experience never does. Good luck! P.S. I checked out your Facebook page after writing this and it looks like you're doing most of what I mentioned. Now...let's pass this on to all of those other shop owners around the country, who don't have it quite figured out!

H&V 2017 has been announced in ATL and they are offering a buy one get three package on weekend tickets. If I recall correctly, I passed last year because the show looked like it was mainly celebs and personalities with a high ticket price. I mostly attend cons for access to vendors and to shop large quantities of comics at one location. Does anyone have a review of last year's show and have an opinion whether it's worth it for me to attend?

Don't forget about: Amethyst Princess Of Gemworld #2 RARE 35 http://cgi.ebay.com/Amethyst-Princess-Gemworld-2-RARE-35-cent-Variant-/170633015803?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27ba8531fb

So, this one is a sixth (printing?). I'd be interested in the origin if anyone out there knows. I didn't bid on the one above, but I'd like to know where it came from. Possibly inserted into non-New York Post papers? Is this the Double Feature (608 and 609)? The Special Edition that people are asking about was inserted with the toys a couple of years ago. Look up Killer Croc Figure on ebay and you might see one... I see it. It looks like all of the Batman figures from that 2003 line came with the same reprint of #608. Thanks a lot.

So, this one is a sixth (printing?). I'd be interested in the origin if anyone out there knows. I didn't bid on the one above, but I'd like to know where it came from. Possibly inserted into non-New York Post papers?

Okay two things: 1) Here we are in the far flung future of 2011 and there are two 9.8s going for over $2K --- Amazing! 2) Anyone know where this oddity came from? Its not the newspaper version: Batman 608 Special Edition NM Rare HTF LOOK!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/Batman-608-Special-Edition-NM-Rare-HTF-LOOK-/150590162730?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item230fdf872a

Here's my rant: As a fan of GI Joe from the beginning (#1 bought off of the rack, when playing war, everone had a GI Joe codename, when I enlisted in the Marines the bios for Gung Ho and Leatherneck were foremost on my mind) I am not impressed with anything that I've seen so far. The characterizations, action, story, etc. look like they have been altered to appeal to worldwide audiences that have few expectations other than a spectacle. I had the same misgivings about the first Transformers movie and was pretty widely flamed on these boards, because "it was based on a bunch of toys." I disagree with any logic that forgives a low quality product, especially one that tramples a product that has high potential and a large fan-base. It always smacks of short-sightedness and lack of respect for the movie-goer (yeah Lucas, I'm looking at you). I understand that a faithful adaption is usually hard to create on the screen, but in the case of Transformers, taking all of the focus off of the title characters and placing it on human relationships with the robots there just to add a little action seems to completely miss the point. And I will never understand the people who say "I enjoyed it because it was funny" - go see one of the million summer comedies if you want to laugh. A dozen , ebay and j%$*-off jokes don't make up for a lack of quality dialogue and character development (yes they can exist in a popcorn movie - please see T2 and Iron Man for proof) Oh well, the couple of you out there that agree with me can do what I did for Transformers. Buy a ticket for a more deserving movie and see GI Joe (if you like it go back and buy a ticket for it and see it with someone who would not have gone to see it otherwise - not something that I had to do with TF since it was a piece of c&@p).

Fans "read" issue #21? The silent issue? Just kidding you. Your logic makes a lot of sense. I get your humor, but seriously, fans have had to defend this issue on several occasions. Larry Hama crafted a classic with this issue. While the fact that this is Storm Shadow's 1st app registers wih most collectors, this is also the first real "ninja Snake Eyes." He did a couple of tricks earlier in the series, but when he takes on SS's helpers, you have to "read" the poses, expressions and subtle clues that pay off later when you read the Snake Eyes origin issues. Yes I "read" my original newstand issue cover to cover so many times that it is now a VG.

When #1 came out it was sold EVERYWHERE. Direct market locations and newstand. There were TV ads for the early books and awareness was high. Also, it was selling for high $$ from early on, so it was heavily collected and preserved. Conversely, #21 only had a place in the hearts of those who read it. It didn't see an increase in value for almost 15 years. So that dark cover was not well-protected by those who held onto it. Plus, #21 had three printings. There wasn't much interest in figuring out how to tell them apart, so this sometimes gave a false impression of high supply. I'm sure that I'm missing some details in there.

I've noticed that Warrior copies get very little attention. Despite the lack of demand, I would not write them off. There are some important stories in Warrior and they are selling for so little right now, that you'd be crazy not to pick them up if you get the chance.

IMO, prog2 is a must-have for any CA collection. They always come up for sale on ebay, but as stated, its rare to get a chance to win a MG to HG copy. I have to keep an eye out for the 'banned' issues. Thanks for that tip.