ComicFill

I think you underestimate how much affect a person can have. I've seen it happen. Guy with only a couple thousand followers posts a video about a spec book that is the first appearance of a minor charter that he theorizes would be a perfect addition to an MCU show coming up. Then all of a sudden that book at a CGC 9.8 goes from selling for around $100 to having several sales over $300 with multiple bidders. Enough sales happen that it becomes the FMV. Only takes 3 or 4 auctions to completely change what a book trades at.

For sure MCU has taken it to the next level. But I would argue CGC was elevating comic collecting and saving the hobby from the 90s nosedive for several years before Iron Man came out.

But it isn't just youtube. It is instagram, facebook, and tik tok too. I know the word "influencer" is gag inducing, and reminiscent of a kardashian, but that is what they do. They influence. I've seen lots of variants or releases or obscure keys on an instagram post or a youtube video that made me decide to get it. Hell, I jumped on the Iron Studios X-men Diorama because I saw a preview video a youtuber did and now I'm $10k into it. Without that youtube video I might not have even know that it existed.

Ya, I get it. But that's what they are. What do you want? "Social media personalities"?

CGC saved the comic collecting hobby in my opinion. Without grading companies I don't think we would have nearly the interest there currently is.

For SURE a lot is speculation. But that is also because that's what gets clicks. Some of these guys are just in it for business. Others are genuine geeks who love and read comics but want youtube subscribers so they put out some spec videos as well.

Look at youtube or instagram. There are plenty of comic influencers in their 20s and 30s.

It's speculators. That's why all the older stuff is skyrocketing. People are buying it up so when the character gets a movie or TV show the resale value goes up. Those people don't actually read comics, so they don't buy new stuff.

For sure. Stamp collectors are dying off without new collectors coming in. Same thing happens with things like dolls, silver, China, etc. You can watch antiques roadshow or whatever and see the prices are plummeting. The comic community is still young and expanding.

Unpopular opinion: I'm fine with the comic market crashing. I collect comics. I don't sell them. The comics market being super hot means I can't afford all the comics I want. If it crashes and prices go down, I can. Plus I wouldn't mind something that gets rid of all the speculators and investors that artificially pump up the prices.

My only green label is a Hulk 181 because of the missing Marvel stamp. I have an 8.5. FMV sale average on Ebay is around $1,600. If it were blue it would $4,500. A $1,600 blue would be a 3.5.

Numerous times. No issues. They aren't going to be as fast as a third party, but the savings can be substantial.

I've been collecting for 25 years and this always bothered me. I like my various runs isolated in their own boxes and often times a shorter series won't fill a box, or it will have plenty of empty space as I complete the run. I used to fill boxes with old novels. It worked pretty well, but they were heavy and they shifted around in the boxes. Then one day I bought a big sheet of insulation styrofoam and cut it down to sheets that fit my comic boxes. It worked so perfectly I contacted a styrofoam manufacturer and had sheets produced. I'm now using around 250 sheets in my collection. It's been such a good solution that I decided to produce a bunch of them and start sharing them with the comic collecting community. They are light-weight, sturdy, and provide even pressure to keep your comics upright and secure. If you're looking for the best solution i've found in 25 years you can check it out at comicfill.com Let me know what you think.