William-James88

Thanks man, and no I had not noticed. I mean I saw the latest deals were magazine related but I thought that,s just because deals on comics were a thing of the past and the thread title seemed all inclusive. But thanks for the heads up.

Thanks this is very helpful. I was pretty sure it was a printer defect since it's a clean cut, not a tear, no filaments. Glad to know they aren't too harsh on it. It's the only decernable defect on mine so I will let you guys know what it comes back as. I wouldn't mind 9.6.

In this case, it has. Just looking at the market. That's the point of this whole thread right, affordable keys? 43 is claimed to be an affordable key as opposed to 42, that's a major clue right there. It's also been more expensive in the price guide for as long as I've been following it. I see no evidence that the demand for 43 is higher than 42.

Has there ever been a change in market for a particular book being favoured over another one after decades of a consistent trend? I like your passion and since I have a Daredevil 1 rather than those other two, I would love it if it would go higher. It will but I still see it trailing behind X-Men 1. It's ridiculous how key X-Men 1 is in the grand scheme of things. Some books introduce a character or a team but this has a team made up of 6 characters that would go on to become mainstays and icons in the marvel universe along with one of the greatest villains (the greatest? up for debate). Just to say there is a lot going on in that book to keep it on top of others.

I just picked up a mid grade book for a bit more than that (still 30% below guide) because I do like Aquaman and it's good to have in case it dos heat up one day and I regret not purchasing it for cheaper when I could. However, I don't think it will ever be on par with Showcase 22 or even Showcase 30. The big deal with Showcase 30 is that it's the first aquaman centric book. Kinda serves as an Aquaman 1 before he had a main series, and silver age 1s are hot keys for collectors. I kinda see it as Amazing 15 in a way where a character is given a shot in an antholgy book and is there on the cover (which is a big deal since covers become rather significant when that,s all you see in a slab). Of course, it's not his first appearance so that's where the comparison with AF 15 ends. As for it being on par with Showcase 22, I don't see it. Again, not only are we missing the cover element, but for Aquaman particularly, he feels more like a retcon than a fully new character, unlike Hal Jordan. People can argue about that for sure, but the fact that there is such an argument to be had while there is no denying that Showcase 22 is the first apperance of a JLA mainstay kinda shows why they aren't on par. I find Aquaman to be more like Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and Green Arrow. A character from the Golden age that was given an update in the silver age. I am sure I am not the only one who feels that way, or else that book would at least sell for guide, if not much higher. Just to reiterate, I like the book, I think it is a key, but not as big as the others mentioned and I am not sure if it will ever have it's due.

Adventure Comics 260 is also 50% off guide on e-bay right now (the seller claims it's a 5.0 but it's more likely a 4.0) https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Adventure-Comics-260-1st-SA-origin-Aquaman-VG-FN-5-0-DC-1959/164068448953?hash=item26333ddab9:g:iu0AAOSweaBeGiZl

10 mins left to get Action Comics 255 (first bizarro lois) at 50% off guide https://www.ebay.ca/itm/ACTION-COMICS-255-VG-1st-BIZARRO-LOIS/283777526305?hash=item4212756a21:g:x3oAAOSwpBpdBBb2 Not mine, already own the book

He responded to all fan mail sent to him. If anyone wants to read his letter to me, let me know and I will post it.

Alright so here we go, below you will find images from Captain marvel Adventures 30, 31, 32, 34. They all have what the original poster describes. They are all wartime comics (from 1943-44) and only have one staple. And, there are very few adds within the comic, most are concentrated at the beginning and end. I guess books sold well enough back in the day that there was no need for extra revenue through ads. I have two copies of 30, so just in case there was any doubt to this being normal, you can see below that the effect of that one page bind takes place on the same 3 pages.

These comics are what I collect these days and I can concurr that it's normal. I remember being surprised nesylf the dirst time I saw it but it is indeed manufactured that way. When i have a chance, I will show mine as well.

In that case, you are better off selling it as is now. Money today is worth more than money tomorrow. Plus by the time you finish this project, the higher grade one you are looking will surely sell for more than now, that is the way with these kinds of keys.

I was referring to the story of the Fantastic Four 10 that went from blue to green to blue label. You had commented on it.

I was mainly looking at the general accepted definition of the era for moderns, around late 90s till now. About asm 361, I have one. Very nice, very flat, looks like near mint minus or better (the usual ebay description when you're not sure how high the grade is for a new book) but there is a small cut around the middle at the bottom edge of the cover. Is that a common issue with that specific comic? I would love to send it in but I wonder how much this penalizes the comic.

AHA, well that explains it. There were some foil covers found at retail for the Metal event so I thought that was one too. No wonder I never ever saw it.

It can go both ways. Some people buy for the slab. So if they only collect 9.8s, they will pay extra even though the book itself raw would have been sold at $5-$25. But for golden age, the slab doesn't add much. The idea of the slab there is simply to "guarantee" the grade. So a 5.0 would sell for a 5.0 and not less, ideally. Though from my recent experience, I still buy slabbed golden age books below guide at auction, so the slab didn't really help the person get the price associated to the grade, proving your point. One question though, shadroch, where did you get those 10$ slabbed books? I have never seen such prices myself.

Your referring to the whole crack, press, regrade process? I can see that, but also wouldn't a book already pressed mean they don,t have to go to the trouble themselves? It's a bit confusing to me.

I am doing the same thing now, all the advice here is great. Thanks all!

Hulk 181, no contest

The latest one, with that Batman Who laughs foil cover. But that's because everyone is holding onto them or selling them online rather than back to their LCS. But to be more on point with the discussion, there are some modern issues of Detective that I could not find for 10 years in the wild (including conventions). I had to eventually buy them online. they weren't pricey, I just couldn't find them locally for some reason. Those were Detective Comics 778 and 781.

AHA! I had not.

I can't find teen titans 12 in the wild.

Isn't his right knee cap obscured by the price?

That's what I was gonna say.

Thst second part is something I did not know. I was unaware of people who cared if a book was pressed or not. How can one tell then? Especially if it's slabbed.

I know for some obvious flaws (like staining, missing pieces, tears) a press won't do much to the grade. But for high grade books (meaning books that would fall under a NM- or better grade), do most of you press them before/during a submission? Or do you sometimes not think it's worthwhile? Just wondering because I have some nice key books but never thought of pressing until I found this board.