Primetime

naturally, 28's value probably gives them all a run for their money grade for grade, but that is a different discussion my personal preference is 29...I like it MUCH better than 31...but the market seems to have determined that 31 is the "most" desirable tec comic (outside of 27, which due to price reasons, doesn't often get comparisons)...therefore, personal preference aside, I have to concede that 31 is "better" , even though to me, 29 blows it away...I assume I am in the minority on this, but that is irrelevant no way. 29 blows a 38 away. that's truth. (thumbs u In fact 33 and 38 are in the same boat---priced higher than 29, 31, and 35--but FMV is much much lower. read the post first...who mentioned anything about a 38 I was just using 29 and 38 to compare what "blowing away" was the better ex than 29 and 31 which aren't miles away in caliber IMO--31 slightly better cover, 29 better story. well, thank goodness yours is one opinion that "doesn't" count go Miami (FL)! All about the "U"

Except for the struck section, I agree completely +1 Bill

naturally, 28's value probably gives them all a run for their money grade for grade, but that is a different discussion my personal preference is 29...I like it MUCH better than 31...but the market seems to have determined that 31 is the "most" desirable tec comic (outside of 27, which due to price reasons, doesn't often get comparisons)...therefore, personal preference aside, I have to concede that 31 is "better" , even though to me, 29 blows it away...I assume I am in the minority on this, but that is irrelevant no way. 29 blows a 38 away. that's truth. (thumbs u In fact 33 and 38 are in the same boat---priced higher than 29, 31, and 35--but FMV is much much lower. read the post first...who mentioned anything about a 38 I was just using 29 and 38 to compare what "blowing away" was the better ex than 29 and 31 which aren't miles away in caliber IMO--31 slightly better cover, 29 better story.

naturally, 28's value probably gives them all a run for their money grade for grade, but that is a different discussion my personal preference is 29...I like it MUCH better than 31...but the market seems to have determined that 31 is the "most" desirable tec comic (outside of 27, which due to price reasons, doesn't often get comparisons)...therefore, personal preference aside, I have to concede that 31 is "better" , even though to me, 29 blows it away...I assume I am in the minority on this, but that is irrelevant no way. 29 blows a 38 away. that's truth. (thumbs u In fact 33 and 38 are in the same boat---priced higher than 29, 31, and 35--but FMV is much much lower. 28 not 38 i meant to say 38. (thumbs u and, I'd prefer a 28 over 38 as well

naturally, 28's value probably gives them all a run for their money grade for grade, but that is a different discussion my personal preference is 29...I like it MUCH better than 31...but the market seems to have determined that 31 is the "most" desirable tec comic (outside of 27, which due to price reasons, doesn't often get comparisons)...therefore, personal preference aside, I have to concede that 31 is "better" , even though to me, 29 blows it away...I assume I am in the minority on this, but that is irrelevant no way. 29 blows a 38 away. that's truth. (thumbs u In fact 33 and 38 are in the same boat---priced higher than 29, 31, and 35--but FMV is much much lower.

Unlike SA, I am driven by covers (over stories) in GA. CGC slabbing further supports this as big GA keys almost need to be slabbed (unless traded within trusted circles) whenever premium money is exchanged..That said, two years ago I owned a beauty Tec 33 CGC 4.5 ow/w, which I've posted many times...The yellow cover, full wing span, gun holster were and is still awesome --however, I rarely thought of the Origin pages whenever I looked at the book...I had owned a 35 and 37 at the same time, but I really wanted a 31 and 29 (in that order). I was willing to trade or sell my 33 to get a 31 but no takers. Hindsight 20/20 a board member thought about trading his blue 3.5 #29 straight across for my 33. I should have done that trade but it never happened as I preferred a certain Timely over the 29. I could not get more than 1.5x offers for my 33, whereas the 31 and 29 were moving at 2.0-2.5x on average. In due time, 29 and 31 should be priced the same grade for grade in guide and true FMV. The covers of 29 and 31 alone keep driving demand and there is no supply to fill the needs of all want lists. 33 wont slip in FMV but most Pre Robin die hards would rather pay strong for a 29 or 31 over a 33. We already see 4-5x being paid for 35s. And yes, CGC slabbing is pushing for "covers only" collectors and further price pushing for 29s, 31s, Suspense 3s, etc. Bottom line, one must collect what they like #1, but the reality is FMV is higher for 29s/31s/35s than 33s. Pre Robins

I wonder how Rick would feel about such things. he'll toast ya to some Pre Robins, coke zero, and blueberry d'nuts I am quite fond of blueberry doughnuts...coke zero ain't half bad and... Ehh...I guess Pre-Robin Tecs are alright. Rick, sounds like you got another "lil dude" coming up in the ranks of vintage books

I wonder how Rick would feel about such things. he'll toast ya to some Pre Robins, coke zero, and blueberry d'nuts

I cannot change the reality of the market and I'm not trying to claim that the market is "wrong". I just feel there to be a very valid reason why Tec #33 held the number two spot for so many years. You've mentioned the advent of CGC and collectors' desire now more than ever to appreciate classic covers as a result of collecting "slabs". That's a perfectly valid point which would explain (at least to some degree) why the Tecs you have mentioned (29, 31, and 35) have seen such a significant increase in demand; especially relative to supply. For whatever reason, I think the majority of Pre-Robin collectors feel that 29, 31, and 35 have the superior covers. I would make no argument against #31 and even with #29, I can see how the "darker" and more "gothic" style might be more appealing to a number of collectors; that's cool. (thumbs u But with #35, I think it's really a matter of the "cool" factor combined with the fact that Tec #33's color-scheme does not seem to fit in with that "dark" tone that has been so popular. I love it because the color-scheme reminds me of Tec #27 and I appreciate the contrast between the vibrance of the background colors and the darkness of Batman. I don't think #35 is the better cover; I just think it's the "cooler" cover which is all it needs to be to drive collectors to pay well for it. Tec #33 seems to be very difficult to find unrestored which is where I feel it has the potential to see the most growth. There is really no competition between the importance of the stories of these issues. 29, 31, and 35 all have their own elements that make them significant but the story of Batman's origin is (not to sound like a broken record myself), the most important GA story ever told. Yet as Tec #29, 31, and 35 have all seen their respective "explosions", the same cannot be said of Tec #33 recently. It's held a solid value mind you but has not sold for the same "multiples of guide" that we've seen other issues sell for; it just hasn't been as "hot". The reasons? As we've discussed...the cover is not as "hot" at the moment (something that does seem to change from time to time) and there is a greater supply. Yet I feel when it comes to Pre-Robin Tecs (especially those with Batman on the cover)...there will never be enough supply to meet the demand. Prices seem to go down when too many copies come out around the same time (thus collectors' interest is distributed amongst multiple copies instead of being concentrated into one). I do feel the Tec #33 cover will get "hot" sometime in the future and one day when it becomes fashionable to get your hands on an unrestored Tec #33 in the same ways that it has been for #35 (for instance)...we'll see a book that is already valuable realize a surge in demand and thus, an increase in value. folks, I think we have a GAtor "junior" in the making (thumbs u Re:Tec 35---BEST Bat splash page in the whole run hands down..

nice Paul.

no, thank you sir!

That sounds about right. Yannis gave me a great deal, accepting cash plus comics. My records show it was sold by amerweb on eBay (4/21/2008) with a Buy It Now of $4K. The slab went to a buyer on the West Coast who sold it to Terry's Comics. Terry sold it to someone on the East Coast. It fell off the back of a truck. (kidding) Yannis picked it up, bought it, sold it to me. Now it's back on the West Coast again. If only this slab can talk, there might be a movie: The Brotherhood of the Traveling Comic Book. I'm just surprised that the book has had that hard of a time finding a home. There are many collectors out there who would not only love to own a book like that but would make it the centerpiece of their personal collections. I'm surprised Yannis let it go

That sounds about right. Yannis gave me a great deal, accepting cash plus comics. My records show it was sold by amerweb on eBay (4/21/2008) with a Buy It Now of $4K. The slab went to a buyer on the West Coast who sold it to Terry's Comics. Terry sold it to someone on the East Coast. It fell off the back of a truck. (kidding) Yannis picked it up, bought it, sold it to me. Now it's back on the West Coast again. If only this slab can talk, there might be a movie: The Brotherhood of the Traveling Comic Book. excellent record keeping Mr. Wayne.

Good question. I'm not sure what is the current FMV for a 31...nor do I follow trends. I guess I'm what you call a value investor, looking to profit from a long term hold. For the entire run (including Bat 1), my upfront costs didn't go above 15K...and most of the books were bought in 2007-2008. Terry O'Neil offered me a CGC .5 o/w Tec 31 last year before I bought my copy...it was sold to someone in NY and Yannis finally got it...not sure if this is the same copy Rockman, but Terry had offered it to me for $5500... Was it missing a back-cover as well? yep. might be the same copy as rockman's but I think it is a different one if he has had his copy since 07-08...I think the .5 copy Terry obtained last year was from a local collector (SoCal), so probably a different copy.. There are two .5's on the census so it's a very likely possibility; the fact that both have the back-cover missing is an interesting coincidence as I doubt it was a re-sub. $5,500 seems like a strong price but certainly not out of line for a book of Tec #31's magnitude; especially when there are only 27 graded unrestored copies to-date. very fair price IMO...a .5 complete that was tattered went for $3300 two years ago on eBay..I'd rather pay the xtra $2k and have no BC but have the all IMPORTANT FC to this Bat gem (thumbs u

Good question. I'm not sure what is the current FMV for a 31...nor do I follow trends. I guess I'm what you call a value investor, looking to profit from a long term hold. For the entire run (including Bat 1), my upfront costs didn't go above 15K...and most of the books were bought in 2007-2008. Terry O'Neil offered me a CGC .5 o/w Tec 31 last year before I bought my copy...it was sold to someone in NY and Yannis finally got it...not sure if this is the same copy Rockman, but Terry had offered it to me for $5500... Was it missing a back-cover as well? yep. might be the same copy as rockman's but I think it is a different one if he has had his copy since 07-08...I think the .5 copy Terry obtained last year was from a local collector (SoCal), so probably a different copy..

Good question. I'm not sure what is the current FMV for a 31...nor do I follow trends. I guess I'm what you call a value investor, looking to profit from a long term hold. For the entire run (including Bat 1), my upfront costs didn't go above 15K...and most of the books were bought in 2007-2008. Terry O'Neil offered me a CGC .5 o/w Tec 31 last year before I bought my copy...it was sold to someone in NY and Yannis finally got it...not sure if this is the same copy Rockman, but Terry had offered it to me for $5500...

it was well worth the wait David

Well, if you insist... Detective 31 - picked up this copy within the past few years in a trade with a good friend (local collector). It has slight professional restoration, but near white pages and presents very well in my humble opinion. Detective 35 - obtained this nearly three decades ago out of an ad from The Comics Buyers Guide. Wonderful colors and great pages, but the top staple was popped so I had it re-attached. So again, slight professional restoration but another copy that I think presents very well. Love 'em both! and I've seen both in hand--very very nice (thumbs u Steve!

I can say that I own(ed) 5 of the 7 Pre Rob Bat only covers in the run

I'm not a big fan of Tec 38. I'd take a Bat 1 over Tec 38 anyday due to the Joker and Catwoman 1st app's plus better cover

That is beautiful, congratulations love that "3/6" arrival on the FC (thumbs u

the original Hulk

they would all be on there iPhones texting, surfing the net, or watching a movie.

I love this pic. Looks like the book are in great shape. Over his right shoulder, you can see New York World's Fair 1940. His collection goes back quite a few years. He's holding Famous Funnies #17 from December 1935. which means there must be some DCs or Timelys buried in those stacks

i thought you only bought "Canadian" versions?