Mike_1

9 minutes ago, justin said:

Get a 9.2 SS with the best sig placement and the most perfect centering/alignment and you're golden. I don't know about you but a mis-aligned 300 really bothers me.

How do you tell if it’s misaligned?  Are you talking about the book?

I have complete series 1,2,3 and Marvel Masterpiece all encased and stored in a shoebox under humidity control for the last 23 years or so.

Not sure I will bother getting them graded since so many people have them.  If I did it would only be series 1 and the masterpiece sets.

I also had all the Spider-Man figures still in packages from the early 90s but literally mice devoured them about 13 years ago.  I was so pissed.

1 hour ago, valiantman said:

The good news is that Amazing Spider-Man #300 is the most submitted comic book in the history of CGC.  There are lots and lots of copies.

Another bit of good news is that Amazing Spider-Man #300 has seen a price increase recently, and what goes up usually comes down... maybe not all the way back down... but part way.

Amazing Spider-Man #300 is 33 years old this year, and a very popular comic.

Incredible Hulk #181 is another very popular comic, so let's turn back the clock to when Incredible Hulk #181 was 33 years old... 2007.

The price for a CGC 9.8 was $18,000... here's the chart below.

You could have waited until 2008, when Incredible Hulk #181 was 34 years old and paid more than $18,000.

You would have waited until 2010 through 2016, and paid less than $18,000.

If you're in the market today, they're $45,000, and $18,000 would be a bargain.

Amazing Spider-Man #300 might follow the same pattern, it might not... but if you're planning to hold onto the book for 14 years, all of today's prices might look like a bargain.

(No matter what, if you are spending $1,000+ on comic books, you should pay for a GPAnalysis.com subscription... spend $10 to save hundreds.)

After a deeper dive into eBay’s completed sale’s data, it looks copies are not readily selling for as much as people are asking.  The sale’s that go through are typically substantially less than the current asking prices.

Some of the current sellers even appear to be flippers that bought a book 45-60 days ago and did a $2k markup.

Also as you pointed out regarding gocollect, their sales data does not match with eBay’s sales data.  Gocollect values are inflated I think and they show more frequent sales than what actually occurred it seems.

12 minutes ago, valiantman said:

The good news is that Amazing Spider-Man #300 is the most submitted comic book in the history of CGC.  There are lots and lots of copies.

Another bit of good news is that Amazing Spider-Man #300 has seen a price increase recently, and what goes up usually comes down... maybe not all the way back down... but part way.

Amazing Spider-Man #300 is 33 years old this year, and a very popular comic.

Incredible Hulk #181 is another very popular comic, so let's turn back the clock to when Incredible Hulk #181 was 33 years old... 2007.

The price for a CGC 9.8 was $18,000... here's the chart below.

You could have waited until 2008, when Incredible Hulk #181 was 34 years old and paid more than $18,000.

You would have waited until 2010 through 2016, and paid less than $18,000.

If you're in the market today, they're $45,000, and $18,000 would be a bargain.

Amazing Spider-Man #300 might follow the same pattern, it might not... but if you're planning to hold onto the book for 14 years, all of today's prices might look like a bargain.

(No matter what, if you are spending $1,000+ on comic books, you should pay for a GPAnalysis.com subscription... spend $10 to save hundreds.)

Funny you mention hulk 181.  I’ve never forgot a kid I knew had an original his dad bought him for like $300.  He destroyed that book.

Even then I thought man what a waste.  That comic was awesome till you gotta hold of it.

8 minutes ago, valiantman said:

The good news is that Amazing Spider-Man #300 is the most submitted comic book in the history of CGC.  There are lots and lots of copies.

Another bit of good news is that Amazing Spider-Man #300 has seen a price increase recently, and what goes up usually comes down... maybe not all the way back down... but part way.

Amazing Spider-Man #300 is 33 years old this year, and a very popular comic.

Incredible Hulk #181 is another very popular comic, so let's turn back the clock to when Incredible Hulk #181 was 33 years old... 2007.

The price for a CGC 9.8 was $18,000... here's the chart below.

You could have waited until 2008, when Incredible Hulk #181 was 34 years old and paid more than $18,000.

You would have waited until 2010 through 2016, and paid less than $18,000.

If you're in the market today, they're $45,000, and $18,000 would be a bargain.

Amazing Spider-Man #300 might follow the same pattern, it might not... but if you're planning to hold onto the book for 14 years, all of today's prices might look like a bargain.

(No matter what, if you are spending $1,000+ on comic books, you should pay for a GPAnalysis.com subscription... spend $10 to save hundreds.)

Is that website better than gocollect?  I paid $10 to view data there but it wasn’t as detailed as I had hoped.

2 minutes ago, valiantman said:

I wonder if you might be able to help me.  I'm looking for an original copy of Action Comics #1.  I know the original price was 10 cents, but I'd like to find one cheaper. 

PM with offers, I'd like to buy in bulk if I can get a bigger discount.

Thanks in advance.

 

I’m probably running on impulse and someone mentioned fomo.

I really did always want the book but eh probably not really worth it.  Should have bought it ten years ago.  Just forgot about it.

3 minutes ago, jjonahjameson11 said:

Look, if a 9.8 white pages consistently sells for $5K in all venues (ebay and other auction sites, conventions, private sales, etc), then what are you willing to pay for it?

Rinse, lather, and repeat for 9.6 (assume $2.1K), and 9.4 (assume $1.1K)

If you're looking for a deal on a public forum, then I wish you the best of luck!

I agree.  Just wanted opinions on if they would go up or down.  I know it’s just an opinion and nobody knows really.  
 

Appreciate all the feedback.

What do you think Autos should add to 9.6 price?  This number seems to vary.

- Stan

- Todd

I found a 9.6 with Stan and Todd signs for $3500 and that seems reasonable but I’ve seen other sales lately for less

29 minutes ago, mysterymachine said:

My first thought-If its a book you want, focus on the book. not the grade. Most 9.2's or higher look great. There are too many people in the "Hobby" who's real hobby is to make as much money as possible. The 9.8 grade in my opinion is just bragging rights. I know people won't like that comment but it is how I feel.

My second thought-Why ask if you should buy the book. Its your decision. Are you willing to accept a loss if you buy now? You will have the book you always wanted, so who cares if it loses value?

What is it if I want the grade to be as high as possible, and valuable; but, I never want to sell it and I don’t care if anyone knows I have it.

I care about the price because I care about buying power afterwards like everyone else.  I just don’t want to overpay, and the prices crash in a month.

I do think I would be happy with a 9.4 or 9.6.  They look new to me but even those are being gouged on eBay now.

57 minutes ago, Angel of Death said:

So you feel that you need it for "business" purposes, which would have nothing to do with wanting it for sentimental reasons. Correct?

I want it for sentimental but I don’t want to pay more than what it is or will be worth.  Ideally the less I pay relative to future value the better.

Will what I pay affect how I feel about the purchase? - Yes

How I feel about the book? - No

6 minutes ago, Angel of Death said:

All 9.0+ are taken extremely good care of, so if you want a 9.8 for "value", then I would say that it's definitely a feeling.

Value can be a purely logical metric for commerce.  If the 9.8 is rarer, it makes sense the value would be higher on top of the fact the condition must broadly considered a value added feature regardless of rarity because I can’t think of comic that’s worth more solely because it’s damaged.

Personally, quality in itself is important and I’m analytical and detail oriented so the small stuff stands out. 
 

From a business standpoint, even if I buy something based on my interest, I’d still like it to appreciate in value. 

13 minutes ago, Dr. Dank said:

Yeah but that's still just speculation. But I suppose sale and collection numbers are all we really have.

I still have yet to come across clear evidence that newsstands are "rare"

Harder to find in high grade? That is a more valid statement 

That was the comparison in the article.  The numbers for higher grades are 100:1

1 hour ago, Drewsky said:

Although an expensive book, there are still a ton of them out there. If you really enjoy the character, I would recommend trying to find a nice published page of original art with him on it for around what you would spend on the book or get a commission from an artist you like for the character. I know Ron Frenz does some great spidey-universe commissions and there are many others! I encourage all comic fans to own at least one published page or commission. 

The art work would be cool at the point I ever have a man cave, but it wouldn’t substitute the first appearance in my mind.  I just like the idea of having the beginning, that point of creation especially of a really cool character.  By the same token I hate endings.  I’ll watch a really long series and get to the final few episodes and put it off for 2 years.  Subconscious I think.

1 hour ago, Angel of Death said:

Do you actually just want one? Or feel like you need one that's valuable?

Both if I’m being honest with myself.  Like I said, fav character if I had to pick one and I like the first appearance.  I wouldn’t call it a feeling.  I tend to want the best within reason from the get go of whatever I am doing.  Good quality products will serve you better over time.  It also bothers me when stuff isn’t taken care of.  If I get something where the wear is obvious, it would bother me.  I appreciate the value.

Put it this way, if 9.8s were only worth $50, I’d be just as excited to get it.

1 hour ago, Dr. Dank said:

Love to see the numbers that support newsstands are more "rare"

I found an article analyzing the numbers based on eBay occurrences I think by May 2020.  Numbers may have changed since then. Presumably, if these didn’t sell in stores they would be shipped back to suppliers for disposal.

4 hours ago, amatta said:

My strategy - not that it works for you - is to stick with the newsstands and forget about the 9.8. If you're thinking as an investor, I think that the 9.4 is a good slot and has much more 'room to move' - as this book is breaching $5K it's a bridge too far for most but there is are a lot more potential collectors at the $1-3K book mark. If you want to splurge, get the 9.6 - many times the difference is a coin flip. I prefer newsstands as the supply is much lower especially in higher grade. My gut is that there are probably a few collectors out there with a massive number of some of these books in the direct version - i wouldn't be surprised if someone was bogarting a full long box, selling off a few at a time. (I just checked eBay - it's easier to find 9.6/9.8 directs than 9.4 newsstands... there is one up for auction at comicconnect and one just sold at ha for $2,200 this past weekend)

With the saved money, get a 361, 316, 238, and a 344 for starters - or better diversify away from moderns and get the best 14/129 you can or away from ASM perhaps FF52, IM1, ST110, etc (curious to hear what other books people believe should be on this list)

 

(btw, you could also aim to get 9.6s and do a crack, press, re-sub strategy - that's how a lot of 9.8s are born. I believe that this is how the first Hulk 181 9.8 came to be, but why make life so complicated?)

The news stands are being sold as much rarer with higher prices.  Prior to finding out there were far fewer news stand editions, I always preferred the direct version for aesthetics.  This makes me wonder if the news stand will really be worth more in the long run, but I guess someone will always view value based on availability.

What does IM and ST stand for?

Also, is crack and press considered a restoration.  Are restorations really considered of the same value as an unrestored copy one grade down.  I tend to view restorations as a leper.

Thanks

So does the signings notice just tell you where signings will occur, or can you send in your graded comic for signing for a fee and they send it back?

Also can you get a graded comic removed to be signed and then have it  placed back in a case?

That might be a really dumb question, but I could imagine a world where that’s the case even if it isn’t.

Is the membership fee annual, and do you get full graders notes when researching potential buys is the registry with any of the memberships?

I would also like to hear everyone’s recommendation.  Should I start as associate and move up and just pay the difference?

10 minutes ago, bb8 said:

I got back into collecting around 2008, and the market has been very bullish since then but, recently, it just looks absolutely insane. I'm still mostly buying and occasionally selling, and I've even bought some of the 'hot' books (bought an ASM 300 last week or so but it was mid-grade). I'd say I'm around 90% a collector and 10% re-seller, so I'm really in this for the fun of it and maybe to slightly defray the cost of that fun, but this market is concerning. X-Men 1, GSX 1, IH 181, UF 4, ASM 300, etc. et al have increased exponentially, and I just wonder where this money is coming from. Are there really this many people migrating in from the crazy sports card market, bored at home due to covid, and looking for a place to spend their stimulus dollars? I'm not sure if this is a bubble, but it certainly feels like some of these books are in their own little micro-bubble.

I don't mean to be doom and gloom. There's still so many fun, cheap comics to be had everywhere. You want quality stories on the cheap? They're everywhere. You want reasonable keys? Look at DC silver and bronze. There's even under-the-radar Marvel keys that can be had relatively inexpensively. There are endless ways to collect, and that's pretty sweet. This is just a weird time for the hobby. It feels eerie. But maybe I'm the only one that feels this way?

Yeah there are some others that I would like to get.  I have Frank Miller’s limited Wolverine series.  I’d love to get a signed copy of No 1.  Surprisingly that is cheaper than ASM 300 unsigned.  Trying to do my research and check all options.  I don’t know if getting a lower signed copy is worth the extra money compared to a higher unsigned grade.  I just know Lee isn’t signing anything else, and it would be cool to have a piece he helped create that he personally left his mark on.

1 minute ago, piper said:

I would buy anything less than a 9.8.

I just don’t know about the recent uptick in prices. I honestly have given up trying to predict where prices will go.

My best guess is that as long as you are willing to hold it for 5+ years that even if there’s a price correction you should be ok.

5+ years???? I kind of rationalize it’s a decent long term investment in my head, but honestly I never want to let it go.  Regardless of what else I ever got, that comic would probably remain the No 1 for me.

Although I must say comics look so cool now.  The 2018 venom series looks amazing.  I hadn’t looked at a comic in years but I love the art work.  I wish they were not in such high demand.  

Man, I didn’t expect to get so many responses.  Thanks guys.

I’ve been a long time fan of venom.  I bought his first comic and the first appearance of carnage when they came out, both still pristine.

I’ve always wanted Venom’s first appearance but couldn’t afford the price when I was younger, and then I forgot about comics all together until recently.  Now I see it and wonder if I will ever have a chance at buying a 9.8 at a lower price if I wait.  Been looking for Stan and Todd signed 9.6s on eBay as well but the prices are going up so fast.  Just not sure I want to splurge 4k.  Still a lot of money for me although I could swing it.

What do you guys think?

Is “white pages” ever specified at the bottom center of the signature series label instead of under the grade on the left side?

I’m looking at buying a comic on ebay and wondering if it is fake.

Thanks