TMNT

Yes, I'd always thought prices were undervalued. Simply because if I could afford them, they must be too cheap! But yes, scarcity is always going to be issue here. Say someone wants an early Eastman and Laird page from the main storyline with at least one turtle image on it (which in my experience, is generally the most desired Turtles art). Well, right off the back you are looking at roughly 16 issues of art where you could hope to get one from, TMNT 1 - 11, and the 4 individual Turtle "Micro" books, drawn from 1984-1987. Problem is, about half those are complete and/or completely off market, with Laird's half of the books being the primary ones you never seen anything of. So now you're down to 8ish books that a person might reasonably hold a chance of getting a page and the vast majority of those simply have never appeared publicly. And with demand increasing (even Pre-covid) for Turtles collectibles as whole from the early toys, comics, video games, and artwork I wouldn't be surprised if that page 7 splash looks cheap in the not too distant future. Yes, theres a 59K Raphael page on ebay as well...I'm bullish on Turtles art but I think that's a bit much at the moment. In case you hadn't seen it, I'm helping a friend sell some early TMNT art that is much more reasonable in comparison. I love that hardcover collection. This essentially wrapped up those early issues I was talking about earlier in one tidy package. There's a Laird cover for the softcover edition and an Eastman for the hardcover edition. I'm super fortunate to have that hardcover original painting: It's up on my CAF if you want to read my brief write up on it.

Yes this guy is an absolute maniac...! Santa came a bit early my way and this medal collection and coin showed up on my doorstep as well. The coin I put on my movie -script and you can see the medal collection on the left side of the other cubbie while figuring a final spot for it... Thanks a bunch!

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This is what im talking about, regularly fetching b/w $700 - 1K nowadays... just book 1 is hot, all others still flat

Yup everything is going up. I was curiois about TMNT Archie sales. #1s have historically reached $150-$200. Those are also regularly hitting $800 nowadays in 9.8, some over 1K. First comic bebop Rocksteady btw

This one went for 9K a few weeks back

This sold for 18K

Yes, definitely one of the most used images for sure but still a very unexpected result. And I remember also having a chance but at $1500 years ago. That 18K splash was also a major want for me just like you guys. Tried to get it for years but never could. And when Eastman listed at 15K I thought it was too strong a price, considering most art was trickling out at 4K a pop. Turns out they were right! A main reason I wanted it was too bookend my issue #3 splash. That moment in #3, when they discover Splinter is missing, essentially began that major arc including their real origin story that would run through issues #3, 4, Fugiotid, #5, 6, and culminate basically with that reunion splash in #7 when Splinter is back. Still getting my head around that price...!

It's not just the comics anymore...with a pile of 5K- 6K art sales, plus a 9K, and 3 recent art sales of 13K, 15K and tonight on HA 18K looks early art is starting to hitting highs as well.

Yes, TMNT has been very strong lately, both comics and art. Precovid both were steady increasing but like most collectibles lately, a surge has occurred. With this auction, there's been three 5 figure art sales just this past month. I was the underbidder on a couple of pieces in the clink auction, the issue 10 and 11, and actually feel like I should have pushed more as they were great examples and went for a great price. The first 15 issues (Issues 1-11, plus the 4 Turtle Micro, and Fugitoid) are THE best Turtles stories and art. It was right after this, around issue 12, that the Turtles started to blow up in pop culture with the toys, cartoon, movie, etc. so Eastman and Laird quit art for the most part after that initial run. If you're looking for some other good early Turtles comics, check out Return to New York arc issues 19-21 and the City at War issues 50-62 that both Eastman and Laird had involvement with as well. Regarding art collectors...not really a large community that actively shares and talks art. For a number of years, what little art would pop at auction would end up in my collection. Nobody seemed to really be buying. But that's change substantially these past few years. Now, most art that I see sell just disappears into the nether. Rarely show up on dealer sites, CAF, elsewhere.

Yes interiors and cover for 250K after Eastman tried for a while to sell for a 1 mil. They've been with Eric Roberts ever since. A few pencil prelims, drawn by Eastman, are currently out there (I have one of them) for issue #1 . Issue 2 is intact with cover, not in public. Issue 3 the cover and a good number of pages are out there (I've owned a few over the years and currently have Page 1 as well as Page 3). Issue 4 only a handful of pages, no cover out there. Early pages of TMNT art simply don't trade hands too often, though with the rocketing price surge that TMNT#1 the comic has seen these past few months, it wouldn't surprise me to see more early art come to light.

Hey man, just saw this. I bought those at a local store, At Home. I then bought some display lights on ebay that I affixed underneath. It's pretty cool when its said and done, as I have some of these lights around the room and when i walk, I click my little clicker, sit on the couch and enjoy everything lit up.

You are completely right, E. I used to love this thread... But as it seems as the price goes up, the nastier it gets in here. Money brings out the best I guess...

Yes, I don't mean to imply that covid is THE cause, as like has been mentioned, there are a number of factors that have for a long time been brewing. But the question remains, why now? Why this moment? None of what has been mentioned (low print run, 30 year property, etc.) is new. So here's a question for the group: Had Covid not occurred, do you think prices from Feb - Aug 2020 would have exploded as they have regardless? I'm not asking if down the road would we have got there... I'm taking now, in this moment. If the answer is no, it might be worth considering when investing in this book. Perhaps covid pushed over the edge what would have happened naturally in a few years... Or perhaps covid has people spending in the moment differently than they might once its gone. Either way, knowing that such an outside force is having such a major impact on the movement of the book, its important to consider future price fluctuations when Covid is gone/under control. It's hard to predict under the best of times but moreso in this Covid Era. Those making money in the now, congratulations and enjoy... My suggestion is just to be mindful that there might be more at play than simple "the book is hot hot HOT!!"

This book, like most TMNT collectibles (comics, comic art, toys, etc.) has been undervalued for years. So it makes sense that at some point prices would increase. To those that think its completely due to market manipulation, I think you're wrong. There is legit demand. But to those that think its just demand, you're wrong too. There is absolutely at least some manipulation going on when you have any item (be it a stock, comic book, etc.) that has seen the amounts market gyrations going on that we've seen lately. And with a book like this, where there are only a few hundred graded out there, it'd be relatively easy to do. Without a doubt there are a number of speculators on this book (including people here on the boards) that are also taking part in moving the needle buy buying multiples of the book at any price. So what is going on here? Is it because of the "rule of 30" where it being a 36 year book and it was due to a nostalgic increase Maybe, but it was just a 35 year book and we didn't see this going on, even with a fresh comic and tv show. Is it because of Seth Rogen movie hype? Puhlease...no one knows about this or cares and again, we've not seen anything like this with previous big movies. It's not like its about to hit theaters anytime soon. Is it due to limited print run? Well, it's ALWAYS had a limited print, nothing new there. In fact, there are MORE books available now at all grades than there has been before. Perhaps a combination of the above or something else? So what else has been going on in tandem with this book's meteoric rise? There really is only one thing: Covid. Other investments across the board are seeing record highs as well. People still with jobs are making more money than ever in the markets. And collectibles are on fire as people harken back to the good ole' days and try to buy pieces of their childhood back when things were simpler and maskedless. So that for me is the real wildcard in all this, when Covid ends or gets under control and people can leave their house and start spending money on vacations, experiences, etc. will this book stay on fire? I would've expected to see an increase...but not like this. Not where every book in every grade is nearing 5 figures roughly over night. When 4.0 2nd prints are suddenly 1K+ books. Anything in excess, whether too much ice cream or sudden $10,000 shifts in funny books, is generally never a good idea. So where the dust settles will be interesting to see.

Nothing to settle about there at all, my friend! I always thought the snow effects were so cool in those pages. I owned a couple back in the day but none now... Maybe one day!

Yup, those are the final original pen and ink pages from 1985 that Kevin and Pete passed back and forth when creating the book. The original pages are so great in hand

I only have one left myself... hung up in this spot of my Sewer. Here's a quick pic from a moment ago, you can see scans of the original art on my CAF. Love looking at Raph eye to eye everyday!

Price drop!

Just added a couple pages of early Turtles art for sale at the top of page. Thanks for looking!

Thanks a bunch! Now to just find a copy... Fingers crossed for me folks!

Anyone know what 7.0 - 8.0 are fetching? So I can prepare the old piggy bank...

You and me both! Really hoping to get one soon

I have a 2nd SS 9.6 that I love but, been wanting a nice 8.0 for a while now, so need to find one soon before thangs get too nutty! So awesome to see this book doing so well.

A couple Valentines back, I gifted this original art to my lovely (and patient!) wife, so in that vein Happy Valentines everyone!