Infinite Bronze Horror Thread 16 16

[sterlingcomics]

acquired through pain and misery, weeding out the badly graded, buying multiple copies, etc. Not a single collection. Making it difficult to obtain HG copies has been both a blessing (cause it's not trivial-making the accomplishment that much more enjoyable) and a curse (getting outbid or just not finding them).

 

For instance: Where oh where is House of Mystery 220 in HG? None certified, and I've yet to see one in HG. What gives? (I'm beginning to sound like Ian--OMG).

[sterlingcomics]

[sterlingcomics]

Taken from the OSPG#35

Doug Sullipa and BA Horror

---------------------------------------------------------------------

For most of 2004, I saw the highest demand for DC horror

comics from 1968-1983 ever. For the last ten years, they have

always sold steadily in the normal G thru FN ranges, but not in

the hot category. This year they reached the status as the single

hottest group of comics for us. The biggest change is that

the investors are buying them up in higher grades. There are

not many found in CGC graded copies and there is a very short

supply of strict high grade copies. Thus buyers have are not

getting all they can before the expected big price increases of

1968-1972 in VF or better, 1973-1976 in VF+ or better, and

1977-1983 in VF/NM or better. I have bought and sold a lot of

nice copies in these ranges this year and find them extremely

difficult to restock in grade.

 

Some of the 1968-1972 issues might explode in price by

late 2005. House of Secrets #81 and House of Mystery #174

are now viewed as major key issues, yet list at less than 1/3 the

price of Weird War #1. All these DC horror issues are quite

scarce in strict high grades and will not surface on the market

at current low Guide values. Due for big price increases of

150% or more are Ghosts #1-10, House of Mystery #175-

200, House of Secrets #82-100, Phantom Stranger #1-30,

Unexpected #105-136, Weird War #5-20, 64, 68, 93-124,

Witching Hour #1-20, especially those with covers and art

by Adams, Wrightson, Toth and others. All the DC horror from

any year with Wrightson covers, stories and even single splash

pages, as well as Adams cover or art, are by far the most

requested issues.

 

Very unusual is the sudden huge demand for 1977-1983

issues in the very difficult to find VF/NM or better copies. Many

buyers have told me their local shops do not even have midgrade

copies of 1977-1983 issues any more as they are too

low in the Guide. Anything in VF/NM or better in the $8-$12

range flies out the door by the stack. Last issues, giant issues,

#1-10, 100s and any key issues are hottest, which tells us

investors are buying these books. We sold literally many 100s

of raw books at good multiples of 120-200% or more of

Guide. Most earlier horror issues in CGC 9.4 would bring

300-600% Guide if you could find them. All issues from all DC

horror titles are hot, including the later issues of the above

and also including Black Magic, Doorway to Nightmare,

Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion, From Beyond

the Unknown, Madame Xanadu, Secrets of Haunted House,

Secrets of Sinister House, Strange Adventures #217-244,

Tales of Ghost Castle, Time Warp, Weird Mystery, and

Witching Hour. Ghosts #97-99 have a Spectre story in each

and are very fast sellers. Weird War has been the fastest growing

in demand on the later issues, especially these issues,

which can now be considered hot and are still very undervalued:

#64 (Frank Miller's first work at DC), 68 (second Frank

Miller), 93 (first app. and origin Creature Commandos), 94

(first return of "War that Time Forgot"-c/s with dinosaurs)

100 (Creature Commandos invade the War that Time Forgot),

101 (first app. and origin G.I. Robot-c/s by Kanigher), 124

(last issue; 6/1983).

[DiceX]

Taken from the OSPG#35

Doug Sullipa and BA Horror

---------------------------------------------------------------------

For most of 2004, I saw the highest demand for DC horror

comics from 1968-1983 ever. For the last ten years, they have

always sold steadily in the normal G thru FN ranges, but not in

the hot category. This year they reached the status as the single

hottest group of comics for us. The biggest change is that

the investors are buying them up in higher grades. There are

not many found in CGC graded copies and there is a very short

supply of strict high grade copies. Thus buyers have are not

getting all they can before the expected big price increases of

1968-1972 in VF or better, 1973-1976 in VF+ or better, and

1977-1983 in VF/NM or better. I have bought and sold a lot of

nice copies in these ranges this year and find them extremely

difficult to restock in grade.

 

Some of the 1968-1972 issues might explode in price by

late 2005. House of Secrets #81 and House of Mystery #174

are now viewed as major key issues, yet list at less than 1/3 the

price of Weird War #1. All these DC horror issues are quite

scarce in strict high grades and will not surface on the market

at current low Guide values. Due for big price increases of

150% or more are Ghosts #1-10, House of Mystery #175-

200, House of Secrets #82-100, Phantom Stranger #1-30,

Unexpected #105-136, Weird War #5-20, 64, 68, 93-124,

Witching Hour #1-20, especially those with covers and art

by Adams, Wrightson, Toth and others. All the DC horror from

any year with Wrightson covers, stories and even single splash

pages, as well as Adams cover or art, are by far the most

requested issues.

 

Very unusual is the sudden huge demand for 1977-1983

issues in the very difficult to find VF/NM or better copies. Many

buyers have told me their local shops do not even have midgrade

copies of 1977-1983 issues any more as they are too

low in the Guide. Anything in VF/NM or better in the $8-$12

range flies out the door by the stack. Last issues, giant issues,

#1-10, 100s and any key issues are hottest, which tells us

investors are buying these books. We sold literally many 100s

of raw books at good multiples of 120-200% or more of

Guide. Most earlier horror issues in CGC 9.4 would bring

300-600% Guide if you could find them. All issues from all DC

horror titles are hot, including the later issues of the above

and also including Black Magic, Doorway to Nightmare,

Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion, From Beyond

the Unknown, Madame Xanadu, Secrets of Haunted House,

Secrets of Sinister House, Strange Adventures #217-244,

Tales of Ghost Castle, Time Warp, Weird Mystery, and

Witching Hour. Ghosts #97-99 have a Spectre story in each

and are very fast sellers. Weird War has been the fastest growing

in demand on the later issues, especially these issues,

which can now be considered hot and are still very undervalued:

#64 (Frank Miller's first work at DC), 68 (second Frank

Miller), 93 (first app. and origin Creature Commandos), 94

(first return of "War that Time Forgot"-c/s with dinosaurs)

100 (Creature Commandos invade the War that Time Forgot),

101 (first app. and origin G.I. Robot-c/s by Kanigher), 124

(last issue; 6/1983).

 

This sucks. Looks like I'll be digging in the quarter bins again.

It's all Sterling's fault! Damn you and your infinite thread!

[sterlingcomics]

 

Although I would like to take full credit for BA Horror uprising , it's hard to believe that just little old me can cause all of this....can it?

[sterlingcomics]

I have a 9.0, so this upgrade seals the deal.

 

[sterlingcomics]

[sterlingcomics]

[sterlingcomics]

I had a 9.0, so a small upgrade here:

 

[BachelorOfComix]

I have a 9.0, so this upgrade seals the deal.

 

Not too shabby. You pay the full 2 bills for it?

[sterlingcomics]

nope.

[BachelorOfComix]

nope.

[BassGMan]

 

Although I would like to take full credit for BA Horror uprising , it's hard to believe that just little old me can cause all of this....can it?

 

Although this thread may have had an impact of those of us here (including myself) that have read it, I really doubt that the small CGC message boards world is but more than a tiny slice of the entire comic book collecting community. Overall these books have just started getting more attention over the last few years, and as I have said before, it is just starting. There is still a huge amount of collectors out there, ones that I believe would be interested in the genre if exposed to it, that will be joining us over the next year or two. Big price increases bring more attention. I still believe these books have a lot of price movement upwards yet to come. Yes, even in the upper midgrades where new fans that don't want to spend the big bucks for high grades can still buy a decent copy. The ride has been fun, and the ride shall continue........

[Zonker]

I think Sterling & Shiver get a lot of credit, but agree we're too small an audience to move the market overall.

 

What I do think is happening is two things:

 

1) Slabbing puts the premium back on the cover image. I think most back-issue collecting, certainly Silver Age and beyond, has traditionally been driven by the desire to get those key issues. Key issues have largely been tied to developments in ongoing characters' continuity, so all anthology books-- including the bronze horror anthologies-- have suffered by comparison. But now, since the books are slabbed, it is the classic cover that commands attention, and here these books are occupying the high ground.

 

2) The rise of Internet-based tools for comics collectors also promotes awareness of these titles, particularly again the memorable cover images. So these forums do play a small part, but it is also Shiver's web site, the Grand Comic Book Database, Mike's DC Indexes, etc. etc.

[sterlingcomics]

I think Sterling & Shiver get a lot of credit, but agree we're too small an audience to move the market overall.

 

Phew. I was getting worried.

 

Zonker, good points. I do believe from the standpoint of "evangalizing" BA Horror simply increasing awareness has done a lot in making this genre "hotter" than in past. Availability of internet boards and web sites have definitely done their job very well.

[sterlingcomics]

I still believe these books have a lot of price movement upwards yet to come.

 

Lord, I hope so.

[sterlingcomics]

[sterlingcomics]

[sterlingcomics]

[sterlingcomics]