Grimm Fairy Tales....Why?

[shortstack comics]

Part of what has to be acknowledge with many of the IDW books readers who pick up all of the multiple covers (such as with L&K and the GIJoe titles) are the only thing keeping the books being produced. These books average between 5,000 to 10,000 (being generous) copies sold per issue. I can only imagine how low the number of individual purchasers actually is when those average numbers include the 2-3 regular covers (A, B, and sometimes C).

 

IDW is printing all of these covers as a survival mechanism.

[NewEnglandGothic]

Part of what has to be acknowledge with many of the IDW books readers who pick up all of the multiple covers (such as with L&K and the GIJoe titles) are the only thing keeping the books being produced. These books average between 5,000 to 10,000 (being generous) copies sold per issue. I can only imagine how low the number of individual purchasers actually is when those average numbers include the 2-3 regular covers (A, B, and sometimes C).

 

IDW is printing all of these covers as a survival mechanism.

Another thing to consider is just because Comichron says the print run was under 1,500 copies(making the 1:10 variant 150 issues) doesn't mean 5,000 were printed and had 500 1:10 variants total(the rest of them waiting at the warehouse, due to not being ordered because of $6 price tag: Locke & Key: Special Edition). I have had a suspicion this book isn't as limited as I thought originally. It is only scarce because of it's original under-ordered price tag and can come out of the woodwork anytime at IDW's eBay site. Gimmicky bastards!

[MadGenius]

Part of what has to be acknowledge with many of the IDW books readers who pick up all of the multiple covers (such as with L&K and the GIJoe titles) are the only thing keeping the books being produced. These books average between 5,000 to 10,000 (being generous) copies sold per issue. I can only imagine how low the number of individual purchasers actually is when those average numbers include the 2-3 regular covers (A, B, and sometimes C).

 

IDW is printing all of these covers as a survival mechanism.

 

We may know, approximately, how many people are buying these books each month, but what we don't know is how many people are turned off and tuned out to IDW's publications because of all the variants. As an example, I was intrigued by their recent Suicide Girls publication and definitely would have given it a try if not for the full compliment of variants for each issue. I actually DIDN'T buy this series because I was afraid I might like it which would mean a big financial commitment to get all the variants. Yes, I know I don't HAVE to buy the variant editions of anything, but that's just not how I operate as a collector. I'm either all-in or all-out, and I had to be all-out on that one.

[NewEnglandGothic]

I had the same feelings about the Suicide Girls too. Jetpack had some classy photo variants too, but you open that door and you might as well go down that road with the rest of them. I'm sure collector's OCD in a focus is a mental condition we all have. I just wish there was more discussion on it and I'm being serious.

[MadGenius]

I had the same feelings about the Suicide Girls too. Jetpack had some classy photo variants too, but you open that door and you might as well go down that road with the rest of them. I'm sure collector's OCD in a focus is a mental condition we all have. I just wish there was more discussion on it and I'm being serious.

 

Yes, I am very OCD with my collection as well. When I collect a title, I want to complete it with copies in the best condition possible. This compulsion has only gotten worse with time, so I guess I'm the comic companies' target demographic with all the variants and such.

[MedicAR]

I suspect I already know the answer, but I'm curious about the GFT books. I have yet to read any post or hear anyone say "this is a fantastic read! You've gotta try it!" All I see is a parade of scantily clad and well-drawn women on multiple covers of what I assume are the same book(s).

 

Is it just the covers? If so, why not just move on to some soft core porn?

 

I was thinking the same thing

 

edit: except the soft core part, why do things half-arsed?

 

My thinking was that soft core porn is only a step away from the GFT covers.

[MedicAR]

From what I know about Joe he seems to be a comic book traditionalist, so it is interesting that he doesn't seem to have an issue (as far was we know) with all the L&K variants.

 

I don't regret getting out of the L&K slab game. I would have liked to have recouped more of my initial investment at the end, but I'll chalk it up to a learning experience and move forward. I'll continue to stick with my Umbrella Academy registry set though. With the writer making albums and touring around the world and whatnot, UA's sporadic publishing schedule makes it a low maintenance series to collect.

 

I would still love to pull all of the L&K books together, but there are so many other books out there, I just refuse to spend the money on the same book 2-6 times. I just feel dumb.

 

Now, Umbrella Academy is a different story. A variant for the first issue and for the Dark Horse 1000 is fine with me. It's fun to track down an extra now and again. I think DH has handled that book like real champs.

 

I don't buy anything from Dynamite Comics anymore. When I couldn't remember if I had an issue or not based on looking at the cover, I just stopped buying. I sent them a letter, wished them well and explained why I wouldn't buy anything they produce ever again.

[MedicAR]

I had the same feelings about the Suicide Girls too. Jetpack had some classy photo variants too, but you open that door and you might as well go down that road with the rest of them. I'm sure collector's OCD in a focus is a mental condition we all have. I just wish there was more discussion on it and I'm being serious.

 

More discussion on the OCD? I'm good with that as I apparently am a psychiatrist's wet dream.

 

Should we put it in General?

[NewEnglandGothic]

I had the same feelings about the Suicide Girls too. Jetpack had some classy photo variants too, but you open that door and you might as well go down that road with the rest of them. I'm sure collector's OCD in a focus is a mental condition we all have. I just wish there was more discussion on it and I'm being serious.

 

More discussion on the OCD? I'm good with that as I apparently am a psychiatrist's wet dream.

 

Should we put it in General?

[NewEnglandGothic]

I would still love to pull all of the L&K books together, but there are so many other books out there, I just refuse to spend the money on the same book 2-6 times. I just feel dumb.

But, you are right. I guess, I didn't see the big picture before the a few of the variant heavy arcs were sitting in front of me while working on my Registry Set. Not to mention The Cape going into variant overdrive.

 

My next focus will be a doozy(Modern-but older ones), but other than Newsstand Editions, I'm pretty good on variants.

[dupont2005]

I don't collect any variants ever. The fact that Locke &Key has variants doesn't effect the story for me one bit. It's an excellent comic. I do have reservations about publishers and comics that do print a bunch of variants though, because I always equate a ton of variant covers with a crappy comic. Sometimes it's not the case but it usually is. Same with comics that start with #0 or -1 or 1/2 or whatever. Pretty much makes me not want to buy it just for that.

[mschmidt]

and whats cherry poptart like? seems big on here too though ive never seen a copy. is it just porn?

 

Another solid example. I would like a Cherry sketch, but it has to be a tame one. Now the big question....why? I think I want one because it's a relative underground and the artist is actually available to do sketches.

 

I beg to differ on Cherry - I think Welz is a great artist, and his stories are pretty enjoyable (in a multitude of different ways ). Considering the cover art on the Cherry books is actually pretty tame compared to the interior art, I just don't see the comparison here.

 

The only thing that GFT has going for it is a shiny, airbrushed-looking cover - the interior art & the writing is laughably bad.

[Jaded Savage]

 

The only thing that GFT has going for it is a shiny, airbrushed-looking cover - the interior art & the writing is laughably bad.

 

And that is enough for alot of collectors. GFT did not term the phrases "Good Girl", "Headlights", and "Cheesecake". These type of magazines/comics have been around since the 40's.

 

This cover, IMHO, is destined to be a classic, if it isn't already. Not into speculation or variants either.

 

[rjpb]

and whats cherry poptart like? seems big on here too though ive never seen a copy. is it just porn?

 

While the Cherry covers are practically PG, the interiors are absolutely XXX - pretty much non-stop graphic sex with a dose of satire. The appeal largely comes from the vaguely Archie like characters and story settings, set in a world of rampant drug and alcohol use and steamy sex. More reminiscent of the old Tijuana Bibles than anything else.

[Comicopolis]

You could ask the same question about many modern titles from the big two publishers. ASM has been garbage for about 5 years but many collectors, myself included, still buy it.

 

The GFT covers are obviously the main selling point but I think they are better than most of the good/bad girl art of the 90's. The insane amount of GFT variants is just that, insane.

[dupont2005]

and whats cherry poptart like? seems big on here too though ive never seen a copy. is it just porn?

 

While the Cherry covers are practically PG, the interiors are absolutely XXX - pretty much non-stop graphic sex with a dose of satire. The appeal largely comes from the vaguely Archie like characters and story settings, set in a world of rampant drug and alcohol use and steamy sex. More reminiscent of the old Tijuana Bibles than anything else.

I was going to say Cherry is like Archie if Riverdale got overrun with cocaine use

[dupont2005]

You could ask the same question about many modern titles from the big two publishers. ASM has been garbage for about 5 years but many collectors, myself included, still buy it.

 

The GFT covers are obviously the main selling point but I think they are better than most of the good/bad girl art of the 90's. The insane amount of GFT variants is just that, insane.

I particularly dislike Zenescope comics for this reason: everything about them I should like. I love classic fairy tales. I love horror. I don't mind a bit of cheesecake here and there either. The Zenescope comics have everything I like but they just aren't any good. You can tell when you open one up and read it that all the company cares about is exclusive variant covers and nothing else. It was pretty disappointing. Even if other "bad girl" comics suck, it might not be from lack of effort on the creators part. I don't like Chaos comics either but I think the creators loved making them and that is something you can sense when you read a comic, and it doesn't seem present in Grimm's.

[BeachBum]

I sell a lot of Grimm Fairy Tales books, a lot & I kind of fell into it by accident. I do think it is mostly cover driven, but I do find some of the eBay pricing a little retarded.

 

When I pre-sale a 1 in 250 cover here in NM+ or better condition here for $30-$35, and then see it sell for $100+ raw on eBay before the seller even has it I have to

 

Sure I'm making money, but I'm also trying to keep the price down for the regular collectors (addicts) here who buy from me.

 

Hopefully this insane eBay pricing will stop because all it will do is drive the wholesale up.

[NewEnglandGothic]

I don't collect any variants ever. The fact that Locke &Key has variants doesn't effect the story for me one bit. It's an excellent comic.

I have always considered continuing collecting the series graded forgetting about the more forgettable variants(about 70% of them-I mean, I don't see too much of a demand for the (OMG)sketch covers or the KTTK covers. Other than the Signed Edition #1's, Head Games #4 variant and the COS #6 variant, I don't see the point for all of them. I feel guilty for requesting them in the set(not the 2nd prints or DF's though). Once the second prints went in, I figured what the Hell. Now, I see it as a completist's nightmare into pointless-ness. The great reading value is severely offset by the cash spent on accumulating/grading these. Some people are throwing up their hands to this foolishness and I feel guilty for encouraging it for so long.

[asteroid-comix]

I've read the stores and I like them. Although, my expectations of any funny book are pretty low to start. Early Spidey, acclaimed modern or GFT, I don't expect any funny book to be Dickens or Emerson

 

I buy them for the covers. As long as I collect funny books, I'm going to buy what appeals to me. Scantly clad women happens to be one of the things that appeals to me

 

I'm guessing some of the big sales that you've seen have me on the other end. I'll continue to pay what I have to pay to get the books that I want for my collection.

 

As for the "long term investment" potential.

 

I paid three times what some of my early Byrne X-Men are selling for now. I don't look for any funny book published after 1970 to hold it's value.

 

I'm in the comic book hobby for the sole purpose of keeping me entertained. I enjoy having these books in the comic room and flipping through the slabs looking at the covers. Price does not usually play a factor in my decision making for my "hobbies". (thumbs u