My 1st purchases in 8 years.

[jbud73]

So, now that we've established FF25 has a classic cover, is as scarce as hen's teeth in high grade, and Bleek's copy is a superb example, answer me this:

 

How come all you guys that used to own it sold the mother???

 

Drummy sold it because he switched from comics to collecting original art. I sold it because I got the price I wanted for it and I recently decided to downgrade much of the higher grade stuff in my collection into the VF/VF+ range because it is a lot more affordable. Also, frankly, there isn't much of a difference between an 8.0/8.5 and a 9.2/9.4 at arm's length, except for a zero or two on the pricetag.

 

When I bought the book, I was focusing more on higher grade books. In the last few months, I have reassessed my collecting goals. I really want to complete my FF and ASM runs within the next 18 months, and I am no longer willing to commit six figures to putting together the runs that I was originally planning to put together. That's just too much resources tied up in what is really nothing more than a hobby. I'd rather have the money working for me in the market. Maybe I've just been reading too many of Gene's posts.

 

I think from a comic market stand point FF's are also in the Bubble, right now is the time to sell or at least that's my impression.

[FFB]

So, now that we've established FF25 has a classic cover, is as scarce as hen's teeth in high grade, and Bleek's copy is a superb example, answer me this:

 

How come all you guys that used to own it sold the mother???

 

Drummy sold it because he switched from comics to collecting original art. I sold it because I got the price I wanted for it and I recently decided to downgrade much of the higher grade stuff in my collection into the VF/VF+ range because it is a lot more affordable. Also, frankly, there isn't much of a difference between an 8.0/8.5 and a 9.2/9.4 at arm's length, except for a zero or two on the pricetag.

 

When I bought the book, I was focusing more on higher grade books. In the last few months, I have reassessed my collecting goals. I really want to complete my FF and ASM runs within the next 18 months, and I am no longer willing to commit six figures to putting together the runs that I was originally planning to put together. That's just too much resources tied up in what is really nothing more than a hobby. I'd rather have the money working for me in the market. Maybe I've just been reading too many of Gene's posts.

 

I think from a comic market stand point FF's are also in the Bubble, right now is the time to sell or at least that's my impression.

 

I disagree. The supply of high grade FFs is nowhere near what it is for Spideys and there is still quite a bit of demand for the issues. The movie will certainly raise awareness. If it's a good film, we could be just scratching the surface of the demand, much like we were with Spider-Man books before the first movie.

[FlyingDonut]

So, now that we've established FF25 has a classic cover, is as scarce as hen's teeth in high grade, and Bleek's copy is a superb example, answer me this:

 

How come all you guys that used to own it sold the mother???

 

Drummy sold it because he switched from comics to collecting original art. I sold it because I got the price I wanted for it and I recently decided to downgrade much of the higher grade stuff in my collection into the VF/VF+ range because it is a lot more affordable. Also, frankly, there isn't much of a difference between an 8.0/8.5 and a 9.2/9.4 at arm's length, except for a zero or two on the pricetag.

 

When I bought the book, I was focusing more on higher grade books. In the last few months, I have reassessed my collecting goals. I really want to complete my FF and ASM runs within the next 18 months, and I am no longer willing to commit six figures to putting together the runs that I was originally planning to put together. That's just too much resources tied up in what is really nothing more than a hobby. I'd rather have the money working for me in the market. Maybe I've just been reading too many of Gene's posts.

 

I think from a comic market stand point FF's are also in the Bubble, right now is the time to sell or at least that's my impression.

 

I disagree. The supply of high grade FFs is nowhere near what it is for Spideys and there is still quite a bit of demand for the issues. The movie will certainly raise awareness. If it's a good film, we could be just scratching the surface of the demand, much like we were with Spider-Man books before the first movie.

 

There clearly are not the same amount of FFs as Amazings - a simple check of eBay listings shows that. There are ALWAYS Amazings in 9.6 and 9.8 on eBay, there are never FFs.

[jbud73]

Well there you have it, the Planets have aligned and FD and FFB agree - I stand corrected. I don't collect FF, so thats what I get for opening my

 

[FFB]

Well there you have it, the Planets have aligned and FD and FFB agree - I stand corrected. I don't collect FF, so thats what I get for opening my

 

 

No, you are just thinking what is the common thinking whenever there is a movie coming out -- "Sell before the movie to maximize profit." It may well be that this bears out, but remember that when everyone thinks something, the money is usually made by being contrarian and going the other way.

 

Like FD said, high grade early FFs do not come up that often. I think it has to do with the fact that the first two and a half to three years of the run were printed on that horrible paper that is prone to chipping, whereas Amazing Spider-Man started more than a year later -- thus fewer of its early issues are made with the cheap paper that tended to chip. Marvel chipping isn't much of a problem after 1964, and only the first ten or so issues of ASM are affected (and with really only the earliest ones showing Marvel chipping with a lot of frequency) -- but FF has that problem up to around issue 30 or so. The bottom line is that there may not be enough supply of HG FFs to meet demand even after the movie. And if the movie is a hit, we could see a several year run of increasing demand and prices like we have with Spider-Man.

[uclapeterg]

Please no! I may never complete my run!

[tth2]

Please no! I may never complete my run!

 

Maybe high prices will drive more supply?

[arexcrooke]

Please no! I may never complete my run!

 

Maybe high prices will drive more supply?

 

Scott and some others might disagree with me, but even if prices move higher, the demand seems like it will still outstrip the supply, even if dozens of higher grade copies are made available to the open market. Just my opinion.

[burntboy]

i have no clue how i missed this thread for a month............

 

BOB: those are a lot of serious and lovely books. too bad we didn't touch base a little sooner - my FF#25 is "way better" then the drummy/ffb copy.........

 

wish the hell i knew which way the wind was blowing on that FF movie. i'm sitting on every issue up to # 35 (except #11) with doubles of a few and am getting close to pulling the trigger. if i do and the movie is a big hit, i will have sellers remorse for many years to come.

 

FF#1 finally goes to florida this week. (along with DD #1 and JIM #83). i have been sending books down there for over 2 years and just haven't pulled the trigger on those 3. i'll have them back next week - all walk-thru's....

[sfilosa]

have no clue how i missed this thread for a month............

 

BOB: those are a lot of serious and lovely books. too bad we didn't touch base a little sooner - my FF#25 is "way better" then the drummy/ffb copy.........

 

wish the hell i knew which way the wind was blowing on that FF movie. i'm sitting on every issue up to # 35 (except #11) with doubles of a few and am getting close to pulling the trigger. if i do and the movie is a big hit, i will have sellers remorse for many years to come.

 

FF#1 finally goes to florida this week. (along with DD #1 and JIM #83). i have been sending books down there for over 2 years and just haven't pulled the trigger on those 3. i'll have them back next week - all walk-thru's....

 

Harry:

 

While I understand the position you are in regarding the FF's, the COMIC BOOK MARKET isn't the STOCK MARKET. If you are ready to sell the books, then sell some, make your huge profit. Wait till the movie comes out sell some more, make your huge profit, and then wait till the DVD comes out, sell the rest and make your huge profit.

 

Trying to set a record for each issue might be tough, but it's possible. But assuming you did set a record for each issue (not saying you will), but THEN EXPECTING that the record price will not be eclipsed anytime soon is just UNREASONABLE.

 

Good luck on your FF #1, DD #1 and JIM #83 (post the grades when you get them).

 

[namisgr]

FF#1 finally goes to florida this week. (along with DD #1 and JIM #83). i have been sending books down there for over 2 years and just haven't pulled the trigger on those 3. i'll have them back next week - all walk-thru's....

 

 

I'm in no position to give advice on a strategy for catching the top of the market, but I will say that any of your high grade original owner FF beauties from issue 28 and earlier should do extremely well in the marketplace not only today, but whatever happens with the FF movie. These are extremely desirable books that just don't show up all that often in great shape.

[uclapeterg]

Agreed, and I would even push that back to Issue 40. My raw FF 36 and 37 (as well as others) did pretty well on Ebay.

[tth2]

wish the hell i knew which way the wind was blowing on that FF movie. i'm sitting on every issue up to # 35 (except #11) with doubles of a few and am getting close to pulling the trigger. if i do and the movie is a big hit, i will have sellers remorse for many years to come.

 

Harry, I don't think there's any downside to waiting. If the movie's a dud, I doubt there will be any impact on these types of early issues, because demand would be strong for HG copies regardless. FF is not ASM or DD, there simply are not HG copies of FF 1-10 (or 11-20) floating around for speculators to run up. The speculator frenzy (if any) will probably take place in the easier to find middle-run and later issues. Think of the FF movie more like Hulk, which was a dud movie and which involved speculation in the post-#102 run, but which had no discernible impact (good or bad) on the prices of #1-6. And if the movie is hot, then perhaps you'll get some additional benefit from the increased demand for your early FFs.

 

FF#1 finally goes to florida this week. (along with DD #1 and JIM #83). i have been sending books down there for over 2 years and just haven't pulled the trigger on those 3. i'll have them back next week - all walk-thru's....

 

Good luck, we'll be looking forward to hearing the results. Can we have your predictions?

[Mephisto]

That's just too much resources tied up in what is really nothing more than a hobby. I'd rather have the money working for me in the market. Maybe I've just been reading too many of Gene's posts.

 

Big mistake. You should listen to Lex and invest in real estate. Everybody needs land.

[FFB]

That's just too much resources tied up in what is really nothing more than a hobby. I'd rather have the money working for me in the market. Maybe I've just been reading too many of Gene's posts.

 

Big mistake. You should listen to Lex and invest in real estate. Everybody needs land.

 

I am concerned about real estate prices in the San Francisco Bay Area right now. Housing prices have far outstripped personal income growth over the last decade, and the last housing crash to hit the bay area hit hard and lasted a decade. I would consider buying a rental property, but with the nutty pro-tenant rent control/decontrol laws around here, it's impossible to make any money after the first five years if you get stuck with a tenant who doesn't want to move out.

[tth2]

That's just too much resources tied up in what is really nothing more than a hobby. I'd rather have the money working for me in the market. Maybe I've just been reading too many of Gene's posts.

 

Big mistake. You should listen to Lex and invest in real estate. Everybody needs land.

 

I am concerned about real estate prices in the San Francisco Bay Area right now. Housing prices have far outstripped personal income growth over the last decade, and the last housing crash to hit the bay area hit hard and lasted a decade. I would consider buying a rental property, but with the nutty pro-tenant rent control/decontrol laws around here, it's impossible to make any money after the first five years if you get stuck with a tenant who doesn't want to move out.

 

What, you're just realizing now that you live in the most pro-consumer, pro-tenant, pro-socialist place in the US?! Everyone predicted that property prices in the Bay Area would come crashing down with the bursting of the tech bubble in 2000, and it happened to some degree with commercial properties, but residential prices are in la-la land, so anyone who didn't buy has left a lot of money on the table. Anyways, you'll get no sympathy from me, prices have come back in Hong Kong with a vengeance, and people are paying upwards of US$1200 (and in some cases more than $2000) per square foot for upscale properties.

[FFB]

That's just too much resources tied up in what is really nothing more than a hobby. I'd rather have the money working for me in the market. Maybe I've just been reading too many of Gene's posts.

 

Big mistake. You should listen to Lex and invest in real estate. Everybody needs land.

 

I am concerned about real estate prices in the San Francisco Bay Area right now. Housing prices have far outstripped personal income growth over the last decade, and the last housing crash to hit the bay area hit hard and lasted a decade. I would consider buying a rental property, but with the nutty pro-tenant rent control/decontrol laws around here, it's impossible to make any money after the first five years if you get stuck with a tenant who doesn't want to move out.

 

What, you're just realizing now that you live in the most pro-consumer, pro-tenant, pro-socialist place in the US?! Everyone predicted that property prices in the Bay Area would come crashing down with the bursting of the tech bubble in 2000, and it happened to some degree with commercial properties, but residential prices are in la-la land, so anyone who didn't buy has left a lot of money on the table. Anyways, you'll get no sympathy from me, prices have come back in Hong Kong with a vengeance, and people are paying upwards of US$1200 (and in some cases more than $2000) per square foot for upscale properties.

 

I guess I missed the part where I was asking for your sympathy or said that I just learned about rent control (which would be a neat trick, since my first rent control case was as a certified law student practitioner when I was in law school). I thought I was responding to a guy who was telling me to invest in my local real estate market right now.

[FFB]

Oh, and by the way -- I think that Berkeley and Santa Monica both have even more insanely pro-tenant rent control/decontrol laws than SF does, so if anything, we're in third place.

[Aman619]

all rental laws are heavily pro tenant arent they? Makes sense on paper, but clearly there are times when the landlord is in the rigtht. Guess its a snll price to pay since landlords have their way on every other issue than forcing tenants into the street.

[Jeffreykli]

It's possible to evict a tenant in SF, but very hard. The rent control laws in SF are so pro-tenant that most landlords have to bribe the tenants to get their property back. There are some grounds for evictions, but there's always the possibility that the tenant will fight it. But what do you expect? San Francisco is 70% renters.