Too many variants these days! 1 1

[speedcake]

welcome to the boards!

[speedcake]

On 10/18/2022 at 2:39 PM, mephistopheles said:

Silver's too rich for my blood, but bronze/copper is still ridiculously cheap compared to what some of the moderns are fetching. I confess while browsing ebay at 2am (bad idea) I bought one of the 3 faces of Joker and regretted it the next day. The cover was kinda cool, but photoshop style realism just doesn't mesh with my idea of comics.

Which Silver do you mean? Apart from the bigger keys, and depending on your condition tolerance level, silver is plenty affordable. Even most keys in low grade, other than the mega keys, are very attainable. 

[Tec-Tac-Toe]

I'm looking forward to, or not, homage covers of variant covers or has that occurred and I missed/ignored it.

[Tec-Tac-Toe]

On 10/18/2022 at 9:21 PM, valiantman said:

Dynamite is the "Franklin Mint" of publishers.

I purchased a FM plate in the 1970s for $2. Now (edit) its worth $1.

Edited October 19, 2022 by Tec-Tac-Toe
"It" to "its".

[Poekaymon]

I was actually a fan of Jim Lee but right around X-men 1 at the end of 1991 was the end for me. Though it may have been more due to my changing obsession to computers and teen me couldn’t afford both. But even then I was not liking the palpable shift in the industry.  As someone who was introduced to the hobby through things like Miller’s Wolverine, there just seemed to be less and less of what I liked. And as a Hulk fan, well, just look at any Hulk cover in the 400s and compare it to it to McFarlane’s gray Hulk. Just couldn’t do it anymore. 
 

I came back suddenly in 2019 (nice timing, me!) and I agree with you that variants are totally out of hand. I’d say it’s even worse than the situation in the 90s, holograms and polybagged trading cards and all. I was collecting variants for a while but it became too much. I probably have roughly 20 at this point—my favorite covers (which really are nice art) and I’ve never even opened the books. 

Even still, it’s not all bad, as tempting as it is for old folks to say that it is. Various threads on here will recommend a number of decent runs in the last twenty years. But overall I must admit that between variants and CGC, It’s not really the hobby I grew up with.  So I am 99% copper raws, and that’s ok. 
 

 

Edited October 19, 2022 by Poekaymon

[mephistopheles]

On 10/19/2022 at 2:15 AM, speedcake said:

Which Silver do you mean? Apart from the bigger keys, and depending on your condition tolerance level, silver is plenty affordable. Even most keys in low grade, other than the mega keys, are very attainable. 

I guess I was thinking more of ASM and Batman keys, and I am a tightwad. It doesn't much matter though bc I am mostly into bronze age characters like Wolverine and Punisher. I bought most of my keys back in the day for peanuts. If only I had bought Hulk 181 sigh....

[Sigur Ros]

On 10/18/2022 at 2:39 PM, mephistopheles said:

Silver's too rich for my blood, but bronze/copper is still ridiculously cheap compared to what some of the moderns are fetching. I confess while browsing ebay at 2am (bad idea) I bought one of the 3 faces of Joker and regretted it the next day. The cover was kinda cool, but photoshop style realism just doesn't mesh with my idea of comics.

I'll assume you meant The Three Jokers ..?

If so, exactly which cover is "Photoshop style realism"  ?

And why would one regret buying a comic...the next day?

[mephistopheles]

On 10/19/2022 at 9:03 AM, Poekaymon said:

I was actually a fan of Jim Lee but right around X-men 1 at the end of 1991 was the end for me. Though it may have been more due to my changing obsession to computers and teen me couldn’t afford both. But even then I was not liking the palpable shift in the industry.  As someone who was introduced to the hobby through things like Miller’s Wolverine, there just seemed to be less and less of what I liked. And as a Hulk fan, well, just look at any Hulk cover in the 400s and compare it to it to McFarlane’s gray Hulk. Just couldn’t do it anymore. 
 

Funny I just bought that book last week in my 2am ebay foray. Love the cover! 

 

On 10/19/2022 at 9:03 AM, Poekaymon said:

I came back suddenly in 2019 (nice timing, me!) and I agree with you that variants are totally out of hand. I’d say it’s even worse than the situation in the 90s, holograms and polybagged trading cards and all. I was collecting variants for a while but it became too much. I probably have roughly 20 at this point—my favorite covers (which really are nice art) and I’ve never even opened the books. 

Even still, it’s not all bad, as tempting as it is for old folks to say that it is. Various threads on here will recommend a number of decent runs in the last twenty years. But overall I must admit that between variants and CGC, It’s not really the hobby I grew up with.  So I am 99% copper raws, and that’s ok. 
 

 

The thing that drives me nuts is all of the politically correct nonsense that has crept into comics. Just can't stomach it.

[mephistopheles]

On 10/19/2022 at 10:12 AM, Sigur Ros said:

I'll assume you meant The Three Jokers ..?

If so, exactly which cover is "Photoshop style realism"  ?

And why would one regret buying a comic...the next day?

Yeah that was a bad example of photoshop realism, but compare this cover:

with this

To me this exemplifies a lost innocence in comics. Sometimes less is more. As to why I would regret it the next day... buyer's remorse is a thing. I love the classic campy Joker, but they have made the character darker and darker over time. I bought it thinking I love Joker, but then realized this is not "my Joker"

[Sigur Ros]

On 10/19/2022 at 9:40 AM, mephistopheles said:

Yeah that was a bad example of photoshop realism, but compare this cover:

with this

To me this exemplifies a lost innocence in comics. Sometimes less is more. As to why I would regret it the next day... buyer's remorse is a thing. I love the classic campy Joker, but they have made the character darker and darker over time. I bought it thinking I love Joker, but then realized this is not "my Joker"

Well, yeah...Black Label Joker is definitely different than the comic book Joker from 1975.

Just trying to understand this Photoshop realism that you dislike so much.

[mephistopheles]

On 10/19/2022 at 11:03 AM, Sigur Ros said:

Well, yeah...Black Label Joker is definitely different than the comic book Joker from 1975.

Just trying to understand this Photoshop realism that you dislike so much.

Maybe Photoshop realism is a bad description, but compare copper and modern Wolverine covers:

 

[FlyingDonut]

On 10/19/2022 at 10:24 AM, mephistopheles said:

Maybe Photoshop realism is a bad description, but compare copper and modern Wolverine covers:

 

The Wolverine 11 came out April 1, 2004 - 18 years ago. This came out last week:

[mephistopheles]

On 10/19/2022 at 11:33 AM, FlyingDonut said:

The Wolverine 11 came out April 1, 2004 - 18 years ago. This came out last week:

Compare that to the 1989 covers and my point still stands. It's like modern covers are all done on computer vs ink/paint on paper. I prefer  comic art that is whimsical/fantastical. Something changed around the early 2000's.

[Sigur Ros]

On 10/19/2022 at 10:50 AM, mephistopheles said:

Compare that to the 1989 covers and my point still stands. It's like modern covers are all done on computer vs ink/paint on paper. I prefer  comic art that is whimsical/fantastical. Something changed around the early 2000's.

Didn't realize until just now, there is a demographic for Skottie Young.

[mephistopheles]

On 10/19/2022 at 12:14 PM, Sigur Ros said:

Didn't realize until just now, there is a demographic for Skottie Young.

Come on man! Don't be a jerk..

Edited October 19, 2022 by mephistopheles

[Sigur Ros]

On 10/19/2022 at 12:02 PM, mephistopheles said:

Come on man! Don't be a jerk..

Lol, I wasn't.  Just goofin'.

I just much prefer the art of today than the art of the 70's.  

The cover styles were much better back then, but the artists are much better now.

[mephistopheles]

On 10/19/2022 at 1:11 PM, Sigur Ros said:

Lol, I wasn't.  Just goofin'.

I just much prefer the art of today than the art of the 70's.  

The cover styles were much better back then, but the artists are much better now.

It boils down to personal preference.

[BigLeagueCHEW]

On 10/18/2022 at 7:58 AM, mephistopheles said:

Just getting back into comics after 30 years and holy Hannah everything has variants and variants of the variant. Maybe I am old school, but modern comics feel so gimmicky. I can't believe the premiums some of this trash is going for. I guess I will just stick with bronze and early copper age.

Welcome to my world. Bronze is my era, some copper if I really want the book. 

[Ken Aldred]

On 10/19/2022 at 3:03 PM, Sigur Ros said:

Well, yeah...Black Label Joker is definitely different than the comic book Joker from 1975.

Just trying to understand this Photoshop realism that you dislike so much.

The Black Label material can be a bit more extreme than the mainstream version. I see it as a bit of a replacement for Vertigo, but with a much greater emphasis on super-heroes, which Vertigo largely avoided.  Batman as well as Sandman.

Edited October 19, 2022 by Ken Aldred

[Ken Aldred]

On 10/19/2022 at 5:27 PM, mephistopheles said:

It boils down to personal preference.

Yup. I’m one for variety, and so I go for all Ages, including modern.  Nice art, regardless of technique.