That time of year again- new Overstreet is out this week. I still love the book. 2 2

[twmjr1]

I have all my old copies from #4 (1974) to date. I still look forward to receiving the new edition every year, even though it doesn't give remotely accurate info on the comic market. 

[sfcityduck]

On 7/22/2024 at 3:06 PM, twmjr1 said:

I have all my old copies from #4 (1974) to date. I still look forward to receiving the new edition every year, even though it doesn't give remotely accurate info on the comic market. 

Its about the information, not the prices. Prices are now too volatile, up and down, to make any printed annual book a valuable reference. Really, the only thing I check these days for prices are auction results (Heritage, eBay, etc.) for really up to date pricing. I don't think GCD is all that useful because it has too few datapoints for a lot of GA. But the information in Overstreet is priceless and not compiled anywhere else. 

My only criticism of OPG is that they should include even more info. If I'm the editor, I'd be on the lookout for new datapoints because that is what will keep people buying.

If I really wanted new content, I'd start covering Canadian editions and maybe starting emphasizing some U.S. manga facts. Why isn't there an article in OPG discussing the first manga printed for a US market, or the first manga translated into English for a US audience, etc., or even inclusion and identification of those comics?

Lots of room for growth for the OPG, both big and small.

[Crowzilla]

On 7/22/2024 at 6:26 PM, sfcityduck said:

Its about the information, not the prices. Prices are now too volatile, up and down, to make any printed annual book a valuable reference. Really, the only thing I check these days for prices are auction results (Heritage, eBay, etc.) for really up to date pricing.

That doesn't mean they shouldn't try to be accurate at all. The days of Overstreet being able to "crash" a market because they raised the price of a book close to market value are long over. If a book sells consistently for 5-10x guide for a decade plus, OS should do more than the obligatory 10% increase. There's no downside for them to attempt to be as accurate as possible when they go to press.

[sfcityduck]

On 7/23/2024 at 10:16 AM, Crowzilla said:

That doesn't mean they shouldn't try to be accurate at all. The days of Overstreet being able to "crash" a market because they raised the price of a book close to market value are long over. If a book sells consistently for 5-10x guide for a decade plus, OS should do more than the obligatory 10% increase. There's no downside for them to attempt to be as accurate as possible when they go to press.

Agreed. But I just don't care what they say. I've always assumed OPG underpriced to aid dealers. Originally, buyers got a fraction of OPG and dealers would sell the "undervalued" books for over OPG. Maybe the astute and nationally networked collectors and dealers knew what was going on, but for a kid like me I had no clue. I didn't hear the "truth" or rumors, like Bob suppressing the value of books he didn't yet have, until after the internet became a thing. Now, regional price valuations are a thing of the past, most pricing can be determined without any need for OPG, and the best way to profit on "information disparities" is to find books that are underappreciated for one reason or another due to general lack of knowledge - buy them - and try to rectify that. 

Which is why, being a democratic sort of guy, I like to see knowledge shared and want OPG to include more info.

Edited July 23 by sfcityduck

[vyprgt2]

I've purchased each issue new since #7 !

 

Looks like the new #54 is delayed a couple of weeks to August 6th?

[adamstrange]

On 7/23/2024 at 2:22 PM, sfcityduck said:

I've always assumed OPG underpriced to aid dealers.

Overstreet has for decades been based on a 3-year rolling average of prices obtained no more recently than 6 months prior to publication.  This means that in a rising market, it was always going to be less than what some sellers might have charged in the prior year and even more under-priced compared to what some sellers would charge in the current year.

Example

• 2021 comic sells for $100
• 2022 comic sells for $110
• 2023 comic sells for $120

2024 Guide Price = $110

[PopKulture]

On 7/23/2024 at 6:34 PM, vyprgt2 said:

I've purchased each issue new since #7 

Ahhh… that classic Porky cover. 

That was my first, and I recall it being the first for many others as well. 

[Hepcat]

On 7/22/2024 at 6:26 PM, sfcityduck said:

Its about the information, not the prices.

I agree. I've always used Overstreet as an info source. That's what made me an Overstreet fan. Plus I like Overstreet's definitions of "rare", "scarce" and what constitutes restoration.

It's way too big for me these days though. I'd like it better if it did not include any title that got its start after 1990 or so.

Edited July 28 by Hepcat

[Aman619]

Overstreets pricing is accurate but only within its own closed universe. By that I mean all of the millions of comics listed are accurate to a large degree in relation to each other!  

[twmjr1]

Anybody had a chance to inspect it yet? I won't get mine until Saturday.

[batman_fan]

Needs more cowbell

[comicjack]

I still purchase a copy just to read maybe not not so much for the values they don't tell the whole story 

[ThothAmon]

Once I memorized the four color titles I stopped buying it new. 

[Robot Man]

I haven’t bought one in a few years but saw it yesterday and got nostalgic. So I grabbed a copy. Was suprised how thick and heavy it was. Then realized it was the 54th edition. I have bought most all of them since #2. Wow!

I just thumbed it quickly and chuckled at all the ads claiming “highest prices” paid (based on this guide) 

We all know how to get current pricing so the prices are irrevelant. In a lot of low to mid grade common stuff prices are fairly accurate. A lot of books are worth less and better, scarcer stuff, more in a lot of cases a LOT more. But the info is second to none. I already know the “market” but the reports are fun to read as well as some of the features.

I remember the early days when it was a big deal and I would track the up prices on my small collection.

Glad I got it.

[The humble Watcher lurking]

One of the few hobbies left that has an annual print price guide. The only other two hobbies I can still think of that still have annual price guides left are Coins with the Red Book and sports cards with the Beckett books. So I will keep supporting Overstreet for the annual guide.  

[Hepcat]

On 7/25/2024 at 11:09 AM, Robot Man said:

 

I just thumbed it quickly and chuckled at all the ads claiming “highest prices” paid (based on this guide) 

I love the ads though! Many are very well done. And for a tremendous rush of nostalgia, I start flipping through a pre-1980 (<#10) copy! 

Edited July 26 by Hepcat

[Primetime]

I have #4 on up. My copy should arrive tmw from Bob 😀

[Deathlok]

My main function of the Overstreet is for the notes on the issues.  Without having to memorize every first appearance or artist of titles I don't collect.  It's easy to research info in one place.  I ignore the valuation.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

Matt Baker still gets no love in the 54th. I thought for sure the way his covers have been hammering  would move the needle, but no 

[BitterOldMan]

I got the Big! Big! Edition, which was a mistake. I thought for my old eyes and clumsy fingers, the larger type and thicker paper would be better.☹️

All the ads and articles, about 300 pages, were left out.  Had to order the regular edition at my LCS.