Rare coins vs rare comic books.

MGLICKER

Was in the comic book store yesterday to pre order the "Archie gets killed issue".

Charlie, the proprietor showed me a third party graded and sealed issue of the Walking Dead limited edition of 500 copies, comic.

It was graded 9.8 by CGC which appears to be an NGC affiliate. He was asking $500.

Not being a comic guy, $500 seemed like a whole bunch of money for a modern comic, yet in coins, no big deal.

Charlie brought up a good point. One can enjoy looking at a TP graded coin, yet a comic is locked in and cannot be read once sealed.

Comments welcome.

Coinosaurus

When comics went to slabbing is when I quit buying them.

The nice thing about comics is that reprint editions have exploded and it is much easier and cheaper to read the old stuff if you like.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

joebb21

The walking dead is amazing

Though I agreed- that if you cant open the book and look at it, to me 99.9% of the fun is taken away.

CyStater

I understand collecting comic books, I don't get slabbing comic books. As you stated, how are you supposed to view 99% of it? All you can see is the front and back cover. I guess it is like keeping a toy sealed in its original packaging or in our hobby, "slabbing" a roll of silver eagles. To each their own I guess.

bronzemat

I collect comics as much as I do coins and I for one never buy comics in slabs. If I see a vendor at a show with nothing but slabbed comics I just move along to the next guy.

I see comic books not even 3 months old, graded 9.8, and then sold on ebay for over a hundred dollars or more! And it was only a $3-$4 comic at the newstand.

Heck I have cut back buying cause comics are $4 each now, new!

When I first started it was .75

AnkurJ

I have been reading and collecting comics since 1991 when I was 11. At that time they were purely for reading and enjoyment. In my late teens/early 20's I started buying older comics. In terms of value, some of the comics I bought 14 years ago have gone up in value substantially. The slabbing business was created because comics are a much more dynamic collectible with many different characteristics than coins. Also just as coins, comics can be altered to appear better. Today when buying a high priced comic, it usually must be slabbed to give it a chance at selling.

An example of a comic and how it has increased in value...Amazing Fantasy 15 was the first appearance of Spiderman. In grade Good which is 2 out of 10, it used to cost $900 to $1000 in 2000. Today, that book will cost you $5-$6000! And it doesn't seem to be slowing down in popularity. Some characters, Spiderman, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman will always be well known and popular. The values of the older books continue to rise with their popularity.

MrEureka

I loved comics as a kid and now, as an adult, I could have been tempted back into the market. Two things stood in the way. First, slabs, which prevent the full enjoyment of the books. And second, the inevitable bulk of the collection, which would likely prevent safe deposit box storage. A third drawback, but not a "deal killer", is my expectation that comics will tend to lose value as the adults who read them as kids die off.

All that said, I could see putting some original comic art on my walls, just for the fun of it.

SanctionII

For some reason the concept of "Mint In Box" bothers me.

On the one hand a collectible (toy, doll, baseball cards, proof set, etc.) contained, unopened, in the original packaging that was used by the manufacturer when the items was produced and sold does differentiate it from other identical items that have been removed from the original packaging. To some people the Mint In Box item is more desirable (for the prospect of increased value on resale, for the idea that the item is "fresher" than other such items, etc.). Some people even go so far as to crave Mint In Box items that themselves are sealed within the outer mailing boxes ("Mint In Box, In A Sealed Shipping Box").

I guess I can understand this, to a small degree, but I disagree with it.

However, isn't the fun and enjoyment of collecting getting to actually see, hold and handle the item you are passionate about collecting?

Open the box and have fun.

It is boring to just look at something and never be able to read it (sealed comic), touch it, or (in the case of "Mint In Sealed Box") even see it.

MGLICKER

<< <i>Heck I have cut back buying cause comics are $4 each now, new! >>



No kidding. This stuff is new to me at least in this century. Picked up a Archie Zombie book for $18.00!

Guess the 1960's and 15 cent comics are looooong gone.

SmEagle1795

<< <i>

<< <i>Heck I have cut back buying cause comics are $4 each now, new! >>



Guess the 1960's and 15 cent comics are looooong gone. >>



$0.15 in 1960 is $1.21 adjusted for inflation, making them not as far off as it would seem.

MGLICKER

<< <i>$0.15 in 1960 is $1.21 adjusted for inflation, making them not as far off as it would seem. >>



Big difference between $1.21 and $4.00.

Comics were a mass market item sold in every drugstore off a tall, rotating rack. Cheap and plentiful.

Today they are a specialty item sold by throwback sellers, resembling coin dealers in many ways.

No complaints as kids interests have certainly moved on over the years.

DaveWcoins

What I want to know is -- what is the deal with Archie? He's gonna be killed off? He is a zombie? Man, when I was a kid (which was the last time I looked at an Archie comic book) his biggest problem was trying to decide between Betty and Veronica.

That poor dude.

BillJones

I don't understand slabbed comic books at all. If you can't read it, what good is it?

I know, I know, you are not supposed to touch it.

Still I'm huge Superman fan, and I'd love to read #1. The only way can do that is buy a reprint book that is virtually impossible to find, or go to the Baltimore train station museum, next to Camden Yards, and read their computer display, if it is still there.

MGLICKER

<< <i>What I want to know is -- what is the deal with Archie? He's gonna be killed off? He is a zombie? >>



R.I.P. Archie. He got bumped off in to today's issue. But it was the adult Archie, not to be confused with the Zombie Archie or classic Archie.

Guess to compete with 24 hr computer games, comic producers had to make things as disturbing as the competition.

WTCG

So when a comic book gets graded does that mean you can no longer flip through the pages?

291fifth

<< <i>So when a comic book gets graded does that mean you can no longer flip through the pages? >>



It is sealed in a graded slab, never to be read again unless someone breaks it out of the slab.

johnny54321

I am an avid comic book collector, it is my 2nd love after coins. I have about 25% of my collectables value-wise in comics, 65% in coins and 10% in other stuff. I do buy valuable key silver age comics slabbed, as I would a valuable coin slabbed. Once slabbed, it is easy to remove and give the book a smell and read if you'd like to fully enjoy the collectable, and I have done that on several occassions. However, I believe there is a much higher incentive for slabbing valuable comics compared to coins when selling, especially on an online venue....simply because there is SO much more that can be hidden when selling a book online.

A coin has 2 sides and a rim, easily captured in several pictures under different light settings. Sure, you can hide hairlines and cleaning....but for the most part, you can get a good feel of a coin in a few pictures.

Going off of AnkurJ's point: A comic has 20+ pages inside, and is much more fragile and susceptable to accidental abuse than a coin would be. Rarely have I seen a comic sold online in which ALL the pages were photographed...and like was said earlier, 2 comics can be merged together to create one higher grade book, as well as a number of high tech restoration techniques that can be implemented. One would be absolutely foolish to buy a high dollar comic book that was not encased by a 3rd party who has had experts go through it page by page looking for damage, restoration, tape, extra staples, merging techniques etc...and then make the final call on grade with notations and a way to look up graders notes and details. This is a fundamental requirement for a high value comic, unless you are an expert yourself, and you buy all of your books at a shop or convention looking at every page closely under a magnifying glass before you buy.

I own most all of the marvel silver age keys in lower G-F grades, and they are all CGC slabbed. Most of them I also own reprints of that I paid $2-$4 a piece so I can read the history that i own.

Its a really enjoyable hobby, and I've actually had a much higher return on investment(although I dont consider it an investment as its a collection) with comics over the last few years than I have with coins....most of this I believe is due to hollywood.

ARCO

If comic books were made of gold or silver, I might collect them. I don't even like to read comic books, but if they had a chunk of precious metals as part of the book, then cool.

Tyler

Diggin4silver

so, if I have a couple boxes from the 80s, they might be worth a bit? Lots of old Fantastic 4 and some x men...

Diggin4silver

is it worth grading not mint but very good condition comics? How much does it cost to grade them? Thx..

crypto79

I have three comics that I wanted from childhood all CGC slabbed and hung up in my Game room behind UV glass as Americana right next to my super street fighter 2 turbo arcade machine and Neo-Geo stand up. These are

Amazing Fantasy 15
Amazing Spider Man 129
Hulk 181

I might buy a Giant Size X-MEN annual one day.

That said, I could care less about reading them and they are simply Pop Art to me.

johnny54321

kind of like coins.....i think they should be worth at least $200 to consider slabbing them, and the expense is similar to PCGS or so I believe....it might be a little bit more expensive as they more time to evaluate and write grader notes. A couple of great ways to value them: GPanalysis and Heritage archives. You can also go with the old-school Overstreet, price guide.

I am not too into modern comics, nor am I into modern coins. Walking Dead #1 does kind of have me intrigued though....

magikbilly

I dunno, the content of the comic book you can't open is perhaps akin to the history of the coin in the slab - both book and coin have qualities you can visually observe, but a lot is "in the head"

Eric

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i>So when a comic book gets graded does that mean you can no longer flip through the pages? >>



were the 16 times that was said already not enough?
.

Baley

<< <i>

<< <i>So when a comic book gets graded does that mean you can no longer flip through the pages? >>



It is sealed in a graded slab, never to be read again unless someone breaks it out of the slab. >>



Just like coins: buy it in a slab, sell it in a slab. In between, crack out and enjoy.

As for the $4 item a few months old graded and slabbed and sold for $100, and some segments never touching, and even never seeing the thing in the sealed outer box..

likewise for coins.

no difference from my point of view, for coins and comics that are in mid to low grade and meant to be enjoyed for their historic and asthetic visual and tactile value.

Ultra high grade, ultra high priced rarities are, fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, not a concern for many collectors like me who like to see the stuff without sensory barriers

goodmoney4badmoney

Archie died but $10 says he will "live again". The comic producers know what they are doing and he will be brought back to life, I guarantee it .
If I was a comic collector I would have the high grade slab along with another book of raw pages to read.

Bochiman

<< <i>I don't understand slabbed comic books at all. If you can't read it, what good is it?

I know, I know, you are not supposed to touch it.

Still I'm huge Superman fan, and I'd love to read #1. The only way can do that is buy a reprint book that is virtually impossible to find, or go to the Baltimore train station museum, next to Camden Yards, and read their computer display, if it is still there. >>




I feel the same way. However, a lot of them are digitized now. About 6 years ago, I bought "The Complete Spiderman" set of CDs from Costco. They had others as well. So, when it is too valuable, if you have the digital version to read, it is much better. I probably still have a thousand, or more, comics in boxes but none slabbed.
I am looking for that "right" comic to buy in a slab, as an iconic golden age collectible to have, and pass down to my son. I have a budget for it and I have a thought on it (DC, probably Superman...maybe the iconic "SHIELD" on the cover or the "Origin of Superman" with a detailing of his rocketing to earth.
That said, I am in the "I want to hold it in my hands and read it camp" as well.

As for all the (politically correct) changes they are making to certain characters that I knew, and grew up with. Well.....I am not on board with that and start crossing them off my list. Archie is one. I used to have a LOT of the Archie comics...including the digests and double digests. I figured to have my son read them when he was learning to read. Good, wholesome, short, funny, showed friendships, no real violence, etc. Well, Archie Comics decided to pander to the PC crowd. My plans changed.

As Marvel and DC changed certain heroes to fit in the "political correctness du jour", I have crossed them off as well. I have NOT crossed off NEW characters that fit in with certain roles/stereotypes...only when they decided to muck with established characters.


It's probably one of the reasons I am with coins now (I did both growing up).....even with slabbing, you can still view most all of the coin; unlike a slabbed comic.
Coins can change, but not that often. When they do, for PC reasons, they often don't do too well (SBAs anyone?)
And, I think they are an easier sell, if necessary. Sure, some comics are "easy", but they generally have to be the keys and generally slabbed (gee.....kind of like coins ), but at the end of the day, there is always SOME value to a coin...not necessarily true for a comic.

LochNESS

Many valid points and observations with which I agree. First let me say that I don't own any graded comics but I do own four boxes of bagged/boarded comics and trade paperbacks. For me, the fun is getting signatures and reading the stories. I've attended many conventions and most of my books are signed. I don't buy them for investment. Although I suspect some of the signatures and rarer prints may someday be valuable.

• I think it's unfair to criticize (as some have) the restoration and closed-doors techniques of comic slabbing without directing the same lense to coin slabbing.

• Grading is a separate act from slabbing and like all collectibles, if you plan to buy, you should know how to grade it.

• Most comic buyers could care less about slabbing. It's not nearly as prevalent as coin grading today. Most modern comics are bought raw. Most are never sold for profit.

• Trade paperbacks (volumes which combine several issues to tell an entire story arc) have been outselling individual books for years.

• Buying a new book, slabbing, and reselling instantly for profit is no different then modern US mint products in "first strike" plastic. I don't personally buy either but as a business man I can understand the market for both.

AnkurJ

<< <i>I don't understand slabbed comic books at all. If you can't read it, what good is it?

I know, I know, you are not supposed to touch it.

Still I'm huge Superman fan, and I'd love to read #1. The only way can do that is buy a reprint book that is virtually impossible to find, or go to the Baltimore train station museum, next to Camden Yards, and read their computer display, if it is still there. >>



Actually reprints of golden age and silver age books are plentiful. Look up superman DC archives on Amazon and you'll find the first volume which includes issues 1 to 4.

ambro51

Certainly a real value when a commonly used and discarded item is discovered "mint and unused" these early comics thrive with nostalgic popularity. Rare? Yes. Rare also..... A complete collection of "mint and unused" 1993 McDonalds tray liners (cheap paper placemats) ... Oh Yes Rare and no doubt as a collectible item nearly unable to find..popular, sorry. No. BUT. Let it catch on and look out!

Eagleguy

I have a lot of trade paperbacks and collected editions but mostly stuff put out by Image and other independent publishers in the last several years. Does that mean I'm collecting Modern Crap?

JH

WaterSport

And IF all went to heck, you can crack a coin out regardless of its series and it still buys a hamburger - try doing that with comic book, or a beanie baby for that matter.

WS

originalisbest

<< <i>I love the old comics, but the comic industry bothers me because of what you mentioned and the fact that the industry will take a cover that is in excellent condition from one comic and then combine it with the inerds of another and combine it for a high grade example. Then you have the typical and normal restorations that are performed on a regular basis to most and whallah you are buying collecting unoriginal examples without really knowing it even though it is obviously allowed. Too many smoke and mirrors issues. >>



LOL, that's not really the case at all. Doing what you propose would be extremely easy to detect, on a golden age book.

The issues surrounding comic and coin grading are quite similar, as are those who get bent out of shape over various inconsistencies in the TPG's.

I give this thread not much longer to live tho, since it resides on the PCGS boards.

originalisbest

<< <i>I don't understand slabbed comic books at all. If you can't read it, what good is it?

I know, I know, you are not supposed to touch it.

Still I'm huge Superman fan, and I'd love to read #1. The only way can do that is buy a reprint book that is virtually impossible to find, or go to the Baltimore train station museum, next to Camden Yards, and read their computer display, if it is still there. >>



Anyone who wants to can easily crack any comic slab, to "free" it, read it (carefully) and keep it in an open top mylar. Many advanced collectors do just that -- others are more focused on the cover art and thus don't mind it being kept slabbed.

It's akin to having a coin in PCGS plastic, you buy it for the authenticity/no restoration guarantee/check, but wish to break it out and have it in your fancy Cap Plastics display. Then, should you ever decide to sell, it's a good idea (depending on the coin/comic's inherent value) to get it reholdered/reslabbed, assuming same grade maintained, it's more liquid that way.

The worlds of comic/coin slabbing are very similar in many ways.

originalisbest

<< <i>I don't understand slabbed comic books at all. If you can't read it, what good is it?

I know, I know, you are not supposed to touch it.

Still I'm huge Superman fan, and I'd love to read #1. The only way can do that is buy a reprint book that is virtually impossible to find, or go to the Baltimore train station museum, next to Camden Yards, and read their computer display, if it is still there. >>



Bill, a Superman #1 reprint (oversized, done in the 70s by DC, and an exact reprint, including the original ads!) is pretty available on ebay -- search for "Superman Famous First Edition" -- example link.

Hope that helps!

Sample on ebay now for $5.

originalisbest

<< <i>I have three comics that I wanted from childhood all CGC slabbed and hung up in my Game room behind UV glass as Americana right next to my super street fighter 2 turbo arcade machine and Neo-Geo stand up. These are

Amazing Fantasy 15
Amazing Spider Man 129
Hulk 181

I might buy a Giant Size X-MEN annual one day.

That said, I could care less about reading them and they are simply Pop Art to me. >>



Cool Crypto -- many choose to collect just this way. You have nice taste in books for a mini-collection.

BillJones

<< <i>As for all the (politically correct) changes they are making to certain characters that I knew, and grew up with. Well.....I am not on board with that and start crossing them off my list. Archie is one. I used to have a LOT of the Archie comics...including the digests and double digests. I figured to have my son read them when he was learning to read. Good, wholesome, short, funny, showed friendships, no real violence, etc. Well, Archie Comics decided to pander to the PC crowd. My plans changed. >>



Yes, CBS News ran a story last night about the demise of Archie, and it made me want to puke. The lousy comic book publisher gets a free ad on national television because he stages a PC event to kill off one of his characters. He also implies that there are lots of bigots out there are looking around to kill people who are friends with gays, which is clearly not true.

originalisbest

<< <i>

<< <i>So when a comic book gets graded does that mean you can no longer flip through the pages? >>



It is sealed in a graded slab, never to be read again unless someone breaks it out of the slab. >>



For the particular slabbed book, yes (unless you crack it out, which would invalidate the grade/restoration check, much as with cracking out a coin.)

What many do is crack the book and enjoy, keeping it in an open top mylar. Or, they may keep a highgrade specimen slabbed, and get the same book, in a much lower grade, to serve as their reading copy. Or they may get a reprint if available. Many ways to get a chance to read the thing. :-)

Back in the day of comic collecting in the past, great covers were revered, but so was great interior art -- still is, but definitely seems to have taken a backseat to the pursuit of classic covers.

originalisbest

<< <i>If comic books were made of gold or silver, I might collect them. I don't even like to read comic books, but if they had a chunk of precious metals as part of the book, then cool.

Tyler >>



I've actually always liked to combine the two -- i.e., this silver Merc dime might have bought this classic WWII superhero book; or, this 1950 roosie might have bought my Crypt of Terror #17 -- etc.

originalisbest

<< <i>Archie died but $10 says he will "live again". The comic producers know what they are doing and he will be brought back to life, I guarantee it .
If I was a comic collector I would have the high grade slab along with another book of raw pages to read. >>



It was a spin-off "alternate universe" mini-run of "adult" Archie that died. Not to worry, in the regular run of Archie comics, he's as ageless as ever -- was a bit of a marketing gimmick -- I didn't really care for it.

originalisbest

<< <i>

<< <i>As for all the (politically correct) changes they are making to certain characters that I knew, and grew up with. Well.....I am not on board with that and start crossing them off my list. Archie is one. I used to have a LOT of the Archie comics...including the digests and double digests. I figured to have my son read them when he was learning to read. Good, wholesome, short, funny, showed friendships, no real violence, etc. Well, Archie Comics decided to pander to the PC crowd. My plans changed. >>



Yes, CBS News ran a story last night about the demise of Archie, and it made me want to puke. The lousy comic book publisher gets a free ad on national television because he stages a PC event to kill off one of his characters. He also implies that there are lots of bigots out there are looking around to kill people who are friends with gays, which is clearly not true. >>



I didn't read, nor care for the "Archie dies" marketing gimmick, but second hand I heard he got run over by a car in order to save a friend etc. Anyhoo.

Hope you get a chance to pick up the Superman reprints from the '70s, I think you'll really enjoy those even above other reprint formats, since they are complete down to the smallest of the ads, etc.

BillJones

According the story on CBS news, somebody shot him because he defended or was friendly to a gay guy.

As for coming back, there will now be "Zombie Archie" and some sort of retro thing.

originalisbest

Might have been a different storyline. Not one I paid attention to, anyway (most Archie storylines I like, go back to the '80s and before, basically my youth.)

The thing about Archie and what has kept him fresh and in-publication since 1941, is the way the creative team in charge has constantly reinvented him to go in step with the current trends of music, fashion (for teens) as well as social issues. Occasionally these do hit clunky notes, and every single decade from the 40s to the present, has had some stories that cause a cringe, while others are really good.

From my point of view, being able to keep a character like that consistently pretty relevant and talked about, is pretty amazing.

Eagleguy

<< <i>

<< <i>I don't understand slabbed comic books at all. If you can't read it, what good is it?

I know, I know, you are not supposed to touch it.

Still I'm huge Superman fan, and I'd love to read #1. The only way can do that is buy a reprint book that is virtually impossible to find, or go to the Baltimore train station museum, next to Camden Yards, and read their computer display, if it is still there. >>



Bill, a Superman #1 reprint (oversized, done in the 70s by DC, and an exact reprint, including the original ads!) is pretty available on ebay -- search for "Superman Famous First Edition" -- example link.

Hope that helps!

Sample on ebay now for $5. >>



You can read it on line for free here

JH

originalisbest

Can't get cheaper than free! Thanks eagleguy!

Only thing I guess in favor of the reprint edition is you will enjoy the feel of newsprint in your hands, no one nowadays would treat a pricey original with casualness, but the reprints can be had cheap, and be perfect for the "reading room."

Bochiman

<< <i>

<< <i>As for all the (politically correct) changes they are making to certain characters that I knew, and grew up with. Well.....I am not on board with that and start crossing them off my list. Archie is one. I used to have a LOT of the Archie comics...including the digests and double digests. I figured to have my son read them when he was learning to read. Good, wholesome, short, funny, showed friendships, no real violence, etc. Well, Archie Comics decided to pander to the PC crowd. My plans changed. >>



Yes, CBS News ran a story last night about the demise of Archie, and it made me want to puke. The lousy comic book publisher gets a free ad on national television because he stages a PC event to kill off one of his characters. He also implies that there are lots of bigots out there are looking around to kill people who are friends with gays, which is clearly not true. >>





You also know they (Disney/Marvel) are making Thor a woman now, right?
Have to appeal to the princesses of the world and, instead of creating their own kickbutt character, why not take an icon and turn it female......

originalisbest

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>As for all the (politically correct) changes they are making to certain characters that I knew, and grew up with. Well.....I am not on board with that and start crossing them off my list. Archie is one. I used to have a LOT of the Archie comics...including the digests and double digests. I figured to have my son read them when he was learning to read. Good, wholesome, short, funny, showed friendships, no real violence, etc. Well, Archie Comics decided to pander to the PC crowd. My plans changed. >>



Yes, CBS News ran a story last night about the demise of Archie, and it made me want to puke. The lousy comic book publisher gets a free ad on national television because he stages a PC event to kill off one of his characters. He also implies that there are lots of bigots out there are looking around to kill people who are friends with gays, which is clearly not true. >>





You also know they (Disney/Marvel) are making Thor a woman now, right?
Have to appeal to the princesses of the world and, instead of creating their own kickbutt character, why not take an icon and turn it female...... >>



Bit more of a grab of marketing to try and be relevant -- I'm kinda indifferent, but guaranteed it will have a lot of fanboys drooling with rage.

veryfine

Many here are missing the point.
A real collector doesn't need to read the comic to appreciate it, he only needs to KNOW that he can possibly open it and read it. HE OWNS SOMETHING RARE, and that is the bottom line.
I'm starting to doubt the collectible bug that some of you purportedly have.

MGLICKER

<< <i>Yes, CBS News ran a story last night about the demise of Archie, and it made me want to puke. >>



I bought it and trust me, reading it is really stomach turning.

As much as I despised handing over money to the publishers, I was a big fan of the comics in the 60's, and like the proverbial train wreck....had to look.

coinkat

I would rather have rare beer steins over the comic books... sorry.