What's Got Everyone Talking This Week

So it’s been a pretty busy week in the nerdy geeky world. A lot has been going on in a number of different areas. So what’s everyone talking about? Well the blogverse, Twitterverse, and other websites have picked up on a number of things; therefore, I’m only going to highlight the top five. Here’s a look:

The New Mutants Trailer

Part horror movie cut and part superhero trailer, the first trailer for the 20^th Century Fox film “The New Mutants” has managed to get people talking. Are they talking good or bad? Well, that largely depends on how you take the two minute trailer (I’ll add a duh right there). For me, the trailer seems cut in a way that puts the movie on par with some sort of 1980’s horror movie, and that might just be a good thing. Check it out for yourself:

Another Walking Dead #100 Variant

Yup, it happened. Just when you think things couldn’t get any more confusing in the Walking Dead comic book collecting world, now seventy some issues later another variant of the first appearance of the man with the bat wrapped in barbed wire has made an appearance. With the release of the “Here’s Negan” book, Barnes & Noble has managed to score an exclusive variant ofWalking Dead #100. The hardback book is available at the website for under $19, while the comic enclosed with the book is selling on eBay in the $40 range. Amazing, eh?

The Last Jedi Trailer

No matter how you feel about Star Wars, there is little chance anyone in this particular circle has escaped the latest trailer for The Last Jedi. So what’s up? Well, if you missed it here it is, hold on:

Hard to say how to judge this one, but like most Star Wars trailers, it looks EPIC.

Marvel Lenticular Covers

Marvel has found a way to alienate comic book shop owners by putting some really strange buying requirements on the Marvel Legacy Lenticular covers. What this has done is forced stores to sell the books above cover price (unlike DC that simply charged a little more cover price for the lenticular books BTW). If you are a comic book collector, the 3D or Lenticular covers are pretty cool, but with the books failing to really strike a chord on the secondary market most of these books look to be dead on arrival. That is if your local comic book shop even ordered any to begin with. Look for more on this topic over the coming week.

Disney Epcot 35 Figment Funko

Hey, Disney is cool, and that little purple dragon that inhabits the World of Imagination is pretty popular. So when you combine the 35^th Anniversary of Epcot with a pretty cool Funko Pop of Figment, you get mass hysteria. Well, you get a lot of folks cashing in is what you get. Despite costing $19.99 retail, the Figment Funko has been ringing up twice that on secondary markets. That number was really crazy over the course of the Epcot anniversary with some sales approaching the $75 range. Things seem to have toned down for now, especially with fans waiting until the next shipment from the manufacturer. Still, if that ship doesn’t come in, buyers can expect a nice bump in price (on the secondary markets that is) prior to the holiday.

Hey, that’s the rundown on what has gotten everyone talking this week. Who knows what the next week holds, but I’m betting a certain God of Thunder or a Prince from Wakanda will be at least mentioned in the next few.

It's Time for the New Dimension Comics Legendary Basement Sale Again!!!

Every section of pop culture has a certain mythology about it. There’s Bigfoot, Mary Black, trolls, dragons, and the New Dimension Comics Legendary Basement Sale. You know, you’ve got to see it to believe it.

What’s that? You’re not familiar with the NDC Basement Sale? Well, to make a long story shorter (okay, it’s not that long anyway), the basement of the Ellwood City mega-store of New Dimension Comics catalogs and curates over a half-million comic books. Two or three times a year, that basement is open for the shopping public.

Since I am an honored employee at NDC, I’m largely responsible for filing into what I consider the personal collection of the owner and probably the finest selection of back issues that I have EVER seen. Factor in three decades worth of collection up and down the East Coast, and that statement should really mean something.

The New Dimension Comics Basement contains pretty much all the popular titles you would expect, Spider-Man, Hulk, Avengers, etc, but this place is also home to some of the more obscure and difficult to find titles. Looking for The Human Fly? We’ve got that. Looking for Starriors? Yep, we’ve got that too. What about such modern hard to find fare like Rick and Morty, Beavis and Butthead, or even Alf? Yep, we’ve got those too.

What about the people behind the books? Garth Ennis, George Perez, Ron Lim, Todd McFarlane, Warren Ellis, Frank Miller, and many many more are all represented in the basement with various works associated with each artist or writer. Your favorite is probably there as well.

The best thing? All of these issues are only $1 each. Now that’s cool.

This is one of the best chances collectors, fans, and enthusiasts have to pick up runs of titles without spending a ton of cash. This is likely the last chance of the year to have some ease plucking those issues you’ve been trying to get your hands on for years.

The New Dimension Comics Legendary Basement Sale starts at 8AM and runs until 7PM on September 30, 2017, and with Fall Fest taking place around Ellwood City that day parking might be a bit of a challenge, but this is one date that collectors should try to make.

After all, seeing is believing. So grab your checklist and stop by, you might be surprised to check off some pretty impressive boxes. I’ll be there to help you find as many treasures as possible so feel free to ask or just say hi. There is A LOT to see and pick through.

Infinity War #1 Talking Points

Infinity War #1

One of the hottest comic books heading into 2018 boasts a familiar storyline and a bunch of familiar characters. Infinity War #1 is starting to trend in chat rooms, forums, and comic shops across the country. Yes, the Jim Starlin story combined with art from Ron Lim (on a really cool gate-fold cover) has taken on something of a minor hot streak in the world of collectability. Of course that all stems from a little movie due May 4, 2018 called “Avengers: Infinity War Part One.”

So why all the fuss over a comic book that is priced at about $8 according to Comic Book Realm. The fun part is that this particular series has actually maintained a little bit of affordability over the years. While the original tale of “The Infinity Gauntlet” remains the measuring stick for Marvel cross-overs in this particular series, this second take on the glove that everyone seems to be after is definitely worth a read and an investment. Oh, and the big reason is that next year's third Avengers movie is titled: Avengers: Infinity War.

The really huge caveat associated with this book is that the story will have pretty much nothing to do with what takes place on the screen in the Infinity War movie. Doppelgangers and evil twins take center stage in the story (and the associated Marvel crossover books), and it seems like the film will be a bit closer to the "Gauntlet" story, but with several key players in the comic book series not being introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe major changes are likely going to happen. 

At a sub-$10 price, this issue has the ability to double in price heading into the spring or summer of 2018. Speculators will without a doubt drive the price of this book into the $20 level come February and March of 2018, and all of that is simply based on the name. While “Infinity Crusade” and “Infinity Gauntlet” can expect some minor bumps in price as well, all eyes will be on the rather easily obtainable “Infinity War” series.

While the set is still most desirable, Infinity War #1 will be the one most collectors will start chasing. After all, those number ones are always high on everyone's checklist. So with that in mind, collectors should keep an eye out for this issue at their local comic book retailers with a keen eye pointed at the price tag. Not only is this a great issue thanks to Starlin and company, but the story helps drive a lot of the friction seen across a lot of series in the Marvel Universe for the time period.

July 2017 Reading List: Batman, Thanos, & More

Collecting and reading comic books is one way to experience a number of different storylines in a fast and furious manner. The cool part is that several of the books can escalate in value, which gives collectors a little something to bank on. Of course, since comics are a print medium, reprinting classic and popular stories allow readers to experience some great issues without the added cost of putting together those scarce runs.

Here is a look at my top five recommendations for trade paperbacks for July of 2017. All are available at Amazon (some are selling fast), and just about all of them will likely be available at your local comic book shop. Here’s a look:

The Killing Joke

Of all the Batman stories that have been told over the years, and there are A LOT of them, “The Killing Joke” remains extremely popular among collectors and readers. The story was actually made into a grittyanimated film in 2016 for anyone trying to skip the reading assignment, but experiencing the words of Alan Moore on a new level can help readers appreciate the fine line between Batman and The Joker a little bit more (see what I did there?). After Barbara is on the receiving end of some nasty business from Mr. J, Batman embarks on a new level of brutality against a foe that just might be capable of pushing him to his limits. Simply a great read from cover to cover.

The Infinity Gauntlet

Of all the questions I get about comic books, this six issue limited series is among the most popular. “The Infinity Gauntlet” brings readers closer to the madness of Thanos and his quest to kill off half the population of the universe. With his trusty Infinity Gauntlet, he accomplishes the task with a literal snap of his fingers. With some major players in the Marvel Universe taking center stage, this story brings the Silver Surfer, Adam Warlock, and more to the front of attention for readers of all ages. Of course, with a major movie being released next year, this one is more homework assignment than anything else. The original issues are increasing in value and will likely retain those lofty levels.

The Essential Fantastic Four Vol. 1

Of all the superhero books around, there are so many characters that can trace their roots to the Fantastic Four. This series launched some of the heavyweights for sure, and the first twenty issues are combined here for the enjoyment of readers of all ages and budgets. Since putting together the actual first twenty issues will set you back like twenty grand, picking up the trade paperback for under twenty dollars is a pretty safe way to experience some of the golden age of comic book lore and set the tone for decades of great things to come.

X-Men: Days of Future Past

A lot different than the movie that received some praise and some criticism, the original “Days of Future Past” story from Uncanny X-Men 141 & 142 involved a whole lot of Kitty Pryde. While going back in time to prevent a terrifying future is one of the staple storylines of several properties (the Terminator, Flashpoint, etc), the X-Men offer up their own take on internment camps, sentinals, and the brink of extinction. The story is quite legendary in the Marvel world, and is a must read for any X-Men fan.

Daredevil: Fall From Grace (The Epic Collection)

I’m always amazed that Daredevil has achieved a level of notoriety that equals a lot of other top tier Marvel characters. It’s not that he’s a bad character, it’s that he toiled as a second or maybe even third tier character for decades, and I’m not really sure why. He’s brought several great characters along for the ride, including Bullseye and Elektra. Of course, Elektra gets reintroduced to the Marvel Universe in this race against the clock to stop the Hand from taking over the world (at least New York anyway) with a super-virus. This story is a great time for any fan of the Netflix fan, because it showcases the character in one of his greatest stories.

So there you have it folks, five great stories with some of the most legendary characters around. All available on one of the largest websites around and ready to be delivered to your door. Experiencing one or two of these trade paperbacks is something that every fan should check out. Better yet, they might inspire you to chase down the actual issues they were printed in, and that my friends is a very very good thing indeed.

Inhumans Trailer Lowers Expectations

Let’s get one thing straight out of the gate, the Inhumans are not the X-Men. These characters can probably not even lay claim to being as popular as the Fantastic Four. In fact, Black Bolt, Medusa, Lockjaw, and the other characters that make up the “team” are at best third tier characters in the Marvel Universe.

Now before all the hate comments start, there have been some great stories including Black Bolt and crew. Along those lines, anyone that likes the characters can relax, because I’m not going to hate on the Inhumans. Quite the opposite. Like any comic book based characters, the tools are only as good as the creative team behind them.

The upcoming television show on ABC (which seems to be a place for the other Marvel shows) dropped its first trailer recently. As you can tell from watching the few minutes of footage, you are likely in line with what many Marvel fans have thought. It looks, well, not very good.

Of course, it’s unfair to judge a series, even one with a theatrical debut ahead of a television debut (seriously, what is that all about~$$$$$), but right now Inhumans looks as good as Iron Fist. Since they are both from pretty much the same showrunner, fans can be forgiven if they take a pass on this one.

Marvel had been pretty flawless on Netflix until Iron Fist trotted on by, and now Defenders looks to be okay in the early going, but this ABC marriage does not look to be going so well. While Agents of Shield continues to build, err, momentum (okay, we will go with that), this particular offering looks a little stale.

Again, the lack of costumes and masks are a little glaring, and since Black Bolt offers nothing in the way of the spoken word, there will be A LOT riding on his facial expressions and general skills of the actor. The returns look sub-par in this trailer, but who knows, this could end up being the show of the year.

It’s weird how DC shows are excelling on broadcast and the movies (at least until Wonder Woman) were average, but Marvel has been redefining movies and less than stellar on anything but Netflix. Quite the head scratcher?

Anyway, the first trailer is here for Inhumans, and after that Black Panther footage, well, fans were expecting a little more. Hard to say where this one will end up.

Bob Ross Funko Gaining Huge Momentum

 

One of the more interesting trends to pop up in the world of pop culture and collectability over the past few years is the emergence of Funko Pop figures. The little cartoonish plastic figures have become a hit with collectors of all ages and niches. Like any trend staying on top of what seems like thousands of figures can be a challenge for anyone, and that challenge is about to be stepped up even further.

The big item that everyone seems to be talking about is the Bob Ross Funko. Yes, the “Happy Trees” guy from the show “Joy of Painting,” that became a Netflix phenomenon. The tween and teen section of collectors has been buzzing about this figure for a few weeks, and pre-preders are already skyrocketing in demand. Make sure you order yours, or one for a Christmas present, very soon. Amazon is currently offering a nice pre-order price.

The other series that is getting some traction with collectors of all ages features the “Terror that flaps in the night.” That’s right, Darkwing Duck is making a Funko Pop debut along with Launchpad, Gosalyn, and even Negaduck. While admittedly, the Darkwing set of characters will not be nearly as popular as the Bob Ross, the chase and variant crowd is likely in for an adventurous fall collecting season.

With limited editions, exclusives, and chase variants also making waves, just about every Funko Pop has the chance to offer some sort of collectability. What really drives that market is variants and versions of popular figures. While it’s always tough to gauge popularity, these fall releases seem to be generating a whole lot of interest.

Pre-orders at comic shops and collectible centers are heating up, and it seems likely that the pre-order price will get altered on Amazon at some point. Bob Ross has managed to jump into the pop culture conversation, and his popularity will likely make these impossible to find around the holiday season. Jump on them now collectors, or pay the price (quite literally) in a few weeks.

Trade Paperbacks Offer Limited Collectible Value But Major Win for Readers

Anyone that has been to a comic book shop or book store has likely realized something that gets missed a lot—There is a lot of stuff on the shelves. Comic books present a lot of options for readers of all tastes and personalities. Not everything is for everyone. Since comic books are built around on going stories, readers are also presented with another interesting challenge, and that is jumping into a title without knowing what is going on.

It’s intimidating jumping into like issue #300 or so of a series and playing catch up with characters, events, and other situations. This is something that has become less of a problem these days thanks to what seems like a brand new #1 every other week or so. Is it working? Well, I don’t really have the answer to that.

The easiest way to get caught up on a series are those trade paperbacks that can be found in most comic shops. These hard or soft-bound tomes contain a year or more of the designated series. Furthermore, these cost-effective books can get readers acquainted with special events or crossover events. Stories like The Infinity Gauntlet and more can be picked up for one low price rather than collecting each individual comic, which can cost significantly more.

Of course, trade paperbacks (trades or TPB as they are often referred to) have a pretty big downside for investors in the hobby. The secondary market value of these types of publications rarely rises. It’s not that they don’t (a few in fact do climb in price over the years), but from an investment perspective trades are rarely worth it. From a reader’s perspective though, trades are invaluable.

So Can Trades Affect Collectibility?

This is a tricky question. It’s no secret that supply and demand drive the prices of comic books, so along that line a trade can affect the price of a certain issue. The thing is, most collectors want the actual comic rather than the trade containing every other issue as well. After all, anyone can buy the TPB of early Amazing Spider-Man comics, but few can actually own those books.

The reverse of that equation is also true. In talking with another comic book professional recently we touched on the subject of the Marvel Comics mainstay Alf. That’s right, Alf the fifty issue run that dates back to 1988. There is a TPB of these books somewhere, several different ones comprising a whole lot of the issues, but the chances of Alf being reprinted are pretty slim. Therefore, the chances of Alf comics holding value is a bit better than say, some nominal X-Men run, that could be trotted out at any given moment in TPB form. Does that mean Alf is going to skyrocket in value? Well, probably not, it just means that demand is going to stay fairly steady. (Unless he joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe~again, unlikely).

So there you have it. Instead of plunking down what could be thousands of dollars for a classic comic book run, think about picking up the trade paperback version to experience some great stories. Find an issue you like? Hey, try to pick up that original issue.

Trades are a great part of the hobby, and while some collectors take a solid pass on them, others are happy to scoop them up. It’s all about what you are into and what you like, because there is no wrong way to collect and no wrong way to read. Just take a look at what you might be missing, you might be surprised.