A Look Back: The Hottest Comic Book Back Issues of 2016

2016 was certainly a banner year for comic books and the corresponding characters. The year started off with a bang and has pretty much continued the hot streak of recent years. It’s a good time to be a comic enthusiast, a great time to be a collector, and it’s never too late to jump back into the fray.

The old favorites are always hot and selling. The Silver and Golden Age Classics like Detective Comics #27, Amazing Fantasy #15, and Action Comics #1, etc. are always bringing bigger and bigger money as supply dries up. However, what has been selling fast and consistent over the current (and soon to be past) year? Well, first hand knowledge of working for a large comic book retailer grants some interesting insight into what is moving and what is pretty much staying put.

That being said, as everyone knows some books move faster than others. Some back issues heat up quickly and cool even faster, others stay hot for the entire year driving prices to unbelievable heights. So taking a careful look back at the previous year, here is a look at the Top 10 Hottest Comic Books of 2016.

1) New Mutants 98

Everything is simply coming up Deadpool these days. A hit video game, a hit movie, and a really hot first appearance is pretty much a hat trick of greatness for the Merc with the Mouth. A lot of watchers have been waiting patiently for the price to drop on this book, but it seems destined to approach the solid $300 mark ungraded. (Graded copies 9.6 and above can get really expensive). Still this book ended up flying off of shelves anytime it showed up.

2) Walking Dead #100

Well, just about everyone expected this book to be on this list, and it makes a huge gain in price. With so many variants running around and an estimated print run of nearly four-hundred thousand copies (thanks to all those variants), the first appearance of Negan and Lucille can still easily fetch $35, the second printing with Negan on the cover can garner even more attention above $50. How long will this book stay on the list? Hard to say, but the character is certainly raising eyebrows on the show.

3) Flash Rebirth One Shot

Godspeed means business in the pages of the Flash, and his first appearance in the highly sought after one shot issue of the Flash has remained the only real Rebirth book to stay white hot. The variant can fetch $30 and the standard can get $20 without breaking a sweat. Who knows where this one will end up? The TV show is helping drive this character to new levels of popularity.

4) NYX #3

X23 has been a pretty popular character for a while, but the first appearance of the little girl getting a big role in the upcoming Logan movie has really started to sell well. This is already a $400 book, and it flies off the shelf nearly as soon as it pops up. This book is rapidly rivaling (see what I did there) other modern first appearances in terms of sales value and demand.

5) Walking Dead #108

Yep, another Walking Dead book makes the list, which testifies to the pop culture power of the AMC television series. The first appearance of Ezekiel and Shiva was always an easy $10 sale, but now after the TV show appearance $30 to $50 for a non-graded copy is pretty much the standard. It doesn’t hurt that simply having a tiger is pretty cool, which makes for a lot of demand for copies.

6) Wolverine Volume 2 #66

The Old Man Logan storyline is buzzing with a couple of re-releases over 2016, but the original story got started in this gem and it has become one hot book. Again, buzz about the movie sent speculators into overdrive, and collectors have answered the bell here. This one is a $40 bargain, because the future looks even brighter thanks to some Hollywood magic.

7) Crisis on Infinite Earths #8

Crisis on Infinite Earts #8

The television show on the CW has brought renewed interest to the Barry Allen version of the Flash. So when the character meets his ultimate demise saving the world in Crisis on Infinite Earths #8, just about every reader sheds a bit of tear. Since this book is tied to the death of Supergirl as well (which occurred just one issue prior in #7), it remains a steady seller and nearly impossible to find below the $10 mark. This one sells well—period.

8) Seven to Eternity #1

The Rick Remender series shows no signs of fading, even after its release. All first printing copies easily fetch three to four times cover price, and some second printings are hovering around twice cover. When a series stays hot four months after release, it could be signs of some pretty amazing things.

9) Infinity Gauntlet #1

Infinity Gauntlet #1

Way back before there was something like an Infinity story every other year, Marvel hit comic book gold with the original Infinity Gauntlet story. These were all over the place a few years ago, and now they seem to have mostly found a home. The first installment of the series can be found for a reasonable $15 to $20, and anyone wanting to see some great art and get introduced to Thanos, Mephisto, and the Silver Surfer needs only scan the first few pages. Of course, some guy named Adam Warlock also drops by later in the series.

10) X-Force #2

X-Force #2

With the first appearance of Deadpool quickly spiraling to uncomfortable spending heights for new and seasoned collectors, many have turned toward the more easily attainable second appearance. X-Force #2 has the right mix of availability and price for many, which is one reason why the book flies off the shelf with regularity. Even in the seven to ten dollar range, this is one comic that will continue to get attention as the years progress.

Well, that's the top ten. Like any great list, the inclusion or lack thereof does not guarantee a specific dollar amount either way, and condition maters greatly in terms of price. Either way fellow geeks, continue to let your geek show, because that is the only way we all win.

The First Appearance of Vigilante New Teen Titans Annual #2

New Teen Titans Annual No. 2

When it comes to annual specials in a comic book run, a lot of buyers and collectors simply take a pass on the purchase. These days, in the world of $4 cover prices, that's a pretty understandable thing. After all, nearly fifty bucks a year is a lot of money to spend on a title. This low selling pace of annuals can make for some interesting collectibles down the road though.

Way back in New Teen Titans Annual #2 a character called Vigilante was unveiled. The character has gotten a boost in the popularity rankings these days thanks to some exposure on the insanely popular television show "Arrow."

Vigilante #1 1983

That popularity combined with the relative hard to find scarcity of the first appearance of Vigilante in New Teen Titans Annual #2 has brought the book to the hot charts in most comic book stores. The best part is that these books are simply just hard to find, because they have been disseminated into dollar bins and half-price stock over the years.

Vigilante of course has a pretty cool story that took place in his own series. While Vigilante #1 is not difficult to find by any means, the story took place over fifty issues and launched in 1983 from DC. There have been a few reissues of the character, but comic book fans will likely remember this run for the rather tragic turn the story takes. This is one of those runs that I never really understood why it did not build more of a following.

Still, the first appearance of Vigilante is seeing a run thanks to the "Arrow" television show exposure, and it is bringing the rest of the characters stories along for the ride. This is one comic book that belongs in everyone's collection, so take a chance at ten dollars or below (condition depending) and make it a hard consider at the 20-spot level. This one could get hotter and hotter as things move on.

Speculators are bound to help this one out, and copies are likely to get snatched up quick. If you see them, you might find yourself wishing you bought them in the near future.

Comics You Need to Own: Sinestro Corps Special #1

Sinestro Corp #1 first printing

It seems like it has been an eternity since any type of Green Lantern comic made it onto the hot lists around the hobby world. Over the last few weeks the character with the power ring has been heating up want lists and rumor mills like crazy.

With Green Lantern Vol. 4 #25 and #28 heating up tremendously thanks to the first appearances of Atrocitus, the Geoff Johns run on this famed superhero is spawning a number of hot issues. Because rumors and other media appearances has become something of a driving force in the comic book world, the latest word that the Sinestro Corps will making a significant appearance in an upcoming movie another GL book is breaking into the hot sheet.

Sinestro Corps #1 fourth printing

Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1 is the first appearance of the Sinestro Corps and the book has started to make big secondary market gains. Printed in 2007, with four printings with different characters on the cover to boot, the book has proved to be scarce enough to send prices into the $15 range for nice copies. Not too bad for a book that pops up in the dollar bin of many comic book shops.

Over the past few years, the comic book collecting crowd has seen many books receive bumps in price as collectors try to find key issues on existing properties that really start to increase in popularity. It is this popularity spike that drives these books to new heights, both in price and in scarcity. What was once thought of as an easy-to-find comic becomes nearly impossible.

That being said jumping on a Sinestro Corps Special #1, and just about any printing, at a reasonable price seems like a good idea for the long-haul. Once trailers for the GL movie, which isn’t due until 2020, start to hit the Internet, all bets are off if the Yellow Lanterns and Atrocitus make appearances in those few minutes of footage. This is one of those comic books you’ll wish you bought low four years from now.

Sinestro Corps #1 third printing

Comic Books You Need to Own: Green Lantern Vol.4 #25 Atrocitus

Green Lantern Vol. 4 #25

Few things drive the collectors market on short term runs better than rumors. The rumors can be anything connected to print run, television shows, movies, hidden appearances, and really just about anything that has the potential to really bump a character’s popularity. After all, more fans chasing the same amount of books equals a price jump; it’s just basic economics folks.

So on that note, this week is seeing some interesting gains with respect to a character that many comic book fans might not even know exist, and pertaining to the first paragraph most of this price bump is a result of rumored appearance in a movie that is not even due to hit theaters until 2020: Green Lantern Corps.

While it is pretty much a given that Sinestro will likely be featured in the flick, another character rumored to be making an appearance is Atrocitus, founder of the Red Lantern Corps. Since the first appearances of Green Lantern and Sinestro are pretty much out of the range of the average collector with regards to price, many are jumping all over Green Lantern Vol.4 #25, which is the first appearance of Atrocitus created by Geoff Johns in 2008.

Most of these copies are still available at reasonable prices. Better yet, some comic book stores still have these in the dollar bin. For being eight years old and what could be a key first appearance, this is a comic book that you really need to pick up before the rest of the collecting world catches on. The price is going to start climbing.

On another note, there is also a Gary Frank cover variant for this book, according to Comic Book Realm, and it is also something that is jumping off the charts in the short term. Who knows where this value will be when the movie finally drops in 2020, that is if the rumors end up being true. You can never really tell with comics.

Of course, there is another level to this whole story as well, because the first full Atrocitus appearance is in Green Lantern Vol. 4 #28, which is also poised to rock and roll up the charts. So savvy collectors are scanning the long boxes of any source they can find to pick up what they can. So be on the lookout, because this one is probable a must have as well with a lot of long-term upside.

Green Lantern Vol.4 #28

Classic Comic Book Cover of the Week: Swamp Thing #37 First Appearance of John Constantine

Swamp Thing #37

When it comes to comic books and first appearances, Swamp Thing #37 has something of a cult following. Why? Well for those new to the comic book game, this issue represents the first appearance of John Constantine. That's right, the Hellblazer himself comes into the DC Universe in this very issue.

For that reason, prices for this issue hover around $90 in VF according to Comic Book Realm, but in the most recent Overstreet the book is $130 in NM. Of course, graded copies can get even more pricey, but again, it's all up to the collector. Not everyone can have near mint or CGC 9.4 copies of every comic book. I mean where would the fun be?

What makes Swamp Thing 37 so legendary besides the whole Constantine appearance has to do with the people on the book itself. Yep, that's Alan Moore and John Totleben on the cover, and they were something of a dynamic duo for a few years.

Swamp Thing is a series that does not necessarily get a whole lot of love from the comic book world. However should the whole Justice League Dark animated movie get a lot of fan love, this could become a pretty investment. Still, Constantine gets more and more fans every year despite having some issues getting his own television series up and running smoothly.

Of course, this post is supposed to be about the cover and what is not to love from Steve Bissette on this gem? The mystical floating image of old swampy hovering over his green body is somewhat intriguing. Best of all, this is one comic book that every collector should know at first glance, so take a hard look, this is one for the keeper bin.

Nintendo Trying to Stay Relevant with Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WIld

image from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Legend_of_Zelda.svg 

Perhaps the coolest thing about video game franchises is the way many transcend generations. While not every franchise manages this lofty task, one that truly gets it done is the Legend of Zelda franchise over at Nintendo.

Parents who grew up with the original NES had the luxury of growing with the franchise over the years, and those games have inspired the children of the Nintendo generation to pick up those older Zelda games. The great stories truly never age.

The cruel irony about the titles is that the recent games, like Twilight Princess, appeared on the Wii, which wasn’t exactly a cutting edge system compared to the other competitors in the industry. Now the newest Zelda title will be hitting the market on a pretty uneven playing field.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is coming to the Wii U sometime in 2017 and the footage released at E3 promises some of the most exhilarating action to take place in a Zelda game so far. While some things about the game are pretty clear, a lot still remains to be unfolded.

Ocarina of Time remains considered one of the most perfect video games ever created, and the Nintendo 64 launched a number of great titles into super stardom. However, none of the gems are as treasured as Zelda (Sorry Mario 64 fans). The new Zelda game has been hotly sought since the Wii U was released.

The problem with what will be considered a Game of the Year award winner is that console. The Wii U has not exactly been lighting the sales world on fire. Lack of support and games is again one particular reason the console has been lagging. The other, sigh, is that control set up.

The large touchscreen controller the Wii U comes equipped with offers little in the way of easy design. A game designed around the control setup, like Lego City or Nintendoland, can be surefire hits. For other types of titles the controller is just simply more of a hassle.

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be one of the hottest games of the year. Mostly because Nintendo created titles are really what drives the popularity of the Nintendo systems. Zelda is always at the very least a good game.

The gameplay footage alone does enough to inspire some pretty impressive visuals. Coupled with the usual great story and some intriguing puzzles, Breath of the Wild has the power to drive a few more consoles off the shelves and into living rooms.

Nintendo is still trying to play catch up with the Wii U, and this game is long overdue. The real problem is that this title comes at the end of the console life cycle, and it is probably too little too late. But that won’t stop millions of fans from snapping up the latest adventure of Link to swing the Master Sword one more time. 

Rogue One Olympic Trailer Delivers on the Build Anticipation Checklist

The pretty obvious elephant in the room when it comes to geek culture is this December’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” Now that a freshly cut trailer has made its debut during NBC’s coverage of the Rio Olympics, fans have been trying to gauge whether or not the force is strong with this one.

Well, if you spared the two minutes or so already, you probably have your own conclusion. In my humble opinion, this trailer looks pretty well put together. I mean, my one complaint about the Star Wars Universe was that there simply were not enough characters, so it made sense to add a few more (read: sarcasm).

That being said, Rogue One looks like it will have pretty common Star Wars elements. Distant planets? Check. A dude that looks like Morgan Freeman? Check. An annoying droid that just might steal the show? Check. Massive fight sequences? Check. A cameo from Darth Vader? Big fat check.

The last few seconds with Vader are perhaps the most titillating few seconds for Star Wars fans since the whole “Chewie, We’re home” statement. The Sith Lord looks like he is ready to make sure the Death Star goes operational at best (we all know how the story ends).

It’s always hard to gauge a film from the trailers, because the comic book and geek set has been somewhat let down this year from film makers and even television show creators. There have been wins as well, and that means there should be at least a little bit of confidence in Rogue One.

If any fictional universe can make stand alone stories happen, it is Star Wars. The simple reason is the amount of characters. Let’s face it, there are a lot of riveting characters that can be explored in their own right. Opening the non-timeline films with the story of how the rebels got their hands on those plans in the first place is actually a stroke of pure genius.

The story takes place just before Star Wars: A New Hope, which means there will be plenty of Easter Eggs for fans.  Just don’t call it a prequel, because that ship has sailed.

The success of the film will draw on the nostalgia and interest from the current massive fan base, which is not really a surprise. Star Wars fans should flock to Rogue One, it’s the repeat business and the chance to draw in additional eyeballs to the entire franchise that generate the huge box office grosses.

Worries about reshoots and changes to what was first intended to be are both good reasons for concern. However, the new trailer, which likely will not be the last, should be enough to satisfy the curiosity of even the most concerned fan. Of course, just like Superman and Batman will tell you, making a great trailer is one thing, making a great movie is something altogether different.

Weighing in on DC Universe Rebirth Speculators and Flippers

Well, it’s Wednesday, and thanks to vacations or other what not, it’s been a few since we managed a post here at Let Your Geek Show. Today, I’ll be focusing on DC Universe Rebirth speculating and flipping, which is a topic just about everyone can relate to. If you’ve been into a comic book store over the past few weeks you have likely noticed the cool blue DC Comics logos across the tops of several books, and many of these issues have exploded on the secondary market.

The first thing to keep in mind if you are a flipper is that timing is everything. With a major event like Rebirth, it’s easy to get caught up in all the hoopla and hype surrounding it. At the New Dimension Comics location I work at, we’ve been selling out of every type of Rebirth title imaginable. That’s a big deal. However, on my recent business trip/vacation/week in Hades in the Orlando area, one thing became very clear to me on the Rebirth success: Some retailers are making the most of the 100% returnable part of the series.

In several (read: ALL) the shops I went to (Four BTW), there were plenty of Rebirth Batman, Flash, Aquaman, Green Arrow, and more, and plenty of #1’s as well. Since some of those issues are weeks old, I was amazed, because flippers have been putting up and out for a few weeks now online turning in nearly double that $2.99 cover price. However, all those issues on shelves in a major area (face it there are more people in the Orlando area than here north of Pittsburgh), mean something key to flippers and speculators—the value is likely short lived.

All those issues, and there were excess of 75 or so per location on average, means a glut on the market. Whether those are destroyed when returned to DC or not remain to be seen, but if even a portion of them find a way to market, all that pent up demand gets met quickly dropped the price of the book (for you economics folks that’s basic supply and demand).

This whole situation points to striking while the iron is hot, and red hot from the way things are going to turn a profit and maximize the return. While I don’t personally have a problem with flippers (I do have a problem with one person buying twenty-five copies of the same issue to sell online though one or two is a different story), folks not actually reading these Rebirth stories are doing themselves a disservice, because they are for the most part a lot of fun. At least, they are better than that “Villains’ Month” crap a few years ago.

So there you have it, if you are speculating with DC Universe Rebirth for the long run, you might be in for a wait, but if you are flipping short-term you might just have a nice little profit on your hands. However, if the demand continues to grow, and signs point that they will, you might be better off being a speculator for maximizing your value. It’s always tough to say, but just by being involved in comics, you are after all, letting your geek show, and that my friends is tremendous.

Safeguarding Your Collection: What is the Best Way to Store Comic Books?

It’s a small matter really what type of comic book you are collecting. Whether you are building a Silver Age shrine, a Walking Dead library, stockpiling DC or Marvel issues, or whatever floats your boat, you need to take some steps to protect your collection and your investment. After all, comics do not cost thirty-cents each anymore (or even two dollars).

There are a lot of general rules governing a collection, but it boils down to each collector doing what they like. Some bag and board everything, others bag most and board the expensive issues, and still others ditch the board entirely. Some folks even deploy those really cool comic booksized top loaders for pricey comics. Don’t forget though, all that card board and fancy protectors take up room in those glorious short and long boxes.

By the way, those boxes are designed for comics, which is a huge advantage over the whole Tupperware or plastic storage bin argument. I like short boxes because they are easier to move around, but the longs are nice for storing massive runs of books. Others favor the drawer boxes, which allow the advantage of stacking large amounts of boxes in a pyramid or such and still being able to open the box to get to the comics without unstacking the entire box. It’s a personal thing after all.

Of course, bags, boards, boxes, and more all cost money, which means many collectors can have serious cash tied up in storage solutions and protective bags. Those bags are important, because they keep the comics safe from any number of potential harms. The tape on the bag is also important because nobody likes a snag putting the issue in and out, sadly it happens though.

Once in the box, the books need to be stored in a proper environment as well to prevent mold, moisture, and other problems from developing. Granted, it’s less of a problem with the higher quality paper being used today, but those from the 1990s and prior offer a bit of challenge. Paper offers a number of problems for long-term storage.

The point is that collectors and hobbyists should do what they are comfortable with and can afford. However, some storage precautions need to be taken less all those first appearances and key issues risk being lost forever to general aging problems. Bags alone can make a world of difference.

Personally, in three decades I've seen things with collections that make no sense, and I've seen things that make perfect sense. The best way is pretty much the way you want to do it, but bagging and boarding seems to offer the most protection for the long-term collector with a long box or short box serving as the storage medium in a typical humidity free location.

Classic Comic Book Cover of the Week: Amazing Spider-Man 121 The Death of Gwen Stacy

Amazing Spider-Man #121

Let's be brutally honest, the value of a comic book is tied to a number of different factors. When all of those factors are present in a positive equation, the secondary, or collector's market, for that particular issue climb. If the factors are really positive, the price of the book climbs to astronomical levels. For this reason, number ones, first appearances, and important events are sought after in the collectible market.

When it comes to the Amazing Spider-Man series, few events are as important as the death of Gwen Stacy, which is an event that happens in Amazing Spider-Man Vol.1 #121. The cover of the book is one that beginning collectors will want to memorize, but it actually is a pretty great cover considering the demands of the day it was printed. 

According to Comic Book Realm, Amazing 121 has a basic value of around $700, but condition is key like it always is with key issues. The cover on display in this articles shows a number of flaws and lands this issue at the bottom of the quality scale. That being said, this particular one is a great reader issue because quite frankly who wants to open and read a $700 comic book? Of course, if said copy was slabbed that temptation would be removed anyway. Therein lies the rub of professional grading services (they are investments after all).

The death of Gwen Stacy helped shape the future of Spider-Man and had a big impact on what the wall-crawler would become. This is one of those issues that pretty much every Spidey collector is chasing at some point in their lives, which keeps the value higher than normal. The fact that it is pretty hard to come by in any condition only adds to the level of enchantment surrounding it. 

Is is a great wall book? Well, this is another great John Romita Sr. work that is simple and effective. In short, anyone stopping by can instantly recognize this as a pretty serious book for the serious collector. So let your geek show, find a reasonably priced copy and put this issue next to those other great covers, because comics should be appreciated and enjoyed. Above all else, have some fun with it.

Classic Comic Book Cover of the Week: Silver Surfer #45 Thanos & Mesphisto

Silver Surfer Vol. 3 #45

When it comes to comic book covers, the villains like to sneak in and steal the spotlight on occasion. While not a regular type of deal, because the heroes generally take center stage in their own books, sometimes the bad guys can have some seriously fun times when they jump to the front of the comic book. The Silver Surfer has some pretty powerful villains, which is necessary to balance out those terribly awesome powers of his. It does not take the power cosmic to find one of the coolest covers in the entire series.

The cover of Silver Surfer Volume 3 #45 features two of the most powerful bad guys in the entire Marvel Universe: Thanos and Mephisto along with the tag line "The Boys Are Back." The issue sets up one of the most legendary partnerships (and dangerous betrayals) in comic book history. This is one of my personal top ten covers of all time. The Ron Lim & Tom Christopher cover is simply epic in every sort of way, and the two characters look pretty much as bad ass as possible.

On the value side, Comic Book Realm lists this gem at $10, which makes it a solid investment. #44 is the first appearance of the Infinity Gauntlet and has climbed to the $50 level. After "The Thanos Quest" graphic novels, this story line is one of the most important leading up to the hugely popular original Infinity Gauntlet six-issue limited series.

If you are wondering about the volume 3 designation, don't be fooled. Volume 1 of Silver Surfer is a twenty issue Silver Age series that ran from 1968 to 1970, and Volume 2 consists of a single issue from 1982. This Copper Age (1984-1991 or even 1992) series runs 165 issues from 1987 to 1998, and is probably the best well-known of the entire run. A lot of good things happened for the Surfer in this series, and getting Ron Lim and company on board was probably one of the most important.

This book can still be found in the five dollar bins of comic book stores everywhere and can occasionally be found online for a nice deal as well. It is one of the coolest wall books out there, and really no collection is complete without some sort of villain presence. How can you go wrong with Thanos and Mephisto? (BTW Mephisto doesn't seem to make cover appearances a whole lot these days, hmmm)

Favorite Book of the Week: Paper Girls from Image

Paper Girls #1

The comic book genre has undergone some radical shifts over the years (okay, decades really). These days there is much more in stock at your local comic book dealer than the traditional slew of super heroes trying to stop crime.  There are literally a ton of options these days, and not just from the Big Two of Marvel and DC.

This week, I wanted to take a minute to highlight one of the more interesting series from Image not titled “The Walking Dead.” I want to talk a little about “Paper Girls.” With art from Matt Wilson and Cliff Chang and written by Brian K. Vaughan, this science fiction storyline has engaged a lot of readers, and with good reason.

Ironically, upon reading the first issue of the series I was surprised to learn that the girls in the story were actual paper girls, or that is to say girls that delivered newspapers. That’s right boys and girls, before this world wide web type of thing, kids actually made a few dollars delivering newspapers to just about every home in a neighborhood. Imagine that happening today! I suppose it’s just easier and cheaper to point and click, but I digress.

The hook of Paper Girls is that the characters are actually interesting and the story is pretty creative. In a lot of ways, without putting out any type of spoilers for the uninitiated, the book smashes separate genres together and blends out a nice smoothie of entertainment. Image has done a lot of different comics over the years, but this one stands out for the cool simple covers and the intricate science fiction type of story being told.

While number one might be a little hard to find, this is one series that has a ton of potential. Better yet, it’s just six issues in, which means there is ample chance to get in on the ground floor before a whole lot of story takes place. Better yet, the back issues and trades are pretty easy to get ahold of, which means if you like it, you won’t go broke or have to save up your paper money for a few months to afford a quality copy.

So take a quick bike ride with the Paper Girls. You might enjoy the trip, and you might even end up having a bit more fun than you thought would, which is exactly the point.

Comic Books You Need to Own: X-Force #2 the Second Deadpool

X-Force Vol. 1 #2 Second Deadpool

In the world of comic books, first appearances are pretty important. When a character like Deadpool bursts onto the scene, like he did in New Mutants #98, the values can be a little tricky in the early going. Of course, many collectors already know what happened with the value of a comic often referred to as simply 98.

The secondary price pretty much exploded upwards of $300, according to Comic Book Realm and my own personal experience.

While the first appearance is nothing to shake a stick at, there is another more easily and more affordable option for early Deadpool appearances. In X-Force #2 the Merc with the Mouth makes his second appearance. Since the movie and the boom of Deadpool appearances has pretty much gone off the deep end these days, finding a copy in decent condition sitting in the dollar bins has faded away. However, that chance is still there.

The fact is: All early Deadpool appearances are constantly moving forward. At Let You Geek Show a few of us would love to say that this is a fad and it's not going to last; however, a few of us feel much differently about that Spider-Man/Deathstroke hybrid (call him what you want but that's the fact of things). The second appearance can command prices in the five to ten dollar range. Slabbed with that CGC seal X-Force #2 can easily garner $60-$70 dollars (which is technically probably not worth the investment into the slab).

With the first appearance quickly and not so quietly leaving the price range of the average collector (not to mention the average teenager), a lot of eyes have been moving toward the second and still early appearance. Deadpool is on the cover, not particularly well represented being on his back and all, but an early DP is an early DP. The upside of this book is pretty positive. Will it climb to the $50 level anytime soon? Probably not, but it's a buy at $5 and probably even approaching $8 right now.

As the popularity of the character continues to climb and new hobbyists continue to start grabbing issues, X-Force #2 represents what every collector probably dreams of (most of them anyway)--a solid chance at a book that has a nice shot at climbing in value and demand.

Really, you can't ask for a whole lot more than that. With a popular character, you can't miss a shot at any second appearance because they can heat up on a moment's notice.

Classic Comic Book Cover of the Week: Amazing Spider-Man #55

There are legendary comic book covers and there is Amazing Spider-Man #55. The ultra-cool cover drawn by legendary artists John Romita Sr. features Doctor Octopus reflecting dual Spider-Man images (being attacked with those mechanical arms) is one of the most popular affordable early versions of the ASM lineup.

The 12-cent cover price is amplified by the long ago print date of December 1967, and Comic Book Realm lists available copies in the $300 range. Of course, these can usually be picked up with a lower grade for under $30, which is a steal for any sub-100 ASM. This is one of those covers that just looks great on the wall.

From an investment upside potential, there really isn't much here. Amazing Spider-Man #55 is the third part of the Doc Ock Wins! storyline (it's even right there on the cover) written by some guy named Stan Lee. However, it lacks any real significance with regards to first appearances, majestic revelations, or traumatic events.

From that standpoint, the only real thing this comic has working for it is the awesome cover and it's relatively low print run (likely under 80,000 copies at the time) and modern day scarcity. So follow that up after nearly fifty years of life, and there are probably just not too many of these running around. John Romita Sr. has a certain amount of appeal to fans of all ages, which makes it a really cool hard to find collectors issue.

All things considered, this is a cover that sticks with you thanks to the expression on Doc Ock's face and the great reflection idea. Long before the villain managed to land inside the head of Peter Parker in the Superior Spider-Man series, he was a mainstay of the classic ASM series. This is one comic that fits the ideal of a classic in just about every imaginable way.

New Dimension Comics Celebrating 30 Years In Style

When you think of three decades in existence, there are a lot of possibilities. Thirty years is a long time. Take that from a comic book store perspective, and the chances of accumulating a lot of stuff is even more possible. New Dimension Comics is celebrating its 30-year anniversary in serious style by offering up a sale of epic proportions.

On June 18, for one day only, the massive one dollar section of the Ellwood City store and every other store that packs in one dollar issues will be offering those comics for just 30-cents. While the basement will not be open during this sale, the chances of scoring some pretty great issues at three for a dollar is pretty incredible.

Better yet, just about everything in the store will be 30-percent off (some restrictions will apply, obviously). That's an amazing chance to get your dollars to go farther on those comics you've been chasing for years. How cool is that?

While the dollar side of the Ellwood City store regularly undergoes a serious search and rescue for lost valuable back issues, there are still some diamonds hidden in the rough. Yes, patience is of the essence, and the chances of really striking a smile on a great deal is very very real.

So if you are out and about in the Ellwood City area, or Pittsburgh Mills, or Century 3 Mall, or Ohio Valley Mall, or Butler Mall, or Cranberry (that's right count 'em six different stores peppering the Pittsburgh region), you are going to want to stop into New Dimension Comics and see just what might be available at a real favorable price. Plus, many locations will have free cake as way of celebrating thirty years of comic book business.

If you stop into the Ellwood store that day, maybe grab a cup of coffee from the staff frequented National Grind coffee shop and see if you can find me, I'll be upstairs that evening for a few hours helping everyone find their favorite issues. Believe me, you won't want to miss this sale!

Three Great Geeky Videos That Will Make You Laugh

There are several aspects of geek culture that can be a challenge for anyone, but laughing and having a good time is surely not one of them. What's better than a good spoof? A good performance? Or seeing some pretty popular characters in unfamiliar circumstances? That's right, not a whole lot.

In response to last weeks video selection, which featured a number of interesting videos, we went looking for folks that were not afraid to let their geek show and find their favorite YouTube clips. We found quite a few good ones that really embraced what we are all about.

One of the biggest hits of the week involves a spoof on the popular "Undercover Boss" series and Saturday Night Live. In the short video, Kylo Ren goes in disguise to find out what is actually going on at Starkiller Base when he is not looking. The results are pretty hilarious.

Secondly, comes a quick stop with Seth Meyers and Jon Snow. Bringing Lord Snow to a dinner party in the real world has some pretty hilarious consequences. You have to admire the genius of bringing a fictional character to life and putting them into a real life situation, it's simply great and perfectly done.

Lastly, the world of Harry Potter comes to life in a pretty unpredictable way. Everybody likely already knows that any appearance on Jimmy Fallon's show can lead to some crazy things, and when Daniel Radcliffe stops by and talks about how he loves complicated lyrics that move quickly the conversation quickly turns to "Alphabet Aerobics." Take a look:

In the end, these videos represent some of the finest examples of real life stars showcasing their talents. At their purest though, the videos put what this site is all about in your face up close and personal. After all, if you are not having fun, what's the point of the whole situation? There just isn't an excuse to not have a little fun.

DC Comics Riding a Wave of Rebirth Success

To say it has been a busy week for DC Comics would be something of a pretty serious understatement. One half of the big two has experienced a flurry of activity in book stores and comic book shops across the country. Everyone seems to want to get in on the trend of a newer universe that is bringing a number of interesting events to light, new storylines reveled, and new characters introduced. Hey, you can’t blame collectors and fans alike for jumping all over it.

DC Universe Rebirth has been a pretty serious success. Batman Rebirth sold out in pretty much record time, the return of the originalnumbering in Detective Comics and Action Comics has sold out. So has Green Arrow Rebirth, Wonder Woman Rebirth, Flash Rebirth, and every other Rebirth related title. In short, the stuff is smoking hot. If DC manages to carry that momentum forward, these issues will be sought after for years to come.

Does that mean all of the Rebirth stuff is a safe and sound investment? Hold on there speculators, let’s take a deeper look. The first printing of the New 52 #1’s are pretty desirable, but there is only serious value (read: over $50 retail) in a few of the books. That being said, the other books are pretty much about twice cover price. That’s pretty good, but still nothing to really jump all over with both feet. After all, on the secondary market a copy of New 52 Justice League #1 manages only about $5-7 actual confirmed sale price.

So while Rebirth is hot right now, the long-term ramifications will take a year or more to play out. Personally, the Flash Rebirth and the introduction of Godspeed will probably have legs, Batman is always a safe investment, and Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, and Aquaman tend to fluctuate in price (if they move at all long-term). Most of the team at Let Your Geek Show is in hoarding mode with Rebirth, but a few of us are in unload mode—Get them, Read Them, and Get Rid of Them, as fast as possible while the iron is hot. So we can not even decide what to do.

In the end, with Batman #1 and Superman #1 set to drop next week, it merits a second glance or two on those one-shot Rebirth issues. The #1 and the original numbering pick up are probably the best investments for speculators and investors. Provided DC Comics does not implode or ret-con the whole thing, which is always a chance. Who knows how this is going to shape up, but either way, it is a lot of fun watching the trends develop and the curves turn into spikes.

Comic Books You Need to Own: Iron Man #282 First Appearance of War Machine

Iron Man 282

There are thousands upon thousands of comic books published each and every year, which makes finding the ones that are going to be valuable a little tricky. First appearances are almost always a good investment for collectors of any age. This week in the Comic Books You Need to Own segment, we are highlighting what has become a must-have for any collection—the first appearance of War Machine.

While James Rhodes (the man inside the armor) would make his comic book debut in Iron Man #118, which is a book that approaches the $50-60 level, according to Comic Book Realm, he wouldn’t don the War Machine armor until Iron Man #281 (maybe a ten dollar book, but a better buy at $5). Of course, the first full appearance of War Machine is in Iron Man #282, which can fetch around $35 to the right buyer.  In CGC cases, the value can be well over $100.

Of course, Iron Man and Marvel geeks like us also know that Rhodes puts on the Iron Man armor in #170, which is also a ten dollar book. Basically, there is a lot going on with appearances relating to Rhodes. Still, most fans are after the slick cover of #282 that features War Machine in all his grandeur.

Marvel for some reason has a lot of characters that make cameos in issues before their actual debut. Wolverine does it, Cable does it, War Machine does it, and the list goes on and on. It’s interesting because while the cameos draw a little bit of attention, I don’t remember the last time anyone came in looking for a New Mutants #86. They are always after #87 (the first Cable for those that are just starting out in the hobby).

Oh, and if you are a Rhodes completer, you might want to add Gambit #13, which is the first time Rhodes  is seen in the Iron Patriot armor. Hey, if you are going to get ‘em, get ‘em all. Basically, for around a $100 you can pick up pretty much every one of the issues. The one with the most upside is probably #282, just because it has some room to grow. Of course, that stipulation only stays valid if War Machine continues to make regular appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. More fans equal more people chasing the same book, which drives the price. It’s a commodity man, and those are the rules.

That being said, Iron Man #282 does not pop up on the Hot List of many comic book sellers, and many folks that were buying Iron Man in the early 1980s gave this book a pass. In error lies opportunity, because there is always a chance of finding this gem in the dollar section. Still, this is a comic book you need to own at some point.

DC Original Numbering Returns to Action Comics and Detective Comics

Image Courtesy of Previews World

It’s a new week in the world of comic books. That means all of us geeks will be making a pilgrimage to the local comic book shop to pick up whatever new issues are heading our way. This is a big week in comic book world, especially for fans of DC Comics, because there are a number of new books with old ties heading our way.

The big news this week is the return of the original numbering to Action Comics and Detective Comics. That’s right, the Superman and Batman books are bound and determined to reach the 1000 issue mark, which is pretty impressive for any comic book. Given these will be twice a month books, it's not going to take long for either book to crack the fourth digit.

Action Comics #957 kicks in with a regular cover and a Ryan Sook variant cover, and Detective Comics #934 comes back with a regular cover and a variant by Rafael Albuquerque. In addition, Flash Rebirth, Aquaman Rebirth, and Wonder Woman Rebirth are all set to hit the shelves as well. As far as must buys go, the Rebirth one-shots might be interesting down the line, but Detective 934 and Action 957 are probably going to be as hot as a book can get these days (at least from the Big Two). If have not reserved your copies, take the time to write an email because these two in particular are going to fly off shelves faster than a speeding bullet.

Over at Marvel, Civil War II starts to hit full stride with a few more tie-in issues heading out. GI JOE, Godzilla, and even Henchgirl are all set to pop onto the radar of fans and collectors this week as well. Should be a pretty big week of reading and debating going on, who knows how crazy things will get?

So far Rebirth has been a huge hit for DC, especially Batman Rebirth, with just about everything carrying the banner selling out like crazy. With second and third printings on the way for several of those issues, it’s going to be interesting to see exactly how things go down. All we can offer up is a simple and straight forward—stay tuned.

Paramount Sees Green When New TMNT Comes Out of the Shadows

The summer box office season is one of the hottest times of the year. Explosions, giant robots, alien invasions, and a whole lot of super heroes are always on the radar of multiplexes everywhere. That means a heap of competition for the top spot, and over the past weekend (ending June 5) the battle ended up not being much of a fight at all. Ninjas trump X-Men after all.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows took in a reported $35 million compared to the $22 million X-Men: Apocalypse managed to take off of movie goers. Of course, with all that money and numbers floating around, there are a few points that need to be made.

The original reboot of TMNT grossed nearly $66 million in its opening weekend, and the third of the rebooted X-Men movies has fallen off nearly 70 percent from its opening weekend. Those are pretty steep declines, but there is still a long way to go in this summer season.

The superhero genre has managed to hang on for a long time, and even though grosses are sliding down for a few properties, the massive amount of cash that has flown into coffers is an encouraging sign. Since things seem to be shifting toward the gritty end of the pool (get it “pool” for Deadpool!), the genre might be experiencing a bit of a growth period.

With a few more key releases set to take place, like Suicide Squad and Dr. Strange, this year could end as encouraging as it started. All of that aside, as long as there is money to be made, superheroes will still be popping up on the big screen and the small screen. Of course, the lesser knowns are making a pretty good showing these days as well. Preacher has been a win, and Outcast is looking good.

What else can you say? It’s a great time to let your geek show. So don’t hold back.

Are Variant Covers Worth Investing In?

Spider-Man 1990 #1

It's a question that has been on every comic book collector's mind for years, and it still is as complicated to answer as any query in existence: Are variant comic book covers worth investing in?

Variant covers have been around a lot longer than many folks realize. There are several early Marvel printings and releases with 35-cent cover price variants, and everyone remembers the variant filled early 1990s of Spider-Man #1 and X-Men #1. Plus, don't forget the different cards inserted into every X-Force #1 (those bagged copies everyone loves).

X-Force Vol. 1 #1

That being said, variants are more prevalent today than they every were in the past. One pretty clear line that can be drawn comes from the sports card industry and insert cards. Seeding one in twenty five, one in one hundred, or even one in one thousand packs, those special cards draw the attention of collectors pretty quickly and the chase is on. The limited supply causes a shortage that drives prices up because demand is so high, especially for hot players.

The line gets drawn to comic books for the same reasons. Hot characters can really drive variant prices through the roof for a short period of time. However, comic books are a commodity, and prices vary~often wildly. Those one in twenty-five covers can be tough to find, those convention variants can be difficult to get, and those one in one hundred covers can be downright impossible. However, are they worth buying?

The short answer is probably a big "NO" for comic book flippers and speculators. Variants almost (note the use of the all-powerful "almost") never hold their value long-term. The market is finicky and because new comics are released every week, collectors simply can not afford (both in attention and money) to chase every variant that gets released. This creates a glut of variant inventory that has a chance to appeal beyond cover price, but often not the value paid. Basically, variants are hot for a week or so, and then they drop off fifty percent (or more) in secondary market value. Yes, the book price can remain high, simply because of dollars invested, but finding a buyer at that price is often an exercise in futility.

Secret Wars #1 Skottie Young Var

The other answer is a big fat "YES," variants are worth every penny if you want them or like them. You should collect what you like--that's really the bottom line. If a snazzy variant cover catches your eye, you should pick it up. The other aspect is that a variant cover with a key appearance, reveal, or event will likely hold value for the long-term and grow at a faster clip. However, the same rules apply to the general comic book world in general. Not every book is a Hulk #181, it's just a simple fact of life.

Take a look at the Grim Fairy Tales Jessica Nigri Cover from Phoenix Comic-Con, it has done wonders on the secondary market. Other variants, like the Skottie Young covers are legendary, but tend to cool off after a few weeks.

The answer is that there is really no clear indicator in the short term over the regular cover versus the variant. I think DC Comics does a great job of offering up two covers (or more) for the same cover price and lets collectors decide which one gets chased and which one simply hangs around.

If the book is going to be a wall book that looks great on your Deadpool shelf and you can afford it, why not spend $50 on it? If you are buying a $75 variant to flip in a month, you are likely going to find yourself disappointed or waiting a long time. It's the nature of the hobby, and it's as simple as that.

A Few Great Videos to Let Your Geek Show

One of the biggest tasks associated with being a person is getting some down time. Luckily the Internet is loaded with distractions. What may or may not be a weekly kind of thing here is a collection of videos that feature a geeky kind of theme. Anything is fair game in this post, as long as it’s fun and at least semi-nerd related.

On that note, first up is a dubsmash of “You Give Love a Bad Name.” What’s not to love about cosplayers having a good time? The respect I have for the cosplay community is not really a secret. Sure, like many folks, I enjoy the sexiness of seeing scantily clad characters brought to life. However, I can be equally impressed by someone that puts on a store-bought costume and is just not afraid to be nerdy and fun. I mean, if you’re not having fun what is the point. These folks are clearly not afraid to let their geek show.

On the topic of cosplay is a favorite guy of mine, D Piddy, who brings everyone’s favorite Merc with a Mouth to life. His Deadpool VS. features on YouTube are well-put together and a lot of fun to watch. He lets his geek show and manages to get a bunch of other folks in on the action. This is a person that truly gets what having fun is all about. Oh, and keep an eye on the video, you might recognize some familiar faces.

The MOMOCON 2015 Celebration video is another example of cosplayers and fans letting their inner geeks out for the world to see. There are some great costumes in this video and more than a few “characters.” Kudos for everyone having a great time.

Oh, and here’s my obligatory plug of “Suicide Squad,” because I think it’s actually going to be one of the better superhero films of the year. At least, I hope it is:

Finally, up on the list is a short video from DC Entertainment that gives a few details on the Batman Rebirth one-shot, and it should provide enough action for and information for anyone on the fence. Oh, there are spoilers here (at least mild ones) so if  you have not read it yet, you might want to steer clear of it.

DC Batman Rebirth Heading to Second Printing Wonderland

DC Comics is really ripping up the comic book inventory so far this summer. Rebirth is THE hot topic of conversation and THE hot comic books that every fan needs to be picking up. The $2.99 cover price is not really hurting things, but of course it remains to be seen just how loved and iconic these issues can get. Remember, we try not to spoil things here at Let Your Geek Show, so read on without a whole lot of fear.

So far we have been unable to nail down the print run for Batman: Rebirth, which is pretty typical of new release comics. It seems pretty reasonable to think that comic book stores and booksellers were a little gun shy of the DC reboot/rehash or whatever  you want to call it, which trigger lesser than massive sale quantities. A lot of stores are already sold out of Batman Rebirth, Superman Rebirth, and the regular old Rebirth #1 (which debuted last week).

Bleeding Cool has revealed that Rebirth #1 will get going in for a third printing with yet another variant cover priced at $5.99, which could be worth picking up from a value sake. Usually the print runs get small the deeper companies head into runs. However, the big news is that Batman Rebirth, Superman Rebirth, Green Arrow Rebirth, and Green Lanterns Rebirth are all going in for second printings.

With Batman Rebirth being today's focus, there is a reveal in the pages you can read about here if you want to be spoiled, that could drive the price higher. Already though, online sales are heading towards $8 for this book that was $2.99 on the shelf. The variant in particular is drawing eyes and dollars from eager buyers.

The sum of the equation is pretty simple though: An interesting reveal plus what might be a limited print run (it will be at least two weeks until concrete sales data is released) equals a rack price book that you need to pick up. It's really that simple, a three dollar investment in Batman Rebirth #1 First Printing just can't be ignored.

Does the book have serious potential? I'm afraid the answer is yes. Take a look at what the New 52 #1's featuring Batman have done, and you realize what you should be doing. On a scale of one to Jessica Nigri, this book arrives at an eight. Head out to the comic shop and hope you can find one still priced at cover. You'll be glad you did.

Classic Comic Cover of the Week: Grimm Fair Tales Phoenix Comic Con Jessica Nigri Variant

Anyone that has had to sort any sized collection of modern comics has likely encountered the main series and sub series headaches that come along with Grimm Fairy Tales. Of all the alphabetical pains that any title can bring, GFT really brings the heat.

Brought to life by Zenescope Entertainment, Grimm Fairy Tales has some of the most compelling and oversexualized covers in the existence of the comic book world. That being said, many of the limited editions and variants are constantly drawing higher prices. Collectors love them, but one that stands out because of affordability and style is the Phoenix Comic Con Oversized Cosplay Edition featuring Jessica Nigri on the cover. It's okay fanboys and fangirls, you can sigh (for whatever reason).

This book consistently draws interest with signed versions from the cosplay queen drawing huge sums. I've even seen a few that the collectors have had her kiss, which is interesting, but since signed books are not really my thing, I draw the line at the kissing of my treasured collections. Like I said, if you're into it and you can afford it, go for it.

Comic book fans seem to be split over cosplay. I'm in the camp that really enjoys the likenesses and costumes these men and women put into their outfits. Whether they are going for sexy, realism, genderbent, flair, or anything else, nothing let's your geek show like pulling on a super hero costume or some other fantasy outfit. Not going to lie, because it's painfully obvious, most female comic book characters flaunt a fair amount of skin, and just about every cosplayer I've seen demonstrates a level of comfort with their body that oozes confidence. I adore confidence, which means to say I have nothing but respect for the cosplay community.

Anyway back to the cover. With Jessica Nigri bringing a pretty interesting take on Little Red Riding Hood, this variant of the Oversized Cosplay Edition is actually pretty hard to find. Once you toss in condition controls, it was after all handled at a con, and other concerns, finding one for under ten bucks is huge, but finding one for under twenty is awesome.

The interesting part is that this book is popular for strictly the cover. Nothing tremendous happens in the pages. The value comes from Jessica on the cover and the scarcity of the convention variant. That being said, long-term value is likely plateaued. While CGC slabbed copies can approach $200, a lot of that value comes from the grading process. Yes, signed copies are worth more and kissed copies seem to generate some serious attention, but this one won't approach Amazing Spider-Man #300 anytime soon. Still it's a great wall book to have.

Some of the larger stores that regularly attend the convention scene have these at reasonable prices, but they are nothing short of hard to find. Toss in the celebrity (like it or not the woman has made a business out of being a cosplayer~again respect) of Nigri, and this comic is pretty much akin to chasing Bigfoot through the Pacific Northwest. If nothing else, the cover is pretty easy on the eyes.