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.

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.

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.

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.