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.

Frostbite Review: A Story Worth Reading

Frostbite #1

Of all the comic books that have been in the reading stack over the past few months, I was probably intrigued by Frostbite a little more than most. It’s a Vertigo title, and that label carries with it the Hellblazer and Swamp Thing cred that I have come to adore.

If you’ve seen Frostbite on your local comic book store shelves, then you already know the details. The story is by Joshua Williamson with art by Jason Shawn Alexander, and the duo is presenting some pretty riveting things in this series.

Frostbite #2

Basically, the earth has entered another ice age, and a mysterious disease called (you guessed it, frostbite) freezes people from the inside out. There was no cure, until a doctor and his daughter found one. You get where this is going, because it’s a storyline that a lot of us have seen before in comics, books, movies, and much more. The two need to get the cure to a location and hire a team of professionals to get them there. Unfortunately, (and a bit cliché) there is a big bad hunting down the doctor and his daughter. So out to the frozen tundra they go, being pursued on all sides by adversaries. Not exactly what anyone would call a good time, unless of course you’re simply reading the book.

The thing that puts Frostbite on the next level is the depth of Williamson’s story. There are heat booths, which emphasizes the mini-economy that has popped up around something we all take for granted—simply being warmed. There are breakouts of society, Jack Frosts, Snow Queens, Firemen, and much more that have taken root to find a new way of life. That depth is what helps sell, what is probably a pretty much well-trodden dystopian tale. The frozen world is a bit unique, but in a lot of ways the books is Mad Max in Antarctica with a bunch of crazy people running around.

Still, the art from Alexander is something that is pretty interesting all along the way. The characters take on lives of their own, which is really the point of a good comic book. When the writing and art combines effortlessly, the result can be something borderline poetic. Does Frostbite succeed? Well, it’s too early to tell only three issues in, but the early returns look promising.

Frostbite #3

Williamson manages to draw readers in by giving them a stake in the characters. Unlike the superhero books stacked up in reading piles across the world, the independent world is loaded with characters WITHOUT fifty years of canon backing them up. Simply caring about what is happening to these characters is a challenge many books aspire to, but simply fall short.

It’s not a knock, just a note on the state of the industry. It’s easy to care about Batman and Spider-Man, because they’ve been a part of your life for decades, Keaton (one of the main characters on the contracted transport crew in Frostbite) has earn years of respect in a few short pages or the book stays on the shelf never to be opened.

Without giving too much away, because I hate spoilers and the corresponding alerts, the story moves fast in issue number one and only accelerates from there, and that is exactly how a comic book should read. Put the action into the pages and let the narrative develop, this exceeds my Vertigo anticipation.

So by all means, give Frostbite a chance if you’ve liked the Mad Max worlds, Highlander stories, or even some of the Star Wars stuff. The world isn’t as well-developed as those, but it holds all sorts of potential and possibility. From an investment standpoint, Frostbite is probably a buy and hold. Without a major movie or TV series, it’s going to be limited in appeal based on the darker story and strong imagery. That alone should grant it some collectability, but in the end, this a story that I’m going to see through to the end. And the eventual sequels that is.

Classic Comic Book Cover of the Week: Star Wars #42 First Boba Fett

Star Wars Vol. 1 #42

A few years ago you could walk into just about any comic book shop and pick a bunch of the original Marvel Star Wars comic book run. Then, something tremendous happened, a new movie came out. A new comic series was released, and then another, and then another. Then another movie came out, and now another movie is due to come out. See the trend.

Star Wars is one of those entertainment properties that spans genres. Just about every type of memorabilia or collectible you could shake a stick at has some type of value. As far as comics book go the popularity of the original 1977 Marvel Comics series is pretty much unparalleled throughout all of the Star Wars books.

A few of the issues have experienced a tremendous uptick in price and demand, and one of those issues in particular is the first appearance of Boba Fett in Star Wars Vol. 1 #42. Granted, it’s not the first appearance of the famous bounty hunter, because he made his debut in “The Empire Strikes Back” in May of 1980 (that would be a movie ladies and gents) and wouldn’t grace the comic book world until December of that year. Still this issue has climbed into the $100 club, according to Comic Book Realm. Toss in a CGC grade and prices go further north from there.

With cover art by Carlos Garzon, the issue has become a hotly traded commodity among collectors. The white background is especially prone to yellowing and general discoloration issues, which makes higher grade copies very scarce. A quick look at the CGC population report reveals 737 versions in the 9.0 to 9.6 range, but only 167 in the 9.8 grade and there is even one with a ridiculous 9.9.  What that really means is there are a little over 900 copies of this book graded out at VF/NM. That’s actually pretty impressive. Please note that those totals include signed copies that have been slabbed with the yellow "Signature Series" plate.

The popularity of Boba Fett helps sell this book, because he is after all on the cover. The interest in bounty hunter with few actual lines in the movies has soared to heights for a lot of different reasons, and this is as close as collectors can get to one of the first real limited release collectibles of the character. There’s that equation again of popularity versus limited supply, which equals a higher price.

In the end though, it’s a cool cover that can have major condition issues, which is one reason why discerning collectors might be able to argue down a price or avoid a purchase altogether. That background and the white pages are key to solid investment grade book, anything else loses that 9.0 possibility for the most part.

The 1977 Star Wars Volume 1 is set to heat up the charts for years to come. In you or anyone you know is a fan of the Fett you should probably check this book out.

Second Printings and Reprints: Whats the Difference?

One of the more common questions to come up with new collectors, speculators, or buyers in the comic book collecting world is the subject of second prints. When a book sells in high velocity with relation to its anticipated print run, the publisher inevitably orders up a second printing. So the question arises: Are second printings worth buying?

The Difference Between Reprint and Second Printing

The Flash New 52 #1 Second Printing

In a world where terminology is pretty much everything, reprint and second prints can get a bit
confusing. The basic difference is that second printings, third printings, and even in some cases fourth printings are released in rapid succession of the first printing. Plus, the issue is nearly identical to the first printing. That "nearly" is important, because there are usually notations in the UPC code, the color of the book, or some other inkling to let buyers and collectors easily identify the comic as a second print or beyond.

Action Comics #1 50th Anniversary Reprint

Reprints can be printed at a much later, sometimes years later, date. For example, the Marvel Milestones collection is a reprint of some of the most key issues in Marvel Comics history. While still ranging in value from twice cover price to the $15 range, the Milestone issues with those awfully sensitive gray borders BTW, are worth a fraction of the actual issue being mirrored. The same can be said for Action Comics #1 which has seen a few different printings over the years, which is important because not a lot of collectors can plunk down thousands (and yes sometimes millions) of dollars for a comic.

So Really What’s the Deal?

Like all things in the comic book collecting world, the value of second printings is something of a crap shoot. In most cases, the second printing is not nearly as valuable as the first printing. However, like every other industry, there are exceptions to this rule where the second printing (or any additional printings) can dwarf the first printing in value simply because of scarcity.

One example in particular is Gotham City Sirens #1, where the second printing is worth about $10 more, according to Comic Book Realm, and another example, and one of the most sought after examples, is Superman: Man of Steel #18 (the first full appearance of Doomsday) where the fourth printing is way more valuable than even the first.

That’s the Opposite of What I Thought Though?

Hold on there buddy, and cool off those jets so to speak. Just because there are exceptions to the rule does not in any way mean that exception applies to all second printings and beyond. The vast majority of second printings hold a fraction of the value of first printings, especially on books with large print runs. The downside is that it’s really too late when the second printing arrives to know if speculators and hoarders have driven the price of an issue out of the stratosphere or if the book is really valuable. There’s always a catch after all.

The thing is, the number of copies (aka the print run) of the second printing can be a serious factor in driving up the price of a second print, or a third print, or beyond. It's all about the scarcity factor and demand for that particular issue.

So the final word is pretty much the only word-- Buy what you like and buy what you can afford. Collect what you like, and let your geek show on your own terms. The secondary market always sorts itself out after a while, and that can take weeks or even years. Second printings and reprints are great ways to experience some great stories without investing a ton of cash--usually.

A Look Ahead at 2017: Five Comic Books with Impressive Upsides in the Coming Year

New Warriors #1 (first printing)

Looking ahead is always a difficult task. Nobody really knows what will happen. Those words ring pretty much true regardless of which industry anyone is talking about. The comic book world and the world of investing in those ultra-cool colorful pieces of awesomeness is really no different. After all, if anyone had a crystal ball, those would be the chosen few knowing far in advance what books were going to be hot.

The coming year holds A LOT of comic book movies and television shows, and a whole lot of promise. Pop culture has an enormous impact on the comic books world, because popularity drives demand, which turn drives price. Scarcity matters too, but in the end, it’s all about what people want. The big books will always be hot, those comic book gold mines, but with the year just beginning to unfold, here are five issues you will want to keep your eyes out for at your local comic shop.

New Warriors #1

What? Really? Yep, with a television show from ABC in the works (an animated comedy it looks like), the upside to this already difficult to find 1990 series is actually pretty positive. There are even two printings to chase to make it a little more attainable, but either one is a buy rated title at the $5 and under level.

DMZ #1

Yep, another title with a television show in the works. DMZ #1 currently sits with a $4 value on Comic Book Realm, but that value could change drastically with the fortunes of the series. In any case, with suck a low purchase price the upside of finding it in dollar bins is increased, which means the chances of it vanishing quickly and reappearing with ten dollar plus tag is extremely likely.

The Question #17

With another cryptic television show announcement, DC has ignited the collecting world on fire. The Watchmen has already gained some pretty serious traction thanks to some interesting rebirth tie-ins, but The Question #17 features the first inclusion of Rorschach into the mainstream DC Universe. Already a $15 book, look for interest and prices to climb as the year and Rebirth storylines continue to heat up.

Uncanny X-Men#267

First appearances are always a hot commodity, and Uncanny #266 is already a high priced book thanks to the first appearance of Gambit. The second appearance of Gambit occurs one issue later in #267 (this all goes against the whole annual first artwork of Gambit BTW). This particular issue has a great chance of getting boosted to the $15 or $25 level with the inclusion of the character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie centered around the character could really bump up the value, and it probably will.

Anything with X-23 in the Title

X-23 will be in the new Wolverine movie, and the early trailer received some pretty good reviews, which means may collectors are jumping all over X-23 books. It simply does not matter which ones these days, because everything with the character is seeing a boost. Since she was already featured in one, two, what is it now? Three or four video games?, X-23 is moving closer to Deadpool status by selling simply with an appearance. If you see any of these priced sub-five bucks, pick them up, you’ll likely not get a chance again at that price point.

So again, 2017 looks like another year where pop culture will influence the price of comic books. It’s not a real surprise since popularity is tied directly to price, but with so many great comics being printed each and every month, taking a few minutes to look at what your LCBS has priced in the dollar bin or below can really make a staggering impact on your collection. These can be some of the best books with regards to turn around or flip value.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

Don't Miss Out on the Million Comics Madness Sale at New Dimension Comics Ellwood City

Comic book shops are one of the little pleasures of life. What’s better than heading into a local comic store and sharing a conversation with a group of like-minded people? Oh, that’s actually an easy question to answer. What’s better? How about a sale, a huge sale that involves about a million comic books. Even better would be to offer all of those great books for the low price of one dollar each. Now that would be even better yet.

Don’t worry if your geek is showing right now, because it’s about to. For one day one, Saturday June 4th, 2016 from 10am to 7pm New Dimension Comics in Ellwood City will be opening all of its warehouses and offering its wares for the low price of one dollar each. This is not a drill, this is reality, and it is a huge win for collectors in the Pittsburgh area looking to score some great deals on some great back issues.

Of course, the Basement at the Ellwood City store is pretty legendary. Since I work at the store, I can attest there are A LOT of comics in order ready to fill those boxes. Better yet, the dollar side on the upstairs features a host of back issues in order as well. The old store a few doors down will be open and the VFW will also be open ready to cater to your dollar book dreams. That’s right, this is the Million Comic Book Sale, and everything is just one dollar.

The biggest question I get is “Yeah, that’s great, but is there anything good buried in those one dollar boxes waiting to be found?” That’s fair, after all digging through long box after long box of unsorted books can be tough on anyone. I can attest to finding Iron Man #282 (the first War Machine) in the VFW and putting back and not being able to find it again. New Mutants #14 and #18 are upstairs in the current store somewhere, along with more than a few variants a lot of folks would love. There’s also a Ratchet & Clank #1 floating around along with more than one Silver Age gem buried. The point is, there are several finds waiting to be had.

Yep, all those hot books are lying around waiting to be found eager to go home with you at the one dollar mark. The Basement is pretty legendary in its own right, because if it’s not down there, it’s not anywhere. Trust me, I’ve been all over this country of ours, and Todd has done a tremendous job of building what is probably the biggest and best collection of back issues anywhere.

Sure I’m biased because I work at New Dimension Comics, but this is one sale that you simply have to make time to attend. It’s all happening at the Ellwood City store this Saturday. I won’t be there, but every other member of the staff will be ready to help you out. Remember, first come first serve.