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: 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.

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.

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.