Classic Comic Book Cover of the Week: Amazing Spider-Man #583 with Barack Obama

Amazing Spider-Man #583 second printing

After nearly three decades of collecting comic books, I’m still a sucker for a cool cover. Some covers have made more of an impact than others, with a few even managing to be iconic. There is little doubt that the cover exists to get the book off the rack and into the hands of the buyer. In highlighting great covers of the years, it’s pretty easy to get caught up in a lot of different hoopla and fads.

So this week, a book that hasn’t been out for years garnered my attention, mostly because of the upcoming presidential inauguration but more because the outgoing president is right on the cover. Amazing Spider-Man #583 has the recognition of having Barack Obama on the cover, and there are few people that were not swept up in the Obama-mania of the president.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the issue sold morethan 350,000 copies, which is about five times the normal rate of ASM during that time frame. The funny part is the Obama cover is a variant cover, and the actual cover of the issue is significantly lesser known. Hey, even Wall Crawlers need a little help sometimes. Of the five printings (all with different backgrounds and graphics) of the book (that’s five printings of the variant cover), the first printing is the most valuable fetching a $60 price tag according to Comic Book Realm, but there is some value throughout the different issues. Plus there is the added question of "how many of these survive in good condition?".

This book is less about the story and continuity of Amazing Spider-Man, Obama does not just appear on the cover. The story involves the Chameleon taking on the form of the soon-to-be president only to be foiled by Peter Parker’s alter ego. Amazing Spider-Man #583 is more about being the first time a president appears on a comic book cover and in a comic book. That kind of Americana is tough to come by in any industry.

The cover itself has the potential to be iconic and the fact that it has held a $60 tag for years is testament to the power of celebrity, even a political one. Is this a comic that everyone needs to own? Probably not, but the cool tie in from actual events and historical relevance make it one of the cooler covers from the 2000’s era.

That, and just about anyone that sees it will be asking about it. That makes it a great wall book for any collector.

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.

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.