RE: Thoughts on Collecting Comics in 2019
Few comics are worth their cover price. Fewer still are worth their listed value. I prefer to never pay retail unless it's a shop I like, or I really want to get something and I'm there. If I'm filling out my collection, I prefer to patiently fill it, preferably with buys of lots, so I don't have to hunt down singular issues, even if it means I have more than one of a few issues. That just means that I have one nicer one, and one reader copy.
But I don't tend to collect many new comics, unless it's something that I just so happen to discover that I really like. As I said, I don't like retail price. But even those can be gotten a bit less expensive if you're patient.
Maybe you could spreadsheet your buys to keep your spending on track and remind yourself when you overpay.
Another spreadsheet? I like how you think!
The problem I'm attempting to sort through is finding that right mix of reading issues I'm interested in to get that "brain spark", while also finding some value for a long term collection. It's a tough mix to manage, but I think I'm getting to some type of style.
I'm curious if the new metric turns out too. I managed to grab three Harley Quinn 57's at cover price at my LCS, and see it is still selling @ $25-30USD on eBay. I haven't sold any of my copies, but I'm curious to test the hypothesis regarding short term online sellouts vs short term/long term value.
Out of curiosity, do you have anything you are reading of late that you'd recommend? Thanks again for reading this and dropping a line.
If you want something that's gonna actually be worth something, collect something no one thinks will be worth anything. :P
I'm not sure I would want to hold on to multiple copies of a book that might be experiencing a short term surge in price. But, then again, I have a few books that were going for close to $100 last time I looked and I don't even remember which ones they are for sure. I'm pretty sure I got them for like a buck or something though. I think one of them was my one gold cover comic... Whatever.
Haven't really discovered any new stories for a bit. Mainly just filling out collections, so I haven't even been reading much. Will once I finish filling out a story.
well, I'm still collecting Litecoins, so I hope you are right!
My thought was if I get three issues of a sold out comic, I could a) save one, b) slab one and save, and c) sell one raw (or slabbed if prices were in a good spot down the road). Seems like a lot of work though, so that might be my one and done exercise.
I'm not sure if I really believe in comics as an investment anymore. Many people collect, then eventually they just unload everything, or a family member does. Often people get comics that are supposedly worth a lot for a lot less. Sometimes pennies on the dollar. They're better if you just enjoy them, but take care of them, just in case. Getting them for a kid as something you can pass on might be a good option though, because they probably won't be worth something substantial until 50 years later, if ever really. I have comics from the 70's that are still only worth a few dollars at most. That's 50 years ago.
But, if I did get a comic that I seriously thought was going to be worth something some day, I might consider getting it slabbed. Though that might actually take all the potential profit out of it. Hell, bags and boards are expensive enough it's almost a debate if it's worth paying for them for cheapo standard comics.
Right now, I'd rather buy crypto. At least when it comes to most things and prices.