Metal book print run

Summydad1 · Post by **Summydad1** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:29 am

I know we have talked a lot about the X-O metal cover but what about Bloodshot and Ninja-k? Do those two books have roughly the same print run or are there more because they are 1:250? I know that stores are only allowed to order 1 per. Does this matter? Also, are the metal cover books finished after Ninja-k? I really like them.

BT · Post by BT » Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:19 am

What was the X-O metal print run?

Looks like Shadowman Glow in the Dark will be metal, too.

greg · Post by **greg** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 11:04 am

BT wrote:What was the X-O metal print run?

I think it was reported to be 200.

My guess is that the 1:250 are probably 500 copies or so. The first one (the 1:500 X-O) was well-received, so I doubt they would simply double the number for the 1:250.

TheeBaldMoose · Post by **TheeBaldMoose** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 12:22 pm

greg wrote:
BT wrote:What was the X-O metal print run?
I think it was reported to be 200.

My guess is that the 1:250 are probably 500 copies or so. The first one (the 1:500 X-O) was well-received, so I doubt they would simply double the number for the 1:250.

Actually, I think the numbers are probably close to the same as the X-O numbers. There have been fewer Bloodshot and Ninja-K Brushed metals for sale on Ebay, so maybe more shops were able to find buyers for the 1:250. Then again, I could be off, as the numbers would be easier for LCS's to get to. Still, I couldn't see 500 of each of these being out and about.

Juki · Post by **Juki** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 5:40 pm

greg wrote:
BT wrote:What was the X-O metal print run?
I think it was reported to be 200.

My guess is that the 1:250 are probably 500 copies or so. The first one (the 1:500 X-O) was well-received, so I doubt they would simply double the number for the 1:250.

So, it seems Bloodshot and Ninja-K brushed metals WOULD be more than doubled at 500 compared to the 200 of X-O Brushed metals (if these numbers are correct).

How about the numbers of the Eternity #1 1:40 variant? Anyone have a handle on the # of copies? I really like the art on this one.

Any speculation as to a future "break out character" that has a first appearance here? There are supposed to be many first appearances here (I have not read it yet). I realize nobody knows for sure. But, speculation is always fun!

TheeBaldMoose · Post by **TheeBaldMoose** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 5:50 pm

Juki wrote:
greg wrote:
BT wrote:What was the X-O metal print run?
I think it was reported to be 200.

My guess is that the 1:250 are probably 500 copies or so. The first one (the 1:500 X-O) was well-received, so I doubt they would simply double the number for the 1:250.

So, it seems Bloodshot and Ninja-K brushed metals WOULD be more than doubled at 500 compared to the 200 of X-O Brushed metals (if these numbers are correct).

How about the numbers of the Eternity #1 1:40 variant? Anyone have a handle on the # of copies? I really like the art on this one.

Any speculation as to a future "break out character" that has a first appearance here? There are supposed to be many first appearances here (I have not read it yet). I realize nobody knows for sure. But, speculation is always fun!

Chances are, there are only about 200 - 250 comic book stores total that could or would jump at a 1:250 (or a 1:500 for that matter) when it comes to Valiant. This is the basic assumption I used in my last statement. You would basically be saying that there would be more than 500 comic book stores Nation wide that would jump at a 1:250 for Valiant, they are not THAT popular yet.

Soon, but not yet

Juki · Post by **Juki** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 5:55 pm

...as far as the future of the brushed metal covers... I really think they are super unique. Apparently they all had to be attached by hand. However, I hope they don't do a lot more of them. Valiant seems to do a great job of not over-playing things and then coming up with another thing that is new. For example, they did a few of the QR variants and then moved on.

Summydad1 · Post by **Summydad1** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 6:01 pm

Upon further research, the Shadowman #1 1:250 glow in the dark will also be a metal cover. That was released on Valiants website yesterday. Gotta have it!!

corey · Post by **corey** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 6:13 pm

Summydad1 wrote:Upon further research, the Shadowman #1 1:250 glow in the dark will also be a metal cover. That was released on Valiants website yesterday. Gotta have it!!

Awww chit

Summydad1 · Post by **Summydad1** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 6:46 pm

Yeah, I'm pumped it will be glow and metal. I think the metal covers are probably the coolest comic cover ever. I know this may be a pipe dream but I would love one day for Rai to come back in his own series and have a metal cover by Crain. Awww chit fo real!

jmatt · Post by **jmatt** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 8:38 pm

TheeBaldMoose wrote:
Juki wrote:
greg wrote:
BT wrote:What was the X-O metal print run?
I think it was reported to be 200.

My guess is that the 1:250 are probably 500 copies or so. The first one (the 1:500 X-O) was well-received, so I doubt they would simply double the number for the 1:250.

So, it seems Bloodshot and Ninja-K brushed metals WOULD be more than doubled at 500 compared to the 200 of X-O Brushed metals (if these numbers are correct).

How about the numbers of the Eternity #1 1:40 variant? Anyone have a handle on the # of copies? I really like the art on this one.

Any speculation as to a future "break out character" that has a first appearance here? There are supposed to be many first appearances here (I have not read it yet). I realize nobody knows for sure. But, speculation is always fun!
Chances are, there are only about 200 - 250 comic book stores total that could or would jump at a 1:250 (or a 1:500 for that matter) when it comes to Valiant. This is the basic assumption I used in my last statement. You would basically be saying that there would be more than 500 comic book stores Nation wide that would jump at a 1:250 for Valiant, they are not THAT popular yet.

Soon, but not yet

That depends on if any of the issues are returnable by shops.

greg · Post by **greg** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:13 pm

I'm not saying they were all earned. I'm saying they were made.

apacseller · Post by **apacseller** » Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:28 am

There certainly seems to be a lot less Ninjak and Bloodshot (raw or graded) available than the X-O's. I think a lot of shops took a shot on the X-O, but not necessarily the others. I wouldn't be surprised if there were less Ninjaks or Bloodshots. There doesn't seem like there were ever more than a handful of Ninjak/Bloodshots available, whereas the X-O seemed to have a few dozen change hands early on.

But this is all conjecture on my part, maybe the demand was smaller.

agent_graves · Post by **agent_graves** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 3:51 am

There’s a couple of XO and Bloodshots graded, and a few Ninjaks raw on EBay. The formers have heavy price tags. You can get the Ninjak for less than 3 ...

I haven’t been able to snag a BMV yet, but that Shadowman GITDBMV is a must have...

drmirage · Post by **drmirage** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 8:12 am

Like what Greg posted. Earned might be 250. Printed by VEI could be 500 or maybe more.

Publisher can print as many books as they wish. The books can be for promotional, damaged copy replacements, Publishers use.

Unless it’s disclosed... We will never know the exact copies printed.

nycjadie · Post by **nycjadie** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:23 am

I'd be surprised if they printed many additional copies of the metal books. I bet they are very expensive to make.

greg · Post by **greg** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 11:25 am

nycjadie wrote:I'd be surprised if they printed many additional copies of the metal books. I bet they are very expensive to make.

Right, but they get cheaper to make every time. Development of "do something totally new" costs significantly more than "do it again".

If these other brushed metal books were as low printed as books like Divinity #1 1:40, I'm sure we would have heard about it.

Juki · Post by **Juki** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 1:48 pm

What do you think is the best way to get the Shadowman Metal Glow in the dark? Just wait till E-Bay? It seems like there should be a better way.

My local comic shop doesn't carry Valiant. What would it cost them to order 250 Shadowman #1s to get the 1:250 ? In other words, What could I offer them to order it?

TheeBaldMoose · Post by **TheeBaldMoose** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 3:14 pm

Juki wrote:What do you think is the best way to get the Shadowman Metal Glow in the dark? Just wait till E-Bay? It seems like there should be a better way.

My local comic shop doesn't carry Valiant. What would it cost them to order 250 Shadowman #1s to get the 1:250 ? In other words, What could I offer them to order it?

Just speculation, but your LCS would have had to do a little more work, if they would have wanted to go in for that 1:250 Shadowman.

What they COULD have done ( and I am no expert here, just speculation), is gotten any type of poster/flyer/ what have you to start advertising the book NOW. This would have (hopefully) drawn up some interest. They could have offered incentives, one I am surprised more shops don't take advantage of. Sign up to purchase the first arc, get book #3 for free. This would set a shop up long term, or at least sales for an arc. They could have taken (and still can take) advantage of any sales offerings that Valiant offers. I remember that with XO, shops could get the 500 books ( or in this case, 250), keep them for roughly 90 days, tear off the top cover, and mail them back for reimbursement. Maybe they still do that? Dunno.

Bottom line, they may not want to even get involved. I know my shop, even though they do great wonders for me getting me Valiant, they do not get after any of the variants, simply because it doesn't sell ( and comics aren't their #1 money getter)

DirtbagSailor · Post by **DirtbagSailor** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 3:29 pm

Some LCSs will order; others won't.

You need to start that dialog with yours asap (ideally early).

Those who I know who scored these (and similar) books did it one of a few ways.

1. They convinced their LCS to order 250 books (or 500 in the case of X-O), and let the LCS keep the regular copies to sell or give away, while the collector (you) kept all the variants, including the Metal (GitD) cover.

2. They waited until the Metal (GitD) cover hits VF or eBay, then they pay whatever price they have to pay.

BOTH plans work.

AnarchoMambo · Post by **AnarchoMambo** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 4:10 pm

DirtbagSailor wrote:BOTH plans work.

I have some doubts about the effectiveness of plan 2.

I _think_ that some early sellers on Ebay are listing their copy immediately after they realize that their copy has a flaw. One of my copies of BS Salvation metal, and probably my copy of Ninjak metal, may be examples of this.

Also, I would be wary of any copies now on EBay that are listed months out, unless very detailed photos are included in the listing. My reasoning is that if the copies now on offer are not graded, why not? There may be a reason.

I worked with my LCS to preorder XO, and though I may not follow that path for Shadowman, I am more likely to buy a preorder book from an online vendor, or at least pick up a pre-sale copy on EBay just before the release date. This route is expensive, but not as expensive as buying multiple copies!

Juki · Post by **Juki** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 5:42 pm

So... the question is what do you expect to pay for the Shadowman Metal Glow on the secondary market (just after it is released)? More than $250? Less than $250?

I guess it will depend on demand. Will this Shadowman Metal Glow be more in demand/desirable than Ninja-k/Bloodshot metals?

Summydad1 · Post by **Summydad1** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 6:11 pm

The best way to obtain any of these books is to buy the first graded 9.8 to hit eBay and never tell anyone what you paid. It works every time!

Summydad1 · Post by **Summydad1** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 6:16 pm

Seriously though, I have found that the 1:250 books the first couple months are $250 for a raw and $500 for a graded 9.8. After the first couple months raw will be $200 and 9.8 graded will be $400. You can double those numbers when the X.O. 1:500 came out. Just rough numbers I have seen.

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