First Valiant Comic Sells for $2,300

magnus20009 · Post by **magnus20009** » Wed Feb 26, 2020 10:21 pm

I purchased one of my Valiant whales in my quest to get all of the original Valiant run in CGC 9.8.

The very first Valiant book - Nintendo Comics System - Sneak Peak had its lone copy in CGC 9.8 come up for auction at ComicLink and it closed today at $2,300.

https://www.comiclink.com/auctions/item ... itemType=0

PS. Greg I know I still owe you my scans of the roughly 30 Nintendo books I have in CGC 9.8

nycjadie · Post by **nycjadie** » Wed Feb 26, 2020 11:30 pm

Oh wow! That is a whale indeed! Well done!

Comiclink sellers crack me up. For things outside the usual suspect keys, not the best place to auction books!

Super happy this exists and found such a good home!

magnusr · Post by **magnusr** » Thu Feb 27, 2020 1:17 am

/Magnus

greg · Post by **greg** » Thu Feb 27, 2020 4:48 am

magnusr wrote: Thu Feb 27, 2020 1:17 am

/Magnus

That's my reaction, too!

There's another book needed for Mario (not a Valiant) called Blip #1 from Marvel. 1st Mario and 1st Donkey Kong.

mkb28 · Post by **mkb28** » Thu Feb 27, 2020 5:19 am

Congrats, Brother!

Mkb28

magnus20009 · Post by **magnus20009** » Thu Feb 27, 2020 5:20 am

Blip was more of a Marvel Age type periodical with some comics in them (pretty bad comics at that). Might be of interest to some but not to me.

I am interested in the Valiant Nintendo, WWF, KFC, Pasta books because they are at the genesis that allowed Valiant proper to come into being.

(For those interest Blip #1 is not a hard, nor expensive issue to get).

Here is a link to the 6 page Blip Mario story.

https://www.mariowiki.com/Blip

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Thu Feb 27, 2020 10:51 am

Love those old Valiant/Nintendo comics. Glad to see those books are still getting some love.

betterthanezra · Post by **betterthanezra** » Fri Feb 28, 2020 12:10 pm

These books are looked at more positively NOW then EVER before with Video Game Nostalgia at an all time high right now

-Brian

jmatt · Post by **jmatt** » Fri Feb 28, 2020 8:49 pm

DirtbagSailor · Post by **DirtbagSailor** » Sat Feb 29, 2020 7:34 pm

I’m happy to know that this slab is actually REAL!

Oxmyx · Post by **Oxmyx** » Sun Mar 01, 2020 10:23 am

magnus20009 wrote: Thu Feb 27, 2020 5:20 am I am interested in the Valiant Nintendo, WWF, KFC, Pasta books because they are at the genesis that allowed Valiant proper to come into being.

I had heard what you are saying here, that Nintendo and other intellectual properties got the ball rolling at Valiant and as I understood it kind of paved the way for the first Magnus and Solar books.

BUT then I listened to an very early OTV podcast interview with a colorist lady from that time. And she ...ahem...painted a much different picture. According to her, Valiant barely survived when Nintendo etc was "forced" on Shooter and crew by business partners. (Only the Valiant 19...Convo with JayJay Jackson)

The WWF and Nintendo phase was a setback and sucker punch that was described as heavily draining on the fledgling company. My interpretation is that it may have weakened Shooter's control of the company and allowed Shooter's removal.

But I don't know nothing

ckb · Post by **ckb** » Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:31 am

JJ is not wrong, but it happened way early. While it must have seriously slowed their work on VH1, it also allowed the company to exist! If the investors pull out because they cannot wait 12 months to see cash flow, Voyager never gets off the ground. They creators saw it as sucking bigtime, I'm sure, on one hand. On the other if you actually look at the work they put out in those books they were definitely not mailing it in. Some of Shooter's stories for those books were inspired, and all the art was full of life and skill. JJ's colors were wonderful and she perfected the process that was used in VH1. As editor Shooter held the artists to the same high standard we saw in VH1.

As far as control goes, Shooter only had as much control as the investors gave him. As we found out in 1993. If he wanted full control he needed to keep them out to begin with. But money talks and it's expensive to try to build Marvel from the ground up.

magnus20009 · Post by **magnus20009** » Mon Mar 02, 2020 2:13 am

DirtbagSailor wrote: Sat Feb 29, 2020 7:34 pm I’m happy to know that this slab is actually REAL!

I agree. It is good to see that the book does exist. The CGC Census has a few errors when it comes to Valiant books, and these are just obvious errors from looking at the registry. It would not surprise me if some of the 1st and 2nd print books were confused for each other.

It can be difficult to figure out what is going on with the census as there are a number of Nintendo books with only 1 to 3 copies graded (or in the case of Adventures of Super Mario Bros . 6 (6/91, Valiant and Captain N: The Game Master 5 (1990, Valiant)) no copies have been graded. I have 29 of the books graded in 9.8 so I can explain some but not all of the CGC Census.

These are issues with the CGC census:

Captain N: The Game Master
Issue 3 of Captain N The Game Master seems to be split between 2 entries:
Captain N: The Game Master 3 (1990,Valiant) – 6 Graded Copies
Captain N 3 (1990,Valiant) – 5 Graded Copies

Legend of Zelda
Issue 1 of the first run of Zelda the census splits the book under two headings:
Legend of Zelda 1 (1990,Valiant) – 85 copies
Link: The Legend of Zelda 1 (1990,Valiant) – 17 copies
All the price variant are:
Link: The Legend of Zelda 1 Price Variant (1990, Valiant) – 3 copies
Issues #2-#5 are labeled “Legend of Zelda”. The indicia for #1 is “Link: The Legend of Zelda”.

This issue does not even exist despite being listed in the census
Legend of Zelda 7 (8/91,Valiant) – 2 books graded

I assume the books are Nintendo Comics System #7 (8/91,Valiant) (which also has 2 books graded) as the cover of the books says “Nintendo Comics System featuring Legend of Zelda” and is issue #7

Books in which the census is not 100% clear on which book it refers to
The census lists:
Super Mario Bros. nn (1991,Valiant) – 2 copies
I assume this is the Random House book that came with the cassette as the two graded copies are 8.5 and 7.0 but cannot be sure.

Nintendo Comics System 2 Variant Cover (1990,Valiant)
I assume that this is the yellow cover version of the second trade paper back.

Illustrated Action Books
The there are the 4 Valiant Illustrated action books that are listed as:

Valiant Illustrated Action Books 21871 (1990,Valiant) – 1 copy
Valiant Illustrated Action Books 21872 (1990,Valiant)- 1 copy
Valiant Illustrated Action Books 21873 (1990,Valiant) – 2 copies
Valiant Illustrated Action Books 21874 (1990,Valiant) – 2 copies
Super Mario Bros. Battle Against Bowser nn (1991,Valiant) – 1 copy
Super Mario Bros. Meet the Koopa Kids 1 (1991,Valiant) – 4 copies

As “Meet the Koopa Kids” and “Battle Against Bowser” are 2 of the 4 Illustrated action books their copies are split across two different graded titles.

WWF
This same issue persists in some of the WWF books where

WWF: Lifestyles of the Brutal & Infamous nn (1991,Valiant) - 1 copy
Lifestyles of the Brutal & Infamous nn (1991,Valiant) - 1 copy
WWF: Wait Till I Get My Hands On... nn (1991,Valiant) - 1 copy
Wait Till I Get My Hands On... nn (1991,Valiant) - 1 copy
These are only two books but each book has 2 entries.

magnus20009 · Post by **magnus20009** » Mon Mar 02, 2020 2:28 am

ckb wrote: Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:31 am JJ is not wrong, but it happened way early. While it must have seriously slowed their work on VH1, it also allowed the company to exist! If the investors pull out because they cannot wait 12 months to see cash flow, Voyager never gets off the ground. They creators saw it as sucking bigtime, I'm sure, on one hand. On the other if you actually look at the work they put out in those books they were definitely not mailing it in. Some of Shooter's stories for those books were inspired, and all the art was full of life and skill. JJ's colors were wonderful and she perfected the process that was used in VH1. As editor Shooter held the artists to the same high standard we saw in VH1.

As far as control goes, Shooter only had as much control as the investors gave him. As we found out in 1993. If he wanted full control he needed to keep them out to begin with. But money talks and it's expensive to try to build Marvel from the ground up.

Yup two sides of the same event. I agree that the work was not mailed in. I have enjoyed reading the Nintendo/WWF books and seeing how the story telling, art and color progressed from there to Valiant. Creative might not have liked it but I think it allowed the team to perfect working together and trying concepts out before they launch the hero line. Without collectively cutting their teeth on these other books who knows whether they would have been able to hit the ground running like they did with Magnus and Solar.

Oxmyx · Post by **Oxmyx** » Mon Mar 02, 2020 6:34 pm

ckb wrote: Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:31 am
Some of Shooter's stories for those books were inspired...

One day I'm probably going to start a Zelda collection. Were any of the inspired stories you mention Zelda stories? Which issues were your favorite?

depluto · Post by **depluto** » Tue Mar 03, 2020 9:19 pm

I respect the hell out of this. Only a true Valiant fan!

ckb · Post by **ckb** » Wed Mar 04, 2020 12:27 pm

Oxmyx wrote: Mon Mar 02, 2020 6:34 pm
ckb wrote: Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:31 am
Some of Shooter's stories for those books were inspired...
One day I'm probably going to start a Zelda collection. Were any of the inspired stories you mention Zelda stories? Which issues were your favorite?

My best advice here is to pick up the hardcover or the oversized TPBs to get a sense of what you like. In general the Mario stories are better than the Zelda stories, IMHO. Zelda was more formulaic, like the games. For Mario he invented a cool backstory.

magnus20009 · Post by **magnus20009** » Sat Apr 11, 2020 9:32 pm

A second 9.8 has now surfaced

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PRIMO-NINTENDO ... SwoTJekliD

nycjadie · Post by **nycjadie** » Sat Apr 11, 2020 10:52 pm

Sunlight on Snow · Post by **Sunlight on Snow** » Tue Apr 14, 2020 4:26 am

ckb wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 12:27 pm
Oxmyx wrote: Mon Mar 02, 2020 6:34 pm
ckb wrote: Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:31 am
Some of Shooter's stories for those books were inspired...
One day I'm probably going to start a Zelda collection. Were any of the inspired stories you mention Zelda stories? Which issues were your favorite?
My best advice here is to pick up the hardcover or the oversized TPBs to get a sense of what you like. In general the Mario stories are better than the Zelda stories, IMHO. Zelda was more formulaic, like the games. For Mario he invented a cool backstory.

Wait! What?! What hardcover? There is a hardcover collecting (some of) VH-1's Nintendo stuff?????????????????????????????????????

greg · Post by **greg** » Tue Apr 14, 2020 9:45 am

Sunlight on Snow wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2020 4:26 am
ckb wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 12:27 pm
Oxmyx wrote: Mon Mar 02, 2020 6:34 pm
ckb wrote: Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:31 am
Some of Shooter's stories for those books were inspired...
One day I'm probably going to start a Zelda collection. Were any of the inspired stories you mention Zelda stories? Which issues were your favorite?
My best advice here is to pick up the hardcover or the oversized TPBs to get a sense of what you like. In general the Mario stories are better than the Zelda stories, IMHO. Zelda was more formulaic, like the games. For Mario he invented a cool backstory.
Wait! What?! What hardcover? There is a hardcover collecting (some of) VH-1's Nintendo stuff?????????????????????????????????????

Two of them (or four, if you want the "variations"):
http://valiantarchive.com/valiant/ninte ... t.html#NCS

The "variations" are having either a Valiant logo or a Mallard Press logo on the spine of the hardcover.

Sunlight on Snow · Post by **Sunlight on Snow** » Tue Apr 14, 2020 10:25 am

greg wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2020 9:45 am
Sunlight on Snow wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2020 4:26 am
ckb wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2020 12:27 pm
Oxmyx wrote: Mon Mar 02, 2020 6:34 pm
ckb wrote: Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:31 am
Some of Shooter's stories for those books were inspired...
One day I'm probably going to start a Zelda collection. Were any of the inspired stories you mention Zelda stories? Which issues were your favorite?
My best advice here is to pick up the hardcover or the oversized TPBs to get a sense of what you like. In general the Mario stories are better than the Zelda stories, IMHO. Zelda was more formulaic, like the games. For Mario he invented a cool backstory.
Wait! What?! What hardcover? There is a hardcover collecting (some of) VH-1's Nintendo stuff?????????????????????????????????????
Two of them (or four, if you want the "variations"):
http://valiantarchive.com/valiant/ninte ... t.html#NCS

The "variations" are having either a Valiant logo or a Mallard Press logo on the spine of the hardcover.

Nice!

http://valiantarchive.com/valiant/ninte ... ismar.html

Did Shooter write some of the stories under his father's name (Ken Shooter)?

magnus20009 · Post by **magnus20009** » Mon Apr 12, 2021 4:26 am

One year later a second copy of the book sold for $3,200. Does this make the Nintendo Sneak Preview the most expensive Valiant book or is that still the Bloodshot Platinum error?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-Comic ... 7675.l2557

greg · Post by **greg** » Mon Apr 12, 2021 8:34 am

magnus20009 wrote: Mon Apr 12, 2021 4:26 am One year later a second copy of the book sold for $3,200. Does this make the Nintendo Sneak Preview the most expensive Valiant book or is that still the Bloodshot Platinum error?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-Comic ... 7675.l2557

Do you mean most expensive Valiant book of all time? There have been two sales of CGC 9.8 Bloodshot #0 Platinum over $5,000.
I'm guessing there are some other unique Valiant books that are also higher, but they aren't exactly "collectable" for fans when only one exists.

magnus20009 · Post by **magnus20009** » Mon Apr 12, 2021 1:16 pm

greg wrote: Mon Apr 12, 2021 8:34 am
magnus20009 wrote: Mon Apr 12, 2021 4:26 am One year later a second copy of the book sold for $3,200. Does this make the Nintendo Sneak Preview the most expensive Valiant book or is that still the Bloodshot Platinum error?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-Comic ... 7675.l2557
Do you mean most expensive Valiant book of all time? There have been two sales of CGC 9.8 Bloodshot #0 Platinum over $5,000.
I'm guessing there are some other unique Valiant books that are also higher, but they aren't exactly "collectable" for fans when only one exists.

I mean book that would be worth the most right now? Would a Bloodshot Platinum in CGC 9.8 sell for more or less than this? (It's last 3 recorded sales in the price guide are less than this - but I do know its all-time record was $5,500). Long run I think Nintendo will prove more popular than Bloodshot (although I would love to buy a Bloodshot Platinum 1 in CGC 9.8 if anyone is selling

)

I suppose the 2 different 1/1 books (Bloodshot Salvation #12 Lewis Larosa cover with Vin Diesel as Bloodshot and Quantum and Woody (2017) 1 2nd Print) could be worth more (although the Q&W has sold twice both times for less than $3,200 I believe) but it is hard to think of a 1/1 manufactured book as being collectable when there is only a single copy. (Suppose you could consider the 4 Golden ticket books 1/1 since the UPC was different on each of them).

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