Bragging rights - your best deal of late?

[nycjadie]

Super cool piece of art. Well done. Definitely worth keeping if you do not need to flip it! It will definitely increase in value.

[IMJ]

Super cool piece of art. Well done. Definitely worth keeping if you do not need to flip it! It will definitely increase in value.

Thank you brother, I appreciate that.

[IMJ]

Picked this one up recently for what I consider to be a steal....



This is a great grab for me. I loved, loved, loved Mike Ryan's work on Iron Man vol 3. And at the time the introduction of Temugin - the Mandarin's son was actually met with applause as a great way to get the Mandarin back onto the page and into relevancy. I remember reading this book the Wednesday it came out and I loved this confrontation. And although I've cobbled together some other examples of Ryan's work on Iron Man vol 3, I never imagined I'd come across these two pages on the market.

I've managed to grab a number of pieces of original art over this last year or so, but this 2-page splash is going to have a special place in my PC very likely for some time.

[nycjadie]

I know how much you like Iron Man!

CGC has been posting some fans rooms on its FB page. It’s really fun to see other people’s collections. And how they live with them.

[IMJ]

I know how much you like Iron Man!

CGC has been posting some fans rooms on its FB page. It’s really fun to see other people’s collections. And how they live with them.

Thank you, brother....

I'll have to check out the thread there. Nowadays the majority of my stuff is in one of two configurations - kept on a uniform and modular display in my photography "studio" for this "Wave 1 Collectibles" thing I'm doing; or otherwise I have a storage unit I rented that could practically be a brick and mortal comic store at this point.

I've gotten away from the "basement collection" or the "spare bedroom collection". My thing nowadays is to keep displays modular and rotate items instead of trying to display as much as possible.

[Juki]

Has anyone else noticed great deals on rarer desirable earlier (2012-2018) VEI Variant Comics including keys? I guess the forced DMG takeover (causing initial loss of leadership and creators), the one and done Valiant Cinematic Universe with COVID Bloodshot’s lack of success, and the slow death since then of the current Valiant Comics Universe with loss of nearly all remaining core creative talent and employees HAS TAKEN A GREAT TOLL on earlier VEI prices. But, if you collect the VEI comics from 2012-2018 I think it is a great time to buy. I’m not a speculator… just a fan of the Valiant characters. So, although I was hoping for a greater future success for Valiant in comics and on the screen, I just collect what I like with Valiants. And, current circumstances are making that easier. I have recently found several VEI Variants, that were previously unattainable for me, at great prices.

This is really starting to feel like the decade drought (2002-2012) when 90s Valiant went under and their comic values plummeted. How much longer can current Valiant comics hang on by publishing a comic a month? If, and when, they go under in the near future will prices get even more ridiculous?

I’m still looking for some things. But, wow… I have scratched a lot of names off the list as of late.


How about everyone else? Anyone else still looking and buying?

[nycjadie]

All Valant is down. It’s a drought when other stuff is sky high.

I honestly have not really collected much in two years and I even stopped looking. Not a lot out there of interest. My passion is diminished due to the lack of new books and other collectors, I think this is the most passive I’ve been in over 10-12 years.

[IMJ]

All Valant is down. It’s a drought when other stuff is sky high.

I honestly have not really collected much in two years and I even stopped looking. Not a lot out there of interest. My passion is diminished due to the lack of new books and other collectors, I think this is the most passive I’ve been in over 10-12 years.

This is very similar to where I'm at with things. The last few posts above might not seem like it, but I'm there with you in many ways as well. I think there is a coalescence of circumstances for this. I'd say that I first speculated that the entire hobby was in for a significant downturn in "interest" and "spending" with the collectibles-madness during the pandemic.

You don't have an explosion like that without a drawdown afterwards. I was selling books like Hulk 181, JIM 83, Batman Adventures 12, X-Men 266, Nova and more to people during that time as if 4-figure comic book transactions were just something everybody did routinely. People were buying Impel Marvel sets for 300 bucks and small-item sales were routine.

You can't have a massive period like that without the buying curving down significantly after that. Whether the curve down takes a year and a half or it's a precipitous drop, either way the bottom is the kind of bottom where people just aren't transacting. And I think a big part of that is that people bought during the mania and are in so deep on the stuff they bought that we are going to see long holding periods before people are trading again routinely. So basically our market is not only down to the die-hards right now, but it's down to the die-hards who probably aren't in a position to buy big books as a regular thing for a while.

And so I think these things affect the entire hobby - first through the wider market sales and then even by proxy through diminished interest. Add to that the kind of content that publishers have been putting out and the only people not burnt out by it are the mouthy SJW's who clearly weren't supporting the hobby or paying to read the books in the first place.

[Phantom]

Just found an auction. Very hard to find book in any condition. £2.99 plus £1.99 postage. This is a £200 plus book in a lower condition.
Super excited, not trying to bait people. I am just super excited. Its a paper cover comic, as in newspaper comic cover and interior from 1950's.
Not sure if early usa comics are the same. I Don't have any usa comics of that age.
Just super excited. Still 6 days to go, so maybe the uk comic community will find out.
Will keep you posted.
Sorry don't want to jinx it. Sorry this sounds like I want people to comment. And ask questions. Like the silly Facebook posts people do.
Just so excited and cannot tell other groups as it will sky rocket.

[Phantom]

just un watched it as not to attract attention.
8 people have viewed it, maybe they are all just me.
Putting in snipe

[SouthernComicGeek]

Best deal as defined as- A page from an era that doesnt come up often and I don't feel like I overpaid.

[magnus20009]

All Valant is down. It’s a drought when other stuff is sky high.

I honestly have not really collected much in two years and I even stopped looking. Not a lot out there of interest. My passion is diminished due to the lack of new books and other collectors, I think this is the most passive I’ve been in over 10-12 years.

I am in exactly the same stage. Have not bought any Valiant back issue in more than a year and find myself wondering to a really need hundreds and hundreds of Valiant slabs.

[Phantom]

Just found an auction. Very hard to find book in any condition. £2.99 plus £1.99 postage. This is a £200 plus book in a lower condition.
Super excited, not trying to bait people. I am just super excited. Its a paper cover comic, as in newspaper comic cover and interior from 1950's.
Not sure if early usa comics are the same. I Don't have any usa comics of that age.
Just super excited. Still 6 days to go, so maybe the uk comic community will find out.
Will keep you posted.
Sorry don't want to jinx it. Sorry this sounds like I want people to comment. And ask questions. Like the silly Facebook posts people do.
Just so excited and cannot tell other groups as it will sky rocket.

NOOOOOOOOooooooo

They realised what they had! They changed the auction to buy it now or best offer - for £200. It was issue 69 of The Phantom from 1951? Printed by frew publications.

Oh what could have been. Oh well.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305671712906 ... R8zL6fWgZA

[Phantom]

TO make up for it, I am buying two pieces of original cover art, I just messaged seller - about combined postage. He thought I lived in Australia where from USA it is not possible via ebay global shipping - but it maybe possible via UK.
Still cheap and I cannot believe an Australian collector has not brought them. They are in the USA.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226265112925

[Phantom]

Just found an auction. Very hard to find book in any condition. £2.99 plus £1.99 postage. This is a £200 plus book in a lower condition.
Super excited, not trying to bait people. I am just super excited. Its a paper cover comic, as in newspaper comic cover and interior from 1950's.
Not sure if early usa comics are the same. I Don't have any usa comics of that age.
Just super excited. Still 6 days to go, so maybe the uk comic community will find out.
Will keep you posted.
Sorry don't want to jinx it. Sorry this sounds like I want people to comment. And ask questions. Like the silly Facebook posts people do.
Just so excited and cannot tell other groups as it will sky rocket.

NOOOOOOOOooooooo

They realised what they had! They changed the auction to buy it now or best offer - for £200. It was issue 69 of The Phantom from 1951? Printed by frew publications.

Oh what could have been. Oh well.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305671712906 ... R8zL6fWgZA

Its still on like Dockey Kong! the auction above, was not the auction. I made a mistake. The other one is still going. was using it as a comparision and got mixed up.

[Phantom]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226265111918




https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226265112925

[Phantom]

Just brought these two original art covers. They where selling at about halve the normal price. Their is alot more from the seller - but no more art. Ebay was being a mega a pain, not accepting my address or combined postage. In the end I did not want to miss out of them, so I brought them individually.

NOT Valiant

Rare for covers to come up, as previously all art kept by FREW publications. This is from a museum run in the 1990's to early 2000's.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226265111918




https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226265112925

[magnusr]

Just brought these two original art covers.

Nice ones. Congrats.

/Magnus

[Phantom]

Yeah, you just don't see them come up. Its strange - their is a big market in Australia for this.
Maybe the American artists who worked on covers kept the work. For some reason I heard they kept the covers, a friend of mine did a cover once and had to surrender the piece to FREW or maybe King Features syndicate. Or maybe Glen kept it for introducing the artist, or payment for introducing the artist.

Regardless. Strange how some modern variants or hardcover collections of The Phantom sell for more than an orginal cover.

[Phantom]

Just found an auction. Very hard to find book in any condition. £2.99 plus £1.99 postage. This is a £200 plus book in a lower condition.
Super excited, not trying to bait people. I am just super excited. Its a paper cover comic, as in newspaper comic cover and interior from 1950's.
Not sure if early usa comics are the same. I Don't have any usa comics of that age.
Just super excited. Still 6 days to go, so maybe the uk comic community will find out.
Will keep you posted.
Sorry don't want to jinx it. Sorry this sounds like I want people to comment. And ask questions. Like the silly Facebook posts people do.
Just so excited and cannot tell other groups as it will sky rocket.

NOOOOOOOOooooooo

They realised what they had! They changed the auction to buy it now or best offer - for £200. It was issue 69 of The Phantom from 1951? Printed by frew publications.

Oh what could have been. Oh well.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305671712906 ... R8zL6fWgZA

Its still on like Dockey Kong! the auction above, was not the auction. I made a mistake. The other one is still going. was using it as a comparision and got mixed up.

Someone has spotted it! Only 1 bid. I bid at 2.99. I wonder how high it can go. I bid £22.22 about 1 tenth its value.

[Ryan]

Just brought these two original art covers. They where selling at about halve the normal price. Their is alot more from the seller - but no more art. Ebay was being a mega a pain, not accepting my address or combined postage. In the end I did not want to miss out of them, so I brought them individually.

NOT Valiant

Rare for covers to come up, as previously all art kept by FREW publications. This is from a museum run in the 1990's to early 2000's.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226265111918




https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226265112925

Sweet covers, nice score

[Phantom]

Thanks Magnus and Ryan.
Underpriced for sure. Visited a custom frame maker in my area. Price is ridiculous, however went online and the 4 piece art work to be framed is only £60. Their is one issue but I will email the company and see if can be adjusted.
Actually, looking at my original comic art - they are the only covers I own. Didn't realise. I do have a lovely piece form hellblazer, with hellblazer and swamp thing on the same page. - Sounds like I am bragging - and would not mention it accept its the title of the thread.
When I get organized - I will post the art page here.
Also just brought a 'flashy flicker' for £15 plus postage. ITs a toy from 1965. Box in great condition, £15 plus £5 postage. It was £20 + £5 postage with best offer. The condition of the box is why I brought it. The graphics are slightly different from the USA version, but still that was a steal. They just don't sell over here in UK for much, compared to USA and Australia. Graphics on the box are lovely.
It may not be working, but it is a simple toy, and I know a little about electronics - I taught it at a local college.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305699536507

[Ryan]

Thanks Magnus and Ryan.
Underpriced for sure. Visited a custom frame maker in my area. Price is ridiculous, however went online and the 4 piece art work to be framed is only £60. Their is one issue but I will email the company and see if can be adjusted.
Actually, looking at my original comic art - they are the only covers I own. Didn't realise. I do have a lovely piece form hellblazer, with hellblazer and swamp thing on the same page. - Sounds like I am bragging - and would not mention it accept its the title of the thread.
When I get organized - I will post the art page here.
Also just brought a 'flashy flicker' for £15 plus postage. ITs a toy from 1965. Box in great condition, £15 plus £5 postage. It was £20 + £5 postage with best offer. The condition of the box is why I brought it. The graphics are slightly different from the USA version, but still that was a steal. They just don't sell over here in UK for much, compared to USA and Australia. Graphics on the box are lovely.
It may not be working, but it is a simple toy, and I know a little about electronics - I taught it at a local college.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305699536507

Awesome, post some pics for us once you get them framed up

[Phantom]

Just found an auction. Very hard to find book in any condition. £2.99 plus £1.99 postage. This is a £200 plus book in a lower condition.
Super excited, not trying to bait people. I am just super excited. Its a paper cover comic, as in newspaper comic cover and interior from 1950's.
Not sure if early usa comics are the same. I Don't have any usa comics of that age.
Just super excited. Still 6 days to go, so maybe the uk comic community will find out.
Will keep you posted.
Sorry don't want to jinx it. Sorry this sounds like I want people to comment. And ask questions. Like the silly Facebook posts people do.
Just so excited and cannot tell other groups as it will sky rocket.

NOOOOOOOOooooooo

They realised what they had! They changed the auction to buy it now or best offer - for £200. It was issue 69 of The Phantom from 1951? Printed by frew publications.

Oh what could have been. Oh well.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305671712906 ... R8zL6fWgZA

Its still on like Dockey Kong! the auction above, was not the auction. I made a mistake. The other one is still going. was using it as a comparision and got mixed up.

Someone has spotted it! Only 1 bid. I bid at 2.99. I wonder how high it can go. I bid £22.22 about 1 tenth its value.

Current bid is arround £16, I put a max snipe of £55.55 7 hours to go.

[Phantom]

So I haven't been sleeping.
I saw 3 auctions for 1955/ 1956 print date Phantom comics at £100 each - In the UK.
Frew Phantom comics are very hard to grade, so looking carefully at images, these are pretty much as good as you can get - I will see when I get them on Friday.
In a similar, maybe slightly lower condition - these books sell for lets say $550 Australian. So £220 GBP. I would say I could get a higher price. But lets just say that.
Mine have great corners, no massive fade lines (these are printed on cheap newspaper - so when you stack them unevenly like a kid would, you get big sun damage lines - in the Australian sun) no tears and no writing on cover - which is super rare.

I asked if I could buy them for £75 each and they agreed. So for £220 I got 3 high grade early Phantom issues, worth low end £825. If I hold out I may get more. I am thinking of flipping these - but I always say that and just keep them.

They had another issue for £200. a similar issue in Australia is up for sale at $650 - $320, obviously that is not the sale price. THe issues I brought are in better condition. I don't know why they accepted £75 each, or the starting price difference.