Captain America *Spoiler*

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

If comic shops were told about the end of Cap 25 would it be better or worse ?

There would be a lot more copies out there but how is that better? Spidey's outing caused a small rush to comic shops to get the issue and had some buying all the civil war books (I actually witnessed this happening at my LCS) by people that had been out of comics for years. Not just the issue but the whole storyline.

The print runs are a lot lower now than in the 80’s and early 90’s. The book wasn't hyped as "the death of" so there are not 1,000,000 copies out there, which everyone believes would be a bad thing. So what’s the real complaint ?

Is it a gimmick . . . yes, but so what. They didn’t use it to sell more copies, just to generate interest in comic books. You can still get $5 - $20 for a Death of Superman book. Not bad for having 800 million copies out there. The story will be reprinted for those that want to read it, so what’s the problem ?

Someone getting into the “hobby” just to buy this book and become a millionaire is not going to stay anyway. If the book is well written and causes someone to start reading or get back into reading comics then it was a positive thing.

If they could have kept it on time, they actually could have made Civil War a 12 issue mini and took the time to explain both sides better in the actual book instead of in peripheral books. That’s a whole different argument though . . .

These people don't buy comics to see what is going on.

They buy them to make $$$, and then they leave.

JUST like in 1992.

People who bought Superman to sell didn't stay.

They had no reason to.

They have even LESS reason now.

This is not supposition, this is history. It's exactly what happened on Nov 20, 1992 and following, only to a much, MUCH smaller degree.

I GUARANTEE you, the VAST majority of people who would otherwise never step foot in a comic shop are doing so because of $$$, not to see what's going on in the story of Cap.

THEY$ DON'T$ CARE$.

All$ they$ $ee$ i$ $$$.

If retailers can SNAG those fools with good salesmanship, MORE POWER TO THEM. But it's not the "event" that will keep those people.

I had a long conversation with my dealer today (small store) about this.

Yes there were many people that came into the store and said “give me the Cap Book” and left . . . .

But there were also people coming in that he said he hadn’t seen in years. Coming back in the store, talking about how long they have been away and looking around the store like a kid in a candy shop. And they bought more than just the Cap book.

No, a lot of these events are not bringing in new blood to stay, but maybe some old blood, intrigued by the events will come back. It happened to me . . .

Which, you are forced to admit, is OLD blood.

Ya know?

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

Both ZWH and Spider have said..."they didn't let retailers know". If the speculators et al knew...isn't it the retailers JOB to know what is going on and driving the market? Shouldn't they have had an inkling? Do you guys really think Marvel should have stepped out to all it's retailers and said --"hey guys, btw we're insert special event next issue, so stock up"...that most likely would have diminished the effect.

just my opinion

Really?

Superman #75, and the death therein, was announced for MONTHS and MONTHS and MONTHS beforehand.

Didn't have any effect on the "hype".

Granted, it was a different market back then.....

But if anything, the anticipation made it even MORE insane.

Retailers RELY on their Dimaond reps and publishers to INFORM them of what is going on. If no one tells them.....THEY won't know, either.

No, this debacle is entirely Marvel's doing. YES, Marvel MOST DEFINITELY should have said "hey, guys, here's what's going on."

And the speculators DID NOT KNOW either. This information was kept "secret" until YESTERDAY. Then, of course, Marvel's all over USA Today and Yahoo.com, and people READ those.

No, it wasn't diehard speculators who bought these....

It was the idiot joe off the street "speculator" just looking to burn a quick buck off fanboys.

I feel like I read something weeks ago about this happening...either here or at Lyria...that they were planning on doing this...wish I could find the thread...and granted it was speculation not first hand knowledge but still...

and don't get me wrong, I don't like "joe speculator" who has no interest in comics coming off the street and doing this. But I also think that many shop owners haven't a CLUE as to what's going on in their own business...and that's their own fault.

Ok, absolutely fair enough....you will NEVER get an argument from me about lazy and/or clueless retailers...

BUT.....in THIS ONE case, the nonsense lies squarely on Marvel....

I've already got one of each cover promised to me, above and beyond the ONE copy I got yesterday...I'm not holding my breath until I have them in my hands, though.

And really.....Marvel has stated there was a fair enough "overprint" on these, so they may be $10 by the end of the month.

But even still....regular comics guys like you and me should NEVER have to scramble to find these, even if we don't subscribe to that title.

A SAVVY retailer will hold back copies for his regular customers, even if they don't normally buy this kind of book.

I've spent $3000 in the last two weeks at House of Secrets. Ya think he saved one for me?

No, he sold them to the idiot speculators that won't be back.

TELL me that makes sense.

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

Unlike my LCS - who tells customers he is out of stock and selling them on eBay for $200 a set.

Can I blame them? No... that's all I was gonna do.





-slym (snagged one elsewheres - clickie)

Advice? Change it to a 1 or 3 day auction. 7 days for this is WAYYYYYYYY too long.

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

These things were staring me in the face on Wednesday when I got to the LCS earlier in the day. I didn't know about the story, but the cover caught my eye and I overlooked it. I did buy the Initiative though, so hopefully that book will have some spill over hype for the preview in it as well as the continuity. Don't say I didn't warn ya, but the Initiative One Shot with Silvestri art might be the next book to light down the line when people can't find the Cap book.

One thought to cement this for ya: "Doomsday's Fist" cameo... lmao.

Man of Steel #17.

[MedicAR]

There's about fifty copies of this thing sitting @ Graham Crackers comics in Naperville, IL.

Whillakers.....

Can you help a brother out with one set? My shop said they got shorted, even though I'm a "subscriber."

[MedicAR]

Nevermind.....I just saw where you said you passed it up.

[Elveen]

I've spent $3000 in the last two weeks at House of Secrets. Ya think he saved one for me?

No, he sold them to the idiot speculators that won't be back.

TELL me that makes sense.

that is unbelievable on so many levels.

I wish you could take your business elsewhere. Find another shop, and everytime, EVERYTIME, you buy anything from the new shop, take a copy of the receipt to the dude at House of Secrets.

.....and on the bottom just write ....... "CA #25"

[Knightt]

I tell ya, a part of me is pleased with the news coverage. Yes another part of me is outraged by the whole ordeal but it is nice to be in the spotlight for a few days.

Now going back to the early 90s and mid-90s... man, I had a BLAST back then. I had no idea on what it would do to the market and back then didnt care but it was just a FUN time for me. Plenty of product, books going crazy and I actually liked reading some of the books back then. X-Men was a huge favorite of mine back then as well of course Valiant and even a few chosen Image books. I would pour over Wizard magazine THINKING that this was THE source of comic info (and yes later looking at this book with disgust... still do) and just REALLY being into comics.

I have learned MUCH since then and hope that history does not repeat itself and find myself for sure not falling for all of this (i.e. not buying variants or paying HUGE amounts of money for new books) hype and crap that is going on today but the fun factor is still there a bit... the fun factor of Cap's death (HA...HA... Cap's death because you KNOW he will return) and watching the current Ebay crazy sales, is... well it's fun. Stupid in part, but fun. I am ALL ABOUT enjoying comics and I would rather NOT take them too seriously. I have my strong feelings on certain topics and opinions on other things but I still want my 'fun factor'. I am sure that 'new comics' message boards are going CRAZY right now and people are loosing sleep over things that are happening these days and THAT... would surely take the fun out of comics.

I am glad that I can squint my eyes and 'pretend' that it is back in the hey day of comics... when it was fun. The past two days has sort of had that 'Death of Superman' feel to it... a time when I got back into comics and more importantly, found Valiant Comics. A time when EVERY week when books came out, I just could not wait to get off work to get to the LCS to see what had arrived or what new cards had came out. Seeing chase cards for huge chunks of cash, days of haggling with an LCS owner for 'stuff'. It was a fun time for me, it was exciting. The end of that time ended in disaster but it was a nice ride for a while.

I guess that is why in part I collect the Dead Universes. They are from a time in my life that I was SO enthralled with comics (Valiant, Marvel and Image alike) and now can be picked up for less than a buck. I recently scored a slew of New Universe and 2099 books for $.25 cents a piece AND got a discount off THAT... all books from 'back in the day' (not sure on those New Universe titles and when they came out but they are now new for me LOL). But it is just from years gone by and bringing back good memories just as Valiant does for me.

I remember hearing of the Death of Superman on Entertainment Tonight... I scrambled down there to snag a copy and was offered 3 copies. I took them (sold Superman #75 three weeks later for $130 dollars and some Star Wars action figures and some X-Men comics) and a couple other books that night, saw some cool Marvel Masterpiece chase cards... and it was 'game on'. My comic addiction was back into action. I had gotten out of it for years and that one book brought me into that shop that night and got me started once again. It was a good time for me... a shock to my wallet on a weekly basis but it was a good time for me. Kinda feels that way now... just kinda.

I HOPE the same mistakes are not made because I would hate to see comics go away (not that I REALLY think that would happen)... I just want to see comics as fun again and I think that is what they were designed for.

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

I've spent $3000 in the last two weeks at House of Secrets. Ya think he saved one for me?

No, he sold them to the idiot speculators that won't be back.

TELL me that makes sense.

that is unbelievable on so many levels.

I wish you could take your business elsewhere. Find another shop, and everytime, EVERYTIME, you buy anything from the new shop, take a copy of the receipt to the dude at House of Secrets.

.....and on the bottom just write ....... "CA #25"

Nah, I can't fault Paul. He's a fine retailer. He's the ONLY....and I mean THE ONLY....shop in the Greater Los Angeles Area that aggressively pursues and stocks back issues, and I get them for 25-35% of Guide. Not OFF guide, OF Guide.

How many shops have YOU seen (and I know you've seen the same ones I have) that have EVERY SINGLE BOOK priced AT Guide?

If he was smart, though....he would have done that. I doubt the thought even occured to him.

[stone384]

Advice? Change it to a 1 or 3 day auction. 7 days for this is WAYYYYYYYY too long.

I agree. I had a 1 day and a 3 dayer up. I changed the 3 day to a 1 day. It seems to have paid off.
m

[greg]

I feel like I read something weeks ago about this happening...either here or at Lyria...that they were planning on doing this...wish I could find the thread...and granted it was speculation not first hand knowledge but still...

Was it this? (January 24th)

[Daniel Jackson]

I thought just maybe one the local shops in my area would have a copy. Nope, best I could do was get put on the reorder list. I'm not gonna hold my breath.

[Knightt]

Well we will just see how this all works out and what the frenzy will do:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0101750083

$2.00 off shipping to board members.

Ended today... $51 bucks. Not a bad turn around.

[greg]

Well we will just see how this all works out and what the frenzy will do:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0101750083

$2.00 off shipping to board members.

Ended today... $51 bucks. Not a bad turn around.

Nice, considering this.

[mavros]

Well we will just see how this all works out and what the frenzy will do:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0101750083

$2.00 off shipping to board members.

Ended today... $51 bucks. Not a bad turn around.

Good show. Congrats!

[siren3-4]

Well we will just see how this all works out and what the frenzy will do:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0101750083

$2.00 off shipping to board members.

Ended today... $51 bucks. Not a bad turn around.

Nice, considering this.

Thanks for the link !! and the info !!

[Elveen]

I've spent $3000 in the last two weeks at House of Secrets. Ya think he saved one for me?

No, he sold them to the idiot speculators that won't be back.

TELL me that makes sense.

that is unbelievable on so many levels.

I wish you could take your business elsewhere. Find another shop, and everytime, EVERYTIME, you buy anything from the new shop, take a copy of the receipt to the dude at House of Secrets.

.....and on the bottom just write ....... "CA #25"

Nah, I can't fault Paul. He's a fine retailer. He's the ONLY....and I mean THE ONLY....shop in the Greater Los Angeles Area that aggressively pursues and stocks back issues, and I get them for 25-35% of Guide. Not OFF guide, OF Guide.

How many shops have YOU seen (and I know you've seen the same ones I have) that have EVERY SINGLE BOOK priced AT Guide?

If he was smart, though....he would have done that. I doubt the thought even occured to him.

..... actually.... I've only been to one comic shop out here....... and it's around the corner, and I've only been there to get some Crossgen books for some of my homies here.........

some day, I'm gonna get out and drive around to see some of the comics shops in a 50 mile radius.

[Knightt]

Well we will just see how this all works out and what the frenzy will do:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0101750083

$2.00 off shipping to board members.

Ended today... $51 bucks. Not a bad turn around.

Nice, considering this.

Meaning that there are more first prints out there ? No shortage of issues ? oh man... thank God for one day auctions, oh and the Paypal money that I was sent for this has already been spent.

[wesmantooth]

yep yep most of these folks paying a ton for this book are going to be *SQUEE* off when the hype goes and its found in 25 cent boxes in 5 years. just like our beloved valiant.

[iccarus]

I am just shocked, SHOCKED I tell you that the "shortages" likely aren't true.

Glad I didn't pick up the overpriced copy at my LCS. I'll just wait.

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

I've spent $3000 in the last two weeks at House of Secrets. Ya think he saved one for me?

No, he sold them to the idiot speculators that won't be back.

TELL me that makes sense.

that is unbelievable on so many levels.

I wish you could take your business elsewhere. Find another shop, and everytime, EVERYTIME, you buy anything from the new shop, take a copy of the receipt to the dude at House of Secrets.

.....and on the bottom just write ....... "CA #25"

Nah, I can't fault Paul. He's a fine retailer. He's the ONLY....and I mean THE ONLY....shop in the Greater Los Angeles Area that aggressively pursues and stocks back issues, and I get them for 25-35% of Guide. Not OFF guide, OF Guide.

How many shops have YOU seen (and I know you've seen the same ones I have) that have EVERY SINGLE BOOK priced AT Guide?

If he was smart, though....he would have done that. I doubt the thought even occured to him.

..... actually.... I've only been to one comic shop out here....... and it's around the corner, and I've only been there to get some Crossgen books for some of my homies here.........

some day, I'm gonna get out and drive around to see some of the comics shops in a 50 mile radius.

Give me a call, we'll make a Saturday of it.

[depluto]

The dipshits who spent $200?



Maybe you can stick those comics right next to the PS3 you bought for $3000 in November!

Instead of ebay sending you a "you won this auction" email, they should have sent you a "you are a giant *SQUEE* loser" email.

[myron]

I feel like I read something weeks ago about this happening...either here or at Lyria...that they were planning on doing this...wish I could find the thread...and granted it was speculation not first hand knowledge but still...

Was it this? (January 24th)

very well could have been ... thanks greg

[Daniel Jackson]

The dipshits who spent $200?



Maybe you can stick those comics right next to the PS3 you bought for $3000 in November!

Instead of ebay sending you a "you won this auction" email, they should have sent you a "you are a giant *SQUEE* loser" email.

Now that's a great idea, it's just too bad their picture couldn't be put up on giant billboards with that saying for all to see.

[siren3-4]

So . . . what does anybody think the actual print run is ???