Took me 16 years to break my Valiant virginity...

[aggr1103]

Hey guys - new member here. Crazy subject line I know but hear me out:

I just found this site and signed up on the forums to tell my story about my newfound appreciation for Valiant comics. Key words are "newfound" and "appreciation" as I've known about Valiant comics since back in the early 90's. That's where my story begins.

I started collecting comics around Christmas of 1993. Huge speculator market at the time. Huge print runs and gimmicky covers plus multiple variant covers kept collectors busy. I was a 13 year old speculator. I never read my comics I just bagged and boarded them. I also bought every flashy, gimmicky cover I could afford. Needless to say, my interest turned from comics and baseball cards to girls rather quickly during this time and I stopped collecting comics when I was 14. I did, however, pick up several valiants during this time - Dr. Mirage #1, Ninjak #1, Shadowman #0, Magnus #25. All except Dr. Mirage #1 were bought based off cover and the fact that they were cheap at the time because of the high print runs and sheer number of backissues available.

I never read any of them though - and when I turned 25 and got married I went through a comic book renaissance. I started collecting again, but instead of just boxing them up I was actually READING them now (interesting concept eh?). Unfortunately, to make room for the new comics I was reading I had to sell off several lots of comics I collected as a kid. With those sales, almost all of the Valiant comics I had were gone.

Since the start of the new year, I've entered yet another comic renaissance. I'm fed up with the prices of new comic issues. Ridiculous to pay $3-$4 for a single issue only to find it on ebay a month or two later for half that. So now I'm collecting comics the way I did when I was a kid - I budget $20-$30 a month and I try to buy as many comics as I can. I buy what I want and not what the trend in comics is. I call it "online dollar bin diving." I had a blast this past month doing it, and one of the comics I bought brought me here.

I bought a copy of X-O Manowar #15 (Pink) for the huge sum of $1.86 in NM off ebay. I used to oogle this comic at comic shows as a kid because it was just neat to see pink rather than a hologram or gold on a limited cover. Lowest I ever saw a copy as a kid was $50. I figured picking it up for less than $2 was worthwhile.

Here's the kicker - I actually READ it and LOVED it. The premise behind the book is just so unique - I only wish I would've read them when I was a kid. My goal now is to complete the run. Then I plan on moving onto either Rai or Solar. Been looking through some of the awesome collections here, hoping to start amassing my own fairly soon.

Its awesome to actually be reading a comic set in a non Marvel, DC, or terribly overhyped Rob Liefield universe.

[ian_house]

Good stuff man! Welcome to the boards. Theres some great stuff in the early Valiant books, even a few in the later issues (although many people don't agree).

Stick around and join the chat!

[tmcneil82]

Welcome!

When your ready to take the next plunge, i have a ton of the common valiants for you to read through. I'll get a list going within the next few days if your interested

[Elveen]

Hola compadre.

[Daniel Jackson]

I bought a copy of X-O Manowar #15 (Pink) for the huge sum of $1.86 in NM off ebay. I used to oogle this comic at comic shows as a kid because it was just neat to see pink rather than a hologram or gold on a limited cover. Lowest I ever saw a copy as a kid was $50. I figured picking it up for less than $2 was worthwhile.

Welcome.

Glad you didn't make the mistake of paying 50 bucks for that one. Someone was really dreaming with a price tag like that. I don't ever remember those going for more than 10 or 15 bucks back in the day.

[sanman]

Welcome, XO is what introduced me to Valiant back in the day. Forgive me, but I’m a little jealous—reading these stories for the first time cemented my love of the medium. I hope your experiences will be as equally enjoyable.

[aggr1103]

Glad you didn't make the mistake of paying 50 bucks for that one. Someone was really dreaming with a price tag like that. I don't ever remember those going for more than 10 or 15 bucks back in the day.

I would've never had the chance to - I only bought comics from comic shows and a few mailorders back then and I had an allowance of $20-$30 at the time. I never wanted to spend it all on one book.

[iggy101us]

Welcome and enjoy the re-discovery.

[comicsyte95]

Welcome and have a great time reading for the 1st time!Your going to have a great time ahead of you!

[sanman]

Glad you didn't make the mistake of paying 50 bucks for that one. Someone was really dreaming with a price tag like that. I don't ever remember those going for more than 10 or 15 bucks back in the day.

I would've never had the chance to - I only bought comics from comic shows and a few mailorders back then and I had an allowance of $20-$30 at the time. I never wanted to spend it all on one book.

I hear ya, around ’92 when I paid $20 for TMNT #4 it was a shock to my high school allowance. And anything above that was certainly out of my reach.

I have since bought many of the issues I desired back in the day on the cheap like Valiant premiums and other HTF books. On the other hand, once I graduated from college and began earning a real income I splurged a bit.

[robb77]

welcome

[IanAlexavier]

Welcome, XO is what introduced me to Valiant back in the day. Forgive me, but I’m a little jealous—reading these stories for the first time cemented my love of the medium. I hope your experiences will be as equally enjoyable.

[96Valiantfan]

Welcome

[mrwoogieman]

Welcome to the boards! I was born on November 3rd, so I dig your board name.

[aggr1103]

Welcome to the boards! I was born on November 3rd, so I dig your board name.

LOL thanks. Its actually got nothing to do with November 3rd, its actually my fraternity scroll, or "stud" number.

I've started a blog and posted a video of my unboxing. I'm planning on doing a review of X-O #15 in the next couple of days -

http://dollarbincomics.blogspot.com

[sanman]

I hate that the Valiant universe is mostly gone now—you’re really going to like this place.

I enjoyed you posted video—a have a few of the ones featured, but I need that Deadman, Adams rocks!

I try to spend more money annually on good back issues than new books, myself. I think you made some good purchases with the Spider-Man annual, Year one, and of course the X-O Pink.

[slym2none]

Welcome abroad!



-slym (has the frakkin' hiccups)

[Brother J]

Welcome to the boards! I was born on November 3rd, so I dig your board name.

LOL thanks. Its actually got nothing to do with November 3rd, its actually my fraternity scroll, or "stud" number.

I've started a blog and posted a video of my unboxing. I'm planning on doing a review of X-O #15 in the next couple of days -

http://dollarbincomics.blogspot.com

watched the video, great to see your enthusiasm about comics. I would definitely recommend attending a local comic show and searching the cheap bins, as you probably could have gotten most of the books you purchased from Mile High much cheaper. Also, I'm guessing most if not all of your buys were Buy It Nows, you might want to watch the actual auction type listings a little closer, you'll probably do quite a bit better price wise in auctions with so many things going close to the opening low bids. Have fun!

[aggr1103]

watched the video, great to see your enthusiasm about comics. I would definitely recommend attending a local comic show and searching the cheap bins, as you probably could have gotten most of the books you purchased from Mile High much cheaper. Also, I'm guessing most if not all of your buys were Buy It Nows, you might want to watch the actual auction type listings a little closer, you'll probably do quite a bit better price wise in auctions with so many things going close to the opening low bids. Have fun!

Thanks for the replies!

Did want to comment on this. "Local" comic shows aren't really something we find regular down here. I'm in SE NC and the closest shows are generally 2 hours away in Raleigh. (I really miss the Fayetteville shows). "Local" comic shops are also something we don't have. Its an hours drive in either direction just to find one. (Will be going to one with my 2 yr old for free comic book day this year though.)

I will be attending Heroescon in Charlotte this year for the first time in 14! years. Can't wait.

I've been using Mile High as my preferred store on ebay because of the $2.95 flat rate shipping. I always shop around, but its hard to sometimes justify going with a lower auction win where I outbid someone else if the combined shipping will negate any savings compared to going with Mile High. Starts to cut into your budget when you buy from several places and shipping is sometimes more than what you paid for the actual item. That's why I try to buy all I can from one store. I'm always open to new shops and stores though. Currently I'm bidding on a couple of Weird War Tales from the mid-70's through a seller with $3.00 combined shipping.

I can see where eBay's new polices are causing prices on Mile High to increase. Lots of comics than were for less than $1.00 a couple years ago are at least $1.00 now.

[dhudson1]

Welcome

[dholden007]

That's a great story...better late than never.