QR variant has hit $200+

[GGSAE]

It's the steepness of the incline that makes me think "bubble".

As late as last Friday, I was hemming and hawing over buying another (available) QR variant for $45.

Thee days later, it is selling for 4 times that amount. It doesn't seem like a sustainable level of increase. I imagine it is fueled in part by the shortage we've seen of these books due to the trucking accident.

I agree with you that the TWD reference was extreme, but there hasn't been many developments in the comic world in the past 5-10 years to give comparative analysis. And I don't know how much hemming and hawing you could have done at $45, those early 1:50 listings were gone in a blink of an eye.

[caniac]

Needless to say boys...It's gonna be a fun ride

[Elveen]

If there are really only 600-800 of these books (heck even only 1,000) I think the prices could stay high? I don't know. $200 high?

But think of this.

Could there be 1,000 Valiant collectors that want complete collections next year? Maybe. What about in 3-4 year (or 5 years) when Valiant has become the #3 in comics? Yes, for sure.

I always thought that it would be a slow build, maybe I was wrong about that (or maybe I was right, but the build will start larger than I thought)

The one thing this book has going for itself ( besides the 1st book of a major relaunch of characters that have a huge past fan base, the 1st app. of 2 MAJOR characters (and the Vine), the 1st QR cover [I'd imagine MANY to come from ALL publishers], a super low print run that many/most stores did not get) is that it is a QUALITY product. This is not Butcher Baker / Skullkickers internet hype.

This is a quality product. Can the price maintain? History show not, but ...... some Valiant books HAVE held their price if not gone up (GBU, SM Spec ed, EW 27 VVSS, Diamond Unity TPBs, Turok EB, and many, many more.)

Again, I'm just glad I got one.

I wonder who will be the first to post a hoard pic of these books?

[GGSAE]

Suddenly, the prices I paid for my copies doesn't look too bad.

The $200 has got to be a bubble. As is typical, and always happens.

I think there's a lot of buyers that would list their copies at 200-300 dollars if they had them in their hands. So it's possible the first wave of sellers (non-retailers) might be listing soon. I don't think we can say for certain this price is a top. I was reading an old TWD thread on the CGC forums where everyone was talking about how ridiculous it was when prices of number one was between 50-100, and now look where it sells for. And remember that comic has 6 times the print run of this variant. No one knows where this will go, but if you want a single copy to keep as a collector/fan of the series it doesn't really matter what you pay for it if you have no plans on selling....assuming you're not using rent money to buy it.

You're arguing the exception as evidence for the rule. When X-O Manowar, the TV show, becomes the most popular show AMC has ever produced, I may agree.

I don't think this book will ever drop below $50, primarily because I imagine there are enough of us boredies that would buy them for $50.

$200 may not be the peak of the bubble, but I imagine it is a bubble, as almost always happens.

I think $50 might be low. Maybe $100. Kinda like the GBU. Except this is a #1 issue with the 1st app of Aric and Gilad.

I also envision the Bloodshot orders going up over the next two weeks. 60,000, perhaps? That demand will force up a new demand for Harbinger - which I think will be insane out of the gate.

I see a set of the four 1:50 covers at $1000.

Very good comparative. There's just too many Valiant/Acclaim books that sell for in and around $100, for this book not to be worth that - GBU, the Glow, the Acclaim Standalone, 4 of the VVSS...how can you say any of those are more important than this?

I don't know if this book is worth 2-300, time will tell...but at $50, I think so many of us would buy unlimited copies, that the price will never get down that low again - or at a minimum would provide a floor.

EDIT: I finished this post before seeing your summary comment above.

[kevinbastos]

The $1000 may be a stretch - but I don't see it outside of the realm of possibility.

Let's assume that the $300 IS a bubble.

Okay.

The thing I've been MOST impressed about this whole thing is how much Valiant has REALLY planned this sucker. It gets better and better.

The best covers are the 1:20 covers. Greater demand. The X-O release, and subsequent increase in speculator demand - plus OUR demand - have driven this sucker crazy high.

Add to this the fact that Harbinger orders were ALREADY DUE. That means that the 1:50 are already set.

It will START this high. And SOMEONE will buy it. Of course, orders for Bloodshot and Archer and Armstrong are not yet due - and most certainly will go up.

Then, add the finalization/announcement of the Bloodshot movie. If I'm Valiant, I announce it around July fourth. Drive UP orders for a book that has greater numbers. People jump in and see what the orders for the last two were. Now they are willing to pay that much for them.

Announce Archer and Armstrong. Its 1:50 variant is found. Add that to the fact that people have already snatched up the other 1:50 variants - so fewer sellers. How many people want to sit on their extra 1:50 variants now that the raw copies are going for over $200?

That's my scenario for the $1000 full set.

[Dr. Solar]

I agree with you that the TWD reference was extreme, but there hasn't been many developments in the comic world in the past 5-10 years to give comparative analysis. And I don't know how much hemming and hawing you could have done at $45, those early 1:50 listings were gone in a blink of an eye.

I've already spent enough money on copies of X-O Manowar #1. Enough to hem and haw over spending another $50.

[Daniel Jackson]

Very cool to see this kind of demand for the book.

I just hope DCBS doesn't notice this and decide to pull a fast one with our orders.....

[Dr. Solar]

Also, from what I can tell, only 31 copies of the QR variant have sold on EBay, 13 or 14 of those over the weekend. That's not a ton of sales to base any trend on.

[FormerReader]

The $1000 may be a stretch - but I don't see it outside of the realm of possibility.

Let's assume that the $300 IS a bubble.

Okay.

The thing I've been MOST impressed about this whole thing is how much Valiant has REALLY planned this sucker. It gets better and better.

The best covers are the 1:20 covers. Greater demand. The X-O release, and subsequent increase in speculator demand - plus OUR demand - have driven this sucker crazy high.

Add to this the fact that Harbinger orders were ALREADY DUE. That means that the 1:50 are already set.

It will START this high. And SOMEONE will buy it. Of course, orders for Bloodshot and Archer and Armstrong are not yet due - and most certainly will go up.

Then, add the finalization/announcement of the Bloodshot movie. If I'm Valiant, I announce it around July fourth. Drive UP orders for a book that has greater numbers. People jump in and see what the orders for the last two were. Now they are willing to pay that much for them.

Announce Archer and Armstrong. Its 1:50 variant is found. Add that to the fact that people have already snatched up the other 1:50 variants - so fewer sellers. How many people want to sit on their extra 1:50 variants now that the raw copies are going for over $200?

That's my scenario for the $1000 full set.

I see where you're coming from. My thought process is until the series have proven to be as good as we expect and slowly developes readers due to the quality the sales ans price should not go up.

Doesn't mean they won't though.

[greg]

Also, from what I can tell, only 31 copies of the QR variant have sold on EBay, 13 or 14 of those over the weekend. That's not a ton of sales to base any trend on.

...and most of those were buy-it-now that the seller decided the price, not the open market.

[Dr. Solar]

...and most of those were buy-it-now that the seller decided the price, not the open market.

That's true. A lot of the sales have been those $90 "master sets".

I think a lot of my skepticism is based on the fact that here isn't a *ton* of X-O hype. There is some, and a lot of people think it is good, but it doesn't seem like it has received crazy initial hype like Saga or Chew did.

I think a lot more people will realize that it is really good several months down the line.

[etos45]

I've heard it mentioned a little in the thread, but I wonder how much of this price is based on supply actually in hand? For $200, I would drop one of my QRs right now... if I had it. I think that would more than cover all of the X-O #1 purchases I've made, plus I'd still have a QR. I'm sure I'm not the only one that would do this but doesn't have the book yet, and I'm guessing by the time it's here eBay will be flooded with them and the price will have lowered. I just can't see this being a long-term $200+ book. But, what do I know?

[Elveen]

...and most of those were buy-it-now that the seller decided the price, not the open market.

That's true. A lot of the sales have been those $90 "master sets".

I think a lot of my skepticism is based on the fact that here isn't a *ton* of X-O hype. There is some, and a lot of people think it is good, but it doesn't seem like it has received crazy initial hype like Saga or Chew did.

I think a lot more people will realize that it is really good several months down the line.

Me too. Then what will happen to the price?

[Elveen]

I've heard it mentioned a little in the thread, but I wonder how much of this price is based on supply actually in hand? For $200, I would drop one of my QRs right now... if I had it. I think that would more than cover all of the X-O #1 purchases I've made, plus I'd still have a QR. I'm sure I'm not the only one that would do this but doesn't have the book yet, and I'm guessing by the time it's here eBay will be flooded with them and the price will have lowered. I just can't see this being a long-term $200+ book. But, what do I know?

Can a 600 print run book "flood" ebay?

[etos45]

I've heard it mentioned a little in the thread, but I wonder how much of this price is based on supply actually in hand? For $200, I would drop one of my QRs right now... if I had it. I think that would more than cover all of the X-O #1 purchases I've made, plus I'd still have a QR. I'm sure I'm not the only one that would do this but doesn't have the book yet, and I'm guessing by the time it's here eBay will be flooded with them and the price will have lowered. I just can't see this being a long-term $200+ book. But, what do I know?

Can a 600 print run book "flood" ebay?

Sure. If I'm on eBay and I see 20 listings of X-O QR #1 listed, I'd consider that flooded. If they were all auctions, that'd definitely lower price which might lower demand. With 600 copies, that could be done a many times and with BINs that won't sell and get re-listed it could further sustain. Right now there are six on ebay with one that has a $250 BIN that might not go and a $200 BIN that could go, but it's more likely people will try bidding on one of the two $91 ones instead. One which ends today. I'll admit, though, that I'm really shocked that the auction ending in 5 days already has 10 bids to $91. Does no one get how eBay works?

[betterthanezra]

I'm gone at work all day come back this evening and all of this craziness happens

-Brian

[TheVisitor]

I'm very curious to see what the first CGC graded copy will sell for (9.8 or better). That should be fun...

--Phil

[betterthanezra]

I'm very curious to see what the first CGC graded copy will sell for (9.8 or better). That should be fun...

--Phil

I agree

-Brian

[caniac]

I'm very curious to see what the first CGC graded copy will sell for (9.8 or better). That should be fun...

--Phil

I agree

-Brian

I was thinking that myself

[ckb]

I'm very curious to see what the first CGC graded copy will sell for (9.8 or better). That should be fun...

--Phil

I agree

-Brian

I was thinking that myself

[GGSAE]

I'm very curious to see what the first CGC graded copy will sell for (9.8 or better). That should be fun...

--Phil

I agree

-Brian

I was thinking that myself

[JCVaughn]

Wow. I sincerely HATE to see the worst aspect of the original, post-Unity Valiant returning. Stupid (and I do mean genuinely and amazingly stupid) purchases of this issue for $200 will inevitably stick the purchaser with the issue, which will almost certainly never sell for such a price again. I would suspect that just about everyone here wishes the new Valiant well, but this is particularly lame since it appears to be lack of information that is driving the speculation. The market will sort this out, of course, but geez, it's as if we collectively learned nothing.

[BruceReville]

Wow. I sincerely HATE to see the worst aspect of the original, post-Unity Valiant returning. Stupid (and I do mean genuinely and amazingly stupid) purchases of this issue for $200 will inevitably stick the purchaser with the issue, which will almost certainly never sell for such a price again. I would suspect that just about everyone here wishes the new Valiant well, but this is particularly lame since it appears to be lack of information that is driving the speculation. The market will sort this out, of course, but geez, it's as if we collectively learned nothing.

Agreed

[JCVaughn]

Wow. I sincerely HATE to see the worst aspect of the original, post-Unity Valiant returning. Stupid (and I do mean genuinely and amazingly stupid) purchases of this issue for $200 will inevitably stick the purchaser with the issue, which will almost certainly never sell for such a price again. I would suspect that just about everyone here wishes the new Valiant well, but this is particularly lame since it appears to be lack of information that is driving the speculation. The market will sort this out, of course, but geez, it's as if we collectively learned nothing.

Agreed

And I guess I should add that I don't think the new Valiant is promoting this. A hunt for some level of variants is good for the collectors and the line. Huge, dumb prices that eventually crash are bad in the very near long term, and I think everyone at the new Valiant gets that (that's my impression of everyone I've met to date).

[400yrs]

Wow. I sincerely HATE to see the worst aspect of the original, post-Unity Valiant returning. Stupid (and I do mean genuinely and amazingly stupid) purchases of this issue for $200 will inevitably stick the purchaser with the issue, which will almost certainly never sell for such a price again. I would suspect that just about everyone here wishes the new Valiant well, but this is particularly lame since it appears to be lack of information that is driving the speculation. The market will sort this out, of course, but geez, it's as if we collectively learned nothing.

In my opinion, this is completely different from the nineties. Yes, the prices on the variants are high but the regular issue is available and affordable. People can read it cheaply. This was not the case in the nineties. People paying big bucks for these are likely collectors rather than speculators in the nineties and these are more likely to stay in permanent collections.