x-o 1/2 gold

valiantdude · Post by **valiantdude** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 10:20 pm

ive heard it stated that CEOG was the final gold book that issued by Valiant. But didn't x-o 1/2 come out after that? I know it was shipped out randomly but still didnt it come out afterwards?

greg · Post by **greg** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 11:18 pm

I'm not sure if it's a technicality...
but X-O 1/2 Gold wasn't from Valiant... it's from Wizard.

magnus20009 · Post by **magnus20009** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 3:53 pm

Why is the X-O Manowar gold 1/2 worth so much? Isn't it just a Wizard 1/2 retailer incentive? I until a few months ago I never even realized their were two different versions of this book (or any other Wizard 1/2).

I did some research and noticed that many other Wizard 1/2 books have different logo versions. For example Arcanum has a gold logo version, Tales of the Darkness has a Silver foil version, Witchblade/TombRaider a gold version. Having never ordered from Wizard I've bought all my 1/2's from retailers and I have not noticed a price difference on any of the books between regular and variant versions. I would think that TombRaider/Witchblade would be more popular than X-O Manowar so why the large price difference on the X-0 Manowar 1/2 books?

x-omatic · Post by **x-omatic** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 5:44 pm

magnus20009 wrote:Why is the X-O Manowar gold 1/2 worth so much? Isn't it just a Wizard 1/2 retailer incentive? I until a few months ago I never even realized their were two different versions of this book (or any other Wizard 1/2).

I did some research and noticed that many other Wizard 1/2 books have different logo versions. For example Arcanum has a gold logo version, Tales of the Darkness has a Silver foil version, Witchblade/TombRaider a gold version. Having never ordered from Wizard I've bought all my 1/2's from retailers and I have not noticed a price difference on any of the books between regular and variant versions. I would think that TombRaider/Witchblade would be more popular than X-O Manowar so why the large price difference on the X-0 Manowar 1/2 books?

Very few X-O 1/2 golds. I also think it was the first 1/2 Gold from Wizard.

Brother J · Post by **Brother J** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 6:50 pm

Very few X-O 1/2 golds. I also think it was the first 1/2 Gold from Wizard.

Wasn't the Maxx 1/2 before the X-O 1/2? I know there's a gold version of the Maxx 1/2. My honest opinion is that the X/O 1/2 Gold sells for so much because us fanatics on this web site who are trying to complete their checklists have driven the price up since it doesn't come up on eBay very much. Some of the other 1/2 Gold books are probably just as rare, but no one is really looking to buy them. Supply and demand again, with most of the demand coming from us, the Valiant completists.

magnus20009 · Post by **magnus20009** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:30 am

Thanks for the insight. I was wondering if there was any special reason but it looks like it is just everyone on the valiant site driving the price up.

(I would doubt that the X-O Manowar would be rarer than the other retailer incentive books as I don't think Wizard ever changed how many copies of its magazine a retailer needed to buy to get a free 1/2 incentive. In fact the X-O manowar gold might be more common than the others since I think Wizard was selling more issues at that time then it was a few years latter).

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:41 am

Brother J wrote: Wasn't the Maxx 1/2 before the X-O 1/2? I know there's a gold version of the Maxx 1/2. My honest opinion is that the X/O 1/2 Gold sells for so much because us fanatics on this web site who are trying to complete their checklists have driven the price up since it doesn't come up on eBay very much. Some of the other 1/2 Gold books are probably just as rare, but no one is really looking to buy them. Supply and demand again, with most of the demand coming from us, the Valiant completists.

This is exactly the case. Maxx 1/2 Gold came out a couple YEARS before X-O 1/2 Gold (Wizard #22 vs. Wizard #....44?) and there is another gold 1/2 that is just as hard to find that came out at the same time, in the same format....Ripclaw 1/2 gold. Why isn't IT worth $150? No one cares. There is also the binder version of Gen 13 1/3 which, while it doesn't have a gold logo, DOES have a sticker on the cover with a hologram that Wizard later used on the signed versions of the 1/2's and assorted others. Why doesn't THAT sell for $$$? Again....no one cares.

Which leads me to another point....have the prices across the board for all Valiant been artificially driven up...by us? I'm a perfect example....today, I paid the unthinkable price (to me) of 80¢ each for X-O #'s 60-68. A year ago, I would have laughed if you'd told me I'd pay more than 25¢ each for A copy, much less multiples. I'm also putting in snipe bids of $15 and UP for Harbinger #1....up until this year, I'd never have paid more than $5-$6 for it.

And I'm sure I am the bottomest of the bottom feeders on this board when it comes to cheap. How much moreso, then, are you folks who are willing to shell out the cash for the stuff you want? I bought 10 Magnus #3's for $1.60 and 5 Magnus #2's (all with card...thanks X-O!) for $1...three of which actually turned out to be NM...again, something I wouldn't have considered before now. And heaven and earth, I've actually paid Mile High's ridiculous price of $3.60 for a Turok Evolution copy, something I would have LAUGHED at a year ago.

So....is it just US? Are we doing this all to ourselves? I know I won't touch a Unity Red if it's over $20, which totally leaves me out of every current loop....but how many of you have shelled out $60 to get it?

And if so...how many of us are doing it just for online bragging rights? I come in at #30, with a 'bare bones' list, but I DOUBT I'll come in higher than #10 with a 'complete by ZWH's standards'...and I'm perfectly ok with that. I don't NEED to own EVERYTHING Valiant ever put there name on...but how many of you DO...? And not only that, but want MULTIPLES for profit?

And..in doing that...driving prices to an artificial level that really isn't supported by an expanding fan base...?

x-omatic · Post by **x-omatic** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:44 am

magnus20009 wrote:Thanks for the insight. I was wondering if there was any special reason but it looks like it is just everyone on the valiant site driving the price up.

(I would doubt that the X-O Manowar would be rarer than the other retailer incentive books as I don't think Wizard ever changed how many copies of its magazine a retailer needed to buy to get a free 1/2 incentive. In fact the X-O manowar gold might be more common than the others since I think Wizard was selling more issues at that time then it was a few years latter).

Wizard is distributed more now than it did back when the X-O was offered, so chances are many more 1/2 golds are printed now than before. There are many other 1/2 Golds that are on Ebay all the time. Every Comic con I have been at there is always at least one seller clearing out Gold and Variant books really cheap. Yet I have never found a X-O 1/2 Gold. Bone 1/2 Gold, Ripclaw 1/2 Gold and many others can always be found less than 10. I would think Bone has a greater fan following now than X-O does. Yet Bone 1/2 Gold doesn't comand a higher price.

magnus20009 · Post by **magnus20009** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 1:17 am

Wizard is distributed more now than it did back when the X-O was offered, so chances are many more 1/2 golds are printed now than before.

Wizard is more widely available now (i.e. Barnes and Nobel and other newstands) but is it selling more copies through comic shops as it is only the comic dealers who get the retailer incentive issues. It would be interesting to see Wizard's numbers in the direct market over the years. I would be shocked if the X-O Manowar Gold 1/2 numbers were significantly different from a lot of other Wizard variant 1/2 numbers or at least those issued between issues 22 and say 60 (or plus or minus roughly 20 issues from when it came out).

There are many other 1/2 Golds that are on Ebay all the time. Every Comic con I have been at there is always at least one seller clearing out Gold and Variant books really cheap. Yet I have never found a X-O 1/2 Gold. Bone 1/2 Gold, Ripclaw 1/2 Gold and many others can always be found less than 10. I would think Bone has a greater fan following now than X-O does. Yet Bone 1/2 Gold doesn't comand a higher price.

Until just a few months ago I never even looked for the gold 1/2 or other Wizard 1/2 variants as I did not know they existed. It still seems strange to me that the X-O Manowar is so expensive given as you have pointed out Bone has a greater fan base and Witchblade definately does and their variants don't command premiums. I think ZephyrWasHOT!! has a point and that people on this board have been artificially driving up prices. Personally I can see certain books - like pre-Unity Valiants holding their value and increasing but in 10 years how many people except a few die-hards are going to care about whether their copy of X-O 1/2 is gold or not. I don't see their being 2,500 people who care (I have to think that most X-O golds are still around and in great condition since they could only be acquired by purchase from a direct market dealer and the person would know that in getting a Wizard 1/2 they were getting a relatively special book - even if they did not realize the dealer incentive was different from the normal book).

x-omatic · Post by **x-omatic** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 9:02 am

magnus20009 wrote:Until just a few months ago I never even looked for the gold 1/2 or other Wizard 1/2 variants as I did not know they existed. It still seems strange to me that the X-O Manowar is so expensive given as you have pointed out Bone has a greater fan base and Witchblade definately does and their variants don't command premiums. I think ZephyrWasHOT!! has a point and that people on this board have been artificially driving up prices. Personally I can see certain books - like pre-Unity Valiants holding their value and increasing but in 10 years how many people except a few die-hards are going to care about whether their copy of X-O 1/2 is gold or not. I don't see their being 2,500 people who care (I have to think that most X-O golds are still around and in great condition since they could only be acquired by purchase from a direct market dealer and the person would know that in getting a Wizard 1/2 they were getting a relatively special book - even if they did not realize the dealer incentive was different from the normal book).

I really do not think that the board members here have articially driven up the price. Out of 86 members who have listed their inventories only 21 have a X-O 1/2 Gold. Anyone that has followed any of the Ebay auctions know there are more & more collectors buying Valiant than just the members listed on this site. These books just are not out there to buy. I know I have check at least 100 different comics shops across the US and in a few other countries (I got my Predator vs Magnus from a shop in Brazil). Stores do not have them. I see other 1/2 Golds all the time.

What may be the case is that people have the Gold version and do not know it is a variant. I know at least 2 people who got a X-O 1/2 gold when they sent in their coupon. They didn't know it until we got a bunch of the regular ones in for the store I worked at back then.

The rare variants like this are only going to continue to get harder to find as more people re-discover Valiant. So, you better get yours ASAP.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:40 pm

x-omatic wrote: I really do not think that the board members here have articially driven up the price. Out of 86 members who have listed their inventories only 21 have a X-O 1/2 Gold. Anyone that has followed any of the Ebay auctions know there are more & more collectors buying Valiant than just the members listed on this site.

When I say 'on this board', I mean everyone who has read this board, on at least a semi-regular basis, and are aware of the rarity and market values of Valiants, not just members who have listed their inventories, or are actually registered here. Hell, *I* didn't list my inventory until last week, and I've been kicking around here for almost a year.

Aug002, for example, knows this board exists, because at the very least Greg and I, and I'm sure a few others, have told him..but he doesn't post here, nor has he listed his inventory.

I do believe that the prices for X-O Gold 1/2 have been driven up by the collective 'us'....people who have become aware of this site, and aware of just how hard to find it is, whether or not they participate here.

As a side note, I really wish someone would do a print run rundown of Marvel and DC...a daunting task, to be sure, but SOMEWHERE, SOMEONE has the numbers....and I want to see just how low printed Punisher #10 was, or She Hulk #34, or Ghost Rider #4....or Spidey #300, for that matter.

As far as other variants seen all the time...I'm a vorcaious variant buyer, I look for them all the time...and Maxx 1/2 Gold, which is likely more common than X-O, only shows up once or twice every couple of month on eBay. In fact, there's only one up now, and it's with a collection. Maxx 1/2 Gold has sold as high as $30 in the past year, so it's not as if it's 'not worth the effort' to list. That's about as common an appearance as X-O 1/2, no? And I've only EVER seen ONE Ripclaw 1/2 Gold in 10 years in person, and I haven't seen one on eBay in months.

(although, I did find this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... egory=3983 which was very interesting.)

The rare variants like this are only going to continue to get harder to find as more people re-discover Valiant. So, you better get yours ASAP.

I just don't think it's a case of them being THAT rare...they just came out at a time when everyone HATED Valiant, they got shoved away into collections, and forgotten. The reason, I believe, that they are so hard to find, even in light of the $150+ price tag, is because people who have them simply aren't aware of it right now.....but once it gets national press (Wizard or Overstreet mention)....people will dig through their collections, pull them out, and cash in....and the price will plummet.

If not..hey, I can trade 2 Harb #1's for it eventually.

Shakespeare · Post by **Shakespeare** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:23 am

Will 2500 people ever want X-O #1/2 gold? I say yes, but that's because I believe that Valiant is the next EC.

One reason that many of us are here is because Valiant is an attainable collection...800-some books. It's do-able. "You too can own a universe."

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 6:14 pm

Shakespeare wrote:Will 2500 people ever want X-O #1/2 gold? I say yes, but that's because I believe that Valiant is the next EC.

That is exactly, 100% on the nose. Imagine what EC's would do if there was a succesful revival?

One reason that many of us are here is because Valiant is an attainable collection...800-some books. It's do-able. "You too can own a universe."

Same with that.

sonicdan · Post by **sonicdan** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 6:30 pm

The rare variants like this are only going to continue to get harder to find as more people re-discover Valiant. So, you better get yours ASAP.

I bought an X-O 1/2 gold last week for $100. I'm glad one's finally in my collection.
Now I've only 6 more Valiants to get to 100% (for now).
It was actually the most I ever paid for a comic, but still a deal
conisidering it's NM and most seem to go for $150+.
DAN

x-omatic · Post by **x-omatic** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 10:44 am

Wow this ended at $217.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %3AIT&rd=1

johnpaulbill · Post by **johnpaulbill** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 10:34 am

x-omatic wrote:Wow this ended at $217.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %3AIT&rd=1

Has anybody else noticed just how many books tomorrowtoo has obtained over the past couple of weeks? Is he the new Aug002?

oxygen · Post by **oxygen** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 10:56 am

I just find it weird when collectors who tout Valiant as being story-driven and having such a great universe go and pay exorbitant prices for variants. But that's just me.

cjv · Post by **cjv** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 12:47 pm

I have gone after some of the affordable variants - I am not going to pay $200 for an XO 1/2 gold or $150 for an Eternal Warrior 27 VVSS. I just like to have them. Plus, I will admit, if Valiant ever shoots off again, I will be happy to sell a gold variant or something for double what I paid. I will still have the regular issues for reading.

Chris

riptide_soccer · Post by **riptide_soccer** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 12:51 pm

As my friend KNIGHT knows, I am a "pure completist". I'm going to have a complete set, variants and all, come hell or high water. And yes, I've paid some steep prices for the variants. But I guess what I'm trying to say is that it goes back to each person's preference. If you feel complete with every one in a run, whether its a variant or not, then thats your preference. Does it mean your collection is any less than anyone elses on the board?? HECK NO!!! We're all fans, and you're still getting the same stories whether they are variants or not. Its your preference!!!

By the way, I have a lot of duplicates for anyone that needs them in order to "complete" your set.

greg · Post by **greg** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 3:09 pm

oxygen wrote:I just find it weird when collectors who tout Valiant as being story-driven and having such a great universe go and pay exorbitant prices for variants. But that's just me.

This is one of the reasons that I'm almost embarrassed when people ask...
"So what are the top price books for Valiant?"

The answer is that a 1/2 issue (gimmick) gold variant (gimmick) printed
by Wizard (no comment) is currently tops in the Valiant universe.
Embarrassing? You bet! But what can I say? They're rare.
If someone could find a case of them... they'd probably be $20 tomorrow.

When someone asks... "What are the greatest stories for Valiant?"
You get a completely different answer...
and the best part is... you can still own the greatest stories for pretty cheap!

I guess someday the best stories may also be the highest priced books,
but that day hasn't come yet.... and luckily it's still not as insane as the
prices paid for more recent RRP issues. (Talk about ridiculous!)