mysterio

Don't go after the low hanging fruit Oh, it ain't even hanging! btw.... I'm still "out" - as in I'm not giving wasting any more advice, input, suggestions or recommendations to the OP. But that doesn't stop me from continuing to watch this train/plane/bus/ship/rocket-crash of a thread for pure entertainment value from the sidelines and shake my head as he continues to display ever new heights of betise. I tried that. Janet will still take you off the "out" list if you're not careful.

Interesting analysis. I do have one question, in that the bricks often have titles with two issues represented (denoted with a * on the labels on the packs). Do we know if DCUs were ever duplicated month to month? If Flash #92, for example, could have shown up in two consecutive packs that could help explain the smaller number.

The green critter on the left is from the cover of TOS #19.

At the risk of bruising my "out" status, it would be enlightening if you provided the details of your transactions (i.e. purchase price, fees, selling price at the very least).

Ok thanks. Not to mention poor spelling... If you're talking about how I spell ok it's how I always spell it. I was talking about "finacial" in the new title.

Ok thanks. Not to mention poor spelling...

Sounds good!

I thought it was fun, I don't get to bust out my (usually) worthless knowledge of obscure trivia very often.

I haven't provided any more advice, just responded to others (ok, and maybe a little sarcasm). If that makes me not out then I guess I didn't get the rules. New WTB

That there aren't actually canals on Mars?

Just you wait. It's going to be huge. Huge, I tell you.

Was the Darth Vader #3 only $11, or has that gone out the window already? I haven't been hanging on every post lately, so maybe that has changed... Nope that's the one I bought for 75 dollars but I sold my star wars 1 for the exact price. The most you can pay for a slabbed 9.8 book with a GPA average of around $65...is about half of that i.e. cover price + slabbing fees. Even then, putting that $30+ into slabbing a book that is worth $100 or more is much more worthwhile. I would have paid $35 for that book, already in a CGC 9.8 slab.No more. Your logic of your friend advising you on the the 1st X-23 and 1st Alpha is just not comparable.The Vader book was a hot book about 6+ months ago. SW books are cold and will stay cold intil the next SW movie comes out. When will Alpha ever be tied into a SW movie? This Christmas or the following SW movie in 2018? If the character is used in a movie, at all. If the character is used in a movie, you'll have to wait intil this Christmas or for the 2018 SW movie, to sell the book for a dollar to make any profit whatsoever on it. Let me reinterate that X-23 will be in Wolverine 3 and Alpha...maybe never. DV 3 is a decent book to buy, but only if you can get a solid 9.8 raw at cover price. And in order to take a ridiculous gamble on paying $75 (+ shipping) for a common as Hell modern, you sold a SW 1, which will just about certainly see an increase in price as the SW movie in 2 months comes out. How sharp was the SW that you sold for $75? Odds are that putting $35 (grading/fast tracked fees) into the SW 1 that you sold for $75 would have grossed you $200.....so, theoretically, you lost about $100 from dumping your SW 1 raw at $75...and then you compounded that loss by putting about $100 (shipped) into a pretty cold/common modern that routinely sells for about $65. So you are at -$100 from the SW 1 transaction aaaaaand, tack on another -$100 for the CV 3 CGC 9.8 transaction. Last 2 comic transactions = $200 in the hole. If you insist on "trying" to be a comic dealer, this is what I'd suggest. Do not buy anymore comics for a good while. Sell some books ASAP. Take those proceeds and buy some dry cleaning supplies and a Jumbo Seal 210. Learn how to dry clean & press books, that is the best advice I can give to anyone who wants to make money selling books, who does not have a large bankroll to use as capital. Dry cleaning & pressing does require a metric ton of patience, but learning a trade like this will do you a lot of good. If you had known how to press books, you could have had pressed the SW 1 yourself (while saving $40+ on fast tracked pressing fees and cut out the 1 month pressing service lag time...slabbed the SW 1 and then you may have had a $300+ book in your hands, instead of a $75 raw copy. Instead..............you sold a raw bronze age key in order to buy, what is arguably a waste of money, a $75 ($100 shipped) CGC 9.8 run of the mill modern. I'm going to point out a few things as you did to me. That star wars comic I sold was a 5.0/5.5 raw and with it's spine I don't see it getting much of a grade bump, second I wouldn't want to put any more time and money into that book. The next thing you said was that a[hra won't be in any movies at all or ever. Her upcoming solo movie will be in december and the announcement should be sometime next week and my friend hasn't steered me wrong yet and he was the one that bought those 3 copies for 67 dollars. I have another star wars 1 comic but I'll say this I don't think like you do because if I make a deal I count what I spent and I don't see the future value of a 5.0/5.5 star wars reaching 200 graded imo. Also, I don't count money I haven't spent because I wouldn't have pressed and graded it anyway. Pressing and dry cleaning honestly I'm afriad of screwing up that's why I send the comics to people I trust and I final note I'm going to watch that star wars comics to see who's right. Do you have a link to the SW pics? If it couldn;t be bumped up to a 9.0 or better, than $75 is a good sale i.e. if it was a run of the mill 5.0/5.5 than $75 for a VG/FN is a solid sale. For the rest, see my response below. I am absolutely sure that Gabe does not have a grasp on the comic market, the value of a dollar and (insert multiple other things here). If he actually invested his time into learning a valuable skill, which would benefit him directly, he'd be much better off....than getting second hand intelligence from a friend of his and getting sound advice in this thread ( which several boardies have repeated on several occasions)....he has either been unable to comprehend and/or has just flat out ignored 99% of the advice given in this thread. Dry cleaning & pressing books would have him handling books on a daily basis, he does not seem to be capable of getting/holding a job doing much of anything else.As this would have him around comics, that might be enough to hold his attention and getting those syanpses firing in his ADHD addled brain.I'm not talking down at Gabe, I have ADHD myself but I am productive. Now, do I think he has the patience and mental acuity to learn how to dry clean & press books, to have a good understanding of paper mechanics within about a years' time? No, I do not. I do think it would be possible though, if something like dabbling with comics was able to forcibly re-wire his disordered thinking patterns. Having Gabe grow as a person, which is what happens when one develops a pliable trade skill/graduates college/moves out of their parent's house (among other examples that can be used), is what the kid is in dire need of. Not the endless mental masturbation that this thread eggs him onward with every additional reply. It really is pretty sad, in all honesty. Then we're on the same page. I don't disagree with your fundamental premise of bettering himself with a skill, I just think the realistic probability of this is somewhat less than me finding an Action #1 left under my pillow by the tooth fairy.

Is this a new comic series? I don't follow moderns, so it would have slipped past me. Orrgo (Strange Tales #90) has been appearing in some of the SHIELD comics and I don't think that has caused any price increases. Yes new marvel series starting in January of 2017, big reveal at NYCC http://www.ew.com/article/2016/09/16/monsters-unleashed-marvel-crossover Oh wow. Something new that sounds cool and a good idea??? This is not the Marvel I have come to know. If it ended up being cool and a good idea, I'd agree that it is not the Marvel we have come to know. I am anticipating that this series will be neither cool, nor a good idea.

Is this a new comic series? I don't follow moderns, so it would have slipped past me. Orrgo (Strange Tales #90) has been appearing in some of the SHIELD comics and I don't think that has caused any price increases.

He said he paid $75 for it...I really hope that included shipping. Not according to recent completed sales search on eBay... For the one sold today by hitcomics for $75 USD, shipping to Canada (I'm from Canada) is quoted at $29.81 USD via Global Ship Program. He gets the stuff shipped to a friend in the USA and then they send him a box at another time . Well, it is still going to cost him some $ for him to have it shipped to his buddy and then for his buddy to ship it to him...I can't see his "pal' doing all that for free...? No it wouldn't be free that's why it will stay at his house and he'll sell it for me for a fee, I wanted to get the darth vader 3 before prices went up and copies dried up on ebay. Good to see it wasn't a decision based on any emotion and just on pure logic Yep, buying at a new GPA high but before prices went up! Forgot I was out.

This. It's neat, but not worth a big premium. I had a pre-hero Cage book I didn't love. Make sure the scans are good.

I'm out too. Put me on the list.

From a page back he said: "It was the regular version not the variant and I bought it because it was a good deal, I didn't listen to my friend when he told me I should have bought thor 133 CGC 9.8 X2 and 9.6 x3 and I lost lots of money by not doing that so I'm going to listen this time." Sooo apparently his "friend" told him to buy it? Or Gabe was worried about being 'left behind' all on his own and wants to 'cash in' when Aphra hits it 'big time'? I wonder if this was the same "friend" he is in a "competition" with to see who can make more money flipping comics... If he paid GPA high for that book and considers it a "good deal".... I hope for his sake it becomes hot and triples in value. Unfortunately I don't think the character of Darth Vader is going to spike in value. He has kind of already had his moment and I'm pretty sure he is the most well known villain on the planet. I would suggest you sell the book immediately and try to recoup some of what you paid. Just take a look at what the cheapest prices are for the 9.8's now 90-100 and the 1:25 variants yesterday were 50-75 now they're 90-100+ and we have someone asking 400 OBO for his 9.8 so I'm curious to see if it will sell. People can ask whatever they want. What matters is what something sells for. You should know this by now. I would suggest you stop asking this friend for advice. I realize that and have checked the sold listings but it's simple if people have no choice but to but what's already listed at a higher price they will and that will make the comic rise in value as it's already been doing. No. No what? You don't think people will buy the comic at I higher price? I do and it will since people will buy based on hype and emotions as I've done before, I'm not saying my emotions are perfect but I'm getting better with my impulses No, people don't automatically pay higher prices just because asking prices go up. Your market analysis is flawed. Your business plan of selling to people who get sucked into hype and buy impulsively is flawed. Especially when you're buying into hype and buying books at GPA highs in the hope that they double and you can squeak a profit. This behavior is exactly what you said you'd get control of. This purchase is exhibit A that you are paying lip service to getting better with impulses. How do you think you're doing that exactly?

From a page back he said: "It was the regular version not the variant and I bought it because it was a good deal, I didn't listen to my friend when he told me I should have bought thor 133 CGC 9.8 X2 and 9.6 x3 and I lost lots of money by not doing that so I'm going to listen this time." Sooo apparently his "friend" told him to buy it? Or Gabe was worried about being 'left behind' all on his own and wants to 'cash in' when Aphra hits it 'big time'? I wonder if this was the same "friend" he is in a "competition" with to see who can make more money flipping comics... If he paid GPA high for that book and considers it a "good deal".... I hope for his sake it becomes hot and triples in value. Unfortunately I don't think the character of Darth Vader is going to spike in value. He has kind of already had his moment and I'm pretty sure he is the most well known villain on the planet. I would suggest you sell the book immediately and try to recoup some of what you paid. Just take a look at what the cheapest prices are for the 9.8's now 90-100 and the 1:25 variants yesterday were 50-75 now they're 90-100+ and we have someone asking 400 OBO for his 9.8 so I'm curious to see if it will sell. Asking prices are not selling prices. If you paid $75 + $12 shipping, admittedly over GPA, you're waiting a long while to make any profit. On the plus side, you cashed someone else out of their copy. Just out of curiosity, say we accept your argument that the $75 purchase price came out of the Star Wars #1 sale, what pot of gold did the $12 shipping come out of? That alone exceeded your $11 budget. The 12 dollars shipping is out of the video games I've sold because I sold about 120 dollars worth right now and even if I haven't had that money I would have been able to save it. Translation: screw the budget.

From a page back he said: "It was the regular version not the variant and I bought it because it was a good deal, I didn't listen to my friend when he told me I should have bought thor 133 CGC 9.8 X2 and 9.6 x3 and I lost lots of money by not doing that so I'm going to listen this time." Sooo apparently his "friend" told him to buy it? Or Gabe was worried about being 'left behind' all on his own and wants to 'cash in' when Aphra hits it 'big time'? I wonder if this was the same "friend" he is in a "competition" with to see who can make more money flipping comics... If he paid GPA high for that book and considers it a "good deal".... I hope for his sake it becomes hot and triples in value. Unfortunately I don't think the character of Darth Vader is going to spike in value. He has kind of already had his moment and I'm pretty sure he is the most well known villain on the planet. I would suggest you sell the book immediately and try to recoup some of what you paid. Just take a look at what the cheapest prices are for the 9.8's now 90-100 and the 1:25 variants yesterday were 50-75 now they're 90-100+ and we have someone asking 400 OBO for his 9.8 so I'm curious to see if it will sell. People can ask whatever they want. What matters is what something sells for. You should know this by now. I would suggest you stop asking this friend for advice. I realize that and have checked the sold listings but it's simple if people have no choice but to but what's already listed at a higher price they will and that will make the comic rise in value as it's already been doing. No.

From a page back he said: "It was the regular version not the variant and I bought it because it was a good deal, I didn't listen to my friend when he told me I should have bought thor 133 CGC 9.8 X2 and 9.6 x3 and I lost lots of money by not doing that so I'm going to listen this time." Sooo apparently his "friend" told him to buy it? Or Gabe was worried about being 'left behind' all on his own and wants to 'cash in' when Aphra hits it 'big time'? I wonder if this was the same "friend" he is in a "competition" with to see who can make more money flipping comics... If he paid GPA high for that book and considers it a "good deal".... I hope for his sake it becomes hot and triples in value. Unfortunately I don't think the character of Darth Vader is going to spike in value. He has kind of already had his moment and I'm pretty sure he is the most well known villain on the planet. I would suggest you sell the book immediately and try to recoup some of what you paid. Just take a look at what the cheapest prices are for the 9.8's now 90-100 and the 1:25 variants yesterday were 50-75 now they're 90-100+ and we have someone asking 400 OBO for his 9.8 so I'm curious to see if it will sell. Asking prices are not selling prices. If you paid $75 + $12 shipping, admittedly over GPA, you're waiting a long while to make any profit. On the plus side, you cashed someone else out of their copy. Just out of curiosity, say we accept your argument that the $75 purchase price came out of the Star Wars #1 sale, what pot of gold did the $12 shipping come out of? That alone exceeded your $11 budget.

Dear Zillacat -- Great work on your part. Also, your photo of the open 20-pack was very informative. Here's what I know: 1. We believe that there those large 20-pack bricks exist for every month of comics from November 1992 thru November 1994. 2. There is also a 10-pack brick for June 1995. 3. Between another guy and myself, we have had in hand every single 20-pack and 10-pack brick pack except the 20-pack that presumably exists for March 1994. We believe a 20-pack exists for March 1994 because all usual DC Universe variants have been found for that month. If anyone has this brick in hand, we would love to hear about it. 4. Many of the bricks from Nov 1992 thru Oct 1993 have 2nd, 3rd, etc printings in them. Those are designated with roman numerals such as II, III, IV, etc. But none of those bricks seem to have DC Universe variants in them. 5. The first brick with the DC bullets was for issues dated November 1993. Only the top 4 issues in that brick (that is, the ones that can be seen through the plastic, namely JLE 58, BM Adv 14, Robin 1 and Act 693) have the DC bullet. The rest in the brick have bar codes. 6. The second brick with DC bullets was for issues dated December 1993. That is the brick that you opened for us and showed in the photo above. 7. The bricks from Jan 1994 thru Aug 1994 all have DC Universe variants. 8. The brick from Sept 1994 had the four "Zero Hour" comic books on the cover, all with zero hour symbols in the UPC boxes. The rest of the issues in that pack (like Batman 511, Detective 678, Action 703, and Superman 93) had DC Universe symbols. 9. The brick from Oct 1994 contains issues that are numbered "0" and have the zero hour symbols in the UPC boxes. Example include Batman 0, Detective 0, Action 0, etc. 10. The bricks from Nov 1994 and June 1995 contain issues that all have the DC Universe symbol in the UPC. 11. All other DC Universe variants from Dec 1994 thru Dec 1996 seem to come from 5, 6 and 8 pack sets (examples shown in your photos above), and 2-packs. 12. In my opinion, some of the most elusive DC Universe variants seem to come from those 2-packs. Examples include Adv of SM 499, Action 686, Superman MOS 20, Superman 77, Detective 680, Detective 682 with orange cover, Detective 685, Superman 96, Superman MOS 42, Azrael 22, Action 705, Batman 516, Batman 517 and Batman 524. If you have any of those in hand, consider yourself lucky! I'm still looking for the Adv of Superman 531 DC Universe variant. I'm raising my bounty to $200 for one in FN or better because I'm getting tired of running all over the place to look for the darn thing. It is interesting to me that these bricks and packs all occurred in the hey day of the early to mid-1990's. In those days, there was a speculating boom. Everyone and everyone's brother was hording comic books. There were comic shops popping up everywhere and packs of comic boks were on sale in Toys R Us, Costco, and K-B Toys. And then the bubble burst! Brilliant, highly informative as usual.