GeeksAreMyPeeps

I think this is a good take. The difference between Valiant and Hellboy, though, is that Valiant is a full shared superhero universe, like Marvel and DC. I know there are some Hellboy spinoffs, but since Mignola is writing everything I wouldn't say that it's comparable. Valiant stands to gain by pulling in Marvel and DC readers/collectors if a movie is received well (something that, percentage-wise, was more of a challenge for Marvel and DC, since current readers/collectors are already very familiar with Marvel and DC, and movies don't seem to do much to convert non-comic readers into readers). But, Valiant has to have a selection of high-quality new offerings for that to happen. Hopefully there will be solid creative teams on all of the books in the Valiant 2020 initiative.

Do any of the listings for Imperium variants look like this?

Apparently it's not obvious to everyone, since it's been posted multiple times that you can't determine anything by the ratios. And I'm talking availability, not print numbers. But logically, it doesn't make sense for a company to print huge amounts in excess if they're not going to distribute them. Yes, we have evidence of variant sales after the initial distribution, and giveaways at retailer presentations. And it's important to incorporate that information into any estimate of how many books might be available on the after-market. I don't think it makes business sense to store books indefinitely in a warehouse, so I think it's safe after some period of time to assume that there isn't an additional stockpile somewhere.

There's something called algebra which would allow you to very easily come up with a formula to break the big number down. But I get that that wouldn't take ordering differences into the equation. Here's an easy question; Let's say that in a run of 10 issues of a comic, every issue had a 1:10 variant and a 1:20 variant. Barring information that these variants were distributed in an additional way, would you expect there to be more 1:10 or 1:20 variants available on the market? Why?

I never suggested that a simple equation is going to give you an exact, reliable number. Yes, the higher the ratio, the harder it would be to determine how many incentives were distributed, based on the sales estimates. It makes sense that a retailer that normally orders 20 copies of a book will push up an order to get a 1:25 incentive, but perhaps not a 1:50 or 1:100 (unless someone orders one and the additional regular versions are essentially paid for). But it's a starting point.

I'm having no trouble discerning opinions from facts, thanks.

The higher the ratio, the less likely the number of copies distributed is going to align with that proportion of the sales, true. Some stores just don't do the volume to justify ordering enough to get the higher ratio variants

Some of us can see the value in partial information. Some of us, it seems, cannot.

Show me where I said I was determining print numbers. I said the numbers are useful in helping to determine how many copies might have been distributed and therefore potentially be available for purchase. Estimated sales are going to be of more help than Babe Ruth's statistics, so you're just plain wrong there.

I like the way you used a pattern of question and factual answer to deflect from the fact that your answer to the final question is your opinion, rather than a fact. You can ignore the numbers if you want. I think it's always better to make a decision taking into account as many facts as are available, even if all of the facts aren't available

If I'm trying to figure out how many are out there, the ratio and the estimated sales is the best starting point I can think of to determining how many have been distributed and could potentially be available. Not perfect, sure, but I'm not going to let the lack of a perfect answer discourage me from trying to get the best idea from the available information. From that starting point, I'll keep my eyes and ears open to find if people acquired copies via alternate means (such as the variant sales that have bene documented on these boards, or giveaways that have been noted, etc.; some of Valiant's variants, for example, are easier to find than some lower-ratio variants, and I've learned that some were distributed to stores that ordered store exclusives).

He didn't claim "foolproof idea" he wrote "best idea." If you have a *better* idea, let's hear it.

The Batgirl Purple Rain cover is still getting good results too: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=BATGIRL+PURPLE+RAIN&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=0&LH_Sold=1&_udlo=&_udhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=15&_stpos=10018-8481&_sargn=-1%26saslc%3D1&_salic=1&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=100&LH_Complete=1&_fosrp=1

Same. Also, the value of the Wolverine book is almost entirely in the condition, which is subjective. Sure, 9.8 is subjective too, but it's a first appearance.

I'd go with the Spawn over the Wolverine variant. Spawn is a first appearance, which has been the only consistently collectible factor in the history of the hobby. I think variant collecting will fade, at least to the point where a lot of people won't bother chasing a variant if the issue itself isn't of some importance.

First appearance of a hero trumps first appearance of a villain in my mind, especially when we're talking about a book that wasn't readily available to the public, so I could see there be a debate about whether the Batman retailer variant is legitimately a first appearance down the line. The variant craze will pass, I think. The only consistently collectible thing in comics collecting over time has been first appearances.

https://www.cgccomics.com/boards/topic/446175-copper-books-with-only-a-upc-edition-before-upcs-became-the-norm/

Was actually referring to Sensational, not Savage

What about She-Hulk 1?

Not sure if it was already hot but I don't recall seeing it mentioned before; there are some really good results for Gideon Falls #1. There are various covers and I'm not sure what may have been more limited to begin with.

Briefly he was. They introduced Adrian Chase the same season, but he wasn't the Vigilante. That turned out to be a brand new character not in the comics (to my knowledge)

I got my DCBS shipment today and there were no blank covers, so I assume they will ship with the corrected stock. Midtown Comics had the sketch covers with the glossier stock.

How about that. A comic with "Collector's Item" on the cover that's actually a collector's item.