jabats

Laugh if you must! I personally like this new designation if the market prices "conserved" mega key books at "normal restored" prices, I'd definitely be a buyer.

Ahem... "conserved"!

Thanks very much guys!

I figured ... the bids threw me off though. thank you :-)

Raw Sensation 1 on the bay... real? Sort of an odd listing... just 1 photo... zero feedback seller... several bids though (could be shill?) can anyone tell from the photo if it's a reprint?

I'm with ya. I've personally stopped worrying about "which holder" ... but I don't think the market is quite there yet. But Seems to be less of an issue than it was a year ago, maybe?

If we are referring to the same book, I believe it went for a bit over $8k.

The WW mega key "ship has sailed" a bit but other early issues w/ classic covers are still pretty affordable. e.g. sensation 13 vs superman 14 , or pre-robin tec. I collect all 3 characters from D.C.'s Trinity and WW is still the "splurge" versus the "investment" that the other 2 have become!

I agree with you 100%! i actually had no idea AS8 was so (relatively) common, though. There do seem to be quite a few copies for sale on eBay etc. Whereas Sensation 1 barely seems to pop up ever ...

I personally believe in 5-8 years these prices might look extremely cheap (sorta like Pre-Robin Tec prices from 2010 , probably seemed crazy then, seem cheap now) fill disclosure , I am talking my book! ?

I agree it isn't hard to fathom, it could happen. To some extent it's unpredictable... especially with international audiences, the movies probably have even greater importance to the characters' popularity. Let's see how the next decade or two of box office receipts go. Anyway all these characters' popularity ebb and flow somewhat; in the 90s (when I started collecting), I thought X-men were the absolute center of the comic universe...

No argument that the Avengers movies were international hits. But it's hard to imagine an American collector shelling out 6 figures for a book titled "Captain England 1" or "Captain Japan 1" or "Captain Iran Comics #1". A character literally named after a country would seem to have a ceiling on their international appeal, compared to the top globally known characters.

I think a lot of potential upside in "investable" comics like GA mega keys includes overseas collectors. Not sure they will gravitate towards Cap, whereas superman & batman are global brands with international appeal.

Exactly! I would too. ... but the market prices AS 8 far higher than Sensation 1. That's the OP's point...

Exactly. I agree here about 'relative' market value. I'd also add, AS 8 has had a big run up (all 3 books have!) but it sure seems like there are a lot of AS 8's for sale (for a GA megakey). I don't see near as many Sensation 1's on the market...

It's the reason this book isn't totally analogous to Action 1 or Ten 27 (IMHO!). I really like the cover of Sensation 1... wish I had been more aggressive years ago when I underbid on a mid grade copy!

I think it's a nice cover... But the current market value seems excessive to me relative to the market value of Sensation 1, WW 1 and WW 7. Not saying it isn't worth it to someone else. But as a WW collector I've never been willing to pay up for this one...

Cap is a great character, but (relative to Supes and Bats) will never have the same international popularity , in my opinion, for obvious reasons. * note: I am biased and am "talking my book" !

Assuming mid to high grade, and not trimmed.... Extensive Restored 40k? Moderate 45k? Slight 50k? That's my best guess (plus or minus 20% on any given book or auction day). I've closely watched the last several Bats 1s at CC, including Restored books. Seems like the market is "on the move" right now so pricing data from even 6 months ago may be a bit behind.

I wouldn't short them

No doubt. Seems like some books appreciate monthly versus yearly right now. of course it won't last but there's no arguing with the market...

Thank you!

Good afternoon Gator! I am wondering if you can advise the current approx. price per point for Tec 31. Has this book nearly caught up to Bats 1 in pricing? Or still significantly behind it? thanks!

AnonymousAF15, thank you for your story! it actually validates to some extent, my theory that comics, coins and a few other collectible categories are functioning as alternatives to fine art as a hard asset investment. It doesn't take very many new buyers to affect the demand curve & pricing as at any given time, only a % of the overall books are on the market. I don't necessarily agree that the popularity of superheroes has peaked though, simply because, as you point out, there is potentially huge upside growth in foreign markets due to the huge popularity of American superhero films overseas (China and elsewhere)

Perhaps the demand curve has shifted ? New buyers entering the market? Overseas buyers worried about inflation & looking for hard assets? Just speculation, no evidence to back that up. But the fine art market has had the same structural shift in its demand curve in the past 10-15 years... and the new money gravitates towards the blue chip type assets (e.g. Warhol & Picasso may be the fine art equivalent of AF15's and Tec 27's...)