'00's Variants = '90's Gimmicks. Is it different this time?

[King_of_Batch-migration]

Comic publishers have swiped a page from the card market and implemented a "chase card" dynamic into our thing.

 

Back issue economics became apparent due to scarcity. Due to media coverage of comic collecting that began in the early seventies and, especially, the internet, scarcity is no longer a factor. So scarcity became manufactured.

 

Is it any different than the 1990's gimmick covers? Are these the new "keys"

 

Yes, because what would be more "key"? A #1 or a #1 limited edition?

Go ask a book dealer.

 

Yes, because what one end's up with is similar to a limited edition art folio.

Remember back in the day artists would publish these folios once in a while.

So if you had all the Gen13 or Fathom variants you'd have a nice limited edition folio.

 

And yes, because it's a better gimmick. I'm in.

 

 

[valiantman]

Variants ultimately don't matter if the comic itself doesn't matter.

 

When there is a major event in comics, and any issue telling that story is important,

then the most limited version of that issue will probably be the most valuable.

 

Where there is nothing special about the "regular" comic, and no one cares what happened

in the story, then what is a "limited edition" of "nothing special" really worth?

 

Time will clarify the confusion that occurs in the first few months of "hype".

 

Look back at the 1990s and see if you can determine which variants still matter...

it's the same ones that actually matter to the publisher, story, or characters.

Variants of the "nothing special" comics aren't special either.

 

The variants that just "exist" often aren't worth squat. (thumbs u

[King_of_Batch-migration]

Still, is a variant of a mediocre comic worth more than any old mediocre comic due to the limited print run alone and the outside chance that the book could become hot at a later date?

 

Just speculatin'.

 

It is certainly similar to other manufacted collectibles like Beanie Babies & Commemorative Plates? That is, of no value beyond the collector.

[King_of_Batch-migration]

At what point in the nineties did variants become entrenched in the industry?

 

Gen13?

 

Which was the first? Pink Valients? Foil logos?

[valiantman]

At what point in the nineties did variants become entrenched in the industry?

 

Gen13?

 

Which was the first? Pink Valients? Foil logos?

 

When in the 1990s?

 

Spider-man #1 (1990) and the half-dozen variants for it...

or

X-Men #1 (1991) and the half-dozen variants for it...

 

[blutobc]

Still, is a variant of a mediocre comic worth more than any old mediocre comic due to the limited print run alone and the outside chance that the book could become hot at a later date?

 

 

I've got a couple of 1990s independent variants that fit the description given by valiantman(non-critical story/issue) and they currently have absolutely no value at all. couldn't give them away. cheaper to trash them than to pay shipping.

 

[followtheleader]

Variants, by and large, are a manufactured value. Tons of the 1990s variants were "worth" something for a short while. I have a ton of that baloney. But eventually, it tends to fade away.

 

Valiantman is correct. But Gen13 & Darkness pushed it over the edge. Remember Darkness #13? Like 14 different covers, right? 13 and the holofoil. Man, that is simply ridiculous.

 

Frankly, some of today's practices are no better. Dynamite, especially for Red Sonja, releases a variant for every single issue produced. Usually 2 to 3 variants per issue. Come on, that ruins it for me.

 

Definitely don't use variants as a speculating point. It's like not good to sink your money into comics for a quick investment anyway. If you want to buy books for fun and some future potential, go with older book in higher grade.

 

Pat

[thanos_oftitan]

I could not agree more, 4 or 5 covers is just stupid!

 

I like Variants just so long as they don't get carried away.

[the blob]

the publishers have overblown it, coming out with too many variants of too many issues. too many covers. Do a limited edition variant cover for a "special" issue. A #1 issue, maybe even a #25 or a #50 issue. An anniversary. Something important issue. But it seems like every popular title is doing multiple covers for every issue. it's all too frigging confusing anyway.

 

Thor #1 had what

 

A regular cover

 

Two variant covers that were not particurly limited.

 

And another "limited" variant?

 

A sketch cover is probably on the way.

 

Too much.

 

Who can keep track of all of this?