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MOST VALUABLE MODERN VARIANTS - THE RANKINGS
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sorry my other question, which could well by stupid / obvious

 

I see a lot of 1:200, 1:500 etc notations these days

 

Do you guys know what the overall print runs actually are to determine relative scarcity?

Secondly, how, other than the publishers word, do you know the ratio is accurate?

 

Oh boy.

 

 

:popcorn:

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sorry my other question, which could well by stupid / obvious

 

I see a lot of 1:200, 1:500 etc notations these days

 

Do you guys know what the overall print runs actually are to determine relative scarcity?

Secondly, how, other than the publishers word, do you know the ratio is accurate?

 

The politically correct answer is that you can only ballpark the "distribution" of an RI variant based on the numbers reported by comichron., not the literal print numbers.

 

However, since it is highly unlikely that publishers are randomly over-printing books by excessive amounts that retailers are not actually ordering, and equally highly unlikely that the entire RI programs of all publishers are a complete fraud, ballparking the print numbers from the comichron reports are not only reasonable , it really is the only method we have (barring any additional information that may come to light on a specific book).

 

-J.

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keep an eye on this one during the Variant craze of 2016 !

 

 

Batman Variant

 

LISTING DESCRIPTION

 

 

 

Batman #1 , DC Entertainment Premier Edition , CGC 9.8 SS , 2x Signed by Snyder & Capullo , DC Comics New 52

 

 

This is the Batman #1 that is the hardest to get. This version of Batman #1 is much rarer than the Batman sketch 1:200(is this true?)

 

 

This was never available for sale and has no upc. This is the limited 75th Batman Anniversary edition of Batman #1 that was graded and given out within Time Warner ( Time Warner owns DC Comics).

Edited by paul747
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sorry my other question, which could well by stupid / obvious

 

I see a lot of 1:200, 1:500 etc notations these days

 

Do you guys know what the overall print runs actually are to determine relative scarcity?

Secondly, how, other than the publishers word, do you know the ratio is accurate?

 

Let's not.

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keep an eye on this one during the Variant craze of 2016 !

 

 

Batman Variant

 

LISTING DESCRIPTION

 

 

 

Batman #1 , DC Entertainment Premier Edition , CGC 9.8 SS , 2x Signed by Snyder & Capullo , DC Comics New 52

 

 

This is the Batman #1 that is the hardest to get. This version of Batman #1 is much rarer than the Batman sketch 1:200(is this true?)

 

 

This was never available for sale and has no upc. This is the limited 75th Batman Anniversary edition of Batman #1 that was graded and given out within Time Warner ( Time Warner owns DC Comics).

 

Never seen this one before. There is a Justice League Lego variant that sounds like it was distributed under the same manner.

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Had some time this afternoon, so I updated Jay's list with images.

 

Okay gents after double checking GPA here is the updated Dirty Dozen:

 

 

 

#12- Amazing Spider-Man #688, J. Scott Campbell (2012)- Did you really think we'd get very far on this list without seeing a JSC? Typically known for his pin-up work, this cover by him is actually kind of scary, and has broken $1500 in a 9.8 as the folks who missed it when it first came out (or did not even realize it was a JSC cover) scramble to add it to their collections before it moves even further up the list.

Amazing_Spider-Man_688_Campbell_Variant.jpg

 

#11- Amazing Spider-Man #700, Ditko (2013)- A ridiculous 1:200 ratio made this ridiculously expensive right out the gate, with some SS copies skyrocketing as high as $4000 upon its initial release. It has since settled down, but a recent uptick in prices, coupled with the strength of its past sales earns this the #10 spot.

AmazingSpider-Man700Birthday.jpg

 

#10- X-23 #1, Dell'Otto (2010)- Another great and hot artist lodges his first cover here. Combined with the fact that X-23 may be Marvel's hottest female character right now, a rumoured movie appearance, and a breath-taking cover, and you have a book that has been fetching $1300+ in a 9.8 and $600+ raw.

X-23cover.jpg

 

#9- Saga #1 RRP (2012)- Image's premier issue of its second best selling title gets the nod here. A signed copy has gone for as much as $1900, and its cult status should keep this book held in high regard for years to come.

Saga1DiamondC2E2.jpg

 

#8- Walking Dead #100, Lucille/Red Foil Editions (2012)- The introduction of the iconic Negan in these crazy- rare issues has some people paying as much as $1800 for a 9.8 since word first leaked that he would (finally) be making his appearance in the show. Depending on how they ultimately end up depicting him there, these books could easily move up the list!

WalkingDead100RedFoil.jpg

 

#7- Siege #3, J. Scott Campbell (2010)- A bizarre retailer incentive that involved destroying other comic books, a super hot artist, and one of Marvel's most trendy characters flossing on the cover are the perfect recipe to catapult this book to $2000+ in a 9.8.

Siege3DeadpoolCGC96.jpg

 

#6- Spawn #185, Sketch (2008)- One of Image's original and longest running titles checks in here with its most valuable RI variant to date. Clocking in at $2750 the last time a 9.8 copy came up for sale publicly, the scant census numbers should keep rare variant chasers on their heels and this book in high value and esteem for the foreseeable future. Shout out to Topnotchman for pointing this awesome book out.

Spawn185SketchCover.jpg

 

#5- Batman #608 RRP (2002)- The granddaddy of the RRP's (and possibly all modern variants) makes the top 5. And why not? It's Batman, a first appearance of a new villain, and Part One of a story line that put the Batman title back on top. Oh yeah, and it has Jim Lee art. With prices at well over $3,000 for 9.8's and copies seeming to have disappeared into personal collections, don't expect to get this one on the cheap ever again (if you can even find one).

 

Batman608RRPCover.jpg

 

#4- Uncanny X-Men #510 Partial Sketch Cover, J. Scott Campbell (2009)- Without a doubt the most valuable and hard to find convention book out there, 9.6 copies of these have sold for $2800, and only proves once again that Campbell + crazy rarity + beautiful pin-up art = salivating fans and $$$. All things considered, it wouldn't take much for this book to jump up higher on this list.

UncannyX-Men510Sketch.jpg

 

#3- Wolverine #1, J. Scott Campbell (2010)- Yet another JSC cover, this one his best, lands at #3. Featuring a stocky Wolverine bulging out of Deadpool's costume, this book easily commands $3k+ in a 9.8 and is very strong in all down grades, as well as raw. It was another "destroy comics" incentive to retailers, an incentive that was so derided in the industry that it has yet to be repeated, but resulted in a book with a very low print run and insatiable demand. It was the uber-high sales prices of this book a couple of years ago that really got the JSC train going at 100 miles per hour, and if it ever stops chugging along, people will still be paying big money for this book.

Wolverine1DeadpoolCGC9.8.jpg

 

#2- Amazing Spider-Man #678 (2012)- This now classic and oft-reprinted and homaged cover features Mary Jane in mid-possession by the alien symbiote known as Venom. Its character mash-up and spoof elements made it an instant hit right out of the gate and it never looked back. A 1:50 variant released when ASM sales were barely cracking 50,000, this book has gone for $3500 in a 9.8 (on the rare occasion they're offered), and still breaks $1000 in an 8.5! Raw copies routinely break $1000 and its scarcity on the market, its "modern grail" status, and presence in the ASM run should keep it at the top of this list for a very long time.

AmazingSpider-Man678MaryJaneVenom.jpg

 

#1- Amazing Spider-Man #667, Dell'Otto (2011)- Really? Like, what else was it going to be? We're talking about a book that sells in raw, 8.0'ish condition for $2500. Possibly one of the rarest books of all in the entire ASM run, this book is a completionist's nightmare, and a rare variant hunter's wet dream. Hardly ever offered for sale, in any condition, there have been rumours and reports that as few as ~200 of these were produced. Whether this is true or not, however few copies there are seem to have already disappeared into permanent collections, and it is a veritable feeding frenzy when a copy does find its way to market. If there is such a thing as "Golden Age rarity" in the Modern Age (whether that rarity is "manufactured" or not), the ASM 667 Dell'Otto has it, and at this rate, there could easily come a time when years go by without a copy seeing the light of day.

AmazingSpider-Man667DellOtto.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

***Waiting in the Wings***

 

 

Batman #1, Sketch (2011),

New52Batman1Sketch.jpg

 

 

 

Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Black Cat #1, J. Scott Campbell (2010)

 

ASMPresentsBlackCat1variant.jpg

 

 

Uncanny X-Force #20, Venom Variant (2012).

 

05e45e3bb04aea43101c790588aea919.jpg

 

 

-J.

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I would love a full list of 1-50ish so that we could get to issues people might find a little more often, maybe the AH! Catwoman numbers issue and lower Dell'Otto range. But this is good info to have, and the pictures make all the difference in the world!

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sorry my other question, which could well by stupid / obvious

 

I see a lot of 1:200, 1:500 etc notations these days

 

Do you guys know what the overall print runs actually are to determine relative scarcity?

Secondly, how, other than the publishers word, do you know the ratio is accurate?

 

The politically correct answer is that you can only ballpark the "distribution" of an RI variant based on the numbers reported by comichron., not the literal print numbers.

 

Comichron estimates the Diamond North American distribution numbers based on Diamond's distribution ranking reports. Having just that one number to work with doesn't mean that number can unlock all the information you want about an issue.

 

However, since it is highly unlikely that publishers are randomly over-printing books by excessive amounts that retailers are not actually ordering,

 

Publishers will print whatever they want for whatever reasons or purposes they have. They don't release that information, so we don't have it.

 

Outside of a brief period at Marvel around 15 years ago, publishers have never been overly concerned about overprinting. That's probably the result of newsstand distribution being the norm for so many decades.

 

and equally highly unlikely that the entire RI programs of all publishers are a complete fraud,

 

The RI "programs" state only that retailers can order 1 copy of a specific variant for every X copies of the regular edition they order. Where's the "fraud" if they print 3000 but only have orders for 1000? Does it matter what they do with the leftover copies?

 

Publishers don't care about the secondary market. They care about the primary market where they make money.

 

ballparking the print numbers from the comichron reports are not only reasonable , it really is the only method we have (barring any additional information that may come to light on a specific book).

 

-J.

 

Trying to ballpark numbers - that you don't and can't know - for your own purposes is fine. Spreading those numbers around as gospel is something else entirely.

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Lazyboy- Do your replies only reflect DC and marvel? what about indie publishhers like zenescope, Dynamite, eternity comics who have micro print runs of 50, 25 and 10 and books are hard serially #?

 

What about Image?

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Hi - many thanks - to both the chap who added the pics and the other responses to what clearly is a contentious question (apologies)

Am mostly a Bronze & Copper-age guy so I had some comfort with the variants of that period which seem to have some degree of "solidity" i.e. a Miracleman 2D variant, 30 /35c, Test Logo, UK / Canadian etc etc

 

Questions

Are all cover variants now (from Marvel & DC) "ratio" variants?

Other than the covers being obviously different, how are these noted? (I know Marvel say "variant" on the number box)

If you have a very high ratio (e.g. are there such ones as 1:50,000?) do these correspond to the ranking; or is it (as I expect) supply and demand?

Is it a good idea to ask about modern 2nd and 3rd prints and variants of those?

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Had some time this afternoon, so I updated Jay's list with images.

 

Okay gents after double checking GPA here is the updated Dirty Dozen:

 

 

 

#12- Amazing Spider-Man #688, J. Scott Campbell (2012)- Did you really think we'd get very far on this list without seeing a JSC? Typically known for his pin-up work, this cover by him is actually kind of scary, and has broken $1500 in a 9.8 as the folks who missed it when it first came out (or did not even realize it was a JSC cover) scramble to add it to their collections before it moves even further up the list.

Amazing_Spider-Man_688_Campbell_Variant.jpg

 

#11- Amazing Spider-Man #700, Ditko (2013)- A ridiculous 1:200 ratio made this ridiculously expensive right out the gate, with some SS copies skyrocketing as high as $4000 upon its initial release. It has since settled down, but a recent uptick in prices, coupled with the strength of its past sales earns this the #10 spot.

AmazingSpider-Man700Birthday.jpg

 

#10- X-23 #1, Dell'Otto (2010)- Another great and hot artist lodges his first cover here. Combined with the fact that X-23 may be Marvel's hottest female character right now, a rumoured movie appearance, and a breath-taking cover, and you have a book that has been fetching $1300+ in a 9.8 and $600+ raw.

X-23cover.jpg

 

#9- Saga #1 RRP (2012)- Image's premier issue of its second best selling title gets the nod here. A signed copy has gone for as much as $1900, and its cult status should keep this book held in high regard for years to come.

Saga1DiamondC2E2.jpg

 

#8- Walking Dead #100, Lucille/Red Foil Editions (2012)- The introduction of the iconic Negan in these crazy- rare issues has some people paying as much as $1800 for a 9.8 since word first leaked that he would (finally) be making his appearance in the show. Depending on how they ultimately end up depicting him there, these books could easily move up the list!

WalkingDead100RedFoil.jpg

 

#7- Siege #3, J. Scott Campbell (2010)- A bizarre retailer incentive that involved destroying other comic books, a super hot artist, and one of Marvel's most trendy characters flossing on the cover are the perfect recipe to catapult this book to $2000+ in a 9.8.

Siege3DeadpoolCGC96.jpg

 

#6- Spawn #185, Sketch (2008)- One of Image's original and longest running titles checks in here with its most valuable RI variant to date. Clocking in at $2750 the last time a 9.8 copy came up for sale publicly, the scant census numbers should keep rare variant chasers on their heels and this book in high value and esteem for the foreseeable future. Shout out to Topnotchman for pointing this awesome book out.

Spawn185SketchCover.jpg

 

#5- Batman #608 RRP (2002)- The granddaddy of the RRP's (and possibly all modern variants) makes the top 5. And why not? It's Batman, a first appearance of a new villain, and Part One of a story line that put the Batman title back on top. Oh yeah, and it has Jim Lee art. With prices at well over $3,000 for 9.8's and copies seeming to have disappeared into personal collections, don't expect to get this one on the cheap ever again (if you can even find one).

 

Batman608RRPCover.jpg

 

#4- Uncanny X-Men #510 Partial Sketch Cover, J. Scott Campbell (2009)- Without a doubt the most valuable and hard to find convention book out there, 9.6 copies of these have sold for $2800, and only proves once again that Campbell + crazy rarity + beautiful pin-up art = salivating fans and $$$. All things considered, it wouldn't take much for this book to jump up higher on this list.

UncannyX-Men510Sketch.jpg

 

#3- Wolverine #1, J. Scott Campbell (2010)- Yet another JSC cover, this one his best, lands at #3. Featuring a stocky Wolverine bulging out of Deadpool's costume, this book easily commands $3k+ in a 9.8 and is very strong in all down grades, as well as raw. It was another "destroy comics" incentive to retailers, an incentive that was so derided in the industry that it has yet to be repeated, but resulted in a book with a very low print run and insatiable demand. It was the uber-high sales prices of this book a couple of years ago that really got the JSC train going at 100 miles per hour, and if it ever stops chugging along, people will still be paying big money for this book.

Wolverine1DeadpoolCGC9.8.jpg

 

#2- Amazing Spider-Man #678 (2012)- This now classic and oft-reprinted and homaged cover features Mary Jane in mid-possession by the alien symbiote known as Venom. Its character mash-up and spoof elements made it an instant hit right out of the gate and it never looked back. A 1:50 variant released when ASM sales were barely cracking 50,000, this book has gone for $3500 in a 9.8 (on the rare occasion they're offered), and still breaks $1000 in an 8.5! Raw copies routinely break $1000 and its scarcity on the market, its "modern grail" status, and presence in the ASM run should keep it at the top of this list for a very long time.

AmazingSpider-Man678MaryJaneVenom.jpg

 

#1- Amazing Spider-Man #667, Dell'Otto (2011)- Really? Like, what else was it going to be? We're talking about a book that sells in raw, 8.0'ish condition for $2500. Possibly one of the rarest books of all in the entire ASM run, this book is a completionist's nightmare, and a rare variant hunter's wet dream. Hardly ever offered for sale, in any condition, there have been rumours and reports that as few as ~200 of these were produced. Whether this is true or not, however few copies there are seem to have already disappeared into permanent collections, and it is a veritable feeding frenzy when a copy does find its way to market. If there is such a thing as "Golden Age rarity" in the Modern Age (whether that rarity is "manufactured" or not), the ASM 667 Dell'Otto has it, and at this rate, there could easily come a time when years go by without a copy seeing the light of day.

AmazingSpider-Man667DellOtto.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

***Waiting in the Wings***

 

 

Batman #1, Sketch (2011),

New52Batman1Sketch.jpg

 

 

 

Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Black Cat #1, J. Scott Campbell (2010)

 

ASMPresentsBlackCat1variant.jpg

 

 

Uncanny X-Force #20, Venom Variant (2012).

 

05e45e3bb04aea43101c790588aea919.jpg

 

 

-J.

 

Hey that does looks nice. :banana: Thanks jreezy!

 

-J.

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Lazyboy- Do your replies only reflect DC and marvel? what about indie publishhers like zenescope, Dynamite, eternity comics who have micro print runs of 50, 25 and 10 and books are hard serially #?

 

What about Image?

 

Indies are certainly different than DC and Marvel, but things like the TWD 100 Hero Initiative blank still happen.

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Hi - many thanks - to both the chap who added the pics and the other responses to what clearly is a contentious question (apologies)

Am mostly a Bronze & Copper-age guy so I had some comfort with the variants of that period which seem to have some degree of "solidity" i.e. a Miracleman 2D variant, 30 /35c, Test Logo, UK / Canadian etc etc

 

Questions

Are all cover variants now (from Marvel & DC) "ratio" variants?

Other than the covers being obviously different, how are these noted? (I know Marvel say "variant" on the number box)

If you have a very high ratio (e.g. are there such ones as 1:50,000?) do these correspond to the ranking; or is it (as I expect) supply and demand?

Is it a good idea to ask about modern 2nd and 3rd prints and variants of those?

 

If you want a detailed explanation of all the publishers are now doing with variants and reprints, this probably isn't the best place.

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:luhv: TWD 100 Hero Initiative blanks and the 106 copies of the official books.............................................. plus the Hyundai limited-edition WD book that you had to buy the car to get. Hyundai officially put it at 1000 copies.

Two years and I have yet to see one hit the public sales market.

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I would love a full list of 1-50ish so that we could get to issues people might find a little more often, maybe the AH! Catwoman numbers issue and lower Dell'Otto range. But this is good info to have, and the pictures make all the difference in the world!

 

hm I could probably stretch the list out to 25, but after that things would get pretty convoluted....

 

-J.

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I would love a full list of 1-50ish so that we could get to issues people might find a little more often, maybe the AH! Catwoman numbers issue and lower Dell'Otto range. But this is good info to have, and the pictures make all the difference in the world!

 

hm I could probably stretch the list out to 25, but after that things would get pretty convoluted....

 

-J.

 

That would be cool. I don't really collect much of this stuff, but they are pretty sweet!

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