Do you expect prices to keep rising or stay at their increased values for a while? To buy now or not to buy? 1 1

[HistoryBuffalo]

Hi all,

it seems I’ve picked the worst time to finally get into comics and look for a GA Cap. I’ve wanted to buy a Timely Captain America since I was 12 years old when the film first hit theaters but when I saw prices then nearly a decade ago, all I could do was look and window shop. Now that I’m a little older I have a little saved up from selling portions of prior collecting areas like sports cards and such but again, looking at the prices a decade later I feel much like I did as a kid... priced out. Each time I’ve looked at acquiring a comic over the years the prices have been higher each time. My question is this, even with these rising prices there are a few options for me as far as a GA Captain America issue, I’m unsure as to whether I should pull the trigger on one of them or wait? The issues in question are #20 for $650 and #56 for $290 and I would only get one. Both are beat up but each is nearly complete save for a detached cover of #20 and missing half the back cover on #56. I am worried that prices may continue to climb and level off to a point where I will be priced out of these issues as well.

When I first started looking for a GA Cap, I would have taken any copy, now I sit searching for a wartime issue (although I wouldn’t pass up postwar if it was right.) While I have found coverless from the war years, it doesn’t seem to fit what I’m looking for and should I ever decide to resell it or need to do so, I would almost certainly loose money. Condition is not as huge a factor for me as it is for others. As long as it presentable, I am pleased. As a college history major, the historical value and aspect of a title like Captain America is much more important to me.

I’m at the point where I’m not totally priced out but fear I may soon be. So, in this time of crazy collecting and even nuttier prices... that’s my conundrum. Any guidance is welcome and appreciated!

Edited April 7, 2021 by SkoBuffs99

[B2D327]

Put a detailed request in the “Want to Buy” thread on the board. There are a lot of members that will have what you’re looking for and may give you a better deal on a nice, complete copy. Depending on where else you’re looking, most sellers will jack up their prices to cover selling fees and shipping charges whereas here, you’ll be dealing with sellers directly and their reputations can be verified in the “kudos” threads. Good luck with your search.

[Westy Steve]

Never force a deal. Keep saving and be patient. It’ll fall in your lap eventually.

[littledoom]

7 hours ago, SkoBuffs99 said:

Hi all,

it seems I’ve picked the worst time to finally get into comics and look for a GA Cap. I’ve wanted to buy a Timely Captain America since I was 12 years old when the film first hit theaters but when I saw prices then nearly a decade ago, all I could do was look and window shop. Now that I’m a little older I have a little saved up from selling portions of prior collecting areas like sports cards and such but again, looking at the prices a decade later I feel much like I did as a kid... priced out. Each time I’ve looked at acquiring a comic over the years the prices have been higher each time. My question is this, even with these rising prices there are a few options for me as far as a GA Captain America issue, I’m unsure as to whether I should pull the trigger on one of them or wait? The issues in question are #20 for $650 and #56 for $290 and I would only get one. Both are beat up but each is nearly complete save for a detached cover of #20 and missing half the back cover on #56. I am worried that prices may continue to climb and level off to a point where I will be priced out of these issues as well.

When I first started looking for a GA Cap, I would have taken any copy, now I sit searching for a wartime issue (although I wouldn’t pass up postwar if it was right.) While I have found coverless from the war years, it doesn’t seem to fit what I’m looking for and should I ever decide to resell it or need to do so, I would almost certainly loose money. Condition is not as huge a factor for me as it is for others. As long as it presentable, I am pleased. As a college history major, the historical value and aspect of a title like Captain America is much more important to me.

I’m at the point where I’m not totally priced out but fear I may soon be. So, in this time of crazy collecting and even nuttier prices... that’s my conundrum. Any guidance is welcome and appreciated!

prices will only increase in the coming years, the time is always now to acquire

[kav]

prices will continue to rise.

[KCOComics]

 

The market is insanely hot and we may see some type of market correction in the short term,  but that's not a guarantee. Cap is a really popular character and I have no reason to believe he won't continue to rise in value long term and get more and more out of reach. 

All I can tell you is,  you've got to make a responsible choice for yourself. If you have the money and the desire to buy a GA Cap then save up and go after it now. Even if there is a price correction,  long term it will continue to rise. 

I would also suggest buying a book you'll be really happy to own and look at.  Coverless and half covers serve their purpose for many, but as a new collector I think eye appeal will be key for you to continue to enjoy the hobby. 

If you can't realistically afford a GA Cap, there are allot of more affordable places to go. SA Avengers, Cap 100 is still affordable. 

 

My last piece of advice is, don't be afraid to jump on a good opportunity.

 Do your diligence to make sure it's not "to good to be true", but if you have a great opportunity that might be a little bit of stretch,  go for it!

I never look back at the books I sold and think "if only I still had that!"  But I do struggle with the shots I didn't take!  

I could write a book about books I could have had! 😢

[rsouxlja7]

You might see a 10-20% dip from current prices but that's not much on books that have increased 300-500% in a year. $300-$600 on a GA book seems more than fair IMO. 

Edited April 8, 2021 by rsouxlja7

[Rip]

A lot of these prices are going way up because of the new money moving into the market from sports and non-sports cards. But I would be very careful when you look at the very recent history of many of these collectibles that went crazy as investors move from one collectible into the next mkt. with little nostalgia tied to the object.

Many key sports cards like M. Jordan or top non-sports cards like Luke Skywalker, Shadowless Charizard, etc have had drastic drops in value. Numerous non-sport unopened wax boxes like Marvel Universe and Star Wars 1977 blue have seen prices cut in half or more in the last month. Prices haven't fallen to pre-covid levels, but if you bought some of the top cards in these hobbies at top peak insanity in Feb, you lost big time. Some of these cards and boxes have quick drops in the 10's and hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I see no reason why not to suspect it will happen with some comics like X-Men 1, or ASM 300, or Hulk 181 next. 

As for Golden age Caps, I haven't seen any of the sports card insanity moving into that area quickly and massively jacking up prices. So I don't necessarily see a big drop either

[BlowUpTheMoon]

1 minute ago, Rip said:

I see no reason why not to suspect it will happen with some comics like X-Men 1

I think X-Men #1 has undergone a market correction and will retain the prices we are seeing now.  

Last time I checked there were 5,300 universal copies in the Census.   That's a very low supply compared to the ultra high demand. 

[theCapraAegagrus]

For a GA Cap, I think that prices will continue to rise. Patience is a virtue.

[InfantTerrible]

I'm buying as many as I can fine copies of the ones I'm interested in.....

From what I posted on the other thread:

Superheroes comics are mainstream now. Gone are the days where superhero comics were just part of niche, geeky community. Now, thanks to Disney, everyone wants to be part of superhero movies/shows. Because that's the only ones that making money, the only ones that will guaranteed steady pay checks. Every single actor, director, executive, movie staff, etc; want part of the superhero shows, any other show is secondary

Between actors, producers, directors, executives, movie crews, board of directors, investors/bankers, etc, that's a lot of rich people....they were never interested in comics before, but now they are, since it's 'part of their jobs'...plus millions of consumers who are bombarded by blockbuster movies, weekly Disney+ shows

 

Edited April 8, 2021 by IronMan_Cave

[dupont2005]

I have no clue but it’s not just comics. It’s across the board with just about any collectible/hobby/investment. Did the pandemic do it? The stimulus? I dunno. Lucky I bought my car when I did. Too bad I sold all my comics when I did 

[valiantman]

20 minutes ago, dupont2005 said:

I have no clue but it’s not just comics. It’s across the board with just about any collectible/hobby/investment. Did the pandemic do it? The stimulus?

Definitely both, for books below the stimulus dollar amount.

"Here's $1,000 to spend... but don't leave your house where you're bored all day!"

Ummm, OK, that means spending it on... comics, cards, toys, coins, records, posters, whatever used to be fun before you could drive (and you were in your house bored all day).

As far as the bigger books go (the ones that no one can buy with stimulus money), that has to be from staying home (but not completely from the stimulus).

"Here's all that money you would have spent on travel and entertainment to spend... but don't leave your house where you're bored all day!"

Rinse, repeat.

[Namtak]

19 hours ago, kav said:

prices will continue to rise.

Not so sure,i remember 2009,it was a good year to buy from usa in Canada lol,with covid doing ravages to our economy....in a year or two i wonder if there will be annother ressession .....plus collectibles is expending and will slow a little right now it strays in every direction...it will stabilise ,in 70s comics collectors had simillar observation,action one for 1000$,the best copy of 181 hulk for 20$ it was madness!or so i was told,mid 90s comics werent so hot many comic shop closed .i believe we are on the verge of a stability soon,for a little time only.but for now its madness

[THE_BEYONDER]

I think those that are convinced that these prices are the new normal & will continue to rise forever....are in for a rude awakening in the not-so-distant future.   It’s like being on a hot streak at the casino, and thinking that you will continue winning as long as you keep playing. 

[WeR138]

1 hour ago, valiantman said:

Definitely both, for books below the stimulus dollar amount.

"Here's $1,000 to spend... but don't leave your house where you're bored all day!"

Ummm, OK, that means spending it on... comics, cards, toys, coins, records, posters, whatever used to be fun before you could drive (and you were in your house bored all day).

As far as the bigger books go (the ones that no one can buy with stimulus money), that has to be from staying home (but not completely from the stimulus).

"Here's all that money you would have spent on travel and entertainment to spend... but don't leave your house where you're bored all day!"

Rinse, repeat.

And throw in a big dose of FOMO on top of that.

"What the heck!  You mean other people got a stimulus check too!  I've got to buy before they're all gone!"

[InfantTerrible]

6 minutes ago, WeR138 said:

And throw in a big dose of FOMO on top of that.

"What the heck!  You mean other people got a stimulus check too!  I've got to buy before they're all gone!"

 

...and Disney keeps reminding people weekly, superhero this, superhero that...

[valiantman]

5 minutes ago, WeR138 said:

And throw in a big dose of FOMO on top of that.

"What the heck!  You mean other people got a stimulus check too!  I've got to buy before they're all gone!"

That, too! 

But, seriously, there are hundreds of thousands of "former comic collectors" (and former coin collectors, and former sportscard collectors, and probably some "all threes in the same person").  The assumption was that only a few of them would ever return to their old hobby.

If we just got 10,000 of those hundreds of thousands of "former comic collectors", there would only be 15 CGC graded books that could satisfy all 10,000.

http://www.cgcdata.com/cgc/cgctop/

That's assuming they bought every single copy away from the dealers and collectors who already owned them before COVID.

That's not going to happen, so the reality is that just a few hundred new collectors for ANY collectible, all buying in the same 12-month window, would drastically change the marketplace.

...and here we are.

[Poekaymon]

9 hours ago, THE_BEYONDER said:

I think those that are convinced that these prices are the new normal & will continue to rise forever....are in for a rude awakening in the not-so-distant future.   It’s like being on a hot streak at the casino, and thinking that you will continue winning as long as you keep playing. 

Some price fluctuation is totally normal, but it is also a fallacy that just because prices are higher than they used to be that they must crash.  Similarly, a lot of people thought the stock market was high and on the verge of a bubble at 20k.  Then at 25k they really thought so.  Then at 30k they thought so even more.  Well, now we're at 33.5k and those doom-and-gloomers have been on the sidelines since 20k--now what?  Keep calling for a crash, I guess!  This has some appeal--history shows that eventually you'll be right.  But that's cold comfort when you missed out on all the gains along the way.  

[THE_BEYONDER]

42 minutes ago, Poekaymon said:

Some price fluctuation is totally normal, but it is also a fallacy that just because prices are higher than they used to be that they must crash.  Similarly, a lot of people thought the stock market was high and on the verge of a bubble at 20k.  Then at 25k they really thought so.  Then at 30k they thought so even more.  Well, now we're at 33.5k and those doom-and-gloomers have been on the sidelines since 20k--now what?  Keep calling for a crash, I guess!  This has some appeal--history shows that eventually you'll be right.  But that's cold comfort when you missed out on all the gains along the way.  

Enough with the tired “doom-and gloomers” comments.  I don’t think the market will crash.  But this exponential growth is unsustainable, and books will inevitably hit a price ceiling.   Once prices start to flat line & the easy money is no longer available, many will start to unload these books and move into something else.   Whether or not the market can absorb these books remains to be seen, and will determine the degree of price correction.