Larry Doherty of Larry’s Comics in Loweel Mass puts out his market report every week. Every week we run it. Titles in orange are clickable and will take you to eBay or Amazon in a new window to see what he is talking about. Larry knows his stuff and seems to be ahead of the curve more times than not.
Hey guys,
Here is my shops weekly report for this week.
It contains A LOT of recycled information because it’s weekly & the market doesn’t change that fast.
Enjoy it. Don’t take it too seriously.
Top ten
Regular issue new comics by sales:
Here is the top ten list of actual sales in my shop. These are just one shop out of 1,900 direct market shops actual sales. Every shop is different.
#1 – Avengers Ai #1. “Alpha Dog” I thought fans might punish Marvel for the horrible ending to Age of Ultron, instead they rewarded them making this my top seller.
#2 – Superior Foes Of Spider-Man #1 . This Nick Spencer gem reads like an issue of Hawkeye. Very fun book. “Vertigo-ization of Marvel”
#3 – Deadpool Kills Deadpool #1 . Super timing releasing this hilarious comic at the same time the hilarious video game is new to the market. There are new Deadpool fans created every day. Fans like humor with an “edge”
#4 – Avengers #15 . Fans were hoping this issue could explain Age of Ultron’s confusing time quakes & perhaps explain just what the hell just happened to the Marvel Universe.
#5 -Detective Comics #22. This is what fans want. New 52 versions of classic DC characters. John Layman’s updating of the Wrath ruled!
#6 – Batman Incorporated #12. Grant Morrison spins an ultra violent conclusion to the Death of Damien saga giving fans delightful closure.
#7 -Green Lantern #22 .
I heard a lot of groaning that fans were getting bored with the new creative team. They better kick it up a notch or make more ring incentives.
#8 – Trinity of Sin Pandora #1. Fans wanted to get in on the ground floor on what should be a prelude to Trinity War & the origins of the new 52 continuity.
#9 – Action Comics #22 .
The current Action & Superman titles have quickly become the red headed stepchildren of Superman Unchained & Batman / Superman.
#10 – Satellite Sam #1.
For the second week in a row a new unproven Image title is: Indy “Rock Star of the Day’ The comic book industry is in a golden era of fans willing to give different genres a try.
Honerable mention: Dexter #1.
A new customer is new money.
Although Dexter #1 
Top “ten-ish.”
Regular issue new ( last year ) comics by aftermarket:
Modern comics that are seeing aftermarket activity. Ebay, Amazon, CGC boards, Bleeding Cool, conventions & my Phantom retailer network of 25+ shops are the primary source of this information. Not the top selling books in comic stores, rather the currently published, modern books that are selling above cover price for a variety of reasons. Prices are so volatile, in some cases they are out of date upon publication. This is just a guide, you figure them out, it’s fun. It’s simple, search E-Bay under completed auctions:
The Last of Us #1, 2 & 3. New video game based property has been an online sales beast, bucking the latest trend of a downturn.
DC’s Fables
Hoax Hunters
Rachel Rising #1 
Pilot Season Declassified
Uber #0
Polarity #1 
East of West #1
Nowhere Men 
Peter Panzerfaust
Helheim #1
Injustice Gods Among Us
Hawkeye
The Sixth Gun 
Mind MGMT
Saga
Five Ghosts: The Haunting of Fabian Gray #1
Top ten “ish” up & coming modern Key issues.
Modern comics that are just starting to see aftermarket movement. Books that were recently not in demand, and are finally experiencing aftermarket activity for a variety of reasons.
Spider-Man 2099 
just got “time quaked” into the current Marvel Universe in Age of Ultron #10. I knew he was coming to Dan Slott’s storyline this year, I just didn’t know how. As usual, I was simply ahead of the curve. His first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #365 is well worth your two dollars right now. On ebay, and on amazon, cheap
Captain Marvel #27. First appearance of Mistress Death. On ebay
DC 1st issue special #2. With ART BALTAZAR and FRANCO reinventing The Green,I’ll risk $3On ebay on Amazon for $1.95
Spawn #9. First appearance of Angela. Spawn #9 on Amazon
Spawn #9 News stand on Amazon
Dark Knight Returns #2. First full in costume Carrie Kelly. Batman the Dark Knight Returns #2 First Print
Guardians of the Galaxy #1 vol 2. Fans are starting to focus on this affordable #1 Guardians of the Galaxy #1 “1st Print”
Wolverine #166. 1st appearance Dog Wolverine #166
Uncanny X-men 282
Guardians of the Galaxy #24 “Magus Appearance”
& Guardians of the Galaxy #25 “Thanos Appearance”
return of Thanos.
X-Factor #5
& X-Factor #6 First app of Apocalypse 1st print
Batman #7 The New 52
Captain America #6
The New Mutants #16 “1st Appearance Warpath”
Top ten modern Key issues at my shop.
Modern comics that sell off my wall constantly. My shop sales are primarily new material, & my back issue sales tend to be related. I have a waiting list for most of these books.
TMNT #1. This is an entire generations “grail”. They are usually twenty somethings & they are usually collecting everything turtles.
Kimota! All Miracleman
Ms. Marvel #16
& 17 are on fire lately. Mystique is a top Marvel villain.
Walking Dead #1. The undisputed king of the modern era. Actually ANY WD pre 100.
The New Mutants #98
The Uncanny X-Men #266
Uncanny X-Men #141 &142. Days of future past movie source
Captain Marvel #33 – Origin of Thanos $50
Incredible Hulk #271. 1st comic book App Rocket Raccoon. $50
Nova #1. The new marvel series has fans scrambling for this relatively inexpensive bronze age key. $40+
Batman Harley Quinn. Iconic Alex Ross cover $50
Infinity Gauntlet, War, Crusade, Abyss. Thanos, Thanos Thanos.
The Killing Joke. It’s simply the best Joker wall book in the 25 year history of my shop. $25
Batman Animated #12. Every Bat fan wants the first appearance of Harley Quinn. $85
My Top ten “ish” under-valued modern comics.
These are books I’m speculating will soon see aftermarket activity, & are currently under-valued in my humble opinion, some may even be found in the bargain bins. I want to buy these books on the cheap. They’re long-shots. ( I’m not spending hooker or booze money on them. )
The Wrath is scheduled to make his New 52 debut this week in Detective comics #22, so Batman Special #1 look like a nice buy.
The SHIELD trailer looks killer!
Action Comics Vol 1 #845 January, 2007. First modern day General Zod.
Hank Henshaw appearances. The new 52 version is coming.
Eric O’ Grady key’s: Irredeemable Ant Man #1-12, Secret Avengers #23 & #32
Marvel Red Sonja #1. Gail Simone is taking over Dynamite series.
Rom #1. IDW just untangled the rights. If Nova & Ms Marvel can get hot, why the hell not Rom?
Marvel Spotlight Vol 2 #6 . first comic appearance of Star Lords father J’son of Spartax ( I like ALL Star Lord appearances )
Uncanny X-Men #172-3.Movie source material with Mariko Yashida
New X-Men #134. First Quentin Quire.
Star Brand #1. First New Universe & brand/tattoo: The Star Brand.
Thor #344. First appearance Malekith ( In upcoming Thor-2 movie )
Invaders vol 2 #1. First Dr. Nemesis
Uncanny X-men #317. First Blink. In upcoming X movie.
Marvel Point One. First Sam Alexander Nova
Battle Scars #1 & #6. First full Phil Coulson & Marcus Johnston.
The Invincible Iron Man #10. First Pepper Potts as Rescue.
Young Avengers #1. First Kate Bishop. My favorite Marvel female.
Ms Marvel #1. She’s rumored to be in Avengers 2 movie.
Ultimate Team Up #5. First African American Nick Fury in comics.
Captain America #157. first appearance of Viper
Deathshead appearances. Absolute quarter box fodder. I’m currently researching which to buy.
Top ten modern variant comics by aftermarket:
Variants are versions of the regular issue comic. They are NOT regular issue comics.
They are distributed / created for a variety of reasons.
Order incentive / retailer incentive, produced exclusively for shops/shows,events.
Image Expo variants are selling for considerably less than their C2e2 counterparts earlier this year. There were 8 exclusives at this con. Fans are hesitant to pull the trigger in the summer downturn, thyat traditionally ends after SDCC.
Walking Dead #1 Wizard World variants.
Superman Unchained #1 Retailer Roadshow 3D Cover
East of West #1 Forbidden Planet $30, ComicsPro/Ghost $15
Nowhere Men #1 Thought Bubble, ComicsPro, CBLDF.
Skottie Young marvel Babys. fans simply adore these.
Hellheim #1 NYCC $50, ECCC $100
Blank sketch covers. There seems to be an insatiable need for these by auto / sketch seekers.
Five Ghosts #1 ECCC.
Phantom variants. You know you love them. Generally sold $3.99 in shop sell for $10 online.
Incoming!
My pick of the week. The comic shipping this week that will be worth your valuable speculator y consideration, and why.
SHELTERED #1
IMAGE COMICS
(W) Ed Brisson (A/CA) John Christmas
story ED BRISSON
art / cover JOHNNIE CHRISTMAS
A PRE-APOCALYPTIC TALE OF SURVIVAL AT ANY COST.
The men and women of Safe Haven have been preparing for any-and-all end of world scenarios for years. However, their bunkers, weapons and training can’t save them from the one threat they never could have expected: Their own children.
I think this material will translate to other media BETTER than comic form. This will be picked up for a movie,tv or video game deal within six months.
Pictured is my shops variant. Completely self serving, I know, I know.
Buy the regular cover.
A lot of people ask me why I like to speculate on modern comic books. Original Art, Gold, Silver & Bronze age comics are a much better investment. I’m a comic book fan, a voracious reader of new material. I love how new books set the pace for back issues. It is fast paced & never stagnant due to the constant release of new material. Right now modern comics are the petri dish of pop culture, comic shops the breeding ground.
I have been collecting comics since the 1970’s & been in the business of selling them since the 1980’s. I love a quality story & a great buy, equally.
I speculate on new comics every week. I always have & I always will. Purchasing modern comic books with the intent of making a profit is my hobby of choice. It’s impossible that every new comic week will generate a book of “Walking Dead class” potential, but it’s still fun to try to make savvy buys. You can sit back & wait for aces, or you can play the hand your dealt to the best of your ability.
Sometimes, I’m right. Sometimes I’m wrong, but I play every week.
If you enjoy this new micro-blog format of my weekly market report.
Please re-tweet it. Post it online.
Thanks to Ralph at Jetpack for help with this weeks market report.
If you notice a trend developing email me: larryscomicsinc@aol.com
Larry Doherty
Larry’s Comics
66 Lakeview Ave
Lowell, MA 01850
Wednesday 9a-8p
Thursday 10a-7p
Friday 11a-11p
Saturday 9am-7pm
Sunday 11a-4p
Monday 11a-7p
Closed Tuesday.
You can buy Regional Shop Variants produced for my store
HERE!
978-459-5323
LarrysComics.net
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