Flashback Friday – One Year Later

One year ago, we spec’d on new books hitting the shelves. Now it’s time to see how those specs and picks are doing now.

So what were we talking and spec’ing on about last year? This time I’m covering the weeks of May 16 and 23 together. Cause I was slacking last week and quite frankly, the week from May 16th was kind of uneventful to be on it’s own.

DC Books

Aquaman #36 had an awesome Middleton variant but a year later, just like when it was released is doing a whole lot of nothing.

You can find these for cover price and some under cover.

Batgirl #23 Middleton Variant was the hot book this time last year.

It was hot with pre-sales and just as hot after it was released.

What’s it doing a year later? It’s doing even better with raw sales still reaching the $75 range on a good day and CGC 9.8 reaching as high as $150.

If you’re still seeking a copy, I’d say just go the graded route. It ensures it’s a 9.8 and it’s not going to cost you that much more if you end up spending $75 on a raw copy and then upwards of $50 or so for grading costs and shipping costs.

Marvel Books

Black Panther #1 Vol. 7 got a reboot this time last year right after the movie debuted.

The movie didn’t help this book one bit.

But for any Black Panther fan, it’s still a must pick up. Plus the InHyuk Lee variants were just awesome.

Thanos #13 5th Printing was a new printing from the super hot Thanos run that introduced the Cosmic Ghost Rider by Donny Cates.

This reprinted the lenticular variant of Thanos but not as a lenticular. It didn’t see as much love as the first printing, that’s still the book to get. But if you can’t afford that one, you can find the 5th print for cover or less. A Signed CGC 9.8 by Donny Cates even went for a whopping $41.

Star Wars Annual #4 was one of those books that kind of caught some off guard.

Annuals are usually one off stories, different from the primary story line of the ongoing title. This JTC variant was a hit with Star Wars fans and particularly Vader fans.

Under ordered, over looked and demand equals a winner book.

This one has none listed currently, at least from a few different lookups that included JTC, variant, annual, #4 and so on. The only ones that do show up are sold listings and this is still a $40 or so book if they are listed and sell.

I can only say, this one we might be able to mark off as one of those cherished Ghost Variants.

Indie and Small Publisher

The Rot #1 from Source Point Press sold out initially and saw a little bit of love but a year later, you can actually find these online (Midtown has them in stock).

Some still have these listed for around $9.95 and the most recent sold listing was an auction that ended at a whopping $0.43. Yeah, you read that right. 43 cents. Skip buying at the shop and see if you can’t snag one for cheap on the secondary.

A Walk Through Hell #1 Aftershock Comics is a great read. It’s also doing fairly well on the secondary market a year later.

On a good day, the regular cover might fetch $10 on it’s own. The all black variant sells for about the same. Sets of #1 and possibly a few issues after the first reach the $20 range.

Flip them if you have extras, hold for the long term gamble if this ever gets optioned.

It is Garth Ennis who now has connections to the TV world since Preacher became a hit AMC show.

Skyward #1 2nd Print Jock Variant likely did just as well as the first print after this book got a media deal and heated up.

Reaching as high as $30 (I know, I sold one almost as fast as the news hit), what’s this one doing a year later? It’s a solid $12 to $20 book. It’s doing better than the regular cover on it’s own, but that one is still a double cover value book on average.

Drek Picks

X-Men Wedding Special was a great drek pick. The JSC variant appears to be averaging around a buck on sold listings. A second print of it sold for a penny. Yes, a penny. A Terry Dodson variant CGC 9.8 sold for $22.50.

You can thank me if you avoided this book by buying me a drink in NYC during New York Comic Con 2019 for those attending.

Iron Man #600 was another good call to avoid. That’s for the regular cover. The ratio variants aren’t doing bad though. The Alex Ross variants are doing okay, particularly the 1:100 but a 1:50 with dressing on the cover went for $7.50. The regular appears to go on average of about a buck or two.

17 thoughts on “Flashback Friday – One Year Later”

  2. I believe that Vader book is a 1:25 to boot. I have a copy sitting in my PC. Beautiful book.

    1. I think I saw some listing as 1:50 but could be mistaken as I do recall it being a 1:25. Mind starts to go numb looking up a bunch of eBay listings and sold listings.

      1. I just double checked. The Star Wars Annual #4, as seen above, is the 1:25 for that book. There is no 1:50, or higher ratio.

    1. I’ve been waiting for a Josh Middleton signing opportunity since this came out…still waiting…

  5. When I 1st read this article, it reminded me of a few naysayers, from this time last year, that had no faith in BG23b.

    agentpoyo says:
    May 22, 2018 at 11:03 pm
    If you miss out, just give it a few days or weeks, the prices will drop after the hype.

    Alana says:
    May 22, 2018 at 11:17 pm
    What happens on a slow week people got to find something to sell ala Batgirl b covers.

    JJ says:
    May 22, 2018 at 11:29 pm
    Bingo
    Book will be a little over cover in a week. This is not a tough book. If one decides to not have blinders on you can tell the early market was manipulated.
    If it doesn’t seem to make sense, the odds are it will come back to reality.
    Not even his best Batgirl cover lol

    JJ says:
    May 23, 2018 at 12:30 am
    …Undercutters will destroy this book.
    Hovering around cover in less then a week. Sticking by it.
    I might be wrong, I might be right, but I wouldn’t pay over cover for this book ever.
    Different strokes!
    Sell sell sell

    JayClue says:
    May 24, 2018 at 3:45 am
    … I truly think this has longer legs than most.

    Here is the link to this CHU conversation: https://comicsheatingup.net/2018/05/22/batgirl-23-b-for-cover-here/#comments

    Now, Im not trying to ‘call’ anybody out. Nobody can predict this market. This conversation had stuck in my head and was revived by todays article. I think this shows, for modern spec, that there is the odd long term for new books. Every comic that is worth good money was once a cover price book.

    ‘Todays comics are
    tomorrows keys’ – jcLu

    1. I solemnly swear I said what I said and I still stand by what I said, despite being wrong a year later. 😉

      In most cases, my comment was based on normally what happens based on history for these type of books. But I never said I’m 100% right either. But I think this book was a special case in how it was handled.

      I can’t speak for all shops out there but who would have thought that shops either under ordered these B covers for BG23 and then you hear the stories of shops yanking them off the shelves to sell on the secondary. I can only speak for a local shop in Austin and a few eye witnesses that claim they saw the stack of BG23 in the back storage room a few weeks after these were released. I can also claim I visited such shop shortly after they opened on the release day and was told first hand they were shorted, yet every other comic out that week was on their shelf. It was definitely odd to see all my local shops have plentiful copies of all the previous Middleton covers for Batgirl until this issue was released. Dragons Lair was the exception. Dragon’s Lair sells all books, even variants at cover price so they I take their word when they claim they didn’t order a book, they didn’t order it. Or they’ll tell you straight up a customer called to have a copy held for them. When a shop sells all comics at cover price, they have nothing to hide.

      I’ve noticed a trend with this one other shop however that when a book heats up before release, it always seems the book is mysteriously “out of stock” on release day or “they were shorted”. This is one reason I seldom visit such shop anymore.

      But by all means, I love seeing the chatter from a year ago.. anyone can call me out anytime. I love seeing when I was totally wrong!

      1. Lol…got to admire a man who sticks to his convictions, Poyo.
        Like I said, I wasnt trying to call anyone out and Doug knows I am wrong all the time too. It was the banter between JJ and myself that had stuck in my head, and had inspired my response here.

        1. My wife says I’m wrong all the time so admitting I’m wrong comes naturally for me.

          Like avoiding black friday sales and Wal-Mart, I learned long ago admitting when you’re wrong potentially prolongs ones life expectancy, but I could be wrong about that. 😉

  6. Most people are right or wrong half of the time when predicting the future. When in doubt, markets are usually better indicators than the subjective opinion of people. There are advantages and disadvantages in different methods of speculating in comics. The quick flipper who profit from selling early may miss out on comics with long term potential.

    1. If people are right or wrong for half of all predictions, what are they for the other half? Maybes? ?

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