Welcome to this weeks spec and drek, the 6th edition for 2021. This is where we pick the winners each week we (or shall I say myself) think will be spec worthy, a great read or just cool looking art on the cover. I also dive into the pesky drek, the book you should probably avoid if you can or perhaps not invest so heavily into.
Pumping these out early since I think a large majority of our audience will be tuned into the Super Bowl this coming Sunday.
Marvel Picks
Eternals #2. I have yet to read the first issue. I skimmed it and saw the spoilers but I really need to sit down and read it so I can hopefully keep up with what I hope is a great new series in preparation for the upcoming movie, if it ever happens before we all die.
Eternals #2 (McKelvie Variant)
Eternals #2 (Nauck Headshot Variant)
Darth Vader #10 is just a great looking cover. Simple yet elegant in it’s own way. Love it and love the series. Always potential for spec (first appearances) with these Vader titles.
Star Wars Darth Vader #10 (Sprouse Empire Strikes Back Variant)
Star Wars High Republic #1 3rd Printing. Just grab at least one copy, could turn out to be an easy winner one day.
DC Picks
Future State Teen Titans #1 2nd Printing that has Red X on the cover. Already selling well on the secondary market with pre-sales. It’s an easy flip but the price might start to drop once people get their hands on copies come Wednesday.
Then there is also the Future State Teen Titans #2 Variant B that is now selling well with pre-sales. People got bad case of FOMO apparently.. But could be easy flip if you get your copy and sell fast.
Indie and Small Publisher Picks
Black Hammer Visions #1. Always a winner for me. It’s not written by Lemire but it’s still likely to be good.
Black Hammer: Visions #1 (Gilbert Hernandez with Dave Stewart Variant Cover)
Black Hammer: Visions #1 (Evan Dorkin with Sarah Dyer Variant Cover)
Radiant Black #1 is the new Kyle Higgins book out from Image. I think they’re anticipating this one to be bigger. I’m still up in the air, I think the first issue was a bit clunky so hopefully it gets better.
Orcs #1 from Kaboom! seems like a great book for the young-lings (or for you fans of Adventure Time. We’ve seen the kid friendly books catch heat in the past so if this one pans out, could be worthy and if not, maybe the kids will enjoy it.
Shepherd #1 is a new Scout Comics book that dives into the supernatural thriller genre. I read it already. It starts off kind of odd, then dives into the origin. There was enough to perk my interest to see where it continues but definitely a slow story build up. This is one of those first issue then read in entire first volume later books from Scout.
Now on with the dreaded “drek” pick, every writer and artists worst nightmare when it comes to selling their hard work.
The book to avoid or not fall victim to in buying at inflated prices, whether it’s false demand, pump and dump or out of FOMO.
I Walk With Monsters #1 got a second printing? Not sure how many others read this first issue so I’d love to see what others thought of the story. Myself, I was not impressed. It was definitely a book I didn’t even have to have a second thought about reading the second issue..
Based on the solicit, you’d think Vader #10 will have a 1st. At least that’s my perception.
Could be…
“But in THE RED NEBULA along the way, can Vader survive the onslaught of the greatest predator in the galaxy? Especially if the monster’s most brutal attack transcends the physical?”
I almost read it like it’s gonna be some really bad ass monster of some type on Red Nebula…. After this issue for the next issue #11 it goes into some EXEGOL story line that I’m looking forward to, hoping sheds some light from the last Star Wars movie..
Eternals 2 gets a spec when you admittedly only skimmed the first issue but you’re dislike for IWWM #1 got the 2nd print a Drec?! I am confused. Should we listen to you bc you “skimmed” a book and think the 2nd issue will be good or should we think after you read one issue, you know whether the series will be good? Not every 2nd print can be as popular as Star Wars books. I usually dig your lists, but this just seems like lazy journalism. No offense.
speculation: the forming of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence; investment in stocks, property, or other ventures in the hope of gain but with the risk of loss.
Picks and speculation are based on not having all the info, which I clearly did with Eternals #2. I could have picked the book without ever mentioning of not having read issue #1 entirely yet, but instead chose to be up front and honest that I’ve only skimmed it and read the spoilers (which gave me a good idea of what goes on in the entire issue). I also picked Eternals #1 before even reading it, should I have waited? What’s the point in “speculating” if it requires reading? This would be nothing but a review site if that were the case, all articles would be based on comics and books after they’ve hit the market and we’ve read them.
I also never claim people need to “listen” to me. That’s your choice when reading my articles here on this website. Take it with a grain of salt if you have to, like or don’t like what I’m speculating on or think might or might not be a good read. This website is free to read and nothing is guaranteed in our picks we write about.
I Walk With Monsters did nothing for me when I read it. The story was lacking substance and I’m surprised it went to a second print when you can still find first prints available (and they’re still cover price on the secondary market). Maybe the second issue gets better but for now, that’s why that book is my drek pick because I’m surprised it’s gone on to a second printing.
Cheers.
This is a spec site. Not a book of the month club. I just want to exchange $4 for $10. Thanks for the FREE advice Poyo
Haha.. well, we do want to cater to readers as well but yes, we spec on books we have “yet to read” as well..
I doubt any price will drop for the TT 1 Second Print. Shops are raising the price against the secondary market. I agree flip a set of the Second Print and the Cover B of issue 2. Then again getting at cover to do that will be a little tough. Just my thoughts. I am glad I got several sets at cover weeks back.
Might not drop immediately but will drop slowly… shops who are raising the price before release suck!
Why do they suck? Shops are a business and should capitalise on hot books. I own a store and I definitely raise the price. I have a store to make money. I don’t spend thousands of dollars and countless hours running a business to sell some speculator a hot book at cover price so they can flip it on ebay. That is just dumb. If people don’t agree, I look forward to buying your hot books at cover so I can flip them.
Joe, we’ve covered this before (particularly with you in the past) and yes, your shop sucks (my opinion, like it or don’t like it) if you raise prices that have a retail price as a retailer buying wholesale prior or on the day of release. If you care about what happens to the goods you sell after it leaves your store, perhaps you should not be in the retail business.
“I don’t spend thousands of dollars and countless hours running a business to sell some speculator a hot book at cover price so they can flip it on ebay.”
But it’s okay for you to do the same exact thing by raising the price.. while getting a hefty discount as a Diamond account holder? Sure.. you’re logic is flawed with your double standards. Go away if you don’t like a speculator website that frown upon retailers who jack the prices up on books prior or on release day.
Basically your attitude:
Shop owner makes a 50% profit (less really after pull lost discount, transaction fees, etc) and that’s ok. But the shop owner is a shitty person if he sells the book for going price of, say, 20 bucks.
A flipper buys a book for 4 bucks and sells it for 20 + shipping minus the 12% or so for fees but is still makes 200+% profits. This scenario is ok with you but the owner who actually takes all the risk.
Basically you’re a pos dbag. Got it.
“Shop owner makes a 50% profit (less really after pull lost discount, transaction fees, etc) and that’s ok. But the shop owner is a shitty person if he sells the book for going price of, say, 20 bucks.”
You’re cherry picking at this point with this statement. I never said you can’t raise the prices. Publishers have a retail cover price, you’re a retailer buying at wholesale prices. The whole setup of a comic shop selling new items with a cover price is to move inventory to make revenue and profit. If you still got “hot books” a week or two later or you pulled a copy aside for yourself to sell later, by all means, great for you.
“A flipper buys a book for 4 bucks and sells it for 20 + shipping minus the 12% or so for fees but is still makes 200+% profits. This scenario is ok with you but the owner who actually takes all the risk.”
If speculator walks into a shop, there’s no guaranteed for them to even grab a copy. Not all customers are flippers either. You’re assuming that everyone is there to buy from you and then flip it. But if you jack the price up, you’re treating all customers as speculators. Again, you’re not following on why we frown upon retailers who play speculators/flippers. You’re only hurting yourself in the long run. Even speculators and flippers (this goes for collectors and readers too) are willing to spend thousands upon thousands a year at a shop. Turn one away by jacking the price up and well, you can do the math, you just lost a lot of future business.
“Basically you’re a pos dbag. Got it.”
That’s nice. Once you start getting personal and calling someone names cause you can’t properly defend your stance, then you already lost the debate in my opinion.
Resorting to name calling 100% loses the debate.
Remember, this is the same guy who said this about comic book stores:
“Closed my store here in CA until who knows when. Thankfully I also have a “real” job to support myself. Gonna suck bigtime for the stores barely scrapping by.” – Comment Link
Aren’t you the same Joe from Banzai Cards and Comics, now Modesto Comics, that said running a comic shop isn’t real work?
Yes, I provided the link. Yeah, real winner there. “I run a business” but yet it’s not a “Real job”… Geez, get your facts and standards aligned.. 😉
Its funny because he used to at least wait a week.
“I fill all pull lists for regular price than pull all the rest off the shelf and will either sell online or put on the shelf a week later for whatever the going rate is.”
You know, the internet is a beautiful thing where it “never forgets”…. and can easily be referenced.
If you’re gonna stick to a story, should really try sticking to the same story….
But remember folks, if you’re a retailer and you’re “offended” by my opinion claiming your shop sucks if you play the secondary spec game on release day, Joe From Banzai Comics and Cards in Modesto California says you’re job as a comic book retailer isn’t a “real job”… 😉
That is assuming all people who buy books from your shop is a speculator. Do you evenly jack up the prices for collectors and readers or just people you define as Speculators? Needless to say, you are tripping over dollars to get pennies. Raising a book to over cover before release, causes many of us to not buy any books from your shop, period. So while I spend thousands and thousands of dollars in stores that treat their customers with respect, I will not buy anything from a shop that jacks up prices on books on the day of release. Also, to further the point, if a book was ordered en masse by stores to get the ratio variants, where the regular books are selling for less than cover on eBay, do you honor the ebay price as well?
I was just thinking, I own a site to make money. I do it for the regulars who want to get books that can add value to their collection and to flip so they can buy more comics, and not for retailers. So I am raising the price for you Joe, send me your PayPal address so I can invoice you for $4.99 a month, but in months were there are some really hot books, I am going to raise the price on you based on market demand. Sounds fair right?
Speculators will pay $3.99 a month, that’s CHU’s cover price. Retailers must pay $29.99 a month for CHU access… It’s perfectly fair.
Lol
I really need to read the replies before I comment.
Now I look like an idiot!
Haha Joe, you done goofed because I’m nice to Tony and he lets me visit for only $3.99 a month ?
So, a week later and prices are already dipped below cover price on the secondary market for some sales… eh! I don’t say this that often but “damn, I love it when I call it right!” But then again, I thought the prices would drop slower.. not this fast.. hope nobody loaded up on Teen Titans #1 2nd print.. unless you were able to offload them quickly.
http://comicsheatingup.net/2021/02/18/one-week-later-report-for-february-17-18th-2021/
And that’s a wrap for Joe. Banzaaaaaaiiiiiii! LOL!
Talk about putting one’s own foot in their mouth… Geez..
Eternals #1 was alright. It got pretty predictable quick though, but I’ll still pick up #2. I Walk With Monsters #1 was an awesome read in my opinion.
Yeah, Eternals I anticipate a slow build up but this is definitely a series that has potential for some firsts and such..