Wednesday Open Forum

Wednesday
Wednesday, the best day of the week, new comic book day. It is like your birthday in the middle of each week (well, one where you buy your own presents.)
We open things up to hear from you. A free for all.
The 173rd edition of the open forum!
As always we also want to hear about your weekly pickups.
So, What were your pick ups?
What had disappeared off the shelves?
What was sitting on the shelves?
What back issue deals did you grab?

85 thoughts on “Wednesday Open Forum”

    1. Sheesh. Yes. It’s a book I have wanted to buy for a while. I love Bronze Age horror mags, have a creepy 1, and have wanted a Vampi #1

      1. Oh, man, I remember those long road trips when I was a kid…Couldn’t wait to stop at a service station/ general store along the way and pick me up a Reggie Bar and a Creepy magazine (among others)! Helped those long rides go a little quicker!

        1. I used to go to the beach with my mom. Ocean City. They had a book store which was really just the size of a long closet off the board walk. He always had a trashy magazine box up front that had horror mags. I always picked up a couple and looked forward to it.

    1. I own both books slabbed. I think they are equally important as being new unique characters created that became the most popular of their respective brands. If both happen to fall off a cliff and I could only save one I’d grab Harley. The book crosses genders more so then Venom meaning more prospective buyers long term. As for the movie franchise’s I don’t see the best thing going for DC films Harley stopping anytime soon, Venom has yet to prove himself in film to this point.

    2. Alana makes a lot of good points..there is also print run. When McFarlane took over penciling for AMS the print runs shot way up since he was already huge at the time. I would dare to say Batman Adventures had a much smaller printing overall and since it was geared toward kids there are probably significantly fewer surviving copies out there by comparison.

    3. 9.8 Batman Adventures are really pricey. But then again so is ASM 300. Neither Harley or Venom are going anywhere. On the rarity side I would say BA12.

    4. Both are characters that are not going anywhere else anytime soon. Both will hold their respected values but comparing them would be like comparing chocolate ice cream to vanilla..

    5. Both are great books to own. I have a slabbed ASM 300 but no BA 12. I think BA 12 has the edge based on rarity. Ive never seen a BA12 on a shop wall. I see ASM 300s all the time.

      1. Yes, the availability + demand makes BA12 a little harder to come by but….
        Imagine if Venom’s first appearance was in a kids Spider-Man book with a minuscule print run? It’s amazing that ASM 300 commands the price it does. Just goes to show that the demand for ASM 300 is actually much higher than BA12 I think.
        Supply + Demand + Availability and yet still, ASM 300 and BA 12 both command around the same amount slabbed and graded at 9.8. Actually seems the ASM 300 commands a little bit more. Most recent Auction of BA12 9.8 ended auction at $1700 and most recent ASM 300 9.8 Auction ended at $1908 (From Canada). Another recent ASM 300 BIN 9.8 ended at $2500.

  5. Not feeling well today so I’ll keep this brief.
    Not going to my LCS today because I’m just going back to bed after work. I’ll get my books tomorrow or Friday!
    This week I am getting:
    Action Comics #997
    Babyteeth #8
    Bloodshot: Salvation #6
    Cable #154
    Dark Knights Rising The Wild Hunt #1
    Detective Comics #974
    Invincible #144
    Ninja K #4
    Star War Darth Vader #11
    Supergirl #18 – Artgerm Variant
    Amazing Spiderman Annual #42
    Renew Your Vows #16
    Avengers #680
    Despicable Deadpool – Hulk Smash Variant
    Flash #40
    Don’t get sick everyone!

  6. I got 4 copies of stab bunny. Avengers 675 2nd print, 680 reg and Variant. Dark knight rising. Grass kings 12 variant. Sideways. Ice cream man 2nd print……. But they only had 4 copies of stab bunny. Dude gave me a “go f@ck yourself” look when I got them all. Lol

    2. Avengers 675 2nd print might be a winner. I hadn’t seen the cover until today and none of my shops had them.. seems pretty scarce, at least on online retailers and my area. It’s a solid $10 book already on eBay. If this character sticks around and gains popularity, could we see another Captain Marvel #18 2nd Print potential here?
      I think most of my shops are still trying to dump off their lenticular first prints so a lot of shops likely skipped out on ordering these 2nd prints.

        1. True but this one is pretty much focusing on Voyager for the cover. Also, if a bunch of shops overlooked this cause they’re still trying to dump the 1st prints they still have, this one could be super hard to find, it has potential if the character stays hot, the demand is there and what appears as a minuscule print run possibly.

      2. I’d just like to make a video like Anthony with my 4 stab bunny copies. Tease y’all like he does when he has 40 copies of a hot book, then make it look like it’s no big deal. Sorry, it’s only a few times I feel like a boss with my copies.

      3. 4 out of 5 shops i visited had zero copies of Avengers #675 2nd. The big shop had 3 copies. Very scarce in my area. I grabbed all 3 when i saw the cover.

    4. Weird reaction from employee. All he had to do was say there’s a limit of one or two copies per person.
      My main shop the limit is two of any new release. Sometimes if something is super hot they’ll limit it to one or mark it up. Last week they had Amazing 795 at $15 at opening Wednesday. Which is BS but whatever.

      1. This is the one thing I hate about shops. That just because a book is hot, they raise the price to whatever the secondary market is at. But when you try to sell them a copy, they won’t even pay 75% of the secondary market asking price.

      2. Comic shops that retail books are 1st market and should wait a few days to hike prices on hot books. If they want to play the secondary market game like the rest of us, they can pay full retail cover price like the rest of us and hope they can grab a few extra books to flip.
        So yes, shame on them and you should call them out. I would, I would call them out publicly. I have no shame. The only pass is variants, shops are entitled to hike the price on variants that they had to order a certain amount of a book to get themselves since most of the time it’s books they sit on and don’t move quite as quickly.

  7. Good week for reading comics!
    Pickups include:
    Doctor Strange regular and Hulk variant
    Grass Kings
    Babyteeth #8
    Avenger #680 cover A
    Darth Vader #11
    Wonder Woman (Frison variant)
    Kill or Be Killed
    Spec pick ups:
    Thanos #14 Phoenix variant for $8-these have blown up in the last week with copies going for $35-$45 a piece.
    Popeye #34 and #35 (1:10 variants)-not as cool as the Mannion or Zombie variant, but for $19 total, a great deal and going on Ebay later tonight. Can’t believe what some of these variants are going for.
    Good hunting everyone!

  8. Picking up today:
    Skybourne 5
    Invader Zim 28
    I went to a new con this weekend, I Like Comic Con in WA state. I was nice for a 1st year con. Mostly comic focused, a lot of elbow room, yet vendors said they were doing well. More inexpensive golden age books than I’ve seen in a long time.
    I commissioned an original, full-sized Crow page from James O’Barr and had him sign a few books. The commission looked as if it could have come right out of the original Crow books.
    My sister-in-law gave me the book, The Artist Within, a photo book of comic artists in their studios. It is perfect for lugging around to cons to get signed. She had it signed and sketched by Stan Sakai and Scott Shaw (Sonic the Hedgehog). At the con, I had it signed by Neal Adams and Howard Chaykin. Jim Steranko was at the show but not in my book. It was fun to overhear Chaykin badmouth Steranko to Aaron Lopresti. Neal Adams is now charging $50 for just a signature. Howard Chaykin asked for a donation to a charity.
    I picked up reprints of Police Comics 1 and Feature Books 3 (Popeye & the Jeep). These reprints from the 70’s and 80’s are starting to pick up a bit in value. I also found Poison Elves 1-10 and an ashcan all signed by Drew Hayes. #1 was a second print.
    One of two actors at the show was Deep Roy who played Yoda in Empire during the walking scenes. He said he also played R2-D2 when Warwick Davis was to drunk to fit inside. He was Droopy McCool in Return and the Snail Racer from the Neverending Story. He was also in the new Star Trek movies and Flash Gordon. Nice guy.

  9. I was able to get my hands on a Del Mundo YG variant today. Ive got all 3 so far and am aiming for a complete set. Made some preorders for ASM 795 2nd print, its a new cover snd its bad ass. As well as JLA #26B. My pick ups this week were:
    PC and Readers
    Old Man Hawk Guy #2
    Thrawn #1
    Vader #11
    JLA #24B
    Doc Strange #385
    Sideways #1
    Avengers #677
    Avengers #680
    Detective #974, wanted B but sold out
    OML #35
    Weapon X #14, dropping after this arc
    Animosity Evolution #4
    Dark Knights Rising Wild Hunt #1
    Marvel 2 In 1 #3 Del Mundo YG
    Suicide Squad #35B
    Specs ‘n Flips
    ASM #795 x4
    Deadpool #294 Hulk Variant
    XMen Blue #21 Poison Spidey Variant
    Supergirl #18
    Avengers #675 2nd print variant
    Doc Strange #295 Hulk Variant
    Phoenix Resurrection #4 & #5 Lee Variants
    Batman #16 vol.3
    Ice Cream Man #1 Irving Variant

    1. Oh, and I got a Baby Badass #1 risque variant. An old friend of mine just had a baby boy. This particular friend hangs out with legit bikers and some unsavoury types. Im going to frame the book and give it as a gift. I think he will like it. He named his son after Willis Newton, the infamous bank robber. LMAO

      3. Jay, the fiskbo frame from Ikea is an excellent low cost option. They’re like $3-4. Looks nice on the wall.

  10. Had a copy of Sideways #1 in my pull, but the book was otherwise sold out. No Stabbity Bunny #2, and I missed out on a few other books that came out but weren’t received by the LCS. Here’s the list:
    ACTION COMICS #997 VAR ED
    BATGIRL AND THE BIRDS OF PREY #19 VAR ED
    DETECTIVE COMICS #974 VAR ED
    FLASH #40 VAR ED
    GOTHAM CITY GARAGE #9
    HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #38 VAR ED
    JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #24 VAR ED
    MISTER MIRACLE DIRECTORS CUT #1 (MR)
    NEW SUPER MAN & THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF CHINA #20
    NEW SUPER MAN & THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF CHINA #20 VAR ED
    RAGMAN #5 (OF 6)
    RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #19 VAR ED
    SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #22 VAR ED
    SHADE THE CHANGING GIRL WONDER WOMAN SPECIAL #1
    SIDEWAYS #1
    SUICIDE SQUAD #35 VAR ED
    SUPERGIRL #18 VAR ED
    TITANS #20 VAR ED
    WILDSTORM MICHAEL CRAY #5 VAR ED
    WONDER WOMAN #40 VAR ED
    DARK NIGHTS METAL RISING THE WILD HUNT #1 X2
    DEADMAN #4
    CURSE WORDS #11 CVR A BROWNE
    KILL OR BE KILLED #16
    PARADISO #3 CVR A PRAMANIK & KELLY
    RUMBLE #3 CVR A RUBIN (MR)
    SLOTS #5
    X-MEN BLUE #21 LEG
    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #42 LEG
    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #16 LEG
    AVENGERS #680 LEG WW
    DOCTOR STRANGE #385 LEG
    MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #3 LEG WW
    OLD MAN HAWKEYE #2 (OF 12) LEG
    STAR WARS THRAWN #1
    ANIMOSITY EVOLUTION #4
    COLD WAR #1

  11. Dark Knights Rising The Wild Hunt #1
    Curse Words #11- Cover B Tula Latoy variant
    Invader Zim #28 Cover A Regular Mady G & Fred Stresing Cover
    Invader Zim #28 Cover B Variant Rian Sygh Cover
    Star Wars Thrawn #1 Cover B Variant John Tyler Christopher Action Figure Cover

  12. There is a pretty nice ASM #101 homage exclusive variant for Vamperonica #1 @ stadium comics limited to 500 copies. The same store did a Hulk #181 homage for another Archie book that did well on the aftet market. Just a heads up if anyones interested.

  14. Anyone know what number Amazing Spider-Man pre-orders are on or are still available? Has the time for 797, 798, etc passed? Thanks!

    1. I dont know for certain. But i would think the FOC on those issues has long past. It comes out every other week. #796 should be out next week snd the #797 in 3 weeks. I think typically you need to order them 6-8 weeks in advance. I think.

  15. I just wanted to play nostradsmus and predict that due to variants the 2025 overstreet price guide will be 20 inches thick and weigh approximately 25lbs. The oversize edition will have wheels and a telescoping handle.

  16. Action Comics Vol 2 #995 Cover A Regular Dan Jurgens & Trevor Scott Cover
    Amazing Spider-Man Vol 4 #796 NEXT WEEK
    Archie Vol 2 #27 Cover C Variant Ty Templeton Cover
    Avengers Vol 6 #681 Cover A Regular Mark Brooks Cover (No Surrender Part 7) NEXT WEEK
    Bloodshot Salvation #5 Cover D Variant Ryan Bodenheim Cover
    Comic Shop News #1601
    Coyotes #3
    Daredevil Vol 5 #597 Cover A Regular Dan Mora Cover
    Dark Knights Rising The Wild Hunt #1 Cover A Regular Doug Mahnke Foil-Stamped Cover
    Darth Vader Vol 2 #10 Cover A Regular Giuseppe Camuncoli Cover
    Despicable Deadpool #292 Cover A Regular Mike Hawthorne Cover
    Eternal Empire #6
    Grass Kings #10 Cover A Regular Tyler Jenkins Cover
    Grass Kings #11 Cover C Variant Nick Pitarra Cover
    Hack Slash vs Vampirella #4 Cover B Variant Goran Sudzuka Cover
    Hard Case Crime Minky Woodcock Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini #2 Cover A Regular Fay Dalton Cover
    Hard Case Crime Quarrys War #2 Cover A Regular Will Conrad Cover
    Harley Quinn Be Careful What You Wish For Special Edition #1 Cover A Regular Amanda Conner Cover
    Ice Cream Man #2 Cover B Variant Nimit Malavia Cover NEXT WEEK
    Kingsman Red Diamond #5 Cover B Variant Leinil Francis Yu Black & White Cover
    Kong On The Planet Of The Apes #4 Cover C Variant Fay Dalton Pulp Subscription Cover NEXT WEEK
    Mister Miracle Vol 4 #6
    Old Man Logan Vol 2 #33
    Pestilence #6
    Phoenix Resurrection Return Of (Adult) Jean Grey #3 Cover A Regular Leinil Francis Yu Cover
    Punisher Vol 10 #220
    Royal City #9 Cover B Variant Ray Fawkes 1990s Album Homage Cover
    Saucer State #6 Cover B Variant Jeffrey Veregge Cover
    Scooby Apocalypse #21 Cover B Variant Philip Tan Cover
    She-Hulk Vol 3 #161 Cover A Regular Rahzzah Cover
    Slots #4
    Smoketown #6
    Spider-Man Deadpool #26
    Stray Bullets Sunshine And Roses #31
    Sword Of Ages #2 Cover A Regular Gabriel Rodriguez Cover
    Taarna #1 Cover B Variant Alex Ross Cover NEXT WEEK
    Witchblade Vol 2 #2

  17. Not much for me today, just a few online orders and whatever I have in my pullbox. I’m still working on organizing, I’m actually making pretty good progress. I’m planning on going to a couple shop’s tomorrow, it’s the first time I’ve been to the shop’s in almost 2 months (not counting my main shop).

  18. Placing my preorder for Action Comics #1000. So many covers. Which cover(s) would you guys recommend, or should I skip it altogether? Thanks.

  19. Missed out on a lot..got there late. Tried to secure a stabbity bunny 2 but it was already claimed
    So i went hunting for back issues..
    Bought a house of secrets first swamp .. Not the best shape but good price
    A nicely shaped tomb of Dracula 1 along with 2 and 3
    Omnibus Iron Man!!! Scarce nice and clean

    2. Tomb of Dracula and werewolf by night were my reads when I was about 10 years old back in the 80’s. I miss the news print comics.

      1. Yeah! Fellow horror fans..i collect anything and everything..just bought an exorcist living dead doll..beautiful

  20. How amazing would a Stanley “Artgerm” Lau lenticular cover be???
    I would buy a ton of them.
    Just a random thought I wanted to share…

  21. Did you happen to catch The Comic Mint exclusive Amazing Spider-Man 797 Mike Mayhew Variant?
    Presale was today at 2pm- sold out in minutes at $39.99 for a non graded copy. Already seeing sales on eBay in the hundreds… I can’t believe I missed out. Only 600 copies of this AMAZING cover printed. Definitely check it out if you are a Spider-Man fan.

      1. So, you’re computer screen is still intact? Or if you tried to nab it on your phone, that is still intact as well? I’d have freaked out. Might have gone Hulk-mode on the computer screen.

    3. I passed on it. When a cover swipe goes for more than the cover it’s swiping we have run into problems with comicbook collecting. Could of had it along with Metal #6 Mattina but enough is enough when it comes to store variants for me.

  22. Just got finished reading Carthago by Christopher Bec. Awesome graphic novel, very European and has tiny text, but the story is awesome. The trade is $17 on amazon but you can get the Kindle or Comixology version for $1.99 here. http://amzn.to/2EA57UL So beautiful and gory, fans of giant sharks (meglalodons especially) should check it out. I am a huge fan of giant sharks and this was amazing.

      1. The book may be a little heavy for sharks, and living in Hawaii I would imagine they might see the real thing, but this is an amazing book.

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