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 227th edition of the open forum!

I am offsite this week. It is that time of the year where I drag my family down to Florida to pray at the altar of the mouse. Yup. We are at Disney currently. Will have to show off some of the epic pick ups I got recently when I got back

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?

98 thoughts on “Wednesday Open Forum”

  1. What’s your preferred method of packaging graded books for shipment? I don’t sell many slabs and each time i do i find myself struggling to find the right size box. Too bad CBCS doesn’t deliver their books in those cardboard holders anymore.
    Thanks for your input!

      1. that’s what i’ve done in the past. it’s seemed to work okay except i always feel like there’s not quite enough padding for the ends of the slab unless i make new folds in the box’s endflaps to lengthen the box a bit. but then the whole package feels less sturdy. you’ve never had problems with the ends lacking room for sufficient padding?

        1. Nope. Most of the time USPS doesn’t stack them on their ends but on their sides. The slabs are pretty sturdy so as long as they don’t slide any or move, should be pretty secure.

          1. When I’ve received damaged slabs it’s usually in one of those priority mail boxes, and the damage occurs at the ends where there is not room for padding. Something slams up against the ends and shatters the case.

            I’ll have to look and see what size box works best, and which one is worst. I think one size priority will slip into the other as well, creating extra robustness.

            1. yes that’s what i’ve worried about. but i can’t think of any other usps box that would work besides the long version of the medium flat rate box poyo mentioned. making a crease through the length of each endflap and then closing the box along those new folds (not sure if that description makes sense) does create another inch of space on each end for padding but it’s kind of a pain and looks/feels a spot shoddy.

            2. That’s because they don’t pack comics like Poyo packs comics.. I really do need to do a video or howto pack comics cheap and securely. I’ve never had a comic damaged during transit, to date. My wife might not agree with this next statement but gosh darnit, “I’m pretty awesome”.. 😉

              1. I take two comic shippers put the slab in the middle of both wrapped in bubble tape ones shipper is one side the other shipper makes the other side and duct tape all 4 sides of the comic shippers together to make one big comic shipper.

  2. print run for naomi 1 was 25k, bendis showed cover for issue 6 and shes a hero in costume. lots of copies sold on ebay since, might be last call at cover price

  3. Perhaps I missed some info, but I swear I saw an incredible cover for Spawn 294 with Spawn holding Clown’s head. I thought it was amazing, but I’m not seeing it & my shop said they think it was a solicitation mistake.
    Just curious..thanks if anyone knows.

  4. There is 3 cool covers for Spawn 294. 1 with spawn holding clowns head, 1 with violated in the background and a mcfarlane sketch of violator.

    This week I’m picking up
    Detective Comics 999 cvr A
    Old lady harley #5
    Fantastic Four #7 cvr A – awesome Galactus
    Spawn #294 cvr A,B,C
    Avengers no road home #3
    Icecream man cvr B

    1. Interesting….there are 4 Spawn covers then as there is also a Virgin cover of the Violator in the background (Mattina). I’ve seen the Violator background, Virgin background, & Black & White McFarlane…but that cover with the head is a ghost then? Odd?

    2. I on the see the clowns head on eBay. In fact, I see posts for A & B and they look the same. Midtown shows the clown cover, but when you click on it for the closeup it switches to the other cover.

      Looks like another bait and switch on covers.

      1. Thank you D-Rog….felt like I was losing it or inept at my searching. That cover was really cool…hope it shows up later.

    1. Haha, thanks. I pretty much do all my shipping with the provided USPS boxes and envelopes they provide. The only thing I pay for is super duty clear packing tape I get off Amazon.

      But I also approach packing with this philosophy: If I spend an extra 5 minutes packing the comic securely, it’ll likely save me 30 minutes to hours of hassle (coordinating returns, processing refunds, inspection of book and package, USPS claims if insured, emails to and from buyer, etc) if it gets damaged.

  6. Anyone get one of the Alex Ross Detective 1000 homage covers? I got the notice they went on sale today, but the homage cover (unsigned) was sold out before I could add it to my cart.

    Had to buy the set (homage and virgin) just to get the homage cover…hoping to sell the virgin for cost to recoupe the difference, homage is selling for more than the virgin right now on eBay.

    1. I got 3 of the homage cover. I’m hoping to get a 9.8 I can send to CGC. It’s an awesome cover. I think it’s the best Tec #27 homage ever.

  7. I just heard about the DC 100 page Walmarts are going to be available in comic shops soon. This might make the Walmart ones in great shape a little more valuable.

    1. I’ve made a modest profit flipping some of these. Just sold another today (Batman #5). One day that Teen Titans #1 will pay off. I think I have a Sups #1 I should post.

  8. As of now, just these unless there are 1st apps in the spoilers later:

    Detective 999 A
    Action 1008 B
    Daredevil 2 A
    Avengers Annual 10 True Believers

  10. Honor and Curse
    True Believers Avengers Annual #10
    Old Lady Harley
    Avenger No Road Home
    Marvel Free Previews

  13. Which of the Detective Comics exclusive variants are the one to go for? They have the four different Jim Lee store exclusives, but it’s so hard to know if those will blow up later on, or just be a mild curiosity. I don’t know if it’s worth $25 apiece unless it’s a great investment, or which of the four will stand out.

    2. Any store exclusives for tec1000 will never be worth what you originally pay for it, imo. Not a good investment what so ever, imo. Stick to the regular cover that you like.

      1. The Alex Ross homage variant will for sure hold its value and most likely continue to rise. It’s a classic Ross cover and probably the best Tec #27 homage ever.

          1. I’m not sure of the print run. It doesn’t say on his website and I couldn’t find anything when I googled it.

        2. I dont really put artist exclusive books in the same category as a retailer store variant. But that line is getting more blurred every day.

          Ross should have saved this artwork for tec1027. That would have made more sense to me.

          1. It’s definitely not reused art. Alex Ross said on Twitter that he had been wanting to make this cover for years. It’s brand new and definitely not the same image that’s in Kingdom Come. Either way it’s still a classic Alex Ross Batman cover anyway and those are always worth a lot.

            1. It’s reused art from Kingdom Come #2 about halfway through the book I just flipped through it and saw it you have been lied to.

              1. Hard to say what page it is because I’m reading a digital copy but some where around page 21 or so.

                1. It’s the exact image on the tec1000 and in the pages of Kingdom Come #2. Reused art because Alex Ross is dialing in to busy doing Hulk covers

                2. i just went back through my digital copy of Kingdom come, I do see the image/page you are referring to, I’d agree to the point in saying he most likely used this page as a reference for sure. It’s not however a direct copy per say. The background is definitely redone, and I’m sure he most likely light-boxed his Batman in reference to do the cover. So is it completely original no.. It’s a cover swipe of tec 27, and he swiped his own work, and did some light-boxing of his Batman cover swipe,

                  I’d say this cover still stands a great piece and worthy of a space in anyone’s PC.

                  i took some screencaps and laid them side by side for folks to make their own judgement.

                  https://ibb.co/WHY5XrJ

    3. Hey guys, first time poster here :), I usually don’t buy a lot of these type of books usually only one for the PC and don’t look back. I completely skipped the Action comics 1000 books but for some reason here I am busting my budget this month on this damn book….

      But dammit, I picked up the Lee Wrap around the 80’s Miller homage. I also grabbed the Alex Ross Variant cus damn that’s a great cover something that iconic I could not pass up. I also picked up the Artgerm covers when he put them up on his site, because I always buy his stuff for my PC, typical fanboy of his work.

  14. Detective Comics #999 B x2
    Freedom Fighters #3 x1
    Black Panther #9 x1
    Batgirl #32 x1 (1st cover app of Cormorant?)

  15. Yawn for “the one” Detective cover. All these randomly hyped variants are exhausting. I just hope its a good read. So far Tomasi and Mahnke(sp?) are doing well with the title.

    1. All I can say is, at least the Detective covers for 1000 are better than the Action Comics. There weren’t any of those that caught my attention and most did Sup’s zero justice.

      Will I be buying a TEC 1000? Nope. I’ll wait for a Midtown 75% off sale and save a few bucks. I still think they have Action Comics 1000 after a 75% off sale has passed over… I’m expecting TEC 1000 print run will be even bigger than AC1000’s.

  16. Might be a good idea to pick up issue #1 of Naomi. Seems like dc has big plans for her. Found lots still on the shelf. Lots of venom #9 too. But I already have 3 copies. Happy hunting.

    1. I grabbed 4 copies of Die #1 and 4 of Noami #1.

      Left two more Noami and saw 4 copies of Old Lady Harley….going back later today to grab more spec!!!

  17. Light week for pick ups:
    Doctor Aphra
    Die Die Die #8
    Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur
    Daredevil #2 (Scalera variant for $12)
    Steven Universe (FOC Bartel variant for $4)
    Honor & Curse #1 (visited 4 stores and only one had an of this book)

    Good hunting everyone!

  18. I’m beginning to see rumors floating around about Harley’s Little Black Book #6, suggesting that Crush could be the daughter of Lobo and Harley. I bought the 1:25 Biz cover when it came out and read the book. While there is some hanky panky implied, I find it difficult to believe Harley is Crush’s mother.

      1. Crush could be a test tube baby from Harley and Lobos DNA or such. Harley wouldn’t necessarily have to be ‘pregnant’ to have a baby. It is comic books after all.

  19. that Harley rumor has been floating around for aiwle now. the detective 1,000 variants to go after are the tour variant from torpedo comics . the Harley from frankies comics the golden apple catwoman and Iam sure with convention season there will be a foil as well. I am also buying all issues of ms. marvel current series . and vintage figures this week. love you all blind adam out

      1. there isnt a tour variant. hes talking about the b&w lee variant exclusive to torpedo comics

  20. didn’t make it there until 2pm but my new favorite lcs had every book i was looking for but didn’t know if i’d find today : >)

    WW #65 cover B Artgerm
    Martian Manhunter # 3 cover B Middleton
    Batgirl # 32 cover B Chew
    Ice Cream Man # 10 cover B Ferreyra
    Ol’ Harley # 5 (there is only 1 cover!)

    also Naomi # 1

    i bought a half dozen new books and all but one were dc and none were marvel? i wonder if it was actually bizarro chris that went to that store.

  21. Peace Fam.

    Light week—just the pull.

    Black Panther 9 A cover
    Moongirl 40
    Captain America 8

    Have a great week everyone. 1

  22. Nothing new for me this week. I saw last night that Immortal Hulk #16 had a variant up for pre-order on TFAW for $19.99, I guess it’s an incentive, I had it in my cart but forgot about it and checked back today and it’s not available.

    1. At this point you are probably better off sticking with the Ross cover A for this series. It keeps getting hotter and hotter and the Ross covers will always be the one people want the most

      1. These are longer term MCU spec for me, but, Shulkie and Rogue are personal favourites too, so its a win win for me. One of the Avengers Annuals may be a 9.8 candidate, if I can get my comic guy to press out some minor weird crease type thing on the lower left corner.

  25. new crop of signed #1’s for cover price at midtown:

    gotg # 1 covers A & B, both signed by donny cates
    venom # 11 watchmen cover, also signed by cates
    hulkverines # 1 signed by greg pak

    2. I ordered up those myself this morning, but now they are limiting 1 per customer. So they are running out so grab them while you can.

  26. Ok, busy day. Totals for today:

    For the read:

    Tech 999B
    Batman Beyond 29A (sweet cover)
    Flash 65B

    For the spec:
    Naomi #1 (x7…I’m all in)
    Old lady Harley #5 (x4)
    Die #1 (x4)
    All New Wolverine #2 (For COVER, looks NM+)

    gonna grab some of those signed cates books from midtown too.

    Sp not way too much on comics this past week!

  27. My newborn son needs some good thoughts today. NICU and good hospital staff are doing their best. He is named after his great grandfather, a WWII vet who was captured by the Germans twice (movie material) and lived to be 100. Thanks CHU. The boy’s name is Marvin Locke.

    3. I’m very sorry that you and your child have to go through that, sending positive vibes from Hawaii for Marvin to get well soon.

  28. Thank you folks. It was hard to talk about my pick ups yesterday due to baby health. Marvelous Marvin is making great strides!!

    Pick ups:
    Avengers NRH 3
    Naomi 1 A, B and 2
    Spawn A B C
    Old Lady Harley
    Detetective 994 999 A B
    Savage Sword Conan 2
    Honor and Curse
    Snifter of Terror 5
    ASM only because Im a loyal sucker

    “Growing old aint for sissies.”

    Old man in line at Highway 3 Hardware store
    Muncie, IN

    1. Good to hear Marvin is turning corners. Both my kids had severe juandice when born. It’s tough when your ready to whisk them away and start being dad, yet feel so helpless as they need a little more from the doctors and hospital to get going.

      Hang in there!

  29. I just came across this statue in the back if this months DC Previews. Check out the mask she is holding. Is this the Harley Who Laughs (Frowns, Poker Faces?)?

    1. She’s only been on that store exclusive with the computer art for Metal #6 by Greg Horn. So technically she doesn’t even exist in comics and if she does in the future I doubt they use Greg Horns character design.

      1. That is disappointing. I hope they don’t use this design either, although I do like it. But after reading that history. ?

  30. Going back to the slab packing discussion earlier. Slabs measure just shy of 13 inches in length (12 7/8).

    So you want a box that’s internal longer than 13 inches and not have the ends of the slab against the flaps with no cushion. Poyo mentioned the medium flat rate. They are 13.625. Enough to get some padding, for sure.

    DO NOT use the regional A flats rate. At 12.8125 inside length is that of a slab with no room for end padding. If you do use this, double box as the region A box should fit inside other standard sizes.

    There’s also a standard 13.375 length box which I think you can grab at most post offices. This can be used for a slab, but not much room for padding…just a little. Might want to double box if you use this one as well.

  31. Decided to go with just DC and Marvel this week since it seems like my Marvel purchases are creeping upwards. Old Lady Harley #5 was sold out, as was Action Comics #1008 B cover. Checked for Naomi #1 but that was gone, too. The list:

    Action Comics #1008 (Cover B Jeff Dekal)
    Batgirl #32 (Cover B Derrick Chew)
    Batman Beyond #29 (Cover B Shawn Martinbrough)
    Detective Comics #999 (Cover A Doug Mahnke & Jaime Mendoza)
    Detective Comics #999 (Cover B John Byrne)
    Flash #65 (Cover B Michael Golden)
    Freedom Fighters #3 (Of 12)
    Heroes In Crisis #6 (Of 9)(Cover A Mitch Gerads)
    Heroes In Crisis #6 (Of 9)(Cover B Ryan Sook)
    Justice League Odyssey #6 (Cover B Toni Infante)
    Martian Manhunter #3 (Of 12)(Cover B Joshua Middleton)
    Old Lady Harley #5 (Of 5)
    Shazam #3 (Cover A Dale Eaglesham)
    Shazam #3 (Cover B Michael Cho)
    Sideways #13
    Silencer #14
    Terrifics #13
    Wonder Woman #65 (Cover B Stanley Artgerm Lau)
    Avengers No Road Home #3 (Of 10)(Cover A Yasmine Putri)
    Captain America #8 (Cover A Alex Ross)
    Invaders #2
    Savage Sword Of Conan #2 (Cover A Alex Ross)
    Star Wars Doctor Aphra #29 (Cover A Ashley Witter)
    Superior Spider-Man #3 (Cover A Travis Charest)
    True Believers Captain Marvel Avenger #1
    True Believers Captain Marvel Betrayed #1
    True Believers Captain Marvel The New Ms. Marvel #1

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