COMICSHEATINGUP

One of the blogs I always check out is http://comicbookspeculation.blogspot.com/ run by my buddy the Dakoit. He is great at picking older back issues, our new specs always seem to jibe too. Anyway, here is Dakoit’s speculation hit list for 4/16/14.
Just got back from Chicago and I had the time of my life, my new niece is just too precious. With in betweens of photo shoots and feeding and holding, I managed to eek out a little time to visit Graham Cracker Comics. It seemed most of the store was mined out since my last visit, but I did manage to grab some decent finds (see below). I will post a pic of what I grabbed there and my other acquisitions over the last several months shortly.
GCC finds April 12th 2014
Thor #344 (1st Malekith) NM: $2.00
Strange Tales #169 (1st Brother Voodoo) G-: $ 0.50
Luke Cage #17 vol.1 (1st mention of ‘Powerman’ on cover) G-: $ 0.50
X-Men & Teen Titans #1 (one-shot 1982) VF+: $1.00
Deathstroke The Terminator #15 (1st app. Ravager) NM: $1.60
All New Marvel Point One #1 (1st full appearance Kamala Khan- Ms. Marvel), cover price.
Captain Marvel #14 (1st cameo of Kamala Khan- Ms. Marvel), cover price.
Did alright I gather. I could have spent some more time there and gone through more boxes, but my adorable little niece beckoned! 😉
With literally hundreds of comic books hitting the LCS each week, it can be daunting task for a collector to decide which to buy. That’s where I come in! Scouring the web to bring you the most promising comics I see for investment, I give you my Dakoit Weekly Speculation Hit List! Enjoy!
1. Translucid #1 of 6 (BOOM! Studios), $3.99
Releasing: April 16th 2014
WHY? I have read all of Key of Z, and it was an awesome zombie comic. Too bad it didn’t take off. The creators Claudio Sanchez and Chondra Echert, are so gifted and yet so underrated. I hope with Trasclucid, they will get that exposure that will make them industry stars. With Recent BOOM hits like Daymen, Sheltered, Evil Empire, Dead Letters, This story looks to be heartfelt and epic at the same time, a recipe for success.
Synopsis:
WHY WE LOVE IT: Claudio Sanchez and Chondra Echert have given us such BOOM! Studios favorites as KILL AUDIO, THE AMORY WARS and KEY OF Z. Their latest book takes the superhero trope of ‘the never-ending battle’ and turns it into something you’ve never seen before.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: TRANSLUCID is the superhero story you want but never thought you’d see. A story of childhood hope and loss as much as it is about the meaning of heroism, and what defines a hero and a villain.
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: The Horse has been the archenemy of The Navigator for years. But The Horse feels The Navigator’s moral compass has been slipping, and even a villain can’t let that happen. The Horse decides to get a closer look into The Navigator’s past that he’s buried deep in his subconsciousness and find out what drives a person to make the right choice, and what propels someone to make the selfish one. Thus begins an exploration of why a young man would take the mantle of a superhero.
Translucid #1 (of 6)
2. Sinestro #1 (DC), $2.99
Releasing: April 16th 2014
WHY? I’m sold with Dale Eaglesham (Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk) alone. Personally, my favorite artist in the business. Cullen Bunn is no pushover either (The Sixth Gun, Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe. Sinestro is a DC villain A-lister, and has been for a decade. This is also the first time in his own comic book. With the galactic spanning Sinestro Corps, his stories of mayhem are endless. It’ll be nice to see a pure villain book on the stands, there are very little of them these days. This one could sell out.
Synopsis: Thaal Sinestro has lost everything he’s ever loved: his home, his family, his only friend. But no matter how desperate he becomes, Sinestro will never be without fear . . . a lesson his one-time ally, one-time enemy Lyssa Drak is eager to teach him! Can he take back the despicable Yellow Lantern Corps? Or does the universe have a new destiny in mind for Sinestro?
Sinestro #1
3. Solar: Man of Atom #1 (Dynamite Entertainment), $3.99
Releasing: April 16th 2014
WHY? Dynamite’s stab at the Man of Atom. Dynamite’s recent habit of the variant barrage. There are 5 regular variants and 7 incentive variants (that I’ve counted down on Midtown Comics website could be more).
Synopsis: ‘This all started with an accident…’AN ALL-NEW CORNER OF THE GOLD KEY UNIVERSE! Flooded with experimental radiation that grants him unbelievable powers, the brilliant-and-obsessive Dr. Phil Seleski seeks to unlock the secrets of the universe, begrudgingly becoming a ‘hero’ along the way. But can a single man be trusted with near-limitless abilities? What will this mean to the ones he loves? And will his choices lead to utter chaos and destruction? Brilliant writer FRANK BARBIERE (Five Ghosts) and JOE BENNETT present the Man Of The Atom as you’ve NEVER imagined!
Solar Man of the Atom #1
4. Star Mage #1 of 6 (IDW), $3.99
Releasing: April 16th 2014
WHY? Looks like an amalgamation of various genres. Will be at a low print run for sure.
Synopsis: Part One: ‘Darien’-JC De La Torre, author of the critically acclaimed novel Ancient Rising, gives us a new fusion of Science Fiction and Magic in Star Mage. In issue one, Darien Connors discovers he’s not from Earth, has strange magical powers and is the key in an ancient war between two alien races of necromancers. Like Harry Potter meets the Last Starfighter, Star Mage offers wizard battles with a side of spaceship warfare, alien worlds and weird creatures.
Star Mage #1 (of 6)
5. Sheena #1 (Moonstone), $3.99
Releasing: April 16th 2014
WHY? Sheena has been around for almost 75 years and has been interpreted by many comic publishers from big to small. This new incarnation of Sheena is from one tiny publisher. Will have a micro print run.
Synopsis: Die Hard screenwriter Steven E. de Souza’s critically acclaimed reboot of Will Eisner’s Sheena, Queen of the Jungle comes to Moonstone in this action packed series! When archaeologists exploring ruins on Rachel Caldwell’s remote jungle estate are found torn to bits, the authorities blame ‘savage terrorist’ Sheena. Rachel knows otherwise, since she is Sheena – but what she can’t believe is the only remaining explanation, the curse of the Jaguar Men!
Sheena #1
PAST RELEASES SECTION:
6. Scalped #1 (Vertigo/DC), $2.99
Released: March 2007
WHY? Recent news in several leading comic websites- Vertigo’s Scalped maybe headed for TV!!
7. Amazing Spider-Man #344, #361- First appearances of Carnage.
Released: Feb 2001, April 1992 respectively
WHY? Major comic websites reveal that Carnage will be in the new Venom movie!
Amazing Spider-man #361: 1st appearance full, Carnage
Amazing Spider-man #344: 1st appearance cameo, Carnage
8. Warrior #1 (Warrior/Ultimate Creations), $ TBD
Released: July 1996
WHY?: The Ultimate Warrior was a larger than life, and epitomized intensity. With recent amends with the WWE, being inducted to hall of fame, addressing the fans (‘Warrior Nation’) in the ring, and passing just as he had lived, in a blaze of glory. It is not at all surpising that fans are in awe of this real life superhero and want his comic. Warrior #1 is currently super-hot comic in aftermarket:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=epic+illustrated+%233&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR2.TRC0.A0.H0.XWarrior+comic+&_nkw=Warrior+comic+&_sacat=0
In closing,
We see another Marvel Now reboot in Hulk #1. As most of you understand my views on Marvel Now #1’s I seldom pick them for speculation.
Translucid #1 looks to be truly amazing story. I will buy a copy for it alone. Since it is a limited series, I don’t see much of an interest in the aftermarket so leave on shelves for now, if not grabbing to read.
Sinestro #1 is going to be very well illustrated, that I can tell you. As for the story, I haven’t read enough of Bunn’s stuff to know whether he’s really good or not. Although, I have heard good things of The Sixth Gun. I would pick up 1 copy.
Solar: Man of Atom #1 is another stab at a character already used by Gold Key/Valiant in years passed. I would leave on shelves for now, as Dynamite releases don’t usually see interest in after market for some reason. As there are many variants, even one from the infamous Rob Liefeld, some fans may want to grab a variant cover they fancy. Personally, I’m not interested.
Star Mage#1 is another limited series so I would leave on shelves for now.
Sheena #1 is another stab at a comic character with a rich history. I don’t see too much interest in this comic, I’d rather you hunt for issues from the 40’s and 50’s.
Scalped #1 is an extremely difficult comic to find. The fact that it is a Vertigo comic, and was printed in much lower numbers in an era where the DC Vertigo line was on it’s last legs; adds to the tremendous scarcity of this issue. All copies have dried up in Amazon and Ebay. I don’t think any comic stores even have later issues of the series, let alone number one. Try and get this comic any way you can, cheap.
The ASM’s listed above are key issues to have in your collection. It goes without saying to grab them cheap as they are still very attainable in high grade. Sure, they do have super high print runs, but that didn’t stop Venom or Deadpool. Spidey comics are the most sought after in the after market, and these comics will only gain value as years pass and movie plans are announced.
Warrior #1 is still hot on Ebay, with regular #1 issues going for as much as 10-16 dollars, and signed copies (with official certificate of authenticity) now bidding for as much as $60 (one sold for over $100 dollars a few days ago). I foresee the demand should cool down soon, so don’t go all out on this comic, unless you want something for nostlagia alone. Note, I have also seen uncertified signed copies going for 16-20 bucks bidding, so major fans can grab one of those without breaking the bank.
Notice that after a slew of number ones for the last several weeks, Image is oddly absent from the hit list this week. A quiet week overall, a nice change after the craziness I’ve had for the last seven days…
Until next week,
D-