As a dedicated back issue collector for more than 25years, the current state of the hobby has absolutely zero impact on my enjoyment (or my ability to continue collecting what I love). Online shopping, 3rd party grading, and all the hype from the recent years has had an impact on price and availability of certain books - sure - but it has not impacted my enjoyment.
Agree conceptually - change is inevitable and we're not "going back" to golden, silver, bronze ages. But that's a straw man argument. Comic collecting is in real trouble. and not because of CGC, variants or endless homage covers. Those things perturb some life-long collectors - but it's not what's killing the hobby... It's the comic industry that's done that. The industry abandoned retail distribution (drug stores, target, CVS, Walgreens) by adopting the no-returns policy, which caused retailers to stop selling comics (because they can't eat the cost of unsold comics). That vastly reduced (by 95%+) the number of places that people and kids could buy comics. Half of the country can't get to an LCS, and that figure is 90% for people who don't drive (which is 100% of kids unless they get someone to drive them). Also, constant re-boots, issue renumbering and limited series have made "following" and collecting comics impossible to follow, and comics are unattainable for anyone who doesn't have $200+ a month to spend. The industry raised their costs (paying artists more, all glossy paper and poo-pooing ads) and by publishing 100 different titles a month with small, inefficient 20,000-copy print runs (instead of 40 titles a month of 300,000 copies). They changed a product that could be produced for 3 cents, sold to retailers for 6 cents, and sold to the public for 12 cents (or, later, produced for 20 cents and retailed at 50 cents - pick your time frame) to a product that "has to" be priced at $4 and up, where they're lucky to sell 25,000 copies, that no one can actually collect - because it's impossible to follow for more than a few months before it's rebooted, as every new flavor of the month artiste is given carte blanch to change the model sheet, origin, and character's history. I think that these three things (availability, price point and product) is why the number of collectors coming into the hobby, who might grow into dedicated, life-long collectors, is now close to zero. Meanwhile, those of us who still collect are aging out and dying off, and no one is replacing us. Yes... of course things change over the decades - page counts dropped, and dozens of publishers went out of business, and prices went from up from 10 cents (to $1.25, and then some). But this is different - people (kids) simply aren't entering the hobby - and when they do, they can't afford to buy more than a couple of comics, and if they do, the characters that interested them are changed before the year is out. All the other changes (variants and homage covers) are merely aggravating those collectors that remain - they're just death by a thousand cuts things. Soooo, Swag... I love your videos - but with all due respect - this is a lot more than just "The old way of stuff isn't coming back". Frankly, that's obvious. But if you think that selling $4 comics, just in LCS's (that are also disappearing) with zero new collectors, is a sustainable model - well - I think that's ignoring reality. Once floppy comics cease to be sold (which will be in a few years) it's just a matter of time before back issue collecting goes the way of model railroad trains, and stamp and coin collecting.
Well written. And here in Australia, a monthly US $3.99 comic costs $8.99. I currently buy four titles a month, soon to be three. I get far more enjoyment reading a Marvel Essentials or DC Showcase Presents b/w reprint volume bought for $15 on Ebay.
Well said. I moved a little over a year ago 5 hours by car away from where I had lived for 35 years . I had 2 comic shops in my old town, 1 was a 5 minute drive away, one was a 5 minute walk away. My new town, even though it is nearly twice the size, has zero comic shops. The closest LCS to me on any point of the compass is an hour's drive away. I now know how spoiled I was. After buying comics weekly for nearly 40 years, I quit cold turkey a year ago. I had been leaning more and more that way but my move forced the issue. I also gave out 100-150 comics every year to trick or treaters ( did not offer candy as an option ) and included a card from my favorite LCS in each one. Last year I offered comics at my new house and they were reluctantly accepted and frequently flat out turned down. Last week I offered a choice of comics or candy and of my 30 or so trick or treaters, none took the comics. My Hhalloween comics are being donated to kid's section at my local library today. High prices, writing for the trade, constant renumbering and reboots and creative team changes all contributed to my decision to stop buying comics. . It's sad, but I don't see new single issue comics being printed and sold by the big two in 5 years. Meanwhile, guys my age ( 71) are liquidating collections like crazy at lower and lower prices. I think that will only accelerate with the aging of collectors who finally give up on any significant bounce back to even half of 2121 levels. I love this hobby but it feels like a death rattle right now to me.
NYCC this year was such a bad experience (personally) that it led me to reevaluate my love for collecting comics. It was embarrassing to look around at "collectors" (profiteers) fighting, shoving, and ripping people's backpacks off for FOMO variants with print runs that could have easily been increased by 200-300 more copies so there were enough for everyone. We now get to pay premium prices for a ticket to stand shoulder to shoulder in a crowd and fight to maybe get one or two of the books we want? The industry that used to be about producing interesting stories and cool artwork for fans is now predatory and caters mainly to resellers. Decided to turtle up with the classics in my collection and unsubscribe from a lot of email and drop lists as a result. I feel like long term the profiteers are going to leave for greener moneymaking pastures and publishers will regret pushing long term comic fans out of the hobby in exchange for short term profit.
Yeah, unfortunately it's all about profit these day for comic, a regular collector who might have been interested in picking up a book they never read before has no chance to do so, because it's sold out in 5 minutes.
That's why I recommend going to smaller shows comic swaps one day shows etc. instead of spending $50+ and paying for accommodations save the cost of admission and use that extra savings for a nice book. I'll never go to NYCC I just don't see the point compared to going to terrificon or heroes con etc
the greed has always been there, it just became more in your face due to covid with people jumping on the band wagon trying to make as much money as they can. While also bringing more people who could care less about comics and no nothing about the characters or stories. They just see $$, which is sad but part of it.
Said something similar in SpiderSlayers review of the recent ASM run that he absolutely hated. I believe F+ was his score. I commented something to the effect of we as the comic fandom have created this situation. Why are we buying artificially created “first appearances” and “first issues” we are fools for thinking modern comics will hold value in the future. Most of us are bag and boarding crap filler comics. Any comic with any significance will have a massive survival rate and will never be the rare, low print grails we look for right now
I had a really great time at NYCC. My hobby goals have changed. I am not buying run fillers nor the hottest titles. I bought two raw comics: a $2 comic and X-Men #50, the Polaris cover. The latter I nought from Very Gary's booth. We negotiated a price that we were happy with. I don't need much more in my collection. I spent the rest of the time getting autos, sketches, attending panels, taking pictures of cosplayers, hanging with friends. I wasn't trying to compete with others for profit. I had fun doing my thing! Thanks for the great video!
You can ramble anytime, Swagg! Glad you're doing better and good luck with the new computer! Mine blew up a while ago, who knew 12 years is old in computer years?! Congrats on the Cap 3, too!
Congrats on your slabbie Swaggs, heck of a book. I feel the same way about the book I bought from you! And you are definitely right about waiting for the right books at the right time.
I enjoy learning historical comic knowledge as much as collecting these days. If I get the itch, I chase down rare/odd $10-$50 books that are VERY HARD to find in grade. Keeps me busy and is an easy way to kill a few hours each week researching titles, making some lists, then tracking them down which will take months to find…if ever. Ralph’s Retro Comics, Keston (and several others) offer historical knowledge. Overstreet is indispensable. I think of your channel as the Editorial/opinion commentary of the hobby. It’s “putting it all together” in the moment and you do a a great job giving that honest perspective.
As a collector that bought his first comic book in 1987 and visited a LCS for the first time in 1993. I enjoy the fact that I now how the opportunity to purchase key books that back when I started collecting was impossible to ever even touch. There was no way I would ever get the chance to own a copy of Daredevil volume 1 issue 1, now with whatnot and eBay I am able to have issues 1-50. I do worry that the "hot potato" books will bust the hobby the same way the over produced issues prints of the late 1990s did. The only thing I wish that was gatekeeped better was the volume numbers, 40 years of volume 1 for many titles and now on volume 8 in the past 20 years.
Living in a huge metroplex, there are a literal ton of places that have comics, and the hunt is my personal favorite part of my hobby. I have found countless keys in the wild. This will always be something I can do on constant rotation at these places. I'm fine with how anyone participates, as long as they're participating. There's something for everyone!
At the end of the day, the only thing that remains consistent is change. The hobby isn't what it was 10, 20, or 30 years ago. And it won't be the same in 10, 20, or 30 years from now. You can get on board with that idea and evolve with it, or you can be the guy who peaked in high school and cant move on from the "glory days". Your call.
You might consider putting some UV film on your windows to prevent damage to your books on the wall. There will be long term light damage too. (depending on light levels it could take months to over years) I speak as someone who worked as a pro photographer and camera store manager for over 50 years. Wrote reviews and technical articles on photography for a few years. Also spent time during my teens working in a library part time and learning preservation. You've got a considerable amount of money tied up in those books on your walls. It's best to treat them with as much TLC as you want to deal with.
why they are in cases with a grade and as long as they are in that case, they are forever frozen in time the condition will never change........................
@@edowings2211 Wrong because slabs are not UV protective. So the grade will change, discoloration will slowly occurs... but the number on the label will remain the same.
@@Cyril-1973 I have to disagree the grade is the grade unless you where honest and cracked the case and resubmit it which I doubt a lot of people would do.
@@edowings2211 I'm just pointing out that if the books discolores because of UV light (and it will if its exposed to light), then the grade changes. Obviously.
Swag, you are of course right. Things change. The hobby when I was collecting as a kid is very different from today. I’ll never forget seeing that copy of AF15 in NM at Pacific Comics in pacific beach San Diego available for $150 (1976 pricing)x I couldn’t afford it then and I still can’t afford it now. None if that matters because the hobby is diverse, robust and will keep people interested in all its various off shoots for the foreseeable future. Things change.
Just want to say congrats on the Captain America 3! That is a personal grail for me, as well. The one nice thing about falling values over the last two years is a return to the hobby of "collect what you love" instead of "what's the next piece of spec?"
Yes. I agree with you Mr Swag...Collect and enjoy. We are not going back to dial 0 for operator. And yes, dealers and others selling trimmed and fixed books as virgins...have to avoid. CGC, CBCS and PSA help keep that in check.
Yes, it has changed. This was my first NYCC (just Thursday). I’d estimate the bins and walls took up maybe a quarter of the show floor. I spent quite a while searching for my first wall of books and stumbled into a faux lightsaber duel featuring a 65-year-old Ashoka (not that there’s anything wrong with that), a Mace Windu in a thong showing off a withered caboose (not that there’s anything wrong with that), and a very large Count Dooku who hadn’t showered in days and smelled like patchouli (not that there’s anything wrong with that). All of this was set against the backdrop lights and sounds of the X-Men ’97 exhibit a few booths over. As for the hobby, I miss the days of riding my bike to the local 7-11, "American Woman” playing on the speakers, the scent of coffee and gum in the air, and browsing the spinner rack for gems like X-Men #95 (Warhunt), a WWBN, a Tomb of Dracula, and Avengers #133. Then read those comics for 30 years until they are just short of disintegrating into thin air. By the way, you probably caught something because airplanes are basically petri dishes. Glad you’re feeling better, and nice Cap pickup!
You should’ve done a deep dive into why nobody is buying comics at the NYCC anymore, and why you didn’t buy any comics there, but chose to pick up a book from an auction house.
I always watch your content to the end and have never regretted the decision. Thank you for sharing your insights, facilitating community engagement, and adding to the emotional intrigue of the comic book collecting world in 2024. Hope you are feeling better!
Wow, great perspective and I believe you’re right. I really should let go of all the things I loved about comics and embrace the future of all the things that I love about comics that are yet to come.
Congratulations on the acquisition for your collection. Interesting opinions and views on collecting, Cons, grading, internet; etc. Thanks for sharing.
The 'Comic book hobby' is as individual as the person who becomes interested in comics. You can talk about segments and an aspect or two for groups of individuals but I don't think there's any earth shaking changes other than the interest garnered by Marvel and DC movies and tv shows bringing more people into finding interest in comics or collecting the movies, tv shows and merchandise tie ins. Merchandising like that has been going on since long before I was born in the '50s. I was lucky in being the perfect age when Marvel started creating their iconic characters in the '60s. In all that time there has been some small changes and major changes, like what happened in the mid to late '90s and I think something similar to that is going on recently too. So the hobby hasn't changed in some major way like I think you put forth in this video. The hobby has been constantly changing since day one. It's more society keeps changing and maybe that has an effect on the hobby what with electronic comics, movies and tv shows and people being able to gather online through a myriad of social networks and huge conventions. There's still that kid full of excitement buying their first comic, rushing home to read it and look at the pages over and over. Maybe they can barely read and maybe some things in the books they aren't old enough to understand. I think a lot of us started out that way. That experience will still be around in one form or another 100 years from now. Anyway, agree with me or not. That's my ten cents on the matter. (because that's now much the first comics I bought with my own money cost.)
"There are levels of survival we are prepared to accept" isn't exactly the greatest endorsement for where the hobby is at right now. But I agree, you need to either accept the hobby just isn't for you anymore, or try to find SOMETHING within it you can still enjoy and focus on that. Everything else is just "old man yells at cloud" and it's a losing proposition. We're not going back to the hobby we all love.
Thank you Swag. Glad you're back & feeling well. The hobby today: I love that I can stay up way, waaaaaaay too late watching huge content creators like Casually Comics and Comics Explained, as well as smaller, excellent channels like FinnSutoII and Spectacularly Sentimental - and many others - and get a sense of anything from say a recent run like Transformers, or literally 80 years of a specific Batman character, theme, or arc, all condensed into 30 minutes or so. And I get to look at the gorgeous artwork, hear that creator's opinion, comment back, and sometimes even receive a reply. The access is incredible, immortal, uncanny, sensationaaaa ok I'll stop.
Ex. I just searched "what is the Darkhold" on RUclips and got 8 or so detailed, in-depth explanations of it, a condensed story arc from Avengers, and instructions on how to make a screen-accurate model of it. If I told my 12-y.o. self that would be possible someday, he would have asked to go into hyper-sleep and wake up in the future.
With all due respect to Swagglehaus, the history of this country alone proved elections matter and how they go can affect us, sometimes catastrophically.
Who wins only matters if there is a sweep of the senate and house as well, then it will affect your daily life as policies will get passed. If there is a deadlock, then yes, it won't really matter.
Man, I’ve gone back to exactly what you said is gone. Aside from your RUclips, I’ve literally stopped looking at social media for comics. I started going back to the lcs and talking with only people in the stores. It’s been amazing! Very personal and always getting great books. And yes, I still find Wrightson to buy 😂😂
Grading is the downfall of comic collecting. As the years go on, the 25+ crowd will grow old and out of the hobby and the comic world will die off. The "youth" or the "new age" of comic collecting is about a slab (gotta be 9.8)... that the story inside is no longer the focal point. The end it becomes just a cover you are selling because it's slabbed away. So the story or inside artwork holds no value in the future... which in turn will cause the comic book collapse as a whole. But anyhow... very sweet Captain America book... congratulations on getting it! It's always nice to see someone get something that you can tell they really wanted. Have a great holiday!
I'm mostly a buyer of old books. On that side, I've seen prices go waaaay down from what they were before. This is very nice. Of course, I recently came across a lot with several books that I really wanted so I bought it. It also had several books that I already owned/didn't want. Now I have no idea what to do with those extra books because the market (especially locally) has cratered so badly. Some recent test posts on Facebook Marketplace have resulted in only resellers lowballing me. Might just have to sit on stuff until maybe things upswing? Who knows?
Great video Swagglehaus, You have some really good points and takes. Front to back this was an enjoyable video and even got me thinking back to my youth. Hope you have a good rest of your year sir.
Great video. Agree with pretty much everything you said (especially about Agatha, it really surprised me with how good it was). The hobby is always evolving and changing and it will continue to do so for years to come. I'm sure there will come a time when variants fall out of favor or the excitement over WhatNot fades, or CGC gets surpassed by another company, or whatever- things may not necessarily "go back," but what's popular now won't be popular forever. I think next year could be very interesting for the hobby as a whole. Gunn's Superman could make or break DC for years to come in the public consciousness- if it's good, DC could get a massive resurgence, but if it's bad, DC might be screwed. Similarly, I think Marvel really needs FF to be a hit.
It sucks that the Captain America #3 was probably Near Mint until the rat chewed into it. You can thank that lucky rat otherwise you wouldn't afford that book. A complete CGC .5 that looks 9.4 at first glance is very rare for a rare book...#luckyrat
Pretty accurate, times are changing, different factors for creating and the marketplace. There is still something out there for just about everyone though.
Good to see you get a grail. Always a good today when that happens. I returned to comic books after being away for 30yrs. If anything tells me nothing will be the same is Amazing Spider-Man. By biggest take aways, Marvel has run out of original ideas. Compared to the 80s, there is hardly any dialogue. The artwork is way better then when I left comics in the 90s.
Generally agree. Bu I also think the current vibe is very much like 1997, right after the Marvel bankruptcy. A LOT of comic shops sold their collections all at once then, flooding the market and reducing the real-world price of comics (not the Overstreet price) to bottom of the barrel levels. I think that bust was worse than this one. With that as a point of reference, it seems like the hobby will rebound from current levels, though perhaps diminished. The generational argument is a serious one. I wish that comics were still on spinner racks in stores like 7-11 because that was an important point of entry for the hobby. But I also think that it only takes a few "serious" collectors to keep values stable. Just think about this: Ferraris appreciate in value. And have for decades, despite no one driving Ferraris as kids and almost no one being able to afford one.
I think what you have to do is look through the bs, like Indy comics still have that “old-time” appeal. They still have variants but I think they aren’t focused on the corporate side of the business. I think the “you don’t have to participate” idea is very true. I think you can avoid *most* of the bs. For me the hobby has changed to a couple books I read, and my main run I am trying to complete (ASM). Recently I have decided to start collecting art, because it’s unique and you can get personal pieces done. I’d rather spend $250-$500 on a sketch of whoever I want than some random variant. That’s my personal preference, not everyone likes art, not everyone is that high end either. I think comics having breadth is a good thing (generally). I am very different to my cousin, I am a silver age guy through and through and she’s more on the side of modern art by newer artists. But we still share the hobby. Breadth is a good thing, don’t let these dinosaurs ever tell you otherwise
It was cool seeing you at NYCC (I said hi when you walked past my friends table in artist alley). I meant ask you what you thought of the CGC submission that got 12 9.9s out of 21 books, but I guess was a bit starstruck and forgot.
I have two boys. One is 18 and the other 22. They will never own a comic. Nothing about comics interests them. They never see them. They didn't grow up reading the same comic night after night under the covers while waiting for the next issue. That being said I grew up with friends who never read comics and don't care for them now. I do agree that comics just being a "comic book store" thing restricts them from being sold to the average person. People dont get exposed like they use to. To buy a comic you have to go out of your way to find and actually go in a comic book store. A niche thing. And to be honest what got me into comics was seeing them and buying them off the rack at the local 7-11 and gas stations. Without that... I dont know if I'd be here making this comment today.
Congrats on the CA grail. I didn't expect anything out of Agatha and as expected got nothing from it. I found it meh with maybe one episode I believe ep 6 was an OK one. I've been collecting for a very long time so the TV and movies don't really affect my joy, however, it is all back issues for me, there hasn't been much post 2016 that has peaked my interest. Honestly all of these variant covers have ruined it for me.
Most people aren't OK with where the hobby is though, that's why comics are so niche. Those of us that are left are used to it, but I feel its a huge barrier to newb entry. Maybe it's just me. There's no curve where you randomly pick up a book from the news stand and it was OK. Then you go back for another, and before long you've cleaned out your local vendor. Now your hooked. Even if newsstands were still an option how many kids would consider the price point to be an option?
Bro, this NYCC 2024 gave me a headache with all the comic book exclusive covers. I am not paying $30 to $50 dollars just for different covers to a comic book I purchased at midtown within the last few weeks. I felt that victory was the only fun place to dig. I didn't see many places to dig
I bid and won a few from that auction also and haven't received a reply regarding shipping on my order as well. I'm wondering if it's worth taking the train down to go in person as you did. Great pickup btw!
Sound advice, let books come to you. I've been on both sides and yes you will pay the premium if you don't have patience. You got such a deal for the cap 3, glad I didn't bid you up, lol. Congrats 🎉🍾🎊
I wonder of the various people who watch your video, like all 23,000 of them, who will be feeling that most strongly. Personally, I don't recognise the concerns or issues that perhaps you're sensing some fans have which is fair enough, right? I'm in a totally fecking different country and I'm not even from here, I'm always going to Conn's and small events and shops and looking for Comics and sometimes have good luck and sometimes I can't afford what I see and sometimes I get great cheapies. But I'm also looking for good art and good stories which doesn't necessarily mean they're expensive. But Saturday I went out, jumped onto a train, for 30 minutes. I was able to see some interesting silver age Comics in a very very old school collectors shop. Nothing silver caught my eye but I found some Comics that were good for me at about a pound each. An old school sort of place where the guy who runs it has been a comic book fan since the 70s and offers fair prices. He has his sketches from an interesting array of legends framed and some of his own low-grade but well-loved comics bagged and boarded high up in the ceiling. Just mocking us, hungry yearning fans seeking them, these ones .out of reach, a lovely visit. Then it was off to a secondhand comic shop still here in England. Great guy. Also a fan who runs the store, always buying in interesting stuff and there he is some low-grade early single digit Daredevils mid-grade early ASMs, some really nice Fantastic Four, Neal Adams Batman, Detective. A lovely run of X-Men including #4 and # 12. Not one slabbed. I'm sure that a venue like New York. Comic-Con caterers to the market that it has found in the same way that Thought Bubble open Harrogate we'll have people like Chip Zdarski and Kieran Gillen and dozens of very interesting comic creatives, hundreds of tables but maybe if I'm lucky five tables with secondhand comics... London Comic mart on the other hand will have lots of 50p lots of £1, lots of grails, lots of golden age. Lots of slabs and be a real mix and one can find bargains even there amongst everyone who knows value so well because some people will want to be making a sale. I don't think I've ever had it. So good as a collector and reader of comics.
Wow!.I absolutely would’ve bought that Cap book for what u got it for..I’d be banned from eBay for like 6 months,by my Wife,but it would be worth it..Amazing pick up!.Monster Key!
I loved Moon Knight; I think you should give it another chance. When it comes to CGC I love graded comic books. I also love raw comic books. I think any older book should be graded and slabbed.
When most people say "Cgc is ruing the hobby" or "Movies are ruining the hobby", actually mean that there are "factors" these days that dont allow me to get the comics i want in the PRICES that i want.. Its not about all the things happening..its about a lot of people are not able to get what they want now.. For me the hobby is more enjoyable for ever.. I ve been collecting for 31 years now, i live in Athens - Greece. There hasnt been any time in the past that we got to have so much pluralism in the hobby as in the last 10 years or so.. The only regret is not buying more in the last years when the prices were a lot more affordable..
While I agree that there's so much variety of books to pick up and read, more access to indie stuff via crowdfunding, and more artists to discover via socials, I have to disagree with the hobby isn't going back. Actually, with the influencers, variant covers, whatnot circus show, pumping books, etc - It's EXACTLY what happened in the 90's. It will go back to the dark era where no one was reading, collecting was dead, Marvel was bankrupt and Image almost closed it's doors. It can't be ignored, if it is, it will kill the hobby all over again. And I completely agree about Agatha, no stakes makes for a great show!
I spent my childhood reading and collecting comic books. The hobby was amazing at that time. For me the hobby was going downhill since the 90’s. Civil War was an awesome story. I gave up on collecting comics because the value of books is to unstable
I don't see the current trend of what sells today any different from how a back issue with a Mark Jeweler ad in it sells or an error sells or whether or not the book was sold at a news stand sells. We are the ones that determine what sells. What's trending may change but we are what's constant.
Swag- love you and content. We all rodethe wave of covid times. I way overpaid for books because I wanted them. I’ll never get the money out of them in my lifetime. But the hobby is dying. marvel(Disney) has destroyed the comic landscape with woke agendas. I’m afraid to introduce certain characters to kids and youngster due to deteriorating their morals and values desire to instill in them. Comics are definitely going away and if wasn’t for the 35-45 year olds in US with $ wanting to relive childhood: the hobby wouldn’t be here today. The books are dead.
Cgc is a juggernaut in the comic/collectible hobby.. Don’t ever forget that. Yes PSA is coming 2025 but as far as comic graders go you can’t beat Coke sorry Pepsi
It's not ok. Being able to buy things from the distant past is only a small comfort in a world where everything good has been ruined. Enjoying things from a better time is a poor substitute for enjoying those things at the time when they were new. I feel lucky to have experienced many great times but I can't find much at all to feel grateful for recently.
I agree with everything you say. I think you big collectors that eat off your followers. Eat off your followers mean views you receive and them taking your advice on subjects. 90% of people following your channel should not be buying comics and should be investing in S&P or paying off debt. I never hear non of you talking heads that are expert on blah blah tell your followers if you don’t have x amount in your investment funds and x amount saving funds then do take up the hobby of buying comics. People literally think these comics are some form of to investment. They are going to get rich if they stack and slab these comics for x amount of years. There should be a repeating conversation had with your followers. Grading comics is a hobby not a get rich hobby. This is the problem collecting for many is a gambling addiction not a hobby. Why else would you be grading books that you’ve never even read. Not attacking you but the people watching your channel is I bet has debt that they should be paying off instead of grading comics. Well off people don’t have time to sit around and watch your channel.
I agree on not sweating about the funny books. I think it's probably worthwhile to be engaged with who get's to lead the country nationally and locally making the laws that run our lives. I'd say don't make comics suck because real world bills, politics, and made up culture wars BS is already a Charlie Foxtrot and I don't need to add problems to my hobby that is supposed to be enjoyable. On a plus side there are at least fun satire comics on what dipshites politicians and scumbag billionaires are.
For me brother, the comic books I know are not coming back is because marvel and DC managements are the problem themselves. Specifically for both peddling this woke agenda to these IPs I loved. Some of the greats are gone. Continuity and context be damned that laid out before by these great folks that sheparded our love for the comic books. Oh yeah, look at that regular comic price tags, right? How can an average kid buy a 4 or 5 or 6 USD comic book which by the way when you convert it to our currency are more worth to buy food instead. I hope your American cons get better and better enjoyable again to you guys. God bless always!
As a dedicated back issue collector for more than 25years, the current state of the hobby has absolutely zero impact on my enjoyment (or my ability to continue collecting what I love). Online shopping, 3rd party grading, and all the hype from the recent years has had an impact on price and availability of certain books - sure - but it has not impacted my enjoyment.
Agree conceptually - change is inevitable and we're not "going back" to golden, silver, bronze ages. But that's a straw man argument. Comic collecting is in real trouble. and not because of CGC, variants or endless homage covers. Those things perturb some life-long collectors - but it's not what's killing the hobby... It's the comic industry that's done that. The industry abandoned retail distribution (drug stores, target, CVS, Walgreens) by adopting the no-returns policy, which caused retailers to stop selling comics (because they can't eat the cost of unsold comics). That vastly reduced (by 95%+) the number of places that people and kids could buy comics. Half of the country can't get to an LCS, and that figure is 90% for people who don't drive (which is 100% of kids unless they get someone to drive them). Also, constant re-boots, issue renumbering and limited series have made "following" and collecting comics impossible to follow, and comics are unattainable for anyone who doesn't have $200+ a month to spend. The industry raised their costs (paying artists more, all glossy paper and poo-pooing ads) and by publishing 100 different titles a month with small, inefficient 20,000-copy print runs (instead of 40 titles a month of 300,000 copies). They changed a product that could be produced for 3 cents, sold to retailers for 6 cents, and sold to the public for 12 cents (or, later, produced for 20 cents and retailed at 50 cents - pick your time frame) to a product that "has to" be priced at $4 and up, where they're lucky to sell 25,000 copies, that no one can actually collect - because it's impossible to follow for more than a few months before it's rebooted, as every new flavor of the month artiste is given carte blanch to change the model sheet, origin, and character's history. I think that these three things (availability, price point and product) is why the number of collectors coming into the hobby, who might grow into dedicated, life-long collectors, is now close to zero. Meanwhile, those of us who still collect are aging out and dying off, and no one is replacing us. Yes... of course things change over the decades - page counts dropped, and dozens of publishers went out of business, and prices went from up from 10 cents (to $1.25, and then some). But this is different - people (kids) simply aren't entering the hobby - and when they do, they can't afford to buy more than a couple of comics, and if they do, the characters that interested them are changed before the year is out. All the other changes (variants and homage covers) are merely aggravating those collectors that remain - they're just death by a thousand cuts things. Soooo, Swag... I love your videos - but with all due respect - this is a lot more than just "The old way of stuff isn't coming back". Frankly, that's obvious. But if you think that selling $4 comics, just in LCS's (that are also disappearing) with zero new collectors, is a sustainable model - well - I think that's ignoring reality. Once floppy comics cease to be sold (which will be in a few years) it's just a matter of time before back issue collecting goes the way of model railroad trains, and stamp and coin collecting.
Well written. And here in Australia, a monthly US $3.99 comic costs $8.99. I currently buy four titles a month, soon to be three. I get far more enjoyment reading a Marvel Essentials or DC Showcase Presents b/w reprint volume bought for $15 on Ebay.
Well said. I moved a little over a year ago 5 hours by car away from where I had lived for 35 years . I had 2 comic shops in my old town, 1 was a 5 minute drive away, one was a 5 minute walk away. My new town, even though it is nearly twice the size, has zero comic shops. The closest LCS to me on any point of the compass is an hour's drive away. I now know how spoiled I was. After buying comics weekly for nearly 40 years, I quit cold turkey a year ago. I had been leaning more and more that way but my move forced the issue. I also gave out 100-150 comics every year to trick or treaters ( did not offer candy as an option ) and included a card from my favorite LCS in each one. Last year I offered comics at my new house and they were reluctantly accepted and frequently flat out turned down. Last week I offered a choice of comics or candy and of my 30 or so trick or treaters, none took the comics. My Hhalloween comics are being donated to kid's section at my local library today. High prices, writing for the trade, constant renumbering and reboots and creative team changes all contributed to my decision to stop buying comics. . It's sad, but I don't see new single issue comics being printed and sold by the big two in 5 years. Meanwhile, guys my age ( 71) are liquidating collections like crazy at lower and lower prices. I think that will only accelerate with the aging of collectors who finally give up on any significant bounce back to even half of 2121 levels. I love this hobby but it feels like a death rattle right now to me.
I wish everyone had this mindset. Just enjoy what you like.
Casually hanging with Swagg is always a pleasure!
It’s all Good Swag!!! Great advice on not getting caught up in external noise and focusing on your personal space, family and friends.
NYCC this year was such a bad experience (personally) that it led me to reevaluate my love for collecting comics. It was embarrassing to look around at "collectors" (profiteers) fighting, shoving, and ripping people's backpacks off for FOMO variants with print runs that could have easily been increased by 200-300 more copies so there were enough for everyone. We now get to pay premium prices for a ticket to stand shoulder to shoulder in a crowd and fight to maybe get one or two of the books we want? The industry that used to be about producing interesting stories and cool artwork for fans is now predatory and caters mainly to resellers. Decided to turtle up with the classics in my collection and unsubscribe from a lot of email and drop lists as a result. I feel like long term the profiteers are going to leave for greener moneymaking pastures and publishers will regret pushing long term comic fans out of the hobby in exchange for short term profit.
Yeah, unfortunately it's all about profit these day for comic, a regular collector who might have been interested in picking up a book they never read before has no chance to do so, because it's sold out in 5 minutes.
That's why I recommend going to smaller shows comic swaps one day shows etc. instead of spending $50+ and paying for accommodations save the cost of admission and use that extra savings for a nice book. I'll never go to NYCC I just don't see the point compared to going to terrificon or heroes con etc
the greed has always been there, it just became more in your face due to covid with people jumping on the band wagon trying to make as much money as they can. While also bringing more people who could care less about comics and no nothing about the characters or stories. They just see $$, which is sad but part of it.
Said something similar in SpiderSlayers review of the recent ASM run that he absolutely hated. I believe F+ was his score.
I commented something to the effect of we as the comic fandom have created this situation. Why are we buying artificially created “first appearances” and “first issues” we are fools for thinking modern comics will hold value in the future. Most of us are bag and boarding crap filler comics. Any comic with any significance will have a massive survival rate and will never be the rare, low print grails we look for right now
Agree- major heartbreak with the greed. No joy in collecting anymore nor the suspect agenda in content is disturbing
Your rambling has become smoothing as I program at work. Thanks! ;)
I had a really great time at NYCC. My hobby goals have changed. I am not buying run fillers nor the hottest titles. I bought two raw comics: a $2 comic and X-Men #50, the Polaris cover. The latter I nought from Very Gary's booth. We negotiated a price that we were happy with. I don't need much more in my collection. I spent the rest of the time getting autos, sketches, attending panels, taking pictures of cosplayers, hanging with friends. I wasn't trying to compete with others for profit. I had fun doing my thing! Thanks for the great video!
You can ramble anytime, Swagg! Glad you're doing better and good luck with the new computer! Mine blew up a while ago, who knew 12 years is old in computer years?! Congrats on the Cap 3, too!
Congrats on your slabbie Swaggs, heck of a book. I feel the same way about the book I bought from you! And you are definitely right about waiting for the right books at the right time.
I have a few modern slabs of covers I love on the wall of my man cave. They aren’t worth much but are gorgeous to look at
I absolutely LOVE this type of content! Showing a pickup and breaking down its historical details is fascinating
I enjoy learning historical comic knowledge as much as collecting these days. If I get the itch, I chase down rare/odd $10-$50 books that are VERY HARD to find in grade. Keeps me busy and is an easy way to kill a few hours each week researching titles, making some lists, then tracking them down which will take months to find…if ever. Ralph’s Retro Comics, Keston (and several others) offer historical knowledge. Overstreet is indispensable. I think of your channel as the Editorial/opinion commentary of the hobby. It’s “putting it all together” in the moment and you do a a great job giving that honest perspective.
As a collector that bought his first comic book in 1987 and visited a LCS for the first time in 1993. I enjoy the fact that I now how the opportunity to purchase key books that back when I started collecting was impossible to ever even touch. There was no way I would ever get the chance to own a copy of Daredevil volume 1 issue 1, now with whatnot and eBay I am able to have issues 1-50. I do worry that the "hot potato" books will bust the hobby the same way the over produced issues prints of the late 1990s did. The only thing I wish that was gatekeeped better was the volume numbers, 40 years of volume 1 for many titles and now on volume 8 in the past 20 years.
Living in a huge metroplex, there are a literal ton of places that have comics, and the hunt is my personal favorite part of my hobby. I have found countless keys in the wild. This will always be something I can do on constant rotation at these places. I'm fine with how anyone participates, as long as they're participating. There's something for everyone!
At the end of the day, the only thing that remains consistent is change. The hobby isn't what it was 10, 20, or 30 years ago. And it won't be the same in 10, 20, or 30 years from now. You can get on board with that idea and evolve with it, or you can be the guy who peaked in high school and cant move on from the "glory days". Your call.
You might consider putting some UV film on your windows to prevent damage to your books on the wall. There will be long term light damage too. (depending on light levels it could take months to over years) I speak as someone who worked as a pro photographer and camera store manager for over 50 years. Wrote reviews and technical articles on photography for a few years. Also spent time during my teens working in a library part time and learning preservation. You've got a considerable amount of money tied up in those books on your walls. It's best to treat them with as much TLC as you want to deal with.
why they are in cases with a grade and as long as they are in that case, they are forever frozen in time the condition will never change........................
@@edowings2211 Wrong because slabs are not UV protective. So the grade will change, discoloration will slowly occurs... but the number on the label will remain the same.
@@Cyril-1973 I have to disagree the grade is the grade unless you where honest and cracked the case and resubmit it which I doubt a lot of people would do.
@@edowings2211 I'm just pointing out that if the books discolores because of UV light (and it will if its exposed to light), then the grade changes. Obviously.
It was sarcasm pointing out that people shouldn’t place so much stock in a plastic holder with a number on it lol
“There’s still good in this hobby Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.” - Samwise Gamgee probably
Not gonna lie Mickey, I wasn't even paying attention and was just waiting to see when/if you were gonna hit ya noggin on the reading lamp for 27mins 😆
The problem I have with CGC is that the higher they rate the comic, the more you pay. That seems to compromise objectivity.
Swag, you are of course right. Things change. The hobby when I was collecting as a kid is very different from today. I’ll never forget seeing that copy of AF15 in NM at Pacific Comics in pacific beach San Diego available for $150 (1976 pricing)x I couldn’t afford it then and I still can’t afford it now. None if that matters because the hobby is diverse, robust and will keep people interested in all its various off shoots for the foreseeable future. Things change.
That rat chew reminds me of the Submariner 1 that I had. It was rough, but I loved it. Congrats on the BIG BIG book.
Just want to say congrats on the Captain America 3! That is a personal grail for me, as well. The one nice thing about falling values over the last two years is a return to the hobby of "collect what you love" instead of "what's the next piece of spec?"
"Collect, and let Collect"
Congrats in the pickup - beautiful book! Glad you're feeling better 😊
Thank you!! 😊
Yes. I agree with you Mr Swag...Collect and enjoy. We are not going back to dial 0 for operator. And yes, dealers and others selling trimmed and fixed books as virgins...have to avoid. CGC, CBCS and PSA help keep that in check.
Yes, it has changed. This was my first NYCC (just Thursday). I’d estimate the bins and walls took up maybe a quarter of the show floor. I spent quite a while searching for my first wall of books and stumbled into a faux lightsaber duel featuring a 65-year-old Ashoka (not that there’s anything wrong with that), a Mace Windu in a thong showing off a withered caboose (not that there’s anything wrong with that), and a very large Count Dooku who hadn’t showered in days and smelled like patchouli (not that there’s anything wrong with that). All of this was set against the backdrop lights and sounds of the X-Men ’97 exhibit a few booths over.
As for the hobby, I miss the days of riding my bike to the local 7-11, "American Woman” playing on the speakers, the scent of coffee and gum in the air, and browsing the spinner rack for gems like X-Men #95 (Warhunt), a WWBN, a Tomb of Dracula, and Avengers #133. Then read those comics for 30 years until they are just short of disintegrating into thin air. By the way, you probably caught something because airplanes are basically petri dishes. Glad you’re feeling better, and nice Cap pickup!
You should’ve done a deep dive into why nobody is buying comics at the NYCC anymore, and why you didn’t buy any comics there, but chose to pick up a book from an auction house.
Fantastic pickup, Congratulations on getting your grail!!
I always watch your content to the end and have never regretted the decision. Thank you for sharing your insights, facilitating community engagement, and adding to the emotional intrigue of the comic book collecting world in 2024.
Hope you are feeling better!
Great rant thinking brainstorming session swag as always
Wow, great perspective and I believe you’re right. I really should let go of all the things I loved about comics and embrace the future of all the things that I love about comics that are yet to come.
Congratulations on the acquisition for your collection. Interesting opinions and views on collecting, Cons, grading, internet; etc. Thanks for sharing.
The 'Comic book hobby' is as individual as the person who becomes interested in comics. You can talk about segments and an aspect or two for groups of individuals but I don't think there's any earth shaking changes other than the interest garnered by Marvel and DC movies and tv shows bringing more people into finding interest in comics or collecting the movies, tv shows and merchandise tie ins. Merchandising like that has been going on since long before I was born in the '50s. I was lucky in being the perfect age when Marvel started creating their iconic characters in the '60s. In all that time there has been some small changes and major changes, like what happened in the mid to late '90s and I think something similar to that is going on recently too. So the hobby hasn't changed in some major way like I think you put forth in this video. The hobby has been constantly changing since day one. It's more society keeps changing and maybe that has an effect on the hobby what with electronic comics, movies and tv shows and people being able to gather online through a myriad of social networks and huge conventions. There's still that kid full of excitement buying their first comic, rushing home to read it and look at the pages over and over. Maybe they can barely read and maybe some things in the books they aren't old enough to understand. I think a lot of us started out that way. That experience will still be around in one form or another 100 years from now. Anyway, agree with me or not. That's my ten cents on the matter. (because that's now much the first comics I bought with my own money cost.)
"There are levels of survival we are prepared to accept" isn't exactly the greatest endorsement for where the hobby is at right now. But I agree, you need to either accept the hobby just isn't for you anymore, or try to find SOMETHING within it you can still enjoy and focus on that.
Everything else is just "old man yells at cloud" and it's a losing proposition. We're not going back to the hobby we all love.
Sounds like an internal pep talk
Thank you Swag. Glad you're back & feeling well.
The hobby today: I love that I can stay up way, waaaaaaay too late watching huge content creators like Casually Comics and Comics Explained, as well as smaller, excellent channels like FinnSutoII and Spectacularly Sentimental - and many others - and get a sense of anything from say a recent run like Transformers, or literally 80 years of a specific Batman character, theme, or arc, all condensed into 30 minutes or so. And I get to look at the gorgeous artwork, hear that creator's opinion, comment back, and sometimes even receive a reply. The access is incredible, immortal, uncanny, sensationaaaa ok I'll stop.
Ex. I just searched "what is the Darkhold" on RUclips and got 8 or so detailed, in-depth explanations of it, a condensed story arc from Avengers, and instructions on how to make a screen-accurate model of it. If I told my 12-y.o. self that would be possible someday, he would have asked to go into hyper-sleep and wake up in the future.
With all due respect to Swagglehaus, the history of this country alone proved elections matter and how they go can affect us, sometimes catastrophically.
Who wins only matters if there is a sweep of the senate and house as well, then it will affect your daily life as policies will get passed. If there is a deadlock, then yes, it won't really matter.
I would feel like I’m on top of the world if had all those books in the back. 😂
Man, I’ve gone back to exactly what you said is gone. Aside from your RUclips, I’ve literally stopped looking at social media for comics. I started going back to the lcs and talking with only people in the stores. It’s been amazing! Very personal and always getting great books. And yes, I still find Wrightson to buy 😂😂
Grading is the downfall of comic collecting. As the years go on, the 25+ crowd will grow old and out of the hobby and the comic world will die off. The "youth" or the "new age" of comic collecting is about a slab (gotta be 9.8)... that the story inside is no longer the focal point. The end it becomes just a cover you are selling because it's slabbed away. So the story or inside artwork holds no value in the future... which in turn will cause the comic book collapse as a whole.
But anyhow... very sweet Captain America book... congratulations on getting it! It's always nice to see someone get something that you can tell they really wanted. Have a great holiday!
I'm mostly a buyer of old books. On that side, I've seen prices go waaaay down from what they were before. This is very nice. Of course, I recently came across a lot with several books that I really wanted so I bought it. It also had several books that I already owned/didn't want. Now I have no idea what to do with those extra books because the market (especially locally) has cratered so badly. Some recent test posts on Facebook Marketplace have resulted in only resellers lowballing me. Might just have to sit on stuff until maybe things upswing? Who knows?
Great video Swagglehaus, You have some really good points and takes. Front to back this was an enjoyable video and even got me thinking back to my youth. Hope you have a good rest of your year sir.
Great video. Agree with pretty much everything you said (especially about Agatha, it really surprised me with how good it was). The hobby is always evolving and changing and it will continue to do so for years to come. I'm sure there will come a time when variants fall out of favor or the excitement over WhatNot fades, or CGC gets surpassed by another company, or whatever- things may not necessarily "go back," but what's popular now won't be popular forever. I think next year could be very interesting for the hobby as a whole. Gunn's Superman could make or break DC for years to come in the public consciousness- if it's good, DC could get a massive resurgence, but if it's bad, DC might be screwed. Similarly, I think Marvel really needs FF to be a hit.
Coherent and thoughtful. Great book, congrats… Enjoyed the rant. Enjoy what you enjoy.!
It sucks that the Captain America #3 was probably Near Mint until the rat chewed into it. You can thank that lucky rat otherwise you wouldn't afford that book. A complete CGC .5 that looks 9.4 at first glance is very rare for a rare book...#luckyrat
Hobby seems to be thriving to me!
like sports card you just have two main category of comic collectors. Pre-crazy variant era and then the group after. They can definitely co-exist.
Pretty accurate, times are changing, different factors for creating and the marketplace. There is still something out there for just about everyone though.
Good to see you get a grail. Always a good today when that happens.
I returned to comic books after being away for 30yrs. If anything tells me nothing will be the same is Amazing Spider-Man.
By biggest take aways, Marvel has run out of original ideas. Compared to the 80s, there is hardly any dialogue. The artwork is way better then when I left comics in the 90s.
Yup (nose turned up). I only read “red-foil” cover books now.
A very positive perspective!
Nice to hear! 👍🏻😁
Generally agree. Bu I also think the current vibe is very much like 1997, right after the Marvel bankruptcy. A LOT of comic shops sold their collections all at once then, flooding the market and reducing the real-world price of comics (not the Overstreet price) to bottom of the barrel levels. I think that bust was worse than this one. With that as a point of reference, it seems like the hobby will rebound from current levels, though perhaps diminished.
The generational argument is a serious one. I wish that comics were still on spinner racks in stores like 7-11 because that was an important point of entry for the hobby. But I also think that it only takes a few "serious" collectors to keep values stable. Just think about this: Ferraris appreciate in value. And have for decades, despite no one driving Ferraris as kids and almost no one being able to afford one.
I’m still having a lot of fun in this hobby! I enjoyed Agatha! Change is necessary over time with everything. Figure that computer stuff out man lol
I think what you have to do is look through the bs, like Indy comics still have that “old-time” appeal. They still have variants but I think they aren’t focused on the corporate side of the business. I think the “you don’t have to participate” idea is very true. I think you can avoid *most* of the bs. For me the hobby has changed to a couple books I read, and my main run I am trying to complete (ASM). Recently I have decided to start collecting art, because it’s unique and you can get personal pieces done. I’d rather spend $250-$500 on a sketch of whoever I want than some random variant. That’s my personal preference, not everyone likes art, not everyone is that high end either. I think comics having breadth is a good thing (generally). I am very different to my cousin, I am a silver age guy through and through and she’s more on the side of modern art by newer artists. But we still share the hobby. Breadth is a good thing, don’t let these dinosaurs ever tell you otherwise
I must say it does matter who wins when in comes to the economy. Are you serious? . Shocked to hear you say that.
I feel like you’re right there is literally something for everyone in current market
Hey I just picked up a Sgt. Carter shield %50 off. I don't know why but I love it and I was born in the 60's.Do what floats your boat.
It was cool seeing you at NYCC (I said hi when you walked past my friends table in artist alley). I meant ask you what you thought of the CGC submission that got 12 9.9s out of 21 books, but I guess was a bit starstruck and forgot.
Great video....don't worry....be happy
I have two boys. One is 18 and the other 22. They will never own a comic. Nothing about comics interests them. They never see them. They didn't grow up reading the same comic night after night under the covers while waiting for the next issue. That being said I grew up with friends who never read comics and don't care for them now.
I do agree that comics just being a "comic book store" thing restricts them from being sold to the average person. People dont get exposed like they use to. To buy a comic you have to go out of your way to find and actually go in a comic book store. A niche thing. And to be honest what got me into comics was seeing them and buying them off the rack at the local 7-11 and gas stations. Without that... I dont know if I'd be here making this comment today.
I like your comic corner setup better. Up close and personal.
Congrats on the CA grail. I didn't expect anything out of Agatha and as expected got nothing from it. I found it meh with maybe one episode I believe ep 6 was an OK one. I've been collecting for a very long time so the TV and movies don't really affect my joy, however, it is all back issues for me, there hasn't been much post 2016 that has peaked my interest. Honestly all of these variant covers have ruined it for me.
Most people aren't OK with where the hobby is though, that's why comics are so niche. Those of us that are left are used to it, but I feel its a huge barrier to newb entry.
Maybe it's just me.
There's no curve where you randomly pick up a book from the news stand and it was OK. Then you go back for another, and before long you've cleaned out your local vendor. Now your hooked.
Even if newsstands were still an option how many kids would consider the price point to be an option?
Enjoyed this video, my friend. 🙂👍👍👊
Bro, this NYCC 2024 gave me a headache with all the comic book exclusive covers. I am not paying $30 to $50 dollars just for different covers to a comic book I purchased at midtown within the last few weeks. I felt that victory was the only fun place to dig. I didn't see many places to dig
good speech, i'm with you!
I bid and won a few from that auction also and haven't received a reply regarding shipping on my order as well. I'm wondering if it's worth taking the train down to go in person as you did. Great pickup btw!
Congrats on acquiring one of your grails swag. Nice stream of thought vid lol. Did you ever announce the whatnot pack winners?
Sound advice, let books come to you. I've been on both sides and yes you will pay the premium if you don't have patience. You got such a deal for the cap 3, glad I didn't bid you up, lol. Congrats 🎉🍾🎊
I wonder of the various people who watch your video, like all 23,000 of them, who will be feeling that most strongly. Personally, I don't recognise the concerns or issues that perhaps you're sensing some fans have which is fair enough, right? I'm in a totally fecking different country and I'm not even from here, I'm always going to Conn's and small events and shops and looking for Comics and sometimes have good luck and sometimes I can't afford what I see and sometimes I get great cheapies.
But I'm also looking for good art and good stories which doesn't necessarily mean they're expensive.
But Saturday I went out, jumped onto a train, for 30 minutes. I was able to see some interesting silver age Comics in a very very old school collectors shop. Nothing silver caught my eye but I found some Comics that were good for me at about a pound each. An old school sort of place where the guy who runs it has been a comic book fan since the 70s and offers fair prices. He has his sketches from an interesting array of legends framed and some of his own low-grade but well-loved comics bagged and boarded high up in the ceiling. Just mocking us, hungry yearning fans seeking them, these ones .out of reach, a lovely visit.
Then it was off to a secondhand comic shop still here in England. Great guy. Also a fan who runs the store, always buying in interesting stuff and there he is some low-grade early single digit Daredevils mid-grade early ASMs, some really nice Fantastic Four, Neal Adams Batman, Detective. A lovely run of X-Men including #4 and # 12.
Not one slabbed.
I'm sure that a venue like New York. Comic-Con caterers to the market that it has found in the same way that Thought Bubble open Harrogate we'll have people like Chip Zdarski and Kieran Gillen and dozens of very interesting comic creatives, hundreds of tables but maybe if I'm lucky five tables with secondhand comics...
London Comic mart on the other hand will have lots of 50p lots of £1, lots of grails, lots of golden age. Lots of slabs and be a real mix and one can find bargains even there amongst everyone who knows value so well because some people will want to be making a sale.
I don't think I've ever had it. So good as a collector and reader of comics.
Wow!.I absolutely would’ve bought that Cap book for what u got it for..I’d be banned from eBay for like 6 months,by my Wife,but it would be worth it..Amazing pick up!.Monster Key!
Cap 3 wow beautiful
Cool pickup….i have a 1.0 Mask 1 with some chew on it.. lol
Are you telling us that life evolves?.......I enjoyed your insight.
I loved Moon Knight; I think you should give it another chance. When it comes to CGC I love graded comic books. I also love raw comic books. I think any older book should be graded and slabbed.
When most people say "Cgc is ruing the hobby" or "Movies are ruining the hobby", actually mean that there are "factors" these days that dont allow me to get the comics i want in the PRICES that i want..
Its not about all the things happening..its about a lot of people are not able to get what they want now..
For me the hobby is more enjoyable for ever..
I ve been collecting for 31 years now, i live in Athens - Greece.
There hasnt been any time in the past that we got to have so much pluralism in the hobby as in the last 10 years or so..
The only regret is not buying more in the last years when the prices were a lot more affordable..
While I agree that there's so much variety of books to pick up and read, more access to indie stuff via crowdfunding, and more artists to discover via socials, I have to disagree with the hobby isn't going back. Actually, with the influencers, variant covers, whatnot circus show, pumping books, etc - It's EXACTLY what happened in the 90's. It will go back to the dark era where no one was reading, collecting was dead, Marvel was bankrupt and Image almost closed it's doors. It can't be ignored, if it is, it will kill the hobby all over again.
And I completely agree about Agatha, no stakes makes for a great show!
I spent my childhood reading and collecting comic books. The hobby was amazing at that time. For me the hobby was going downhill since the 90’s. Civil War was an awesome story. I gave up on collecting comics because the value of books is to unstable
I don't see the current trend of what sells today any different from how a back issue with a Mark Jeweler ad in it sells or an error sells or whether or not the book was sold at a news stand sells. We are the ones that determine what sells. What's trending may change but we are what's constant.
Swag- love you and content. We all rodethe wave of covid times. I way overpaid for books because I wanted them. I’ll never get the money out of them in my lifetime. But the hobby is dying. marvel(Disney) has destroyed the comic landscape with woke agendas. I’m afraid to introduce certain characters to kids and youngster due to deteriorating their morals and values desire to instill in them. Comics are definitely going away and if wasn’t for the 35-45 year olds in US with $ wanting to relive childhood: the hobby wouldn’t be here today. The books are dead.
Time for a new "age" moniker..."Modern" doesn't cut it anymore. It's all about money...when a hobby becomes a business. Still love it though.
Swag you the man homie.
Wow massive pickup!!!!!
Great buy!!! On that Cap 3
Well said, Mickey 👏👏👏
Cgc is a juggernaut in the comic/collectible hobby.. Don’t ever forget that. Yes PSA is coming 2025 but as far as comic graders go you can’t beat Coke sorry Pepsi
That's OK!!- Tony Montana
It's not ok. Being able to buy things from the distant past is only a small comfort in a world where everything good has been ruined. Enjoying things from a better time is a poor substitute for enjoying those things at the time when they were new. I feel lucky to have experienced many great times but I can't find much at all to feel grateful for recently.
True stuff right there 💯
I agree with everything you say. I think you big collectors that eat off your followers. Eat off your followers mean views you receive and them taking your advice on subjects. 90% of people following your channel should not be buying comics and should be investing in S&P or paying off debt. I never hear non of you talking heads that are expert on blah blah tell your followers if you don’t have x amount in your investment funds and x amount saving funds then do take up the hobby of buying comics. People literally think these comics are some form of to investment. They are going to get rich if they stack and slab these comics for x amount of years. There should be a repeating conversation had with your followers. Grading comics is a hobby not a get rich hobby. This is the problem collecting for many is a gambling addiction not a hobby. Why else would you be grading books that you’ve never even read. Not attacking you but the people watching your channel is I bet has debt that they should be paying off instead of grading comics. Well off people don’t have time to sit around and watch your channel.
Didn’t we just get a spider-glider from the worst ASM run ever? Slippery slope. Web shooter no more…
My question is what happen to all the traders back in 2017 2018 days now a days no one wants to trade anymore
Great rant swag
I agree on not sweating about the funny books.
I think it's probably worthwhile to be engaged with who get's to lead the country nationally and locally making the laws that run our lives.
I'd say don't make comics suck because real world bills, politics, and made up culture wars BS is already a Charlie Foxtrot and I don't need to add problems to my hobby that is supposed to be enjoyable.
On a plus side there are at least fun satire comics on what dipshites politicians and scumbag billionaires are.
You can hate influencer but don't forget Stan Lee was the forefather of comic influencers.
For me brother, the comic books I know are not coming back is because marvel and DC managements are the problem themselves. Specifically for both peddling this woke agenda to these IPs I loved. Some of the greats are gone. Continuity and context be damned that laid out before by these great folks that sheparded our love for the comic books. Oh yeah, look at that regular comic price tags, right? How can an average kid buy a 4 or 5 or 6 USD comic book which by the way when you convert it to our currency are more worth to buy food instead. I hope your American cons get better and better enjoyable again to you guys. God bless always!
An old saying is, there is an ass for every seat !
I agree Absolute Batman is mid. Absolute Wonder Woman has issues but i enjoyed it more.