I've found that people who have the mature stuff like Cherry, don't let go of them (myself included). Probably for 2 reasons: 1- They want to keep it and it would be hard to find again 2- A bit embarrassing to bring stuff like this in to trade or sell.
For sure. I can’t remember how I acquired some of the more risky variants. When I was sorting through them and found them again even my own reaction was “oh, that's something to put in the back...”
I remember seeing Cherry Poptart # 1, opening it up and wanted to go put disinfectant on my hands afterwards, Shoulda bought if only I knew it was going to be worth so much down the road.
Cartoony sex comics were rare and it's still hard to find first editions. Besides CHERRY POPTART, I haven't seen the first appearance of OMAHA or complete first editions of Beto Hernandez' BIRDLAND! I guess it's like our dads refusing to part with vintage Underground "comix", Playboys and STOCK CAR RACING magazines!
Definitely , I have collection of about 100 underground comics from publishers like Eros , london Knight and more obscure stuff that i have no idea how I picked up . Ebay UK has banned the listings and also a lot of Avatar press stuff . Putting them out for sale got me some very disgusted looks so no idea how to sell them . Ebay USA allows most of them but the P&P between the countries makes it not worth while. No idea what to do with them.
Asking for a Dazzler #1 newsstand is like sending the apprentice carpenter to the hardware store to buy a packet of left-handed 6 inch nails - "and don't come back with right-handed nails, they're useless for this job!".
Came for this comment. I adored undergrounds back in the day, still have my Cherry Poptart, along with all my Joe & Tim Vigil stuff and R. Crumb reprints among others.
@@piscinaiv7937 Whoa...Crumb to Vigil is quite a span of years. Some personal favorites are also Spain, Corben, & Jaxon (the Skull - Slow Death Axis) - their HP Lovecraft adaptations in particular. Some titles are tough to find. See you out on the hunt, brother.
@@capntopknot I've got a couple of Slow Deaths, fair amount of Death Rattle, lots of Charlton horror too :) The Crumb was from the KSP Bijou Funnies reprint, that book is GOLD! Picked up some signed Vigil stuff at a Comic Con years back too. Spain and Corben are both amazing. Cheers!
Came here because of Cherry too, she was an inspiration for one of my OCs which sounds creeper than it is because Cherry is a Stag Mag but I know my way to change the vibe
Man, I used to see Cherry Poptart advertised in every Kitchen Sink catalog I got, back in middle and high school. If I knew then what I know now, I'd have grabbed a full run. Of course, convincing my mother I only wanted them as an investment would have been the catch.
I have a store that was open when the Venom #1 lethal protector came out. Every 4th copy was a black version (we ordered hundreds of these at the time). My partner was so mad at the "damaged" black copies he forced everybody that ordered multiples to take one; we had a lot of complainants. He achieved his goal of getting rid of those ASAP LOL. Oh to tun back the time LOL
Great list!!! You should do more list like this. I happened upon a copy of Iron Fist #14 at one of my local comic book shops. I bought because I always wanted first appearance of Sabertooth. It was a low grade that I spent $175 on it. Three days later after the wow factor wore off I noticed that it was a 35 cent variant. I sent it to CGC and it come back a 3.5. The book is the rares one in my collection. All the other books I actively search for that you could call ghosts elude me.
I bought up a seventy copy supply of Cherry Poptart from a comic book store going out of business. The owner had them in a box marked “Adult” hidden from plain view. I have most of the first series in multiple copies, plus six copies of Cherry Deluxe. My only graded copy is Cherry Jubilee #2 in a 9.4. I am holding on to all of them because I would be hard pressed to find replacements. I have friends who are bugging me for copies, but they are going to have to trade me something very special to get any of them. Maybe someday they will get them, but not today.
Cherry Poptart was getting big when I turned 18 and I started seeking out good adult comics. I had the first 5-or-6 issues, all that was out by then. They were some of the most expensive comics I bought new at the time. They were in a box of stuff that a roomate stole when he moved out.
Love these lists! I'd throw in the Marvel Transformers run, #60-80 are harder to find like those Spawn and GI Joe later issues. Issue #80 is a nice find!
Sensational She-Hulk 1 from 1989 is like Dazzler 1, but it's the opposite. There's no direct edition version of SSH 1, only a newsstand version. Based on what I've seen across different auction platforms the past two years, 9.4 - 9.8 slabs of many of those Spawn issues are available more often than you would think, and a lot of them you can get fairly cheap. The mother of all ghosts for the longest time used to be the 35 cent variant of Star Wars 1. I remember first hearing about it in the early 1980s. By the end of the '80s, the existence of it like an urban legend because no one had ever seen one. With graded comics, and the amount of money the variant commands, in any condition, you see one come up for sale every now and then. I think there's been at least five or six that I know have come up for sale so far this year.
I am very lucky to have a full high grade run of “Cherry” comics including reprints. I finally found a first print three years ago, but paid $300 for it. I’ve been collecting comics for over 40 years and hesitant to part with books that were difficult to get the whole run.
@@ChargerBullet Do you mean Cherry Blackbird? That came out in 2021. Not really an issue since it's a TPB. The only other comic with Cherry in the title is from before 2010.
I've got Dazzler #1. I got it in a comic book collection from Sears back in the mid-1980's. Also got Devil Dinosaur #1 in that haul and Omega Men #3 (first appearance of Lobo). I gave Omega Men to a friend. We were talking about cool villains and he mentioned Lobo and how hard it was to find a copy of his first appearance. I told him I had it and he was like, "No way!" Then I asked if he wanted it.
You're not kidding about those Spawn or Sonic the Hedgehog issues. You can't get away with spending less than $10 on a good condition non key from parts of their runs.
I used to have a dozen longboxes full of comics i collected growing up, but due to several circumstances, i was forced to sell them all in the late 90's. Among those comics was Dazzler#1 in perfect condition. I regretted having to part with something that took me decades to build, but at the time i had no choice. I did have a couple issues of Cherry, but i don't remember which ones.
I had an original Cherry #1 that had the Vamperotica short story. I lost that issues after several moves and roommates and when I when to replace never found that version again.
Good thing all the Cherry Books are back in print in collection form! Cherry Omnibus (issues 01-22) whcih featured 5 differnt cover editions, and Cherry's Jubilee Collection (Issues 1-4) are out now with 4 rare alt covers. Cherry Issue 23 (out now) starts the Cherrypocalypse saga with Issue 24 about to drop on Kickstarter with Alt Covers Etc. The Ellie Dee Cyberpunk Collection is next, along with 2 untitled Cherry Best Of collections coming after that. How do i know all this? I'm Larry Welz new publisher, Discordia Publishing.
I've only actually read a couple of copies of Cherry, and that's only because my folks had been gifted a stack of adult comix "as a joke" (my mom's words, not mine) back in the early 90s. Funny that she really thought that she could hide them from her teenage son. I had always meant to offer her money for them when I moved out (hey, they'd be worth some money now), but then they moved and I believe they were tossed . As far as collectors looking for Dazzler 1 in a newsstand, isn't there a way to, I don't know, research that sort of thing? 🤣🤣 Great video, James!
Have CPT 1-17 (very good condition, but I'm not a "collector") along with Cherry's Jubilee, 1 & 2. And then my particular favorite, Xxxenophile, 1-10. (Amongst a smattering of others.)
Like your mix of comics fan and working knowledge. I feel like I was entertained while I learned something. When my daughter moved out, she gave me her small comic collection and I was pleasantly surprised at how much the Sonic issues went for. My list is DC's historical heroes that never got collected in a trade. Stuff like Tomahawk or Silent Knight. Can't find them or they are crazy expensive.
MO BEE US - Had lunch with him at a Chicago Con. He was kind enough to sign 10 copies of the Silver Surfer HB for my shop. I might still have one someplace. HAHAHA!
Another great Mint hunter video! I took your advice this weekend while at a comic Collector show in Denver and picked up the first five issues of cherry pop tart because I saw them there and like you say you very rarely see them in the wild. thanks for the tip
"Rarity" is becoming a weird and varied collector flex. Not just "there are only 500 of these in the world" it's also "there are only 500 of this near-exact copy of a book that is not rare at all".
Happens with stamp collecting too _Sure_ there are dozens of "trillions" of George Washington 7 cent stamps (I don't know if they exists, due to the fact I juset made it up) _but_ during like 1945 to 1950 there are only 2,000 due to a small printing error during a new printing process worth a lot( also made up) Heck, stamp prices alone are funny, I have a 130 year old stamp worth 30 cents, but I have a less than five year old international stamp worth like 3ish 4ish dollars, but hilariously I have another stamp in mint condiction, that is worth less, than the same non-mint stamps (i.e. it was used as regular postage stamp) of course I am just getting these prices from a catalog because I don't want to spend an extra 40 dollars on the "exact year" price-guide book.
Wife and I own all the appearances of every milestone character (as far as we can tell). Those late static issues were hard to find, but we pulled most of them out of dollar bins. Had to shell out for the last couple issues tho. Whole collection is raw fwiw
About 4 years ago I was hired to clean out a basement. There was infrequent ground water seepage and over time things slowly began rotting. On a storage shelf were a bunch of long boxes full of comics that the lady said belonged her son, who had long since grown up and moved out. She said to throw them out, but naturally I took them home instead. Many of the books were not bagged and the moisture had utterly ruined them, but a few were in better condition. Amongst these were 1st printings of the first 15 issues of The Tick. The 2nd issue even still had the loose-leaf pamphlet that came with it. There was still some minor page wrinkling and the staples were rusting, but it was still a welcome addition to my collection.
I didn't expect to actually have one of these. I picked up Man of Steel 18 years ago at my local thrift store for a buck. Beyond the key significance, I didn't realize the DC logo was a thing until watching some of your videos. Unfortunately its not near mint, but still cool to have a kinda rare book. Keep doing videos like these, James!
Yee you’re right on the money about Spawn going down to almost as low as 10k, the smallest print count of any Cover A was issue 243 from 2014 which had just 11,714 issues ordered by retailers. Funnily 241 is the 2nd lowest with 240 and 242 being tied for 3rd lowest all of which are under 12,000. Issue 115 is when it stopped selling 50,000 and it steadily declined with spikes for anniversaries up until we got close to 300
As a kid in the 70s I could swear I saw Dazzler comics on the newsstand, but I can't say for certain that I saw #1. It was back before I started to move out of the Harvey and Gold Key comics of my youth and focus on superhero books.
I paid 35 dollars for my black Venom book from Comicmania. I still remember that day seeing it in the displace case with the gold one. Brought both of them.
Started a Milestone collection years ago. Was able to find the Static issues relatively easily. It has proven to be the last 3 issues of Hardware that are the problem. Never seen them in person.
I have a 9.8 black venom and the joe issues, i got the venom from the dollar bin at an lcs as a reader copy. Owner was like oh thats a misprint, miswrap so i bought it as a reader copy. Always been a joe fan so even when the print run was nothing i had to pick them up I appreciate your search for sonic .. its what you collect.
I happen to be a sonic comic book collector who started in 1999. I have nearly every issue up to about 125. Including a damn nice copy of the game comic, the 4 page newsprint comic 1/4, and more. Sally, tails and knuckles series, the sabrina crossover, and so much more.
wow. I've got three of these selections. Have to say, the hardest here for me was the end run of GI Joe. Back when the book was still running, I bailed at 140. Fifteen years later I decided to finish the run off. Tough finds..
I have all of those Spawn books! Been buying Spawn consistently since issue one and have never missed an issue. Some even have variant covers (key numbered issues like 150, 200, etc)
I am one of those classic 90’s collectors that left the hobby for 25 years and just got back in the last couple. In the early 90’s, in college, I actually got a black Venom LP. I paid the most I ever had before for a comic, I think $75-$100. I THINK I sold it (probably for college expenses) but I am only about 80% sure, because I put a portion of my 90’s collection in a family storage container that I can’t get my older brother to open up (too busy and thinks I will mess things up since they are probably in the back somewhere, behind easily breakable fixtures). Only reason I think I may still have it is that I bought a special comic book holder (pre slab era) to put a valuable book in, and I haven’t found that holder yet. I wouldn’t have at the time a more valuable book (even though I actually had a Giant Size X-men 1 and didn’t bother to put that in the holder!). FYI I still have that GSX1 and it graded as an 8.5😎
Spawn 237 Tradesmart variant. Rumor says there are less than 500 in existence. Printed for a single event at a single location in Littleton, CO. Fun stuff.
I have all the Venom books and mint, all six books. I don't collect and was given a big tote of comics for a loan of $100 from my cousins brother in law. Never knew these were that valuable. Also got Wolverine mint, 4 books. And a whole lot more. Imma take these to a comic store. Thanks for video
Very helpful video, James! After watching, I double-checked to discover that my Hulk 377 is a 3rd printing. It is in good enough condition to submit for grading. Thank you for the information.
Spawn Post 185 was a fun time for the series. McFarlane returned to scripting and with 201, the amazing SZYMON KUDRANSKI started doing the artwork, giving the series a near cinematic, gothic style akin to the legendary Kent Williams! Happy hunting 'cause I'm keeping mine!
Great information and I don't collect many of the titles you mentioned but I'll keep my eye out for these books because you just never know. I'm thinking much of what you said here could also be used in your "Comic book fun facts" which I enjoy very much. Thanks for posting. Best to all.
That explains how my local CS had a non-graded Spawn 77 on display w/ an outrageous price on it and it sold. The thing about the title at the time, Todd only managed to get out one or two iss a year. So, yeah. You were lucky to get any if wasn't on your pull list. 😂
Try to find a set of Silver Age reprints of DC which reprints of Flash, Green Lantren, Justice League ECT. Hard to find in any comic shops. And Danger Trail the DC version of James Bond. Hit 48 shops and no such luck.
I remember Dazzler #1 direct only. Around that era a few ongoing Marvel titles went direct only: Moon Knight, Ka-Zar, Micronauts. In that era the directs were generally scarcer anyway with the exception of highly anticipated hot books that were heavily ordered by comic shops. Wolverine #1 mini series is an example where newsstand might be rarer because it was heavily ordered. Thor #337 blindsided comic shops as Thor was a poor selling title and nobody anticipated demand for the first Beta Ray Bill, so direct is probably rarer. If I remember correctly, although the Secret Wars event was well publicized the black costume wasn’t expected until Secret Wars #8 so comic stores were blindsided by Amazing Spider-Man #252. Amazing Spider-Man was a popular title so they ordered well but not nearly enough to meet black costume demand, the direct might be a little rarer. I’m going on memory so forgive me if either observation of eBay copies or CGC census count proves me wrong about which version of a particular book is scarcer. The general statement is nonetheless true. In general comic stores were still relatively new in the late 1970s early 1980s, so although 1990s newstand copies are rarer, early direct are rarer than newsstands l, with the exception of heavily ordered books like I said. Of course if people are collecting the newsstand because they like what the covers look like and not because of the perceived effect of scarcity on value, that’s another matter. But I remember well the days when newsstand outlets selling comics were everywhere and you were lucky if you lived anywhere close to a comic store.
The Cherry Poptart books have been gathered into a hard back collection. I myself have all but the very most recent books. There are two issues that came out within the last five years or so. But I do have the first issue all the way up to like issue 20.
I collect Dazzler but I have no preference for newsstand over direct. I have a couple #1s, I think they are solidly in the pretty good range, which I prefer.
I bought the hulk 3rd print as a kid and was disappointed that it wasn't the first print as i had thought. I never thought it would be worth so much more than the first (even though it only came back a 9.2 or 9.4)
Sold my dad's collection a few years ago and he had gi joe newsstand 145-154 all newsstand so I bought a 155 newsstand to have the last 10 complete and all newsstand the set went for a pretty penny
I recently found the original 1964 Comicon booklet created for the world's first Comicon in New York. Found out only 120 were ever hand made by Bernie Bubnis, one of the 4 people who created the con, and of those it's believed less than 20 survived today. Sent it to CGC, when it comes back it will be the 3rd graded one in the world :) has unique art by Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby just for the booklet. My prized book now in my collection just because it's so darn hard to find, they don't even come up for sale.
Found mine in a big cardboard box just completely loose, no bag and board, was with some other fan magazines from the 1960's. Had to do a double take I couldn't even believe what I had just found. Purchased it on a local marketplace app. Always fun to find unique things or rare variants of comics that few people have.
I have a couple of Cherry Poptart comics. I have Punisher #1 (unlimited series), Spider Man vs Wolverine, Freak Bros, Elflord, The Dungeoneers, Stark Future, Elfquest, all the Marvel Star Wars Return of the Jedi, Indiana Jones #1, Hellblade #1, Shogun Warriors, The Fox and the Hound, and others. My friend has 1st run TMNT comics, the black and white ones.
While I personally don’t own it, I know a guy who owns a venom lethal protector 1 black error. He’s a guy I work with and he’s a HUGE venom collector. He bought it on auction, and while I can’t quite remember what he paid, I was there when he won it, and it was so much he had to call up his bank to confirm his purchase. Got it graded and I came back a 9.2 white pages, which he was extremely pleased with.
I'm about 10 issues shy of having the entire Archie Sonic comics. They are incredibly difficult to find in excellent condition and a reasonable price. Some of the most valuable issues from that run are #1, 13, 25, 98, 196, and 290 (last issue), and most other issues go for $10/piece. I do have the entire Knuckles run, and am working on Sonic Universe. Seriously expensive.
I have all the Cherry Pop-Tarts. I bought them first-run, just as they went out. I've haven't read them in years. I'm not sure of their grade, but now I have them graded.
I've found that people who have the mature stuff like Cherry, don't let go of them (myself included). Probably for 2 reasons: 1- They want to keep it and it would be hard to find again 2- A bit embarrassing to bring stuff like this in to trade or sell.
For sure. I can’t remember how I acquired some of the more risky variants. When I was sorting through them and found them again even my own reaction was “oh, that's something to put in the back...”
I remember seeing Cherry Poptart # 1, opening it up and wanted to go put disinfectant on my hands afterwards, Shoulda bought if only I knew it was going to be worth so much down the road.
Cartoony sex comics were rare and it's still hard to find first editions. Besides CHERRY POPTART, I haven't seen the first appearance of OMAHA or complete first editions of Beto Hernandez' BIRDLAND! I guess it's like our dads refusing to part with vintage Underground "comix", Playboys and STOCK CAR RACING magazines!
I have a bunch of cherry comics. 1st print. I'd sell them if anyone interested
Definitely , I have collection of about 100 underground comics from publishers like Eros , london Knight and more obscure stuff that i have no idea how I picked up . Ebay UK has banned the listings and also a lot of Avatar press stuff . Putting them out for sale got me some very disgusted looks so no idea how to sell them . Ebay USA allows most of them but the P&P between the countries makes it not worth while. No idea what to do with them.
Asking for a Dazzler #1 newsstand is like sending the apprentice carpenter to the hardware store to buy a packet of left-handed 6 inch nails - "and don't come back with right-handed nails, they're useless for this job!".
So...
Cherry Poptart.
Finally some interest in undergrounds.
Hoo-rah !!
Came for this comment. I adored undergrounds back in the day, still have my Cherry Poptart, along with all my Joe & Tim Vigil stuff and R. Crumb reprints among others.
@@piscinaiv7937 Whoa...Crumb to Vigil is quite a span of years. Some personal favorites are also Spain, Corben, & Jaxon (the Skull - Slow Death Axis) - their HP Lovecraft adaptations in particular. Some titles are tough to find.
See you out on the hunt, brother.
@@capntopknot I've got a couple of Slow Deaths, fair amount of Death Rattle, lots of Charlton horror too :) The Crumb was from the KSP Bijou Funnies reprint, that book is GOLD! Picked up some signed Vigil stuff at a Comic Con years back too. Spain and Corben are both amazing. Cheers!
Came here because of Cherry too, she was an inspiration for one of my OCs which sounds creeper than it is because Cherry is a Stag Mag but I know my way to change the vibe
A crate of HULK 377 lost at sea sounds like an odd as hell pirate movie.
aaaargh!!!
Hulk or incredible Hulk 🤔
Man, I used to see Cherry Poptart advertised in every Kitchen Sink catalog I got, back in middle and high school.
If I knew then what I know now, I'd have grabbed a full run. Of course, convincing my mother I only wanted them as an investment would have been the catch.
Wow I remember Cherry Poptart!! That's pretty cool!! Also O! Wicked Wanda! Dirty Duck!
Lol!!
I had a couple of issues of cherry from the late 90s.Don't know what numbers they are.Might still have them stored away somewhere
When I opened the cover page of my Dazzler #1, there was a 2nd cover!! Yes , my Dazzler #1 has 2 covers.
I have a store that was open when the Venom #1 lethal protector came out. Every 4th copy was a black version (we ordered hundreds of these at the time). My partner was so mad at the "damaged" black copies he forced everybody that ordered multiples to take one; we had a lot of complainants. He achieved his goal of getting rid of those ASAP LOL. Oh to tun back the time LOL
Wow, that's crazy dude. The complaints abt them too!
Holy shiz, I just saw the price for a 9.8 black cover. Insanity
Great list!!! You should do more list like this. I happened upon a copy of Iron Fist #14 at one of my local comic book shops. I bought because I always wanted first appearance of Sabertooth. It was a low grade that I spent $175 on it. Three days later after the wow factor wore off I noticed that it was a 35 cent variant. I sent it to CGC and it come back a 3.5. The book is the rares one in my collection. All the other books I actively search for that you could call ghosts elude me.
Had the entire cherry poptart collection lost it in a house fire with all my comics … had the black background venom
No!
I bought up a seventy copy supply of Cherry Poptart from a comic book store going out of business. The owner had them in a box marked “Adult” hidden from plain view. I have most of the first series in multiple copies, plus six copies of Cherry Deluxe. My only graded copy is Cherry Jubilee #2 in a 9.4. I am holding on to all of them because I would be hard pressed to find replacements. I have friends who are bugging me for copies, but they are going to have to trade me something very special to get any of them. Maybe someday they will get them, but not today.
Another great topic! Didn't know that about Dazzler #1
Cherry Poptart was getting big when I turned 18 and I started seeking out good adult comics. I had the first 5-or-6 issues, all that was out by then. They were some of the most expensive comics I bought new at the time. They were in a box of stuff that a roomate stole when he moved out.
Love these lists! I'd throw in the Marvel Transformers run, #60-80 are harder to find like those Spawn and GI Joe later issues. Issue #80 is a nice find!
True
Those later Transformers also sport some covers by a very green Jim Lee.
Sensational She-Hulk 1 from 1989 is like Dazzler 1, but it's the opposite. There's no direct edition version of SSH 1, only a newsstand version. Based on what I've seen across different auction platforms the past two years, 9.4 - 9.8 slabs of many of those Spawn issues are available more often than you would think, and a lot of them you can get fairly cheap. The mother of all ghosts for the longest time used to be the 35 cent variant of Star Wars 1. I remember first hearing about it in the early 1980s. By the end of the '80s, the existence of it like an urban legend because no one had ever seen one. With graded comics, and the amount of money the variant commands, in any condition, you see one come up for sale every now and then. I think there's been at least five or six that I know have come up for sale so far this year.
I am very lucky to have a full high grade run of “Cherry” comics including reprints. I finally found a first print three years ago, but paid $300 for it. I’ve been collecting comics for over 40 years and hesitant to part with books that were difficult to get the whole run.
I have all 22 issues of "Cherry" which I am glad about. It is the Jubilee (4 issues) I am missing.
I just picked up her first appearance in Funny Book #1 in mid-grade.
@@quantumleaperI have 4 of those too.
@@quantumleaper There is a 23rd issue that came out a few years ago.
@@ChargerBullet Do you mean Cherry Blackbird? That came out in 2021. Not really an issue since it's a TPB. The only other comic with Cherry in the title is from before 2010.
I've got Dazzler #1. I got it in a comic book collection from Sears back in the mid-1980's. Also got Devil Dinosaur #1 in that haul and Omega Men #3 (first appearance of Lobo). I gave Omega Men to a friend. We were talking about cool villains and he mentioned Lobo and how hard it was to find a copy of his first appearance. I told him I had it and he was like, "No way!" Then I asked if he wanted it.
More videos like this please. Love to learn more about the rare comics
Ha! Pink Freud. "Tell me about your Atom Heart Mother." 🙇♂️
You're not kidding about those Spawn or Sonic the Hedgehog issues. You can't get away with spending less than $10 on a good condition non key from parts of their runs.
Facts- Issues 101 to about 199 of Savage Dragon are very similar. 15 to 20 bucks for just regular issues.
I used to have a dozen longboxes full of comics i collected growing up, but due to several circumstances, i was forced to sell them all in the late 90's. Among those comics was Dazzler#1 in perfect condition. I regretted having to part with something that took me decades to build, but at the time i had no choice. I did have a couple issues of Cherry, but i don't remember which ones.
I’ve been there, sometime you gotta do what you have to do. In the 90s I don’t think any of us expected some comics to be as valuable as they are now.
I've got the Zelda #1 'no price variant'. It's not high grade but I'm glad that it's worth a bit more due to the error printing.
My Dad gave me that exact same t shirt a few years ago as a gift and I still love it 😂
I had an original Cherry #1 that had the Vamperotica short story. I lost that issues after several moves and roommates and when I when to replace never found that version again.
Not only was it Vamperotica, but it also doubled down on the Archie inspiration because it was a pre-internet Rule 34 Comic of Archie
Good thing all the Cherry Books are back in print in collection form! Cherry Omnibus (issues 01-22) whcih featured 5 differnt cover editions, and Cherry's Jubilee Collection (Issues 1-4) are out now with 4 rare alt covers. Cherry Issue 23 (out now) starts the Cherrypocalypse saga with Issue 24 about to drop on Kickstarter with Alt Covers Etc. The Ellie Dee Cyberpunk Collection is next, along with 2 untitled Cherry Best Of collections coming after that.
How do i know all this? I'm Larry Welz new publisher, Discordia Publishing.
I have a full run of Cherry Poptart that I picked up when they were originally released.
I do too
@@lgpaladin I have 22 issues, looking to sell them.
I've only actually read a couple of copies of Cherry, and that's only because my folks had been gifted a stack of adult comix "as a joke" (my mom's words, not mine) back in the early 90s. Funny that she really thought that she could hide them from her teenage son. I had always meant to offer her money for them when I moved out (hey, they'd be worth some money now), but then they moved and I believe they were tossed . As far as collectors looking for Dazzler 1 in a newsstand, isn't there a way to, I don't know, research that sort of thing? 🤣🤣 Great video, James!
Glad that I raided most of my local shops of their Archie Sonic books well over 15 years ago. Having a subscription for many years helped too.
Dell "I Dream of Jeannie #1" in high grade. Good luck. Looking for 30+ years
barbara eden,...what can i say?
Did not realize that some collectors prefer news stand editions.
Have CPT 1-17 (very good condition, but I'm not a "collector") along with Cherry's Jubilee, 1 & 2. And then my particular favorite, Xxxenophile, 1-10. (Amongst a smattering of others.)
Like your mix of comics fan and working knowledge.
I feel like I was entertained while I learned something.
When my daughter moved out, she gave me her small comic collection and I was pleasantly surprised at how much the Sonic issues went for.
My list is DC's historical heroes that never got collected in a trade.
Stuff like Tomahawk or Silent Knight.
Can't find them or they are crazy expensive.
I love those late 90s end run GI joe covers!
James, great list. I have Sonic#1 mini NM and I do believe it's the most valuable Sonic book to get.
MO BEE US - Had lunch with him at a Chicago Con. He was kind enough to sign 10 copies of the Silver Surfer HB for my shop. I might still have one someplace. HAHAHA!
Another great Mint hunter video! I took your advice this weekend while at a comic Collector show in Denver and picked up the first five issues of cherry pop tart because I saw them there and like you say you very rarely see them in the wild. thanks for the tip
"Rarity" is becoming a weird and varied collector flex. Not just "there are only 500 of these in the world" it's also "there are only 500 of this near-exact copy of a book that is not rare at all".
I agree.
Happens with stamp collecting too
_Sure_ there are dozens of "trillions" of George Washington 7 cent stamps (I don't know if they exists, due to the fact I juset made it up) _but_ during like 1945 to 1950 there are only 2,000 due to a small printing error during a new printing process worth a lot( also made up)
Heck, stamp prices alone are funny, I have a 130 year old stamp worth 30 cents, but I have a less than five year old international stamp worth like 3ish 4ish dollars, but hilariously I have another stamp in mint condiction, that is worth less, than the same non-mint stamps (i.e. it was used as regular postage stamp) of course I am just getting these prices from a catalog because I don't want to spend an extra 40 dollars on the "exact year" price-guide book.
I definitely have a few Cherry Pop tarts issues in my collection
Wife and I own all the appearances of every milestone character (as far as we can tell). Those late static issues were hard to find, but we pulled most of them out of dollar bins. Had to shell out for the last couple issues tho. Whole collection is raw fwiw
Great video!!! Loved the topic. Keep up the great job. 😎
Hey man! I appreciate that you like sharing your knowledge and your personality as well. Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s great 👍🏻👊🏻
About 4 years ago I was hired to clean out a basement. There was infrequent ground water seepage and over time things slowly began rotting. On a storage shelf were a bunch of long boxes full of comics that the lady said belonged her son, who had long since grown up and moved out. She said to throw them out, but naturally I took them home instead.
Many of the books were not bagged and the moisture had utterly ruined them, but a few were in better condition. Amongst these were 1st printings of the first 15 issues of The Tick. The 2nd issue even still had the loose-leaf pamphlet that came with it. There was still some minor page wrinkling and the staples were rusting, but it was still a welcome addition to my collection.
I love videos like this because I always have a few of the comics in the list and had no idea they were rare. Thank u.
I used to have a few different Cherry Pop-Tart books. Even a couple of issues of Ironwood
I didn't expect to actually have one of these. I picked up Man of Steel 18 years ago at my local thrift store for a buck. Beyond the key significance, I didn't realize the DC logo was a thing until watching some of your videos. Unfortunately its not near mint, but still cool to have a kinda rare book. Keep doing videos like these, James!
Yee you’re right on the money about Spawn going down to almost as low as 10k, the smallest print count of any Cover A was issue 243 from 2014 which had just 11,714 issues ordered by retailers.
Funnily 241 is the 2nd lowest with 240 and 242 being tied for 3rd lowest all of which are under 12,000. Issue 115 is when it stopped selling 50,000 and it steadily declined with spikes for anniversaries up until we got close to 300
As a kid in the 70s I could swear I saw Dazzler comics on the newsstand, but I can't say for certain that I saw #1. It was back before I started to move out of the Harvey and Gold Key comics of my youth and focus on superhero books.
Great stuff, as always James. Thanks for educating me on this one.
I have a lot of cherry poptart comics and I bought them all new when they came out.
Still have them in plastic sleeves
In good or better condition.
I just got an almost complete run of gi joe. Lots of newsstand and even high grades. Listed now.
Don't worry James, I have Archie Sonic 1-53 and don't plan on collecting beyond that number 😆
You always got to keep an eye on the dudes looking for Cherry ;)
I paid 35 dollars for my black Venom book from Comicmania. I still remember that day seeing it in the displace case with the gold one. Brought both of them.
Started a Milestone collection years ago. Was able to find the Static issues relatively easily. It has proven to be the last 3 issues of Hardware that are the problem. Never seen them in person.
I have a 9.8 black venom and the joe issues, i got the venom from the dollar bin at an lcs as a reader copy. Owner was like oh thats a misprint, miswrap so i bought it as a reader copy. Always been a joe fan so even when the print run was nothing i had to pick them up I appreciate your search for sonic .. its what you collect.
I have 2 full runs of static. one graded, and one raw. I'm starting to sell my raw copies as the milestone compendiums are releasing.
I have the last issue of Static, it took me years to get one. Love that cover.
I happen to be a sonic comic book collector who started in 1999. I have nearly every issue up to about 125. Including a damn nice copy of the game comic, the 4 page newsprint comic 1/4, and more. Sally, tails and knuckles series, the sabrina crossover, and so much more.
good top 10 list, bro. congrats on reaching over 31K subs now. #BRINGMECAPTAINCARROTPLEASE
Very informative video. Thanks for sharing
wow. I've got three of these selections. Have to say, the hardest here for me was the end run of GI Joe. Back when the book was still running, I bailed at 140. Fifteen years later I decided to finish the run off. Tough finds..
I have all of those Spawn books! Been buying Spawn consistently since issue one and have never missed an issue. Some even have variant covers (key numbered issues like 150, 200, etc)
I am one of those classic 90’s collectors that left the hobby for 25 years and just got back in the last couple. In the early 90’s, in college, I actually got a black Venom LP. I paid the most I ever had before for a comic, I think $75-$100. I THINK I sold it (probably for college expenses) but I am only about 80% sure, because I put a portion of my 90’s collection in a family storage container that I can’t get my older brother to open up (too busy and thinks I will mess things up since they are probably in the back somewhere, behind easily breakable fixtures). Only reason I think I may still have it is that I bought a special comic book holder (pre slab era) to put a valuable book in, and I haven’t found that holder yet. I wouldn’t have at the time a more valuable book (even though I actually had a Giant Size X-men 1 and didn’t bother to put that in the holder!). FYI I still have that GSX1 and it graded as an 8.5😎
Spawn 237 Tradesmart variant. Rumor says there are less than 500 in existence. Printed for a single event at a single location in Littleton, CO. Fun stuff.
I have all the Venom books and mint, all six books. I don't collect and was given a big tote of comics for a loan of $100 from my cousins brother in law. Never knew these were that valuable. Also got Wolverine mint, 4 books. And a whole lot more. Imma take these to a comic store. Thanks for video
I do have the Venom Lethal protector 1 black error variant, Incredible Hulk 377 3rd print. Purchased off the shelf at release!!
Very helpful video, James! After watching, I double-checked to discover that my Hulk 377 is a 3rd printing. It is in good enough condition to submit for grading. Thank you for the information.
Spawn Post 185 was a fun time for the series. McFarlane returned to scripting and with 201, the amazing SZYMON KUDRANSKI started doing the artwork, giving the series a near cinematic, gothic style akin to the legendary Kent Williams! Happy hunting 'cause I'm keeping mine!
I have a Venom 1, I'm going to go check that colour now
Great information and I don't collect many of the titles you mentioned but I'll keep my eye out for these books because you just never know. I'm thinking much of what you said here could also be used in your "Comic book fun facts" which I enjoy very much. Thanks for posting. Best to all.
I have 2 cherry poptart #1 both in great condition.
That explains how my local CS had a non-graded Spawn 77 on display w/ an outrageous price on it and it sold. The thing about the title at the time, Todd only managed to get out one or two iss a year. So, yeah. You were lucky to get any if wasn't on your pull list. 😂
Try to find a set of Silver Age reprints of DC which reprints of Flash, Green Lantren, Justice League ECT. Hard to find in any comic shops. And Danger Trail the DC version of James Bond. Hit 48 shops and no such luck.
I remember Dazzler #1 direct only. Around that era a few ongoing Marvel titles went direct only: Moon Knight, Ka-Zar, Micronauts.
In that era the directs were generally scarcer anyway with the exception of highly anticipated hot books that were heavily ordered by comic shops. Wolverine #1 mini series is an example where newsstand might be rarer because it was heavily ordered. Thor #337 blindsided comic shops as Thor was a poor selling title and nobody anticipated demand for the first Beta Ray Bill, so direct is probably rarer. If I remember correctly, although the Secret Wars event was well publicized the black costume wasn’t expected until Secret Wars #8 so comic stores were blindsided by Amazing Spider-Man #252. Amazing Spider-Man was a popular title so they ordered well but not nearly enough to meet black costume demand, the direct might be a little rarer. I’m going on memory so forgive me if either observation of eBay copies or CGC census count proves me wrong about which version of a particular book is scarcer. The general statement is nonetheless true.
In general comic stores were still relatively new in the late 1970s early 1980s, so although 1990s newstand copies are rarer, early direct are rarer than newsstands l, with the exception of heavily ordered books like I said.
Of course if people are collecting the newsstand because they like what the covers look like and not because of the perceived effect of scarcity on value, that’s another matter. But I remember well the days when newsstand outlets selling comics were everywhere and you were lucky if you lived anywhere close to a comic store.
I have the entire Lethal Protector series bagged!!!! Venom was my favorite Marvel character in high school
Super fun list. Thanks for sharing and doing excellent research.
I have all the Cherry Poptart issues. I didn't know it was to expensive! wow.
The Cherry Poptart books have been gathered into a hard back collection. I myself have all but the very most recent books. There are two issues that came out within the last five years or so. But I do have the first issue all the way up to like issue 20.
I collect Dazzler but I have no preference for newsstand over direct. I have a couple #1s, I think they are solidly in the pretty good range, which I prefer.
I bought the hulk 3rd print as a kid and was disappointed that it wasn't the first print as i had thought. I never thought it would be worth so much more than the first (even though it only came back a 9.2 or 9.4)
Sold my dad's collection a few years ago and he had gi joe newsstand 145-154 all newsstand so I bought a 155 newsstand to have the last 10 complete and all newsstand the set went for a pretty penny
I've got all of the Cherry and Cherry Poptart run. I know they are in good condition. I just don't what they would grade as though.
my 686 dc universe logo came back as a 6.5 with no press or cleaning I'm happy with it
I recently found the original 1964 Comicon booklet created for the world's first Comicon in New York. Found out only 120 were ever hand made by Bernie Bubnis, one of the 4 people who created the con, and of those it's believed less than 20 survived today. Sent it to CGC, when it comes back it will be the 3rd graded one in the world :) has unique art by Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby just for the booklet. My prized book now in my collection just because it's so darn hard to find, they don't even come up for sale.
Found mine in a big cardboard box just completely loose, no bag and board, was with some other fan magazines from the 1960's. Had to do a double take I couldn't even believe what I had just found. Purchased it on a local marketplace app. Always fun to find unique things or rare variants of comics that few people have.
I have a couple of Cherry Poptart comics. I have Punisher #1 (unlimited series), Spider Man vs Wolverine, Freak Bros, Elflord, The Dungeoneers, Stark Future, Elfquest, all the Marvel Star Wars Return of the Jedi, Indiana Jones #1, Hellblade #1, Shogun Warriors, The Fox and the Hound, and others. My friend has 1st run TMNT comics, the black and white ones.
Somewhere out there...a wooden crate washed up on a deserted island...is the secret Dazzler newstand misprint variant....
Just picked up a lot that had GI Joe 115-155 all higher grade newsstands
While I personally don’t own it, I know a guy who owns a venom lethal protector 1 black error. He’s a guy I work with and he’s a HUGE venom collector. He bought it on auction, and while I can’t quite remember what he paid, I was there when he won it, and it was so much he had to call up his bank to confirm his purchase. Got it graded and I came back a 9.2 white pages, which he was extremely pleased with.
I have several im fond for. But my Cadaver #0 signed by Brad moore and Jeffery Dalmer unauthorized biography are my favorites.
I am part of the CHERRY POPTART kickstarter - a collected high quality collection of the entire CP comics.
Oh, wow I have a black venom in my attic, going to look for that now. 😂
I have all the Cherry and Cherry Poptart ones you showed signed by Larry Wells. He was at m y local comic shop. Super nice guy.
I have some Cherry Poptart. I think I have a few of those Joe comics too.
Cherry poptart looks like a fun Archie book. Something special about Archie
I'll have to dig out my old collection and check my Venom comics because I think I may have that one
It wasn't that long ago I was able to get the Cherry Poptart's relatively easy.
I'm about 10 issues shy of having the entire Archie Sonic comics. They are incredibly difficult to find in excellent condition and a reasonable price. Some of the most valuable issues from that run are #1, 13, 25, 98, 196, and 290 (last issue), and most other issues go for $10/piece. I do have the entire Knuckles run, and am working on Sonic Universe. Seriously expensive.
I have all the Cherry Pop-Tarts. I bought them first-run, just as they went out. I've haven't read them in years. I'm not sure of their grade, but now I have them graded.
Also if you want to give them a read, the site E-Hentai has all of them scanned
2017 valiant variants are hard. Took me 4 years to find a Ninjak 23-26. Eternal Warrior 5 Mack cover also.
Kraft auction had a short box of nothing but Venom Lethal protector 1 and 2 last week. Roughly 60/40% mix.