Your Million Dollar Comic Book Collection - November 20

A couple of weeks ago somebody recently back to comics after missing the previous decade or so reached out to me and asked my opinion of an article he had read. Eric Spitznagel wrote “Those comics in your basement? Probably worthless” for Bloomberg Businessweek on October 30, 2013.  The piece was focused on Barry T. Smith, 44, who has “spent most of his life collecting comic books” and “always considered them an investment.” It was a very well written article that addressed concerns by a well established store owner as well as an iconic comic book figurehead in Steve Geppi and you can find the whole column here.

I responded that I agree with the author but that I think he left out some important facts.  I wrote “We don't have investment books in our generation.  More appropriately, striking gold is as rare now as it was originally.  I've been saying for years that comics aren't about what they're worth; comics are about what they're worth to you.  Seventeen years ago when I set up my first booth and sold off the first of my two Amazing Spider-Man #1's, I sold it out of a conversation.  I didn't and have never used a price guide.  The conversation was "Let's find a price for this book that will make both of us happy".  What this article said about the super rare million dollar auctions is absolutely true; those are oil sheikh billionaires that have more money than they know what to do with and know less about the comic they're buying, simply that it's very old, very rare, and in relatively good condition. Even when Nick Cage got his mad movie money he spent way more buying the books he wanted as a comic book geek than he ever got for selling them after so badly mismanaging his assets. Our generation needs something that rare, like the Turtles, that just takes off.  Bone #1 may not be worth that much, but show me a copy of Thorn that Jeff worked on while he was in college and we'll talk. Gimmicks only work while they're hot.  Death of, glow in the dark, 3D, platinum, foil, die cut, bullet riddled, whatever... They all eventually end up in the dollar box.  Tell a good story with better than average art?  That's how you keep long term interest in a book. Unfortunately, and we're back to this generation, in the 30's, 40's, and 50's there were no bags and boards.  There were no acid free boxes, or mylars, or slabs.  There's a whole lot more in mint condition from the last thirty years even.  With those kinds of quantities it's hard to get a boost in value.”

The condition of the economy and recession also cannot be overlooked, “This guy got so much less for his X-Men because there's less discretionary income.  The recession came on and it's really worse than they're letting us know.  That same recession that caused a lot of people to let go of their treasures?  Well the people with the money to buy them now have a wider selection to demand more pristine books.  While I used to say that as a mint goes up, so goes a good, that's going a lot slower and smaller than it would have.  I, also, have told many people that they have a collection worth not nearly what they thought they had.  I feel bad about it.”

Thanks to news stories about record sales everyone would like to believe that they’ve got something worth something. Here comes the next thing that I’ve harped on about until I’m blue in the face, managed correctly anyone can have a ‘million dollar collection’. The key is to remember that comic books are a source of entertainment, just like movies. We don’t get to invest in movies (Kickstarter aside), we invest in companies. Marvel was publicly traded before Disney bought it. With the thought that it’s entertainment, buy what you like. If you enjoy what you’re reading you can’t ever go wrong. Always have fun! To see another business owner confirm that for you, just click here. Collect what you love! If it retains a monetary value, good for you! If not, then at the very least you still have something you love. What’s the value of that blanket your Grandmother hand stitched? Or the hutch your Great Grandfather made? Or your children? I have three bound collections titled “My Favorite Comics” that were shaved, sewn, and glued into hardcovers and some of you might cry to see what I’ve included in there. It’s not a monetary thing for me. I have a comic book collection I’ve spent my life working on and what I’m going to remember most is that both of my children read many years above their grade level having learned to read with it. I really can’t put a price on that.

Looking at what’s scheduled to ship this week you might like “investing” in Dark Horse Comics’ 1 For $1 Star Wars Legacy #1, $1.00, written by Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman with art by Gabriel Hardman. I loved Star Wars Legacy when it involved Cade and this is the story of what comes after. It started very strong and I’m looking forward to eventually seeing him make his way into this book…

Fables #135, $2.99, from DC Comics by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, and Russell Braun featuring a cover by Greg Ruth is a good choice. I know that the end of Fables has been announced but this is a stellar book that I see finding new fans all the time. This will continue to be talked about for a while…

Fairest in all the Land hardcover, $22.99, written by Bill Willingham and illustrated by many fine creators is another original Fables graphic novel, so I’m absolutely sticking with that choice…

When I started on my Fables kick tonight I had no idea we were also getting the Vertigo Essentials Fables #1, $1.00, offering up a very affordable new printing of the first issue to the Eisner-Award-Winning series by Bill Willingham, Lan Medina, and Steve Leialoha so that you can see how it all began…

Valiant Entertainment is shipping X-O Manowar #19, $3.99, by Robert Venditti and Cary Nord and I really do just love everything this company is publishing right now…

…and there are plenty more that are not listed. For a more complete list, feel free to visit your local comic store or favorite site. If you’re interested in more of what I think, follow me on Twitter at Mycomicstore001 or like my Facebook page.

Michael R. Murray is a full-time letter carrier for the United States Postal Service who’s a little embarrassed by last week’s column.  It could have been written much better!