Apr. 6th, 2008 02:22 am
My annual geek diversion
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i_calql8My Overstreet Price Guide came today. I was in geek heaven all day.
For those who don't know, the Overstreet is the Bible for comic book collectors, to see what their comic books are worth. I have been a collector since 1977 or so, and although that budget thingie gets in the way, I still buy a comic book every now and then. And every year, at about this time, the Overstreet comes, and I can update the prices of my comics that I bought when I was in my misspent youth.
If you ever decide to collect comic books to make money, allow me to let you in on something: Don't. Put your money elsewhere. You won't get a new car or pay for your kid's education by investing in comic books. This hobby is more for enjoyment, with the money part being secondary. For instance, after recalibrating my collection's individual comic values, I found that my collection increased in value a whole 3% in the past year. You can do better with your money just by putting it in a mutual fund or CD. You just won't have as much fun.
I missed the Silver Age by a few years when I began collecting, but over the years, I've acquired some gems, Silver Age and younger, of my own. Part of the fun of the hobby is the hunt. I acquired most of my inventory by scouring comic book stores. Thankfully, I began collecting about the same time that comic book speciality stores started cropping up around the country. I kept track of the supposed 'hot' comics by the comics Buyers Guide, a then-weekly newspaper that kept me up on the latest news on my hobby. There was no eBay, and no internet, for that matter. You just had to be knowledgeable of the titles, prices, and conditions.
I jokingly tell #2 son that this is his college fund, but to be honest, selling my collection would be like selling a part of me. I honestly don't know if could do it. I had to sell one comic book, one of my prized possessions, to make enough cash in a hurry, in order to pay legal fees on #1 son's first bout of probation in time, or else he would be on probation for another 6 months. Selling the comic book felt like I was saying good-bye to a close friend. #1 son knows how important my collection is to me, and was in awe of my sacrifice. Given recent events, I should have let him stay on probation, lol.
So, for the better part of 5 hours, I got to completely immerse myself in my hobby, something I don't get to do very often. And before I go to bed, I will most likely read more articles contained in my new Overstreet, so I can try to get my geek on for another year.
By the way, my running offer stands...if anyone has some old comics from the 70s or earlier, and would like to free up some room in their house, and want to give their comics a good home, let me know--I take in all orphaned old comics. :-)
For those who don't know, the Overstreet is the Bible for comic book collectors, to see what their comic books are worth. I have been a collector since 1977 or so, and although that budget thingie gets in the way, I still buy a comic book every now and then. And every year, at about this time, the Overstreet comes, and I can update the prices of my comics that I bought when I was in my misspent youth.
If you ever decide to collect comic books to make money, allow me to let you in on something: Don't. Put your money elsewhere. You won't get a new car or pay for your kid's education by investing in comic books. This hobby is more for enjoyment, with the money part being secondary. For instance, after recalibrating my collection's individual comic values, I found that my collection increased in value a whole 3% in the past year. You can do better with your money just by putting it in a mutual fund or CD. You just won't have as much fun.
I missed the Silver Age by a few years when I began collecting, but over the years, I've acquired some gems, Silver Age and younger, of my own. Part of the fun of the hobby is the hunt. I acquired most of my inventory by scouring comic book stores. Thankfully, I began collecting about the same time that comic book speciality stores started cropping up around the country. I kept track of the supposed 'hot' comics by the comics Buyers Guide, a then-weekly newspaper that kept me up on the latest news on my hobby. There was no eBay, and no internet, for that matter. You just had to be knowledgeable of the titles, prices, and conditions.
I jokingly tell #2 son that this is his college fund, but to be honest, selling my collection would be like selling a part of me. I honestly don't know if could do it. I had to sell one comic book, one of my prized possessions, to make enough cash in a hurry, in order to pay legal fees on #1 son's first bout of probation in time, or else he would be on probation for another 6 months. Selling the comic book felt like I was saying good-bye to a close friend. #1 son knows how important my collection is to me, and was in awe of my sacrifice. Given recent events, I should have let him stay on probation, lol.
So, for the better part of 5 hours, I got to completely immerse myself in my hobby, something I don't get to do very often. And before I go to bed, I will most likely read more articles contained in my new Overstreet, so I can try to get my geek on for another year.
By the way, my running offer stands...if anyone has some old comics from the 70s or earlier, and would like to free up some room in their house, and want to give their comics a good home, let me know--I take in all orphaned old comics. :-)
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no subject
The Husband sold some of his collection to buy my engagement ring, as he didn't have a job then. True love!! :D
no subject
See, you get the idea--collect what you like to read. Good for you!
An engagement ring, I get. College tuition...well, I plan to look into scholarships and financial aid for #2 son. My slabbed comics alone would cover a year of college, but it would break my heart to sell them.
no subject
no subject
::grin::
I used to look up the value of my collection as well, and boy was that depressing. I missed out on the most valuable Conan by one issue...and the ups/downs of X-Men got annoying.
I know someone who sold his Batman collection and used it for the down payment on a house in Vermont. Nice!
no subject
Um, isn't the most valuable Conan issue #1? So, you have, what, #2? Not too shabby. :)
Yeah, I stopped collecting X-Men around #210. I have most of the issues from #94 to #210. Too many characters, too many plotlines. The values of those comics are levelling off, too, now that they're not the center of the comics universe any more.
no subject
The one title I collected almost religiously was Legion of Superheroes, starting when they were still the second story in Superboy. When I stopped collecting in 1994-ish, they were doing the strange restart of the entire universe.
I also collected Alien Legion and other alternative lines; Wonder Woman, lots of DC titles and a bunch of Marvel titles. One of my favories was the Elektra miniseries that Bill Sinkiewicz was drawing. That was excellent.
You're going to get me all worked up about my old comics...and I need to get to sleep here, not wander into the basement and unlock that cabinet. :-P
no subject
Prices have stabilized, but issue #3 now is the valuable Conan, allegedly due to low distribution of the comic.
I loved the LSH, and read and collected them faithfully when the title became Superboy and the LSH. I'm a sucker for team books. I also have the very first issue of Alien Legion--the art was nice, and Jugger Grimrod was the only memorable character, but I still have the comic, years later.
The Elektra series was after Bill S. decided he didn't want to draw like Neal Adams (like that's a *bad* thing?--his work on Moon Knight is incredible), and started becoming more 'stylized' in his art. He did a short stint on New Mutants, before eventually becoming a miniseries and cover artist, eventually drawing your Elektra mini. His work now, though very distinct, is an acquired taste.
Go ahead...look up those old comics of yours. You know you wanna. ;-)
no subject
Noooooooooo!
no subject
You can almost hear the siren call of your old comics...listen to them...they want you to seek them out...go to them... ;-)
no subject
Noooooooooo!
..go...downstairs..must...
no subject
*applying Mesmerizingstare v.2.1, resisting the urge to plant a post-hypnotic suggestion involving clucking. ;-)
no subject
Where did all these feathers come from?
::looks around::
On second thought, don't anybody answer that.