Top ten
Regular issue new comics by sales:
These are the top ten new comics sold by volume in my shop this week. My shop. A medium volume, single storefront destination location in Lowell, MA. I'm certain Graham Cracker comics list is different, as is The Magic Dragon. These are my actual sales.
#1 - All New X-Men #9. "Alpha Dog". Fans adore this twist on the original team. Bendis best work in a decade.
#2 - Justice League of America #2. Proof that fans want DC's big guns..
#3 - Justice League #18. B list art on DC's a list title.
#4 - Superior Spider-Man #6. Fans adore Octo-Pete.
#5 - Avengers #8. Return of the New Universe!
#6 - New Avengers #4. Hickman is absolutely killing it! Great book.
#7 - Nightwing #18.
Requiem Death of Damien tie in. ( I under-ordered Catwoman #18 & sold out )
#8 - Action. Fans still buy this new 52 abortion of an icon.
#9 - Nova #2. Real strong support for the new kid on the block.
#10 - Five Ghosts #1. The Indy "Rock Star' of the week. Full disclosure, I did host the creative team for a signing that sold a ton of units.
Top "ten-ish."
Regular issue new ( last year ) comics by aftermarket:
Modern comics that are seeing aftermarket activity. Ebay, Amazon, CGC boards, Bleeding Cool, Lyria comic Exchange, conventions & my Phantom retailer network of 25+ shops are the primary source of this information. Not the top selling books in comic stores, rather the currently published, modern books that are selling above cover price for a variety of reasons. Prices are on average:
Nowhere Men Fabulous word of mouth. Under-ordered. #1-$30, #2-$20, #3-$10
Peter Panzerfaust. Rumored stop motion animated show for BBC Low Print run.
Black Beetle Pulp-esque hit by Francesco Francavilla & Dark Horse #0,#1-$12
Helheim #1 regular #1. Obscure indy publisher. Low print run. Killer material. $8
Injustice #1. This video game tie in hasn't even begun. Great word of mouth. $25
Batman Incorporated #8. Received massive media coverage. Death of Damien $5
Hawkeye. Recent trade release should quiet down this back issue juggernaut.
The Sixth Gun. NBC TV show has put the spotlight on this indy gem.
Mind MGMT. The recent movie development news has fans scrambling. #1-$50
Saga. This is the title defines the recent Image revival. #1-$75
Amazing Spider-Man #700. Top volume wall book sold this week. $10. Everybody wants the last issue.
Five Ghosts #1. Positive word of mouth.
Top ten "ish" up & coming modern Key issues.
Modern comics that are just starting to see aftermarket movement. Books that were recently not in demand, and are finally experiencing aftermarket activity for a variety of reasons.
Annihilation Conquest #6, First Movie Guardians team.
Uncanny X-Men #282. First Bishop.
Daredevil #21. Real lame 1st appearance of Superior Spider-Man
Guardians of the Galaxy 24 & 25 (vol 2), return of Thanos.
X-Factor #5 & 6. First Apocalypse. Rumored villain in upcoming X-movie
Batman #7. First full appearance
Harper Row. Rumored new Robin.
Top ten modern Key issues at my shop.
Modern comics that sell off my wall constantly. My shop sales are primarily new material, & my back issue sales tend to be related. I have a waiting list for most of these books.
Walking Dead #1. The undisputed king of the modern era. Actually ANY WD pre 100.
New Mutants #98. 1st Deadpool. $100 king of the modern X keys.
Uncanny X-Men #141 &142. Days of future past movie source
Captain Marvel #33 - Origin of Thanos $50
Nova #1. The new marvel series has fans scrambling for this relatively inexpensive bronze age key. $25
Batman Mad Love. Iconic Alex Ross cover $50
Infinity Gauntlet, War, Crusade, Abyss. Thanos, Thanos Thanos.
The Killing Joke. It's simply the best Joker wall book in the 25 year history of my shop. $25
Batman Animated #12. Every Bat fan wants the first appearance of Harley Quinn. $85
My Top ten "ish" under-valued modern comics.
These are books I'm speculating will soon see aftermarket activity, & are currently under-valued in my humble opinion, some may even be found in the bargain bins. I want to buy these books on the cheap. They're long-shots. ( I'm not spending hooker or booze money on them. )
Starlord #1 the special edition 1982. first comic appearance of Star Lords father
J'son of Spartax
New X-Men #134. First
Quentin Quire.
Spawn #9 & Angela #1-3. Marvel will be publishing material with Angela.
Star Brand #1. First New Universe & brand/tattoo: The
Star Brand.
Thor #344. First appearance
Malekith ( In upcoming Thor-2 movie )
Iron Man #10. First Pepper Potts as Rescue.
Young Avengers #1. First
Kate Bishop. My favorite Marvel female.
Top ten modern variant comics by aftermarket:
Variants are versions of the regular issue comic. They are NOT regular issue comics.
They are distributed / created for a variety of reasons.
Order incentive / retailer incentive, produced exclusively for shops/shows,events.
Batman #1. Dc's flagship title. $50
Nowhere Men #1 Thought Bubble, ComicsPro, CBLDF.
Skottie Young marvel Babys. fans simply adore these.
Hellheim #1 NYCC $50, ECCC $100
Sex #1. Risque material not stocked by a lot of shops. ECCC $75, wrap around $40
Walking Dead Governor ECCC. Sexy green foil. $70
Blank sketch covers. There seems to be an insatiable need for these by autograph / sketch seekers.
Five Ghosts #1 ECCC. $50+
Spawn homage covers.
Phantom variants. You know you love them. No big price increases, but I sure sell a lot.
Incoming!
My pick of the week. The comic shipping this week that will be worth your valuable speculator y consideration, and why.
It's tough to speculate on a modern Marvel comic & pocket any coin.
I have NO doubt that GG will be the number one book ordered by the industry for the month of March. There will be over 100k. There are a shitload of variants. Too many. I was one of a handful of retailers that took part in a conference call with the creative team a couple of months ago to hear the ambitious plans for the series. On this call, I got the inside information that Marvel is going to make J'son of Spartax a major villain this year. They hooked me. Movie coming next year, Thanos in the second arc, Neil Gaimen co-writing upcoming issues, Iron Man on the team, Rocket Racoon's cult status, major ties to Marvels top selling All New X-Men title ( Phoenix ), all add up to a winner in my mind that I just can't ignore.
A lot of people ask me why I like to speculate on modern comic books. Original Art, Gold, Silver & Bronze age comics are a much better investment. I'm a comic book fan, a voracious reader of new material. I love how new books set the pace for back issues. It is fast paced & never stagnant due to the constant release of new material. Right now modern comics are the petri dish of pop culture, comic shops the breeding ground.
I have been collecting comics since the 1970's & been in the business of selling them since the 1980's. I love a quality story & a great buy, equally.
I speculate on new comics every week. I always have & I always will. Purchasing modern comic books with the intent of making a profit is my hobby of choice. It's impossible that every new comic week will generate a book of "Walking Dead class" potential, but it's still fun to try to make savvy buys. You can sit back & wait for aces, or you can play the hand your dealt to the best of your ability.
Sometimes, I'm right. Sometimes I'm wrong, but I play every week.
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Thanks to the legend Chuck "Mile High' Rozanski, for his help with this weeks report.
If you notice a trend developing email me: larryscomicsinc@aol.com