Digital Comic Museum

General Category => Comic Related Discussion => Topic started by: bminor on October 17, 2011, 08:07:34 PM

Title: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: bminor on October 17, 2011, 08:07:34 PM
I don't have the foggiest idea which one it would be...
I was also wondering what the value would be of the entire DCM library?
An interesting thought to ponder.
What about the most valuable series, Captain Marvel, Phantom Lady, etc.

Any ideas on this???

I am always coming up with these ideas in my head!!!

B
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: Yoc on October 17, 2011, 09:33:27 PM
Hmm.  Good question.  No idea.
Whiz Comics #2?  Colossus Comics #1?  Phantom Lady #17?
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: OtherEric on October 18, 2011, 12:24:24 PM
I think Whiz #2 is the pretty clear winner. 
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: srca1941 on October 18, 2011, 12:26:29 PM
I think the more difficult question is what whould be the least valuable in mint?

-Eric
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: bminor on October 18, 2011, 01:58:35 PM
I have never heard of Colossus Comics. What is the significance. A quick google search came up with nill.

B.
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: John C on October 18, 2011, 03:34:00 PM
I think the more difficult question is what whould be the least valuable in mint?

This, I'll chime in on:  Probably Captain Inapak, the extremely rare comic that, oh, no, wait, here's an enormous warehouse full of the dang things.

Actually, I have a far more difficult question:  Does anybody have any information as to whether sites like DCM, GAC, and the other sharing sites have altered the market for older comics?  I'm curious if readers are now more likely to buy the physical artifact now that anybody can read the comic itself, the bottom has fallen out because we're all bottom-feeders, or people who read comics were never a significant part of the market.
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: bminor on October 18, 2011, 05:22:52 PM
Funny that you should bring this up!
There is one and only one comic shop in our area. I stop by it about twice a year, just to see what is going on in the new comic scene. All the new comics are way to expensive and to my views don't hold a candle to the stuff we read growing up.
Well, I am talking to the guy who works at the comic shop, I've seen him working there for years now.
I bring up the topic of GAC and DCM to him, and he tells me this story.
He came into the shop a few weeks back and says to the other people who run the shop this, " I have seen the future and this is it." He plops down a DVD containing several thousand comics on it.
Nuff said!

John C. I think you have hit the nail on the head. Why buy expensive old comics when you can get all these old scans for nothing? Why by the cow when you can get the milk for free?
I remember when Marvel used to sell a DVD's of the various series, Spidey, FF, etc. Well, why sell issues like that, buy once, enjoy forever, when a better business plan is obvious in this new age.
Sell subscriptions to these old books that you can access, but not own!

B.
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: Yoc on October 18, 2011, 05:44:54 PM
We're OT now but it's a fun topic.

I'm seeing this as two camps.  One camp are long time buyers who collect the physical book and might perhaps download the scans for reading if they are buying their books inside those lame coffins but they prize the physical book more than anything.  The other camp are those that perhaps never bought an issue of something but know the artist and want to see more and are more likely to download the free scans.  Starting a new collection from scratch isn't for the faint of heart and scan sites provide a great service keeping these books alive for everyone with an interest regardless of their wealth.

Hey B, when that dvd was slapped down - was it met with dread?  Given sites like us and DC, etc going same day digital sales owning a comic shop doesn't sound like a good idea does it?  If it ever did for that matter.  The ones near me are pushing toys, Japanese videos and graphic novels and the comics are being shoved into a back corner.

New question since we are talking money values - I wonder what the cash value of the Entire DCM scan collection would be if they were physical books?  Now that would be a BIG number I think!
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: bminor on October 18, 2011, 06:54:43 PM
Actually Yoc that was the next question that I was going to ask. What exactly would be the value of all the book on DCM!

As far as the DVD being slapped down on the counter, he did not seem to be very pleased.

But you are right, all the comic shops these days are big into cards, toys, anime, ours even has a regular role playing gamers playing at a dedicated spot in the shop every week!

B.
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: Geo (RIP) on October 18, 2011, 08:25:30 PM
And most local Comic Shops don't even have any Golden Age books either, (or any Silver Age books for that matter), anyway the one near me don't.
We use to have one that did but they folded years ago now.

Geo
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: Yoc on October 18, 2011, 09:52:48 PM
The only way to compete with digital is to make the physical product something truly extra special that just a scan can't replace or go the print on demand route. 
Sounds like all comic shops have seen the writing on the wall and diversified as much as they can.  I can't say I blame them.  Stocking back issues is certainly dwindling too.  I guess eBay, scans, etc have taken over from the shops.
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: OtherEric on October 19, 2011, 01:12:10 AM
I feel confident saying my scanning and sharing of Peter Wheat has increased demand for Peter Wheat books; I know I've been in MUCH tougher bidding wars recently than when I started.

But that may well be an outlier.
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: John C on October 19, 2011, 05:15:55 AM
That's actually a good point, Eric.  There are technically now two markets for the books we're interested in, based on whether they've been scanned.

B, you bring up what's probably going to be the big problem of the next few years:  Why don't I own anything I buy?  With the law (particularly the "anti-circumvention" clauses of the DMCA) on one side and technology ("the cloud") on the other, we're quickly moving into a space where "buy" means "you can have access as long as your keep up your subscription, too, we don't see any reason to deny you access, and your Internet connection is up."

Amazon already went down that road when they deleted an illegally-published edition of "Animal Farm" from all the Kindles.  Don't know if the "owners" were reimbursed, but even if they were, I don't like the idea that the terms of sale aren't final.
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: narfstar on October 19, 2011, 05:54:34 AM
I buy books particularly to scan. Books that I would not have been interested in in the past. Books that I would have gone after I ignore if they are already scanned or on the JVJ list. So it does work both ways.
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: srca1941 on October 19, 2011, 07:43:19 AM
Me too, in a way at least. What is available for purchase, and the price always are factors, but public domain status makes a difference too. A PD book will almost always beat out a non-PD book simply because I can share it. The last bunch of GA books I bought were Hopalong Cassidy #66-67, Love Problems and Advice Illustrated #15, Super Duck #42, and Young Romance #49. I bought them in a store, and all were five dollars or less. However, a few years ago, I'd have probably passed all or most of them up, opting for some of the Atlas books they had, Captain Marvel Adventures #83, or a 1950s Superboy or Adventure Comics issue. I knew I couldn't share the Atlas or DC books, and CMA was already scanned, so I went for the low hanging fruit. (Although I may still go back for Cap just because I want it.)

I don't think any of the books I bought have been scanned, so I can't wait to do that. I started scanning Hopalong Cassidy #66 a week and a half ago, but right after I did, my computer crashed. I didn't have time to upload it, or for Carbonite to back it up, but I have a new hard drive coming today. Hopefully I can get my computer set up again soon to either rescan it, or recover it from the old drive.

-Eric
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: Yoc on October 19, 2011, 08:20:05 AM
GL with the new HD and scans Eric!  Nice to see you posting messages again.
And to all buyers we appreciate that you are thinking about DCM and scanning when you are considering your purchases.  Without you scanners we're nothing.
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: srca1941 on October 20, 2011, 07:59:10 AM
Thanks Yoc! I now have the new drive installed, the old one slaved, and Hopalong Cassidy #66 is being rescued from oblivion! It should be showing up here as soon as I get the rest of the computer setup.

-Eric
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: tilliban on October 20, 2011, 10:09:11 AM
Same here!
Hunting for DCM-missing books is fun and can be kind of addictive.
Makes me feel like a man on a mission.
 :P
That's why I'm currently completing (with a little big help from JVJ!) ACE horror books.
Got plans for next year already.
 ;)
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: srca1941 on October 20, 2011, 10:29:12 AM
It's just nice to be able to share these old books. I only wish I had more time to be able to scan.

-Eric
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: Yoc on October 20, 2011, 10:40:18 AM
Thanks guys. I'm excited about the Ace books T!
Eric, do what you can.  Real life comes first and anything you can share is always appreciated.
:)
Title: What is the most valuable PUBLIC DOMAIN COMIC out there?
Post by: bminor on January 02, 2013, 08:58:54 AM
This thread has been inactive for some time so I thought that I would try and pump some life back into it.

So what exactly is the top 10 most valuable PUBLIC DOMAIN comic books out there?

Phantom Lady 17

Whiz 2

?????
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: Yoc on January 02, 2013, 09:39:10 AM
The problem here is where does one go to even find the 'top 10' online if one doesn't want to buy an Overstreet?
ComicsPriceGuide.com doesn't have any top lists that I can find.  I did a Google and checked several sites and see nothing.
Hard to answer your question without a reference.
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: cimmerian32 on January 02, 2013, 01:34:17 PM
From 2010... I tried to highlight the PD books, but I might have erred, so please check...

(http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k413/cimmerian32atgmail/Image0001.jpg)(http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k413/cimmerian32atgmail/Image0002-1.jpg)(http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k413/cimmerian32atgmail/Image0003.jpg)(http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k413/cimmerian32atgmail/Image0004.jpg)
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: bminor on January 02, 2013, 02:27:13 PM
You guys are absolutely wonderful!
B.
Come on over to northern Wisconsin and I will give you all a big hug!

Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: Yoc on January 03, 2013, 08:38:30 AM
Thanks very much for all the work on that Cimm.
An interesting read!
Title: Re: What is the most valuable comic at DCM, (if it was in mint condition?)
Post by: OtherEric on January 05, 2013, 03:51:54 PM
Red Raven is not PD, unless it's one of those odd "the publisher missed it" books; it's what became Human Torch with issue #2.

There's a few others in there in the "known to be unrenwed but we're not touching them because of the company" books in there, as well.  Thank you for the list, in any case- it's fascinating to see!

Most of the Platinum books would be PD as well, even if the characters are still under trademark, just because of their age.

Hmm, there's a Man From Planet X on eBay at $135 with a trashed spine on the cover only that looks like an excellent scanning candidate; maybe when I get my tax return...