Another great experience at a “small” comic con.  And what do we find at comic cons? Dollar comic books.  If you are any type of comic book collector you spend your fair share of time digging in long boxes full of dollar comic books.  Sometimes we come away empty-handed but other times we get lucky, I mean real lucky!  There are so many different kinds of collectors out there and most of them, myself included, spend our time looking in long boxes while other collectors spend their time looking at wall books or getting signatures.  To each their own.  The fact of the matter is, you never know what you can find when digging in long boxes.  It’s that feeling of exhilaration that collectors get when they find that “one” which keeps them digging for more.  With many states operating under Phase II or Phase III guidelines, comic shops are slowly opening back up and subsequently small comic cons as well.  This article will highlight some recent finds I had when I attended a small comic con as well as show you what you may find as you dig in those longboxes too.  Welcome to the life of Comic Book Collector!

Dollar Bin Digging 101 

One piece of advice I like to reiterate to help you become successful in what we do. Try to remember as much of the comic book cover, character, or title as you can.  When it comes to rare or hard-to-find comic book covers that you hardly see regularly this is especially important.  The same holds true for any comic book, just remember as much as you can about the comic.  As a collector, you do not have time to check your phone every five minutes to make sure you have the right comic book.  There are phone apps that can help but go with your gut, and get the comic, after all, it’s only a $1!

The Key Finds   

So back to the Comic Con.  It is always good to meet up with fellow dealers and other collectors in the area at one of these shows.  After all, it’s been a long time since the last show.  The first set of comic books I found was a Coyote run of issues 11-13 by Epic Comics from 1985.  I got issue #12 just to get it but the money books are issue #11 – 1st interior art by Todd McFarlane and issue #13 – 1st cover art by Todd McFarlane, specifically with the image of Scorpio Rose.  A very hot comic last year during the CGC Todd McFarlane signings.  It has cooled down a little bit, but still a must-have for any McFarlane collector.  The set of issues #11 and #13 can fetch you in the neighborhood of $70, with issue #11 being the money book being $50 by itself.  Wow!

This next book has always been a hot book for collectors but Donny Cates's recent run with Thor has definitely added some value to it.  I found Ultimate Fantastic Four #22 in the dollar bin which is the 1st appearance of the Marvel Zombies.  Before it was maybe $10, but now, easy $20 plus comic book and if you can complete a set of Ultimate Fantastic Four 21-23 then you’re talking $40+ range.  Issues 21-23 is an important storyline of the Marvel Zombie as it tells the origin and has the cameo appearance of Marvel Zombies.  Great find.

Longshot #1 from the 1985 mini-series was another find I had at the Con for a dollar.  Longshot #1 features the 1st appearance of Longshot and Spiral.  The 1985 Longshot series is a six-issue mini-series that features a couple of 1st appearances.  I usually find one of the issues in the dollar bin here and there.  Issue #1 and issue #3 are probably the money books as they feature 1st appearances.  The set can go for $30-50 range depending on condition.  Awesome find.

Warrior Nun Areala #1 series from 1994 was a surprise find I had.  It features the 1st appearance of Warrior Nun Areala and Shotgun Mary.  The Netflix series has added popularity to this independent comic book series by Antarctic Press.  Depending on the condition, prices have sustained, looking online, you can see that this comic can go for $30 range easy.  Killer find.

Another amazing find at the Con was Batman #457 from 1990.  I see this comic book a lot in the dollar bin hoping it is the “one”.  If you are a hardcore collector you know what I am talking about.  It wasn’t.  I found a direct edition and a newsstand copy; not the ultra-rare 2nd printing newsstand edition which can fetch you $1k believe it or not.  What I found, the direct and regular newsstand can get you maybe $20.  But yes, the 2nd print newsstand is the one you want to find but it must have the UPC in the lower right corner and “New Robin Issue” at the top.  I had the UPC but not the title “New Robin Issue”.  Imagine finding a $500+ book in the dollar bin.  Oh, if you’re wondering, this issue is also the 1st appearance of Tim Drake as the new Robin.  So close yet so far!  

The Other Finds

Some comic books are just filler copies for a collector and not necessarily trade or sell material.  Almost the same gratification if you ask me when finding those comics that have been on your search list for months and now you have them.  These are those comics:

Thor #8 (2015) – pretty cool cover with Jane Foster as Thor.  It’s actually a key book as this is the first time Thor is revealed to be Jane Foster and that she is fighting late-stage cancer.  The character Jane Foster is expected to appear as Thor in the next upcoming Thor movie.  This was one of a few issues I was missing from the 2015 fun.  Nice copy too.

Star Wars Doctor Aphra #1-5 (2016) - 1st solo series featuring Doctor Aphra.  A hot comic book series if you ask me that features a hot character that is poised to make her Disney+ debut in the upcoming Mandolorian season 2.  A good comic book series to have to go along with her 1st appearance in Star Wars Darth Vader #8.  Big Star Wars fan here.

Thanos #15 2nd Print, #16 2nd print, and #18 1st print (2018) – I hardly see any of these Cosmic Ghost Rider issues in the dollar bin.  People are hoarding and waiting to see what Donny Cates does next with this character.  I couldn’t pass them up so I grabbed them and added them to the PC.  Fast Forward 2 years later and come to find out these particular issues are relevant again as #15 is the 1st cameo appearance of Silver Surfer as the Fallen One and #16 is the Origin of the Cosmic Ghost Rider but more importantly, the 1st full appearance of the Fallen One (Silver Surfer Black).  Go figure!

Time to Re-Bag and Board 

Another great experience at a small comic con.  I love going to these small cons versus the big ones sometimes.  This is just a snippet of what I found at the con, too much to talk about here.  As always, there are some amazing finds a collector can get in the dollar bins.  Not all comic book dealers have dollar bins but when you find someone that does it doesn’t hurt to see what they have.  Provided your back, knees, and fingers can handle it, you might be pleasantly surprised.  Above all else, try to have fun out there while digging and stay safe comic book collectors.   I see a few more small cons on the radar in the near-term future so stay tuned for the next installment of Dollar Bin Digging #3.  Enjoy the upcoming fall season and at the same time KEEP DIGGING IN THEM LONGBOXES!!!!

Please share your thoughts and comments you have about Dollar Bin Digging.  Are you a fan of Dollar Bin Digging or are you mostly a Comic-Con wall buyer?  What comic books have you found in the Dollar Bins lately?  Which comic books are you looking for in the Dollar Bins?  Which comic books are your all-time favorite finds in the Dollar Bin?  Please share your experience about Dollar Bin Digging and what are some of your favorite comic books to go on the hunt for.