Elon Musk is my favorite superhero.  He is the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Tony Stark here in our universe.   The best part is that he is also a comic book fan. He inspired me to try to apply his investment ability to a comic book investors' desire to succeed in the comic book marketplace.Those books taught him to see the light in the darkness.  True artists see the statue in a block of marble and only have to chip away the excess to reveal the hidden masterpiece.  Elon Musk has the ability to see the construct in the darkness and bring it into the light.  I have read articles about him and was fascinated with his recent Twitter business dealings.  He read comic books as a way to escape reality, and yet it is in those comic books where he probably found the foundation to his success.

1. "So What's Your Super Power?" (Batman)

Beyond the Money

I loved Ben Afflecks' reply in the Justice League about his superpower. "I'm rich."  Most people assume that Bruce Wayne is successful as both Batman and Bruce Wayne because of his socioeconomic status.  His wealth has advantages, but it took something more to make him successful. The ability to plan and maximize the resources at their disposal in a particular situation is what makes both Batman and Elon Musk formidable.

Elon Musk's attempted Twitter acquisition demonstrated the duality that exists in the crime fighter Batman and the playboy Bruce Wayne.  Elon was very critical of Twitter while at the same time acquiring shares in the company.  This duality is what he needs to achieve his goal.  He has enough money that obtaining his shares was not impossible, as it is for many. What was remarkable was the stealth needed to acquire his stock during the information era. His mind saw what he wanted to accomplish and his planning put him on the path to success in making his goal a reality. This planning may have saved him billions of dollars.

Comic Book Investor's Translation

You will never be able to match Elon Musk dollar for dollar.  That is not what is important. What you have to take from his Twitter acquisition is the planning that went into the feat.  He understood the rules of the game and bought his shares according to his plan.  Most comic book investors have no plan. What books should you target and why? Is a book being bought as a short or long-term investment?  What is the price point that you need in order to get the asset and then what will you do once you obtain it?

Most people do not plan to fail.  Instead, they fail to plan.  Set limits on your targets at auctions and make sure to follow them.  Do not extend yourself beyond those figures because that could impact your future plans.  Batman may be only a man, but his driven desire to achieve his goal would make even Superman bleed.  Set your goals and dream of how to make them happen.

2. "I went forward in time to view alternate futures. To see all the possible outcomes of the coming conflict."  (Dr. Strange)

Many Opportunities

Elon Musk's attempted Twitter acquisition was a brilliant pivot by an entrepreneur who has many irons in the fire.  He was purchasing Twitter stock at the same time he was positioning his satellites to provide communications for citizens and government officials in Ukraine, sending rockets to space, managing a car company, and handling many other affairs.

Elon Musk also has the ability to take something known and make it even better.  Twitter is a known commodity, but Elon sees the chance for it to be even greater.  He has also ignored critics and followed his own path.  He has had failures, but there have been more successes.  Dr. Strange saw fourteen million six hundred and five different futures in order to find his one success.  Luckily, Elon Musk did not have to see all those futures.  That has not stopped him from looking into the darkness and seeing more than one point of light.  I believe comic book investors should do the same.

Comic Book Investor's Translation

Comic book investors should seek success beyond the one-track MCU, DCEU, and television-driven books that are dominating the landscape.  Elon Musks' talent is to see opportunities beyond what is in front of him.  The same opportunities are available to comic book investors.

Have you looked into what is out there in Bronze Age horror books?  Silver Age war books are in demand and yet only a small group of die-hard fans seems to appreciate these books for both investment and collectability.

In addition, if you attend live auctions you should familiarize yourself with the very bare minimum basics of other collectibles.  You may be passing on items that may be more desirable than what you thought was your best chance for success.

3. “He just kicked your ass, full-size. You really want to find out what it's like when you can't see him coming?” (Howard Stark on Ant-Man)

Does he own a Stealth Suit?

Elon Musk's Twitter purchase didn't come out of nowhere, but his planning allowed it to appear that way.  As a result, he saved millions.  He studied his moves and planned for possible outcomes, but what was amazing again was the stealth of the acquisition.  This man is Elon Musk.  He has millions of Twitter followers hanging on his every word.  People follow his planes.  In a world where people can track his every movement, no one saw this coming.

Comic Book Investor's Translation

"The hottest books in the market right now are".... We have all found those articles on sites, but do you think you were the only person who read that article?  The prices go up because everyone is gravitating to those books.  Study the numbers and people's patterns instead of following the hype.

Elon Musk is successful because, in business, he puts his efforts into research and taking advantage of opportunities.  You are ahead of the curve by studying the GoCollect sales data.  You can see what books may be overpriced and what books are undervalued. This will allow you to move where others are not and take advantage of those "blue sea" books that offer the greatest chance for success.

The only time people should see you coming is when you want them to see you. Dealers love when books are in demand because sale prices will be at a premium.  Instead, find those books that still are worthy of investment but are not on fire.  These books will allow you to scoop in and get a deal rather than pay that premium price because the book is in demand.

Finally, the most important rule you should also remember is to walk away from a bad deal.  Elon Musk would not accept a bad deal, so why should you?

Conclusion

Reading served as probably the greatest tool that made Elon Musk.  I would love to know what comic books he read and what books he now owns.  That said, I believe we can all learn from Elon Musk and translate his business acumen to assist you in your comic book investment.  The lessons he learned from comic books assisted him in the business world.  Why, then, should the tactics he uses in his business dealings not translate into the comic book marketplace?  Children dream of being Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man when they grow up, so why can't adults dream of being the Elon Musk of comic book investors?

Oh, and Elon, if you are reading this please share with us your prized comic book in your collection.  I would love to know what book the little boy who was kicked out of stores for reading comic books purchased as an adult.

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent investment advice on behalf of GoCollect.