A big loss from Journey into Mystery #85 left a crater in my budget this week, but there is a silver lining. How did your picks fare?

ASSESSING THE DAMAGE

Maybe this is wishful thinking on my part, but I don’t think the damage is as bad as it may first appear. Granted, my Loki first appearance somehow lost almost $900 on its FMV in a week. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that, and I have to play with the current numbers even if I disagree with the outcome. 

The silver lining is that all but one of my cheaper picks turned a profit this week, which helped offset the losses from Journey Into Mystery #85. Thor #372, the first appearance of the Time Variance Authority, turned out to be my biggest winner, gaining $250 in FMV over the course of a week. 

NEW ADDITIONS

Where I wish I could invest my fantasy dollars is in a Dark Reign: Young Avengers #1. The word on the internet is that Sylvie Lushton, the second Enchantress, is the Loki variant wreaking havoc on the Sacred Timeline in Loki. I imagine that will be confirmed in this week’s episode, and that will send prices through the roof. Unfortunately, I have to abide by my own rules and leave it off the picks because it does not have a current FMV. I’ll settle for a higher grade Journey into Mystery #103, which is the first appearance of Enchantress and an overall undervalued comic.

To make room for the Enchantress' first appearance, I need to part ways with both my Journey Into Mystery #85 and Thor #245

The good part is that it left me with plenty of room in the budget for some new additions to the investment picks. Overall, I’m putting my faith in Enchantress and her Silver Age debut, and I am still banking on Sub-Mariner #1 getting more expensive as we await official word to either confirm or deny the casting rumor.

Distributing the $$

Having the extra money to play with, I decided to put my money in a modern key, Something Is Killing the Children #1. For two years, this has been the talk of the collecting community, and it is one of several horror comics that have taken over the independent publishing scene. Virtually every cover of SIKTC #1 gets more expensive by the day, and I will try my hand at this hot comic. If it loses money in a week, you will know I have truly been cursed.

After spending $575 on a 9.6 SIKTC #1, I had enough left in the budget to invest in some Mobius keys. I predict he will be getting a bigger part and more backstory as Loki continues, and we just might see one of his clones, Alternity. With his potential in the hottest show in the world, I went with a 9.8 Fantastic Four #352 and a 9.6 Fantastic Four #353, which happen to be the first cameo and first full appearances of Mobius M. Mobius.

LAST WEEK’S PICKS:

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #85 (2.5)
LAST WEEK’S FMV: $2,900    CURRENT FMV: $2,050 (-$850)
SUB-MARINER #1 (6.5)
LAST WEEK’S FMV: $425     CURRENT FMV: $500 (+75)
THOR #372 (9.8)
LAST WEEK’S FMV: $350     CURRENT FMV: $600 (+$250)
THOR #1 2014 (9.8)
LAST WEEK’S FMV: $200     CURRENT FMV: $325 (+$125)
THOR #245 (9.8)
LAST WEEK’S FMV: $200     CURRENT FMV: $190 (-$10)
PREVIOUS BUDGET: $4,075
NEW BUDGET: $3,665 (-$410)

THE NEW PICKS

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #103 (8.5)
CURRENT FMV: $1,150

THOR #372 (9.8)
CURRENT FMV: $600

SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN #1 STANDARD EDITION (9.6)
CURRENT FMV: $575

SUB-MARINER #1 (6.5)
CURRENT FMV: $500

THOR #1 2014 (9.8)
CURRENT FMV: $325

FANTASTIC FOUR #353 (9.6)
CURRENT FMV: $290

FANTASTIC FOUR #352 (9.8)
CURRENT FMV: $200

TOTAL SPENT: $3,640

MEMBER PICKS:

comicbookcollect.wordpress.com:
Marvel Spotlight #32 (1977) 9.4 – $525/$475
DC Comics Presents #47 (1982) 7.5 – $120/$130
Sub-Mariner #1 (1968) 1.5 – $95/$120
Uncanny X-Men #120 (1979) 7.0 – $100/$100
Werewolf by Night #32 (1975) 6.5 – $2050/$2,500
G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #21 (1984) 9.6 – $550/$1,200
Venom vs. Carnage #1 (2004) 9.8 – $200/$170
Bitter Root #1 (2018) 9.8 – $140/$500
Strange Tales #159 (1967) 9.0 – $475/$
Journey into Mystery #85 (1962) 1.0 – $850/$650
—————————————
Total = $5,105
Profit = $1,215
Grand Total = $6,320

Ilya from OWC:
New Budget $7,930
Avengers #8 in 2.5 = $400/$400
Daredevil #1 in 3.0 = $2,200/$1,700
Green Lantern #48 in 9.8 = $120/$120
Suicide Squad #1 in 9.8 = $160/$160
Something is Killing the Children #1 in 9.8 = $675/$900
Hulk #1(Red Hulk) in 9.8 = $300/$450
Thor #337(newsstand) in 9.8 = $825/$850
Incredible Hulk #180 in 7.5 = $1,450/$1,500
DC Comics Presents #47 in 9.8 = $1,800/$1,850
—————————————
Total Spent = $7,930
Profit = $0
Grand Total = $7,930

Johnny Rich:
Journey into Mystery #103, 7.0 – $550/$550
Fantastic Four #353, 9.8 – $525/$575
Amazing Spider-Man #41, 6.0 – $625/$675
Avengers #8, 3.0 – $450/$450
Avengers #23, 8.5 – $290/$290
Fantastic Four Annual #6, 6.0 – $350/$625
Avengers #186, 9.6 – $500/$500
—————————————
Total: $3,290
Profit = $375
Grand Total = $3,665

JOIN THE GAME

Want to play? Follow the rules, and add your picks to the comments section.

  1. This is only for graded comics and their averages based on current values calculated by GoCollect.
  2. You can only buy one grade per comic, so no buying $3k’s worth of one hot book.
  3. Once you post your picks, they are locked until the following Sunday at midnight.
  4. You can have as many or as few comics as you like, as long as you don’t exceed the $3k budget.
  5. Only comics with a current GoCollect Fair Market Value can be used.
  6. Universal grades only; no CGC Signature Series or qualified grades.
  7. At the end of each week, the winner is determined by the biggest profit margin over the initial $3k budget. That will also determine your next week’s budget.
  8. Make moves. You have to sell at least one of your comics each week.
  9. Spend it or lose it. If you still have money left in your budget, it doesn’t carry over to the next round.