As I sat here reviewing the GoCollect articles I realize something has been missing from the site. What shocked me is during this time of year I never thought this could be possible. Where are the horror comic book articles?
Knowing The Market Can Produce Monster Deals!
Every time anyone mentions comic books the first thing that comes to mind is superheroes. The fact is that there are many different niches and segments of the market that are untapped. One of those areas is in the horror comic book market. This market has passionate investors and collectors and is a segment that investors should not ignore. Remember scarcity can drive up prices if something is in demand. Well, horror comic books are always scarce and when one wants quality then FMV is all but forgotten. I have seen raw books sell for many times what a graded book was listed at during live auctions when other mainstream books are going for around the FMV. This market attracts non-comic book fans whose interest in the horror genre is their passion. Here are some of my choices for books that you may want to into if you have the guts!!
Let's Cut Right to the Chase!!!! (Entry Level)
For the entry-level horror investor/collector may I recommend not running away like a teen from Jason vs Leatherface #1 (1995). Not one but two horror cinema icons doing battle in a classic cover by Simon Bisley. I once could find these books in the dollar bins of many stores. The reason was that they were produced by Topps, better known for their sports card products. During this time the company sought to purchase licensed products in an attempt to bolster their profile. The books had their following and the choice of Nancy Collins as a writer made the stories interesting. The problem was the book was produced by a baseball card company!!!! Sales were low when introduced, but fans of Bisley, Jason, and Leatherface love this book. The census is low for a book introduced during the 1990s but you can still find it at a good price. Once a dollar bin find, this book is hot and only should get hotter with time.
Familiar Names Casts their Spell (Medium Level)
In the Bronze Age DC had continued their line of horror comics and one of my recent favorite finds was The Witching Hour #1 (1969). I love the cover with a witch perched like a bird of prey waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting individual. Some of the names involved with this book read like a who's who of comics: Neal Adams, Nick Cardy, Alex Toth, and more. There may be more expensive books to invest in involving these greats but to have them all in a horror comic book that has such a great FMV for even a 9.8 shocks me. The book also has a relatively low census population with most of the books being graded 8.0 and above. Other issues may also be a great buy in this series but for me, it is safer to go with the first issue of this title.
Do Not Lose Your Head!!! ($$ Level)
How could I not pick the most famous horror comic cover known to collectors? For those not in the know, Crime SuspenStories #22 was the issue that was used in a Senate Committee meeting to discuss the effect comics had on young readers' fragile minds. This was the book that caused the creation of the Comics Code Authority to protect the youth from growing up to be criminals. This is one of the few comic books that has become iconic for even non-comic book fans.
I have seen these books come up at auctions and while they do sell at a premium over FMV, surprisingly these books do not go over multiple times guide prices. This book maintains its value and should be considered a blue-chip book to purchase and hold based upon the historical significance alone. What amazes me is that what was thought to be such a horrendous image seems so tame in today's era of comic books.
EXTRA TREAT (RARE)
This is one of the books that I consider my Holy Grail of comics. I have seen all the books previously mentioned and even was a bidder on them at auctions. The one book I have yet to find is Fiction House's Ghost Comics #6 (1953). I love to attend live auctions and see the books I am bidding on because there is something about reviewing a book in person, but for this book, I would make an exception and bid on it from pictures. Clean cut lines and a subtle villain with a damsel in a red dress shackled to the floor. I thought this cover had it all and then if you look to the right you see what appears to be a giant spider or evil face looking from the web in the darkness. For the horror fan, this cover has it all! If you see this book buy it!! The census population is low and the book is beautiful. If you truly want a treat this should be the book for you.
Trick and Treat
The horror market should not be an area you avoid. Buyers extend beyond comic book fans and appeal to a wide range of audiences. Yes, their numbers may be less than the superhero market but we have all seen how fans devoured the Walking Dead books. There is a demand for these books and these people have a passion for the horror genre. Do your own research and find out books that you believe in and then get ready for the fun. Remember, do not be afraid and take a bite out of the horror comic book market because instead of seeing blood red you will see a different color...green!
