Comic Book Steals Do Exist!
The GoCollect writing team spends hours researching the data to uncover undervalued books. Articles are then produced to reveal what the data indicated. Sometimes these are not "hot" books that the masses are searching for in the market. These books are, for the most part, ignored by the community because their sights are set elsewhere.
The problem is that these books will only stay off the radar for so long. Once they become known, it might be too late. Collectors will then overpay on a target book and investors will not see as good a return on investment. There are tricks hobbyists use to stay ahead of the market.
I will review two of mine right now.
Trick #1... Read more than just comic book articles
Many of the GoCollect articles are not specifically written on comics. This has resulted in a more expansive scope of articles. This means writers have increased their bases of research. Entertainment trades are a great way to help collectors and investors target books BEFORE THEY ARE ANNOUNCED. Targeting Scarlet Witch and Vision keys after Wandavision was announced is a day too late.
Once any announcements are made, everyone has the inside scoop. As a result, most of the keys that are of any significance will be on people's radars. This will drive up the prices of those keys. Most comic book sites then will recommend ancillary minor keys in hopes of benefiting from the news. This is the wrong approach. The key is to see patterns that others ignore.
Example
Blade was announced a while back. This meant a horror element was coming to the MCU. Most people were hitting on all Blade keys. The entertainment trades also revealed that the MCU was looking to be more inclusive in their roles. Fans took all that information and still flocked to Blade. In contrast, I saw that Elsa Bloodstone's first appearance should be on everyone's target list.
A female monster hunter might appeal to the MCU brass to be more diverse in their roles. She was the starting point that then made me research where I should go next with other target books. As a result, I then recommended Marvel Presents #1, which had the first appearance of her father. The hypothesis was that he could play a key part in her origin story. Well, apparently both characters will be appearing in the MCU's Werewolf by Night.
Bloodstone #1 was undervalued, but Marvel Presents #1 was really undervalued because a 9.8 copy could be picked up for $250 at that time. The 30-day average for that book on October 2 is now $1000. The signs were there if one only looked for them.
Future Target
I love Star Wars: Tag & Bink are Dead #1. This issue contains the first appearances of Tag and Bink. On October 2, the 90-day average for a 9.8 copy is $72. If one subtracts the price for grading it can be seen that this book is very inexpensive. Raw copies could be still found for pennies on the dollar. A cheap first appearance of any Star Wars character is always a nice purchase. Then you read Christian Bale's comments in the Hollywood Reporter and it makes you wonder if now is the right time to get that book.
Read the Christian Bale interview and you will find out he wanted to play the Stormtrooper who hit his head on the beam in Star Wars. He truly understands the Star Wars universe and expressed interest in playing an unconventional character. He also mentions he knows the person who is running the Star Wars universe. Connections like that could lead him into the role of one of the bumbling Star Wars characters who have had a hand in many iconic scenes and events.
This would also allow Christian Bale to show his comedic chops in a way rarely allowed in his previous films. That makes me like Star Wars: Tag & Bink are Dead #1. These books are very cheap, but if these characters appear on any screen they will not be so for very long.
Trick #2... See patterns in media projects
The MCU was created in phases. Movies and Television shows were released in such a way as to telegraph where the stories were going. Each film released had a key Avengers character in it. That was easy. Lately though, we have seen a similar pattern in the Disney+ releases and announcements.
Marvel is using characters with more of a street-based feel. Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Echo, and even the Thunderbolts announcement all had characters that lacked the gravitas of the Avengers' power hitters. A pattern exists if you look for it and those announcements made one see where the MCU was going with its projects.
The problem is that many people want to see the tree and not the whole forest. Film and TV announcements cause a specific hero/villain to rise in value. Again, that is too late to prevent collectors and investors from paying a premium like everyone else. The best trick is to step back and extrapolate the data to see the tapestry that is being created. Seeing the bigger picture then will let people possibly fill in some of the gaps not yet announced.
Example
Marvel properties that were being announced revealed stories that required lower-level villains. These villains still had to be formidable to cause the heroes problems. The Kingpin's first appearance and other major keys are beyond the reach of many collectors and investors. He was also already used in some shows so the MCU needed to expand its bullpen. One character that seemed to be involved in many major comic book storylines as a second-tier criminal mastermind with powers was the Hood.
I saw very few CGC copies graded at very affordable prices two years ago. As a result, I recommended investors and collectors buy The Hood #1 two years ago in an article. It was a book I saw could fit into the tapestry of where the MCU's Disney+ properties were headed. The patterns were there for all to see, but not many took advantage of that opportunity. The Hood is now rumored to appear in the Ironheart project. He is a character that can cause the heroine problems but still not break the bank in production costs.
Future Target
Clea was introduced recently to further bolster the magical corner of the MCU. Most people see powerful magicians coming into the MCU in the future. This presence along with a family member appearance led to Brother Voodoo keys heating up. He is, in fact, a Sorcerer Supreme in the Marvel Comics universe. There is also the aforementioned horror element coming in the MCU. Magic and horror seem the new focus of the MCU. That is why I like the first appearance of Devil Slayer in Marvel Spotlight #33.
The character apparently may have already appeared on television on the BYU-TV network. Regardless, the existence of a character in one project may not preclude him from appearing in more mainstream MCU properties like Daredevil and Kingpin. Devil Slayer also has a reputation to blur the line between hero and villain that plays well in cinema. The factor is that he again is a formidable character that can be shown in their full glory while keeping post-production costs low.
This issue also marks the last of the Marvel Spotlight series that introduced such characters as Red Wolf, Werewolf by Night, Ghost Rider, Spider-Woman, and the first solo Moon Knight story. A 9.6 copy of Marvel Spotlight #33 will cost less than $200 as this article is written. The first appearance in a comic book that is 45 years old and the last issue of a historic title run should not be this low. Finally, you add the MCU potential to truly create an undervalued book to target while the cost is down.
Let the games Begin.....or the contest requirements
Some secrets and picks were revealed. Now, it is your turn. In order to be eligible for the prize all you have to do is submit a comic book that you believe is undervalued and the reason why, here in the GoCollect comment section. No lengthy explanation is required. Three weeks after the article is published, all the names of people who submitted a recommendation will be placed into a hat and the winner chosen. I will then contact the winner so that I can mail them the prize. It is that simple. I look forward to seeing what other books people are targeting as undervalued and the reason why. Good luck everyone!
Want more insight from Joe?
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DIFFERENT WAYS TO SELL COMIC BOOKS AND COLLECTIBLES: PART ONE
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SEPTEMBER COMIC BOOK MARKET OBSERVATIONS
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CONTROVERSIAL COMIC COVERS: TO COLLECT OR NOT TO COLLECT?
