California Comic Convention in Orange County passed this past Sunday. As Deanpool and his friends prep for San Diego Comic-Con, they decided to go to this smaller convention to see what it had to offer. It was actually located in a small community center in Yorba Linda with no more than about 15-20 booths/vendors. Wasn't a bad convention. A lot of rare comics there (There was a Showcase #4 sighting!), but nothing more than that. Deanpool and his friends felt surrounded by many "seasoned" collectors (that's one way to put it, they were all old!). No dressing up or cosplay, just good ol' comics. Most of the sellers were ones Deanpool recognized from other local conventions and as usual, most were very nice and open to bargaining. There were raffles as well, but Deanpool wasn't particularly all that interested in what the prizes were. He simply went in, bought what he wanted, and got out.
These smaller conventions are a nice change of pace than going to the same stores over and over again, and a great way to get a feel for the comic reading/collecting community. If anything, it's practically comic-porn (but not like that) when seeing classic issues like Amazing Fantasy, Giant Sized X-Men, Fantastic Four or Golden Age classics like All-American Comics, Detective Comics, and more! It really is amazing seeing so many popular, high value, and rare comics all in one place, and a bit overwhelming at times. And like mentioned earlier, it's a nice way to prepare, or at least know what to expect, for the bigger comic conventions. Remember, Comic-Con is a full contact sport! Look up the next time a comic convention comes up near you and find some great comics for yourself!
NM value- 50.00
Bought for- 5.00
Deanpool is a huge Star Wars fan. His collection of Marvel Comics' run of Star Wars originally started just with him picking up issue #68, the one with Boba Fett on the cover. Then he started picking up a couple more wherever he could: $1 sections, comic conventions, etc. With only 107 issues in the series, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch for Deanpool to attempt to collect them all. Though he's still on a search for a good-priced #1 issue of Star Wars, this issue #3 is the lowest issue Deanpool now has in his collection. And at a low price too, originally $10 but Deanpool got it %50 off. It may not be a Near Mint grade, but it still looks like it's in good condition and could easily be flipped for a good price.
Iron Man #131
NM value- 10.00
Bought for- 4.00
Don't be fooled by the price on the sticker. Deanpool got it %50 off. Another reason Deanpool enjoys going to these smaller type of conventions. If it's not a key/popular issue, you're likely to find a lot of older comics for good deals. This issue is the first of a two-issue story arc, "Hulk is where the heart is." Deanpool has already found issue #132, and has been looking for #131 ever since. Deanpool is an avid Iron Man reader (might be the most comics of one character that he has), and is particularly fond of this Iron Man series. Seeing a crossover with the Hulk and Iron Man was a no-brainer.
Avengers #58NM value- 300.00
Bought for- 12.00
Origin of Vision/first full appearance of Vision. Vision should get a Hero Spotlight from Deanpool soon. He's an android built by Ultron (another robot) for use against Ultron's creator, the original Ant-Man. But later on, he goes on to join the Avengers. While the first cameo/appearance of Vision in Avengers #57 goes for almost double the amount of this one, Deanpool still sees it as a key issue worth getting. Especially if you can get it for $12 (again it was %50 off). Not the best condition for this issue, the picture shown is the actual issue picked up: the cover is a bit faded, some of the corners are a little bent, the spine has some wear and Deanpool hasn't looked inside yet but looks pretty good overall. Maybe a 6.0 or Fine condition. But who knows? Maybe Vision will make a movie appearance since Ultron is, and this issue's value will go up regardless of condition!
Flash #148
NM value- 240.00
Bought for- 16.00
Don't think there has ever been a "haul" where Deanpool did not get a Flash issue. But this Silver Age, 12 cent beauty was a nice purchase for $16 (%50 the sticker price). If you can't tell by the background of this blog, The Flash is Deanpool's favorite comic hero. Barry Allen as Flash to be specific. His Silver Age run isn't easy to come by for cheap, but then again who's Silver Age run is any different right? Reverse Flash is perhaps Barry's most dangerous foe, though not necessarily the most well-known. Having powers similar to that of The Flash after recreating the accident that gave Barry his powers, he is Deanpool's favorite Flash villain. Professor Zoom aka Reverse Flash's first appearance came in The Flash #139 (missed it by 8 issues), but most covers featuring the two speedsters are irresistible to Deanpool. This one especially, as it shows many similarities to the classic The Flash #123, "Flash of Two Worlds". The bag that the issue is in can be a bit deceiving in the photo, but the main factor in it's condition is the wear on the spine, especially near the staple. The color on the cover still looks great with generally white pages. But let's be real, Deanpool wasn't going to pass up this comic.
Uncanny X-Men #142
NM value- 120.00 (even higher if in even better condition)
Bought for- 35.00
Part 2 of "Days of Future Past." Probably one of the top 10 books to watch this year for comic collectors. With the new X-Men movie this year being titled/based off the "Days of Future Past" story arc, both this issue and #141 have been rising in value. And depending on how the movie goes, it still has potential to go up even more. It's hard to judge whether one will be worth more than the other, but at the moment both can be found for similar prices- anywhere from $80-120, EACH. Deanpool was lucky to get his hands on one for so cheap... again %50 off. Hard to tell if there's anything outwardly wrong with the condition... For an originally priced $70 comic, it better still be in pretty good condition. Not sure if Deanpool will even read this issue since he got the Days of Future Past trade paperback, but maybe open it to check the conditions of the interior as well. Now time to find a nice Uncanny X-Men 141.
Justice League #1
NM value- 20.00 (has been more at times)
Bought for- 12.00
This haul actually features some modern, New 52 comics that Deanpool has been interested in. He only started collecting the Justice League issues at #10 and has been trying to collect the rest of the ones that he's missed ever since. Since the series started in 2011, finding a #1 issue hasn't been easy. Finding the first issue for lower than $20 hasn't been particularly easy either. Deanpool even recalls seeing it for as much as $40 in some comic shops, but the site that we're using for comic values prices it to be worth about $20. But none of that matters, as soon as the seller said $12 Deanpool jumped at the deal. In fact, this issue wasn't even out on the table. Deanpool was considering buying the Batgirl #1 below, when the seller asked if he was interested in any other first issues from New 52. Good move seller. It's one of DC's most popular current on-going series and it may be the blueprint for the future Justice League movie if they decide to use this cast and origin for their production. It's essentially the basis for the DC animated movie, Justice League: War. And DC has typically used storylines that have already been well-received by fans to adapt into animated films. It's a refresh to the team's origin and story and perfect for new readers to jump into. So it's safe to say this issue is worth adding to one's collection. Rarity- despite releasing in 2011, it's not the most attainable book today at your average comic store. Marketable- people love team-ups, especially one featuring DC's favorite heroes, and it could go up with anticipation of the Justice League movie. Condition- only being around for a little more than 2 years now, New 52 first issues shouldn't be in terrible conditions.
Batgirl #1
NM value- 15.00
Bought for- 15.00
Another New 52 #1. Most titles from the Bat family have at one point crossed over into the Batman series. These small appearances are enough to get Deanpool interested in their comic series as well (which is probably all part of the publisher's evil plan). He already went back and collected each of the Robin's first issues in the New 52 (Nightwing, Red Hood, Teen Titans (Red Robin), Batman and Robin), why not add Batgirl as well? Plus, it's the return of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl (after being Oracle for so long)! While some comic price guides may price this issue at $8-10, it's not the most accessible comic either. Deanpool recalls seeing it for as much as $20-25, so finding it for $15 was good enough for him. One of the first comics released with the New 52 relaunch, it came out in 2011. But like Justice League #1 above, it may not still be on the shelves or in the boxes at your local comic store. Deanpool may also have a secret incentive to get most of the New 52 #1 issues from 2011. He's doing pretty good too: Batman, Detective Comics, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Action Comics, Superman, The Flash, Aquaman, Nightwing, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Teen Titans, Batman and Robin, and the recently added Justice League and Batgirl. That could make it a justified choice.
Batman #5
NM value- 18.00
Bought for- 16.00
That stupid sticker where the price was ruins the picture, but it's okay it's just on the bag. This issue is part of the popular "Court of Owls" run, the first story arc from the New 52 Batman series. Deanpool loved this story and has it made it a goal to collect the individual issues after reading the story through trade paperback. It started with Deanpool getting the first issue of the series, which modern comic collectors would know is no easy task (at the moment going for $60-80). Then he got the second, then the Jim Lee variant of the second, then the sixth, then the third. Strange order, but this story arc is still gaining popularity two years later and seller's prices are rising rather than dipping. It doesn't help that the Batman series has been doing great and continuing its success in the stories that followed "Court of Owls" with "City of Owls," "Death in the Family," and "Zero Year."Now Deanpool is only missing #4 and #7 to complete his "Court of Owls" collection.
Captain Marvel #50 & #53
NM value- 14.00 (#50) & 14.00 (#53)
Bought for- 3.00 (#50) & 3.00 (#53)
Why bother pricing something for some dollars AND fifty cents? Who's going to be carrying around loose change in their pockets at these conventions? Luckily, most vendors/sellers are nice enough to round down. These Captain Marvel pick ups are a classic example of the mistake Deanpool makes at almost every convention. He tells himself he'll hold out on buying anything until he sees what each seller/booth has to offer, then when he sees a must-get issue at one of the booths (these two were bought with the Iron Man issue above, it was the "must-get" issue) he gets lulled into buying more comics from that booth too. Though they'll typically be comics that aren't as important, but more like fun issues to pick up and add on to what he'll already buy. Deanpool's interest has been growing in Captain Marvel ever since his post on Shazam. He saw the #50 issue as a fun issue to get that can help him gauge if he wants to continue picking up issues from this series. It also helped that it looks like it'll feature the Avengers too. With the two issues being so close in number, you can guess that he saw this #53 soon after grabbing #50. No secret that Deanpool is a fan of Black Bolt, so to see these Black Bolt and Captain Marvel on one cover lured him into picking it up as well. Plus they were %50 off. What's the risk in picking up two cool covers for $6? Most of Marvel's comic series from the 70's feature some awesome covers that Deanpool really has a soft spot for. And they're in okay condition (FN, 7.0) for $3 each. Definitely adds even more diversity to Deanpool's growing collection.
The "steal" of this haul is easily the Uncanny X-Men #142. Comics in from these hauls won't always be key issues, but you can always expect to see some really interesting comics in these "Comic Hauls" posts. These posts may not be as frequent though, Deanpool doesn't splurge on comics as much as he did when he first started collecting. Old comic hauls may be revisited though from before this blog was started. Deanpool has a pretty good memory of where and when his comics were bought. They may be old school, they may be new school but it's a chance to pick at Deanpool's brain and his process in selecting what comics to get. Or perhaps interest you in getting some issues for yourself. Think about this, if you add up all the NM values of this haul it's about $800, but Deanpool only spent about $120... yet he could probably flip this whole haul for more than double what he spent! #Com-Economics. But Deanpool is not likely to sell anytime soon. Thanks for reading!
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| Batgirl is happy to be added to Deanpool's comic collection. |
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