Indy's Market Watch

[Speed Racer]

Just some info for you SIKTC fans out there....

On the off chance that anyone hasn't heard the news, the upcoming Something is Killing the Children Deluxe Hardcover Slipcase Edition (which collects issues #1-15 for the first time in a hardcover format) will be severely allocated. Per the press release from Boom, they anticipated a certain number of copies would be needed and had to get that number to their printers overseas, but when the final orders came in, it exceeded it by 240%.

Target now show their pre-orders as sold-out, however Barnes and Noble, still have them up on their website for pre-order but I suspect they just have not removed the listings or waiting on their allocation to arrive before sending out the "your order was canceled due to an allocation" email to customers. Amazon removed it from their site a few weeks ago, Midtown shows sold-out, and Things from Another World removed it as well, after canceling any orders placed after June 14th and any orders placed before that date were allocated down to one copy per customer.

While there will be a standard hardcover, I think the die hard SIKTC fans will want the slipcase edition. The slipcase itself was originally stated to be exclusive to the first print run of the hardcover. Boom has come out and said they are going to offer another slipcase edition in an upcoming Previews catalog but it will be a different foil color but unsure if the hardcover book within will be first printings or if a second printing of the hardcover is inside the new slipcase edition, which won't be out until July 2022.

Update: Apparently comic book stores must have gotten in their allotment this week as they are up on eBay already. Sounds like the release date delay is for Target, B&N, Amazon, etc. was what was pushed to November 16th.

[DigsUT]

There seems to be a surge in the amount of issues Aero is in, especially today. Anyone have info on why?

[natbornkiller]

Originally Posted by digsut

there seems to be a surge in the amount of issues aero is in, especially today. Anyone have info on why?

guessing sheeple with kc app and think bry actually knows anything

[smanzari]

Originally Posted by DigsUT

There seems to be a surge in the amount of issues Aero is in, especially today. Anyone have info on why?

I think it’s Disney attempting to get Marvel more popular in eastern markets. She’s a pretty cool character too, have enjoyed the small amount of stuff I’ve read that she is in

[DigsUT]

Originally Posted by natbornkiller

guessing sheeple with kc app and think bry actually knows anything

I was hoping there was actually legit news that New Agents were coming to the MCU. I need all the Asian superheroes

[smanzari]

NVM - don't know how good the source was

[smanzari]

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[IndySportsCards]

FYI, CGC raising Prices AGAIN!

CGC Comic Book Grading Tiers and Services

Modern tier – fee changed to $24
Economy tier – fee changed to $35
Standard tier – fee changed to $80
Express tier – fee changed to $130

CGC Trading Cards Grading Tiers and Services

No changes

CGC Magazine Grading Tiers and Services

Modern tier – fee changed to $32
Economy tier – fee changed to $42
Standard tier – fee changed to $85
WalkThrough tier – fee changed to 3% of Fair Market Value ($150 minimum)

CGC Concert Poster Grading Tiers and Services

Modern tier – tier discontinued
Economy tier – fee changed to $42
Standard tier – fee changed to $85
Express tier – fee changed to $130
Handbills – Economy and Express tiers discontinued; fee changed to $35 for all handbill submissions

CGC Lobby Card Grading Tiers and Services

Grading – fee changed to $20 for all lobby card submissions
ReHolder – fee changed to $13

CGC Signature Series Comic Book Grading Tiers and Services

Modern tier – fee changed to $39
Economy tier – fee changed to $50
Standard tier – fee changed to $95
Express tier – fee changed to $145

CGC Signature Series Magazine Grading Tiers and Services

Modern tier – fee changed to $47
Economy tier – fee changed to $57
Standard tier – fee changed to $100

[MisterNatural]

I'm trying to figure out how rare this book is.
I'm a big Jim Rugg fan so I was on the hunt for Grrl Scouts Stone Ghost #2(1 in 25 Rugg variant) and it was very hard to find!
None of my local shops ordered enough to get it and the few online store listings were already sold out at a listing price of 30-50 range.
This book just came out last Wednesday and only 1 ebay sale/listing.
That's kind of crazy..

[IndySportsCards]

The Book of Boba Fett has officially released three episodes and there are plenty of new and old characters for Star Wars fans to love. Folks are especially enjoying the Wookie bounty hunter named Black Krrsantan, who first appeared in Darth Vader #1 seven years ago and was a fixture in the Doctor Aphra comic series.

Darth Vader #1 might see a rise

[IndySportsCards]

Noticeable slow down happening at CGC. Con season always seems to do this.

[Gallinator]

Originally Posted by IndySportsCards

Noticeable slow down happening at CGC. Con season always seems to do this.

Haven't they just been advertising (on FB) that they are catching up? I've been on the fence about submitting - for the very first time - and just hate the thought of a 6-9 month black hole. Can we trust the turnaround times they are posting or are they just a fabrication?

[IndySportsCards]

Originally Posted by Gallinator

Haven't they just been advertising (on FB) that they are catching up? I've been on the fence about submitting - for the very first time - and just hate the thought of a 6-9 month black hole. Can we trust the turnaround times they are posting or are they just a fabrication?

As long as I've been grading it's been a constantly changing variable. What they post on the website is merely a guide and is never 100% correct. Plus I've had orders graded out of turn, meaning orders that have been there for 2 months continue to sit while an order I just sent in gets graded and shipped back. Kinda like PSA, they say 1st in, 1st out, but that's not been my experience. They were lighting fast a few months ago, like two weeks on moderns, now we're moving close to 2 months. Convention season always adds time to grading wait times it seems.

[Comix Guy]

Originally Posted by Gallinator

Haven't they just been advertising (on FB) that they are catching up? I've been on the fence about submitting - for the very first time - and just hate the thought of a 6-9 month black hole. Can we trust the turnaround times they are posting or are they just a fabrication?

Just for grading I don't think they were ever 6-9 months. They are about 30-60 days.
If you are using their pressing service it is a different story. Then I could see the 6-9 months.

[IndySportsCards]

Originally Posted by Comix Guy

Just for grading I don't think they were ever 6-9 months. They are about 30-60 days.
If you are using their pressing service it is a different story. Then I could see the 6-9 months.

I did have magazine sized orders that took 13 months, with no pressing, but yeah, regular comics were 3-4 months max

[Gallinator]

Originally Posted by IndySportsCards

I did have magazine sized orders that took 13 months, with no pressing, but yeah, regular comics were 3-4 months max

Interesting and TY for the replies. I was getting the 6-9 month timeframe from ComicLink when I first inquired early last year and I could smell the downturn in the market coming so I held off. If it's only max 3-4 months that gives me a much better feeling about the timing.

While I'm at it, does anyone know if Heritage will front the grading costs like CL? I don't have anything crazy big but I am looking at submitting 200-300 comics over the next year or so.

[IndySportsCards]

Originally Posted by Gallinator

Interesting and TY for the replies. I was getting the 6-9 month timeframe from ComicLink when I first inquired early last year and I could smell the downturn in the market coming so I held off. If it's only max 3-4 months that gives me a much better feeling about the timing.

While I'm at it, does anyone know if Heritage will front the grading costs like CL? I don't have anything crazy big but I am looking at submitting 200-300 comics over the next year or so.

I've only worked with Heritage with graded comics, so I'm not sure.

[Comix Guy]

Originally Posted by Gallinator

Interesting and TY for the replies. I was getting the 6-9 month timeframe from ComicLink when I first inquired early last year and I could smell the downturn in the market coming so I held off. If it's only max 3-4 months that gives me a much better feeling about the timing.

While I'm at it, does anyone know if Heritage will front the grading costs like CL? I don't have anything crazy big but I am looking at submitting 200-300 comics over the next year or so.

I'm confused, you're going through ComicLink to get books graded? Why not just submit directly to CGC? That's why it's taking so long.

[itsbaytime]

Originally Posted by Comix Guy

I'm confused, you're going through ComicLink to get books graded? Why not just submit directly to CGC? That's why it's taking so long.

Yeah, agreed on that. I am getting my moderns in an out in less than a month and that includes the 2-3 weeks to open the packages. Magazines are taking a month-2 currently. I have a few vintage orders in and one is SFG and one is GEI. These books were all dropped off at Baltimore a few weeks ago.

[Gallinator]

Originally Posted by Comix Guy

I'm confused, you're going through ComicLink to get books graded? Why not just submit directly to CGC? That's why it's taking so long.

Sorry, I should have clarified. I'm looking to sell after grading, for the most part. ComicLink will front the costs of grading but they want to then auction 100% of the books. Originally I was hoping to sell most to cover the cost of grading and bring a few back home that I wanted to keep and maybe make a little money on the side. Now, I can wait on those I want to keep and have a few hundred I wouldn't mind just selling off after grading. Nothing big, lots of $100-$300 books.

I live in Phoenix, so Heritage is much closer (Beverly Hills) and I can drop off in person next time I go to L.A. but I haven't initiated contact with them yet to see if they even take items that small or if they will front the expense, etc. If I go with ComicLink, I have to mail off to Maine, bombproof the packaging, etc. Eventually I will be moving my higher-end stuff (low-grade Hulk 1, etc.) and want to start off doing a trial with smaller books to see how the process works.

I guess if I submit them myself I can then pick and choose which to keep and which to sell, but I don't really want to piecemeal it out and piss off my wife with the grading and shipping expenses up front LOL. Plus, I have zero interest in going back to selling on eBay as I have been out of it for many years. So they are eventually going to some vendor/service to sell anyway.

Any feedback is much appreciated...I'm just a long-time collector trying to maximize my return while keeping my true PC stuff intact and getting the best ones graded so if I keel over one day my wife will be able to move it!

[Comix Guy]

Originally Posted by Gallinator

Sorry, I should have clarified. I'm looking to sell after grading, for the most part. ComicLink will front the costs of grading but they want to then auction 100% of the books. Originally I was hoping to sell most to cover the cost of grading and bring a few back home that I wanted to keep and maybe make a little money on the side. Now, I can wait on those I want to keep and have a few hundred I wouldn't mind just selling off after grading. Nothing big, lots of $100-$300 books.

I live in Phoenix, so Heritage is much closer (Beverly Hills) and I can drop off in person next time I go to L.A. but I haven't initiated contact with them yet to see if they even take items that small or if they will front the expense, etc. If I go with ComicLink, I have to mail off to Maine, bombproof the packaging, etc. Eventually I will be moving my higher-end stuff (low-grade Hulk 1, etc.) and want to start off doing a trial with smaller books to see how the process works.

I guess if I submit them myself I can then pick and choose which to keep and which to sell, but I don't really want to piecemeal it out and piss off my wife with the grading and shipping expenses up front LOL. Plus, I have zero interest in going back to selling on eBay as I have been out of it for many years. So they are eventually going to some vendor/service to sell anyway.

Any feedback is much appreciated...I'm just a long-time collector trying to maximize my return while keeping my true PC stuff intact and getting the best ones graded so if I keel over one day my wife will be able to move it!

Sounds like you are investing to me. ROI
But hey, not my wife.

[Gallinator]

Originally Posted by Comix Guy

Sounds like you are investing to me. ROI
But hey, not my wife.

Yeah, she'll definitely feel differently once the returns come in. Trying to find that happy medium between effort, efficiency and cost. I guess I'll give Heritage a call and see if anyone wants to deal with it. ComicLink if not.

[Speed Racer]

Originally Posted by Gallinator

Sorry, I should have clarified. I'm looking to sell after grading, for the most part. ComicLink will front the costs of grading but they want to then auction 100% of the books. Originally I was hoping to sell most to cover the cost of grading and bring a few back home that I wanted to keep and maybe make a little money on the side. Now, I can wait on those I want to keep and have a few hundred I wouldn't mind just selling off after grading. Nothing big, lots of $100-$300 books.

I live in Phoenix, so Heritage is much closer (Beverly Hills) and I can drop off in person next time I go to L.A. but I haven't initiated contact with them yet to see if they even take items that small or if they will front the expense, etc. If I go with ComicLink, I have to mail off to Maine, bombproof the packaging, etc. Eventually I will be moving my higher-end stuff (low-grade Hulk 1, etc.) and want to start off doing a trial with smaller books to see how the process works.

I guess if I submit them myself I can then pick and choose which to keep and which to sell, but I don't really want to piecemeal it out and piss off my wife with the grading and shipping expenses up front LOL. Plus, I have zero interest in going back to selling on eBay as I have been out of it for many years. So they are eventually going to some vendor/service to sell anyway.

Any feedback is much appreciated...I'm just a long-time collector trying to maximize my return while keeping my true PC stuff intact and getting the best ones graded so if I keel over one day my wife will be able to move it!

Just my two cents but I would make sure what you are sending in to be graded is worth the time to do just that. I see people get books graded only to sell for less than the cost of grading which makes zero sense. I, of course, have no idea what your collection consists of and in no way saying what you have isn't worth the time but some pre-grading research could result in you saving some money by not having certain books graded.

I would recommend getting the books cleaned/pressed before grading. Any signed books that were not witnessed you would want to deal with CBCS (a company I once was proud to submit books too but I have a list of problems with them and their customer service is horrid). They at least offer signature verification, at a price though, where CGC doesn't. If its all unsigned books, I think many would agree, CGC is the better route, as they still command more over CBCS (although there was a time when the gap was quite close between the two). Sending them in yourself as you mentioned would alow you to keep what you want, etc. ComicLink, etc are big operations and I have to assume they require big fees/commissions. When I sell, which is a grain of sand compared to those places, I deal with it myself via eBay, but at the same time can understand if you wanted to skip that experience.

Good luck with everything, hopefully it all turns out for the best!

[Gallinator]

Originally Posted by Speed Racer

Just my two cents but I would make sure what you are sending in to be graded is worth the time to do just that. I see people get books graded only to sell for less than the cost of grading which makes zero sense. I, of course, have no idea what your collection consists of and in no way saying what you have isn't worth the time but some pre-grading research could result in you saving some money by not having certain books graded.

I would recommend getting the books cleaned/pressed before grading. Any signed books that were not witnessed you would want to deal with CBCS (a company I once was proud to submit books too but I have a list of problems with them and their customer service is horrid). They at least offer signature verification, at a price though, where CGC doesn't. If its all unsigned books, I think many would agree, CGC is the better route, as they still command more over CBCS (although there was a time when the gap was quite close between the two). Sending them in yourself as you mentioned would alow you to keep what you want, etc. ComicLink, etc are big operations and I have to assume they require big fees/commissions. When I sell, which is a grain of sand compared to those places, I deal with it myself via eBay, but at the same time can understand if you wanted to skip that experience.

Good luck with everything, hopefully it all turns out for the best!

Solid advice, thanks! I subscribe to gocollect and hopefully their data is relatively accurate. The bulk of the books would be $25-$50 raw with high enough expected grade to put them in the $100-$200 range and hopefully I'll get a few 9.8's in there to spice things up.

I'm kind of morally opposed to paying someone to clean and press (especially if it involves dismantling and reassembly) - still feels like restoration to me - but I understand if people want to do that. I've never really even cared for slabbing that much, with only a handful of them in my collection; however it seems that if you're going to sell keys, then it would be foolish not to slab. Definitely going CGC. My only autos are an ASM 300 signed by the Toddler and a couple of Stan, but I'll probably either sell those last or be buried with them LOL.

Cheers!

[finfangfan]

So what are everyone’s thoughts on the state of the current comic book market?