As someone who has lived through the last 3 recession I can tell you when people don't have jobs, food or money they will sell everything even their collection for what the buyers want. The last few months the I have seen CGC Blue labels dropping 20% - 25%, Green and Purple are almost half, all my pickups of keys were in those ranges. I full expect the prices to drop further as the economy gets worse, and I will be buying hand over fist...
@illuminati Comics If 62 is young then I'm doing it wrong. It amazes me how you can read what I stated and come up with your own narrative, at no time did I say anything about (all people) being unemployed, no but I referenced when people don't have jobs...etc... that they'll do what it takes to survive (like sell their collections. If you believe what the Democrats are selling you with unemployment then I have a bridge to sell you to Asgard...
@illuminati Comics Pansy by what metric? The bank losses alone have already outpaced 2008. This is a different kind of recession, and it's probably only getting started. Even if unemployment numbers are legit, the cost of basic needs have shot up in my city, reducing the buying power of what I earn. If history is any indication, the unemployment numbers are on the verge of turning... so let's see where it's at after the 2024 election.
@@goldeneastgun You might want to take a look at bank assets vs failures in comparison to 2008…. Just need an increase of 2200+% to meet the peak bank failure of the 2008 recession.
@@robertt9342 That's what happens when you speed up the money printer. But ask yourself this... who has most of that and how does it compare to your current buying power? Let's see where we are after the Fed pulls the money back out of the system. We're only getting started...
@@thousandaireradio3199 Yeah, but the rain is ruining these comics even though there bagged.... Now I'm in the red! I'll get u for this Swaggleman ! rahh!!!!
Personally, as a selfish comic hoarding collector 😅 I like the prices coming down. If I was trying to sell comics from my collection, I would absolutely hope for higher prices. But i want a few deals when I can get them.
The “dance” between buyers and sellers is definitely a great way to describe the current market on pretty much all platforms; I’m stealing that! See you at Terrificon, my dude!
The Market is softening...and I love it. I can now go out and pick-up FF#48, Giant-Size X-men #1, ASM Annual#1 etc which I could not afford to a year ago. I just bought these three, and now have my sites on ASM#14, Ghost Rider#1 and Batman#171. I know that these will at least hold their values in the long run because they are all big keys. I intend to pass my collection on to my only son, hoping that he will appreciate his old man for doing so. I never considered value when I was collecting all these years...but now, I only buy big keys because my goal is to transfer something cool with value to my kid.
There are a core of us comic collectors who collect comics, not just for the value, but because we like comics. I collect comics because I like them. The value is nice, but I'd buy them anyway.
That's fine, but lets see how many collectors are left when comics hit $10 a pop. It takes disposable income to fuel this hobby, and if you don't sell to help offset the high cost, it's all coming out of your wages. All good if you can afford it.
@@goldeneastgun Plenty of good enough cheaper comics, in high enough grade, we ALL haven't read yet in the back issue bins. Comics are never going to be unaffordable all up - some will be more expensive because of demand - which IS in the hobbies best interests. Stay true to the hobby - keep your comics long term and read them a bit - enjoy them properly. Get the better return for a long term investment and proper devotion. Flip something else like action figures or trading cards or something. Comics deserve better - we're far cooler.
Just my 2 cents. From a reseller perspective it is relative as long as you turn your inventory in a reasonable time frame. Yes you are getting less for books but you are also buying inventory cheaper. The ups and downs of the market really only affect paper losses ie the value of a pc is going down. You need to concentrate on different sectots. Golden age is strong. Artist covers like stevens, timm and turner are good. Rare x-men are strong ie x-men 25 gold and sketch, pressman and 2nd prints.
No advice from nurses? Swag, I am a nurse ...a comicbook collecting nurse 😁. I believe that good or bad content in the movie/streaming platforms definitely impacts interest in the hobby. I also think there is a level of apathy/ fatigue in the fan base due to poor movie/streaming content of late, and manufactured popularity vs organic popularity in comicbooks themselves. In the long run though, I agree comics will continue to increase in value at about 10% to 15% annually. There will always be books that spike and keys will always be keys commanding prices reflective of there importance in the hobby, IE: Hulk 181, Giant size X-men 1 , etc. I collect for the love of the medium. One of the side benefits to this hobby is that when necessary I have been able to sell books and get back ( often with great interest ) my financial investment . If you buy what you love for intrinsic value, you will be fine regardless of extrinsic values. Comic book prices going to zero? Only the "flavor of the day" books or in the event of a complete global financial/physical disaster . Sorry for being so long winded. Thanks for sharing.
The impact of external media on comic value is unfortunate. Should depend primarily on the character appearance. This effect goes back to the Bronze age with some exception. I still think the blue chip/Penny stock comparison is valid. Golden and Silver age keys are unlikely to crash and historically have outperformed the stock market in total. Not so much for Bronze to Modern, which to me are more speculative and volatile. I’m condensing my collection to silver age keys, occasionally Golden, and highly selective Bronze to Modern. Never, however, have I considered comic investing as a even small part of my investment portfolio. Not for that, IMO. Great video. Thanks!
In my opinion, you are the most unbiased data driven comic content creator I have ever watched. I never doubt that what you are saying is something pushing me in a direction that suits your needs. If you feel anyone pushing you as if you are, it’s not you. They need to go stand by a trashcan.
The tough thing is when people bought in 2020-2021, they thought those gains would just keep coming, when they didn’t they felt they think they got tricked. They weren’t. When prices of anything go up very quickly there is almost always a correction. You add the fact that there has been an economic slowdown with higher interest rates and the market has actually held up pretty well. If you bought a book in 2018 you are still fairly in the black…if you bought in 2021, your a down a ton. Will the market come back? Probably…but when… is the unknown.
I really enjoyed our one on one talk (that is what this felt like) I would love to see more content like this. I'm a fan for sure, you are always so real. Thank you!
I would love to see the index for each age being split where we see DC and Marvel independently as well. The market is often perception. I feel you may see market trends pull opposite for Marvel and DC because there are only so much comic money to go around in speculation. I feel we are starting to see a shift back and forth of the 2 companies and it would be amazing to see it be tracked on the ground level. The perception of the market may look very differently when you isolate the 2 companies and better track how the market shifts over time. Could also give a more optimistic and complete perception of the market.
I've put off buying the bronze and silver keys and grails I want. All the books I've been tracking in the 8.5 to 9.2 range have been on a slow declined for months and I don't want to catch a falling knife. Instead, I've been hitting the dollar bins and finishing up 90s runs I've wanted and picking up raw bronze back issues I want to read. If a $10 copy of Tomb of Dracula #23 goes to zero, it really won't hurt.
You have to have gotten in early on a book and already own it to celebrate prices jumping. It can be pretty frustrating to see prices double from a decade or two ago when you don't have any of it yet
There are macro factors at play regardless of actual interest in comics/comic movies currently... We are still working off the excess price jumps of all collectibles from the covid era and the general economy is about to get significantly worse as we move forward.
The comic market is weird i noticed throughout 2020-2022 most of my sales were from varients or spec books and whatever the hype books were but in the last year or so ive found most people are just buying books they genuinely enjoy and just overall collectable stuff and not all of the modern shit or hyped book that made the hot 10 key collector list for 3 weeks in a row!
I go to comic shops & I see the same "wall" books at every store. They should sell if the price was adjusted accordingly. One in particular I see a lot of is Silver Surfer #1 (first series).
The classics will survive because they have great stories and great characters. Modern comics have suffered because they are severely lacking in these arenas. That said, classic comics will stay relevant, as for modern that’s a big question mark.
Great video for those who collect for investments. I started buying comics in the middle 70s mostly war comics I still buy the older comics today & now buying ones that look Interesting to read or for the cover art, or to complete a series .
Things are getting rough for the rank & file. Credit card debt at all time highs. New car payment around $800 for 72 months. Rent $1500 a month. $3.50 gas. Groceries reaching unaffordable levels. Sorry Collectors but your high print run keys as well as those FOMO minor keys are going to get slaughtered in the coming months.
This is a great video man. I watch Alpha Investments (big Magic finance channel) and I always wanted someone who could do this sort of frank state of the market with an eye on finance. He puts out videos like this daily. I always wanted someone to do this format (that knew their stuff) for comics. You clearly understand both like he does. More of this please.
I loved comics, still have many where the stories and art are meaningful to me, but I dont think anyone considers the current stuff good or collectible
my apathy is going to a comic store, seeing hundreds of titles and nothing to buy. no story, no action, big appearance by main character on the final page........ the other side is getting a little weary of the classics..............
When your a Comic Collectors its Like a Coin Toss Up,and you will never really know what Comics Will actually Rise in Values or what ones will be extremely slow in gaining value as the various prices will either go Up or down but the actual Security behind just knowing that you just MAY actually have more than quite a few ultimately makes it all Worth the Efforts and remember to just hang on to what Comics you actually and really enjoy having the most and things will balance out for you in thé End -"so just enjoy it."
Market goes up or down we’re a very “reactive” fan base. Never go to the extreme. Markets were absolutely BOOMING the last few years.. it levels out a bit and there’s panic. Shouldn’t be. Even at the lowest points the comic book market is sooo rich. The entire country and world economy has gone to shit the last year or so. Those that hold the line will be rewarded as they always are. It’s a great time to buy. I’m still not sure where you could put your money AND have as much fun at the same time…
Beware the 4th quarter of 2023. Thats when things are going down and get really bad from there. I actually cant wait. Im sick of seeing new books coming into speculation and instantly be put on ebay for $ 500 for a 9.8. Its getting really stupid!!!
I consider myself a collector and cannot lie I am an pleased the value of many of my comics have increased in value and realize that there are combinations but dislike when straight flippers call themselves collectors.
My thought. Just a thought. The pandemic closed the cons. Ebay, above table visible sales made the boom. Books were always selling privately, people could finally see what these investment were selling for. BTY i got a Love and Rockets #1 high grade.
I’m going to throw this out there…. The industry is convoluted and has become a circus with Carnie barkers hawking all the exclusives and ratios. The industry (publishers and exclusive factories) is a dinosaur in its last death gasp throwing as many cover variants and exclusives against the wall as possible since the actual interior material is subpar and pushed away the readers years ago.
I agree with some of what you are saying in this episode and disagree with some of your conclusions. Currently, there are more sellers than buyers. However, buyers are purchasing at lower prices than before. If you track overall data, prices for all comics being sold on ebay and other sites are trending down. I believe that as the economy continues to get worse in the coming months, so too will the comic book market.
I do agree with that. That's what I was trying to imply, that typically Q3 seasonality in comics is worse than Q2, and that the macro economy will probably be worse as well. (which can eat into comic budgets). But that its also still ok to hop on good opportunities if you see them.
Keep an eye on the job stats, knowing that the official numbers are probably being propped up as we head into the election. I suspect that we'll bottom around that time, maybe in early 2025. And if so, it'll be a slow grind back up, assuming that China doesn't try to take Taiwan by then. In any case, we have to accept this as the new norm for the next decade or so. But also keep in mind that more older collectors will be selling as they settle in to retirement, which means less buyers and more supply. 2030 will be a very different landscape all around for all markets.
Your outlook will depend on how you feel about the current economic downturn. A lot of people think it's all temporary, that things will recover within a couple years, just like all those previous recessions that someone of my age has lived through in years past. I hope that's true, but I fear that an unprecedented amount of damage has been done in the past 3 years that might reset expectations to a new normal, where discretionary money dries up and more people are just subsisting. If that's the case, luxury products like comic books will continue to suffer as investments.
I'm finding that now is a good time to buy golden age. I'm picking up some very cool stuff in crime, western, romance etc for affordable prices. Good Girl art particularly. As long as you're not concerned about getting everything in near mint, now is a good time to buy.
i agree...the market manipulation that occurred in 2020- 2021 is about to be corrected...i dont believe they will go any lower than 2018- 2019 which is about where they should be
Good thoughts love it thanks for sharing your in depth. It’s hard to say but I do think macro is headed lower. Jobs will be lost soon. Hasn’t really hit the economy broadly how high interest rates are. Anyways still love comics. But there will be blood. Soon.
You’re all over it, MCU is how so many people came into collecting…no surprise GOTG spiked but tbh, those collectors bought a lot of trash, hope you focus on grades more but not just online stats. Also economy is fkd btw.
Inflation has definitely corrected the market and with the U.S. dollar losing some value, people are trying to move some of their money into different assets
Good the prices go down to normal again. People get smarter and do not buy a comic because the MCU fomo. I am more concerned that people do not buy new comics anymore and more and more manga. Comics issues should contain more stories in one issue otherwise😂
All this talk about the hobby dying and I personally think all the movies and market buzz has grown the hobby. To whatever extent that is, who knows. But I do still feel like people who are fair weather by nature are probably leaving the hobby by bigger numbers than people who are converts and will hang around whenever comics and super heros aren't at the fore front of pop culture.
I have a large inventory of comics,cards and records.Been doing this for 40 years. Soon there will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to short the stock market.| Forget comics,which have become vastly overpriced,partly due to Corruptly Graded Comics.
Going to zero? Is that why you "bought" a $7-$8k raw book for "$5,000 in comic books" plus the "cash" you never paid to the "seller" that "scammed" you by not "returning" them to you because you provided him - and the United States Postal Service - an "incorrect address" that book you "bought" could not be delivered and were returned to the sender of the very same "day" the multiple "boxes" you "shipped" SIX WHOLE LOW-GRADE "KEYS" TO WERE "delivered" to him successfully because YOU were provided a VALID "SHIPPING" ADDRESS?
All comics may not be going to zero but try selling a random issue of the Avengers from 10 years ago. A lot of books have near to zero intrest at the moment.
GA and SA comics will perform well in a recession as they always have. We will get past the debt ceiling negotiations and get through the recession that should start later this year and early next year. Employment will get weaker but by no means will we have a severe recession. I watched alot of mid-grade SA sell for very high prices and probably won't recover to a large extent. High grade will hold it's own on SA and BA Marvels. The market will be OK. Hold on for now.......
New heroes an ideas need a better platform. So much good content falls by the wayside unfortunately, how many more transformer,tmnt,Spider-Man movies are we gonna consume.
For me personally, I prefer this type of video. I know it's not for everyone, but it makes me think about my point of view and how I feel about it. All I gotta say is, TIME TO HUNT!!!lol. Dirty influencer?!?!? You selling feet pics!?!?!aaaahahahaha
The comics you’re talking about are all old. You should discuss the market of the new releases and how the industry is really getting its ass kicked by manga, mostly because they don’t gender/race/gay/trans swap their characters and don’t disrespect the fan base the way. Marvel and DC do
Only people who bought graded keys and caught the FOMO bug in 2021-2022 are the ones feeling the pain of the dip. Otherwise, most of us are just business as usual.
I still don’t think bottom is here but comics are not going to zero. I think marvel dc and Disney going bankrupt is kinda what needs to happen. I truly believe this would be good for us readers. Which would bring us reader’s back for some good stories again.
I don't see the point in sensational upload titles like this. If you buy Darkhawk and Eternals, the market is gonna seem soft quite often. Stick to good bronze and silver that isn't over-hyped and you'll do great.
I love people doom and glooming. Like, guys, unemployment is like 3%. Yeah, interest rates are high, but so what? I've been through 3 financial crises in my lifetime and right now its not even remotely close to what it was like in 2008 or 2020.
I kind of agree with you but there are a lot of oddball things in play both nationally and globally that could cause the delicate state of the economy to turn south on us. I don’t so much fear a recession (I’ve lived through a few) as much as I fear a “perfect storm” of bad events affecting that recession and ballooning it to epic proportions.
@@Eyrrll I was in the mortgage industry in 2008. I'm well aware of the black swan event. It's partially why I got into comics. But after 2008 I got into lots of things to hedge my money. Anyone who is 100% into any one investment deserves to lose everything. Better to have a lean, well curated collection when everything goes to hell, along with other backups like gold, silver and real estate. And if not, at least you have something to read when the nukes start flying.
@@kegman83 I’m not worried about the value of my collection as I intend to die with the vast majority of it anyway. I’m more worried about circumstances that make us look back on 2008 and view it as “the good old days”. That said, I have lived through my share of recessions and none have really affected me terribly, so it could be an unwarranted fear.
