List of Comics Prices for Feb 2008 Now Available

If you are asking yourself “how do I value comics?” Diamond Comics Distributors may be able to help. They recently released their list of sales estimates for Feb 2008. The list only covers Diamond’s direct market, news stands and overseas markets are not included.



The information they have complied could be really useful in helping you track the worth of comics, it includes comics prices, top comics by company, top comics by title and even the top traded comics companies. Last month, Marvel Comics barely beat out DC Comics in the Top Comics Breakdown. While DC beat out Marvel in the Top Trades Breakdown. Marvel and DC are really battling right now to be the top of the trade. It will be exciting to see who comes out ahead in the charts for March, but don’t forget to watch for the other two big publishers Dark Horse and Image Comics. Who knows when they might start to climb.



Marvel cleaned up on the Top Comics list, they had nine of the top ten spots, including “X Force” in the number one slot. DC had only one comic in the top ten with “All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder” in the number six slot. Other notable changes included “Hulk” and “Fantastic Four.” “Hulk” was in the number two slot in January, and fell to the number seven slot in February, dropping 32%. “Fantastic Four” was in the number thirty-eight slot in January and managed to climb all the way up to the number eight slot in February nearly doubling in sales.



I’m sure that comics appraisers use information like this to help them value comics, but these lists are available to every comic fan. If you are interested in the market fluctuations or need some insight to finding the worth of your comics just check out the information here.



By Jamie.

Celebrated Writer Leaves Marvel Comics

Comic book collectors who attended San Francisco’s WonderCon may have already heard the news that writer, J. Michael Straczynski is leaving Marvel Comics and heading over to DC Comics. JMS’s announcement is the biggest news to come from the convention season so far.

Straczynski is known for his work on “Amazing Spider-Man” when some of the most controversial events took place in Peter’s life, including Aunt Mary learning his secret identity once and for all. Straczynski also worked on several other graphic novels for Marvel including, “Babylon 5,” “Fantastic Four,” and “Supreme Power,” but it is yet to be announced what he will be working on at DC. All we know is that his first title with them will be released in the fall of 2008.

This isn’t the first shake-up for Marvel this year, if you remember from my previous blog, veteran artist, Mark Bagley, left a few months ago to work with DC Comics. Surely with these two industry giants on their side the worth of comics at DC are likely to go up. I imagine they are pretty excited about all of this. Hopefully Marvel can maintain their level of success even though they are losing people to competitors. It is pretty interesting that they are having such a hard time holding on to people who have been with them for so long. DC could be making offers these writers and artists can’t refuse or maybe they are looking for new blood at Marvel. Only the industry insiders really know that for sure.

Like I said before, if you have any Mark Bagley or JMS comics, now would be the time to look into comic book appraisals, your comics prices may have changed.

By Jamie.

Marvel Comics Releases Hulk Teaser Trailer

Hey comic book collectors, if the Incredible Hulk is on your list of favorites now is the time to head over to Marvel Comics official site for the new teaser trailer. The movie’s June 13th release is a long way off, but trailers like this one will tide us over until then. I snagged it from youtube for your viewing pleasure. Take a look!



I have to say that I’m pretty excited about this movie. The funny thing is that I’m not really a big Hulk fan. I remember my brother watching the TV show when I was a child and I hear the TV show strayed heavily from the graphic novels. Though it isn’t my favorite story, this movie just looks so good. The fact that I love Edward Norton and Liv Tyler might have something to do with that.

The Hulk has been around now for forty-six years. When he first appeared he wasn’t even green, he was grey. I imagine that finding a book with a grey Hulk is pretty hard. If anything is going to affect the worth of comics, it would be a major art change like that. The movie is likely to cause a change in these comics prices as well. We’ll all have to watch and see what happens over the next several months.

I’m glad I saw this trailer, because it has really raised my interest in the Incredible Hulk. Before researching the story, I never new that Dr. Bruce Banner was such a complex character with such interesting story lines. I’m not sure how much of the story will be covered in the upcoming movie, but I’m excited to find out. If you love the Hulk let me know!

By Jamie.

Veteran Artist Bids Farewell to Marvel Comics

According to Marvel Comic's official site, Mark Bagley is moving on.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Bagley, he is one of the most well respected artists in the business. He started his career with Marvel Comics, when he won a try-out contest and has done extensive work for them since then. He is not only a Marvel Icon, but truly a legendary artist when it comes to graphic novels. Bagley has worked on titles like The Amazing Spider-Man, Thunderbolts, New Warriors and Ultimate Spider-Man. I'm sure after 20 years of penciling, that everyone reading this has seen at least some of his work.

Now that his time with Marvel is up, Bagley is heading over to DC Comics. I can't wait to see what he'll do next! I'm no expert, but I bet that this shake up might affect the worth of comics that Bagley has worked on. Especially his final project at Marvel,  Mighty Avengers #11. I know a few comic book collectors who are going to want to get their hands on that book no matter what the cost. If you have an extensive collection of Bagley comics it may be time to go visit some comics appraisers. Let me know how it turns out!

Marvel Comics Collectibles

I was browsing the web today and I found a website that sells movie props. I had never really thought about it before, but these items would perfectly compliment comic book collections. A few of the most interesting items I saw were from Spider-Man. If you collect Marvel comics Spider-Man comic books then you might be interested in a swatch of the Green Goblin’s costume. At $400.00 that might be a little out of reach, but there are less expensive options like a World Unity Festival cup and button for under $100.00. Check out this video of both the Green Goblin costume and the cup in action.

I'm sure the worth of comics , like Spiderman, have increased since Hollywood decided to make movies about classic comic book action heroes. I’m sure comics appraisers must take this into account right? I would think so, then again, maybe lesser known, harder to find comics might be worth more. Can anyone shed some light on the subject?

By Jamie.