Glad you got through the con crud! Cons are hard work, but in the end usually a good time, from both running a booth or buyer perspective I've found. My wife and I run a pretty large booth in a gaming show in Japan. It is so exhausting but fun. Of course shopping around and seeing what everyone else is doing is a lot of fun.
I think people are a bit fatigued with prices of comics, especially the big money books. Not sure how much longer the down trend will go but not a lot of people that want the big grails can actually afford them these days. 😅 I would really like a nice copy of Albedo #2. Maybe a first print TMNT #1. Probably my current goals. But I think I'd have to find someone willing to trade or I'd have to sell some of my collection first because just buying those right now would get me beaten by my wife. Maybe buried. 😖 Problem is, I don't really have much of a network so finding someone to trade with is unlikely. Probably best bet would be messaging eBay sellers and seeing if they'd trade instead but that comes with a bunch of its own problems. 🤷♂
Anyway... cool to see you back at it! And nice cosplay pictures. Awesome to see Hulkamania still alive today!
That’s awesome that you have some experience at these types of events as well.
Oooohhhhh…a TMNT 1 1st print is a grail book for sure. Not that a first Usagi is chopped liver, but man…that TMNT is a book I’d love to have in the PC as well. Hope that you are able to check that off at some point in the future.
My grail is and always will be an Amazing Fantasy 15. I’ll get there but it’s going to take some efforts.
Amazing Fantasy 15 is difficult. Especially since Spider-Man's popularity never wanes. Such an awesome character. You'll have it one day though. The real question is going to be what grade you're shooting for. 😅
Whenever I do add that badboy, it’ll most likely be a low grade copy. 2.0-3.0 range I’m thinking. It’ll probably be the last Spidey book I acquire. I’m putting together a full run of ASM and am only 15 issues away from the full run. Buuuut all of those 15 issues fall between 2-24. I have a 1, a smattering inbetween and 25 on.
One day…
Heck of a collection! That is a rough patch though, so many iconic villain firsts.
The closest I have to such a collection is Iron Man. Have 5.0 ToS 39 and Iron Man 1 through like... 600 or so across the various volumes. My Tales of Suspense collection is only about 12 books though. 😅
Haven't been collecting a ton lately though. Mostly indie stuff when I do. Obsessed with Usagi. My favorites are mostly 90s, early 2000s stuff that are short lived and easy to collect though. Battle Chasers, Warlands, stuff like that...
If I do go back for Marvel I think I'd prefer to concentrate on Daredevil.
Considering trying to sell off my Iron Man collection but not sure I can bring myself to do it.
My earliest ASM is #22. It is in pretty bad shape I think.
Hell of a collection you have as well my friend. tOS 39 is no joke. I have a copy as well sitting in my “press & grade” pile. I’ll get to it eventually. lol
At this point, I’m over most comic collecting. I’ll keep my ASM’s and continue to work on finishing that in time. I’ll aim for my AF 15 At some point, & ill keep my big keys fir the investment portfolio. But I want ALL of my comics, figures, toys, statues…gone! I’m over it. Just want to focus on those books mentioned above and Spider-Man related Original Art. Collecting the OA has been my favorite thing I’ve ever collected by far.
Keeping it focused is a great idea. Really lets you get those more important gems! OA is such an expensive hobby though. Every piece is like buying a super key or grail. 😅 Kind of better though because it is a one of a kind, not a 'not really rare but sort of rare' 'piece of history' that you can actually find anytime you want as long as you have the cash.
Yeah, I at least feel good about the investment part of it. But Spidey OA guys are a large and deep pocketed group so I have stiff competition on most killer pieces.