Deep Dive in a Bargain Bin
What fishing grinders do
The longer I collect the more I realize where the best Rate of Increase (RoI) for my books can be found. Digging through the bargain boxes at your local comic shop can lead to a treasure trove of bronze age gems and misunderstood comics. The key is being one of the first people to go through the boxes. The longer it sits in a box the better the odds are it gets damaged.
At a couple of stores I have learned their cycles for putting out new books. I know what day and how to quickly scan the price tag for a date. This past Saturday, I found six long boxes stashed under the other fifty cent boxes. These boxes had been put out over the past month and I think they were untouched, because only a grinder will get on the floor to dig through a box.
The way I fish, is I keep all the little comics/minnows I see in a stack/bucket. The first box had a lot of Batman which told me these boxes were new, because Batman doesn't last very long in the bargain boxes. Then I ran into a run of Marvel Super Heroes. I usually don't grab these since they are reprints, but these were 20 cent to 35 cent issues. I know of a different store that will give me a couple of dollars in store credit for the 20 cent issues if they are bagged and boarded. So a RoI of 100% to 200% is not bad. I picked out any books that were 20 or 25 cent copies. Most were in very good to fine condition.
I found a lot of great books, but these were my favorites. Exiles has the prototype Weapon H. Marvel Team Up 14 is Invincible in paired with Spider-man. This was a grail of mine for awhile, but especially with the Amazon Prime show news. The Amazing Spider-man Annual 26 is a first solo Venom story. The prize of the finds was Kung-Fu Fighter 5 with first appearance of Lady Shiva.
Mini-Keys for $3
Avengers 226 is a classic cover, but hard to find not beat to hell. The Marvel Two-in-Ones were second Spider-Woman cameo and second full appearance. I rarely find Champions in decent shape.
Spider-man vs. Vampire!!
Early Spectacular Spider-man with Morbius in decent shape, speculating on the movie. I always pick up What If issues involving Spider-man. Early Thor reprint to flip into trade.
Zombies, Middleton, and Dark Avengers
I am determined to collect the first appearances of Marvel Zombies on the cheap, still need the first issue. I always grab the Middleton covers of New Mutants.
Some Sexy Covers and Some Fun for only Fifty Cent a Piece
First appearance of one of X-23's bad guys, Deadpool and Shang-Chi, need I say more, Psylocke covers always have value, Adam Hughes Tomb Raider, and Uncanny X-force 1, part of one my favorite runs by Remender.
Spawn on the Cheap
I am trying to complete a Spawn run on the cheap. All of the issues are in solid condition. I especially like the Black and White issue 193 (small print run).
So I felt pretty good about this fishing trip, it wasn't a big sale or con, but the waters were untouched. I threw back more comic minnows than I kept, but I still left with sixty books for $30. I am a bulk bargain buyer, much to wife's frustration. She is okay with only spending $30, but she would prefer not taking up the space of sixty books. For me, the juice is worth the squeeze, if I leave with a book worth sharing on this site.
Till Next Trip,
A Fisherman
Nice Haul. That 1st Lady Shiva is probably worth the $30 alone!
Thanks shiva made it worth it
Kung Fu-Fighter 5 for under fifty cent! That’s an amazing find, you lucky / eagled-eyed collector 🙂 A really nice book to have regardless of whether she ever makes the big-time in movies/tv etc
FYI, if you didn’t already know, Ultimate FF #21 has a variant cover. I thought I was good with the Marvel Zombies until I found that lil tidbit.
I just looked it up. I think I might even like the variant cover better. Thanks for heads up.
sigh. again. Its worth living outside a major city like NY. The rents are super high. so a store that sells this doesn’t exist.
I found one spot in Brooklyn which is an 1hr away on train, but I can tell the second they get comics. They are gone within an hour
Nice job, Chris. Love those little magic spots that get tons of bargain comics. Those stores are lazy and will never go through and price it all. Always gems to be had.