A Fisherman’s Tale: Random Variations
I hate to admit, but I have gotten sucked into the variant hustle. When I first started collecting again was right before the new Star Wars comics were coming out. I had bought a few books here and there, but my first appearance in a store on a Wednesday was with Star Wars.
I grabbed the covers I liked and did not think about speculation or print runs. I was always mad when the variant I wanted was double or triple cover price. Ratio was a foreign concept. It took a few months before I understood what it meant to be a Wednesday Warrior. Sacrificing my lunch block to get to the closest LCS in hopes of snagging a variant cover.
I would score my precious variant to put a way in a box, I always forget the other piece of collecting, is to flip a book if hot, immediately. Over the past few years I have accumulated a few variants, mostly because I liked the art, or because this site recommended them.
I now have boxes of 1:25 ratio variants, but few are worth more than cover. Some of this is bitterness, because I was late to the Spider-Gwen, Miles Morales, and America Chavez ratios. I have high hopes for my Agents of Atlas, Unstoppable Wasp, and Avengers 7 variants, but time will tell which one was worth the price.
But let’s get to a fishing tale. One day I was lucky enough to get to my favorite honey hole and find no one there. The guy hadn’t rotated out the new comics, so I had time to kill. The shop sells tons of stuff so they don’t always straighten their books.
I was helping out, putting books back in their sections and of course fishing in a few sections I rarely search. I hit a small DC section of the letter R books. (Robin has his own section). I came across a nifty Red Hood cover. Red Hood the Lost Years was a 6 issue mini-series that came out before the new 52.
I looked it up on comic book realm first and it said it was only a few dollars maybe $10. I liked the art so for a $1.50 it would be worth it. I still had time to kill so I decided to look it up on eBay. This variant was a 1:25 ratio by Mattina. The average sold price was $475 and only a few were listed all for $450 and up.
Mattina was the new hot artist of the moment so collectors were looking for any of his early ratio stuff. I was ecstatic here was a chance to make several hundred dollars with minimal investment. And the most important thing was I had no attachment to the book, in fact, the interior art was terrible.
I immediately listed the book for $461 and it sold within a day. I have found and scored some valuable books before, but this was the only time I had a book which the story of the sale was more important than the find. I have since looked up this book and Mattina is no longer the flavor of the moment. The variant now sells for $200. No seller’s remorse here.
Remember to check the sold listings, I can always list a book for $800, but doesn't mean it will sell.
Till Next Time,
A Fisherman
Twitter: @tale_fisherman
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Love finding cool books and for cheap. Love the fun article. Keep fishing!!
Thanks, as long I leave with a Tale the trip is worth it.
These have quickly become some of my favorite posts. Keep it up!
Thanks I love writing them. A lot of these were just for me, so I could remember how I found such and such book.
Supergirl 23 Adam Hughes variant was my best $1 find and sold it to buy a key 1st appearance.
A few people, I know, would rather have that issue over FF 48. Not me still think I’ll come across it in the wild.
I missed the boat on that Edge 2 Land and can not bring myself to move on it at today’s market.
Love that Wasp cover!
Thanks for another awesome read Chris!!
I love me some Putri, this and the Red Hood run of covers are some of my favorites for the year.
Hey new to comic book collecting love your site
I come here to get all my information
Would like to know which cover of unstoppable wasp 1 is the good variant ?
The link you’ve posted on the article doesn’t redirect you to eBay
There are two diferent runs of Unstoppable Wasp. From the first run it looks like the Torque 1:25 is one you want. In the second run its the Putri 1:50 seen above. I have fixed the link above.
Thanks man really appreciate taking the time answering my question 👍
What do you think of agents of atlas 1?
Should I get that one also? Or just focus on issue 2 like you said in this article?
If you could get it for ratio or just a little above I would, I missed out on it at a decent price. I did grab 2 at just above ratio.
For issue 1 of agents of atlas is it the virgin suayan the variant to try and get or another one?
my favorite variant cover is Amazing Spider-Man 297 Mike Mayhew. I made a ton of money of that one!
Those Mayhew variants for ASM 797 and up were great, but like most variants its striking when it is hot that is important. I always feel like if I sell immediately I will miss a bigger payday.
Best variant ever is the Quantum & Woody #1 most variant of all time! It has something for everyone. And you can find it in the dark.
I thought that was pretty clever variant by Valiant.
Saga #1 RRP
I would love to find that in the wild. I’ve found a third and fourth print but never seen the retailer one
My favorite variant comic is Batman Dark Knight III Book 7, the 1:500 Jim Lee Cover. There’s just something about it!
That’s a pretty sweet variant, too bad the series wasn’t great. You can get the variant for half ratio or less. Might even score it for under a hundred if you’re patient.
Oh yeah, I actually have it 🙂 Got it slabbed and it came back a 9.8!! I did say there was something about it, just wasn’t going to pay that Midtown price, LMAO!!! Thanks!
Congratulations
My favorite variant (from my personal collection) is the IGC variant of Moon Knight #194. It has the retro border and the worn look with that great cover art. Not to mention, only 600 books produced.
Nice, I’ve never seen it before. I try not to go to far down the store exclusive, though I’ve bought a few ASM because it’s my one series to complete
the ratios for agent of atlas issues 1 and 2 along with comic odyssey variant are amazing long holds. if any book can be next eosv2 land its those books
Hey man what’s comic odyssey?
It’s the store exclusive of Wave for issue 1. I would love a copy to, but it started hot and I don’t see it dropping too much.
Been trying to get my hands on Black Widow #2, Stephanie Hans variant, but can’t find one at all
If you’re talking Web of Black Widow then issue 2 hasn’t been released until 10/9. The Hans cover is pretty, but when stores get their copies you should be able to find one at ratio, unless it is the hot one for the week.
damn thats pretty i hope more pop up i doubt my shop will order 25 of this one
Yeah the Web of Black Widow issues have slipped under the radar because of Absolute Carnage and Hickman’s X books
One day I will own the Ultimate Fallout #4 Variant. That is definitely my favorite.
We can hold onto hope, but if I ever have a cash windfall, will it be that book or one of my SA Spidey I need.
My favorite variant has to be Batgirl 24 Middleton. That half and half cover is just awesome!