Step 1: Identify your market. Take a while to sit and watch for what comics sell and what doesn’t out of the items you’re interested in. A ny market research data you can collect will be very useful to you later on. You’ll probably see the ‘sweet spots’ quite quickly – those one or two items that always seem to sell for a good price.  My experience is that any comics featured in movies sell well….examples: Batman, Iron Man, Superman, Fantastic Four, Wolverine, Joker and the like.

Step 2: Watch the competition. Before you invest any money, see what the other comic dealers in your category are up to, and what their strategies are. Pay special attention to any flaws their auctions might have, because this is where you can move in and beat them at their own game.

Step 3: Find the comics you want to sell, if you don’t have them already. Get hold of a supplier for the comics you want to sell, and see what the best rates you can get are – don’t be afraid to ring round quite a few to get the best deal. If the eBay prices you’ve seen are higher than the supplier’s, then you’re set.

Step 4: Start small: Don’t throw thousands at your idea straight away – get started slowly, see what works and what doesn’t, and learn as you go. Remember that it’s very cheap to try out even the craziest ideas on eBay, and who knows, they might just work!

Step 5: Test and repeat. Keep trying different strategies until you find something that works, and then don’t be ashamed to keep doing it, again and again. The chances are that you’ve just found a good comic book niche.

Step 6: Work out a business plan: A business plan doesn’t need to be anything formal, just a few pages that outline the market opportunity you’ve spotted, your strategy, strengths and weaknesses of the plan and a brief budget. This is more for you than it is for anyone else.

Step 7: Invest and expand: This is the time to throw money at the problem. Buy inventory, and start spending more time on your business. Set a goal number of sales each week, increasing it each time.

Step 8: Make it official: Once you’ve made a few thousand dollars worth of sales, you should really register yourself as a business. Don’t worry, it’s not expensive or hard to do – a lawyer is the best person to help you through the process.

Step 9: Automate: You’ll probably find that you’re writing the same things again and again in emails or item descriptions. This is the time to give up on the manual method and turn to automated software that can create listings for you, and respond to completed auctions and payments with whatever message you provide.

Step 10: Never give up: Even when it looks like it’s all going wrong, don’t stop trying until you succeed. If you keep working at it then you’ll almost always find that you make a real breakthrough just when things are starting to look desperate.

Once you get into the swing of things, work on expanding your business.

(c) ComicBookGoldmine.com

by Alan LaMont

However, the historic nature of Barack Obama’s election as president of the United States is driving many collectors — even those who aren’t serious collectors — to buy any kind of Obama memorabilia so that they can have a piece of history….even comic books.

The Obama comic that was published doesn’t follow the typical super hero formula.  So don’t  expect Captain America-versus-Superman explosiveness or Lex Luthor-type super-villains threatening the presidential process. Trading sound bites for word balloons, the comic tells Obama’s life stories, independently researched and illustrated by a veteran team of writers and artists.

“We’re not doing anything that is sensational here,” said IDW special projects editor Scott Dunbier, adding that neither Obama or McCain’s campaign was involved in the development of the books. “We’re sticking to the facts.”

Comic book biographies have been written before – Marvel Comics had a best-seller back in 1982 with a biography of Pope John Paul II. But Dunbier said the company broke new ground by  getting out a fully researched comic on Barack Obama (as well as John McCain) before Election Day.

For a complete assortment of all kinds of Barack Obama collectibles, go to http://www.ObamaCollectors.com.

If you are interested in Obama comic books specifically, go to
http://www.comicbookgoldmine.com/barack-obama-comic-books-for-sale

And this period saw the arrival of the comic book for the first time as a mainstream art form.

Here’s the advice I follow when I come across a Golden Age book.

It’s simple:  “Buy any comic printed pre-l948.”

I don’t worry about their condition.

I don’t worry about the title.

Frankly, if the comic is still in one piece, and can be read, I feel like I’ve made a decent investment.

Why?

First of all most Golden Age comics are over 60 years old!  And, there aren’t nearly enough of them left to go around.

Unfortunately because of World War II and the paper drive and the fact that many were provided to the armed forces….many of these comics were destroyed and as a result are scarce.

If you don’t believe it?  Then, try this exercise.

First, go to any Overstreet Price Guide and compare the current values of the 100 most expensive Silver Age comics to the l00 most expensive pre-l948 Golden Age comics.

Second, guesstimate how much of each currently exist. When you consider that 85% of all Golden Age books are now in the hands of collectors/dealers and only 25-30% of the Silver Age comics have been discovered, you can get a real grasp of the rarity of the pre-l948 comics.

So if you come across a Golden Age comic that’s a great deal – buy it!

In a couple of years, you’ll look back and wish you had more–lots more.

Interested in checking out an up to date list of Golden Age comics for sale?   Then, Click Here.

No wonder people collect comic books.

Collecting comics is different from all other collecting activities.  A collection of coins or stamps or rare glassware gives its owner some pleasure from acquiring, organizing, and displaying the items.  But once you have a rare stamp or a valuable coin or an antique punch bowl, there is little more that you can do with it, other than show it off.

A comic book collection, however, is a source of far greater pleasure and interest.  Not only can you have fun by simply collecting comics, you can get hours and hours of satisfaction from reading, studying, researching, and talking about them.  You don’t just display a comic book collection; you read it and you develop an appreciation for the different artists and writers who create the comics.

Collecting comics can not only provide you with years of pleasure, but may even pay you well for the time you spend.  Collectors are often pleasantly surprised to find out that all the comics they have collected and enjoyed are now worth much more than they paid for them.

Maybe you read comic books only for the love of it, or perhaps you only want to sell them for money.  Either way, you can achieve your goals…no matter who your are….whether you are a comic reader, collector, or investor.

For most people, the inspiration to collect comics isn’t so startling, and the collecting instinct isn’t so sharp.  If you’re like most people, you slowly realize over the years that these multicolored pamphlets of daring adventures and light amusement seem to pile up around you.  You read and reread them (sometimes to pieces), and you pore over the artwork.  You never consciously set out to collect comic books, but it just sort of happens.

And keeps happening, because comic books are part of our childhood history.  Right now, somewhere, another new collector is discovering comic books for the first time, because comics are everywhere and they appeal to just about everyone.  They’re a clever and artful combination of words and pictures, writing and drawing, literary and graphic arts.

Sales of comics in the United States during this past year topped $1 billion.   Over 100 million new comics were sold nationwide.  More than 3,000 special comics retail store currently serve millions of customers daily.  And nearly every comic ever printed is available today to you through the side network of collectors and dealers.

Clearly, comic books are all around us.  You can buy them at bookstores in a mall, or at your neighborhood comic-book shop.  On or the internet.  You can get them directly in the mail from the publisher or you can subscribe to one of many high-volume discount services.

The first thing a collector needs to establish is what comics he wants to collect is it particular genre, character, title or perhaps publisher that interests him? Who knows how your taste will alter and how your collection will change and grow?  It is important, however, to start small, it could be that you already have some comics.  If not, buy some new ones ___ it is the best way to start!  With more than a thousand titles published each month you will need to be selective.  If you are at all unsure, ask for advice at your local comic store, or from a mail-order service.  They’ll be pleased to give you details of currents titles.

For reasons of nostalgia, many collectors coming back to comics try to find the issues they remember from their childhood.  Depending on when your childhood was, there is a chance that these back issues could be expensive.

Buy a price guide which will enable you to ascertain roughly the cost of collecting, for example, a complete run of Spider-Man from 1963 to date, or all of the issues of Superman from 1960 to date.

Decide what your minimum requirement regarding condition is, and then set about tracking them down.  A good way to start is to visit your nearest specialist store and browse through their back issues, or call a mail-order service and ask them for a catalogue.

Check the listings of conventions or shows in The Comic Buyers Guide or Comics International, and go along to see what’s on offer.  Do not be too eager to spend your money, it’s worth checking all the dealers before making a purchase.

It’s also worth asking dealers who stock the type of material you’re collecting if they run a ‘wants list’ service.  If they do, give them a list of what you are looking for, detailing titles, issue numbers and a range of acceptable conditions. If they find a match from your list, they will contact you and offer the item.  Whether you buy it or not is up to you – there is no obligation involved in giving a dealer, mail-order service or store such a list.  All they require is that you keep them updated on any changes to your ‘wants’.

Be sensible when compiling a wants list.  Even if you ultimately want to collect every issue of Batman, only list those you feel you will be able to buy immediately. You can always add to the list as time goes by.

Some of the bigger dealers use bespoke computer software, which can take  some of the pain out of compiling a list.  For example, you may want to collect every

appearance of a particular character (like Spider-Man), or all of the work of a creator. Just tell the company;  there is a good chance that they will have this information and can compile the list for you, sending you a copy for your records.

When buying back issues you will find variations in prices for what seem to be different examples of the same comic.  Check a current price guide or update, buy keep in mind that all guides are retrospective and their contents are only an indication as to what you might pay, not the definitive price for a comic.  Having said that, and allowing for market movements, they do give you a very good idea of price, unless you are dealing with a pedigree or particularly high-grade copy, which one would expect to pay over the guide price for.

Another thing to bear in mind is that one dealer’s Very Fine is another dealer’s Near Mint.  It is most important to establish how a dealer grades his comics or you may find you have paid what you thought was one dealer’s lower price for his Near Mint copy only to discover that you have actually overpaid for what in reality is only a Very Fine copy.  Beware of dealers at shows or conventions who do not price their books, and also beware of dealers who refuse to grade their comics, asking you what grade you think it is.  This is very dangerous, especially for the novice grader.

Most dealers are honest, but there are some who deal in stolen comics.  If you buy a stolen comic, knowingly or unknowingly, and the original owner can prove it is his, you will be forced by law to give it back, despite the fact that you have paid for it.  Always ask for a receipt; reputable dealers will have no problem with this and many issue them as a matter of course.

When you are buying back issues, check to see if the company offers an unconditional money-back guarantee. This is particularly important when buying through the mail or online,  where you have not seen the comic.  Most reputable online stores and mail-order services will offer this facility.  When responding to advertisement, try to establish whether the advertiser is a collector or a dealer, and be careful when sending money to advertisers.  There have been cases where the sender has received nothing in return.

Do not accept long delivery dates for back issues-7-14 days is acceptable, anything more than that, for whatever reason, is not.

There are a few disreputable dealers who specialize in selling the same comic a number of times.  You could find that all you get for your money is a credit note.  These credit notes are find if you intend to do further business with that company, but ensure that the credit note is redeemable, at any time, for your money back.  Ask this question at the outset, if the answer is no, find another dealer.

Paying by credit card could give you some additional protection.  At least if the company takes credit cards it is an indication, but not proof, that they are fairly well established.

Alternatives are bad news in most cases.  Some mail-order services will ask you to list alternatives in event of your selection not being available.  I would suggest you avoid those companies that insist on this.  Tell others that merely request it that, in the event of your selection not being available, they should either send you a credit note or your money back.  This should be less of a problem when paying by credit card, as the company should not take any money until they are dispatching your order.  Be careful though – some companies take the money immediately they receive the order. Tell them not to.

Check with dealers what their policy is on upgrading.  It could be that you will settle for a lower grade now in order to have the comic in your collection, and want to buy a higher grade when finances allow or it becomes available.  Reputable dealers, if selling you an upgrade, should be prepare to offer you very close to what you originally paid them for the first comic.  If a lot of time has elapsed, you may even show a profit, although by the same toke your upgrade will also cost you more.

Find out from mail-order services how they will mail your order to you.  The comics should at least be packed in comic bags, with more expensive items being packed in a Mylar or equivalent.  some services have custom-made mailing-boxes, which usually offer good protection to the comics.  Expensive comics should be sent either by a service like Federal Express or the United Parcel Service, where a signature is required on delivery.  The alternative is a type of mailing which also requires a signature.

Ordinary U.S. postal service is generally acceptable for lower valued comics, although it is worth asking about postal insurance, as once the package is mailed the responsibility becomes yours.

To maintain a collection of new comics, the best thing to do is to set up a standing order for the titles at a comic store or, if this is inconvenient, take out a subscription with a mail-order service.

The difference between the two is that , in most cases you will pay for the standing order on collection, whereas a subscription is normally paid for in advance.

Good subscription services will supply you with a monthly order from detailing the titles on offer, for publication two to three months in advance.  They will also supply a useful free newsletter giving more detailed information about advance products.  Some services offer regular subscribers discounts or bonuses for regular business, and there are also various discount clubs that can save you money and ensure the company of your loyal patronage.

One such club in the UK offers rising discounts off back issues and new comics, as well as other bonuses such  as free price guides, a free copy of Previews, Comics International and other publications.  They also give club members priority on their computerized wants list service, and mail out all club members’ back issues in comic bags with protective backing boards.

Discount clubs are useful and worth investigation.  There is normally an initial charge as well as an annual fee.  Take into account the bonuses and calculate whether or not the discounts will cover the cost of membership.

On-line auctions like eBay are another source of back issues.  If you are considering buying from an on-line auction, it is important to keep a level head.  It is easy to be caught up in the fervor of the bidding going on around you.  Set a maximum price that you are prepare to pay for an item and go no further, bearing in mind that, in addition to your successful bid price, you will also have to pay shipping costs.

Auctions by mail, which are run by dealers, are another matter entirely.  There are some auction-by-mail dealers who are entirely honest.  However, there are an increasing number who prey on unsuspecting collectors through various deceptive means.  Use only those that come recommended to you either by a reputable store, non-auction-by-mail dealer, or fellow collector.

First and foremost, comics are for enjoying and reading.  Do not be afraid to handle and read new comics.  They will, of course, need careful storage after you have read them.  As your collection grows, it will be necessary to develop a cataloguing system.  This will allow you easily to find a particular comic, and also ensure that you do not buy the same comic twice (this is easily done).  Your catalogue, which is best sorted on a computer database, but can be hand-written, should include the title, the issue number, the grade, and the location of each comic.

Collectors store their comics alphabetically, by publisher, artist, date, character, or a combination of these.  There is no right or wrong way and you will soon find a system that suits you best.

Hopefully, these suggestions will help you in your pursuit to start and maintain your comic collection for fun and profit.

Onward!

All you need to do is to just send them a comic and pay a fee, and they’ll inspect it. They look for corner wear, writing, missing pages, missing coupons, color gloss, signs of restoration and more with a microscope.

Then they’ll assign the book a grade. There are 25 possible grades on a 10-point scale). Notice the grade on the comic pictured here in the left hand corner is 8.0.

Yes, there are grades 9.9 and 10 — however, few comics ever achieve such high status. Those that do can sell for many times the price of the same book with a 9.8 grade.

After CGC grades the book, then they seal it, and encase it in a plastic protective holder (just like what you see in the picture) so your little brother doesn’t get chocolate on it.

Sure, you can open the plastic holder and read your comic — but that’ll break the seal and invalidate the grading.

Lately, comics that have been graded by CGC are selling for a three times to up to ten times what ungraded books in the same condition are getting.

This means that, for example, an ungraded Daredevil #190 currently valued at $7.50 in mint could fetch up to $75.00 if graded 9.5 or higher through CGC grading service.

Why? Because an impartial grade removes any doubt buyers or sellers may have about what they’re getting, and folks are willing to pay for that reassurance and piece of mind. So what kind of comics get this type of professional grading treatment?

That’s easy: Not everything.

Only:

* Key issues – the ones that will sell at high prices.
* First appearances or key #1 issues.
* Deaths of major heroes, villians and characters

First works of comic creators who go on to become popular (e.g. Todd McFarlane, Frank Miller and their like).
These are comics collectors and dealers will want to get graded to increase their value….and also to re-sell at a potential big profit.

If you want to get on the ground floor of a potential comic money-making opportunity….below are some comics that you can purchase now that you may be able to re-sell at a profit on ebay in the coming months.

For an up to date list of the top 100 CGC graded comics for sale on eBay go to: ComicBookGoldmine.com