Great video! I've been collecting for almost 20 years and I never had the urge to slab my books. I'm a DC collector to the bone, but I do have some Marvel, Image, indie etc. To this day I still read all of my books and enjoy every nostalgic aspect of it. I cherish comic books no matter condition, big, mid, small keys, run fillers. There's a lot of work that goes in to creating these books.
I'm fearful of dealers keep pricing books as graded prices when the dealer can't grade...been seeing that a lot the past few years. Harley Yee is like that, wants a graded 9.2 price, book comes back 7.5, he can't grade
Relative to how most people grade, CGC is tough. I rarely buy raw golden age above a grader's 7.0 for that reason. If it comes back a point lower via CGC standards, no big deal for a 5.0/4.0 book...but for a 9.0...yikes.
Excellent video and key points regarding comic book collecting. I definitely share those very same sentiments as well! Thanks Ben for linking me with this video 👍
Great video! The concept of escapism seems lost on a great many people in the industry these days! If it gets any worse I've always got my Barks to fall back on! 😂 First time I've run across your channel! Can't wait to catch up!
Thanks, Life is Good! Barks -- Carl Barks I'm assuming -- does provide some amazing escapism art. Appreciate the kind words, and welcome to the channel.
I love Carl Barks duck comics. What fun! As a kid I regularly read the pocket-size Walt Disney Comics Digest, which reprinted many clever and masterfully rendered Donald Duck and/or Uncle Scrooge stories illustrated by Mr. Barks. In that publication his work was not credited and so I knew him simply as "the guy who draws the ducks' bills with that backward-and-upward curve who draws so good." Something like that.
@@reprintranch Don Rosa did some great duck stuff too! Definitely worth a read but he loves Carl Barks as much as we do I guess! 🤣 I'm trying desperately to collect as much of that old stuff before it catches fire and it will! Anyway great to run imto fellow duck lovers!
This is a great topic and I'm sure each of these "fears" could be a video by itself. Some of these fears are really only dependent upon how we collect or what we collect (i.e. specific eras, artists, writers, publishers, etc...). There are so many different reasons we collect what we do and that is what makes this such a great hobby. One thing for me is that I always love learning new things and look forward to more content like this. Thanks.
Hi Fenimore. Thanks for the thoughtful comment. Great point about the fears being interconnected and somewhat specific to our own tastes. For example, if I were a modern collector I might be fearful of a new, hot book losing interest among collectors. But, I wouldn't be concerned about the interior pages becoming brittle. Reverse those fears for a well known golden age book :-)
@@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842 The one about fakes is something we should all consider - even reprints have the ability to dupe us if we're unsuspecting. (Buy from someone you trust).
Though it doesn’t affect me, I wonder if the plastic used in today’s comic book cases aka slabs is going to degrade and become brittle in 50 or 75 years’ time. I note, cynically, that I have never come across assertions from a grading company to the effect that “we did research, we consulted experts, we obtained and analyzed vintage plastics and we’re confident that the plastic used in our slabs is the most durable option available.”
Hi Tom, great question. I'd like to get Matt Nelson on this channel from CGC and ask him some of these questions. His understanding of comic book paper and its chemical composition is impressive. I'd be interested in his thoughts about the plastic shell.
I noodled around online a bit, and what I learned sounds reassuring to slab owners. Supposedly, CGC uses a type of plastic known as PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol) for outer cases and another one known as SAN (styrene acrylonitrile) for the inner capsules. Both of these plastics are in wide use and both are notable for their durability and transparency. I did run across one reference to the idea that PETG can absorb moisture and become more brittle if not stored properly, but there was no info re: how much more brittle or what constitutes proper storage. It’s also possible that CGC uses some kind of proprietary process and/or composition that’s specifically meant to protect comic books from damage. At any rate, yes, I think it’s a great idea to ask Matt about CGC cases, if you get the opportunity.
@@reprintranch Thanks, Tom! Great information. Appreciate your doing some research and happy that indeed the plastic is well suited for storing/preserving comic books.
No fears, just amusement. I enjoy collecting and watching folks not listen to me and overpay for something. I eat popcorn while watching a Heritage auction.
Hi J.C. Good to hear from you. Some books have definitely been selling for shocking prices. Fortunately (for me as a buyer) many silver age keys are finally starting to come back to Earth.
It's very cool to have a deeper topic explored in an open and honest way, with incredible books shown at the same time. Knocking it out of the park. : )
Excellent video! Ben, I love the pulps too! I need to do more videos on pulps even though the main stream probably won’t care…I do and that for me will be fun content to share.
Great video Keston. I often fear I'll become jaded in the hobby. Through the process of buying, selling and trading up to improve my PC. At some point I'll lose focus on the initial joy that got me started. p.s. Fears 10 & 12 were the same (both focusing on grade).
Hi Shane! Thanks brother. Yeah...I think about similar things. And, I think being jaded and being bored are cousins. The golden age has certainly held my attention, though. So much depth and history :-)
Unique takes on a Halloween theme episode involving fear in the hobby. Smart, interesting and entertaining. Now let me make sure my collection hasn’t vanished into thin air 😱
Haha. Thanks, David! That's funny, the Halloween tie hadn't occurred to me. It was a video I had been thinking about for a few months. Better to be lucky than good, I guess :-)
Great list Keston :) 2 of my fears are that I’m priced out of the hobby and I’ll never be able to afford the books I want and I make a huge mistake on buying a higher priced book and miss something or am scammed and it ends up worth a lot less that I paid.
Hey, Keston. My biggest fear is the market crashing again. We did well by grabbing up our Silver Age keys several years ago way before stuff went crazy. Now we are focused on Golden Age, and that's getting crazy. I dont think it's sustainable.
I think we are OK with the prices we ended up getting on our Golden Age stuff so far. We have also missed out on a lot of books because they went for 2 to 4 times what they've ever sold for in that grade range. In 2022, Sensation 1 in a 6.0 sold for a whopping 86k. Then, next year in 2023, that same exact book sold for 58k and a 5.5 sold for 40k. Yikes. There's been lots of Golden Age books that have suddenly sold for crazy record high prices too. Recent history tells me that's not a good thing lol.
Why would there be this idea of "always up" in comics. They are down since 2021 because all types of markets are down. Most everything peaked in 2021 and then to a correction. It happens in all markets not just money investments. There is no reason to think that prices will go to zero, or back down pre 2000 prices. If you know anything about investing you can read off the charts that now is looking like an amazing time to buy... if you care about the value you will get over time
Hi WAM. I hear you. If someone says an investment won't ever go down, my response is...just wait. On a similar note, if a stock or a comic or...whatever investment goes up 100% in one year, I get concerned. similar to you I think now is a decent time to buy comics. I don't know if we've seen the bottom but prices for many books are returning to pre-pandemic levels. Thanks for commenting!
My fear is getting too caught up thinking of the value of things that it becomes more stress than it’s with and it spoils the hobby. It’s why I don’t like all the Hot 10 type videos. I want to enjoy having my Daredevil 1, say, without constantly thinking “should I sell this? Can I afford to keep it? Is it going up?”
You forgot to mention time travel... when collectors can go back to the Golden Age then come back and flood today's market with mint condition rarities galore!
I try not to be a "comic book racist" meaning I collect everything from golden age to moderns and be knowgable in all eras. A lot of guys just stick to 1 or 2 era and don't know anything about comics after 1980
I don't worry about my books losing their value since I got most of them before the hysterical pandemic inflation and deflation. My only fears were losing and cracked slabs in the mail.
As a comic book collector my biggest fear is that a girl will make eye contact with me.
That's hilarious. Thanks for sharing, David!
I'm glad you realized I was just joking and not trying to be insulting.
A couple of fears I have...losing them to theft or disaster. Great video.
Thanks Roy! Those are good ones.
My biggest fear is that my son will sell my collection to buy Robux
Don't underestimate the long term value of Robux :-)
Great video! I've been collecting for almost 20 years and I never had the urge to slab my books. I'm a DC collector to the bone, but I do have some Marvel, Image, indie etc. To this day I still read all of my books and enjoy every nostalgic aspect of it. I cherish comic books no matter condition, big, mid, small keys, run fillers. There's a lot of work that goes in to creating these books.
Thanks Roycestan. I appreciate your unadulterated passion for the hobby. "Cherish" is great way to approach comic books.
I'm fearful of dealers keep pricing books as graded prices when the dealer can't grade...been seeing that a lot the past few years. Harley Yee is like that, wants a graded 9.2 price, book comes back 7.5, he can't grade
Relative to how most people grade, CGC is tough. I rarely buy raw golden age above a grader's 7.0 for that reason. If it comes back a point lower via CGC standards, no big deal for a 5.0/4.0 book...but for a 9.0...yikes.
Great list. My big fears are overspending, values dropping, and potential damage/loss.
😅😢
CCG! Thanks, buddy. BTW: I drew inspiration from the great video you did on the subject several months ago. Really thoughtful.
Excellent video. Very informative.
Thanks for the kind words, Chris!
Excellent video and key points regarding comic book collecting. I definitely share those very same sentiments as well! Thanks Ben for linking me with this video 👍
Thanks, Brian! Glad that Ben hooked you up :-)
Great video! The concept of escapism seems lost on a great many people in the industry these days! If it gets any worse I've always got my Barks to fall back on! 😂
First time I've run across your channel! Can't wait to catch up!
Thanks, Life is Good! Barks -- Carl Barks I'm assuming -- does provide some amazing escapism art. Appreciate the kind words, and welcome to the channel.
I love Carl Barks duck comics. What fun! As a kid I regularly read the pocket-size Walt Disney Comics Digest, which reprinted many clever and masterfully rendered Donald Duck and/or Uncle Scrooge stories illustrated by Mr. Barks. In that publication his work was not credited and so I knew him simply as "the guy who draws the ducks' bills with that backward-and-upward curve who draws so good." Something like that.
@@reprintranch Don Rosa did some great duck stuff too! Definitely worth a read but he loves Carl Barks as much as we do I guess! 🤣
I'm trying desperately to collect as much of that old stuff before it catches fire and it will! Anyway great to run imto fellow duck lovers!
This is a great topic and I'm sure each of these "fears" could be a video by itself. Some of these fears are really only dependent upon how we collect or what we collect (i.e. specific eras, artists, writers, publishers, etc...). There are so many different reasons we collect what we do and that is what makes this such a great hobby. One thing for me is that I always love learning new things and look forward to more content like this. Thanks.
Hi Fenimore. Thanks for the thoughtful comment. Great point about the fears being interconnected and somewhat specific to our own tastes. For example, if I were a modern collector I might be fearful of a new, hot book losing interest among collectors. But, I wouldn't be concerned about the interior pages becoming brittle. Reverse those fears for a well known golden age book :-)
@@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842 The one about fakes is something we should all consider - even reprints have the ability to dupe us if we're unsuspecting. (Buy from someone you trust).
Though it doesn’t affect me, I wonder if the plastic used in today’s comic book cases aka slabs is going to degrade and become brittle in 50 or 75 years’ time.
I note, cynically, that I have never come across assertions from a grading company to the effect that “we did research, we consulted experts, we obtained and analyzed vintage plastics and we’re confident that the plastic used in our slabs is the most durable option available.”
Hi Tom, great question. I'd like to get Matt Nelson on this channel from CGC and ask him some of these questions. His understanding of comic book paper and its chemical composition is impressive. I'd be interested in his thoughts about the plastic shell.
I noodled around online a bit, and what I learned sounds reassuring to slab owners.
Supposedly, CGC uses a type of plastic known as PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol) for outer cases and another one known as SAN (styrene acrylonitrile) for the inner capsules.
Both of these plastics are in wide use and both are notable for their durability and transparency. I did run across one reference to the idea that PETG can absorb moisture and become more brittle if not stored properly, but there was no info re: how much more brittle or what constitutes proper storage.
It’s also possible that CGC uses some kind of proprietary process and/or composition that’s specifically meant to protect comic books from damage.
At any rate, yes, I think it’s a great idea to ask Matt about CGC cases, if you get the opportunity.
@@reprintranch Thanks, Tom! Great information. Appreciate your doing some research and happy that indeed the plastic is well suited for storing/preserving comic books.
No fears, just amusement. I enjoy collecting and watching folks not listen to me and overpay for something. I eat popcorn while watching a Heritage auction.
Hi J.C. Good to hear from you. Some books have definitely been selling for shocking prices. Fortunately (for me as a buyer) many silver age keys are finally starting to come back to Earth.
It's very cool to have a deeper topic explored in an open and honest way, with incredible books shown at the same time. Knocking it out of the park. : )
Thanks Waz! Thought the video might be more interesting with some sweet books in the background.
Excellent video! Ben, I love the pulps too! I need to do more videos on pulps even though the main stream probably won’t care…I do and that for me will be fun content to share.
Alex!! You and Ben are really taking the deep dive on the pulps. I've bought a few but haven't gone down that rabbit hole yet.
Great video!
Appreciate it, VV!
Great video Keston. I often fear I'll become jaded in the hobby. Through the process of buying, selling and trading up to improve my PC. At some point I'll lose focus on the initial joy that got me started. p.s. Fears 10 & 12 were the same (both focusing on grade).
Hi Shane! Thanks brother. Yeah...I think about similar things. And, I think being jaded and being bored are cousins. The golden age has certainly held my attention, though. So much depth and history :-)
Oh yeah, nice catch! The title for Fear #12 was supposed to be "Fear of Over-Manipulation" --- oversight on my part.
My biggest fear is fire. 🔥 or theft. 😬
Thanks MB. Both scary for sure!
A great video!!
Thanks Night Tiger. Always nice to hear from you!
Unique takes on a Halloween theme episode involving fear in the hobby. Smart, interesting and entertaining. Now let me make sure my collection hasn’t vanished into thin air 😱
Haha. Thanks, David! That's funny, the Halloween tie hadn't occurred to me. It was a video I had been thinking about for a few months. Better to be lucky than good, I guess :-)
Keep up the great topics
Thanks Jesse! I appreciate the kind words.
Great list Keston :)
2 of my fears are that I’m priced out of the hobby and I’ll never be able to afford the books I want and I make a huge mistake on buying a higher priced book and miss something or am scammed and it ends up worth a lot less that I paid.
HI paul...high fear factor for both of those. Yikes. Thanks for commenting!
This is some good information
Thanks for the kind words, Fred!
Howdy K ! Fun Show. My only fear is running out of beer. C ta
Hi SVP! Hope you are doing well, my friend. A beer shortage is high on the fear factor :-)
Hey, Keston. My biggest fear is the market crashing again. We did well by grabbing up our Silver Age keys several years ago way before stuff went crazy. Now we are focused on Golden Age, and that's getting crazy. I dont think it's sustainable.
Hazeldan! That's true. The bottom has yet to drop for the golden age books...and that would be scary if it does!
I think we are OK with the prices we ended up getting on our Golden Age stuff so far. We have also missed out on a lot of books because they went for 2 to 4 times what they've ever sold for in that grade range. In 2022, Sensation 1 in a 6.0 sold for a whopping 86k. Then, next year in 2023, that same exact book sold for 58k and a 5.5 sold for 40k. Yikes. There's been lots of Golden Age books that have suddenly sold for crazy record high prices too. Recent history tells me that's not a good thing lol.
Why would there be this idea of "always up" in comics. They are down since 2021 because all types of markets are down. Most everything peaked in 2021 and then to a correction. It happens in all markets not just money investments. There is no reason to think that prices will go to zero, or back down pre 2000 prices. If you know anything about investing you can read off the charts that now is looking like an amazing time to buy... if you care about the value you will get over time
Hi WAM. I hear you. If someone says an investment won't ever go down, my response is...just wait. On a similar note, if a stock or a comic or...whatever investment goes up 100% in one year, I get concerned. similar to you I think now is a decent time to buy comics. I don't know if we've seen the bottom but prices for many books are returning to pre-pandemic levels. Thanks for commenting!
My biggest fear is that books are being damaged by cleaning and pressing
HI, Goldschool. Definitely. There's something ironic about ruining a book in the pursuit of a higher technical grade.
My fear is getting too caught up thinking of the value of things that it becomes more stress than it’s with and it spoils the hobby. It’s why I don’t like all the Hot 10 type videos. I want to enjoy having my Daredevil 1, say, without constantly thinking “should I sell this? Can I afford to keep it? Is it going up?”
Hi Alpertron. Thanks for the comment. I hear ya. Thinking about comic books as a pure investment vehicle sucks the fun out of the hobby.
You forgot to mention time travel... when collectors can go back to the Golden Age then come back and flood today's market with mint condition rarities galore!
Haha. Yes, that would be quite a threat!
I try not to be a "comic book racist" meaning I collect everything from golden age to moderns and be knowgable in all eras. A lot of guys just stick to 1 or 2 era and don't know anything about comics after 1980
Hi Kevn. That's great, and hard to do. So much to be knowledgeable about.
I don't worry about my books losing their value since I got most of them before the hysterical pandemic inflation and deflation. My only fears were losing and cracked slabs in the mail.
Hi Rocket. Absolutely. I hate it when.a book gets loose in the case.
TH-camrs and grading comics are ruining the comic industry
Those damn, TH-camrs....oh wait! Haha. Thanks for commenting, sinchman.