By Tim Bildhauser, International Comic Specialist, Overstreet Advisor, and Associate Editor of Foreign Comic Collector Magazine, October 2021
“Much like the rest of the comic market I believe we’re seeing the threshold begin to lower in terms of what constitutes an acceptable grade. Collectors are realizing that there are some CPVs that are out of their price range in the higher grades or simply aren’t available, so as a result, they’re eyeing the copies they can afford or that are available in hopes of possibly upgrading later.”
Another year has passed us by in this new COVID affected reality. As a result my market report will be rather brief being that conventions didn’t really start happening here in the States until around May of 2021. I have hope that come 2022 it will be easier to cross the border so that I can make at least one trip up north to see some friends and hunt for comics.
The main observation I’m somewhat surprised to see is how strong sales remain overall. Online comic sales in general have tapered off with the re-start of conventions but still remain strong, especially when it comes to high grade CPVs, both slabbed and raw. There doesn’t appear to be much, if any, resistance to price when they come to market. Just about any CPV slabbed in 9.4 or higher sells almost instantly when listed as a Buy it Now; they out perform their American counterparts when auctioned.
The main market for CPVs definitely exists online whether it be through eBay, Facebook, Instagram, etc., at least here in the States. I’ve been to about half a dozen conventions in 2021 and have heard some talk about CPVs from dealers and collectors at shows but the Internet is buzzing with talk, especially if you look around at some of the various forums and social media sites.
The big guns that everyone seems to want remains about the same:
Amazing Spider-Man #238
Amazing Spider-Man #252
G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #21
Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars #8
Thor #337
I have seen increased interest in everything key, anything that can be considered even a minor key and pretty much anything that has the potential to to be pressed and graded. Much like the rest of the comic market I believe we’re seeing the threshold begin to lower in terms of what constitutes an acceptable grade. Collectors are realizing that there are some CPVs that are out of their price range in the higher grades or simply aren’t available, so as a result, they’re eyeing the copies they can afford or that are available in hopes of possibly upgrading later.
Given that there’s a considerable difference in price between CPVs and US copies it still baffles me that there are sellers that haven’t educated themselves more when it comes to CPVs. I don’t know if it’s laziness, complacency or just not caring. I do know that out of the CPVs I purchased within the last 12 months, half of them weren’t identified as such in the listings.
On that note, I hope you are all healthy and wish you luck in your collecting endeavors.
Tim Bildhauser
Rare Comics 