5 tips to determine how much my comic costs
Not long ago, a friend of mine sought my advice on whether to buy a comic or not. Unfortunately, the person selling it was going through a tough time and needed the money. When I began explaining everything he had to consider, he realized the price he could pay was very low.
Often, we think we have a comic that's very valuable, just because it's been stored for a long time, but that's not always the case. Similarly, we sometimes have something we think isn't worth much and are pleasantly surprised to discover its real value. Clearly, in the world of collecting in general, this is very common.
That's why I'm providing you with some key points that can help determine the value of a comic:
1.Rarity: The rarity of a comic is one of the most important factors in determining its value. The fewer copies there are,in general, the more valuable the comic will be. A clear example is the first issue of "Action Comics" (a comic valued at 3.2 million dollars in 2014).
Often, we'll come across comics that fulfill the next points to consider very well, but there are many copies of them. For the first issue of "Action Comics," there are fewer than 100 copies. That is to say, if a large print run was made, it's likely not worth much because everyone has a copy of the same edition.
2.Age: Age is another important factor to consider. In general terms, we can say that the older a comic is, the more valuable it's likely to be, as it influences the first point we talked about—more time likely means fewer copies on the market. This point leads us to the next one, which is:
3.Condition: As a direct consequence of the previous point, the condition of the comic is crucial in determining its value. A comic in excellent condition, without tears, wrinkles, or other damage, will be worth more than one in poor condition. Two different copies of the same comic can vary in price solely based on the condition they're in.
4.Key Number: In some comics, there are events that are important in the long run—it could be the first appearance of a character, like the first apparition of Deadpool, a story on which a movie is based, or even the death of a character. Together with the three previous points, we can determine the value of the comic we want to evaluate.
5.Supply and Demand: Fortunately, I won't get too technical here. Demand is how many people want that specific comic, which is directly related to its popularity at that moment. Popularity raises its price as it becomes a sought-after comic. Supply is literally the number of stores/sellers, etc., offering the comic. If you see a store or a seller offering a comic at a high price, you can relatively easily check the price online.
Taking these points into account, let's use a practical example. We could have a comic that is very rare, in excellent condition, and created by a highly acclaimed team of creators, but if there isn't a group of collectors interested in this issue, its value probably won't be very high.
I enjoy buying comics that aren't necessarily the most sought-after at the moment but that I love having to read.
I hope these tips have helped you understand what we should look for to determine the value of a comic. Any comments or questions are always welcome, and I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at elcomicologo@gmail.com