HUGE Comic Book Haul Marvel DC and Vintage Finds! How I Budget my Spending on Comic Books

[@thelibrary8878]

Sweet lord...this is the Dollar Sale that dreams are made of ! Great Haul ! :)

[@raph-retro-comics]

Thank you! It was a great day for deals. I can't remember the last time I came across dollar/cheapie bins this good.

[@bizarrebraincomics7819]

A lot of great stuff. I drool over the Millie books. The non Archie teen books are so rare.

[@raph-retro-comics]

Finding those Mad About Millie issues were a big surprise! Always happy when I run into these, especially at a bargain basement price.

[@daviawyliefinch3017]

"This is where it starts getting a little weird..." I don't recall the Alan Moore Swamp Thing run ever NOT being weird. 😂 What an amazing haul! Your experience is always so relatable. But I definitely need to scale back on my spending. I just keep finding one good deal after another and I think, "I'll regret not buying this," and "strike while the iron's hot," and I put it on my CC... I think I need an intervention. 😢

[@raph-retro-comics]

@daviawyliefinch3017 It certainly 'feels' like there are better deals out there these days. There were times last year I went into stores and bought nothing - even with sales. This year I've been buying a lot more, but I do need to slow down. That being said, I've certainly had far more regrets not buying books than buying books!

[@robertmonroejr1315]

Another great show, Ralph!

[@LeadPaint1]

Great show! Your comments about price memory are so true, and it's one of the hardest things for me to get past these days, although mine works in reverse in most cases. I started collecting comics in 1972, and sure, while a dollar to my little kid self may be the equivalent to ten or twenty dollars today, it still makes me "nervous" to pay $30 or $40 for a mid-grade silver age Marvel that I was paying a couple bucks for back then. Worse is paying $30 or $40 for a comic that I bought off the stands for 30 cents or something but let it get away for one reason or another.

[@raph-retro-comics]

That's a great point! I've more than once 'cringe' paid for a book that I had previously owned. It can be a strange loop and there isn't really a good reason for it. After watching a recent video on a fellow youtuber pick up some great 70s monster mags, I'm starting to long for them again...argh.

[@SKIP-yj3xp]

About 14 years ago, I found a copy of Daredevil #181 in a 99 cents bin in very fine condition, I asked the owner if it was there by mistake, he said no, they had extra copies. It was a great find at the time.

[@raph-retro-comics]

I love little finds like that. When I was going through the bins, I'll sometimes come across 20 copies of the same random issue of a title. I imagine It's tough for stores to manage overstock like this when they have so many extra copies.

[@kevingallagher188]

It really stinks when you think you have struck gold and the owner says it was put there by mistake and wants to jack the price up. I usually tell them for that price they can keep it. I can usually tell by how much a store tries to push collector prices whether I want to shop there. My best experiences with managers are the ones who will automatically give me a special discount because I spend a lot in their store. Few deals like that anymore.

[@raph-retro-comics]

@@kevingallagher188 I've had a similar experience years ago, when the owner said, 'Oh, that's not the right price'. Price adjustments at the register will just drive customers away. I never went back, as how can they expect me to trust any of their sticker prices?

[@Markus465]

I just started the video and I can already tell you that you found unbelievable deals for a buck each! Incredible! You and I are very similar in buying comics. I'm not looking for mint condition older books. If the book is raw, complete and not completely destroyed then that's good enough for me!

[@raph-retro-comics]

It was a great deal for a great number of books! I actually was thinking of buying more, but it was getting too much, and this was only the first half of the books!

[@w1ld0n3]

Hey Raph …. Not sure if you saw but looks like your Swamp Thing #32 is signed at the bottom along the alligator tail, maybe Steve Bissette the cover artist?? 19:09

[@raph-retro-comics]

Thanks for the tip! It does look like Stephen Bissette's autograph! A nice little bonus on the Swamp Thing issues.

[@robertmonroejr1315]

Good looking out!

[@tyrannicaltypomichaeltester]

Amazing deals great Haul, Enjoyed

[@raph-retro-comics]

Thank you! Probably my favorite haul of the year as there's a good mix of books in there.

[@solid4stbend]

Great haul .. Especially great deals on the Alan Moore Swamp Thing and New Teen Titans . That’s a great point about the “price memory “ . I’ve been collecting since the 70’s and I’ve experienced that phenomenon a few times myself 😁 Thanks for sharing!

[@raph-retro-comics]

@solid4stbend It's funny how price memory can work on older comic books. Sometimes it's also just the cover price of those prestige or deluxe format books I couldn't afford to buy back then. At less than a dollar each, impossible to resist!

[@BrianLCS]

Nothing beats an inexpensive haul.

[@raph-retro-comics]

Indeed! Probably went a little overboard on this one, but it'll keep me busy for quite a while!

[@Scotty-Z70]

except a great pair of L'eggs

[@Deephouse_Gent66]

What's up, Raph! You simply cannot go wrong for a dollar apiece! LOVE sales like that, and you got plenty of stuff that you would otherwise only catch for a dollar in your dreams! So $250 bucks probably got you $2500 or more in comic value! That ASTOISHING TALES #6 is definitely a gem! I found all 4 of those ELEKTRA SAGA issues in a dollar bin several years ago. Those Bronze Age FF issues you got are among my favorites from that era. I was a huge FF fan early on in my collecting. TITANS was one of my all-time fave DC titles during that Wolfman/Perez run. If I'm not mistaken, I believe Wolfman wrote that entire series from #1-#130. Don't know if he wrote the entire run of TALES OF TEEN TITANS or not. I would kill to have those original Alan Moore Swamp Thing issues. Many of those comics you have are VERY Shiny and fine. From the way you describe your spending, it probably evens out very nicely for you since you don't purchase new stuff each week. When I back-issue shop, I love Silver-to-Copper Age comics, mostly Marvel. EXCELLENT video!

[@raph-retro-comics]

It was an excellent buy and there's more to come in the second part of the video! The Elektra Saga was my first introduction to Miller's run on Daredevil, so I was really confused years later when I was able to get the original run. Everything was out of place and there's extra content! I prefer the original run, but I do understand why they 'edited' the story heavily to fit into four deluxe issues. You know the one big problem of buying stuff like this? It takes forever to re-bag and board because I pause so many times to read the issues! This will keep me busy for quite a while!

[@Deephouse_Gent66]

@@raph-retro-comics - Sure. Whenever I buy a huge haul of comics, usually from a convention or a big sale, it takes me a few months to actually read them. Can't wait to see what else you got.

[@Deephouse_Gent66]

@@raph-retro-comics - and yeah, I liked that ELEKTRA saga mostly for the Miller art and the new Miller covers.

[@raph-retro-comics]

@@Deephouse_Gent66 This one will keep me going for a really long time. I still have books from my May purchase I need to read! It's a (somewhat) pleasant problem to have.

[@JessjustlovingGod]

Drooling over those New Team Titans! Plus Annie.. Amazing Haul and can't beat that price! :)

[@raph-retro-comics]

Too much good stuff to pass up on! A lot of those New Teen Titans issues being there really surprised me.

[@JessjustlovingGod]

@@raph-retro-comics it would have me too! And in amazing condition! I used to find them falling apart a lot but not like that in $1.00 boxes. :)

[@markandrews6142]

Raph, I agree with you on spending habits, Ive rarely spent more than 150.00 for a single book. I like to bundle when I can. I love the hobby I have a LOT of books, but I find it hard to spend big dollars on my fun hobby. I have fun hunting and finding deals on GREAT books. Your books are clearly an example of great finds for little money.

[@raph-retro-comics]

I really believe you can get exceptional reading value from old comic books these days - you just need to be patient. I'm fortunate that I do have a lot of good buying options locally, although maybe this time I went a little overboard ;-)

[@angelrivera3920]

I agree, Raph, I try to enjoy on a budget and not go over board. I love the thrill of the hunt for hidden treasure. Just spent $ 60.00 on 208 issues, comic shop owner cut a deal fill a short box for $60. Pretty happy with the deal. Great, informative videos.

[@raph-retro-comics]

The best kind of deal, where everyone is happy! Hope you got some treasures in the box!

[@angelrivera3920]

Yes, not silver age, but 80,s, to present, some keys with f.f with doctor Doom, since he's hot now. Alot of 1 issues, and xmen.

[@Kurenai1819]

I just discovered your vlogs about a month ago. I, too, focus on Silver & Bronze Age books w/ an occasional Golden Age book. I’ve been also collecting for over 40 years and try to complete runs w/ VF or better issues. I appreciate your demeanor which is calm and cool not shouting like other personalities.👍

[@raph-retro-comics]

We have very similar tastes! I do try buy in VF or better, but for older books I'm a lot more forgiving than I used to be. Thanks for watching and the kind comments!

[@TT-fq7pl]

Great stuff! Thanks. Really enjoyed your honest reflections on your collecting habits, past and present. And I'm not surprised to hear about the Covid effect! That was exactly when I started looking at my childhood collection for the first time since 1979, the first time I heard about grading companies, and the first time I watched a KZbin comic channel. But after selling 90% of my collection during the pandemic, I realized that I was having lots of fun in the comic world again. So now, like you (and many others, I suspect), I'm a complicit victim of nostalgia. I just wish I had your carefree and erratic approach to collecting. Once I get started buying, I find it hard to rein the impulse in. But that's a work in progress. On the other hand, there are plenty of worse things to spend money on than comics!

[@raph-retro-comics]

At some point I'll have to get rid of some of the books but it's nice to enjoy it for now. I think you timed selling your collection very well! Some of those prices people were getting during the pandemic were crazy, and it might be a long while if they ever get back to those levels. It's a fun hobby with so much to it, and there are so many great content creators on KZbin as well.

[@keng.2468]

Damn! I'm in Toronto and missed this sale!

[@raph-retro-comics]

Follow them on instagram if you have an account! Here's the link: instagram.com/treehousecollectibles/

[@rickytoddbotelho9555]

Two beautiful copies of the ' nam' hard to pick between the opaque and the more saturated, vivid, brighter, brightness 😂❤

[@raph-retro-comics]

The saturated one is the better one! They were so cheap I just picked them both up, not knowing the more vivid one was a 2nd print until I got home. There were actually a couple more copies of #1, but I already felt I was being too greedy.

[@jlcornish]

Loved this. I like old too and it’s all about the hunt! Keep going!

[@raph-retro-comics]

Thank you! Their sale only happens a couple times a year and it was nice to get a big haul like that.

[@kevingallagher188]

Remember a bookstore I used to frequent that had some low grade Golden age Captain Marvel comic he wanted a fortune for hung up on a rafter above the comic bins. Shopped there for years until it closed and he never sold the book. This was before comic graded slabs .

[@raph-retro-comics]

I guess he liked the book so much he wanted it as a permanent store fixture! At least it was a Golden age Captain Marvel book instead of X-Force #1.

[@kevingallagher188]

@@raph-retro-comics Had X-Force 1 since the day it hit the new stands! Liefeld couldn't do backgrounds but he really improved my enjoyment of New mutants!

[@kingofcali1974]

Raph, like you, I buy few new books and no high-dollar books. All my fun these days comes from $1/50 cent/25 cent (US) boxes. Thanks for the video. I'm a subscriber and look forward to each one.

[@raph-retro-comics]

I find it's really hard to justify buying new comic books at their cover price when there are mountains of older material you can buy at a fraction of the price. It's a problem with older collectors like myself who don't like buying new issues because of cost.

[@Lexy-O]

Wow I never saw For Your Eyes Only the Blade Runner series! My favorite era 70s but also anything 1985 and earlier.

[@raph-retro-comics]

Marvel did a lot of movie adaptations in the 1980s and I do like picking up the better known ones. For Bladerunner, there was also a one-shot that combined both issues together.

[@johnscamardo2145]

Some good finds I must say. the one thing I noticed and interesting is that most of these are direct copies which some are collecting as variations but as some have seen and said but incorrectly a second printing. Most old collectors will grab the news stand copy over the direct issue . If I find one of the slogan or picture direct issues I try to add them to my collection but after that stopped and until all became direct I always go for news stand copy.

[@raph-retro-comics]

I find the newsstand/direct edition preference for collectors really interesting. For the longest time, I don't think collectors really cared, but now they certainly like to chase newsstand versions, especially if it's a key book. I do like looking for Canadian newsstands for certain titles though!

[@Scotty-Z70]

15c Astonishing Tales??? dang. I usually find nothing that old in the Dollar Bin

[@raph-retro-comics]

It does have a stain on the back cover, which I guess is why they threw it into the dollar bin. Still a great buy!

[@Scotty-Z70]

@@raph-retro-comics as long as it doesn’t smell like puke I’ll read it

[@roberterwine7650]

all great picks . read them and find favorites !

[@raph-retro-comics]

Thanks! This pile will keep me busy right through until the new year!

[@JuanTorres-zp2ij]

I now subscribed well deserved great content. Always say what you paid most important thank you. I hope you continue!!

[@raph-retro-comics]

Thank you for subscribing Juan! Glad you're enjoying the content.

[@alancarr7718]

Good afternoon Raph Impossible to go wromg with these great titles, they will never go out of favour and at a dollar! I am looking forward to part 2. Do they have $2 bins with even better titles, having said that how could they be better. I hear what you say about some of those old nags with tape, almost impossible to open. Keep up the great work, extremely entertaining. Cheers Al The Goldkeyfourcolorkidownunda

[@raph-retro-comics]

They kept it simple with just the dollar bins books. They also had 20% off all their other back issues, but by the time I was through the dollar bins, I was tired (and happy). They price their regular back issues very fairly, but I've found each time I've gone to their sales, I get stuck at their dollar bins. Old habits die hard!

[@BronzeAgeBryon]

Thanks for sharing Ralph. Have truly enjoyed your content. I've gotten away from doing anything on my channel and have just been enjoying collectors like yourself and your stories. LOVE the Teen Titans stuff with Wolfman and Perez. For me it's better than the Claremont / Byrne run on Uncanny X-Men. Which is perhaps blasphemy to some. But I prefer that title more. Be well.

[@raph-retro-comics]

Thank you Bryon! Part of me doing this is that I've just enjoyed so many other comic book collectors do haul videos. You've probably seen Sean of PopComics do haul videos over an hour long and just talking about comic books. I'd probably give the Claremont/Byrne X-Men run a slight edge, but the Wolfman/Perez Titans run is also exceptional. I don't know why this run doesn't get more love, or maybe I just don't see it.

[@ericcake5075]

While I collect a dozen or so runs (usually 70’s DC bronze horror or Sub-Mariner) outside of that I usually just get the bangers. The problem with the dollar bin big grabs is storage. Plus when you pass your children will end up with a ton of books that they can’t move. For the majority of what you pick up I would read then try to trade.

[@raph-retro-comics]

Storage is a big issue. This purchase did give me a little bit of anxiety when I got them home as I don't have an immediate place to put them. I can do a some more re-arranging and buy some more short boxes, but that's not really the way I want to go. It's easy to get caught up in these kinds of sales as everyone around you are pulling out dozens of comic books. There's another youtuber, Jim (Bronzeville comics) and the amount of the stuff he has piling up in his basement gives me stress! Lol.

[@charliedogg7683]

I guess Bobbi Morse wasn't intended to become the important character she is now; and you're so right about the Windsor-Smith art. The 'Nam was one of my favourite monthly titles for a lot of its run; the Michael Golden issues are my favourites but Wayne Vansant did a great job on the art too. Unfortunately it lost its way when Don Daley took over as editor and insisted on introducing superheroes into the stories. Great runs of FF and Swamp Thing issues. I buy hardly any current titles, the vast majority of my reading is now cheap back issues and collected editions from Ebay. Looking forward to Part 2 of the video Raph.

[@raph-retro-comics]

I recently read some of the 'Nam issues I have (planning on doing a war themed episode) including #24 which covers a bit of the Tet Offensive. Really good stuff, a very under-rated series for that time.

[@ryangoode8938]

Love your show!

[@raph-retro-comics]

Many thanks!

[@johnscamardo2145]

Thanks by the way for mentioning about proline. I ordered 1000 bags and boards to work on some comics I got. Running out again and finding out some of my older bagged comics need a change will be ordering more B&B and doing some boxes.

[@raph-retro-comics]

Hah, I just placed an order! I ordered some of the bulk 24pt boards for the first time - the price is just too good!

[@comicbookninja5268]

Horror story. I bought a bunch of high grade Alan Moore Swamp Things that were in mylar for $2 each along with a bunch of other stuff ( half a long box full) a few months ago at a show.. The dealer agreed to hold it for me after I paid him and wrote my name on the box and set it aside. When I came back a couple hours later to claim it , I found out it was all gone because his partner thought it was more stock and let everyone pick out of it. Every book was taken. They gave me back my money but they did not give back my time and labor. Still pissed about it because there were a lot of gems. By the way, what was the book you paid $400 for if you don't mind sharing?

[@raph-retro-comics]

Gah, that's terrible! Even worse than my Strange Tales #110 story. The book I spent $400 (about $300US) was a Captain America #100. Somewhere between a 6.0 and a 7.0. The funny thing is, I regretted buying it afterwards because it was so expensive! I've been trying to complete my 1968 Marvel #1s, and I only have the two most expensive ones left, the Iron Man #1 and Surfer #1. I've owned a Surfer #1 before but sold it a long time ago. No rush to get those, and it's going to be tough given my reluctance to pay.

[@comicbookninja5268]

@@raph-retro-comics you can always get low grade.

[@ArttuTheCat]

Me and one of my friends dropped by at a flea market in Myyrmäki, Vantaa (Finland 🇫🇮) and bought some comic books. I bought myself HUULI, the finnish 🇫🇮 people comic book magazine with the various artists from different countries. This copy (1976) also includes one of the FRITZ THE CAT (Robert Crumb) comic strips. This magazine cost 4€. And my friend bought a finnish 🇫🇮 copy of HULK (Stan Lee). I can't remember, how much did it cost, but it was somewhere between 2-3€. 😺👍

[@raph-retro-comics]

I'm glad there are opportunities to buy comic books at flea markets in Finland. I'm fortunate to live in a Toronto that has many good comic books buying options. I still keep most of my buying opportunities to store sales which is often plenty (sometimes too much like this case), but I do like coming across random buying opportunities you can find at other types of stores/markets. You just never know what you'll find.

[@sayantinju]

Hi Raph, I live in Toronto and was wondering if you could recommend couple of LCS for back issues? I am based out of Yonge and Lawrence area. Thanks a lot.

[@raph-retro-comics]

Two of my favourite places are BMV books, the location at Yonge and Dundas and the other bigger location near Bloor and Spadina. The Spadina location has more comic books. I find they price their stuff very well. Both BMV locations have exception deals on trade paperbacks and hardcovers. I follow Treehouse Collectables and the Silver Snail on Instagram for sale notifications. The Silver Snail I find is expensive, but when they have sales, it's certainly worth checking out. I haven't been there in many years, but I used to go to Paradise Comics when they had their sales. I believe you're really close to them. I would say the store that has the most comprehensive back issue selection is Comic Book Addiction, but they are way out in Whitby. They have the best stuff, but they are not cheap, but they certainly have very high quality books that you really can't find elsewhere. Hope this helps!

[@lylehopson9573]

Great price for a lot of cool comics

[@raph-retro-comics]

It was a very good day for dollar bin finds!

[@Scotty-Z70]

Alpha Flight had Canadian variants ... isn't that redundant?

[@Mario-j3u]

One movie every guy gloves is fight club and Chuck Palahniak wrote the sequel instead of film on Comics. Was awesome and I really love to see these same actors in a fight club 2. Chuck was the writer of first film. Stories are crazy. I love to see this again so would 99% of guys.

[@Mario-j3u]

A true rare book is the origin of Soawn. Old book.

[@raph-retro-comics]

Tyler Durden agrees 100%

[@Whytemonkee]

Very Nice. I don't buy any new Comics. I don't like the covers (mostly AI at this point) I don't like the art-all the same. The writing Sucks. The most I've spent on a single comic in the last 5 years -$40.00 -Legion of Monsters first appearance. Very Good Condition too.

[@raph-retro-comics]

Marvel Premiere #28, what a great comic book! I'm in the same camp with new comic books - it just doesn't 'feel' the same as old comic books I'm more familiar with.

[@Davidweedlove]

I don’t like the art I don’t like the price I don’t like the words I don’t like the don’t like don’t like everything I don’t like comics hey nice finds

[@ThatDamnSilva]

I've had most of those Teen Titans in my buck bins for years. All the years of setting up at Comicon, you never bought mine.

[@raph-retro-comics]

I did take those Blackhawks off your hands. Oh wait, you gave those to me for free 😁 But I did buy some more of them that you had at Rob's. And those issues of Thriller too!

[@ThatDamnSilva]

The most you've spent is $400? That's a lie! And next time, don't hog it all to yourself. I would have gladly shown up with cash in hand😊

[@raph-retro-comics]

What? I thought you don't buy cheap stuff anymore! I didn't think you'd want to drive 3 hours plus to dig through dollar bins. The most I ever spent on a single comic book is $400. I've spent more money combined on several books at one purchase, but never on one book. Unless you remember something I'm forgetting?

[@ThatDamnSilva]

I know what you spent? I know you better than you know yourself 😄

[@JamesEspinar-k6t]

Tell me something what makes comic books so collectible and you can make money I want to collect comic books but I want to make money too

[@raph-retro-comics]

That is a very complicated question! I'll talk a little bit about it in my next video, but there's another fellow on youtube you should check out who has several videos on this topic: www.youtube.com/@MintHunterComics James is very clear in his videos. I don't always agree 100% as to what he says, but to me he clearly works hard, and has been successful in buying and selling comic books.

[@andrewhamilton2371]

Looks like we read and collect comics in much the same way. Shameless plug for my KZbin channel, 'Comic Book Chinwag'.

[@raph-retro-comics]

Like yourself, I'm finding restraint to be one of the biggest challenges when it comes to buying cheaper books. I'll need to pull back on those kinds of purchases this year.

[@Scotty-Z70]

Collecting. cool. Reading?

[@raph-retro-comics]

There is some pretty good reading material in there, especially the New Teen Titans, Swamp Thing and FF issues. Some of the other stuff, not so much. The second half of the haul is all over the place - but not as much good reading material. Video dropping this Sunday!