I was wrong.

Welp! I was wrong about that one!
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[@ComicsCurated]

I think there's a limit to variants. I like them, but there should be like 2 max per issue unless it's a landmark.

[@Whalewraith]

What I hate about variants is how muddy collecting back issues becomes. You come across a book you like and want to see more. Suddenly what was simply me looking for XYZ Girl #13, becomes what volume is this what issue is this, I haven't got that one, Then when it arrives 'oh, I guess i did have'

[@RicardoVillalobos80]

Agree

[@Weredevil-p8m]

Frank Brunner is a good call. Very underrated bronze age artist who's name I don't hear enough.

[@MintHunterComics]

Facts

[@derektitov6667]

Yeah, you're right. It's annoying how many variants there are at times, but really I only pick up the ones with the art I really really like.

[@CLBrown-gt1lz]

I’m in my 50s and have collected comics for 40+ years, and found that I have always collected artist covers. Joe Jusko, Adam Hughes, Alex Ross, Romita, you get what I’m saying. The variants def feed that tendency and I too think it’s great fun. Can I find the latest skottie young book?My lord I have entire long boxes dedicated to individual artists, the hardest part for me is trying to keep it under control, I’ve found so many new artist because of variant covers it ridiculous. But I collet what I like, period. That way if the collection suddenly becomes worthless who cares you still enjoy it. I feel there’s a lot to be said for variants, like you I did not like them when they showed up in the 80s due to the often horrible work (lazy)on them and sometimes to many of them (Gen 13, 13 covers), I do have 4 of them. But lately there have been some really outstanding covers happening and I’m right in the middle of it grabbing what I like. So I say enjoy it. collecting art in all its forms is addictive and rewarding. So keep up the good work James I really enjoy catching you on the tube.

[@MintHunterComics]

That is an awesome collection, man!

[@karlburkhardt9902]

I've always collected covers that I like. Never for investment though. If I like it better than cover A then I purchase the variant.

[@ShortRound42]

Spot on. Buy the books you truly like and enjoy. I do that. And never be a completest. I've done this the past 20 years (of a 40 year collector) and have been happier for it.

[@jabezcreed]

4:34 Exactly, buying weekly comics is bad investment. But perfect hobby!

[@Prodbass]

Thanks for the transparency! Self awareness is so important and people change all the time. As long as the change is for the better it should be celebrated!

[@bkotake]

Love your videos. I just started collecting this year and your channel has been my favorite big picture comic channel

[@midgetpower8953]

Love hearing "buy what you like" instead of just the buy to resell mentality too many have.

[@TheOriginalGoddamnpc]

Collecting can feel like more of a business than actual fun (doubly so for all of us resellers that have actually made it into a business!) Glad you're rekindling your passion for the hobby!

[@markleneker9923]

I still think variants are a bit much.

[@robertt9342]

They are, but it’s just customizing a product for the consumers. I don’t participate in variant chase, so it doesn’t affect me.

[@waltcee]

This is a great point you make. Some stores do ask too much for their variants if we could keep the price lower it definitely could be better.

[@jonnyvega]

Great vid!!! Glad you realized what the true meaning of collecting is all about...'The Enjoyment.'

[@frankieno-nose8447]

It's difficult to admit when you are wrong. It's even more difficult to admit you have changed your mind. Great video!

[@ThatLeegeFella]

I remember seeing your old video covering this. I was a fairly new collector at that point in time. But I absolutely adored variant covers and looked for specific artists like you do now. It's is great to see the adjustment in your opinion! I see both sides of the spectrum for new and old collectors alike. Chasing more "modern" comics can be a bit more of a challenge now but what's the fun in a hunt without a challenge? :)

[@oldstuffizcool]

I got back into comics at the beginning of the year and this was the first time in my collecting history I was tracking down some variants. As you mentioned in one of your examples. I keep an eye out for Jenny Frison covers and negative space covers, but don't necessarily feel the need to collect every single one of them. Great topic for a video!

[@x4486xx]

Off camera is Nick from Dynamite pointing a gun at Mint Hunter Comics lmao

[@MintHunterComics]

I actually giggled at that

[@charlesjohnson3287]

Speculating on all the variant covers is a financial disaster in the making! But those Campbell covers be too dope to pass up!

[@robertgray1365]

Campbell and Hughes variants are usually a pretty safe bet if you're playing the speculation game.

[@iCal_oG]

I agree, trying to collect all the variants is crazy. However everyone should focus on what covers they enjoy and what they like to read. When I first got into it, I was so focused on getting whatever covers I thought would make money and I don’t even sell lmao. Big fan and great video!

[@timteague5582]

Great video , I fell in love with artists through variants

[@rickt5255]

I love collecting some variants. Especially I look for virgin variants. Collect what you love.

[@AllenB79]

I'm really enjoying collecting modern variants. I enjoy supporting today's artists and writers

[@DustyBro645]

I 💯% agree with this Video!!! I have Certain Characters/Titles that I try to Key Out on as well as Artists that I try to focus on those Certain Characters/Titles. But I find Myself Drifting/Exploring with those Artists as well! Keep up the Good Work!!!

[@ronjolly2062]

Love the video. I agree that you should collect what you like. I use to only collect a couple lines (GI Joe & Batman) but I now collect specific artist. It does make it fun to collect cool covers.

[@ladonde3465]

I love that you made this video and that you have found some joy in picking up variants! I have always tried to pick up the the variant cover I really like when a book has a lot.

[@AnotherGalaxyToys]

I remember seeing that original video from you! I love collecting virgin variant covers because it feels like an art piece, never thought about it from an investment standpoint. I actually try not to think about investing or money returns too much when it comes to passions and what I collect, because it’s not why I got into it!

[@Caseshells123]

Absolute Batman is great read

[@christopherdukes2476]

Glad you found the joy of collecting. I personally began collecting because the cover art and gimmick covers drew me in the 90’s. It sucked a little to find out that it was not as valuable to others as it was to me, but I am still buying those covers and gimmick covers because I love them!

[@MichaelMolloy-if3vr]

I just remember the Variant craze starting in the cash grab 90s (ugghh) and it was a Nightmare but on the other hand it is cool to see other artists takes on covers nowadays. And No Man's Land was the best I never got to finish it. lucky you getting the Omnibus (plural) it looks Kick-ass. Happy Holidays.

[@alyssajolie]

I agree! For me, variants gave me a way to choose what cover I want for the issues I’m grabbing and that liberty has made the hobby more enjoyable! When I first started collecting the thing that brought me in was Peach Momoko variant covers. I know there are always so many variants and yes it can be overwhelming sometimes but I would rather options than no options. Honestly, sometimes I’ll just grab Peach Momoko variants if they really strike me even if I haven’t tried reading that series yet. I think they can also bring new readers to try different series!

[@GothamPHDguy]

Awesome video. It’s all about fun.

[@VitaminDSkool]

I’m an avid collector of Artgerm and Jenny Frison covers. Frison is currently my favorite cover artist. I just love her style.

[@gregwait3553]

I ❤ hunting for certain variants! The Spider-Man evolve or die variants are so much fun! I’m glad you’re back hunting what you want artist wise! Kelly Jones Batman is awesome!

[@TheOriginalBlackBradPitt]

As a newcomer to the hobby and someone who reads everything I buy, I love the option to get a variant cover that speaks to me when picking out a new comic. Also a thing to add as far as what I’d ideally get out of variant covers once I’m done reading them is displaying them on a wall lol.

[@CedRed]

You are right, collect what you love.

[@mikedissele751]

Awesome, that's funny I just picked up the Road to no mans land for a couple of bucks at a yard sale.

[@darkflash6702]

I've also tarted to collect variant covers for specific artist..but it's still overwhelming the amount of variants they have for some of these comics . Side note, I was finally able to make it to the shop over the weekend and bought some nice keys

[@s3rgio711]

It’s all about the art 🖼️! And everyone’s different styles of taste and how you build a curate your collection and hopefully it pays off one way or another in the future

[@BobBoozle]

People across many hobbies detest variants but they do provide more of a challenge to collectors. They also provide different display options for people that appreciate character profiles vs action and like you said different artists. I like the artists you mention.

[@dstrange81]

Would love to add the NML OG trade run to my collection!! Love the channel, keep up the great work!

[@woejilliams]

I feel like many of my favorite artists over the years have basically become variant cover artists. Thats typically when I go for a variant - to get an Ashley Wood or Frank Quitely cover.

[@thomaskowalig488]

I love variants cause I use those to put on my walls. Even if it’s not been graded.

[@Ohhm3gA]

Cool vid. Certain variant covers were always my goal. Thx!

[@ivanengler5306]

I use to be a completist, but quickly changed to following artists covers. I personally love getting certain artists covers along with the cover A, to give me the child like warm fuzzies owning the cover of a comic. Especially if it is a J Cambell Scott, Scotty Young, or Joseph Linser (there is a few others) just make me giggle for the artistic cover that most people won't have. Enjoy your content and your channel, keep up with the great work.

[@fbstello4636]

I would never try to collect all these but I do think they have a place. And I totally enjoy seeing 10 artists having a go at one book cover😂 I enjoy art so it’s def ok with me.

[@GrungeMadman]

I agree that variants are actually really fun. I've been doing that with Lee Bermejo covers here lately.

[@Rmorrison69]

Love your channel and the information you share!

[@stonewit]

I think that is the best way to enjoy anything you do in life. Find what makes you happy and not worry about what others think. I enjoy collecting the characters I like, but they aren't worth most of the time.

[@TheKyuketsukiNeko]

I think variants are great, just started to collect this year and having options to choose means that is very aesthetically pleasing and fun to do so !!

[@CoraxSage]

My local shop is small, and doesn't order in the numbers that give the "One of XX" variants. But whenever one is available to just purchase outright, he will usually snag them.

[@claytontaylor3899]

Loved this video, It shows we all have our own reasons to collect comics. Even if others thinks it's wrong.

[@BenFarmerCreative]

I buy variants if I really like the cover or if it’s an artist I enjoy. Right now I’m collecting anything Greg Capullo does! Always fun to expand and try something new!

[@PunguinYoga]

Happy you're enjoying the hobby again. I love some variants. But they can be expensive. I buy them for the art. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

[@PunguinYoga]

I love some of Carla Cohen's work with Harley and Ivy.

[@Cthebipolarbear]

You nailed it. Some of the love is for the art. I def have a habit of following a certain artists like Gabrielle DelOtto

[@Elseworlds]

For years, I was collecting every single Witchblade variant, even the convention ones. I stopped doing so, the moment they started making new covers for issues 5 years ago. The series was like, at #80, and a couple variants of #18 popped in. This was a total scam.

[@hihowarryaa9004]

Really cool to hear that you started to enjoy reading and collecting for fun again. Sometimes when money gets involved in the hobbies you love you forget why you started it all to begin with

[@MintHunterComics]

Yeah I'm very grateful

[@artdelgado8132]

I’m loving the Long Halloween series

[@GearRob]

The amount of variants for books confused the hell outa me when I first got back into comics a year ago. But now I do understand them and do not mind them. And I do find myself collecting some now and enjoying it. Thank you for the videos!

[@bertosalazar9187]

No Man's Land!!! Whaaaaaa! I buy variants but I've been cutting back. It does get expensive.

[@Howton2k]

I love some of the variant covers out there and I like to display them with my statue collection!

[@kontinuouskicks6543]

It’s simple. Collect what you like but collect responsibility

[@ksmurray86]

great video glad to see you growing the channel

[@richardhuff319]

I buy variant covers for the artwork and usually pick a variant instead of the A cover.

[@Stormcastlecomics]

I enjoyed those Alex Ross headshots on Marvel over the last couple years. Some nice art on those books. And honestly if there is a great Vision or Scarlet Witch cover variant I will grab it if I see it.

[@nwoking666]

Nice! No Man's Land. I'll pick up a variant from time to time. I did that with Kubert, Jones, Bolland etc. within reason.

[@TheBoyWhoHad7TalksComicBooks]

My collecting has evolved, then evolved, and evolved again. HAHA I've done the raw variant thing and it was a blast. Now I'm doing the 9.8 variant key thing. Collecting is fun!

[@justdjackson]

I have been fighting back and forth with myself about variants. They are fun to collect, but I read so much that I have to decide on one more book to read, or buy a variant of a book I’m already collecting.

[@RakshitaPareekTMB]

Hey, we here at Readers Digest loved one of your videos and would love to talk more!

[@thelatestartcollector]

Variants are about the art to me. Like I get cover a but then get the variant if it’s Adam Hughes, one of my fav shelf’s on my comic wall is just all my ungraded Adam Hughes covers that kind of just happened by accident but I love it! And you’re right James the excitement factor is real, when I see that there is a Hughes variant for a modern issue

[@BlackSpiders75]

Great video. Thanks for the information 👍

[@breezeflippers]

I love variants for the art. I have a few that are valuable. I try to find ones that appeal and look great on a wall. It’s fun finding an interesting variant. I believe variants might be brining in more comic readers as these appeal to people in different ways.

[@WitchKing73]

I prefer the 2024 variant version of Mint-Hunter over the 2021 version with his mom's earrings. 🤣

[@WarriorsforInfoTV]

Bigger Elephant in the room: You were wrong to wear those earrings.

[@MintHunterComics]

Bro I have no style anymore. I miss it crazy

[@vincentimbesi3947]

@@MintHunterComicsBring back the earrings! 😍

[@TripleDAdventures]

It's a slippery slope.

[@Slay-i6g]

Variants are cool sometimes have quite a few myself but I don’t try to get them for the most part just get what I like thanks James. Need me some Batman reading

[@RPRsChannel]

*_Ah come on! That IS Sydney Sweeney on that PowerGirl cover._*

[@allthingscoolandcommon5161]

Nice video. I am generally a completionist collector, but draw the line on the 25 variant issues. If I see a variant cover I like, I’ll pick it up but not feeling compelled at all. 🤘😎👍

[@terraincognita3749]

I hear you on variants. They can be SO much fun! I strictly select on variant covers that speak to me. And I wait until I can get them for a price that feels good to me. David Finch, Campbell, Skottie Young and Chrissie Zullo are some of my favorite (variant) cover artists. On Batman: No Man's Land, love that story! Cassandra Cain is one of my all-time favorites and there are some gorgeous Cassandra Cain covers in this storyline.

[@dantix5583]

I am 100% a novice to Comics and comic collecting so I come to hear all the discussions. As strictly a Venom collector, so far, I really enjoy the variants just based on the cover art alone.

[@ShortRound42]

Yeah, I remember when 'variant's' were the truly special ones, they'd be behind the counter, and the retailer would only be able to get them from like ordering a certain amount. Or the retailer got them like from retailer summits like say DC Comics would do and have swag bags of stuff for the retailers attending, or retailer events before a comic con like at SDCC or Baltimore. It'd be like a b/w pencilled version of the cover. Something special. For the bigger collector. And the same is in the music vinyl industry. The've been doing color lp's, multi colors and versions with different art for the record. Different lp sleeve art, etc. They're still cashing in in that market too. Back in the day I remember when a special vinly was again something a regular collector just couldn't get. Some imports from Japan was a big deal, different album cover, with a physical band of paper around it with Japanese graphics. And any oversea's copies too from various countries. Or if you worked at a radio station, they'd send you promotion vinyls that were ONLY for promotion. Not for sale. Those used to be on the market for beaucoup bucks. We used to buy bootleg's of concert albums with people making their own covers (photo color copies pasted onto blank lp sleeves, the vinyl would have no label) and selling them on the street here in NYC.

[@HallockStreetStuff]

I go for certain variants but not all…sometimes the A cover is most appealing to me.

[@TheGMan366]

Excellent my friend well done The G man totally approves and agree with you .🤗🤗

[@RayimusPrime]

I completely agree. If you like the book, and you like the cover, go for it. It’s all for your happiness and long term enjoyment, not to sell it. Don’t get me wrong, some variants are CRAZY expensive (Absolute Batman 1:100 right now), and they spike and dip over time. I collected a lot of Image Comics Transformers #1 because I liked the covers, not just for an investment. It can get even more out of control if you start getting them signed, but again, it’s for my son and I, not for any other purpose. Thanks for putting this video out, it should really help newer collectors to understand what they need to know in the industry.

[@jeremymedina2791]

I'm more of a cover A kind of guy, but damn they make some nice variants that I can't resist.

[@randallcombs599]

It is fun. I started by getting Jim Lee variants, but now I buy them for the fun, but I do still get the A/B covers and hunt for the variants infant. But yeah, my ideas changed as well on variants too.

[@jgir7452]

Variants killed my dog is a wild claim! 😂😂

[@jesseduran7353]

I do like variants overall, but do agree its absolutely gone completely crazy. I will basically get one if I like the cover and artist and if the cover has some tie-in to the actual issue but I've stopped collecting for any sort of value or rarity. Its just too expensive.

[@cardpirates4515]

The art enjoyer of me just loves the options there are. If I don’t like a cover A of the book I’m reading there’s 3 other options on the shelf I may like a lot more and get that little extra enjoyment out of it.

[@davidrenfrew111]

Even restricting myself to collecting 2 titles, there are so many variants of each issue...but damn it, the covers are generally great..

[@Duqsteel1115]

Yeeeaah, I’m still feeling that variants are money grabs. If you have fun collecting them, great. There are cool variant covers. I don’t buy comics for investment value anyway, but it’s like sports teams with variant jerseys. It’s just about the sales Baby! 😂

[@chrismeder2376]

Variants have their place in the hobby. You just have to realize you are not buying them all, just pick the type/artist you want to collect. In the 90s when variants were running rampant, I tried to collect them all and quickly burned out. I have since learned my lesson.

[@kellyrusk8015]

What I like about DC variants is that they wrap the variant cover around the A cover. So, you get the A cover as well as the variant.

[@williambaldridge1203]

I didn't know that, but that's a great idea. I'll be watching for that. thanks for that information.

[@pattongilbert]

How I do variants is just grab the covers I particularly love for my monthly pull list. Just a couple more dollars every month for the fun of it.😊

[@MintHunterComics]

yeppers!

[@TheMikeBaldwin]

I love variants if it's a cover I love.

[@robertquinlan4269]

I only get the variants if I really like them and it's a key. Have a nice little Artgerm collection going. I've been hunting his Supergirl covers

[@silverflash7773]

I will buy a book for the cover. If it's a key, that's a bonus, but lots of keys have ho-hum covers. It's the silver age keys with killer covers that ring my bell. Modern books have raised the bar so high that killer covers are expected, so books that have that something special in terms of stunning artwork, and I'm not talking high ratio variants, which get my money. If cover A is the best looking the variants can stay on the shelf.

[@monkeyideas]

That's how I felt too. Thanks for the video.

[@ecnalreleam]

I'm so proud of you! I'm glad you're starting to really enjoy it more.

[@oldmanh79]

I agree with your takes on this. Too many versions can make a variant seem less special. But many of my favorite covers are variants! Will Jack’s Action Comics 1053 might be the best cover I own and I’m opening his Batman 609 as I type this 😂

[@kyleelmore7250]

I like variants when they are fun, because that’s what I want comics to be! My favorite variants are when they do crossovers with other established properties. For example when they did the DC characters teamed up with the loony tunes characters, or the marvel characters with the planet of the apes franchise!

[@Auriel-c7q]

The No Mans Land series is theeeee BEST DC Storyline ! Would really like to have the originale Trades