If You Can't Afford Action 1 CGC, What to BUY Instead 2025?

[@peterjarvis7335]

Great video! I like to collect the modern reprints and facsimile versions of some of these comic books. That way I can still have something like detective comics 27 or action comics 1 without having to spend the insane amount of money that original pressings go for.

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Thanks, Peter. Great to hear from you. Definitely a great way to enjoy the book and the story without breaking the bank!

[@charleshickey8211]

1983 Action comics 1 reprint. It has a good reputation as a accurate reprint. Also, commands a decent resale value. Great video dude. Keep collecting!

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Thanks, Charles. Yeah, the early reprints do seem to hold their own!

[@oacomics5956]

Love this video. I would have changed out the Wonder Woman 7 for a copy of Sensation Comics 6- 1st appearance of her magic lasso , a sick cover, significant to comic and pop culture history and only 40 graded on the census.

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Hi, OA. Great suggestion. Sensation Comics has some nice early covers. I'm partial to #5. Love underwater covers!

[@brute_nm]

Great video concept! 😊

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Appreciate it, Derek!

[@RedRockShane]

My favorite "affordable" option for Wonder Woman is issue #49. It's a SOTI book with an incredible yellow cover and a fantastic hero pose. Only 67 on the census so it isn't easy to find. A 5.0 might run you around $500

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Shane! That is a great book. I hadn't looked at it too carefully before. Do you know why it was in SOTI? Have you checked out Sensation Comics 4 & 5? Both are so cool!

[@RedRockShane]

@@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842 Those are great books. I'm a big fan of issues 6 and 11. I've never ran across an issue 5 before. Great share! I'm not sure what words would be flagged by KZbin so I'll just refer you to KeyCollector on issue 49. It's nothing crazy.

[@jesseramirez1283]

Another good video, Keston , it's good to see a book here and there from your collection

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

HI, Jesse! I've gotten a few cool books the last three years. Perhaps it's time to do a top-50 video again :-)

[@zuffin1864]

There are lots of low print run comics from the 70s and 80s that i think is in the perfect spot to collect. Even more common things I think are a must grab like Judge Dredd 1. Your suggestions are great too

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Thanks, Zuffin. Certainly great comics to collect from any age :-)

[@chrisfrost5646]

Great video ! Excellent alternative books. I would add Captain America 109 as another great book.

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Hi, Chris! Great suggestion. Classic Kirby Cap!

[@reprintranch]

One more reprint suggestion - in the mid-70s, DC published treasury-size reprints of several of their important early comics, including Action 1 and Detective 27. Collectively, these reprints were called the “Famous 1st Edition” series. The softcover versions are fairly easy to find but there are hardcover versions of Action 1, Detective 27, Whiz 2, Sensation 1 and Wonder Woman 1. The hardcovers have dust jackets, and it’s tough to find copies with relatively pristine jackets. What’s more, the market for these hardcovers is largely unsettled, meaning that a patient shopper can find high-grade items at low prices. In fact, right this minute there is a nice-looking Action 1 hardcover on eBay for $50, shipping included.

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Thank you, Tom! Good suggestions and excellent information as always :-)

[@johncole015]

My Superman #233 is signed by Murphy Anderson.

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Hi John Cole! Super cool, book :-). Congrats.

[@wazdakka1342]

Awesome video as usual!

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

I do my best :-)

[@MetalBum]

Nice man. Good compromising and comps

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Thanks, MB. Yeah, the premium for first appearances still blows my mind.

[@MetalBum]

@@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842 seriously but I guess that’s the key grails everyone wants. This might change with an influx of collectors who really love comics.

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Yeah, could be. That's one of the reasons I go after classic covers in the golden age. They are not cheap but WAAAY more affordable than the major keys :-)

[@VaryingViewpoint]

Great video!

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Thank you, VV! :-)

[@jerryking6021]

Nice video, i did exactly that in around 2011-2013, loaded up a bunch of graded superman and batman below #30. I grabbed a few batman $18 with hitler, mussolini and hirohito on the cover. Also a bunch of iconic joker covers #11, 23, 49. A decade ago everyone was chasing the MCU while batman movies were trash and nonexistent after the dark knight. Now decent grade batman comics are through the roof.

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Thanks, Jerry. Nice strategy. Yeah, I was loading up on mostly golden age classic covers around the same time! Suspense 3, for example, had not seen much love between 2005 through 2015. It was mostly flat during that period from what I can tell.

[@jerryking6021]

@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842 nice job. I also grabbed 3 high grades FF48. Lots of sleepers during that time. They hype was xmen and spiderman. I think new mutants 98 was one of the craziest during that time. Hard to get any good golden age books now. No supply, high demand. Over 70 watchers on ebay for those types of auctions

[@76063co2]

I might have suggested a Hulk #2 as an alternative, since it is still a big key, being the first green skinned version of the character.

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Hi, Chris. Good suggestion. Yep, it's definitely a key book AND still much cheaper than Hulk 1!

[@reprintranch]

One other reason why Incredible Hulk issue 2 is worth considering - it’s the first Marvel super-hero comic that Steve Ditko worked on. He inked Jack Kirby’s pencils on the cover and interior.

[@76063co2]

@@reprintranch I never knew that!

[@JerryYamamoto-q4s]

Loved your video-again!

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Thank you, Jerry!

[@AlextheComicHoarder]

Really fun video. I want all of those books!! Even if they have too many zeroes.

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Heh, hey. You and me both, Alex :-)

[@mightycomicsandcollectibles]

Great video and shirt!👚

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Thanks Laurence! Can't beat Soundwave :-)

[@randyhos7673]

this is a really good video hope you do more

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Thanks, Randy. Appreciate the encouragement!

[@Kid-Comics]

If you can't afford Action Comics #1, just buy the reprint version. Saves you a TON of money 😂

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Haha! Good one, Kid.

[@StarSapphireComics]

They have done reprints of Action Comics 1. You could probably get a graded reprint copy for a affordable price. 😊

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Good suggestion, Star Sapphire.

[@patji123]

Action 1 has been a great investment. Let’s examine this more closely however. Let’s say a mid-grade Action 1 is worth, say $3m today. In 1965 let’s say we could have bought the book for $500. That’s a 59 year period. The annualized rate of return on the book would be 14.8%. Excellent return on investment. However there are other investments that have produced a much higher rate of return. For example, an initial investment of $1000 in McDonalds stock in 1965 would be worth $36m today. That’s 12x more than the Action 1, and an annualized rate of return of 17.9%.

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Thanks, VC. Interesting. It certainly has been a good investment in the past. I'm not arguing that Action 1 has been the best investment of all time; I'm sure there are some other examples that beat it. That said, I have a couple methodological notes. If you consider the dime investment in 1938, Action 1 has appreciated over 23% per year on average! Regarding the 1965 figure of $500, I'm guessing that's actually too high for a Fine book for that date. In the 1970 Overstreet -- five years later AND after collecting had become much more popular -- Action 1 in a Fine was listed as $275. From 1970 at $275 to 2024 at $3,000,000 that's a 20%+ return per year. Heck, I'd like an Action 1 for a dime at 1938, for $275 in 1970, or MacDonald's stock for a $1,000 in 1965 :-). Thanks for the comment and interesting line of questioning.

[@omegacollects]

I would get a Detective Comics 33 💪🏾

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Hi, Omega! Great book too and often overlooked.

[@Starwarsfearsome]

Epic collections and facsimiles are the best way to get reprints

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Thanks, Staewarsfearsome!

[@ronaldbourgeois1255]

Nice

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Appreciate it, Ronald!

[@AnthonyOldhandGarcia]

I think Action Comics #1 1976 (1938), sleeping bag 1st. reprint comicbook are attainable and yet affordable to have in one's personal collection.

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Thanks Anthony. Those reprints are nice. I may have to get one.

[@AnthonyOldhandGarcia]

@@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842 You're welcome. They're almost as close as to the original.

[@dball584]

Hulk 340 is a bit more than $100. Last I checked it was three times that much on average.

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Hi, Darren. Thanks for the comment. I took a look at GPAnalysis again. 9.2s and 9.4s are selling for about $300. The comps I gave were for a 5.0, which seems about right. Thanks for watching the video, my friend.

[@xellosmetallium8519]

I would rather have an Amazing Spider-man 2 with the Vulture on the cover. Way more impressive the Doc. However, if you really want the book and don't have hundreds of dollars, just buy a reprint. Comics are not investment, they are fun to own.

[@kestonsoldschoolcomicbooks6842]

Thanks Xellos. ASM 2 is pretty cool. In my humble opinion, there is no better 15 issue run in comic books than ASM 1 through 15: The Vulture, Doc Ock, Sandman, Lizard, Electro, Mysterio, Green Goblin, and Kraven all introduced in these issues (which you likely already know)!