What Do Comic Book Dealers Say Collectors Are Buying? Wondercon 2023 Market Discussion

[@alexmathewmendoza]

My favorite kind of Swaggle content, boots on the ground journalism, asking the people directly.

[@DarkLordbyNight]

Christian is a guy after my own heart, "collect what you like" I collect and work in a shop and I'll tell my customers all the time, everyone has an opinion but get what you want!! Good video swaggle love the content

[@verified893]

These dealer videos are the best, hands down. It was a nice con. A bit quiet crowd wise, but it was very well prepared and organized.

[@oliverortiz5226]

The Valiant comic book era was a great fun time to be a reader. The cohesive universe was well thought out and their characters were both cool older characters and original concepts that were a joy to read every month. One of the best thing in comics in the 1990's.

[@ryanstafford9484]

Brad at FVF Comics is my favorite comic book dealer. You can’t beat this personality and wisdom.

[@Swamp-Bat]

I loved Christian he had some amazing points and energy

[@KimNguyen-zm7gi]

Indeed

[@KimNguyen-zm7gi]

Comic is an escape for me. Christian is killing it. The passion and the foresight. Please have him on more.

[@jesselynch1928]

Omg I love how humble modest and embarrassed you are.

[@batmaninsfc8097]

Thank you for making this video. you ask the important questions that some of us don't know to ask, or don't want to bother the booth/store owners with. I feel a lot more educated after watching this. keep it up!

[@anthonyboron9436]

Love these dealers' show/market discussion episodes ! Thanks Swag and the dealers.

[@Mcdowells]

6:25 - Good to see Hugh Jackman in the building digging in those long boxes

[@Javajoinjun]

@9:57 How do you add more value? FInd underappreciated and rare small press/indie comics and make room in your setup to spotlight them. You won't have any competition and will win a big chunk of comic book readers and collectors.

[@bobojosh]

Great video. Cheering to hear about a possible abandonment of slabbed books and resurgence of DC. Good for me, as I slowly put my entire collection on eBay.

[@daviddorward7684]

Really enjoyed this video and in particular the comments from Elveen's comments. Heartfelt and cogent commentary throughout the video. Thank you!

[@mrmac3971]

RAW BOOKS yeah! great discussions guys!

[@TheAVFiles]

thats the best advice, always buy what you like first. love diggin for books. keep up the awesome work Swaggle

[@mightycomicsandcollectibles]

Was just talking about raw books being more desired right now! Great video bud

[@alamocitycollectibles6105]

I think this trend has a lot to do with the bullshit you have had to deal with from the slab companies over the past 2 years.

[@cha5]

For some of us collectors it’s also because we like to also read our purchases, CGC slabs are just a real turn off for me there and I’ll still take vintage raw books.

[@ComicCollectorGeek]

Great video. It seems like the dealers are becoming more realistic about pricing and a lot of the flippers have left the market and the buyers are real collectors.

[@Jmillz181]

Blue chip I hope you come to New York comic con I'd love to buy from you in person

[@alamocitycollectibles6105]

Well, another video focusing on the dealers perspective. Never been a fan of listening to dealers dictate the state of our hobby. It's like watching CNBC Money analysts pumping and dumping stocks and controlling the narrative. Moving on, I could not begin nor stomach through the longest interview of the video so I skipped it entirely. The fast forward button is mightier than the sword. That being said, I do like to hear what Brad of FVF Comics occasionally opines. Forward the video to the 48:40 mark and listen to what Brad says about buyers looking for great deals based on previously sold books. I completely agree with him. It is not "his" responsibility to match a great deal based on local dealers, online auctions, or a deal from a friend of a friend needing to unload. But it is definately everyone's responsibility to get the best damn price you can, no matter where, including these large comic cons. Without your money, they are museums of comic books. Continue supporting your local LCS's, eBay sellers with great feedback, and your Facebook/IG comic book community of sellers with established reputable track records. There is where the BEST deals are my fellow collectors. All the best!

[@jeffstanley6013]

Wow, my ears totally perked up as soon the the guy with Elveen mentioned Frank & Sons! I was going there for my comics back in the '90's while in college in SoCal. Even now, when I go back to visit friends/family, I try to make a point of revisiting, especially at their new location. Have nephews and a niece now asking me to take them there when I'm visiting. 🙂

[@erisi236]

I'm definitely the "Power Pack 9, big stack" kind of buyer, full runs are just so fulfilling to me

[@nelsonxasencio2420]

Nice surprise to find this-so much info-great video!

[@Count3d]

Really cool video. I love seeing this side of things for comic collecting thanks so much for sharing this!!

[@jesselynch1928]

Great video. These dealers are great. I love love love Christian. Love his attitude on what a successful show is to him. And I really believe him

[@jesselynch1928]

Also Swag you are our friend.

[@HulkHoganTheChamp1]

I love this kind of videos when you do them the Insight from the dealers and everything they're take about what people are collecting and asking for and also love that Christian brought up Frank & Sons if you live in Southern California you know what Christian was talking about Frank & Son I've been going there since the year 2001 at the old location and still going there at the new location over 20 years love going there and I love that they expanded there hours and day's keep up the good work swaggahouse enjoy your videos

[@Zenmaster1]

These are my favorite videos. Classic "Man on the streets" format. 👍

[@coolworldpopculture]

That was excellent. I loved that last guy. I appreciated his soft dig at FMV and thought his point of using prior sales as reference points and not benchmark pricing was perfect.

[@thee_dustin_g]

I loved the video Mickey! Christian is a riot! Well done bro

[@noyanhilmi1361]

Great perspectives, thanks for sharing!

[@bvandermeersch]

I was at C2E2 this weekend and picked up Hulk180 for under GPA FMV. I really had to look, many booths still had stuff over priced.

[@Swagglehaus]

Nice! That's a great pick up, congrats!

[@jgracie22]

Great vid! Christian is always my favorite guest!

[@Erik-gs7ef]

Love this type of content!!!!!!!!

[@robertmonroejr1315]

Great video…very informative! Thanks!

[@srtgio5727]

I look forward to your videos, seriously the best content in the comic book community.

[@davidv.3135]

New subscriber here, thanks for bringing this dealer insight to us. Hopefully, the market will take an upturn before too long.

[@Chap711]

I'm buying PCH, dc showcase and gold. And anything punisher. Thanks for the content!

[@JDRamos213]

People who want a Power Pack 9 or a random Action Comics from the 80s shouldnt be charged over FMV price. But sellers still do, because once again.... greed rules all.

[@travismoriarty669]

Wish we had some customer focused show dealers like those in Ohio. Great content. Thanks

[@jamesrobbins1243]

I'm an Anaheim native. It's awesome how great WonderCon has become.

[@KinevW]

I scored an amazing five issue block of EC Haunt of Fears for FMV (all mid grade ob) at C2E2. Dealers had circa 2021 wall book prices, but were willing to deal. The bins were where the action was at, some good finds for sure. My best bin find was a higher grade Giant Size Chillers 1 for 25% off FMV. Great con, felt almost pre-Covid, which was nice to see.

[@KinevW]

addendum: my ECs were all raw, too. I was specifically looking for good raw books, as were many collectors that I had conversations with. Maybe the raw book is coming back!

[@bvandermeersch]

Nice, my best find in the bins at c2e2 was 7$ for Wolverine #8 was VF+ as well.

[@KinevW]

@@bvandermeersch that's a great find, especially in high grade.

[@gregmarshall2513]

I never get tired of listening to Christian Elveen (top man)

[@larrysmith7301]

This was excellent, thank you for the work.

[@JDRamos213]

Shout out to Jim Shooter!!!

[@Swagglehaus]

Indeed!

[@2thereback]

This was an awesome video!

[@Tom8683-r2b]

I could listen to that guy from Elveen's comics talk all day.

[@adamchace]

Stellar content, so great to hear from the horses'' mouths. Thanks Swag!

[@leeniren3706]

Those star comics from marvel from the mid 80s are quite hard to find. I happen to be lucky enough to have a complete short box full of very high grade ones some of the heart of titles also. When I go digging in boxes and I titles I grab them, especially in the dollar bins. They were pretty cool, read too

[@DanSchawbel]

Blue Chip Comic is a beast

[@michaelmartin7932]

Elveen knows whats up...fellow Valiant collection here too....damn the costs

[@michaelmartin7932]

And he’s right about Rai 3

[@steveoh9285]

Galactus books are definitely surging. Several dealers at the show still had their stock priced at 2021 levels, I just don’t get it; most collectors are savvy enough to walk away. Dealers who repriced or who offered hefty discounts did well. Old romance books are generally scarce (we spoke about that, Swaggle); F/VF confirmed that vintage romance is doing really well.

[@allnovieveryday]

2021 is going to be the all time peak for bag-holders. A new generation will learn what it means to never see a positive return on investment

[@holyharlot5222]

good reporting!

[@CoachDale_TopNotchMuayThai]

I love Wolverine in the back is like, “ Ohh damn, that’s Swag !” Haha That’s killer 🤙🏼🔥

[@shotenzenjin16]

I still remember snatching a silver dollar add burying Journey Into Mystery #82 with a little xter Thor

[@AGC173]

thanks for the video :D

[@jaybewan5447]

Great video lots of information always appreciate your work Bro 👍

[@MrGrouch86]

I love these type of videos.

[@Swagglehaus]

Glad to hear that!

[@KimNguyen-zm7gi]

Good data.

[@cha5]

Some of my Best Buy’s have been raw Golden Age books on e-bay, ranging from a complete 1943-1945 set of Carl Barks Walt Disney Comics and Stories that I finally completed and some Red Ryder 1945 comic books with some V.T. Hamlin Alley Oop and Roy Crane Captain Easy comic strip reprints from that era.

[@aaern296]

I really enjoyed that video!!! Thank you!!!

[@UncannySpider-guy616]

I think comic book shop ordering and sales is a huge topic not being talked about. Mostly auctions, cons, dealer perspectives and social media app sellers.

[@CC-xw1yc]

That's the sad state of the hobby now. All these "dealers" are essentially venture capitalists, buying old collections, breaking them down and flipping them. I was at a con this past weekend with around 40-50 vendors and I only found one that had any books published in the past year. Old books and keys are great but it just seems wrong to not be supporting the current industry as well.

[@keytothegate68]

He is right about Raw Books being sought after. People hope to clean,press,then grade them for equity.

[@Flamehead315]

Also people don't want to pay premiums for some company to seal up your book and put an arbitrary grade on it. 100% of people who send comics out for grading can't be certain if the book they're sending out is a 9.4, 9.6 or 9.8 because its arbitrary, and if its that loose then what's the point?

[@williamoscar1234]

Christian of Elveen comics speaks the truth for any type if buyer... if you like it, then it's a good buy.

[@thomaskiely275]

awesome video. thank you pal.

[@MetalBum]

Thanks for this and all you do for comics swaggy

[@Swagglehaus]

Thanks for watching!

[@vorazi08]

It's a matter of what they're listing it for and what they are offereed for it. If they are not willing to barter, they will not sell. It is always their option as they own the material.

[@HeroicAge616]

Awesome stuff

[@desiredcomics]

Great coverage ✨

[@moodswing4460]

good stuff

[@pkeel7576]

Great video as always.

[@nicholaswells3825]

You got to take what comic book dealers are saying with a grain of salt. They are in the business of selling comic books and you should not be taking financial advice from them. As a buyer, your best weapon is to walk away. A seller doesn't need to match the lowest GPA price, and you don't need to match the seller's asking price either. Unless the book is really rare and difficult to find, you will always be able to find another book eventually. Even the mega key books - just check Heritage Auctions. I wanted to buy a 8.5 Fantastic Four 52 last year and dealers were asking for around 4.5K. I still see it for sale and it dropped to 3K. And I am still in no hurry to buy it. You don't want to catch a falling knife.

[@RonSM2112]

Yes, this exactly. And contrary to at what at least one of these guys said, I don't beleive prices are done falling.

[@Flamehead315]

@@RonSM2112 yeah he doesn't believe it either but he wants people to buy his books so of course he's going to say that.

[@RonSM2112]

@@Flamehead315 Yep.....even FF 48 and ASM 129 are in freefall right now, which means that by definition almost everything else is as well.

[@ProBlueCheese]

Yo elveen is a solid guy!

[@colinwaldock8803]

Keep the content comen! Lo it!

[@MrDannyArroyo]

Well done. Informative. 😎

[@michaelryan6144]

Pulitzer Prize for Swagglehaus !

[@leehamilton7788]

Still looking for Spider Ham aniversary

[@csabaalmasi5297]

Christian dropping wisdom as always

[@creed5]

Dwaine making in appearance behind Will 26:22

[@kpark1762]

If I could offer some unsolicited advice... I would say maybe talk to some other sellers. I noticed you interview the same guys with these similar videos. TBH, a good handful of these sellers prices are outdated. Hope this doesn't offend you or anyone else. Keep up the great work.

[@Swagglehaus]

Well the reality is I’m West Coast based, so when i go to the cons on this side of the country it’s mostly the same vendors at the shows - if I get to the east coast then I’ll for sure talk to others…

[@zachbrobst9473]

Can we get Christian a twitch stream already? That man has the gift of gab fr

[@warrenb8228]

I just discovered Frank Millers stuff from the 80s. It’s definitely different in a good way. I wanted to wait until the hype had disappeared from the movies (and the prices). I’m surprised he wasn’t more popular back in the day.

[@thesonofbrianpeppers]

He was extremely popular. He was one of the two or three biggest artists of the eighties.

[@Stackitupmetal]

Can’t wait for the Tetris comic

[@Swagglehaus]

To the moon 😂

[@Stackitupmetal]

@@Swagglehaus 😂🤣 but seriously, love the videos and information.

[@comicfanagain8405]

Hmm…lemme guess…these dealers think now is the time to keep buying…(some of them still living in 2021 with their prices)

[@randydebower8240]

Keep your finger on the pulse Swag!!

[@mnloring7867]

I just keep finding so many books where raw copies are priced 20% higher than what graded copies are currently selling for. It's a bit maddening.

[@HONDACR919USA313]

I think I'm the type of every buyer the second gentleman said

[@miguelh4750]

That TMNT #1 9.4 1st print only going for 24k is crazy low

[@soldjer21]

The dealers are dreaming prices are going to drop more later as the recession continues, people will always sell entertainment collectibles to fund other bigger things.

[@bjn1962]

As a new collector getting into this hobby, I found this video very insightful! BTW If you can find a transformers #1 9.8 at a good price, hit me up :)

[@mrtorrance1263]

Great stuff. I wanna be bragadocious!

[@blood_sausage9620]

Thanks Swag!! I love these videos, all those dudes are great!! And I love Christians energy EVERY TIME!!

[@nisoldi]

"its a good time to buy, we aren't going to go any farther down." - the guy who hopes it doesn't go any farther down.

[@petew.7870]

A 9.0 ASM 1?!? No wonder dude’s got his shades on. Sheesh.

[@leehamilton7788]

Do y'all find that buyers are smarter about the keys given the web cast telling us what the keys r

[@eggplantcomics8336]

Is there a dude shoplifting around the 8 minute mark? Watch the old man and the kid. Keep an eye on a mystery comic bundle with a question mark. Kid picks it up and puts it down multiple times then old man puts it in his bag. Hmmm…

[@John_Red_Corn]

9.4 FF5 😮

[@Klung1]

Phenomenal content! You never fail to ask the right people the right questions. Kudos to you for another really informative and entertaining clip. (and not a Ninja Funk, Do You Pooh? or metal cover to be seen!)

[@allnovieveryday]

I can't agree that 2023 is a bottom. You need a larger macro understanding of economics to see what the fed is doing with interest rates to make that call. As of now there's no word interest rates are being cut and there's no sign of inflation going away or returning to the 2% target rate.

[@MrOldboy360]

Wow, Christian is great... Definitely, a little bit of Colombian Adderall going on there!

[@natenax3233]

Sorry Swaggle but that BlueChip comic guy is a joke. Go watch one of his auctions on whatnot and read his reviews. Hearing him talk about giving customers "value" when his whole approach is to fill mystery bags with absolute trash and trick naive buyers into overpaying... just an absolute joke.

[@stephennewberry9815]

I think Elveens comics is right and wrong. I don't think Marvel (MCU) horror is any good. It's always played second fiddle to DCs horror offerings over the decades. Which lets me segways into the Gunn effect. DC IPs have gained a boost from Gunns announcements, and I'm going to mention Booster Gold. He's a jock from the future who's in our time to fight crime, with the tech he brought with him. He's funny. Charming. Lighthearted. This came accoss with his 1st DC ongoing series & his inclusion within the JLA. I think Gunn is going to kick off his universe with the lighthearted stuff. Hence Booster, then switch to DC horror through the Swamp Thing offering. This leads us to John, the leader of Justice league Dark, & the whole of DCs horror line of books. And in my opinion DC horror is head & shoulders above Marvels midnight sons