What Will The COMIC BOOK Market Look Like In 2024? My Top 10 Predictions, Theories & Speculation!

[@AlextheComicHoarder]

I’m so glad you mentioned pulps. I’ve been loading up on pulps for a few years now. I wish I could say I had the foresight that they would blow up due to grading. However, I liked them because Golden Age comics were getting too expensive and pulps were a great alternative to get great artwork from the same timeframe.

[@ComicCollectorGeek]

I've been recently making several videos talking about the rise of pulps as a collectible. It was good to hear you bring it up.

[@ericbalfour5716]

My investment policy for 2024 regarding comics is as follows : I am not buying any more graded books until new cases have been released and I feel confident again in the grading industry. Graded books are a luxury I can live without !

[@jamessocha8765]

I hate graded books in general I never get my books graded I would rather them raw

[@maartenbouw]

Great video. Hope you have a great 2024.

[@gardzy99]

I’m waiting for the CGC scandal to explode…….there’s got to be more to this than what meets the eye and on several fronts. I think there’s a much deeper well of issues than what we are being led to believe….

[@backroom12]

Nah don’t think so . Some moron figured out how to swindle them but got caught eventually . Story will die in a few more weeks . Happens in every collectible hobby and ppl get over it .

[@latch78]

Screw CGC

[@floorboss]

Concerning CGC fradulence, I wouldn't doubt that there is an 'Upper Deck' _Ken Griffey Jr._ level of A scandal- just beneath the surface. And why wouldn't there be? CGC has NO OVERSIGHT! An thus, absoloute power breeds absoloute corruption- Absoloutley!

[@dakoitcave817]

Happy New Year bud! Hope this year brings you much more success and happiness in comicdom! My predictions: 1. Other areas of (print) collectibles will see a new level of interest: Pulps 2. Comic as collectibles will see a modest rise but the quick flip spec days will be long gone (but wall books and real blue chip keys will be strong as Swaggle stated). 3. I believe (hope) that grading will head toward machine learning/AI because of security issues and consistency issues. People have lost all trust with quality of product from grading companies, the way to win back trust is to implement AI to grade. 4. Super hero and Star Wars speculation is over. Video games and other IPs are the trend and will become even bigger.

[@eblanco7605]

Regarding #8 - I would really love to see the big 2 take a year off from crossovers (stories spanning several different titles) and one shots. They could spend time focusing on great storytelling and developing existing their young roster of characters. Pipedream, i know.

[@ricbeau3761]

Just better stories is all we all ask 😊

[@jonswift]

You really have great content Swagglehaus. Thanks for all you do!

[@RichardBrown]

Great show! All great points. I like the idea of going into 2024 on a positive note!

[@slickjolly]

Wondering when the variant cover boom will begin trending downward. I'm thinking this year will be that turning point.

[@lostcanyon777]

When comics have poor sales, because of bad writing or agendas, they need to make up that money with tons of variants covers. Doubt it will change much.

[@scottabraham1234]

I think stores are already finding it hard to sell their exclusives. I'm also noticing the price of ratio's has come down a lot. Used to be $25 for a 1:25 but often about $13 now. It was ridiculous when the launch of a new story arc in Something is Killing the Children had 15 store exclusives and then 4 ratio's plus an A, B & C cover.

[@comicbookninja5268]

hope so

[@terraincognita3749]

I hope so too with the really lazy stuff: the endless homages and foil and similar quickly cranked out garbage. But, I am open to actually creative covers. An example: Chrissie Zullo. I really like some of her covers and buy them sometimes. I guess the challenge is in keeping it all limited, with a certain joy, quality and organic-ness. But capitalism has a powerful tendency to ... well, capitalize on any trend and then milk it until it's bone dry.

[@comicbookninja5268]

@@terraincognita3749 also every comic does not need a variant cover especially 5 or 6 variants.

[@bat2275]

Slabs will tank now that people know they can be opened with a heat gun. People will demand new secure slab technology before they buy

[@blademan4089]

I think more collectors will go after Canadian variant editions.. Super low print run and hard to find in high grade…

[@davelaughey431]

Same thing as UK price variants 🤞🤞😃👍.

[@lostcanyon777]

Disagree -- people have been saying this for years, and it still hasn't happened. If I have a collection of let's say Fantastic Four, do I want some UK or Canada price variant in my collection when the vast majority is US. Hard no for me. If you look at prices, most people agree.

[@kingtide1947]

For certain books people pay more for Canadian. The Secret Wars 8 9.8 sold for much more than the newsstand or direct 9.8.

[@scottabraham1234]

UK price variants actually have their own census count on the same page as the US. Really low census counts.

[@davidnix1590]

I hope people hold off until I'm done with my collections... :).

[@jeffschmitt6977]

Here is a question: What happens when CGC comes out with the new tamper proof slab. Do the old ones then sell for a discount or does everyone have to reslab them. Does the key collector say "Im not looking for a New Mutants 98 in the old slab" I want to buy one only in the New Slab!!!" Old slab is out man! but maybe if you give me a real good discount, maybe then I will buy your old slab book! No discount, well then I better stick to the new!!! Going to be interesting?

[@thegrilledcheese4841]

Interesting take

[@pk3739]

I 100% will be that buyer you speak of. You already see it in the sports card world. Old psa slabs go for a fraction of the cost vs new. Same card, same everything except the label.

[@6nosis]

OMG: it really IS a CGC run conspiracy to have to RESLAB all your expensive shite!! I can SMELL the foul stench of BLACKROCK's assprints all 😡 over this psyop!!! Epiphanies won't stop, brain hemorrhaging Benji's, everything going black 💤 -QUICKLY NURSE!! I need 50ccs of KETAMINE and 1g of this PERUVIAN FLAKE thats here in my coat, mix together in that flask, and prepare the needle; AND BRING ME 2 TYLENOL for the Patient, MOVE IT MOVE IT come on people!!

[@davidsamuelson2089]

Have to disagree with you on the very first part. Dealers have been charging 2021 prices for the last 8 to 10 years. They have an absolutely unrealistic idea of the market, except when they can grossly overcharge people and try and claim those prices still hold.

[@dennismcmahan632]

Happy New Year Swag all the best.

[@Stackitupmetal]

I’m getting more into silver/bronze age D.C.

[@inc4me]

Getting sales from eBay live sometimes will be confusing. Most sellers from eBay and Whatnot list the comics and "Slab23", "Auction 2" and "comic 123". Don't know what they are selling.

[@lavdrimrs4323]

Disagree only with number 9. I will never accept AI art at all, its a spit in the face to all artists and to the medium as a whole. I don't wanna look at some lifeless piece that amalgamizes a bunch of stolen real artwork. Good art is good because you can see the years of hard work and effort was put into something.

[@StoneyMaloney1]

I couldn’t agree more.

[@6nosis]

Concur times a trillion miwion

[@latch78]

Screw A.I.

[@rogera616]

Your opinion has been noted. Just because you will never accept it that doesn’t mean others won’t which was Swag’s point.

[@StoneyMaloney1]

@@rogera616 don’t care, clown.

[@Alucard_76]

Funny i saw a video last night from u 2 years ago when u don't have any book slave by cgc ..if anyone want to see it is the one to talk about bags and boards .. very funny swagg .. by the way ..happy new years 👍☝️🤪👊

[@sirrickthe2nd583]

I've cleaned up on wall books, the last 3 months, of 2023. If whatnot sales were recorded into FMV apps, FMV would tank. It'll be very interesting to see what happens, if ebay live sales are recorded. I won an FF 48, for $39.00 on whatnot.

[@slickjolly]

Doesn't eBay live already exist? I joined one this morning. Or is it a different iteration?

[@Swagglehaus]

It does but it’s still mostly in beta. I’m assuming they will have a “public” launch/push

[@beowulf1563]

With the entire comic census being turned upside down because slabs suck, prices are probably going to fluctuate like crazy. I can see people turning back to raw comics for a while.

[@KAOS4EVER1]

I'm hopeful for big changes in 2024, but is there really anything that will be changing this year until 4th quarter? Expect more of the same from 2023, collect what you love and be careful out there y'all 😅

[@Jcarroz]

Agreed. Wall book year. Historic data shows that a recession should most likely hit late summer to end of year. Could be a good time to hunt those grails if you can.

[@johnr.e.789]

There's no recession. A downturn, yes... Spenders spending less. Recession, unlikely, unless the Middle East goes to war with itself. America is starting 2024 strong. A recession is a significant and prolonged economic downturn that lasts for months or years. Real GDP, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales are all trending up.

[@scottabraham1234]

I think there will be a slow move away from Marvel and DC but it will be a good thing. Manga and non-superhero books (creator owned) will continue to rise. This is partly because the quality of Marvel books won't improve. This may actually be a good thing for the industry and comic shops. If the smaller shops realise there is a world beyond Marvel and embrace Manga, it could be the saving of them. It will attract a different younger crowd.

[@thesneakerhead9392]

this will probably not occur for 1 reason, when looking at stats and spiderman and avengers still being the number 1 sellers of the year, it is unlikely this will slow down. As more spiderman movies deadpool ect movies release the love for the characters will never end. Marvel will always be on top as long as they are around.

[@scottabraham1234]

@@thesneakerhead9392 Have you read Amazing Spiderman in the last 5 years? I stopped as it was so bad. The comic industry is much bigger than just Marvel. Spiderman has had a good 60 years at the top and will be popular for a long time, but before him it was Superman and that book no longer sells as well, and before that Captain Marvel published by Fawcett. Things do change. Japan sells way more comics than the USA and when you think of things like Peanuts, Garfield, Asterix, Mad, The Beano, Marvel is only a part of comic history.

[@ericsred5440]

I think manga will continue to increase in popularity and mainstream acceptance in 2024. It’s only a matter of time before it usurps American comics.

[@scottabraham1234]

I agree and it could be the saviour of comic shops if they embrace it.

[@alexmathewmendoza]

Manga sales destroy traditional comic book sales. As digital as things are for kids these days, they absolutely still purchase physical manga.

[@terraincognita3749]

Not a prediction, just a happy thing: that good writing you mention? Some of that I already see with DC. Personal current favorites: Birds of Prey, Nightwing, Batman: off-world and (this one is quirky) Fire and Ice: welcome to Smallville.

[@scottabraham1234]

I don't think Pulps are really comics. I'm not sure this community will embrace it. I've got a few for the covers but it's not the same.

[@brucecree9170]

I really hope you are wrong about AI art. You’re probably right but boy oh boy I hope you are wrong. On the other hand AI can simply animation like no one’s business. Maybe we will see the Todd Father release some very fine AI filled in animations that could be amazing to watch. Best wishes for a terrific 2024 Mickey!

[@kevinhurt5331]

Omg I’ve got tons of pulps to send in are they grading them now most mine are 30s and 40s

[@paytonardoin688]

Is eBay live not “live” yet? Or is it technically in beta? I’ve been buying from a few dealers on eBay live for months now

[@MrPelletty]

If comics are successful though Ebay Live I could see almost a doubling of volume of books moving on the website. Buyers will use their money on live platform and sellers will use their gains on the buy it now or auction listings. Could be a year of really moving the Bronze to modern age books. Nice predictions though. The pulps were not even on my radar before.

[@sade281]

Yooooo eBay is ok but paying tax on books suck!! Jus do IG sales and work out a deal with some good sellers that way 😮

[@NewLegacyComics]

When they do release a new case design, do you think it will effect the value of the current case?? I can see it now in the descriptions online "old style case".

[@Swagglehaus]

That's a good question. I'm not sure it will effect the values too much. We see old CGC and CBCS in the market and people generally still charge the same for them. I guess it'll depend on how much they have improved the security in the next versions

[@NewLegacyComics]

@@Swagglehaus Yea you are right.. it's going to be interesting to see the changes that are coming. To see if people will have a preference. And the update you will give us will explain it perfectly

[@snakeeyez8955]

I predict popular keys will start t o drop and right itself. Also, I have a feeling that lesser known golden and silver slabs like horror/western will start to trend. I think Manga will bloom more than ever too.

[@dogwheeze]

As for AI art. It's going to be tricky cos it uses already created art as it's basis. And then it'll fall into the murky world of who owns what. I think if it DOES, then you're going to see more and more court cases and claims.

[@geekimusprime]

eBay live won’t be successful if it’s anything like Whatnot. Sellers are not willing to put up any “big” books for live auction. And you can’t blame them. It’s not worth it when you have limited viewers and auctions run for like 60 seconds. Not everybody is tuning in to bid. So instead, sellers put up $1-$5 books and try to hype them up as “steals.” And actually Whatnot has added BINs and “anytime auctions”, so it’s just another eBay.

[@WhiteArtsMagic]

I hate any live auctions. Even KZbin live auctions. Everytime a book goes up I see the start price as what they have sold for recently on eBay and the auction seller is always like “this book goes for $200, come on guys, this is a steal” and reality you can get a better grade cheaper than they auction it for

[@ctuck8644]

But don’t forget, with rate power comes rate responsibility 😬

[@RobRVA]

When people post political comics in Facebook threads or anywhere else (I do not ever btw) and the back and forth starts I use that as a mass blocking opportunity.

[@lerak8452]

"Community" to me is not digital media. It's in person relationships. Everyone is talking to one another. Side conversations. Comics prices will keep going down. There are better areas to invest in right now. My 2024 is not in comics. Except for my weekly pick-ups.

[@TheCOMICCOMMANDER]

Ebay Live could work well, but only IF the Ebay sellers come off of their high-price horses and try to meet fair market value. If we can get them elsewhere for less then we will.

[@reprintranch]

I think it’d be cool if the grading and slabbing of pulps helps them become more popular with comic collectors in 2024, just because pulps are part of the “origin story” of comic books. But I’m gonna guess that interest - at least initially - is going to be limited mostly to pulps that featured well-known characters (Conan, Buck Rogers), well-known authors (Howard, Lovecraft), those with illustrations by well-known comic artists artists, and pulps with exceptionally good or lurid cover art.

[@holyharlot5222]

Wouldn't it drive you insane not being able to look inside the magazines?

[@WarriorsforInfoTV]

Youre really hoping ebay live takes off. In the list last year too.

[@Swagglehaus]

What I want and what I predict aren’t necessarily the same thing…

[@WarriorsforInfoTV]

@@Swagglehaus True

[@zachbrobst9473]

I think ebay live is going to be too big for its own good. Whenever you get these 700+ viewer live sales the prices get absolutely bonkers. There's a good reason that some whatnot sellers throw in extra books when people overbid

[@TitaniumHaze]

From what I've seen on WhatNot, books either go for a steal or are way over FMV. I don't know if ebay live will work like WhatNot, but if it does, then you'll mostly ever see sub $100 - $150 books for sale because there's less chance for the seller to lose out. A common thing I've seen on WhatNot is people saying this book retails for so large price, and people will bid like crazy. And then you look at ebay sales and they could have gotten the book at a fraction of the cost.

[@6nosis]

@@TitaniumHazeouuch!😮

[@davidsamuelson2089]

CGC can’t properly case or even grade magazines, how in the world are they gonna keep up with pulps? You really think they’re going to sit there and count every page? You could submit a pulp, you’ll wait 2 1/2 years, the thing will still be worthless. It’s just the next generation of grading VHS tapes.

[@richardwestphal5184]

Sadly, I disagree with #8 just because of the books that came out at NYCC.

[@edowings2211]

I've always hated the connection to movies and price increases it's just dumb and if you don't agree I have a dazzler 1 from the dollar bin you can have for a hundred bucks.

[@jasonhbush]

If rates cuts happen that will be a bad sign for the economy.

[@horvathsogranfume658]

ALL MANGA BB

[@dogwheeze]

6. Really hope not. I feel it destroys the hobby which is to collect comics to read and enjoy. Not to flip. Buy comics cos you love the story, characters and the artwork. Nothing else should matter. If it does happen, it'll just follow the same timeline as before. But I really hope it doesn't happen again.

[@troyevans6839]

My bold prediction: Modern Superhero comics and movies continue to get worse & alienate fans prompting CGC to consider slabbing manga .

[@ricknestor8930]

no effin way will i ever accept AI art , Mickey !

[@currybr]

Swaggelhaus predicts that 2024 is the year that comics collectors find their bottom. Left unanswered-- will they have to use both hands?

[@kingtide1947]

They will just have to regrade with every case change and automatically do photos with every grade. The graded books without a photo on CGC are probably the targets for this scam.

[@arthurloub5752]

not a word on NFT comics? isnt it part of comic book market in the future?

[@Exodus_comics]

If #9 comes true, it’ll signal the end of modern comics. Gross 🤮

[@amazingmurfinator6338]

First

[@dennismcmahan632]

No to AI art draw it yourself.

[@gothamcollections1038]

my prediction stays the same....decrease in sales, decrease in popularity, complete loss of "cool" factor, no interest from young generation, end of mainstream printed material within 5 years, and film makers will be making less terrible movies due to genre fatigue. Its going to take another unimaginable phenomenal event to make the hobby great again. I am a collector of over 30years and amassed quite a collection so lets hope im wrong. I feel our only hope is marvel/dc finally wake up and turn the comic books into gambling, i.e. blind packs.

[@toonblastsart8655]

I don't think the speculation game is back yet between the writer strike last year projections being pushed back not to mention Jonathan Majors being fired or Deadpool the only movie from Marvel this year I think it's a bad time to speculate if you're going off the movies do it in 2025 2026 when things settle down and get back to normal

[@soldjer21]

Comics will continue to go down as a result of the economy and people getting into this market during Covid. Let's be real its entertainment and people will sell their books to get cash. I see tons of people selling whole collections. Other collectors are swooping up and buying up keys and selling everything non-key. That all has to be absorbed into the market. Comic sales will continue to drop, this will cause good writing to return comics. Spec is dead Disney is not going to turn things around anytime soon, that is going to take years fix.

[@swedekustoms8322]

No AI art no soul no creativity never accept that junk!

[@royberger2259]

Undergrounds from the 60's and 70's, low print run, political.

[@miguelh4750]

36th

[@versewonderstrikes5353]

CGC will be bigger than ever. And variants aren’t going anywhere.

[@davidsamuelson2089]

Most of the interior art in comic books looks like it was drawn by first graders anyway, so maybe AI art wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. As long as those talentless hacks that are doing the books aren’t the ones teaching AI how to draw.

[@thecorporatelawgroup7093]

Only one political side HATES the other side. Politics ruins everything.

[@michaelstarr1285]

Sell now or get holding a bag

[@TT-fq7pl]

That's my plan, for sure.

[@holyharlot5222]

Your predictions seem spot on but way too early. The other shoe needs to drop on the graded 9.8 fraud, collapsing 9.8 prices which may cause a severe liquidity crises in the market among the most active players. I don't think you're right about AI, which is basically a plagiarizing tool. It can't discern brilliance from crap. That's a problem. Also writing. Writing will never get better because we didn't teach our kids how to write. It will get worse with AI cheating.

[@TT-fq7pl]

You're 100% correct about AI. But it already seems that most people can't discern brilliance from crap.

[@Swagglehaus]

Maybe, but keep in mind my prediction is for the calendar year. Much of what I’m guessing may not happen until Q3 or Q4. Still a lot of growing pains to go through but might start to happen by then.

[@bignothing909]

I think it well continue to dip but jus a lil ,x men well sell and spiderman. but I think more bad story's no good new caricatures, independent will make more. and Deadpool 3 will be better then Deadpool 2 but not 1 and it won't help sales

[@sgauthier273]

Only books I care about in my collection are amazing fantasy 15 and tmnt 1 first print. Big dog grails.