Of course, that’s not something that can be easily discerned, if it even can at all. Things like this are largely subjective, and no study in the world could possibly gauge the reasons behind all the buyers of Marvel comic books purchasing the books. But one can look at the market, and look at the books being produced by Marvel and by other companies and develop their own opinion.

Naturally, though, opinions are completely polarized between fans of Marvel comic books and fans of DC comic books, each despising the other. There are plenty of fans that enjoy books from both companies, mind you, but generally even these fans have their loyalty to one company or the other. Then there are those fans who hate superhero comics altogether and choose to make all their purchases in the indy market. But marginally, this is a small group compared to those who are fans of the Big Two. Even the market shares of the two largest indy companies, Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics, while competitive, are still far below the massive shares Marvel and DC claim.

But listening to the complaints of fans, at least on the internet, and sometimes in the local comic shops, there are many dissatisfied customers with many of the books from both companies. But since the topic is Marvel comic books, the major crossover events of the past few years bare mentioning, as they have gained equal amounts of acclaim and disdain by Marvel fans and non-fans alike.

Many are sick and tired of the massive crossover storylines that, because of the problems of the 90s, feel like they are merely thinly veiled marketing ploys to force readers into buying more books than they normally would to get the full story. Others enjoy their superhero comic universe being united and the effects of world events materializing throughout all the Marvel comic books. But most agree, outside of these crossovers, and of course the main books (the Spider-Man books, X-Men books and Avengers books) not much else is that great right now, nor has it been for sometime. There are exceptions, like Runaways and Thunderbolts, but by and large its substandard fare. Even the major books, like Uncanny X-Men and Amazing Spider-Man, weren’t that great a couple of years ago by the standards and opinions of many.

So why do Marvel comic books outsell all others and remain the dominant brand in American comics? We may never know for sure, but one can guess that it’s a combination of all the reasons mentioned above.

Not much different than African Americans felt not too long ago, or even how Native Americans felt when their land was stolen from them. Wolverine and The X-Men suffered the same type of bigotry, abuse and segregation from the get go. But despite their tribulation, they still helped anyone they could. Some, like Wolverine, became bitter for a time. But by and large, they lived their lives the best way they could, proving humans wrong in the process.

Over the years, the X-Men became more accepted by society for a time, but eventually it would all come crumbling down. A radical church group would crucify some of their ranks, then the majority of the mutant population suddenly became powerless and normal. This reignited the hatred for mutants, because most had just come to accept their existence, not like it. With the possibility of “no more mutants” a reality, closet hatred came to the forefront again.

Still, the X-Men maintained their cool, for the most part, and proved to be better people than those spreading their messages of hate with words and weapons.

The X-Men are a symbol in comics, and in society as a whole. They show how hatred and ignorance can be overcome, and how being different can be a great attribute and not a flaw that we need to expel or feel sorry about. There is strength and power in being unique that those who allow fear and hate to run their lives will never understand. Maybe they should crack open an issue of X-Men from time to time. Maybe seeing their ignorance and stupidity displayed in full color will somehow enlighten them. Maybe, just maybe, by reading the stories of how these unique and wonderful beings are harassed and persecuted on a nearly daily basis will make them think twice about their own actions. One could only dream.

Collectors both love and hate slabbing–there is no middle ground. First, here’s why they love it. Slabbing protects a comic indefinitely (no one knows for how long exactly, as the process is so new). Once slabbled you don’t have to worry that your prized Superman, Batman, X-Men, Spiderman, or Archie comic will lose its value, or any of its “eye appeal.” That’s a big plus! Also the slabbing company (Comics Guaranty, LTD or CGC is the major one, although there are others) will grade your comic as part of the process. Grades are on a .5 to 10-point scale with .5 being poor and 10 being Mint. When you’re looking to value and/or sell your comics it’s a great advantage to have it graded. It’s much easier to sell a comic if you can say it’s a CGC 6.0, instead of “in my opinion it’s in Fine condition.” I know this from personal experience and from talking to other sellers, including those selling comics, for my book eBay PowerSeller Secrets.

Now, here’s why some collectors hate slabbing. Once a comic is slabbed you can’t read it! You can’t take it out from between the plastic that encases it without destroying the seal that the grading company puts along the top of the case. Once that seal is broken the grade is no longer guaranteed. That makes sense because if you take it out you may change its condition somehow, thus reducing its grade. (Although I think most collectors would be careful enough not to harm their comics.) So if you are going to slab a comic you have to get used to the idea that forever it will be encased between plastic sheets. You’ll still be able to see its front and back covers but you won’t be able to page through it. That’s a tough thing to get used to. Also, slabbing ain’t cheap. Depending primarily on the comic’s age it can easily set you back $50 once you figure in shipping and insurance. And here’s something that’s not discussed all that much: the cases get scratched easily, and when light hits those scratches your beautifully encased comic doesn’t look so hot. New cases aren’t as expensive as the original ones if the comics don’t have to be regraded, but you still have to pay for shipping and insurance to CGC and back.

There are more pros and cons to this slabbing business but those are the main ones.

My advice? Slab Golden Age comics that are worth at least $150. (Because more modern comics are cheaper to slab, you may consider slabbing one of those if its current value is $100 or so.) It’s worth the cost in the long run and at $150, a comic is a pretty valuable investment, which will likely appreciate over time. There’s great peace of mind that comes from knowing your comic will not lose any value after you slab it (barring a change in market conditions, of course). If you want to be able to read your comic, you can also search the web for a PDF version of it. These are available from newsgroups devoted to the hobby. Or you can buy one of those printed compilations of old comics.

Enjoy your hobby! Comics are a snapshot of American pop culture, just like magazines or fashions. Besides they can bring back some great memories.

If you are looking for comic book prices for all your comic books then one of the best places to get such a list would be Wizard Magazine which you can buy for a reasonable price and you will get to learn more on comic books and how much they are worth now. Wizard also has an online magazine and they also post the latest comic to be released and when it will hit the shelves. Since comic books also has a cult following, then it is important for you to know how much a certain book will cost and which store will have the magazine nearest to you, so you get to buy the comic book before other people rush in and get it and you find that a copy of the comic is already sold out which is bad especially if it is the limited kind.

There are other comic pricing guides that are available in the market today such as Overstreet and Standard Catalog of Comic Books. These comic guides provide you with the kind of information you need like where to get the rare and valuable comics and where you can get first issue comics as well as the back issue ones as well. The comic guides also document how much you can get if you decided to sell your comic book from the new to the old and rare kind. You can also look for a comic book appraiser to get comic book pricing.

Im of course referring to the 1990s when all was right within the comic book world. This is the time I was really into comics and got to see firsthand the rise and the fall of the comic book industry as it was.

In the 90s, comics took a turn for the better, or so we thought. Books were beginning to get wide recognition thanks in no small part to comic book artists like Image Comics founders Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld and others. Comic properties were beginning to pop up in cartoons and movies like hadn’t been seen before, and the collectible value of comics became a widely known phenomenon. The aforementioned comic book artists were working for Marvel Comics at the time, and were launching new or revitalized properties that were getting fans newly excited about comics again. X-Men relaunched and X-Force was born. Spider-Man exploded with a new title, and fans were eating it all up.

Also, thanks to the dynamic styles of these comic book artists, prints and exclusive covers and the like seemed like the perfect advertising and money-making ploy to comic publishing companies at the time, and the general public somehow got wind of this. So the average person on the street was buying up all the copies of all these special covers and special stories (Death of Superman, anyone?) that caused the publishers to keep printing. Before you knew it, everyone had multiple copies of everything, and nothing was worth anything. Sales went down, creators left the big two, and the speculator market nearly broke the comic industry.

Marvel Comics went into bankruptcy, many fans (such as myself) left comics behind for years, and the movies and cartoons all but disappeared.

A few years later, Marvel restructured, climbed out of bankruptcy, and began making waves again. Spider-Man and the X-Men hit the big screen, and all of a sudden comics were on the map again. Not to mention the efforts of the short-lived Crossgen Comics, which brought a lot of people (again, myself included) back into comics. And with the success of these new ventures, comics began a steady climb back up to a place of mediocrity.

Now, comics are still struggling, but with the success of films and current big storylines its possible a rise could occur again. Providing publishers and speculators don’t make the same mistakes twice, comics could be alright for sometime to come.

Product Description
No other guide on the market covers the volume of comic book listings and range of eras as this does, in an easy-to-use checklist format. Readers can access listings for 130,000 comics, issued since 1961, complete with name, cover date, creator information and near-mint pricing. With super-hero art on the cover and collecting details from the experts at America?s longest-running magazine about comics inside, there is nothing that compares…. More >>

2010 Comic Book Checklist & Price Guide

Comic books have been around in the United States since 1934. The term “comic book” was coined due to the fact that the first books were actually reprinted humor comic strips. But as any comic book enthusiast knows, comic books aren’t just about humor anymore as they tell stories and cross many genres.

If you have ever wanted to become an author of a comic book or create your own series, you might have asked what it takes and what is the process.

To start, most comic books are designed by groups of people. For larger and better-known comic book distributors, there are a series of people on staff that include a writer, a penciller, an inker, a colorist, a letterer, and an editor. Sometimes one person can take a variety of roles. For instance, in most alternative and small press comics, the same person will write and illustrate, although it is still common for a separate person to produce the color separations, and sometimes the lettering. In Japan, where the comic book is called a mangaka, one person usually writes and pencils his own work while their assistants may handle the inking, screentone, and lettering. In most European comics, there are usually two or three artists involved: a writer, an artist who provides lettered artwork, and a colorist where necessary.

If you are you are interested in starting your own company and hiring the people or friends to get your comic series off the ground, here are some steps to consider:

1. Concept/World – Maybe you already have the concept or imaginary world of your comic book idea in your mind and this is why you are interested in creating your own comic book. This is a great start. But if you don’t and you just like the idea of comic books, then here is where you try to imagine a concept that nobody else has come up with yet. You can start by asking yourself questions such as who would be my hero or what would happen if this kind of person met this other type of person in an imaginary world? You don’t have to be the writer to come up with a concept, which brings us to number two.

2. Writer/Story – Your writers are the people or maybe just one person, who takes the concept and turns it into a story. A good writer understands the story well and is great at writing dialogue. The writer or writers will also give the story its basic structure, rhythm, its setting, develop its characters, and help refine the plot.

3. Penciller – The penciller uses a pencil to sketch out images to go along with the story. It is done in pencil so that changes can be made as needed. This person has the responsibility of creating the overall look of the comic. Many comic book enthusiasts are very critical about the artwork of a comic and can even choose comics solely by the artwork, therefore the work of the penciller is just as critical as the other positions.

4. Inker – The inker will take the pencil work and bring it to life with color. The inker will typically start off by going over the penciled in work with black ink, giving the lines more depth and more of a three-dimensional look. By enhancing the lines in black and white to start, it makes it easier to copy and color the images. Some pencillers will do this part themselves, but it takes a different kind of skill set than the penciller uses. Although the inker is basically retracing everything, they also are given credit for helping the art become a finished piece.

5. Colorist – The colorist adds color, lighting, and shading to the inks of the comic book. Special attention to detail is critical here, because if the colorist doesn’t use the right colors, people will notice.

6. Letterer – Without words to convey the story, your readers may very well be lost. During this stage of comic production, the letterer adds the words, sound effects, titles, captions, word bubbles, and thought bubbles. Some creators do this by hand with the aide of an Ames Guide and T-Square, but most people do this via computers.

7. Editorial – The editor of the comic book gives it a final look through – overseeing the quality and identifying problems that potentially need to be fixed. The editor has fresh eyes or the project as well, and is able to see the comic as if for the first time.

8. Printing/Publishing – Now for the printing and publishing. Some comics are printed digitally. Having your comic book printed and published is the final element and therefore the book should be complete in every way. Once published, all you have to do is market it and sell it, which could mean a whole other set of staff.

While these eight steps seem simple, the process of creating a comic book that is truly unique and catchy can be a challenge. But if it is your passion, then there is no harm in giving it a try. Who knows, you might have the next best selling comic.

Comic book collecting was once the realm of children who only cared about comic book prices as buyers. They weren’t selling or trying to get the best deal. Comic book prices affected whether they could get comic books that week, and how many they could get.

Comic book prices were printed on the items they wanted and were therefore static. If they wanted a 25-cent cartoon book, they had to come up with a quarter with which to buy it.

Back then, there were no cartoon book collection supplies or cartoon book collecting bloggers. Collectors were pretty much on their own. They made their choices according to what they liked.

Then they grew up. Comic book prices went up. But they also discovered that many people were getting rid of their old collections and that they were able to buy books that they had always wanted.

Savvy collectors who were getting rid of their books reasoned that people would be willing to pay good money for books they really wanted. A new kind of cartoon book market was born.

As this market evolves and becomes more complicated, collectors have begun to trade more than cartoon books; they have begun trading information.

Whole businesses have grown up around selling cartoon book collection supplies and cartoon book collecting bloggers are out there filling the Internet with all kinds of information.

There is an infinite number of variables that cause comic book prices to go up or down. Of course, it can all be filed under the law of supply and demand, but so many things affect demand that it takes an expert just to make an educated guess. And cartoon book collecting bloggers don’t have to have any special credentials to dispense information.

All they have to be is convincing. So if you are searching for the best way to handle collecting, buying and selling, or the best cartoon book collection supplies to buy, it’s best to look at a lot of sources, to cross reference, and to look very skeptically at what people say.

If you are a beginning collector, decide on the comic book collection supplies that you will need to start your collection. If you plan on buying and selling comic books, for instance, keep a system of the ones you buy and sell.

Also, buy a cartoon book price guide so you can keep up with the latest trends in the industry. With enough research, you will be able to tell experts from beginners in the cartoon book field.

Comic book collecting was once a simple and fun pastime that was meant for kids. In the last few decades, though, it has become a way to make money because of their increasing value over the years.

Comic book prices have increased as a result of their potential. But cartoon book collecting can still be fun. If had a collection as a kid, you can find the comic book prices on the market and sell them if you’d like.

Or, if you’d rather, just learn more about the industry so you know what kind of precious commodities you have in your possession. With the wide selection of cartoon book collection supplies and comic book collection bloggers, there is an entirely new aspect to the entire industry.

Product Description
The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide is a must-have for any comic book collector. It includes more than 2,000 black-and-white illustrations throughout the text, a gallery of hundreds of color images of some of the most popular collectible comic books, and informative essays written by top experts on important comic book topics.

Key features:

a comic-style introduction to using the book
market review and forecast
tips on grading … More >>

The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #38

Collecting comic books is a source of joy for many comic book and graphic novel enthusiasts. However, many collectors have trouble finding comics that they feel would be worth collecting and dont really know what to do with them when they do. There are a number of ways that collectors and comic enthusiasts can find out where to buy, sell and trade collectible comics and other memorabilia.

You can find comic books and other collectable memorabilia in a number of places. Comic conventions are an excellent way to find collectible comics, meet comic insiders and hear the latest comic industry news. One of the best places to find comic books is on the internet. You can find people selling comic books on different websites all over the web. One way to find comic books is in an online market place such as Amazon.com. Ebay is one of the most popular places on the net to find auctions for collectible comic books. Not only can you bid and buy comics but you can also sell your comic books through Ebay as well. Another place to find comics is from an online comic book store such as Things From Another World or SuperHeroStuff.com.

You can also find collectible comic books online in comic collecting forums. One of the sites that I would recommend is Planet Bugle (www.planetbugle.com). Planet Bugle provides a comic forum, a comic wiki, comic news, comic collecting faqs and other information on collecting comic books and more. Comic forums and message boards allow you to connect with other collectors who are selling, buying and trading comic and can provide you with information and insight on collecting comic books.

As you start to accumulate more and more comic you will need to find ways to keep track of your comic book collection. One effective method is to use a database software such as Collectorz.com’s Comic Collector. This will allow you to catalog your comic collection automatically.

The Supernatural fan base is undeniably strong, and they serve as a good market for publishing companies who would like to release material on the Supernatural series. In fact, WildStorm released Supernatural: Origins comic book last year, and it was a fair success. This year, fans will again delight in another release, as Supernatural: Rising Son is coming soon. The new comic book is a six-issue miniseries that will tell another tale about the Winchester brothers. To be released on April 23, the series will follow a 7-year-old Sam and 11-year-old Dean as they travel with their father, John.

Writer Peter Johnson, who is also a co-executive producer on the TV show explained that this series focuses more on John and his dysfunctional family.

“We’re really going to explore the differences between Sam and Dean in this one,” Johnson added. “Dean is becoming aware of what his dad’s up to and we’ll see him training and hunting a little bit, while John will start to key in on something different about Sam.”

Despite being another Supernatural project, show creator Eric Kripke, who contributed hugely to the Origins project, was not present in any way in Rising Son, mostly due to the writers’ strike. Although the strike does not include comic book writers, Kripke saw the thin line between writing for the TV series and writing a comic book based on the series, and thus opted to not be part of it this time.

Johnson added that this action packed series includes familiar faces, creepier monsters, fighter chicks and a villain that may be part of the show itself. This will be one hell of a comic book for Supernatural fans to look out for, and just to add to the excitement, there is a third comic book in its conception stage. As for now, let’s await the release of Supernatural, Rising Son, on April 23.

For more resources about Supernatural or for the full story of New Supernatural Comic Book Series Starting in April please review http://www.buddytv.com