GWOM Comic

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


The various stores in your neighborhood are devoted mainly to the task of supplying you with items and services that you want and need. Since recreation is one social activity that many of us enjoy there are different items that are set aside for these purposes. Comic stores also play a role in the recreational activities of people.

From the comic stores in your neighborhood you will be able to find different genres and versions of your favorite comics. These comic stores may even have a section where you will be able to browse through old editions and sometimes find second hand comic books.

As these comic stores have many different types of comics you should have a rough idea of what comic genre you want to look at first. This way you can look through the shelves for comics that catch your eye or even hunt for issues of your favorite comic series. There will be times when you will come across variations of your favored comics.

These types of comics are also very popular as many people like to see the other adventures that can occur to their favorite characters. Besides looking at action comics you will be able to hunt for your favorite comics like the Archies, Tarzan, Tom and Jerry in addition to other comics.

Comic stores are also great places to see if you can buy the latest comic book series. As these comics are not that well known you will have to ask the comic store staff or owners how these comics are. You can also find some of the much loved vintage comics like Wonder Woman and the Lone Ranger.

The popular Anime series, the different Manga comics, Science Fiction comics are other comics that people love to read. Comic stores are also the best place to see if you can buy posters of your comic book characters. Some comic stores will even have comic book price guides.

With these books you will be able to determine the price of the various comics in your entire collection. In general you will be able to find your comics for a relatively inexpensive price.

As comic stores are the best place for you to see the latest comic books you may want to see if you can find your favorite hidden among the other intriguing comic book titles. Besides buying your current comics the best place for you to start your comic book collection is from your trusty comic stores. With this in mind you may want to head over to your local comic store and see what new treasures you can find.

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


While comics with their glossy covers and brightly filled pages may not seem to be items that can command high prices there are many comic book collectors who can easily prove you to be wrong in this assumption. For these comic book collectors the best way to find the comic value of their books is to see what professional comic book appraisers have to say in this regard.

It is an accepted fact that comic books are graded on the physical condition of the book. In this grading the exterior of the book cover is looked at carefully. From this initial examination the appraiser will be able to give you a rough estimate of the comic value. Once this has been established the interior of the book will be seen.

The main items that establishes an accepted comic value is the type of genre, the series number, how the book looks when it has been opened and the various artist and writer names. These can inform the comic book appraiser if they have a collectible comic book that should be given a high price or if they have a book that is just ordinary in value.

This information will inform the comic book collector of the different steps that will need to be taken to provide their valuable comics with some safety features. These precautions are necessary if you want the value of your comic collection to go up.

As comic books have a set standard to determine their comic value you should see if you can find a comic book price guide that will provide you with this information. The information that is found in these comic book guides may be a little difficult understood, but if you are persevering you will soon understand the criteria that has been give for assigning the comic value to your various comic books

In comic book stores you can sometimes find comic books that are in mint condition or near mint condition. Other comic books will look well thumbed through even though they have been newly printed. These types of comic books should be carefully looked at to see if they are worth buying for their collection value or if you just want to read these comics.

When you buy your comic books for a comic book collection you will want to know what the comic value can be given for these types of comics. In addition you may desire to know if having certain types of comic books can increase or decrease the value of your entire collection.

With the many different comic books that you can buy it is sometimes difficult to know if you are buying a comic book that will increase in value as the years go by. Regardless of these uncertainties you may want to take a chance and buy the different comic books that catch your eye. With luck you may find a rare comic book that will raise the comic value of your entire collection.

Conan Saunders asked:


In the United States, the first comic book was published in 1934. Ever since the first comic came out, the leading producer has been the United States. The first comics were similar to the comics found in early newspapers; however, they were published as their own books. The first comic books were mostly about adventure stories and depicted some type of superhero character. Historians break up the history of American comic books into different eras. There are four eras starting with the Golden Age, the Silver Age, the Bronze Age, and the Modern age of comic books.

The Golden Age of comics is said to have last from the 1930s to the late 1940s. During this time, comics became main stream and readers were introduced to superheroes such as Batman, Captain America, and Wonder Woman. Superman was the first known superhero and made his debut in 1938. After Superman, almost all comics featured a superhero, and the Golden Age is classified by their appearances. World War II had a big impact on the popularity of the superhero comic books during this era. What made them so popular was showcasing that good triumphs over evil. There were even some comic books that showed characters punching Adolf ******.

The Silver Age of comics was more about commercial success and artistic advancement. The Golden Age proved that comics were popular and readable, and the Silver Age maintained that success. This ere lasted from the mid 1950s to the early 1970s. During this time, comics were blamed for juvenile crimes occurring more frequently. As a result of this, comic sales went down and writers had to rethink their story plot. Comics started to represent authority. The characters went through a dynamic change and the stars of the comics started to appear as aliens and other science fiction characters. Also during this time, underground comics made for adults started to emerge.

The Bronze Age lasted from the 1970s to the mid 1980s. The look of the comic book didn’t change during this era, however, the story plot changed dramatically. Although the pages and pictures were bright and colorful, the story line was more dramatic, realistic, and dark. Real world issues were brought to attention in the comics of this era. Drug use was an issue addressed. The comics became more mature and life like.

The Modern Age of comic books started in the 1980s and continues on in to the present. In addition to the characters in comics, the writers are also more recognizable. There are more publishing houses that produce comics and there are independent comic books too. The larger publishing houses became more commercialized. The characters also change during this era. They are now more complex, show self doubt, and the villains are darker.

 

Ben Andrews asked:


Looking for rare and collectible comic books? Whether you are a seasoned collector of Golden Age comics or just starting with some recent back issues, finding the comic you want, when you want it could be a daunting task.

Where to Find Comics

The two best places to find comics are the Internet and the world famous San Diego Comic-Con. Visiting the local comic store is still an option, but your changes of finding that Amazing Spider-Man #1 is slim.

In this article, we’ll focus on how to find comics on the Internet. Specifically, vintage comics that are at least ten years old. In general, comic searches will be focused on ages: Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age and Modern.

Surprisingly, the large search engines, such as Google, are not the best place to look for comics. The results you’ll find will be to dealer sites, but not to their constantly changing inventory. Your search will be focused on the following categories: comic book specific search engines, auction sites, dealer sites, classifieds and forums.

Comic Search Engines

Your best bet for one-stop shopping is a comic book search engine. This type of website will search as many sites on the Internet that it can find and present the compiled results to you without you having to visit multiple sites.

The largest, ComicSeeker.com (http://www.comicseeker.com), is simple to use. You type in the title of the comic you are searching for and the optional issue number. The results are then presented from various sites on the Internet. When you find the comic you want, you go from ComicSeeker.com to the site where the comic book if for sale.

Auction Sites

Ebay. Of course, there are other auction sites out there, but for sheer volume, Ebay (http://www.ebay.com) is the leader. On any given day, there are thousands of comics for you to purchase. If you do buy from Ebay, use caution when selecting a seller and always check their feedback. It is not uncommon for the comic you purchase to be in a lower grade than described. There are honest sellers and feedback is the best way to weed out the bad ones.

There are some comic book specialty auction sites. The largest is Heritage Comics (http://www.heritagecomics.com) based in Texas. You can also bid at Vault Auctions, Hakes and OnlineComicBookAuctions.com.

Dealer Sites

Most of the major and minor comic book dealers now have websites. Some have their own search engine, making it easy for you to search their inventory. Some even let you specify a specific grade that you are searching for. Others aren’t quite as advanced yet and require you to click from page-to-page to look through their inventory.

The largest dealer site isn’t really a dealer, but a consignment/exchange: ComicLink (http://www.comiclink.com). At ComicLink, you will probably find the most active trading of Gold, Silver and Bronze age comics on the Internet.

Classifieds

Comics are not usually sold through online classified sites, but sometimes you can get lucky. As with the auction site category, the classified category is dominated by one major site, Craigslist.

Craigslist (http://www.craigslist.org) operates several local versions, so it is best to stick to searches at your local site as the comic seller may not want to ship to you. Our tip for searching Craigslist is not to search. They have deployed a new technology call RSS/XML. If you have downloaded the Firefox web browser, it is easy to take advante of this technology.

First, go to your local Craigslist and type the term comics in the search box and select the For Sale section. When the results page loads, you will notice a small icon in the right side of the location bar of Firefox. Click this and the feed will now be saved as a Live Bookmark. From now on, you can instantly see all posts at Craigslist with comics in the description.

Forums

Community forums are a great way to buy comics from other comic collectors. Some forums have specific topic areas just for people who are selling comics. However, the best tactic is to simply be active in the forum and keep your want list in your post signature.

Some popular forums are CGC Boards, CBG Extra and About.com Comics.

Conclusion

With so many options on the Internet, it shouldn’t take you long to find the exact comic book you are searching for. By using this multi-tier strategy, you should be able to find multiple copies of the comic you want and purchase based on grade and price. Good luck and have fun.

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


There are many different types of comic books that we can buy, trade and even look through when we go to a comic book shop. From these places you will encounter comic books in various conditions. Some comic books will be in mint condition and others will look well thumbed through even though they are newly printed comic books. When you are buying comic books for a collection you want to know roughly the comic book values.

These values are somewhat difficult for the novice comic collector to find. To help you in this task of find the comic book values for your various comic books you can look for a comic book appraiser. This individual will have the knowledge and the experience in handling various comic books so that he comic will not sustain any signs of damage while the comic book is being assessed.

You can ask the appraiser questions about the various identifying marks when you want to know how to find these comic book values when you are in a comic book store. You can also use the various steps and instructions that are found in different comic book price guides.

As these price guides are in both traditional book form and electronic version you should be able to find the comic book values that you are looking for. The information may be a little difficult to find but once you have seen and understood the criteria for assigning values to your comic books you will be able to test out your abilities.

The best way to get a feel for the various values that are possible is to see if you can determine the comic book values by the method that was described in the comic book price guides. The first step is to see the condition of the comic books in your collection. The ones that are in poor shape you may want to leave until you are able to see how the comic book value system really works.

The other items that determine the comic book values are the popularity in the long term. This means that long running comic series like Superman and Batman are probably most likely to be very valuable especially if they are comics from the earlier editions. These early comic books are hard to find.

When you have developed your ability to judge the various comic book values and you feel that you will be able to say which comics are in mint condition and which ones are fair then you will need to see if you can take this a step further and look at the differences in the comic books that you have just purchased from the comic book stores. You can then see what a professional appraiser will value your collection at.

Vince Platania, Jr. asked:


There are thousands of comic book characters in existence from past to present. Many are well known while the majority are more obscure to the general public. And while top ten lists are generally subjective and based on opinion, there are certain comic book characters that will be discussed in this article that are worthy of that distinction by most standards. These are in random order.

Superman - There absolutely cannot be a top ten list of comic book characters without the Man of Steel. He’s one of the first (arguably THE first) superhero to ever grace the four-color world, and thus his history is one of the richest. He’s also one of the most popular in both comics and worldwide as viewed by the general public. He represents truth, justice, righteousness and morality. And while many find it hard to relate to him, those same people look up to his characteristics and admire his altruistic spirit.

Batman - Not quite so altruistic, but every bit as popular and loved is the Dark Knight. He may not always do the right thing, or do it the right way, but his motives are always pure, and his intent is always clear. He’s a thinking man’s hero, but he’s also a warrior’s hero. He’s well rounded and complete, and a little bit gritty, and that’s why we like him.

Spider-Man - The boy next door; the everyman; the geeky kid a great majority of us can relate to who overcomes the odds and becomes something great. Spider-Man gives us hope that we can achieve that same greatness in our own special ways. He truly is a standard bearer and a true hero to the core, always trying to do the right thing, but many times messing it up horribly, thus proving he’s still human, and thus endearing him more and more to our hearts.

Lex Luthor - The arch-nemesis of the ‘Blue Boyscout’, Superman, Lex Luthor is all kinds of evil wrapped up in money and a well pressed, expensive suit. He’s diabolically clever and vicious, and he never lets Supes sleep on the job. Cementing his legacy as one of the greatest villains of all time, Luthor wins our allegiance for the depth of his character and his driven purpose.

Captain America - Maybe not as popular in modern times as he was in the days of World War II when he first appeared on the comic scene, but still a symbol of America and classic comics from the Golden and Silver ages. Captain America is displaced and so he views the world a bit differently than the rest of us. He sees things the way they should be in his mind, which isn’t always the most popular point of view. He’s often portrayed as a boy scout, but truthfully he’s much deeper than that, and that’s where the appeal lies.

Wolverine - Overused or not, Logan is one of the most popular comic book characters in existence today. When he first burst onto the scene in the revitalized X-Men he quickly gained an everlasting fan base because of the difference he brought to the table. He’s not your typical do-gooder hero, though he always does fight for the right causes. He’s temperamental, at times insecure, rude, crude and unpredictable. He’s a loner with a heart of gold and a penchant for violence. He’s an anti-hero who takes no crap, but at the same time he deeply cares about those he surrounds himself with. And it’s those complexities that make him stand out in our minds.

Wonder Woman - The first widely received female superhero, Wonder Woman is by far the most popular female comic book character to date. She comes from a world where women are dominant, which gained her popularity early on in the women’s liberation movement. She stands head-to-head and toe-to-toe with any male superhero, and she shows them up oftentimes. She’s a strong, beautiful, intelligent and yet still feminine heroine with a costume that has become more than iconic.

The Joker - The thorn in Batman’s side rightly deserves a place on this list for his epic battles with the ‘Caped Crusader’. Of all comic book characters in the superhero realm, there is none quite like the Joker. He’s maniacal, insane, and ruthless, yet charming, smooth and debonair at the same time. He’s a mass murderer and a child killer, and he’s obsessed with Batman. He’s just too crazy not to love!

The Flash - If underoos and t-shirts are any indication, The Flash is one of the most noticeable and popular iconic comic book characters of all time. He’s a fan-favorite of comic readers and non-comic fans alike. He’s known worldwide and his trademark red costume with the white circle and yellow lightning bolt are instantly recognized. But more than appearance, it’s his powers and his wit that land him on this list. He’s one of the original comic relief superheroes in the genre with his sarcastic and humorous banter that rivals that of Spider-Man. And who doesn’t love super speed powers? He’s the best at what he does.

The Incredible Hulk - Mr. Green Genes himself has to make this list merely for his iconic status in the world of comics and beyond. He’s a classic hero that has gained notoriety through comics, television and film. And with the popularity of the second Hulk film that just released, his star will only continue to rise. Couple that with the massive success of Planet Hulk and the Incredible one is a force to be reckoned with. Whether it’s his intense power, or the dynamic between that power and the weak, but intelligent alter-ego Bruce Banner, we love him no matter what.

There are many other comic book characters that could have easily made this list, like Magneto, Iron Man, Robin, Green Lantern, Professor X and so many others. The names represented above, though, are undoubtedly some of the greatest comic book characters ever created.

Peter Gitundu asked:


It’s always good to have your comic book appraised by a professional if you are looking to sell it. Comic Value would help you understand what you have in your comic book. There are specifications on how your comic book must look. The glossy cover and the brightly filled pages must still look as good as new or like they have never been read before, even if they have. In fact most people that keep the rare editions or collector’s comics usually have two of the same comic. That means one was for reading and the other for safe keeping.

Most of the time you will find that the one for reading is different from the one that is all wrapped up in a clean sealed environment and kept in mint condition. This kind of time and conditioning that is given to the comic books can only be done by someone who loves comics and has the dedication to keep his or her comic book in the right conditions, atmosphere and surely knows the comic value. Such people get the comic book appraised and then put in time and money to make sure that the comic is in mint condition. Some of them even showcase their comic in conventions on comic books and superheroes. The comic value  goes even higher when more people get to view it and cannot get a hold of another copy anywhere.

It is important to make sure that you keep your comic away from any wet atmosphere or to keep it sealed tight in its case or plastic sleeve if you intend to keep it for a while. Also note that you must keep checking online for more news on how much your comic book is valued.

Vince Platania, Jr. asked:


The comic book industry, like any artistic industry, or any industry for that matter, is cyclical.  There are up times and there are down times.  There are times when sales are through the roof and there are times when sales can’t break through the basement floor.  Right now comics are in an in-between place, unlike a few years ago when things looked pretty grim.  But before that period there was a high that crumbled down before our very eyes.

I’m 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 it’s 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.

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


When many of us buy comic books we frequently read them and place them on a pile of old comic books or our book shelves. This attitude changes when we are collecting these comic books. In these cases we take great steps to preserve our comic book collection. There are instances where we may decide to sell comic books that we have doubles of or ones that we feel are bringing the value of our collection down.

To ensure that you are able to sell comic books that you have no need of there are certain steps that must be seen to. As many people want to have good quality comic books whether it is just for reading pleasure or for serious collecting you will need to make sure that both the inside and the exterior of the comic book are in excellent condition.

To sell comic books you will need to preserve the appearance of your comic books. You can store them in clear plastic sleeves with a piece of acid free cardboard at the back of the comic book to give the comic book a strong support. With the help of the supporting cardboard you should store your comic book upright on your book shelves.

This way you can be sure that your comic book will not develop any creases in the cover from the pressure of the other comic books. Besides storing your comics in an acid free plastic cover sleeve if you want to sell comics books you should know what are the types of comic books that are very popular.

These comic books will help you to gain a profit from selling them but these popular comics should also be in excellent condition. The other types of comic books that sell well are the first series comic books. There are many people who love buying these types of rare comic books.

When you sell comic books like these and they are in mint condition you can be sure that you can get a very high price for these early edition comic books. The best places to sell comic books that you have no need of or ones that you are expecting to get a profit from is your comic book store.

The internet and auction houses are also good places where you can sell comic books. There are many comic book collectors who attend these places so they can see what sort of comics are for sale and hope to buy a rare or coveted comic book. When you are looking to sell comic books the main facts to remember is that the various comic books must be ones that are in demand and the condition of the comic books should be excellent.