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Serious Collector
 
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ZombiesAteMyBrain (11/3/2009)
Everyone seems to think variants/gimmicks caused the decline in the 90s and seem to imply we're headed for another one because of their resurgence. Anyone ever consider that they are more of a symptom than the cause? The publishers aren't putting out variants to "disrepect the collectors". They're desperate for sales in a declining market. That's a thought.
My gripe stems from the 90's comic flood that chased me out of collecting for a decade. The scarring left behind from that abuse makes me cynical of gimmicks. Still, your point is taken ZAMB. -Dan
What's in my long boxes? http://www.comicspriceguide.com/world/default.asp?m=Magic%20Dan
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Serious Collector
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| Here's an idea... Since the only difference seems to be cover art, perhaps they should just offer to sell the variant cover wrap sans the book inside at a discounted price. This would save paper, take up less space in a comic box and satisfy those collectors who want variant cover art ...An unstapled cover-wrap variant for only .49 cents...I doubt it would make a negative impact on the industry; but then again I'm not a fortune teller. -Dan
What's in my long boxes? http://www.comicspriceguide.com/world/default.asp?m=Magic%20Dan
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Serious Collector
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Elijya (11/4/2009)
Aphelion (11/3/2009)
Most collectors I know are completists. You can ignore them and your collection then becomes incomplete and you are missing all the rare ones that collectors take pride in owning. I think it's better to just boycott the series and quit supporting the companies that constantly put carrots on a string dangling in front of your face. It's a lack of respect for the collector.
I'm sorry, but this is kind of stupid. There is no major movement to boycott this practice, making it a futile effort. How many people are on board, how many have you organized? Who wants to give up their favorite titles over a matter they're perfectly free to ignore and has no bearing on them? Boycotting something you're collecting would only make your collections even more incomplete, so it's contrary to the motivation your claiming.
If I want to collect Amazing Spider-Man #1-600, and I do, boom, I've done it. I could care less if I have the 6 different variants of 50 different issues. If I have an issues, I have it, I don't care which cover it is.
Elijya,
I find your comments to be quite ignorant. Over my 38 years of collecting, I know hundreds of collectors who have abandoned the hobby. When I sit down and discuss with some why they've quit collecting, a large number cite variants and "too much crap" as their reason. To be honest, I have an Amazing Fantasy #15. I couldn't care less if I have any Amazing Spiderman after 200. The joy of collecting means that you set a goal and complete it. So you buy the common worthless new issue that will only be worth a quarter in 6 months? I don't take an ounce of pride in knowing that I paid $3 for something that I could've bought in bulk two years later for a dime had I been patient. Chances are, when it becomes available at that bulk rate two years later, I won't want it then either. Variants can be a cool thing. It can be a premium book or a "value added" incentive book that has a little story behind it. There are some Neal Adams variant covers at DC. I think his talent is worth picking up. Variants should only be created for special events or occurrences. Even then they should be used sparingly. Why buy any new comics at all. Just buy the TPB's if you want the story. Why buy TPB's? Just go see the movies. One thing I'm not going to do is buy 6 copies of the same comic while some Marvel executives laugh at how stupid collectors are. I buy none instead.
I think you can look at the sales trend and see publishers relying upon fewer and fewer collectors to buy more and more copies of the same issues. That's not only sad, it's outright pathetic.
If you take pride in all the common worthless issues that retailers were forced to order so they could get that discriminating collector his 1:200 variant, I'm happy for you. Personally, if I was collecting one issue to get the story, I'd want the one copy people actually take the most pride in owning. It's be the rarest or most elusive. I save a lot of money by not buying new comics. Marvel & DC can go screw themselves. I'd do perfectly fine if they shut their doors tomorrow. I buy only back issues and there are plenty.
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Serious Collector
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ZombiesAteMyBrain (11/3/2009)
Everyone seems to think variants/gimmicks caused the decline in the 90s and seem to imply we're headed for another one because of their resurgence. Anyone ever consider that they are more of a symptom than the cause? The publishers aren't putting out variants to "disrepect the collectors". They're desperate for sales in a declining market.
Of course they are desperate. It's still disrespectful. It'd be like some charity knocking on your front door 6 times asking for a greater donation each time. If they work on making comics better instead of "tricking" collectors into buying the same book a dozen times, they might actually "win" some readers instead of running them off. I'm personally sick of seeing them kill, maim and destroy characters I grew up enjoying. I'm sick of the gimmicks. A good story will keep readers buying. Since nobody knows how to tell that kind of story anymore, they've become desperate. It's a lot easier to run collectors off than it is to win new ones.
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Forum Member
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Ringfinger (11/4/2009)
It is annoying have 3 or 4 variants for a new issue. Expensive too.
Then don't buy them, just pick the cover you like the most. Problem solved.
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Collector
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Have you guys seen the solicits for Image United #1?
11 covers. 11. Eleven.
First there's the 6 equal ratio covers, then the 1:10 blank cover, then the 1:50 incentive cover, then the 1:100 Jim Lee sketch cover, then the Collector's Edition gold foil cover, then the signed/numbered Collector's Edition.
Overkill much? Not to mention, I'm sure due to retailers over-ordering to get incentive covers there will be a "distributor level sell-out" much as there was with Haunt #1, meaning a second printing is in order.
That's a potential of 12 separate covers... for one solitary story. Nuts.
I'm a completionist myself. For the few titles I collect (IU will be one of them) I like to have all of the covers, but I'm afraid this one ain't gonna happen.
I don't mind a few variants here and there, but this series is going to have at least 7 covers per issue. Ridiculous.
I know, I know, pick a cover I like and buy it... 
________________________
my comic art
my comic collection
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Elite Collector
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Aphelion (11/5/2009)
Elijya (11/4/2009)
Aphelion (11/3/2009)
Most collectors I know are completists. You can ignore them and your collection then becomes incomplete and you are missing all the rare ones that collectors take pride in owning. I think it's better to just boycott the series and quit supporting the companies that constantly put carrots on a string dangling in front of your face. It's a lack of respect for the collector.
I'm sorry, but this is kind of stupid. There is no major movement to boycott this practice, making it a futile effort. How many people are on board, how many have you organized? Who wants to give up their favorite titles over a matter they're perfectly free to ignore and has no bearing on them? Boycotting something you're collecting would only make your collections even more incomplete, so it's contrary to the motivation your claiming. If I want to collect Amazing Spider-Man #1-600, and I do, boom, I've done it. I could care less if I have the 6 different variants of 50 different issues. If I have an issues, I have it, I don't care which cover it is. Elijya, I find your comments to be quite ignorant. Over my 38 years of collecting, I know hundreds of collectors who have abandoned the hobby. When I sit down and discuss with some why they've quit collecting, a large number cite variants and "too much crap" as their reason. To be honest, I have an Amazing Fantasy #15. I couldn't care less if I have any Amazing Spiderman after 200. The joy of collecting means that you set a goal and complete it. So you buy the common worthless new issue that will only be worth a quarter in 6 months? I don't take an ounce of pride in knowing that I paid $3 for something that I could've bought in bulk two years later for a dime had I been patient. Chances are, when it becomes available at that bulk rate two years later, I won't want it then either. Variants can be a cool thing. It can be a premium book or a "value added" incentive book that has a little story behind it. There are some Neal Adams variant covers at DC. I think his talent is worth picking up. Variants should only be created for special events or occurrences. Even then they should be used sparingly. Why buy any new comics at all. Just buy the TPB's if you want the story. Why buy TPB's? Just go see the movies. One thing I'm not going to do is buy 6 copies of the same comic while some Marvel executives laugh at how stupid collectors are. I buy none instead. I think you can look at the sales trend and see publishers relying upon fewer and fewer collectors to buy more and more copies of the same issues. That's not only sad, it's outright pathetic. If you take pride in all the common worthless issues that retailers were forced to order so they could get that discriminating collector his 1:200 variant, I'm happy for you. Personally, if I was collecting one issue to get the story, I'd want the one copy people actually take the most pride in owning. It's be the rarest or most elusive. I save a lot of money by not buying new comics. Marvel & DC can go screw themselves. I'd do perfectly fine if they shut their doors tomorrow. I buy only back issues and there are plenty. Talk about ignorant comments. Look, you're entitled to your opinions, but you say you dn't buy new issues because everything is gimmicks and variants and noone knows how to tell good stories? I can easily name a dozen excellently written titles that don't use variant covers. If you're not trying to make any effort to find them and support them, YOU'RE hurting the hobby you claim to love so much just as much as the few publishers that rely on variant covers are.
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Elite Collector
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| Yes there are good stories, however, the variants outnumber them ha ha!!
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Serious Collector
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ZombiesAteMyBrain (11/5/2009)
Talk about ignorant comments. Look, you're entitled to your opinions, but you say you dn't buy new issues because everything is gimmicks and variants and noone knowshow to tell good stories? I can easily name a dozen excellently written titles that don't use variant covers. If you're not trying to make any effort to find them and support them, YOU'RE hurting the hobby you claim to love so much just as much as the few publishers that rely on variant covers are.
I think it's a safe bet that whatever you like doesn't impress me or interest me in the least. Since my occupation actually pays me to provide a quality evaluation, I feel no shame in telling it like I see it.
I can walk in several stores right now and just sit down and read comics for free. I don't have to buy any of them. I don't care if every publisher out there ceased publishing tomorrow. I look through their stuff and 95% of it is crap and the rest is overpriced. You can waste your money as you see fit, I'll waste mine on back issues that I like. Most of your $4 purchase today will be something I can buy for a dime a piece in bulk 2 years from now. As I mentioned in another thread, my friend bought 52 long boxes of comics for about a dime a book. The guy really just wanted someone to haul them off. My friend insisted that he take the money he did take. There were even a few variants in the mix.
I don't owe these companies my support either. It is their job to respond to the interests and expectations of the customer. I can pick up a phone and call dozens of people right now who could talk for hours about how modern comics just don't cut it. They haven't walked into a comic shop in 15 years. They see them in book stores or on magazine racks and just cringe.
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Serious Collector
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| Type in the phrase "dead universes" + "Comics" into a search engine. You'll find countless collectors collecting them. Sift through the results and look for anything mentioning "Harris comics" Harris was one of the worst offenders at publishing variants. I've yet to find one collector looking for a set of the stuff Harris published. Harris made as many as 15 different covers for each issue. It was not uncommon for a 4 issue mini-series to have over 40 covers for four issues. Harris seems to be a dead company now. I think that might be a good hint at where the practice leads. If the publishers run off the completists that want one of everything, they run off their most loyal customers.
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