canesmacker

all messages by user

7/1/2017
Topic: Why Do YOU Collect Comics?

canesmacker

First off, this will be my first post on the forum. Too busy with work and family to post but saw this thread and had to share my story.

I started reading comic books in 1974 when I was 8 yrs old. My next door neighbor had all the Marvel stalwarts, ASM, FF, MTU, Avengers, Iron-man, etc. I was hooked - the artwork for me is what captivated me. Especially a lot of the Gil Kane covers (even though at that age I had no idea what GK meant on the covers). I remember my next door neighbors older brother had the nice comics that he wouldn't allow us to touch!

One day, me and my friend rode our bikes to the local 7-11 and bought 4 quarters worth of comics each. I don't remember all of my purchases except for those comics that I still have to this day. They are obviously in very poor condition but they will never be thrown away as they are extremely sentimental - GS X-Men 1 (detached and torn front cover), ASM 138-145 (detached and torn front covers), etc.

Over the next few years, we made many trips to our local 7-11 and Top Banana convenience stores and also amassed a collection of super-hero slurpee cups too. I still have a few of them today!

After my parents moved us to a new neighborhood when I was 10, I discovered my local comic book store. That's where I saw ASM #1 in the glass cabinet. It was a VG copy for $120! I had to have it. But what 10 yr old in 1976 had $120? So my dad said start mowing neighbors yards and in a couple of years you will have saved $120. Two years later, I walked into that comic store and paid $120 for ASM #1. Still have it today.

I read and collected comics all the way through my senior yr in high school. However, with other interests such as girls and college, I pretty much stopped collecting and reading them around 1984. I purchased and read sporadically from 1984-1998. In 2000, I landed my current job, moved up the corporate ladder quickly and in 2004 began collecting comics as an investment. The comic bug that so deeply bit me as a child and adolescent, had bitten again! I started first by replacing my ASM collection with high grade books. I then worked my way through all the major Marvel titles and their keys and then moved to DC. I also obtained a couple of very nice collections consisting of GA, SA & BA books. Today, I have amassed a very nice collection with many, many keys from the GA, SA & BA and also titles I just loved when I was a kid, i,e, MTU, Werewolf By Night, War is Hell, Ghost Rider, Jim Aparo Detectives & Adventure Comics, Daredevil with Black Widow, Inhumans, Invaders, and all the Giant Size Marvels, etc.

I really just love to read the books I read when I was a kid, plus John Romita's ASM from #39-on, Ross Andru, etc. They take me right back to when I pulled them off the comic book racks in the mid 70s!

It's a hobby my wife will never truly understand until I auction them and buy her the ocean front homes she always wanted in FL and the Caribbean.

9/27/2019
Topic: Cover photos not loading?

canesmacker

Same here - no images appear

10/22/2019
Topic: Cover photos not loading?

canesmacker

Images not loading when I search or in My Collection.

12/13/2019
Topic: Ruk's list-Who has the best collection

canesmacker

My collection:
Issues: 4,274
Value: $591,446.42

12/14/2019
Topic: Ruk's list-Who has the best collection

canesmacker

Thanks Ruk. Can't promise you I won't be buying anymore comics - LOL!
Your spot is secure for now but I'm always on the look out for that special gem.
Plus, all of my Matt Baker books are very undervalued here so that's a chunk that could get me that much closer to you (hint, hint moderators)!

12/15/2019
Topic: What was your first comic?

canesmacker

I don't remember my first comic. But going back 45+ years I do remember my Dad taking me to an old antique/book/comic book store in downtown Miami called Abacus.
I bought ASM 54 & 72 for a few bucks - no comic bag or board in the early 70s.
I do remember buying books off those old rotating comic racks at 7-11 along with a slurpee in those awesome Marvel Slurpee Cups.
Those comics were .20, .25 and .50 for the Giant-Size books like GS X-Men #1 which I still have in ratty poor condition.
I miss those days.

1/4/2020
Topic: Ruk's list-Who has the best collection

canesmacker

Please update:
Issues: 4319
Value: $596,526.93

1/6/2020
Topic: Ruk's list-Who has the best collection

canesmacker

You know, when I look at the Top 3, I have to ask - where do you guys store all those comics.
That's 7-15 times as many long boxes as I have!

FYI - I have another collection of approx 1600 books that I have yet to add as I have not graded them yet.
Those will definitely get me to #3. However, I'm not sure when I will be able to get to them so your #3 spot is safe - for now ;-)

4/13/2020
Topic: Missing Suicide Squad #1 - Canadian version - 1987

canesmacker

This issue is missing.
Canadian version has $1.00 cover price as opposed to the US .75 issue.
edited by canesmacker on 4/13/2020

6/3/2020
Topic: Ruk's list-Who has the best collection

canesmacker

I agree. Many of the Matt Baker romance books are severely undervalued by at least 5x to 10x.
But conversely, Avengers #1 is overvalued by 2x. My 7.0 shows $12,000 here but you can pick one up for $7200 on ebay and at auction for $6000.
Many more examples.

5/7/2021
Topic: Ruk's list-Who has the best collection

canesmacker

I'm at $679,285
5100

5/23/2021
Topic: Ruk's list-Who has the best collection

canesmacker

Hey Ruk, not sure what happened but my numbers mysteriously increased $18k from:

$ 679,285.00

*EEIG

5100

Canesmacker

to:

$ 697,285.00

*EEIG

5100

Canesmacker

After a few more purchases, my new numbers are actually as follows:

$ 683,191.16

*EEIG

5117

Canesmacker

6/9/2021
Topic: Ruk's list-Who has the best collection

canesmacker

Hey Ruk, Happy belated bday!

Now that I got your attention, figured I'd pick your brain a bit on how comicspriceguide determines values. Considering many of us have books that are undervalued here such as AMF 15, Hulk 181, etc. How does comicspriceguide determine values and how frequently do they update the values? What research do they perform to determine accurate values? I've noticed some strange value changes recently both ways.
edited by ronbatman on 6/10/2021

6/12/2021
Topic: Ruk's list-Who has the best collection

canesmacker

canesmacker wrote:

Hey Ruk, Happy belated bday!

Now that I got your attention, figured I'd pick your brain a bit on how comicspriceguide determines values. Considering many of us have books that are undervalued here such as AMF 15, Hulk 181, etc. How does comicspriceguide determine values and how frequently do they update the values? What research do they perform to determine accurate values? I've noticed some strange value changes recently both ways.
edited by ronbatman on 6/10/2021

Thanks BasementComics. I contacted him after you mentioned it and he did help me with my question. Thanks again.
edited by canesmacker on 6/12/2021

9/1/2021
Topic: The greed in this market is getting crazy

canesmacker

I routinely and almost exclusively buy all of my books through auctions. And yes, what people will pay has definitely increased over the last 12-18 months. FMV is what the buyer is willing to pay. This speculation and craziness will crash eventually - no different than the stock market. Current valuations can't hold forever. Eventually proces will drop and that's when the savvy collector/buyer will swoop in and gobble up the bargains. The GA books hold their value very well and overall have not been affected much in the last 12-18 months - although they have gotten slightly more expensive. Nothing compared to the SA & BA books that are ridiculously rising in speculative valuations. Keys are going through the roof regardless. Above are my observations from the auction side of the house.

10/7/2021
Topic: ASM 101 - 9.6 graded.

canesmacker

Currently, I have ASM 101 - 9.6 graded and the value in my collection shows the raw value not the graded value.

10/10/2021
Topic: ASM 101 - 9.6 graded.

canesmacker

It was checked.

11/3/2021
Topic: Missing Issues

canesmacker

Western Bandit Trails V1, #9 missing - Matt Baker
Northwest Mounties V1, #12 - Matt Baker

11/3/2021
Topic: Missing Issues

canesmacker

Thanks!

12/7/2021
Topic: MY GAINS & DROPS

canesmacker

The dropdown menu only displays Marvel. Nothing else.