Comic question. bar code or picture

[Chuck]

I have some older Marvel comics from the 80's and some of them have a bar code in the lower left. On an identical comic I have one that has no bar code, just a picture where the bar code should be. The comics with the bar code have the comic code authority symbol on them. The comics without the bar code have a U.K. price and CAN. price below the U.S. price. To me it seems that the comics without the bar code were sold outside of the U.S., but this is just a guess. Does anyone know for sure, and does this effect the value of the comic?

[Chuck]

Ok it looks like in 1987 the comic code authority symbol is on the issues without the bar code.

[TKMandroid]

Actually, they were selling comics without the bar codes to what was then known as "Direct Market" stores (a.k.a. Comic Book Shops).

Regular stores still received the Bar Coded comics, while Comic Book Shops got the cool pictures in place of the bar codes.

That was back in the late 80's/early 90's. I don't know if they are still doing this now.

As for which version is worth more, I don't know that either.