Admit it! Who are the scum-suckers who only buy #1's?

[I Am The Game]

I need to vent.

I went to a yard sale this weekend where the guy was selling a significant collection of 80's-90's comics. There were a good 15 long boxes worth of stuff. I plugged some holes in 90's Flash, 80's Detective, stuff like that. What I noticed as I flipped through the titles was that there weren't any #1's to be found anywhere. There were good stretches of #2 onward of many titles, but someone had systematically picked out all the 1's, and no title was spared. We're not talking books with a significant dollar value... someone had picked Suicide Squad, Byrne's 90's Namor, Marvel Comics Presents... on their own, useless! Who does this, and what's the rationale?

I used to work in a comic store, and I hated seeing it there too. Trying a new title off the shelf to see if it hooks you is fine, but sometimes it's ridiculous. One guy who I'd never seen before picked an Iceman #1 of 4 from the 80's mini, Beast #1 of 4 from the 90's, and another two #1's off the rack. I couldn't stand it, and while I was at the cash, reminded him that the story's useless without the rest of the numbers. He looked a little surprised, shook it off, and left. I never sold the rest of those sets while I was there. I started charging double for #1's, just to keep people from picking them. If a customer was buying other numbers in the run, or gave the impression he might actually read it, then I'd give it to him for the regular price.

There are genuine reasons to buy #1's, if you need it, you need it. In cases like Ultimate Spider-Man, or Wolverine: Origin, they just didn't print enough, so you'll have to pay extra to get someone to part with theirs. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about titles like 90's Silver Surfer, where the first 80 issue were printed by the truckload, and Mr. Picker decides he only wants the first one.

Help me understand. Why should Animal Man #1 be worth three times what the rest of the run goes for? It's not a key issue, and Morrison's run lasted 30-odd numbers. Does anyone have any stories of #1 picking comtempt, or a book you need that you can just never find because it's a key that everyone wants? Are you an unapologetic picker? If you're a picker, are you also willing to shake Heroclix boosters to find a heavy SR/chase?

[JDKenada]

Actually, in that era there's a good chance the person bought only #2's. For some time people bought first issues for the obvious reason, but the companies would recognize that and usually print more. However, come the second issue there were less printings and less purchases, sometimes making the #2 worth more than the #1.

[Ro-gan]

Are you an unapologetic picker? If you're a picker, are you also willing to shake Heroclix boosters to find a heavy SR/chase?

I only buy TPBs and Hardbacks anymore. But, if I see a single issue that comes out and has the serious potential to be a huge investment down the long road I will buy only that particular issue. I have no feelings of regret or shame. If I could go back in time I would pick up a large amount of Amazing Fantasy #1, FF #1, Avengers #1, Superman #1, Batman's 1st appearance in Detective Comics, etc, etc.

And, yes, if there was a way to hand-pick a certain figure out of a Booster by the way it feels I have done it. And, usually picked a good Booster.

I don't like to waste my money on items that may or may not pay off. I go for the sure thing. Much like John Cusack in The Sure Thing. :laugh::laugh:

Actually, in that era there's a good chance the person bought only #2's. For some time people bought first issues for the obvious reason, but the companies would recognize that and usually print more. However, come the second issue there were less printings and less purchases, sometimes making the #2 worth more than the #1.

Case in point:

The original GI Joe series from Marvel COmics- the #2 issue was a shirt run and is more valuable than issue #1.

[noregretz]

Back in the 80's I bought a lot of # 1's. Foolishly thinking I was investing in my retirement. Now I just buy what I want to read. If it goes up in value, great. If not.....who cares.

[Munchoboy]

Case in point:

The original GI Joe series from Marvel COmics- the #2 issue was a short run and is more valuable than issue #1.

Word. I remember missing out on #2 and having to hunt that down years later. It was easily going for six times what #1 was.

The story was alright. :ermm:

As an aside, anyone else think that G.I. Joe #1 would have made a great movie?

[Ro-gan]

As an aside, anyone else think that G.I. Joe #1 would have made a great movie?

Without a doubt!

Did you read Larry Hama's GI Joe Classified? It takes place right before Marvel's GI Joe #1. It's really good and again shows why Larry Hama is GI Joe.

[JKLantern]

I think the only time I only got a number 1 of a series, it was a joke gift from my brother. It was the first issue of the Nova Series from the nineties, and he got it for me solely because it was shiny.

[adamical]

Comic books are not a good investment. Buy them if you like them--the stories, the art, the characters, whatever. Don't buy them to fund your child's college education or your retirement or your second home. Terrible idea.

[Hellfire117]

TPBs are the way to go. I just get my comic fix at my local library; just tell them what I want and they get it. Luckily I don't have much competition in getting the good books seeing as most of Waukegan doesn't know how to read. :p

[Ro-gan]

Comic books are not a good investment. Buy them if you like them--the stories, the art, the characters, whatever. Don't buy them to fund your child's college education or your retirement or your second home. Terrible idea.

Unless it is key Golden and/or Silver Age stories. Then it is an investment.

[Dikarika]

I used to be one of these guys. It wasn't for "investment" so much, as it was I NEEDED to collect #1's. I can't really explain why, I never even read many of them. However, I wouldn't trade that time away for anything in the world.

Besides, I did happen to randomly snag some neat issues (and character origins). Also my #1 snagging eventually got me interested in Valiant comics, until Acclaim killed them, anyway...

These days I grab what I like to read, grabbing the occasional #1 of a mini to see if I'll like it. I read more and collect less. :)

[ccs]

I need to vent.

I went to a yard sale this weekend where the guy was selling a significant collection of 80's-90's comics. There were a good 15 long boxes worth of stuff. I plugged some holes in 90's Flash, 80's Detective, stuff like that. What I noticed as I flipped through the titles was that there weren't any #1's to be found anywhere. There were good stretches of #2 onward of many titles, but someone had systematically picked out all the 1's, and no title was spared. We're not talking books with a significant dollar value... someone had picked Suicide Squad, Byrne's 90's Namor, Marvel Comics Presents... on their own, useless! Who does this, and what's the rationale?

I used to work in a comic store, and I hated seeing it there too. Trying a new title off the shelf to see if it hooks you is fine, but sometimes it's ridiculous. One guy who I'd never seen before picked an Iceman #1 of 4 from the 80's mini, Beast #1 of 4 from the 90's, and another two #1's off the rack. I couldn't stand it, and while I was at the cash, reminded him that the story's useless without the rest of the numbers. He looked a little surprised, shook it off, and left. I never sold the rest of those sets while I was there. I started charging double for #1's, just to keep people from picking them. If a customer was buying other numbers in the run, or gave the impression he might actually read it, then I'd give it to him for the regular price.

There are genuine reasons to buy #1's, if you need it, you need it. In cases like Ultimate Spider-Man, or Wolverine: Origin, they just didn't print enough, so you'll have to pay extra to get someone to part with theirs. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about titles like 90's Silver Surfer, where the first 80 issue were printed by the truckload, and Mr. Picker decides he only wants the first one.

Help me understand. Why should Animal Man #1 be worth three times what the rest of the run goes for? It's not a key issue, and Morrison's run lasted 30-odd numbers. Does anyone have any stories of #1 picking comtempt, or a book you need that you can just never find because it's a key that everyone wants? Are you an unapologetic picker? If you're a picker, are you also willing to shake Heroclix boosters to find a heavy SR/chase?

I think that the lines I've bolded say enough....
Mr.Picker? He picks them because he precieves that these issues will be worth more than others.
Then his belief is re-enforced by people like you marking those #1s up.
And yet you wonder what drives him to pick #1s..... Hmmm.


Besides, any idiot can look at the price something like Action #1 goes for & hope that they too will strike (eventual) gold.