have you seen how expensive 80's video games, lego and transformers have become? i was wondering if that trend would also apply to comics, up until now that hasn't been the case.

why did 80's toys become more expensive, but comics lagged until now?

 

Reprints, it wasn't hard to get the stories. Many comics fan just want the stories not an old issue, they are afraid to read so they don't add creases.
Also in the 90's and early 2000's the market collapsed and many books became worthless, which scared off those who buy just for value and not because they are a fan of the book.
Also it's 30 years later and kids from the 80's have more disposable income than they did 10years ago, plus with the current movie and TV comic craze, people are taking an interest again, but they don't want the new stuff, they want the ""Good stories"" they remember and some of the movies are based off of.

 

All very good points. But, 80's comics have been increasing in value.

Why do you think that is? Could it be just a function of inflation?

 

1980s comics are not rising in value. Not even to the point they used to be at before the market crash. For a variety of reasons, things are never going to be like that again. Any substantial rise in prices you see is some individual dealer or retailer trying to trick you. Because they aren't reflected across the market.

 

I'm seeing a general rise in all prices. Check recent ebay auctions on 80's comics. Take a look at something like "Secret Wars" a few years back you could buy the entire run for nothing. Today, the series will run a decent amount of money.

The phenomenal success of the movies might have increased prices. Or its just normal inflation in action.

There has been an overall inflation with 80's comics. They used to cost less than suggested price, now it seems like they are almost worth suggested price.

 

It's a blip. Wait and it will go away again. It happens from time to time.

 

Current Secret Wars event has generated interest in the original. And most of that price in for #8, the first appearance of the black Spidey costume.

80s comics in general are pretty worthless value wise. Sure, there are exceptions to this, just like with anything, but for the most part they're dollar bin fodder. Which is good because you can get great full runs (like Byrne's FF) cheap.

What are you seeing increase in price other than Secret Wars?

 

The only ones I could see getting really expensive are ROM, since they've never been reprinted and he's making a comeback.

 

lol not going to happen. For value to increase, a large number have to care, and ROM was never that. And I say that as someone who had a nearly complete run at the time.

 

That's why I said "could". Guy's making a comeback, Hasbro's already put out a limited (crappy) toy out, idw is making new comics, and on top of that Hasbro did trademark ROM for use in cartoons and merch.
So, if the comeback is successful and people get into him, chances of prices going up are high due to the limited supply and demand, especially since reprints aren't likely to happen, which is the reason the run is already pretty pricey.

 

Only first appearance of movie characters see a rise now. Everything is just fodder. Psylocke first appearance is gonna shoot the moon soon.

 

What does "pretty pricey" mean? Other than the first five issues or so, and maybe the final issue, the ENTIRE run can be bought for $2 or $3 an issue. How is that pricey for comics released three decades ago?

I liked ROM. But at the end of the day, it's a character with zero public awareness whose entire series was drawn by Sal Buscema. That's an impossible handicap combination to overcome.

Also, a good portion of the series came out before the Direct Market took over, so there is NOT a limited supply out there. 1980s comics pre-Direct Market were printed out the wazoo.

 

If ROM becomes popular, that would increase the chances of reprints of the ROM series happening.

 

How is ROM supposed to become popular without people having a chance to read the series first?? This thread is really going off on an odd tangent.

 

As said above, Hasbro is trying to put ROM into cartoons & other stuff. That will raise awareness of him and cause some people to now want to read his old comics.

 

Well, if the rights issues are all settled, that's a different story. I could see IDW doing "ROM: Classics" TPBs regardless of whether it ever becomes popular.

 

I can tell you the 70s and 80s marvel star wars comics are really high price now. Thanks to the new movie they want twice as much for them.

 

No, they can't. Everything save Rom himself belongs to Marvel, and the series itself is pretty tightly tied into the Marvel universe. Rom's series is also the point in which both Mystique and Rogue started having doubts about their lives, leading to Rogue joining the X-Men and Mystique trying to form her own team of heroes. And Rom is also the reason why Storm lost her powers for a while.

If Rom does become popular via the new idw series and whatever else Hasbro has planned those original issues can get pretty expensive. Then again, it might flop and nobody will care. The series itself isn't even that good to start with, it reads like it's written by four different guys who each take over after the other left and decided to throw all the previous material completely out the window.

As for pricey, I think 75 euros for an issue is pretty pricy, sure it's not every issue, but still. With every other series you can save cash by going digital or get one of the many reprints.

 

Just a heads up, but IDW has already printed a ton of Marvel Universe related stuff.


And there is no issue of ROM you need to pay 75 Euros for, unless you are into that CGC bullshit. The most expensive issue is #1, which you can buy at an online comic shop for under $10.

 

Interesting posts. I have a ton of 90s X-Men and Spider-man comics I'm considering getting rid of. Sounds like I may save some time donating them to the library.