Expert: Chris Brown - 5/30/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello:

How does a collector determine the value of an old comic book?
What does he look for when evaluating a particular title?

I thank you for your reply.

ANSWER:
Hi Kenneth

Desirability of the comic, then condition.  Not sure what you're getting at re: "what does he look for when evaluating a particular title."  I would recommend that people only collect what they personally enjoy, rather than trying to obtain comics or any other collectible as investments.

Chris

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Chris:

I want to thank you for the reply and information!
You indicated the following: "Not sure what you're getting at re: "what does he look for when evaluating a particular title."  

Your instructions indicate the following where questions are typed and submitted:

Instructions from the Expert:
If asking questions about the value of a comic, please include the following: title, issue number and date published from the indicia, usually on the bottom of the first page.

The above information is what I was referring to. Why is issue number date published from the indicia important?

I thank you for your follow-up reply.

Answer
Hi Kenneth

I'm glad to know someone looks at my instructions!  The info in the indicia is important because, for some comics, that is the only place where you can find the issue number.  Some comics also have a different title on the cover than what is listed in the indicia, or they have a lot of words on the cover, making it unclear exactly what the title is.  So in these 10% of cases where the information on the front cover is not clear, or not complete, the indicia is the place to go to get the information that lets me know exactly what comic book someone has.

Similarly, many comics do not include a full publishing date on the cover.  Commonly, the cover only includes a month.  The indicia will include a month and a year.  Some characters have had more than one series published over the years.  So, for instance, if someone emails me and wants to know the value of a Green Lantern #10, it is pretty relevant whether they have the 1942 issue, the 1962 issue, or the 1991 issue.

You would be amazed at how little information some people provide me.

Hope this helps.

Chris