new to collecting need advice

[Dark_Warrior]

i've just recently just got in to collecting the turtles comics, more for the love of the art style of the covers, i know pretty much diddly squat about collecting comics but would like to keep them mint, so i was wandering what size mylar sleeves are the right for the modern comics?

[HotJuicyBurgers]

For modern comics there is actually a size called modern
I usually just go silver age size though for all my comics so I don't have to buy different sizes.
There is also a golden age size (bigger than silver) and magazine (biggest)

[Zulithe]

Welcome to comics. Glad you want to keep your collection in the best possible condition. Get a long box to keep them in too once you get more. It makes organizing and flipping through your collection a breeze.

As a long-time comics fan though, I hope you aren't expecting them to grow too much in value. With very few exceptions, not many modern comics will more than double their cover price these days. And that's if you are lucky.

Enjoy reading them, that's the best part.

[HotJuicyBurgers]

Welcome to comics. Glad you want to keep your collection in the best possible condition. Get a long box to keep them in too once you get more. It makes organizing and flipping through your collection a breeze.

As a long-time comics fan though, I hope you aren't expecting them to grow too much in value. With very few exceptions, not many modern comics will more than double their cover price these days. And that's if you are lucky.

Enjoy reading them, that's the best part.


Very true. If you are looking to "invest" in comics, moderns are probably the worst kind you could collect. (the only worse time period would probably be 90's comics.)

[Venom]

On a similar note, you seem to like TMNT otherwise you wouldn't have joined, so one thing folks tend ot learn rather quickly is that TMNT comics are all over the place in regards to price. The early Mirage ones, obviously, command the highest prices (only referring to the main Mirage books), with it leveling out with the Don micro along to City at War. Most still command cover price, but if you're diligent you can find good looking books at even better offers.

Best advice, study study study. Check completed auctions on ebay, compare comic sites (Mile High, mycomicshop, Midtown, etc) and atch them having sales (especially Mile High!).

Personally, I'm not worried about having the most crisp, 9.9 graded comic - I like mine in the Very good to Near mint range - to me, it's awesome knowing someone actually read the comic (or in my case, knowing it came straight from Mirage).

[Dark_Warrior]

thanks for all the helpful advice everyone, i'm not so much looking for rare or valuable ones or expecting them to increase in worth, it's more an appreciation for the cover art thats started me collecting the comics.
if the cover takes my fancy i'll get it, mostly from ebay but i wanted to keep them in the best possible condition

[Venom]

thanks for all the helpful advice everyone, i'm not so much looking for rare or valuable ones or expecting them to increase in worth, it's more an appreciation for the cover art thats started me collecting the comics.
if the cover takes my fancy i'll get it, mostly from ebay but i wanted to keep them in the best possible condition

Pick up Volume 1 #5 - one of the coolest covers EVER! :tcool:

[HotJuicyBurgers]

Pick up Volume 1 #5 - one of the coolest covers EVER! :tcool:

Oh god yes :khappy:

[Dark_Warrior]

http://miragelicensing.com/comics/mirage/volume01/05/05.html

this one?

Pick up Volume 1 #5 - one of the coolest covers EVER! :tcool:

[HotJuicyBurgers]

http://miragelicensing.com/comics/mirage/volume01/05/05.html

this one?

First cover. And yes.

[Venom]

http://miragelicensing.com/comics/mirage/volume01/05/05.html

this one?

Yep, it's a wraparound cover featuring a cantina shootout.

[Dark_Warrior]

thanks for the suggestion to buy from the mirage site, being in the uk the postage cost stings abit but i grabbed about 7 or 8 issues with covers i just couldn't say no too

[Venom]

thanks for the suggestion to buy from the mirage site, being in the uk the postage cost stings abit but i grabbed about 7 or 8 issues with covers i just couldn't say no too

Congrats! :D There is only 1 person who packs the orders now and shipping is done on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so it may take a while to get to you (and by while I mean month or so), but be patient - they will arrive! :]

[Dark_Warrior]

i don't mind that, will give me time to get a box, sleeves and boards

http://miragelicensing.com/comics/mirage/talesvol2/38/38.html

something about this one that i just love

Congrats! :D There is only 1 person who packs the orders now and shipping is done on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so it may take a while to get to you (and by while I mean month or so), but be patient - they will arrive! :]

[Venom]

#49 and 50 are personal faves :tsmile:

[pannoni1]

A complete run of Vol. 1 (with 4th print of #1, 3rd print of #2, 3rd print of #3, and 2nd print of #2) including the micros recently sold on eBay for approximately $250 (GBP 150), and I've sometimes seen City at War issues go for double the cover price in grades as low as Fine minus. That said, look for lots of about 10 to 20 issues and sell duplicates unless if its a more valuable issue.

Volume 2 goes for about $40-$45 complete in VG or better condition, a bit more than cover price. Volume 3 generally goes for cover price, except for the final couple issues which go for around $15. Volume 4 actually goes for a little under cover price.

Archie is also a fun series to collect, and it isn't uncommon to get the first 50 or so issues in bulk for about $1 a piece. Issues 51-60 are about cover price, with only the final issues a challenge. However, given you received the Hero Turtles adventures, the US editions will contain many more original stories that your country never received.

That said, be prepared for wild swings in price for some comics. For example, a #2 first printing sold for $74 loose in VF and $98 in CGC 9.2 by heritage auctions, but about a month ago, I saw one copy sell for $300.

I wouldn't deal with all those crazy IDW variants. I also recommend the four first graphic novels, since they are in color and is considerably less expensive than the first collected book ($25 vs. $100 approximately).

Given you live in the UK, I'd try your LCS (local comic shop) first. It may specialize in a certain franchise or only in recent releases. If you don't like the selection and/or prices, try some of the online sites and or/eBay if you like patience and pressure. It will cost a bit more though with shipping though.

[HotJuicyBurgers]

A complete run of Vol. 1 (with 4th print of #1, 3rd print of #2, 3rd print of #3, and 2nd print of #2) including the micros recently sold on eBay for approximately $250 (GBP 150), and I've sometimes seen City at War issues go for double the cover price in grades as low as Fine minus. That said, look for lots of about 10 to 20 issues and sell duplicates unless if its a more valuable issue.

Volume 2 goes for about $40-$45 complete in VG or better condition, a bit more than cover price. Volume 3 generally goes for cover price, except for the final couple issues which go for around $15. Volume 4 actually goes for a little under cover price.

Archie is also a fun series to collect, and it isn't uncommon to get the first 50 or so issues in bulk for about $1 a piece. Issues 51-60 are about cover price, with only the final issues a challenge. However, given you received the Hero Turtles adventures, the US editions will contain many more original stories that your country never received.

That said, be prepared for wild swings in price for some comics. For example, a #2 first printing sold for $74 loose in VF and $98 in CGC 9.2 by heritage auctions, but about a month ago, I saw one copy sell for $300.

I wouldn't deal with all those crazy IDW variants. I also recommend the four first graphic novels, since they are in color and is considerably less expensive than the first collected book ($25 vs. $100 approximately).

Given you live in the UK, I'd try your LCS (local comic shop) first. It may specialize in a certain franchise or only in recent releases. If you don't like the selection and/or prices, try some of the online sites and or/eBay if you like patience and pressure. It will cost a bit more though with shipping though.

This should be stickied somewhere ^

spot on.