Blank variant covers

jedispyder · Post by **jedispyder** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:35 pm

Do any of you get these blank cover variants? For those that do get them, do you get creator's to sketch on them? If so, do you get a specific creator that worked on the actual issue to sketch on it or do you get any creator to do a sketch of the specific title character(s)?

I picked up a couple on eBay and thought I may try to get some sketches at some point if I ever go to a comic convention again...

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:43 pm

I got a couple quick doodles frome Terry Dodson on them this weekend.

The sketch covers are good for CGC grading.

Otherwise, actually sketches tend to be cheaper, or the same price for a larger sketch. Sketches are also easier to display and store.

I spent a long time comparing the two a few months ago, and found unless you're going the CGC route, sketches are better in every other way.

(Unless you just like the idea of sketch covers.)

jedispyder · Post by **jedispyder** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:52 pm

Those I likely wouldn't plan to CGC but I can tell they'd be best since they have a cardstock cover. I do have about a dozen CGC comics that I haven't even paid attention to, just keep them stored in a drawer and hope for the best eventually (I'm sure all would sell for a good price, I have some top nabs in 9.5+ shape such as Y-The Last Man #1, Wolverine: Origin 1, Incredible Hulk 34 [first of the famous Bruce Jones storyline], Ultimate Spider-Man 3 and 5, Transformers 1 Holographic variant, and a couple others). I just haven't paid attention to CGC in recent years, may want to think about it with some of my more expensive recent comics (such as Invincible 1).

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 4:04 pm

If you can pre-screen for 9.8's at a convention or something, it'd be worth it.

If the Y The Last Man is a 9.8, it may be worth a decent bit,

jedispyder · Post by **jedispyder** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 4:26 pm

Found the list of what I got CGC'd:
Incredible Hulk #34 9.8
Transformers: Generation 1 #1 Holofoil 9.8
Transformers: Generation 1 #1 Holofoil 9.8
Transformers: Generation 1 #1 Dealer Incentive 9.8
Wolverine: The Origin #1 9.6
Ultimate Spider-Man #3 9.6
Ultimate Spider-Man #5 9.4
Ultimate Spider-Man #5 9.8
Ultimate X-Men #1 9.6
Y-The Last Man #1 9.6

It was my one and only experience getting stuff CGC'd and they were so shitty at it I haven't tried again. Yet that was 10 years ago, so it may be different now. But they guaranteed they'd do it in a day at the convention and it took 4 days.

Do you have any comics you've CGC'd?

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 6:01 am

I'm not a big fan of blank variant covers. They just don't appeal to me - which brings me to another question, how many of you guys pick up the various variant covers that come out? I'm not talking about 2nd or 3rd printings but alternate/incentive covers? Marvel & DC have really been amping up the variant cover count. I'm seeing more people at my LCS with multiple copies of first issues.

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:01 am

Blanks I'm not interested in at all really. I only got one and it was after the artist had done the work on it. I have no desire to buy one and take it to a show to get work done.

Variants on the other hand I can be interested in. If its better than the regular I may jump on it. If its some kind of anniversary issue I may get both. What I don't like is what Marvel's been doing lately by having "Wolverine" variants or "Avengers" variants for every book they publish, when those characters have nothing to do with that series. That to me is a waste of time and really gets on my nerves.

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:06 am

Yea, I totes agree with you there. DC has been really bad about it also. Nearly every issue of Batman, JLA, Superman have been coming out with an incentive covers for almost every issue and to a lesser degree the other titles as well. To me it is a waste of artist time and DC's money. And of flooding the market. Most of the regular incentives just sit on the shelves from what I see. The rarer incentives (that are usually sketches without coloring and some of which look very hideous in some cases) that come with every order of 200 books get marked up to 100 or $200.

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:57 am

My store has started putting them on eBay right away instead of selling in store. Its been much more productive and we save one a week for a raffle to customers who donate change to our humane society charity in the store. Very few go on sale in the store.

jedispyder · Post by **jedispyder** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:08 am

I've always gotten variants but only paying up to $15. Variants are huge in my store with several people wanting the single copy my retailer gets so I don't always get the best ones. All the DC variants are cover price except for JLA, which is usually double cover price. I used to focus on getting the X-Men variants yet my retailer has been giving them to someone else so I only get what that person rejects. I'm going to have to make a list of all X-Men variants I need and start hunting them down on eBay soon...

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:16 am

Jedi, your retailer sounds like a prick. He clearly knows you want them also so why doesn't order additional variants - of which I'm sure there aren't any restrictions on ordering? I understand that retailers can only get some of the rarer variants by ordering a certain amount of comics but still, he sounds like he gives preferential treatment to that other guy.

Every single sketch JLA variant I've seen has been priced between $100 - $200. Other JLA variants were priced at $20 and up. Not for me thank you. The various Batman & Superman variants were sitting around just taking up space.

jedispyder · Post by **jedispyder** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 11:08 am

There are restrictions on variants. It's not a big store and for the more expensive variants he can only get 1 (such as if he orders 40 issues of a comic, he can only get 1 copy of the 1 in 25 variant). He tries to appease everyone by giving them at least something they want. So the person who gets the X-Men variants only wants to get the X-Men variants, where I'm fine with getting the DC variants instead. There are even a lot of X-Men related variants he doesn't get because he doesn't order enough. It's always a shame when the variant needs 15 copies ordered and he only buys 10 copies, but he obviously only buys what he can sell for those issues.

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:36 pm

If you really want;
http://www.dcbservice.com/

You can order variants and image for great prices, if you know your retailer won't have them. You do have to order in advance, though.

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:42 pm

jedispyder wrote: Do you have any comics you've CGC'd?

I've never CGC'd a comics.
I have 3 that are though, 2 because they were the same price as raw, and I could never find them anywhere else.

The third I got a Chew SDCC variant. I could not fine a unsigned copy for the life of me, and decided to just get the CGC verfied one, and it was about the same price.

At the Calgary show at the end of the month I am doing a CGC sketch cover for someone else, which should be a new experience.
I am thinking I may also CGC my 2 Chew 1's, Walking Dead 1 as well.

I am defiantly going my X-Men 1 and Daredevil 1, for insurance purposes.

jedispyder · Post by **jedispyder** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:54 pm

wolf_2099 wrote:If you really want;
http://www.dcbservice.com/

You can order variants and image for great prices, if you know your retailer won't have them. You do have to order in advance, though.

Thanks, I'll check it out. I've bought some through http://www.MidtownComics.com before and was very satisfied with them. Most times I won't know until I get there which variant I will need.

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 6:03 pm

I have not used dbcservice yet, but have been told from many different people, it is by far the best to buy new comics online or in-store, as long as you know what you want to order the month or two ahead of time.