Question about Comic Books

[Snickerd00dle]

I am going to C2E2 in Chicago this year and it is my first Con, so my question is, if I get a comic book signed, will it decrease in value? Scott Snyder, the writer for American Vampire will be there, and I want to get my issue 1 signed, but if it will decrease the value, maybe I will just pick up a trade and get that signed- thoughts? Also is anyone else going? To this Con or any other this year? I will also be attending the Cleveland Classic Gaming Expo this summer

[Bradtemple87]

I am going to C2E2 in Chicago this year and it is my first Con, so my question is, if I get a comic book signed, will it decrease in value? Scott Snyder, the writer for American Vampire will be there, and I want to get my issue 1 signed, but if it will decrease the value, maybe I will just pick up a trade and get that signed- thoughts? Also is anyone else going? To this Con or any other this year? I will also be attending the Cleveland Classic Gaming Expo this summer

I will be attending Wondercon in April in San Francisco

My opinion is to get your comic signed. Usually, a comic will increase in value if it is properly cared for. Most titles do not skyrocket in value unless it is something very mainstream. Get it signed because it will have personal value to you. I met Mike Mignola (creator of Hellboy) at Wondercon three years ago and I still remember it like yesterday!

[brainofjtd]

THat's kind of a silly question, lol. If a comic book is worth buying for plenty of money (to where you actually worry about the value of the book) it's probably one created by people who other people love.

It does nothing but help. Even Spawn might be worth buying if you got it signed. Might be.

Like Bradtemple87 said, it's all about the condition it's kept in. If you're REALLY that worried, keep it in the plastic at all times and handle the book for the person who is signing it, wearing clean gloves. Does latex have any chemicals or residue in it? Anyway, it should most certainly be fine.

I have a trade of Kingdom Come signed by Mark Waid. Super nice guy.

[Snickerd00dle]

I am going to C2E2 in Chicago this year and it is my first Con, so my question is, if I get a comic book signed, will it decrease in value? Scott Snyder, the writer for American Vampire will be there, and I want to get my issue 1 signed, but if it will decrease the value, maybe I will just pick up a trade and get that signed- thoughts? Also is anyone else going? To this Con or any other this year? I will also be attending the Cleveland Classic Gaming Expo this summer

I will be attending Wondercon in April in San Francisco

My opinion is to get your comic signed. Ususlla, a comic wil increase in value if it is properly cared for. Most tltles do not skyrocket in value unless it is something very mainstream. Get it signed because it will have personal value to you. I met Mike Mignola (creator of Hellboy) at Wondercon three years ago and I still remember it like yesterday!

Awesome! Yeah I really don't know how this kind of stuff works, I have been into comics for about a year now, still pretty new, so I am always trying to learn new things about the hobby, I appreciate your quick response!

[Snickerd00dle]

THat's kind of a silly question, lol. If a comic book is worth buying for plenty of money (to where you actually worry about the value of the book) it's probably one created by people who other people love.

It does nothing but help. Even Spawn might be worth buying if you got it signed. Might be.

Like Bradtemple87 said, it's all about the condition it's kept in. If you're REALLY that worried, keep it in the plastic at all times and handle the book for the person who is signing it, wearing clean gloves. Does latex have any chemicals or residue in it? Anyway, it should most certainly be fine.

I have a trade of Kingdom Come signed by Mark Waid. Super nice guy.

The reason I ask is because I have heard people tell me it makes the value go down. Which I found curious, so I was hoping someone might be able to set the record straight for me

[brainofjtd]

The only way that could possibly be true is if some corrosive substance gets on the cover or pages while signing, which may or may not include the ink to sign.

I think you'd have to have something pretty old for that to be a problem though.

[Bradtemple87]

Glad to help. Enjoy the convention and make sure to bring a fat wallet if you intend to buy anything or leave it home completely, because your money will go FAST

[Gamerforlife]

You kow it's funny, but to me a signed comic is just a comic that has some crap written on the cover

I guess I would want two copies, one can be signed and one that isn't

[dedalusdedalus]

I'll start off by saying 99.99% of modern age comics are absolutely worthless. They sell for less than cover price, and are therefore possibly less valuable than the paper they're printed on. If you get one of these comics signed, the signature will bring a premium.

Think about it this way. Take another completely worthless piece of paper like a cocktail napkin and have it signed by someone famous. That otherwise worthless piece of paper is now worth something to someone.

However, you don't want a comic signed is when the comic itself is genuinely rare; ie: if it's one of the "key" issues where some popular character makes its first appearance. This will most definitely devalue the comic.

/geek rant.

[BurningDoom]

Yes, the signature will make the comic rise in value. However, in today's market you need to have either a Certificate of Authenticity issued with the signature, or if that's not an option you need to go get the signature Authenticated yourself which cost money if you're looking to resell it. I have comics I had signed years back, before there was an internet market and it didn't matter. About a year ago I tried to sell them to the local comic shop (and I'm regular, not just Joe Schmoe coming in), the comic shop owner basically told me what I just did about Authenticated signatures or Certificate of Authenticity.

But if you're truly a comic fan, and it's a comic you really like, you'd never really resell it anyways.