Golden Age Collecting On a Budget – July

While all of us dream of the nice attic, storage sale, or flea market finds, that not often occurs for any of us. Instead, listed here are some high quality comics to focus on in case you’re seeking to begin a Golden Age assortment with out spending greater than you budgeted.

The Rules of the Game

Our funds for the month of July is $2,000. Here’s a reminder of the principles for our Golden Age comics gathering recreation:

1. We have a $2,000 funds and now we have to remain inside 5% of that funds. 2. We should choose 5 Golden Age comics. 3. We should choose comics throughout completely different genres – no loading up on humorous animal, western, or romance. 4. No copies graded under 4.0 – we wish some decent-looking comics. 5. There should have been a sale inside the previous few years – arduous to gauge the costs if there haven’t been any gross sales; and, to make issues tougher, if the sale is greater than a yr previous, we’re going so as to add 8% to the final identified value for annually. So, if it offered previous to July 2022, we’ll add 8%; previous to July 2021, we’ll add one other 8%, and so forth.

Those are the principles. Now, let’s play Golden Age Collecting on a Budget!

First – A Superhero Pick

We’re beginning issues off with a superhero choose this time round, and we’re going with The Fighting Yank #20 from 1947. Published by Nedor Publications, it’s received a nice Alex Schomburg cowl with our hero saving a damsel in misery from a combating mad shark.

A 6.0 graded copy offered in February for $422. There are 33 graded copies, so it should take a little bit of a hunt – however at that value it’s undoubtedly price it. We’re a tad bit over funds however we will discover some bargains in different classes.

Total spent: $422

Second – A War Pick

Quality Comics is likely one of the extra beloved publishers for Golden Age collectors. One of their high titles was Military Comics, a collection that launched the general public to Blackhawk and the Blackhawk Squadron, characters who would later transfer to DC. There are so many nice early points to select from.

We’re going to go together with Military Comics #6, printed in 1942. It has a good crimson cowl that may actually stand out on our wall, and there’s nice motion happening as effectively. A 6.5 graded copy offered in an October 2022 eBay public sale for simply $322. With solely 14 graded copies, now we have a critical search on our fingers, although.

Total spent: $744

Third – A SciFi Pick

As a grand mimicker of no matter was promoting on the time, Atlas Comics can generally get quick shrift from collectors. However, there are some Atlas Comics with unbelievable covers and inside artwork by some all-time greats. Take Spaceman #1, printed in 1953, for instance. It has a lovely black cowl by Bill Everett and Carl Burgos and inside artwork by Joe Maneely and John Romita.

A 5.0 graded copy offered in a September 2020 Heritage public sale for $336. We’ll add 8% for annually since, bringing us to $392. There are 32 graded copies, making for a minor hunt, however we will’t say no to a first challenge with paintings by these giants.

Total spent: $1,136

Fourth – A Funny Animal Pick

We’re beneath funds to this point, so let’s go large with Four Color #16 from the second collection of that identify. Why this challenge? Well, it’s the primary comedian with a big humorous animal cartoon star within the title: Porky Pig. That basically makes this 1941 comedian Porky’s first challenge. Like many Dell characters, Porky Pig received his begin in Four Color earlier than transferring on to his personal collection.

A 7.0 graded copy offered in a December 2020 eBay public sale for $410. Adding on our inflationary 8% brings us to $478. It’s a lot to pay and it’ll be a search with solely 30 graded copies. But it’s Porky Pig’s first challenge!

Total spent: $1,614

Fifth – A Western Pick

While everybody is aware of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby from their superhero creations, they had been additionally early creators in different genres, together with romance, crime, and westerns. One of their earliest Western comics was Boys’ Ranch, a collection about three adolescent ranchers.

The collection began with Boys’ Ranch #1, and from the beginning, it has been acknowledged as one of many duo’s most important creations. Using single and double-paged spreads lengthy earlier than they had been seen within the pages of Fantastic Four and Thor, Kirby created among the greatest work of his profession on this 1950 collection printed by Harvey.

A 7.0 graded copy of Boys’ Ranch #1 offered in a February 2021 eBay fastened value sale for $325. We’ll should pay $379 right here in 2023, and we’ll should dig a little to search out a copy, as there are solely 29 graded copies. I believe the hassle and the worth are effectively price it for the primary challenge of this Simon and Kirby basic.

Total spent: $1,993

Analysis

We got here in $7 beneath funds, which is unbelievable for what we received. Let’s overview: a Schomburg cowl on a basic superhero comedian in a 6.0 grade; an early Blackhawk challenge from Quality in a 6.5 grade; the primary challenge of a sci-fi collection with a veritable who’s who of Atlas artists in a 5.0 grade; Porky Pig’s first challenge in a 7.0 grade; and the primary challenge in a beloved Simon & Kirby western collection in a 7.0 grade.

That’s an incredible haul, and proof that there are many nice Golden Age comics on the market so as to add to your assortment in case you look arduous sufficient.