Received this back from CGC - very happy with it.
Art by Aaron Bartling, who paints his sketches (and published comic covers).
The Something is Killing the Children blanks don't leave the artists with tons of room to work with, but Aaron did an incredible job with this book in my opinion.
Thanks for looking!!
Received this back in the mail today.
By the very talented Nate Melendez (natwaart on Instagram).
His art style range can go from photorealistic like this sketch, to a mix of traditional comic art with a bit of graffiti flair to it, and everything in between. He's done a number of variant covers from D'Orc to Battle Beast to TMNT to Godzilla
Super psyched that it graded a 9.8 and super psyched to add it to the collection.
Thanks for the look! 😁
As a big fan of RGG and the Yakuza Series and RPGs, 2027 is getting off to an INSANE start.
January 15, 2027 - Stranger Than Heaven
February 18, 2027 - Persona 4 Revival
February 23, 2027 - Fable
I generally get about 2 hours a night to play - 3-4 if I'm in the midst of a game I'm super addicted to, and I'm willing to forego a few hours of sleep (there have been 3-4 weeks at at time where I ran on 4-5 hours of sleep a night when I was playing through games like Persona 3 Reloaded and Persona 5 Royal).
I'm still debating how I'm going to approach these releases.
I guess I'm going to have to try to finish Stranger than Heaven in about 5 weeks, then play Fable on release, then circle back to Persona 4 Revival.
I know everyone is afraid of GTAVI and want to steer clear of it, but I wonder if any of these three games will be ready by December 2026. I know it's too late, but I kind of wish one would have the guts to move itself up to December 2026 - I get a bunch of time off from work around the holidays, and I'd be able to get in a lot of gaming on these three titles that are looking to be quite good.
We already kind of get the Stranger than Heaven / RGG game - so I don't anticipate it'll be vastly different than the Yakuza-style gameplay - you either like it or you don't.
Similarly, P4R will likely be quite similar to P3R and P5R - if you like that type of game (which I do), you'll like P4R.
Fable will be the question mark. From the first three, I like Fable 2 the best, Fable second best, and Fable 3 the least.
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I can't decide which I'm most excited for. I think it's a 1a, 1b, 1c situation - I can't pick!
Which are you all most excited for, and how do you plan on juggling the three releases?!
Note: I get Game Pass later in 2027 is up in the air due to studio closures / sales, etc.
So, Marvel Midnight launches on October 7, 2026, and the three new titles will be the only three books released for Marvel on that date.
This "Midnight Universe" line features dark, horror-reimagined takes across three popular Marvel properties. (The following synopses were taken from the web):
Looking at the previews, including from the Marvel advanced sheet book that was released last week, I have to say I'm a little turned off by the preview art for the Fantastic Four title. It looks a bit cartooney to me.
Shame because I am a regular FF reader, and the early images we saw for the art style unfortunately, turned out to be an alternative cover for Issue 1 and not representative of the interiors. Here's a spoiler-free peek at the style of the Midnight FF art:
I think I'm still going to give it a go despite not being a fan of the art style.
Otherwise, haven't been a regular Spider-Man or X-Men reader. Not that it matters here, as the books will be brand new takes.
I'm a bit zombie and vampired out, so I think I'll pick up Midnight Spider-Man at release and give it a go, and pass on X-Men.
If Midnight X-Men turns out to be a great book, I can always get on board a bit later.
So what are your thoughts on the Midnight line?
I'm going to be picking up FF and Spider-Man and giving them a trial run. Unless a book is complete hot garbage (think it's happened once in the last 3-4 years), if I start a new series, I give it at least three Issues to hook me.
You picking any up? If so, which?
Hey all.
In a bit of a quandary as of late with bags and boards for my books.
For my most valuable / signed books, I use 2 Mil Mylites and E. Gerber fullbacks.
For all the rest, my LCS and Midtown comics (my two sources for most of my new release books) provide free peel and stick bags and boards.
However, over the past 6-8 months, I've been noticing that the bags and boards used by both for new release books are ill-fitting and seemingly of lower quality. The board doesn't fill the bag fully, and the bag is loose, so the book can move in the bag, have areas where there's no board protection, and get banged up a bit. I've asked the LCS employee what brand they use, and he's just said "the cheapest generic brand." Whatever it is, it's seemingly the same as what Midtown is using.
Not a huge deal, but for some books that I want to preserved better than others, I'd like a middle-of-the-road bag and board combo to use on my books. Something where the board will protect all 4 sides of the book and there will be minimal shifting inside the bag.
I'm fine with the cheapo bag and ill-fitting board for my reader copies. Barbara Gordon: Breakout issue 3 doesn't need a bag upgrade.
But when there's a series I'm high on, or when a new series comes out and I want some decent protection for the first issue first print (as of late, Dead Acre, Ordained, The Hab, If Destruction Be Our Lot, D'Orc), I'd like to have something above the budget basement bag and board, but below the high-end Mylite / E. Gerber combo.
Thanks for your help! 👍
First off, let me start by saying I'm a collector myself. I don't purchase comic books as investments. I have retirement accounts. I collect comics for reading purposes primarily, and for the enjoyment of having neat, signed books from my favorite creators in my collection.
I'm a Gen-X'er who's never really grown up. With my "fun money" disposable income, I enjoy live sports, reading, and comics (both for reading and for collecting). I derive joy from the hunt, the aquisition, the arrival. Three dopamine hits per transaction. Maybe a fourth when you get it signed in-person and meet a writer you love, and a fifth when it comes back from CGC in a 9.8.
The topic I'd like to discuss today is the modern state of comics, with the "Retailer / Company Exclusive Variants" - "Con Exclusives" - and the eBay Live Seller community.
First, let me say I've met many of these people who own and work for these retailers / companies / and eBay Live folks that you're seeing more and more these days in the hobby in person, and they are all very nice folks.
However, they're not just fans too. Maybe they initially got into the hobby because they were fans, but you don't make a living just being a fan. They are running businesses to provide for themselves and their families. It's a job, and everything that comes with it - health insurance, salary, benefits. It's now their living. I am fully aware of this and choose to participate in this hobby nonetheless. This is a PSA for those that might be a bit naïve as to the state of the hobby and the oligopoly that exists with these retailers and companies.
- - -
These retailers / companies / eBay live sellers are an oligopoly; they are a community that supports one another.... (article being written by AI accusations incoming, with the dashes and the upcoming analogy) .... and with these retailers / companies / eBay live sellers, they've found that a rising tide raises all ships.
What we've seen over the past couple years - especially with a historical hot title like Invincible, a COVID era hot title like Something is Killing the Children, and a recent smash hit with Absolute Batman, the run on these "Retailer Exclusives" and "Convention Exclusives" - they're limited to 500 virgin foil copies, hand-numbered, 1,000 trade dress copies, 1,000 virgin copies - and they're coming out for more and more conventions, new book releases, reprints (Convention Exclusive Blind bags!) and more and more releases retailer exclusive variant drops online - especially with a scorching hot title like Absolute Batman. And even hotter - the SIGNED versions of these books.
The players (all great people and companies) - you've heard the names - Trinity Comics - PCB Hobby - 616 - Heavy Mental - Unknown Comics - and literally dozens upon dozens of other groups - and sellers on the eBay Live platform - they're all in this together. They're an oligopoly. They work together.
That "drop" where it was $20 for the trade, $40 for the foil (or $50 for the set)? $3/pop for these companies and retailers. Artist's commission fee is baked in. It's not that high anyhow, as the artist will sell the original art for these hot books for big money to a hobby whale anyhow.
Want to got to a con and get a sign? Snyder charges $20, Dragotta $30, Tynion $40, Ottley $50?
These retailers get the books signed by the 1,000s for $2 / $3 / $4 / $5 per book. 10% of what you, the covention-goer pays. And these players get books signed by the thousands at at time.
These cons aren't really just for the fans anymore. It's a big meetup for the players in the oligopoly to replenish their stocks. Here's 100 copies of my particular signed retailer exclusive - give me 100 copies of yours. We'll both sell them in our online stores, on eBay live, and and in our eBay stores. We're into each for $6 signed - don't list it for less than $100.
You think all 3,000 of their MegaCon exclusive "Artist X" Invincible Returns reprint covers with Atom Eve or Thragg were sold at their booth and through their website?
No. 1,000 copies were sold that way. 250 are being held to appreciate in the producer's vault. The other 1,750 were shared w/ the other members of the oligopoly at cost, so they too could make a living, and sell the book that costs them $3 and has a $3 signature on it for $200 on their live stream or through their eBay live store.
Again, I post this not to knock these businesses. I just want to put the PSA out there for the folks that haven't figured it out yet that this is all a big business.
TL;DR:
There's an oligopoly with convention / retailers exclusive comics and signed comics. If you're not in the oligopoly, you're not making money on these books in this market. It's just a heads up for those who think they're accumulating valuable assets. It's a bubble right now.
Collect for fun. Spend within your means. Don't expect this signed variant / con exclusive bubble to hold long-term value.
The members of the oligopoly are not bad people or evil; they're making a living. This post is for those who naively believe that they're going to be making big money in this market. If you're not part of the oligopoly, you're not going to be making money.
Have fun and happy collecting friends!
So, just went through Marvel's Solicitations #57, June for August 2026 Shipping Product.
Observations:
1. As is the trend, more limited series and one-shots (27) than ongoings (23).
2. Standard issue price creep - all but one standard 32-page books (Generation x23 - $3.99) minimum $4.99, some crept up to $5.99.
3. Biggest thing I'm excited about: New ongoing Miles Morales series, with a beautiful Cover A by Simone DiMeo.
All books listed are 32pgs, $4.99 unless otherwise noted.
Ongoings: 1- Midnight X-Men (32pgs, $5.99), 2- Amazing S-M 34, 35 - 36 (LGY#1000, 104pgs, $9.99), 3- Infernal Hulk, 4- Miles Morales, 5- Fantastic Four (40pgs, $5.99), 6- Motal Thor (LGY#800, 48pgs, $6.99), 7- Cap America, 8- Black Cat, 9- Venom, 10- Wolverine (32pgs, $4.99), 11- Generation X23 (32pgs, $3.99), 12- Inglorious X-Force, 13- X-Men United, 14- X-Men, 15- Uncanny X-Men, 16- Wade Wilson Deadpool, 17- Punisher, 18- Sorcerer Supreme, 19- Doctor Strange, 20- Iron Man, 21- Moon Knight, 22- Daredevil, 23- Predator v. Planet of the Apes.
Limited Series and One-Shots: 1- DNX (32pgs, $5.99 - also True Believers Blind Bags), 2- Mary Jane Face It Tiger, 3- Spidy/Hulk Fire & Brimstone (32pgs, $5.99), 4- Avengers Armageddon, 5- Ultimate Impact Reborn, 6- Queen in Black, 7- QIB Thor, 8- QIB Defenders of Light and Dark, 9- QIB Venom Unchained, 10- Marvel Tokon First Strike (40pgs, $5.99), 11- Jeff TLS Superstar, 12- Godzilla Conquers the Multiverse, 13- Tomb of Apocalypse, 14- Bishop, 15- X-Men Outback, 16- Gambit Wanted, 17- X-Men 97 Season 2, 18- Punisher v. ASM, 19- Spiderversity, 20- S-M Brand New Day, 21- What If Runaways, 22- What If Cap, 23- What If X-Men, 24- Doomquest, 25- Civil War Unmasked, 26- Captain Marvel Dark Past, 27- Origins of the Hood Marvel Rivals (40pgs, $5.99).
Overall, would obviously like to see more ongoings, and I'm trepidatious that the price creep on this "Midnight" Marvel Imprint, which appears to be a response to the Absolute DC line (although Midnight X-Men is the only one for August, the solicitation explains this is a new world of remained Marvel characters... Midnight X-Men drops in August, Midnight Fantastic Four drops in September, and Midnight Spider-Man drops in October. Haven't seen if more are planned.
New blind bag, but I don't mind them. I occasionally buy one for kicks. I want print comics to stay viable, at a time when other physical media is dying out, so if whales with more pocket money than sense want to buy 20 blind bags - great, more money (hopefully) to the writers and artists (not just the executives).
Would welcome your thoughts and observations.
Hello all.
Looking for advice here, not looking to sell anything here. I don't even have an eBay account any longer or a PayPal account (my PayPal was hacked a few years back - my banking information was attached, as it had to be, and it was a fiasco as the hacker had direct access to my checking account). So I'm never going to use PayPal again.
That said:
Years ago, I gave away most of my Lego pieces from sets I had collected over the past 20 years or so to my godson and his family, as they liked building things "from imagination" at the time.
I put about 90% of the minifigures aside in the process, and I now have a box of approximately 150 or so minifigures from sets, etc., complete with their parts, in small ziplock style bags, in one larger box, filled to the top - which is probably about the size of stacked four shoesboxes - two side-by-side, and two on top.
So, long story short, I was wondering if anyone knew of a consignment service that would list and sell Lego and/or Lego minifigures especially.
I know of several trading cards consignment companies, a few comic book consignment companies, but did a little searching couldn't find anything with regard to Lego minifigure consignment. You send, they list, take a % of the price for their time and effort, and send you a check afterwards.
They're not taking up a ton of space but I could use a little cash injection with the summer approaching to spend on loved ones and trips.
Thanks to anyone who provides any information as to a consignment service. Thanks for the look, and happy building and collecting!
