#Comics as an #Investment

I started collecting comics when I was about 8 years old. Back then, all those years ago it was about escape, not future fiscal benefits. I love comics and over the years amassed a collection upwards of 10,000 pieces.

Now I’m older and allegedly more responsible I have a number of investments I would consider ‘safe’. I have money in gold and silver, as the most obvious ‘go to’ securities. I also dabble with some #stocks. I buy up low priced stocks, leave them until they double in value, sell them and invest the money in Disney (Dis) stocks, a stock I consider low volatility.

However, comics have always and will always hold their value. During the ‘great recession’ of 2008 everything lost value, with the exception of art and comic books. Home prices, stocks, oil and even gold and silver had a rough time.

The great thing with comics; you have them in hand and can sell them for ready cash at conventions or online and, looking at about 10% ROI per annum. Whether you have $20 or $2,000,000 to invest there will be a comic book that fits your price range. ‘Key Comics’ (1st appearance or death of a certain character) are the safest investment, but if a collector needs to fill a hole in a run, and you have the comic they need to do the same, they pay over the odds.

Quality is a huge deciding factor on you investment. A ‘New Mutants # 98’ (1st appearance of #Deadpool) in ‘poor’ grade would probably run you around $80. If you can find a ‘near mint’ copy for less than $800, I’ll take it off your hands!

In the picture attached to this article I’ve place two comic books side by side. The first a ‘poor’ copy of ‘#Hulk # 1’ (1st appearance of the Hulk). The second a near mint copy ‘#Wormwood Gentleman Corpse # 1’ (1st appearance of Wormwood). The ‘Wormwood’ comic has probably appreciated in value by 5% per annum in the time I’ve had it and would fetch around $90 on eBay. The ‘Hulk’ comic is in terrible condition. The spine is held together (poorly) by clear tape, and Marvel chipping has eaten away at the edges over the past 56 years. If I were to sell it today I would get over $5,000. By 2019 I would estimate it to be a $6,000 comic meaning a 20% investment increase. If I wanted the same comic book in ‘near mint’ condition I’d need liquid capital close to $1,000,000.

If you have spare cash you want to invest, comics may be the way to go.