Regrets?

Rufusharley · Post by **Rufusharley** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:58 am

Guess i should have posted this over in the 'My valiant story' section. That's really what got me back into valiants.

Todd Luck · Post by **Todd Luck** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 6:55 am

I regret most of the Valiant comics I've bought since I've been on this board. Being on here got me curious about picking up all the Post-Shooter issues I didn't get in an attempt to get all of VH-1. I figured how bad can they be? Well, they're a lot worse than I ever imagined. I kept reading them hoping they get better at some point but after getting dozens of issues I hated I just got fed up and quit. And most of the comics weren't even Birthquake/Accliam issues. The majority of what Valiant put out turned to crap long before then. There were a handful of pleasant surprises in the bunch but that's it. I didn't pay much for them because most honest dealers charge what those comics are worth, which is next to nothing, but I regret filling my comic boxes with a bunch of horrible junk.

BrettC · Post by **BrettC** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 7:35 am

I have 3 regrets:

I regret that (1) buying the early VH1 books at their highest prices in the early 90's, (2) selling them on ebay at their lowest prices in the early 2000's when I needed cash, and then (3) re-buying them all 2 years ago for more than I sold them for a few years ago!

I'm not very good with the buy low, sell high investment philosophy!

BrettC

ckb · Post by **ckb** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 7:50 am

BrettC wrote:I have 3 regrets:

I regret that (1) buying the early VH1 books at their highest prices in the early 90's, (2) selling them on ebay at their lowest prices in the early 2000's when I needed cash, and then (3) re-buying them all 2 years ago for more than I sold them for a few years ago!

I'm not very good with the buy low, sell high investment philosophy!

BrettC

The PERFECT CUSTOMER for us money grubbing dealer types like myself!!!!!

Knightt · Post by **Knightt** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 9:47 am

Rufusharley wrote:Biggest regret buying: Has got to be Youngblood #1.

Biggest regret not buying: Seeing a unity red, and a few gold books in the 50 cent boxes at a local used book store last March. For some unknown *SQUEE* reason i thought "i'll come back in a couple days and get 'em then...who's going to be looking through 50 cent boxes and notice them anyway". (I hadn't really collected comics in 10 or so years, just went into the book store to look at used dvd's) ...So, i go back and they're gone. In my 'only have myself to be mad at' rage, i go online and find this message board. Well...9 months later, my knowlege of VALIANT is 1000times greater and i'm very close to being 100%.

PM me with you 'needs list'...

Knightt · Post by **Knightt** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 10:38 am

Todd Luck wrote:I regret most of the VALIANT comics I've bought since I've been on this board. Being on here got me curious about picking up all the Post-Shooter issues I didn't get in an attempt to get all of VH-1. I figured how bad can they be? Well, they're a lot worse than I ever imagined. I kept reading them hoping they get better at some point but after getting dozens of issues I hated I just got fed up and quit. And most of the comics weren't even Birthquake/Accliam issues. The majority of what VALIANT put out turned to crap long before then. There were a handful of pleasant surprises in the bunch but that's it. I didn't pay much for them because most honest dealers charge what those comics are worth, which is next to nothing, but I regret filling my comic boxes with a bunch of horrible junk.

Wow Todd, that is kind of a bummer story. I enjoy some of the Layton-Era books because I just found them entertaining for some reason (having recently figured this out) but not to the degree in which I found Shooter-Era books to be entertaining. Lots of books I kept reading out of loyalty. I still have not read all of the Valiant books... what I have remaining is Harbinger (on issue #25 and it is starting to circle the drain) and the last set of books that I will read is Turok, hopeing that it remains good up until the end. There are a few books after that in which I must read, i.e. The Lost Unity Chapter and a few of the Secrets of the Valiant Universe books and such but I will probably knock those out before reading Turok as I hope to God that I can end reading Valiant books on a good note instead of the disgust that I felt with HARD Corps, X-O Manowar and Magnus.

I think you just have to be totally engaged with Valiant books just to 'get through' some of them and that is one of the things that still amazes me about this website. We sit here oohing and aahing over books a decade dead, love the begining of the Valiant Universe and almost 100% of us agree that the end of the Universe are just terrible... yet here we are. Still chatting away, hoping for a future and becoming internet friends. Which has been good for me as I can now definately tell the difference between a 'Friend' and an 'internet friend' but the bottom line here is that HERE WE ARE, still talking about this huge DEAD UNIVERSE 'years' after the lights winked out. There is something that still draws us to these books, some just enjoy the wackiness that is in abundance on this board, some like it because they have made 'internet friends' but wrapped around the core of everything here... is a love for Valiant Comics. The good comics and the bad comics.

I give a lot of credit to this love of Valiant Comics to the board members. We have some really great people here (we also have some turds but to a MUCH lesser degree than the good) and 'we' have kept the Valiant torch burning for years and on the message board, I have never seen this flame go out, flicker or even get close to being dropped to the ground. We keep on running, we keep on holding that flame high above our heads and even through we know that Magnus/Bloodshot started out super DUPER great and ended in such a mess that upon reading it, that I wanted to throw up.... we still kept the flame burning. Maybe it is because the great 'stuff' in the Valiant universe is GREAT STUFF and we can tolerate the rest, I dont know. But we keep going.

For me at times, when I read a Valiant book, it takes me back to a time in my life, that was pretty damn good. I was not a child reading comics for the first time, I was in the service but these books remind me of a time in my life in which things were pretty good... those Layton-Era books were good enough to keep me coming back to The Dragon's Lair run by this guy named Earnie... every week, to get my Valiant books.

We look forward to the future... who knows ? We just may be surprised and find that new stories are what we have been waiting for and we will scoop them up. I just hope that we do not scoop them up in large numbers like we did in the past and ruin the future like unto what happened before. I hope that our love for Valiant will help open our minds to new stories and not scrutinize them so badly that Valiant goes under AGAIN. I hope that the flame gets brighter and a newer, younger generation loves Valiant just like I did 'back then' and still do now. I hope that 20 years later, this message board is still around filled with new fans... and the old fans.

Yeah some of the old books suck... but it is like my mother-in-law. She sucks but I still love her... she is family. Just like Valiant and this message board with its members.

Family.

Elveen · Post by **Elveen** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:24 pm

my biggest regret is that when we moved form our last house, we had a garage sale, and I sold a bunch of comcis I had doubles of, (early Image, Knighttfall, and......... Valiants) it was almost a long box full.

I was glad for the person who bought it, a grandpa for his grandson, but I had a bunch of Valiants I could have given away to people here to help fill out there needs list, (like so many have done for me)

everytime a new poster comes on and posts a needs list, I see books I could have given away...... I just sigh.......

Squirrel · Post by **Squirrel** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 4:10 pm

Elveen wrote:my biggest regret is that when we moved form our last house, we had a garage sale, and I sold a bunch of comcis I had doubles of, (early Image, Knighttfall, and......... Valiants) it was almost a long box full.

I was glad for the person who bought it, a grandpa for his grandson, but I had a bunch of Valiants I could have given away to people here to help fill out there needs list, (like so many have done for me)

everytime a new poster comes on and posts a needs list, I see books I could have given away...... I just sigh.......

Hey, wanna make sure you don't get coal in your stocking? Take a look at my needs list, LOL

gowaltrip · Post by **gowaltrip** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 7:10 pm

Biggest Regret Getting: Has to be a tie between Venom #1 and Rai and the Future Force #9. Back in those days, I was doing a lot of conventions and I used to Pre-Order books out of the Comic Buyers Guide (those were the days!). Well, I had some successes on some of my preorders, but these two were abismal as I bought into the hype of both. I had a friend who would go in on halfs with me and we got 50 comic lots. Out of the 25 that wound up being my share, I have like 22 Venom #1s and 24 Rai #9s left out of that deal. A total turd of a buy.

Biggest Regret Not Getting: When was it that Batman #608 came out? 2-3 years ago???? Well, I missed it when it came out but was hearing and reading the Hoopla surrounding that book. I go into Joey's Comic Kings store one day and I was looking at the new Comic Area and Low and Behold.....I see's A STACK of Batman #608's....I'm thinking "Ive hit the Motherload!!!"

I grabbed the entire stack off the wall. Must have been at least 15 NM copies and I started making my way to the cash register, I was going to buy them all. Suddenly, I became skeptical why these hot as heck everytime I hear it mentioned books are sitting a stack high on the wall???? I began observing, I think I opened up to the 1st page and seen something I'll never forget at the bottom....2nd Printing.

Like an idiot, I put them ALL BACK without buying 1.

I have NEVER forgiven myself over this.

Squirrel · Post by **Squirrel** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 10:09 pm

gowaltrip wrote:

Biggest Regret Not Getting: When was it that Batman #608 came out? 2-3 years ago???? Well, I missed it when it came out but was hearing and reading the Hoopla surrounding that book. I go into Joey's Comic Kings store one day and I was looking at the new Comic Area and Low and Behold.....I see's A STACK of Batman #608's....I'm thinking "Ive hit the Motherload!!!"

I grabbed the entire stack off the wall. Must have been at least 15 NM copies and I started making my way to the cash register, I was going to buy them all. Suddenly, I became skeptical why these hot as heck everytime I hear it mentioned books are sitting a stack high on the wall???? I began observing, I think I opened up to the 1st page and seen something I'll never forget at the bottom....2nd Printing.

Like an idiot, I put them ALL BACK without buying 1.

I have NEVER forgiven myself over this.

I bought every printing and cover of the HUSH storyline, IMO the best Batman story in years!! I really like that BATMAN title, dont care for all the others.

gowaltrip · Post by **gowaltrip** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:47 am

I didnt care about the book, the story, the artist, etc. The reason Im mad is because the book would sell for more than the 1st print and it was easy money. It wasnt unheard of the book getting $35 - $50. And even though this auction below is delusional, some people are still trying to push the envelope on this book.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BATMAN-1940-608-2ND ... 0062295369

I put a Huge STACK of these back on the shelf because I figured the word 2nd print made them virtually worthless...

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:57 am

tssgery wrote:Believe it or not, my biggest purchase regret was Amazing Spider-Man 121 and 122.

I got caught in an ebay bidding war for these great books. The other bidder wanted them reallt bad, so I contacted the seller to ask for better/bigger scans as he claimed they were 9.4/9.6 quality. Unfortunately for me, I didn't wait for him to respond so I bidded more than I should have.

After sending them to CGC, they came back at 8.5 and 7.5. Needless to say, I was heartbroken.

Did you contact the seller (who was it, by the way?) and inform them of what happened?

tssgery · Post by **tssgery** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:08 am

ZephyrWasHOT!! wrote:
tssgery wrote:Believe it or not, my biggest purchase regret was Amazing Spider-Man 121 and 122.

I got caught in an ebay bidding war for these great books. The other bidder wanted them reallt bad, so I contacted the seller to ask for better/bigger scans as he claimed they were 9.4/9.6 quality. Unfortunately for me, I didn't wait for him to respond so I bidded more than I should have.

After sending them to CGC, they came back at 8.5 and 7.5. Needless to say, I was heartbroken.
Did you contact the seller (who was it, by the way?) and inform them of what happened?

It was New England Comics. They're notorious for overgrading but have a huge fan following. I attempted to contact them via email and heard nothing back. That being said, there was about a 6 month gap between my receiving the items and sending them to CGC.

Interesting enough, I both some X-Men books from them at the exact same time and they graded close to what was suggested... all 9.6/9.6 early copies of Uncanny X-Men.

I took it as a lesson learned, to not get into a bidding war unless I am POSITIVE about eh books condition.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:27 am

tssgery wrote:
It was New England Comics. They're notorious for overgrading but have a huge fan following. I attempted to contact them via email and heard nothing back. That being said, there was about a 6 month gap between my receiving the items and sending them to CGC.

Yeah....another of the "big boys" who learned how to grade back when "MINT" meant "still has a cover attached."

But they know very well what the numbers 9.4/9.6 mean. That one of them would come back a 7.5 (more than a grade and a HALF lower than what it was advertised at!) is inexcusable.

And, they know that CGC takes time....I wouldn't have PURSUED them, but I would have written a very critical letter of complaint to them on the sybject....who knows what would have happened.

But unless these fools KNOW that there are people out there who are AWARE and WATCHING....they won't change. If they know someone's watching....they might shape up.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:39 am

Biggest regrets buying:

Multiple copies of Deathlok #1

80 copies of X-Force #1 for $1 each on pre-order ($80 was a lot of money to a 19 year old in 1991.)

A store's inventory...for about 75 cents per copy.....of late 80's common junk in the early 90's. Ugh.

Justice League #3 variant for Silver Surfer #1 in Fine. Sigh.

Biggest regrets NOT buying:

Ultimate Spiderman (of course), when I was perfectly capable of buying many multiple copies for nothing. Actually had a STACK of #3s in my hand, along with 4s and 5s, and put them back.

I actually DID end up buying Batman #608 second prints, three of them, but only by accident (I didn't know they were second prints.)

Showcase #34 in VF for $100 back in 1990.

Showcase #8 in Good for $100 back in 1990.

More Valiants (they were $2 and $2.50!) when I could have.

cobra_commander · Post by **cobra_commander** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:56 am

Biggest regret NOT buying: More copies of Spiderman 300. In fact, I wish I never bought any comics except for Spiderman 300. I wish every dollar I ever spent on comics was put towards Spiderman 300.

Biggest regret buying: I want my tombstone to read: "I regret nothing...except for buying a copy of Rai and the Future Force #9"

Squirrel · Post by **Squirrel** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 4:43 pm

cobra_commander wrote: Biggest regret buying: I want my tombstone to read: "I regret nothing...except for buying a copy of Rai and the Future Force #9"

jedimarley · Post by **jedimarley** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 7:00 pm

Biggest regret....Not giving Greg an atomic weggie when I had the chance.

bamaphilosopher · Post by **bamaphilosopher** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 7:24 pm

I saw an Archer and Armstrong gold #0 when it first came out for 70 bucks, and just had to have it, so I paid it. That's the most I've ever paid for a comic book, and I regret it. That was crazy, since I probably could have come up with an idea to write in to the company and get a free copy. Plus, nowadays I could find one on ebay for 10-20 bucks. Of course, back then I didn't know there'd be an ebay.

Otherwise, I paid 30 bucks for the Catwoman miniseries back when the Batman stuff was overhyped (after the first movie).

And I paid 8 bucks for a Green Lantern Emerald Dawn #1 back when it first came out and was scarce, and years later I found one cheap on ebay.

I think those were my biggest amounts ever paid for comics. Nowadays, I'd never pay over five bucks for ANY comic, period. You can always find it later for cheaper, in my opinion. (Assuming it's something recent like those other examples.)

I am MOST HAPPY that I bought Magnus #1 off the stand because two friends convinced me it used to be such a great series with Gold Key. Hooked by the first issue, I bought every Valiant until Birthquake and never had to go back and find back issues (until years later and I had to complete my post-Birthquake runs).

But I guess the coolest was when I bought a huge box of comics for fifty bucks from a toy and hobby shop, and they let me put whatever comics I wanted in the box. I stuffed that thing to overflowing. I don't remember what all I got, but I ended up getting the entire John Byrne Superman titles run for less than ten cents an issue, and that was a really cool run.

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:17 pm

jedimarley wrote:Biggest regret....Not giving Greg an atomic weggie when I had the chance.

Heh... glad it wasn't "kicking slym's *SQUEE* when I had the chance."

-slym

alexarc · Post by **alexarc** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 2:35 am

Buying all those over-hyped books durning the early 90's: batman 500; More than one copy of x men x force #1 X-ecutioner's song etc. sleepwalker #1; wonder man-ugh; Ultraverse;...Impact comics! Buying solar for $40 and rai# 0 for $25 But I was around 12 or 13, so I can forgive myself.

Recently, I read SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL #1. that was the worst single issue i've ever read. the writting was god awfull and 95 %the art was worse. but it was worth $4 to realize i will never read joe kelly again.

nothing i've ever had in my hand and put back. or maybe im just blocking out the memory.

alexarc · Post by **alexarc** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 1:05 pm

I take that back.

I had Civil War #2 (sketch cover/ 1 in 75 variant) in my hand the day it came out; it was about $30 and i put it back. It wasnt the price, it was relativley cheap; it was just that i didnt have the variant to #1. now its going for around 90 bucks.

sd2416 · Post by **sd2416** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 8:43 pm

Knightt wrote:
ianalexavier wrote:but the story ..
WHAT story ? Simmons was in that alley for like 2 years.

And that was only like 5 issues in two years.

childres · Post by **childres** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:52 pm

I regret buying 6 copies of Brigade #1, although not as much as I regret buying 1 copy each of the next few issues.

I REGRET most NOT BUYING a beautiful copy of All Winners #1. It had been stored in a small cedar chest with about 40 other Golden Age comics & they were the finest books I believe I have ever seen together at 1 time. The All Winners was originally for sale for $2,000 , but the consignment store owner who was attempting to sell the books for the owner, said he would take $1,000.

At the time, (this was about 1994) I had just bought a radically customized 79 sharknosed Vette & was dating a high maintenance blonde who was bi-polar to the extreme! I reluctantly passed on the offer. To this day I've wished I had bought the book.

-Joe

sd2416 · Post by **sd2416** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:57 pm