Rai 0's CGC 9.8

[Ricomortis]

WTF?

I know the 9.9 sold for 2650.00 the other day. I get that...

but over the last 4 days like six of them in CGC 9.8 have sold for like 450-500 dollars.

There are plenty of these in CGC 9.8. Why all of the sudden was there such a big jump?

If this is happening to a 100.00 book with over 1400 in 9.8s... What do you think will happen to a 1000.00 book that only has 329 in CGC 9.8 and is a BIGGER 1st appearance of a BIGGER book?

...and discuss!

[IMJ]

I think that the Valiant back issue market will see a speculator resurgence that emulates what we've seen with Marvel and DC books since the movie era of comics began. But this will only last as long as Bloodshot turns into a hit flick. If it flops, then that speculator market that is fueling things cold plummet.

[nycjadie]

It’s a crazy ascent. This book was one many of us gave away for free. Now it’s a mega key. Super grateful for my 9.9. Got that book out of a $.50 bin!

I’d like to think that this was the new normal, but I think this is short lived. It’s all investors and movie news chasers, and not true long term fans.

[IMJ]

Rai #0 was always in my top three favorite Valiant books. Maybe my top favorite. I remember when it was released - the buildup to that issue was huge, and it was a great read for those of us who were there and following Valiant at the time. I've got a few copies of it, but only one 9.8 slab. Now I wish I had a small slab hoard because I'd sell. I don't really want to sell my only 9.8..

[greg]

WTF?

I know the 9.9 sold for 2650.00 the other day. I get that...

but over the last 4 days like six of them in CGC 9.8 have sold for like 450-500 dollars.

Haven't all of the $450+ sales been the Glossy version?

We've got a combination effect for the Bloodshot movie and the recognition of the Glossy as somewhere between a 1-in-5 and a 1-in-10 scarcity happening at the same time in the market.

If CGC 9.8 Rai #0 Matte version (normal) is going to settle around $200 for now, the Glossy version at about 2 or 3 times that number is probably about right. CGC 9.8 Rai #0 Glossy version had been $250 to $300 for a while before the Bloodshot movie speculators, if they are the reason for the latest surge.

[TheeBaldMoose]

It also doesn't help that ComicBookInvest.com has had the Rai Glossy book on their top ten list these last couple of weeks (I am sure there are other sites as well that have this book addressed). Before the news release, it was hovering around $325 and lower. I was watching these numbers like a hawk, waiting for them to get a little closer to $300, and I was gonna grab a few. Alas, this news landed, and I doubt it'll come back down to those levels again.

[nycjadie]

Sometimes it only take 2-4 buyers to drive these prices up. I found the glossy version to be harder to find than a 1:10. Maybe more of a 1:30? Of the 50+ copies I had recently, I only had 2.

[greg]

Sometimes it only take 2-4 buyers to drive these prices up. I found the glossy version to be harder to find than a 1:10. Maybe more of a 1:30? Of the 50+ copies I had recently, I only had 2.

It's hard to pin down. There's a chance that the Glossy version got distributed to particular parts of the country, making it easier to find there. That's what happened with Unity #0 Red and (accidentally) Eternal Warrior #4 Gold Flat, due to different distributors being active in 1992 (Diamond, Capital City, Friendly Frank's, etc.) serving different regions.

[StarBrand]

Wow.

[Ricomortis]

This may be a trend building.

Magnus 12 (1st Turok) CGC 9.8 sold for 242.00

You could pick these up for years from 75-125. This has nothing to do with Bloodshot, new VEI, movies, variants, or any pump/hype/invest sites. Very confusing.

Rico

[nycjadie]

This may be a trend building.

Magnus 12 (1st Turok) CGC 9.8 sold for 242.00

You could pick these up for years from 75-125. This has nothing to do with Bloodshot, new VEI, movies, variants, or any pump/hype/invest sites. Very confusing.

Rico

I've also noticed some keys are selling for more. Hope it's a few more Valiant collectors out there looking to get into 9.8s.

[Funcha]

The minute I heard the movie news in 2015 I immediately dived right back into buying classic Valiant titles, starting with the keys. I had a feeling there would only be a limited window of opportunity there. It's taken a bit, but I'm thinking now is when we're going to see the Pre-Unity keys head into the stratosphere. I've recently started rereading many of these titles again and the quality of storytelling is just superb, even after 25+ years. Factor in X-O Manowar, the Eternal Warrior and Shadowman possibly getting movies in the not too distant future and I see a very bright future for old school Valiant (before the 100,000+ print runs that is).

[greatbrandino11]

What is the difference between the matte and glossy? Does anyone have a side by side picture? I just want to know what to look for when inspecting. I have a CGC 9.8 but it was before the matte and glossy. I also have a ton of ungraded copies.

[nycjadie]

What is the difference between the matte and glossy? Does anyone have a side by side picture? I just want to know what to look for when inspecting. I have a CGC 9.8 but it was before the matte and glossy. I also have a ton of ungraded copies.

It’s really hard to tell unless you have both copies in front of you. All the Rai 0 copies are pretty glossy, but the glossy variant is very glossy. It also tends to have more bleed on the black ink than the matte versions. It matters only to the most ardent Bloodshot collectors. CGC didn’t recognize it until relatively recently, so many 9.8s might be glossy without the distinction.

[greg]

[Juki]

I "get" that they used a different glossy paper stock for part of the run while experimenting on getting colors not to bleed as much. I don't "get" how CGC allows them to be graded 9.8 with a long strip 3-4 millimeters of the 2nd page showing down the right edge. They all seem to be like this.

I'm no CGC grader... but shouldn't that much of the inside page showing DETRACT from the grade? Wouldn't the rest of the book have to be "perfect" to get that high of a grade? Being a contrarian... there shouldn't be any 9.8 Glossy covers. CGC should consider them a mis-cut, a mis-fold, or a mis-staple).... and they should receive a lower grade accordingly. Do any other Valiant comic issues with that much of the second page showing revceive 9.8s consistently like this book?

I don't know for sure.... but I am willing to bet that the CGC 10 and CGC 9.9s are all "Non-Glossy" Matte versions (since they don't have a large strip of page 2 showing).

Once the comic is in the CGCcase one probably can't tell the difference between the two anyway.

Hypothetically, would the "glossy" still be more valuable and more desirable than the "matte" if 9.6 were the highest grade a Glossy version could receive (due to the 2nd page boldly showing)? I don't think so.

[greg]

The paper on the glossy cover isn't wide enough completely cover the pages underneath. It isn't a flaw, it's just a quirk of production. Some gatefold covers are much worse.

[Juki]

The paper on the glossy cover isn't wide enough completely cover the pages underneath. It isn't a flaw, it's just a quirk of production. Some gatefold covers are much worse.

Right Greg... don't take me too serious on this. It is just good conversation. I know a precedent has been set. But, it just seems kind of odd to me when all the Rai 0s are intended to be considered the same run; that it is a positive to have a Glossy cover. Yet, it is not a negative to have a shorter cover page. I believe it is Rai 3 that has a lot of slightly "off center" covers (which CGC downgrades and is not considered a quirk of production). Having the white cover, Rai 0 seems more visually appealing without a black strip down the right side ( to me).

I also own a Rai 0 Matte version (I guess) that has a black strip down the left side. The way it is over-folded allows the black back cover to show down the left side of the front cover. To me, this book is not 9.8...even though there is nothing else wrong with it. Visually the "black strip" along the staple-side is distracting. I am sure CGC would probably agree.

I just assumed the Gatefold covers were intentionally made to have a short cover. I thought it had something to do with easily unfolding the "gatefold."

[greatbrandino11]

Thanks

[StarBrand]

Greg’s 10.0 could go for a fortune now. I mean maybe 100 G’s.

[greg]

Greg’s 10.0 could go for a fortune now. I mean maybe 100 G’s.

Dinesh can have it for $100,000.

If the resulting outrage from such a sale is worth more than $100,000 in publicity for the book, marketing for the movie, etc., then I guess that could be a good deal.

[ckb]

Hey we are down from a billion, that's progress.

[greg]

Hey we are down from a billion, that's progress.

It wasn't a billion. It was a beeeellion.

[Chiclo]

Hey we are down from a billion, that's progress.

It wasn't a billion. It was a beeeellion.

That is a totally different number. Like a googol and a googolplex.

[greatbrandino11]

In all seriousness, if it is successful, Vin Diesel could be a potential buyer. Jason David Frank would probably be interested, too.