batwoman.JPGIf you haven’t heard the news Batwoman will be coming out and having a relationship with Detective Montoya in the DC weekly comic book “52” where no headlining heroes exist (like Superman, Batman, etc) This isn’t the first time gay issues have taken a headline in the newspaper. A few years Green Lantern comics dealt with gay bashing, as one of Green Lantern’s friends was beaten up.

So what the heck does this have to do with money?
It is with news headlines like these, that people forget how much they enjoyed comic books. They realize comics aren’t the kids comics they once read. They start to look up the values of the comic books from when they were young and go through the “If only I had kept…” fantasy. So instead people decide they are going to catch up on their lost youth with books from today.

Today’s comics are a whole different world, parents don’t throw out comics as much because they know the value they could be, kids today also know the possible value and read the comic once then seal it in an air tight Mylar bag. Now the comics of today are lasting longer.

When it comes down to it if you want to invest in comics there are some basic requirements
1. Buy what interests you, whether it is the art or the writing. If you don’t have the passion for it, it won’t last and the issue you stop at will be the issue that makes the money, maybe.
2. Demand must exceed supply for value to increase. Talk all parents into trashing their kids comics, so yours can go up in value. Look at the following numbers of comics that are circulating and how long you figure it will take to go up go up.

Superman 75 – his death(1996) 2.5 million copies
Cover price was 1.25 – now in perfect condition 3-5.00, but may still be able to pick it up in the 50Â ¢ bin
Captain Marvel Adventures (1944) 14 million ~500.00
Green Lantern 154 (2002) 38,500 ~10.00

3. Start with the oldies but goodies. If you aren’t a patient person and waiting around for 20 years or more on an investment that may or may not pan out isn’t your idea of fun (plus finding storage), go with the ones that already have value, the ones you read as a kid, whether they were Lassie, Transformers or He-man comics. Sometimes it’s easier to invest in things that you have a sentimental attachment to.

When it comes down to it, comics are really made to be enjoyed for the art and to lose yourself in the writing. Buy what you love; keep what interests you and perhaps a side benefit will be a great investment.