Chuck Visits an Antiques Mall Full of Surprises Howdy! Lisa Woolley (the manager of our Jason St. Mega-Store) and I just returned from a scouting expedition to a very large local antiques mall. We were there looking for ideas/methodologies about how to better facilitate people being able to get help from our staff at Jason St. Oddly enough, we learned very little about positive flow dynamics, but a surprising amount about the current state of popular cultural marketing. Here are some of our observations: Chuck and Lisa 1) Over the five years since Lisa and I last visited this particular venue, the overall depth of popular culture offerings has dropped by at least 50%-60%. This really surprised us, as we have been flooded at Jason St. with awesomely wonderful collections of material pertaining to Star Trek, Star Wars, Walking Dead, Transformers, Manga, etc., as well as thousands of Pop! figures and action figures. We also have had a huge number of comics-related statues and busts sold to us, not one of which did we observe on sale in the 500+ showcases in this huge mall. The majority of the items offered in their showcases are now either antiques and/or nostalgia-related, or jewelry. Walking Dead Case in Jason 2) In addition to a vast decline in the number of popular culture items being offered, we also observed that the asking price for what remained were oftentimes 80% of our prices, and sometimes above us, at 120%. That is really rather remarkable, as antique mall sellers typically have very low overhead. That being the case, they have (at least in the past), had the luxury of undercutting our Mega-Store prices by a rather wide margin. That's simply not true anymore. Even the cases that featured small samplings of old comics were now charging as high as 5X their past prices. Yow! Front of the Huge Jason Street Mega Store 3) While having 500+ huge showcases filled with all kinds of interesting stuff may seem like a great way to generate sales, we never heard a single request for the security folks who open cases for potential customers to leave their station in the 30 minutes that we browsed the cases. That never happens in our Mega-Store, as our staff is constantly having to run to unlock cases so that fans can examine cool items. It was a little spooky, in fact, to see 50-60 cars parked out front, yet no one was asking the antiques mall staff to open a collectibles case. Mostly, it seemed like folks were shopping over in the furniture and bric-a-brac section of the store, which features open shelving. One of our Statue Cases So what I take away from this experience? First, I have now had a wake-up call about the false impression made upon us by all of the great collections being sold to us at our Jason St. Mega-Store. Because we have been absolutely overwhelmed by people offering us collections of great material over the past year, I assumed that secondary market popular culture was in oversupply everywhere. After all, we have kept and entire generation of Chinese workers toiling at making us cool Geek toys for years, especially since the Marvel Cinematic Universe blew up the popularity of comics storytelling. Will buying a collection last week Oddly enough, however, not much of that cool popular culture material seems to be transacting in Denver. I can only surmise that people are simply holding on to their collections longer, and then choosing to sell to us over Craig's List (and similar public sites) when they ultimately do decide to sell. Lisa does pay rather well for collections, but it still surprises me just how much of an impact we seem to be having in the local collectibles market. Clearly, however, we are not the only local venue that is buying, and we have no way of gauging how much is sold through conventions and online, but it our little expedition today did provide us both with much food for thought. Some of our Comics Busts My only other news for today is a quick reminder that our annual 50% off WINTER! codeword sale remains in effect for you on all 10,000,000+ of our back issue comics and magazines. Only new issues, a few variants, and our professionally-graded comics are excluded. Please note that while the WINTER! codeword may remain in effect for a while longer, we are going to start revising our website prices (which were lowered significantly in mid-November) back upwards in gradual (small) increments starting next week. My visit today definitely reinforced my belief that almost all cool back issue comics and magazines are getting harder to find, especially in higher grades. I am sharing this information with you because (as a reader of this newsletter) you are by definition one of our key supporters. If at all possible, I want you to be able to take best advantage of what may turn out to be our lowest prices of the year. Happy collecting! Chuck Rozanski, President - Mile High Comics, Inc. January 16, 2019 P.S. Pam is out with the crud today, but she and Will added a nice selection of older comics before she went home yesterday. Here is a sampling: MARVEL AMAZING SPIDER-MAN SUPER SPECIAL: PLANET OF THE SYMBIOT (1995) #1 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN SUPER SPECIAL: PLANET OF THE SYMBIOT (1995) #1 Very Fine AVENGERS (1963) (#1-402) (MARVEL) #329 NEWSSTAND Fine BRUCE WAYNE: AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (1996) #1 NEWSSTAND Very Fine CABLE (1993) (#1-107) (MARVEL) #1 Near Mint/Mint CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) (#100-454) (MARVEL) #383 NEWSSTAND Very Fine CAPTAIN BRITAIN TPB (1988) #1 2ND PRT Fine CARNAGE: MINDBOMB (1996) #1 Near Mint/Mint CHILI (1969) #2 Very Good CLASSIC X-MEN (1986) #104 NEWSSTAND Fine CONAN (1970) (#1-275) (CONAN THE BARBARIAN) (MARVEL) #205 NEWSSTAND Fine CONAN THE KING (KING CONAN #1-19) (1980) #51 NEWSSTAND Fine COSMIC POWERS UNLIMITED (1995) #1 Near Mint/Mint DAREDEVIL (1964) (#1-380) (MAN WITHOUT FEAR) (MARVEL) #290 NEWSSTAND Fine DAREDEVIL (2017) (#595-UP) (MARVEL LEAGCY) #600 AJA Near Mint/Mint DEADPOOL (1994) (#1-4) (MARVEL) #4 DEADPOOL (1994) (#1-4) (MARVEL) #4 Fine DEATH OF WOLVERINE (2014) #1 Fine DEATH OF WOLVERINE (2014) #2 MIDTOWN ED Fine DEATH OF WOLVERINE (2014) #3 MIDTOWN ED Near Mint/Mint DEATH OF WOLVERINE (2014) #4 MIDTOWN ED Near Mint/Mint DECADES: MARVEL IN THE 40'S TPB (2019) #1 Near Mint/Mint DROIDS (STAR WARS) (1986) #6 NEWSSTAND Fine EXCALIBUR (1988) (#1-125) (MARVEL) #71 NEWSSTAND Near Mint/Mint INVADERS (2019) (#1-UP) (MARVEL) #1 SUAYAN Near Mint/Mint LIFE OF CAPTAIN MARVEL TPB (2019) #1 ARTGERM Near Mint/Mint LIFE OF CAPTAIN MARVEL TPB (2019) #1 QUESADA Near Mint/Mint MAN WITHOUT FEAR (2018) #3 ROSS Near Mint/Mint PUNISHER (1987) (#1-104) (MARVEL) #19 NEWSSTAND Very Fine PUNISHER (1987) (#1-104) (MARVEL) #45 NEWSSTAND Very Fine PUNISHER (1987) (#1-104) (MARVEL) #47 NEWSSTAND Fine PUNISHER MEETS ARCHIE: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE #1 DELUXENEWS Fine RETURN OF WOLVERINE (2018) #4 PORTACIO Near Mint/Mint ROBOCOP (1990) (#1-23) (MARVEL) #11 NEWSSTAND Very Fine SILVER SURFER (1987) (#1-146) (MARVEL) #50 NEWSSTAND Good SILVER SURFER ANNUAL (1988) (#1-7) (MARVEL) #1 NEWSSTAND SILVER SURFER ANNUAL (1988) (#1-7) (MARVEL) #1 NEWSSTAND Fine SILVER SURFER ANNUAL (1988) (#1-7) (MARVEL) #3 NEWSSTAND Very Fine SPIDER-MAN (1963) (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) (#1-441) #328 NEWSSTAND Very Good SPIDER-MAN (1963) (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) (#1-441) #345 NEWSSTAND Fine SPIDER-MAN (1990) (#1-74, PETER PARKER SPIDEY #75-98) #4 NEWSSTAND Fine SPIDER-MAN (1990) (#1-74, PETER PARKER SPIDEY #75-98) #19 Near Mint/Mint SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL (1964) #20 NEWSSTAND Very Fine SPIDER-MAN SUPER SPECIAL: PLANET OF THE SYMBIOTES (1995) #1 Near Mint/Mint SPIDER-MAN VS. WOLVERINE (1987) #1 NEWSSTAND Very Fine WEIRDWORLD: WARRIORS OF SHADOW REALM TPB (2015) #1 Very Good DC ACTION COMICS (1938) (#0-600, 643-904) (DC) #593 Very Fine ACTION COMICS (1938) (#0-600, 643-904) (DC) #595 Fine ACTION COMICS (1938) (#0-600, 643-904) (DC) #659 NEWSSTAND Fine ACTION COMICS (1938) (#0-600, 643-904) (DC) #660 NEWSSTAND Fine ACTION COMICS (1938) (#0-600, 643-904) (DC) #663 NEWSSTAND Fine ACTION COMICS (1938) (#0-600, 643-904) (DC) #664 NEWSSTAND Very Fine ACTION COMICS (1938) (#0-600, 643-904) (DC) #665 NEWSSTAND Fine ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (#0,#424-649) (1987) #475 NEWSSTAND Fine ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN ANNUAL (1987) #1 NEWSSTAND Very Fine BATMAN (1940) (#0-713) (DC) #459 NEWSSTAND BATMAN (1940) (#0-713) (DC) #459 NEWSSTAND Very Fine BATMAN (1940) (#0-713) (DC) #460 NEWSSTAND Very Fine BATMAN (1940) (#0-713) (DC) #615 NEWSSTAND Fine BATMAN ADVENTURES (2003) #2 NEWSSTAND Very Good BATMAN: BLACK & WHITE (#1-4) (1996) #2 Very Fine BATMAN: KNIGHTFALL - BROKEN BAT TPB (KNIGHTFALL PART 1) (1993) #1 8TH PRINT Very Good BATMAN: KNIGHTFALL TPB (2012) #2 Fine BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT (2017) #8 Near Mint/Mint DC VS. MARVEL (1996) #1 Very Fine DMZ: ON THE GROUND TPB (VOL. 1) (2006) #1 2ND PRINT (DC: Vertigo Press) Very Good ELVIRA'S HOUSE OF MYSTERY (1986) #11 Near Mint/Mint FLASH: ROGUES - REVERSE FLASH TPB (2019) #1 Near Mint/Mint GREATEST JOKER STORIES EVER TOLD TPB (WARNER) #1 1ST PRINT GREATEST JOKER STORIES EVER TOLD TPB (WARNER) #1 1ST PRINT Very Fine GREEN LANTERN VOL. 3: THE END HC (2013) #1 Very Good SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING TPB (2012) #1 2ND PRINT (DC: Vertigo Press) Fine SECRET ORIGINS (1986) (#1-50) (DC) #14 Very Fine SECRET ORIGINS TPB (1989) #1 Good SUPERGIRL VOL. 5: HUNT FOR REACTRON TPB (2019) #1 Near Mint/Mint WETWORKS TPB (2007) #1 (DC/Wildstorm) Near Mint/Mint DARK HORSE COMICS ALIENS VS. PREDATOR: DEADLIEST OF THE SPECIES (DKH) AVP (1993) #5 Near Mint/Mint ALIENS VS. PREDATOR: DEADLIEST OF THE SPECIES (DKH) AVP (1993) #8 Near Mint/Mint ALIENS VS. PREDATOR: DEADLIEST OF THE SPECIES (DKH) AVP (1993) #9 Very Fine ALIENS VS. PREDATOR: DEADLIEST OF THE SPECIES (DKH) AVP (1993) #10 Near Mint/Mint ALIENS VS. PREDATOR: DEADLIEST OF THE SPECIES (DKH) AVP (1993) #11 Very Fine ALIENS VS. PREDATOR: DEADLIEST OF THE SPECIES (DKH) AVP (1993) #12 Very Fine ALIENS VS. PREDATOR: WAR (DARK HORSE) (AVP) (1995) #0 Near Mint/Mint ALIENS VS. PREDATOR: WAR (DARK HORSE) (AVP) (1995) #3 Near Mint/Mint ALIENS: BERSERKER (DARK HORSE) (1995) #3 Near Mint/Mint CLASSIC STAR WARS: DEVILWORLDS (1996) #1 Very Fine SERENITY: LEAVES ON THE WIND HC (2014) #1 SERENITY: LEAVES ON THE WIND HC (2014) #1 Very Good IMAGE COMICS ANGELA/GLORY: RAGE OF ANGELS (IMAGE) (1996) #1 VARIANT Fine COYOTES (2017) #1 Near Mint/Mint OLD GUARD (2017) #2 B SCOTT Near Mint/Mint WALKING DEAD: THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM TPB (VOL.7) (2007) #1 4TH PRINT Fine INDEPENDENTS ARCHIE AT RIVERDALE HIGH (1972) #21 (Archie Comics) Very Fine ARCHIE GIANT SERIES (1954) #28 (Archie Comics) Good ARCHIE GIANT SERIES (1954) #191 (Archie Comics) Very Good ARCHIE GIANT SERIES (1954) #192 (Archie Comics) Very Good ARCHIE GIANT SERIES (1954) #202 (Archie Comics) Fine BETTY AND ME (1965) #39 (Archie Comics) Fine BETTY AND ME (1965) #40 (Archie Comics) Fine BETTY AND ME (1965) #155 (Archie Comics) Fine FIREFLY (2018) #3 C SAUVAGE (Boom Studios Publishing) Near Mint/Mint FUN-IN (1970) #15 WHITMAN (Gold Key) Very Good KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE: BUNDLE OF TROUBLE #2 2ND PRINT (Kenzer & Company) Fine KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE: BUNDLE OF TROUBLE #3 (Kenzer & Company) Very Fine KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE: BUNDLE OF TROUBLE #4 (Kenzer & Company) Very Fine KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE: BUNDLE OF TROUBLE #5 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE: BUNDLE OF TROUBLE #5 (Kenzer & Company) Fine KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE: BUNDLE OF TROUBLE #6 (Kenzer & Company) Very Good KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE: BUNDLE OF TROUBLE #7 (Kenzer & Company) Fine KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE: BUNDLE OF TROUBLE #7 (Kenzer & Company) Very Good KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE: BUNDLE OF TROUBLE #8 (Kenzer & Company) Fine PEP COMICS (1946) (#56-411) (ARCHIE) #233 (Archie Comics) Very Good PEP COMICS (1946) (#56-411) (ARCHIE) #288 (Archie Comics) Fine PEP COMICS (1946) (#56-411) (ARCHIE) #295 (Archie Comics) Fine REGAL ACADEMY VOL. 1: SCHOOL FOR FAIRY TALES HC (2018) #1 (Papercutz) Near Mint/Mint REGAL ACADEMY VOL. 3: ONE DAY ON EARTH HC (2018) #1 (Papercutz) Near Mint/Mint REGGIE (1950) #18 (Archie Comics) Good REGGIE AND ME (1966) #58 (Archie Comics) Fine REGGIE AND ME (1966) #67 (Archie Comics) Fine SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH (1971) (ARCHIE) (#1-77) #63 (Archie Comics) Fine SOLAR: MAN OF THE ATOM ALPHA & OMEGA TPB #1 SC (Acclaim/Valiant) Near Mint/Mint SONIC SUPER SPECIAL (1997) #11 SONIC SUPER SPECIAL (1997) #11 (Archie Comics) Fine SONIC THE HEDGEHOG-THE SERIES (1993) (#1-290) (ARCHIE) #80 NEWSSTAND (Archie Comics) Fine TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES COLLECTED BOOK GN (1989) #3 (Mirage Studios) Fine TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES COLLECTED BOOK GN (1989) #4 (Mirage Studios) Fine TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES COLLECTED BOOK GN (1989) #5 (Mirage Studios) Fine TURBO JONES: PATHFINDER GN #1 (Fleetway-Quality Comics) Fine Current Newsletter