The Wide World of International Comic Book Collecting
Posted on 3/31/2023
Rob, thank you for taking the time to answer these questions! Some quick words about yourself?
Obsessive collector, 48 years old, family man with two kids. I was born in Norway but have traveled so much I am a world citizen by now! Apart from comics, I have experience in database architecture and the statistical sector. I’m also a fisherman and a movie buff.
I started collecting comics around 7 years old, as my dad kept picking them up at the newsstand. During my teenage years, I took a 12-plus-year break as a professional DJ (vinyl only!). I came back into collecting in the early 2000s to discover CGC had spun the comic world upside-down. Happy, but with that little addictive “collector tic” that most of us have…not diagnosed, but collectors get my point. Thanks for letting me be able to spread the word on this amazing part of the comic hobby!
What are your own personal collecting habits?
My heart is in US Romance and Disney (both US and international). Pretty ironic since I currently spend 90% of my time on superheroes. I also have a soft spot for horror covers, the big Marvel keys and Silver Age DC, of which I own some uber-high-grade runs. And of course, the international keys are always fun!
From the start, Disney was my thing — and still is. I strongly advise people to read all of the Four Color issues by Carl Barks, classics. It gave (and keeps giving) me a huge pleasure reading those. Coming back into the game with money, I first went for a complete CGC uber-high-grade run of Amazing Spider-Man. Discovering that I could never pry out the single-highest ASM #1 CGC 9.8 and being let down on the sole Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC 9.6, I took a sudden turn. I liquidated the Spideys and a lot of horror and Golden Age to pursue my new interest, DC Silver Age keys and, more importantly, romance! The low census numbers of DC romance books appealed to my mathematical side, and their variety of color appealed to my creative side. I also love their endless dramatic covers.
The international aspect was always there; I was quick to pick up cool covers anywhere I could find them at the time. A little-known secret is that the international comic community developed decades after the international Disney community, who did exactly the same thing, focusing on the right cover and/or the right guts.
Why is international comic collecting becoming more and more popular?
Different colors, layout, re-drawing (but you are still aware what book it is), and all sorts of formats from digest to oversized. Different languages and all the fun that comes with that. Countries that do not even exist anymore. I can go on for hours! Variation is an important word. I often wonder how many times a US collector or dealer can look at the same Hulk #181, Spidey #129 or any other key over and over again without getting tired!
What is set collecting and why is that so popular?
A set collector is trying to buy every possible edition worldwide he or she can find. The most common is to only use the covers. Some take it to the extreme and go for guts, reprints, homage, etc. CGC had a good segment on one collector with a massive Spider-Man #1 collection (McFarlane) that was awesome and totally over the top! Typical set books are ASM #50, #129, #300, Hulk #181, Batman #251, Batman Adventures #12, Spawn #1, etc. There is a new trend where some go for semi-keys or non-keys that is uplifting to see. Pictures and videos are especially fun when you can easily compare them side-by-side and see all the differences. They vary from small, almost-invisible things to totally redrawn covers where you can struggle to see what cover it really is.
Why is it common that international books have more than one US comic inside?
There are two main reasons for this. First, the comics were often printed with more pages compared to US releases. Second, there were few or no ad pages, which freed up more pages to print stories on. The most extreme examples found are in Australia, where their 100-plus-page comics easily fit in 8 or 9 US books!
What do we know about international print runs?
It is complicated in most countries. But there are factors you can use to get a rough estimation:
- How many people lived there during the print runs?
- How was the comic culture?
- How was the economy?
- How was the collecting culture?
- Was the genre popular? It’s important to remember that most of Europe was driven by Disney and their own comic books, not superheroes. Combine this information with how often you see them for sale, plus useful information from local dealers. Then, you end up with at least an educated guess or a rough estimation. I understand this reply may be too vague for many collectors, but international print runs are difficult to estimate. Even after all these years I still see discussions on US print runs, so it’s clear there’s much more to learn about international print runs.
Is it common for an international comic cover to not match the story inside?
It is less common than many think. The reason collectors think it is common is because some of the most popular international books like the Italian Amazing Fantasy #15, South African Fantastic Four #1, Lebanese Incredible Hulk #1 and Greek ASM #129 don’t contain the original story. The CGC label will disclose if the story is present or not.
What is your experience with the international collecting community in general?
In general, the community consists of very open-minded, kind and helpful individuals. Friendships are made daily, and people don’t only talk about comics. It gives you an opportunity to learn about other cultures apart from the books. I hold the international comic community in high regard. Many of the old-timers have a ton of information that is fascinating.
Why are international comics often compared to Pulps?
I’ve had this conversation many times and I agree, at least partly. The similarities are many:
- A niche market that is growing quickly.
- In general, the grades are low.
- Extremely cool covers but the interiors are often black and white.
- Not exposed to the public to the extent that US comics are.
- Harder to find information and price indications.
What can you say in general about condition and grade of international comics?
Obviously, there are variations from country to country, but in general the grades are considerably lower than US comics. There are several reasons for this. Climate plays a big role especially in South America and Asia. There is also the collecting culture and preservation that started way earlier in the US.
Can you explain the dynamic of a US comic that has been released several places in the world?
The best example is the one that CGC has graded the most: Amazing Spider-Man #300. It has about 15-25 international editions, depending on if you include the recent releases. The big boy here is the Philippines edition, which is quite scarce and extremely popular. There are sales of mid-grade raw copies going for $5,000 and a CGC 2.0 recently sold for $3,000. The Italian edition (black cover) is the most popular. That book is common but hard to find in high grade due to scuffing and the black cover. Spain, Sweden, France and Mexico are considered fairly easy to find. Finland and Norway are getting harder but still some are out there.
Do some international editions have a better cover than their American counterpart?
There are a lot of opinions on this, but a clear candidate here is the Werewolf by Night #1 from Spain that was redrawn. Another example, also Spanish, is the first release of Incredible Hulk #181. There are many more but it’s a hard question as there are so many different opinions on the subject. It comes down to what you collect and how you “read” the art.
Rarity plays a big role in the US market. Is that true for international editions as well?
Yes. Rarity plays a big role when it comes to pricing. It explains why the ASM #300 Philippines I mentioned earlier goes for multiples of what the US edition sells for in similar grade. Other examples are the South African Fantastic Four #1 and several comics from Argentina and Colombia. The ’60s Marvel #1 issues from Mexico are rarer than people are aware of and are bound to get some solid price bumps.
Is restoration common on international comics?
I can happily confirm it is less common than what was feared some years ago. Two countries in which restored copies often surface are Golden Age comics from Brazil and, to a lesser degree, Italy. But in general, this is not a big problem and CGC is there to give security to the buyer.
Can you say something about the paper quality of international editions?
There are too many countries to give an in-depth reply; the short answer is there is extreme variation. Mexican La Prensa paper is considered better than US paper. Other countries often used cheaper paper that feels like newspaper. Climate is another factor; hot or humid areas of the world more often result in lower page quality.
Are international comics “anti-American”?
NO! It is an homage, hymn and respect to the American artists, so it is the complete opposite. Two examples of countries that ignored US comics (until recently) despite a massive population are China and Russia. Countries who have printed US origin material were, and still are, inspired by US popular culture.
Can you summarize those international countries to watch out for when collecting?
Besides English-speaking countries, the biggest in terms of both published books and US interest are:
- Brazil: The king of international Golden Age releases. They lagged a bit on the Silver Age overall, but they have a lot of interesting books in all genres.
- Mexico: The winner in Silver Age! Apart from Hulk, they did all the 1960s releases very close to the US releases and did all the important titles. They covered most of DC as well. Like Brazil, there is a lot of Horror, Disney and other various interesting books.
- Italy: Most likely the biggest publisher in Europe. There are Golden Age books here and there, and many Marvel runs from Corno starting in 1970. On top of US editions, they also produced a lot of Disney/Western/Horror and their own comics.
- Spain/France/Germany: Many releases among these countries as well. Spain and France started a bit earlier with more variety, but Germany is most known for their epic ’70s Marvel runs.
One of the smaller countries of interest is Norway. It is like the other Scandinavian countries, but in 1968 they released Spidey/Hulk/FF/Daredevil that has steadily grown in price and popularity. I predict these to blow up in the coming months and years.
Is it common to find accumulations of file copies of international comics?
It is not! There are some nice sets that have a good status in the market but most publishers either didn’t keep them or they are lost to history. What is normally found are single copy runs that have been studied and used, so it seems unlikely that something like the EC Gaines File Copies would turn up.
How has the CGC international labeling approach affected the market and collectors?
CGC has affected the market in a positive way. In the US, there is no question during sales and trades regarding grade, restoration or incomplete books. Also, many collectors like to have their personal favorites slabbed for preservation and presentation. Some collectors still prefer to have them raw so they can read and study the books, but most will slab them when it is time to sell.
What surprised many collectors is how CGC holders make the books even cooler. Some of the covers just pop out of the slab! Especially blue covers that match the blue CGC Universal label.
Is the focus of collecting international comics mostly driven by key issues?
Yes. It’s the same trend you see in the US where more collectors focus on keys and less on full runs. I’m not sure this will change over time, but I do think interest will spread into Horror, Disney, Romance and more “non-superhero” books, as there are so many cool books around the world!
Are important vintage books still surfacing that were previously unknown?
There are! All the time. Anything from horror to Marvel still surface. Even Disney comics, which have been heavily researched. Recently a Hulk #1 from Lebanon (1965) was found that was previously unknown. There are also semi-keys and “guts only” issues popping up from time to time. I believe hunting for the unknown adds to the excitement of collecting internationals and drives many international collectors. What else can I find? What is this?
Where are sales of international comics taking place?
It used to be more niche-driven with Facebook and eBay, but has now spread, and can be found in most places where US comics are sold. Even the bigger auction houses are starting to list them with great enthusiasm. It is obvious that social media affords the opportunity to showcase all the cool differences that will only make them more and more popular.
What is the sales record for an international comic, and will it be beaten?
There are a lot of strong sales for each country that may appear irrelevant to US collectors, given the high prices paid for US comics. But focusing on internationals sales from a US perspective:
- Mexican Non-Canon Spidey #128 (Gwen and Peter Parker wedding cover), CGC 6.5: $35,000
- Mexican Fantastic Four #5 1963 (1st Doctor Doom), CGC 8.0: $10,200
I have conducted sales and trades in the lower five digits that I cannot disclose here without the buyers’ consent. There are also many private trades done elsewhere that surpassed $10,000.
Between $1,000 and $10,000, there are a lot of examples, almost endless. The usual Marvel suspects are there, and horror from Brazil and Mexico as well. Copies of Amazing Spider-Man #300 often sell for over $1,000. You also have Star Wars #1, DC keys and other high-grade copies that are not easy to find.
An international comic has yet to break the $100,000 barrier. I vividly remember that this was an issue for US comics to break the $1 million mark, and when it did, the market was firing on all cylinders! I believe that 2023 will witness the $100,000 barrier being broken with the right book, in high grade, to the right collector. My wild guess is a high-grade Marvel uber key from the ’60s.
How do local collectors react when so many books are selling to the US or other countries?
Tricky question. The best reply is “all over the place”. Some are proud and happy that their books are appreciated worldwide while others may feel as if they are losing their heritage. Local collectors on a budget often get frustrated as prices on some issues have risen sharply over the last couple years. This is a similar phenomenon to what we’ve seen in the pulp market recently.
What is the biggest challenge to further commercialize the international market?
Education and a price guide! Many potential buyers are uncertain about value because of grade and rarity. Let me give you a perfect example: The Mexican Batman #171 (1st Riddler) is tricky to find in any grade. And if you find it, it will likely be in bad shape like most DC Silver Age from Mexico. So, my CGC 8.0 copy (with poster intact) has a good chance of topping the census for a long time, and possibly forever. From a US collector’s standpoint, it currently seems counterintuitive to buy this book for the same or more than the US counterpart in the same grade.
I hope education can help solve this so fair prices are established for both sellers and buyers. The strong focus on ASM #300 and my example of Philippines versions selling for multiples over the US versions show that education/information helps, and a lot of collectors will be interested in buying international comics once they understand the combination of rarity and grade for each book.
What advice would you give to a collector that is considering buying international books?
Have fun! Focus on the characters you like and buy books you love. Do at least some research before buying, like checking eBay and other marketplaces. You can even PM me on my Instagram account. Build a set or two of your favorite covers as it will give you huge pleasure, and it is fun to show to friends and family. If you are on a tight budget, go for cheaper books.
What advice would you give to speculators who look at this as an investment?
Leave us alone! Just kidding. My best advice from pure speculation is to buy CGC Universal label keys in high grade, keeping in mind that grade is relative from country to country. Since the certified market is young, the timing is perfect.
What is your forecast for international comics in five years?
I do not have a crystal ball, and with all the turbulence during the last three years (Covid, war, inflation, etc.), it is harder to estimate. But if we remove those variables, this is my take:
- As education and interest spread, values will rise.
- Apart from some extremely rare books and some mid-to-low-grade bronze/copper/modern age, the difference in value between international and US comics is still substantial. Over time this should stabilize, and international comics will creep closer to US value, much like the UK Pence copies have done in recent years.
- The CGC Census will reveal that international books are trickier in high grade and their true rarity will become clearer.
With that said, let me stress that some books will never reach their US equivalent in value, or even close. But when the bigger keys are fetching only 3 to 30% of US value as they do today, this will simply not last.
Is there a price guide for international comics?
You can find several national price guides, but they are often outdated and in general do not take into account the “pressure” on what is considered key. The currency can be confusing, and the grading scales are often different from the US standard. It is fun to browse through them as they have some historical relevance, but in 2023 they are practically useless in terms of values.
Is it true you are working on a price guide from a US standpoint?
That is correct! I have already solved advanced architecture to make sure it is dynamic and responds to sales in a fair and effective way. It is still endless hours of work, but it is a high priority as the market needs it. It will be different than the Overstreet, but the reader will learn a lot about the rarity, general grade and value of thousands of the most popular books.
Give our readers one last reason to buy internationals comic books!
I will give you six! Like they say in real estate, “location, location, location.” But here we use “rarity, rarity, rarity”:
- The last six months are probably the first time in my life I have seen big Marvel keys drop in value! But Golden Age, Horror and even modern variants are holding up, and most are still rising! Rarity.
- If you are not familiar with Canadian/Australian price variants, check the high prices! Rarity.
- Pulps. Again, the rare ones are rising.
- UK Pence copies: In the past they sold lower than US versions, but now many sell for more. And the differences on ultra-keys are evening out. Rarity.
- US Newsstand: Another perfect example as the later ones had a lower run and demand higher price.
- The beloved Star Wars 35 cent price variant! Why is it so much more expensive? Rarity.
Ultimately the combination of rarity and lower grade can make it tricky even for experienced collectors. An international CGC 8.0 can be as tricky as a 1960s US CGC 9.8. Grade is relative, and the US Census logic simply does not apply to most international editions from the 20th century.
Thanks a lot for your time, Rob! How can our readers reach out to you?
My website is currently under construction (www.comickeys365.com), so right now the best would be Instagram @ForeignComicKeys or email comickeys365@gmail.com. Thank you again for the opportunity to discuss international comics!
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