Collected since 1978 but recently returned to the hobby to discover a zillion cover variants for every issue! This same garbage killed the collectible card industry in the late 80's. The biggest problem is sheer exhaustion financially and emotionally. Lots of You tube channels play into this crap by showing all these books that just came out being sent into CGC because they will be worth millions!! RIDICULOUS. I think it is so sad that for many people this hobby has become a cover art speculator sport which has nothing to do with the story, characters, etc. If you just want to collect 'covers' then become an art collector. DC and Marvel should release actual art prints numbered and signed instead of all these variant comics. 'Nuff Said.

@Wombatzu

6 жыл бұрын

I've recently returned as well but am mostly interested in collecting Silver and Bronze Age. Current comics hold little to no appeal for me and the variant snake oil looks like a dwindling industry trying to sell the same product more than once to a shrinking customer base. I've seen the same thing with collectible coins.

@FloridaExpunge

6 жыл бұрын

100% agree. The sad thing is people are spending a fortune on all these variants without the past experiences of knowing where this leads. In contrast I think the 'extra' art work is great and should be sold as limited edition signed lithographs.

@nope5023

6 жыл бұрын

I think most people buying variant comics now days actually like comics though, from what I heard a lot of people were using comics as an actual investment in that time

@speeknoevil1803

5 жыл бұрын

Jack Schrold You are so right. Variants, gimmick covers & Todd McFarlane killed the industry faster than a kryptonite bullet.

@robertt9342

5 жыл бұрын

Jack Schrold . I say this a lot, there very much is a pyramid scheme aspect to to those variant collectors. It's interesting to see/hear longtime collectors get sucked into the variant cover chase looking for a big score. Realistically, as you stated, I think the real things that threaten to kill the comic industry is the fans/collectors that actually purchase the variants.

read your comics!!!!!!!

@mikepatton5202

4 жыл бұрын

Nope. Only interested in the art.

Way too many variants. Personally it's overwhelming to the point I refuse to buy any. They should just do no more than 3 variants per book.

@jaydeenudistgaming

4 жыл бұрын

Unless it's a special issue (like an issue 1 or the return of a beloved character), then one or two more is fine.

Wow after reading one of the comments below I went to clz comics app and saw that there are 60 covers for ASM 800!!! That is insane and over kill.

I usually get the one I like the most. Variant or not. Great video

@sebastianvalentin3366

2 жыл бұрын

I know Im randomly asking but does someone know of a method to get back into an Instagram account..? I somehow forgot the account password. I would love any help you can give me.

@matthiasalonso837

2 жыл бұрын

@Sebastian Valentin instablaster =)

@sebastianvalentin3366

2 жыл бұрын

@Matthias Alonso i really appreciate your reply. I found the site on google and Im in the hacking process atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

@sebastianvalentin3366

2 жыл бұрын

@Matthias Alonso It did the trick and I now got access to my account again. Im so happy:D Thank you so much you saved my account :D

@matthiasalonso837

2 жыл бұрын

@Sebastian Valentin you are welcome xD

Variants in comics kind of reminds me of microtransactions in video games 😆 great vid 👍👍

Variants will eventually kill the comic market. I drank the kool aid in the early days...but now there are 5, 10, 15 variants for single issues. Screw that. I've sold ALL of my variants, and almost all of my modern books lately. Only investing in gold & silver at this point.

@JammanTV

6 жыл бұрын

Most issues dont have that amount, however they do it now and again for key issues, like ASM 800 and its absurd how many there were for that, totally over the top.

@RickDod3

6 жыл бұрын

They have multiple artists draw multiple covers and print them all with the same inside pages.

@RickDod3

6 жыл бұрын

Over saturation of the same book. Its explained pretty well in this video. Basically, with that many variants of a single book its off-putting for a completionist like myself. Why would anyone in their right mind want to purchase 50+ copies of the new Fantastic Four 1? Its going to end up just pissing everyone off until they all stop buying.

@Stephen09479

5 жыл бұрын

Well put mate! I'm sticking to older books too!

@zoso73

5 жыл бұрын

I only purchase Comics published before 1986, and really focus on pre-1975 Comics. Anything published in the 1990s through today is utterly overpriced.

I like variants, but only the way DC does it, organized and practical.

Love this episode already and I just started watching it. Variants drive me crazy, personally there are just so many of them and I cant keep track. And for the Comic shops I hate hate hate the hoops they have to go through to get them. And then they are stuck with all the regular copies they had to buy to get that One variant. Its not good for the shops and im to old to keep track of all of them.

@fireguyryan9362

6 жыл бұрын

Buellerrrrrr! Good to see ya here, breddah 👀

@MythAtNight

5 жыл бұрын

As a store owner, thank you so much for pointing this out!

Tom and Russ...thanks so much for saying this. I started watching you guys a few months ago and am still going back and watching old videos and this really spoke to me. I collected in the early ‘90s when I turned 18 and had a job finally so that I could actually afford to buy them. Stoped around ‘99, then last year started looking at my old collection and missing the reading and collecting old storylines...so started picking issues up again. Thank you so much for saying that reading them is still more important than just slabbing them and looking at a pretty cover.

I have no problem at all with variants. A lot of my favourite covers and favourite comics that I own are variants.

do retail variants vs store variants

Love getting my comics, been collecting for 44 years to read them. Buy the odd one to speculate and the odd variant cover but the number one rule is enjoy them. Great video

I love variant covers. It gives us more of a choice, I love picking out what cover I think is cooler. Makes Wednesday's a bit more fun

YES variants are so stupid Like if I have a first appearance of something but it is not the Jason Scott Campbell variant it’s not popular or Doesn’t hold any value I’m not into comics for reselling but you get my point or those damn 1:10 1:25 1:50 etc variants it’s ridiculous

Great episode as usual! Keep it up. Also I dislike how many variants there are myself, but the covers are amazing on a lot of them. Just tough to keep up with.

Do a variant of this video with each of you switching places.

@fireguyryan9362

6 жыл бұрын

Richard Nevarez 👏👏😆

I'm not a variant fan unless they highlight spectacular artwork. The Art Germ virgin cover for Lady Thor's "death" is a great piece of art and a worthy variant for sure. Sadly, most variants aren't on that level for me.

@MillGeekComics

6 жыл бұрын

johntjameson and the great thing about that variant was it it was open to order and anyone that wants it can get it. No one had to buy 50 copies and lose out on selling 47 copies or spend over $100 resale. It's an amazing artist and a great book at a great price. If more were like this I think variance would be less frustrating...

Awesome video guys I watched from start to finish, You guys had my attention all the way through. It's funny I just came to a cross roads on this Variant issue Do I buy or not anymore. You guys cleared somethings up for me. IMO If I have to pay more for a variant books cover with the same pages inside ...The Cover better look F'ing AMAZING!

great vid keep up the good work

WOW! Autoplay brought me here after the latest Top 10. Crazy the production upgrades you guys have made with set position, mics, removing Russ' stash.

@fireguyryan9362

5 жыл бұрын

I'm here today retro-tripping too, it's crazy. I can't keep my eyes off the phone/camera that filmed Russ/myself, right next to Tom's face.

I think this must be one of your best episodes. Variants have always haunted me. I have been collecting comics for 30 years. I do like variants, don't get me wrong, but when there are more then 3 variants (this is including the original cover) then it can get over whelming and not to mention very expensive. You are paying for the cover and not a different story. Now I will splurge on an awesome variant and I wouldn't turn back but I do that every 4-6 years so it is very rare for me. Good show guys!!! Keep up with the great content.

Awesome content!! Yeah variants can be overwhelming... that's why I usually buy 1 copy and that's it ... and only things I enjoy reading

New to the channel - well done guys! I’m relatively new to comics and I think anything that draws attention (no pun intended) to the art/hobby is, generally speaking, a good thing.

I just saw this and I agree!!! So frustrated with all the variants. Thanks for doing this vid

Variant Hater here too!!!! I'm more story and inside art driven!!

Awesome vid and great topic to hit. I back into comics about 5-6yrs ago and i was blown away on how big and crazy it has gotten since i was a kid. I have to say that I do like the variants just because some are awesome art work from awesome artists. But to be honest I mainly get the Reg covers or if i do get a variant i usually just get the variant. It just gets to expensive. Especially if you get a comic with a $5.99 or even $9.99 cover price on it. So for me cause i only get the comics that i Love to read I usually just get what i can afford and what i like. if a Cover A looks better than Cover B or vise versa, then im getting what i really want

I agree with Russ. I collect variants that I liked the cover art of, like the marvel lenticular covers. I don't necessarily have a favorite artist and I don't play the speculation game with variants. I readily admit I have Skottie Young "variant fatigue" ever since I've first started seeing his covers. I don't agree with tier variants but it's a way for marvel to sell more books. Most of the variants I have in my collection came from second hand shops like HPB and vintage stock.

Awesome discussion!!

I usually only buy them to re-sell (I'm part of the problem), but 1 in 4 I buy because I love the art or I want to have a complete run w/ all the variants. However, I do appreciate how DC Comics is doing their variants. As far as exclusives... If no one was buying them, no one would be selling them. Starting to feel that fatigue though.

Great episode. I agree these variants may do to the comic industry what happened in the 90s. The baseball card market got wiped clean by upper deck,bowman,and fleer. I still collect newer stuff and some variants but it's getting scary how many are being thrown out there.

Great shirt Russ!

You guys are AWESOME 👏

I only collect variant covers because of the awesome beauty...🤘🏼💯✔️ Variant covers have all the beauty, and possess all the awesomeness...👍🏼

This was a awesome video! I used to try and not get any variants I would only get the main cover but slowly I’d see a cool cover and grab it and then I saw how the value of variants would shoot up and price and I felt like I had to buy most of them it’s annoying

I had a comics shop in the 90s. Recently, I've started buying again, and now it seems I'm drawn in to the variants. I love the exceptional artistic covers. (But I do hope I can recoup the investment at some point).

Do a "mythbuster" about variants covers

I did like the way Batman 50 did its varient. They had the 4 main covers and the 1/100 sketch but also allowed stores to get their own books too. Not sure how many stores had to by, but at least it was the option of the store to do it.

@MillGeekComics

6 жыл бұрын

Edward Gundrum normally when stores can get a variant they need to order 500 to a thousand (or more) which is why it's TFAW, Midtown, Fried Pie, etc... Bigger ones (but watch for the #Comictom101 walking dead day variant coming in October--you heard it here first!)

I buy much more DC than Marvel, but I usually pick up the variant (not the main cover) because the art usually appeals to me more. I look at it this way...my favorite artist of all time is Mike Grell. He still works in comics, but it’s usually variant covers for Green Arrow or Batman. I’ll do anything to support him staying active.

Great video. I went thru the “must buy this because it may be worth something” phase just like most folks. Now I buy because of artist/writer appreciation. I wish there was a way to order variants from our favorite artists directly so as to avoid forced incentive or percentage buying on brick and mortar stores. I’d love to buy variants directly from artists or studios, but even site-specific variants are charging $15-$50 a book, so everyone in the Variant game is trying to get a piece of that pie, trying to get what they think they’re worth or owed.

A great vlog on an important topic! Yes, I miss the old days of one issue (or one variant, at most).. Variants like 1:50, 1:100., 50 different covers, etc. seem to be made for investors who want to make a “quick buck” and is not a reader of the book or even cares about the book. Unfortunately, many of us are guilty of pursing those variants.- if there is no demand, there would be no supply.

I know I am super late to this one. But I just listened to this, and it was fantastic and just the information I was looking for. The one other topic I was wondering about was artist variants. I am still trying to get my mind around how those work. Lots of them are much more expensive, but some are really cool! Will they really hold their value over the long term? Thanks and love the show!

I got back into comics back in 2016 for DC Rebirth. I initially collected only Regular A covers cause they were for US cover price (I'm in Canada so that's a big deal) and stayed away from the variant B covers cause the store would up the price by $1-$2 dollars depending on the artist. But recently I discovered a smaller LCS who charges $1 more for all books with a 15% subscription discount. So I started getting some of the DC variant B covers like Flash, Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Batman to name a few and for some I'd get both covers. So I'm ok with a regular and a variant cover IF there is no additional charge to the store owner. As a comic book reader, I enjoy the story first, the art second and the cover third.

Great Episode.

Variants from the likes of Dell’Otto turned me from a casual comic book collector, into a die hard.

Started collecting in the early 90s getting back into it and I have to say I believe one variant cover maybe two. I just looked at one comic 5 variant covers, it makes you crazy..

I’m late as hell only been collecting for about a year but I’m felling this already

I make sure to read and appreciate all of the books in my collection, but I am so OCD about keeping a crisp collection. So I will make it a point to read the books/series that I am interested in online and then have the floppy in my actual collection. You are absolutely right though, you should read and appreciate and understand the books themselves that are in your collection.

Speaking of variants for myself, I do like the themed variants that Marvel does often and that D.C. did with the New 52 (i.e. the Loony Tunes, Selfies, Movie Posters, etc., etc.)

Once again, awesome topic 👍. Midtown comics is one of my lcs so the variant fatigue can be REAL. I'm always a fan of variants that pay homage to classic covers. Not a fan of Fried Pie variants 🤢

Love the blackest night shirt

I love the virgin variants. Not a big fan of $100 mark-ups, but they’re beautiful and fun to collect. Good for the hobby if you asked me. Keeps things fun and fresh

I started collecting and read them. My collection grew so large that I couldn’t read them all. Now I collect for art and character. When variants were new I became a variant collector. I stayed away from the bigger titles and started focusing on independent titles. My collection is just over 50 long boxes. I stopped last year completely. I started back up 3 weeks ago. I still like variants. It’s one of the main reasons I buy comics. I started in the 80’s. My collection consists of late 70’s up to current. 😎👍

buy trades...a lot of them have the variant covers in there anyway. My route is...I get the current comics in TPBs (there is a lot of cool content being produced) and I colect silver/bronze and gold in singles.

Great Vid!

I like the DC variants and I almost Always begrudgingly buy comics. Ha

i dont dislike variant covers, i just try really hard to buy the one i like the best. I usually go for my favorite artists cover, or the art itself, even if it isn't the most popular. I went to buy spider-man 800 ramos variant and i asked my lcs if they had a copy..they asked why i wanted that one because it was not as desired as some of the others. I do agree with the market being flooded with them, the recent ironman #1 had like 20 different variants that were literally the same cover just with a different suit.

I prefer trades, Absolutes and omnibus. I like singles but just to display my favorites covers mostly.

When I started in comics back in the early 2000's, I considered myself a completionist. At the time, it wasn't too hard to complete a asm set because there were very little variants. The only time you had variants was when the series launched or for some type of milestone. Now there variants for every issues and don't talk milestones because you could have up to 50 now. Plain and simple buy what you want.

I guess I don't mind variants, or I should say the one I really enjoy because I think the quality warrants it. Though at times I think variants dilute the market with excessive covers. Honestly it reminds me of the baseball card market with how many multiple inserts were created and completing a full set was nearly impossible.

I have the variant with Spawn stealing the Prowlers costume. Classic.

I don't collect new comics, but do watch many videos of weekly pick-ups by different people and they mention so many variants of everything they get. It seems like a money-grab by the publishers and I've read what retailers have to do to get these variants. It doesn't seem like something I'd like to have to go through as a business owner. To me, I'm getting the same feel I did in the early-90's. Besides the constant relaunches, cartoony art and horrible writing, the variant covers are just another reason to eschew the new comics. Sticking to the SA and BA stuff. Great video guys as always.

@edpearl299

6 жыл бұрын

I'm mainly speaking about Marvel when I talk about the negative qualities.

I always try to buy the variant that I like the most of one issue buying every cover is too costly imo. I use the previews guide and pick the variant I want if I can,if not I just gamble and hope I find a good one at the shop that day its released.i refuse to pay more than cover for a variant unless it's really awesome like the ASM 800 variant by Gabrielle dell otto, for example.

I pick the variant I want because I appreciate the art and also appreciate the story. Love Donny Cates writing and I wish he was doing Amazing Spider-Man

Overpriced store exclusives and unrelated qualifier variants by the publishers need to go. Order all you want, incentives and moderately price (14.99 or under) stores variants without three or four of essentially the same are ok with me.

I like the DC variant choice that I see each month. I can choose either the regular cover or the variant that almost always has an extremely beautiful work of art style cover from some very talented artist in various art media. The 30 or more multiple variants are a bit too much but I understand this helps the LOC's financially. I don't hate them but they can be overkill in many cases.

I love variants if it deserves a second look by breaking my neck but I still get another copy because I'll read that one while I make the other a show piece

I only search out variants if the artwork is on another level. Otherwise i'm just buying whatever cover is on the shelf. If there's multiple I choose the one I like best

Only floppies I currently buy are variants more as pieces of art to show off (virgins and new dc minimal text). Without variants I would just be sticking to collected editions. But even I am annoyed with the amount of variants Marvel pushes for some issues lately. I find myself buying more DC variants because they are sitll regular price or close to it and can look amazing.

Enjoyed this and I can't believe how ma y variants there is, it needs to go back to how it was n it's impossible to keep up nor would I want too lol I see a cover that Intrigues me and I buy that a all it takes for me, art cover lover here!!! 😆😆❤❤ I do my best to read them of course! Keep it up guys appreciate the hard work U guys do ❤🤙🏼🌺

@courtneyscott4397

5 жыл бұрын

Variants are cool. Look at the DC batmans and deathstroke lately. They are so nice and going to be valuable. Batman 56 variant i brought is at $85 now

Just subs..... great video! I like variant covers for the art just hate that there can be to many! Plus it seems to make certain people grab them all & we miss out on some & then the prices go up WTF hate that!!

Love variants, I pick up the ones I want, but I do see how hard this on retailers and I do feel bad about that.

Comics With Ya Boi Zack talked about this too. How do comic shops keep up? I as a collector have had my desire to collect diminished due to the excess. I miss the 1-3 variant days.

Variants are fine when it's big issues, like ASM 800, Action comics 1000, but for every issues it's just ridiculous. They should strive to make some solid covers like back in the day and no one would WANT a variant for a comic (unless a specific artist is doing one). I collect for the art inside and outside the book, including the story. If people want to collect money, well I don't believe there's anything wrong with that, I mean it's their choice, but they're missing out!

question, 2nd, 3rd 4th printings are also considered as variants right? is that another gimmick to milk money from customers? also ratio variants, so for example, a 1:25 variant would be less rare than a 1:100 variant right?

I like some variants, (Star Wars Action Figure by JTC) and a few others but I agree that the more difficult ones to get are BS for both the customer and the shops it just cost every one more money and makes every crazy.

99% of the time I don't care about variants, but every once in awhile I'll see a one with really cool artwork and then I'll want to get it. The most frustrating thing about variants to me is that there doesn't seem to be an easy way to keep track of them all. Also, I had no idea Marvel is planning on releasing that many variants for FF...that's just ridiculous.

@brentons9545

6 жыл бұрын

Julia Alvarado if you use the app clz comics to keep track of your collection they do a fair job of showing all variants available.

@bieber104

6 жыл бұрын

Brenton S ok thank you! I’ll definitely check that out

I like variants, it's like getting a print of your favourite character the only thing I 'hate' is not having money or room for all of the Batman Who Laughs/Harley/Joker variants out there. DC has been doing 1:X variants since the 2000s, and remember that thye started the 'intentional' variant thing with Byrne's Man of Steel #1

I only buy variant cover if it is drawn by my favorite comic book artist or if it is an awesome art.

I'm new to variants, but I have been collecting a slew of them. Mostly Marvel's Cable comic books because he's my favorite character. I don't particularly care for virgin variants. I just go for comic covers that speak to me, variant or not. Of course, by that point, I have already read them because the characters and stories matter more to me.

I like some variants, but when they release 10+ for single issues its ridiculous, even if it is an ASM 800 or the like. Im not a massive DC fan but their cover B variants are constantly good, I generally buy them instead of the A Covers.

If you just buy comic books to read them, there's no reason to pay any attention to variants. Just buy the regular cover (which variants do not make it harder to get), enjoy it, move on. If you really like a particular variant cover, buy it. If it's too difficult to find/get, oh well. That's just how collecting works. Variants are for collectors (not just folks who want to read and enjoy). And that's okay. I collect variants when the cover art is amazing (and the most beautiful covers I have are variants - no two ways about it). If you don't like variants, just don't buy them. Their existence doesn't make it more difficult to enjoy the origin story of Cosmic Ghost Rider. The real fatigue here is for the variant collectors who have to wade through a huge number of variants each month and figure how best to get them.

Mostly Late but idk. I only buy Variants when: 1. I can’t find the regular covers or 2. I hate the regular cover. The first variant I bought was Rise of Kylo Ren #1 and it was because I couldn’t find the regular cover. The second and most recent was Revenge of the Cosmic Ghost Rider #2 because I hated the regular cover. I don’t usually buy variants but when I do, it’s a special occasion.

I agree, about having way too many variants. It almost seems like it's getting to the point where baseball cards did 20 plus years ago. Too many Brands, too many chase cars, too much variety, to the point that is all overwhelming and can definitely burn people out. Took a long time for the industry to reset. I hope that's not what we're facing in comic books too.

I LOVE VIRGIN VARIANTS! I dont know why some issues get 20 variants and why some get none but I have no problem with it. Don't bother me if they wanna make 50 variants bcuz I just buy the ones I like. I buy most comics based on the cover anyway, only certain keys do I buy if the cover isnt crazy. BOOM Studios is killing it with stuff like SIKTC and Image with DOT. SOUND ADVICE, I always say, dont get into comics to make money, do it bcuz u love it, just ask ANY LCS owner😉

I'm fine with variants, but I only see it as choosing the cover that I like the best. I collect comics to read them, and getting to choose what I think is the best cover is nice. It sounds like Marvel has way too many (I didn't know, I mostly just read DC). Secret variants sound fun. So I like variants, but I don't care too much about them, and I feel like there should very limited number of different variations.

🤩 sweet !

Very informative concerning variants. Personally I love the option of selecting different covers especially if the content and artwork is fantastic! Bottom line however, I hope Marvel and DC don’t get overly carry a way with this. Collecting new releases should be fun not cause financial stress.

Variants are the reason why I'm only collecting the old stuff. I have a few variants but not many.

I’m on the fence about variants. I enjoy collecting covers based on specific artist, and organize my collection that way, but I’m not huge on the tier variants being over 100 $ because it a 1/100

Variants seem to be more of a way for manuf./retailers to take advantage and make a quick $ short term than anything. However, I just don't see variants holding their value long term. Like anything else, there will be a few exceptions to the rule, but way too many way to fast, and only seem to only continue to increase in number vs. value. I feel in the long run you'll end up spending way to many $$$ overall to\\in an attempt to get and hold those few that MAY actually hold and/or incr. in value. I put variants in the "gimmick" column more than any other. Long term I can see 1st appearances and 1st prints holding their overall value more vs. variants.

I fucking love variant covers. Because not only are ya buying a good story, but buying works of art.

This is more relevant than ever

Teen titans #20 comes out first full appearance of Lobo’s daughter 3 different covers but the white one with her on it becomes the most valuable. The book came out this past Wednesday and it’s already selling for 40.00 so if I can’t get my hands on that what’s the use of buying any of the other variants???? It just makes the other variants worthless.

Getting back into my collection after 12 years and I'm noticing how this variant problem is a potential issue. I've decided that I favor a few artists and will stick to those I love. If it doesn't mean anything personally to me I'm not gonna waste money on it.

I have a virgin variant of return of wolverine I bought at coverprice now it's at 159.95 I think I should keep it js

.. and not only are the 1st appearances are the way to go long term.. Star Wars.. so fewer printed than most ongoing series the last 20 years. And that franchise will never die.. hell after the last three movies that fan base is still ridiculously strong.. stood the test, and will stand strong forever.

I personally like about 1 out of 100 variants but I sell a ton of them at my shop down here in TX. I try to keep my prices reasonable though so maybe that's why? But man, I'm OVER IT.

Speaking of buying what you like...that's a reason why some books in a 9.8 will go for big money only once or twice and not consistently...or a random book goes for 20 bucks more over market...people buy what they like...and the factor of only seeing one copy on the net can influence price. I own a Tomb of Dracula 10 in a 9.8 white pages...I did pay good money for it, but I buy what I like. I'll pay extra for something I really want in my collection.

For me, variants depend. Sometimes I love the art much more than regular covers, but sucks because of how hard it is to find and expensive. Otherwise, i'm loving the virgin covers from DC right now :)