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Marvel Newsstand and Direct Percentage Print Runs

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  • Mr.Grimm | Male | 57 years old | British Columbia, Canada

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Newsstand Vs. Direct Sales (Marvel)

Year % Newsstand - %Direct Market

1979..........94%............6%

1980..........90%............10%

1981..........85%............15%

1982..........80%............20%

1983...........72%...........28%

1984...........64%...........36%

1985...........57%...........43%

1986...........50%...........50%

1987...........41%...........59%

1988...........32%...........68%

1989...........23%...........77%

1990...........15%...........85%

1991...........14%...........86%

1992...........13%...........87%

1993...........12%...........88%

1994...........11%...........89%

1995...........10%...........90%

2000............5%...........95%

2005............2%...........98%

2013............1%...........99%

This clearly shows a huge shift of Marvel sales over to comics shops.

These actual statistics understate the degree of scarcity of newsstand editions in the current back issue market, as they do not take into account survivability and damage.

To explain this in more detail, we have found that VF (8.0) and NM (9.4)newsstand editions are far scarcer as a percentage of issues that I purchase in collections.

Simply put, newsstand readers and the staff of newsstands, were far more likely to beat up their comics. Metal newsstand racks used in general stores actually damaged comics almost near the second that they are racked. As a result, finding the few surviving NM newsstand editions is surprisingly difficult. New comics in the 80s and 70s were often found to be 9.2-8.5 right off the rack

This has turned into a genuine test for me, as I now spend a great amount of individual time looking for these Scarce newsstand issues.

This been said, I cannot begin to tell you how rare these things truly are.  I have not been able to find many newsstand editions that I believe still exist. When newsstand editions are 1:100 variants (eg. 2015 Archie vol 2 newsstands), and they also suffer a high destruction rate, finding them in the secondary/back issue market is near impossible, and takes a lot of luck and perseverance to find them.

When we look at those price variants of the 80s (75,95 cent price variants) we descover a price variant treasure. Some of these variants are as rare as Action #1.

Yes, a comic is only worth what someone is willing to pay. Im simply ready to pay alot more for those issues, and for very good financial reasons.

:)

  • Dec 3, '16 by Mr.Grimm's avatar Mr.Grimm
  • Newsstand s will be popular with the future collector.. I promise....most deliberate variants will loose a ton of ground in the future. This should happen when the movies no longer support the demand of comics.

    Providence is key to collecting vintage pop culture. Comic books were originally found on the local newsstand buggy, general store or tobacco shop. this is the orgin of buying, reading and collecting comics (not covers)
  • Dec 31, '16 by Mr.Grimm's avatar Mr.Grimm
  • Very accurate and informative by, Benjamin Nobel
    this is his blog

    Newsstands will become the new chase for comic collectors, in the near future. if you want to increase your collections value, start buying before they are double in price.
    go to the link below

    https://rarecomics.wordpress.com/newsstand-vs-direct-edition-comics/
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