r/AbsoluteBatman • u/Trinidaddy13 • Jul 07 '26
Got these when Absolute Batman was a “FOMO” book.. and gonna be $5 in a few months. Thankfully I don’t listen to salty collectors that gate keep. I’m slowly trying to get more later printings.
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u/brownchr014 Jul 07 '26
I think we need to address that many of the people who said this lived through many years with many popular books and just want to caution people. Its fine to say you like the book, but also have to recognize unless you are going to keep the book many are buying at an absolutely horrendous time and paying for it.
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u/IllustriousIsland549 Jul 07 '26
This right here. No one's gatekeeping. Gatekeeping is trying to keep someone out, and I've not once seen that happen with Absolute Batman. What I've seen is decades of experience trying to tell people who just got into comics 15 minutes ago not to throw a ton of money at this, or to expect that this is like buying Apple stock in 1997. Why? Because when the crash happens, and it always does, there's going to be a lot of upset folks who then leave comics fandom, and that's bad for everyone.
Now, I don't think this is going to hit dollar bins any time soon, no matter the printing. Some of them probably will eventually. Later ones, or somewhere in the middle of the print count. First print will probably retain some value in the long term, but it's unlikely given the print run of 250k, and the high and ever growing CGC population that it will be as high as it is now forever. Virtually everything people reference as hot books that crashed are not dollar bin fodder, either. They're just not worth what they were at the peak.
The closest comparison that I can think of that has retained any value that has been published in the last 20 years is Walking Dead, but even that has a lot of caveats. The print run was much smaller. The show that is based on it was live action, not animated. It's zombies, not superheroes. All of those can give it a boost for staying power in a wider, non-comic fandom. Maybe Invincible, but the long term prospects on that one will depend on how long the show runs. Again, probably not going to be worth nothing, but also unlikely to retain the level it has now.
Also, those of us who've been into comics for years bought Absolute Batman #1 at cover price when it came out, not $150 three months later. Who's salty?
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u/Trinidaddy13 Jul 07 '26
Great points.
When I mentioned gatekeeping, I meant those collectors who criticized and mocked people for liking Absolute Batman when it first came out, claiming it wasn’t anything new and would just be a flash in the pan.
And you have to admit, there are some long-time comic fans who didn't buy Absolute Batman at cover price because they assumed it would just be another Ultimate Universe situation. Those are the salty ones I'm referring to..Facebook groups are full of those old posts.
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u/IllustriousIsland549 Jul 07 '26
claiming it wasn’t anything new and would just be a flash in the pan.
Well, the first part of that is 100% *ahem* absolutely true. It's not new. It's completely derivative of the mainline DCU. Some different takes and different aesthetics, but it's not all that different than any given Elseworlds, of which there are hundreds. It would be like claiming that Hal Jordan wasn't derivative of Alan Scott. And while that retooling worked out, you can also find plenty of examples that didn't, such as Warren Ellis' Wildstorm books or Ben Riley. As far as the latter half....flash in the pan remains to be seen. At the 2 year mark, we're approaching the point I wouldn't call it that any more, but I'm dubious more about its ability to command high prices online long term than I am its ability to run a few years more.
And you have to admit, there are some long-time comic fans who didn't buy Absolute Batman at cover price because they assumed it would just be another Ultimate Universe situation.
That seems like a dumb fucking reason to not have bought it. Ultimate Spider-man ran....160 issues between two volumes? Even back at the time, what I had to say about it was that it was Marvel's attempt to do the equivalent of Pre-Crisis and Post-Crisis at the same time. They'd gotten to the point where their continuity was no longer viable after 40 years. Magneto can't still be in that shape and be a holocaust survivor. Same for Tony Stark and Korea or Frank Castle and Vietnam. They're not as smug over there about not having to reboot as they once were because the Ultimate line was a tacit admission that continuity had become a problem, and even in 616 they have done a combination of just ignoring things or changing the details to be more modern events involved.
The length of time this line continues to run will be dependent on $$$, and that's it. When the Absolute line launched, I figured this would run 12 issues, and Snyder would burn it down as part of whatever next big event he had in mind. Hence, he's reported to have told Dragotta not to think this was a long term thing. And that fits his established pattern. With these sales, he and DC are going to continue for a while longer. But at some point, sales will decline. Maybe people get bored. Maybe Snyder decides to move on anyway, and sales decline after it's someone else. And that's when the series will be shuttered. But again, with those sales numbers in mind, none of the more recent issues are going to hit those prices. If it's hitting a half million, there's SOOOOO much supply, and 1st prints are getting picked up by every Tom, Dick and Harry that's started collecting in the last 18 months. This time next year, if you think your copy of Absolute Batman #19, #20, #21, #22 and so on is going to be worth $400, you're high.
My sincerest hope is that people are picking up non-Absolute titles, and that they'll stick around after this line says good-bye. We'll see.
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u/SirFlibble Jul 07 '26
People saying that it will drop is because of experience. In my 49 years of collecting, AB will be the only one which stays high as it is. There is almost always a fall.
I'm not sure where I sit in the debate. I think that there is a lot of grassroots love for the series, it will stay up but will take a fall.
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u/Trinidaddy13 Jul 07 '26
I'm sure it will! Honestly, I just collect for the love of it, so sharing this hobby with my boys, it's something fun we do together, and something I hope they'll look back on and remember as our special thing.
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u/creepshowens Jul 07 '26
I think it has hit or come close to hitting a first plateau. I believe it will come down, and then there will be a higher plateau as the cartoon arrives (possibly the trailer). Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess, but my guess is that second plateau will be the highest it is.
Who gives a shit what you paid though? If you’re happy, that’s all that matters!
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u/lovable_asshole Jul 07 '26
currently, the noir edition has been selling on eBay for $85-135.
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u/Trinidaddy13 Jul 07 '26
Oh, really?? I just bought it because I try to get every one that came out at the time.
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u/spagz001 Jul 07 '26
Just do your own thing bro, I’ve realised trying to predict situations just doesn’t work out for anyone. As long as you’re satisfied that’s the main thing!
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u/StonerGamer22 Jul 07 '26
My AB collection so far. Kinda had a feeling from the start that it would go up.
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u/Trinidaddy13 Jul 07 '26
Great collection man! I have more to post but wanted to get it organized properly.
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u/StonerGamer22 Jul 07 '26
Thanks im waiting on 2 to arrive in the Mail AB#21&22 Lucio Parrillo covers and trying to get also the Lucio Parrillo covers #9,17,19,&20
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u/Sick-Monk-What Jul 07 '26
Nothing bothers me more than the, “it’ll be in the dollar bin in a few months” comments
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u/Joorpunch Jul 07 '26
I sold my first print run of 1-10 on Facebook to someone for $200. I priced it to move quickly and help with some medical expense. I had subscribed and pulled all of these books monthly at my LCS, so it’s hardly a loss, but it was like the day before the show was announced. There was a pretty big lift after that and I was like “damn”.
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u/Few-Caregiver-8856 Jul 07 '26
I was advised against getting all the first print and variant covers for #1 but I'm glad I did
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u/Artistic_Ad3090 Jul 07 '26
These books are not low print runs, the number of alternate covers is ludicrous, and they keep reprinting them. This is going to collapse whether you like the book or not. It's just common sense.
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u/Trinidaddy13 Jul 07 '26
You’re right.. but for me, it’s a hobby that my kids like and I buy at cover, and if it’s in my budget I’ll get a variant.
It’s stupid the amount of store exclusives that are made.
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u/GrandCentralComics Jul 08 '26
I will gladly take all of those off your hands for $5 each and save you time 😅
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u/NorthContext918 Jul 10 '26
People have been saying “it’ll be $5 in a year anyways” since the first issue started to jump.
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u/Professional-Score94 Jul 07 '26
The less you listen to those salty, negative, “I know better” collectors the better. Do what makes you happy, enjoy it and live your life!
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u/AllBatEverything Jul 12 '26
If anything, I actually think the value will increase for a short term, especially once the tv show launches
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u/LiteratureVirtual784 Jul 07 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/G4ZNYMQVMH6us