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Comic Book Stores Start to Re-Open

e were going along, minding our own busi- BACK THE COMEBACK
ness, enjoying the year-long celebration of As has been widely reported, the first recorded U.S. case
WThe Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide reach- of the COVID-19 virus came on January 20, in a U.S.
ing its incredible 50th anniversary … citizen returning home from Wuhan, China, to
And then came the COVID-19 pandemic. You Washington state. Ten days later, the first case of person-
might have heard of it. to-person transmission was confirmed in a couple after
It has been a tumultuous time, one like nothing most the wife had returned from China. Small beginnings,
of us have ever seen. It’s been as disruptive to the comic right? The stuff of science fiction and horror movies, at
character market and to pop culture in general as it has to least in its ability to spread.
the rest of society. As much as we feel special when we By March 12, the NHL, MLS, and the National
think of ourselves in the context of our respective hobbies, Lacrosse League, had suspended their seasons. The XFL,
friends, and families, we really are all in this together. which was already mid-season, terminated the remainder
Except for the celebrities on their yachts, of course. of their season. Major League Baseball canceled spring
You’ve probably had about enough of the whole training and postponed the start of the regular season.
Coronavirus thing, so I’m going to keep this overwhelm- The NCAA canceled all sporting events including their
ingly positive (You know, the way the media doesn’t). March Madness basketball tournaments.
Comic conventions and pop culture shows post-
FIRST STEPS TOWARD NORMALCY poned or canceled outright.
I live on Long Island and comic shops reopened yester- And then almost as a whole, comics shut down.
day as I write this on June 11, 2020. One of the things to be The Overstreet Comic Book Many retailers had already been closed by government
found both here and nationwide is The Overstreet Comic Price Guide order, and others would soon follow. Those who were
Book Price Guide #1 Facsimile Edition, an almost exact #1 Facsimile Edition celebrates the found themselves at risk of being buried under debt for
reproduction of the first Guide as it was published by Bob Guide’s 50th anniversary. comics they had no means to sell. The decision was
Overstreet in 1970. The size, shape and content are just the made by Diamond Comic Distributors to stop shipping new comics.
same as the original. The cover was tweaked just a bit in that it has a square Within days (even hours in some instances), the government followed with
spine (the original was stapled). Additionally, this time there was a regulations that would have had the same effect in many regions.
hardcover edition and a limited signed and numbered hardcover edition, Some retailers had eBay and other online outlets and switched their
too. Both of them sold out ahead of the release (check your comic shop as efforts over to the digital world. Likewise, some creators and convention
they may have copies). promoters began offering online ways to
As we’ve covered in this column previously, Beau Smith, creator of the support and gather. In many instances,
comic book Wynonna Earp, which spawned the hit Syfy TV series, is a people found ways to keep their spirits up
collector. He was quick to point out the changes the market has seen in the and encourage others, but to say it was
last five decades. challenging for comic shops would be a
He noted some standouts: Amazing Fantasy #15 (first appearance of massive understatement.
Spider-Man, $16), Action Comics #1 (first appearance of Superman, $300), On May 13, the flicker of hope started to
Detective Comics #27 (first appearance of Batman, $275), Daredevil #1 burn a bit brighter. That day Diamond
$6.00, Fantastic Four #1 $30, Showcase #4 (Silver Age Flash, $12), Comic Distributors and Alliance Game
Fantastic Four #52 (first appearance of the Black Panther, 80¢). For the Distributors restarted distribution to the
record, the $300 for Action Comics #1 was the highest price in the Guide. comic book and game stores that had begun
We’ve documented one sale of that issue for $3.2 million by comparison. to reopen safely.
“That’s what these comic books were selling for in mint condition in
1970. I personally was in the 9th grade then and if I would’ve known what Bigger Than Our Setback!” Many comics and other products will begin
The effort was centered around a rallying cry: “Our Comeback Will Be
I know now, I would’ve mowed a hundred lawns that summer to save up carrying the logo, and the effort is supported by many different publishers
money to buy these issues at those prices,” Smith said. and game makers as the industry tries to drive both awareness and, more
“How did I come across this information? I hold in my hands The importantly, fundraising for comics and games shops.
Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide 1970. Newly reprinted in beautiful Diamond International Galleries will host a charity auction event July
fashion from Gemstone Publishing with original ads included! This is on 4-18 to support local retailers at the heart of the industry. The funds raised
sale in comic book stores right now. If they don’t have it, ask them to order will directly benefit the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC),
it for you. It is hours of fun looking through and reading this. And, if The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and the Jack Vasel Memorial Fund.
you’re like me, it will also break your heart to think that at one time you More information is available at www.backthecomeback.com (and
could’ve had these issues for those prices and less (depending on the specifically for the auction at www.digauction.com
condition). Then again, I miss my first car too,” he said.
The soft cover version of this commemorative edition remains available
as this column is being posted. It is available at participating comic book J.C. Vaughn is the Vice-President of Publishing for
Gemstone Publishing. Gemstone’s Amanda Sheriff
shops or directly from Gemstone Publishing.
contributed to this piece.

July 2020 43