Collector’s Corner: Valiant Comics Hot Picks! (2012 – NOW!)

With the recent news of a MASSIVE MOVIE & TV deal between VALIANT & DMG, demand for early key-issues have EXPLODED! NM & 9.8 issues are disappearing at light-speed! VALIANT is on FIRE!

This will be 1 of 2 COLLECTOR’S CORNER articles covering the HOTTEST BOOKS (or also the potential HOTTEST BOOKS) that VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT has published. This particular article will focus on VALIANT comic books published since the 2012 re-launch; the second article will focus on VALIANT comic books published in the 1990’s.

TIME IS NOT ABSOLUTE! Nothing is. So feel free to come to your own conclusions about what will potentially happen with sales and/or the future of all things VALIANT. But consider what I write here, and I will do my best to not disappoint. 😉

MOST BOOKS ON THIS LIST ONLY HAD 1,000 OR LESS COPIES PRINTED.

This article is NOT written in any particular order.

ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #1: – 1:100 Suayan Gold Edition and 1:100 Adams Line Variant. . This book features the first VEI appearances of Archer, Armstrong, Mary Maria, and a cameo appearance of a VEI Ivar, who later becomes the TIMEWALKER featured in his own ongoing monthly series. While there are several regular and variant editions that were released, the two that consistently appear to hold the highest value and also be in the largest demand were these two specifically. It is rumoured that less than 1,000 copies of each exist. It is a GOOD bet that once an ARCHER & ARMSTRONG movie is made, there will be a LOT MORE than 1,000 people looking to buy a copy.

 

BLOODSHOT #1: – Lozzi Gold Edition and the 1:50 Ribic Variant. As you might guess, these issues feature the first VEI appearance of Bloodshot. Now, it is clear that the Lozzi Gold Edition generally hold a higher value than the 1:50 Ribic Variant, the difference is NOT as big as you might think. We don’t really know how many Golds were produced or are in circulation, but we do know that the 1:50 Ribic Variant is hard to find in CGC/CBCS 9.8 grade which makes it a prize for collectors looking to complete their full-runs. It is rumoured that less than 1,000 copies 1:50 Ribic Variant exist, and it is likely that a similar number exists for the Lozzi Gold Edition. If this is true, then BOTH are likely to continue to be in high demand; as well as increasing value potential.

 

ETERNAL WARRIOR #1: – Crain Gold Edition and the 1:50 Zircher Variant. As I just discussed about BLOODSHOT #1, this is another example of two variants of the same issue that are clearly in more demand than the others. Many collectors will naturally gravitate to the  Crain Gold Edition; but it would be foolish to ignore the 1:50 Zircher Variant as it quite potentially might surprise collectors before too long. Sales for BOTH in CGC/CBCS 9.8 have been over $200+. No, this was NOT the first VEI appearance of GILAD, THE ETERNAL WARRIOR (see X-O MANOWAR #1 for that), but it was his first VEI book.

ETERNAL WARRIOR #5: – 1:50 Mack Variant. This was the issue that established VEI’s 4001 Universe. It is ALSO one of the most in-demand ETERNAL WARRIOR variants period, and has a value comparable to the ETERNAL WARRIOR #1 Crain Gold Edition and the 1:50 Zircher Variant. It is difficult to find in CGC/CBCS 9.8, and is highly sought after by collectors in that grade.

VEI’s 4001 Universe is where we later see Rai, Spylocke, Ivar, Timewalker, and others rapidly expanding that same universe. Give it time, 4001 is and will continue to be HUGE.

Plus, that cover is just 120% awesome!

 

HARBINGER #1: – 1:100 Lozzi Gold Edition and the 1:50 Djurdjevic QR Variant. This is an interesting case where the 1:50 Variant is in far greater demand than the 1:100 Gold Edition. Typically it would be the other way around, but that has CLEARLY not been the case with HARBINGER #1. Both books are in high demand, and both hold solid value. But the 1:50 Djurdjevic QR Variant appears in CGC/CBCS 9.8 less often than the 1:100 Lozzi Gold Edition due to a difference in cover stock which further makes the 1:50 Djurdjevic QR Variant more likely to have been damaged at some point. BOTH books have similar print runs too, so don’t let the 1:100 or 1:50 ratios fool you. Additionally, this was the first VEI appearances of Harbinger, Harada, and the Bleeding Monk.

HARBINGER #2 – 1:20 Braithwaite Variant. This is the part where we speculate a bit.HARBINGER #2 was the first appearance of Darpan, a character that we now see in the pages of IMPERIUM and also with MASSIVE future potential in the pages of HARBINGER and in the VALIANT UNIVERSE! As I write this the demand for this book is not huge; you can find it and it is not overly expensive to buy. HOWEVER, this is a sleeper that will likely grow in demand as Darpan’s role in the VALIANT UNIVERSE continues to expand.

 

 

HARBINGER #3 – 1:20 Zircher Variant. Everything I just wrote about HARBINGER #2 also applies to the HARBINGER #3 – 1:20 Zircher Variant; except with Livewire, who pretty much is near the TOP OF THE LIST of female characters in the VALIANT UNIVERSE (See UNITY, HARBINGER, ARMOR HUNTERS, etc…). This is a no brainer. Livewire is a pillar of the VALIANT UNIVERSE and it won’t be long before people start to wonder about her first appearance. This is the first VEI appearance of Livewire. 

 

 

 

 

HARBINGER #8 – 1:125 Lemire Line Variant. There is NOT a lot of specific significance to this issue; however, it is among the rarest, most sought after, and most valued HARBINGER variants that VALIANT has printed to date. Just one of those things that happens from time to time. Additionally, fan-favourite artist/writer JEFF LEMIRE was the cover artist! Rumored to have only 800 or less in circulation.

 

 

 

 

 

HARBINGER WARS #1 – 1:50 Zircher Variant. This was VALIANT’s first major cross-over event since the 2012 re-launch, and it featured the first appearances of the GENERATION ZERO kids, Cronos, Telic, Traveler, Hive, and several others.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: Harbinger is a story about Harbingers (human’s with super powers). In the VALIANT UNIVERSE, we read about the Harbinger Renegades at times, or Harada’s Harbinger army in IMPERIUM. GEN ZERO is as much of Harbinger as any other member, and we saw the ARMOR HUNTERS: HARBINGER series focus almost entirely on them. They will be major players in the Valiant universe.

The HARBINGER WARS #1 – 1:50 Zircher Variant is the most in-demand variant of their first appearance, and will likely be for the foreseeable future.

 

HARBINGER WARS #3 – 1:50 Zircher Variant. First appearance of Major Charlie Palmer (AKA Gunslinger) and the H.A.R.D. Corps. These were key-players in the old VALIANT, and are key-players in the new VALIANT.

We have seen them here in this issue; for about half of BLOODSHOT’s first 25 issues, and soon Charlie Palmer will involved with UNITY.

Like the HARBINGER WARS #1 – 1:50 Zircher Variant, the HARBINGER WARS #3 – 1:50 Zircher Variant is is the most in-demand variant of the H.A.R.D. Corps first appearance, and will likely be for the foreseeable future.

 

 

SHADOWMAN BLACK:  – Very low print run and distribution. Rumoured that only 500 or so were ever earned and/or in circulation. Very condition sensitive as well, with many showing wear and/or flaws. It ALSO came in an all-black slip-case.

There are NOT very many of these!

Not to be confued with the  SHADOWMAN #1 – Zircher Blackout Pullbox Variant which features a solid black cover. That is a quality issue as well, but NOT THE SAME!

 

 

 

SHADOWMAN #1 – Zircher Gold Edition. This is one of the most sought out and in-demand books VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT has published. Almost impossible to find in any condition, you might see forum threads and Facebook group posts that read similar to this:

“does ANYONE have a SHADOWMAN #1 Gold for sale? Please? Anyone..?”

Saddly, the answer is almost always silence… A CGC/CBCS 9.8 SHADOWMAN #1 – Zircher Gold Edition is near the top of the the list in terms of value and demand. This was also the first VEI appearance of Shadowman and Master D’arque.

CGC/CBCS 9.8’s (the few that exist) ALWAYS sell for hundreds of dollers.

 

 

SHADOWMAN #5 – 1:125 Grampa Line Variant. This is a legit key-issue as 1.) it is the first appearance of Shan Fong as Doctor Mirage, a character that we saw in the pages of the DEATH DEFYING DOCTOR MIRAGE mini-series recently; and 2.) it is SUPER RARE — even more so in CGC/CBCS 9.8. The concept of a loved one in the afterlife communicating with you in the present is a reoccurring and very popular theme in Asian popular culture, so if the story of DOCTOR MIRAGE is ever put on film or made into a TV series it is somewhat reasonable to expect an increase global demand on this book as a result. Even without as film or a TV series, this books is still rare enough and significant enough to warrant getting if possible.

Rumor has it that less than 800 copies were printed. SHADOWMAN #5 sold 13,145 copies, so assuming 1:125 of those were Grampa Line Variants, then it isn’t unreasonable to think that about 100 copies are currently in circulation.

Pretty much, this is a SUPER RARE VALIANT KEY with HIGH VALUE and POTENTIAL!

UNITY #1 –Braithwaite Gold Edition, 1:100 Adams Sketch Variant, and  1:200 Adams Sketch.

There were 23 versions of UNITY #1 (28 if you count the 5 UNITY #1 Golden Ticket Variants) the largest selling VALIANT issue since the 2012 re-launch (60,000+ issues sold in 2013). Of those, a few have really stood-out in terms of scarcity, demand, and value.

Three of these vairants, the UNITY #1 – Braithwaite Gold Edition, 1:100 Adams Sketch Variant, and  1:200 Adams Sketch Variant clearly fall into this category. The Gold Edition and 1:200 Adams Sketch Variant in particular are in constant demand, and hold the highest market values. At the time of this writing a CGC 9.8 UNITY #1 –Braithwaite Gold Edition was listed on eBay for $550.

UNITY #2 – 1:100 Braithwaite Sketch Variant.

UNITY #2 sold 18,845 copies, so assuming that 1:100 of those were the 1:100 Braithwaite Sketch Variant, then it isn’t unreasonable to think that only 180-190 copies are currently in circulation. More might have been printed, but clearly were not released.

We just don’t see the UNITY #2 – 1:100 Braithwaite Sketch Variant that often, and even less often in CGC/CBCS 9.8.

 

 

 

UNITY #3 – 1:100 Braithwaite Sketch Variant.

UNITY #3 sold 13,277 copies, so assuming that 1:100 of those were the 1:100 Braithwaite Sketch Variant, then it isn’t unreasonable to think that only 130-140 copies are currently in circulation. More might have been printed, but clearly were not released.

We just don’t see the UNITY #3 – 1:100 Braithwaite Sketch Variant that often, and even less often in CGC/CBCS 9.8.

 

 

 

UNITY #5 – 1:100 Suayan Sketch Variant. Rare, valuable, and in-demand. Artist Mico Suayan’s sketch cover variant for UNITY #5 is arguably tied with artist Lewis LaRosa’s sketch cover variant for NINJAK #1 as the two BEST NINJAK COVERS EVER!

UNITY #5 sold 12,268 copies, so assuming that 1:100 of those were the Suayan Sketch Variant, then it isn’t unreasonable to think that only 120-130 copies are currently in circulation. More might have been printed, but clearly were not released.

We just don’t see the UNITY #5 – 1:100 Suayan Sketch Variant that often, and even less often in CGC/CBCS 9.8.

 

 

VALIANT 2012 C2E2 SUMMER PREVIEW: – These were given out for FREE during C2E2 in April 2012 at the VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT booth. Some were saved by collectors, bagged and boarded, and tugged away. Others were treated like a handout and tossed in a bag with all the other free stuff. Since 2012 these existed under the radar, not really a huge deal for collectors looking for key books or potential investment value.

Then in 2015, the DMG -VALIANT investment deal was announced, and guess what?

Turns out that theVALIANT 2012 C2E2 SUMMER PREVIEW was the FIRST PUBLISHED COMIC of the NEW VALIANT UNIVERSE! In 16 pages, it contained the first promotional cameo appearances of X-O Manowar, Harbinger, Bloodshot, and more.

We used to get these for free occasionally in packages when we bought comics on eBay. Now they sell for $40-$50 raw, and over $100 in CGC /CBCS 9.8! Go get some of these!

X-O MANOWAR #1: – 1:100 Ribic Gold Edition and 1:50 Djurdjevic QR Variant. EXACTLY like what has happened with Harbinger #1, this is another interesting case where the 1:50 Variant is in far greater demand than the 1:100 Gold Edition. Typically it would be the other way around, but that has CLEARLY not been the case with X-O MANOWAR #1. Both books are in high demand, and both hold solid value. But the 1:50 Djurdjevic QR Variant appears in CGC/CBCS 9.8 less often than the 1:100 Ribic Gold Edition due to a difference in cover stock which further makes the 1:50 Djurdjevic QR Variant more likely to have been damaged at some point. BOTH books have similar print runs too, so don’t let the 1:100 or 1:50 ratios fool you. Additionally, this was the first VEI appearances of Aric Dacia, the X-O Armor, Gilad the Eternal Warrior, and The Vine.

X-O MANOWAR #5: – 1:50 Zircher Variant and 1:20 Zircher Variant. First VEI appearance of Ninjak, who is pretty much a TIER-1 character in theVALIANT UNIVERSE. Considering that he has been and continues to be a key-player in almost every VALIANT crossover event, team, and comic; in addition to now having his own on-going monthly series, this is a no-brainer. Consider X-O MANOWAR #5 to basically be the BLOODSHOT #6 of the new VALIANT only with a MUCH smaller print run, and in the case of the 1:50 Zircher Variant, far less common in CGC/CBCS 9.8. 

While the 1:50 Zircher Variant is far more in demand, collectors like  to buy the 1:20 Zircher Variant as well since they are bookends for one another and are often viewed as a set.

X-O Manowar #11: – 1:50 Sears Variant. First appearance of Torment, and with one of the lower print-runs since the 2012 re-launch. Rumoured to have only 800 or less in circulation, this book is a potential sleeper investment.

 

 

 

 

 

X-O Manowar #15: – Kotaki 1:50 Variant and Kotaki 1:50 Variant ERROR. This is a case in-which the Kotaki 1:50 Variant is not hugely common in the first place, possesses artist Kekai Kotaki’s stunningly appealing cover art, and is quite uncommon in CGC/CBCS 9.8. The Kotaki 1:50 Variant ERROR is far less common, and featured the X-O Manowar #15: – Kotaki 1:50 Variant cover, but with Quantum & Woody #1‘s interior pages.

You might have a Kotaki 1:50 Variant ERROR and not know it.

If you can find a copy of the Kotaki 1:50 Variant ERROR, in NM+ (or any condition really) you will find interested buyers ready to pay well for it.

It is UNKNOWN how many Kotaki 1:50 Variant ERRORs exist.