Batman #1 sells for more than Superman ($1M), my question: What would you invest in?

Groo

Sergio Aragonés artwork will be worth millions!

Whatever they choose, I doubt very much they'll see anywhere near the kind of prices the old classics go for now. The reason these old original comics along with sports cards, are so valuable, is that when they were released, nobody stashed them away (on purpose at least) or thought of them as "collectables" .... so they became rare. Now days there are thousands of people squirreling away mint copies of everything ... and less interest in them by the current general youth population who have a multitude of other distractions ( like TV, computers, video games, etc.) to occupy their time and money ... which will result in a considerably smaller number of wealthy nostalgic potential buyers in the future bidding on a huge stockpile of not-so-rare old comics and cards. Supply and demand for today's comics and cards in the future will be much different than it is right now.

As a kid (I'm 56) I had a large collection of comics and gum cards I acquired between 1959 and 1966, which I took pretty good care of. In addition to every Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, etc. from that period, I owned the original first editions of The Avengers, Iron Man, Ant Man, and The X-Men, plus most of the issues immediately after, for example. But when I left home in the mid 70's, my much younger half-brothers and sisters, found and trashed them ... and at the time, I didn't really care much. They were just old comics. Now days, for many people, buying and hoarding these things is a business. Most who are interested in and purchase these things today, are not simply consumers who will read then discard the comic, but are "collectors" who, based on what happened in the past under different circumstances, think they'll make a fortune decades down the road. The very fact that so many people think today's comics/cards will become rare and valuable in the future, guarantees they will not.

Definitely a very rare comic book. That particular copy of the first issue of Batman has been graded at near mint condition (NM) or 8 out of 10 by CGC. Just like the first issue of Superman (Action Comics No. 1) that sold for 1 mil last week, it was also graded at near mint condition or 8 out of 10 by CGC. It has been said that less than 20 copies of the first issue of Superman are known to exist. Of those copies, 4 of them have been graded at very good (VG) condition by CGC (4 out of 10) and one copy at very fine (VF+).

Condition of a comic plays a big role in determining the price of a sought after comic. I personally don't have any comic books in my collection currently that I think will even come near those selling prices.

Always look for things that were immensely popular then fall out of fashion and are largely disposed of.

Something like a Ferrari isn't a good investment because they never quite go out of fashion. Someone will always want it. It'll depreciate, for sure, but there will always be a market.

The reason comics and other stuff like that go for big bucks is because people read the comics and then trashed them. Or stuck the baseball cards in their bicycle spokes, things like that.

Personally, I invest in old Apple computers. Well, not that much, but I've been keeping a few dozen old Apple IIs and Macs in storage. I pick them up whenever I can, often for $5 or $10. Some I've gotten for free or found put out for trash. I probably don't have more than $300 invested in the lot.

It usually takes 40 years for something to become interesting again. 50-60 years out they become collectible, then become classics with an established antiques field after that.

Keep in mind the difference between antiques and collectibles, too. Stuff that was made specifically for collectors (limited edition of 1,000 pieces, stuff with no real, practical use) usually isn't that sought after in time. Things that people actually used or were fashionable, then thrown away, are typically what people like.

This is why I'm not sure if I'd invest in comics these days. It's an established field and there are extras printed specifically for collectors. Hundreds, if not thousands, of copies are put away. There will always be a supply of great condition comic books from now on. Which is pretty cool. Someone being able to get a mint condition 2010 comic book in 2120 at a reasonable price will be thrilled, but you're not going to turn much money today.

So, for the young'uns here, take a hard look at what people love today. The video games, books, toys, etc. When they fall out of fashion, scoop up whatever you can for as low a price as possible. Endure the funny looks of people who think you're running a landfill in your closet. Then sit on them for 40 years.

With any luck, the $300 I put into the old Apple IIs and Macs will pay off handsomely in another 20 years. Probably better than my 401K, considering how that's been going lately.

Call it his college fund...

Wow, another record set in just little over a month.

Superman comic sells for $1.5M, setting record - Yahoo! News