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Complete runs of a series10479

Collector Jabberwookie private msg quote post Address this user
I see people talking about having a complete run of a series, and I'm wondering: does it matter?

I know some people like it for their personal collection, and I can see why it would be cool, but does it matter from a selling standpoint?

Do you get to up the value of some of the lower value issues because it's part of a complete set?

I know that having complete runs of Batman, Superman won't matter as much as having the really big fish like the first appearances, but let's say having all Iron-Man or Spawn.

Just curious here. I'm trying to get my own complete runs for myself, but those are just the OCD in me.
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Collector manfred_spain private msg quote post Address this user
I'd say it is really only important to anyone afflicted with being a completist (which I very much am).

From a selling perspective, you probably make more if you piece books out individually, rather than try to sell them as a whole. Buyers usually want a select few issues, and would only buy a full set if it was a good deal to get to what they really want.

My opinion.
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Collector Jabberwookie private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by manfred_spain
I'd say it is really only important to anyone afflicted with being a completist (which I very much am).

From a selling perspective, you probably make more if you piece books out individually, rather than try to sell them as a whole. Buyers usually want a select few issues, and would only buy a full set if it was a good deal to get to what they really want.

My opinion.


Do you have one you have the complete set on or are trying to get?

I'm slowly trying to get the 70s-80s Ghost Rider.

Only share if you feel comfortable with it.
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I'm a McNugget guzzler. HeinzDad private msg quote post Address this user
If you like reading them I think it matters, yes trades work also but if you don’t want to wait for them to be released then back to good old fashioned monthly’s. I’d rather get a 1-5 of a series as opposed to just issue 2.
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Collector crystalphoto private msg quote post Address this user
I will buy short runs if the CONDITION warrants it. I seldom even look at larger complete runs, for the simple reason, people, as a rule, think a LOT of their stuff, and price themselves out of my price range, and conditions range from VF to NM is not as descriptive as I would like.
I speak in general terms, but these are what turned me off of larger runs...
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Collector manfred_spain private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jabberwookie
Quote:
Originally Posted by manfred_spain
I'd say it is really only important to anyone afflicted with being a completist (which I very much am).

From a selling perspective, you probably make more if you piece books out individually, rather than try to sell them as a whole. Buyers usually want a select few issues, and would only buy a full set if it was a good deal to get to what they really want.

My opinion.


Do you have one you have the complete set on or are trying to get?

I'm slowly trying to get the 70s-80s Ghost Rider.

Only share if you feel comfortable with it.


I'm a long-term Spidey completist. I have all the series. Then went back and picked up all the newsstand and direct variations. Then went back and picked up weird stuff like Mark Jewelers insert and Canadian variants.

Lately, I have been focusing on homage covers of Spidey books. That's fun, but they seem to be coming out of the wordwork.
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Collector Jabberwookie private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by crystalphoto
I will buy short runs if the CONDITION warrants it. I seldom even look at larger complete runs, for the simple reason, people, as a rule, think a LOT of their stuff, and price themselves out of my price range, and conditions range from VF to NM is not as descriptive as I would like.
I speak in general terms, but these are what turned me off of larger runs...


No joke there.

I think I underrate the condition of my books for that very reason.

I recently grabbed a pretty large run of West Coast Avengers, and I like it, read back through it, but now I'm thinking, why do I have all these?
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Collector CatCovers private msg quote post Address this user
From a selling perspective, I think a complete run is useful in limited cases.

1. It's not a terribly long-running series.
2. There's no single individual issue that's particularly valuable.

For example, if you had, say, a complete run of Young All-Stars from the late '80s, which ran for 20ish issues, you could probably sell that. Not for very much, but good luck trying to sell off individual issues of that comic.

If it's a long series, or there are key books, there's not much point in a complete run. Again, from a selling perspective. I'm trying to complete several runs now of series like FF and ASM - but that's for me, not for selling.
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If the viagra is working you should be well over a 9.8. xkonk private msg quote post Address this user
Agree with @CatCovers. No one (hardly anyone) wants to buy a full run of a big series like your Spidey or Superman. More people would be up for buying a full run of Infinity Gauntlet but even then #1 is the clear best book in the lot. But some random mini-series isn't going to be a big draw unless someone wants the whole thing.
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Collector furlo316 private msg quote post Address this user
For me, it's purely personal. My OCD no doubt plays a part in that too. I'm not looking to sell any of my collection either, so I guess this question never really occurred to me.
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I've spent years perfecting my brand of assholery. DrWatson private msg quote post Address this user
A run could even be a subset of a full run. I talk X-Men because that's what I know. I want 1 through 66 Northland copies. Maybe just the reprints. There's also GSX 1 with 94 through 143. The Paul Smith run 165-175. It can be how ever you want to break it up. Collect what you like.
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Collector* Towmater private msg quote post Address this user
One used to have to travel to conventions and comic shops far from one's home to complete a run. It could take years and years to find that one book in the shape you wanted it in to add to a collection to fill that void in the run. Runs became less important when comics could be found easily on the internet.

The only run I have in my collection now is the Miller/Janson Daredevil run 158-161, 163-191.
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Collector cyrano0521 private msg quote post Address this user
I have many complete runs and near complete runs; none of them were bought as runs. Most people i know have some here and some there but there are other people who would love to save time and effort and buy all at once.
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PLOD theCapraAegagrus private msg quote post Address this user
Runs > keys IMO. It's why I've almost completely left the single-issue market. Trade paperbacks (and Absolute Editions, omnibuses, etc) are big $$$$$ items to me.
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Beaten by boat oars Studley_Dudley private msg quote post Address this user
I found that when I started buying some of the keys, I wanted the storyline that goes with it as well if it wasn't a standalone story. I have multiple runs built around that. Thor, Batman, Captain America, Daredevil, etc. I'm a completist for the most part, so having the story/run makes sense to me from a collecting standpoint but probably not from a selling standpoint. I would have to break it up. Like, if or when I sell my X-Men run, no one wants the entire 500+ issues. I would piecemeal most of the first 200 issues, then do lots or a bulk sale to unload the rest.
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Collector gmellos private msg quote post Address this user
Well i have a complete run of Thor from JIM 83 to King Thor 2. I am currently working on a complete frim of Avengers. I have Avengers 1-11 and 246-390
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Collector Jabberwookie private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Studley_Dudley
I found that when I started buying some of the keys, I wanted the storyline that goes with it as well if it wasn't a standalone story. I have multiple runs built around that. Thor, Batman, Captain America, Daredevil, etc. I'm a completist for the most part, so having the story/run makes sense to me from a collecting standpoint but probably not from a selling standpoint. I would have to break it up. Like, if or when I sell my X-Men run, no one wants the entire 500+ issues. I would piecemeal most of the first 200 issues, then do lots or a bulk sale to unload the rest.



This answer got my brain going, and it made me think if you end up with full run of X-Men (or Spider-man, Superman, etc...) You're almost in different territory.

Your collection is valuable beyond Ebay to the point that it might be museum-worthy or something.

I think you could sell the whole run, but like you mentioned, your buyer list would be much smaller, for what it would cost.
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SpongeBob Comics #1 sells for $991! Joosh private msg quote post Address this user
I’ve got a few limited series, but as far as full runs of unlimited series, only 2.

Ghost (Dark Horse) all volumes all issues and team-ups/miniseries, including Sourcebook Preview in both covers and 1st appearance 1 shot.
I’m not even a big fan of Ghost, I initially just liked the few Adam Hughes covers then came across the nearly complete collection and ended up owning it.

Ravage 2099 full run. Just missing first appearance, which is easy to find and affordable, I’m just lazy. This was the last Marvel series solely written by Stan Lee.

Only run I’ve actively tried to complete is Morbius 2013 9 issue series. I’ve got all 9 in Direct and Newsstand, the #1 2nd print, and all but 2 of the most difficult variant covers. (#3 1:50 & #6 1:20)

Next run I’d like to fill out would be Spider 2099. So close...
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Collector seanw private msg quote post Address this user
For me...I always seem to subconsciously gravitate towards X-Men titles since I was young and have complete runs of some titles. Its just the story that draws me in and I keep sticking to that title till they stop it. I did not start buying them with the thought of having a complete run but just ended up that way. However I look out to upgrade keys in the runs just to give it some oomph.

I think that a complete run of story arc crossovers would be beneficial be it if you intend to cash out or not...for continuity sake. If you ask me, I would not buy a complete run just to fill gaps unless it is a good deal.

These days I do particularly gravitate towards mini-series versus a main title unless my comic shop guy tells me there is an interesting story arc in a particular title.
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