Some Comics Prices Rising on Wednesday! Howdy! Chuck and his kitty, Princess, reviewing last year's Overstreet (click on image for larger view) This morning is a clear example of how variable the weather can be when you live near the mountains of Colorado. As I'm tying this newsletter, I'm nursing a minor sunburn that resulted from my working outside all day yesterday, moving rocks for a landscaping project on my farm. Yesterday's temperature hit a near record for the date, at 79 degrees Fahrenheit. This morning is the exact opposite, as a giant storm system is spinning to our south, pushing rain and snow northward. The wind from this storm is quite strong, and more than a little cold. Suffice it to say, when I return home from work tonight, it's going to be a good evening to be sorting my comics, rather than continuing my landscaping project. Speaking of sorting comics, I took a moment this morning and reviewed the last 100 orders that were placed via our website. I discerned a new pattern that was quite interesting to me, as we are receiving a great many orders these days that contain requests for large numbers of comics, yet these large orders are frequently for comics published by multiple different publishers. This ordering pattern differs significantly from the past, in that it was previously expected that if a large order was placed, that it would be for long runs of titles and/or issues from the same publisher. Marvel fans would order Marvel comics, DC fans would order DC's, and so on. Nowadays, however, we're seeing single orders that contain not only Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image titles, but oftentimes also half a dozen titles from smaller publishers. As a case in point, we received a 10-page order this morning that contained a myriad of titles and issue numbers from over a dozen publishers. That kind of order would have been very rare in the past... In analyzing as to why ordering patterns might be changing so much, I began by looking at our internal capabilities. One factor that is clearly true is that we've vastly increased the number of comics from all publishers that we have available on our website. While my numerous buying trips of the past year have been focused on bulking up our Marvel and DC inventories, I personally have a strong bias toward supporting small press publishers. So while I have purchased nearly a million back issue Marvel and DC comics over the past 18 months, I also made a point of buying about 500,000 comics from Independent and Small Press publishers. In addition, I obtained approximately 100,000 Golden Age (1938-1955), Silver Age (1956-1975), and Bronze Age (1976-1982) comics from other comics dealers, and incorporated those rare older comics into our website listings. To some degree, I think that my expanding of our offerings on our website has helped spur the trend toward the very diverse orders that we are receiving today. Another factor has to be the price increases by the publishers. As new comics prices continue their seemingly unstoppable climb, back issue comics of all kinds have become a much better deal. We've certainly seen this pattern in our stores and through our N.I.C.E. subscription club, as more and more of our new comics buyers are switching part of their monthly budgets over to back issues. Simply put, with an increasing number of new comics now priced at $3.99 per copy (or more...), many fans are now realizing that they can oftentimes purchase several excellent back issues for the same money as one new comic book. With everyone trying harder to be frugal these days, the savings provided by codewords like our current 30% off OLDCOMICS codeword can also make a big, big difference in how many comics you can receive for your buying dollars. Finally, I think that the Internet is helping everyone to gain more knowledge about titles and/or issues that they would like are outside the realm of their usual favorite publisher. I know that my own collecting patterns have changed quite a bit over the past few years, as I now personally collect comics from a slew of publishers that I did not even know existed ten years ago. While I do not actually place orders via our website, I do also buy a few comics for myself on my numerous buying trips to conventions. Upon reflection, I can see that my own personal collecting patterns are now just as soup-to-nuts as what I'm seeing reflected in our website orders. A great deal of this change in my own buying patterns was spurred by additional knowledge that I gleaned from the Internet... Before I leave the subject of my review of orders that we received over the weekend, I did want to make a couple of other quick observations. First, I'm seeing more than a few orders where just a minor increase in the number of comics ordered would reach our free shipping minimums of $50 for orders for delivery in the USA, and $125 for free shipping to International destinations (no express carriers). When I see orders for delivery in the USA that total $49 (no kidding!), I just have to shake my head... The other pattern that I noticed was that some of you ordering comics published between 1983-present are not utilizing the 30% off OLDCOMICS codeword (please keep in mind the codeword does not apply to new comics, Dallas Stephens comics, trade paperbacks, hard covers, graphic novels, statues, or supplies). While the OLDCOMICS codeword was specifically created to bring attention to the fact that we have a huge number of pre-1983 comics available on our website, I have been allowing fans ordering newer issues to also take advantage of the 30% discount provided by the OLDCOMICS codeword. Save yourself a bundle on your next back issue order with us, by typing OLDCOMICS into the "Discount Code" line provided on our online order form! As an aside, since we saw a huge response over this past weekend, the 30% off OLDCOMICS discount will remain in effect for you at least through this upcoming Friday... My final item for today is another reminder that the 2009 OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE will be released on Wednesday. I'm more used to the Overstreet being released sometime in April, but this year they moved things ahead a little. The annual price increases on most comics in a typical Overstreet are usually only about 5%, which is really not that big of a deal. There are always a few instances, however, where Bob notices that a given title has seen extra demand over the previous year, and bumps the prices upward by 15%-20%. Because the dealers that we purchase from wholesale use the Overstreet for setting the prices that they charge us, we have no choice but to match prices in those instances where Bob Overstreet has made significant changes. 'Nuff said. Happy Collecting! Chuck Rozanski, President - Mile High Comics, Inc. Advance Previews of next weeks comics from Archie Comics PS: I forgot to mention that I will be traveling to PLANETCOMIC-CON in Kansas City (Overland Park) on Friday. PLANETCOMIC-CON is only a two-day convention, but it is definitely one of my favorite shows of the entire year! Also, below is a listing of links to all the publishers where we've added at least one issue into our inventory over just the past two weeks. Upon looking at the sheer length of this listing of publishers, is it any wonder that we're seeing such a pronounced increase in mixed orders? Marvel Marvel, U.K. MARVEL ATLAS TITLES Marvel United Kingdom Publishings DC DC/AMERICA'S BEST DC/HOMAGE DC: Helix Press DC: IMPACT COMICS DC: Milestone Press DC: Piranha Press DC: Paradox Press DC: Vertigo Press DC/Wildstorm Dark Horse Comics Image Comics Image Top Cow Trade Paperbacks/Hardcovers Independent Publishers 3-D Zone 801 Media Inc Aberration Press Abstract Studio AC Comics Acclaim/Valiant Ace Books ACG American Civil Liberties Union Acme Press Angry Dog Press ADPRINT Adventure Comics Adventure House A. D. Vision Aeon AFTERBURN COMICS After-Shock Comics Aircel Publications Astronauts In Trouble Ajax-Farrel Publ. AK ENTERTAINMENT ALAN CLASS & COMPANY LIMITED Alchemy Studios Alias Enterprises Llc Alternate Concepts Alternative Press Altered Reality Comics AMALGAMATED PRESS, LTD. Amaze Ink Americomics Anarchy Press Antarctic Press APC Ape Entertainment Apocalypse Comics Archie Comics Arcana Studio Archangel Entertainment Arcane Comics Ardden Entertainment Archaia Studios Press ASC HOLDING CORP. Associates International, Inc. Aspen Atomeka Press Atlas/Seaboard Attic Aardvark-Vanaheim Avatar Comics Avernus Comics Avon Publication Awesome Entertainment Ballantine Books Bantam Books BASEMENT COMICS Bretts Comic Pile Publishing Broadway Comics Beckett Entertainment Big City Comics Birn Brothers Ltd. BKL Blackbird Comics Blackmore Publishing Blue Press Blue Water Comics Blind Wolf Studios Boneyard Press Bongo Comics Bonanza BOOM PRODUCTIONS Boom Studios Boomtown Press BPI Communications Byron Preiss' Virtual Comics Broadsword Comics Brown Watson Bud Plant, Inc. Black Bull Buymetoys.Com Byblos Productions CARDS, COMICS, & COLLECIBLES Caliber Press Canew Ideas Capital Comics Cap'n Penny Productions, Inc. Caruba Cartoon Books Carnal Comics Castle Rain Cathead Comics Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Comic Cavalcade Comics And Comix Co Cinefantastique CFW Enterprises Cinefex Chaos Comics CHARTER Chibi-Pop Manga Chick Publications Chanting Monk Studios Charlton Chaosium CINEBOOK Comics Interview Publications Classic Comics Press Claypool County Comix Group Colin Upton Comico COMICSONE.COM Coppervale Comicoz Cracked Creative Talent Communications Crossgen Comics Cry For Dawn Productions Cryptic Entertainment C&T Graphics Publications Comic Times Inc. Curtis Publishing Company Country Wide Dabel Brothers Productions DAKUWAKA PRODUCTIONS Daniel Fu Day One Comics Devil's Due Publishing DYNAMITE Entertainment Dead World Productions Defiant Dell Publishing Design Press Diamond Comics Distributors DIGITAL WEBBING Digital Manga Distribution Dilemma Productions Disney Press Diva Comics Dragon Lady Press Donald F. Peters Ltd. Donning Company DORK STORM PRESS DOUBLEDAY & COMPANY Drawn & Quarterly Draculina Publishing Dreamwave Devil's Trident Publications Dynamic Forces Eagle (British) EC COMICS Eclipse Enterprises Eerie Publishing EF Graphics El Capitan Elmer Valo Appreciation Society Entity Comics (Express Comics) Eros Comix (Fantagraphics) Es Graphics Eternity Comics (World/Imperial) Eurotica Event Comics Evil Twin Comics EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS FANTASIAN FANTASTIC FILMS Fantasy House FASA First Comics Fitzgerald Publishing Co. Fleetway-Quality Comics Fox Fpg Publishing FRIEDMAN, INC. Frightworld Studios Film Society Of Lincoln Center Fantaco Enterprises Fantagraphics Fantagor Press Fantasy West Fun Publications Inc Future Comics Future Publishing/FutureNet FAWCETT PUBLICATION Galaxy Media Game Items Great Big Comics Geek Punk Gemstone Gilberton Publications Gold Key Gladstone GO! COMI Grandreams Ltd. Guardian Comics Gutsoon! Entertainment Games Workshop Harry A Chesler Hamilton Comics Hanthercraft Publications Harper Entertainment Harris Comics Helpless Anger Productions Heroic Publishing High Drive Publications High Impact HIGH SPEED PRODUCTIONS HJS Publications HOLLYWOOD STUDIO MAGAZINE Harvey Pekar HARVEY COMICS Heavy Metal Hypergraphics Inc. Hyperion Hyperactive Comics Ianus Publications ICARUS PUBLISHING IDEALS IDS IDW PUBLISHING Import/Foreign Publishers Imagine, Inc. Imperium Comics Independents, All Infinity Graphics Infinite Line Comics Insight Studios Group Ipc Magazine Ltd. Icon Text Jabberwocky John Brown Publishing Jetpack Press Jump Comics John C Jove Books John Spencer & Company Publishing KEENSPOT ENTERTAINMENT King Features Kiddie Hawk Communicationc, Inc. Kilian Enterprises Kitchen Sink King Comics Kona Press Ken Pierce Krause Publications Kurt Erichsen Krypton Komics Landgraphics Publications Lamp Post Publications Last Gasp Laughter Publications Lightning Comics Look Mom Comics L. Miller & Sons Ltd. Lobrau Productions Inc London Night Studios Luchador Enterprises LUCASFILM LTD Lunch-Break Comics MAD Magazine Magazine MALLARD PRESS Malibu Comics (Impr/Malibu Graphic MARKOSIA Mark I Comics Mattel Toys Matrix Books Mayfair Megaton Comics Metropolis Publishing Millennium/Expand Miller Publishing Mirage Studios Miscellaneous (Unlisted) Publishers Major Magazines Moonstone Movieland Publishing Marbak Press Masterpiece Comics MVP Media Group Narwain Publishing NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICES National Lampoon NBM NEKO PRESS Nerve Publications NETCO NEVER EDITIONS New Age Graphics Nintendo Nine Panel Grid New Media Press New Media Publishing, Inc. Northern Lights Publishing The Norm.Com Northstar Publications Northstar Publishing New England Comics Oasis O'conran Brothers ODDGOD PRESS ODHAMS BOOKS LTD. Olympian Publishing Omni Magazine Oni Press Inc. Oracle Orb ORION PUBLISHING GROUP Overstreet Oz Page One, Inc. Palladium Games Papercutz Paragraphics PARADISE PRESS PLAYBOY Pacific Comics Peacock Press Penguin Book Penthouse Phantasm Press Platinum Studios Powder Monkey Press POCKET BOOKS Pop Comics PORTER COMMUNICATIONS PROUTT Psi Comics PSI FI MOVIE PRESS Pure Imagination Purnell Putnam Publishing Group Quality Comics Radical Comix Radio Comix Random House Raymond F. Young Russ Cochran Red 5 Comics Redeye Press Revolutionary Comics REVUE STUDIOS Richard Comely Rion Productions Rip Off Press Rock-It Comix Renegade Press Rocket Roxanne Toser Non-Sport Enterprise R. Susor Publications Rude Dude Productions Studio 407 SAF COMICS Scholastic Inc Seaboard Periodicals Shanda Fantasy Arts Silent Devil Productions Simon & Schuster Sirius Simply Read Books South Jersey Rebellion Productions Skybox Skywald Publications Slave Labor Graphics Sleuth SLG Publishing Snyder SOUVENIR PRESS SOVEREIGN MEDIA CO,. INC. Speakeasy Spire Christian Comics Spotlight Comics Sparkplug Comics Standard Comics Stafford Pemberton Publishing Co. Stanmor Publications STARSHIP MAGAZINE Sterling Graphics Sting-Ray Starlog STORIES, LAYOUTS, AND PRESS Star Trek Fan Club Magazine STREET ENTERPRISES Star Reach Publication Supergraphics Survival Art Press SWAMP YANKEE STUDIOS Tab Publications Task Force Games Third Planet Publications Three Finger Prints Publishing Titan Distributing Titan Magazines Talking Oak/Darkstorm Productions Tempo Books Toby Press Tokyo Pop (Formerly Mixx) Tokuma Shoten Publishing Co. Topps Tor Books TOP SELLERS LTD. 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