Marvel Age and DC Sampler

As a long time comic book collector there is one thing I know that young collectors should keep in mind-especially when it comes to comic books.

Never discard or take for granted promotional material.

Too many times I’ve seen collectors scrambling to obtain an obscure publication that has a ‘true’ first appearance of a comic book character.

Many times the characters will appear in in-house promotional pieces or even in a catalog of characters such as an index.

Convention programs and giveaways are also highly collectible.

For examples do some research and see where Spawn and Hellboy first appeared.  Now look at the prices of those publications.

Back in the early 1980s both DC and Marvel Comics published in-house promotional comic books.

In DC’s case they were giveaways and smaller in number than Marvel’s publications.

DC Sampler is a prime example of what was once a free publication that is just now being sought after by comic book collectors.  We’re talking about a comic book published over 30 years ago!

In DC Sample #1 readers are given sneak peeks of the All-Star Squadron, various Superman titles, Arion, The Omega Men, Wonder Woman, The Huntress, Batman titles, Amethyst, The New Teen Titans, DC’s War comics and several new and mainstay publications.

Keep in mind-these were not simple page reprints from the books.  They were all brand new art seen only in DC Sampler.

Marvel Comics created its own monthly promotional comic book: Marvel Age, and sold it to Marvel fans for a mere 25 cents.

The first issue pretty much promoted itself and explained what it was about.  Over the next few months Marvel Age premiered many of Marvel’s new titles and spotlighted current issues.

Many of the early Marvel Age comic books demand high prices.  Case in point-check out the Stan Lee issue.

Recently I checked E-bay and a issue #1 of Marvel Age in mint condition and CGC certified sold for nearly $200!

Another thing to keep in mind is there are not as many promotional publications still around as regular monthly comic books.  They were meant to be read and discarded just as you would newspaper advertisements and fliers.

Is it any wonder collectors are scrambling to find them?

Other promotional items such as posters, fliers, trading cards, trinkets and the like are also demanding high prices.

I was recently digging through my stash the other day and came across two of the Infinity Gauntlet promotional posters from 1991-they currently sell for $75 each!

A word of advice: look for giveaways, posters, etc.  What many consider trash today may be treasures tomorrow.