There are many different types of comic books that we can buy, trade and even look through when we go to a comic book shop. From these places you will encounter comic books in various conditions. Some comic books will be in mint condition and others will look well thumbed through even though they are newly printed comic books. When you are buying comic books for a collection you want to know roughly the comic book values.

These values are somewhat difficult for the novice comic collector to find. To help you in this task of find the comic book values for your various comic books you can look for a comic book appraiser. This individual will have the knowledge and the experience in handling various comic books so that he comic will not sustain any signs of damage while the comic book is being assessed.

You can ask the appraiser questions about the various identifying marks when you want to know how to find these comic book values when you are in a comic book store. You can also use the various steps and instructions that are found in different comic book price guides.

As these price guides are in both traditional book form and electronic version you should be able to find the comic book values that you are looking for. The information may be a little difficult to find but once you have seen and understood the criteria for assigning values to your comic books you will be able to test out your abilities.

The best way to get a feel for the various values that are possible is to see if you can determine the comic book values by the method that was described in the comic book price guides. The first step is to see the condition of the comic books in your collection. The ones that are in poor shape you may want to leave until you are able to see how the comic book value system really works.

The other items that determine the comic book values are the popularity in the long term. This means that long running comic series like Superman and Batman are probably most likely to be very valuable especially if they are comics from the earlier editions. These early comic books are hard to find.

When you have developed your ability to judge the various comic book values and you feel that you will be able to say which comics are in mint condition and which ones are fair then you will need to see if you can take this a step further and look at the differences in the comic books that you have just purchased from the comic book stores. You can then see what a professional appraiser will value your collection at.

So how does the movie Iron Man stack up again Iron Man comics?

Short answer: Pretty well actually.

Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark, often channeling most of his own well-publicized inner demons into the character. Beyond the origins story, most of Tony’s life is fairly accurate to the comic books, ranging from the shadow of his wealthy industrialist father Howard Stark (the movie even places Howard at the Manhattan Project) to the tragic death of his parents.

Most will complain the origin story has been revised to suit today’s post-9/11 mindset, but here’s the blunt truth: even the comics aren’t true to the comics. In 1963, Tony was kidnapped in Vietnam. In the partial revamp “Heroes Reborn”, Tony was kidnapped in Desert Storm, and in the short-lived cartoon he was abducted by the Mandarin himself. The movie stands somewhere in between the final two, as Stark is captured in Afghanistan by agents of the Mandarin.

Let’s get to the armor itself. By now, the Iron Man comics have showcased several different versions of the armor, and not even a two hour movie can cover them all, but Jon Favreau’s film does a good job covering the high points. The armor Tony first builds in Afghanistan is a rickety version of the streamlined version first seen during Shellhead’s first appearance in Tales of Suspense #39. Tony would be next seen in a bulky gold armor similar in design during subsequent appearances, including The Avengers #1.

The silver armor Tony Stark builds upon returning home is closer to the sleeker models seen in later decades of the Iron Man comics, and also hinted at being the one Jim Rhodes will eventually wear as Iron Man. Finally, the armor Tony Stark dons in the film’s end is generally closer to the modern look of Iron Man in the comics, although like desktops and laptops today, Iron Man’s look is constantly changing. Recently, Iron Man’s armor was turned against him by alien invaders in “Secret Invasion”, and he’s begun building his armor from scratch a second time – what it will look like next is anyone’s guess.

Lastly, watch what happens when several enemies try to give Iron Man multiple targets and also see the spontaneous Stark at work at the film’s final press conference as these are lifted from various parts of the Iron Man comic.

The various stores in your neighborhood are devoted mainly to the task of supplying you with items and services that you want and need. Since recreation is one social activity that many of us enjoy there are different items that are set aside for these purposes. Comic stores also play a role in the recreational activities of people.

From the comic stores in your neighborhood you will be able to find different genres and versions of your favorite comics. These comic stores may even have a section where you will be able to browse through old editions and sometimes find second hand comic books.

As these comic stores have many different types of comics you should have a rough idea of what comic genre you want to look at first. This way you can look through the shelves for comics that catch your eye or even hunt for issues of your favorite comic series. There will be times when you will come across variations of your favored comics.

These types of comics are also very popular as many people like to see the other adventures that can occur to their favorite characters. Besides looking at action comics you will be able to hunt for your favorite comics like the Archies, Tarzan, Tom and Jerry in addition to other comics.

Comic stores are also great places to see if you can buy the latest comic book series. As these comics are not that well known you will have to ask the comic store staff or owners how these comics are. You can also find some of the much loved vintage comics like Wonder Woman and the Lone Ranger.

The popular Anime series, the different Manga comics, Science Fiction comics are other comics that people love to read. Comic stores are also the best place to see if you can buy posters of your comic book characters. Some comic stores will even have comic book price guides.

With these books you will be able to determine the price of the various comics in your entire collection. In general you will be able to find your comics for a relatively inexpensive price.

As comic stores are the best place for you to see the latest comic books you may want to see if you can find your favorite hidden among the other intriguing comic book titles. Besides buying your current comics the best place for you to start your comic book collection is from your trusty comic stores. With this in mind you may want to head over to your local comic store and see what new treasures you can find.

As far as movies go, Superman Returns was not one of the best. Not only did it receive so-so reviews from the critics, but it panned at the box office – barely able to make back its budget, especially after Warner Bros. dropped a mountain of marketing the box office gross couldn’t hope the overtake. But though the movie may not have given Superman a second franchise, it did him something rather interesting: a son.

The story ran in the pages of the Superman: Last Son story arc, written by fan-favorite comic writer Geoff Johns along with a special guest – Richard Donner, director of the first Superman film. In the storyline, Superman finds he’s no longer the Last Son of Krypton, though unlike the movie Superman Returns – where Superman is ultimately revealed to have a child as a result his tryst with Lois Lane in Superman 2 – this child is in fact revealed to be the son of Superman 2 baddies General Zod and Ursula.

Dubbed Chris Kent by Superman’s good friend in Gotham, the boy was briefly raised by Clark and Lois in a relatively normal life, although as you might expect from any superhero arc, the tranquility last long. Soon, his biological father Zod re-emerged with the other Phantom Zone prisoners and invaded Earth. Though Superman repelled the invasion – with the unlikely aid of his adversary Lex Luthor, and his team the Superman Revenge Squad – Chris himself returned to the Phantom Zone in order to close it to prevent further reprisals from his father.

So in end Superman’s adopted son went back home – but its unknown just how long his son will be gone. Superman isn’t the only hero with parenting problem – Batman recently discovered he had a biological son by the name of Damian Wayne with Talia al Ghul, herself the daughter of Batman Begins baddie Ra’s al Ghul. Though misguided and downright deceitful at times (the result of his upbringing), Damian genuinely wants to help his father as the Dark Knight, and one comic – Batman #666, set in the far, far future – maintains that he will eventually be the Dark Knight himself. Will Chris Kent ever take over his adopted father’s mantle? We’ll have to stay glued to Supes to find out.

I don’t know if you feel the same about comic books like I do, but one thing is for sure, I have held on to my first ever comic book for a very long time and I believe now it will probably cost you quite a penny especially since it is mint condition and it is a first series. When shopping for a comic book it is good to learn all you can on that comic especially if it is the rare or hard to find kind.

Apart from superheroes I have always loved comics like Archie, Jughead and the rest of the gang. I was also a big fan Josie and the pussycats and off course the DC comic’s collection as well as Marvel comics. Many people do not know the value of their comic books and how much they can get for them if they have kept them in prime condition. In fact most time people just leave their comics lying around in their homes without ever thinking that if they needed another one and had kept the one they had in good condition they would be able to trade it in for another. This kind of trade is offered by several comic book stores.

The older your comic the more value it has and the more care you have to give it especially if it is a first edition or a very rare copy. Many a times you will find such comics in auctions or if you really want to luck out look for yard sales where people are moving out because you will find people are either selling their comic book collection at a very low price or giving them away for free. Always have them appraised.

Do you collect comics for fun or profit? Well if you’re like most collectors, it’s a little of both. Regardless, if you think that one day you may sell some or all of your comics (and it seems many of us do) you may want to learn more about “slabbing.” Slabbing is the process of having your comics professionally graded, and then encased between two sheets of hard plastic (some sources identify this plastic as “Barex”, but there’s some controversy as to what type of plastic it is). A special paper that prevents acidification is tucked into the comic as part of this process. Slabbing protects the comic from weather extremes, mositure, dust, and all the other things that can decrease a comic’s value.

Collectors both love and hate slabbing–there is no middle ground. First, here’s why they love it. Slabbing protects a comic indefinitely (no one knows for how long exactly, as the process is so new). Once slabbled you don’t have to worry that your prized Superman, Batman, X-Men, Spiderman, or Archie comic will lose its value, or any of its “eye appeal.” That’s a big plus! Also the slabbing company (Comics Guaranty, LTD or CGC is the major one, although there are others) will grade your comic as part of the process. Grades are on a .5 to 10-point scale with .5 being poor and 10 being Mint. When you’re looking to value and/or sell your comics it’s a great advantage to have it graded. It’s much easier to sell a comic if you can say it’s a CGC 6.0, instead of “in my opinion it’s in Fine condition.” I know this from personal experience and from talking to other sellers, including those selling comics, for my book eBay PowerSeller Secrets.

Now, here’s why some collectors hate slabbing. Once a comic is slabbed you can’t read it! You can’t take it out from between the plastic that encases it without destroying the seal that the grading company puts along the top of the case. Once that seal is broken the grade is no longer guaranteed. That makes sense because if you take it out you may change its condition somehow, thus reducing its grade. (Although I think most collectors would be careful enough not to harm their comics.) So if you are going to slab a comic you have to get used to the idea that forever it will be encased between plastic sheets. You’ll still be able to see its front and back covers but you won’t be able to page through it. That’s a tough thing to get used to. Also, slabbing ain’t cheap. Depending primarily on the comic’s age it can easily set you back $50 once you figure in shipping and insurance. And here’s something that’s not discussed all that much: the cases get scratched easily, and when light hits those scratches your beautifully encased comic doesn’t look so hot. New cases aren’t as expensive as the original ones if the comics don’t have to be regraded, but you still have to pay for shipping and insurance to CGC and back.

There are more pros and cons to this slabbing business but those are the main ones.

My advice? Slab Golden Age comics that are worth at least $150. (Because more modern comics are cheaper to slab, you may consider slabbing one of those if its current value is $100 or so.) It’s worth the cost in the long run and at $150, a comic is a pretty valuable investment, which will likely appreciate over time. There’s great peace of mind that comes from knowing your comic will not lose any value after you slab it (barring a change in market conditions, of course). If you want to be able to read your comic, you can also search the web for a PDF version of it. These are available from newsgroups devoted to the hobby. Or you can buy one of those printed compilations of old comics.

Enjoy your hobby! Comics are a snapshot of American pop culture, just like magazines or fashions. Besides they can bring back some great memories.

Comic books and graphic novels have long captured the imaginations of children, teens and adults everywhere. Many people have read comics when they were kids, occasionally hiding a comic book inside of a school book in order to read it while their teacher lectured.  The frequency of which we would enjoy these tales usually decreased the more we grew into adulthood however, they still have a tremendous appeal.  Comic books have usually been thought of as nothing more than mere “children’s books” however, they have come a long way over the years.

Comics and graphic novels address a range of societal issues and allow us to showcase what is happening in the world today. Some comic books act only as plot devices, some as social commentary, and others try to make us think.

Their has been a rise in interest in comics in recent years primarily due to the entertainment industry and the internet.  The internet has given people new options for buying, selling and trading comic books with the online marketplace and websites such as Ebay and Amazon.com.  Online comic book forums and message boards have also given comic book readers and collectors an instrument through which to connect and share their passion for this creative medium and have piqued interest in those new to comic culture.

Comics are now recognized as a valued medium and we can see their influence in just about every sector of our entertainment. From movies to television and from video games to amusement parks, comics have had a tremendous impact on our culture. As a result comics are no longer being censored in the sense of what should and shouldn’t be in them. This may be a bad thing for some but for others it is a basic part of free speech and the first amendment.

Comic book fans have been preaching it for years: comics are not just for kids. This should be old hat by now. So rather than trying to entice non-comic readers to read comics, let’s first explore the medium of comics and what makes it unique.

When you read a book, you are creating images in your mind based on the words. That’s why a good writer can convey a complex image easily and understandably. The beauty of books is that ten people reading the same book may come up with ten different images based on how their minds shaped the words.

Movies tend to be just the opposite. The pictures and dialogue are given to us with very little left to the imagination. Movies are straightforward and to the point. Those same ten people from the book example certainly saw the same images of a film.

Comic books are a unique combination of the two. Forget about content for a second. Comics can do what no other medium can; the combination of words and art in a sequential format tell a story and evoke feelings that other formats, in their attempt to conjure the same feelings, would have failed miserably. That isn’t to say comic characters can’t be in good movies. They can. However, the emotion and feeling from reading Grant Morrison’s Arkham Asylum could not be duplicated on the big screen. Same goes for Neil Gaiman’s Sandman and Kurt Busiek’s Marvels. For further information on this unique medium, I highly suggest Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics.

Now, with that out of the way, here are five creators who have written several series and/or graphic novels that non-comics readers would enjoy and find thought provoking:

Alan Moore. Yes, Watchmen is on everyone’s list and yes, it should be. A fantastic use of the medium and an entertaining story as well. But Moore has such a rich bibliography that I hate to confine it to just the one classic. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and From Hell are also classics, and certainly not for children. His entire line of ABC Comics is worth a read. Even finding his individual stories (there are several compilations on the market) is worth it.

Grant Morrison. My personal favorite, he tends to be a little “out there” for some. But I find his stories to be contextually rich with symbolism and sequences that stay with me for days. I highly recommend The Invisibles, We 3, Seven Soldiers mini-series, and his run on Doom Patrol, Animal Man and Justice League. Graphic novels include Sebastian O, The Mystery Play and Arkham Asylum.

Neil Gaiman. Noted mostly for his outstanding Sandman run, which I highly recommend, Gaiman also wrote the underrated graphic novel Murder Mysteries.

Greg Rucka. I include Rucka on this list for his outstanding characterization in the Queen & Country series and the wonderful mystery, Whiteout. Both series have several moments where you realize that the comic medium was the only way to get these stories to work best.

Bill Willingham. A somewhat controversial pick for this list, however I wanted to include him due to his unbelievable work on Fables. It’s one of those concepts that have writers everywhere smacking their heads saying “why didn’t I think of that.” Entertaining and engrossing, this series will have you reading fairy tales to your children in a whole different light.

So there are several titles worth checking out (most available from local libraries), most of them worth reading over and over again. Remember, comics may have initially been directed at a young audience, but those days are over. Open your mind and enjoy the unique feeling that comics offer and you’ll be richer for the experience.

Anyone looking at the number of much-hyped superhero films at the box office could stake the claim comics have never been bigger, but a quick view of comic book history, however, reveals while comics have never soared to higher heights in the movie gross, this fantastic foundation has never been more unstable.

Comic books were an easy fit for 1930’s America. They were cheap, easy to produce, and even easier to sell. With large booms in pulp, radio shows and comic strips, comic books were the next logical step. It was the arrival of Superman in 1938 and Batman roughly a year later that heralded not only the rise of superheroes, but the Golden Age of Comics.

The entry of the United States into World War II didn’t halt comic book reading – if anything it accelerated it, with heroes were throwing down with the likes the Nazis and dictators even before the bombs fell upon Pearl Harbor. Once the war began, comics weren’t just morale boosters – they were part of the war effort like any other industry. Patriotic heroes like Captain America urged the purchase of war bonds, and entire runs of comics were bough from the stands and scrapped for recycling to help overseas troops. Though such sacrifices played their part in the “Greatest Generation”, they would have far-reaching ramifications on the comic industry in later generations – nearly forty years later.

The 1950’s dramatically altered the superhero landscape. Noted psychiatrist Frederic Wertham published “Seduction of the Innocent”, a book which pinned much of society’s ills on comics. He alleged Batman and Robin were homosexuals, and Wonder Woman was not only a lesbian, but also a threat to the woman’s place in the American household. Wertham’s scathing criticism caused comic book sales to plummet. Grisly horror and crime comics like Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror were left crippled. The entire incident culminated in a Comics Code Authority that oversaw comic book content, and as a result, comic books for the next decade were largely sanitized.

Visit http://www.classic-comic-books.com

It’s always good to have your comic book appraised by a professional if you are looking to sell it. Comic Value would help you understand what you have in your comic book. There are specifications on how your comic book must look. The glossy cover and the brightly filled pages must still look as good as new or like they have never been read before, even if they have. In fact most people that keep the rare editions or collector’s comics usually have two of the same comic. That means one was for reading and the other for safe keeping.

Most of the time you will find that the one for reading is different from the one that is all wrapped up in a clean sealed environment and kept in mint condition. This kind of time and conditioning that is given to the comic books can only be done by someone who loves comics and has the dedication to keep his or her comic book in the right conditions, atmosphere and surely knows the comic value. Such people get the comic book appraised and then put in time and money to make sure that the comic is in mint condition. Some of them even showcase their comic in conventions on comic books and superheroes. The comic value  goes even higher when more people get to view it and cannot get a hold of another copy anywhere.

It is important to make sure that you keep your comic away from any wet atmosphere or to keep it sealed tight in its case or plastic sleeve if you intend to keep it for a while. Also note that you must keep checking online for more news on how much your comic book is valued.