Showing posts with label Variants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Variants. Show all posts

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Secret Wars #1 Exclusive Cover Variants for Retailers - Full List

Secret Wars, the latest massive company-wide crossover from Marvel Comics is newly upon us.  The inaugural #0 issue is being released as a free comic during the 2015 Free Comic Book Day (FCBD).

The FCBD giveaway, coupled with the release of the new Avengers movie, has resulted in a ton of attention being paid to the comic book industry.  Enterprising retailers have taken advantage of the media maelstrom by purchasing their own exclusive cover art for the first issue of Secret Wars.

This trend of single stores getting their own cover has become much more mainstream lately, but has not reached the fevered pitch of Amazing Spider-Man #666 -- one of the early comics to offer exclusive covers to stores who pre-purchase a large number of issues.

It's time to scout out all of the exclusive retailer variant covers for Secret Wars #1.  The list below is a work in progress, so please post a comment if you find anything that should be added.  Happy hunting!

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Volume 3) (2014) Comic Shop Retailer Variants -- The Full List with Pictures & Contact Info

Marvel is setting the sales charts on fire with the latest relaunch of the Amazing Spider-Man comic book franchise.

Set to be released in April 2014, Amazing Spider-Man #1 has reportedly racked up over a half million orders from retailers.

Never one to shy away from a good gimmick, a large component of those sales are made up of limited edition cover variants for retailers who order a minimum number of books.

The following is a list of comic shop retailers who will have their own variant cover of Amazing Spider-Man #1 along with images and contact information where available.

This list was last updated on July 2, 2014...



Sunday, March 10, 2013

Age of Ultron #1 SXSW Gaming Expo Variant Comic Book

Marvel just finished up their South By Southwest (SXSW) presentation where they announced a bevy of new digital initiatives.

The big treat for comic collectors wasn't the news about the Marvel Gamma adaptive audio or the 700 free digital comics available for download, but rather the free copy of Age of Ultron #1 variant to commemorate the SXSW event.

Age of Ultron features a fairly sizeable Spider-Man appearance, and this variant promises to be one of the rarest released.

The Marvel team for the panel included Axel Alonso (Editor in Chief, Marvel Entertainment) and Peter Phillips (SVP & GM, Marvel Digital Media Group) among others.  They both seemed genuinely happy and a bit surprised at the turnout for the presentation.  By my count, there were a couple hundred folks there to hear the news Marvel had so deftly teased the weeks prior.

The crowd was easily double, if not triple, the size from the previous year's presentation -- Marvel's first visit to SXSW.

Axel let everyone know up front that the Age of Ultron #1 variant would be given away one per person after the speech for free as long as copies remained available.  And they meant it.  They announced they had a very small print run of around 200 copies, and that many of the team at Marvel headquarters wouldn't even be able to get a copy.

As Axel started unpacking the single box of variants comics, it was clear they were right and it was not going to come close to satisfying the hungry crowd of hundreds standing in line both inside and outside the exhibit hall.

I made it to about tenth in line, and watched as issue after issue got autographed by the Marvel team.  I respectfully asked for an unautographed copy because I've always shyed away from signed comics.  As a collector, I guess I'm a purist.  My estimation is that not very many of the comics will end up pure and unsigned.

The event was great.  Marvel packed a ton of news and video clips into their hour-long session.  And it was really great to get Marvel's involvement at SXSW.  I hope they show up again next year.

And good luck finding a copy of this variant.  As of yet (the afternoon following the event) no copies have shown up on Ebay, but I would guess they will eventually.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Amazing Spider-Man #692 Fan Expo Variant

I just got this gem in the mail today -- a variant of Amazing Spider-Man #692 sold exclusively at the Fan Expo in Canada last week.

The variant cover was created by J. Scott Campbell.

If you weren't able to make it to the show, then Ebay is your best best to get a copy.  Buy It Now copies are around the $30-40 range.


Thursday, July 5, 2012

Add One More Astonishing X-Men #51 Variant To the List

As a follow-up to a recent article, I just came across another new variant for Astonishing X-Men #51 when I was working on completing my Spider-Men #1 retailer variant collection.

Heroes Aren't Hard to Find in Charlotte, North Carolina puts on the wildly successful Heroes Convention -- also in Charlotte.  At this year's event back in June, they offered an exclusive "variant" of Astonishing X-Men #51.

The issue includes an image created by Phil Noto of Heroes owner Shelton Drum and his wife Linda.

I say "variant" because the comics weren't printed with the image, but rather the picture was professionally printed on label stock and placed on the blank area of the cover.  Not a true printed variant, but one professionally manufactured.

You can read more or get a copy on their site, and grab one of their many comic shop exclusive cover issues while you're there too.

Monday, July 2, 2012

Three Variant Comics to Watch for at San Diego Comic Con 2012

UPDATE 7/25:
So it looks like the sketch cover (pictured below) was not released.  I'm not sure where the image originated, but a few auctions made it onto Ebay before the convention began.  Oops.

There was another giveaway with a Spidey appearance at the con though.  Marvel gave away a preview version of Amazing Spider-Man #692 that also includes previews of Hawkeye #1, Captain Marvel #1 and Gambit #1.


ORIGINAL STORY:
I first reported there were 2 variants at the 2012 San Diego Comic Con with Spider-Man making an appearance, but there are actually 3 showing up.

These include:

Amazing Spider-Man #688 (regular cover)



Amazing Spider-Man #688 (sketch cover)



Astonishing X-Men #51 (with the blink and you'll miss it Spider-Man glove)



And if you can't make it to the show, you can find them on Ebay.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Spider-Man Attended the Wedding in Astonishing X-Men #51

I just got confirmation that Spider-Man did indeed take a break from saving the world -- following the "Ends of the Earth" storyline in Amazing Spider-Man -- to make an appearance at the wedding of Northstar and Kyle in Astonishing X-Men #51.

Artist Mike Perkins confirmed that is indeed Spidey's gloved hand reaching in to ask for a dance.

And if his skills haven't improved since the mess we saw in the Tobey Maguire-starring Spider-Man 3 movie, then he won't last long on the dance floor.

And speaking of gloved hands.  How incredibly awkward must it be to attend a wedding wearing a costume?

Eh?!?  I guess it's happened before...


Appearance collectors be aware there are currently 5 variants of Astonishing X-Men #51:
  • Regular Cover
  • Djurdjevic Cover Variant
  • Wedding Album Variant
  • San Diego Sketch Cover Variant
  • 2nd-Printing Variant

Friday, June 22, 2012

Spider-Men #1 - The Full Comic Shop Variant List

Spider-Man #1 has come and gone, and it's a pretty good story so far.  More importanly, the issues brings along with it a slew of comic shop retailer variant covers.  Marvel invited comic shop retailers to purchase a minimum of 500 copies to get their own personalized cover to the issue.

This issues joins the ranks of Amazing Spider-Man #666, Amazing Spider-Man #669, Avengers X-Sanction #1, and Avengers Assemble #1 to offer an exclusive retailer variant.  The number of participating stores has dropped for each issue, however even the minimum 12,000 additional issues sold for Spider-Men #1 will probably means it's a modest success for Marvel and may foretell more to come.

The following 24 stores decided to take them up on the offer:

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Avengers: X-Sanction #1 Comic Shop Exclusive Variants - The Participating Store List


Marvel's new flagship mini-series that sets up the events to occur in 2012 has arrived.  Avengers: X-Sanction #1 is out and it brings with it a bevy of variant covers including exclusive cover offers for comic shops, and we have a list of participating stores below.

We start with the normal sort of variant covers that seem to accompany every new series from Marvel these days.
  • Avengers X-Sanction #1 (Ed McGuinness Regular Cover)
  • Avengers X-Sanction #1 (Blank Variant Cover)
  • Avengers X-Sanction #1 (1:15 Ed McGuinness Variant Cover)
  • Avengers X-Sanction #1 (1:25 Leinul Yu Variant Cover)
  • Avengers X-Sanction #1 (1:100 Joe Quesada Variant Cover)
  • Avengers X-Sanction #1 (1:200 Joe Quesada Sketch Variant Cover)

This issue joins the ranks of Amazing Spider-Man #666 and #669 to also offer an exclusive cover for any comic shop retailer willing to purchase a certain number of extra books on top of their regular order.

The first foray into these waters (for Marvel) was Amazing Spider-Man #666.  It had roughly 140 comic shop dealers, retailers, websites and others pre-purchase a minimum 500 variants of their exclusive cover with two competing designs to choose from.  As one of the lunatics to have completed the assembly of a full set, all signs point to it having been a success for retailers.

Then Marvel tried to bottle lightning a second time with Amazing Spider-Man #669.  Only this time the pre-purchase minimums to get a variant cover were set at 2,000, but included an original illustrated character on the cover in a predetermined pose.  Only a scant four retailers jumped on that bandwagon to participate.

Here we are several months later, and Marvel is trying it once again.  They've returned the minimum buy-in to 500 pre-purchased copies and offered two competing covers (pictured above).
  • Avengers X-Sanction #1 (Bryan Hitch Wanted Comic Shop Variant Cover)
  • Avengers X-Sanction #1 (Carlo Pagulayan Battle Comic Shop Variant Cover)

Thursday, October 27, 2011

New York Comic-Con 2011 Exclusive Giveaway Comic Books

This year's New York Comic-Con featured a number of giveaway comics, toys and more.  The most prominent giveaway from Marvel was an exclusive variant of X-Men Regenesis #1.  And while Spidey doesn't appear in that one, there were two other giveaways at the con that he does show up in.

Marvel Mix-Tape #1 NYCC Variant features Spider-Man on the cover in a preview of the upcoming Avengers Sanction #1.  The series features the return of Cable on a quest to wipe out the Avengers in order to save the future.  Other previews in the comic include Feat Itself The Fearless #1, Uncanny X-Men #1, Wolverine & the X-Men #1, and Incredible Hulk #1.



Marvel Press Book Program for Young Readers is a NYCC exclusive comic promoting Marvel's latest hardback original books about their core superheroes.  In addition to information and pictures form the Spider-Man hardback book, the promo comic also includes a bound-in poster of the Mighty Avengers (full color on one side and pencil sketched on the other).

Monday, October 10, 2011

Marvel Team-Up #65 Reprint Variant

Next time you're in Walmart or Toys "R" Us, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Marvel Greatest Battles Comic Packs: Spider-Man and Captain Britain pack, which includes a reprint variant of Marvel Team-Up #65.

This set continues the 2-pack series from Hasbro which each include two action figures and a reprint comic.

You can also check out the Hasbro website for additional information, and a list of other retailers to find the comic pack.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Amazing Spider-Man #666 Comic Shop Variants -- The Full List with Pictures & Contact Info

After my previous post about my quest to collect every Amazing Spider-Man #666 variant, I've had a few requests for photos of all 145 versions along with contact information for each participating store, so I've included the full list below.

Before that, though, check out this pic of the full set (you should be able to click any of the pictures below for a larger version)...


If you want to give it a try.  If you want to try to collect every variant issue of Amazing Spider-Man #666, then I wish you the best of luck in your own quest and hope this information helps.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Avenging Spider-Man #1 Gets Bagged

Marvel has announced that the upcoming Avenging Spider-Man #1 will feature a code to access a free digital copy of the book.  Their press release states the following:
Marvel is making digital comics history once more, and proudly announcing that AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #1, from the superstar creative team of Zeb Wells and Joe Madureira, will be polybagged with a code for a free digital copy of this issue on the Marvel Comics app for free. That’s right: for no additional charge to the retailers or consumers, Marvel is making sure that everyone who purchases AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #1 (any cover, including variants) at their local comic shop can get a free digital copy of the issue on the Marvel Comics app.

Of much greater importance in the press release other than the free download -- which, let's be honest, is no big deal since you are holding the physical copy in your hands already -- is the announcement that the comic will be polybagged.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Amazing Spider-Man #666 -- The Full Set -- IN HAND!!!


As of October 4, 2011, I am proud to announce that I will join a very exclusive group of collectors to assemble a complete set of all 145 variant issues of Amazing Spider-Man #666.  Maybe not the very first, but certainly one of the very few who have even opted to undertake the challenge.

The Quest
On July 20, 2011 the quest began.  The quest to collect every variant of Amazing Spider-Man #666.  A comic book that retailers had the chance to get their own customized cover if they purchased a minimum of 500 copies.  Nearly 140 stores took the offer.  Some displayed their logo on the cover, others showed cartoons, and many have a snapshot of their storefront.  A select few were really clever and staged some great photos.

After 75 days, I received the last issue required (from Italy) to complete the set.  What started as a foolhardy quest has ended in success.  And for anyone trying to do the same, you know just how difficult this process can be.  For everyone else, let me break it down for you by the numbers.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Amazing Spider-Man #667 Montreal Comic Con Variant Cover

A new variant of Amazing Spider-Man #667 was produced by Marvel for the Montreal Comiccon occurring September 17-18, 2011.

It features a variant cover by Neal Adams himself, and it is purported to be the first time Neal has drawn Spidey in print.  If that's true, he shouldn't stop now because the cover is really stellar.

There's a colorized version available online, but the black and white version was the one produced for the convention.

If you weren't lucky enough to make it to the show, you can probably find a copy on Ebay.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Amazing Spider-Man #669 Retailer Variant Covers

On the heels of the Amazing Spider-Man #666 retailer cover variant's being released, Marvel went right back to that well to offer a similar retailer-specific cover for issue #669.

This time, though, instead of the minimum order of 500 copies of the variant, each store would be required to purchase 2,000.  And while 142 stores took part is issue #666, only a handful have ventured into issue #669.

The stores taking part in the promotion include:

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Amazing Spider-Man #666 Fan Expo variant is now available

Because 142 variants just isn't quite enough, there's another new variant edition of Amazing Spider-Man #666.  This time around there is a variant cover illustrated by Steve Epting available at the Canadian Fan Expo.

Only 1,500 copies were printed and made available to attendees who pre-purchased the premium ticket package, which was sold out well before the event began.

The best place to find a copy now is on Ebay, but copies are going for upwards of $80-100.

But wait...there's more.

Keep your eyes open for a 2nd printing of Amazing Spider-Man #666 on its way to comic shops everywhere soon.


Friday, August 12, 2011

How to get the Blister Amazing Spider-Man #666 store variant


With 142 variations of the Amazing Spider-Man #666 store variant program (not including the regular direct and newsstand versions), it's logical to believe that at least one of the issues will be hard to get.  So which one will it be?

From my experience it's the Blister.jp variant from a Japanese online ordering only website.  This one has folks pulling their hair out, because Blister WILL NOT ship to the U.S. -- only within Japan.  And most of us don't have friends or family in Japan that can order the book and send it back to America.

So what are you supposed to do.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Marvel Mix Tape Giveaway Comic Available at the 2011 San Diego Comic Con

Marvel has announced their freebies to be given away at the 2011 San Diego Comic Con, and a new issue of the Marvel Mix Tape giveaway comic is included.

The comic will feature exclusive previews of upcoming Marvel comic books and the entire first issue of one of Marvel’s most popular comic books.

Based upon the cover, it looks like they're putting the first issue of FF#1 in there.  Regardless, it features Spider-Man on the cover so all of you completists will want to get this one.  Myself included.

This is the latest in a series of Marvel Mix Tape giveaway comics that have been released at major conventions over the past few years.  To date there have been 6 issues released primarily at San Diego Comic Con and Chicago Comic Con.  Spider-Man has made at least a cameo appearance in each issue to date.

The value for these issues ranges from cheap to steep (roughly $2-20 on Ebay).  A decent average would be $5 for any particular issue.  Some are a bit scarcer than others.  Here are the covers:








In addition to the giveaway comic book, Marvel will be handing out the following swag:
  • S.H.I.E.L.D. Pin
  • Captain America Pin
  • Daredevil Pin
  • Ultimate Spider-Man Pin
  • Peavey Guitar (there will be a special drawing for these gems)
  • Captain America Shield iPhone 4 Phone Cases
  • The Avengers Eye Patch
  • The Avengers Concept Art Poster


Have a great time this year if you make it to the 2011 SDCC show.  I'll have to get my copy of the Marvel Mix Tape comic on Ebay (sound the violins).


=8-)

Ultimate Comics Fallout #1 Exclusive San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) 2011 Variant

There's a variant edition of the Ultimate Fallout "Spider-Man No More" #1 issue available at this year's San Diego Comic Con.  It's noted that the issue will be limited to 3,000 copies.

The cover features an inverted white background version of the regular edition, and has the SDCC logo included as well.

If you can't make it to San Diego like me, then you can pick up a copy on Ebay at a variety of price points.