Speculator Picks of the Week: Batman #686

Spring is almost upon us and with it comes convention season. Last weekend was the New York Comic-con, and already convention exclusive variant figures and covers, along with sketches and signed comics from guest artists, are selling on eBay. Personally, I’d love to grab one of the Dark Avengers NYCC exclusives. I love convention season, and if all goes as planned, I’ll be attending Chicago-con this year. If not, then I’ll play along at home watching the comic news-sites as they update with news from each discussion panel and scoop up the exclusives I want on-line. For a complete list of the upcoming comic conventions, click here and start planning your nerdy weekend getaway now.

All convention news aside; let’s not forget that it’s Wednesday and time to take a look at this week’s new comics. Below is my list of comics I’ll be purchasing this Wednesday, Feb. 11. As always, I’d love to hear your feedback on what am or should be collecting. For a complete list of this week’s comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Action Comics #874
Batman #686
Batman and The Outsiders: Special
B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess #2 of 5
Captain Britain and MI:13 #10
DMZ #39
Green Lantern Corps #33
Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #3 of 8
Incognito #2
Nightwing #153
Thor #600
X-Infernus #3 of 4

And now, on to the Speculator Picks of the Week. These are books that, for one reason or another, may sell out quickly and become instant collectibles. If you don’t pay attention and get to your local comic shop in a timely fashion, you could be paying way too much for these comics very soon.

Batman #686; DC; Written by Neil Gaiman; Art by Andy Kubert; Covers by Andy Kubert (1:50 sketch Variant) and Alex Ross (50/50 variant); 48 pages; $3.99.

“Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” part 1 of 2!

Solicitation: Best-selling author Neil Gaiman (THE SANDMAN) and superstar artist Andy Kubert (BATMAN, Marvel 1602) join forces for a special 2-part BATMAN event! “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader” is a captivating and mysterious tale the likes of which Batman and friends have never experienced before. Delving into the realms of life, death and the afterlife, Gaiman leaves no stone unturned as he explores every facet and era of Bruce Wayne’s life.

Why it’ll go fast: Put Neil Gaiman’s name on any comic and it’s an instant sell out. Put Neil Gaiman’s name on a Batman comic that will redefine the Bat-titles in the wake of Bruce Wayne’s death and I’m not sure what will happen. I would guess that this will be one of the highest selling comics of the year. Whether your a fan of Gaiman, Batman, Andy Kubert or all of the above, this will be must read comic-material. By the way, I saw Gaiman’s “Coraline” this weekend and loved it. You will too.

Batman and The Outsiders: Special; DC; Written by Peter J. Tomasi; Art and cover by Adam Kubert; 40 pages; $3.99

Solicitation: Spinning out of “Batman R.I.P.” and DC UNIVERSE: LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT, this special features the birth of a new era for the Outsiders and is a perfect entry point for past and present readers alike. FINAL CRISIS has changed the universe forever, and though Batman may be gone, his legacy must endure. Forces are set in motion that give rise to a new team ready to combat the secret evil that the Outsiders were truly formed for all those years ago. Is Geo-Force the best leader? Or will Black Lightning prove to be a challenger? Plus, the introduction of a never-before-seen character important to the Batman mythos!

Writer Peter J. Tomasi (GREEN LANTERN CORPS, NIGHTWING) is joined by Adam Kubert (DCU: LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT) for this extra-length one-shot spectacular, which is the opening chapter of an epic storyline that will continue within the pages of February’s THE OUTSIDERS #15!

Why it’ll go fast: No one has been reading Batman and the Outsiders since the soap-opera-esque exit of writer Chuck Dixon with issue 10. The title fell from the 41st spot in November to 80th in December on the top 300 selling comics list. Fans are bailing out on this book and for good reason; it’s been fill-in story after directionless fill-in story written by “Mr. Fill-In” himself, Frank Tieri. Until now. Peter Tomasi, one of my favorite new DC writers, reinvigorates the Outsiders with a new direction in the wake of Batman’s death. Don’t expect to see piles of this issue as most store owners aren’t sold on Tomasi’s name to cause a sell-out yet. However, Adam Kubert’s art might just do the trick.

Thor #600; Marvel Comics; Written by Chris Giarrusso, J. Michael Straczynski and Stan Lee; Art by Chris Giarrusso and Olivier Coipel; Covers By Olivier Coipel, Marko Djurdjevic (50/50 wraparound variant) and Gabriele Dell’Otto (1:20 variant); 104 pages; $4.99

Solicitation: The mighty God of Thunder hits a major milestone! THOR goes back to its classic numbering for this issue 600 mega-event, and even Stan “The Man” Lee joins the party with an all-new story! J. Michael Straczynski and Olivier Coipel bring their widely acclaimed run to a major culmination! And Chris Giarrusso lays down an epic Mini Marvels Thor adventure!

PLUS jaw- dropping wraparound covers by Olivier Coipel and Marko Djurdjevic! Miss this issue?! We say thee NAY!

Why it’ll go fast: Every issue of J.M.S’s Thor has sold out at the printers and fans of the Thunder god agree that these are some of the best Thor stories ever printed. Thor #600 is a big anniversary issue that will bring fans, both old and new, out to the shops. The $4.99 cover price may scare some retailers from ordering big on this issue so get it while you can. Also, the Dell Otto variant looks amazing but could be pretty pricey.

The Indy Book of the Week will return next week.

Nerdy Question of the week:

As a comic collector, have you begun to feel the burn of $3.99 comics, or do you feel the quality and increased page count has made up for the increase in price?

Thanks again for your continued input and keep the answers to the nerdy questions coming. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask A Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

This Week in Geek is a weekly blog about new comics written by WorthPoint Comic book Worthologist Matt Baum. Every Wednesday, Matt takes a look at the week’s new comics from a collector’s point-of-view and discusses which books may be hard to find in the near future and why. Make sure to click on the hot links for previews and more information on the comics, characters, story-lines and creators discussed here. Also, feel free to post your comments in the new “comments” section below.

With the weekly shipping schedule of comics, it’s easy for nerds like me, who live and die with Diamond’s shipping schedule, to forget that there are people out there that would like to start reading comics but have no idea where to begin. Where does one start? With a new storyline? Perhaps a first issue? Truth be told, yes it is difficult for an outsider to join, or re-join, the ranks of comic nerd-dom due to the heavy continuity that pervades most stories. The same continuity that nerds love can be just as effective at holding new readers at bay. This week Marvel comics is trying to alleviate the stress of diving back into the seemingly impenetrable world of comics with their new book, Marvel: Your Universe #1. The comic will give readers a chance to look at five different stories from the Marvel U. This issue includes Ghost Rider, Nova, the X-men, Iron Fist and Ms. Marvel. Think of it as a tasting platter for the nerd with refined tastes. If you’ve been thinking about checking out or returning to the Marvel Universe this is the perfect chance to do so.

Below you’ll find my pile of comics I’ll be purchasing this Wednesday, Feb. 4. As always, I’d love to hear your input on what I am or should be reading. For a complete list of this week’s comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Agents of Atlas #1
Astonishing Tales #1
Black Panther #1
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #22
Cable #11
Dead Irons #1
Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #3 of 5
Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #3 of 8
House of Mystery #10
Immortal Iron Fist #22
The Invincible Iron Man #10
Nightwing #153
Punisher #2
Saga of The Swamp Thing: Book 1
Secret Six #6
Secret Warriors #1

So that’s my pile of comic distractions for this week. Now let’s talk speculation. As you may or may not know, the purpose of this blog is to arm the comic nerd with the information he or she needs to make an informed and quality new comic purchase every week. While they might not be worth piles of money, these issues may be pretty hard to find in the near future.

Agent’s of Atlas #1; Marvel Comics; Written by Jeff Parker; Art by Carlo Pagulayan; Covers by Arthur Adams and Ed Mcguinnes (1:20 variant); 48 pages; $3.99.

Solicitation: The heroes of the 1950s are back with big plans for the 21st Century! When Federal enforcers under the hand of NORMAN OSBORN burst into an armory under control of the Atlas Foundation, Jimmy Woo’s Agents go head-to-head with the new powers that be. How it all goes down will make the playing field of the modern Marvel Universe more volatile than ever! PLUS: A 12-page 1950s flashback to the Agents of Atlas’ first savage encounter with the man known as Wolverine!

Why it’ll go fast: Not many people read the first Agents of Atlas miniseries back in October of 2006; it debuted at #133 on the top 300 ordered comics that month. Even though the back issues don’t guide much higher than cover price, because of light initial ordering, they are hard to find. I only found three complete runs on eBay. If you can find them, I recommend picking up the 2006-07 Agents series as it was a great read and, if the latest series is a hit, they could be seeing premium prices soon. Based on the low sales of the first series I would expect to see piles of the latest Agents #1 on the stands this week.

Dead Irons #1, Dynamite Ent; Written by James Kuhoric; Art by Jason Shawn Alexander; Covers by Jae Lee and Jason Shawn Alexander (1:8 variant); 32 pages; $3.99.

Solicitation: Three bounty hunter siblings blaze a path of death and destruction across the old west. Traveling by moonlight they rip criminals, screaming for mercy, from their hiding places, but none is ever given. Each bounty is torn, broken and bled dry before they are delivered dead and payment collected in gold—no silver. The Irons are the most feared bounty-hunting killers in the west, but that fear isn’t based on them being the fastest with a pistol or rifle. It’s because they’re the walking dead.

Why it’ll go fast: I was just having a discussion with a friend about zombies in the old west, because I’m a nerd… yes, wherein he asked if such a theme existed. I was pleased to tell him about Dead Irons and how great the series looks. Before I get flooded with e-mails, no Dead Irons is not breaking new ground here, Image/IDW’s “Desperadoes” is one zombie-western that comes to mind; but this is the first time in any zombie title I can recall where the zombies are the good guys. I can’t wait! (Yes, I’m aware of Marvel’s living Zombie character, but would call him both a “hero” and a “zombie” in only the loosest sense of the words.)

Secret Warriors #1; Marvel Comics; Written by Brian Michael Bendis and Jonathan Hickman; Art by Stefano Casselli; Covers by Jim Cheung and Carlos Pacheco (1:15 variant); $3.99.

Solicitation: Exploding out of the pages of Secret Invasion and Mighty Avengers! Nick Fury and his new band of young heroes uncover the darkest secret in the history of the Marvel Universe! A secret that will crack the Internet into tiny little pieces! A secret that sends the Secret Warriors tumbling into an underworld of rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, super-powered spies and global criminal organizations. This is the Nick Fury book you’ve been waiting for! Be there for the Marvel debut of award-winning Nightly News creator Jonathan Hickman as he teams up with Secret Warriors co-creator Brian Bendis to unveil a new era in Marvel mania!

Why it’ll go fast: Bendis’ new team of Secret Warriors look to be leading the fight against Norman Osborne’s Dark Reign, they all have great origins and are related to some cult favorite B-list heroes and they are led by my favorite Marvel character, Nick Fury. If that’s not enough, up and coming writer Jonathan Hickman (Red Mass for Mars, Pax Romana) co-writes with super-star Bendis along with the fantastic artwork of Stefano Caselli. Secret Warriors has been eagerly awaited since it’s announcement last summer at Wizard World Chicago. Initial orders on SW may be low due to the lack of A-list heroes which could result in an instant sell-out. Add this comic to your pull-list now!

Indy book of the Week:

The Big Skinny: How I Changed My Fattitude; Villard Books; Written and Drawn by Carol Lay; 208 pages; $18.

Solicitation: Here’s the skinny: After a lifetime of yo-yo dieting with pills, hypnosis and ill-informed half-measures, Carol Lay finally shed her excess pounds and kept them off. Now this California cartoonist shares her experiences in a funny, genuine and eye-popping graphic memoir that tells Carol’s story and shows you how you can do it, too.

Why you should care: Well for starters, studies show that one in four Americans are overweight, but I’m not here to preach. I love that Indy comics can do anything, including help readers lose weight. They don’t always have to be about self-introspection, alcoholism and murder. Indy comics can be funny and helpful too.

Nerdy question of the week:

Now that DC’s Final Crisis has ended and the dust is beginning to settle collector’s have an important question. Not “did I enjoy this,” because I would argue the book itself was hard to follow at best, but perhaps, “are these going to be worth anything?” It’s a good question and one I’ll be examining in my other blog The Comic Speculator. Collectability aside, what did you think of DC’s latest event? Did Final Crisis hit you in the heart or in the pants? And was it worth the $28 price of admission?

That’s all for this week folks. I’m going to try to figure out what happened to last week’s blog and promise to try to keep things weekly. Thanks to those that e-mailed concerns. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world, feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask A Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

Matt Baum is WorthPoint’s comic book Worthologist

WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

This Week in Geek is a weekly blog about new comics written by WorthPoint Comic book Worthologist Matt Baum. Every Wednesday, Matt takes a look at the week’s new comics from a collector’s point-of-view and discusses which books may be hard to find in the near future and why. Make sure to click on the hot links for previews and more information on the comics, characters, story-lines and creators discussed here. Also, feel free to post your comments in the new “comments” section below.

Welcome back nerds! It’s Wednesday and time for another edition of This Week in Geek. I’ve been receiving a lot of great feed-back and wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who wrote in over the past few months. The changes you see here, both editorial and formative, are because your suggestions. Keep them coming and again, thanks. I wouldn’t be the self-made-millionaire-comic-blogger I am today with out you guys. Now enough of the thank you’s and self misrepresentation, lets rap about comics.

Below you’ll find my pile of comics I’ll be purchasing this Wednesday, Jan. 28. As always, I’d love to hear your input on what I am or should be reading. For a complete list of this week’s comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Avengers: The Initiative #21
Batman #685
Captain America #46
Daredevil #115
Faces of Evil: Kobra
Fantastic Four #563
Final Crisis #7 of 7
Incredible Hercules #125
Justice Society Of America #23
New Avengers #49
Nova #21
Punisher: War Zone #6 of 6
Superman #684
The Umbrella Academy: Dallas #3 of 6
Wonder Woman #28
X-Force #11

Now let’s talk speculation. As you may or may not know, the purpose of this blog is to arm the comic nerd with the information he or she needs to make an informed and quality new comic purchase every week. While they might not be worth piles of money, these issues may be pretty hard to find in the near future.

Umbrella Academy: Dallas #3 of 6; Dark Horse; Written by Gerard Way; Art and cover by Gabriel Ba; 32 pages $2.99

Solicitation: As Clare Boothe Luce once said, “No good deed goes unpunished.” The Seance, ego bloated from having saved the world a few months ago, finds himself strapped in for a most unpleasant ride while the team runs in four different directions—because only four of the seven Umbrella Brats are currently mobile.

Why it’ll go fast: Last week I declared Supergirl to be the best comic you weren’t reading and this week I’m here to say I was wrong. Checking in at the 102nd spot on the top 300 comics sold in December 2008 is the Umbrella Academy: Dallas #2, making the Umbrella Academy the best comic you are not reading. It is not an exaggeration to say that there is not a more unique and well-written superhero comic on the market than Way’s Umbrella Academy. If you’ve always wondered what the Incredibles would have been like had it been written and directed by Wes Anderson, then this comic is for you. Good luck finding issues #1 and #2, both of which are starting to see higher prices online as they sell out.

Watchmen Figure Assortment 1; DC Direct; $14.95-$19.95 ea

Solicitation: Based on the upcoming March 6, 2009, Warner Bros. movie WATCHMEN, DC DIRECT brings both long-time and new fans of WATCHMEN what they crave: collectible action figures, intricately clothed 1:6 scale deluxe collector figures, exquisitely sculpted busts, and straight-from-the-set prop replicas! All products feature movie accurate likenesses and costume detailing!

Why it’ll go fast: I know what you’re thinking. “Isn’t this supposed to be a new comic blog?” Yes it is. However, I have waited longer than I care to remember for Watchmen figures and they are finally here. Yes, they are based on the movie and not the comic but that is only due to image rights and intellectual property law. For a great article on the legal wranglings that deprived fans of Watchmen figures for years, click here. A lot of comic shops have scaled back on their toy orders, so don’t be surprised, and god help you, if you have to go eBay looking for individual figures. I’m terrified what will happen when the clear Dr. Manhattan variants start shipping. My name is Matt Baum and I am nerd.

Nova #21; Marvel Comics; Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning; Art by Wellinton Alves; Cover by Guru-efx; 32 pages; $2.99

Solicitation: Richard Rider: Nova no more? With the new Nova Corps on Earth laying down the law, is there no longer a need for the Human Rocket? Plus: guest-stars Darkhawk and the original Quasar! Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Wellinton Alves hit you with the biggest twists yet in the latest jaw-dropping installment of what Wizard calls “the best outer space soap opera since “Star Wars!”

Why it’ll go fast: There seems to have been a steady decline in Nova orders in the past two months (from the 66th position in November to the 87th in December of 2008 on the top 300 ordered comics). This is a disturbing trend for Nova fans, myself included, and I’m telling you all right now, if the decline continues and Nova gets canceled all you nerds are in trouble. My momma never bragged about how good lookin’ I was, but she always told me I was one mean little cuss when it came to hurtin’ folks. Seriously though, Nova is the best Sci-Fi comic Marvel has published in years and everyone needs to be reading it. If it’s not on your pull-file/pre-order list, I’d add it right away as the lower the initial orders get on Nova the harder it’s going to be to find.

Indy Comic of the Week:

Capacity; Secret Acres; Theo Ellsworth; 336 pages; $15.00

Upon being inserted (gently) into Ellsworth’s intricately rendered imaginary world, a place in which Maurice Sendak or Dr. Seuss would feel right at home, the reader is gradually initiated into the artist’s hermetic headspace. We learn about his creative process (long walks spark countless interior “skits” he subsequently draws into existence) and about his personal life (living in his car and house sitting gradually gave way to his current domestic tranquility). After initially fearing that his demons would catch him, Ellsworth now relies on his own, self-created monsters to catch him when he falls.

—From a review at Villagevoice.com written by Richard Gehr

Ellsworth’s art is the kind of work that makes me wish I didn’t have tattoos. Not that I regret mine; I just wish I had room for some of his work. The cover of this book alone would be an awesome shoulder piece.

Nerdy Question of the Week???

What comic company do you feel packs the most quality (i.e., story-telling, art, paper stock, page-count, etc) into their comics? Yet another week of great responses to the Question of the Week! Keep them coming and thanks again, nerds! Until next week, keep the questions coming and, check out my other blog The Comic Speculator, where I discuss new and classic, yet still affordable back-issue comics. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask A Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Before we get started let’s talk housekeeping. I’ve received a few e-mails detailing some problems with finding older “This Week” blogs, problems with posting comments and even some problems with getting in contact with me. I assure you I’ve read all your emails and forwarded them to the proper geeks and have been reassured by those same geeks that problems are in the process of being solved. There’s a lot of changes coming down the WorthPoint-pipe real soon here (no I’m not being replaced, as far as I know anyway) and they are all for the benefit of you guys. Stick around and you’ll see.

With that out of the way let’s talk comics. The yearly comic sales numbers have been released and it seems, once again, Marvel stomped DC in comic sales while DC whupped Marvel in Trade-Paper-Back sales. All in all not very surprising as Marvel’s “Secret Invasion” seems to have been a rollicking sales and critical success. The fans spoke with their wallets and bought a lot more Marvel Comics than DC. The numbers don’t lie. However, does sales success translate to collectivity? The short answer is maybe. For more on this question check out my other blog, “The Comic Speculator” where I’ll be taking a look at Marvel’s last big crossover event, “Civil War,” to try and predict where prices on the “Secret Invasion” comics will sit after the dust settles. Look for that blog later this week.

For now let’s take a look at this week’s new comics. Here’s my pile if comics for the week of Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. As always, I welcome your criticism, praise or threats of bodily harm based on what I am or am not reading/collecting. You may have noticed a new section below where you can respond to this article, it’s the perfect place to agree with or lash out at me for all to see! (No rhyme intended) For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Action Comics #873
B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess #1 of 5
Captain Britain and MI: 13 #9
DMZ #38
Faces of Evil: Prometheus
Final Crisis #6 of 7
Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #2 of 2
Green Lantern Corps #32
Nightwing #152
Punisher: War Zone #5 of 6
X-Infernus #2 of 4

Now let’s talk speculation. As you may or may not know, the purpose of this blog is to arm the comic nerd with the information he or she needs to make an informed and quality new comic purchase every week. While they might not be worth piles of money, these issues may be pretty hard to find in the near future.

Amazing Spiderman #583, Obama Variant

Amazing Spiderman #583, Obama Variant; Marvel Comics; Written by Mark Waid; Art by Barry Kitson, Back up story Written by Zeb Wells; Art by Todd Nauck; 32 pages $3.99.

Solicitation: YOU ASKED FOR IT, YOU GOT IT! PETER PARKER ON A DATE! After the revelations of “Mind on Fire,” love is in the air for more than one member of the cast, and Pete finally gets some time out with the ladies (and who better to bring it to you than two men who both had dates as recently as 1987!?!). Amidst the romance, though, forces are gathering that will spell trouble for Peter in the months to come. And, to celebrate the upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama, Marvel is proud to present an all-new story teaming up one of the world’s most recognizable political figures with the world’s greatest super hero, as President-Elect Obama joins Spider-Man in “Spidey Meets the President!”

Why it’ll go fast: As you may recall, a few months ago Batman may or may not have died in the pages of Batman as part of the “RIP” storyline. This issue prompted me to predict a huge sellout on the basis that DC would drop a press release to media sources everywhere, hoping the news papers and networks would pick up on the story and send people everywhere to their nearest comic shop to see how Batman dies. Well it didn’t happen. Whether DC dropped the ball on this one or no one cared, we may never know. Marvel on the other hand seems to have their PR dept in marching order and already this week CNN, NPR, and USA TODAY have run stories about Spidey meeting Obama in the pages of Amazing Spidey #583. Already pre-sales for the issue on eBay are going for $30-$50 and with the announcement of a second printing of the Variant cover it would seem the entire first print-run is spoken for before hitting the stands. Retailers had to order more of the regular cover of #583 than they did of Amazing Spidey #575 to be eligible to order the Obama variant. If they surpassed their order of #575, then the sky’s the limit; order as many Obama Variant as you want, although there’s no guarantee you’ll receive them all. The distribution of the variants seems to be a mystery, and the rumor of a10,000- to 20,000-print-run will make this comic extremely hot and hard to find. I wonder how a Sarah Palin variant would sell?

Faces of Evil: Prometheus

Faces of Evil: Prometheus; DC; Written by Sterling Gates; Art by Federico Dallocchio; Cover by Mauro Cascioli; 32 pages; $2.99.

Solicitation: It’s an all-new prelude to the upcoming, all-new JUSTICE LEAGUE #1! Prometheus once defeated the Justice League single-handedly, and with his latest lethal crime spree, he’s moved to the top of the heroes’ Most Wanted list. But what grave crimes has he committed, and what will he do to prevent capture? Learn the real face of evil that is Prometheus!

Why it’ll go fast: I love the current Faces of Evil event, but sadly, am still awaiting last week’s FOE: Grundy issue due to a shipping error at Diamond Comics. I’m still trying to get a solid answer on who was affected by this shipping error and will let you know as soon as I do. That aside, FOE takes a look at the villains that will be making problems fot the DC heroes in the coming year and Prometheus is one of my favorites. Writer Sterling Gates has been doing great work on the current Supergirl run and I’m excited to see how he brings Prometheus back to the DC villains “A-list.” While the numbers for orders on the first FOE issue aren’t available yet, I’m guessing this issue will be ordered much lower than the Geoff Johns Grundy issue based on the fact that, though he’s great, Sterling Gates isn’t a huge name yet.

X-Infernus #2 of 4

X-Infernus #2 of 4; Marvel Comics; Written by C.B. Cebulski; Art by Giuseppe Camuncol; Cover by David Finch; 32 pages; $3.99.

Solicitation: Darkchilde comes calling to the X-Men’s doorstep—and she’s not leaving without her Soulsword. The next pulse-pounding issue by C.B. Cebulski (LONERS, Drain) and Giuseppe Cammuncoli (MS. MARVEL, Intimates) is here and it’s shaking up the X-Men in a big way.

Why it’ll go fast: X-Men mini-series haven’t had the best reputation for sales or quality for quite a while now, however, X-Infernus seems to be the exception to the rule. Issue one was GREAT! I love the character of Magik, Illyana Rasputin (Colossus’ little sister), and can’t wait for her to return to the Marvel U (sans goat legs). I’m not the only nerd that loved this story, fans bought issue #1 by the fistful causing an instant sell-out at the printer and a second and third printing. If you can find issue X-Infernus #1 pick it up along with issue #2. It’s good fun for fans of both the now classic New Mutants, and the more recent New X Men Academy X.

The Indy book of the Week pick will return next week. For this week, I’m introducing yet another new section to stir up some discussion. It’s called the The Nerdy Question of the Week, where I’ll pose a question to you the reader and hopefully you’ll respond. Responses can come via email or using the “comments” section at below. This weeks question comes from a discussion a friend of mine and I had this past weekend.

If you had to reduce your pile to one comic a month (just one title) what comic would it be?

Post you answers below or feel free to e-mail them to me.

Until next week, keep the questions coming. Also, check out my other blog The Comic Speculator, where I discuss new and classic yet still affordable back-issue comics. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask A Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

WorthPoint: Get the Most from Your Antiques and Collectibles

It’s the first new comic Wednesday of 2009 and to celebrate I’m changing the format of this blog yet again. It’s only a slight change but hopefully a useful one. In the Picks of the Week section I’ll be including the solicitations from the publishers along with my analysis. Hope you dig it.

With the holidays behind us, it’s time to settle back into everyday life. Hopefully, 2009 is a little more lucrative than its predecessor. It looks like tax breaks for all are in our near future; which is good in the face comic prices rising to $3.99 soon. Even in the face of a recession, comic-themed movies dominated the box office this year and are poised to do so again in 2009, with Watchmen and Wolverine coming soon. In comics news: Between the two giant comic publishers, Marvel and DC, Marvel seems to have come out as last years big winner, dominating the market share once again. And fans seem to be excited for the next big crossover storyline “Dark Reign,” which spins directly out of last year’s “Secret Invasion” storyline. I’ll be watching these crossover issues to see what they do in the back issue market and reporting back later this year. DC’s “Final Crisis” event has sold well but still seems to be trying to find its legs, and news of re-writes and artist changes have soured many fans to the now three months off schedule series. In my opinion, the DC Universe has never felt so fragmented. Hopefully, 2009 is the year DC gets it together. But enough of this reflection. I’ll be writing a “Best of 2008, The Year in Comics” blog later this week, where we can reflect on all this and more. Let’s get to the here and now, shall we?

Here’s my pile if comics for the week of Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2009. As always, I welcome your criticism, praise or threats of bodily harm based on what I am or am not reading/collecting. You may have noticed a new section below where you can respond to this article; it’s the perfect place to agree with or lash out at me for all to see! (No rhyme intended) For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #21
Cable #10
Detective Comics #852
Faces of Evil: Grundy
Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #2 of 8
House of Mystery #9
The Invincible Iron Man #9
Jonah Hex #39
Marvel Zombies 3 #4 of 4
Punisher #1
Secret Invasion: War of Kings
Secret Six #5
Wormdye

Now, let’s talk speculation. As you may or may not know, the purpose of this blog is to arm the comic nerd with the information he or she needs to make an informed and quality new comic purchase every week. While they might not be worth piles of money, these issues may be pretty hard to find in the near future.

Faces of Evil: Grundy

Faces of Evil: Grundy; DC; Written by Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins; Art by Scott Kolins; Cover by Shane Davis; 32 pages, $2.99.

The marsh monster stars in his first solo book ever! Who was the man who would be reborn as Solomon Grundy? Discover the secret history of the creature as his curse is explored and redefined in this one-shot special!

Why it’ll go fast: This week DC begins its “Faces of Evil” event (several books written from the villains point-of-view) with Grundy. I love the character of Solomon Grundy and just about everything John’s writes. With that said, Grundy is a “B-list” villain at best and retailers will probably order lightly on the first F.O.E. offering. These stories are going to be fun and will probably sell as a nice lot on eBay later on.

Punisher #1

Punisher #1; Marvel Comics; Written by Rick Remender; Art by Jerome Opena; Cover by Mike McKone; 48 pages; $3.99.

“Living in Darkness,” Part 1
The fight against the “Dark Reign” begins as the duty of chronicling Frank Castle’s war journal is passed to new regular team of writer Rick Remender (End League, Fear Agent) and Jerome Opena (Wolverine, Fear Agent). One man with one bullet, in the right place, at the right time, can change the world. That’s why the Punisher is perched atop a building on the Jersey shore with a high-powered Skrull rifle, his crosshairs trained on a target in Midtown Manhattan. But who is his target? And why? One thing’s for sure: They’re anything but helpless. Someone is watching their back. Someone big. Enter: The Sentry!

Why it’ll go fast: The first of the $3.99 on-going-series comics are here with the new Punisher #1. Before you freak out, keep in mind this is a 48-page comic which translates to about two cents a page. A dollar more an issue yes, but only two cents a page. Retailers have already heard the grumblings of fans when it comes to $3.99 cover prices and will probably be watching this comic very closely. I would guess most stores are ordering light on this one and then going for re-orders if necessary. Will the new higher price tag push readers away or will the quality writing and art make Punisher #1 a hit? We’ll all find out soon enough.

Secret Invasion: War of Kings

Secret Invasion: War of Kings; Marvel Comics; Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning; Art by Bong Dazo and Paul Pelltier; Cover by Brandon Peterson; 48 pages; $3.99.

It’s finally here…WAR OF KINGS! The Secret Invasion may be over, but the Inhumans are still reeling from the terrible wounds inflicted on them by the Skrulls. And this time, the Royal Family and their massively powered people have been pushed too far! You have never seen the Inhumans like this—and it’s only the beginning! Plus: How will the empire-expanding Vulcan react to these recent universe-shaking developments? Before this double-sized shocker is over, vengeance will be had, daring alliances will be forged, and the first shots in a destiny-changing battle will be fired! The acclaimed team of writers Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (NOVA) and artist Paul Pelletier (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY) unite to revamp heroes, reveal villains and rock the universe!

Why it’ll go fast: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have reinvigorated Marvel’s cosmic heroes with their past “Annihilation” storylines and sold quite a few comics for characters that hadn’t seen their own titles since the mid-nineties in the process. “War of Kings” is their latest cosmic odyssey and looks to be great; one problem. The book doesn’t have “Annihilation” in the title. Why they chose to go with “Secret Invasion” over “Annihilation” is beyond me. I’ll give them the Secret Invasion miniseries sold better than any of the “Annihilation” comics but other than starring Skrulls as the bad guys, it had nothing to do with “Annihilation”. It seems that fans and retailers alike might skip out on this one for different reasons; “Annihilation” fans because it’s titled “Secret Invasion” and vice-versa.

Indy Book of the Week

Wormdye; Secret Acres

Wormdye; Secret Acres; Written and illustrated by Eamon Espy; 128 pages; $13.

Espy’s work has been described as Franz Kafka meets Hieronymus Bosch. Click here for a great review. Here’s the solicitation.

Eamon Espey’s Wormdye is a collection of interwoven tales that deftly illustrate the fever-pitched anxiety of modern life. With locales as varied as the River Styx, the Vatican, the island of Aegina and the Mitchell Corn Palace, Wormdye follows Marco, Tommy and others as they engage in the human struggle: work, religion, death and human sacrifice. Bleak and darkly funny, Wormdye uses myths and iconographic visuals to evoke a world-view that is both absorbing and upsetting, tragic and triumphant.

That’s all for this week true believers. I truly hope this blog has inspired you to pick up at least one comic book you may have otherwise passed on. If not, email me and tell me what I’m doing wrong. I love criticism, both creative and purely insulting. Until next week, keep the questions coming. Also, check out my other blog The Comic Speculator, where I discuss classic yet still affordable back-issue comics. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask A Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

WorthPoint: Get the Most form Your Antiques and Collectibles

This Week in Geek is a weekly blog about new comics written by WorthPoint comic book Worthologist Matt Baum. Every Wednesday Matt takes a look at the week’s new comics from a collector’s point-of-view and discusses which books may be hard to find in the near future and why. Make sure to click on the hot links for previews and more information on the comics, characters, story-lines and creators discussed here.

Happy New Year, nerds, and happy anniversary to me! It’s been one year since I started writing This Week in Geek and, as of today, I still have a job. I just want to take a minute to thank my WorthPoint overlords for giving me a chance and a place to write about my passion, comics both old and new. Thanks to you, as well, for reading this blog and keeping me busy with valuations, questions, and even the occasional insults and threats. Thank you all and stay tuned, because there are huge changes coming to WorthPoint very soon. Over the past year I’ve received a lot of e-mails detailing a ton of criticisms of the site and the good news is, they’ve listened! I can’t reveal details yet, mainly because I don’t have them, but there are big changes on the way. You’re going to love it.

Now, let’s talk new comics. With X-mas and New Year’s Day giving the good people of UPS two days off in one shipping week nerds will find themselves waiting until Friday to get their comic fix. Also because of the holidays you can expect a light comic week. Everyone is broke, not just due to crappy 2008 economic year, and the comic gods know it. The holidays are gone and the first real New Comic Wednesday of 2009 is just five days away.

Here’s my pile if comics for the week of Friday, Jan. 2, 2009. As always, I welcome your criticism, praise or threats of bodily harm based on what I am or am not reading/collecting. You may have noticed a new section below where you can respond to this article, it’s the perfect place to agree with or lash out at me for all to see! For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Avengers: The Initiative #20
Batman #684
Batman: Cacophony #2 of 3
Captain America #45
Green Lantern #36
Guardians of the Galaxy #8
Incognito #1
Incredible Hercules #124
Justice Society of America #22
Punisher War Journal #26
Punisher: War Zone #4 of 6
Superman #683
War Machine #1
Wolverine #70
X-Force #10

Now let’s talk speculation. As you may or may not know, the purpose of this blog is to arm the comic nerd with the information he or she needs to make an informed and quality new comic purchase every week. While they might not be worth piles of money, these issues may be pretty hard to find in the near future.

Green Lantern #36

Green Lantern; DC; Written by Geoff Johns; Art by Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy; Cover by Shane Davi; $2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: “Blackest Night” prelude. The Green Lantern story you’ve been waiting for since the “Sinestro Corps War,” “Blackest Night,” begins here! Writer Geoff Johns has been building up to this story since “Green Lantern: Rebirth,” which brought Hal Jordan back to the DCU. I would guess retailers are going to order lightly on this one as GL #36 is just a prelude to “Blackest Nigh.” After it sells out instantly the GL #36 re-order madness begins and you can bet eBay will light up with ridiculous prices on this issue. “Blackest Night” sees the birth of the final Lantern Corps, the Black Lanterns, which represents Death. Is there anything cooler than an army of Zombie Black Lantern soldiers? Oh, and Johns promises we’ll see some of our favorite dead DC characters making re-appearances. I can’t stop giggling just thinking about this one.

Punisher War Journal #26

Punisher War Journal #26; Marvel Comics; Written by Matt Fraction and Rick Reminder; Art by Macdonald; Cover by Dave Wilkins; $2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: PWJ is being canceled. Not because of poor sales or fan backlash, quite the contrary, I would argue this Punisher series has been the most enjoyable romp I’ve had with the character for years. (I loved the Ennis Punisher stuff but longed to see Frank in the mainstream Marvel U.) Marvel is retitling the series The Punisher and starting over with a new issue #1 this month. The new series will pick up where War Journal ended showing us the adventures of Frank Castle as he deals with the Dark Reign event. I adored this series and will be sad to see Fraction go, however, I’m excited to see what Reminder can do with his first major Marvel book. Being this is the last issue look for it to be under-ordered at most shops (There were two copies left at my shop when I got there.). PWJ 26 marks the end of an excellent Punisher run by one of my favorite new writers. Here’s to more quality Punisher stories in 2009.

War Machine#1

War Machine#1; Marvel Comics; Written by Greg Pak; Art and cover by Leonardo Manco; 1:10 variant cover by Mike Deodato; $2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: What sells out faster than final issues? First issues, of course. War Machine #1 follows the adventures of Iron Man’s Brother in Arms Jim Rhodes in the post-Invasion-Dark Reign Marvel Universe. For those of you who read and loved Warren Ellis’ Authority (if you haven’t, you should), Greg Pak seems to be taking War Machine in a similar direction tackling real-world problems with super-heroics. In the preview War Machine confronted a corrupt Oil-pipeline-developer and will later take on the likes of African Warlords, corrupt genocidal regimes and other menaces overlooked by the world for too long. This is going to be a hot book much in the vein of Pak’s Incredible Hercules which you may recall retailers had a heck of time keeping in stock. Like Hercules, War Machine is not an A-list character but has a lot of potential. This seems to be where writer Pak works best, fleshing out a secondary character and making them infinity more interesting. Pair Pak’s writing with artist Leonardo Manco, who was already legendary but seems to have hit his stride here, and you have a runaway hit that comic fans will be clamoring for in the upcoming months.

Indy comic of the Week
Why I Killed Peter; NBM/Comics List; Written and Drawn by Alfred and Oliver Ka; $18.95 (mature readers).

Why I Killed Peter is one of the reasons I love independent comics. Alfred and Oliver Ka tell the true story of Oliver’s relationship with a pedophile priest and examines how he dealt with experiences and what happens when he confronts the Priest later on in his life. It’s hard to imagine a movie being made that could deal with such controversial topic in such matter-of-fact words directly from the person affected. The short distance from creator to reader without the interference of large publishing houses or entertainment companies is one of the best things about Indy comics. It’s not going to be a happy story, but Why I killed Peter is near the top of my “to-read” pile.

That’s all for this week true believers. I truly hope this blog has inspired you to pick up at least one comic book you may have passed on otherwise. If not, email me and tell me what I’m doing wrong. I love criticism, both creative and purely insulting. Thanks for sticking with me for a year and here’s to a happy and healthy 2009. Until next week, keep the questions coming. Also, check out my other blog The Comic Speculator, where I discuss classic yet still affordable back-issue comics. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask a Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

WorthPoint: Get the Most from Your Antiques and Collectibles.

Speaking of great gifts for nerds-and I hope you’re reading this, mom-Marvel has collected the complete Secret Wars event of the 1980’s in one giant omnibus edition, assembling Secret Wars #1-12 plus Thor #383, She Hulk (2004) #10, and What If? (1989) #4 and #114. The Secret Wars was the first major crossover event that made me branch out from my X-Men comics and set the standard for future crossovers. Nothing better defines Marvel Comics in the 1980s.

Can’t find that perfect gift for the filthy-mouthed, overly-sarcastic, dark-humor-craving-comic- nerd in your life? Search no more; the new Definitive Edition of Garth Ennis’ The Boys collects the meanest, nastiest, most controversial and perversely-funny superhero comics ever written. Ennis is famous for work on DC’s Preacher and Hellblazer and Marvel’s Punisher, but has never been allowed complete free reign with his stories until now. Not for the faint of heart or easily offended, The Boys examines the absurdly dark side of superheroes with deep character flaws. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Here’s my pile if comics for the week of Wednesday, Dec. 17. As always, I welcome your criticism, praise or threats of bodily harm based on what I am or am not reading/collecting. For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here. To find a comic shop near you, click here.

Avengers: The Initiative #19

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #20

Conan The Cimmerian #6

Dark Reign: New Nation

DCU Holiday Special: 2008

Ghost Rider #30

The Invincible Iron Man #8

Madman Atomic Comics! #12

Mighty Avengers #20

Punisher: War Zone #2 of 6

Robin #181

Supergirl #36

Thor: God-Sized

Thunderbolts #127

Uncanny X-Men #505

X-Factor #38

X-Men: Kingbreaker #1 of 4: Kingbreaker

Now let’s talk speculation. As you may or may not know, the purpose of this part of This Week in Geek is to arm the comic nerd with the information he or she needs to make an informed and quality new comic purchase every week. While they might not be worth piles of money, these issues may be pretty hard to find in the near future.

Supergirl #36; DC; Written by Sterling Gates; Art by Jamal Igle; Cover by Josh Middelton, variant by Chris Sprouse; $2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: In October, Supergirl #34 came in at 75 on the top 300 selling comics for that month. November’s Supergirl #35 jumped to number 34. What does this huge spike in sales mean? Fans are sold on the new creative team of Gates and Igle, and tying Supergirl’s story directly into the “New Krypton” storyline running through the Superman books was a great idea. I, myself, have never cared about Supergirl as a character before but now find myself calling issue #36 my pick of the week at my local comic shop. Yeah, I’m pretty important. If you’re thinking of jumping on to the “New Krypton” storyline issues of Supergirl, #34 and #35 are still available but going fast.

Thunderbolts #127; Marvel Comics; Written by Andy Diggle; Art by Roberto De La Torre, Cover by Francisco Mattina; $2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: Another book spiking in sales, moving from 64 in October to 57 in November on the top 300 actual comic sales list, is Andy Diggle’s Thunderbolts. After the events of Secret Invasion #8, Thunderbolts leader, Norman Osborne, is a national hero. For those of you who didn’t know, Norman Osborne is Spider-Man’s nemesis the Green Goblin and a millionaire business owner who’s spun his tech-business, Oscorp, into a full fledged political career. Osborne is now not only running the Thunderbolts, a group of “reformed” super villains working for the US government, but has been offered a promotion after being branded the hero of the failed Skrull Invasion. Tony Stark, Iron Man, is out and Norman Osborne is running things now. Just one problem, he’s still evil and totally insane. The new “Dark Reign” storyline looks like it’s going to be just as much fun as “Secret Invasion” and it starts here in Thunderbolts #127.

X-Men: Kingbreaker #1; Marvel Comics; Written by Christopher Yost; Art by Dustin Weaver; Cover by Brandon Peterson; $3.99.

Why it’ll go fast: Fans of the Marvel “Annihilation” story-lines, which reinvigorated the Marvel space heroes and reinvented Marvel Sci-Fi, are excited for the third installment in the series “War of Kings”. Well, it all begins here in Kingbreaker #1. Scott Summers’ Cyclops, leader of the X-Men, power mad brother, Vulcan has seized power of the alien Shiar Empire and plans to make war on the entire universe. While “Dark Reign” is happening on Earth, the “War of Kings” is beginning in outer space. I’m guessing that retailers will order lighter on this series based on the disappointing sales of the previous X-Men: Emperor Vulcan mini-series that established Vulcan as a universal threat. Kingbreaker looks to tie the story in with the rest of the Marvel Universe, is written by fan-favorite Chris Yost (X-force, New X-Men: Mutant Academy) and leads directly into War of Kings. All of which adds up to a quick sellout of issue #1.

Indy Comic of the Week:

Beanworld Holiday Special; Dark Horse, Written and drawn by Larry Marder; $3.50.

I’ll be honest, I’ve never read Beanworld, but as I’m a sucker for holiday comic specials, and most that I’ve picked up so far this year don’t look too promising, I’ll be picking up the Beanworld Holiday special to see what the buzz is all about. Here’s the solicitation:

“The first new Beanworld story in print in over a decade, the Beanworld Holiday Special is the perfect introduction to Larry Marder’s inimitable creation!

As enjoyable for children as it is enlightening for adults, Beanworld is a grand adventure that explores social dynamics, culture creation, and ecological networks-all in great fun! Take a tour of this magical world, from Proffy’s Fix-It Shop to a Fabulous Look-See Show, in this issue that introduces toys to the baby Cuties and plunges readers into one of the most original and brilliant comic-book universes ever created!

You’ve never seen anything like it–unless you’re a longtime fan of Marder’s, in which case you’ll be thrilled by the return of this wonderful and peculiar comic-book experience!”

“Larry Marder’s Beanworld is a vegetarian update on Krazy Kat with a world and lingo unto itself.”
-Smithsonian Studies of American Art

“One doesn’t read Beanworld at all, one lives it. Beanworld draws you into its world and plays out in your mind. This is a rare feat in any medium, and a treasure in comics.”
-Feature Magazine

That’s all for this week true believers. I truly hope this blog has inspired you to pick up at least one comic book you may have passed on otherwise. If not, email me and tell me what I’m doing wrong. I love criticism, both creative and purely insulting. Also, the end of the year is almost upon us and I want to know your favorite comic of 2008. It can be a single issue, new series, or one-shot. Email me and let me know. Until next week, keep the questions coming. Also, check out my other blog The Comic Speculator, where I discuss classic yet still affordable back-issue comics. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask a Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

“There is no question that things have slowed down,” Malbuff said. “Collectibles are a discretionary, end- of-the-line purchase. . . . Still, folks do shop.”

The Great Strasburg Emporium, located in the Shenandoah Valley, about 75 miles west of Washington, D.C., is housed in an old, 40,000-square-foot silk mill and provides space for 80 to 100 antiques dealers.

At the Emporium, a shopper might find a Victorian claw-foot bathtub, an 18th-century ribbon cabinet, a 1860s Pennsylvania two-horse surrey or a 130-year-old paper scrip used to pay for rides on the old Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.

These days, however, items like the two-horse surrey, which sold for $4,500, or the ribbon cabinet, which fetched $15,000, aren’t the ones that are moving.

“Since the economy has tanked, I’d say our sales are off 40 percent,” said Malbuff. People, however, are still looking for bargains. “Instead of spending a couple of hundred dollars a sale, folks are spending $30 or $40.”

The items people are focusing on are lamps, mirrors, small furniture, coins, jewelry and glassware, Malbuff said. “Though,” he added, “I can’t tell you exactly what style will sell.”

These are items that tend to be more utilitarian or useful, and when obtained by a well-informed and skilled dealer, can actually be a better value than going into a retail store to, say, buy a mirror.

“People look for something rare or unusual,” Malbuff said, “but that doesn’t mean it has to cost a lot.” For example, old glass bottles or pottery pieces from the early 20th century are handmade, distinctive and reasonably priced.

“We look to be competitively priced with stores,” Malbuff said, “and you can do that by going to estate sales, buying lots.”

The key is knowledge of the market—and that is the biggest lesson Malbuff said he has learned since taking over the Emporium a little more than five years ago.

Malbuff and his wife, Annette, had been collectors—buyers, not sellers. “I was interested in historic items, old books and cool stuff,” Malbuff said. “My wife is a serious glass, china and porcelain collector. She’s an expert on Wedgwood jasperware, Irish Belleek and Noritake china.”

A former IT executive, Malbuff soured on corporate America and was looking for a new opportunity, and Leo Bernstein—a Washington banker who had created the Emporium and was then in his 80s—gave the Malbuffs that opportunity.

“He was looking to turn over the ownership, and we worked as consultants for a year, working with the various dealers, and we learned so much from them,” Malbuff said. The Malbuffs would go to auctions and estate sales with dealers, learning the inner workings of the trade. After a year, the couple took over the operation.

The biggest lesson Malbuff said he learned is that there is a huge lack of knowledge and information among both sellers and buyers. “So often people don’t know what they have,” Malbuff said. “When I started, I thought I’d be the dumb one.”

And finding good information isn’t that easy, either. “Some people are going around saying they are appraisers and don’t know what they are doing,” Malbuff warned.

At the Emporium, Malbuff said he learned the value of working with a group of experienced and well-versed experts in their fields. It helped inform his work and management. And that, he said, is his aim at WorthPoint. “The market is so broad that what you need is a knowledge base—the accumulated knowledge of a lot of people,” he said.

WorthPoint—Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles

American Presidential Experience notes that exhibits are subject to change.

A

Air Force One
Visitors can tour a full-scale replica of the fuselage of Air Force One and receive keepsake photos of the experience.

Appraisals—Political Memorabilia
Bring political collections to the American Presidential Experience, have them evaluated by WorthPoint and have an opportunity to sell them in daily auctions.

Authentic Signed Documents (During Presidency) of Every President
Authentic signed documents from every American president while they were in office. This is one of the rarest collections of presidential documents assembled. This collection has just been released for public viewing after storage in a bank vault.

Author Signings
Authors will be on hand to sign books written about American politics and the presidency.

C

C-SPAN’S Campaign 2008 Bus
The C-SPAN bus brings the world of public affairs into communities nationwide. The 45-foot bus is equipped with mobile multimedia demonstration centers and TV production units that can be used as studios during live programs, such as C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal.”

F

First Ladies’ Gowns
An exhibition of inaugural gowns worn by First Ladies.

First Ladies’ Exhibits
A collection of historic memorabilia of First Ladies during their time in the White House.

Florida Voting Machine
See one of the authentic, original, controversial voting machines from the 2000 presidential election.

The Flag of the United States of America
Three centuries of authentic, historic flags. Dozens of authentic historic flags show the evolving and changing flags as America grew.

H

Hail to the Chief: Take the Oath of Office
Visitors can experience taking the oath of office and being sworn in as president.

L

Lincoln Logs
Children can play with Lincoln Logs and build a frontier village.

M

Merchandising
Seventy-five vendors of memorabilia and products will be available to the public.

O

Oval Office
A full-size replica of the White House Oval Office allows visitors to sit behind the president’s desk, sign a bill into law and receive a souvenir photo.

Official Lanyards and Credentials
A commemorative 2008 American Presidential Experience credential and lanyard will be distributed to each visitor.

P

Presidential Exhibits
Presidential libraries

President Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Mobile Exhibit
A 2,500-square-foot interactive commemoration of the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln in a mobile educational exhibit.

Presidential Chairs
See replicas of three chairs used by Presidents Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy Exhibits
This special exhibit includes numerous items owned by the president and First Lady such as clothing, watches, pens, signed notes, etc.

Presidential Limousine
An actual official limousine is displayed with important historical documentation and photographs of the president riding in it.

Presidential Shoes
From Johnston-Murphy Shoe Company comes eight pairs of shoes including those worn by Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson and other presidents.

Presidential Bio Panels
Educational boards representing each president and their lives and times as president and particular memorabilia for each.

S

Suffragette Exhibit
Photos, documents, button, ribbons and political memorabilia from the historic struggle for women’s right to vote.

T

Three Centuries of Political Memorabilia
Rare and authentic posters, buttons and other political memorabilia from the 18th century to the 21st from the American Political Collectors Association will be on display.

Talking Presidential Heads
Ask questions of select presidents, and see how they answer in this interactive exhibit.

V

Voting Station
Children can learn about political issues, cast a live vote and have it immediately tabulated in this interactive format.

W

White House Animals and Pets
An exhibit chronicling White House pets and animals.

White House Entertaining
A formal display of White House china table settings from eight different administrations.

Washington Monument
A 20-foot-high replica of the George Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

White House Murals
Large prints 8 feet high depict the Blue Room, Red Room, Yellow Room and others in the White House.

White House Touching Façade
Façade where children can reach through openings and guess what the item is on the other side.

WorthPoint Evaluations
WorthPoint experts will evaluate antiques and collectibles—presidential memorabilia, coins, militaria and flags. Free evaluations will be provided for veterans in uniform and convention delegates.

USA Button Poll

The Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee

See the video of the press conference.

It is hard to get away if you’re the president of the United States, at least so I’ve heard. I have no trouble getting away myself. But then, I don’t have an entourage of people following me around everywhere I go, some with firearms.

So, it’s not surprising, then, to find that the chief executive, like many of his peers, has a place to unwind from the heavy responsibilities of state. In the case of the president, it is Camp David, a rustic wooded area about 60 miles north of Washington, D.C.

Here in the relative peaceful quiet of rural Maryland, a president can wear flannel or not. Go swimming or not. Take a hike (as many have suggested) or not. No one will bother them at all. You’re still being watched, but more discreetly.

Because of its rustic and relative seclusion, presidents have vacationed here often during their time at the White House. President Jimmy Carter invited Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menacham Begin here in 1978 to craft the Camp David Accords for which Sadat and Begin would share a Nobel Peace Prize.

President Bill Clinton also brought together Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and PLO Chairman Yassar Arafat to broker a Middle East Road Map here at Camp David in 1993.

Created by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Depression, it was intended as a retreat for federal workers and their families when it opened in 1938. By 1942, it’s original purpose remained, except now the federal workers and their families were limited to those of the president and his guests and called Shangri-La. The name was changed to Camp David by President Eisenhower for his grandson, David Eisenhower, sometime during his Administration.

Officially, it is called the Naval Support Facility Thurmont and is managed exclusively by the U.S. Navy.

There aren’t very many collectibles from Camp David, mostly key chains, coasters, plates, glassware, even Christmas cards. This is one area of presidential collectibles that really needs to be catalogued.