All of those variants are now up at unknowncomics as Virgin store exclusives. Why does Marvel keep doing this? Why not insist on new cover art for store exclusives? I assume it is cheaper for Unknown because it doesn’t require new original artwork to be created. IMO it immediately kills any spec value for the trade dress books that are shipped to LCS’.
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Are you guys still grabbing these Thor 4th and 5th prints? Covers are underwhelming. I just don’t see much value here, unless the print run is tiny (which I doubt). Marvel and DC must just love this trend.
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To my knowledge, they have to pick artwork and the existing artwork is the cheaper option if I’m not mistaken… they’re keeping costs low to keep potential profits higher…
If people keep buying them, they’re keep printing them. I know we all know this, but if it sells they’re gonna print it
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Unless it’s got Black Winter on the cover in some form, I stopped buying some of these 4th and 5th printings myself… I can’t see some of these going up too terribly high and small print runs don’t make them valuable, demand does… 
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If shops keep putting in back orders and they already finished a print run, then it’s on to the next print run… 
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I figured as much. Great for them as I am sure they are quite profitable and it is really easy to piggyback off of. I am looking forward to the X-Men #12 2nd print cover art, but I know that I will immediately like the cover less when unknown solicits a Virgin variant for it within minutes of it being shown to the masses. I am referring to the spec value of these books. IF it is a virgin store exclusive I hope I have time to cancel or lower my numbers before FOC. That is all I ask.
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I think it goes both ways. I think some end up being very profitable (if they got a hot cover + hot book and it sells out) but I think a lot of stores end up sitting on a stack of them as well, slowly selling them over time, doing big sales or giveaways, etc.
I will admit to preordering them simply because I am a bit OCD at this point about having “the set”. I’m curious to see how deep they go. I’m not buying any of them past issue #6 though (the reprints that is). I know there are many thoughts on Black Winter, but at the end of it all, it was a fun little run.
The only other series/issues I can think of that can compare thus far is Immortal Hulk…they went pretty crazy on the reprints of the early issues of that.
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I think I’m calling it on Thor reprints also. I kinda dig the Loki cover, but I’d rather push that money elsewhere (like Something is Killing the Children reprints! – I need to hide my wallet from me).
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I notice they have not been listing the print run of these issues either. I wonder how long they can order them, before and after the release of the book?
They can order as many as they want prior to FOC, even for store variants exclusives. Minimum is like 3k, the additional prints might be less but after the minimum, if it’s prior to FOC, they can keep on ordering…
You can send it to me. I’ll keep it safe for you…
Yeah I ordered these all on Fri had to get my DC orders in before FOC. I like em… I keep ordering these additional printings for books I’m actually reading. Some have underwhelmed when revealed and others I really like so it’s not to bad. For the discount I’m paying it’s not to much of a hit for 2-3 copies.
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I like store variants if the art is original, but I don’t like the rehash virgins at all. I’ve never bought one and never will.
I don’t think they impact the value of the standard print at all.
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Ding ding ding…yet they still charge the same amount to the customers, despite their cheaper cost to produce.
Yep. They dont need to sell a ton to recoup their original investment so I completely understand why they do it. However, I am more likely to buy new art instead of recycled art with a virgin cover. Look at the X-Force #13 cover with the new character Solem (1st appearance in Wolverine #6), that they recently posted for preorder. Now that is a cover worth buying IMO
OK, that is a solid cover. Assuming that’s not the first cover appearance of Solem?