Gumby comics: Buy! Buy! Buy!

I don’t want to encourage rampant, ‘90s style market speculation or anything, because we know that inevitably leads to tears (and dozens of copies of X-Force #1 in a short box in the basement that nobody wants), but I think I’ve stumbled upon a pretty hot tip in the old comics collecting game, and I want to share it with you, my dearest and closest readers—Buy Gumby.

Buy multiple copies of Gumby. Put on gloves, handle them with tongs, and put them in bags with boards and store them in a cool, dark, dry place. You’ll be able to able to put your kids through college with ‘em, I guarantee.

Here’s how I know this…

Okay, I slept on Gumby. When the first issue debuted, I was pretty torn about whether to give it a try or not, and did the whole thing where I pick it up in the shop, flip through it, and then just hold it and stare at the cover for a while, while the Angel Caleb on one shoulder and the Devil Caleb on the other present their best arguments as to why I should buy this particular comic book, and why I should not by this particular comic book, respectively.

The original Gumby animation didn’t really do much for me, so really I was just attracted to the book because I really love pliable characters, and the odd-ness of Bob Flaming Carrot Burden on a Gumby comic book seemed like something I had to see for myself.

But then, it did cost $3.95 for a single issue. And that’s pretty much the price point at which I think single issues stop being worthwhile versus trades, so I put it back on the shelf and spent my money instead on a bunch of stupid shit starring the superheroes that serve as my imaginary friends and family.

So the months pass, and two more issues of Gumby come out, and they’re, like, universally praised. The book gets nominated for multiple Eisner awards, and critics and bloggers with reliably good taste are constantly talking it up. I hear that Johnny Cash descends from heaven to guest-star in Gumby #2. Clearly, I chose wrong when I decided not to jump on Gumby #1.

So while visiting my local comic shop on an off day, I saw that there was a new issue of Gumby out and thought now was the time to jump on that particular bandwagon. And I thought the most sensible place to start the three-issue series would be with #2, because that’s the one in which Johnny Cash guest-stars. I found a copy in the back issue bins—for $4.25.

Do you know what that means?

In just ten months, Gumby #2 has appreciated in value thirty cents. That’s over 1/16th its original value. Clearly, this is a comic book investment that is doing what no new comic books do anymore—it’s actually instantly increasing rapidly in value.

That, or they were just charging thirty extra cents for the backing board and plastic bag they put it in.

But is that a risk you’re willing to take?