Arts & Literature

Fantastic Four back issues include some of the best stories ever told in comic books. The villains are plentiful, and the plots are deep. Stan Lee and Jack Kirbys work on the series is evident even today, and after 40 years, the Fantastic Four are finally getting a film adaptation. This can make Fantastic Four back issues a bit more challenging as demand grows.

The Origins of the Fantastic Four
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created the Fantastic Four as an answer to the immensely popular DC comic series Justice League of America. Unlike the Justice League, which was a lot like an all-star series, the Fantastic Four was a completely original team of superheroes, and a family at that. Thing, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and Mr. Fantastic continue to form the core of the Fantastic Four.

Other team members have come on board since the comic books first run. Back issues including Medusa and Crystal are in demand, as are those comics featuring She-Hulk and Nova. Several of the new characters served as love interests to the Human Torch. Even Thing ended up with a love interest after issue #306 with the introduction of Ms. Marvel.

Back issues of the Fantastic Four are in high demand as the release of the feature film approaches. As is the case when a film version is in the works, comic book value spikes higher, but sometimes the prices do not correct themselves. Spiderman comics continue to enjoy a higher price value, although every day collectors dont notice a huge difference on some of the less well known back issues. You should expect to see the Fantastic Four back issues respond the same way.

Comic book inspired statues are a big business, with some of the worlds top sculptors putting their creative mark on some of the worlds most beloved superheroes. Owning a bust or statue of your favorite superheroes is something many a collector yearns to do. DC Direct makes this easy by offering their own line of collectible statues.

Current Offerings from DC Direct
The list of DC Direct statues is extensive, with almost every major superhero or supervillain represented. You can find a number of different Batman models, each with a different look, pose, and design. The Dark Knight has changed a lot over the years, and there are statues from almost every era. There are also Classic statues featuring superheroes in poses and costumes from their earliest days in print.

Its important to note that these statues are not for the casual collector, merely because of their price. They are cast in resin, but are molded from the work of the industrys best artists. They are all hand painted, too, which contributes to a higher price. For example, the golden age Superman/Supergirl statue sells for $175, while the statue of Atom, is just under $200.

DC is not the only company producing comic book inspired statues. Randy Bowen is a world renowned sculptor who has produced his own line of statues, mostly from the Marvel universe. His Magneto and Black Cat statues are among the most detailed. Randys Incredible Hulk statue is immense, and his bust of Spiderman looks fantastic. They each sell for over $100, but make great gifts for the collector in your family.

Randy Bowen is known around the world for his work with busts and miniatures. They are prized by collectors for their detail and beauty, and anyone whos seen a Bowen statue can attest to their quality. Everyone from the Invisible Woman to Ghost Rider are represented thanks to Randy, and they are all readily available online and at specialty shops around the world.

Collecting Bowen Statues
Randy Bowens statues are not for the causal collector, because very few sell for less than $100. Most easily sell for $150 or more. The Incredible Hulk alone is worth over $400, so you can see that often it is only the most devoted fans who buy these statues. They do make incredible gifts, however, and if you know someone who loves a certain superhero then these are one of the best investments you could make.

The statues are as expensive as they are because they are all made of porcelain. This is something you should also consider if you were thinking about buying a Bowen statue for a child. Its probably a better idea to wait until you know they will not handle or damage it. You are much better off giving them action figures to play with.

Randys designs are all wonderful, but Magneto stands out as one of the finest. The sculpting is exquisite, and Magnetos expression is priceless. Mr. Fantastic is also great, with long sinewy arms and legs. Fans of Black Cat will also be pleasantly surprised by how great she looks in three dimensions!

The die hard collectors are known to pick up a few Marvel statues for their book shelf. Almost every superhero or supervillain is represented in the Marvel line. They are relatively inexpensive, with several versions available for the most popular characters. Spiderman is one of Marvels biggest sellers, and the series is extensive where he is concerned.

Pricing for Marvel Statues
The prices vary depending on the size of the statue, the material used and the availability of each piece. Some smaller statues are more like figurines and can be as little as $20. A bust of Spidermans head might actually go for more like $200. There are several dioramas available, each selling at or near $100 each.

Be careful where you buy these statues, because there are plenty of counterfeit products on the market. Even reputable stores can end up with bogus merchandise on their shelves from time to time. Check the copyright information on the box or the base of the statue. There are no guarantees, but even thieves get sloppy. Also, you can check with the shop owner as to where he or she got it from. Certificates of authenticity are also good signs as to their true origin.

Marvels biggest sellers are Spiderman, Wolverine, Venom, and the X-Men. These are their most famous characters, and therefore command the best prices. Some of the worlds best sculptors and artists work on these statues, too. John Romitas Spiderman bust is a must for any collector, while Gabriel Marquez maquettes are also prized.

As far as childrens trading card games go, Neopets has to be one of the easiest to learn. When you play it the very first time you dont even need to read the rulebook because the included playmat has the basic instructions printed on it! All you need is a friend to play with and the cards from the two player starter set and youre ready to go.

Learning Neopets and Collecting Cards
Neopets cards come in starter packs as described above, but in order to get the rarest and most valuable cards you need to buy booster packs. Boosters include eight cards, but one of them is always a rare. Rare cards are among the most powerful in the game, ranging from new creatures to equipment and abilities.

Young children are the best suited for a game like Neopets. Its colorful and easy to understand, but engaging enough to keep their interest. Children older than 11 will probably have outgrown Neopets and would prefer a game like Magic: The Gathering. Keep this in mind if you are a parent and are interesting in helping your children invest in the customizable card game hobby.

Pokemon and Yugioh are two other card games similar to Neopets you could consider playing if you havent spend a lot of money on cards yet. They feature a lot of the same conventions presented in Neopets and have been available longer so there are more cards available. Any of these games would be a good choice for you and your friends to begin playing and collecting.