The rarity of DC Combo Pack comics 2011-2015

By hoknes 10 years ago

The rarity of DC Combo Pack comics 2011-2015

SupermanWonderWomanComboPackLot

In 2011 DC started marketing the Combo Pack which was a bagged edition of their most popular comics with the price $1.00 higher than the regular cover with the digital code included to download a copy of the comic.

DC released hundreds of comics in this format over the next 3 1/2 years but it appears to be coming to an end. Sales on these marked up combo packs is very low – these might be the future collectible comics as the print runs are potentially only 5% the print run of the regular cover.

These have never been seen as a collectible which gives them the great opportunity to actually become one once collectors realize how few of these are out there. Plus how many people actually bought these and then opened up the bag so bagged versions could even be scarcer.

Here is the solicitation announcement from DC for the very first Combo Pack comic
JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 COMBO PACK – August 31st 2001.
DC COMICS (W) Geoff Johns (A/CA) Jim Lee, Scott Williams Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS 1:25 Variant cover by DAVID FINCH
1:200 Pencil variant cover by Jim Lee
Comics superstars Geoff Johns and Jim Lee make history! In a universe where super heroes are strange and new, Batman has discovered a dark evil that requires him to unite the World Greatest Heroes!
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.
This spectacular debut issue is also offered as a special combo pack edition, polybagged with a redemption code for a digital download of the issue.

Only 12 Combo packs were released by DC in 2011. Here is the complete list and the month solicited.
Print run is also included compared to the regular edition.
6 JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 COMBO PACK 14,400 / 171,300
7 JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 COMBO PACK 2ND PTG low ?? / 46,500
8 JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 COMBO PACK 3RD PTG 7,500 / 15,500
8 JUSTICE LEAGUE #2 COMBO PACK 15,800 / 180,000
9 JUSTICE LEAGUE #3 COMBO PACK 9,900 / 158,700
10 JUSTICE LEAGUE #4 COMBO PACK 7,000 142,700
11 BATMAN #5 COMBO PACK 4,600 / 130,400
11 ACTION COMICS #5 COMBO PACK 4,200 / 105,000
11 JUSTICE LEAGUE #5 COMBO PACK 6,000 / 138,500
12 BATMAN #6 COMBO PACK ?? estimated 4,000 / 128,400
12 ACTION COMICS #6 COMBO PACK ?? estimated 3,500 / 96,500
12 JUSTICE LEAGUE #6 COMBO PACK 5,400 / 135,300

Since then sales have just slowly been falling though many more titles have been added.
The last Combo Pack to actually chart on the Diamond Top 300 best selling comics was
Batman #31 way back in May 2014 with only 1,600 copies ordered by retailers with a $4.99 cover price

That means the print run of the combo pack is only approximately 1% of the regular cover !!!!!

It only ranked #400 of the month. Since then no combo packs have made the chart so it could be possible that the average print run of the combo packs in early 2015 might only be 1,000 copies each.
That makes these combo pack covers as rare as any high profile variant cover !!!

What high profile issues have a combo pack?
Before Watchmen #1 – all 4 series
Justice League of America #1 (2013)
Superman Unchained #1 (2013)
Batman Superman #1 (2013)
Superman Wonder Woman #1 (2013)
Forever Evil #1 (2013)
Sandman Overture #1-5 (2013)
Justice League United #1 (2014)
Green Lantern #28 (2014)
Superman #38 (2015)
Every issue of Batman, Superman, Detective, Action, Justice League from Jan 2012 to Mar 2015

Only a few issues are scheduled for spring 2015 before the line ends
The final titles released in March 2015 are:
Batman #40 / Detective Comics #40 / Green Lantern #40 / Justice League #40 / Superman #40
plus Batman Superman #20 / Superman Wonder Woman #17
One final combo pack is scheduled for May 2015 – Sandman Overture #5

My guess is that the final combo pack releases of Superman Wonder Woman will be the ultra rarest Combo Packs ever released and might be as low as a print run of 350 copies each.

Either the line is being totally cancelled due to poor sales OR DC has simply decided not to release any during Summer 2015 due to Convergence as all their regular titles are not being published.

Its only time before collectors start to realize how hard these are to find. Now Diamond sometimes has some of these still in stock so your local retailer might be order some of the more recent issues still.

Article by comic book historian Terry Hoknes of www.HoknesComics.com – hoknes@hotmail.com
www.HoknesComics.com – carries all these new comics and all new products in stock and does special orders!!
Weekly article by Terry Hoknes, comic book historian, writer of the Investing In Comic Book series (gold,silver,bronze) and also Canada’s leading comic book retailer focusing on hot sold out comic books and small publishers at www.HoknesComics.com
Contact Terry at hoknes@hotmail.com

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