Quick Take
If you're shopping for comics collectibles, the first question is whether you want a single standout issue, a promo piece, a finished hardcover, or a massive mixed lot. The four options here don't compete on the same scale: a $6.29 preorder issue, a $30 retailer promo ashcan, a $50.20 Dark Horse hardcover, and a $1,560 collection of 500 bagged and boarded comics.
The cheapest pick lets you test a new series with a cover by Tula Lotay. The most expensive pick gives you decades of reading material in one purchase. The two middle options serve more specific collectors: one wants a Marvel promo artifact, and the other wants a complete humor hardcover from Evan Dorkin.
Price Comparison
| Product | Listed Price | Relative Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gastronomique #2 C Bagged NSFW Variant (Dressed, Lotay) | USD 6.29 | |
| 500 comic books, 1977-2020, bagged and boarded | USD 1,560.00 | |
| Midnight Universe Black and White ashcan edition | USD 30.00 | |
| Milk and Cheese Dairy Products Gone Bad! HC | USD 50.20 |
Decision Matrix
| If you want... | Choose... |
|---|---|
| A low-cost single issue with fresh art and story | Gastronomique #2 C Bagged NSFW Variant (Dressed, Lotay) |
| A large reading backlog in one purchase | The 500 comic books mixed lot |
| A Marvel promo piece for a collection | Midnight Universe Black and White ashcan edition |
| A self-contained humor hardcover | Milk and Cheese Dairy Products Gone Bad! HC |
Product Notes
Gastronomique #2 C Bagged NSFW Variant (Dressed, Lotay)
At $6.29, this is the easiest way to try a new series without a big commitment. It's a brand-new first printing single issue from Boom Entertainment, written by Marguerite Bennett with art by Helena Masellis and a cover by Tula Lotay. The erotic horror story moves between past, present, and future in Revolutionary Paris, with a cannibal threat and a tense reunion between Charlotte and Zelie. The NSFW variant tag and bagged packaging make clear it's meant for mature readers, and you're only getting issue #2, so you'll need to track down issue #1 if you want the full arc. For a low-risk first purchase, this is the most accessible entry point in the group.
500 comic books, 1977-2020, valued between $3000-$4000, all bagged and boarded
This is the purchase that fills a shelf or a long box. Priced at $1,560, the lot spans more than four decades and includes Marvel, DC, and independent titles, with a focus on the Marvel Universe and the Avengers. All 500 issues are bagged and boarded, which protects them during storage and shipping. The Very Good condition and mixed-lot format mean you're getting a broad assortment with varying wear rather than a curated run, so there's less control over exactly which issues appear. If your goal is to build a substantial reading collection in one move, this is the scale-up choice; just be ready to house a large number of comics.
Midnight Universe Black and White ashcan edition! (2026, Marvel retailer promo)
This $30 Marvel Comics retailer promo is aimed squarely at collectors who want something uncommon. It presents the Marvel Midnight series in black and white, and this version is not the SDCC exclusive-it's the retailer promo. Ashcan editions are typically printed for promotional purposes, so the value here is more about owning a piece of Marvel's 2026 marketing push than about getting a polished reading experience. If you're looking for a full story or a standard back issue, this won't be your best option, but as a conversation piece and a promo variant for the Midnight universe, it adds a distinctive item to a Marvel-focused collection.
Milk and Cheese Dairy Products Gone Bad! HC 2011 Dark Horse Comics 1st Edition
At $50.20, this hardcover gives you a complete, self-contained read from Evan Dorkin. The Very Good copy has clean covers with light scuffing at the corners, a tight binding, and some markings on the title page, while the remaining pages are clean and unmarked. As a 1st Edition hardcover from Dark Horse, it's a good fit for satire and humor fans who prefer one shelf-worthy book over a pile of single issues. The condition details keep it from being a pristine investment piece, and the 2011 Canadian printing makes it a specific, older collectible. Choose this when you want a single, readable hardcover with a humorous voice and a clear beginning and ending.
Final Recommendation
- For a low-cost, low-commitment single issue: the Gastronomique #2 C Bagged NSFW Variant (Dressed, Lotay) is the easiest pick, thanks to its brand-new first printing and mature horror story.
- For a large collection in one shot: the mixed lot is the clear choice if you have the space and want the broadest reading range.
- For a Marvel promo artifact: the Midnight Universe Black and White ashcan edition stands out as a retailer promo, not the SDCC exclusive.
- For a complete humor hardcover: the Milk and Cheese Dairy Products Gone Bad! HC delivers a full read from Evan Dorkin with a 1st Edition pedigree.
