Here is where we can all discuss our Tier Value Guide. It is copied below:
HFQ's TVG (Tier Value Guide) Tier I Any Foreign Comic published/released within 5 years of the American counterpart. This comic holds the most value. As high as 80% Max Value
Tier II Any comic published/released within 6-10 years of the American counterpart. 50-60% of Tier I value
Tier III Any comic published/released after 10 years of the American counterpart. 20% of Tier I Value.
Printings 1st and 2nd printings hold the most value.
Exceptions As with anything there are exceptions that will affect the value. Obviously condition drives everything, along with; Canon vs non canon, artists, print runs all play into value. This is a case by case scenario. ------------------------------------
We have put a lot of time and testing into this guide and we are confident that it will be accurate well over 80% of the time when trying to estimate a fair price for a foreign comic. We are constantly watching and analyzing the market for any significant events that could impact this guide.
The widest variable is in tier 1, which can range from 10% - 80% of the American value, depending on several different factors, some of which are outlined in Exceptions.
There are main factors when determining which % to use for Tier 1 pricing, and then there are other minor factors as well to be considered.
The first main factor is how close the publication was to the American one. The closer it is, the closer the scale moves to the 50%+ range. Now this isn't a hard rule, as some countries didn't produce a comic for the first time until well after the 5+ year range, and those can still command high prices, but those would fall under the exceptions category. Generally, however, if a foreign comic is within the first 12 months of the American comic, you are going to have at least 50% of the American value.
The next main factor is availability. As we like to say, nothing is truly rare in the age of the internet, but some foreign comics are much harder to find than others. This factor requires a fairly current knowledge of the foreign comic market and how available the comic has been over the last 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, as supplies can drastically change in those time frames. Don't be afraid to ask other members of the community for their opinions on scarcity.
The next main factor is condition. This one has many factors within it, as some countries are easier to find higher grade comics from, and some countries are hard to find in any grade. The census/population report is a good place to see what grades exist in the comic, but it can be a bit hard to navigate if you aren't putting the foreign title in correctly, or if they listed it incorrectly. Some auction sites have graded foreign comics listed, but asking prices can be unrealistic and not suitable for comparison.
Minor factors can vary from comic to comic but can include artist(s), cover art, non canon or unlicensed work, other comics included within the comic, panel substitutions or modifications, dialogue changes, how the local population viewed and treated comics at the time of production, and more.