How I Made $1,749+ Profit Flipping Comic Omnibuses
Buy at 40-50% off, wait for out-of-print, sell for 100%+ returns. Here's exactly how I did it with 14 omnibus sales.
A few years ago, I started buying comic omnibuses the way most collectors do — I just wanted to read the classic X-Men stories I'd missed growing up. I'd hunt for deals on InStockTrades and CheapGraphicNovels, thrilled every time I snagged a $125 book for $65.
What I didn't expect? That my bookshelf would turn into an investment portfolio.
Fast forward to January 2026: I sold 14 omnibuses from my collection for over $2,600. Books I paid $55-70 each for were selling for $150-250. That's not a typo — I more than doubled my money on every single one. Here's exactly how it happened, with real numbers and real screenshots from my eBay account.
The Results (January 2026)
The Proof: My eBay Dashboard
$2,345 in 90-day sales, 11 orders completed, 0 unsold items.
That screenshot is real — straight from my eBay seller dashboard. Every one of those 11 orders was a comic omnibus I bought years ago at a steep discount. The crazy part? I didn't even buy these as "investments." I bought them to read. But after enjoying them, I realized they were worth way more sitting on eBay than collecting dust on my shelf.
The best part of this strategy? It's repeatable. When Marvel eventually reprints these books (and they will — X-Men is too popular not to), I'll buy them again at 40% off and start the cycle over. It's like getting paid to read comics.
The Strategy: Buy, Hold, Profit
Buy New at 40-50% Off MSRP
Use sites like InStockTrades and CheapGraphicNovels to buy brand new omnibuses at deep discounts. A $125 MSRP omnibus typically costs $65-75.
Wait for Out-of-Print
Marvel and DC have limited print runs. Within 1-3 years, most omnibuses go out of print and demand skyrockets among collectors who missed the initial release.
Sell on eBay for 2-3x Your Cost
List on eBay when prices peak. Out-of-print X-Men omnibuses regularly sell for $150-250+. Your $65 investment becomes $150-200 profit.
Rebuy When Reprinted
When Marvel/DC eventually reprints the omnibus, buy it again at discount and repeat the cycle. It's a renewable investment strategy!
My Actual Sales (January 2026)
Let me show you the receipts. These are actual screenshots from my eBay seller account — every sale from the first two weeks of January. Notice how quickly they sold: most were purchased within hours of listing. When an omnibus goes out of print, there are always collectors waiting to pounce.
The X-Men omnibuses were particularly hot. The Claremont era (Uncanny X-Men Vols 1-4), the big crossover events (Age of Apocalypse, Inferno, Onslaught), and spin-off titles like New Mutants and Excalibur — all highly sought after by collectors completing their X-Men shelf. Here's the full breakdown:
| Title | Sold For | Est. Cost | Profit | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mutants Omnibus Vol. 1 | $250 | $69 | +$181 | 262% |
| Excalibur Omnibus Vol. 1 | $220 | $55 | +$165 | 300% |
| Uncanny X-Men Omnibus Vol. 4 | $205 | $69 | +$136 | 197% |
| X-Men Inferno Omnibus | $200 | $69 | +$131 | 190% |
| X-Men Age of Apocalypse Omnibus | $195 | $69 | +$126 | 183% |
| X-Men Onslaught Omnibus | $180 | $69 | +$111 | 161% |
| X-Men by Jim Lee & Silvestri | $179 | $69 | +$110 | 159% |
| Uncanny X-Force Omnibus | $165 | $55 | +$110 | 200% |
| X-Men Inferno Prologue Omnibus | $150 | $55 | +$95 | 173% |
| Uncanny X-Men Omnibus Vol. 3 | $150 | $55 | +$95 | 173% |
| Wolverine Omnibus Vol. 1 (McNiven) | $148 | $55 | +$93 | 169% |
| Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 2 (Hickman) | $219 | $69 | +$150 | 217% |
| X-Men Age of Apocalypse Omnibus (2nd copy) | $195 | $69 | +$126 | 183% |
| X-Men Omnibus Vol. 2 (Claremont/Lee) | $189 | $69 | +$120 | 174% |
| TOTALS | $2,645 | $896 | +$1,749 | 195% |
More Proof: Recent Shipments
Why This Works
Limited Print Runs
Marvel and DC don't keep omnibuses in print forever. Once they sell through, that's it until a reprint (if ever). Scarcity drives prices up.
Collector Demand
New collectors enter the hobby every day. When they discover a classic run is out of print, they'll pay premium prices to complete their collection.
X-Men Always Sells
X-Men is one of the most popular franchises in comics. Classic runs by Claremont, Jim Lee, and others have enduring appeal.
Discount Buying Power
Sites like IST and CGN offer 40-50% off cover price. This margin is your built-in profit buffer before you even factor in appreciation.
Pro Tips for Omnibus Flipping
- 1.Focus on popular runs — X-Men, Spider-Man, Batman, and Avengers have the most demand.
- 2.Buy Volume 1s — Collectors starting a series need Vol. 1 first, making them most valuable.
- 3.Keep them sealed — Sealed omnibuses command 10-20% premium over opened ones.
- 4.Watch for reprint announcements — Sell before reprints hit, prices drop when supply returns.
- 5. Use MyComicsDeals — Track prices across IST, CGN, and eBay to find the best buying opportunities!
Final Thoughts
I want to be clear: I'm not telling you to treat comic collecting purely as a money-making scheme. I genuinely love these books. I read every single one of these omnibuses before selling them. The joy of holding a beautiful hardcover collection of classic X-Men stories is real and valuable on its own.
But here's the beautiful thing about this hobby: you don't have to choose. You can enjoy the books AND make money. Buy smart, read at your leisure, and when you're ready to move on (or just need some extra cash), your collection has likely appreciated significantly.
The key is buying at a discount in the first place. That's why I built MyComicsDeals — to help collectors like me (and you) find the best prices so every purchase has profit potential baked in from day one.
Ready to Start?
Use MyComicsDeals to find the best prices on omnibuses right now.