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Originally published October 8, 2013 | Updated April 2026

The best practices for collecting Dead Universes differ from modern comics. Whether you’re starting with Defiant, Valiant, or the Ultraverse, these principles will help you build a complete collection affordably and strategically. Originally published in 2013, this advice remains relevant in 2026 because the fundamentals of smart collecting haven’t changed.

In the previous post, we explored how accessible Dead Universe collecting can be. The barrier isn’t cost, it’s strategy. Unlike hunting for mint condition variants, collecting Dead Universes is about completing stories affordably. Here are the principles that will guide your approach.

COLLECTING DEAD UNIVERSES BEST PRACTICES:

1. Start small.

Before committing to collecting multiple universes, test the process with one. Defiant is a good candidate: it’s small enough to complete relatively quickly, affordable, and teaches you the fundamentals without requiring a significant investment. Once you’ve successfully collected one universe, you’ll understand the rhythm and challenges. Then expand to others like Valiant or Ultraverse.

2. Have a game plan.

Know what you want to collect in advance and how you’ll go about doing it. I haven’t jumped into the original Valiant Universe yet for two reasons. The first is I have a substantial number of Valiant titles in my long boxes, which are 2000 miles away. It’ll be cheaper to mail them across the country over Christmas than to buy duplicates of the first 20 issues of Magnus, Solar, Harbinger, and Archer & Armstrong. The second is I haven’t quite figured out how much of the Valiant universe I want to read. I know I’ll stick through Jim Shooter’s run, but will I seek out everything up until Acclaim tried to turn the company into a video game promotional unit?

For Ultraverse, my demarcation line is roughly Godwheel. That’s when Marvel heroes first began appearing in the Ultraverse and when the quality of the titles began to decline significantly.

3. Know your condition tolerance.

Decide upfront whether you’re collecting for reading only or whether condition matters to you. If you’re reading stories, accept “read condition” comics. They’re cheaper and abundant. If you prefer a better condition, budget accordingly. That $15 complete run of Freex in read condition might cost $40 in fine condition. There’s no wrong choice, just different price points and different satisfaction factors. Be honest about what matters to you before you start buying.

4. Use community resources.

Before you start buying, ask the community. ValiantFans.com and collector forums have people who’ve already solved the problems you’ll face. Ask where to find specific series cheaply, what reading order makes sense, and which issues are hard to locate. Their experience will save you time, money, and frustration. Don’t reinvent the wheel.

5. Buy complete runs when possible.

This is advice I wish I’d known going into my quest to acquire Ultraverse titles. Sure, you might be able to get Prime 1 through 10 for $5, but you’ll have a harder time completing the rest of the series. Readers tend to decline the longer a series goes on (which is why Marvel and DC keep canceling and restarting titles), so there are fewer of the later issues in the resale marketplace.

6. Shop around.

There’s a vendor on eBay currently selling a complete run of Freex for $45, which is much too high. One month ago, I purchased a complete run for $15 ($20 with shipping). I have a rule to never pay more than the number of issues in the run, so essentially $1 per issue. It’s worth repeating that I’m collecting for the stories, not for potential future value, so if you want all near-mint lines, you’ll likely pay more.

7. Don’t be afraid to wait.

If you’re unhappy with the price results, don’t be afraid to wait. My generation, the one that grew up during the comic universe boom of the 90s, is getting to an age where many of us are embarrassed to have junk in our parents’ basements, or we need to sacrifice long boxes to make space in our homes for baby cribs. That means inventory keeps hitting the market. Patience pays off.

These principles form the foundation of smart Dead Universe collecting. In the next post, we’ll explore reading orders for three major universes: Defiant, Valiant, and the Ultraverse, so you can plan your approach strategically.

Dead Universes Part 2: Best Practices

Dead Universes Part 3: Choosing a Reading Order

Dead Universes Part 4: Defiant Comics