An entertaining box to check out every so often is Comic Block, which builds itself largely around sending three comics each month. Sometimes these are exclusive covers. Otherwise, they let you check out series you wouldn’t otherwise have seen.
The box also comes with an exclusive T-Shirt and one other further item, so there are five items in each box.
Comic Block has been advertising a change in format to match the other (larger) boxes in the Nerd Block family, but as of yet this hasn’t happened.
Without the change, the current price for this box, including postage to the UK, is $26.49 USD (£20 GBP).
Shipping from Canada to the UK was fast as usual, taking around a week, although it took a few more days before I was in at the right time to receive a visit from Royal Mail to deliver the box.
Box Contents
X-Men Professor X T-Shirt (Exclusive)
A fun design. This shows Xavier’s Gym for Gifted Youngsters, clearly suggestive of Professor Xavier and the X-Men.
I like the traditional black background for the T-Shirt and the bright colours used on the front print.
I value this at the T-Shirt standard of $10 USD.
Silver Surfer #1 Comic
This is the first Silver Surfer issue in the “All-New, All-Different” Marvel Universe, combining the 616 Universe and the 1610 Ultimate Universe.
With all the Marvel reboots, changes and new superhero identities of the past few years, I’ve rather lost track of the different characters, but this looks like an interesting and ongoing series to dip into.
The choice of artwork for this one (both on the cover and inside) is rather retro. This comes properly bagged and boarded, ready for storage.
Cover price is $3.99 USD, which also includes a digital edition.
Uncanny X-Men #1 Comic
This is another series from the latest Marvel reboot. Unusual to have two Marvel issues in the same box, but this makes sense this month.
The X-Men is a franchise I’ve never fully got into, but I’ll give this series a go.
Cover price is $3.99 USD, including the digital edition.
Red Sonja #1 Comic (Exclusive Cover)
This is the only exclusive cover in the box, Red Sonja #1, published by Dynamite, based on Robert E. Howard’s famous heroine. This comic has gone through several publishers and incarnations, so I’m not certain what the back story is behind this one.
I’ve had a quick flick through and this doesn’t look like my kind of series, but I’ll give it a proper read when I have time.
Unfortunately, this one comes in sealed plastic wrap, which is not recyclable. The bag and board used by the Marvel comics in the box is much better.
This does include a cover price and it’s the standard $3.99 USD.
Carnage Print
This print of Carnage, based on artwork by Lee Howard, is a follow-up to a similar print of Venom included in the October 2015 box.
It’s standard comic sized and printed on thin card.
I don’t assign a lot of value to these prints, which come across as a cheap way to add the “extra” item to the box. My standard valuation is $2 USD.
More from this box: all our Comic Block reviews.
Box Review
As usual, this box prices up at a slight loss for me, with a value of $24 USD. This is one box where UK shipping just isn’t cost-effective purely for the raw value of the items inside.
Your own valuation may be higher, as I appreciate that some people put more value on the exclusive T-Shirts and comics, as well as the print (which isn’t billed as an exclusive).
I suppose I continue to buy this because Comic Block is a fun box to receive.
It’s a good way to keep up to date with the changes and new releases in the comic world and always comes with a good T-Shirt.
I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Comic Block.
Comic Block has since stopped running, so the subscription link that originally sat here has been retired. You can still browse every Comic Block review on this site.
