It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. If Charles Dickens was describing the antiques and collectibles trade in 2024, this quote sums it up perfectly. In my last article, we looked at three collecting categories that had a strong year in 2024. Those three collecting categories were graded coins and currency, modern era Pokemon cards, and graded vintage toys. Each of these markets returned double digit to triple digit returns to astute collectors who bought right and followed the market. Still, 2024 wasnt exactly booming for the entire trade. In fact, there were two pop culture collecting categories that actually returned negative growth in 2024, and some of these markets were on fire just a few short years ago. It would be a great disservice to ignore these markets. So buckle in, pour yourself a warm cup of tea, and if needed, grab yourself some tissues as we discuss two of the worst performing markets of 2024. The first market we need to discuss is the market for vintage comic books. I am sure the fact that this market made the list for one of the worst performing markets of 2024 is a surprise to many. After all, vintage key comic books can still be seen selling for eye popping sums. But, if you compare those sums to what similar issues were selling for in 2023 and even 2022 respectively, you will notice a very scary trend. Prices are down anywhere from 20 percent or more across the board. Whats worse, some vintage comic books that were being propped up to new heights during the pandemic are not selling at all. There are several reasons for this. Number one, after a long love affair with Hollywood, audiences are finally growing tired with the glut of superhero movies that Marvel and DC Comics continue to throw at the box office. There have been some notable failures over the last few years, and even more alarming is the amount of superhero movies that have been getting shelved altogether. Blade, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, was a highly anticipated movie that could not get out of pre-production. The box office receipts for a lot of the latest comic book heroes has been so bad that both Marvel (owned by Disney) and DC have been delaying and cancelling projects left and right. The sequel to 2022s Batman film starring Robert Pattinson as the caped crusader is not even expected until 2027, and even that release date is completely speculative with Warner Brothers (owners of the DC Comics brand) not wanting to spend money on comic book properties as of late. Another factor driving the trend away from comic books is the average age of the collector. Younger collectors under 40 are just not as interested in comic books as a collectible like older generations are. Newer comic books are barely selling to younger readers and the comic book market by-and-large is in a state of constant flux. Recently, it was announced that one of the largest comic book distributors, Diamond Comic Distributors, has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Just a few short years ago this would have been thought to not be possible. Yet, here we are. There is, however, some bright news on the horizon for comic book collectors and investors alike. Neal Adams Batman and Detective Comics from the 1970s show signs of life, as do bronze-age horror comics. Golden-age comic books are still selling across the board. The slump appears to be centered on key superhero comic books from the silver and bronze-age era that have seen massive price jumps. Make no mistake, true believers, comic books will eventually come back en vogue, but collectors should not expect the massive price gains we had in the last 10 years to continue into the future. Smart money is entering the market and prices will eventually stabilize. For now, just hang on and hold on tight as this is one bumpy ride. If vintage comic books were one of the worst performing markets in 2024, the absolute worst performing market of them all was the market for graded factory sealed vintage video games. It should be stated that used vintage video games are hot, but their graded and factory sealed counterparts took a further deep dive in 2024 that is causing most collectors in this market to take notice. Unfortunately, as I have written about before, the run up in graded factory sealed video games was anything but organic (ahem, the market was likely artificially manipulated and there is a lawsuit currently pending as a result), but when a market craters anywhere from 40 percent or more, speculators and collectors alike are going to be running for the proverbial hills. And while it is true that vintage video games do have organic collectability, some of these overextended speculators are now learning the awful truth, that if someone just wants to own a copy of Super Mario Bros. for their original Nintendo Entertainment System, they dont have to own it in factory sealed and graded condition. Graded factory sealed video games were always a niche collectible for this very reason. Unfortunately, right before the pandemic with the advent of WATA Games as the new premier third-party grading company, collectors flocked to the newest third party graded collectible that was being promoted by auction companies and industry insiders alike. Logic went out the proverbial window, and so did any rational prices. Finally, much like most speculative markets, demand fizzled and enthusiasts were left with entombed games that were now worth a lot less than their frenzied high prices. I am sorry to inform you, but you will never ever see a copy of Super Mario 64, released for the Nintendo 64 in 1996, and graded by any grading company in 9.8 condition, selling for over a million dollars ever again. That train has left the station and, unfortunately, so has a lot of trust in this market. Note to video game collectors who disagree with this assessment, you may want to study what happened during the graded coin bubble of the late 1980s. It took decades for the market to recover, and lawsuits were filed eroding trust in the rare coin marketplace. It was only in the 2000s with the advent of CAC (Certified Acceptance Corporation) that caused the market to regain collectors confidence again. And coins are a mature and sophisticated market. Video games are entirely new and speculative. Please understand the difference. Please know that I take no satisfaction in writing articles about the worst performing collecting markets. My goal is to simply report the truth. Unfortunately, in todays collecting world, certain collecting markets are being portrayed as cant lose investing markets. This is far from the truth, as speculating in any kind of antique and collectible is not without risk. It is my sincere hope in reporting on these worst performing markets of 2024 that readers at least acknowledge this fact. But please know that it is not all gloom and doom, as it is quite possible the market for these collectibles can turn at any time, and todays worst performing markets can easily become tomorrows best performing markets! Thanks for reading. Shawn Surmick has been an avid collector since the age of 12. He currently resides in his hometown of Boyertown, Pa., and is a passionate collector of antiques and collectibles. His articles focus on various topics affecting the marketplace.