The Beginning of Collector Cartel™
From Friends to Founders
Every great story begins with a simple idea. For us, that idea was born out of countless conversations between three friends in the comic community: Phoenix Auctions, Bearmaximum Comics, and Redsters Comics.
Back in December, Rich (Bearmaximum) said something that stuck:
“Why don’t we build a one stop shop for collectors?”
It was more than just a throwaway comment. Between us, we had years of experience, from running auctions and selling exclusives to grading submissions and artist collaborations. We’d each carved our own space in the hobby, but together we realised we could create something bigger.
That’s when the seed for Collector Cartel™ was planted.
From the convention floor to building something bigger — the Cartel founders together at MCM.
The Vision
The mission was simple.
Bring all aspects of collecting under one roof. We wanted to be the place collectors could rely on for:
- Exclusive variant covers
- High end auctions
- Artist representation
- CGC submissions privately and at conventions
In other words, a one stop shop for comics and collectibles.
From Humble Beginnings to a Registered Company
After months of planning, Collector Cartel™ was founded on 8 April 2025. By 1 August 2025, we officially became a registered company with Companies House.
That might sound like paperwork, but for us it was a huge milestone. It meant that the vision we’d talked about over late night messages and convention meet ups had become real.
And in the space of just a few months, we’d already begun to make our mark on the industry.
The official face of the Cartel, Stacks….our Rhino in a suit, representing strength, style, and the community we stand for.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
From humble beginnings as friends in the community to building something official, Collector Cartel™ has always been about one thing: bringing collectors together.
And this is only the start of our story.