On December of 1996, Marvel Comics filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, having lost millions relying on the now dead speculator market in comics. It was easily rock bottom for the #SpeculationCrash.

Another factor that fueled the #SpeculationCrash was the rise of comic book price guides, notably
#Wizard magazine, which while did a great job promoting the medium, also listed the prices of comics for collectors to seek out, with some even claiming comics were a better investment than stocks.

The seeds of the 1990's #SpeculationCrash began when #PhilSeuling founded #SeaGateDistributors in 1972, allowing stores to buy comics directing from the publishers, thus birthing the #directmarket.