Hopefully, it garnered more excitement for Asian superheroes in the comic medium. His first appearance in the costume in Tales To Astonish #35 is the first time the anthology series focused on the little guy and this series would become his own and the first time he was able to talk to ants. Star Wars #1 has the cover date of July, 1977, but hit newsstands April 12 of 1977.The movie Star Wars: A New Hope was released in theaters May 25th of 1977. It's also the first Conan Marvel magazine, and Savage Tales is the 1st magazine that marks Marvel's 2nd attempt to enter the magazine industry. Dr. Doom, one of the best Marvel villains ever created, debuted in 1961 in "Fantastic Four" No. Anyway, I hope you enjoy, and please share this if you're a comic collector or investor. 1 that belonged to actor Nicolas Cage fetched $2.161 million in 2011. Another Heritage Auctions sale and in 2021 nonetheless. The Bronze Age of Comics was a great and creative time in comics and produced many iconic characters, stories, and works of art. Usually, it also has to tie in with a comic that they're tied to historically. Nearly all of them were drawn, inked and written by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Thing was that Marvel did a test run to see how readers would take to a price increase. As of 1/17/2022 this comic lost it's space to Star Wars #1 35 Cent Variant. If the movie is a hit, I expect demand for this to continue to rise. This doesn't include sets, magazines, manga, or trade paperbacks. While it actually hit stands in late 1979, 1980 appears in the indicia. After she became a fan favorite, her big comic-cover debut shot up to around $230. A single page from this book and our first look ever at the Joker sold for $660 on eBay in 2013. Published in 1940, the Overstreet Guide called it "The definitive funny animal anthology comic after which all others were modeled.". Most recent known sale of a Giant-Size X-Men #1 CGC 9.8 was for $45,000 and sold at Comic Connect in September of 2021. We're talking about a guy who knew little to nothing about Chinese culture and felt apt to write about it in a way that absolutely portrayed it as morally and culturally inferior. This is a big moment for geeks all across the world, or at least it was in 1940. Again with the mutants. Ultra-Humanite was Supermans greatest antagonist until Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created Lex Luthor in 1940. The following contains spoilers for Star Wars #32 from Marvel Comics. Currently, there are 35 Universal 9.8 copies and 1 Signature Series recorded over at CGC, making it a total of only 36 copies. It follows the super team as they battle to defeat Thor's evil brother, Loki. What are the most expensive comic books ever sold at auction? Marvel's Nyx series was not standard superhero fare, mostly because it didn't really involve any known superheroes. The Phoenix saga and even Dark Phoenix saga are classic fan-favorite stories. However, the comic restarts the new X-Men in the titled series, and has the 2nd appearances of Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler and Thunderbird. Really, even now, there aren't many more fulfilling fantasies than punching out Nazis. Lou Ferrigno, Eric Bana, Edward Norton, and Mark Ruffalo all pale in comparison however to Hulk Hogan himself, who took his name after Marvels own Hulk. I'm actually a bit surprised this is on here, but, then, after thinking about the connection this character has to Blade, I'm not really that surprised. CGC 9.8 sold for $16,800 in Sept 2021, and three days prior (Sept 9th) for $7,999.99. The massive superhero team up saw them do battle with Namor who fled to the Northern Seas where a super soldier from Brooklyn was knocked out of his block of ice and began to thaw. Bentley Wittman has a super-human level intellect but felt threatened by the exploits of the Human Torch. Yes, its arguably the first appearance of Ant-Man, a character that has become pretty dang popular ever since the "Ant-Man" movie grossed over $500 million at the box office in 2015. And before that sale, a 9.0 copy of "Action Comics" No. It sold in 2008, and it seems to be the only copy in existence in such good condition. If you stuck around long enough to pick up this later release, ungraded copies sell for an average of $125 today. Well, the first Black superhero was Black Panther, but the first Black superhero to star in his own headlining comic title was Luke Cage. The 2nd Wolverine sequel was even based off this limited series, and the first headlining Wolverine comic. Tales of Suspense #39 - About $350,000. Sure it's just another Cap and Bucky take on the Red Skull story and it's Captain Americas third issue. Third full appearance of Wolverine, and his first in an X-Men title. Either one of these is worth your time and effort to find if you're hunting down issues to invest in. Jeez, 2021 was a good year for these high-grade Bronze Age keys. Either one of these is worth your time and effort to find if you're hunting down issues to invest in. Luke Skywalker nearly loses a book full of the Jedi's . If there are more recent sales for any of the particular comics at 9.8, please comment and let me know. Also curious is the record-setting price for the sale in 2017, since a 2011 Superman No. The first appearance of Captain America featuring him gloriously punching Hitler on the cover sold for a whopping $343,057 in 2011. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. Unfortunately for Marvel, their printers had a heck of a time getting all their fancy covers right, and the era is littered with printing errors. That's worthwhile to know as a comic book investor. The first appearance of the Punisher in Amazing Spider-Man #129 is absolutely one of my most prized comics in my personal comic collection. That's 12 years ago. Loki is using his magic to pit some of Earths Mightiest Heroes against one another. Instead, the series focused on teenagers who happened to have powers. Although the most recent sale of a CGC 9.8 was back on Feb 21, 2016 and sold for a whopping $24,000.00, we should see how recent sales of CGC 9.6 grades are at. This comic with an amazing cover by Jack Kirby features Captain America joining the Avengers, and a near-perfect 9.8-graded copy of one sold for $143,400 in 2017 at Heritage Auctions. It definitely has a lot going for it, and Wolverine's gruff, violent but loyal nature has caught on with many comic fans. The most recent prices are also those that I could find. The first appearance of Batman in the 1939 "Detective Comics" No. Enterprises for copyright infringement (and perhaps a bit of saltiness, since Captain Marvel went on to outsell Superman), and Captain Marvel ceased to exist by 1953. Only 3300 copies were printed, making it a relatively uncommon book, but if you grabbed one of these in 1998, you'd be $500 richer today. According to Bleeding Cool, the first "Superman" comic book is rare to begin with and then notoriously difficult to find in good shape. I'm excited. A 9.6-graded copy sold for $126,500 in 2002, but that record was demolished when an 8.5-graded copy that originally sold for $49,294 was resold for $200,000 through Heritage Auctions make-an-offer feature in 2012. SILVER AGE Marvel Comics 1969 Top 10 key issues by Terry Hoknes. While Nyx only lasted seven issues, its third issue introduced X-23 to the Marvel Comics universe (after first appearing in the animated series X-Men: Evolution). Things are changing slightly as the MCU grows, so perhaps it's time to pick up some investment comics now. That being said, his theatrical debut in Amazing Spider-Man received generally favorable reviews and helped bump up the Lizards debut issue to 71k, which is not a bad investment. But it's also a very rare find being from 1941. The 1964 comic is also the first Silver Age appearance of Cap, who had been frozen since World War II. As an ironic representation of everything that went wrong with '90s comics, Cable's mysterious backstory, endless pouches, giant guns, and bad attitude made him a cult favorite. The only other sale I could find for this comic was back in 2013, and it sold at Heritage Auctions for $13,145! Fu Manchu is undeniably a racist Yellow Peril stereotype, and the comic creators may have milked it as good as the racist creator of the character, Sax Rohmer, could have. It's only fitting that two of Spideys greatest foes, Doctor Octopus and the Green Goblin not only debuted within a year from one another and both are valued at the same amount, 54,000 dollars. The older a rare comic book is, the more valuable it becomes. The lyrics of an obscure song from an obscure band, the Blues Image might not be about the Fantastic Four, but sheesh, does it encapsulate what their origin story is all about. It was originally going to be used as the cover for "Detective Comics" No. "More Fun Comics" No. Several Spawn books appear on the Top 100 Most Valuable Comic Books of the Modern Age. Mail-away incentives, super-limited editions, and graded copies have no place among your sweaty socks and fifth grade art projects anyhow. 18. I am actually a bit surprised it hasn't hit the $10k mark just yet. Again, Spider-Man in the comic books is akin to Mickey Mouse and Disney. It's not even the first appearance of Ms. Marvel in costume; she's only on the final page in a t-shirt. One character that has not made their cinematic debut in anyANY Marvel movie is Namor, the Sub-Mariner. This comic from 1940 features the first appearance of the Spectre as well as the Presence, DCs representation of the Abrahamic god. However, until another one of these Iron Fist #14 35 Cent Price Variant CGC 9.4s sell in the near future, it will stay here on this list. I don't wanna help incriminate myself in the future. The real draw is most likely Kitty Pryde, who's become a fan favorite over the years, especially now that she leads the Marauders. Thanks to the big guy being all over the place since the Lou Ferrigno, this issue has always been a decent seller. The most valuable comic book on our list, an 8.5 graded copy of Action Comics #1 sold for a huge $3.25 million in April 2021. He was sent to Earth by his father, Odin, in order to teach him humility. I've had it for almost a decade so far and wish I got or could get more copies. But the ink was giving them a problem. It continues her origin story and also includes the first appearance of Wildcat and Mister Terrific. Only 3300 copies were printed, making it a relatively uncommon book, but if you grabbed one of these in 1998, you'd be $500 richer today. Also, usually the stories inside are told in black and white. The one that sold for $113,525 was a 9.4-graded copy, and it sold in 2012. Even with so many superhero movies and TV shows out there, there's still probably only three characters that even people who have never picked up a comic book know exactly how they got their powers, and one of thems Spiderman. I hope this was an informative and fun article for you to read, especially if you're a comic fan. This book is therefore the first real appearance of Captain Marvel and also Shazam. For a freaking dime, readers were able to get 64 pages of jam-packed action with the first Avenger and the eventual Winter Soldier. I am not too confident. 9 The Amazing Spider-Man 1 - $110,000. Which brings us to this list and why it is all mostly those three upper echelon comic books. Remember, this is as it stands at the time of this writing in December 2021. As you can already see, 2021 was a crazy year for record-breaking comic sales. Needless to say, even at its current 375K highest sale price might be a steal, since a book like this will only go up with each subsequent MCU appearance. If you have The Incredible Hulk #1 without the chipping, you have a very rare comic from 1962. Anyhow, a move towards diversity was definitely in play during the Bronze Age of Comics. Spider-Man has always been a popular superhero (arguably the most popular), and the prices as of late reflect his popularity. He has found ways over the years of suppressing the beast, but similar to the Hulk, it's just not easy being green. Three other stories not including Superman are included in the 64-page book from 1939. The first iteration of the Torch was actually a robot invented by Phineas T. Horton. This is the first appearance of two X-Men, Emma Frost and Kitty Pryde. But something went awry and Doc was turned into a giant Lizard. This first encounter had Spidey use a vacuum cleaner, but writers have spent a lot of time making the Sandman a credible threat over the years, and cinematically with Thomas Haden Church in the role for Spider-Man 3. It's a Skrull double feature for this entry! Plus the sales dates for the Iron Fist #14 are much older. The comic does first see his famous mask redesigned from his previous look in Incredible Hulk #180, #181 and #182 (this comic some are arguing is the real 2nd appearance of Wolverine and not simply a cameo). The Shang-Chi flick starring Simu Liu and Tony Leung was definitely a success in 2021, and as an Asian American, I'm glad it was. The most recent sale I could find was on eBay and for $8,979.99 on the date of Jul 28, 2021. Cover by Herb Trimpe, John Romita and Gaspar Saladino. Curiously, Batgirl wasn't created just for the comics. The 68-page comic originally released in 1941 with a 10-cent cover price. Tomb of Dracula #10 - 1st appearance of Blade. Published in 1955, "Detective Comics" No. Of course, his father is an evil mastermind that seeks to threaten the world (low key the western world), and Shang discovers his father is evil and ends up joining Sir Denis Nayland Smith, a British character from Sax Rohmer's novels, as an ally to MI-6 (foreign intelligence service of the United Kingdom) in fighting against his father and mostly Asian baddies. A 9.8-graded copy, the highest-graded copy extant, sold for $132,000 in January 2021, 55 years after it originally hit newsstands. The other is also a mad scientist, this one who travels around on a glider and looks like a goblin. 2, but it was believed to be too gruesome. A 9.6-graded version of the 1964 comic sold for $150,000 in 2021. Captain Marvel was originally created not by Marvel, but by the comic publisher M.F. 9.8s currently stand in the CGC Census at 207 Universal copies with ten Signature Series and 1 Restored copy. During this mutant x-travaganza, they introduced Cable, the time-traveling, techno-armed son of Cyclops. View Comic Book Value Guide. The first issue of "The Amazing Spider-Man" was published in 1963 and features two stories. Yes, I did blank out the certificate number on the slab. The previous sale of a ToD #10 CGC 9.8 was also at Heritage Auctions and sold for $28,800 in June of 2021. While Red Raven and the Inhumans are more than probably not going to be a part of Avengers 4, having a copy of an early part of pre-Marvel history is an interesting piece of history to have for a mere 124 thousand dollars. Cover by John Romita. Just like comics wanted to capitalize on the martial arts craze of the 70s, the comic industry also tried to ride the blaxploitation films of the era as well. 27 features the first appearance of Henry Pym, a master scientist who has developed a serum that could shrink him all the way down to the size of an ant. One villain is a mad scientist with eight arms and has terrified Spidey throughout the years, even marrying his beloved Aunt May and possessing Spideys body too! I also have other informative articles to check out so please do so. They stretch, go invisible and build bridges of ice and fire. Most Valuable Comic Books of All Time By Craig Donofrio, updated on February 25, 2022 DC Comics / Heritage Auctions Ever since Superman's first appearance in 1938, comic books have captured the hearts and minds of children and adults with stories of heroes and the evildoers they vanquish. . Well, if you're gonna have a great hero representing mutant kind, you gotta have the hero's arch nemesis or most popular villain. The highest grade of this particular comic are CGC 9.4s, and there have only been two recorded sales that I could find as of this writing: These prices were back in 2016 and 2017, so remember that. In reality, that isn't a super amount of copies at that grade, even with the extra 7 Blue Label 9.8s that CBCS has graded. For anyone who either has the issue or the money (166K!) The Luke Cage Netflix show was not that bad, not like Iron Fist. I bought my copy for $35 bucks back in the day, and it graded a CGC 7.0 without a press and clean. Detective Comics #27 - About $2.1 Million. To end this, A CGC 9.0, which is the next grade lower, had one sale on Oct 20, 2014 or $4,000.00. The record-setting sale, which went for $215,100, occurred in 2018, and it was for an incredible 9.6-graded version with off-white pages. Through Namor, they can link a whole heap of characters and locations. Action Comics (1938-2011) #1 CGC VF+: 8.5 WHITE pages - $2,052,000 - June 12, 2018 The third "All Star Comics" from 1940 featured the first superhero team ever. Tales Of Suspense #39 is the epic debut of the man who would become the centerpiece of all that is Marvel. The copy had an incredible 9.6 grading and is the highest-graded copy in existence. 1 sold for $507,500 in 2017, and it was only graded as a 5.5. Rather, they were used in the 1930s and 1940s to secure trademarks for titles and logos. In this third issue, the Fantastic Four tackle the Miracle Man. This book is consistently sought after by collectors as it is considered the true first Marvel comic book of all time. Ride, captain ride upon your mystery ship / Be amazed at the friends you have here on your trip / Ride captain ride upon your mystery ship / On your way to a world that others might have missed. A weapons manufacturer gets kidnapped by insurgents and while held captive, he creates a device to keep the shrapnel from hitting his heart and then a suit of armor to escape! Its also noted to be the first comic to usher in the Silver Age. This issue of "The Brave and the Bold" features the first appearance of the Justice League of America, who band together to fight the Lovecraftian-esque monster, Starro the Conqueror. "Suspense Comics" No. But in the earliest days of the Merry Marvel Marching Society, the big guns were the big guns, and aside from first appearances, that was about it. At his start, Deadpool was nothing more than a lazy ripoff of DC's Deathstroke, with none of the history, style, or charm. A near-mint condition, 9.2-graded copy of Batmans first comic book from 1940 sold for $850,000 at a private auction in 2012. The 9.6-graded copy of this 1956 comic sold for $179,250 at Heritage Auction in 2009. So it should come as no shock that the most famous book in Marvel history is the most valuable at 1.1 million dollars at its highest. Please watch the following video where you can watch me break them all down and look at some comics history. This might be one of the best-looking Batman covers ever inked. Then, in 2019, a 9.4-graded version sold for a very patriotic $915,000. According to Heritage Auctions, its extremely rare to find a "Detective Comics" No. This comic's cover from 1938 shows Supes holding a man high above the city streets. As time went on, however, Deadpool evolved into a character who became acutely aware of how ridiculous comics are as a creative medium, and took full advantage of everything illustrated heroes could offer. The 1st appearance and 1st cover appearance of Morbius is definitely a classic Marvel Bronze Age comic. 3/31/2022 UPDATE: A CGC 9.8 copy of this comic sold on eBay for $72,111.00 bucks on December 18, 2021 at ComicConnect. Once again, good things come to those who wait. . The second issue of Amazing Spider-Man was as successful as the first at giving Ol Webhead a memorable villain whose nefarious efforts have been thwarted by Spidey for years. To be honest, I am a bit surprised this comic is not up there a long side Marvel Spotlight #5 at this grade. For the purposes of this list, we're using values based on recent auctions and assuming that your closet isn't some Narnian portal that opens up into a 1960s comic store; we're going to assume that everything you can find in your closet could be purchased at your local comic shop, and was published during the late '80s and beyond. The book was the first issue of the team in their iconic blue uniforms, and is currently a steal at 38K, especially when in theory, sooner or later the team will make their MCU debut. This comic book marks the first appearance of iconic X-Men, including Charles Xavier, Magneto Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast and Iceman. 14 Amazing Spider-Man #41 $28,000 This issue brings us the first appearance of the bulky brute, the Rhino. Can't wait! So why was it so expensive? But with the massive fanbase the Hulk has, plenty people would be able to bring a copy home for themselves. Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 - 1st appearance and origin of Luke Cage. While plenty of comic book fans have known this for years, perhaps some might not - the Human Torch existed long before Johnny Storm went on a spaceship. Adrian Toomes had beenon a robbery spree all throughout New York in his patented Vulture costume when he had encountered younger Peter Parker, who had thwarted his efforts, ending his crime spree. The first issue of "Marvel Comics" features the first appearance of Sub-Mariner, the Human Torch and Angel. However, who doesn't know Storm amongst Marvel Comics fans? Johnny Blaze is Marvel's first published Spirit of Vengeance and is one of the many horror/supernatural characters that Marvel produced during the Bronze Age horror revival when the Comics Code Authority relaxed some of their bans on the horror genre. Also, the highest known grade of this comic, a CGC 9.9, sold in February of 2021, for a whopping $106,350 at ComicLink.