Its an extremely rare comic, and in early 2018, a 6.5-graded copy sold for $215,100 at Heritage Auctions. 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. The total for 9.8s of Giant-Size X-Men #1 in the CGC Census is 218. via CC BY 2.0 )You should invest in the most valuable comic books of the 1990s now. Issue has 1st appearance of Sabretooth. 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. 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. Tomb of Dracula #10 - 1st appearance of Blade. Either one of these is worth your time and effort to find if you're hunting down issues to invest in. Once the robot was to break free, he adopted a human identity and cover of NY policeman, Jim Hammond. Cookies help us deliver our Services. And while fancy metallic, holographic, and other gimmicky covers of the '90s arguably killed comic collecting, a rare few actually went up in value. Although it may not have been the best deal. Only two copies in such good condition are known to exist. We compiled the all-time auction price records for comic books as of February 9th, 2023. Once again, when them X-Men finally hit the silver screen under the MCU, it will interesting to see how excitement hits this book at all grades. This comic is probably one of the most valuable comic books of the 1970s. Dr. Doom, one of the best Marvel villains ever created, debuted in 1961 in "Fantastic Four" No. A 9.4-graded copy sold for $205,501 in 2016 at Comic Link. The Bronze Age of Comics was a great and creative time in comics and produced many iconic characters, stories, and works of art. (Image courtesy Bixentro via CC BY 2.0) The Silver Surfer, a pivotal Silver Age comic book, was first published in August 1968. 9.8s currently stand in the CGC Census at 207 Universal copies with ten Signature Series and 1 Restored copy. Hands down, the most expensive X-Men comic of the 1980s is the first one. 1 is gorgeous, and drawn by Everett in Kirby's action style. I have little doubt that Disney and the MCU will overlook this character, but I am a bit nervous as to who they cast and which direction they'll take. 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. 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. First appearances are big business. But in 2008, a copy sold for around $450,000 in a cash/trade deal, according to Bleeding Cool. Captain America got his start during WWII America, and the first comics were basically beautifully drawn pieces of American propaganda (note the "Ageless Orientals Who Wouldn't Die!!!" All-Star Comics #8 - About $936,000. One of these comics sold for $291,100 in 2016. Even worse-for-wear versions of the Caped Crusaders first appearance can go for big bucks. Between the pages of Incredible Hulk #377, Bruce Banner and various Hulks wage war against one another within the landscape of Banner's troubled mind. Five years after making his villainous debut, Venom decided to do what every other comic character in the '90s was doing: become an edgy anti-hero. He humiliated the Thing and extinguished the Human Torch. Did an extremely rich person decide to shop at Heritage for a bunch of high grade Bronze Age key comics in September of this year or something? We may see Frank Drake appear in the Disney Plus Blade series, and if so, his first appearance in comics is in this issue of Tomb of Dracula #1. The comic is certainly rare. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. Anyhow, a move towards diversity was definitely in play during the Bronze Age of Comics. Most of these are compared from sales of CGC 9.8s. I am definitely surprised that this is not higher on the list and more valuable. A $7,200 sale of a CGC 9.8 of X-Men #101 dropped back in September of this year, 2021. 10. It has four debuts, and not just debuts of some minor or semi-popular characters. 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. Spider-Man has always been a popular superhero (arguably the most popular), and the prices as of late reflect his popularity. He was sent to Earth by his father, Odin, in order to teach him humility. An issue of X-Men #94 with a CGC grade of 9.8 sold for $58,000 in April 2021. Superman made his first appearance in the first "Action Comics" issue, but he didn't again appear on the series' cover for another six months, until the seventh issue of "Action Comics" hit newsstands. storyline). Loki is using his magic to pit some of Earths Mightiest Heroes against one another. It features the third cover appearance of Superman, and a story involving an abusive prison warden that Superman has to bring to justice. Highest known CGC 9.8 sale for this comic sold for $72,000 at Heritage Auctions in July of 2021. You've made it through the whole list and knew full well that Amazing Fantasy #15 was going to be the most valuable Marvel book of all time, but just didn't know why. SILVER AGE Marvel Comics 1969 Top 10 key issues by Terry Hoknes. The secondary comic market is always moving and updating with comic sales. A 9.4-graded copy of this iconic comic sold for $275,000 at auction in 2014. Previously, the highest-priced issue of this book sold for $227,050 and was a 9.0-graded pay copy, meaning it was used to record how much each contributor was paid. Despite being one of the most sought out Bronze Age key comics amongst collectors, quite a few are arguing that the 1st cameo of Wolverine in the prior issue of Incredible Hulk #180 should be the more sought-out and valuable between the two. 100 Most Valuable Comic Books From the Golden Age #1: Action Comics #1, World Record First Appearance of Superman Action Comics #1 (June 1938) Origin and First Appearance of Superman Record sale: $3.4m (Goldin.co sale) Minimum value: $250,000 Have Yours Appraised Read our Action Comics price guide #2: Batman #1, First Solo Batman Comic One character that has not made their cinematic debut in anyANY Marvel movie is Namor, the Sub-Mariner. 53 features the second appearance of the Spectre, continuing his origin story for the Golden Age superhero. If you collected comics in the early '90s, we're very sorry. Sure it's just another Cap and Bucky take on the Red Skull story and it's Captain Americas third issue. 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. Things are changing slightly as the MCU grows, so perhaps it's time to pick up some investment comics now. The 1st appearance of Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider is contained in Marvel Spotlight #5. This cover is a great representation of that with a certain evil flag on the cover. A few months prior on Mar 13, 2021, a 9.6 copy sold for $3,200.00 on eBay. During this mutant x-travaganza, they introduced Cable, the time-traveling, techno-armed son of Cyclops. This second issue at its most expensive is still just a years salary at 47K, which is kind of a steal for any collector. I am surprised and thought that the 1st appearance of Wolverine would've taken the number #1 spot. In this case, the regions tested were. Take a piece of old-timey comic book history, add the debut of Marvels first-ever mutant and you get a grand investment or a prize for only a handful of collectors out there. An incredible 9.8-graded copy sold for just a tad over $141,000 in 2015. When they return, theyre imbued with powers that will help them fight the Mole Man. Marvel Premiere #15 - 1st appearance of Iron Fist. A 9.0-graded copy sold for $281,001 in 2012. Start Over. But before he was part of the Justice League, battling interdimensional beings, Manhunter went undercover as a human detective, solving very earthly crimes. Whether you think Incredible Hulk #180 should or shouldn't more valuable than Incredible Hulk #181, the first cameo appearance of Wolverine is absolutely gaining a lot of momentum in demand among comic collectors and comic investors. If you happened to get the later second printing, with the Anti-Venom reveal on the cover, it's worth a lot morea well-preserved copy will score you around $125 bucks. Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, created by Will Eisner and Jerry Iger, also makes her debut in this comic. If you don't know who or what the Skrulls are than you're going to be for a real treat when and if the evil alien race makes their debut in the movies. This issue reveals Daredevil's origin story and also the first appearance of the gangster, the Fixer. 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. As if the Canadian White version of Marvel Mystery Comics 128 Special wasnt special enough, then how about different issues being reprinted within the pages of the issue. View Comic Book Value Guide. Last known prior CGC 9.8 sale of Werewolf by Night #32 CGC 9.8 was $32,100 at Heritage Auctions back in March 2020. Another investment type of comic book, FF #4 can only skyrocket in price once the character is finally introduced to a nationwide film going audience and is currently a little under the average years salary of 44K at its highest to bring home. For many years Action Comics #1 was consistently the most expensive comic book. Stan Lee wanted Hulk to be a big grey monster, but an issue with the printing ink turned the Hulk varying hues of green on the inside pages. 7. Even with a flooded market of over 800 thousand copies, obviously, a lot of those have been lost to the sands of time. Someone bought a rare copy of Action Comics #1, printed in 1938, for $3.2 million in 2014. Demand may rise but the value may not. Most Wolvie fans have always liked the match up between Wolverine and Sabretooth. The Top 10 Most Valuable Modern Age Key Issue Comics to Date. In an attempt to bring in new comic readers, Funnies, Inc. partnered up with Timely (the eventual Marvel) to put out books in movie theaters to try and drum up some sales. #30: Invincible Iron Man 512 Stroman Venom Variant (2012). Or at least a family structure. Highest and most recent sale of a CGC 9.8 of Marvel Spotlight #5 was at a whopping $264,000 that sold at Heritage Auctions in 2021. Published ten years after the original, and with a fancy chromium cover, ASM #300 was popular enough to warrant a reprint that was probably available at your local comic shop for a slightly premium price. 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. One issue from 1961 that was graded a 9.4 sold for $300,000 cash. Despite readers suffering from mutant fatigue, Marvel powered on through multiple books tangential to the X-Men. There doesnt appear to be anything notable about "Action Comics" No. It's the perfect combination: a cover by Todd McFarlane, a landmark publishing milestone, the first full appearance of Eddie Brock as Venom, and Spider-Man returning to his classic red-and-blue costume after a long time in the black suit. Bruces father tries to intervene, and the criminal shoots them dead. Marvel Mystery was another Canadian White book, a book that collected several timely issues into one action-packed anthology. Most Valuable Comic Books of the 1970s (It Pays to Know) It's important to know why the comic books you collect are valuable. This is the 2nd Ghost Rider for Marvel. 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. The most valuable comic books of the 1960s seeded the explosion of the comic book culture we enjoy today. With his similar healing factor that slows down his aging, Sabretooth (Victor Creed) should be an interesting villain that can be linked to several periods of time with Logan. However, there are only a measly 4 recorded 9.8s in the CGC census currently. During World War II, comic books like Captain America were definitely morale-filling feel-good comic books. It's one of the most iconic Marvel comics of all-time, making it an extremely valuable comic as well. Highly anticipated character to hit the MCU on the mutant side of things is no doubt Wolverine. It also is not all-inclusive and only includes the most valuable comics from the 90s (we tried not to include anything worth less than $15). Sounds familiar, doesnt it thats because, besides the first Avengers movie, it is also the plot of the first Avengers issue. Plenty of people reading this article might not have a single clue as to who or what the Red Raven is. While some of the House Of Ideas famous characters predate Spidey, the entire Marvel Universe might not exist had it not been for Spideys massive popularity. But it's also the first time Steve Rogers hurls his mighty shield. A relic of the old Timely Comics, a young boy is adopted and raised by the Avian Bird People, who equip him with mechanical wings and as an adult sent him back to humanity to combat evil as the Red Raven. These are Universal copies, and there are zero Signature Series for the grade. I remember loving to hate on the villain and constantly rooting against him whenever the two went toe-to-toe. That iconic cover with Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Ant-Man & The Wasp squaring up with Loki has seen sales of almost $200,000 before, still bringing in tens of thousands of dollars with every purchase. He has found ways over the years of suppressing the beast, but similar to the Hulk, it's just not easy being green. A 9.2-graded copy sold for $341,234 on Comic Connect in 2018 after 50 bids. Also, the highest known grade of this comic, a CGC 9.9, sold in February of 2021, for a whopping $106,350 at ComicLink. This is why it is lower on the list than the Iron Fist #14 35 Cent Price Variant. It's hardly a surprise that the original Star Wars comic has turned out to be a collector's dream grab. The third "All Star Comics" from 1940 featured the first superhero team ever. With the MCU gearing up to introduce their mighty mutants in their cinematic realm, it will be interesting to see how much Incredible Hulk #180 heats up compared to Incredible Hulk #181. 3s value comes singularly from its Alex Schomburg cover, which depicts a tied-up damsel in distress surrounded by sinister robed figures bearing swastikas. The original . This iconic comic marks the first appearance of the Joker and Catwoman. Venom Lethal Protector #1 (1993), black cover error It's. Therefore, they selected a few certain regions to test this out, and it just wasn't with this particular Star Wars comic. The next story features the Fantastic Four and the first appearance of the Chameleon. 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. It has the first appearance and origin of Man-Thing. Wonder Woman received her first line of comic books in the summer of 1942, not long after the United States entered World War II. Iron Man made his first appearance in this 1963 comic book written by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Because the sale of the next lower grade beat the most recent sale of a CGC 9.6 Marvel Premiere #15, I put it higher on the list than that comic. The first issue of "Marvel Comics" features the first appearance of Sub-Mariner, the Human Torch and Angel. While not always the biggest (pun intended) and most popular Avenger, Hank Pym is one of the smartest minds in the Marvel Universe and his Pym Particles have helped him to grow and shrink, and occasionally be a real jerk. It's probably no surprise to '90s kids that Venom is in the top three most valuable books on this list. A few months later in issue #12, the first epic clash between Marvels two top titans, the Thing, and the Hulk took place, which to this day is one of the House Of Ideas great rivalries. It has been ten years since Iron Man stepped out of the pages of Marvel and onto the big screen, launching one of the most popular and beloved movie franchises the world has ever known. A 9.0 grading may have also been the 80-year-old comics selling point when it sold in 2011 at auction. If you are interested in investing in comic books, these . Can't wait! The creator of all that is Marvel got his grand start within the pages of Captain America #3, writing that story, Captain America Foils The Traitors Revenge, it was also the first time Lee and Jack Kirbys names were both in the same comic. Comic collectors are never sure if a throwaway character might become the next big thing, especially in the speculative era of the '90s, when new characters sprouted up in every issue and "comic investors" collected any comic they could find. Luke Skywalker nearly loses a book full of the Jedi's . 225 marks the first appearance of Martian Manhunter, one of the most powerful beings in the DC Universe. In 1959, Marvel Comics released Tales of Suspense No. 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. Luke Skywalker seemingly loses two incredibly valuable items that could forever doom the Jedi -- and the entire galaxy -- in Marvel's Star Wars #32. Superman #1 - About $507,000 . Here are the Thirty Most Valuable Marvel Comics Of All Time. Because only up until recently did Marvel put their creative juices behind their second-tier characters to craft new stories. There are six stories in this comic: the aforementioned "Ageless Orientals" tale, "Trapped in the Nazi Stronghold," "The Wax Statue That Struck Death," "Short Circuit," "The Valley of the Mist" and "The Devil and the Green Plague." But it was still 1942, and a female superhero might not have been as appealing to young boys as Captain America or Superman. The comic book, which originally sold for 10 cents in 1940, also features a one-page history lesson about postage stamps and a comic strip about an evil ventriloquist dummy. 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. Eventually, the green color was decided on, and eventually the 12-cent comic sold for $326,000 50 years later, in 2014. Just saying. Iron Fist was hugely disappointing, but I liked the Luke Cage show starring Michael Colter. The press materials also tout that the book was penned by William Moulton Marston, a psychologist who would later invent the prototype to the modern-day lie detector. Case in point: the Amazing Spider-Man #300 edition of Marvel Collectible Classics. The copy had an incredible 9.6 grading and is the highest-graded copy in existence. The cover of Avengers# 4 is quite possibly the most famous cover in Marvel after Amazing Fantasy # 15, but also the basis for the grand sweeping hero shot that has become a staple. Can that be right? "Suspense Comics" No. Tales of Suspense #39 - About $350,000. Curiously, Batgirl wasn't created just for the comics. The first appearance of Captain America featuring him gloriously punching Hitler on the cover sold for a whopping $343,057 in 2011. He's been a Marvel cash-cow since the 70s and the most popular Marvel character of the 80s and 90s. This book is consistently sought after by collectors as it is considered the true first Marvel comic book of all time. 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. Relaxing of the Comic Code Authority and we get back some good ole classic horror characters like Dracula in the mighty world of Marvel. The Phoenix saga and even Dark Phoenix saga are classic fan-favorite stories. According to Heritage Auctions, its extremely rare to find a "Detective Comics" No. It's a Skrull double feature for this entry! For anyone who either has the issue or the money (166K!) A 9.2-graded copy of this 1955 comic sold for $140,000 at Comic Connect. Which brings us to this list and why it is all mostly those three upper echelon comic books. At 326K, it certainly places the book in rarified air as prices go. A very rare example of a '90s comic that went up in value due to a character appearance is New Mutants #87. 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. Then again, if I owned the 3 known copies in existence, I'd be very reluctant to let my go unless I really needed the money. As the Fantastic Four battle the Mole Man, Reed Richards takes his friends on a rocket ship that will alter their lives forever! The 9.6-graded copy of this 1956 comic sold for $179,250 at Heritage Auction in 2009. Well, the first Black superhero was Black Panther, but the first Black superhero to star in his own headlining comic title was Luke Cage. 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. most valuable comics from the 2000s. The first issue of "The Amazing Spider-Man" was published in 1963 and features two stories. But with the massive fanbase the Hulk has, plenty people would be able to bring a copy home for themselves. As mentioned prior in the Star Wars #1 listing in this article, this issue is not the regular 30 Cent Price edition but the more limited and rare 35 Cent Price Variant. Remember, this is a 2014 sale. It's also one of the most expensive Disney collectibles in the world. There are, however, a few exceptions wedged into your longbox of Gen 13 variant covers. According to Bleeding Cool, the first "Superman" comic book is rare to begin with and then notoriously difficult to find in good shape. I think he was also non-powered before creator Chris Claremont decided to make him a mutant baddie and stick him in the X-Men comics. Enter Sabretooth. That's worthwhile to know as a comic book investor. Also, the CBCS census has zero entries for 9.8s of this comic. Action Comics #1 - About $3.2 Million. Anyway, the one panel teaser of the popular Marvel mutant at the end of this story has seen monumental gains in the last two years a lone for CGC 9.8s: Wowza!