Somehow, it worked out better for him than anyone else who'd tried it at the time, and Venom's been wavering between good and evil ever since. Even during the Golden Age of comic books variants were a thing. Marvel Premiere #15 - 1st appearance of Iron Fist. In many ways, Amazing Spider-Man #300 was the turning point in Spider-Man's history, making it a book beloved not only for its value, but also its story. Please note that this list is in alphabetical order. This book is therefore the first real appearance of Captain Marvel and also Shazam. Just be ready to spend at least 567K for it if you find a near mint copy. Naturally, this causes the Daily Bugle owner to castigate the webslinger in an editorial for deliberately sabotaging the shuttle. 39, which featured the first appearance of Iron Man. Marvel Comics #1 is debatably the most beloved comic in history, as it marks the first-ever Timely Comics/Marvel Comics issue . Can that be right? Going down a grade to CGC 9.6, the most recent sale of that was $5,760 on Aug 23, 2021. Please watch the following video where you can watch me break them all down and look at some comics history. Either one of these is worth your time and effort to find if you're hunting down issues to invest in. As of 1/17/2022 this comic lost it's space to Star Wars #1 35 Cent Variant. 1st Blade is still hot! A single page from this book and our first look ever at the Joker sold for $660 on eBay in 2013. Case in point: the Amazing Spider-Man #300 edition of Marvel Collectible Classics. Highest known CGC 9.8 sale was $50,000 at Comic Link back in February of 2019. If the movie is a hit, I expect demand for this to continue to rise. Giant-Size X-Men #1 is still considered the 2nd full appearance of Wolverine as well, but that can be argued. If you can afford the splurge, either of these issues carries a fairly lofty price tag of 90K at their highest grade and record sale. 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. Iron Man #55 also has the debut of Drax the Destroyer, who has a personal vendetta against Thanos, The Mad Titan. This issue has been known to have sold for $159 thousand dollars, a mere drop in the bucket to own a piece of history. Highest Previous Sale: $1,500,000 Current Auction Estimate: $1,750,000 Why It's Valuable: Published in June 1938, this is the mother of all comics. I am surprised and thought that the 1st appearance of Wolverine would've taken the number #1 spot. The one that sold for $119,500 was graded a 7.5, with only one other finer copy known to exist. Issue has 1st appearance of Sabretooth. 8. Namor in the comics is the King of Atlantis who has a thing for Sue Storm, and is the companys first Mutant. Yes, comic investing is still a thing despite all the backlash. If that doesnt sound like a valuable comic to own, then perhaps the second story will Dr. For a freaking dime, readers were able to get 64 pages of jam-packed action with the first Avenger and the eventual Winter Soldier. In fact, when I got my copy graded, pressing and cleaning wasn't as popular as it is right now. Thanks for reading and happy hunting! This comic's cover from 1938 shows Supes holding a man high above the city streets. 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. The first issue, published in 1942, is the second appearance of Wonder Woman. I debated pretty hard about even mentioning these, but here they are: Wolverine #1 CGC 10. Notable Sales $3.4 million (CGC 6.0, private sale, 2022) $3.25 million (CGC 8.5, ComicConnect, 2021) $2.1 million (CGC 9.0, ComicConnect, 2011) $1.5 million (CGC 8.5, ComicConnect, 2010) CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1 We shall see. Only three copies are known to exist with a higher grade. It's why when Sony agreed to loan him out to Disney, it became a big deal the wall-crawler was coming home! So when DC went to revive the character, they couldnt use the name, and turned him into Shazam. The most expensive copy of this book sold in 2017 for a bit over $149,000. The 2nd Wolverine sequel was even based off this limited series, and the first headlining Wolverine comic. While not as valuable as some o DCs books or even some other Marvel books, this book like Cap is timeless and in theory, could bump in value at a moments notice and is currently valued at best at 343 thousand. 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. Sabretooth needs to be ruthless and savage yet cunning. Kirby created or co-created Captain America, Black Panther, X-Men, Iron Man, Ant-Man, Nick Fury, Eternals, Fantastic Four, Inhumans, Darkseid, Thor, Loki, Baron Zemo. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. A Chinese hero against the oppressive Opium Wars, Unequal Treaties, and colonization of China against British powers would've been more historically truthful and accurate. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for X-Men Most Valuable Comics 1990 Marvel Comics Card at the best online prices at eBay! 9 is prized by collectors and comic lovers alike because of the gorgeous front cover and the epic battle between the Human Torch and Namor the Sub-Mariner on the inside pages. The BvS or Infinity War of its time, Marvel Mystery #9 was the first crossover story between two superheroes when the worlds of Namor and the original Human Torch collided. In the first of a two-parter, the two heroes dueled to a stalemate in and around Manhattan. This comic is probably one of the most valuable comic books of the 1970s. Loki is using his magic to pit some of Earths Mightiest Heroes against one another. Currently, this issue has been known to sell for as much as 51 thousand in phenomenal condition. Never mind the fact that some other flag bearing hero, the Shield debuted a year earlier, Cap, of course, became a hero for the ages. If you collected comics in the early '90s, we're very sorry. Most Valuable Comic Books of the 1970s (It Pays to Know) It's important to know why the comic books you collect are valuable. With speculation about a Moon Knight anything live-action happening, this book really heated with the recent news of Disney Plus's Moon Knight streaming show coming out super soon. Only up until recently did Marvel put their creative juices behind their second-tier characters to craft new stories. I am definitely surprised that this is not higher on the list and more valuable. At 326K, it certainly places the book in rarified air as prices go. 4, DC revitalized the Flash with a whole new look and character. Nearly all of them were drawn, inked and written by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Again with the mutants. You can see that clearly on the cover by John Buscema. 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 Anyway, we'll see how Disney approaches this character. 3/31/2022 UPDATE: March 19th, 2022 saw a CGC 9.8 sell at ComicConnect for a whopping $75,500 bucks. Its an extremely rare comic, and in early 2018, a 6.5-graded copy sold for $215,100 at Heritage Auctions. Pinning down the true value of the comic is a bit tough. Definitely a comic to own for any X-Men fan, and it's no surprise that this comic is quite valuable. This is the first appearance of two X-Men, Emma Frost and Kitty Pryde. During the pandemic, the Punisher became my favorite character. Third full appearance of Wolverine, and his first in an X-Men title. Unlike early DC issues, early Marvel books weren't necessarily anthologies, but chaptered features and FF # 3 was no different. If you stuck around long enough to pick up this later release, ungraded copies sell for an average of $125 today. Then, in 2019, a 9.4-graded version sold for a very patriotic $915,000. 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. There are, however, a few exceptions wedged into your longbox of Gen 13 variant covers. It does mark Marvel's revival into the horror genre with a nice twist on the classic vampire horror character. Pretty rare for Marvel Spotlight #5s at 9.8 grades! Amazing Fantasy #15 - About $1.1 Million. Just saying. 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. All-Star Comics #8 - About $936,000. 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. Or at least a family structure. Thor didnt even know he was Thor at first. In the Fantastic Four #5, we are introduced to the grand villain, Dr. Doom, who has been a thorn in the FFs and entire MCUs side for over 50 years. Average value for these 5 sales is $112,480, making it still the 2nd most valuable Bronze Age key issue that isnt some kind of variant. The location might have changed from Vietnam to the Middle East, but the origins story of Tony Stark hasn't changed much over the years. UPDATE: Heritage auctions just sold a CGC 9.8 for $38,400.00 on January 13, 2022 and for less than copies sold below: Heritage Auctions sold A CGC 9.8 of Amazing Spider-Man #129 for $43,200 back in September of 2021. Also a very likely chance that this comic should be higher on this list. 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. (Image courtesy Bixentro via CC BY 2.0) The Silver Surfer, a pivotal Silver Age comic book, was first published in August 1968. Sort of. Enter Sabretooth. 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! 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. This issue of "Detective Comics" from 1940 features the first appearance of Robin, who was created to attract a younger audience. Captain America Comics 128 Page Issue (1942) $200,000 This issue was sold as a 25-cent special in January 1942 but only in Canada. Cover art by Gil Kane, John Romita and Gaspar Saladino. Only one sale, yet the CGC Census has 3 recorded 9.9s in existence so far? Anyway, I hope you enjoy, and please share this if you're a comic collector or investor. The first appearance of Moon Knight has been in demand and sought-out for a good while, but I do remember a time when this comic was under the radar. So far this is the only sale of an X-Men #141 CGC 9.9 recorded. 73 features the origin and first appearance of Aquaman, which has become one of DC's most-loved superheroes. Another Heritage Auctions sale and in 2021 nonetheless. In February of 2021, a 9.8 copy sold for $12,000 but on eBay. His first comic appearance, aided by the fact that he'll be on the big screen in Deadpool 2, is worth an average of around $160 today. "Detective Comics" No. It is, however, the first appearance of Ms. Marvel on a comics cover if you waited for the second printing. 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. Iron Man made his first appearance in this 1963 comic book written by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. SILVER AGE Marvel Comics 1969 Top 10 key issues by Terry Hoknes. Only two copies in such good condition are known to exist. It's not even the first appearance of Ms. Marvel in costume; she's only on the final page in a t-shirt. While the Ultra-Humanite isnt exactly a popular or even well-known bad guy, hes the worlds first comic book supervillain. As the Fantastic Four battle the Mole Man, Reed Richards takes his friends on a rocket ship that will alter their lives forever! Thankfully, it did happen that way, otherwise, we would have just had a litany of Spidey and X-Men movies and instead of characters like Black Panther and the Guardians of the Galaxy getting their own movies, Iron Man and Cap wouldve been the second-tier characters getting their own movies. Since the book was only distributed in New York City, researchers have found only five known copies to exist, which puts it in the kind of rarity that might even be fewer copies than Action Comics # 1. I wouldn't be upset if Colter's version of Luke was carried over into the Disney/MCU stuff. The character was originally Captain Marvel but became Photon and then Spectrum in the Marvel comic books . That certainly holds true for the Fantastic Four. It also features the first appearance of the Ultra-Humanite. Another investment book at 77K now that Marvel and Sony are working together, perhaps the Sandman can also make his Marvel debut. 181 is the first appearance of Wolverine, one of the most popular superheroes ever created. Hailing from Gary, Indiana, Pete Petruski created a paste gun and instead of using it for good as a research scientist turned to a life of crime. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. The 1st appearance and 1st cover appearance of Morbius is definitely a classic Marvel Bronze Age comic. Enterprises. There weren't a lot of hugely popular characters that made their debut in the '90s, but if there's one exceptional standout, it's Deadpool. This makes it move up a spot ahead of X-Men #94. 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. Batgirl made her debut in this January 1967 issue of "Detective Comics" (although it actually hit stores in late 1966). 2. Copies with as low as a 0.5 grading can fetch over $2,000 on eBay, and one recent sale on the auction site was a 7.0, which sold for $19,000 in May 2019. This is the 2nd Ghost Rider for Marvel. 1 with the same 5.5 grade sold for only $214,000 in 2011. Incredible Hulk 181 is essentially the most valuable comic book from the 1970s as it features the first full appearance of Wolverine which comic fans can't get enough of. One current listing on eBay is graded a 9.2, but it couldnt sell at $531,000 less than half the price of the 9.8 copy so the bidder cut the price to $414,180. The Amazing Spider-Man #1 is one of a handful of important comic books in American pulp history. The one that sold for $113,525 was a 9.4-graded copy, and it sold in 2012. While many fudged printings were scrapped, leaving only a few odd copies released into the world, over 500 copies of a Lethal Protector #1 cover printed in all black found their way into the wild, making it a rare, but not-altogether-unlikely thing might've found at your comic shop in 1993. I am surprised and thought that the 1st appearance of Wolverine would've taken the number #1 spot. How do you know what's valuable? A 1981 comic that also holds what most deem a classic cover by John Byrne and Terry Austin to go a long with this classic story line by Chris Claremont. Either one of these is worth your time and effort to find if you're hunting down issues to invest in. 1st appearance of Morbius. Rather, they were used in the 1930s and 1940s to secure trademarks for titles and logos. Amazing Spider-Man #101. And some of these comics are so beloved and so expensive that they can fetch hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars at auction. It includes over 100 of the most valuable comic books from the 80s. Just kidding. Like any collectible, the most valuable comic books are often the rarest. Marvel didn't want to spoil the big reveal of their newest hero, so they kept the good stuff for the comic's second run. Are you excited for the Morbius movie that Sony is soon to release? 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. Marvels take on the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde paradigm begins right here when brilliant scientist Bruce Banner is caught in a gamma ray explosion and is forever altered by becoming a giant rage monster whenever anyone pisses him off. 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. 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. Avengers #1 - $274,000 The 1963 comic book, Avengers #1, features Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, Ant-Man and the Wasp. Sep. 12, 2021 saw a $8,400.00 sale of a CGC 9.6 via Heritage Auctions. In 2019, that record was absolutely smashed when a 9.4 graded copy sold for $1.26 million on Heritage Auctions. Also, the CBCS census has zero entries for 9.8s of this comic. Not enough Free Comic Book Day issues appear on the most valuable comic books list. And while fancy metallic, holographic, and other gimmicky covers of the '90s arguably killed comic collecting, a rare few actually went up in value. Bentley Wittman has a super-human level intellect but felt threatened by the exploits of the Human Torch. Incredible Hulk #181. This might be one of the best-looking Batman covers ever inked. #30: Invincible Iron Man 512 Stroman Venom Variant (2012). Another comic that a movie was based off of, and this one is none other than the fan-favorite X-Men story arc, Days of Future Past, starting in X-Men #141. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for FANTASTIC FOUR COMICS LOT 66 BRONZE AGE COMICS MOST VG-VF at the best online prices at eBay! Several Spawn books appear on the Top 100 Most Valuable Comic Books of the Modern Age. Luke Skywalker nearly loses a book full of the Jedi's . Marvel U.K.'s Transformers #113 is the first mainstream comic appearance of Death's Head, an unusual cult favorite robot that has canonically crossed borders with Marvel, Transformers, and even Doctor Who. Also, what X-Men fan doesn't know Colossus and Nightcrawler? "More Fun Comics" No. 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. 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. Both characters have graced the MCU, and I think it will be hard for future MCU villains to out-do Thanos. This doesn't include sets, magazines, manga, or trade paperbacks. 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. It follows the super team as they battle to defeat Thor's evil brother, Loki. 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. However, if the House Of Ideas hadn't sold off the rights to their most popular heroes like the Fantastic Four, X-Men, and of course your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, then perhaps the Marvel Cinematic Universe wouldn't be what it is today. Here are the Thirty Most Valuable Marvel Comics Of All Time. Anyhow, a move towards diversity was definitely in play during the Bronze Age of Comics. Not much is known about the sale, only that it occurred in 2001. Pair that with covers that look like obnoxious kids on their way to a rave and issues that often shipped many months apart, and you have a series destined for failure. The 1st appearance of Phoenix in X-Men #101 is a classic Bronze Age X-Men debut. When they return, theyre imbued with powers that will help them fight the Mole Man. I hope this was an informative and fun article for you to read, especially if you're a comic fan. A "Superman" No. Detective Comics #27 - About $2.1 Million. After she became a fan favorite, her big comic-cover debut shot up to around $230. So, these two teamed up to try and take out Johnny Storm in Strange Tales #110. This is the issue that is the basis for so much of what the Marvel universe came to be, as far as the Avengers go as it is the first appearance of Captain America in the Silver Age. For that, his first adventure has been known to sell for as much as 110K. A 9.2-graded copy of the 1944 comic sold for $292,900 in 2017, shattering the previous record of $173,275 for a 9.0-graded copy that sold in 2015. Eventually, the green color was decided on, and eventually the 12-cent comic sold for $326,000 50 years later, in 2014. This second issue at its most expensive is still just a years salary at 47K, which is kind of a steal for any collector. If you are interested in investing in comic books, these . In 2014, a 9.0-graded copy sold for $3,207,852 on eBay, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. View Comic Book Value Guide. It was called the Justice Society of America, and its members included memorable heroes like Green Lantern, Hawkman, Flash, Atom, Sandman and Spectre, along with not-so-memorable heroes Doctor Fate and Hour-Man. This comic was mostly distributed in cities when it was first printed in 1939, which may have resulted in a higher rate of destruction because of a lack of storage space. 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. Kicking off the list of the 20 most valuable comic books on the planet is the first issue of The Amazing Spider-Man, a Marvel comic dedicated to the web-slinger, following his smashing success in Amazing Fantasy #15. . As an X-Men fan, no doubt that Wolverine is one of my favorite characters of all time. It has four debuts, and not just debuts of some minor or semi-popular characters. to own this issue, consider yourselves lucky hold onto the book and you probably will have doubled or tripled your investment soon. Printed in 1962, this comic book stands among the greats because it introduces everyone's favorite friendly neighborhood Spiderman. Here are the 18 Rarest And Hardest To Find Comic Books. This comic from 1940 features the first appearance of the Spectre as well as the Presence, DCs representation of the Abrahamic god. During World War II, comic books like Captain America were definitely morale-filling feel-good comic books. Marvel Mystery was another Canadian White book, a book that collected several timely issues into one action-packed anthology. Ever since Supermans 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. Two marquis issues not just in the history of the Fantastic Four, but in Marvel are both currently tied as 65K at their highest value. It sold in 2016, its value rising due to the resuscitation of the DC Universe in film. A 9.0 copy sold for $411,000 in 2016 at auction, and three years later a 9.4-graded copy sold for over double that price on eBay. Three other stories not including Superman are included in the 64-page book from 1939. However, they do have very high grades like 9.9s or 10s that are extremely valuable. But in 2008, a copy sold for around $450,000 in a cash/trade deal, according to Bleeding Cool. Good copies of this comic are difficult to find. Anyway, next super high-grade comic. Highest known CGC 9.8 sale for this comic sold for $72,000 at Heritage Auctions in July of 2021. In this third issue, the Fantastic Four tackle the Miracle Man. 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. A little over a month later on September 10th, another copy sold for $11,000 at eBay. The grade is very important as the highest graded (9.8) copies of this book can sell for close to 6 figures. Published in 1940, the Overstreet Guide called it "The definitive funny animal anthology comic after which all others were modeled.". It's the most recent and highest known sale that I could find at the time of this writing and publication. 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. This 8.0-graded comic fetched $252,100 in 2017, the same year that "Riverdale" debuted on the CW network. "Fantastic Comics" No. X-Men #141 does also have the first appearances of Mystique's Brotherhood of Mutants, and the baddies that make their actual debut from that group are Pyro, Avalanche and Destiny. In 1937, DC publisher Harry Donenfeld was worried that a competing publishing house would steal the "Action Comics" title, so he mocked up this comic book and sent it to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to secure the title. "More Fun Comics" No. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. 3 is a coveted item among collectors because of its amazing cover by Lou Fine, which depicts a giant named Samson beating iron monsters to death with a spiked flail. The comic features the first appearance of the bat plane, batarang, Julie Madsen and the Monk. But it was still 1942, and a female superhero might not have been as appealing to young boys as Captain America or Superman. Did you know this comic came out before this classic and iconic sci-fi movie even hit theaters? Shang-Chi is an original character and first appears in Special Marvel Edition #15, but Fu Manchu is a character that Marvel bought the rights to and first appeared in the novel, The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu. Whether or not you're in the 1st cameo or 1st full appearance camp for this muttie runt, it's still clear that Wolverine remains one of the most popular and well-known superhero characters to come out of the Bronze Age. Thanks to the big guy being all over the place since the Lou Ferrigno, this issue has always been a decent seller. That is something to bank on in the future. Luke Skywalker's Latest Failure May Have Just Doomed the Jedi Forever. This comic from DC features a dramatic cover design with Superman stopping a train with one hand, but the cover isnt this books only appeal. So, the first appearance of Thanos, a well-known baddie in the Marvel Universe of comics and the main baddie of the fan-favorite classic event series The Infinity Gauntlet that inspired the Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: End Game. "Tales to Astonish" No. Even better, some guy named Stan Lee wrote his first ever story for a comic book in this issue. One issue from 1961 that was graded a 9.4 sold for $300,000 cash. The most valuable Marvel title is also the third most valuable comic book in the world, behind the first appearance of Superman in Action Comics #1 and the first appearance of Batman in Detective Comics #27. The previous sale of a ToD #10 CGC 9.8 was also at Heritage Auctions and sold for $28,800 in June of 2021. The interior art, done by Kane and Fred Guardineer, features a splash page with Batman holding a smoking pistol something that looks weird to us today, but was totally in line with the character back in the 1940s. Sold: Jul 28, 2012 . 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 first issue of Captain America not only introduces all of us to Steve Rogers but his sidekick Bucky too.