These Comic Books Are Worth More Than You’d Expect
It seems like comic books are worth their weight in gold nowadays. Rare comic books can sell for even more than that. In 2018, the comic book market hit an all-time high, and it's been steadily rising ever since. ICv2's Milton Griepp and Comichron's John Jackson Miller told us that "total comics and graphic novel sales to consumers in the U.S. and Canada were approximately $1.095 billion in 2018, an $80 million increase over sales in 2017."
If you have a rare or first edition comic book, you could be sitting on a goldmine. Keep reading to find out which comic books fetch extraordinarily high prices.
The Brand New Adventures Of Batman
If you know anything about comic books, you know that major superhero first appearances are worth a lot of money. In 2013, the world saw an energetic bidding war for Batman No. 1. That particular comic featured the first appearance of Batman's nemesis, the Joker, and his fiesty love interest, Catwoman.
Robin was in this issue as well which makes things even better. Eventually, after several bids, this rare collector's item sold for $567,625!
Introducing The Mighty Thor
Thor is one of the strongest characters in the Marvel universe— literally. Thor made his first appearance in a comic book in Journey into Mystery. At the time, the issue was selling for just twelve cents. After an exponential rise in value, this comic book is now worth $257,000, or at least it was when it sold in 2014. Now, it's probably worth even more.
Journey Into Mystery No. 83 saw a bunch of first-time superheroes, but Thor stole the show.
Superman Number One
Ler's talk about the first-ever solo Superman comic, shall we? This wasn't Superman's first appearance in a comic book but it was the first issue of his own spin-off series. This comic was published in 1939, and if you have a copy of it today, it could fetch you upwards of five hundred thousand dollars.
At a recent auction, a copy of this issue in decent condition sold for $507,050, which is absolutely insane.
Fantastic Comics No. 3
Collectors are attracted to this particular issue of Fantastic Comics not because it features any first-time appearances, but because of the unique and high-quality cover art created by Lou Fine. On the cover, you can see an illustration of a giant named Samson destroying iron masters with his spiked flail.
The value of this comic is now $243,000, as long as you have a high-quality version of it (a 9.5-grade). People want to see that cover art in high def.
The Incredible Hulk
When Bruce Banner gets angry, he gets really angry. The monster didn't always live inside him, but now that it's there, you don't want to see him when he's angry. The first comic to feature the Hulk as a main character was published in 1962. At the time, it was being sold for twelve cents.
In 2014 and The Incredible Hulk No. 1 sold for $320,000 at an auction. Now we know the Hulk as a green monster, but back when he was first introduced, he was grey.
The Amazing Spider Man
Spider-Man is now a multi-million dollar franchise, but before all of that success, it started with a single comic book. Back in the day, The Amazing Spider-Man was merely a special character making his first appearance in Amazing Fantasy No. 15 (1962). Publishers weren't so taken with the character at first, but readers turned Spider-Man into a household name.
A private collector paid $1.1 million for Amazing Fantasy No. 15 in 2011. It's probably worth even more now.
Superman Is Back
Superman battles a large number of villains over the course of his career (if you can call it that), but his first epic battle was with a villain known as Ultra Humanite.
This fight is featured in Action Comics No. 13 and fans absolutely love it. The comic also features a centerfold piece advertising Superman No. 1 in the middle of it. An original copy of this issue sold for $185,000 at an auction in 2011.
The Original Fantastic Four
There are many iconic superhero teams, but there's a special place in our hearts for the Fantastic Four. These heroes work together to overcome supervillains as well as everyday problems. This team is right up there with the X-Men and the Avengers. The first Fantastic Four comic, Fantastic Four No. 1, sold for $300,000 in 2011.
This team paved the way for others that came after. It's certainly worth more than $300,000 now.
How Batman Really Begins
Superman may have done it first, but do you think Batman did it better? Just one year after Superman made his first appearance in the comic world, The Caped Crusader wanted to fly in as well. Batman made his first appearance in the 27th issue of Detective Comics (Detective Comics No. 27, 1937).
In 2010, an anonymous buyer bought a copy of this comic book in an online bid for $1 million. Experts say that there are 100 to 200 copies of this collector's item still around today.
Wonder Woman Bursts Onto The Scene
Wonder Woman may not have made the cover of All-Star Comics No. 8, but this issue does mark her first appearance in the Marvel universe. The story of All-Star Comics No. 8 would mark the first appearance of the mighty Wonder Woman. The story revolves around the Justice Society of America and was also the origin story of one of DC's greatest warriors.
Something like that has to fetch a lofty price, and it did on eBay. Someone sold a copy on the e-commerce site for $936,223 in 2017.
The Beginning Of Iron Man
Much like there are B-list actors, the same also applies to superheroes. When he first came out, Iron Man was on that list all the way up until Marvel made his film adaptation in 2008.
The hype reached new levels and Iron Man's first appearance int he comic world via Tales of Suspense No. 39 had a ton of buzz. That's why it sold for $375,000 in 2012 at an auction. It's crazy how something from 1963 can fetch that high of a price.
The First Marvel Comic
On November 21, 2019, an auction sold a piece of history for a tremendous amount. It might carry the Marvel name, but Marvel Comics No. 1 was published in 1939 by Timely Comics.
This comic is the debut of the Human Torch, (the original android Human Torch) a crimefighter named Angel and an adventure starring Sub-Mariner. The best-preserved copy of this comic went for $1,260,000 at an auction held by Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas.
The Beginning Of X-Men
There's no doubt that the X-Men are some of the most beloved superheroes to ever come exist. When you put Wolverine alongside any other good guys and let them work, the results are always spectacular.
Fans would soon come to learn that after reading and watching their comics and films. In 2012, X-Men No. 1 from 1963 sold at an auction for $492,937! It was in near-mint condition, receiving a 9.8 out of ten on the CGC scale. That's a metric used to determine how worthy vintage comics are.
The Green Lantern Makes An Appearance
Not many know the origin story of the mighty Green Lantern. The man with the power to create practically anything with the help of the ring on his hand gets his story told in All American Comics No. 16 from 1940.
This classic issue is quite rare compared to most others from that era, with only 21 to 50 remaining today. Put all that together and you get a selling price of $200,000 at an auction in 2013.
The First Flash
In 1956, comic fans everywhere received a treat they would be forever grateful to have. DC released Showcase No. 4, featuring Barry Allen, the Silver Age Flash or the fastest man alive.
He would prove to be a big hit with people, leading to The Flash getting his own title soon enough. Decades later, his first appearance would end up being worth a ton of money. Showcase No. 4 sold for $179,250 at an auction in 2009.
All Of The Avengers
It all started in 1963 when Marvel decided to release the first Avengers comic featuring Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, the Wasp, and Ant-Man. We get to see the heroes team up and take down Thor's evil brother, Loki.
You can imagine that this comic sold for a high price, and it did. The comic sold for a little over a quarter million at $274,000 at an auction. Now, we have multiple films of the Avengers thanks to this comic.
Another Superman Story
Superman just might be the most well-known comic book hero ever. The man can do it all, and still, people can't recognize him working as Clark Kent at the Planet as a reporter. Something people do realize is that Action Comics No. 1 was the first time he graced a comic book in 1938.
In 2014, a mint condition copy of the issue with the ten cents still on the cover sold for $3.2 million on eBay.
The One And Only Captain Marvel
It may be listed at Whiz Comics No. 2, but the first one was only used in promotional advertising and didn't get released. That makes number two, the real number one, and boy was it a good one.
It gave us the first appearance of Captain Marvel (or how many know him today, Shazam). The beefy hero is similar to Superman, except he's a kid in an adult body. The comic would go for $281,000 in 2012 at an auction.
Flash Breaks Out On His Own
As we said earlier, The Flash is a fan favorite and quickly became that after making his first appearance in the comics. He eventually received his own series titled Flash Comics.
Flash Comics No. 1 turned out to be quite valuable. In 2010, it sold for what was at the time, the second-highest amount for a comic book in history! That price was $450,000! That's impressive for someone not named Batman, Superman or Spider-man, but that's the Flash for you!
Superman Goes To Jail
It's not every day that one of the world's greatest heroes has to go to prison. Action Comics No. 10 wasn't Superman's first appearance, but it did have a story many readers enjoyed.
It featured a storyline called "Superman Goes to Prison" and it came out in 1939. Skip ahead to 2011 and someone paid top dollar to see Superman behind bars. The comic would sell for $258,000. Compared to some of the others on this list, that's not too bad!
Captain America's First Appearance
Captain America has always been a political figure. People used to think his series focused too much on politics. The first issue by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon would set the tone for these feelings.
If you take one look at the cover, you can see what we're talking about. Still, it became a hit, and even lead to death threats against the two creators. That didn't stop Captain America Comics No. 1 from selling for $343,057 in 2011.
Robin Enters The Scene
Detective Comics No. 38 is a special one for one specific reason: The issue came out in 1940 and it features the very first time fans see Robin, the boy wonder and longtime sidekick of Batman.
A copy of this comic sold in 2005, which came from a personal collection of Nicolas Cage. The value of this precious collector's item is now $126,500, all thanks to Robin's comic book debut.
The Justice League Of America
When you're dealing with the Justice League as a villain, you can expect to lose. Who's going to stop a team stacked with Superman, The Flash, Green Lantern, and more? It's utterly insane to fathom.
The Brave and the Bold No. 28 is the first appearance of the Justice League of America. They brought their powers together to destroy the evil of Starro the Conqueror, who is just an extremely large starfish. Aquaman couldn't do that by himself. This puppy has a value of $140,000!
The Beginning Of Wolverine
Wow, what can we say about this precious comic book? Well, Hulk No. 181 is a special one because it features the full debut of the clawed mutant that fans love so much, Wolverine.
This comic from the '70s became the first comic book to sell for over $100,000 from that decade. That's some high-end action you're paying for, so we don't blame the person who bought it for $150,000. As long as they had the money to spare, it's okay with us.
Captain America Joins The Fight
The Avengers are the toughest group of heroes assembled next to the Justice League. With all their different powers, it's impossible to stop them (unless you have all the Infinity Stones). In The Avengers No. 4, Captain America joins the team.
A near-perfect copy of this issue sold for $143,400 in 2017 at Heritage Auctions. One reason why this copy sold for so much is that it was Captain America's first Silver Age appearance after coming out of being frozen.
Batman's New Toys
Bob Kane did the honors of blessing comic lovers everywhere when he drew for Detective Comics No. 31. Many say this is one of the best covers the Dark Knight has had.
Reports reveal that it's extremely difficult to locate a copy of this comic with a decent grade of quality. In 2017, a copy with a 5.0 grade sold for $131,450, which means it could very well reach a higher value if in better condition.
Worth A Pretty Penny
Comic books don't always have to feature some of the most popular names to hold value. While Superman, The Hulk, and other appealing names draw a crowd, never underestimate the unknown.
More Fun Comics No. 53 allows fans to read the second appearance of the Spectre, as it continues his origin story. A 9.8-graded copy of this issue sold for $141,000 in 2015, which is more than some of the most famous heroes fetch on the market.
A High Quality Archie Comic
The first copy of comic series usually ends up becoming the most valuable in the set. It's the first time fans get to see their favorite person in action for a healthy amount of time.
The first Archie Comic hit the market in 1942 and sold for a dime. Imagine picking it up back then, holding onto it and selling it for $167,300 in 2012. That would be one of the greatest returns ever recorded.
Another All-Star
If a comic has "All-Star" in the title, you can expect there to be a cast of superstars in it. Well, All-Star Comics No. 3 featured the first superhero team ever in 1940.
They called themselves the Justice Society of America and included the likes of Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, and more. A copy of this comic sold for $126,500 in 2002 but would go for $200,000 in ten years later in 2012 through Heritage Auctions.
Welcoming Ant Man
Ant-Man becomes one of the most popular Marvel heroes in 2015 after his solo movie grossed over $500 million at the box office. Tales to Astonish No. 27 was arguably the first appearance of the tiny hero.
After genius scientist Henry Pym shrunk himself to the size of ants, he had to find a way out. This issue ended up selling for $205,501 in 2016 at Comic Link. That's a steep price for a tiny man.
Another Fun One
Who knew a C-list character would be worth so much? Maybe DC should invest their money into Spectre more because it looks like he's fetching high prices on the comic market.
More Fun Comics No. 52 came out in 1940 and it was the first appearance of Spectre and the Presence. Can you believe this thing went for $119,500 in 2006? The crazy thing is that it's now worth $207,000 on the market depending on how good your copy is.
The Very First Amazing Spider-Man
The first issue of The Amazing Spider-Man released in 1963. The Amazing Spider-Man No. 1 has two stories in it; one is about saving J. Jonah Jameson's son and the other features the Fantastic Four.
In the Fantastic Four story, readers get to see Chameleon for the first time. This boosts the stock of the issue, even more, making it valued at $262,900. It sold for that price in 2016 at Heritage Auctions, so chances are its probably worth more now.
Wonder Woman's Big Break
To be honest, there aren't many heroes as strong as Wonder Woman. That goes for DC and Marvel. The high-flying hero received her first comic book in the summer of 1942.
That was an interesting time in the world, as many might not have been that interesting in a woman warrior, but DC gave her a chance anyway. "In a recent poll of child readers, 80 percent chose 'Wonder Woman' as their favorite over seven male characters," read a letter sent out by DC to convince readers of Wonder Woman's amazingness. This comic has a value of $291,100.
Batman's Tragic Past
If you're a comic book fan, then how could you forget the tragic story of how Bruce Wayne's parent's got murdered? Thugs rob his mom for her necklace and as his dad steps in, they both get shot.
Detective Comics No. 33 is the first time that story comes to life, and the tears come in strong. With that being such a pivotal part of Batman's story, the value of this comic is vast. It sold for $341,234 on Comic Connect in 2018.
The Beginning Of Sensation Comics
The Sensation Comics series featured 109 books, that mainly had stories of Wonder Woman. The first one came out in 1942 and it was the second appearance of Wonder Woman as well.
It would continue her origin story and feature the first appearance of Mister Terrific and Wildcat. With all that being true, you can imagine how much value this issue has. Would you believe that one sold for $399,100 on eBay in 2017? We can't either.
