Key Collector Comics

CGC Market Recap

CGC and Key Collector Comics have partnered up to provide collectors with a unique overview of activity on the secondary market with analysis of sales from eBay, Heritage, Comic Connect, ComicLink and other auction houses

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Marvel Super-Heroes #20

Marvel ⋅ 1969

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Marvel Super-Heroes #20
 
Low
$60
Mid
$180
High
$600

Key Facts

Iconic cover art by Larry Lieber

Solo story featuring Doctor Doom

1st appearance of Valeria, love interest of a teenage Doom

Market Recap

A 9.8 sold for $11,400, an increase of +936% over the previous $1,100 high from 2014

There are only five copies graded 9.8 that exist and only three sales on record

A 9.6 also established a new all-time high after a $3,200 sale eclipsed the previous $1,700 record from 2020

Sales in each grade from 9.8 through 4.0 outperformed the twelve-month average except for grade 7.5

An ungraded copy that appears to be a 6.5 sold for $250 on September 28 compared to a CGC 6.5 that sold for $325 – difference of $75 (30%)

The most recent CBCS copy sold in 4.5 for $156 vs a CGC 4.5 that sold for $258 – difference of $102 (65%)

Qualified for the Key Collector Comics Hot 10 two times in September

Summary: strong demand in Doctor Doom Key Issues combined with a rare and significant 9.8 sale has reevaluated the pricing matrix for this issue in all grades

Venom #3

Marvel ⋅ 2018

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Venom #3
 
Low
$15
Mid
$50
High
$150

Key Facts

1st full appearance of Knull,the creator of the Symbiote alien race

Knull's first cameo appearance is in Thor: God of Thunder #6

The spiral emblem associated with Knull is a reference to Chthulhu mythology

Knull was the first being that existed in nothingness that preceded the creation of the current Marvel Universe

[September 2024 - the latest Venom trailer revealed Knull to be a villain in the film]

Market Recap

Knull’s full introduction claimed a spot on the Hot 10 for 3 weeks in September and twice in the top spot

90 copies graded 9.8 by CGC sold in September alone vs. 107 copies that sold throughout 2024 leading up to September

A Near Mint ungraded copy sold for $115 – a difference of $125 (109%) compared to a CGC graded 9.8 that sold for $240

The highest amount paid for a CBCS 9.8 (Cover A) in September was $240 vs CGC 9.8 for $320, a difference of $80 (33%)

75 copies of the THIRD PRINTING by Ryan Stegman graded 9.8 by CGC sold in September vs. 27 leading up to September

The Third Printing is often cited as the first cover appearance of Knull but there was a store exclusive by Skan that shipped to buyers prior to the on-sale date of the reprint

The highest amount paid for Venom #3 in September was $500 for a CGC 9.8 copy of the 1:25 Molina variant

1:25 refers to the incentive offered to comic stores to order in bulk ie., purchase 25 copies of cover A to receive one copy of the Molina variant

Summary: at approximately $250 for a 9.8, this book is still priced to be a solid investment prior to the release of the film and potential for future on-screen appearances of the Symbiote god. At its peak in July/August 2020, Cover A in 9.8 had regularly sold for $400-$450

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8

Marvel ⋅ 1984

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Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8
 
Low
$18
Mid
$60
High
$180

Key Facts

"Secret Wars" part 8

Origin of the black symbiote costume that later bonds with Eddie Brock to become Venom

2nd appearance of Spider-Woman, Julia Carpenter

Market Recap

This was the only issue to dominate the Key Collector Comics Hot 10 having ranked on the list every week in September and captured first place twice

Direct edition copies outperformed the twelve-month average in grades 9.8 thru 6.5

Newsstand edition copies outperformed the twelve-month average in grades 9.8 thru 8.0

The highest amount paid in September was for a Canadian Price Variant in 9.8 that sold for $1,550

A Near Mint ungraded copy sold for $304 – a difference of $206 (68%) compared to a CGC graded 9.8 that sold for $510

The most recent CBCS 9.8 sale was $417 vs CGC 9.8 for $510, a difference of $93 (22%)

Summary: the final Venom film which premieres October 24 in theatres potentially will set-up Symbiotes as the next “Big Bad” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the Knull tease speculated to be shared by Disney and Sony

Avengers, The #55

Marvel ⋅ 1968

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Avengers, The #55
 
Low
$35
Mid
$120
High
$385

Key Facts

1st full appearance of Ultron

3rd appearance of Dane Whitman as the Black Knight

[March 2023 - James Spader rumored to reprise the role of Ultron in Armor Wars / August 2024 - Spader confirmed to reprise Ultron in the Vision Disney+ series]

Market Recap

Earned a spot on the Key Collector Comics Hot 10 for three weeks in September peaking at the #4 spot

One of 51 unsigned copies in 9.8 established a new all-time high with a $5,085 sale

Multiple grades posted their highest sales of the year: 9.4 ($650) / 7.5 ($220) / 7.0 ($155) / 5.0 ($85)

The most recent CBCS sale was a 9.4 that sold for $320 vs CGC 9.4 for $650, a difference of $330 (103%)

Summary: the Vision TV series will take another shot at making Ultron a formidable foe

Detective Comics #58

DC ⋅ 1941

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Detective Comics #58
 
Low
$3.5k
Mid
$11.5k
High
$35k

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Penguin

[March 2022 - Colin Farrell will reprise the Penguin in an HBO Max spin-off]

Market Recap

An 8.0 from The Promise Collection Pedigree sold for $26,400

CGC currently recognizes 61 Pedigrees, the most recent being The Promise Collection which consists of over 5,000 of some of the highest-graded Golden Age comics to date

A 7.0 sold for $24,000 and established a new record over the previous $2,500 high which was also the most recent sale from 2010

A 2.0 sale of $5,280 established a new record over the previous $4,550 high from 2018 by +16%

Summary: the Penguin television series maintains solid accolades from critics and fans while transcending itself from just another comic book show into a dramatic gangster saga

Fantastic Four #1

Marvel ⋅ 1961

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Fantastic Four #1
 
Low
$12k
Mid
$49.5k
High
$240k

Key Facts

1st team appearance and origin of the Fantastic Four: Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, The Thing

1st appearance of Mole Man

1st appearance of Giganto, a Deviant Mutate from Monster Isle

1st appearance of Tricephalous

Landmark issue that launched the Marvel Age of comics

💰 In April 2022, a 9.2 sold for $1.5 million

💰 In September 2024, a 9.6 sold for $2,040,000

Market Recap

9.6 sold for $2,040,000 million – no previous data in this grade

Best Comics #1

Pines ⋅ 1939

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Best Comics #1
 
Price Trend
Low
$2.5k
Mid
$7.5k
High
$25k

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Red Mask, the first non-white superhero in comics

The character's ethnicity is not clear but may be Polynesian

Reprinted newspaper strips

Inconsistency of the character's skin tone can be seen on the cover of issue #2 and interior art

Market Recap

7.0 sold for $26,400 - no previous data in this grade

Crime Suspenstories #19

EC ⋅ 1953

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Crime Suspenstories #19
 
Low
$160
Mid
$525
High
$1.6k

Key Facts

Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority

Reason: a man pours the poison used to kill his wife down the drain and avoids being charged for murder

Market Recap

9.6 sold for $18,000, a new record over the previous $1,035 high from 2003 by +1,639%

Journey Into Mystery #85

Marvel ⋅ 1962

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Journey Into Mystery #85
 
Low
$950
Mid
$4.7k
High
$14k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Loki, the Norse god of mischief

1st appearance of Balder, half-brother of Thor

1st appearance of Heimdall, guardian of Bifrost

1st appearance of Tyr, the Norse god of war

1st cameo appearance of Odin, the All-Father, seen from behind

3rd appearance of Thor

Market Recap

9.2 sold for $31,200, a new record over the previous $12,148 high from 2019 by +157%

Daredevil #38

Marvel ⋅ 1968

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Daredevil #38
 
Price Trend
Low
$12
Mid
$40
High
$130

Key Facts

Iconic cover art by Gene Colan

Market Recap

9.8 sold for $7,200, a new record over the previous $2,868 high from 2012 by +151%

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