Cover Gimmicks

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Key Facts

Banana-scented cover variant

Key Facts

Banana-scented cover variant

Batman / Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2023

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Batman / Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2023

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Low

Mid

High

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Ben Oliver

'Rub and Smell' peppermint scented edition

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Ben Oliver

'Rub and Smell' peppermint scented edition

Key Facts

Variant scratch-off cover revealing one of five Crazy Jane personalities in the mirror

Key Facts

Variant scratch-off cover revealing one of five Crazy Jane personalities in the mirror

Key Facts

Cover art inspired by MAD Magazine

Shipped to retailers for demonstration purposes to show customers how to fold the cover to create a different image

No barcode, Demo Cover printed next to issue number

Key Facts

Cover art inspired by MAD Magazine

Shipped to retailers for demonstration purposes to show customers how to fold the cover to create a different image

No barcode, Demo Cover printed next to issue number

Key Facts

White velvet cover

Key Facts

White velvet cover

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Bill Galvan

Wooden cover with laser etched artwork, limited to 5 copies

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Bill Galvan

Wooden cover with laser etched artwork, limited to 5 copies

Key Facts

Gold edition, embossed with 22k gold and bagged with seal and COA

Limited to 2,000 numbered copies

Key Facts

Gold edition, embossed with 22k gold and bagged with seal and COA

Limited to 2,000 numbered copies

Key Facts

Described on the CGC label as 'First dis-appearance in comics' written by Robert Venditti with art by Tomas Giorello - 'Invisible Edition'

In actuality, this is a blank acetate sheet officially graded by CGC and registered to the census

34 total graded copies: 11 in 9.8 and one in every other grade except for 1.8 of which there are zero

Bad Idea offered the first five respondents to an email blast an opportunity to obtain a graded copy but distribution of the remaining copies are unknown

Current available sales data: 9.2 sold for $500 in November 2024

8.0 sold for $1,000 in August 2022

3.5 sold for $2,200 in March 2020

3.0 sold for $2,499 in July 2022

1.0 sold for $1,199 in May 2023

Key Facts

Described on the CGC label as 'First dis-appearance in comics' written by Robert Venditti with art by Tomas Giorello - 'Invisible Edition'

In actuality, this is a blank acetate sheet officially graded by CGC and registered to the census

34 total graded copies: 11 in 9.8 and one in every other grade except for 1.8 of which there are zero

Bad Idea offered the first five respondents to an email blast an opportunity to obtain a graded copy but distribution of the remaining copies are unknown

Current available sales data: 9.2 sold for $500 in November 2024

8.0 sold for $1,000 in August 2022

3.5 sold for $2,200 in March 2020

3.0 sold for $2,499 in July 2022

1.0 sold for $1,199 in May 2023

Birth of the Defiant Universe, The #1

Defiant ⋅ 1993

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Birth of the Defiant Universe, The #1

Defiant ⋅ 1993

View Details

Low

$12

Mid

$40

High

$125

Key Facts

Introduction of the Defiant Universe, created by Jim Shooter: Plasm, War Dancer, Charlemagne Prudence & Caution, The Good Guys and Glory

Acetate cover

Promotional giveaway presented at the 1993 Sixth Annual Capital City Sales conference

Limited to 1,000 copies, signed by Jim Shooter

Key Facts

Introduction of the Defiant Universe, created by Jim Shooter: Plasm, War Dancer, Charlemagne Prudence & Caution, The Good Guys and Glory

Acetate cover

Promotional giveaway presented at the 1993 Sixth Annual Capital City Sales conference

Limited to 1,000 copies, signed by Jim Shooter

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Jamie Tyndall

'Steam Queen' edition, limited to 99 copies

Enhanced with Swarovski crystals

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Jamie Tyndall

'Steam Queen' edition, limited to 99 copies

Enhanced with Swarovski crystals

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Marcio Fiorito

Burnt wood cover

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Variant cover art by Marcio Fiorito

Burnt wood cover

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Variant cover art by Rose Besch printed with fluorescent ink

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Variant cover art by Rose Besch printed with fluorescent ink

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Novelty cover with felt on Santa's jacket

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Novelty cover with felt on Santa's jacket

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First lenticular cover

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First lenticular cover

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Velvet variant

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Velvet variant

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First die-cut cover

Key Facts

First die-cut cover

Crow / Razor: Kill The Pain #0

Variant ⋅ London Night ⋅ 1998

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Crow / Razor: Kill The Pain #0

Variant ⋅ London Night ⋅ 1998

View Details

Low

Mid

$20

High

$80

Key Facts

Red velvet Elite edition

Key Facts

Red velvet Elite edition

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Joseph Michael Linsner

Black light reactive

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Joseph Michael Linsner

Black light reactive

Key Facts

Variant wraparound cover art by David Angelo Roman, limited to 25 numbered copies (Roman Numerals)

Each individual cover was painted on real goat-skin

'Babyteeth' written in Assyrian Aramaic at the bottom

Key Facts

Variant wraparound cover art by David Angelo Roman, limited to 25 numbered copies (Roman Numerals)

Each individual cover was painted on real goat-skin

'Babyteeth' written in Assyrian Aramaic at the bottom

A Nightmare on Elm Street: Fearbook

Leather ⋅ Avatar ⋅ 2006

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A Nightmare on Elm Street: Fearbook

Leather ⋅ Avatar ⋅ 2006

View Details

Low

Mid

$15

High

$60

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Dheeraj Verma

Red leather foil cover limited to 900 copies

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Dheeraj Verma

Red leather foil cover limited to 900 copies

Key Facts

Variant cover art with QR Code that delivered a message from Toyo Harada when scanned

Key Facts

Variant cover art with QR Code that delivered a message from Toyo Harada when scanned

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Variant "brushed metal" cover art by Monika Palosz

Approximately 200 copies printed

Key Facts

Variant "brushed metal" cover art by Monika Palosz

Approximately 200 copies printed

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Jonboy Meyers

Carbon fiber cover

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Jonboy Meyers

Carbon fiber cover

Guy Gardner: Warrior #29

DC ⋅ 1995

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High

Key Facts

Cover folds out like doors opening into a crowded bar

A contest by DC challenged readers to identify all 150+ heroes, villains and celebrities, responses printed in Guy Gardner #35

Letters from readers are answered by Guy Gardner

Key Facts

Cover folds out like doors opening into a crowded bar

A contest by DC challenged readers to identify all 150+ heroes, villains and celebrities, responses printed in Guy Gardner #35

Letters from readers are answered by Guy Gardner

Key Facts

Variant glass cover art by Doug Braithwaite

First cover made out of glass and colored with UV ink that glows under a blacklight

Key Facts

Variant glass cover art by Doug Braithwaite

First cover made out of glass and colored with UV ink that glows under a blacklight

Key Facts

First published virgin variant cover

Key Facts

First published virgin variant cover

Ghost Rider #15

Marvel ⋅ 1991

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High

Key Facts

First glow-in-the-dark comic cover

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First glow-in-the-dark comic cover

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Variant cover art by John Byrne

First intentional variant cover, available from comic stores only

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Variant cover art by John Byrne

First intentional variant cover, available from comic stores only

Key Facts

First comic book to be printed then individually shot with a small caliber bullet

Limited to 3,000 copies

Interior stories and art are illustrated in reaction to the bullet hole which was fired through the center of the book

Key Facts

First comic book to be printed then individually shot with a small caliber bullet

Limited to 3,000 copies

Interior stories and art are illustrated in reaction to the bullet hole which was fired through the center of the book

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Clayton Henry

"The Most Variant Cover Of All Time"

Featuring: chromium, lenticular, embossed, die-cut, foil, iridescent ink, extra hero sticker, hand-numbered

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Clayton Henry

"The Most Variant Cover Of All Time"

Featuring: chromium, lenticular, embossed, die-cut, foil, iridescent ink, extra hero sticker, hand-numbered

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Ken Lashley

First tempered glass comic book cover

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Ken Lashley

First tempered glass comic book cover

WildC.A.T.s #2

Image ⋅ 1992

View Details ⋅ View Variants (1)

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High

Key Facts

1st team appearance of Wetworks, in a back-up story

First prismatic comic book cover

Key Facts

1st team appearance of Wetworks, in a back-up story

First prismatic comic book cover

Bloodstrike #1

Image ⋅ 1993

View Details ⋅ View Variants (3)

Low

Mid

High

$10

Key Facts

1st team appearance of Bloodstrike: Deadlock, Fourplay, Shogun, Cabbot, Tag

First thermal-reactive ink used on a comic book cover - Image encouraged readers to 'Rub The Blood!' to reveal red ink hidden on the cover

Key Facts

1st team appearance of Bloodstrike: Deadlock, Fourplay, Shogun, Cabbot, Tag

First thermal-reactive ink used on a comic book cover - Image encouraged readers to 'Rub The Blood!' to reveal red ink hidden on the cover

Eclipso: The Darkness Within #1

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1992

View Details ⋅ View Variants (2)

Eclipso: The Darkness Within #1

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1992

View Details ⋅ View Variants (2)

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Mid

High

Key Facts

First comic book sold with a plastic gem

Key Facts

First comic book sold with a plastic gem

Key Facts

First solo series featuring Bloodshot

First chrome-enhanced comic book cover

Key Facts

First solo series featuring Bloodshot

First chrome-enhanced comic book cover

Key Facts

First mature content comic packaged in a clear poly-bag with an insert to obscure the adult content

Key Facts

First mature content comic packaged in a clear poly-bag with an insert to obscure the adult content

Silver Surfer #50

Marvel ⋅ 1991

View Details ⋅ View Variants (4)

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Mid

High

Key Facts

First foil-embossed comic cover

Printing errors where the foil is missing can command a higher value

Key Facts

First foil-embossed comic cover

Printing errors where the foil is missing can command a higher value

Scud: The Disposable Assassin #9

Fireman Press ⋅ 1995

View Details

Scud: The Disposable Assassin #9

Fireman Press ⋅ 1995

View Details

Low

Mid

$15

High

$50

Key Facts

First action figure cover

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First action figure cover

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First foil-enhanced comic book cover

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First foil-enhanced comic book cover

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First comic book cover to incorporate a hologram

Key Facts

First comic book cover to incorporate a hologram

	Publisher	Low	Mid	High
Ape-ril Special #1	DC	$1	$2	$8
Batman / Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1	DC	$1	$2	$6
Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1	DC	$1	$2	$5
Batman #19	DC	$1	$2	$4
Razor: Darkest Night #1	London Night	$4	$12	$45
Happy Horror Days #1	Archie	$15	$50	$150
X-Men: Onslaught #1	Marvel	$10	$30	$100
Conceptual Funnies #1	Bad Idea	$0	$0	$0
Birth of the Defiant Universe, The #1	Defiant	$12	$40	$125
Lady Death: Heartbreaker #1	Coffin Comics	$25	$90	$225
Archer & Armstrong Forever #1	Valiant	$25	$80	$275
Trial of the Amazons #1	DC	$4	$12	$40
X-Mas Comics #4	Fawcett	$100	$300	$1.1k
Arcomics Premiere #1	Arcomics	$1	$2	$4
Razor #50	London Night	$3	$9	$35
The Tick #2	New England Comics Press	$2	$8	$25
Crow / Razor: Kill The Pain #0	London Night	$8	$20	$80
Dawn #1	Sirius/Cry For Dawn	$2	$8	$25
Babyteeth #1	Aftershock	$25	$80	$250
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Fearbook	Avatar	$5	$15	$60
Harbinger #1	Valiant	$5	$15	$50
X-O Manowar #1	Valiant	$25	$85	$280
Bloodshot #1	Valiant	$12	$40	$135
Guy Gardner: Warrior #29	DC	$1	$2	$3
Livewire #1	Valiant	$10	$30	$100
Ultraman #1	Harvey	$1	$2	$5
Ghost Rider #15	Marvel	$1	$2	$3
Superman: The Man of Steel #1	DC	$1	$2	$5
Jab #3	Adhesive	$2	$8	$25
Quantum and Woody #1	Valiant	$15	$50	$150
Bloodshot: Rising Spirit #1	Valiant	$9	$25	$100
WildC.A.T.s #2	Image	$1	$2	$4
Bloodstrike #1	Image	$1	$2	$10
Eclipso: The Darkness Within #1	DC	$1	$2	$3
Bloodshot #1	Valiant	$1	$2	$5
Black Kiss #3	Vortex	$1	$2	$3
Silver Surfer #50	Marvel	$1	$2	$5
Scud: The Disposable Assassin #9	Fireman Press	$5	$15	$50
Rio	Comico	$1	$2	$3
Boffo Laffs #1	ParaGraphics	$1	$2	$3

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Cover Gimmicks

Cover Gimmicks

Ape-ril Special #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2024

Ape-ril Special #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2024

Key Facts

Banana-scented cover variant

Key Facts

Banana-scented cover variant

Batman / Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2023

Batman / Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2023

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Ben Oliver

'Rub and Smell' peppermint scented edition

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Ben Oliver

'Rub and Smell' peppermint scented edition

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2023

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2023

Key Facts

Variant scratch-off cover revealing one of five Crazy Jane personalities in the mirror

Key Facts

Variant scratch-off cover revealing one of five Crazy Jane personalities in the mirror

Batman #19

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2013

Batman #19

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2013

Key Facts

Cover art inspired by MAD Magazine

Shipped to retailers for demonstration purposes to show customers how to fold the cover to create a different image

No barcode, Demo Cover printed next to issue number

Key Facts

Cover art inspired by MAD Magazine

Shipped to retailers for demonstration purposes to show customers how to fold the cover to create a different image

No barcode, Demo Cover printed next to issue number

Razor: Darkest Night #1

Variant ⋅ London Night ⋅ 1999

Razor: Darkest Night #1

Variant ⋅ London Night ⋅ 1999

Key Facts

White velvet cover

Key Facts

White velvet cover

Happy Horror Days #1

Wood Cover ⋅ Archie ⋅ 2022

Happy Horror Days #1

Wood Cover ⋅ Archie ⋅ 2022

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Bill Galvan

Wooden cover with laser etched artwork, limited to 5 copies

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Bill Galvan

Wooden cover with laser etched artwork, limited to 5 copies

X-Men: Onslaught #1

Variant ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 1996

X-Men: Onslaught #1

Variant ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 1996

Key Facts

Gold edition, embossed with 22k gold and bagged with seal and COA

Limited to 2,000 numbered copies

Key Facts

Gold edition, embossed with 22k gold and bagged with seal and COA

Limited to 2,000 numbered copies

Conceptual Funnies #1

Bad Idea ⋅ 2021

Conceptual Funnies #1

Bad Idea ⋅ 2021

Key Facts

Described on the CGC label as 'First dis-appearance in comics' written by Robert Venditti with art by Tomas Giorello - 'Invisible Edition'

In actuality, this is a blank acetate sheet officially graded by CGC and registered to the census

34 total graded copies: 11 in 9.8 and one in every other grade except for 1.8 of which there are zero

Bad Idea offered the first five respondents to an email blast an opportunity to obtain a graded copy but distribution of the remaining copies are unknown

Current available sales data: 9.2 sold for $500 in November 2024

8.0 sold for $1,000 in August 2022

3.5 sold for $2,200 in March 2020