Some of the most underrated and undervalued key comics are not #1 issues. They don’t always feature the first appearances of major characters. Some key comics fall under the radar and are not seen for having the value they should really have. These are key comics you should snatch up now.
Some of these comics feature fan favorite characters or origin stories that keen collectors miss. Some key comics feature old characters that were the inspiration for modern characters. There are some keys from the 1940s that collectors miss completely because they focus on Action Comics #1 and other vital comics, like everyone else.
Here are 10 key comics you should snatch up now before the market realizes their full potential value.
1. Avengers Annual #10 (1981) Marvel
This is one of those key comics you should snatch up now because it features the first appearance of Rogue. Rogue is a powerhouse in the comic books; currently, she has the combined powers of Captain Marvel and Wonder Man. She can fly in space and is one of the strongest X-Men.
The fact that Rogue has not been cast yet for a future X-Men project in the MCU is mind-blowing.
The 9.8 CGC grade of this historic issue is worth $610 on the collectibles market. This issue is currently a steal for the collector who understands its true value.
2. Action Comics #12 (1939) DC
This is not a cheap comic to obtain, but most collectors overlook its true value. When collectors think of valuable Superman comics, they think of Action Comics #1 or Superman #1. However, many of those early issues, featuring the earliest appearances of Superman, have their own value, too.
Action Comics #12 features the first depiction of Superman breaking free from chains on the cover, an iconic image. Even a 4.0 CGC grade of this comic is worth $22,200. If you can find a real copy without a slab or grade, it is still worth over $4,000.
3. The Incredible Hulk #377 (1991) Marvel
This is one of the key comics you should snatch up because it’s the comic that would redefine the Bruce Banner/Hulk mythos for a new generation. Writer Peter David presents a psychological drama in this issue with Bruce Banner’s physical child abuse by his father as the central theme. At this point, Bruce could change into the Green Hulk, representing repression of rage, and Grey Hulk, a weaker Hulk that retains the intelligence of Bruce.
Professor Hulk, the same one from 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, made his debut in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic is worth $104.
Incredible Hulk by Peter David Omnibus Vol. 2 is a 1,034-page hardcover that collects The Incredible Hulk #369 through #400 plus several tie-in issues. Get it for $125 now on Amazon.
4. Seven Seas Comics #4 (1947) Iger
This comic features inspiration from the popular South Sea Island films of the 1930s and 1940s. The inspiration for the woman on the cover might be actress Dorothy Lamour. Seven Seas Comics #4 also features the prominent artwork of Matt Baker, a Black man, an uncommon feat in a Jim Crow era.
A 9.2 CGC copy of this comic is worth $81,000. This is how much a collector paid for it in August 2023.
5. Amazing Spider-Man #667 (Gabriele Dell’Otto Variant) (2011) Marvel
This is not a key comic specifically. This issue features the start of the Spider-Island event, where everyone in Manhattan got Spider-Man-style powers. What makes this one of those key comics you should snatch up now is the backfiring variant cover scheme that made this modern comic a rare collectible.
Comic book stores and dealers could score a variant cover featuring art by Gabriele Dell’Otto if they bought 100 copies of the regular cover. The Spider-Island event was not a hit, and orders fell off. However, the Dell’Otto variant became a prized rarity and is still sought by collectors now.
A 9.8 CGC grade is worth $31,000. Even a 9.2 CGC grade of this comic is worth over $10,000.
6. Moon Knight #1 (1980) DC
The cult-favorite character Moon Knight made his debut in Werewolf by Night #32 in 1975. Moon Knight #1 is one of those key comics you should snatch up now because it is the first Moon Knight solo series. This comic would establish the Moon Knight mythos we know today and features the first appearance of Khonshu.
Moon Knight #1 also establishes Marc Spector’s wealth and his struggles with multiple personalities. A 9.8 CGC grade of this comic is worth about $236.
7. Space Adventures #33 (1960) Charlton
In the early 1980s, DC Comics had bought Charlton Comics’ library of characters, including Captain Atom, The Question, Thunderbolt, Blue Beetle, Nightshade, and others. Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons were planning on using the Charlton characters in Watchmen. Understanding the nature of the story, DC editorial would not allow it, so Moore and Gibbons would create new, analogue versions of these characters.
Blue Beetle became Night Owl, Nightshade became Silk Spectre, The Question became Rorschach, and so on. Space Adventures #33 features the first appearance of Captain Atom, the inspiration for Dr. Manhattan in Watchmen.
A 9.2 CGC copy of this comic is worth $6,240 on the collectibles market.
8. Daredevil #131 (1976) Marvel
If I could get any of the key comics on this list, it would be this one. (However, I am extremely biased as a Daredevil and Bullseye fan.) This is one of those key comics you should snatch up now because it features the first appearance of Bullseye. A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic is worth $3,125, an affordable investment.
9. Fantastic Four Annual #2 (1964) Marvel
This comic does not feature the first appearance of Dr. Doom. However, it does feature the detailed origin story of Victor Von Doom. Everyone is waiting for December’s Avengers: Doomsday to see RDJ’s portrayal of Dr. Doom, so this could be a good comic to get now. A 9.8 CGC grade of this comic has a collectibles market value of $17,200.
10. Harbinger #1 (1992) Valiant
Harbinger is the Valiant super team of superhero teens hunted by a billionaire who wants to control them. Valiant Comics, co-founded by the legendary Jim Shooter, was a startup in the 1990s that wanted to take on the Big 2, Marvel and DC. Valiant Comics still exists and is making plays for wider exposure.
Even though 2020’s Bloodshot, featuring Vin Diesel, flopped, Valiant is still making plays to bring their characters to film and TV. A 9.8 CGC grade of this comic is worth almost $400.
Key Comics You Should Snatch Up Now
Most of these comics have proven to maintain their value over long periods. What is important is recognizing which comics have value and future potential value that others miss. Consult with experts and do your own online research before investing in collectible comics.
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