Some of the most valuable comic books of the 1960s were the inspirations for the billion-dollar comic book movies we all love now. This was the Silver Age of comic books. Comic book characters like Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and the Avengers made their debut during this era.
The Black Panther comic book character, the billion-dollar film sensation of 2018, first appeared in comic books back in 1966.
Part of being a shrewd comic book investor is understanding the cultural context of when a valuable comic book was published. The Silver Age of comic books occurred between 1956 to 1970. Comic books published during this era were heavily censored by the Comics Code Authority
Superhero comics almost went obsolete prior to the Silver Age. Luckily, the Silver Age established the superhero comic as a bankable genre on its own.Silver Age comic books began to slowly mirror the social and political issues of the time.Still, they were mostly known for being silly and subject to heavy censorship.
Most modern comic book fans have never read a comic book, let alone a Silver Age comic. They’re missing out. The most valuable comic books of the 1960s seeded the explosion of the comic book culture we enjoy today. That’s worthwhile to know as a comic book investor.
If you are interested in investing in comic books, these are the Silver Age comic books you should be looking at.
The Most Valuable Comic Books of the 1960s
As you read this guide, it’s important to understand what “CGC” means.
The Certified Guaranty Comic, also known as CGC, is a third-party value verification company.
The CGC appraises comic books on a 10-point scale so buyers and sellers can be assured of what they are buying. So,the higher the CGC score, then the more valuable the comic book. CGC is not the only company that authenticates valuable comics, but they are the most well-known.
With that out of the way, here is a listing of the most valuable comic books of the 1960s.
1. Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966) Marvel Comics
The Black Panther and the Negative Zone made their first appearances in Fantastic Four #52. The first Black Panther film grossed over a billion dollars. It also ushered in a new era of diversity of comic book superheroes on film. The second Black Panther film, Wakanda Forever, grossed over $859 million.
The creation of Black Panther made these successes possible. However, most don’t know the race politics hampering the creation of the character.
1960s Jim Crow-era laws prevented comic books featuring non-white heroes in starring roles. Jim Crow laws were only rescinded in 1965. Black Panther was then created by two white Jewish creators, Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, the next year. That is not a happy coincidence.
If those laws still existed, then Black Panther would not.
In the comic, the Fantastic Four travel to the African kingdom of Wakanda to meet the Black Panther. Wakanda, Black Panther, and vibranium are narrative allusions to Africa, colonialism, and resource theft. Even for the 1960s, even for a silly Silver Age comic, this was forward thinking for its era.
An issue of this comic with a CGC grade of 9.8 has a collectibles market value of $46,300. You can also get a copy with a CGC grade of 9.2 for less that $8,000.
Get the Kindle edition of the comic for $1.99. Read it and consider investing later.
Suggested Reading for Casuals – Black Panther by Christopher Priest: The Complete Collection Vol. 1 (1998)
Writer Christopher Priest reinvented Black Panther and Wakanda for the modern age in 1998. After a coup attempt, T’Challa becomes an political exile in the U.S.A. This storyline features the first appearance of the Dora Milaje and the second appearance of Everett K. Ross, characters created by Priest.
The MCU Black Panther we know today was heavily influenced by this story. This 383-page story collects the first 17 issues from the storyline.
Get it for $29.99 at Amazon now.
Strange Tales #110 (July 1963) Marvel Comics
Dr. Strange was created during the mid-20th century. It was an era where people from other cultures were considered as exotic. In the comic book, Dr. Stephen Strange is a famous doctor who destroys the nerves in his hands in a car accident. Distraught with grief, Strange travels the world looking for a cure for his disability. He lands in Tibet and learns about the mystic arts from The Ancient One, a 500-year-old sorcerer.
This comic features the first appearance of Dr. Strange, the Ancient One, Wong, and the villainous Nightmare. A copy of this comic with a CGC grade of 9.8 can be worth as much as $128,600. You could buy an issue with a 9.3 CGC grade for $22,000.
It could be worth the investment. This comic is known for keeping its value as a collectible. Buy the Kindle version for $1.99 as a way to appreciate comic history or research an investment.
Suggested Reading for Casuals – Dr. Strange, Surgeon Supreme Vol. 1: Under The Knife (2019)
Dr. Strange’s hands are miraculously healed. So, he must choose whether to continue his former career as a surgeon or continue being the Master of the Mystic Arts. This story smartly examines the regret of what Dr. Strange lost to become Sorcerer Supreme. It’s a great comparison to his joy at regaining the use of his hands and being able to help patients again.
This 138-page paperback collects all six issues of the series. Get it for $14.34 at Amazon.
X-Men #1 (September 1963) Marvel Comics
The X-Men were created as an allegory to the volatile political world of 1963.
Public angst about the atomic war and the Civil Rights movement was at its peak when this comic was published. The X-Men were characters who strove to save a world that feared and hated them.
X-Men #1, published in August 1963, features the first appearances of Professor Charles Xavier, Magneto, Jean Grey, Cyclops, Beast, and Iceman.
A copy of this comic with a CGC grade of 9.8 has a collectibles market value of $494,000. One sold for $493,000 in July 2012.
There are probably only two X-Men #1 comics with a 9.8 CGC grade in existence. A copy with a 9.2 CGC grade is worth $203,000. You could also invest in a 6.0 CGC grade for $16,000.
The MCU will launch their own X-Men films within the next decade. It will be a seller’s market if you own a key comic like X-Men #1 in any grade then.
Buy the Kindle version of this issue for $1.99 for the enjoyment and research a potential investment.
Suggested Reading for Casuals – X-Men Masterworks Vol. 1 (1963)
This graphic novel collects the first 10 issues of the 1963 series that introduced the X-Men to the world. The first battles between Prof. X and Magneto and their clashes of ideology regarding human and mutant relations.
The X-Men tropes that casuals and comic fans take for granted from the cartoons, TV shows, films, and later comics all started in 1963. This 236-page hardcover collects the first 10 issues of the series.
It Pays to Know
It’s important to know the context in which a comic book was created if you are a collector.
They are more than just collector’s items. Some comic books storylines are narrative witnesses to particular epochs in pop culture history. This adds to their later value as investments. This is important information to know when you’re trying to sell them.
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