The top three Silver Age comics in October are the same three from September. The Silver Age moves slowly in turnover but the numbers (returns) are nonetheless staggering. I think the most unusual of these three comics is Iron Man #1. The last Iron Man movie was Iron Man #3 created in 2013. Wow, has it been that long? Since then Iron Man has appeared in most of the big tent Marvel movies, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, and Civil War to name a few. What is the current fascination with this old book? Actually, he did appear in a one-shot before this book with Sub-Mariner. But for some reason, that book never really hit as big with the fans like Iron Man #1. Could Iron Man's role in the upcoming Avengers #4 movie account for Iron Man #1's popularity in October?

Fantastic Four #52

The Black Panther has had one heck of a great year with an explosive new movie, plenty of screen time in Avengers: Infinity War. In addition, his first appearance in Fantastic Four #52 is selling at stratospheric levels for now. The FMV for a mint grade book is $98,000. The current CGC Census inventory is 3372 a slight uptick from last month. This book is a big key for Black Panther fans. It has already had a great run but will continue to outperform especially with the Avengers 4 movie on the horizon early next year.  Still approachable for most investors at around $300 (last sale on eBay 11/3/18) for a grade(2.5). Buy one while you can the (2.5) grade has returned a positive +47.7% ROI! This issue has great ROI in a grade (9.0) returning a positive +181.7% ROI!  Fantastic Four #52  is simply a big key and should only be purchased as a long-term investment. Hopefully, even at this late date, you can find a reasonably priced copy. I don't see this book's stellar ROI plummeting to Wakanda homeland anytime soon.

Iron Man #1

The first appearance of Iron Man in an ongoing series was Iron Man #1 (1968) by Archie Goodwin (script) and Gene Colan (art). The most recent value for everyone's favorite techno-knight is $16,500. It sold for that much on Comic Link in August 2018. The current inventory in the CGC Census has increased slightly since last month with 5101 issues outstanding. Iron Man #1 was very popular during the 1970's most Marvel fans have read this book or parts of the original series. The concept of a superhero American inventor is just iconic. Iron Man 3 put a cap on the Iron Man movies (unfortunately) back in 2013. But Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) still carries every movie he has ever been in as the Invincible Iron Man.

Iron Man #1's  current growth rate is phenomenal: grades (9.8), (9.0) and (6.5) returning very positive results +131.5%, +56.5%, and even fine-plus returns +29.7% ROI. The Silver Age has returned some mighty profits in the last few years. Still, where do we go from here with Iron Man? Is Downey still going to continue playing him? Will the stories get better or worse for Tony Stark? This issue is another simple buy and hold.

Fantastic Four #48

The might of Silver Surfer is truly extraordinary, not only his powers but also the concept of a true hero. The Silver Surfer is someone who sacrifices self to save those he or she loves. That is the power of the Surfer. He was written back in the day was like a force of nature, not trifled with. The Silver Surfer first appeared in the Fantastic Four #48. It was created by Stan Lee (writer) and Jack Kirby (artist) in 1966. Unfortunately, with Stan Lee's passing, we lose a bit of that Marvel magic that is hard to match.

This book is also the first appearance of Galactus in the Marvel Universe and as such has a world-shattering value at $28,000 FMV for grade mint condition (9.8). The return on this investment is equally dramatic with (9.8) returning positive +122.1%. The Surfer is a cosmic superhero of unparalleled proportions and so are the returns on his first appearance. The Fantastic Four #48  comic book has been in the top three Silver Age issues for many moons. It is unlikely that Silver Surfer's first appearance will diminish in value, though popularity can wain.