Everyone’s favorite foodie holiday is upon us, and what better way to indulge ourselves than this feast of all-time great Thanksgiving comics? We’ll go through course by course to discover which ones make for a memorable gustatorial treat and which ones are only worth a bite.

Green Bean Casserole

Ah, the green bean casserole. How can something be so tasty on the surface, with its fried onion crisps, and then be so mushily disappointing once you get past the topping? In the world of Thanksgiving comics, we have Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #63 from 1945 as our green bean casserole.

With a great cover by Walt Kelly, we have Donald being chased by axe-toting Huey, Dewey, and Louie dressed up as a turkey. Unfortunately, this scene never happens inside the comic. Instead, we have a Mickey Mouse Thanksgiving text story. Crunchy goodness on the outside, blah veggies in canned soup on the inside.

Looking for a copy? Well, there are only 18 graded copies in the CGC census. It is, however, relatively affordable in the mid-grades, as shown by the only sale this year: a 6.0 selling for $124 in a May 3 Heritage auction.

Good thing you’re getting a slabbed copy, too. This way, you’ll only ever see the cover and won’t have to worry about being disappointed by the interior.

Apple Pie

Nothing is more all-American than apple pie for Thanksgiving dessert. We’re looking for something quaint and heartwarming here, something like JSA #54 from 2004, featuring the JSA and JLA all together for Thanksgiving. Of course, you know villains are going to attack, which makes for a comic book tradition as tried and true as, well, apple pie. It’s a quick read, too, just like that slice of pie.

As befitting the ephemeral nature of Thanksgiving desserts, you won’t find a graded copy of JSA #54 as there are none. You’ll just have to settle for copies without the a la mode on top.

Stuffing

It never looks like something that would be very appetizing, but there’s just something about the savory goodness of stuffing as part of a Thanksgiving feast. We’re looking for something a little salty here and something that has Thanksgiving written all over it. But with a twist. Maybe sausage or cranberries?

Look no further than Uncanny Tales #9 from 1953. First there’s the cover. Not the greatest. But inside there’s an amazing story called, “The Executioner,” a delicious tale that tells the story of Thanksgiving from the turkey’s point of view. Of course, the executioner comes calling and that’s it for the turkey.

There are 16 graded copies in the CGC census, two of which have come up for sale this year, allowing us to look at both mid-grade and low-grade pricing.

A 6.0 – with all the fixings - sold in an August 16 Heritage auction for $660, while a 3.0 – cooked bread crumbs only - sold in a September 24 ComicConnect auction for $154.

Turkey

And finally, we have the main course, the Thanksgiving turkey. It’s likely the only time you’ll eat it this year, so it better be amazing. You’ll want it just right – not too dry but not falling off the bone, with delicate herbal flavoring but not too spicy.

When it comes to Thanksgiving comics, nothing says, “That’s it! That’s the turkey I’ve been craving!” quite like Daredevil #178 from 1981. This incredible Frank Miller tale takes place in the middle of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Daredevil must deal with confetti and giant balloons as none other than Power Man and Iron Fist attack. Superhero against superhero fisticuffs, fantastic artwork by Miller with the parade like you’ve never seen before, and a superlative cover make this the course in our feast that everyone will rave about.

Best of all, it’s an affordable option if you’re looking for an issue of one of Marvel’s best late Bronze Age offerings. There are 468 graded copies in the CGC census, not so few as to make it rare and not so many as to make it worthless. It’s relatively low-priced in the 9.8 grade, with 90-day and one-year averages at $169 and $158 respectively.

If you’re looking for a Thanksgiving comic that has everything – great cover, story, artwork, and affordability – look no further than Daredevil #178.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at GoCollect!

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.