What goes up must come down, right? In the world of comic collecting and investing, sometimes it takes longer than expected. Popular issues see their prices inflate to absurd levels. Just when the balloon looks ready to pop, it expands further. This phenomenon is mostly due to the immense popularity of the MCU. As soon as the rumors for a new movie or Disney+ series begin circulating, those key issues floor the gas pedal. With so many projects being announced almost weekly, it doesn’t take long for a cherished key to get left in the dust of the next big thing. Such is the case with this week’s Coldest Comics.
Remember that the Hottest Comics index is based on sales volume. That means that the rankings are calculated from the number of ebay sales over the past 30 days. Just because a comic is expensive doesn’t necessarily make it hot. By the same token, being expensive can quickly land even a holy grail on the Coldest Comics.
88. SPECIAL MARVEL EDITION #15 (-54)
Shang-Chi took the single biggest hit in the rankings this week, but that should not dissuade you from adding his first appearance to your collections. The lull presents an opportunity, especially since he has such a bright MCU future.
This time last year, SME #15 was one of the hottest comics on the market. Collectors were falling over themselves to get their hands on Shang-Chi’s first appearance ahead of his live-action introduction. The FMVs were breaking records left and right by the spring of 2021. While that record-breaking pace cooled after the movie’s release date, the sales volume was at its peak when Shang-Chi had suddenly become a household name around the globe.
Since the movie has come and gone, collectors have moved on to new targets. That has sent both the prices and the sales volume on the decline. The FMVs are not exactly dollar-bin finds, and they will remain high since the Shang-Chi sequel has already been announced. Still, the values are lower than they have been basically all year, which makes this a prime opportunity to add one to your collection. Already this week, a graded 9.8 sold for $10,500. While that is still an impressive price tag, it is about $2k less than the 2021 FMV. It’s a similar case for the 9.0. After averaging $1,321 last year, the two sales in the early days of 2022 each earned close to $900.
With the second movie in development, the interest in the character will get a boost once a trailer for that film reaches audiences. Investing while SME #15 has cooled could result in profits for the patient collector.
81. ETERNALS #2 (-55)
Once again, an Eternals key has landed on the Coldest Comics list. The marketplace is a fickle beast, and collectors’ attention changes on a whim. Such is the case for all those Eternals key issues, beginning with Eternals #2.
What made this issue so collectible in the first place was the first appearances of Ajak and Arishem the Judge. These two were major characters in The Eternals, which automatically made it more attractive to buyers. At the conclusion of the movie, Arishem appears to be positioned for a much larger role in the greater MCU or at least we will see him in the sequel. We could see him in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 since the GOTG has already been tied to the Celestials.
Since The Eternals is now considered old news, it’s dampened all the excitement over having those classic Bronze Age issues. That makes this the right time to buy your copies. Arishem remains on the MCU radar, and Ajak likely will return in some fashion since Salma Hayek is reportedly signed for more Marvel appearances. Sooner or later, Eternals #2 will be en vogue again, and that’s good for collectors and investors alike. Last year, a graded 9.8 averaged $1,374. On January 4, that price dropped to $995. The most recent sale for a 9.6 was for $123 this week when it had an FMV of $268. That makes this a good time to consider buying a copy of your own.
91. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #55 SECOND PRINT (-48)
Collectors have a love/hate relationship with ASM #55. One week, it’s trending upward, and the next, it’s on the Coldest Comics list. Such is the comic market, I suppose.
The selling point for this issue is not in the story, since there is nothing that makes this a key issue. What sends collectors on a scavenger hunt for ASM #55 is the cover art. This was the first of Patrick Gleason’s negative variants, and they have been huge among comic fans. This particular rendition of Spider-Man warranted multiple printings with both virgin and trade dress variants. It has even sprouted into the realm of pop culture with t-shirts. After the success of ASM #55, Gleason has drawn negative artwork for Venom, Carnage, and even Man-Thing.
With anything that gets noticed by mainstream audiences, there comes a point when things become oversaturated. That could be the case with ASM #55. With so many copies readily available on the auction sites, getting your hands on one is not an urgent matter. It also helps keep the prices down, at least for the second print. Raw copies of the trade dress generally sell for $5 or less, and the graded 9.8 last sold for $60, which is only marginally over the grading fees.
83. THE KILLING JOKE (-44)
It was not long ago that Killing Joke was a hot item on the market. It stemmed from the persistent rumors that a live-action adaptation was in the works for HBO Max. The gossip sprang from the Justice League Snyder Cut, and the word was that Ben Affleck and Jared Leto would reprise their roles as Batman and Joker, respectively, to bring Alan Moore’s groundbreaking graphic novel to life. When Affleck signed on to play the Bat one more time in the upcoming The Flash, it spurred collectors to grab the first print of The Killing Joke. Despite the actor proclaiming he was done with the cape and cowl after Justice League, the Snyder Cut and Flash fueled speculation that more Batfleck was in store. Put it all together, and it seemingly validated those Killing Joke rumors.
Sadly, the dream of a live-action Killing Joke with Batfleck and Leto won’t be coming true. That has prompted buyers to step away from the mad dash for The Killing Joke. On the plus side, it helps keep those FMVs in a more affordable range. You can nab a raw copy of the first printing for about $20. If you are focused on having a slabbed 9.8, expect to pay around $260.
85. VENOM #3 (-43)
Speaking of once-hot comics, the first print of Venom #3 rounds out today’s Coldest Comics. What makes this issue special is the first appearance of Knull, God of the Symbiotes. Since his 2018 introduction, Knull was propelled to the top of Marvel’s villains’ list. After terrorizing Venom, he was elevated to a global threat, and he took on basically the entire Marvel universe last summer. It resulted in 2021 being the biggest year yet for the God of the Symbiotes, and the first print for Venom #3 reached as high as $669.
All good things must come to an end, and the excitement for Knull has waned. Once Venom dispatched the cosmic god at the conclusion of “The King in Black,” collectors took a break from those Knull keys, thus Venom #3 has landed on the Coldest Comics. While other editions have taken a hit in terms of FMV, the first print has remained fairly steady. The most recent sale from December 29 was for $300, which is in line with the 2021 average of $310. As long as you didn’t spend $669 on your copy of Venom #3, you haven’t lost money just yet.
What books did you expect to see on this week's Coldest Comics list?
Let us know in the comments!
