An analysis of the Bronze Age comic book market segment would not be complete without reviewing the biggest losers. These are books that have lost the greatest number of positions in the Top 100 sales rankings over the last 30 days. Remember, these numbers are based on sale volume, not value. Books on this list still may be books you should be adding instead of dumping.  This list had a lot of interesting comics that were dropping in the market in early April, so let's get into it!

I.  Biggest Loser in Bronze Age

Black Panther #1  (-42  Positions)

Why is this book important?

The first issue of the Avengers' first ongoing series.  This book also features the work of Jack Kirby.

What factors might be causing this book to fall?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting crowded.  There were only a few characters to invest in at the start, but now there are a plethora of characters for investors to choose to bet on.  The Black Panther has always been one of those undervalued characters whose keys were within the reach of many investors and collectors. That was true until he exploded in popularity because of the Black Panther film. Then, everyone had to have T'Challa keys.

The death of Chadwick Boseman has caused many investors to now chase Shuri keys under the belief that she will assume the mantle of the Marvel character.  T'Challa books are still desired, but investors are hedging their bets with their Shuri selections.

What do the numbers look like?

Almost all grades are down.  Review the 1 year, 90-day, and 30-day averages and you see an almost constant drop in value.

The only grade that saw an increase was 8.0 from the 1 year to the 30-day average.  This can be attributed to a recent auction that had a surprisingly high bid.  If one factors out that auction, then this grade too would have seen a decrease in value.

The book is dropping in the marketplace and in price.  One factor that is at play here is that there exists 4,500+ copies in the CGC census.

Buy/Sell/Hold?

If you bought this Bronze Age book a year ago, you might as well hold it.  As the new Wakanda film release gets closer, you may see an increase in this book. Otherwise, I would look to add this book only if you can purchase it at a very low price.  If you can do this, you can then hold this book for the long term.  Many Bronze Age books are affordable and yet still have that long-term potential because of the books' ages and possible future storylines.

Remember, this was a book with many copies available that was always discounted before the first Black Panther film.  Buying cheap and holding is the best thing you can do with this book if you are looking to add it. You have to realize, though, that many people will be abandoning this book as T'Challa becomes a distant memory in the MCU.

II.  Biggest Loser in Bronze Age

Marvel Spotlight #5  (-41  Positions)

Why is this book important?

It all began here for the biker from hell.  The book contains the first appearance of the Ghost Rider.  This character has had many humans attached to the demonic anti-hero.

This Ghost Rider is the Johnny Blaze version. This first appearance factored in with the under-appreciated artistic work of Mike Ploog and you truly have a piece of Marvel history in this book.

What factors might be causing this book to fall?

The MCU is on everyone's minds in the comic book world.  Iconic first appearances of characters sometimes drop in eyes of the public if Marvel does not tie in a movie or television appearance for characters.  This is a book that has over 4,000 copies in the CGC census, yet I observed very few sales of this book.  One must remember that for a book to be hot it has to move.  Sometimes people are still interested in a book but the sales volume is not there because the asking price is too high. Others see a book as a long-term investment.  As a result, there are fewer copies being sold because people are sitting on them.

What do the numbers look like?

Most grades had an increase in value when reviewing the 1 year, 90-day, and 30-day sales average. The one surprise was in the 8.5 grade where a roughly $1,000 drop was visible.  A quick review revealed that this was caused by a ComicConnect auction on March 17.  This figure was an abnormality because around that time two books sold for roughly the same price before and after that auction, and both of those books were graded an 8.5.

Buy/Sell/Hold?

I have been a big fan of this character.  He has already appeared in movies and on television.  The fact that the MCU may get darker with more horror offerings is a key feature of this book.  Couple that with the fact that this character still has a presence in comic books and you have to like the opportunities.

Sales are dropping, but prices are going up.  I would look to add the best grade book you can and hold it.  This book may be dropping in "hotness", but that is because people are just not selling this book!  Sometimes there is nothing wrong with hoarding.

III.  Biggest Loser in Bronze Age

X-Men #141 (-36 Positions)

Why is this book important?

This Bronze Age book is the first visit to the Days of Future Past universe.  This universe was already visited in film. In addition, this book features the first appearance of both Rachel Summers and the new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.  Adding to the desirability of this comic is that it also features the death of Franklin Richards, the scion of the Fantastic Four Richards family.

What factors might be causing this book to fall?

This book can be found in the public, both raw and graded.  There are currently over 5,300 books in the CGC census.  In addition, this book is always on the hotlists, so it can rise and fall based on the sales prices in the market. There is something else, though, that I have seen when reviewing the data that may be a factor in this book's decline in popularity.

There has been a renewed interest in all X-Men key books.  This translates to less interest in a book that regularly appears on the hotlists.  Raise your hands if you do not own this book. Very few can say they do not or have not ever owned this book and thus, people may be looking to add other books at this time.

What do the numbers look like?

Some grades are dropping in value from their 1-year, 90-day, and 30-day averages while other books are rising in value.  I tried to review the numbers to develop a pattern and could not do so.

The only pattern that emerged was a few auction prices that deviated in one way or the other.   This occurred at different auction houses and during different sampling periods. No apparent patterns could be observed to make any specific recommendations.

Buy/Sell/Hold?

Buy low and hold.  This is a book that tells the story of multiple timelines in the mutant universes.  You never know if this could play out in the MCU. This issue is also an iconic story that will be important for years to come, so it might be wise to buy it at an affordable price while you can.  When the X-Men come to the MCU, every key will increase.  This will be one of those issues that should appreciate in value.

IV.  Possible Future Big Dropper in Bronze Age to Watch

Amazing Spider-Man #210  (-30 Positions)

Why is this book important?

This is the first appearance of Madame Web. John Romita Jr. and Dennis O'Neil were involved with this book so you know it has the credentials required to be memorable.

What factors might be causing this book to fall?

Morbius was just released in theaters.  One of the tent poles of Sony's involvement with Marvel Comics, early reviews were not kind.  The box office was one of the lowest for Marvel films.  This is not a good sign and Morbius should now serve as a canary in the mine when it comes to Madame Web.  Morbius was a B Grade Spider-Man character that received a bump when the movie was announced.  This character had a following and was somewhat significant in Marvel Comics. Can the same be said for Madame Web?

Another factor that should be scary for investors is what version of Madame Web will appear on the screen. Dakota Johnson was cast as Madame Web for the movie.  Does that mean she will be portraying a younger Cassandra web, who appears in this issue, or Julia Carpenter?  Secret Wars #6 and Secret Wars #7 could be the better books to target if she is in fact playing Julia Carpenter.  Uncertainty in the character and a poorly performing Morbius could have people worried.

What do the numbers look like?

The uncertainty extends into the sales numbers of this book.  The 30 day average for a 7.0 has a $39 higher value than for an 8.5 copy.

The 30-day and 90-day comparisons for different grades also show books rising in some grades yet falling in others.  This is a book that has dropped 30 positions, but I wonder if you should be concerned that that drop is not the final landing spot for this book.

Buy/Sell/Hold?

I am concerned about this book.  Sony expected better for Morbius and yet it underperformed.  A feature film on Madame Web was the whole reason this book picked up steam.  The movie will have to hit it out of the park for this book to remain on the hotlists.  The problem is if the character is, in fact, Julia Carpenter, then there will be better choices to invest in.  If that happens, you may find yourself with an Amazing Spider-Man book that is actually very cold on the market, something that is quite a feat.

Conclusion

A book that is losing its "hot" factor may not be a book you want to ignore.  Different factors may be at play.  The key is to study the numbers and see if there is, in fact, a pattern that is emerging.  Sometimes you may want to buy a book on the dip because better days are ahead. Another analysis may reveal a book that is not dipping, but rather plummeting in value.  That book is one you want to get out as soon as possible because you do not want to be holding it when the music stops.  Study the numbers and you should get a better grasp of what is happening in the markets.

Right now, Marvel Comics are the most volatile books in the market.  Books riseing like a phoenix one day may tumble the next.  Windows are shrinking to take advantage of the MCU factor.  Every book on this list was hot one minute, but not now.  Books I would look to add on this list would be the first appearances of the Ghost Rider if I had a lot of money to spend.  If you were looking for a riskier book that would not cost you a lot of money, I would take a gamble on the two appearances of Julia Carpenter.  Solid books that have the first appearance of that character still can be bought for pennies on the dollar.  Even if she is not Madame Web, she still is Spider-Woman II.

What would you buy? Let us know in the comments!

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