Usually, we save the trends for another blog, but there’s no denying the patterns we’re seeing leading into the first week of December. Two Venom and two X-Men keys have taken sales hits since November 7, and it has caused them to fall well down the ladder.
Does that mean you should abandon ship and sell your copies? Not at all. All five issues on today’s Coldest Comics list are solid investments, particularly GSX #1 and ASM #316. With so much anticipation for both the X-Men and Venom as they segue into the MCU, there is no question that these key issues will see better days.
All five comics featured in today’s blog are prime examples of what the Hottest Comics index is all about. The rankings are based on sales data rather than fair market value. Most of today’s list have solid FMVs that are growing based on the MCU speculation. So why are they losing so much ground in the rankings? Here are some ideas.
93. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #316 (-79)
Above and beyond, ASM #316 took the biggest tumble in the rankings over the past 30 days. Since November 7, this issue has fallen almost 80 positions, which is a stark contrast to where this issue was earlier this year. Of course, when a comic jumps from being $407 for a 9.8 to earning $1,100 just last month, it can be off-putting for buyers.
What makes ASM #316 collectible is the cover art. Besides it being a classic (and often duplicated) work of art by Todd McFarlane, this issue marks the first full cover appearance of Venom. Over the decades, everyone’s favorite symbiote has become one of the most aesthetic characters, and artists love trying their hands at dynamic Venom portraits, and it all started here.
The other factor is ASM #300. When it comes to cover art homages, Venom’s first full appearance in ASM #300 is one of the all-time favorites. There are more tributes to this cover than you can count, and it only adds to the FMVs, which are already high. Add to that equation the debut of one of Marvel’s most popular characters, and you have the formula for ridiculous prices. Thus, collectors tend to lean toward ASM #316 as an alternative.
For a time, this was vastly overshadowed by ASM #300, but those days are over. In the past year, ASM #316, particularly in a higher grade, has escalated to record highs, and that may be the reason for the issue’s descent. At this rate, you can’t get anything above a 9.0 for less than $350.
82. X-MEN #1 (-52)
In modern collecting, you cannot deny the influence of the variant covers. These days, virtually every comic on the market gets at least one variant, and heavily promoted issues - like first appearances and series debuts - can get 10 or more. Variants truly came into their own during the 1990s. There was more than just alternate art; there were gimmick covers with holograms, comics sealed in bags, trading cards, and I own an Eclipso comic that has a plastic gem on the front.
And it all started with 1991’s X-Men #1.
With Jim Lee at the height of his celebrity, Marvel tapped him to create a multitude of covers for the second volume of X-Men. Fans couldn’t get enough of Lee’s take on the X-Men, and Marvel delivered with a record printing for X-Men #1. There were so many available that virtually every collector had multiple copies.
Despite the hundreds of thousands of copies floating about, prices for those covers have been on the way up in 2021. A year ago, most covers (minus the collector’s edition) averaged $72. For the last three months, it has jumped to a $110 FMV. The last time one was bought on eBay, it sold for $89 on eBay yesterday, so prices are going back to normal, it would seem.
84. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #252 (-46)
Here we have another example of buyers turning away from those Venom keys. This issue doesn’t feature Venom, per se, but it does feature an early introduction of the alien symbiote that Spider-Man picked up in Secret Wars #8. As far as key status, ASM #252 is tied for the first appearance of the black costume in the normal Earth-616 continuity. It doesn’t hurt its appeal that the issue also has a tribute to Spidey’s debut in Amazing Fantasy #15.
ASM #252 is no stranger to the Coldest Comics list. Buyers tend to play hot and cold with this one, and that could be due to availability. Since this is not necessarily a first appearance of a character or the costume, it limits its collectability. With so many copies, both graded and raw, circulating on the market, it makes it easy for speculators and investors to take this comic for granted, thus the yo-yo effect. On the bright side, prices aren’t too bad; just yesterday, a 9.2 sold for $233.
83. GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1 (-42)
There’s little doubt that GSX #1’s drop in the index is due primarily to its lofty FMVs. In the past week, a 7.5 sold for $3,578, which is actually down compared to its recent averages, and a 6.5 brought $3,800. Even at a 5.0 sells for close to $3k. Of course, this is a holy grail we're discussing, so high prices come with the territory.
The thing is, GSX #1 is a holy grail that lives up to its reputation. Despite prices being so high, it is due to break records in the coming years. The return of X-Men: the Animated Series with the Disney+ show X-Men ‘97 should give buyers incentive to pony up for even a low grade copy of GSX #1. The bigger picture is the MCU. Marvel Studios has been tight lipped about when the mutants will be introduced into the cinematic sandbox, but when an announcement comes, GSX #1 will be one of the first keys to feel the heat.
58. NOVA #1 (-40)
Throughout October, Nova’s first appearance consistently ranked inside the top-10 and top-20 Hottest Comics. Why wouldn’t it? There is heavy speculation that he will be part of the MCU, and the gossip sites have been reporting that Nova’s feature film is secretly in development. That explains why the FMVs have gotten such a price hike in recent months. Only a day ago, a 9.4 earned $350 on eBay, and there has already been a record $2,575 sale for a 9.8 this year. At this point, even the mid-grade copies are in the triple digits, so the values are still going strong.
That raises the question: if that is the case, why would buyers pull away from Nova #1? With so much potential for Nova, wouldn't his first appearance be flying off the proverbial shelf?
From the fall and into the winter, Marvel has littered the newswire with major announcements. Almost by the week, Marvel Studios has another newsbreak that electrifies the collecting world. The problem for sellers is that all these announcements take the heat away from a key issue like Nova #1. Simply put, news travels so fast that a month can feel like ancient history at this speed. It leaves a plethora of choices for future investments, and the latest news breeds the highest profits. Sooner or later, Nova will be in the MCU, and it will be his day to shine once again. For now, it's on the Coldest Comics list.
Were you surprised by any of the Coldest Comics of the month? Let us know in the comments!
