Remember that this list isn’t based on price tags. Sure, you will find other comics with bigger price jumps, but that doesn’t guarantee a top ranking in the Hottest Comics. That’s because these numbers are based on sales volume. Instead of looking at what comics were setting the market on fire, today is all about that cold shoulder.
If there’s one thing we can learn from today’s blog it’s this: choose your gambles wisely if you’re looking to make a buck off the latest live-action shows. No matter how hot a character may be, once the mainstream fanfare dies down, those prices deflate in a hurry.
88. THE SANDMAN #1 (-49)
Just when it seems Morpheus and his first appearance are making a comeback, they take a quick tumble. This week, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman #1 felt the sting of the market and lost 49 spots to be crowned the Coldest Comic. Ever since the newness wore off the Netflix series, this issue has become a frequent flier on the Coldest Comics blog. Unlike “the usual suspects,” Sandman #1 doesn’t seem to find its way back up the ladder. Of course, that’s not unexpected.
Whenever a comic gets a boost from a movie or show, it inevitably follows the same pattern. The excitement gets the prices and sales climbing. If the show/movie is a hit, those prices will stay high for at least the first couple of weeks after the premiere. No matter how much money the movie makes or the ratings numbers a series reels in, the enthusiasm drains, and those prices fall. That’s exactly what we’re seeing here.
As I have pointed out before, this is an opportune time to grab a high grade. At the moment, the watch is on for the second season announcement. While nothing has been promised, most fans believe Netflix will bring The Sandman back for another round. Who knows? The show has been so popular that we could get a spinoff show or two. All that will add up to a price increase for The Sandman #1. For the moment, you can grab a 9.8 for around $700 when it was averaging closer to $900 a year ago.
96. X-FACTOR #6 (-34)
En Sabah Nur is not pleased with your impudence. How dare you allow his first appearance to border on leaving the top-100 Hottest Comics altogether? When the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse come, don’t say you weren’t warned.
We know we’re going to see Apocalypse again in the X-Men ‘97 cartoon, but that’s not for another 12 months. The hype for the X-Men’s return to animated form is enough to drive sales at least slightly, but cartoons don’t have near the impact as live action. Therein lies the problem. The last time we saw the En Sabah Nur and his giant belt buckle on the screen was in the simply dreadful X-Men: Apocalypse. As much as I appreciate Oscar Isaac’s acting abilities, this was not his best work by a long shot. At this point, most Apocalypse fans would rather not see him at all than to see a repeat of that performance.
With no live-action prospects for Apocalypse in the MCU, it makes sense that the ceiling is rather low for X-Factor #6. That results in a drop in the Hottest Comics and lower FMVs. On the bright side, it makes for a buyer’s market. For the past 30 days, the graded 9.8 has averaged $441.
64. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #194 (-32)
Being that today is National Black Cat Appreciation Day (yes, it’s a real thing), it’s only fitting that ASM #194 be included on today’s list. While this issue may be down at the moment, it won’t stay there, trust me.
Over the past few months, ASM #194 has made a case for itself to be ranked among the usual suspects. It’s regularly appeared in both the Hottest and Coldest Comics blogs, bouncing from the top to the bottom with ease. It all comes down to the newswire and the lack of any updates on the Black Cat front.
For years, we’ve been hearing about Felicia Hardy moving to the world of live action. There’s the on-again/off-again teamup flick with Silver Sable, though it seems to be on the outs at the moment. Then came the tease in the Morbius movie, which should come to fruition at some point. It has led to speculation that she has secretly been cast for Madame Web, though nothing has been said on the topic. The problem is that Sony’s track record with its superhero universe has been awful, so it’s hard to get excited about anything coming from the studio. Still, if Black Cat were finally announced, it would no doubt send buyers on the hunt for ASM #194.
In the market for a copy? You can expect to pay $3,950 for a graded 9.8, based on the 30-day average. That’s down close to $500 from the 12-month FMV. Where we have seen a bump in prices is the 9.6. Although it was earning $1,080 in September, the prices have jumped to the $1,600 range in October.
77. MARVEL SUPER-HEROES’ SECRET WARS #3 (-31)
This didn’t take long.
The She-Hulk: Attorney at Law season finale was only two weeks ago, and the fallout is already setting in. Despite a number of keys getting the boost thanks to the Easter eggs and teases, She-Hulk’s classic rival wasn’t feeling the love from buyers this week.
Secret Wars #3 has been a popular key ever since Titania was announced for She-Hulk. Generally, fans were pleased with her portrayal in the Disney Plus series. Sure, it was a bit over the top and silly, but it’s a She-Hulk sitcom, so what else did you expect?
Now that the show has wrapped up, the first issue to feel the cold shoulder is Titania’s first appearance. We know that She-Hulk will return to the MCU, but there’s no guarantees where Titania’s concerned. That results in buyers taking a break from Secret Wars #3. On the plus side, if you’ve been wanting a copy, now is your time to strike. After averaging close to $200 over the past year, it’s fallen to the $100 range as of late.
71. SUB-MARINER #1 (-31)
This may be the biggest surprise on today’s list. Here we are less than a month from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s world premiere, and the trailers look like Phase Four will end on a very high note. Of course, we’ll see Namor make his MCU debut, something that had been rumored for several years. By the looks of it, he’ll likely hang around well after Wakanda Forever. Since he’s been confirmed as a mutant, we could see him join the X-Men’s corner of the MCU when they finally arrive.
With Namor having first appeared in 1939, his first Silver Age solo title has been the go-to choice for treasure hunters. It’s been a hot issue for the past year, and it only felt more heat when he was confirmed for Wakanda Forever. Since we are so close to the movie’s official release, it’s interesting to see it stumble this week, but I have no doubt it will be on the rebound.
You’d never know this issue was struggling based on the prices. On October 1, a graded 9.8 sold for over $14,000. That one is a bit much for the majority of us, so it’s best to take a look at the 9.4, which has averaged $2,880 for the past month. Need to find something for under $1k? Everything up to an 8.5 should fit the bill.
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