Further, what is the difference between the first key appearance and say the first prototype appearance? Which is the more valuable key? Before you go to your LCS, let's review some of the "usual suspects" and their protos. Finally, are the protos limited in supply, and are they collectible investments or merely collectible oddities?
Foom Magazine #2
One of the most famous superheroes of the Bronze Age none other than Wolverine himself had a prototype character created by a "comic fan-submitted original character concept."
This character first appeared in Foom (Friends of Ol' Marvel) Magazine #2. He was the product of experimentation, with regenerative abilities and a metal exoskeleton. His name was...yep, Wolverine!
He appeared in the magazine 1.5 years prior to Wolverine's first appearance. Sadly, the contributing fan was never credited or compensated.
There are only 112 Blue Labels currently registered in the CGC Census.
Journey Into Mystery #62
Of all the characters, none is greater than Hulk. This recreation of a horror tale from the 19th Century has become arguably one of the most popular superheroes in Marvel.
Entire worlds have been created for the Hulk i.e. Planet Hulk. His fanbase is probably one of the largest in Marvel.
But he is not the first; the first Living Hulk appeared in Journey into Mystery #26 in 1960. He was later renamed Xemnu the Titan. This was a full two years prior to Hulk's appearance in Marvel.
On Oct 19, 2021, a 6.5 CGC Universal label sold through Heritage for $1,140.00 and on Nov 7, 2021, a 5.5 CGC Universal label settled at $573.33 on eBay.
Proto-Data
| Title | Grade | Last Sale | CGC Census | Return |
| Journey into Mystery #62 | 6.5 | $1140 | 8 est | +265% (1-Year) |
| Foom Magazine #2 | 9.4 | $456 | 16 est | +14% (5-Years) |
| Incredible Hulk #1 | 8.0 | $140,000 | 31 | +53% (2-Years) |
Price Supremacy
Put simply, don't mess with the Hulk! The Incredible Hulk #1 has shot up in value by +53% over the course of two years. This book added about $46,000 in profit to some lucky investor's bankroll. By the price alone, I believe nothing really compares to the original first appearance, not even early prototypes. Journey into Mystery #62 is the first Hulk by name but not by reputation.
The magic that was captured by Marvel in 1962 is still ongoing today with the Hulk. The variety and nuance of the Hulk character over the years is probably as varied as the number of writers given the task of bringing Hulk to light. But the comparable cost of the true first appearance of the Hulk is the price of a small one-bedroom condo in Utah. The price difference is stark, to be sure.
Furthermore, Foom Magazine #2 the first Wolverine prototype, has similar numbers to JIM #62 above. The actual first appearance of Wolverine is incredibly expensive now and way beyond its prototype.
Conclusion: Proto-gold
In the final analysis, Hulk and Wolvie are huge characters in the Marvel Universe. But the nuance of their prototypes is just starting to really catch on in value.
I think it makes a good entry point, and fantastic bragging rights for folks just getting into comics to hunt down these protos. They are definitely collectible investments, just on a different scope than the true full first appearance comic books.
Fair warning, that could change over time and you might be sitting on a proto-gold mine by buying these prototype characters now.
Which comic book prototype are you investing in? Let us know in the comments!
