Most stars had to pay their dues and only achieved their status because someone saw their potential.  Comic books can be viewed in much the same way.  These are DC Comic books from the Modern Age to the Golden Age that I believe are still being ignored and yet have the potential to rise to the marquee of GoCollect sales charts.

 

1. Key Undervalued DC Comic Book from the Modern Age

 

Batman Beyond (1999)

Significance

First Terry McGinnis as a Future Batman.

Affiliations of Importance to Investors

Batman (Does there have to be more?)

Speculation

This book is already a costly book but I think there is more room for it to grow.  I look to Miles Morales and the FOMO factor.  I may not like it but that does not mean you should not take notice and use FOMO when it is to your advantage.  FOMO for Miles might mean an opportunity with Terry.  Remember that this book has a fraction of the population of books in the census when compared to Ultimate Fallout #4 while being a decade older.  Many of the fans now entering the market also think of this as their Batman from television and are willing to put their dollars where their memories lie. Right now though everyone is more focused on Miles and not Terry. This could mean an opportunity for you.

While I believe this book is undervalued please remember how fickle the market can be to investors. At live auctions, this is the star of the show and should keep its name in lights, but even the best of stars sometimes fade. Batman Beyond can rise in value but that does not mean you have to view it as a long term hold.  When others start to slab these books and the population increases, that might be the time to re-think holding on to this book. Until then while others keep looking at Spider-man and the MCU this book will remain an undervalued opportunity to the wise investor.

 

2. Key Undervalued DC Comic Book from the Bronze Age

 

Demon #1 (1972)

Significance

1st appearance of Demon.  The character was created by Jack Kirby during his work for DC Comics.

Affiliations of Importance to Investors

Justice League Dark, Batman, Zatanna, and Demon Knights

Speculation

"Kirby is king" was a motto I used to go by at auctions.  The problem is that New Gods, Forever People, and Mister Miracle are seeing all the money and buzz that only recently was being thrown at Demon #1.  Justice League Dark was the rage for investors but now their focus has shifted to Darkseid and Zack Snyder.  This might be your window to steal this undervalued book.

Jack Kirby is a legend and his books will continue to appreciate in value.  Most of his Marvel first appearances are priced beyond the reach of some collectors, but his DC Comics are very affordable.  With everyone looking to his Fourth World books, now might be a wise time to look to this book.  Better yet, bundle it with Sandman #1, another DC Comics Kirby book, and own a piece of the Kirby Legacy while it is cheap and available.

 

 

3. Key Undervalued DC Comic Book from the Silver Age

 

 

Batman  #181 (1966)

Significance

1st Poison Ivy

Affiliations of Importance to Investors

Batman, Harley Quinn, Birds of Prey, Suicide Squad

Speculation

This book is hot then it is not in the Silver Age market. I read on other sites where people are told to buy it one moment then told to dump it the next based upon movie news.  Here is some advice...BUY IT!!!  I see the top dollar going to 1st SILVER AGE appearances for Catwoman, Riddler, Penguin, and Two-Face and yet this book is a genuine first appearance for a Batman foe. What makes this issue really hard to find in high grade is the red cover AND the centerfold being attached to the book.  So many copies have had their centerfolds removed by youthful readers so please review the book before you make your purchase. Talk about double trouble!

Again this is not a book that is completely under the radar and yet I sometimes have to look for it in the GoCollect reports because Marvel is dominating the market.  I had originally selected some Flash keys and war comics to put here because they are being almost given away at a time when everyone seems focused on Marvel books. I still believe those books too are undervalued, but this is my pick because  I find many have soured on Poison Ivy because there has been no movie appearance news and yet it is a very important Batman key.  I think that if you are focusing all your investments on movies you are being short-sighted.  This is a buy and possibly stash book. If in fact Poison Ivy ever appears in a new movie, then this book will only get harder and more expensive to buy because everyone will be all in for this book. You though would have already purchased it when others were looking to other targets on the vine.

 

4. Key Undervalued DC Comic Book from the Golden Age

 

Superman #61 (1949)

Significance

1st Kryptonite in comic.

Affiliation of Importance to Investors

Superman

Speculation

I use the GoCollect key issues to find my books to target. As a newbie a while back I found this book and could not believe the price it had for mid-grade conditions.  Superman's greatest enemy is not a person but a thing, and this thing's 1st introduction is so affordable that it still shocks me.  Kryptonite is a key component in the myth of Superman.  It is in our very own lexicon where we talk of a person's kryptonite.  Even in typing this article my spell checker did not identify kryptonite as being misspelled when most other comic book names get highlighted as being incorrect. Since its introduction, it has been used in many different forms producing many different reactions in the man of steel.  In the movies, kryptonite is the great equalizer for Superman's enemies.  For an element so rare in the comic book world, kryptonite is everywhere in the legend of Superman.

DC Comics has such a rich Golden Age history that I could have chosen so many books but this was the one book that I looked at as having the most importance, being sold as if it were insignificant.  Try to get a first appearance of a major character compared to the price you will pay for this book and you will realize it is next to impossible.  Talk to any Superman fan and all you have to say is you have the 1st comic book appearance of Kryptonite and you will draw interest.  Golden Age books have a tendency to not have the spikes in value so this would be a book I would buy now and watch it appreciate down the road. This book is being ignored by most other investors as if they are Superman and are afraid of touching the kryptonite contained in this comic. Put on your protective suit and buy it when you find it!

 

Conclusion...

Batman could run the table for 1st appearances that should be considered undervalued because of their potential to explode in value under the right facts.  Keys involving Batman are so sound that even a bad movie can not kill one of these character's investment potential.  You also have the focus on  Darkseid's movie potential that could make Kirby's rhyming demon's 1st appearance become a nice book to bet on.  Finally a book with an introduction of a comic book icon so prevalent everyone knows of it and yet this book still is being avoided as if it were real poison makes it a great target to those looking for a sound investment.

Diamonds are real and you might have to look for them but when you find them you may unearth a hidden undervalued gem that can make your fortune!