The movie would also make us do a double-take with an otherwise innocent hockey mask, which serial killer Jason Vorhees wears in every movie. And as with so many 80s icons, there were comics. Yet unlike his horror and even sci-fi counterparts, Jason didn't make his comic debut until 1993 -- 13 years after his first movie. While the number 13 may have significance in the world of horror, it is strange that it took that long for him to cross over into comics.
Jason officially made his comic debut in Satan's Six #4 from Topps Comics.
The issue features the iconic mask on the cover, with "Guest Starring Jason" inside the mask. Satan's Six was a comedy series but used Jason surprisingly well. His first comic appearance is an underrated collectible, and can still be found for under $50 for ungraded copies.
To date, CGC has graded 51 total copies, with 43 receiving a Universal label, 7 receiving a Signature label, and 1 receiving a Qualified label. There are only 3 9.8 copies on the census - the current highest grade for this book - which has a fair market value of $210. Interest in this book has been climbing, so if you're looking to get into collecting Jason before his 50th anniversary in 2030, now is the time.
Jason's first solo comic would be Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday comic book adaptation.
Also published by Topps, this three-issue series is a cute nod to the throwaway line from Satan's Six #4 where one of the characters quips that Jason has gone to hell after he leaves their universe. It also ties into the Jason Goes to Hell movie, which was released in August 1993. Why this movie was picked over the other Friday the 13th films is lost on me, but at this point in pop culture history, almost everyone was familiar with the character of Jason.
This poignant black and white cover will run you more than his official first comic appearance. To date, CGC has graded 68 copies, with 66 receiving a Universal grade and 2 receiving a Signature grade. There are 6 books on the census that have received a 9.8 grade - the current highest grade - and have a fair market value of $500.
Interest in this book has jumped since September 2022, though it may be too early to tell if prices will continue to go up. Ungraded copies of this book tend to sell for under $30, making that a far more affordable option.
Topps would release one more Jason series, Jason vs. Leatherface.
This well-received comic lasted three issues, and despite the two killers never meeting on screen, they did violently tango in this comic. CGC has graded an impressive 108 copies of this book, with 100 receiving a Universal label, 7 receiving a Signature label, and 1 receiving a Qualified label.
The current highest grade - a 9.8 - was awarded to 49 copies and currently has a fair market value of $210. Raw copies of this book tend to sell for under $40, making it the most expensive of the three examples when ungraded.
If you're a Jason fan, I would personally buy all the ungraded and submit them. If you are into graded books, there's nothing wrong with spending money on these books. Popular horror icons tend to hold their value in the long run. These weren't the only times Jason had a comic book tie-in, but like all good horror franchises, Jason will be back - in a future article!
Are you a fan? Let us know in the comments!
