I like themes.  I hate rules.  Imagine then me saying I would do a green-themed blog for St. Patrick's Day.  Challenge accepted.  Here is my list of four books that deal with green that I believe could earn you some green.  Think of these as my secret green weapons.

I.  The Rarest of the Green

I did not want to pull any punches for this blog.  As a result, I went for the one book that will earn you some green if you can find it.  The book is the holy grail for some Golden Age collectors, Green Giant #1.  This is not a comic book about vegetable pitchmen. This is a true superhero comic.  I read in Overstreet that this comic was never released or sold.  Instead, it was a trial run to see if the Pelican Publishing company could make money from their idle presses by printing comic books.

I saw this book once in an online auction sealed in a picture frame.  Only two people knew the significance of this book, and I was one of them.  The final price went beyond what I would pay for an auction that would not let either of us take it out of the frame before bidding.  I found out later it was a fake copy.

If you look at the CGC census you will see only six, yes, six copies exist.  The last sale of this book was in August 2007.  If you see the real thing, buy it!

II. It is not Halloween

How can one make a green list and not include the Green Goblin?  If you think Green Goblin, you must think of the first appearance of the Green Goblin in Amazing Spider-man #14.  Norman Osborn has transcended being a mere Spider-man villain to become a major threat in the Marvel Universe. The Green Goblin is an iconic villain.

I have been told by some investors never to invest in villains.  Every rule has exceptions. The Green Goblin is one of those exceptions.  If a Spider-Man collector can not get Spidey's first appearance or first issue, then this is the next best thing.  I am going to say this once, but if you can afford a copy, then buy it.  If he appears in the MCU, then this book will explode.  I believe if you buy this book and hold on to it then the book will only increase in value over the long term.  Green Goblin is the gold standard of villains.  See it. Buy it.

III.  Little Green Men

I had to go with something a little offbeat with this selection.  The reason was that I wanted to cheat.  Horror comics sell at premiums.  A horror comic book tied into a movie doubles your fun.  Imagine a horror comic that not only ties into a movie but a classic line of trading cards as well.  Yes, I hated the movie, but that does not mean someone can not make another film.  That is the potential that I believe makes Mars Attacks #1 and Mars Attacks #2 books that you may want to find.

As I said before in other articles, horror comics sell at a premium.  There are always exceptions to a rule.  Currently, Mars Attack #1 has 26 copies in the CGC census with only an FMV of $90 for a 9.8 copy. That, to me, is an undervalued book that I strongly believe can increase in value in the long term, especially if the film is ever re-made. If they ever do re-make the film, I believe part of the film should cover the story presented in issue #2.  This comic tells the story of what is on Topps card #36 of the classic series. A dog rushes to protect its young owner and ends up costing the dog's life.  This book is so far in the deep blue sea that there are no CGC copies in the database, nor can we determine the FMV.

These two books are worth buying as pure long-term long-shot investments.  Horror comic books with any cultural significance seem to appreciate over the long term.  These books are too inexpensive to not take a chance.  Pick them up cheap and you will see a profit on them one day.

IV. Green War Cover

Many comics have themes that collectors desire.  One of those themes that has great cross-over appeal is WWII covers. This was the war that made the rest of the world realize the power of the USA.  Many of the war covers I collected were Fawcett comics drawn by Mac Raboy.  I loved his recognizable line work and simple imagery.  Mac Raboy was known for his Fawcett work, but he did draw a character that now exists in the public domain. That character is the Green Lama.

The book I want you to focus on is Green Lama #5.  The cover has an American G.I. riding on the back of our hero and shooting down enemy planes.  This is an image I could not get out of my mind because it truly is a funny image. That is, until you see that Nazi symbol on the plane and are reminded of the horror of that time.  That was the genius of Mac Raboy.

A WWII war cover from Raboy with only 15 copies in the CGC census is a winning combination.

V Honorable Mentions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are books I believe are undervalued and desirable.  If you can find them at a good price buy them.

  • Tales to Astonish #62  First Appearance of the Leader. A great villain that has already appeared briefly in MCU.
  • Fantastic Four #18 First Appearance of Super Skrull.  An affordable FF Key.
  • All Star Squadron #25 First App. of Jade and others.  Jade and many other first appearances with low FMV.

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