The Silver and Bronze Age keys were in demand this week, none more so than Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 thanks to those never-ending Namor movie rumors. Welcome to this week's Hottest Comics!

Once again, the MCU ruled the collecting world. All five of this week’s biggest movers on the hottest comics list were somehow tied to the MCU, either by official news or by rumors and speculation. Collectors and investors were trying to get those keys before prices get too out of hand. In some cases, they are already nearing that point.

Before we jump into the data, don’t forget that the Hottest Comics index is the 1,001 best-selling comics of the week according to eBay’s data. Just because a comic is hot does not necessarily mean prices are breaking the ceiling, though higher sales tend to herald higher prices.

On that note, welcome to the top-five biggest movers of the week.

Hottest Comics 3/58. IRON MAN AND SUB-MARINER #1 (+992)

The biggest winner of the-week-in-hottest-comics award went to Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 from 1968. This is a classic Silver Age issue from famed writers Roy Thomas and Archie Goodwin and drawn by the legendary Gene Colan. For the aforementioned reasons, this issue is a treasure trove of Marvel’s early days. However, that is not why collectors wanted this one. This issue predates both Iron Man #1 and Sub-Mariner #1, which means this is the first self-titled series for both characters.

Despite news to the contrary, some Marvel theorists insist that Namor will be included in the MCU very soon. Although he has been heavily rumored for several movies, most notably as the antagonist in Black Panther 2, Kevin Feige has previously said that the screen rights to the Submariner are complicated, which is why no one knows when he will arrive in the MCU.

It appears that unfounded rumors and speculation are enough to keep Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 at the forefront of the Silver Age collections. Not only did the sales volume see a notable spike, but the FMVs were on the up and up as well. The only two grades that saw a dip in the past 90 days - the 5.5 and the 5.0 - both hauled in recent sales that exceeded the three-month average. 

Even the lower grades have been getting a bump from the Namor rumors. The 4.5, which was the lowest grade sold in the past 90 days, is averaging $135 in the span, and that happens to be close to $50 above its 2020 average.

Hottest Comics 3/543. JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #9 (+957)

Is there a cover that screams 1960s more so than Justice League of America #9? The front cover tells us everything we need to know about this issue as Wonder Woman, Flash, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, and Aquaman are being transformed into trees. It is classic Silver Age schlock at its finest.

What draws collectors to JLA #9, aside from seeing the JLA as trees, is that it retells the origin story of the Justice League. With the attention the JLA has been receiving as HBO Max nears its Zack Snyder cut of Justice League, all the Silver Age JLA keys have benefited from the exposure. However, if the fan reaction for the new take on the movie is again negative, then these key issues could take a large hit, so dumping money into JLA #9 is a gamble, make no mistake. Still, it is hard to believe that fans will be disappointed after the Joss Whedon fiasco that was Justice League

The sales volume saw a massive boost in the past week, but the FMVs were split among the different grades. Generally speaking, the higher grades struggled while the mid and lower grades excelled. At the low end of things, the 4.0, which has a 90-day FMV of $139, last sold for $176 in February. That is well ahead of its 2020 average of $205.

The good part here is that you can still get your hands on a decent grade for under $300. There is the 6.0, a comic that had an FMV of $105 a year ago and last sold for $240. Considering this is a minor Silver Age key, it is good anytime you can get a 6.0 for close to $250.

Hottest Comics 3/444. TALES OF SUSPENSE #94 (+956)

Marvel Studios’ relationship with the HULU streaming service appears to be rocky at the moment. The plug was pulled on Helstrom after one season, and several Marvel projects that were previously announced were stopped before they got off the ground. The only one that remains is the adult-themed stop-motion cartoon, M.O.D.O.K. with Patton Oswalt set for the starring voice role. This is still on the schedule for May. 

That being said, it makes sense that Tales of Suspense #94 made waves on the hottest comics list this week. As we get nearer to May, we are likely to see even more attention on M.O.D.O.K.’s first appearance. (Bonus points if you can tell me what M.O.D.O.K. stands for without looking it up. Give yourself a pat on the back from me to you if didn’t even have to think about it.)

Looking for an issue to call your own? Prices are on the move, so you need to act quickly. For the past 90 days, nine of the ten different grades sold in that period showed an increase in FMV compared to the 12-month average. The biggest seller was the 8.0, which sold 16 copies in the three-month span. Last year, that grade averaged $303, but it has jumped to $371 in the past 90 days. The most recent sale was for $350 last month.

51. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #194 (+949)

Black Cat may just have nine lives after all, at least when it comes to getting her on the big screen. Going back to 2017, the word on the internet was that Black Cat and Silver Sable would team up for Sony’s Silver and Black. Then came the news that Sony had scratched the Silver and Black idea and was leaning toward a Silk solo film. 

Now there is a new rumor that Black Cat and Silver Sable are back on the board for the Sony-verse. This time, the speculation is that basically nearly every female protagonist Sony has been rumored to put in a movie will have an epic live-action team movie. That means Black Cat and Silver Sable could share the screen with Jackpot, Silk, and possibly Spider-Woman.

Silver and Black has had the yo-yo effect on ASM #194. The rumors pump up the sales and the FMVs. Then news comes that the film has been scrapped, and the balloon bursts. At the moment, the ASM #194 stock is rising, especially in the high grades. The best seller has been the 9.6 after trading hands 81 times dating back to March 2020. During those 12 months, it has risen from a $532 average to $812. Last month, a copy brought nearly $1k.

54. UNCANNY X-MEN #142 (+945)

After seeing Evan Peters bring the Fox-verse Quicksilver into the MCU (sort of), it is no wonder that Chris Claremont’s “Days of Future Past” masterpiece would be high on the wish lists. If you recall, Quicksilver was a standout character in 2014’s Days of Future Past movie. My inclination is that the spike in sales volume for part two of the original DOFP story did not accidentally coincide with Peters’ appearances on WandaVision. This issue also happens to be the first time the title christened Uncanny X-Men, so there is another selling point.

Between Uncanny X-Men #141 and #142, this issue tends to be the forgotten of the two. The former brings in larger figures, and it is the more sought-after key. This week, UXM #142 did not play second fiddle. Of the 11 different grades that have sold in the past 90 days, nine had increases in FMV versus the 12-month averages. The eye-opener was the $800 sale of a 9.8 on January 12, though the 9.6 has been the biggest seller. Over 81 sales in the past 12 months, the 9.6 has a 90-day FMV of $153. The last sale was for an impressive $540 earlier this week.

So what do you think about the comics on this week's Hottest Comics list? Let us know in the comments!

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