Star Wars won the day thanks to The Book of Boba Fett in this week’s Hottest Comics’ movers and shakers.
Those BOBF keys may have taken this round of the Hottest Comics, but the MCU gossip is making waves of its own. With the rumors for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness heating up by the week, it’s only a matter of time before the MCU flexes its muscle on the secondary market.
What are the Hottest Comics? Calculated fresh each day, this index charts the best-selling single issues across eBay. For this particular blog, we will look at the movement over the past 30 days. Remember that this is based on the number of copies sold and not fair market value. On that note, let’s dive into the data.
37. STAR WARS #42 (+60)
It’s no wonder that Star Wars #42 has made the most gains in the past 30 days. The Book of Boba Fett is proving to be another hit series for Disney+, and Star Wars comics are some of the biggest sellers on the secondary market. As we learned with the first two seasons of The Mandalorian, speculators and investors jump to the auction sites with each new episode of the Star Wars shows as quickly as they do for the latest MCU projects.
SW #42 doesn’t come without its controversy. What makes this issue so special is the debut of the franchise’s mysterious bounty hunter, Boba Fett. However, it is not the first time readers saw him in a comic. That happened seven months prior in the Marvel Super Special #16, an issue that featured the first comic adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back.
Why does SW #42 get the nod over MSS #16, at least in terms of FMV? My instinct is that it comes down to the former being part of the main Star Wars series. Because of that distinction, collectors are willing to pay higher prices for SW #42. Speaking of prices, if you want a 9.8, the last one to sell online brought over $3,800. The cost dips dramatically when the grade falls below that mythical 9.8. The most recent 9.6 brought $970 this month as well.
7. X-MEN #1 (+54)
Since the end of 2021, the second volume of X-Men has been a hot commodity. Considering this issue still holds the Guinness Book of World Records’ top-selling comic book of all time with over eight million copies sold, there will never be a shortage of X-Men #1s (unless you plan on buying a million or so and setting them on fire in your backyard). Don’t forget that this particular #1 laid the foundation for variant covers. At the time, it was not common for a single issue to have so many alternate covers. Publishers saw that the technique worked, and it has given rise to today’s variant market.
Out of all the covers for X-Men #1, it’s the Magneto artwork that continues to gain the most attention. Aside from it being an absolutely stunning piece drawn by Jim Lee, what makes this issue so special? I see the answer coming from two sources. First is the revival of X-Men: the Animated Series. Disney previously announced that X-Men ‘97 would be a continuation of XMTAS (which very nearly spells XMas, for those keeping score). The original cartoon’s art and animation style were inspired by Lee’s work on the title, specifically the updated costumes. That would lead collectors to this issue in their search for cartoon-related keys.
The other factor is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. There are numerous rumors floating about the internet and many of those center on the X-Men. While the arrival of Professor X and Wolverine seems to be the most common, there are theorists who predict that we’ll see Magneto arrive in that film. Of course, those may be the same theorists who predicted he would show in WandaVision, and we saw how well that worked out. What does that have to do with 1991’s X-Men #1? It’s an affordable key issue with iconic Magneto artwork, that’s what.
For a comic so easy to find in a high grade, the prices for X-Men #1 are higher than you might expect. This week, a graded 9.8 sold for $135, and two 9.6s brought over $70 each.
55. WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #32 (+43)
Moon Knight has caused a meltdown on the internet. Reportedly, the new trailer has set viewing records in its first week, topping everything Marvel has ever released. Considering the mass hysteria the No Way Home trailer caused, that is a testament to how excited fans are to see Moon Knight in live action.
To the surprise of none, that hype has shifted its way to the secondary market. Collectors with deep pockets are ponying up to get their hands on Moon Knight’s first appearance in Werewolf By Night #32. This holy grail was already expensive, and the high demand for a comic with a relatively small print run has just gone through the roof.
To see the real indicator as to just how expensive WBN #32 has become, take a look at the 9.4. So far this month, the only sale was for over $10k. As pricey as that is, the thing to remember is that’s actually a decent buy considering its 90-day average is nearly $13k. When a $10,000 comic is a bargain, you know you’re in holy grail territory.
6. DARTH VADER #3 (+42)
Two of the top-five biggest movers on the Hottest Comics list can attribute their success to The Book of Boba Fett. Of course, in the case of Darth Vader #3, it’s tied to the speculation of a character many theorists are predicting is on her way in the near future.
Doctor Aphra has inspired buyers to comb through the auction sites to find her first appearance. For those who haven’t been keeping up with BOBF, Episode Two introduced an immediate fan favorite to the Star Wars universe, Black Krrsantan. He is the former Wookie gladiator turned bounty hunter, and fans are enthralled with his every movement. We have seen him fight Boba Fett and rip the arm off an alien in the Mos Espa cantina.
Despite all the excitement and hype for Krrsantan, his live-action debut has propelled the market for Doctor Aphra’s first appearance more so than Krrsantan’s. This comes from the Wookie’s ties to Aphra. In the comics, she frequently hires Krrsantan to help on her adventures to recover lost relics in Star Wars’ take on an intergalactic Indiana Jones. It’s made for a red hot market for Darth Vader #3, and it has yet to cool off.
Consider that the standard edition graded at a 9.8 averaged $230 in 2020. Last year, that FMV increased to $431. That will likely be eclipsed in 2022. In the past week alone, there have been 16 sales for that coveted 9.8, and none have sold for less than $505.
39. GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1 (+40)
Those X-Men rumors have pushed another holy grail up the ranks over the past 30 days. Jumping from #79 into the top 40 is Giant-Size X-Men #1. For a comic that was already as expensive as GSX #1 - the lowest grade sold in 2022 has been a 2.5, and it is still selling for close to $1,500 - it’s a true testament to the issue’s popularity when it moves so rapidly on the sales charts.
Again, I see this issue’s surge emanating from those persistent rumors of the X-Men arriving in the MCU. The gossip sites are reporting over a dozen different characters with a chance to appear in Multiverse of Madness. There are so many rumors that it puts Spider-Man: No Way Home to shame. Unless Marvel Studios is planning to make MOM a 12-hour affair, there will not be enough time to fit even half of the rumored characters into the movie. That leaves a big question mark over the X-Men, who have been the subject of intense speculation for years.
When it comes to an issue like GSX #1, it may see peaks and valleys that follow the MCU trends, but this is a classic issue that never loses favor with the X-Men faithful. At the moment, prices are down, and that could be an opportunity to buy if you’ve got the room in your post-Christmas budget.
What comics missed the Hottest Comics list this week? Any surprises?
Tell us in the comments!
