You can’t keep a good Spider-Woman down, and Spider-Woman #1 has set a blistering pace on eBay.
The investment game can turn in an instant. Just when a comic like Spider-Woman #1 is spiraling toward the bottom of the sales charts, it only takes a week for things to take a 180-degree shift.
What are the Hottest Comics? Ranked by sales volume, it’s the top-100 best-selling single issues across eBay. For today’s blog, we’ll be relying on the 10-day buying comparison. The important thing to remember is that the Hottest Comics index is not based on fair market values. In many cases, overinflated prices will send an issue toward the bottom of the ladder.
That being said, let’s take a closer look at the five biggest movers of the past 10 days.
24. SPIDER-WOMAN #1 (+71)
Jessica Drew has come charging back to life. Last week, her first self-titled comic took an absolute plunge in the rankings. When it was featured in the Coldest Comics blog, Spider-Woman #1 had dropped by 50 spots to land in the 85th position. Things would only get worse, and it eventually slid down to number 95. Just when it appeared her Hottest Comics exit was upon us, buyers rejuvenated this Bronze Age key in impressive fashion.
Gaining over 70 spots over the past 10 days, Spider-Woman #1 not only reasserted itself among the Hottest Comics index but made a run at the top-20 best sellers. This issue’s rapid moves across the rankings confirms that just because your favorite key has fallen flat for a week or two doesn’t mean it will stay down. With a character like Spider-Woman, her early issues are only going to get more popular.
As I mentioned last time around, Sony announced an animated Spider-Woman movie is being developed. Aside from it being a direct spinoff from the Spider-Verse films, the studio has kept a lid on everything else. In fact, we don’t know which Spider-Woman will be the protagonist. Logically, it would make sense for Jessica Drew (or multiple Jessica variants) to be the plot’s focus. Then again, Gwen Stacy has gained worldwide fame thanks to the animated films, and she did call herself “Spider-Woman” in Across the Spider-Verse. The upcoming movie could be a solo flick and center on Gwen embracing the moniker. Then again, we could see Jessica, Gwen, and possibly Julia Carpenter, the second Spider-Woman.
With so many avenues the Spider-Woman film could take, the Sony crew will have a huge sandbox of ideas with which to play. If it measures up to the first two Spider-Verse movies, the spinoff could catapult Spider-Woman, whichever version that may be, to the upper stratosphere of mainstream popularity. That will spell profits for wise Spider-Woman #1 investors. That is precisely why this particular key made such a notable rebound in sales.
12. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #316 (+61)
If you want to start an argument at a comic book convention, make your case that the first full appearance is the real first appearance. Make sure you bring your boxing gloves; you’re going to need them.
To make things a bit more complicated, there’s ASM #316. After famously debuting between ASM #298-300, Venom wasn’t featured on any of those covers. That didn’t come until 15 issues later when a floating Venom head is featured on ASM #315 next to everyone’s favorite villain, Hydroman. By ASM #316, Venom would get the full Todd McFarlane treatment with a full cover devoted to Eddie Brock and his symbiote kicking Spider-Man’s ass. In a sense, that makes it the Venom’s first full cover appearance.
Whether you consider it a Venom first or not, there’s no denying McFarlane’s masterful work on that cover art. In recent years, it’s gained a larger following, which makes it a regular on the Hottest Comics. While ASM #316 doesn’t normally fall outside the top 100 sellers, it doesn’t normally gain or lose ground in such high numbers. This week, after dipping into the index’s bottom half, it came roaring back to prominence.
11. MARVEL SUPER-HEROES SECRET WARS #1 (+57)
That first Secret Wars comic is back in familiar territory. Although it’s not necessarily uncommon to see Secret Wars #1 fall behind in the sales department, the issue is generally a mainstay inside the top-20 Hottest Comics. Only 10 days ago, it did a cannonball into the deep water, dropping to the 68th overall position. Just when it looked like buyers were taking a break from the Secret Wars speculation, they rallied behind it.
SW #1 is a frequent guest at the Hottest Comics blog, and it’s nearly time to apply for membership in the Usual Suspects. The Beyonder’s first appearance and the debut issue for a beloved series are enough to have buyers’ interest. However, it’s the uncertainty of Marvel Studios’ plans and inflated prices that cause missteps.
Last year, Kevin Feige rocked the secondary market when he announced that the final film of Phase Six will be Avengers: Secret Wars. That sent collectors and investors to eBay for SW #1. The allure of seeing a live-action Secret Wars unfold in grand CGI fashion has ‘80s Marvel fans drooling.
The problem is Disney and Marvel Studios are proudly anti-comics. There have been a number of interviews and reports that highlight Marvel’s disdain for the source material. Filmmakers are instructed not to read the comics. In the MCU’s current state, the comics are simply marketing tools for the movies and Disney Plus shows with little connection between the two products. The result has been a lackluster Phase Four and Phase Five.
That doesn’t mean the Secret Wars movie hasn’t impacted comic sales. The intrigue surrounding the Avengers flick has elevated prices and kept SW #1 high on the sales charts. However, a bad movie can cause sales (and values) to plummet in short order, so be careful with how much you’re willing to spend on a copy.
48. WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #32 (+48)
Moon Knight’s first appearance will always be a holy grail. Before there was an MCU, much less any talk of MK joining the ranks, collectors were after WBN #32. In its day, the issue was overlooked and toward the end of the entire series. With a lower print run than its contemporary Marvel titles, Moon Knight’s debut has become the stuff of legend. Now that he’s made his way into the MCU, it’s become that much more important to own a copy.
With Oscar Isaac set to return as Marc Spector for another turn as Moon Knight, interest remains for all things MK, but that goes double for WBN #32. Once his next live-action appearance is confirmed, that will intensify the holy grail search. With this already being a high-priced key, don’t expect to get any bargains for this one.
47. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #50 (+34)
Production may be delayed for Daredevil: Born Again, but that’s not slowing sales for Kingpin’s first appearance. Like WBN #32, ASM #50 has been a holy grail collectible for decades given the character’s popularity in the comics.
Once Vincent D’Onofrio stepped into the role for the beloved Daredevil Netflix series, it made Kingpin one of the most recognizable comic book villains in mainstream eyes. Put those two factors together, and it’s no wonder that fans were delighted to hear that D’Onofrio would return as Wilson Fisk for Born Again.
The last time we saw Fisk in the MCU as part of Hawkeye, it was a more cartoony version than the gritty mobster from Netflix. That’s likely the version we’ll see when Born Again arrives, but it shouldn’t diminish the ASM #50 values.
*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.
