Disney may be rolling out the streaming series, but their first Star Wars show remains one of its most popular. This week, it was the Mandalorian’s variant cover from February that climbed into the top 20 of eBay’s best sellers list.
How does a modern comic like DV #20 outrank so many holy grails? While there are many hot issues with higher sales prices, this isn’t about fair market values. The Hottest Comics ranks the top 100 single issues on eBay based on sales volume. This time around, buyers were on the path of this modern Star Wars gem, and it was selling in droves.
What else made the list? Let’s dive into the data and find out.
20. STAR WARS: DARTH VADER #20 SPROUSE 50TH ANNIVERSARY VARIANT (+76)
Although Darth Vader #20 was only published in February, this is already reached the three figures. The graded 9.8 has sold for as much as $200 this year, and it’s averaged $97.80 for the past 30 days. On eBay, the raw copies stay closer to the $20 mark for those willing to roll the dice on grade.
What has made this issue the biggest mover in all the Hottest Comics? It’s seeing the Mandalorian grace the cover of his first actual comic. Din Djarin appeared in Star Wars Inside Magazine #200, but that wasn’t a traditional comic. We all knew this day was coming, and the Sprouse 50th Anniversary variant for Darth Vader #20 delivered to a round of applause.
Since Darth Vader #20 hit store shelves in February, Din has starred in his first comic. As popular as July’s The Mandalorian #1 has been, those first cover appearances are all the rage with collectors, thus keeping DV #20 surging forward.
47. X-FACTOR #6 (+40)
Will we see Apocalypse in the MCU? We haven’t seen him since Oscar Isaac brought him to life in 2016, and he’s due a mulligan. After X-Men: Apocalypse dropped the ball on one of the X-Men’s greatest villains, fans are ready for a truly menacing version of En Sabah Nur. Unless Marvel Studios pulls its No Way Home trick and has everyone from the X-Men Multiverse appear in an MCU movie, the odds are against Apocalypse coming back to live action anytime soon. The safer bet is the cartoon reboot.
X-Men: The Animated Series has long been the most beloved version of the merry mutants for many fans. That show presented the quintessential Apocalypse, and he was a major part of the entire series. Since X-Men ‘97 is going to be a continuation of the original cartoon, we can expect to see Apocalypse make a return to the small screen, and that is likely driving sales for his first appearance in X-Factor #6.
Two years ago, you could own the top-of-the-line 9.8 for less than $300. Last year, that FMV rose to $500, and it’s averaged $571 for the past 30 days. If that price is a bit too much for you, opt for the 9.6, which generally sells for under $200.
42. GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1 (+33)
Speaking of the X-Men, there were more issues making gains in the top 100 Hottest Comics. Here we have one of the biggest X-keys of them all, GSX #1.
It makes sense that anytime there is X-Men speculation, this issue gets popular. Despite the holy grail prices for all grades, buyers immediately target the first appearance of the best X-Men team. And those prices have been picking up as of late, too.
Twice this month, the mythical 9.8 has sold for $48,000. That’s a far cry from the record high of $72,000 set last year, but those sales are above 2021’s average price of $45,913. For the rest of us, let’s take a look at the lowest of the low, the 0.5. Back in January, a copy brought $1k, which tells you everything you need to know about this holy grail.
57. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #194 (+32)
The Black Cat was making waves again this week, and my gut instinct says it ties into the recent wave of casting for Madame Web.
Many fans wondered what Sony was thinking with a superhero action movie starring the elderly Madame Web. Now the studio has apparently put production on the fast track. Following Dakota Johnson being named to the title role, there have been other famous faces added to the lineup. The big question has been what characters they will play, and Sony has kept quiet on the subject. That leaves things open to my favorite pastime, pure speculation.
For years, there have been starts and stops for Black Cat to join one cinematic universe or another. There was a time when it seemed she was destined to join Silver Sable in the team-up movie, Silver and Black. That one has repeatedly been shelved and restarted, though it would seem the idea is collecting dust at the moment. Then came the Morbius Easter egg with Black Cat being named in a Daily Bugle newspaper.
Since Sony has officially named Black Cat in its shared universe, it leads to speculation that she will be a featured character in Madame Web before starring in her own solo adventure. That is leading to another uptick in sales for her first appearance in ASM #194. Since May, the 9.8 has been approaching the $5k mark.
62. X-MEN #101 (+30)
It was a good week to be a Bronze Age X-Men collector. Along with GSX #1 hopping on the Blackbird to jet into the top 50, Emma Frost’s first appearance in X-Men #129 climbed back into the 71st position. The one that should have your attention is X-Men #101, which featured the debut of the Phoenix Force.
X-Men traditionalists heaved a collective groan when Marvel handed off the Phoenix Force to the Avengers. Since its creation, the cosmic godlike entity had been a staple of the X-Men’s corner of the Marvel-616. Throughout the 1970s and ‘80s, the Phoenix and Jean Grey were virtually synonymous. By the 2000s, the Marvel editorial staff began experimenting with the idea, passing it on to Cyclops for a time. After that, it became the revolving door of superpowers. Wolverine had a turn, and there was even a short-lived team named the Phoenix Force with members Colossus, Emma Frost, Cyclops, Magik, and Namor.
These days, Marvel gave Echo a huge power upgrade when she was chosen to be the Phoenix’s host. This happened after the entity kidnapped the Avengers and had a cosmic speed-dating session with several members before settling on Maya Lopez. Let’s not forget that the Phoenix Force has been linked to Thor, and she could be his mother after last year’s reveal that Odin and the Phoenix had been romantic at one point.
With the Phoenix getting so much attention in the comics, it should raise an eyebrow.
This could signal that Marvel Studios is preparing to add her to the MCU pantheon, and that could be why buyers were targeting X-Men #101 this week. While many key issues have experienced lagging FMVs this year, the 9.8 X-Men #101 hit a record-high $9,600 in April. Nothing else has approached that figure this year, but it did bring $6,900 earlier this month.
One of the more popular grades has been the 9.0. Since April, its prices have returned to the four figures, and the most recent sale was for $1,100 on June 17. The lowest grade to sell in the past 30 days has been the 4.0, and it brought $270 on June 4.
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