How do we get our rankings? These are based on sales volume for the past 10 days, and the data comes straight from the godfather of all auction sites, eBay. Here you will find the five issues that gained the most ground during that time.
47. TRANSFORMERS #1 (+53)
The robots in disguise were climbing the charts again. This has been a perennial favorite among buyers for the past decade, but the collecting interest in all those cartoon tie-ins has helped Transformers #1 kick in the afterburners in recent years. Put that together with a new movie that has the fandom in a tizzy, and it makes sense that this issue was climbing.
As a Bill Sienkiewicz fan, I own a copy of Transformers #1 for the exquisite cover art as much as the first appearance of the Autobots and Decepticons. If you have seen the Transformers episode of The Toys That Made Us (and if you haven’t, que up Netflix), you know the story. Marvel was commissioned to create the backstory for the toyline and introduce it in a comic book series. Writing scripts for kids’ comics meant to sell toys wasn’t an enviable job at this time, and hardly anyone wanted the job. That’s why it’s surprising to see someone of Sienkiewicz’s caliber on the title, and he obviously took the gig seriously.
Prices have been down compared to the past year, but the new movie is causing those values to rise. While the 30-day average for a graded 9.8 sits just above $1,400, the most recent sale was for $1,500.
52. IRON MAN #1 (+45)
Of course, Iron Man #1 has never truly fallen out of fashion. Ever since Iron Man kicked off the MCU, it’s been a popular target. Here we are years removed from Endgame, and collectors are still tracking down this historic first issue. Odds are that no matter what Marvel Studios decides to do with Tony Stark and the Iron Man moniker, this will continue to be at the top of many wishlists, thus keeping it as a prime collectible for years and possibly decades to come. That explains why the values across the board have remained steady for the past year. While so many key issues have dropped from their 12-month FMVs, Iron Man #1 beat the odds with a $32k sale in December, overshadowing the $28k yearly average.
Although fans keep strumming out theories on Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU, it’s looking more and more like that won’t happen. That doesn’t mean Kevin Feige isn’t planning something major for the next Avengers movies, and seeing RDJ, Chris Evans, and Scarlet Johansson would be cause for celebration even if it was only for one last moment.
For the past year, the hot rumor was that RDJ would voice Riri’s AI, taking over as her JARVIS, more or less. Being a Disney+ show, that was always skeptical, but it’s becoming more and more apparent that he won’t be returning to the Tony Stark/Iron Man role in any capacity. Still, the thought of him coming back is enough to get buyers on the hunt for Iron Man’s first self-titled comic.
Another factor is the possibility of a Multiversal variant coming to the MCU. After all, this is the age of doppelgangers from other timelines, and fans are practically begging to see just a glimpse of Tom Cruise in the Iron Man armor. It would be just like Marvel to toss that in…and kill him for a gag.
36. MOON KNIGHT #1 (+37)
Feige didn’t exactly say much about Moon Knight’s future, but he did confirm that Oscar Isaac is returning to the role. When that will be, we don’t know. Will it be another season of Moon Knight? Probably, but Feige didn’t make that clear, either. At least we know he’s going to be back, but it’s not like anyone seriously believed anything different.
Although the news was minuscule and not surprising in any way, it was enough to propel Marc Spector’s first self-titled issue. Whenever there’s Moon Knight news, this is one of the first comics to get the rub. Why wouldn’t it? With the earlier keys getting so expensive, they’ve priced themselves out of contention for potential profits unless you can get a killer deal. That leads collectors and investors to the sunny shores of Moon Knight #1.
Prices are on making gains in light of Feige’s announcement, but the $410 monthly average for a 9.8 is still far away from the $664 12-month FMV.
37. FANTASTIC FOUR #67 (+35)
The closer we get to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s release date, the more popular Adam Warlock’s keys will become. He’s been one of the highlights of the latest trailers, and there’s little doubt that he will be a factor in the MCU going forward. In fact, it’s likely that he will play a significant role as the next round of Avengers movies get closer to their theatrical releases. That makes his key issues prime collecting targets.
Warlock was originally known as HIM, and he was first seen in FF #67. However, he didn’t get his first full appearance or first cover appearance until two years later in Thor #165. That makes the latter the more popular key to own, but it also comes with higher price tags. As always, that is a deterrent for both collectors and investors, especially if your goal is to flip it for a profit. With the current fair market values, that window has all but closed for Thor #165, but FF #67 could still hold promise. By the time the movie reaches its premiere, this could be the most profitable of all the Warlock issues. The highest grade sold in the past month has been the 9.0, which went for $898 on February 16 after earning over $1,200 for the past year.
45. X-MEN #94 (+31)
Anytime I see X-Men #94 making gains, it brings a little more joy to my heart. As a lifelong, hardcore X-fan, seeing this issue getting the attention it deserves is always a pleasant sight. Granted, the modern run is a far cry from what I fell in love with, but it’s still good to see the mutants getting the spotlight. X-Men #94 is particularly special because it reminds me of why I started reading comics in the first place. After all, this is the beginning of the Chris Clarmeont era on the title, a run that touched three different decades and made the X-Men the face of Marvel Comics throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s.
Although the X-Men ‘97 cartoon will be based around more of the Jim Lee era from the early 1990s, there’s no denying Claremont’s influence on the X-Men titles at that time. Sure, the characters will have the Lee aesthetic, but the characters and stories should have an undeniable Claremont feel to them. Pair that with Wolverine’s return to the big screen in Deadpool 3 and the X-Men’s impending arrival, and you have the reason for any classic X-key getting attention.
Want a copy? The 9.4 is averaging over $3k these days, though you can nab a copy for $1k or less if you downgrade to at least an 8.0. As a bonus, you can always get Claremont to sign it. He regularly makes the convention rounds, and he’s a joy to meet.
