Remember that the Hottest Comics are based on eBay sales volume rather than fair market value. On the GoCollect Market Overview, you can choose your time frame, and for this blog, we are using the 30-day option. This isn’t strictly about graded comics, either, as the list covers both slabbed and raw single issues.
At the top of the list, the Magneto cover of 1991’s X-Men #1 moved into the number one spot, overtaking perennial favorites Spawn #1 and Venom: Lethal Protector #1. The real attention-grabbers are the movers and shakers. Here are the five issues that climbed the most positions in the past 30 days.
36. X-MEN #1 COLLECTOR’S EDITION (+62)
Week after week, those ‘90s X-Men comics find their way onto one list or another. It is the definition of the yo-yo effect, dropping one minute only to come reeling back in the next.
Like the undead hand rising from the grave in a zombie movie, 1991’s X-Men #1 Collector’s Edition refuses to stay dead.
What this indicates is that the X-Men are red hot. Despite Professor X dropping into Multiverse of Madness only to get his neck broken in a glorified dream sequence (which somehow translated into the real world), collectors can’t get enough X-Men. Technically, Patrick Stewart’s appearance in MOM confirms the mutants in the MCU, at least in some corner of the Multiverse. Since the Professor X we saw in MOM was clearly inspired by X-Men: The Animated Series, it has upped the ante on those X-Men keys thanks to the series revival, X-Men ‘97.
All X-Men keys are hot at the moment, but the ‘90s X-keys are doing particularly well thanks to two factors. For one, the X-Men ‘97 characters are based on Jim Lee’s artwork from the second volume of X-Men. With the older ‘60s and ‘70s X-Men key issues bringing higher prices, those ‘90s comics with the record number of copies in circulation are appealing prospects. Let’s say you want a graded 9.8 collector’s edition #1, you can spend about $100. You would be hard-pressed to find anything in the mid or lower grades for those older key issues at that price.
31. SPIDER-GWEN #1 (+38)
There were three repeaters on today’s list, and the second of those is Spider-Gwen #1. As I have written before, this is a solid investment thanks to the ever-expanding Sony Spider-Verse. We have Across the Spider-Verse: Part One on the slate for later this year, and Gwen looks to be a major part of the plot as well. There are also rumors that a female-centric animated Spider-Verse movie is still in the works at Sony, and the logical conclusion is that Gwen would be one of the stars of that franchise.
The bigger picture is in the live-action realm. Thanks to Spider-Man: No Way Home, the door for the previous Spider-Man film franchises is wide open. There is plenty of gossip that both the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield-led franchises will get a new movie. If that comes to pass, it could be time for Spider-Gwen to shine in either the MCU or the Sony-Verse. With so many variants appearing on the big and small screens, this would be the perfect time to introduce a version of Gwen Stacy with superpowers.
Because of the aforementioned reasons, prices for the graded 9.8 have been on the way up. After averaging about $140, the past 90 days have seen the FMV move into $160 territory. What is truly eye-opening is the most recent sale when a 9.8 brought $201 on May 30.
56. SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK #1 (+36)
Something new for this week’s movers and shakers, we have Sensational She-Hulk #1. The debut issue from the 1989 series, this kicked off the John Byrne era for Shulkie. In fact, the cover art sets the new pace with routine fourth-wall breaks that would become a running gag for Byrne’s She-Hulk. The word on the internet is that the She-Hulk streaming series will borrow heavily from this particular series, and that is leading collectors to the doorstep of Sensational She-Hulk #1.
There have been several keys that have gotten the bump from the latest She-Hulk trailer. Despite the many complaints about the CGI, it has not slowed buyers from nabbing the first appearances of She-Hulk and Titania. This week, Sensational She-Hulk #1 was a rocket in the rankings, climbing nearly 40 spots and on the verge of cracking the top-50 Hottest Comics.
Since those other She-Hulk keys are inflating by the day, the 9.8’s average of $280 is more appealing than before. If you are looking to save a few dollars, downgrade to the 9.6. For virtually the same grade to the naked eye, you can own a high grade for closer to $130.
46. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #252 NEWSSTAND (+31)
It’s back. The newsstand copy of ASM #252 has returned to the Hottest Comics list, this week taking residence in the top 50 after moving up 31 rungs on the ladder. With so much attention on Venom and the symbiote, it’s no wonder this issue keeps finding its way onto the list. The more curious aspect is why it keeps dipping before climbing the mountain again.
Odds are, this comes down to price. Newsstand copies have become a priority for many collectors. Since these were distributed to general stores and shops that carried magazines and newspapers, finding newsstand copies in higher grades is fairly rare. These editions weren’t handled with the same care as the direct copies, which went straight to specialty comic shops.
When you factor in ASM #252’s key comic status, it makes sense that it would bring higher prices. For the past month, the 9.8 has averaged $2,700. With prices like that, buyers on a tighter budget take aim at the direct edition. Even for the famed 9.8, the price tag is under $2k, which is much easier on the wallet than the newsstand.
69. X-FACTOR #6 (+22)
Did I mention that X-Men keys are red hot? Once again, we can attribute this key’s major leap in the rankings to X-Men ‘97. If you recall, Apocalypse was one of the most popular villains featured in the original cartoon series. Since Disney/Marvel Studios has announced that the series revival will feature most of the cast and characters from the original show, that should include En Sabah Nur. For many fans, that is the quintessential version of Apocalypse; he will be a welcome sight when the show premieres on Disney+.
Another thing to consider in X-Factor #6’s rise to stardom are the modern comics. When Jonathan Hickman took over writing duties in 2019, all the old grudges between heroes and villains were set aside in the island nation of Krakoa. That included Apocalypse, who began a fragile relationship with his former adversaries and served on the Krakoan council with Professor X. While most readers have been waiting for En Sabah Nur to return to his villainous roots, he has remained a member of the new X-Men, specifically the revamped Excalibur.
In the land of comic collecting, heroes have a much larger upside than villains, particularly on the big screen. Lately, Oscar Isaac has talked about playing the character in X-Men: Apocalypse, and it leaves us wondering if he could arrive in the MCU as an anti-hero. That would add a significant investment potential to his first full appearance in X-Factor #6.
After earning close to $550 for the past 90 days, the 9.8’s FMV has gotten a boost as of late. Throughout May, it has sold for as much as $800, and the average has jumped to nearly $700.
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