Zombies, ninja turtles, and mutants have been dominating the comic newsfeed this summer, and these instant-key issues are already booming, including those that have yet to be released.
For the past month, the talk of the collector's market has mostly been on three topics: The end of The Walking Dead, the addition of the first female ninja turtle, and the upcoming X-Men relaunch with several new faces. TWD has already come and gone, but the reprints and convention exclusives are keeping Robert Kirkman's zombie apocalypse in the spotlight. On the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles front, Jennika's cameo may have sold out, but her first full appearance is still on the way. Then there's the newest X-Men titles, House of X and Powers of X, and Marvel has worked the hype train to its full extent with those. Here's the latest on all three titles.
THE WALKING DEAD #191-193
These issues caught many collectors off guard, especially TWD #193. Only days before it was released, Kirkman and Image Comics shocked Walking Dead fans with the announcement that TWD #193 would be the final issue of the series. With a low print run and high demand, this issue has been hard to get at cover price. Of course the frenzy started with TWD #191 when fan-favorite Rick Grimes was killed. Then came the fallout in TWD #192, and the abrupt series finale in #193.
Good luck getting copies of these if you don't already have them. TWD #191 at a graded 9.8 is already averaging $112, and it's sold for $199 twice this month. TWD #192 has become even more expensive with a fair market value of $131. It hasn't sold for less than $107 in 15 sales. On the plus side, there are plenty of raw copies of TWD #193 on eBay at the moment, including the SDCC convention variant, but expect to pay $40 or more.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #51, 95-96
TMNT #95 has been another huge issue that quickly sold out thanks to the first cameo appearance of Jennika in her turtle form (she had previously appeared as a human in TMNT #51). The former Foot Clan member became the newest ninja turtle in issue #95. Now collectors are awaiting July 31 when TMNT #96 is available for resale. This issue is slated to be Jennika's first full appearance in ninja turtle costume, and it will jump in value overnight. As I noted in yesterday's "Duelin' Dylans: Cameo Versus Full Appearance," the first full appearance usually brings the higher price tags, and flippers will be at the ready on July 31.
Need more information on ninja turtle comics? Check out, "The Six Printings of TMNT #1."
Marvel has hyped Jonathon Hickman's X-Men relaunch for months. What excited collectors the most was the news that six new characters would make their first appearances in Powers of X #1, and that's making this issue a must-have, especially for X-fans. The preorders have been in such high demand that both Powers of X #1 and House of X #1 are going into their second printings, and the first print doesn't reach stores until July 31.
There's loads of variants for both issues (after all, this is a #1 issue from Marvel), but the standard cover will nevertheless fly off the shelves. For more on Powers of X #1, read "Put This Issue on Your Pull List Now."
