THE ALIEN INVASION
After decades with Dark Horse Comics, the former Fox property will be getting a fresh start under the Marvel Comics banner.
It all starts in January with a series of 18 variant covers pitting the xenomorphs against Marvel’s elite. When will we get the first Marvel/Aliens crossover? That remains to be seen, but there is no question that it is coming. That is prompting collectors to get their hands on the early Aliens keys.
THE MARKET IMPACT
Certainly, both the first comic appearances of Aliens and Predator will get the rub from the new series. However, those Aliens keys will get the bigger benefit since the xenomorphs will be the first to appear in Marvel thanks to the variants. Let’s dive into the data and examine the current values.
ALIENS #1
Debuting in 1988, the original black-and-white stories were meant to be intellectual sequels to James Cameron’s 1986 Aliens film. What fans received was so much more and had a life of its own. It all started in May 1988, and CGC recognizes this issue as the franchise’s first appearance in a comic.
For a hardcore Alien fan, this is a must for the collection. These days, it is setting record highs.
If you happen to have the Aliens #1 first print in a near-mint plus, you have something special. With only 41 blue labeled-9.8s in the CGC census, the first print is hard to find in such a high grade. So far this year, only five have traded hands online. One of those went for an astounding $1,425 on October 11, and it has a 90-day fair market value of over $1k.
The 9.6, which has 111 universal labels on the CGC census, has a more reasonable price tag. Still, this is such a popular issue that its value is increasing rapidly, too. In the past three months, it has an FMV of $323. Last year, it averaged $132.
DARK HORSE PRESENTS #24
Later in 1988, the Aliens crept into the pages of Dark Horse Presents. While this is not their debut appearance, it has been high on the list of Aliens collectors as it tells the xenomorph’s comic origins.
If Aliens #1 is too expensive for you, Dark Horse Presents #24 is a worthy consolation prize, but the values are on the rise. After averaging $106 in 2019, it has a 90-day FMV of $237. One even set a new high when it sold for $350 on July 10.
SUPERMAN VS. ALIENS #1
The talk of the comic community might be the xenomorphs invading Marvel, but they met the Man of Steel long before.
In 1995, DC Comics and Dark Horse orchestrated the first Aliens/superhero crossover with the three-issue limited series, Superman Vs. Aliens.
Given the excitement for the Aliens comic future, it is no wonder that Superman VS. Aliens #1 is getting attention. Graded at a 9.8, it currently has a 90-day FMV of $77, and one copy sold for a record-high $89 in September.
THE FUTURE
While it is sad to see Aliens and Predator leave Dark Horse after so long, a new beginning will serve both franchises well. It will be exciting to see what Marvel has in store for both of them.
