Rumors of a Submariner movie are propelling the Namor market. While his first silver age appearance in FF #4 has the reached the point of insanity, Sub-Mariner #1 and Iron Man & Sub-Mariner #1 offer patient investors the potential for big returns.
With Aquaman's box office success, Marvel fans, now more than ever, are anxious for a Submariner movie. Although rumors of Namor entering the MCU have been persistent for years, Kevin Feige has stated that the character's film rights are complicated, and that there are no current plans to put him on the silver screen. Of course, if Disney/Marvel Studios can work out deals for the Hulk and Spider-Man, it stands to reason that Namor will eventually find his way into the MCU.
Despite there not being a Submariner film in the works, his silver age keys have been hot for a year, and they've done particularly well in the past three months. Part of this surge can be attributed to Namor's resurgence in the comics. He's been prominently featured in the new Defenders series and the modern take on the Invaders. As his popularity continues to rise, so will his key issues.
For those of us without thousands of dollars to invest, Namor's first appearance in 1939's Marvel Comics #1 is unattainable. In case you were wondering, a coverless 0.5 brought $10,000 last September. This comic is so rare that only four CGC-graded copies have sold on eBay since 2017.
The more realistic options for Submariner investors, you'll want to look toward his silver age appearances, but those prices are rising quickly.
This is another nigh-unreachable comic. Any of the early Fantastic Four issues are expensive, even in low grades. To find one with a single-digit issue number, you can expect a hefty price tag, and it's only getting worse with Namor's recent boost in popularity. Last year, an 8.0 sold for over $10K, and a lowly 1.5 brought $1,200 in August.
If you're on a budget too tight for $1,200 low grades, this is a much better option. For less than the cost of that 1.5 FF #4, you can have a 9.4 Sub-Mariner #1. Where you can make money, however, is in the lower grades.
Every grade from a 5.5 to a 9.6 has been soaring in the past 90 days. On the contrary, all those grades between a 3.5 and a 5.0 have been down during that span. With prices for FF #4 in another stratosphere, this comic will remain a popular alternative, and it is a solid investment for 2019. At the moment, a 3.5 is a bargain at $76, and it only averaged $86 all last year. Even the 5.0 isn't out of reach with a 90-day fair market value of $111. By the end of 2019, those prices will certainly escalate.
Collectors wanting a piece of Namor's history have been adding this issue to their long boxes as it predates both Sub-Mariner #1 and Iron Man #1.
With the recent emphasis on Namor and Iron Man's prominence in the MCU, it's no wonder that the FMV has been climbing in recent months. Of the 10 grades that have sold in the past 90 days, seven have increased in value. The three that didn't show a boost - the 6.5, 6.0, and 4.5 - are still closely in line with their 2017 and 2018 FMVs, so there's no concern there.
Although prices are accelerating, this is a good pickup for collectors on a budget. At the moment, you can go as high as an 8.0 and the average is under $200.
