With the premiere of Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+ less than a month away, it’s time to look at some Obi-Wan comics.  Which issues are key and are there any sleepers?

Bronze Age First Appearance

Obi-Wan Kenobi first appeared in a Marvel comic in 1977’s Star Wars #2 at the height of the first run of the very first Star Wars film.  While he was mentioned in Star Wars #1, he didn’t make an appearance until the second issue.

The first six issues of this series are the ones that retell in comic form the story of Star Wars: A New Hope, and are coveted by Star Wars fans, meaning they’re hardly unknown comics.  9.8 graded copies have been skyrocketing in value; the climb actually started in October 2020.  The book in this grade had been hovering in the $400 to $500 range for two-and-a-half years before rising in value and reached a then peak of $4,101 in March 2021.

Over the ensuing year+, there have been peaks and valleys, with the book never falling below $1,900.  And then on April 17, a 9.8 copy sold on eBay for a fixed price of $5,500.  Was this overpaying?  Or could this investor have started a run that could see this issue climb in value?  That’s only $1,000 below the FMV for Star Wars #1.

If Star Wars #2 continues to climb in value in anticipation of the Disney+ series, it could mean that Star Wars #1 will climb as a result.  Keep an eye on both issues over the next month; know that a dip could follow the premiere of the series.

First Solo Obi-Wan

As odd as it may seem, the first solo appearance of Obi-Wan was in Star Wars #24.  The series, which at this point was deep into a post-Star Wars film run of non-canonical stories, reached back into the past to tell a solo story of the Jedi master.  This is a book that, in 9.8 grade, had appeared to reach its peak in March 2021 when a copy sold for $416.

Over the course of the next six months, it plummeted in value, reaching less than half of its previous high when it sold for $203 in September 2021.  By April 7 of this year, Star Wars #24 had reached a new height of $500.

As with most Star Wars comics of this era, collectors seem to be only interested in the high grades.  There are very few copies in the CGC census below 8.5, and those that are don’t sell often or for much.  Watch this book closely as the series premiere gets closer, as we’ve clearly entered into a seller’s market.

Obi-Wan and Anakin

The third Obi-Wan key, and one that has also begun climbing in value, is Obi-Wan and Anakin #1.  9.8 graded copies of this book began a rapid trajectory upward beginning on February 16 when a copy sold for $150.

It reached a peak of $200 on February 24 before dropping in two sales on February 26, one for a slashed $179, the other for $123.

As a much more recent comic and not being a first appearance, I wouldn’t expect values to reach astronomical heights.  However, this is a book to monitor as the series gets closer.

Sleeper Pick

And now, we come to our sleeper pick. This book's selling price has been cut in half in less than six months.  In November '21, a 9.8 graded copy of Star Wars #4 sold for $983.  On March 18 of this year, a copy sold for $490.

Star Wars #4 features the final battle between Obi-Wan and Darth Vader from the first Star Wars film.  With Anakin/Darth Vader guaranteed to appear in Obi-Wan Kenobi, why was this book sold at such a low price?  Compare this to Star Wars #5, which sold three times in April for prices ranging between $585 and $600.

Star Wars #4 looks like a book that is poised to quickly rise in value.  If you’re able to find a copy for $500 or less, that could look like a bargain in a month.

Are you collecting or investing in Obi-Wan keys?  Let us know below if there are any other Obi-Wan keys that would be good to add to a collection.

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.