That MCU inflation was palatable over the past month. All three of the Silver Age chartbusters struck gold thanks in large part to Marvel Studios’ immense popularity. Let’s dive into the data and take a look at the top-three biggest sellers from the 1960s.
1. AMAZING FANTASY #15
When it comes to Marvel Comics, Amazing Fantasy #15 ranks among the upper echelon of holy grails. In fact, I would narrow down the Timely/Marvel holiest of grails to these five: Marvel Comics #1, Captain America Comics #1, Fantastic Four #1, Avengers #1, and Amazing Fantasy #15.
The thing that separates Spider-Man’s first appearance in AF #15 from the rest of that pack is his appeal to every generation. Cap, the FF, and even the Avengers can seem dated, making them harder for younger audiences to relate to. Spider-Man has never had that problem, and readers of all ages connect with the character. That’s why any grade AF #15 will continue to gain value no matter how astoundingly high the price tags become.
Spidey’s first appearance set the tone for the Silver Age chartbusters this week when a CGC graded 7.0 reached the astronomical price of $252,000 on January 17. Nothing else approached that mark, and second place was less than half that AF #15 sale. At least for this month, Spider-Man was in a league of his own.
2. FANTASTIC FOUR #1
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has lit the beacons for collectors, and the trailers alone are proving to be enough to send fans into a frenzy. There are strong rumors that the Fantastic Four could be joining the MCU in that film. If that pans out, even a holy grail at FF #1’s level will feel the heat.
As it were, this issue is still reaching impressive figures. On January 17, a Heritage Auction saw a 6.5 sell for $78,000. That same month, a coverless 0.5 sold for $9k. Imagine what those values will be once the FF returns to the big screen. After all, this comic kicked off the Marvel Age of comics.
The company’s first family was so popular that the title kept the company afloat for years when other series were floundering. While they may have lost their appeal in the past 20 years, introducing them to the MCU could rejuvenate their status, which would force this holy grail to new levels of ridiculous prices.
3. X-MEN #1
Here is an issue that will continue to rise, especially now that Professor X has made his MCU debut. There have been rumors galore for Multiverse of Madness, and one of the most prevalent was whether or not Sir Patrick Stewart would reprise his role as Professor X.
After hearing his voice in the trailer, it has ignited the fandom, and he will usher the X-Men into the MCU.
As expensive as the $75k price tag for a 7.5 X-Men #1 may seem, which tied the record high set last year, that could seem like a bargain once the X-Men are fully introduced.
Do any of these sales surprise you? Tell us about it in the comments!
