The inevitable response is that more people become interested in trading in and out of comic books and many newbies enter the hobby. Some speculators, some investors, and even a few new collectors take up this glorious hobby and either fall in love with it or fall into serious debt due to the addictive passion for comics.
Amazing Fantasy #15
The first appearance of Spider-Man is no small thing, as this is the most important key for the superhero of Marvel. Good ole Webhead was created by Stan Lee with the art of Steve Ditko in 1962.
During the early 1960s, it was a different time, and prices were a world apart from the 21st Century.
Cost of Time
In 1962 the cost of a new home was $18,200. The USPS first-class stamp cost only $.04 cents, a gallon of regular gas $.31 cents, a dozen eggs $.54 cents, and a cup of joe was only $.10 cents, let's not forget that Amazing Fantasy #15 sold for $.12 cents on the newsstand. Fast-forward 59 years and now Amazing Fantasy #15 is on track to set a record and perhaps sell for over $2.3 million on Heritage!
Previous Prices for Amazing Fantasy #15
| Title | Grade | Last Sale | CGC Census | Background |
| Amazing Fantasy #15 | 9.6 | $2,350,000 (current bid) | 7 | Current Heritage Auction time left 8 days (Off-white pages) |
| Amazing Fantasy #15 restored 9.6 grade 2015 | 9.6 | $28,600 | 7 | Heritage Auction Restored Grade (2015) |
| Amazing Fantasy #15 | 9.4 | $795,000 | 13 | Heritage Auction March 5th, 2020 sale |
| Amazing Fantasy #15 | 9.6 | $1,100,000 (2011) | 7 | GPA Comics analysis, sale March 2011 (Off-white pages) |
There are only four Universal copies known to exist in the CGC Census Report in grade 9.6 and only one restored copy with a 9.8 grade.
Current Market Environment
Current trends in the comic book market have impacted and increased the price of just about every key book. Even minor keys have seen a huge uptick. The end result is prices that are higher than they have ever been. This leads me to believe the price for Amazing Fantasy #15 at Heritage Auctions is possibly going to exceed previous sales. That means a "record-breaker" number that will create the wow factor outside of the comic book universe.
Projected Impact
Spider-Man is the headliner for all of Marvel. His first appearance is the biggest key of the entire Marvel lineup. That alone is enough to interest most Marvel fans in this heady auction. More than likely this book will breakout to new highs and quite possibly explode the normal newscasts throughout the world. Then watch sparks fly as a whole new breed of speculators plunge into comics.
You would think this will have a huge impact on the Silver Age, but I am taking the opposite view. I think it will actually drive the entire Modern Age of comic books higher. People will stampede into the easy stuff first, the low-hanging fruit, the Modern Age. Ultimately, they will end up betting on the Copper and Bronze Age once an understanding of value finally hits home. But that will only happen after the Modern Age is driven to new highs not yet seen.
Conclusion
Amazing Fantasy #15 at Heritage Auctions could very well cause the chain effect I projected above. After all, big money makes big news regardless of AF #15's record-breaking potential.
It reminds me of one of my favorite Rush songs "Big Money"...
"Big money got a mighty voice-Big money weaves a mighty web-Big money draw the flies-Big money holds the prize..."
