The Book of Boba Fett is coming, could that mean record sales for these key issues?

After decades of questions and debating, one of Star Wars’ most popular figures will get his own canonical series. Above all else, fans are hoping it rectifies his painfully embarrassing “death” scene from Return of the Jedi. While we wait for the show to premiere, here are three keys you will want to watch.

MARVEL SUPER SPECIAL #16

Although Star Wars #42 tends to get the glory, the official first comic appearance of Boba Fett happened in Marvel Super Special #16. The difference between the two issues is that the Super Special is less of a traditional comic than SW #42. In the Bronze Age, Marvel used different titles to test ideas, like Special Marvel Edition and Marvel Spotlight. The Super Special was different from those in that it was closer to being a magazine than anything else Marvel printed at the time. The early issues featured rock stars like The Beatles and KISS, and the series also was used to promote different movies. 

Most collectors typically gun for the 9.6 Marvel Super Special #16. Since this time last year, there have been 12 sales, and two copies reached the $1,500 mark in January. Prices have cooled since then, and the most recent sale from November 12 was for $736. Although that is a vast drop from those January sales, it is still well above 2020’s $194 fair market value.

STAR WARS #42

Here we have Boba Fett’s debut in the canonical Star Wars comic series.

This has long been one of the major Star Wars comics to own, but The Mandalorian sent the fair market values into overdrive. Then came Boba’s appearances on the show, and the upcoming Book of Boba Fett will drive this issue to new records in short order.

Already this month, a 9.8 has reached the $4k mark, although the last sale on November 9 was for $2,906. The most popular grade over the past year has been the 9.6.

Over 67 sales since November 2020, it has averaged $1,050, which is more than double last year’s average of $445. So far this month, it has twice sold for $1,200+.

STAR WARS #81

This is one of the unsung heroes of Boba Fett keys. After years of Star Wars fans theorizing ways that the ultimate bounty hunter could have escaped the Sarlacc, Marvel made his Return of the Jedi survival a canonical comic book story.

It also happens to be the first solo adventure starring Boba, which gives you two reasons to want this issue. Odds are, Book of Boba Fett will retell the character’s Sarlacc escapade, and that could add more value to Star Wars #81.

Prices are actually down for this issue, at least for the moment. From August through September, the graded 9.8 was regularly earning between $800-$900. However, the last three sales were in $500 territory, the most recent of which was on November 13. 

THE BOOK OF HIGH PRICES

More than likely, The Book of Boba Fett will be another hit for Disney+, and that success will equal new records for those Boba keys. With the lag in prices for many grades, this could be an opportune moment to get a piece of the action if you’ve been on the fence.