We've all got our "holy grails" that we want to add to our collections. Depending on how high you aim (and your budget), they may remain simply a fantasy. Here's what's on my list of grails, and a quip about Jae Lee replacing Hitler's face with mine.

First, we need to address a key point: what is a grail? If you follow the comic communities on social media, you'll see the term tossed about often. But what is it?

A grail is a comic that you dream about having in your collection. Most true grails are hard to get, whether because of price or availability. That's why it's so satisfying to finally call one your own. In literature, if something is considered a grail, that means it is mythical and nearly unattainable. Of course, when it comes to comics, everything is attainable for the right price. Last month, Action Comics #1 graded at an 8.5 sold for over $2 million, so even a grail of that magnitude is out there.

What is and is not a grail is strictly personal, and it's not about how much a comic is or is not worth; it's about what it is worth to you. For my top-five grails, I've considered comics that I think I may have a faint chance of someday having, even if it's a low grade, so you won't find Detective Comics #27 or that aforementioned Action Comics #1.

For the purposes of this article, I chose five grails from various comic eras. Before we begin, I need to express how difficult it is to narrow down this list to one from each era. Also, you'll notice that notable comics like Incredible Hulk #181 and Giant-Size X-Men #1 are missing from this list; lucky for me, that's because I actually own low-grade copies of those. This list is comprised of comics I don't have.

Golden Age: CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1

Before there was Marvel Comics, there was Timely Comics, and that's where we find the first appearance and origin of one of the most-recognizable characters in comic history, Captain America. When it comes to grails, I'm a cover collector, and this is one of my all-time favorite covers. In fact, I commissioned Jae Lee to recreate it for me, and he even added my face in place of Hitler's (I couldn't talk him into Cap punching Mickey Mouse).

Silver Age: FANTASTIC FOUR #1

This was a very tough call. Sure, Amazing Fantasy #15 is among the holiest of holy grails for a longtime Spider-Man fan like myself, but if I had to choose, I'd lean toward FF #1. In terms of money, AF #15 is more valuable. The difference is historical significance. FF #1 is what started the Marvel Age, and it ushered in a new era in the industry. In the 1960s, the FF was Marvel's original cash cow when many of their other titles, such as the X-Men and Incredible Hulk, weren't selling. If it hadn't been for the success of the FF, Marvel wouldn't have survived.

Bronze Age: HOUSE OF SECRETS #92

To mix things up, I went with a DC Comics grail. I have grown into a fan of Swamp Thing over the years. As a kid, I didn't appreciate him, and my only real exposure to the character was the awful movies and television show. Now that I've matured (relatively speaking), I've discovered the Alan Moore years of Swamp Thing, and I see how complex the character really is. If I had the chance, I would jump at the chance to add this to my collection.

Modern Age: THE WALKING DEAD #1

I like the Walking Dead, but I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a fan. However, I recognize the significance of this issue. TWD has been a pop culture phenomenon, and it brought many new comic fans into the fold. After the television series ends, I predict the TWD keys will lose value, but TWD #1 will remain a grail. This is a piece of modern comic history.