The Last of Us - Not All First Appearances Are Equal

I think a characters first FULL appearance in a comic book is most likely the best bet for collectors who want to see the best holding of value from the time of buying. Like anything else in the investment world, the value of a collector item is dependent on rarity and demand. I remember when I woke up from a long hiatus from comic collecting to find that the 1st full appearance of Miles Morales was still very affordable at avg. $200 for 9.8 grade that I bought quite a few of them along with silver. Miles is the much more bankable investment and will only gain in popularity as he becomes a mainstream live action character... If I didn't have this comic today, I'd still be buying it at $2000 a pop and still feel that it was very cheap.
Now, I'm buying Spider-Man Noir 1st appearances, and just like.
So, I'm taking your advice to the bank. However, seriously, I'm a collector first and will hold these books forever and pass them down to my heirs no matter what price they garner in my life time.
Thanks for the article!!!

I would argue that the death of a character is no longer a key worthy category, as any death can be (and has been) reversed in a comic book. Making an investment on a death of a character is a recipe for disaster. I stay away from any key issues based on a characters death, unless it has something else going for it.

lol…the shameless plug for UF#4. You’re vastly overpaying at 2k.

• It is just an example after all. The character will drive sales over time as he becomes more and more popular. Once he goes live action the audience will expand driving demand... price will follow. His ethnic background of black and hispanic are severly underserved... outside of the popularity of the black panther.... and Miles is a much more likable charater and appeals to a more mainstream formula of a very young hero That’s worked for peter parker for 60 years now and look at the prices his comics garner!!@

Agree, though Star Wars first appearances (e.g. Star Wars 1, 1977) have done ok. In general, hard to know how to value these kind of first appearances. Should I be collecting the first appearance of Santa in a comic, etc.?

In your table at the top of this excellent article, I would have added "Origin Story" is a key criteria (certainly more important than 3rd appearance ^_^)

Sometimes a comic just 'becomes' desirable regardless of age. There is no rhyme or reason for it. Take for instance Supes Bats 8, the return of supergirl. Never paid over cover price for any of the prints and were easy to find at nm+. Bought a few copies over the years and still have them beause i was reading that run and liked the Turner covers and featuring the return of my favourite heroine. Obviously not a real first appearance but has become desirable due to movie news. Print runs could be large but i don't know. Didn't ever think it would be worth anything... The Last of Us ; My local store used to have loads of the 2nd print in their back issues at 5 cents and couldn't give them away. I was always tempted but didn't buy any.Then i played the computer game and liked it and everytime i went back to the store, more copies appeared in the back issues. Didn't buy any. Won't be there now. If they are they won't be cheap..I suspect The Last of Us could become extremely desirable for an indie comic... The Walking Dead comic went out with a fizz and a bang. Always collected important issues and read most of the run... Loved the artwork and stories. People sold their runs because they couldn't now see any value after a boom. It will be coming back bigtime with new exciting tv shows using existing characters. Can't wait for the one set in New York City. Never liked Negan though in the comic or on screen...I wonder if Clementine will appear in a live adaptation?...There are plenty of important runs to collect but because of hysteria on only buying NM copies it is always hard to complete them. So only the keys are considered... Short series; Crisis on Infinite Earths, Watchmen, Batman Hush storyline, Allan Moore, Bernie Wrightson Swamp Thing, TMNT etc etc...Plenty of artist and writer runs for many superheroes of all eras..UF 4 always got lucky with the 1:25 first print and used to find them at cover price....

Classic covers would be another thing to look for as far as key issues go. Incredible Hulk 340, anyone?