As I write this blog, Avengers #57 is #1 on the GoCollect What's Selling List for Silver Age comics.
How things have changed!
Avengers #57 is a great illustration of the ups and downs of the Comic Book market and what impact external forces have on value over time and the lessons we can learn.
Avengers #57 (1968)
Why is this issue a key? Here are some reasons:
- Firstly, it is the first appearance of The Vision in the Silver Age. Not to be confused with the Golden Age Vision (aka Aarkus).
- The cover. The art of John Buscema and George Klein makes this issue one of the landmark issues of the Silver Age! The Vision looks like a rock star with a great haze and light show in concert! In addition, this cover was reprinted in Marvel Super Action #18 (1977) and homaged many times.
The Rise, Fall, and Rise of Avengers #57
The current FMV of a graded 9.0 Avengers #57 is $1100. Pricey, but not crazy. At least, not for a Silver Age key in high grade. However, notice the journey of a 9.0 graded copy:
- 2013 FMV was around $565
- 2014 FMV jumped to $875 (Avengers: Age of Ultron is announced with a May 1, 2015 release date)
- 2015 FMV continued to rise to $1111 (Avengers: Age of Ultron is released)
- 2016 FMV dropped to $940
- 2017 FMV continued to slide to $768
- 2018 FMV bottomed out and stabilized at $776
- 2019 FMV rose to $897
- 2020 FMV increased to $934
- Current FMV is up to $1100
Obviously, Avengers: Age of Ultron is the big factor. Here was a movie that featured The Vision, and we all know that movies increase value. Still, let's dig deeper:
Avengers #55:
Avengers #55 has the first full appearance of Ultron. In addition. the cover art of Avengers #55 was done by John Buscema and George Roussos. The battle cover features nine characters in full-action mode. Later, the cover was reprinted in Marvel Super Action #14.
The FMV of a grade 9.0 Avengers #55 is $290. What is the journey of Avengers #55 in a 9.0 graded copy?
- 2013 FMV was $225
- 2014 FMV rose to $434 (Avengers: Age of Ultron is announced with a May 1, 2015 release date)
- 2015 FMV dropped to $360 (Avengers: Age of Ultron is released)
- 2016 FMV kept dropping to $295
- 2017 FMV continued to slide to $218
- 2018 FMV stabilized at $217
- 2019 FMV rose to $240
- 2020 FMV continued to rise to $255
- Current FMV is $290
Avengers: Age of Ultron also featured Ultron as a key character. Obviously, the movie had a big impact on the value of the comic.
Lessons Learned (painful and not-so-painful)
(1) Don't buy a comic when it is in the "hype" zone. (OK, some of this is from my personal mistakes). The Avengers' #57's "hype zone" from the movie was basically two years before the movie's release until the actual release. As a result, the value rose those 2-3 years but then didn't sustain.
(2) A key is a key is a key. Avengers #57 has risen, fallen, and then risen again in value. Remember, a key issue will usually recover from price drops and grow in the long-term after external forces go away. Don't make the mistake of Lesson #1, but don't compound the mistake of Lesson #1 by selling on the down-swing. Hold on and a key will recover its value in the long-term.
(3) Lastly, know why a key is a key. The market has basically said: Avengers #57 is a key and Avengers #55 is not in the same league. However, Avengers #55 has lots going for it, and is, in fact, very similar to Avengers #57 Still, the reasons #57 is valued higher are reasons to choose one issue over another for a long-term hold.
Ultron: "You're unbearably naive."
Vision: "Well...I was born yesterday."