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."

Vision might have been born yesterday, but you weren't. Join the ranks of other successful collectors with a GoCollect premium membership!