Detective Comics #225

Apparently, there is immense love for Martian Manhunter in the DC universe. This is an old superhero who appeared in the Golden Age of Comics in Detective Comics #225. This comic book had the entire staff of DC working on this issue it seems; a few notables Boltinoff, Moreira, and Certa. For those of you not familiar with the character the Martian Manhunter is a weird combo of Superman’s strength with Changeling’s powers of shapeshifting.

Currently, DC #225 has risen 826 ranks to rest at the third most popular Golden Age comic of the last six months. This third most popular book supports some pretty hefty prices just to purchase a copy. For instance, a poor grade (.5) cost you $659 on average currently (GoCollect). That same grade poor returned a Mars crushing 311% ROI over the past five years. If you can afford it purchase one, or in Martian Manhunter’s own words,"I am Mars' sole survivor. There is a reason for that."

Superman #100

The second highest rated book is Superman #100. I have watched this comic jump up the charts over the last four months. Now this comic has moved up 93 spots to second most popular Golden Age comic. The cover has an homage to Superman #1; perhaps part of the reason people purchase this book is that Superman's first titled series is out of most peoples price range.

This comic was sold in stores in September 1955 with the script from the team Woolfolk, Miller, Finger, and Boltinoff, with art by too many to mention here, but it looks like half the DC staff; these team creations were apparently standard back in the day. I will say they produced one of the best covers of the 1950's for Superman.

This centennial special Superman #100 is pricey but not out of reach. Sales data of 57 days ago shows a copy sold in a 3.5 grade for $200 (GoCollect). Considering most speculators can afford this price range it might be worthy of consideration for your next purchase. After all, they aren't making any more of this comic. This book Superman #100 has a high return on investment. Additionally, it sports an homage cover back to the beginning of the character making this Golden Age time capsule a buy.

MAD #1

The creative team of Wood, Davis, and Elder created the first titled issue of MAD #1. I read MAD magazine and Cracked as a kid regularly. For some reason, it was always available at my local store. These magazines back in the day were genuinely hilarious. It didn't matter what side of the political spectrum you were on they made fun of everyone.

I have been keeping tabs on this issue, and rarely seen it move from the top spot of most popular Golden Age comics. If it is kicked off, within a week or so it is back on top. A small warning here; it has only sold three copies over the last three months. However, considering it is a Golden Age and number one at that it is not surprising that probably few copies exist. After all, CGC only has 369 in inventory slabbed.

The bottom line, for all you MAD hatters out there is this book has returned good ROI in some of the mid-range grades. Lower grades have been mixed. For a (7.0) category you would have earned a 23% return. Change the grade comic to (4.0) and your performance would be 9% (GoCollect). Nothing earth-shattering here, probably an excellent book to own if you have the money, no joke.