I'm happy to bring you the latest quarterly installment of Undervalued Comics in 2020. If you missed the summer issue here it is.
The Comic Industry Today
While it was reported in July that 2019 was the largest single-year in history for comic and graphic novel sales (over $1.2 billion), I remain very interested to see how those numbers compare to what we have seen in 2020.
Every time I think the comic industry is going to come crashing down on itself and LCS's are going to all fold, they all rally and fight through the valleys to pick back up the pace (well, maybe not you, DC). Once it looks like the stimulus money dried up, things seemed to come crashing back down.
But now, eBay sales are as strong as ever. You can't go on Instagram or Facebook and not see dozens of live comic auctions. It's a strange time and I wonder how many of us are engaging in some retail therapy as we continue the slog towards the end of this year.
Regardless, here are my thoughts on three undervalued comics in the market going into summer.
Undervalued Comics
Young Avengers #2
There is a very interesting theory going around the comic blogosphere. The introduction of Kang in the next installment of an Ant-Man movie is a calculated move to be able to eventually bridge the MCU to the Young Avengers in some future phases.
The idea goes like this: Kang is introduced first in an Ant-Man movie because that franchise includes Cassie Lang, daughter of Scott Lang, our current Ant-Man. As you may know, Cassie Lang -- in modern Marvel Comics -- eventually discovers she has super abilities and becomes Stature, who is a member of the Young Avengers. Another member of the Young Avengers is Iron Lad, who we later learn is none other than Kang the Conqueror.
Both the discovery of Cassie's superpowers and the origin of Kang becoming Iron Lad happens in Young Avengers #2 from 2005. So while Marvel Premiere #47 (first appearance of Cassie Lang) and Young Avengers #1 get all of the hype, Young Avengers #2 is the origin of two suddenly front-and-center characters in the MCU.
This book can basically be had for a song right now. A CGC 9.8 sold earlier in September for a mere $32, but there are only 78 presently on the CGC census. I just picked up a couple raw NM copies on eBay for $11. Maybe this book never picks up as much steam as the first appearance of Cassie Lang or first Young Avengers. At rock-bottom prices, though, investing in it won't come close to breaking the bank.
Brave and The Bold #54
The Teen Titans need no real introduction. They have been a staple of DC Comics since this first appearance in 1964, they have a globally-popular cartoon, they have their own movie, toy lines, real-life 
adaptations, and so many Funko Pops that you can create a top-ten list of them.
Brave and the Bold #54 is the first time the group of Aqualad, Robin, and Kid Flash team-up. The name "Teen Titans" isn't coined until Brave and the Bold #60, but issue #54 is universally regarded as the first appearance of the group.
What if I told you that you could acquire a CGC 8.5 copy of this major key for about $1,000? That's about the going price right now, with copies sold since May at $1,000, $900, and $1,050. Don't care about a high grade? The get-in price for a low-grade CGC 2.5 is under $200 presently. The Teen Titans are simply not going anywhere. This is a solid book to grab if you are looking for a short- or long-term investment.
Tales to Astonish #44
Sticking with the diminutive theme, can someone tell me why the first appearance of The Wasp has crashed this year? First published in 1963, this first appearance of Janet Van Dyne in Tales to Astonish #44 predates Dr. Strange, 
the X-Men, Daredevil, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and a whole host of other first-generation Marvel heroes.
Even with a co-titled MCU movie in 2018, this book has seen a curious drop since the middle of 2019.
Of the 14 CGC grades that have at least two recorded sales since June 2019, nine have seen a decrease in market value. An example would be looking at the goCollect sales data for a CGC 3.0. In June of last year, the book sold for $493. In late spring of this year, the price was down to $300 and $380 on two sold copies. Four of five grades between 5.0 and 7.0 have dropped double-digit percentages over that time.
But even without an explanation, I see a buying opportunity. The Wasp is clearly still part of the MCU's plans. You know there will be future female-centric projects in the works. This book is getting into textbook buy low territory.
If you see any other undervalued comics as we head into quarter four of 2020? Let me know in the comments!
GoCollect is the #1 comic book price guide for tracking sales data of all graded comic books in real-time, even the undervalued comics. Fair market values are now at your fingertips. Check out all the features at www.gocollect.com
