Hello, and welcome back to our weekly column where we take a look at a few undervalued or overlooked comics from one of each of four comic book eras – Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, and Copper Age – all in an attempt to find value for you, the comic book investor and collector. Whether you’re a high roller or a bargain shopper, there will be something in here for everyone. This week, we’ll be taking a look at some of Marvel’s toy-related titles from the 1970s. Let’s get started.

Marvel’s Toy Comics

In the 1970s, Marvel began purchasing from toy manufacturers the rights to publish comic books based on toys. The likes of ROM, Micronauts, and Shogun Warriors were all series published by Marvel beginning in 1979. Due to licenses lapsing many of these comics have never been reprinted, and likely won’t ever be by Marvel. Let’s take a look at these three series.

Micronauts

Cover dated January 1979, Micronauts #1 began a series that would become an award winner and a fan favorite. Written by Bill Mantlo with some stellar artwork by Michael Golden, the series would introduce characters to whom Marvel still holds the rights in Bug, Arcturus Rann, and Marionette. However, characters based on the actual toys – Acroyear, Biotron, and Baron Karza, for example - reverted back to Parker Brothers when the license ran out.

The license is currently held by Hasbro.

There are two key issues of Micronauts. The aforementioned Micronauts #1 and Micronauts #8.

The current FMV for Micronauts #1 stands at $240 for a 9.8 graded copy, while the 1-year average for an 8.0 graded copy stands at $28. The peak price paid for this issue was $535 for a 9.8 back in April 2019, while an 8.0 went for a slashed $75 in June 2021.

Captain Universe was introduced in the pages of Micronauts #8, a character for whom Marvel still owns the rights. Interest in this book exploded with the King in Black event series, so it’s no surprise that the top price paid for this issue was in February 2021, when a 9.8 sold for $670. It’s since come back down to earth, with an FMV of $300.

The same is true in the 8.0 grade – peak price $70, current FMV - $50. With the prices having dropped significantly, these two issues of Micronauts can currently be considered undervalued, if not overlooked.

ROM

As with Micronauts, there are two key issues of ROM. ROM #1, the character’s first appearance, was published by Marvel in August 1979. Bill Mantlo was again the writer, with Sal Buscema taking on the penciling chores. ROM guest starred in many Marvel comics, as did his primary foes, the Dire Wraiths.

Marvel no longer holds the rights to either but does still retain rights for the other Space Knight from Galador. The FMV for this first issue stands at $375 for a 9.8 but as recently as August 2021 it was selling for $572.

The second appearance of Rogue occurred in ROM #31 – well, tied with Uncanny X-Men #158, which came out in the same month. FMV for a 9.8 graded copy is currently at $280 but one sold on March 8 for a slashed $500.

With a low CGC census count of 116, ROM #31 is a particularly overlooked Bronze Age comic, while ROM #1 has become much more affordable over the past year.

Shogun Warriors

The Transformer-like Shogun Warriors were first introduced by Marvel in Shogun Warriors #1, cover dated February 1979. Of the three toy-related comics in this piece, it’s the one most overlooked by collectors. The CGC census for this issue is 1,141, a fairly low number for a Bronze Age Marvel first issue. The FMV for a 9.8 graded copy currently stands at $180 but was going for as much as $268 a little over a year ago.

This is really the only key issue in the series and the only one really sought after by collectors. The price is currently very affordable in the top grade and the census number is low enough to make this an overlooked comic.

Next Week: Silver Age Undervalued & Overlooked

Well, that’s all we have time for this week.  Join us next week as we take a look at some undervalued and overlooked Silver Age comics.

Want more Bronze Age coverage?

Are there any Bronze Age comics you think are undervalued and deserve more attention?  Let us know below.

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.