It’s time once more for Undervalued and Overlooked Comics! This time we’ll be looking at the Golden Age, with a focus on free giveaway comics.

The Spirit

One of the most fascinating creations of the Golden Age, Will Eisner’s The Spirit originally appeared in print in a free comic inserted into Sunday newspapers around the nation. For 12 years, from 1940 to 1952, these 16-page comics – all in newsprint with no slick covers – were some of the most artistically innovative and unique comics of the time.

The first appearance of The Spirit was in Spirit Section #6/2/1940. As a free comic inserted into newspapers, needless to say, it’s tough to find copies in higher grades – if at all. There are 20 graded copies in the CGC census, spread fairly evenly between the 9.0 and 0.5 grades. Graded copies rarely go up for sale. None have sold so far in 2022 and only two sold in 2021 – a 0.5 graded copy with brittle pages selling in an eBay auction in December 2021 for $643, and a 3.5 graded copy selling in a Heritage auction in February 2021 for $1,440.

Because of its nature as a free comic with the lack of a standard cover, the Spirit Sections are often overlooked by collectors. For the first appearance of an iconic character like The Spirit, written and drawn by the imitable Will Eisner, you would imagine paying much more, marking this a truly undervalued and overlooked comic.

March of Comics

Perhaps the most widely distributed comics ever, March of Comics, published by Western Publishing from 1946 to 1982, were comic books sold to stores – often department stores – who would then stamp the book with their store name and give them away to children.

The most common place where they were distributed was the shoe section of department stores. It was not uncommon for individual issues to have print runs of 5 million or more.

Despite the large print runs, few copies of this series have survived, particularly the earlier issues. March of Comics #1 is a perfect example. There are no copies in the CGC census and only one – a 4.0 graded copy – in the CBCS census. That 4.0 graded copy has only sold once. Fortunately, it’s a contemporary sale - $1,680 in a Heritage auction in September 2021.

The most sought-after issues in the series are all Carl Barks drawn Donald Duck books – March of Comics #4, March of Comics #20, and March of Comics #41. The lone 9.6 graded copy of March of Comics #4 last sold in a Heritage Auction in November 2009 for $26,290.

Unless you’re a die-hard Barks fan with money to burn, you’re likely better off seeking lower grades of the early non-Donald Duck issues. The prices aren’t ridiculously exorbitant for scarce comics with a bit of history behind them.

Adventures of Big Boy

Originally published by Timely Comics, Adventures of Big Boy was a comic given away to children in Big Boy Restaurants. The series was in publication for more than forty years, from 1955 to 1996.

Being that they were free comics for kids in restaurants (think ketchup and greasy fingers) even recent issues of this series are tough to find in anything resembling collectible condition.

Adventures of Big Boy #1 was published in two versions in November 1955: Adventures of Big Boy #1 [East] and Adventures of Big Boy #1 [West], with the only difference being the covers of each – a giveaway comic with variant covers! Of greatest interest to collectors are the writer and artist on this first issue, none other than Stan Lee and Bill Everett.

There are six graded copies of Adventures of Big Boy #1 [East] in the CGC census and none in the CBCS census. The lone 9.0 graded copy last sold in a November 2018 Heritage auction for $1,440. In grades lower than 9.0 sales have all been for less than $500, although it’s been a couple years since one last sold.

Slightly more common but definitely higher valued, due primarily to the classic look of Big Boy on the cover, Adventures of Big Boy #1 [West] has 13 graded copies in the CGC census and none in the CBCS census. The 9.4 graded copy sold in February 2021 in a fixed price eBay sale for $4,000, just a few days after a 7.5 graded copy sold for $930 in a Heritage auction.

Considering the rarity, the 7.5 graded copy strikes me as a low price to pay for a piece of Americana by two comic book legends.

Next Week: Bronze 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 Bronze Age comics.

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Are there any Golden 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.