Venom hits a triple in September with the top three most popular comic books. Is this the ascendancy of the Modern Age of comics? After all, the nearest Bronze Age comic MS. Marvel #1 ranks only sixth most popular comic on GoCollect and the Silver Age is even further down the rankings. Venom dominates the hottest books in September. The top three ranks are all Venom. He has been biting the heads off the competition as he is want to do now and again. Is it too late to jump on the Venomous bandwagon of profit margin and popularity? One of these issues, Amazing Spider-Man #300 has shown an incredible upward resilience. In the future, can this book continue to sprout wings and keep it's ever dizzying altitude? The prices have been extraordinary for this book in mint grade (9.8) about four days ago one sold for $2250. Can this space-carnivore still be profitable even after the movie debuts?

Modern Age Dominates

The Modern Age appears to be coming into its own, partly due to a lack of specificity about the Copper Age. The Bronze Age ranked 6th with Ms. Marvel #1 but you have to go out to the 44th rank for the first Silver Age issue. The popularity of Modern Age comics cannot be denied in this age vs. age matchup. Though the Silver Age maybe aptly represented by the first appearance of Carol Danvers in Marvel Super-Heroes #13. There is no doubt the Modern Age has become so large for lack of an adequate breakdown-quantifier (Say what?). Well, shouldn't the Modern Age really be three different era's? If we assume there is a Copper Age (which I do believe) then you are still talking close to a 20-year time span. I got news for you though, when you just lump in the Copper Age the Moderns are enormous. Perhaps the Copper will eventually be properly designated as it's own age. Bottom line, the Modern Age is crushing the popularity contest of comics. How much longer until price increases also dominate?

"Boy, will you look at those chompers!" (Romancing the Stone) The first solo series for Venom  Lethal Protector #1 is aptly named with fangs like that on the cover. It is also the third most popular book in September. This once back issue brethren is now the top dog with a grade (9.8) for $80 FMV. The return on the lethal beastie is pretty weak almost like someone hit him with a tranquilizer dart. Currently, with 10,000 sales calculated on GoCollect, it only provides a +.9% positive return. But with 932 sales going strong the momentum should carry it higher, possibly closer to the positive +18.8% for a grade (9.6).

In second place is Amazing Spider-Man #300 with the one and only Todd McFarlane's 25th-anniversary issue and the first full appearance of Venom. This issue has shown no let up with current grade mint (9.8) at $2450 FMV. Again we see the same anemic returns of positive +3.8% ROI for this first Venom spotlight, but when you take it out over 10,000 sales the numbers are right on with mint returning positive +81% ROI.

The Amazing Spider-Man #361 is the first appearance of Carnage a spawn of Venom. This character was created by David Michelinie and Mark Bagley on pencils back in good ole 1992. The last sale was four days ago for $398.27 in grade (9.8) mint. The crimson killer Carnage has a small return on investment of positive +53.6% and well over 1200 sales. But watch out this highflyer is probably the weakest of the three comics. So many comics were printed during the 1990's debacle that current CGC Census shows 10,209 total books outstanding. Don't get carried away but if you own a copy ride it out for the second movie.