Every once in a while I take stock of my collection and inevitably ask myself this question: Does my comic collection actually have value? A scary question after the significant amount of time, effort, and money that has been invested in our collecting habits. Collecting and speculating can be two completely different functions in spite of seeming exactly the same. Ultimately I continue to press forward and perpetuate the collection under the assumption that I will eventually gain value...whatever that measurement may be.
Similar to any other market, the comic market can see significant shifts in pricing and value. I always like to see the value of a comic in multiple ways. There is the price you paid (or the price a seller listed it for or accepted), the price you can sell if for (if you can sell it), and the perceived or "estimated" market value. All of these can be wildly different numbers, so make sure you do your market research prior to buying. I am going to review a couple of comics that I have been tracking to see the recent trend and speculate about future values.
Ultimate Fallout #4 - This comic features the first appearance Miles Morales and has been a recent hit with collectors. Prices hovered around $200-$250 for a 9.8 graded copy for about a year and have slowly trended up leading to the release of Into the Spiderverse. Copies sold for as high as $425 earlier this year but now the price point has settled around $350. Look for this book to see another swell in value as more Spiderverse movies are released and perhaps Miles Morales being introduced into a future Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) offering.
Infinity Gauntlet #1 - Thanos may have met his End Game in the MCU, but don't expect his popularity to wane. After peaking around $200, you can currently find a copy of Infinity Gauntlet #1 for around $150. Rarer newsstand copies also hit the market sporadically and can be scooped up at reasonable prices in spite of the slight premium. This issue is a great collector piece and resides at a price point that makes it a good entry comic for collectors. Watch for this issue to pick up steam as the MCU fondly remembers the original Avengers team as the new phases press forward.
Nova #1 - Speculators have been hot on Nova for a while now, but the MCU has not developed the hero as expected. A year ago, it was easy to find a copy of Nova #1 in 9.8 grade on the market for around $700. Currently, that number has nearly doubled. However, when compared to similar bronze age comics that have seen recent pops like Ms. Marvel #1 and Amazing Spider-Man issues from the day, it appears that Nova may be undervalued. An appearance of the character in the MCU would definitely accelerate any comic gains and make Nova a must collect for speculators. I have noted how I expect future MCU phases to be more Space based and Nova is the perfect character to fit into that scheme.
How do you judge value in your collection? Is there a breakout character that you are waiting to cash-in on? Drop your comments and join the speculation!
