So there is a comic book phenomenon taking over the hobby in case you haven’t noticed.  One can’t help but notice as there are amazing sales that are happening each and every week for “key” comic books regardless of comic book age.  What I am about to tell you is one of those sales!  If you were watching this particular auction then you are feeling what I am feeling; shock!  If for whatever reason you were not, no worries, let me tell you what happened.  What the #$%*%& indeed!  The what just happened moment happens when we see an auction end ridiculously high and you wonder who would pay that price for a comic book.  Why?  It happens more than you think believe it or not.

I have to admit, for the most part, I have no plans in bidding in some of these auctions but instead, it is always interesting to just follow certain auctions and see what kind of crazy high prices they close at.  This was one of those instances.  It happened on two different auction sites within the same week of each other.  These were legitimate auction type sales with multiple bids.  The end prices will leave you astounded.

THE ONE

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #1 (1988) – one of those comic books that came out of nowhere and now has everybody’s attention.  I don’t remember seeing this particular comic book at any comic con or dollar bin in the past.  But I have to admit, I haven’t been looking for it.  A must-have for any TMNT collector.  Published by Archie Publications in July 1988, it features the 1st appearance of Bebop, Rocksteady, and Krang; key characters in both the comics, cartoons, and movies.  I am going to highlight a couple of graded sales but raw copies are selling for amazingly high prices regardless of the grade and condition as well.  Let’s face it, Turtlemania is definitely taking over and as a result, this issue is highly sought-after by collectors.   It is also the 1st comic book appearance of the Turtles in their color-identifying masks.  Turtle Power, anybody?

Arguably the most sought after Modern Age comic book as of late to go with other key Copper Age TMNT books.  Raw copies are popping up for sale every day and at the time of this writing, there are only 5 graded CGC 9.8 copies listed for sale at buy it now prices.  There are a total of 441 graded on the CGC census which includes yellow, blue, purple, and green label verifications.  Add on that this comic book is an adaptation of the animated series which makes this a Turtle book everybody wants just for nostalgia's sake.

SOLD!  

There was a couple of sales for this book from two different auction sites that ended a week or so ago and in both cases, the final sales price was a head-scratcher.  Both copies were CGC 9.8 graded copies with no reserve.  For what it’s worth, one copy was a newsstand and the other copy was a direct edition.  The difference in value between newsstand and direct I will leave for another day.  The newsstand copy sold for $2,600 on eBay and the direct copy sold for $1,375 on MyComicShop.  Wow!  Just wow on both sales actually, regardless of newsstand or direct.  Copies of this book graded in 9.8 were selling in the $300 range just a month ago – go figure!

According to GoCollect, the Fair Market Value (FMV) for a graded CGC 9.8 is $325.  A testament that the recent sales on this book haven’t caught up.  As a comparison, the last CGC 9.8 newsstand copy sold in 9/2020 for $410 which was a best offer as the listed sales price was $450.  The most recent direct edition CGC 9.8 copy sold was on 10/2020 for $299, and as you know there are more direct sales than newsstand sales as direct edition were more prominent back then.  Fast-forward to November and this book in 9.8 condition is going “cowabunga” man.  In case you are wondering, raw copies are selling in the $100 range with newsstand copies going for over double that depending on condition.

Conclusion 

Who doesn’t like the Turtles?  Surely one of those characters everyone remembers from their childhood.  And as a result of those childhood memories, it seems people are trying to remember the Turtles with these amazing sales.  Just another eye-opening auction that probably has not reached its height.  Only time will tell.    Not a bad comic to add to your comic book collection regardless.  It has a lot of things going for it as mentioned earlier in this article.  A couple of 1st appearances, 1st time the turtles wear their color-identifying masks, and just one of those cool adaptation comics to have from a cartoon series.  Good luck finding one at a decent price.  Stay tuned for the next installment of the “What the #$%*&:  Amazing Comic Sales #3" as I delve into more crazy sales that are happening each and every week in our hobby.  Until next time you comic book junkies………………..

Please share your thoughts and comments you have on another crazy sale.  Are you among the many collectors looking for this comic book?   Are you feeling the Turtle Mania craze going on now?  Are you a fan of Bebop, Rocksteady, and Krang?  What are some of those hot comic books on your watch list that you are waiting to pop up for auction?  Are you a proud owner of TMNT Adventures #1?