Why has the Copper Age, among all ages, seen a decrease in value over the last 6 months? Furthermore, what are the key books that we might use to identify this sudden downturn? Finally, should you be worried about future prices?

The Copper Age has been pretty hot for several years. Now, it seems to be resting in the batter's box, letting other ages surge ahead. The Copper Age runs from 1984 until 1992. Unfortunately, over the last 6 months, this era has slowed to a price increase crawl. Perhaps it has given up a small percentage of gains in that time frame.

Top Five Copper Age Keys (1 year)

Copper Age Cool Down

The top book is Spawn #1, which was published by Image Comics in 1992. This is the first appearance of Spawn. He was the ultimate anti-hero character in independent publishing at the time. It also set the tone for an upstart, Image Comics. They are still going strong today! 

Copper Age Cool Down

The runner-up is no surprise, the Amazing Spider-Man #361. This comic is the first appearance of Venom’s villain Carnage. He has appeared in two movies over the last several years.  In one, he was the primary villain. This is a very popular book and ubiquitous throughout any comic book shop even today and was created in 1992.

Copper Age Cool Down

The comic book Venom: Lethal Protector #1 is the first Venom in his own titled series.  It seems everyone owns a copy of this book. It appears even more ubiquitous than ASM #361, and that's not easy to do. This book was created just outside of the Copper Age in 1993 and might even be considered a Modern Age book at that point.

Copper Age Cool Down

This comic is in fourth place in the Copper Age over the last year. The Marvel Superheroes Secret Wars #8 is the first appearance of Spidey with the Symbiote suit considered the origin of the alien symbiote. This book was created at the beginning of the Copper Age.

What's Causing the Copper Age Cool Down?

Amazing Spider-Man #300 is quite simply the most popular Copper Age book in existence - the first full appearance of Venom. This book defies the laws of economics and continues to go higher, (usually). This is despite the overwhelming number of copies of this book on the market. I consider it the top key of the Copper Age. This is not from rarity, nor because of price, but simply from desirability and fanatical appeal.

Comic Grade Price Current Trend Return (1 year)
Spawn #1 9.8 $190 -26% decline
Amazing Spider-Man #300 9.8 $4950 -30% deline

Conclusion

The price declines are really just a response to the run-up over the previous year to six months. That pace of price increase was unsustainable and primarily due to coming out of the pandemic.  it'll probably take a year to retrace to the 2021 or 2022 early highs.

7th Inning Stretch (@7stretch) / Twitter

In baseball, you have something called the "7th inning stretch". Basically, people get out of their seats at the baseball stadium. Then they stretch, get something to eat, use the facilities or even order a beer and relax.  After that, they go right back to watching the game and enjoying the contest. The Copper Age is only in the "7th inning stretch." Don't leave early and miss out on further price increases.

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What's Causing the Copper Age Cool Down?*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.