The art of comic collection has been a driving force behind the comic book community and industry for decades. The idea of getting a hold of a rare book will always fire up the synapses of a superhero fan. Some have stronger urges than others, much like Indiana Jones finding the arc of the covenant. There are older comics that are obtainable if searched for hard enough.
Others are so rare and cherished that it would take immense wealth that may never be amassed in an entire lifetime. The outrageous costs, which can vary depending on the market value, are a testament to how important these stories are to global pop culture. Fans with extraordinary financial luck may want to pursue these options for their collection.
10/10 Marvel Comics #1 Is In A Class of Its Own For Rarity
Originally published in 1939 by Timely Comics, which would be later Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Comics #1 is an astonishing time capsule and a rare breed. Marvel Comics #1 technically is a standalone issue as it later was renamed to Marvel Mystery Comics.
The comic debuted a motley crew that included future Fantastic Four member Human Torch, Future X-Men member Angel, and Namor who recently appeared in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The comic’s rarity can be attested to by its resale of 2.4 million dollars.
9/10 Showcase #4 Debuted The Flash Against A Very Intriguing Villain
The appearance of Flash in Showcase #4 saw Barry Allen in a standard superhero story. Barry Allen is a forensic officer who is doused with chemicals struck by lightning which turned him into The Flash. What’s absurdly intriguing is that The Flash’s first villain is called Turtle Man, a bank robber who used technology to slow down time.
Turtle Man employed Barry’s super speed to work against him until he was ultimately defeated. Besides the fact that it’s the first appearance of the Flash, any collector interested in offbeat villains may want to grab this one, even if it’s a villain readers find pathetic.
8/10 Superman #1 Is The Rarest And Most Valuable Comic On The Current Market
The first issue of Superman’s comic isn’t his first debut, as Action Comics previously took that honor. But this book is the rarest and currently the most valuable on the list. While a high-quality issue of Detective Comics #27 would be up for debate, in terms of value experts can quantify Superman #1.
As of now, only two copies are believed to be left intact, and it’s currently the most expensive book ever paid for, knocking Amazing Fantasy #15 into second place. Other books may have arguably more intriguing aspects to them, but this book is objectively the most prized possession of comic collectors.
7/10 All-Star Comics Number #8 Introduced Wonder Woman Fighting The Nazis
Steve Rogers wasn’t the only hero who made their debut fighting Nazis. In All-Star Comics #8, fans met Princess Diana aka Wonder Woman, and her mother, Queen Hippolyta, after American military pilot Steve Trevor’s plane crashed in the Amazon. While Steve recovered, Queen Hippolyta decided that the Amazon should send a fighter that will aid the US in their fight against the Nazis.
While the Queen forbade Diana from being involved, Diana secretly proved herself in a tournament to be the one most worthy of the mission and embarked to America with Steve. The comic provided a fantastic backstory for Wonder Woman who, alongside Batman and Superman, became the holy trinity of lionized DC heroes.
6/10 Detective Comics #27 Introduced The Greatest Detective In Comic History
Detective Comics #27 is another prized artifact in the realm of high-roller comic collecting. Any issue with a 9.2 rating is argued to be the most valuable comic ever. The twenty-seventh issue of the pulp magazine introduced the favored detective who dressed as a bat and had Sherlock Holmes-level detective skills.
While more stories expanded upon what fans loved about Batman, the character made Detective Comics so popular that its publisher, National Allied Publications, changed their name to now famed DC Comics.
5/10 X-Men #1 Gave Fans The Beloved Mutant Clan In An Era Of Social Change
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s inaugural appearance of their altruistic mutants was a simple blueprint for one of the most complex and intriguing series in Marvel. Charles Xavier ran a school for mutants and pressed his students that they have to protect humanity from bad mutants, such as Magneto, billed as “Earth’s most powerful super villain” on the cover.
Besides the clear monetary value, this comic debuted during an era of social change due to the Civil Rights movement. The X-Men famously reflected that change as the mutants struggled with prejudice and bigotry. Anyone interested in social justice and history would want the genesis of these persecuted heroes.
4/10 Batman #1 Introduced Bill Finger’s Iconic Villains To The World
While Bob Kane received most of the credit, comic book writer Bill Finger created most of the aspects that made fans fall in love with the Batman lore, as detailed in the documentary Batman and Bill. One of Finger’s biggest contributions is writing the first installment of the comic book Batman after The Dark Knight proved to be so popular in Detective Comics.
What’s notable about this comic, besides being Batman’s first comic, it also debuted The Joker and Catwoman, two of the most seminal villains in comic book history. Batman #1 initiated what the public consciousness knows about Batman and in terms of a story, the comic is more memorable than Detective Comics #27.
3/10 Action Comics #1 Is Considered One Of The Holy Grails
At certain points in recent history, Action Comics #1 became one of the most expensive comics on the market, selling for $3.2 million in 2021 according to Comic Connect. Created by high school friends Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Actions Comics debuted arguably the most popular superhero in American history.
Before Action Comics, there were various versions of Superman comics created and rejected by publishers, which caused a fight between the two creators that prompted Shuster to burn the rejected Superman comic, sparing only the cover. The Action Comics cover is also perfect in its simplicity The cover allowed readers to know exactly who Superman is and what his abilities can achieve. For many DC fans, Action Comics #1 is one of the Holy Grails of comic books.
2/10 Amazing Fantasy #15 Provided Spider-Man’s Timeless Origin Story
This issue not only brought the world the great Spider-Man but also had an origin story that has timelessly resonated with fans. After being bitten by a radioactive spider, the nerdy Peter Parker used his new spider powers to become a wrestler. Peter ignored his wrestling promoter to getting robbed at gunpoint believing that it wasn’t his business to get involved in.
This act of indifference ends up getting his Uncle Ben killed by the same robber, to which Peter tragically learned “with great power comes great responsibility.” Plenty of these comics have launched iconic origin stories, but this is the only one that nailed their hero’s origin story so well. So much so that it was practically carbon copied for the first Spider-Man film.
1/10 Captain America #1 Has The Greatest Cover From The Legendary Jack Kirby
Any background reading on the legendary comic artist Jack Kirby would explain how this amazing cover came to be. Kirby was the son of Austrian-Jewish Immigrants, served in the army during WWII, and took part in freeing victims of concentration camps. These experiences led Kirby to co-create Captain America with his partner Joe Simon and draw the greatest comic book cover of the Golden Age.
The issue served as a comforting source of pride during the beginning of WWII and can continue to do so today, especially with the unfortunate rise of antisemitism. It’s also invigorating to hear that Kirby was prepared to personally fist-fight Nazis after they came to his office to threaten him over the cover, only to be scared off when he came down to meet them.
