100 Most Valuable Comic Books
In my previous articles about valuable comic books, I have primarily focused on comic books that have sold at auction for hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars. So, in this list of the 100 most valuable comic books, I have focused on comic books that stand to gain more value in the next decades.
This list will be segregated via the four eras of comic books: The Golden Age, the Silver Age, the Bronze Age, and the Modern Age of Comic Books.
The Golden Age of Comic Books
This is an era of comic book production that spans between the years 1938 to 1956.
100. More Fun Comics #101 (January 1945) DC Comics
This comic features the first appearance and origin of Superboy. One reason this comic is so coveted is that via an editing error Superboy doesn’t even appear on the cover.
Two characters, Dover and Clover, are mistakenly advertised on the cover instead of Superboy.
A copy of this comic with a CGC grade of 9.6 sold for $70,000 recently.
99. Jumbo Comics #1 (August 1938) Fiction House
This comic features the first commissioned artwork by legendary artist Jack “King” Kirby. Kirby is a comic book legend who created hundreds of comic book characters.
Kirby created or co-created Captain America, Black Panther, X-Men, Iron Man, Ant-Man, Nick Fury, Eternals, Fantastic Four, Inhumans, Darkseid, Thor, Loki, Baron Zemo. and too many to list.
Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, created by Will Eisner and Jerry Iger, also makes her debut in this comic.
Amazingly, this comic is affordable to buy if you can find a copy. Most non-comic book fans don’t know creators. And comic fans are more drawn to Kirby’s more famous work. Pick this up before Kirby’s name becomes more well known to non-comic books fans and it explodes in value.
98. Jackpot Comics #4 (Spring 1941) MLJ
An ultra-rare comic that features the first cover appearance of Archie Andrews. The Archies Gang has been adapted into a horror/soap opera hybrid for TV now, but their popularity has endured for decades.
You can buy affordable issues of this comic now. Pick up one as a hedge against potential future popularity.
97. Double Action Comics #2 (December 1939) DC Comics
This comic is exceptionally valuable for its ultra-rarity. Only seven copies are known to exist. Two copies sold for $80,000 in December 2016.
96. Detective Comics #40 (June 1940) DC Comics
This issue features the first-ever cover appearance of the Joker. It also features the first appearance and origin of Clayface.
95. Detective Comics #30 (August 1939) DC Comics
Batman’s fourth-ever appearance occurred in this issue. Batman grapples with Doctor Death after valuable jewels are stolen from a millionaire.
A mint copy is worth about $500, but one copy sold for $16,700.
94. All-American Comics #61 (October 1944) DC Comics
This issue contains the first appearance and origin of Solomon Grundy and Slaughter Swamp. Slaughter Swamp was originally located on the furthest outskirts of Gotham City.
Solomon Grundy has shown up in live-action form recently on the Gotham TV show and now on Stargirl.
The infamous nursery rhyme, “Solomon Grundy, Born on a Monday…” debuted in this issue too. It is a real 19th century English nursery rhyme that was adapted to the DC character.
There are probably only 44 known copies of this comic book in existence. Maybe less than half of that number has been sold in the last 15 years.
One copy sold in 2018 for $27,500.
93. Batman #3 (October 1940) DC Comics
The cover of this issue was allegedly the inspiration for the animated, opening credits sequence for Adam West’s 1966 Batman TV show.
Batman #3 features the first appearances of the Puppet Master and of Catwoman in full costume. A copy of this issue, CGC graded 9.4, was sold for $210,000.
92. Detective Comics #140 (October 1948) DC Comics
Edward Nygma, AKA “The Riddler,” made his first appearance in this issue.
There may only be less than 148 copies of this comic circulating in collector communities.
A copy of this issue, CGC graded 9.8, sold for $925,000 recently.
91. Silver Streak Comics #6 (September 1940)
Bart Hill, the Golden Age version of Daredevil, also known as the Death-Defying Daredevil at Dynamite Comics, first appeared in this issue.
Death-Defying Daredevil is a mute, public domain character that is now part of a stable of similar public domain characters published via Dynamite comics. (Death-Defying Daredevil is unrelated to Marvel’s Daredevil character.)
The company has been vying for years to make reimaged public domain characters as popular as comics offered by Marvel and DC.
Dynamite or another comic book company may one day make a new universe of public domain characters as popular as Marvel or DC.
A copy of this comic with a CGC rating of 6.0 sold for $20,400 in July 2020.
90. Famous Funnies #1 (July 1934) Eastern Color
This anthology comic is arguably the first modern iteration of a comic book ever sold via newsstands during the Great Depression.
The first true superhero comic, Action Comics #1, didn’t premiere until June 1938.
A copy of this issue with a CGC grade of 8.0 could be worth $22,000.
89. New Comics #1 (December 1935) DC Comics
This is the second DC Comics ever published. It would later become New Adventure Comics in 1937.
An 8.0 CGC copy of this copy could sell for $18,500.
88. Detective Comics #168 (February 1951) DC Comics
The Joker’s origin is depicted in this issue. Also, this issue marks the first appearance of the Red Hood. A copy of this issue once sold for $35,000.
A 6.0 CGC copy of this issue could sell for $20,000 because of its Joker-related canon significance.
87. All-Winners Comics #1 (June 1941) Timely Comics
Timely Comics would eventually become Marvel Comics.
This comic featured the All-Star Squad. It’s the first team of comic book characters of the era that served as the creative template for the X-Men, Avengers, and other Marvel team comics to follow.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $220,000.
86. Batman #2 (July 1940) DC Comics
The Joker and Catwoman make their full second appearances in this issue.
And this is the first issue where Catwoman is first referred to as, “Catwoman.”
A copy of this issue with a CGC grade of 9.8 sold for $975,000 recently.
85. Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 (1939) First Funnies
Namor the Sub-Mariner made his true first appearance in this comic. This fact wouldn’t be revealed until 1974. This comic was given away free as a promotion in movie theaters.
The marketing ploy failed, and the Sub-Mariner story was then reused in Marvel Comics #1, which was also published that year from Timely Comics.
Less than 9 copies of this comic exist. A copy of this issue sold for $15,800 in December 2016.
84. Captain America Comics #3 (April 1941) Timely Comics
This comic features Stan Lee’s first commissioned work as a writer. If that fact does not convey investment value, I don’t know what does.
Because this is Stan Lee’s first comic book, any CGC grade would be valuable. A 7.5 CGC copy of this comic sold for $80,000. Any grade of this comic could be worth thousands or tens of thousands.
83. Action Comics #23 (April 1940) DC Comics
In this issue, the Daily Planet is mentioned for the first time. Lex Luthor also makes his first appearance here. This comic is valuable because it introduces the storytelling template for Superman that we all know so well.
Lex Luthor isn’t bald in his debut – he’s a redhead.
Less than 150 copies of this comic may exist.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $250,000.
Even a 1.0 or 2.0 CGC grade of this comic could be worth thousands.
82. Detective Comics #32 (October 1939) DC Comics
The first comic book where Batman brandishes a gun and kills two criminals. It is a nihilistic version of Batman that would be unrecognizable to today’s fans, save for Zack Snyder’s depiction of Batman in Batman V. Superman.
Only 48 copies of this comic book may exist now.
A 9.6 CGC copy of this comic sold for $72,000 in 2017.
81. Detective Comics #38 (April 1940) DC Comics
Robin the Boy Wonder and Hugo Strange make their first appearances in this issue.
This was the first issue where Batman’s gloves featured aesthetically finned spikes.
A mint condition copy of this comic sold for $107,550 in 2009.
80. Detective Comics #225 (November 1955) DC Comics
The first appearance of the Martian Manhunter. A copy of this comic with a CGC grade of 9.8 sold for $370,000 recently.
79. More Fun Comics #73 (November 1941) DC Comics
Aquaman, Green Arrow, and Speedy all make their first appearances in this one issue.
A copy of this issue with a CGC rating of 8.0 sold for $99,000 in June 2015.
78. Adventure Comics #40 (July 1939) DC Comics
The Golden Age, crime-fighting version of the Sandman made his first appearance in this issue.
The Golden Age Sandman is not the same character as Morpheus, the Sandman character created by Neil Gaiman for Vertigo Comics in the 1990s.
77. Archie Comics #1 (November 1942) MLJ
Veronica, Jughead, and Mrs. Andrews make their first appearances in this issue. Copies of this issue are extremely rare. One copy reportedly sold for $167,000.
76. All-Star Comics #3 (January 1941) DC Comics
The Justice Society of America made its first appearance in this issue.
This issue was published by All-American Publications, which later merged with National Periodical Publications to eventually become DC Comics.
A 9.8 CGC graded copy of this comic book sold for $650,000.
75. Detective Comics #33 (November 1939) DC Comics
Bruce Wayne’s full origin is revealed in this issue.
Thomas and Martha Wayne debut in this issue. And Joe Chill, the criminal who murdered Bruce Wayne’s parents in the original comics continuity, made his first appearance in this issue.
Even if you have never read a comic book in your life, you know the Bruce Wayne origin story. And that origin story started here, which is why this comic is valuable.
An 8.0 CGC copy of this comic sold for $150,000 in 2017.
The Silver Age of Comic Books
This era of comic book entertainment encompasses the years between 1956 and 1970.
74. Batman #181 (June 1966) DC Comics
Poison Ivy made her comic book debut in this comic.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $135,000 in November 2020. However, you should be able to buy a copy of this comic for any CGC grade under 4.0.
73. Flash #106 (May 1959) DC Comics
The Flash villains Gorilla Grodd and Pied Piper made their first appearances in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $86,000.
72. Our Army at War #83 (June 1959) DC Comics
The first appearance of Sgt. Rock and Easy Co. Until the 1990s, politically themed war comic books were a common plot staple for comic books.
Marvel’s “Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos,” the first iteration of Nick Fury as a war hero before he became of super spy, wouldn’t debut until 1963.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic book once sold for $31,000.
71. Adventure Comics #247 (April 1958) DC Comics
The first appearance of the Legion of Super-Heroes. The Legion votes Superboy into their group and then plays a prank on him.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $92,000.
70. Marvel Super Heroes #18 (January 1969) Marvel Comics
The first iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy (no, not the current ones you know from the Marvel cinematic universe films) appears in this issue.
In February 2019, a 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $40,000.
69. Fantastic Four #48 (March 1966) Marvel Comics
The Silver Surfer and Galactus both made their first appearances in this comic. When the Fantastic Four make their MCU debut in a few years, this comic could become very valuable.
In June 2021, a 9.8 CGC copy of this issue sold for $120,000.
68. The Brave and the Bold #25 (September 1959) DC Comics
The Suicide Squad made its first appearance in this comic.
A 9.2 CGC grade copy of this comic sold for $25,000 in 2015.
67. Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 (May 1963) Marvel Comics
This comic introduces Nick Fury and his Howling Commandos.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $360,000.
66. Action Comics #242 (July 1958) DC Comics
This issue introduces Brainiac. Brainiac is a supervillain who shrinks cities and collects them.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $195,000.
65. Tales of Suspense #40 (April 1963) Marvel Comics
This comic marked the first appearance of Iron Man’s gold-colored armor. In the comics books, Tony Stark is a futurist who upgrades his tech and armor regularly.
And that plot conceit carried over to the MCU films decades later.
That idea started in this comic.
This comic was also the second appearance of Iron Man. Stan Lee reportedly hated the dreary grey-colored version of the original armor and changed it to gold.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $92,000.
64. Journey into Mystery #85 (October 1962) Marvel Comics
Loki, the god of mischief, makes his debut in this issue.
Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of Loki was arguable the most popular character in 2012’s Avengers film. And his latest Disney+ show Loki is a hit too.
Asgard, Odin, Heimdall, and Balder also make their debuts in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC grade of this comic once sold for $600,000.
63. Daredevil #1 (April 1964) Marvel Comics
Blind lawyer Matt Murdock, AKA Daredevil, makes his first appearance in this issue. Karen Page and Foggy Nelson also make their first appearances in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $250,000 in March 2021.
62. Fantastic Four #3 (March 1962) Marvel Comics
The Fantastic Four receive their iconic costumes for the first time in this issue. Also, their first headquarters, the Baxter Building, is introduced in this issue.
In the comic years, the Fantastic Four will debut in the MCU films. These early FF comics are good investments to make now.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $150,000.
61. Incredible Hulk #2 (July 1962) Marvel Comics
The Hulk was gray-colored in issue #2. He is green-colored for the first time in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $135,000.
60. Amazing Spider-Man #3 (July 1963) Marvel Comics
This issue features the debut of Dr. Octopus as a Spider-Man villain.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $500,000.
59. Amazing Spider-Man #14 (July 1964) Marvel Comics
The Green Goblin makes his first appearance in this issue. Also, Spider-Man meets the Hulk for the first time in this issue too.
In November 2015, a 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $260,000.
58. Strange Tales #110 (July 1963) Marvel Comics
Doctor Strange made his character debut in this issue. Wong, Nightmare, and the Ancient One also made their first appearances here.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $440,000.
57. Fantastic Four #5 (July 1962) Marvel Comics
This issue features the first appearance and origin story of Doctor Doom.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $825,000.
56. Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966) Marvel Comics
T’Challa, King of Wakanda and the Black Panther, makes his debut.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic book once sold for $220,000.
55. The Brave and the Bold #28 (March 1960) DC Comics
The Justice League marks its debut in this issue. This comic also marks the debut of Starro the Conqueror, which made its recent debut in The Suicide Squad reboot.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $1,250,0000. Copies of this issue with CGC grades lower than 4.0 could sell for hundreds or thousands.
54. Tales to Astonish #27 (January 1962) Marvel Comics
Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man, makes his debut in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy once sold for $1,850,000.
53. Journey Into Mystery #83 (August 1962) Marvel Comics
The Mighty Thor makes his first appearance in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this issue once sold for $1,850,000.
52. Fantastic Four #2 (January 1961) Marvel Comics
The Skrulls, who made their Marvel cinematic universe debut in the Captain Marvel film, made their comic book debut here. And the Skrulls will next be seen in the Disney+ streaming show Secret Invasion starring Samuel L. Jackson.
This comic is notable for being the first reference to the Daily Bugle, Peter Parker’s original employer.
There are probably only 20copies of this comic with a CGC grade of 9.0 in existence.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $170,000 in 2013.
51. Justice League of America #1 (November 1960) DC Comics
First JLA team comic.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $850,000.
50. Amazing Spider-Man #2 (May 1963) Marvel Comics
The Vulture makes his debut in this issue. Micheal Keaton portrayed the Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic once sold for $1,200,000.
The Bronze Age of Comic Books
The Bronze Age era of comic books is between the years 1970 and 1985.
You will notice that value and sales prices will be appreciably lower.
That is because it takes time and rarity for a comic book to accrue significant value.
49. New Teen Titans #2 (December 1980) DC Comics
Deathstroke the Terminator debuts. Actor Joe Manganiello infamously signed on to play Deathstroke in the canceled Ben Affleck Batman film and Justice League sequel.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $1,000 in August 2021.
48. Detective Comics #411 (May 1971) DC Comics
Talia al Ghul’s first appearance. Talia is the daughter of Ra’s Al Ghul and mother of fan-favorite Damian Wayne.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $15,000 in 2016.
47. Daredevil #168 (December 1981) Marvel Comics
Elektra debuts.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $3,300 in August 2021.
48. Strange Tales #180 (June 1975) Marvel Comics
Gamora’s first appearance.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $1,650 in November 2020.
47. Green Lantern #85 (July 1971) DC Comics
This was a controversial comic that highlighted drug addiction in the story. Speedy was revealed to be a drug addict in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $1,900 in June 2021.
46. Marvel Preview #4 (December 1975) Marvel Comics
Star-Lord makes his debut in this comic.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $2,250 in March 2021.
45. Ms. Marvel #1 (January 1977) Marvel Comics
Carol Danvers makes her first appearance in a Marvel comic.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $1,400 in July 2021.
44. X-Men #101 (October 1976) Marvel Comics
The Phoenix Force debuts in this issue.
A CGC copy of this comic sold for $5,500 in August 2021.
43. Iron Fist #14 (August 1977) Marvel Comics
Perennial X-Men villain and sometimes antihero Sabretooth debuts in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $4,500 in July 2021.
42. The Amazing Spider-Man #121 (June 1973) Marvel Comics
Gwen Stacy dies in this issue. This moment was a big deal in 1973.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $9,250 in June 2021.
41. The Incredible Hulk #180 (October 1974) Marvel Comics
Wolverine makes his first cameo appearance in a single and final panel of this comic. Wolverine’s first full appearance occurred in the next issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $33,000 in June 2021.
40. All-Star Western #10 (March 1972) DC Comics
Jonah Hex makes his debut in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $8,500 in April 2021.
39. Marvel Preview #7 (June 1976) Marvel Comics
The first appearance of Rocket Raccoon.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $4,200 in March 2018.
38. Batman #232 (June 1971) DC Comics
Ra’s Al Ghul makes his debut. Liam Neeson and Alexander Siddig portrayed Ra’s Al Ghul in the film Batman Begins and on TV’s Gotham respectively.
Ra’s Al Ghul is the father of Talia and grandfather of Damian Wayne.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this issue sold for $11,000 in June 2021.
37. Tomb of Dracula #10 (July 1973) Marvel Comics
The first appearance of Blade.
Wesley Snipes portrayed Blade in three films in the late 1990s and early 2000s. 1998’s Blade was technically the first Marvel film before there was an MCU, which started in 2008.
Mahershala Ali will make his premiere in a rebooted MCU version of Blade in the next few years.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $22,000 in June 2021. Keep an eye on the value of this comic when Ali’s version of Blade premieres.
36. Marvel Premiere #15 (May 1974) Marvel Comics
Iron Fist makes his debut. Finn Jones starred in the much-maligned Iron Fist streaming show, but the character is still wildly popular.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $10,500 in August 2021.
35. Iron Man #55 (February 1973) Marvel Comics
Thanos the Mad Titan, Drax the Destroyer, Starfox, and the Mentor all make their debuts in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $7,250 in December 2020.
34. Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 (December 1970) DC Comics
Darkseid debuts.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $12,500 in September 2020.
33. The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (February 1974) Marvel Comics
Frank Castle, the Punisher, appeared for the first time in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $28,000 in June 2021.
32. Hero for Hire #1 (June 1972) Marvel Comics
Luke Cage and Diamondback make their debuts.
This comic sold for $48,000 with a 9.8 CGC grade in December 2019.
(I have this comic in my family home, I’m going to look for it!)
31. Incredible Hulk #181 (November 1974) Marvel Comics
Wolverine makes his first full appearance.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $48,000 in March 2021.
30. Marvel Spotlight #5 (August 1972) Marvel Comics
(image courtesy of The Comic Adviser.)
Johnny Blaze, AKA Ghost Rider, debuts in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic book sold for $264,000 in June 2021.
29. Batman #357 (March 1983) DC Comic
Jason Todd, the second Robin, and Killer Croc debut in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $1,300 in May 2021. Jason Todd is now the Red Hood in DC Comics – pick up a copy of this if you can find it. The Red Hood is very popular.
28. Amazing Spider-Man #238 (March 1983) Marvel Comics
Ned Leeds, AKA The Hobgoblin, makes his first appearance.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $3,400 in August 2021.
27. Wolverine #1 (September 1982) Marvel Comics
Wolverine’s first solo comic books series; limited issue series.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $775 in August 2021.
26. Daredevil #181 (April 1981) Marvel Comics
This issue features the death of Elektra.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $260 in July 2021.
The Modern Age of Comic Books
This era covers comic books produced from 1985 until the present day. The investment prices for many of these comics will be cheaper than the previous ages.
25. Caliber Presents #1 (January 1989) Caliber Press
The Crow debuts.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $2,500 in June 2021.
24. Batman #428 (December 1988) DC Comics
Jason Todd, the second Robin, dies in this issue.
In a stunt that is still shocking to this day, DC Comics allowed fans to vote on whether Jason Todd lived or died – and more fans unapologetically voted for Todd’s death.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $675 in May 2021.
23. Silver Surfer #44 (December 1990) Marvel Comics
The Infinity Gauntlet debuts.
a 9.8 CGC copy sold for $575 in June 2021.
22. Sandman #1 (January 1989) DC
This comic features the first appearances of Morpheus, the Modern Age Sandman, and Dream.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $1,250 in July 2021.
A streaming show based on Morpheus and the Dreaming will soon premiere. Watch this comic in the future.
21. Saga of the Swamp Thing #37 (June 1985) DC Comics
John Constantine makes his debut.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $2,150 in June 2021.
20. X-Factor #6 (July 1986) Marvel Comics
X-Men villain Apocalypse made his debut in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $450 in July 2021.
19. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 (December 1985) DC Comics
Legendary alternative continuity comic where an older, battle-weary Batman takes on Superman.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $1,500 in June 2021.
18. New Mutants #87 (March 1990) Marvel Comics
Cable makes his first appearance in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $625 on August 2021.
17. Miracleman #1 (August 1985) Eclipse Comics
First appearance of Miracleman. This series was one of the first comics to feature depictions of ultra-violence in superhero comics.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this copy sold for $230 for June 2021.
16. Batman: The Killing Joke #1 (1988) DC Comics
The Joker’s origin is reimagined in this issue. Also, the Joker tortures Commissioner Gordon and cruelly paralyzes his daughter, Barbara Gordon.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $290 in July 2021.
15. Batman: Vengeance of Bane Special (January 1993) DC Comics
Bane debuts.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $450 in July 2021.
14. Walking Dead #19 (June 2005) Image Comics
Michonne makes her first appearance here.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $600 in May 2021.
13. Solar Man of the Atom #10 (May 1992) Valiant Comics
This issue features the first appearance of the Eternal Warrior.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $825 in August 2021.
12. Invincible #1 (January 2003) Image Comics
This is the other smash-hit comic, about a young Superman analog character, created by Robert Kirkman. Kirkman also created The Walking Dead.
The recent animation adaptation was well-received by fans and exposed the character to a wider audience.
A 9.8 CGC copy of the comic sold for $4,100 in July 2021. Watch this price in the future – Invincible has entranced legions of new fans.
11. Malibu Sun #13 (May 1992)
Todd McFarlane’s Spawn character made its first promotional appearance in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $3,100 in May 2021.
10. Spawn #1 (May 1992) Image Comics
First in-continuity Image universe appearance of Spawn. It is the longest-running comic in the Image universe.
A 9.8 CGC comic sold for $250 in August 2021.
The Spawn comics universe is now expanding to introduce new characters. And a long-gestating film reboot could drop anytime in the future.
Pick up this comic and watch the price in the future.
9. Harbinger #1 (January 1992) Valiant Comics
This issue is the first appearance of the Eggbreakers and Peter Stanchek. Valiant would issue redeemable coupons for promotions in these early issues.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this issue sold for $700 in July 2021.
8. Strangers in Paradise #1 (November 1993) Antarctic Press
This is the first comic book written and drawn by Terry Moore.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this issue sold for $1,900 in April 2019.
7. Walking Dead #2 (October 2003) Image Comics
This issue features the first appearances of Lori Grimes, Carl Grimes, and Glenn. The first edition printing run of this second issue is scarcer than issue #1.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $1,500 in May 2021.
6. The Walking Dead #27 (March 2006) Image Comics
The Governor, Bruce, Gabriel, and Martinez all make their first appearances in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $200 in July 2021.
5. NYX #3 (February 2004) Marvel Comics
Laura Kinney, a clone of Wolverine, makes her code name debut as, “X-23,” in this issue.
Laura has assumed the name “Wolverine” in the current X-Men comics continuity. The X-Men will debut in the MCU a few years from now. This comic may turn out to be a profitable investment then.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $1,450 in July 2021.
4. Saga #1 (February 2012) Image Comics
This comic is a classic in the making and first edition copies are scarce. It’s about a couple trying to raise their child in the middle of an intergalactic war.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $400 in July 2021.
3. Rai #0 (October 1992) Image Comics
Bloodshot makes his debut in this issue.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $75 in August 2021.
Don’t bet against the Valiant universe exploding in popularity in years to come. Pick this one up if you can. It is an affordable hedge against that possibility.
2. Avenging Spider-Man #9 (September 2012) Marvel Comics
Carol Danvers makes her debut as Captain Marvel in this issue. This is an issue to watch in the future for collectors.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic sold for $280 in August 2021.
1. The Walking Dead #1 (October 2003) Image Comics
Rick Grimes makes his debut in this issue. This was the issue that kicked off a global fanbase phenomenon only 7 years later when the TV show adaptation premiered.
A 9.9 CGC copy of this comic sold for $10,000 in 2012.
Make Strategic Investments When It Comes to Comic Book Investments
You shouldn’t make comic book investments with the intent to make an overnight profit. The comic books on this list will pay off in value in the long-term future.
What comics would you put on your list of the 100 most valuable comic books?
Read More
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Most Valuable Comic Books of the 2010s
Most Valuable Comic Books of the 1990s
Most Valuable Comic Books of the 1980s
Most Valuable Comic Books of the 1970s
Most Valuable Comic Books of the 1960s
Most Valuable Comic Books of the 1950s
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Allen Francis is a full-time writer, prolific comic book investor and author of The Casual’s Guide: Why You Should Get Into Comic Book Investing. Allen holds a BA degree from Marymount Manhattan College. Before becoming a writer Allen was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including saving and investing in your own small business.
