Modern Age Treasure: The 10 Most Valuable Comic Books From The 80’s
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Some of the best comic book investments don’t have to cost a lot of money. Age, rarity, pivotal storylines, and many other factors help to make a comic book a collectible. It’s been almost 40 years since the start of the 1980s. So, here is a list of the 10 most valuable comic books from the 80s.
1. Batman: The Killing Joke (1988)
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic is worth about $185. It’s still one of the most valuable comic books from the 80s because of the story’s influence on its era. This storyline still reverberates today in comics. For better or worse, the tropes and story dynamics explored between Batman and the Joker endure to this day and still influence comics, TV, and film adaptations.
DC Finest: Batman: The Killing Joke and Other Stories is a 608-page paperback. It collects The Killing Joke and several other comics and stories from the era. Buy it now on Amazon for $25.29.
2. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1 (1984)
This is one of the most valuable comic books from the 80s because it’s the inspiration for the biggest comic book film of 2027, Avengers: Secret Wars. The Beyonder, a God-like alien who debuted in this comic, may also debut in the MCU in 2027. A copy of this comic with a 9.8 CGC grade is worth $259.
3. Wolverine #1 (1982)
The dimension-hopping sequences displaying multiple variants of Wolverine in Deadpool and Wolverine created a temporary niche industry in the collectibles market. Everyone was trying to sell or buy the comics that inspired those scenes in the weeks after release. While this opportunistic period for collectibles has since cooled off, no one can deny that it happened.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic is worth over $458.
4. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8 (1984)
This comic is worth about $475 with a 9.8 CGC grade. Spider-Man’s now iconic black costume made its debut in this issue. While stranded on another planet, Spider-Man uses a machine that produces a black mass that covers him in a black and white costume.
Unbeknownst to Spider-Man, it is a parasitic alien symbiote. Additionally, Venom might never have been created without the story inspirations from this issue.
5. The X-Men #141 (1981)
This comic was the start of the iconic Days of Future Past storyline, where robotic sentinel hunters began exterminating mutants in the future. Kitty Pryde is sent to the past to try to change that future. This comic also inspired the 2014 film of the same name. A copy of this comic with a 9.8 CGC grade is worth $735.
6. Amazing Spider-Man #238 (1983)
A 9.8 CGC-graded copy of this comic is worth almost $1,121. This comic features the first appearance of Harry Osborn as the Hobgoblin. However, some copies of this comic are rarer than others because of a Canadian price, a Mark Jeweller insert, or it’s a newsstand variant. If you have this comic, have it authenticated now.
7. X-Men #129 (1980)
This comic features the first appearances of Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost, two very popular X-Men characters in the comic books. Additionally, since this comic was actually published in 1979, the mistaken 1980 date on the cover also adds to its value as a collectible.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic has a market value of about $1,600.
8. The Amazing Spider-Man #300 (1988)
This comic’s value derives from featuring the first appearance of Venom. Venom is now a globally popular comic book character because of the IP’s inclusion in Sony’s cinematic universe of Spider-Man characters. (Sony owns the TV and film rights to Spider-Man as well as any Spider-Man-related, associated, and adjacent characters.)
A copy of this comic with a 9.8 CGC grade is worth over $2,385.
9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (1984)
This IP was really the business model prototype for what the MCU would become 24 years later. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles started out as an independent, black and white comic book. It became a cultural and global sensation by the late 1980s and 1990s. TNMT was licensed for TV, films, video games, and more. TMNT comics are still wildly popular today.
A 9.8 CGC copy of this comic is worth $43,541.
10. Albedo Anthropomorphics #2 (1984)
Usagi Yojimbo is a samurai rabbit character that is very popular with comic book fans who love independent comics. The character still appears in comics today and has a loyal fanbase. This comic features the first appearance of the character, which adds value to the comic book. This is a very rare comic book. A copy with a 9.8 CGC grade has a collectibles market value of $55,200.
Most Valuable Comic Books From the 80s
What makes one comic book a valuable collectible relative to another? There are numerous factors involved, not one. A new comic book film announcement or shift in the collector’s market can make a comic that was worthless yesterday extremely valuable tomorrow.
These valuable comic books represent unforgettable and treasured memories to a certain extent. If you’re also a comic lover or collector, you can design Custom iron-on Patches featuring comic elements.
On this custom patch, you can incorporate iconic pictures and words from comics. On one hand, it can serve as a bookmark to enhance practicality; on the other hand, it can be made into a simple symbol patch, suitable for everyday wear.
Always consult a comic book expert and do your own research before investing in a comic book. Have a third-party facilitator like CGC or CBCS grade, slab, and authenticate your comics before you sell them. You may want to consult a collectibles expert or a legitimate auction house if you think you have a valuable collectible on your hands.
Never invest in comic books on a whim; it’s not a good financial strategy.
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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 and has decades of experience in comic investing and personal finance. Before becoming a writer Allen was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years. Allen now focuses on comic book reviews, collectible investments, and helping others collect and enjoy comics.
I have a Batman DETECTIVE comics #27
SPECIAL EDITION DC COMICS
75 YEARS OF BATMAN on front cover
Large Batman breaking through the front
Cover
One small fold on top of back cover
Would liked to sell but no idea of
Asking price
Hello Sandie! Thanks for reaching out to me. I can only give you a ballpark estimate based on cursory online research. If that comic is in great condition then you might be able to get $45. Considering the condition you mention, it might be worth less than that. If it has a variant cover, then it might be rarer and worth a little more. I cannot guarantee that you would get such an asking price – this is not a rare comic book. I would strongly suggest you visit a local comic book shop or collectibles dealer for an appraisal. Good luck and thanks again for reaching out.
Hello , I have Battlestar galactica 1st collectors item issue 1976 to 18.
45th anniversary if DC comics Action comics edition
dc annual comics no 1 superman 1982
number 1 the warlord up to 64
number the teen titans
Absolutely intact in a plastic cover impeccable state
Hello, thank you for writing! Unfortunately, I cannot authenticate the value of comic books I have not seen. I could give you a ballpark estimate, but the best thing is for you to visit sites like Price Charting, Comic Book Price Guide, Comic Book Realm, and similar sites. They feature online databases where you can check the value of the comic yourself. You just need the title of the comic and month and year of release. Unfortunately, the information you supplied seems erroneous – Battle Galactica first premiered in 1978, not 1976 and the comic you refer to came out in 1979. You must do an inventory of these comics and record the title, month and year of release correctly first. If you think these comics are valuable, you should visit a local collectibles dealer or comic book shop for a consultation. Even if they are valuable, you then have to find a buyer, which a comic shop or collectibles expert could help you with. You could also take a pic of each cover and list them on eBay or Facebook marketplace for sale. Good luck.