CBSI Top Ten Spec Comics

Again, thanks to my friend Patrick H. over at the Google+ Spec and Investment community for the top notch top 10 list. You can find Patrick on eBay at his eBay store..
Welcome back to another segment of our community’s top ten books to scoop ASAP to flip or to hang on to for the long flip. Movies and TV rule eBay so that will be most of the focus for the weeks to come.

The following list of issues that are selling consistently online or will be good to sit on for a bit. I’m including current prices off of eBay and using print runs from comichron.com
1. Amazing Spider-man #361 (1993, MARVEL)
Why: 1st appearance of Carnage Print Run: NA
Juice: This issue came out in the height of the 90’s and was popular as hell back then. Fast forward to now and you have a character that has grown in popularity and has his own niche, like Deadpool there are droves of fans that just collect his comics. ASM #361 has been a fan favorite and was printed in droves so the price tag on this was under $20 for a while, news came out that there would be solo movies for the villains of the Spider-Man universe and that the possibility of seeing Carnage was hinted at so prices have shot up recently.
On average this book was selling for $20 a year ago and now the average prices are around $35-$55! When purchasing this book please keep close attention to the coloring of the cover some of the colors faded with time, also the paper stock was very flimsy so don’t hesitate to pick-up a copy with a blemish or two. This issue isn’t going to stop: You have a key ASM issue with a 1st app of a popular villain. There is no more solid news but once this happens this book could easily turn into a $100 overnight. There is also a second printing of this issue to look for.
Price: $40 (raw)/CGC 9.6 are selling above $110
Honorable Mention: Cletus Cassidy’s 1st appearance is in Amazing Spider-Man #344 which also has shot up. A few other Carnage keys have been seeing some heat like Toxin #1 (2005, Marvel) with an Esad Ribic cover.
2. AVENGERS #196 (1982, MARVEL)
Why: 1st appearance of Taskmaster Print Run: NA
Juice: A classic Avengers issue with art by George Perez and written by David Michelline, even though he is an Avengers villain first he also appears in some HTF Deadpool issues. Taskmaster’s 1st appearance has been crazy this year! At the beginning of the year you could find a high grade copy between $20-$30, being that this was a major Avengers’ villain whose 1st appearance hasn’t really seen any action. Since the beginning of March this book has started moving, not because of TV or film but because he one of the last major Avengers villains left besides Kang. This book high grade NM will run you just under $50.
It’s tough to find a high grade copy because it was a pretty common book, grab VF copies if you can. In overstreet, this book is inexpensive and can still be found in the wild for next to nothing. You can still catch deals on ebay, copies will still sell for $20 if you catch the right auction. Look out for the reprint!
Price: $40 (raw)/CGC 9.8 $300
Honorable Mention: Scoop issue #195 (cameo) and sell as a set for more money, #195 is cheap by itself. I’m a firm believer in second appearances as well and his is in Marvel Team Up #103 (1981, Marvel). Taskmaster’s second appearance in the Avengers was in issue #223. There was also a 4 issue and mini series that came out in the early 2000’s that is semi hard to find. He also appears in a few key Deadpool issue that go for high dollar.
3. MARVEL PREMIERE #47 (1976, MARVEL)
Why: 1st Appearance of Scott Lang Antman Print Run: NA
Juice: When Edgar Wright came out in SDCC and announced to the masses that he was working on an Ant Man movie, he was holding this particular issue. The main Tales To Astonish keys shot up but this particular issue was still a $15 book NM up until Marvel said the main character would be Scott Lang and not Hank Pym. Since then this book has seen a significant increase with NM copies now selling for $100-$125. Mid grade copies range between $50 and $60 .
Another issue that has bumped up in price is Avengers #181 (1772, Marvel) which is the 1st appearance of Scott Lang, this should be quick flips closer to the first movie trailer drops. This issue sells on average for $40 for mid grade and a recent high grade sold for over $100 (only one that went that high).
This movie is still a year away and there is plenty of potential room for growth on Marvel Premiere #47, you’re going to regret not picking up more copies before the year is over.
Price: $100 (raw)/CGC 9.8 $445
Honorable Mention: Scoop up Marvel Premiere #48 (two part story) and sell it as a combo pack for more profit. Ant Man #1 vol 3 (2001, Marvel) 1st ongoing 3rd Ant Man (Eric O’Grady).
4. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #50 (1967, MARVEL)
Why: 1st appearance of Wilson Fisk/Kingpin Print Run: NA
Juice: A classic Spider-Man issue that was written by Stan Lee (until #99) and with John Romita Sr on artwork, it is a sought after book by Spidey collectors and it has been for Daredevil completists as well.
The role for Kingpin has already been cast for the Netflix Daredevil TV show and it’s only a matter of time before this book gets its’ due. Kingpin was originally a Spider-Man villain but during Frank Miller’s classic run he was brought in to Daredevil’s rogue’s gallery. Kingpin has been a villain that has caused the most damage to the protagonist’s life.
This is already a key Spider-Man book and commands some cheddar already, for a high grade (9.2) copy you’re looking at least $300. Low grade copies are consistently selling for $60 and mid grade will run you past $100. This issue is slowly starting to see a price spike, scoop it while its still relatively cheap!
Price: $150 (mid to high grade)/CGC 8.0 $685(!)
Honorable Mention: Kingpin’s 1st appearance in Daredevil was in #170 (1981, Marvel) and continued in #171 and #172. Breakdown: 1st appearance of Kingpin in Daredevil series and you have Frank Miller on story and art duties, you can’t lose. This book usually sells for at the most $15! This might be the book to go for since ASM #50 might be out of reach for some.
5. SHAZAM #1 (1973, DC)
Why: 1st ongoing series Print Run: NA
Juice: This issue reintroduces the main character of Shazam who was originally called Captain Marvel until there was a legal dispute over the name with Marvel. Since Marvel won the rights to the name, DC reverted to Shazam and the series went through to issue #32. This is an undervalued DC Silver age key issue!
For being a Bronze key and a number one it is still very cheap in comparison to other releases for the time. There has been talks of a Shazam movie for several years now and with the DC movie/TV/animated universe expanding, it is a now just a matter of time. As a major DC character, once movie news hits this series will explode. With rumors circulating around of an impending film prices have jumped up a bit but still affordable but like with speculation you’re taking a gamble.
Even if a movie isn’t made this is still a solid key issue. Prices for high grade copies were going for $35 on average but now with movie rumor news the prices have spiked a bit to $75 for high grades, mids averaging about $45..
Price: $50 (raw)/CGC 9.2 $100
Honorable Mention: As mentioned above, this series ends at #32 so completing a set won’t be that difficult/expensive except for the key issues:
Issue #25 is the first appearance of Isis which fetches up to $42 in high grade. Issue #27 is the 1st appearance of Kid Eternity, this issue is super cheap so scoop a high grade if you can.
Issue #28 is the first appearance of the villain Black Adam who was Captain Marvel’s main bad guy and that issue goes for at least $120. Black Adam’s Golden age appearance is a big boy. Only one copy on ebay right now and no recent copies sold scares me, this might be the perfect time to scoop! This series is waiting it’s due, undervalued series.
6. Y: THE LAST MAN #1 (2002, VERTIGO)
Why: 1st appearance of Yorick, written by BKV Print Run: 15,287
Juice: An already classic series that has surpassed regular comic book readership, it is another series that is usually suggested when someone is just getting into comics. An amazingly crafted story by Brian K. Vaughn that is complimented perfectly by Pia Guerra’s artwork, a finite series that went 60 issues.
Issue #1 has always been a sought after book, copies aren’t as abundant as other Vertigo titles because of the time of release for this particular title was released towards the end of the decade after the crash. Copies have survived but as with many Vertigo readers, these books were read and not kept with collectability in mind. There was talk of a movie deal years ago with New Line Cinema which gave this issue a small boost but with recent news coming out that it might be more of a reality than ever, prices have definitely gone up but are still affordable: High grade copies are ranging between $100-$125 CGC copies are going for over four hundred, I would try to find these in the wild if you can most collectors hang on to these because of the love of the series.
Finding NM copies are tough but scoop ANY copies you can, mid grade if you can and try to press those issues out as best you can.
Price: A high grade raw just sold for $240/ CGC 9.8 $400-$450
Honorable Mention: Only book that has any heat on it is #1 and the next couple do too but not nearly as high as #1. You can still put together sets of this series easily since none have really moved. Also worth noting: Issue #37 has a DMZ preview which has been optioned for TV on the SyFy channel.
7. GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #1-26 (2009, DC)
Why: Harley Quinn series, hard to find Print Run: 52,419
Juice: DC’s GCS run by Paul Dini is a run that is under the radar, these issues sell based on the popularity of Harley Quinn alone. It is based around HQ, Catwoman, and Poison Ivy in the aftermath of the Batman: Hero Reborn storyline. The series has a low print run and most of these copies can be found in dollar bins if you’re lucky, these are issues that move consistently individually or in sets.
The run is hard to find and full set can run you almost $200, certain individual issues go for more than others, particularly the interlocking covers of #5, 6, 7 and of course any cover that has Harley on it sells for above cover. There are also a few Joker covers towards the end of the series that also demand a higher price than the rest of the series.
Price: $15 for a raw copy but it is HTF.
Honorable Mention: Issue #1 has a JH Williams variant that is TOUGH to find. This will go from anywhere in between $65-$130 and the second printing of one is difficult/sought after as well with the last one selling for $40. The second printing has a red background on the cover.
The Gotham City Sirens: Union TPB (pt 1) is insane, prices reach up to $100 and the following three trades are good too. The Songs of the Sirens will sell for $35-$50, Division and Strange Fruit also are going for high dollar. Easy money if you can dig up these hard to find trades. Scoop and sell these quick because DC is re releasing them in October!
8. ALIAS #1 (2001, MARVEL MAX)
Why: 1st appearance of Jessica Jones Print Run: 52,379
Juice: Bendis was on writing duties and it helped launch this new character in the Marvel universe under this imprint. Jessica Jones is also an Avenger and marries and has a baby with Luke Cage. Since we have been talking about the Marvel/Netflix mini series deal this will be a part of it and since Jessica Jones is married to Luke Cage, you can definitely expect a crossover the same as Iron Fist. This book has huge potential to blow up once casting news comes out.
Currently issue #1 sells for $25-$30 with a few spikes and a few drops, this one is flying under a lot of people’s radar so scoop the series and complete the set for maximum return. The series goes up to #28.
Price: Ebay is seeing higher prices due to the TV show announcement but they’re not selling that high yet, raid your dollar bins for these. CGC 9.8 copies are selling for about $150.
Honorable Mention: Jessica Jones was also in New Avengers #1-34 (2010, Marvel) which can be found super cheap. Jessica Jones origin is told in Alias #22-23 another set of key issues is her wedding to Luke Cage which is in New Avengers Annual #1.
9. ATOMIC ROBO #1(2007, RED 5)
Why: 1st appearance of Atomic Robo Print Run: 3,689
Juice: Since day one this series/character has had potential to crossover to an animated feature, each story arc is released in mini series form and they are releasing the tenth series right now. It is light hearted, fun and exciting, clever artwork and straightforward writing always makes this series exciting. A perfect candidate for an animated show! The creators Scott Wegena and Brian Clevinger are always working on a way to bring their creation to as many people as they can, just recently they participated in a fan kickstarter for an animated Robo episode/short.
With Haunted recently getting optioned by Bryan Singer it is only a matter of time before other series in this publisher’s repertoire are optioned as well, Atomic Robo is their flagship title ironically enough..
Each series has a sub title on the cover except for the first, #1 also had a second printing which has a different cover. The first issue was always hard to find even though Red 5 promoted the crap out of this, they would send copies for free to stores, they would give issues away at cons, so there were a bunch printed for a small publisher but unfortunately most were throwaways. #1 last year was a $15 book but recent online sales show two things: This issue is more sought after now and this issue is selling for $60 which isn’t bad if you think about the print run, there has been a few sales where buyers have gotten it super cheap.
Price: Raw copies are selling cheap still, some copies have sold for under $10!
Honorable Mention: Find all of the Atomic Robo FCBD for two reasons: Plenty are printed and not a lot are around, their FCBD offerings are always the best of the bunch. Also the the FCBD ‘09 has the 1st appearance of Robo’s main villain, Dr. Dinosaur (best super villain).
Most Atomic Robo mini series don’t go for anything but are just difficult to find, if this gets optioned this whole series will be priced high due to its scarcity.
10. NEXT MEN #21 (1993, DARK HORSE)
Why: 1st full appearance of Hellboy Print Run: NA
Juice: This issue has the first full appearance of Hellboy and is a modern key. Even though he appeared in a few different issues (SDCC Comics #2 and Dime Press #4) this was his first full appearance and surprisingly this issue doesn’t go for that much, definitely affordable modern key that will appreciate with time.
For a first appearance of a character that has been around for over twenty years this book is still a steal. There are countless series, popular series like BPRD and Abe Sapien, two feature films with an acclaimed director, and an A list artist who is responsible for it. It seems like it is a perfect storm for a high priced book but for whatever reason it is not, now is the time to scoop these up and sit on them for the long haul. This book last year was going for right under $100 in NM condition but recently copies have been selling for an average of $40-$50 in the same grade, Hellboy has a huge following and this particular issue will see its day yet, despite already having two movies.
Price: $40 (raw)/CGC 9.8 $250
Honorable Mention: The first Hellboy mini series was Seed of Destruction #1-4, these books are relatively cheap just not common. B.P.R.D. is a perfect candidate for a next feature film and the bureau’s 1st appearance is in Seed of Destruction #1. The Hellboy character has been around for over twenty years, has countless series, has two movies, etc and these early appearances are relatively inexpensive. Hellboy’s 1st cameo appearance is in San Diego Comic Con Comics #2 (1993, Dark Horse) which is a hard book to find so you will end up paying up around $100 for a NM condition copy. Keep all of these books for the long haul.
Most of the Hellboy series aren’t that difficult to find, since they were released in mini series form the numbering is in the inside panel. The prices aren’t high but they are so many that it will cost you a bit to scoop them all, picking them up in sets is the best way.
HOT TIP:
ORC STAIN #1-7 (2010, IMAGE)
Why: 1st appearance of One Eye Print Run: 4,476
Juice: This series is completely done by James Stokoe, indy artist extraordinaire, his attention to detail and lush colors make this book very different. Print run on these issues are next to nothing and are extremely scarce, even the trade collecting issues #1-6 was selling on ebay for $30-$50 before it was re released.
The books suffered from delays and that hurts ordering, comic shops won’t order tons of an issue from a book that came out four months ago. Since Stokoe’s popularity has started to rise these books are coveted amongst his fan base, finding these books in the wild is a challenge so you’re best bet is ebay. Prices range all over the place for these books: A set can run you in the neighborhood of $75-$100 but if you purchase them individually it will be more expensive, prices range in between $10-$20. Issue #6 is a holy grail mission be ready to scoop if you ever see one.
Stokoe has been working on the next set of issues and is waiting to complete them as a whole in order to keep up with the monthly schedule, Orc Stain is coming back before the end of the year and now is the time to buy these books. Just looking at any of the covers and you can tell it’s going to be a different comic book experience, when the new books drop people will be searching for these. Stokoe’s fan base keeps growing and with him taking a few big company books,
Price: Individual issues range $15-$20
Honorable Mention: James Stokoe also was the writer/artist/colorist on IDW’s Godzilla: Half-Century War #1-5 (2012, IDW). Stokoe knocked it out the park with this one, one of the best Godzilla reads and best splash pages period. Each issue has a RI variant with #3 (cover by Brandon Graham) being the most difficult to discover in the wild. This series isn’t that hard to find and the set can run you anywhere in the area of $20-$25, individual issues sell for around $5.
Do your eyes a favor.
BOOK OF THE WEEK: TWO-WAY TIE!
SPREAD #1 (2014, IMAGE)
Why: Under ordered Image #1 Print Run: NA
Juice: This Image #1 has had some hype for a few months now with a great creative team and story behind it, seems like a no-brainer but even still this issue was under ordered. Retailers sometimes won’t gamble on every new Image title so some slip by under ordered, the book was sold out at the distributor level, and this issue wasn’t available for return. All these factors are right for a hit book, so far it has been selling for $7.
Price: Find this for cover!
Honorable Mention: There is a convention preview that has a yellow cover which was printed to 50, there is only one listed right now and it is passed $50 already. The regular convention teaser has only 200 copies printed! Thank you Tony from CHU for the info.
Scoop these immediately before the prices go through the roof. There are also two store variants: a Phantom which is a cover swipe of Lone Wolf & Cub and a Third Eye variant by Simon Roy which is a cover swipe of Walking Dead #19. The second print coming out soon and the cover = the best.
ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #0 (1992, VALIANT) GOLD LOGO
Why: Optioned for movie, 1st appearance of title characters Print Run: NA
Juice: This series has been optioned for a feature film! Script is done and looks like the next steps are being taken to develop this property, it is based on current run by Fred Velente. #1 has several variants: two regular covers then a few 1: variants. The big ones of the bunch are the Neal Adams 1:00 variant and the gold incentive cover.
Archer & Armstrong #0 (1992, Valiant) Gold Logo is going to be a monster, get on this ASAP. It is also the 1st appearance of the title characters.