Spider-Man, Star Wars, and even Wolverine fell out of favor with collectors this week. In the last 10 days, they all shuddered from the secondary market’s cold shoulder. Fear not because these issues all have the potential to rebound in due time. For some, that could be as soon as next week.
What precisely is the Coldest Comics blog all about? The five issues listed below lost the most ground of any comics in eBay’s 100 best sellers. Including both raw and graded varieties, the Hottest Comics index tracks the sales volume for all comics being sold on the legendary auction site. Keep in mind that it’s all about the number of copies sold rather than the fair market values.
With that out of the way, it’s time for a closer look at this week’s five movers and shakers.
90. WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #1 (-69)
Just as we go to bed each night confident that the sun will rise in the morning, so can we rest assured that Web of Spider-Man #1 will make a rebound. This issue has been dangerously close to being a Usual Suspect as it is no stranger to either blog post. For the time being, we’ll leave it off that particular list.
What makes this issue such a must-have collectible is twofold. First, it’s the premiere issue of Spider-Man’s third solo series, following in the footsteps of Amazing Spider-Man and Spectacular Spider-Man. There’s no doubt that a fourth MCU Spider-Man flick is in the works, and Marvel Studios will likely move away from the "Homecoming" brand. If the studio opts for either Spectacular Spider-Man or Web of Spider-Man for a title, it will impact those particular first issues.
The other part of the equation is much more fun: the Black Suit Saga. This is one of Spider-Man’s most popular stories that culminated in the creation of Venom, which led to all the other symbiotes in the Marvel Universe. After Eddie Brock left a piece of Venom behind in Spider-Man: No Way Home, it has comic readers thinking Peter Parker will bond with the symbiote. That puts anything connected to the Black Suit Saga on the radar. It just so happens that this issue marked the first time Spidey realized the suit was sentient and trying to control him.
97. STAR WARS: HEIR TO THE EMPIRE #1 (-63)
Despite a massive drop in sales over the past 10 days, this issue has so much going for it. Based on the novel by Star Wars legend Timothy Zahn, this was the first story that ventured beyond the original movie trilogy. It laid the groundwork for many books to follow, most of which were declared non-canonical after Disney purchased the LucasFilm intellectual properties. While Heir to the Empire may not be official Star Wars canon anymore, it remains highly influential.
The most obvious reason to own this issue is for Thrawn’s first appearance. He has long been a favorite among Star Wars fans, and he finally made his animated debut in Star Wars: Rebels. After a name drop in The Mandalorian, he was confirmed for Ahsoka, which sent Heir to the Empire #1 to the top of the sales charts. Now that we’ve seen him in live action courtesy of the show’s trailers, it has reignited those fires.
There’s more to owning Heir to the Empire #1 than just Thrawn’s debut. In recent months, Dave Filoni has reportedly signed on to write and direct a Star Wars spinoff film. Although nothing has been made official, the rumor is that he is keen to use Heir to the Empire as his source material. Considering the events of the sequel trilogy, it would be impossible to have a straight adaptation. However, including elements of such a popular story in his Star Wars film will be enough to get collectors on the hunt for Heir #1.
80. G.I. JOE, A REAL AMERICAN HERO #1 (-47)
Somehow, Cobra is behind this. The Real American Hero dropped by nearly 50 spots in the sales charts since last week, and it could have investors shying away from G.I. Joe #1 in the short term. Over the long haul, this issue has profits written all over it.
There was a time when the cartoon and toy tie-in comics were relegated to the dollar bins. During the 1970s and ‘80s, Marvel published a slew of television, movie, and toy adaptations. Everything from Transformers and ROM to The Get Along Gang and Welcome Back, Kotter, got their own comic books. With no ties to the canonical Marvel Universe, these weren’t exactly prized possessions among the collecting crowd for decades. Over the last few years, a shift occurred, and suddenly titles like G.I. Joe and Thundercats became collector’s gold.
Much of this is due to the wave of nostalgia-inspired movies and television shows. Stranger Things in particular has created an obsession with ‘80s pop culture among younger audiences. No doubt that was a factor in Hasbro’s decision to pull the trigger on a Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover movie. Between the nostalgia and the upcoming movie, it’s made for a hot G.I. Joe #1 market. That inevitably means higher prices, and that could be why it dipped this week.
72. INFINITY GAUNTLET #1 (-46)
For seven years, Infinity Gauntlet #1 was among the hottest comics in all of collecting. With the post-credits scene after 2012’s Avengers, anything directly connected to Thanos was on fire. Next to his first appearance in Iron Man #55, Infinity Gauntlet #1 was the go-to key for the Mad Titan.
Bit by bit, Marvel expertly teased Thanos’ assault on Earth and its heroes. When we finally got to see him in all his glory on the big screen, it made for one of the MCU’s best films, Infinity War. It led to some of the most crowd-pleasing moments in all of cinema when Thanos fought basically every MCU superhero in Endgame. That made for high prices for those Mad Titan keys.
Like all villains, Thanos’ time came to an end, and those inflated price tags began to waver. In the four years since Endgame, the Thanos keys will have the occasional spike, but it’s nothing like before. The lower values have been a boon for collectors, and that would explain the most recent jump for Infinity Gauntlet #1. While it’s lost that momentum in the past 10 days, there is a chance for a rebound. This is an ever-popular issue, and Zombie Thanos held the Gauntlet with all six Infinity Stones in What If…?. That could lead to a plot line for the Marvel Zombies cartoon that’s on the horizon.
62. WOLVERINE #8 (-38)
There is so much potential for comic references in Deadpool 3. Given the film is now under the Disney auspices, there’s no telling what we’ll get, but Ryan Reynolds and company have proven they can be trusted with the Merc with a Mouth. Since Hugh Jackman will be reprising his role as Wolverine, we can be sure Deadpool will take a few shots at comic book lore. That could very well include what fans have been dying to see: Hulk versus Wolverine. The allure of seeing those two characters share the silver screen, if only for a moment, will have buyers drooling over their early encounters.
Given that Incredible Hulk #181 is among the holiest of grails, budget-minded collectors have to switch targets. That puts comics like Hulk #340, with its fantastic cover art, and Wolverine #8 firmly in the crosshairs. While the latter is down at the moment, don’t think it will stay in the dumps for long. Besides a Wolverine/Hulk encounter, this issue remains popular for the Twins-inspired cover, making it a staple of Wolverine collections everywhere.
