In today’s age of comic collecting and investing, the true king of the secondary market is the silver screen. Whether it’s a rumor of a movie or a theatrical release, nothing sends buyers to the auction sites quite like a film. Across the Spider-Verse opened to an impressive ovation from both audiences and critics alike, and that put several issues at the top of the Hottest Comics. In the fast-paced world of Hollywood, that’s old news. Thus, a few Spider-Verse keys experienced a drop in sales over the past 10 days.
Lest we forget, it’s time for your weekly reminder about the Hottest Comics rankings. These are the 100 best-selling comics across eBay. Keep in mind, the fair market values may be the attention grabbers, but this is all about sales volume. The index also includes both raw and graded issues, so you get a comprehensive view of buying trends.
What you find in the Coldest Comics are the five comics that lost the most ground over the past 10 days. Does that mean you should abandon hope if you own any of these titles? Absolutely not, but it does give you a snapshot of what issues are taking a backseat in the quest for market dominance.
91. SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #98 (-68)
Well, that didn’t take long. Only three weeks after Across the Spider-Verse took over the box office mountain, those key issues have already begun to take a tumble. Of course, that’s nothing unexpected. Even for the most popular of movies, the investment speculation wanes in the aftermath of the film’s premiere.
With Spot set for a major on-screen moment in Beyond the Spider-Verse, his key appearances are due for a rebound next year. For now, both his first appearance in Spectacular Spider-Man #98 and his cover debut in Spectacular #99 were on the collecting backburner.
When it comes to Across the Spider-Verse, Chris Miller and Phil Lord have proven they not only understand Spider-Man, but they also know what to do with the villains. In Spot, the duo did the unthinkable and turned a comically bad character into a full-fledged threat to the entire Multiverse.
A big confrontation between Spot and Miles is brewing, and that will send buyers back on the trail of both Spectacular Spider-Man #98 and #99. For now, the dip could be a boon for speculators as the prices will likely drop as well. That should make for an opportune time to strike.
99. DARTH VADER #3 (-59)
Buyers don’t seem to know what to do with those Star Wars keys. For the past three weeks, one or more Star Wars comics have fallen on either the Hottest or Coldest Comics blogs. This week, we have the rapid decline of Darth Vader #3 that puts an exclamation point on the yo-yo effect we are seeing.
Being the first appearance of Doctor Aphra, it’s clear why investors and collectors hold this modern key in high regard. Most fans are certain that she is bound for the live-action galaxy far, far away, whether that is on a movie screen or on Disney Plus. In either case, she will be a popular addition to Star Wars, and it will send collectors on a sprint to the auction sites for DV #3. That is exactly why it is a frequent flier on the Hottest Comics index.
The trouble is the same that befalls many other key issues: a lack of news. Nothing has been written about Doctor Aphra in regard to her potential arrival on the screen. While it’s easy to assume that she will be part of things at some point, there are more important buying priorities on the market. It explains why DV #3 can jump 40 positions last week only to fall 59 days later. Such is the secondary market.
60. ULTIMATE FALLOUT #4 SECOND PRINT (-44)
Certainly, Spider-Man 2099 #1 remained atop the collecting mountain as the top-selling comic on eBay. However, many of the other Spider-Verse keys were on the way down. Following Spot’s first appearance, we have the debut of Spider-Miles in Ultimate Fallout #4. While the first print was holding steady in the top 10 comics, the second print took a mighty tumble to the 60th overall position.
The prices for all those Miles keys have been at a premium for the better part of two years. The UF #4 first print averaged over $2,600 with a record high of $4,499 in 2022, which has made the second print a much more appealing option. By no means does that imply this is a cheap pickup; after all, last year’s fair market value was just shy of $500. Still, that is much easier on your budget than the coveted first printing.
Like those Spot keys, there’s no reason to believe any of Miles’ key issues will remain on the backslide for too long. At the moment, buyers are shifting their gazes (and dollars) toward other priorities, but it’s only a matter of time before these issues rise again. The UF #4 second print could easily land on the Hottest Comics next week.
59. ULTIMATE COMICS: SPIDER-MAN #1 (-41)
Speaking of Miles Morales, here’s another expensive key that has hit the skids this week. Next to UF #4, Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #1 has been the go-to target for Spider-Miles collectors worldwide. Speculators pounced on any of the early Miles appearances, driving the market to record highs in the process. It left many of those key issues out of reach for the average collectors.
For the past two years, values have been astronomical for Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1. In 2021, the graded 9.8 hit a record high of $2,400. Last year, it eclipsed that mark in August when a copy sold for $3,000. It should be noted that it had been earning closer to $1k for a solid month before that particular sale, so the $3k price tag is most definitely an outlier. More recently, values have dropped from the $700 range in March down to $480 on June 20.
Although the values have dipped to more reasonable levels, this remains a pricey collectible. With the fires of Across the Spider-Verse having cooled, it has pushed collectors away from those high-dollar key issues. However, if you can score a 9.8 Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1 for under $500, that could prove to be a wise investment. Who knows? We could see 2022 values again once the live-action movie is released.
69. MOON KNIGHT #1 (-41)
Rounding out the bottom five this week is another frequent guest on either the Hottest or Coldest Comics blogs, Moon Knight #1. Although it doesn’t appear enough to be an official “Usual Suspect,” my nickname for issues that rise and fall on a near-daily basis, it is not uncommon to find this comic on one list or another. Only a few weeks ago, it was one of the movers and shakers with significant positions gained. In an instant, those spots are cast aside as buyers take a break from hunting down this key.
This issue is special because it marks the first self-titled series for one of Marvel’s most popular characters. Around the time that Marvel announced a Disney Plus show was in the works, collectors and investors couldn’t get enough Moon Knight. Whether it was his holy grail first appearance or his first solo adventure, anything and everything Bronze Age Moon Knight were hot items. Then the show premiered, and it left many fans a bit disappointed. That had a mighty impact on the values, and those MK keys took a downward turn.
Despite the lack of enthusiasm for the show, when news spread that Oscar Isaac would return as Moon Knight, it gave those same keys a quick boost. That interest drove sales across the secondary market, particularly for the cheaper of Marc Spector’s key issues, Moon Knight #1. Since there hasn’t been anything new on the MK front as of late, there’s not much incentive to grab any and all those collectibles in rapid fashion. However, once we know where MK will appear next in the MCU, that should send his keys back to the collecting forefront.
