Akira #1 CGC 9.6
Katsuhiro Otomo's post-apocalyptic cyberpunk manga changed the way Westerners viewed anime and manga. Yet before the movie was released, there was the manga. Akira was released stateside by Marvel under the Epic imprint in a Western comic format. This would become the norm for translated manga in North America for years until publishers started releasing graphic novels in lieu of 32-page floppies.
Akira came with a cover price of $3.50 -- a whole $2 more than the average American comic. Akira was a game-changer and is still recognized to this day as one of the best to come out of Japan.
Interest in single-issue Akira comics has started to rise. Talks of a live-action Akira had been buzzing since I entered 8th grade in 1999 (though it likely started beforehand). This CGC blue-label 9.6 features white pages and a bleak cover. The one-year average for similar examples is $168, with prices trending up. This is a great time to get an affordable key issue before interest really takes off.
Iron Man and Sub Mariner #1 CGC 7.5
With the Sub Mariner firmly in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we can now look at books that have speculator potential. Iron Man and Sub Mariner pre-date both the Siler Age The Sub Mariner #1 as well as Iron Man #1. While the two don't meet on the pages of the comic, this is still an overlooked key by new collectors.
We will see Namor in more MCU movies, the future of Iron Man is still up in the air. While the Iron Man we grew to love did die in Avengers: End Game, we all know there are multiple worlds in Marvel. Chances are high that we will see an Iron Man from another Earth in the future.
This CGC blue label 7.5 features off-white pages and an exciting cover. There are a little over 4,000 of these graded on the census, with 3,819 receiving a blue label. The current one-year average on similar examples is $341, but prices are trending down. The current 30-day average is $264. Prices will most likely start to rise, so if you're looking for a time to buy this is it.
The Tick #1 CGC 9.4
From a personal perspective, The Tick is one of the most enjoyable characters in comic books. Since his 1986 appearance in the New England Comics Newsletter, the character would go on to become a popular yet still somewhat unknown superhero.
Thanks to the early 90s animated show, the early 2000s live-action show, and the downright phenomenal Amazon show staring Peter Serafinowics as The Tick and Griffin Newman as Arthur (and yes, I still want more of that series), more people do know of The Tick. This issue of The Tick #1 is a reprint of Tick Special Edition #1 with some additions added in.
This CGC blue label 9.4 has off-white pages and a beautiful black cover. The one-year average for similar examples is $270, making this an affordable piece for Tick fans. By comparison, a CGC blue label 9.8 has a one-year average of $1,499. While interest in this comic will rise and fall unpredictably, this is a great book for collectors -- if you're of the investment mindset, I would hold out for a higher-grade copy.
