Regardless of whether you love it or hate it, you can't deny that movies and pop culture in general still drives a large volume of comic book sales (if not values). If you believe James Gunn can turn around the DCU, it might be worth taking a look at some of the DCU-related books that PWCC has up for its weekly auction ending on July 16th.
PWCC is auctioning the first appearance of the Vigilante (who will appear again in the second season of Peacemaker), the first appearances of Cyborg (who appeared in both versions of Justice League), Starfire, and Raven (Starfire and Raven have appeared in Titans), and the first issue of the iconic storyline, The Dark Knight Returns, written and illustrated by Frank Miller.
New Teen Titans Annual #2 (D.C., 1983) CGC 9.6
Penciled by the late and great George Perez, New Teen Titans Annual #2 contains the first appearance of Adrian Chase as the Vigilante. Roughly a year and a half ago, this issue, a CGC 9.6 more specifically, peaked in terms of value selling for nearly $150. This was, of course, due to James Gunn's well-received Peacemaker show.
Personally, I thought that Freddie Stroma's Vigilante character stole every scene he appeared in, especially in the memorable scene where he ridicules the white supremacists in the prison.
Like many comics, the value of this book dropped precipitously post-comic boom. According to GoCollect, the FMV of a CGC 9.6 copy of this book is $90. Recent sales, though, have been in the $70 to $75 range. As reported by /Film last month, Peacemaker season two will be James Gunn's first priority after he completes Superman Legacy. If so, this could be a good time to pick up this minor Copper Age key while its value is down.
The current bid on PWCC as of Saturday, July 15th is $41.
DC Comics Presents Superman & Green Lantern #26 (D.C., 1980) CGC 9.6
I consider DC Comics Presents #26 to be an undervalued late Bronze Age key issue. In a market where value is driven primarily by first appearances of major characters, this issue features not one, but three first appearances: Raven, Starfire, and Cyborg. It also features the first team appearance in cameo of the New Teen Titans and was penciled by a legend: George Perez. Its value may be affected by its cover -- if Raven, Starfire, and Cyborg were featured on its cover, I think its safe to say that this book would be worth more.
At the height of the comic boom, a CGC 9.6 sold for an all-time high of $1,124. When the comic market bubble popped a year later, this book's value took a nosedive. If you're patient, you can probably get a copy for well under $500. While the New Teen Titans aren't currently on the DCU roadmap, we've already seen Cyborg, Raven, and Starfire in both versions of the Justice League movie and in Titans.
The current bid on PWCC as of Saturday, July 15th is $66.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 (DC 1986) CGC 9.6
One of the most iconic stories of all-time, Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns is credited with introducing readers to a grittier and more mature version of the hero. It also served as inspiration for some elements of Batman The Dark Knight Rises and Batman v. Superman Dawn of Justice.
Immediately prior to the comic boom of 2021, you could purchase a CGC 9.6 copy of this book for around $200. In March of 2021, it reached an all-time high of $431, more than doubling in value. Interestingly, however, unlike many books that plummeted in value when the comic market bubble burst, this book did a better job of holding onto its value. Recent sales of a 9.6 have been in the $300 range and the FMV according to GoCollect is $325.
The current bid on PWCC as of Saturday, July 15th is only $25.
Did any other items in PWCC's weekly auction catch your attention? Please let us know in the comments section below!
*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.