Here at the Hottest Comics, it’s all about those dollar signs. Before you assume we’re discussing only the eye-popping price tags, let’s take a moment to review. Using data straight from eBay, the grandfather of all auction sites, the Hottest Comics ranks the 100 best-selling issues from any collecting era. Instead of judging these comics by fair market values, this list is all about the sales volume.
What you will find below are the five issues that have made the most gains over the past 10 days. Keep in mind that the market numbers are being updated daily. Take this as a snapshot as the rankings will change between the time of writing and the publication date.
Which issues had the market on notice this week? More importantly, why were they ascending so quickly? It’s time for a little analysis.
36. SUB-MARINER #1 (+52)
Not even the power of Taylor F’n Swift could withstand the sheer Speed-O might of Namor the Submariner. Flexing in his uncomfortably small swimming trunks, his most popular Silver Age key had buyers drooling this week. He wasn’t able to keep Dazzler’s first appearance off the mountaintop, but Sub-Mariner #1 made the most noise out of all 100 Hottest Comics.
What’s got this classic issue on the hot seat? It’s been a common topic for years that Marvel Studios can’t give Namor his own solo movie, so that’s not the likely culprit. Still, we all know the ocean master will return to the MCU. With the Fantastic Four movie on the calendar, he could show up there. After all, when Submariner debuted in Marvel’s Silver Age, he was an FF villain with his eye on Sue Storm. The word on the internet is that Invisible Woman will be the focus of FF, and Namor could be tossed into the mix to cause a rift between her and Mister Fantastic.
The other factor at work is that Sub-Mariner #1 is a perennial favorite among collectors regardless of the MCU. Since his early keys are all high-priced Golden Age collectibles, it makes this 1968 issue a worthy substitute. Between that and the MCU potential, collectors have plenty of reason to want Sub-Mariner #1 in their stashes.
25. UNCANNY X-MEN #130 NEWSSTAND EDITION (+40)
Initially, I was going to combine the two UXM #130s into one listing. Then I remembered what the Swifties did to Ticketmaster, and I changed my mind. Those people can get organized in a hurry, and I am sure they are all anxiously awaiting their comic book market update. If both issues are listed, there could be hell to pay…or just a lot of tweets or whatever Elon Musk calls them these days.
Seven years ago, Taylor Swift showed up on the set of X-Men: Apocalypse. Just one picture of the pop icon with the film’s stars was enough to spark rumors that Swift would play the X-Men’s own disco queen, Dazzler. Deadpool 3 has been generating nonstop gossip about potential cameos, and the word is Swift will follow in Channing Tatum’s footsteps and finally live the superhero dream. Neither Swift nor anyone from Marvel or the Deadpool 3 crew have commented on the reports, so take it with a grain of salt.
True or not, the speculation has driven UXM #130 to the top of the sales charts. Climbing in rapid fashion is the coveted newsstand edition. Generally regarded as the first variant, these were sold to the general public alongside basic newspapers and magazines. Where comic shop owners and serious collectors treated the merchandise with care, those newsstand editions were manhandled. Very few made it to the shelves without dings and bends, thus the rarity for high-grade issues. To own a hot first appearance newsstand that grades in the near-mint range automatically means large price tags.
48. AVENGERS ANNUAL #10 (+39)
With the rate Avengers Annual #10 rebounded, it is nearly worthy of a spot on the Usual Suspects. Not familiar? That’s my pet name for the key issues that never quite go out of fashion, but they’re not exactly hot, either. They are the frequent fliers of the collecting world, constantly moving up and down the rankings week after week with little rhyme or reason.
It was only a week ago that Rogue’s first appearance was sandwiched between the end pieces of the Coldest Comics. The possible reason for its descent came from The Marvels. Speculators hopped aboard the Rogue bandwagon when she was first rumored to be the film’s main antagonist. When that news was refuted, it put Avengers Annual #10 on the collecting backburner.
The saving grace will likely be the X-Men. As fans wait for word on the team’s full arrival into the MCU, there are plenty of theories regarding the possible lineup. Rogue and Gambit would be solid candidates, and that will keep buyers eying her first appearance. It doesn’t hurt that she will return in the X-Men: The Animated Series revival, X-Men ‘97, but there’s no comparison with the market impact of a live-action debut.
1. UNCANNY X-MEN #130 DIRECT EDITION (+35)
Swifties, I throw myself at your mercy. As a token of good faith, here’s more Taylor Swift mentions.
Maybe the direct edition didn’t climb quite as many spots as the newsstand, but that’s because it reached the summit of the Hottest Comics. After weeks of dominance from Spawn, Spider-Boy, and Spider-Man 2099 (sounds like an alliterative law firm), UXM #130 unseated the S-squad to take the number one position in the rankings. It’s all thanks to those Swift rumors, and Kevin Feige added fuel to the fire by saying he’s a fan of the pop star and Dazzler. Add it up, and that’s more than enough reason to inspire huge sales for the character’s premiere comic.
Compared to the newsstands, finding the UXM #130 direct editions in higher grades is no sweat. It’s still going to be a tick harder than getting your hands on a Modern Age near-mint key, but it’s not a rarity. After all, local comic shop owners and patrons took better care of their comics than those delivery drivers hauling newspapers and magazines to grocery stores and the like.
The fact that both editions of UXM #130 made today’s list is a testament to the power of Deadpool 3 rumors. There’s no short supply of gossip for that particular movie, but attaching Swift’s name elevates this tidbit to a new level of intrigue. The trick will be whether or not it’s enough to keep UXM #130 in the top spot.
21. UNCANNY X-MEN #221 (+33)
Speaking of X-Men ‘97, it would seem Mister Sinister will be the show’s featured villain. He’s been the subject of long-running speculation, and this could be the first step in his ascent to the mainstream consciousness.
Before Disney bought Fox and all its intellectual properties, the former Nathan Essex was being teased as the X-Men films’ linchpin villain. Actor Jon Hamm has said he was approached about playing the part, and there’s nothing saying he couldn’t bring the character to life in the MCU. With that possibility floating in the ether, it raised eyebrows when Sinister was moved away from the X-Men and became more of an Avengers threat with the Sins of Sinister event.
Between X-Men ‘97 and Sins of Sinister, Marvel clearly has plans for Nathan Essex. Will that eventually lead to him finally getting his live-action spotlight? Only time will tell, but the tantalizing possibility is enough to keep buyers interested in Sinister’s first appearance in UXM #221.
