Oftentimes, the five biggest movers on the Hottest Comics index are not necessarily surprises. This week was a different story. There were several new faces on today's list, including the first appearance of an often forgotten DC Comics character who is getting her own live-action HBO Max series.
The Hottest Comics are the 1,001 best-selling single issues across auction sites. The index is based on sales volume and not fair market value. In today’s blog post, we rank the five comics that showed the most upward movement on the Hottest Comics ladder.
24. UNCANNY X-MEN #234 (+975)
A classic 1980s X-Men comic with an incredible and iconic cover took the top honors this week, establishing itself as the single hottest comic among all 1,000 challengers.
As far as collectibility, this issue built toward the original “Inferno” crossover between the X-Men books. In Uncanny X-Men #234, Madelyne Pryor began her transformation into Mister Sinister’s Goblin Queen. Since the attention in the X-Men universe is shifting toward the upcoming Inferno rehash, it could have collectors looking to pick up those 1980s Inferno tie-ins. With Madelyne’s involvement in the modern X-Men comics and Inferno approaching, it could be building toward a return of the Goblin Queen.
Another factor is that this issue featured the Brood, Marvel’s answer to the Xenomorphs in the Alien movie franchise. With Alien beginning its Marvel run, there could be a Xenomorph/Brood crossover in the future. Mike Mayhew even has a great Alien #1 variant that is a tribute to this particular cover art.
Two years ago, the 9.8 established a new high after selling for $230. That was obliterated this year when one copy sold for $350 in April. More recently, this comic is still consistently selling in the $200-$300 range. If we do see the Goblin Queen in the new Inferno, expect prices to get a quick lift.
29. X-MEN #100 (+971)
It was a great week for the Chris Claremont era of X-Men. With the buzz surrounding the newest incarnation of Inferno, the upcoming crossover sent ripples through the collecting world. It doesn’t hurt matters that the fandom is anxiously awaiting any news of when and how the X-Men will be introduced into the MCU.
X-Men #100 has always been a popular issue among X-fans. This was drawn in the era of pitting teams on opposite sides of the cover to tease a head-to-head clash stemming from the Silver Age artwork. Over the decades, this particular cover has been imitated and duplicated many times, and that helps to keep it ranking among the top of the X-Men keys. It doesn’t hurt that this issue gave readers the first battle between Stan Lee/Jack Kirby’s original team and Claremont’s all-new, all-different lineup. Since there is a new X-Men #1 on the horizon, could we see one more tribute to this cover? It wouldn’t be a surprise if it happens.
Like most of the other Bronze Age X-Men keys, #100 has been on a record-setting pace this year. At a 9.8, one copy earned $3,000 in May, more than doubling its average sale price from 2019. Earlier this month, a lowly 2.0 sold for $201, and that tells you everything you need to know about this book’s popularity.
51. THOR ANNUAL #6 (+949)
For years now, there have been rumors that Michael Korvac would be featured in an upcoming Marvel movie or at least a Disney+ series. While nothing has been confirmed on that front, there has been a lingering theory that Korvac will be cast as the villain in the Captain Marvel sequel, The Marvels. That has kept his early appearances at a premium as collectors and speculators alike wait for word on his MCU arrival.
In the comics, Korvac is a human who was imbued with cosmic powers that proved highly unstable. In his short existence, Korvac gave the Avengers a run for their money, and he would make for a worthy foe on the big screen. Sooner or later, Marvel Studios will include him in the live-action universe, and that will beef up the prices for both his first appearance and his second appearance in Thor Annual #6.
The highest grade sold so far in 2021 has been a 9.6. After averaging $125 a year ago, the most recent sale was for a record $260 on June 26. Likewise, a 9.4 broke its record high after selling for $145 on June 25 and 26. At this point, even a 9.0, which had been a $38 comic only two years ago, is bordering on triple digits.
53. DOORWAY TO NIGHTMARE #1 (+946)
Amidst all the talk of a Justice League Dark and Zatanna live-action series or movies, it is easy to overlook the other members of DC’s occult. That includes Madame Xanadu, who is set to star in her own HBO Max series from J.J. Abrams's Bad Robot production company.
Although Madame Xanadu’s first appearance will definitely see a boost from the news and when the series premieres, there is no comparison between the impact of DCEU versus MCU news. The latter has the edge by far in that category, but the HBO Max announcement has given collectors a reason to track down all grades of Doorway to Nightmare #1.
For those unfamiliar, Xanadu is a sorceress hailing from Arthurian times. She is the sister of Morgaine Le Fay and the mythical Lady of the Lake from King Arthur and Excalibur legends. She is closely tied to the supernatural characters Spectre and the Phantom Stranger. It stands to reason that we could see them appear in her HBO Max series.
Due to the rumors and speculation surrounding Madame Xanadu, Doorway to Nightmare #1 has been heating up for the past year. Last September, a 9.8 suddenly jumped from being a $400-$500 comic to selling for a then-record $1k. Now that the word has hit the internet, DTN #1 has shattered that previous high, breaking the $1k mark twice this year with a high of $1,200 set on June 7.
Don’t feel like parting with four figures for Madame Xanadu’s first appearance? Opt for the 9.6, which last sold for $500 on June 25. Even better is the 9.0. That one is still selling for under $200 at the moment.
57. UNCANNY X-MEN #153 (+942)
The top five hottest comics were crowded with classic X-Men titles this week. Rounding out today’s list is X-Men #153. What makes this issue special is that it features a solo adventure starring Kate “Kitty” Pryde, aka Shadowcat. In the modern comics, Kate Pryde has taken on a leadership role in the X-Men, and that fuels speculation that she will play a larger role in the X-Men once they reach the MCU.
This particular comic, with the Monty Python catchphrase, “And now for something completely different,” on the cover, is a side trip outside the typical X-tales of the time. Here, Shadowcat is in a fairy tale story with X-Men characters playing roles like pirates and wizards. Why this issue is suddenly so popular, I do not know. But it is always good to see the X-Men titles getting love from the collecting circles.
June has seen rising values for this issue. Earlier this month, the 9.8 set a new record high after selling for $175. On June 25, a 9.6 set a high of its own with a $76 sale. That means you can get a copy that displays great for almost $100 cheaper than the 9.8.
