Although Beyonder may have taken the top spot, the Ninja Turtles were making impressive waves of their own. Riding on Mutant Mayhem’s coattails, TMNT keys were hot items. That had buyers turning to a modern classic, The Last Ronin #1. The real attention grabbers, though, were two massive Marvel firsts that made huge gains despite their holy grail price tags.
Before we jump into this week’s movers and shakers, let’s get all the newcomers to the blog up to speed. The Hottest Comics index ranks the 100 best-selling issues across eBay. Using the most famous of auction sites’ data, this list is based strictly on sales volume, not fair market values. As the data is updated daily, the rankings are reordered based on the current sales figures. Take this as a snapshot with some insight on the current buying trends.
With that out of the way, on with the show.
30. MARVEL SUPER-HEROES SECRET WARS #1 (+56)
As expected, Secret Wars #1 has skyrocketed just a week after it was the Coldest Comic of them all. After taking a dip in the deep end and settling on the 86th position, The Beyonder’s first appearance has rebounded by almost 60 spots. It’s also inching closer to eBay’s top-20 best-selling comics, something that is within reach. In fact, it is likely to reach that mark by next week.
To recap from the Coldest Comics blog, buyers have made Secret Wars #1 a priority for two reasons: The Beyonder and the upcoming Avengers films. Again, the animated and live-action sectors of the MCU are connected, so casting Beyonder in Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur possibly had larger implications. Thus, buyers began stocking up on the Marvel god’s first appearance in SW #1. Then came last year’s San Diego Comic-Con when Kevin Feige confirmed the titles for the next two Avengers films, The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars.
Collectors and investors are crossing their fingers that Beyonder will be part of the Secret Wars movie. Longtime comic readers know that he is an integral part of the SW plot. The trouble is, we are talking about Marvel Studios. Only recently, Secret Invasion director Ali Selim revealed that he was specifically instructed not to read the comics. Of course, Marvel Studios hasn’t been secret about its disdain for, well, Marvel Comics. That doesn’t bode well for Avengers: Secret Wars including The Beyonder. For that matter, odds are the movie will have next to nothing in common with any version of the Secret Wars comics.
45. THE LAST RONIN #1 (+45)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem has been winning over audiences left and right since it debuted in theaters last week. Once again, the TMNT franchise has been reinvented for a new generation, and it’s already getting a sequel. Add it up, and that has made those Ninja Turtles keys prime targets for collectors and investors everywhere.
While those 1980s TMNT issues are the first order of business, the modern Turtles issues are getting their share of attention as well. That large spotlight is enough to include one of the best TMNT stories ever published, The Last Ronin. The Ninja Turtles’ answer to The Dark Knight Returns, this is a title that is stripped of the comedy. Instead, we get a mature tale of revenge and grief as Michelangelo is the only surviving Turtle after his brothers were murdered by the Foot Clan. Instead of Shredder, it’s his grandson, Oroku Hiroto, who lords over 2040 New York City.
Last Ronin has been hugely popular since its release in 2020. Considering the Ninja Turtles’ enduring popularity, it had fans asking for a Last Ronin adaptation. Thanks to Mutant Mayhem’s box office success, that talk has resurfaced. Whether or not we’ll get that movie is anyone’s guess, but it’s been enough to keep the first issue climbing the sales charts.
48. FANTASTIC FOUR #48 (+43)
There’s a hot rumor that Marvel Studios is looking to cast Galactus for the Fantastic Four’s MCU premiere. If the gossip is true, the fact that Feige wants to cast a person in the role means the cloud from Fox’s Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer could finally be put to rest. Will we see the giant purple helmet? That’s the real question.
Although Marvel’s stronghold on the box office has been loosening, the appeal of The Devourer of World’s first appearance has risen thanks to the movie rumor. Actually, audiences have been crossing their fingers for Galactus since Thanos turned to dust in Endgame. Many fans pointed to the cosmic entity as the next linchpin villain to threaten the entire MCU. That gave FF #48 sporadic boosts since then.
There’s no arguing that FF #48 is a holy grail collectible. That means it’s always in demand no matter the movie news. Factoring in a potential MCU casting only raises the stakes, which is directly reflected in the Hottest Comics index.
36. FANTASTIC FOUR #49 (+37)
It’s fitting that FF #49 would follow on the heels of its predecessor. Let’s not forget that FF #50, which completed the Galactus Trilogy, reached the 100th position this week as well.
No, FF #49 is not necessarily a holy grail (although that is a subjective term), and it has long been caught in the shadow of FF #48. With the added attention for Galactus’ possible arrival in the MCU, it could give the issue a boost. This may not be his debut, but you get his first cover and second appearance in one comic.
Don’t forget, this issue also marked the Silver Surfer’s second appearance and first cover as well. That makes it twice as important to get your hands on this issue. After all, with rumors of Galactus’ casting, it stands to reason that the Surfer would be next on the to-do list. Once he is added to a live-action film, this issue will have a rocket attached to it.
In recent years, collectors have been turning more of their attention to FF #49. Since FF #48’s prices are astronomical, it’s only natural that many buyers would aim for the next best thing. That has increased prices for every grade, making this anything but a cheap pickup. Still, it doesn’t compare with those of FF #48.
15. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #129 (+25)
Maybe The Punisher’s comic debut didn’t have the eye-catching numbers of Secret Wars or Last Ronin, but this was truly a standout in a crowded field. ASM #129 fell to 40th only 10 days ago. However, this perennial favorite rebounded in grand fashion, grabbing 25 spots to get back into the top-20 Hottest Comics.
What makes that such an impressive feat is ASM #129’s holy grail status. This famous issue marked the first time readers caught a glimpse of Frank Castle, and he also got to take over the cover art. That alone makes this a pricey addition to your collections. With Jon Bernthal confirmed to reprise his Punisher role in Daredevil: Born Again, it has made those values even further out of reach for budget-minded buyers.
Anytime an issue like ASM #129 or FF #48 make huge gains in the sales department despite their holy grail price tags, it’s worth noting. Usually, expensive grails get passed over in favor of more cost-efficient modern keys with strong upsides. To see both these comics blistering the Hottest Comics is a testament to the characters’ endearing popularity with buyers and their potential to make an impact on the current MCU product.
