Before we begin, it’s time for a review. So, class, who’s been taking notes?
The Hottest Comics are all about the sales volume, so forget about the eye-popping price tags for the moment. Taken straight from eBay, the figures are updated daily, giving you an NYSE-style approach to the world of comic book collecting and investing. For this blog, we’ll be looking at the 10-day numbers for the top-100 sellers.
The focus here is on the movers and shakers of the secondary market, meaning the five comics that gained the most ground compared to the past week and a half.
38. THE BATMAN ADVENTURES #12 (+52)
You can knock down Harley Quinn, but you can’t knock her out. Although Harley’s debut in The Batman Adventures #12 hit the skids last week, buyers catapulted it to the top of the movers and shakers. Not that anyone should be surprised by that.
Since Harley was introduced via Batman: The Animated Series back in 1992, she has been on an upwards trajectory. Viewers immediately fell in love with the quirky character, and she was soon ushered into official DC canon. From there, the sky has been the limit. Once Margot Robbie brought her to life on the silver screen, Harley became a pop culture sensation, which is why there’s no shortage of Quinn costumes on Halloween.
As much as fans love Robbie’s Harley, Lady Gaga will be bringing even more attention to the character. She will star alongside Joaquin Phoenix in the musical sequel to The Joker. Gaga’s legions of “Little Monsters” will no doubt flood theaters to see their pop icon showing off her vocal range. Odds are, many of them are not comic fans, so Harley will be formally introduced to new audiences. That will only elevate her mainstream status which should translate into bigger sales for TBA #12.
While Harley’s first appearance is not on the level of, say, Ultimate Fallout #4, TBA #12 is a modern holy grail all the same. As the character becomes a bigger star of stage and screen, it will only enhance that grail status.
31. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #121 (+50)
There’s so much attention and speculation surrounding Spider-Gwen that it’s only natural for her most famous story to ascend the ranks.
Of course, this is the original Gwen Stacy from the Silver Age, and this is one of the most famous ASM story arcs ever published. It was here that Garry Conway gave Spider-Man his most heartbreaking story. After the Green Goblin kidnapped Gwen, he dropped her from a skyscraper. Spidey flung himself into action and did what he always does — used his web to start her fall. Goblin was expecting this, and he knew the recoil from Spider-Man’s web would be fatal. It ripped Peter’s soul from his body, and he would go on a path of revenge in the following issue. No more jokes and one-liners; he was out for blood. Just before he murdered Norman Osborn, Peter came to his senses, and the Goblin was unintentionally impaled on his own glider.
Gwen’s demise added depth to the Spider-Man character, but we all know death is never permanent in comics. She was resurrected multiple times over the years, usually as a clone, but it didn’t hit home with fans. Then came the alternate timeline Gwen who gained the spider powers rather than Peter. From there, a modern legend was born.
As we wait for Beyond the Spider-Verse and the Spider-Woman spinoff, the world is Spider-Gwen’s oyster. We will be seeing much more of her on the screen, and that will keep collectors and investors interested in those Silver Age Gwen keys.
34. WOLVERINE #8 (+48)
Maybe it’s the talk of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito supposedly getting together to rekindle their Twins magic. Maybe it’s the potential for Hulk and Wolverine to finally meet on the big screen. As much as Marvel/Disney loves its comedy, having the characters recreate this pose would be on brand for the MCU.
Whatever the reason, collectors and investors are expressing their love for Wolverine #8. This is a perennial favorite among the eBay users. The appeal here is all about the cover art. While it’s a popular issue, there’s nothing significant in the story itself aside from it being an early meeting between Wolverine and Hulk. On the plus side, that leaves fans with a fun issue that won’t break their budgets.
While everyone’s sites are set on Wolverine in the MCU, don’t overlook the importance of Wolverine’s upcoming game. Now that PlayStation’s Spider-Man 2 is ready for launch, the developers are able to give their full attention to Wolverine. There’s plenty of speculation that Hulk will be part of the game, and that could be another reason to own Wolverine #8.
41. BATMAN #423 (+41)
The Toddfather is back again.
It’s not a week here at the Hottest Comics without a Todd McFarlane key issue getting some attention. Typically, it’s his Spider-Man and Hulk comics and their stellar cover art that get the most love, and why wouldn’t they? Aside from the major character moments, Todd was on his game when he penciled those masterpieces. There are so many to choose from, and any collectors worth their salt have plenty of McFarlane comics stashed in their long boxes.
While he made his name at Marvel Comics, don’t forget that he did some impressive work at DC Comics first. Here we have his most famous DC cover art courtesy of Batman #423. Like Wolverine #8, there’s not much in the story that makes this a key issue. Still, buyers drool over Batman #423’s cover, and that is what solidifies its standing as a true key.
What could have it making such leaps and bounds this week? There’s no singular reason, but it could be related to The Batman 2. As the movie gossip heats up, it will inevitably send more buyers to eBay for Batman keys. With his Golden and Silver Age issues being so expensive, collectors turn their sights toward those Bronze, Copper, and Modern Age gems. Batman #423 being a standout makes it a go-to for fans.
18. INCREDIBLE HULK #181 (+37)
With so much love for Wolverine this week, having Hulk #181 included in today’s list was a fitting tribute to his enduring popularity.
As mentioned in previous blogs, it speaks volumes about an issue when it has holy grail prices and still manages to be one of the top sellers on eBay. Typically, the more budget-friendly keys have the bigger sales volume simply because they’re cheaper and easier to find in high grades. There are plenty of grails to be found on the Hottest Comics index, but they don’t necessarily rank at the top due to the massive price tags. Of course, that is part of the appeal of owning one — it’s exclusivity.
There’s no question that Hugh Jackman’s return as Wolverine is keeping all the Logan keys on the index. Although it’s not the true first appearance, Hulk #181 tops the wish lists. The cover art alone has become iconic, which is a boon for collectors. As we await Jackman to bring Wolverine to the screen, it will have more buyers looking to get their hands on this holy grail. We will see if prices can reach those 2021 numbers.
