What are the Hottest Comics? Using eBay’s data, these are the 100 best-selling single issues across the biggest auction site of them all. These rankings are based strictly on sales and not fair market values.
USUAL SUSPECTS
If you took the time to dig through the entire Hottest Comics rankings, you may notice a few missing pieces from today’s list. Those would be members of the Usual Suspects, and they were well represented this week.
The Usual Suspects are the most frequent visitors to either the Hottest or Coldest Comics blogs. With those numerous appearances, there’s not much to say about these comics that hasn’t been said multiple times. This time around, we have four standouts that made huge gains, but those will likely be reversed in short order. Still, it’s worth noting these always-popular issues:
28. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #361 NEWSSTAND (+31)
36. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #363 (+47)
42. X-MEN, VOL. 2, #1 BEAST VARIANT (+51)
THE HOTTEST COMICS
43. WOLVERINE #8 (+52)
Deadpool 3 may have been delayed, but that hasn’t slowed the sales for Wolverine’s key issues. Although it didn’t make today’s list, his first appearance in Hulk #180 gained 20 spots this week, the holy grail Hulk #181 ranked a healthy 26th, Wolverine #1 from 1981’s limited series came in at sixth, and 1988’s Wolverine #1 was a respectable 13th. None of those could match the veracity with which buyers were grabbing copies of Wolverine #8.
Typically, it’s first appearances that get collectors and investors hot on the trail of a key issue. Wolverine #8 doesn’t have any firsts to speak of, but it does have iconic cover art. That keeps it a staple of any good Wolverine collection. For that matter, it’s a great Hulk collectible, what with the Mr. Fixit persona next to Logan. Of course, 1980s pop culture fans will recognize the famous pose. In a tribute to the Arnold Schwarzenegger/Danny DeVito comedy, Twins, we have Wolverine and Mr. Fixit as worthy stand ins.
What could have Wolverine #8 so high on wish lists? Since Hugh Jackman is bringing Wolverine to the MCU via Deadpool 3, it raises questions about seeing Logan meet the Hulk. There are no rumors of Mark Ruffalo appearing in the movie, but it’s not out of the question that it could happen. Don’t forget that when Jackman announced his “retirement” from playing Wolverine, the actor mentioned that he would be interested in reprising the role to face Hulk on the silver screen. With so much hype for that potential meeting, Ryan Reynolds and company may just troll the audience for fun.
45. SUB-MARINER #1 (+51)
Namor has returned to reclaim his standing in the Hottest Comics. After falling to the 96th spot, it was dangerously close to disappearing from the top-100 best sellers altogether. Just like the tide, Sub-Mariner #1 was due for a rise, and it nearly took it to the top of the movers and shakers this week.
Dating back to the first rumors of Namor making his live-action debut, collectors and investors were stockpiling copies. This happens to be Submariner’s first self-titled series of the Silver Age after he arrived on the scene to torment the Fantastic Four. Buyers immediately took aim at his S.A. gems since his Golden Age keys are too pricey for the average collectors. Once he was confirmed for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it blew the roof off those FMVs.
Since Wakanda Forever is in the rearview mirror, it’s taken the spotlight off Namor, but that is only temporary. We’ve not seen the last of Namor in the MCU, and that will only add to this issue’s collectability.
56. BATMAN #497 (+38)
There’s been a hot rumor for over a year that Bane is due to return to live action. The last time we saw him on the silver screen, Tom Hardy brought him to life for The Dark Knight Rises. Since then, Hardy’s odd Bane voice has become the stuff of internet comedy with memes galore. The ‘roid-ragin’ luchador could use a makeover, and this could be an opportune time.
With The Batman: Part II still in development, there is a chance we will see Bane in that film. There have been plenty of theories to just that since Matt Reeves’ The Batman hit theaters a year ago. Even if we don’t see him in that movie, he could arrive in The Brave and the Bold or a future DCU Batman flick. Suffice to say, one way or another, the odds are good that we’ll see Bane on the silver screen.
That possibility puts an added emphasis on owning those Bane keys. Although it’s not his first appearance, Batman #497 is by far the character’s most iconic cover and moment. In this issue, Bane broke Bruce Wayne’s back across his knee, thus living up to his wrestling-inspired costume. It is a favorite from the 1990s, and the comic never seems to lose its appeal to collectors.
31. FANTASTIC FOUR #49 (+26)
Marvel Studios has been in business for 15 years now, and the list of characters walking from the page to the screen keeps growing. At this point, it’s easier to name the superheroes that haven’t made it to the MCU than those who have. That leaves fewer classic characters for fans to anxiously wait to see arrive in live action. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some highly anticipated characters with MCU written all over them. Two of those happen to be the Silver Surfer and Galactus.
Now that Namor has been added to the MCU and with the Fantastic Four movie on the slate, it has led to an infinite number of Surfer and Galactus theories. That has in turn caused huge spikes for the original Galactus Trilogy, specifically FF #48-50.
For years, FF #48 overshadowed every other Silver Surfer key. Because of those huge price tags for that holy grail, it sent more buyers to the sunny shores of FF #49. This may not be either character’s debut, but it marks their first cover appearances. In Galactus’ case, it’s his first full appearance. Those are two great reasons to own a copy. Even better are the prices. While the values have been increasing in recent years, it’s still far below those of their predecessors.
19. MARVEL SUPER-HEROES SECRET WARS #1 (+20)
Ever since last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Secret Wars #1 has been a hot collectible. Actually, it began heating up when The Beyonder was confirmed for the animated Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. When Kevin Feige revealed that the final movie of Phase Six will be Avengers: Secret Wars, it went to a new level as buyers immediately began clamoring for this comic.
In the past year, SW #1 has solidified itself inside the top 50 week after week. Sure, it may ebb and flow like practically every other key, but it always comes roaring back. What keeps buyers taking to eBay for this issue? Not only is it the first comic to bear the Secret Wars title, but it gave readers their first look at The Beyonder. Okay, maybe not a “look” per se; all anyone saw of him was a ball of light, but that godly disco ball did speak. That’s enough to call it his first appearance.
Given Marvel Studios’ record for avoiding comic book storylines, it’s unlikely we will see a true adaptation of Secret Wars. Still, there could be a version of The Beyonder in the film, but it’s all in the air at this point.
