When it comes to the Hottest Comics, things can change in an instant, and they often do. From one day to the next, the rankings are in a state of constant flux. Hulk #181 is a great example of just that.
What are the Hottest Comics? Based on sales volume, these are the 100 best-selling single issues based on eBay sales data. Whether those were graded or raw copies, the fair market values are not factored into the rankings, but those dollar signs will inevitably be an underlying factor.
Here we have the five issues that gained the most ground based on the 10-day data.
19. INCREDIBLE HULK #181 (+62)
It was only a week ago that it made the Coldest Comics blog after losing a whopping 40 positions in the index. Like a bloodhound on the trail of an escapee, buyers were sniffing out those Hulk #181 deals across eBay. The end result is that it not only made up the ground it lost, but now it’s gained an extra 22 spots. For a comic with prices as high as this one, that is impressive.
Apparently, buyers had no problem stretching their budgets to get Wolverine’s first appearance in their collections. As I pointed out last week, even to nab a complete 0.5, you best be ready to pony up four figures. Let’s say you want a higher grade. If you don’t want to get into the $10k range, you’ll have to aim for the 9.0, which last sold for $9,133 only last week. If you don’t mind the missing Marvel Value Stamp, a qualified 9.0 drops the price to around $7,500 based on the most recent sales.
61. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 HUSTL. SKETCH EDITION (+31)
Not only can Eminem shift the needle on a Super Bowl halftime show, but he can cause ripples throughout the comic collecting world. Arguably the biggest name in rap from the 2000s, Slim Shady hasn’t lost his appeal, and his appearance on the cover of the most recent volume of ASM makes the case. Once again, we see the Hustl. edition gaining ground and hauling in huge sale prices to boot.
For the past few weeks, Eminem’s rap battle with Spider-Man (who knew he was a would-be rapper?) is still drawing plenty of interest on eBay. This week’s spotlight is on the sketch edition with the black and white crowd in the background, which is just a cool effect, honestly. Meanwhile, the regular Hustl. edition has fallen by 27 positions, dropping to the number 37 spot after making it all the way into the top 10. As is usually the case, the sketch editions have a smaller print run, thus making them more appealing to collectors and investors. Despite the standard cover taking a momentary dip, it’s not an indicator that this issue is cooling off. In fact, there’s an argument to be made that the Hustl. edition is the hottest modern variant on the market.
If you’re looking for graded copies, get ready to dig deep into your pockets. On average, the graded 9.8 pulls in around $1,300, but it has sold for as much as $3k this month. However, that could be market manipulation (shocker, right?), so let’s keep an eye on that to see if it’s a trend or an outlier. My guess is the latter.
22. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #316 (+22)
Week after week, there’s almost always a Venom key making noise on the secondary market. No matter how bad his movies may be — and we’re talking all the way back to Spider-Man 3. Will he ever get a legitimately good movie? — there’s never a lull in his popularity. Sure, the market will ebb and flow for even the most popular of characters, but the sinister symbiote remains one of the most reliable investments around.
ASM #316 has gained a larger following in the past couple of years. For a time, this was more of a nice addition to your Venom sets, but it wasn’t exactly a priority. Then the worm turned, and suddenly collectors were throwing large sums at higher grades of this classic Todd McFarlane cover.
What makes it so special? This issue marked the first full cover appearance for Venom. With increasing prices for his more famous keys, namely ASM #300, it sent buyers on a hunt for other options. That inevitably led them to the doorstep of ASM #316, which has one of the most iconic covers in the character’s history. Considering how popular he is with artists, that is a true testament to this issue’s appeal.
The prime target is, unsurprisingly, the graded 9.8, which will cost you around $650 on average. Downgrade that to a 9.6, and you can save yourself over $400 since that one usually sells for under $300.
4. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #365 (+14)
If two ASMs weren’t enough for you, we’ve got more to quench your Spidey thirst. I guess you could call this week’s Hottest Comics a Spider-Man thirst trap. (See? I can keep up with the trendy lingo.) Then again, none of these are gaining interest necessarily for Spider-Man in particular. Rather, it’s because of Venom and Spider-Man 2099, who just so happened to make his first appearance in a backup story as part of ASM #365.
The most impressive part of this issue is how high it ranked. With all the commotion about those Damian Wayne keys, Miguel O’Hara’s first appearance is still outperforming the Bat-kid. In the coming weeks, that could change, but collectors have always loved Spider-Man 2099. Here we have his debut, which was actually a preview of his first series from 1992. Since he is set to star in Across the Spider-Verse, it’s got buyers on his trail in a major way. This week, it moved into the top-five Hottest Comics, which is a tall feat considering the competition.
Just days ago, the graded 9.8 sold for as much as $80, but it’s still averaging only $63, which is quite affordable. There are still rumors that he could get his own live-action series on Amazon or Disney Plus. If that were to happen, then today’s prices would be a steal.
18. UNCANNY X-MEN #266 (+14)
This week was all about those reliable investment options. Wolverine, Venom, Spider-Man 2099, and then we add Gambit to complete the ensemble. It makes for a tried-and-true list of key issues, which is exactly what buyers are looking for in an ever-changing market.
When it comes to Gambit, it’s all about the speculation. We know the X-Men are coming to the MCU, and fans are demanding Remy LeBeau be included in the initial team. He appeared in the awful movie, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which also had the first live-action Deadpool. Considering that Deadpool 3 will explore the Multiverse in some fashion, not to mention that Ryan Reynolds enjoys poking fun at the horrible version of Wade Wilson featured in Wolverine, it stands to reason that Deadpool will visit that timeline to set things right. That could lay the path to Gambit even if only for a funny cameo. Who knows? That could usher Gambit into the MCU, which would ignite prices for UXM #266, which happens to be his first full appearance.
Speaking of prices, a graded 9.8 is actually down at the moment. For the past 12 months, it has had an FMV of $869. However, the last 30 days has seen it average $759, so this could be a good time to hunt down a copy if you’re so inclined.
