It’s all about those movers and shakers in the land of comic book collecting. Here you will find the five issues that gained the most sales over the past 10 days. This is all based on the Hottest Comics index, where GoCollect tracks the 100 best-selling single issues on eBay.
Updated daily, these are the comics that had the highest sales volume. Although fair market value is always an underlying factor, it’s not the price tags that are in the spotlight. This is simply about the number of comics, whether raw or graded, that have actually traded hands on the auction site.
21. WAR OF THE REALMS: NEW AGENTS OF ATLAS #1 (+49)
Today is a historic day. This may be the first time in recorded history that anyone has ever written the next sentence. The world of K-Pop has influenced the secondary comic book market. You read that right; the Korean music genre has sent a key issue to the top of the sales charts. No, it’s not the international pop group BTS. Instead, the latest MCU rumor is tied to a different K-Pop act.
The word on the internet is that BLACKPINK’s Jennie Kim has been in talks with Marvel Studios to join the ranks of the New Agents of Atlas. The gossip has it that she could play the rather obscure character Luna Snow, who happened to debut in War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas #1. That helps explain why this issue jumped nearly 50 positions in 10 days.
This issue has been a favorite among speculators since the first rumors that the New Agents of Atlas would join the MCU shortly after WandaVision premiered on Disney Plus. What makes the team significant is that it is strictly made of Asian characters, including such notable names as Shang-Chi, Silk, Amadeus Cho, Sword Master, and Jimmy Woo. Besides their first group appearance, this issue also includes the debuts of the aforementioned Luna as well as Crescent and Io, Wave, and Aero. For those Sword Master fans, he made his first cover appearance here, so there’s an added bonus.
Will anything come from the rumors of Jennie Kim being cast as Luna? It’s too early to say, but it is plausible. She turned heads in HBO’s Idol, and Marvel/Disney does love its trendy young actors and pop stars, so this seems like a perfect pairing. That should keep New Agents of Atlas #1 climbing the sales charts in the coming weeks.
15. MOON KNIGHT #1 (+49)
There’s no keeping a good Moon Knight down. Shortly after falling prey to the Coldest Comics just last week, Marc Spector has returned with a vengeance. Moon Knight’s first self-titled comic has charged back to life, tying New Agents of Atlas #1 for the biggest mover and shaker across all of eBay.
As mentioned in previous blogs, Moon Knight #1 remains significant thanks to Marvel Studios’ confirmation that more adventures are in store. It’s not like anyone expected differently, but having Kevin Feige confirm the news is all buyers need to chase down those key issues. Given that Oscar Isaac is one of the hottest names in superhero cinema at the moment thanks to Across the Spider-Verse, it ups the ante for anything involving his return to the Marvel fold.
While MK’s other keys remain popular, 1981’s MK #1 sits atop that particular mountain. Much of this is due to price. To get your hands on even a graded 3.5 Werewolf By Night #32, be prepared to spend close to four figures. However, if you opt for Moon Knight #1, your investment is much easier on your budget. Hence, the higher sales figures for this issue as opposed to a holy grail.
28. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #298 (+38)
At one point in the not-so-distant past, ASM #298 was a regular at the bar known as the Hottest/Coldest Comics blogs. Whether it was gaining or losing positions on the index, this early Venom appearance found its way onto one of the two blogs. Such is the plight of the Usual Suspects, those issues that are constantly moving in large numbers across the Hottest Comics.
Here we have ASM #298 sliding up the ranks by nearly 40 spots. What could have this key on the move? It’s two fold. For one, you have the first appearance of Venom. Sure, he’s featured in a cameo, but it marks his true debut in Marvel Comics. Considering the character’s popularity, this will keep buyers on the trail of ASM #298 for many years to come. While it doesn’t compare to ASM #300 and Venom’s full premiere, that cameo will keep it on many wish lists.
The other factor here is Todd McFarlane. The massively popular creator and full-fledged celebrity made his mark on comic history when he took over drawing duties for Amazing Spider-Man. Here you have the start of his legendary run on the title, a run that would catapult him to superstardom. That alone is worth the price of admission for many Toddfather fans across the globe.
65. SUB-MARINER #1 (+34)
You would think that buyers would be a little hesitant when it comes to those Submariner keys. Actor Tenoch Huerta has been in the headlines lately after being accused of abuse, which he vehemently denies. Guilty or innocent, those types of accusations can get actors fired from major roles or at least put on hiatus until the case reaches court. In this case, it seems speculators and investors were still taking to eBay for this Namor key.
Of course, we are talking about one of the oldest characters in Marvel Comics history. After decades of waiting, he finally made his live-action debut just last year, and we are far from seeing the last of the Submariner and his people. With or without Huerta in the role, Namor is bound for more MCU screen time, and that makes his key issues a priority for many collectors.
Sub-Mariner #1 is significant for being the character’s first Silver Age solo series. When word first began to spread that he was coming to the MCU, this was the go-to collectible. His Golden Age appearances are out of reach for the majority of collectors, so naturally that leads to a hunt for Namor’s Silver Age keys. Next to his first SA appearance in Fantastic Four #4, there are none bigger than Sub-Mariner #1.
37. FANTASTIC FOUR #52 (+31)
Considering that Namor made his MCU debut in Wakanda Forever, it’s only fitting that Black Panther’s premiere issue landed on the Hottest Comics blog this week. Sure, T’Challa may have been written out of the MCU, but his legacy lives on. Shuri will continue to be Marvel’s live-action Black Panther for years to come, and she is likely to have a significant role in Phases Five and Six leading to the next Avengers flicks, The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars.
No matter what character wears the costume, FF #52 remains the one Black Panther key to rule all Black Panther keys. Certainly owning Shuri’s early appearances is a sound investment, but they don’t compete with FF #52. As such, we find this issue making gains while those modern BP keys are nowhere to be found…for now.
When Marvel announces the next BP project or gives clues as to where Shuri will next appear, her key issues will bounce back. For now, buyers were focused on FF #52, and it was climbing the ranks as it so often does.
*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.
