What are the Hottest Comics, anyway? Based on eBay, the kingpin of auction sites, these are the 100 best-selling single issues. The list includes both graded and raw varieties, and the rankings below are based on the past 10 days’ worth of sales. Bear in mind that the fair market values are not the focus here. Instead, these strictly deal in sales volume.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the five movers and shakers that gained the most ground over the last 10 days.
30. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #50 (+49)
I blame this one on Vincent D’Onofrio. Only days ago, the Wilson Fisk actor commented that Kingpin would eventually take down Spider-Man in the MCU. Granted, ASM #50 was already a popular buy, and D’Onofrio returning to the role for Daredevil: Born Again only put it back in the collecting spotlight. Factor in a potential crossover with Spider-Man, and Kingpin’s first appearance has a rocket strapped to it.
This week, ASM #50 shot through the ranks, leaping from the 79th position all the way to 30th. That is serious momentum for what was already an expensive comic. When an issue has an inflated price tag at holy grail levels, it is worth noting. For it to climb so high so quickly, that should have your full attention.
Pairing Kingpin and Spider-Man is only natural. Given that Fisk debuted in Amazing Spider-Man, the two were together from the beginning. Even after Kingpin was shifted more toward Daredevil, the villain had many more encounters with Spider-Man. Then there was the 1994 Spider-Man animated series with Kingpin serving as the show’s primary antagonist, and that likely cemented him with the webslinger for a generation of children.
Understanding that D’Onofrio’s comments seem to be simply his own thoughts and not necessarily those of Marvel Studios, it’s still such a tantalizing idea. Charlie Cox planted himself firmly in Spider-Man’s corner of the MCU with his No Way Home cameo, it is only logical that DD and Spidey will eventually team up. The easiest way to do that is by using Kingpin to bring the two into the same story with a common adversary. That makes Wilson Fisk one of the more important villains going forward, and it puts an added emphasis on grabbing a copy of ASM #50.
41. SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #1 (+41)
It’s not unusual for Spider-Man to dominate the Hottest Comics at any point in the year. Not only is he one of the most popular superheroes ever created, but Across the Spider-Verse has buyers on the prowl for anything tied to character and his many variants. To add to the fervor, fans are anxiously awaiting any sign of what’s to come for the live-action MCU Spider-Man franchise. That brings us to Spectacular Spider-Man #1.
This has been a periodically hot comic over the past year. Much of that has come from speculation that the fourth Tom Holland-led Spidey flick would be titled Spectacular Spider-Man. Whether or not that is even on the table, only Kevin Feige knows for sure. It doesn’t hurt that this is the second ongoing series starring Spider-Man. With such an important figure in the Marvel pantheon, getting your hands on all those classic first issues will be a wise investment over the long term.
31. DARTH VADER #3 (+40)
Those Star Wars comics had a resurgence this week. Only seven days ago, some of the better selling SW keys were falling on hard times. In particular, Star Wars #2, which featured the in-story debut of Obi-Wan Kenobi, took a tumble and landed on the Coldest Comics blog. Just when it seemed Star Wars may have finally been taking an icy shower, it comes roaring back to life. Not only did Darth Vader #3 gain 40 spots, but Star Wars #1 picked up over 20 itself. That’s a good sign for all you SW investors out there.
What makes DV #3 so special is Doctor Aphra. She is the Indiana Jones of the Star Wars universe. As the premiere archaeologist in the galaxy far, far away, she goes on wild adventures for treasures across the cosmos. In a relatively short amount of time, Aphra has amassed a large following that continues to grow. When Black Krrsantan made his famous premiere in The Book of Boba Fett, most fans were certain that she was incoming at any moment.
Here we are over a year later, and we are still waiting on Aphra to make her debut. Certainly, we will see her at some point in the future. With Ahsoka on the horizon, that could make for a suitable landing spot for the good doctor. As for now, we will have to keep our eyes on the news sites for any clues that she has been cast for live-action. It’s that potential that keeps DV #3 in such high regard among buyers. Sooner or later, Aphra will be on the screen, most likely for a Disney Plus series, and this issue will erupt.
39. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #10 (+38)
Hobie Brown has been thrust into the mainstream spotlight thanks to his scene-stealing presence in Across the Spider-Verse. In a movie with so many memorable variants, Spider-Punk was able to shine a little extra bright. Audiences are loving his anti-establishment persona and bad attitude. Of course, with a name like Spider-Punk, what else would you expect?
Technically, Hobie first appeared in ASM #78 as the original Prowler. That issue has been on the move in its own right after the latest Spider-Verse developments. However, this day belongs to the first appearance of the more famous Hobie from across dimensions. We are likely to see a deeper dive into Spider-Punk’s origin story, and he should have a large presence in Beyond the Spider-Verse. It’s all adding up to a hot market for Spider-Man #10.
28. GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1 (+37)
Anytime those classic X-Men keys make the journey up the Hottest Comics mountain, it brings my heart joy. Throughout the 1980s, the X-Men became Marvel’s flagship superhero team. By the ‘90s, the mutants stood alongside Spider-Man as the banner carriers for the entire company. Then the 2000s hit, and Fox brought the X-Men to the silver screen, helping to kick off the age of superheroes dominating the box office. Now that Wolverine is set to introduce the most famous mutants to the MCU in Deadpool 3, it’s giving collectors a new reason to want GSX #1.
As I’ve written many times before, GSX #1 is more beloved than X-Men #1 in the eyes of many hardcore X-Fans. Where Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s original run on the title was largely unsuccessful, the Bronze Age saw the title go from the brink of cancellation to a full renaissance. Beginning with GSX #1, the X-Men had a makeover that included the hottest new character at that time, Wolverine. The issue also featured the debuts of Storm, Colossus, and Nightcrawler, three characters that would go on to be among the most popular figures in X-Men history.
What does the MCU future hold for the X-Men? That’s the big question, isn’t it? Hugh Jackman may or may not continue his role as Wolverine, and there have been ample rumors of Marvel Studios recasting the part. If we get an entirely new X-Men cast, Storm should be a major figure, and that will make owning a copy of GSX #1 even more of a priority.
