Beginning in the mid-1960s, as Marvel was growing in popularity, they began reprinting many of their earlier comics to allow readers to witness the stories they had missed. For many years, these comics languished in back-issue obscurity. Over the past decade, however, collectors have begun to pay attention to these reprints and they’ve grown in value as a result. Let’s take a look at the key books to target.

Marvel Tales Annuals

Marvel Tales began as an annual for its first two issues. Marvel Tales Annual #1 is the comic to hunt down if you look for no other Marvel reprint comic. This big origin issue features the first-ever reprintings of Amazing Fantasy #15, Incredible Hulk #1, Journey Into Mystery #83, Tales of Suspense #39, Tales to Astonish #35, and Sgt. Fury And His Howling Commandos #1.

There are 444 graded copies in the CGC census, of which the most plentiful grade is 6.5 with 36 copies. In this grade, this book has really ping-ponged in value over the last year or so, with a high selling price of a slashed $1,150 on August 27, and a low of $330 in September 2021. Current FMV is $575. If you can find a 6.5 for less, consider it a good deal.

Not to be outdone by its predecessor, Marvel Tales Annual #2 features reprints of Avengers #1, X-Men #1, Strange Tales #115, and Incredible Hulk #3. It’s also far more affordable than Marvel Tales Annual #1. The grade with the most copies is 8.0, representing 26 of the 229 copies in the CGC census. There hasn’t been a sale in this grade this year.

While it skyrocketed to $300 in November 2021, the October 2021 sale for $178 is more in line with the trend for this book. Assuming a roughly 15% increase in value from that sale gets us to a little over $200 as a target price for an 8.0, not bad for what you get.

Amazing Spider-Man Reprints

Marvel Tales would continue in publication until 1994, with Marvel Tales #291 being the last issue. Most of the series reprints issues of Amazing Spider-Man. The early issues feature reprints of first appearances of Spider-Man’s villains, including Marvel Tales #3, reprinting Amazing Spider-Man #6; Marvel Tales #6, reprinting Amazing Spider-Man #9; Marvel Tales #8, reprinting Amazing Spider-Man #13; and Marvel Tales #9, reprinting Amazing Spider-Man #14. Two later issues to target include Marvel Tales #98, reprinting the death of Gwen Stacy in Amazing Spider-Man #121, and Marvel Tales #106, reprinting the first appearance of the Punisher in Amazing Spider-Man #129.

One note if you’re considering collecting Marvel reprint comics: some issues are skipped, so the numbering doesn’t necessarily match the sequential numbering of the originals. Some key issues, such as Amazing Spider-Man #101, aren’t included in the series.

Don’t assume that the issue you’re looking at contains the reprinted comic that would make sense sequentially. Do your research first and make sure you’re picking up the correct issue.

Marvel Collectors’ Item Classics

Best known for reprints of early issues of Fantastic Four, this series also includes reprints of key issues from other Marvel comics that are of note. The first three issues are very much worth adding to your collection. Marvel Collectors’ Item Classics #1 contains reprints of Fantastic Four #2 and Amazing Spider-Man #3, among others.

Graded copies are far less common for this book, with only 156 in the CGC census. There are 16 in the 8.5 grade. It’s a good grade to look at as there were sales in 2020 and 2022, but none in 2021, skipping over that peak year and establishing a reasonable trendline for pricing consideration.

The September 2020 sale was for $150 and the August 6 sale from this year was for $240. That gives us a roughly 25% growth rate each year over two years. It’s a little high but believable for the first issue of a Silver Age series.

The second issue in the series, Marvel Collectors’ Item Classics #2, contains reprints of Fantastic Four #3 and Amazing Spider-Man #4. CGC census counts begin to start dropping below 100 for most issues in this series beginning with #2. The most recent sale was $104 for a 9.2 graded copy in an August 9 Heritage auction.

Marvel Collectors’ Item Classics #3 features reprints of Fantastic Four #4 and Doctor Strange’s first appearance in Strange Tales #110. The most recent sale was $26 for a 4.0 in a September 12 eBay auction.

Other issues to consider include Marvel Collectors’ Item Classics #12 with a reprint of Black Widow’s first appearance in Tales of Suspense #52, and Marvel Collectors’ Item Classics #17 with reprints of Hawkeye’s first appearance in Tales of Suspense #57, as well as Strange Tales #126, the first appearances of Clea and Dormammu.

Marvel’s Greatest Comics

Marvel Collectors’ Item Classics would become Marvel’s Greatest Comics beginning with Marvel’s Greatest Comics #23 and would feature many reprints of the all-time great Fantastic Four stories. Marvel’s Greatest Comics #29 contains the first ever reprint of Fantastic Four #12, the team’s first meeting with the Hulk. There are only 49 graded copies in the CGC census, and a 9.4 is the most recent sale: $200 in a July 29 fixed price eBay sale.

The original Galactus trilogy from Fantastic Four #48, Fantastic Four #49, and Fantastic Four #50 is reprinted in Marvel’s Greatest Comics #35, Marvel’s Greatest Comics #36, and Marvel’s Greatest Comics #37. Marvel’s Greatest Comics #39 contains the first appearance of the Black Panther from Fantastic Four #52, while Marvel’s Greatest Comics #50 reprints the first appearance of Him (later Warlock) in Fantastic Four #66. All five are relatively affordable, particularly when compared to the originals, and worth consideration for your collection.

Join us next time as we look at comics that reprint key Avengers, X-Men, Thor, and Silver Surfer issues and many more.

Do you collect Marvel reprints? Tell us your favorites below!

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.