Marvel first began publication of annuals in the Silver Age. These square-bound comics often offered big stories that were meant to be special – and justify the doubled price of 25 cents. Of course, some were more special than others, so let’s take a deep dive into the Marvel Annuals to determine which you may want as part of your collection.
Amazing Spider-Man Annuals
By the end of the 1960s, Amazing Spider-Man had replaced Fantastic Four as Marvel’s most popular comic book, so it’s no surprise that the second-longest run of Silver Age annuals belongs to the web spinner. In the pages of this series, we witness first appearances, first team-ups, and a long-lost secret from Peter Parker’s past.
- Publication Date: 1964
- Why to Purchase: First appearance of the Sinister Six, first Spider-Man annual
- Why Not to Purchase: No reason not to purchase
- # of Graded Copies: 2,676
- Most Common Grade & 30-day Average: 4.0, $970
- 9.6 Value & Last Sale Date: $78,000, 9/12/21
- (note: five 9.8 copies, but only sale was in 2012)
- Publication Date: 1965
- Why to purchase: First team-up of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, cool Ditko cover
- Why not to purchase: No reason not to purchase
- # of graded copies: 969
- Most common grade & 30-day average: 6.0, $200
- 9.8 Value & Last Sale Date: $8,100, 1/15/23
- Publication Date: 1966
- Why to purchase: Spider-Man versus the Avengers and the Hulk
- Why not to purchase: It’s a so-so comic
- # of graded copies: 596
- Most common grade & 30-day average: 8.5, $504
- 9.8 Value & Last Sale Date: $8,101, 8/28/22
- Publication Date: 1967
- Why to purchase: Third appearance of Mysterio
- Why not to purchase: Not one of Spidey’s better annuals
- # of graded copies: 542
- Most common grade & one-year average: 8.0, $188
- 9.6 Value & Last Sale Date: $1,380, 4/2/23
- (note: four 9.8 copies, but only sale was in 2016)
- Publication Date: 1968
- Why to purchase: First appearance of Peter Parker’s parents, Richard and Mary Parker, great Romita cover
- Why not to purchase: No reason not to purchase
- # of graded copies: 649
- Most common grade & 90-day average: 8.5, $175
- 9.6 Value & Last Sale Date: $3,600, 6/27/22
Journey Into Mystery & Thor Annuals
There were only two annuals featuring Thor in the Silver Age. The first was while he was starring in the pages of Journey Into Mystery; the second was published once he received his own self-titled series.
Journey Into Mystery Annual #1
- Publication Date: 1965
- Why to purchase: First appearances of Hercules and Zeus, first Thor annual
- Why not to purchase: No reason not to purchase
- # of graded copies: 1,419
- Most common grade & 90-day average: 4.0, $154
- 9.6 Value & Last Sale Date: $26,400, 4/2/23
- (note: two 9.8 copies exist but there are no recorded sales)
- Publication Date: 1966
- Why to purchase: Thor vs. the Destroyer
- Why not to purchase: Not a bad issue, but nothing amazing about it either
- # of graded copies: 289
- Most common grade & one-year average: 8.5, $162 (last sold more than a year ago)
- 9.8 Value & Last Sale Date: $1,800, 7/6/20
Daredevil Annual
Daredevil, as the last introduced major Marvel hero in the Silver Age, only had one annual published during the era.
- Publication Date: 1967
- Why to purchase: First appearance of Electro and His Emissaries of Evil, first Daredevil annual
- Why not to purchase: Like much of Daredevil in the Silver Age, the Emissaries are a poor man’s Spider-Man
- # of graded copies: 507
- Most common grade & one-year average: 9.2, $330
- 9.8 Value & Last Sale Date: $4,560, 11/22/20
Incredible Hulk Annual
The Hulk was the only character in the 1968 explosion of the new Marvel series to receive an annual. Fittingly, it’s a classic.
- Publication Date: 1968
- Why to purchase: Hulk versus the Inhumans, first Hulk annual, exceptional Steranko cover
- Why not to purchase: No reason not to purchase
- # of graded copies: 2,311
- Most common grade & 30-day average: 8.0, $570
- 9.8 Value & Last Sale Date: $10,200, 1/15/23
Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos Annuals
In the Silver Age, despite the popularity of superheroes, war comics still sold very well. Testament to this is the fact that Marvel published four Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos annuals during the era, more than all but Fantastic Four and Amazing Spider-Man. While time has caused a loss of luster for these books, there’s still an awful lot to like if you’re a war comics collector.
Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos Annual #1
- Publication Date: 1964
- Why to purchase: First Sgt. Fury annual, Howling Commandos in Korea
- Why not to purchase: Likely only appeals to war comic collectors
- # of graded copies: 169
- Most common grade & one-year average: 9.0, $168 (last sold in 2019)
- 9.6 Value & Last Sale Date: $720, 7/27/20
- (note: five 9.8 copies exist but no recorded sales)
Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos Annual #2
- Publication Date: 1966
- Why to purchase: Howling Commandos at D-Day
- Why not to purchase: Likely only appeals to war comic collectors
- # of graded copies: 90
- Most common grade & 90-day average: 9.2, $142
- 9.6 Value & Last Sale Date: $336, 4/12/21
- (note: two 9.8 copies, but only recorded sale in 2011)
Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos Annual #3
- Publication Date: 1967
- Why to purchase: Howling Commandos in Vietnam
- Why not to purchase: What? How was Nick in Vietnam at the same time he was in S.H.I.E.L.D.?
- # of graded copies: 83
- Most common grade & one-year average: 9.4, $147
- 9.6 Value & Last Sale Date: $288, 6/13/23
- (note: three 9.8 copies exist but no recorded sales)
Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos Annual #4
- Publication Date: 1968
- Why to purchase: Howling Commandos at the Battle of the Bulge
- Why not to purchase: Likely only appeals to war comic collectors
- # of graded copies: 56
- Most common grade & 90-day average: 9.4, $312
- 9.8 Value & Last Sale Date: $454, 8/6/16
Takeaways
Marvel reserved their annuals for their top-selling titles. Notable in their absence are any Silver Age annuals for X-Men or any of the 1968-launched titles, including Iron Man, Captain America, and Sub-Mariner. Two of the anthology titles – Tales of Suspense and Tales to Astonish – also never received annuals. Purposefully left off the list are the Millie the Model Annuals.
Of the ones listed in this blog, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2, Journey Into Mystery Annual #1, and Incredible Hulk Annual #1 should be top targets, while Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5 and Thor Annual #2 should be secondary targets.
Do you collect Marvel Silver Age Annuals? What are some of your favorites?
Let us know below.
