What do you do when a first appearance is not really a first appearance? A couple of our favorite characters from the Guardians of the Galaxy, Starlord and Rocket Raccoon, share this affliction. These characters were both thrust into Marvel Preview Magazines to show off the characters and drum up sales for their respective first appearances...basically a movie trailer. But does a preview magazine really mean a character's first appearance, or does it have to occur in an actual "comic" to count? I, for one, am taking a stand.
The first Rocket Raccoon appearance was in the Marvel Preview # 7 in 1976. Personally, I have nothing against a company wanting to fire-up their fan-base by giving them a small taste of future offerings...except when it starts messing with my comic collection!!! I don't want a Marvel Preview #7. It's a magazine, not a comic. It is physically bigger than a comic book, and when compared to my cased comics.. bulkier. I like continuity here. UGH! See...why did Marvel have to go and mess everything up? Damn your stylish marketing to promote capitalism!
Instead of flipping out, I moved on to the much more palpable The Incredible Hulk #271, which is the first comic book appearance of Rocket Raccoon (we know this, because CGC gives one more nice little FU to collectors by putting the words "first comic book appearance" right on the label...stupid Marvel Preview #7...angry like a Hulk here!). This is the equivalent of saying that an actor's TV debut is when they show the commercial for the show that will eventually be the debut. It is technically correct, but doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies in the logic column. You are a comic company, Marvel, not a magazine...or is CGC to blame here? We may never know.
Nonetheless, The Incredible Hulk #271 is a great book for any collector. With a Fair Market Value (FMV) of $475 it is a reasonably priced book, considering it is a great Bronze Age comic with a desirable character's first appearance. Copies are also plentiful on the market with a high census: 319 copies of 9.8 grades out there. This book's value is generally trending up, but data shows a current lull with 9.8 copies which have a negative 2.5% sales trend despite all other grades 9.0 and above showing positive trends. The sales range on this book is currently pretty wide. Copies sell around $400 while others have sold just above $500. Look back a year ago, you could have snagged a 9.8 copy for just below $400. Positive price traction is still happening, so expect this book to continue to climb.
Being after the Direct vs. Newsstand split in 1979/1980, there are 2 distinct versions on the market. Every so often, a seller will drop a newsstand copy for a direct version price. I have seen newsstand copies sell at a premium of nearly 10%-20% when properly identified on the market. Ceteris Paribus, I always lean Newsstand (more to come on this topic!).
So what if the technical first appearance of Rocket Raccoon is in Marvel Preview #7. There are worse things. At the end of the day: collect what you can, that makes you happy, and with only what you find important and you should curb some anger over labels like "first appearances" of comic characters.
Besides Peter Quill and Rocket Raccoon, are there any other first appearances that confuse you? What are your thoughts on Cameo First Appearances first Full First Appearances? Do you hate Marvel Preview as much as me? Join the conversation!
