Now that we are knee-deep in Christmas cheer, Ms. Marvel #1 was on many collectors’ wish lists. It’s time again for the Hottest Comics of the week.
Once again, the comic world felt the impact of the MCU. This week’s single hottest comic was Ms. Marvel #1 from 2014. This issue set a blistering pace, charging through the rankings thanks to all the recent news surrounding her upcoming Disney+ live-action series.
Not only did Kamala Khan get love from the collecting community, but we also saw a couple of Silver Age keys making waves of their own thanks to MCU news and rumors.
Remember, the Hottest Comics rankings are based on sales volume, not fair market value. However, when a comic gets hot, the prices tend to inflate along with it. With that in mind, let’s check out the latest sales figures.
41. MS. MARVEL #1 (+959)
The newest Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan, is ready for her live-action debut.
The teenage superhero has been cast for Disney+, and this could be when the character reaches a new level of popularity. Considering the success of The Mandalorian, Disney+ is the hot place to be for live-action series, so Kamala is guaranteed to reach an expansive audience. Whether or not the series is well-received is anyone’s guess, but the hype is already impacting comic sales.
This week, Ms. Marvel #1 was the single hottest comic in the rankings, improving by over 950 positions. With that attention comes higher prices.
While this is not Kamala’s first appearance (that would be All-New Marvel Now Point 1), the first issue of her own series is a solid investment. The biggest seller has been the standard edition graded at a 9.8, which has sold 78 times over the last 12 months. In that span, it has a fair market value of $205. Since the lead role in her Disney+ series was cast, those prices have spiked. Now that 9.8 has a 90-day FMV of $295, and the last sale was for $320.
49. SILVER SURFER #1 (+951)
The Surfer goes up, and the Surfer goes down.
Only a week ago, Silver Surfer #1 was at the bottom of the rankings, falling below the 900th position. It lost over 850 spots that week and was in danger of dropping below the 1,000th spot. Yet here we are, discussing its leaps and bounds in the rankings.
What makes this issue such a roller coaster is its price tag. With anticipation rising for Silver Surfer joining the MCU, the first issue of his debut solo series will only get more expensive as will his other Silver Age keys.
When it comes to those 1960s issues, the higher grades only tell part of the story. Sure the numbers are flashy - in the case of SS #1, a 9.2 brought over $5k in October - but most collectors set their sights on the mid and lower grades.
For the past year, the most popular grade has been the 4.5.
This year, 31 copies have been bought and sold online, and the prices have steadily remained in the $400-$450 price range since the spring of 2019. If you are in the market for those Surfer keys, now would be the time to buy. When he is announced for the MCU, that $400 price tag will have been a bargain.
50. FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #6 (+949)
There are two possible explanations for Fantastic Four Annual #6's recent spike.
Between the theatrical releases of Infinity War and Endgame, a popular theory floating around the internet was that Annihulus and his interdimensional horde would be the next threat after Thanos was defeated. When that wasn’t the case, interest waned, but speculators are certain that Annihilus will make it into the MCU, and there could be a new batch of rumors at any point.
The other explanation could be Franklin Richards, who made his first appearance as an infant in this issue.
For decades, Franklin was considered an Omega level mutant, but recent comic events have altered that. In the pages of Fantastic Four #26, Charles Xavier reveals that Franklin is not actually a mutant. Could Marvel be setting up a Franklin Richards story to further explain his godlike powers? That could be why investors were jumping at this issue in the first week of December.
Most buyers appear to be after the graded 7.0. It has sold 27 times in 2020, and 22 were traded online last year. Prior to that, it had never sold more than three times in a given year.
With that rise in collectibility comes higher prices. Four of the last five sales have been for $420 or more, and one reached a year-high of $550. At the moment, it has a 90-day average of $458.
Next to that, speculators were gunning for the 6.0. That grade has averaged $275 over the past 90 days. Compared to the 7.0, this is the better buy because you are getting a grade that presents just as well as the 7.0 but for about half the price.
51. ETERNALS #2 (+949)
The COVID pandemic may have thrown a wrench into Marvel Studios’ latest movie phase, but 2021 is looking bright for the MCU. Although The Eternals’ film debut has been rescheduled, that leaves more time to hype its world premiere.
Earlier this year when the pandemic first took hold, those Eternals keys took a hit. The closer we get to the movie’s release, the bigger the rebound. While Eternals #2 was one of the five hottest comics of the week, it was not the only Eternals key to make news as Eternals #1 gained nearly 70 spots and cracked the top 10.
What makes Eternals #2 special is that it features the first appearance of the Celestials, the intergalactic beings who created the Eternals. The MCU has already given viewers glimpses of the Celestials, and it appears they will continue to play a larger part in future movie phases. That makes this issue well worth buying for the long-term investment.
Collectors want those higher grades when it comes to the Eternals keys. In this case, the top seller has been the 9.6, and for good reason. Whereas the 9.8 has averaged $782 over the past 90 days, the 9.6 has an FMV of $167 in that same span.
Behind the 9.6, the other hot grade has been the 9.4. So far this year, 60 copies in that grade have traded owners online, and it currently averages $109 for the past three months. What is more intriguing is that the last sale was for just $79, which makes the 9.4 the best bargain.
55. SAVAGE SHE-HULK #1 NEWSSTAND EDITION (+945)
Once more, the week’s comic sales were directly impacted by the MCU and Disney+. As we learn more about the upcoming She-Hulk live-action series, speculators are grabbing up her key issues, and there are no She-Hulk keys bigger than her first appearance.
For months now, She-Hulk #1 has been one of the hottest comics week in and week out. In fact, the direct edition is currently in the 20th position in the rankings. This time, however, it is the newsstand version that is making the bigger wave.
Since the end of November, the 9.8 direct edition of She-Hulk #1 has been bringing anywhere from $600-$800. The She-Hulk #1 newsstand edition, which has a more limited availability, sold for over $1,100 on November 1.
The better value and more popular seller has been the 9.6. That grade has sold 13 times since September, and it tends to average in the $300 range. The most recent sale was for $334.99 on December 3.
WHO WILL STICK AROUND?
No doubt, Marvel Studios controls the comic market. As we see with this week’s Hottest Comics, MCU rumors and innuendo alone is enough to propel a comic’s sales. Out of all five issues on today’s list, Ms. Marvel #1 is the clear favorite to stay in the top 100.
