We’re back with more Undervalued and Overlooked Comics! This is where we identify comics that are either currently lower in value than they could be, aren’t as well known in the collector market, or both. So, let’s get started with a couple Bronze Age issues that are well known and one that is more obscure.

Second or Third Wolverine, Depending on How You Count These Things

Perhaps no comic has taken more of a beating since the downturn that began in late 2022 than Incredible Hulk #182. What is generally viewed as the second cameo appearance of Wolverine has always been seen as a bit of a stepchild when compared to Incredible Hulk #181, Giant-Size X-Men #1, or even Incredible Hulk #180. As such, while the recent drop in value isn’t surprising, the steepness of the trend is eye-opening.

A 9.0 graded copy sold in an April 28 eBay auction for just $207. That’s down a bit from the previous sale for a slashed $330 on March 23, and down a huge 78% from its all time high of $950 set in June 2021 and equaled in October of that same year. We see similar trends in the 6.0 grade, with a February 1 sale reaching a low of $60. While it’s risen a bit in subsequent sales, it’s still down significantly from its peak of $300 set in July 2021. Trends don’t last forever, and wise investors look for buying opportunities in troughs. This could be such an opportunity.

Dropping Values and Holdbacks for First Luke Cage

It’s been a while since we took a look at Hero for Hire #1 – the first appearance of Luke Cage – in Undervalued & Overlooked Comics, so I thought it might be worthwhile to revisit this key issue. What we’re seeing in the 9.0 grade points to another possible buying opportunity. A sale in the March 20 Comic Connect auction for $849 was down 61% from its peak of $2,161 set in September 2022. Not a shocking turn of events for anyone following the trends, particularly in many Bronze Age keys. However, a deeper look shows us that not a single copy graded above 9.0 has sold in 2024. Hero for Hire #1 is noted for its toughness to find in the higher grades and sales in grades 9.2 and above can tend to be sporadic. There were four sales of 9.2 graded copies in 2023 and three in the 9.4 grade. While some of this could be due to the vagaries of the market, it is also possible that holders of these higher grade copies could be holding back until market conditions improve. If a copy graded above 9.0 does come up for auction, you may want to consider bidding if the price is lower than 2023 sales. And don’t forget to keep an eye on eBay best offer sales if the price continues to fall.

The Start of One of Superman’s Best Bronze Age Tales

During the 1970s, Superman stories were all over the place, sometimes focusing more on Clark Kent or offering up weird villains that shouldn’t have given Superman any trouble at all yet somehow did – here’s looking at you, Terra-Man. However, amidst all of this, frankly, dreck, there were some noteworthy tales of the Man of Steel. Often cited as one of the better Bronze Age Superman storylines is “Who Took the Super Out of Superman?” The story begins in Superman #296, a very overlooked comic. There are currently only 28 graded copies in the CGC census. The highest recorded sale was a 9.8 going for $343 back in September 2021. In the most recent sale on April 14, a 9.4 sold for $97. The value of a 9.8 has likely decreased since its latest sale and, with its eye-catching cover, it could look nice on a collector’s wall if you can find one in the $200 range. With so few graded copies, it could also be worthwhile hunting down a raw copy in the wild.

Are there any Bronze Age comics you think are undervalued or overlooked and deserve more attention?  Let us know below.