Matt Wagner’s Magnum Opus
At the cusp of the Copper Age in 1984 and coming off the heels of his successful first Grendel mini-series, writer/artist Matt Wagner released the first issue of what would be the long-lived story of Kevin Matchstick that began in Mage #1.
The reincarnation of King Arthur, Kevin’s tale would finally come to an end with the close of the third series, Mage: The Hero Denied, in 2019.
There are 217 graded copies of Mage #1, Comico’s first color publication, in the CGC database. Mage was a top 100 series in 1984 and was a very popular indie. People who are fans of this comic absolutely love it. Of those 217 graded copies, 94 of them are graded 9.8. So, it comes as something of a surprise that only one of those 9.8 copies has a recorded sale - $340 in a fixed price eBay sale on February 5.
Think about that: it took nearly 40 years from the time of publication for a 9.8 to sell. If you can get a copy, definitely consider adding it to your collection.
First New Warriors
The New Warriors was a surprise hit for Marvel in the early 1990s. Their first appearance in Thor #412 is now selling for prices not seen since 2020. Since peaking at $700 for a 9.8 in August 2021, this book has absolutely cratered. A June 5 sale on eBay brought the price down to $185.
Yes, there are quite a few graded copies – 1,033 to be precise, and with a little more than a quarter graded at 9.8. Under $200 is a steal for this book.
If you’ve wanted the New Warriors’ first appearance or have been waiting for the price to come down to complete a late issue Thor run, this looks like a good time to jump in.
Start of a DC Revamp
When DC started to reimagine their line of comics in the mid-1980s, they released a mini-series to help reset many of the disparate parts of their universe, a series that would culminate in an all-new Justice League and launch a reborn Suicide Squad. That mini-series began with Legends #1.
With art by the newly signed John Byrne, the series was a big hit for DC. Though it has since lost some of its luster due to the many DC deconstructions and reconstructions since, that first issue should still hold some significance for collectors, as it is the first appearance of Amanda Waller.
There are 737 graded copies of Legends #1 in the CGC database, a fairly low number for a key Copper Age first issue. Recent sales have been remarkably low. What was once a $200 comic barely passes $100 nowadays. The 90-day average for a 9.8 is $108, with a high of $121 and a low of just $95.
If you’re able to get a 9.8 for $100 or less, don’t pass on the opportunity. The mini-series is a good read as well, so buy yourself a raw copy while you’re at it.
Do you think Mage #1, Thor #412, and Legends #1 are undervalued, overlooked, or both? Let us know below.
