Spider-Boy
Created at the end of Dan Slott’s “End of Spider-Verse” storyline in Spider-Man #7, Spider-Boy, Peter Parker’s long-forgotten sidekick, made his debut to a great deal of fanfare.
Collectors began scouring comic shops and eBay for any copies they could find. Completists paid top dollar for as many variant covers as they could get their hands on.
Just released on April 5, there are already 224 graded copies in the CGC census, and that number is sure to grow rapidly over the coming months. Current average sales prices for a 9.8 stand at $96, a quick rise from the $3.99 cover price. Many feel that this will be an investment on par with Ultimate Fallout #4, the first appearance of Miles Morales.
Miles Morales Comparison
While many see the current four-figure value for Ultimate Fallout #4 and think that Miles has always been a star, that wasn’t always the case. 2014 sales of 9.8 graded copies averaged just $109. By 2019, sales were reaching the mid-$300 range.
It wasn’t until 2020, shortly after the start of the pandemic, that Ultimate Fallout #4 took its first big jump, rising from an average of $590 in May 2020 to $1,040 in June 2020. After a brief plateau, it was off to the races.
In April 2021, Ultimate Fallout #4 reached its initial peak of $3,443. While the value corrected shortly thereafter, it began to climb once more, reaching its ultimate peak of $3,773 in February 2022. The market correction then hit, and prices dropped to a current 30 and 90-day average of $1,800. Those are still respectable numbers.
This comic remains one of the most sought-after modern keys and will likely remain one of the top books from its era. Will the same hold true for Spider-Man #7? Let’s take a look at another comparison.
Tosin Oduye Comparison
In January 2022, Marvel introduced comic readers to Tosin Oduye, a future Black Panther, in the pages of Black Panther #3. One month later, as FOMO took hold, 9.8 graded copies were selling for an average of $278. The current 30-day average is $104.
If you bought it at cover price, you have a nice profit. If, however, you followed the crowd and bought at its peak, you’re down a considerable amount.
That’s not to say that Black Panther #3 couldn’t have a long slow burn like Ultimate Fallout #4 and then catapult into the stratosphere. But the history of flavor of the month new releases should lead you to bet against that eventuality.
Final Analysis
So, what will be the fate of Spider-Man #7? Will it be Miles Morales or Tosin Oduye? Prices may continue to rise a bit and graded copies will definitely increase. Spider-Boy could be the next big thing. However, there are a few warning signs.
First, the long-forgotten hero has been tried many times at Marvel. See the Sentry, Isaiah Bradley, and the Blue Marvel for some recent examples. So, it’s not as if it’s an incredibly original idea. Second, this is Dan Slott’s second run on Spider-Man and it’s coming after a lackluster run on Fantastic Four. Many felt that Slott had overstayed his time in the Spider-Verse and weren’t particularly fond of him getting another chance with the character. So, it could very well be that Spider-Boy isn’t a creation with staying power, but more of a gimmick that won’t last very long.
Only time will tell if Spider-Boy becomes the next Miles Morales. However, the wise play would be to wait before purchasing Spider-Man #7 if you missed it in its initial comic shop run.
Is Spider-Boy the next big thing? Or is this just another case of FOMO? Let us what you think in the comments below!
