Can an animated show drive comic book sales and values? We’ve seen evidence that if the show is good, then it definitely can. For example, the animated Spider-Verse movies have dramatically increased the sales volume of comics like Spider-Man 2099 #1. In addition, Disney clearly enjoys introducing characters to audiences first in animation before bringing them to live action. They did that first in What If when we saw Captain Carter appear in the Multiverse of Madness. They have most recently done this, very successfully I might add, in Rebels and Ahsoka.
That’s why I think the market may be sleeping on X-Men ‘97. Sure it isn’t live-action, but there is good reason to believe that this iteration of the X-Men will be the very same team that we see in live-action.
Most of the first appearances of the X-Men that appeared in the animated 1990s TV show are pretty expensive and will always be considered major key issues (e.g., X-Men #1, Giant-Size X-Men #1, Hulk #181) even if the new TV show bombs. But if the show is a hit, you might want to consider investing in these two issues below since multiple outlets have reported that Sunspot and Blink will appear in the series.
Uncanny X-Men #317: 1st Appearance of Blink
Blink is a pink-skinned X-Man capable of long-distance teleportation. She later becomes the leader of the Exiles. Blink has actually already appeared in live-action in the superb film, Days of Future Past.
Uncanny X-Men #317 contains the first appearance of Blink. Although this was published during the dreaded 1990s (complete with a gimmicky foil cover), I personally think this is an issue worth looking for in bargain bins or perhaps finding a steal online. For example, as recently as August 19th, one buyer purchased a CGC 9.8 for just $44 on eBay. That wouldn’t even cover CGC case costs.
While this is an unusually low sale, it is an indicator that the market isn’t paying attention at all to this book right now. You can even buy high-grade raw copies for $5 to $10. At these price points, investing in Blink seems like a very low-risk investment.
Marvel Graphic Novel #4: 1st Appearance of Sunspot
Roberto da Costa, also known as Sunspot, is a mutant from Brazil who has the power to absorb and channel solar energy. Like Blink, Sunspot also made a brief appearance in Days of Future Past.
Marvel Graphic Novel #4 contains Sunspot’s first appearance along with several other characters including Cannonball, Karma, Moonstar, and Wolfsbane.
In general, I think this book is undervalued. While it’s unfair to compare it to its predecessor, Giant-Size X-Men #1, it still has a ton of first appearances and is, in a way, the third iteration of the X-Men.
This graphic novel also has an interesting sales history. I’ve written dozens and dozens of blogs about the so-called “comic book” of 2021 and every book I’ve analyzed has seen a huge jump in value during that year ad then proceeded to lose most of those gains throughout 2023 and 2023.
The most recent 9.8 sold for $553 in July 2023. Shockingly, that sale is almost identical to the first recorded sale of 9.8 that occurred in February 2014 for $545. The fact that this book has basically flatlined for nearly a decade is highly unusual; I have a hard time explaining the lack of variation in sales. If any of you can explain, I'd love to hear your theories!
Would you invest in the first appearances of Sunspot and Blink? Please let our community know your opinion in the comments section below!
