Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man introduced a treasure trove of characters to the MCU. We previously discussed the first appearances of Tombstone, Wave, Sister Grimm, and SuperPro in this blog here. In later episodes, well-known characters such as the Scorpion, Doctor Octopus, Chameleon, and Daredevil also appeared.
But we also saw many deep cuts of characters in the show that only hardcore fans would recognize. Would you recognize any of the first appearances below if you saw them in dollar bins?
The Second Scorpion: Amazing Fantasy #7
Even a casual Spider-Man fan would recognize Mac Gargan, the first Scorpion who appears in episode four of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man; many may not, however, have known that another member of Gargan's gang, Carmilla Black, eventually becomes the second Scorpion. Carmilla's first appearance occurs in Amazing Fantasy #7 (vol. 2). You can purchase a copy of the most common grade on the CGC Census, a 9.6, for a mere $28. The most recent 9.6 sold for only $21!
I have to admit that I'd probably overlook this minor Modern Age key if I flipped past in a dollar bin.
The Fifth Tarantula: Heroes for Hire #1
Only hardcore fans would immediately recognize a deep cut reference to the fifth Tarantula, Maria Vasquez, during the third episode of YFNS. Vasquez first appears in Heroes for Hire #1 (2006). This minor key issue certainly isn't on the radar of collectors; there are only 82 copies of this issue on the CGC Census. Furthermore, the last publicly recorded sale of a graded copy of the book occurred nearly three years ago. You can purchase high-grade raw copies of this issue for around $2 or $3 on eBay.
I would've flipped past this book if I saw it in a back issue bin. I'd buy it for a dollar though.
The Unicorn: Tales of Suspense #56
A gender-swapped version of the Unicorn, Mila Masaryk, appears in episode four of YFNS. I was surprised to learn that the Unicorn's first appearance occurs during the Silver Age: Tales of Suspense #56. It actually has a nice cover that prominently features the Unicorn on its cover. You can purchase a fairly high-grade copy of this minor Silver Age key issue for around $160, like this CGC 7.5 copy that sold for $159 a few weeks ago on eBay:
You certainly won't find this in a dollar bin, but I didn't know it was a minor key either.
Finesse: Avengers Academy #1
We first see Jeanne Foucault in episode two of YFNS; she's one of Peter's fellow interns at Oscorp. In the very last episode of season one, we see Jeanne in costume as Finesse, a superhero with the ability to mimic anyone else's fighting style just like Taskmaster (who may be her father in the comics).
Finesse first appears in Avengers Academy #1, a minor Modern Age key issue that contains the first appearances of four other characters. Like Strange Academy #1, Avengers Academy #1 is a book that many speculated on during the comic boom since it included multiple first appearances. The value of a CGC 9.8 copy of Avengers Academy #1 has fluctuated dramatically over the past year, but it has been rising during the month of February. On February 16th, a 9.8 sold for just $43, but another sold for $127 just three days later. On February 22nd, a 9.8 reached a two-year high of $150:
Avengers Academy #1 reminded me a lot of Mighty Avengers #13; a Modern Age comic that has a lot of first appearances of characters that never amounted to anything. Perhaps Finesse will be different.
