In a previous post, I mentioned romance comics as a neglected segment in the comic market.   Reader comments indicated that there are some very passionate collectors out there who do find that market ignored.  The next market ignored by many investors that you can find profit in is the horror comics segment.  Let's sink our teeth into this diverse market.

No FMV in Horror Comics

One of the first things you must realize with horror comics is that you should ignore FMV.  A bold statement but I have come to find that this is the most volatile of any segment of the market.  There is nothing fair in this market.  Fans of this market are rabid like Cujo.   If a good book comes to market these buyers will create a feeding frenzy to get it.  I have observed bidders at live auctions putting in bids that go well beyond any FMV listed on GoCollect. When Witches Tales #25 comes to market you will see...forget that because books like this rarely come to market. If books like this come up for sale forget about getting it cheap.

Everyone knows that supply and demand dictate the price people will pay for items.  Horror comics are prime examples of this rule at play.  The population of horror comics is smaller than the population of hero books for all ages.  The demand is ever-growing too for these titles because of the iconic artists who worked on these books.   As a result, mainstream collectors have started to invade this once niche market.  Finally, the characters are just too good to ignore.  Are you ready to dip your toe into these dark waters yet?

 

Horror Comic's Version of the Avengers

Marvel Premiere is a title many mainstream collectors already know.  Issue #1 has Him become Adam Warlock, so it has value beyond being the first issue of the series.   Marvel Premiere #15 has the first appearance of Iron Fist. Later issue Marvel Premiere #47 has the first appearance of Scott Lang as the Ant-Man.  Tucked in between those two essential issues is Marvel Premiere #28.  This comic has the first appearance of the Legion of Monsters team.  The team is composed of Marvel stalwarts Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night, and Morbius.  The story is a memorable one that I found quite tragic.

Artists play a key role in the popularity of horror comics and this issue is no exception. I was told by fans of Nick Cardy that this is his ONLY Marvel Comic Book cover they covet.  Yes, he may have done some Marvel magazine covers, but for the true fan of Nick Cardy, this book is the holy grail of his Marvel Comics' work.   When this book comes up at live auctions there is a feeding frenzy caused by Cardy fans and those who want the first appearance of the Legion of Monsters.  Speculators have been late to this books' party, but the mere chance of an MCU or Sony horror team-up movie has put this book on their sites.  Prices are still not that extreme, but not for long.

 

Daddy's Daughter

Dracula has been scaring audiences for decades.  His daughter Lilith was introduced to comic fans in the Bronze Age.   Giant-Size Chillers: Curse of Dracula #1  has a beautiful horror cover by John Romita Sr. so it attracts his fans.  This book is the first issue in the Bronze Age that again makes it desirable to others.  The one thing that has only recently brought it into vogue with investors is that it has the first appearance of Marvel Comics Lilith.  Lilith is a character with great media potential.

Lilith is immune to religious artifacts and sunlight exposure.  Some speculators have taken notice of these abilities and have started to buy this book.  In every movie with Blade, he had an advantage against his adversary.  What happens if Lilith is his opponent?  An evenly matched opponent that has some sex appeal is something that is focusing new attention on this once ignored book.  The brighter the spotlight the higher the price, so now might be the right time to get in on this desirable book that has room to grow.

Scared to See Profits?

Many comic book investors and speculators seem to chase what is hot and ignore longer trends.  If you attend live auctions or review data from GoCollect you can see horror comics are on the rise.  One of the most volatile segments of the market is Golden Age horror comics.  Prices are exploding with each sale of an issue.  Those that are priced out of the Golden Age sector are moving to the Silver Age.  This leaves the Bronze Age as an untapped market that one can still find deals.  Wise investors and speculators might want to explore this sector before others overcome their fear and find these books.