Key Collector Comics

Nick's Picks 171

A curated blend of comic book speculation and trivia compiled by the owner of Key Collector Comics. FULL-ACCESS to Key Collector for $3.99 per month, the price of one comic book. Save 17% when you SUBSCRIBE for one year for $39.99.   

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Absolute Carnage #1

Marvel ⋅ 2019

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Absolute Carnage #1
 
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Key Facts

Five-part limited series with multiple tie-ins

Carnage sets out to reclaim every codex from all former and current symbiote hosts to release Knull, the Symbiote God, from confinement in the "planet" Klyntar

20 randomly distributed issues of Absolute Carnage #1 have an original sketch by Carnage co-creator Mark Bagley that can be found on the inside, back cover of the standard (A) cover

Tap cover and swipe to view the sketches that have been found

Nick's Picks

✅ Journey back to 2019, when Absolute Carnage #1 was released and Marvel secretly hid 20 original Mark Bagley sketches inside random copies...to this day, only six have been confirmed found

If you find one, let us know on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or at [email protected]

Promethea #1

America's Best Comics ⋅ 1999

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Promethea #1
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Sophie Bangs, chosen to be the new avatar of Promethea

Nick's Picks

✅ James Gunn gave 10 recommendations for comic book series he recommends reading and this is one so if you can find it cheap, it'd be a good pick up

Absolute Carnage: Miles Morales #2
Non-Key

1:25 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2019

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Absolute Carnage: Miles Morales #2
 
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Key Facts

Variant cover art by Leinil Francis Yu

'Codex Variant'

Nick's Picks

✅ Actor Michael Mando shared this random cover on social media after it was confirmed that he would reprise his role as Mac Gargan (aka Scorpion) in Brand New Day

Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #10

Marvel ⋅ 2005

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Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #10
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Mac Gargan as Venom, final page

1st team appearance of the Sinister Twelve

Nick's Picks

✅ If Mac Gargan is the host of the Venom symbiote, this issue will be in demand

Speaking of Venom in the Brand New Day movie, did you see the set leak of the poster that read 'SYMBIOSIS'....well, it turns out its just a nightclub called Symbiosis located in Glasgow where the movie is filming

You'll Do Bad Things #1
Non-Key

Image ⋅ 2025

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You'll Do Bad Things #1
 
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Key Facts

It's been a decade since the author of a successful book about a serial killer had another hit and as much as he tries, every genre inadvertently returns to murder which in turn, begins to happen in real life

Nick's Picks

✅ Recommended by the hosts of Industry of Comics on the Beyond Wednesdays YouTube channel, this ongoing series—now five issues in—is off to a fast-paced and promising start, featuring lean dialogue and a dreamscape-noir artistic vibe

Punisher #4

Marvel ⋅ 2000

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Punisher #4
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Ma Gnucci

[June 2025 - speculation Gnucci will be an antagonist in the Punisher series]

Nick's Picks

✅ Despite the release of a set photo from the Disney+ Punisher special, which lends credibility to the rumor that Ma Gnucci will be the antagonist, this issue has yet to see any movement on the secondary market

Spider-Man #1
Non-Key

Red Stamp ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 1990

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Spider-Man #1
 
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Key Facts

In 1990, while working at his comic shop "The Spider's Web" in Puyallup, WA, Todd McFarlane hosted a fundraiser for a local High School that had suffered damage from a fire

According to Comic Buyer's Guide #878, McFarlane signed 24,000 copies of Spider-Man #1 Green and Silver covers

The back cover is stamped with a red spider web and a letter of authenticity accompanies the signed comic (tap cover and swipe to view)

Nick's Picks

✅ This one was brought to my attention recently and can be found on the back cover of both the multi-colored (green?) and silver editions

Find more issues that have minor differences in the category CHECK YOUR COLLECTION

All-Star Comics #58

DC ⋅ 1976

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All-Star Comics #58
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Power Girl, a Kryptonian cousin of Earth-2 Superman

Nick's Picks

✅ While there might not be a future for Power Girl in the DCU, this Key Issue that was selling in 9.8 for $3,000 last year has plunged lower than Power Girl's neckline and now sells for $1,600

Punisher #218

Marvel ⋅ 2018

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Punisher #218
 
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Key Facts

1st cameo appearance of the Punisher War Machine armor

Legacy numbering based on #1 of the 1987 series continues with #218 thru #228

[August 2019 - overheard at Boston Comic Con: Jon Bernthal's Punisher could return to the MCU in the Punisher War Machine armor]

Nick's Picks

✅ It has been six years since we first heard the Punisher would be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a one man army which fits the bill for this era of Frank Castle that began in issue #218 and concluded in #228

Captain Atom #1

DC ⋅ 1987

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Captain Atom #1
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Captain Atom, Nathaniel Adam, a veteran whose body bonded with an alien metal

1st appearance of General Wade Eiling, an enemy of Captain Atom

[February 2024 - rumors are circulating that Captain Atom will be introduced in Gunn's DC Universe]

Nick's Picks

✅ Captain Atom is one of two characters that would be visually stunning if done right on the big screen

Firestorm the Nuclear Man #1

DC ⋅ 1978

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Firestorm the Nuclear Man #1
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Firestorm, high school student Ronnie Raymond and physicist Martin Stein merged together after a nuclear accident

1st appearance of Danton Black, becomes Multiplex

Nick's Picks

✅ Firestorm being the other

Immortal Iron Fist #10
Non-Key

Variant ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2007

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Immortal Iron Fist #10
 
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Nick's Picks

✅ Marvel is bringing Iron Fist back to life in The Undead Iron Fist this September which made us think of this cover...actually it made Infamous Jeb (follow him on Instagram) think of this cover and we're featuring it here

Iron Fist 50th Anniversary Special #1

Marvel ⋅ 2024

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Iron Fist 50th Anniversary Special #1
 
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Key Facts

Death of Danny Rand, killed by the mythical Ch'i-Lin posing as Razorfist

Nick's Picks

✅ If you didn't know Danny Rand died, it happened here - tap cover and swipe to view image

All-Star Squadron #23

DC ⋅ 1983

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All-Star Squadron #23
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Amazing Man, Will Everett

Nick's Picks

✅While the first appearance of Sandman (Wesley Dodds) and Wildcat might be out of many collector's price range, Gunfire, Exoristos and Amazing Man could be found for cheap and have some potential for the DCU

See all the characters depicted in the Hall of Justice mural from Superman in the category HALL OF JUSTICE

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #212

Key Variant • Convention Exclusive ⋅ IDW ⋅ 2015

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G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #212
 
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Key Facts

G.I. Joe Con 2015 exclusive featuring Cold Slither (Dreadnoks) and Jem & the Holograms

Nick's Picks

✅ Nothing captures the campy charm of the 1985 G.I. Joe comic quite like Cobra Commander forming the Dreadnok heavy metal band, Cold Slither, to hold an audience of mind-controlled kids ransom for $100 million

Fast forward 40 years, and the band—first introduced on this cover—has been revived, complete with a new album and SDCC exclusives to celebrate their upcoming standalone comic series launching October 1st

Deadpool Annual #1

Marvel ⋅ 2011

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Deadpool Annual #1
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance of the Infernal Hulk, final page

Nick's Picks

✅Incredible Hulk #30 (on sale October 15) kicks off a new era of monstrous mayhem with the debut of the Infernal Hulk—a transformed alter ego of Bruce Banner, now separated from his human host

While this mirrors the split seen in this earlier Annual, it's likely unrelated to that storyline

Infernal Hulk #1 goes on sale in November

Popeye Classic Comics #30

1:10 ⋅ IDW ⋅ 2015

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Popeye Classic Comics #30
 
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Key Facts

Variant cover art by Steve Mannion

Nick's Picks

✅ Keep a (pop) eye out for these fine art Popeye variants that are very scarce but fetch a high value on the secondary market

There are 34 variants in the 2012 Popeye Classic Comics series

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