100 Bronze Keys

🗝 The Top 100 Comic Books From The Bronze Age 💎 Thank you for utilizing the eBay links when making ANY purchase and contributing to the continued develpoment of Key Collector Comics

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Scooby-Doo #1
Western ⋅ 1970
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Low
$200
Mid
$800
High
$2.2k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Scooby-Doo in comics
There is some debate that Scooby-Doo appeared 6 months earlier in Golden Comics Digest #7 but it is a one-page puzzle activity game, not a story
 
Low
$150
Mid
$500
High
$1.5k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Appa Ali Apsa, a Guardian of the Universe
Retitled Green Arrow/Green Lantern
Issue considered by many to mark the end of the comic book Silver Age
Introduction of controversial social themes in comics - Green Lantern is reprimanded by a black man which was an expression of frustration by the creators for the lack of accurately presented black people in comics
 
Low
$60
Mid
$180
High
$600

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Man-Bat, a scientist whose experiment went awry after combining human and bat DNA to cure his own deafness
First team-up of Batgirl and Robin in a backup story
 
Low
$100
Mid
$300
High
$1k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Conan the Barbarian
1st cameo appearance of King Kull
🏅#4 on the Hot 10
Transactions from this week that sold for higher than the previous twelve-month average:
View more (6)
7.5 sold for $450 vs the average $435 (+3%)
7.0 sold for $400 vs the average $394 (+2%)
6.0 sold for $375 vs the average $322 (+16%)
5.0 sold for $314 vs the average $260 (+21%)
3.5 sold for $179 vs the average $172 (+4%)
This is the sixth time in 2023 that Conan’s premiere issue qualified on the list
 
Low
$45
Mid
$180
High
$550

Key Facts

1st cameo appearance of Darkseid, the ruler of Apokolips
Batman #227
DC ⋅ 1970
View Details
 
Low
$200
Mid
$800
High
$2k

Key Facts

Iconic cover art by Neal Adams inspired by Detective Comics #31 (1939)
New Gods #1
DC ⋅ 1971
View Details
 
Low
$18
Mid
$65
High
$180

Key Facts

1st appearance of Orion, son of Darkseid
1st appearance of Highfather, Leader of New Genesis
1st appearance of Metron, Boom Tube inventor
1st appearance of Orion's half-brother, Kalibak
View more (4)
1st appearance of Lightray
1st team appearance of the Parademons
Introduction of New Genesis and Apokolips
Debut of the Mobius Chair
 
Low
$18
Mid
$60
High
$180

Key Facts

1st full appearance of Darkseid
1st team appearance of The Forever People: Beautiful Dreamer, Mark Moonrider, Serifan, Big Bear, Vykin the Black
First mention of Mother Boxes, sentient supercomputers of vast power and the Anti-Life Equation
1st appearance of Infinity-Man, a protector of The Forever People
 
Low
$20
Mid
$80
High
$200

Key Facts

1st appearance of Mister Miracle, Scott Free, the son of Highfather
1st appearance of Oberon, Mister Miracle's stage manager
1st appearance and death of Thaddeus Brown, the Miracle Man who preceded Scott Free
🔮 DC Possibilities: Mister Miracle is a second chance for DC to develop the New Gods which was supposed to happen in 2018 but stalled like many of their other projects
 
Low
$70
Mid
$270
High
$780

Key Facts

1st appearance and cover of Talia al Ghul, daughter of Ra's al Ghul
 
Low
$80
Mid
$260
High
$850

Key Facts

1st appearance of Man-Thing, Ted Sallis, a scientist who developed a serum to protect soldiers from chemical warfare
The Super Soldier program known as Project Sulphur aka Weapon IV, had the unintended effect of transforming Ted Sallis into Man-Thing
1st appearance of Ellen Brandt
1st team appearance of the Femizons
View more (2)
🥈 Runner-Up: New High [Previous High]
1.8 sold for $345 [No Previous Data]
Batman #232
DC ⋅ 1971
View Details
 
Low
$80
Mid
$250
High
$800

Key Facts

1st appearance of Ra's al Ghul
2nd appearance of Talia al Ghul
 
Low
$425
Mid
$1.2k
High
$4.8k

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Swamp Thing, Alex Olsen
[January 2023 - a Swamp Thing horror film is in development at DC Studios]
Fantastic Four #112
Marvel ⋅ 1971
View Details
 
Low
$65
Mid
$285
High
$725

Key Facts

Classic battle of the Hulk vs the Thing
Iconic cover art by John Buscema
 
Low
$18
Mid
$55
High
$290

Key Facts

Premiere issue of DC's war-horror series
 
Low
$30
Mid
$120
High
$300

Key Facts

Pioneering story arc that confronted the topic of drug addiction which led to more realistic and relatable stories in comics
Adams and Mr. O'Neil won a Shazam Award in 1971 for 'Best Individual Story' and recognized by NYC mayor, John Lindsay in a letter which was printed in issue #86
 
Low
$20
Mid
$75
High
$235

Key Facts

1st appearance of Big Barda, highly skilled warrior and love interest of Mister Miracle
 
Low
$10
Mid
$35
High
$180

Key Facts

Milestone issue #100
Iconic cover art by John Romita Sr.
 
Low
$130
Mid
$460
High
$1.3k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Morbius the Living Vampire
🥈 Runner-Up: New High [Previous High]
NATIONAL DIAMOND SALES INSERT 8.0 sold for $640 [No Previous Data]
Marvel Spotlight #2
Marvel ⋅ 1972
View Details
 
Low
$110
Mid
$300
High
$1.2k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Werewolf by Night
 
Low
$100
Mid
$300
High
$1k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Jonah Hex
 
Low
$20
Mid
$85
High
$275

Key Facts

Beast undergoes a mutation which grows gray hair all over his body
Marvel Premiere #1
Marvel ⋅ 1972
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Low
$45
Mid
$135
High
$450

Key Facts

Rebirth of HIM, renamed Warlock by the High Evolutionary
Debut of Warlock's costume including an unnamed emerald, later revealed to be the Soul Infinity Stone
 
Low
$80
Mid
$450
High
$1.2k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Dracula, created by Gerry Conway and Gene Colan, inspired by Bram Stoker’s classic character
1st appearance of Van Helsing
1st appearance of Frank Drake, a descendant of Dracula
[April 2023 - if speculation is accurate that Mia Goth will portray Lilith Drake, the daughter of Dracula, chances are her father will be a part of her origin]
 
Low
$100
Mid
$300
High
$1k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Luke Cage, the first black superhero to headline a title in mainstream comics
Luke Cage became invincible to harm through a Super Soldier program called Project Power aka Weapon VI
1st appearance of Diamondback, Comanche and Shades
Demon, The #1
DC ⋅ 1972
View Details
 
Low
$15
Mid
$60
High
$175

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Etrigan the Demon
1st appearance of Morgaine Le Fay, the sister of Madame Xanadu
1st appearance of Randu Singh
 
Low
$580
Mid
$1.9k
High
$6.8k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze
[January 2023 - rumor that a Ghost Rider project is slated for 2023, possibly a Halloween special. No info on which version of Ghost Rider will be used in the event that this is true]
 
Low
$40
Mid
$120
High
$400

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of the second Swamp Thing, Alec Holland
1st cameo appearance of Anton Arcane
1st appearance of Matt Cable, later becomes the Sandman's raven
1st cameo appearance of the Un-Men
View more (2)
1st appearance of Nathan Ellery, the man who caused the explosion that created Swamp Thing
First ongoing Swamp Thing solo title
Cat, The #1
Marvel ⋅ 1972
View Details  ⋅ View Variants (1)
 
Low
$18
Mid
$75
High
$245

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of The Cat, Greer Grant
Iron Man #54
Marvel ⋅ 1973
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Low
$45
Mid
$135
High
$480

Key Facts

1st appearance of Madame MacEvil, daughter of Drax, later referred to by the name Moondragon
Madame MacEvil becomes Moondragon in Daredevil #105
[April 2023 - speculation that the child named ‘Love’ in Thor 4 is a young Moondragon who will later appear as an adult]
Shazam #1
DC ⋅ 1973
View Details
 
Low
$6
Mid
$20
High
$75

Key Facts

DC begins publishing Shazam after licensing the Captain Marvel character from Fawcett who they had successfully sued 20 years earlier for copyright infringement due to the character's similarities to Superman
1st appearance of Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr. and Mary Marvel since the Golden Age
1st appearance of Doctor Sivana and family since the Golden Age
Origin of Captain Marvel retold
Iron Man #55
Marvel ⋅ 1973
View Details
 
Low
$135
Mid
$480
High
$1.4k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Thanos, an Eternal from Titan born with the Deviants gene
1st cameo appearance of Eros aka Starfox, brother of Thanos
1st appearance of Kronos, Grandfather of Thanos
1st appearance of Mentor, father of Thanos
View more (2)
1st appearance of Drax the Destroyer, created by Kronus to kill Thanos
1st appearance of the Blood Brothers
 
Low
$30
Mid
$90
High
$345

Key Facts

1st appearance of Red Sonja
⚠ Misconception: cited by many resources as a cameo appearance of Red Sonja but she appears in over 20 panels, fights and is introduced by name
[August 2022 - filming is scheduled to begin with Matilda Lutz cast in the main role]
 
Low
$90
Mid
$285
High
$900

Key Facts

Death of Gwen Stacy, neck unintentionally snapped as Spider-Man attempted to rescue her
 
Low
$320
Mid
$1.1k
High
$3.2k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Blade
[November 2021 - the director of The Eternals reveals that the voice speaking to Dane Whitman is Blade who has previously been confirmed for a MCU film]
 
Low
$45
Mid
$120
High
$450

Key Facts

Death of Green Goblin
Ghost Rider #1
Marvel ⋅ 1973
View Details
 
Low
$120
Mid
$415
High
$1.2k

Key Facts

First solo titled series featuring Ghost Rider
1st cameo appearance of Daimon Hellstrom, Son of Satan, multiple panels in shadows
Strange Tales #169
Marvel ⋅ 1973
View Details
 
Low
$75
Mid
$215
High
$750

Key Facts

1st appearance of Brother Voodoo, Jericho Drumm, later renamed Doctor Voodoo
 
Low
$200
Mid
$800
High
$2k

Key Facts

Iconic cover art by Neal Adams
Issue credited for revitalizing the Joker as a homicidal villain instead of a comical villain
 
Low
$20
Mid
$80
High
$200

Key Facts

1st full appearance and origin of Son of Satan
Thought many sources cite Ghost Rider#2 as the first full appearance of Damion Hellstrom he is obscured by shadows throughout the issue
 
Low
$30
Mid
$90
High
$300

Key Facts

1st appearance of Howard the Duck
 
Low
$120
Mid
$400
High
$1.2k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung-Fu
1st appearance of Sir Dennis Nayland-Smith
1st appearance of Fu Manchu, father of Shang-Chi, later renamed Han, then Zheng Zu
1st team appearance of Si-Fan, a secret society with allegiances to Fu Manchu
View more (1)
1st appearance of Shang-Chi's unnamed mother, an American - later retconned in Shang-Chi #4 (2021)
 
Low
$300
Mid
$900
High
$2.7k

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Punisher
1st appearance of the Jackal
[March 2023 - Jon Bernthal confirmed to reprise the role of Punisher for Daredevil: Born Again / May 2023 - a rumor suggests there may be a Punisher series in the works for Disney+]
Marvel Premiere #15
Marvel ⋅ 1974
View Details
 
Low
$60
Mid
$240
High
$700

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Iron Fist, Daniel Rand
1st appearance of Yu-Ti, a Dragon Lord
1st team appearance of the Dragon Kings
Introduction of K'un-Lun, one of the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven
View more (1)
1st appearance of Wendell Rand, father of Daniel Rand
 
Low
$20
Mid
$65
High
$185

Key Facts

1st appearance of Deathlok, Luther Manning
1st appearance of Major Ryker
First published artwork for Marvel by George Perez, interior two-page backup story
Prior to the publication of this issue, George Perez was published in the science-fiction magazine Hot Stuf'
 
Low
$275
Mid
$1.2k
High
$4.4k

Key Facts

1st cameo appearance of Wolverine
2nd appearance of Wendigo
Marvel Value Stamp Series A #67 - Cyclops
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: this issue, by far, is the most debated "cameo versus full" book and likely the main reason "cameo" became such a significant yet loosely defined term in comic book collecting
View more (6)
Theoretically, The Incredible Hulk #180 being labeled "cameo" of Wolverine was due to an oversight by Overstreet (see additional images)
In the 1980/1981 edition of Overstreet, Hulk#181 is labeled - 1st app of Wolverine and Hulk#180 is without a descriptor, commanding the same value as issues #151 - #176
In the 1981/1982 Overstreet, the description had been amended to read #180 - 1st app. Wolverine but mislabeled #181 and #182 - Wolverine cameo
Finally, in 1982/1983, Overstreet labeled Hulk #180 - 1st app. Wolverine (cameo) and #181 - Wolverine app. #182 - Wolverine cameo
In recent years, Marvel has taken a stance on Hulk #180 as the first appearance of Wolverine, wanting to eliminate the term "cameo" altogether, presumably to avoid this exact debate
But in years past, official Marvel guidebooks and trading cards would often trade-off which issue was given the coveted 1st (full) appearance designation (see additional images)
 
Low
$1k
Mid
$4.5k
High
$11k

Key Facts

1st full appearance of Wolverine, final page cameo in issue #180
Marvel Value Stamp Series A #54 - Shanna the She-Devil
[September 2022 - Hugh Jackman will reprise the role of Wolverine in Deadpool 3]
 
Low
$30
Mid
$90
High
$300

Key Facts

1st appearance of Korvac
Marvel Value Stamp
[April 2020 - two inside sources have confirmed that Korvac will be in multiple upcoming Marvel projects. Although the sources are independent from one another and close to Marvel Studios this is still unconfirmed until official word is released]
Strange Tales #178
Marvel ⋅ 1975
View Details
 
Low
$30
Mid
$95
High
$315

Key Facts

Ongoing stories featuring Adam Warlock begin
1st appearance of Magus, an evil version of Adam Warlock from the future
1st team appearance of The Universal Church of Truth
1st appearance of The Matriarch, a leader of The Universal Church of Truth
Joker, The #1
DC ⋅ 1975
View Details
 
Low
$18
Mid
$55
High
$160

Key Facts

First solo titled Joker series

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