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100 Modern Keys

🗝 The Top 100 Key Issues from The Modern Age Comic Books published from 1993 - Present

DC Sep 2018

Batman: Damned #1

Batman: Damned #1
View Series Variants (3)
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$25
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Premiere series in the DC Black Label launch which gives established creators creative freedom to explore characters and stories outside of continuity
Controversial issue: Bruce Wayne's genitalia which was censored in later printings
DC Oct 2024

Absolute Batman #1

Absolute Batman #1
View Series Variants (94)
Low
$15
Mid
$50
High
$180
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Premiere issue of an ongoing series in the Absolute Universe, a dimension built on Darkseid energy
Introduction of Alfred Pennyworth, an M16 agent
Introduction of Black Mask
Introduction of Waylon Jones, Killer Crock in the mainstream universe
Introduction of Martha Wayne, Commissioner Gordon, Barbara Gordon, Harvey Bullock
Introduction of Selina Kyle, Oswald Cobblepot, Edward Nygma, Harvey Dent - as children in a photograph
Introduction of Matches Malone
Introduction of Joker, first cameo appearance
Introduction of Julia Pennyworth, cameo appearance
Introduction and death of Thomas Wayne
1st team appearance of the Party Animals, led by Black Mask
Absolute Batman #1 preceded by a 16-page black and white ashcan preview
Image Nov 2004

Invincible #19

Invincible #19
View Series Variants (14)
Low
$50
Mid
$150
High
$500
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1st appearance of Battle Beast
1st appearance of Magnattack
1st appearance of Magmaniac
1st appearance of Tether Tyrant
Copies ordered by retailers: 9,660
BOOM! Sep 2019

Something Is Killing the Children #1

Something Is Killing the Children #1
View Series Variants (123)
Low
$30
Mid
$90
High
$325
View on eBay
1st appearance of Erica Slaughter
1st appearance of James, a boy who witnessed the death of his classmates
1st appearance of an Oscuratype, a monster
Copies ordered by retailers: 33,648
[April 2021 - inside sources tell Key Collector Comics that Something Is Killing The Children is in development for a TV series / October 2025 - Blumhouse (Black Phone 2) secured the rights to Something is Killing the Children for a live-action theatrical release and an adult-animated TV series]
Marvel Nov 2014 Vol 3

Amazing Spider-Man #10

Amazing Spider-Man #10
View Series Variants (2)
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$35
View on eBay
1st appearance of Spider Punk aka Anarchic Spider-Man, an alternate reality version of Hobie Brown
📖 Spider-Verse Reading Order: read The Amazing Spider-Man #10 (2014 series) then Spider-Man 2099 #6
Avatar Nov 1998

Dreamwalker #0

Dreamwalker #0
View Series
Low
$35
Mid
$80
High
$300
View on eBay
1st appearance of The Goon
1st appearance of Franky
Reprinted as a back-up story in The Goon #1 (1999)
[SDCC 2022- Patrick Osborne to direct movie adaptation for Netflix]
Valiant Jan 1992

Harbinger #1

Harbinger #1
View Series
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$65
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1st team appearance of the Renegades, Harbinger Resistance Group
1st appearance of Sting, Peter Stanchek
1st appearance of Zephyr, Faith Herbert
1st appearance of Torque, Flamingo and Kris
1st team appearance of the Eggbreakers
Included in issues #1 - #6 was a Mail Away Coupon that, collectively, were redeemable for a variant of Harbinger #0 with a pink cover
[February 2022 - Deadline reports reports Wes Ball to direct for Paramount]
Marvel Jun 1992

X-Force #11

X-Force #11
View Series Variants (2)
Low
$1
Mid
$3
High
$12
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1st team appearance of Weapon P.R.I.M.E.: Weapon X, Rictor, Yeti, Tygerstryke
2nd appearance of the real Domino, previously appeared in X-Force #8 as Copycat
Milestone Jun 1993

Static #1

Static #1
View Series Variants (5)
Low
$1
Mid
$5
High
$15
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1st appearance of Static Shock, the first black superhero to star in his own cartoon series
1st appearance of Hotstreak, a villain with the power to control fire
[April 2026 - Variety reported a Static film is in development]
Marvel Jan 2009

Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #1

Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #1
View Series
Low
$18
Mid
$60
High
$180
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1st appearance of Blue Marvel, a powerful black superhero forced into retirement in the 60s due to his race
1st appearance of Anti-Man
17,000 estimated copies ordered by retailers
[February 2019 - speculation a future Marvel project, possibly The Marvels will introduce Blue Marvel]
Marvel Apr 2011

Amazing Spider-Man #654

Amazing Spider-Man #654
View Series Variants (2)
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$25
View on eBay
Flash Thompson bonds with the Venom symbiote after being recruited as part of Project Rebirth 2.0 aka the Sym-Soldier Program that is later revealed to be the Super Soldier Program's Weapon V
[November 2024 - an Agent Venom movie is rumored to be in development]
Marvel Feb 1998 Vol 2

What If...? #105

What If...? #105
View Series Variants (1)
Low
$12
Mid
$40
High
$125
View on eBay
1st appearance of Spider-Girl, Mayday Parker, the child of Peter and Mary Jane in an alternate universe
1st cameo team appearance of A-Next: Jubilee, Longshot, J2, Thunderstrike, Jolt
1st cameo appearance of J2, Zane Yama, son of the original Juggernaut
Copies ordered by retailers: 29,193
[May 2025 - speculation Sadie Sink may be cast as Mayday Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day]
DC Aug 2010

Superman / Batman Annual #4

Superman / Batman Annual #4
View Series Variants (1)
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$50
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1st official appearance of Batman Beyond, Terry McGinnis outside of a DC Animated comic book
The opening credits of the book read: a visit to the world of Batman Beyond
An alternate reality version of Batman Beyond is introduced in Superman/Batman #22 and referred to as Tim in issue #23
There is debate as to whether or not the use of the name Tim was in error but a DC Direct line of action figures based on Ed McGuinness’s designs from this series reinforce that this Batman Beyond is in fact, Tim Drake, as printed on the toy packaging
DC Mar 1999

Batman Beyond #1

Batman Beyond #1
View Series Variants (17)
Low
$30
Mid
$100
High
$300
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1st appearance of Terry McGinnis in a comic book
It is important to be aware of the differences between several editions of this book that exist
Direct Edition - as seen in the image with DIRECT EDITION printed in the UPC box
Newsstand Edition - UPC box in the lower-left corner, dated March 1999 with an original retail price of $1.99
Promotional Edition - 'FREE Special Origin Issue' printed below the DC logo with a white rectangle in the lower-left corner intended for stores to stamp their logo. Dated June 1999 with a Jell-O advertisement on the back cover
Six Flags Promotional Edition - displays a Six Flags amusement park logo printed in the white rectangle. Dated October 1999 with a PlayStation advertisement on the back cover
Third Printing Promotional Edition - dated July 2000 with a Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker DVD advertisement on the back cover
Marvel Nov 1994

Web of Spider-Man #118

Web of Spider-Man #118
View Series Variants (2)
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100
View on eBay
1st appearance of Ben Reilly as Scarlet Spider, introduced as a clone in The Amazing Spider-Man #149 (1975)
There is a notation on some CGC graded slabs that notate a 'Marvel Direct Marketing' that does not appear to have an affect on value
Marvel Mar 1999 Vol 2

Inhumans #5

Inhumans #5
View Series
Low
$4
Mid
$12
High
$40
View on eBay
1st appearance of Black Widow, Yelena Belova
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: it is disputed whether this is a full or cameo appearance. CGC labels this issue "1st appearance of the new Black Widow (Yelena Belova, face not shown)"
Archie Sep 2013

Afterlife with Archie #1

Afterlife with Archie #1
View Series Variants (58)
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$25
View on eBay
Introduction of ongoing Archie horror stories with Sabrina resurrecting Jughead's dog as the catalyst of a zombie apocalypse
[Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, the showrunner on Riverdale and writer of this comic book series shared an image on social media of the upcoming Riverdale season with a hand emerging from a grave hinting as a possible adaptation of this series / October 2025 - Afterlife with Archie is headed to Disney+ with Berlanti Productions producing]
Marvel May 2019

War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas #1

War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas #1
View Series Variants (13)
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20
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1st team appearance of the new Agents of Atlas, a superhero team of Asian descent: Shang Chi, Jimmy Woo, Amadeus Cho, Crescent, Io, Luna Snow, Aero, Silk, Sword Master and Wave
1st appearance of Luna Snow
1st appearance of Crescent & Io
1st appearance of Aero
1st appearance of Wave, a female Filipino superhero
1st cover appearance of Sword Master, not in the story
Dark Horse Comics Jul 2016

Black Hammer #1

Black Hammer #1
View Series Variants (4)
Low
$1
Mid
$5
High
$18
View on eBay
1st appearance of Black Hammer
1st appearance of Lucy Weber, later becomes the second Black Hammer
1st appearance of Abraham Slam
1st appearance of Talky-Walky
1st appearance of Madame Dragonfly
1st appearance of Golden Gail
1st appearance of Colonel Weird
1st appearance of Anti-God
1st team appearance of Starlok and the Lightriders
Copies ordered by retailers: 19,775
[December 2019 - optioned for TV and film by Legendary with development well underway according to Jeff Lemire]
Marvel Jul 2003

Runaways #1

Runaways #1
View Series
Low
$4
Mid
$12
High
$45
View on eBay
1st team appearance of the Runaways: Alex Wilder, Karolina Dean aka Lucy in the Sky, Molly Hayes aka Bruiser, Nico Minoru aka Sister Grimm, Chase Stein aka Talkback, Gertrude Yorkes aka Arsenic
1st team appearance of the Pride
[July 2022 - Marvel trademarked the title Runaways: New Era]
Image Jun 2009

Chew #1

Chew #1
View Series Variants (7)
Low
$15
Mid
$50
High
$150
View on eBay
Tony Chu is a cibopathic detective who gains psychic impressions from anything he eats, forcing him to consume horrifying evidence, including pieces of murder victims, to solve crimes while the government seeks to exploit his disturbing ability for its own agenda
[May 2026 - Bleeding Cool reported on a Facebook post from Rob Guillory, co-creator of Chew, that revealed an adaptation is officially in development for live action TV at Blumhouse Productions/Atomic Monster]
DC Jan 2019

Naomi #1

Naomi #1
View Series Variants (4)
Low
$1
Mid
$5
High
$15
View on eBay
1st appearance of Naomi, a teenage girl with extraordinary powers
1st appearance of Dee, a mentor to Naomi
Adapted for a CW TV series that aired for one season
Copies ordered by retailers: 25,252
Marvel Jan 2006 Vol 2

Amazing Fantasy #15

Amazing Fantasy #15
View Series Variants (1)
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100
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1st appearance of Amadeus Cho aka Mastermind Excello, a Korean American who becomes the Hulk in Totally Awesome Hulk #1
1st appearances: Heartbreak Kid, Positron Monstro, One-Eyed Jacquie and the Great Video
Cho is a member of The Champions, a team that also includes Miles Morales Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan, Nova, Cyclops, and Spider-Gwen
There are many places for Cho to fit into the MCU like Shang Chi or Agents of Atlas
[October 2024 - it is rumored that Logan Kim (Ghostbusters: Afterlife) has been cast as Amadeus Cho in the MCU]
Image Mar 2012

Saga #1

Saga #1
View Series Variants (10)
Low
$20
Mid
$80
High
$200
View on eBay
Premiere issue of the Eisner award-winning space epic written by Brian K Vaughn, illustrated by Fiona Staples
1st appearance of Marko and Alana, lovers from opposing sides of two alien races at war
1st appearance of The Will and Lying Cat
1st appearance of Prince Robot IV
Avatar Mar 1999

Goon #1

Goon #1
View Series
Low
$40
Mid
$120
High
$400
View on eBay
2nd appearance of The Goon
2nd appearance of Franky
1st full appearance of the Zombie Priest
Image Jan 2003

Invincible #1

Invincible #1
View Series Variants (115)
Low
$220
Mid
$840
High
$2.2K
View on eBay
1st appearance of Invincible
1st appearance of Omni-Man, the father of Invincible
1st appearance of Deborah Grayson, the mother of Invincible
1st appearance of Titan
1st appearance of William Clockwell, Invincible's best friend
1st appearance of David Hiles, a physics teacher
1st cameo appearance of Atom Eve
1st cameo appearance of Science Dog, on a comic cover being read by Mark
Copies ordered by retailers: 10,800
Image Nov 2015

Monstress #1

Monstress #1
View Series Variants (8)
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$50
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A young woman navigates a war-torn, matriarchal world of magic and monsters while uncovering the dark secrets of her past and the ancient, powerful creature bound within her
[March 2026 - an adult-animated adaptation of Monstress is in development at Amazon MGM with One Piece showrunner, Steve Maeda]
Image Jan 2017

God Country #1

God Country #1
View Series Variants (8)
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20
View on eBay
Premiere issue of a sci-fi/fantasy series about a man who travels across the country to care for his ailing father and the storm that changes everything
🚨 August 2018 - Key Collector Comics Exclusive News: optioned by Legendary
[December 2021 - Legendary will produce for Netflix with Sweet Tooth showrunner]
Image Oct 2003

The Walking Dead #1

The Walking Dead #1
View Series Variants (157)
Low
$165
Mid
$410
High
$1.2K
View on eBay
Premiere issue of an ongoing series about survivors of a zombie outbreak from writer Robert Kirkman
Adapted by AMC for cable television
1st appearance of Rick Grimes
1st appearance of Shane Walsh
Print run: 7,266
WildStorm Oct 2006

The Boys #1

The Boys #1
View Series Variants (126)
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100
View on eBay
1st appearance of Billy Butcher, leader of The Boys, a CIA team that polices a reckless superhero community
1st appearance of Hughie Campbell, recruited to The Boys after the death of his girlfriend
1st appearance of A-Train, a member of the Seven
Adapted for a TV series on Amazon
[May 2024 - The Boys has been renewed for a fifth and final season / July 2024 - Vought Rising will be the third live-action series spun-off from The Boys starring Soldier Boy and Stormfront]
Marvel Oct 2011

Ultimate Fallout #4

Ultimate Fallout #4
View Series Variants (26)
Low
$25
Mid
$90
High
$300
View on eBay
1st appearance of Miles Morales, Spider-Man from an alternate reality
Distributed in a polybag
Diamond Comics Distributors estimates 65,000 copies of the first printing were shipped
Marvel Oct 2014

Marvel 75th Anniversary Celebration #1

Marvel 75th Anniversary Celebration #1
View Series
Low
$1
Mid
$5
High
$15
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According to Tom Brevoort, Senior Vice President of publishing at Marvel, this issue includes Stan Lee's final published story, 'Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge'
Stan Lee's first published story for Marvel was a two-page text feature in Captain America Comics #3 (May 1941) of the same name
Stan Lee adapted the two-page text story from 1941 into a traditional comic script 73 years later and Bruce Timm illustrated the panels
Stan Lee's first published story was also his last
Marvel Jul 1992

Iron Man #282

Iron Man #282
View Series Variants (2)
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100
View on eBay
1st cover appearance of the War Machine armor, worn by Tony Stark
⚠ Misconception: cited by many as the first appearance of War Machine. "War Machine" is splashed across the IRON MAN title in reference to the armor’s incredible armaments but the name is not official. The armor, (piloted by Tony Stark in this issue, not James Rhodes) actually debuts in the previous issue, Iron Man #281. In Iron Man #284, James Rhodes suits up in the War Machine armor but does so as Iron Man and does not officially assume the War Machine codename until West Coast Avengers #94, though he is referred to as War Machine in X-Force #21 but as Iron Man in X-Force #20
Marvel Nov 2014

Edge of Spider-Verse #2

Edge of Spider-Verse #2
View Series Variants (15)
Low
$20
Mid
$80
High
$230
View on eBay
1st appearance of Spider-Gwen, Gwen Stacy in an alternate universe (Earth-65)
1st appearance of Em Jay Watson (Earth-65) who later bonds with the Carnage symbiote
1st team appearance of the Mary Janes: Em Jay Watson, Betty Brant, Glory Grant
IDW Jun 2002

30 Days of Night #1

30 Days of Night #1
View Series Variants (4)
Low
$8
Mid
$25
High
$80
View on eBay
A small Alaskan town is invaded by vampires during a naturally occurring, month-long absence of sunlight
First traditional comic book published by IDW
Copies ordered by retailers: 3,791
DC Sep 2011 Vol 2

Batman #1

Batman #1
View Series Variants (22)
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$30
View on eBay
Premiere issue of the second standalone Batman title
1st appearance of Lincoln March
1st cameo appearance of Harper Row, later becomes Bluebird
Marvel Jun 2018 Vol 4

Venom #3

Venom #3
View Series Variants (17)
Low
$15
Mid
$50
High
$150
View on eBay
1st full appearance of Knull,the creator of the Symbiote alien race
Knull's first cameo appearance is in Thor: God of Thunder #6
The spiral emblem associated with Knull is a reference to Chthulhu mythology
Knull was the first being that existed in nothingness that preceded the creation of the current Marvel Universe
[September 2024 - the latest Venom trailer revealed Knull to be a villain in the film]
Marvel Feb 2004

NYX #3

NYX #3
View Series
Low
$40
Mid
$120
High
$450
View on eBay
1st appearance of X-23, Laura Kinney
Laura Kinney debuted in the animated series X-Men: Evolution (2003)
Marvel Dec 2001

Bloodstone #1

Bloodstone #1
View Series
Low
$15
Mid
$50
High
$150
View on eBay
1st appearance of Elsa Bloodstone, daughter and successor of the famous monster hunter, Ulysses Bloodstone
1st appearance of Nosferatu in the Marvel Universe
Image Mar 1993

Spawn #9

Spawn #9
View Series Variants (5)
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20
View on eBay
1st appearance of Angela
later acquired by Marvel as Thor's half sister
1st appearance of Medieval Spawn
1st appearance of Cogliostro
Cover inspired by Wonder Woman #72
Dark Horse Comics Apr 2007

Free Comic Book Day 2007: The Umbrella Academy #1

Free Comic Book Day 2007: The Umbrella Academy #1
View Series
Low
$5
Mid
$18
High
$60
View on eBay
Written by Gerard Way, frontman of My Chemical Romance
Free Comic Book Day 2007 giveaway
1st team appearance of the Umbrella Academy: The Monocle (Sir Reginald Hargreeves), Spaceboy (Luther), Kraken (Diego), The Rumor (Allison),The Séance (Klaus), The Horror (Ben), Vanya
1st appearance of The Murder Magician
[Adapted for a Netflix TV series, premiered February 2019]
Marvel Mar 2008 Vol 2

Hulk #1

Hulk #1
View Series Variants (14)
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$55
View on eBay
1st cover appearance of the Red Hulk, General 'Thunderbolt' Ross
Death of Abomination, initially suspected to have been shot to death by the Hulk but later revealed to be murdered by the Red Hulk
1st team appearance of a new Winter Guard roster: Red Guardian, Ursa Major, Crimson Dynamo, Darkstar
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: the interior story is about a murder perpetrated by, who is believed to be the Hulk, Bruce Banner. Doc Samson as an investigator is piecing together what occurred and the panels depict a recreation of events from his point-of-view with the belief that it is Bruce Banner, the green Hulk who is the killer
Marvel Nov 1996

Incredible Hulk #449

Incredible Hulk #449
View Series Variants (2)
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$50
View on eBay
1st team appearance of The Thunderbolts: Citizen V (formerly Baron Zemo), Atlas (formerly Goliath), Mach-1 (formerly Beetle), Songbird (formerly Screaming Mimi), Meteorite (formerly Moonstone II), Techno (formerly Fixer)
Marvel Aug 2002

New X-Men #128

New X-Men #128
View Series Variants (1)
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20
View on eBay
1st appearance of Fantomex, Weapon XIII, artifically evolved from birth
1st team appearance of X-Corporation (Paris): Darkstar, Multiple Man, Rictor, Monet St. Croix, Cannoball, Siryn
Marvel Jul 2014 Vol 3

Amazing Spider-Man #4

Amazing Spider-Man #4
View Series Variants (6)
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$50
View on eBay
1st full appearance of Silk, a Korean-American girl who was bitten by the same radioactive spider as Peter Parker
📖 Spider-Verse Reading Order: read The Amazing Spider-Man #4 and #5

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