Key Collector Comics

100 Modern Keys

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

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Marvel Super-Heroes #8

Marvel ⋅ 1992

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Marvel Super-Heroes #8
 
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$10
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$30
High
$100
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Squirrel Girl

Harbinger #1

Valiant ⋅ 1992

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Harbinger #1
 
Low
$5
Mid
$20
High
$90
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Key Facts

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]

X-Men #4

Marvel ⋅ 1992

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X-Men #4
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20
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Key Facts

1st full appearance of Omega Red, a Russian serial killer, captured and experimented on by the government

Amazing Spider-Man #361

Marvel ⋅ 1992

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Amazing Spider-Man #361
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100
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Key Facts

1st full appearance of Carnage, spawned from the extraterrestrial parasite known as the Venom symbiote

Spawn #1

Image ⋅ 1992

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Spawn #1
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$30
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Spawn

1st appearance of Sam & Twitch

1st appearance of Malebolgia

1st cameo appearance of Jason Wynn

Pin-up of Pitt

X-Force #11

Marvel ⋅ 1992

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X-Force #11
 
Low
$1
Mid
$3
High
$12
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Key Facts

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

Iron Man #282

Marvel ⋅ 1992

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Iron Man #282
 
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$10
Mid
$30
High
$100
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Key Facts

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

Superman: The Man of Steel #18

DC ⋅ 1992

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Superman: The Man of Steel #18
 
Low
$1
Mid
$5
High
$18
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Key Facts

1st full appearance of Doomsday, mostly obscured by a containment suit with one arm bound behind his back as he wreaks havoc across the countryside

Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1

DC ⋅ 1993

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Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100
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Key Facts

1st appearance, cover and origin of Bane

📖 Knightfall Reading Order: next Batman #484

[September 2024 - James Gunn’s DCU is developing a Bane and Deathstroke super-villain team-up film based on a script by Matthew Orton]

Superman #75

DC ⋅ 1993

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Superman #75
 
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$1
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$5
High
$15
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Key Facts

Death of Superman

Death of Doomsday

Every page of this issue is a full or double-splash page

Six-million issues sold

Venom: Lethal Protector #1

Marvel ⋅ 1993

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Venom: Lethal Protector #1
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$25
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Key Facts

First solo series featuring Venom

1st cameo appearance of General Orwell Taylor

Spawn #9

Image ⋅ 1993

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Spawn #9
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20
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Key Facts

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

Static #1

Milestone ⋅ 1993

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Static #1
 
Low
$1
Mid
$5
High
$15
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Key Facts

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

[October 2020 - Warner Brothers and Michael B. Jordan to produce a Static Shock movie - status currently unknown / April 2023 - James Gunn replied to a tweet that DC has plans to incorporate Milestone characters in upcoming projects]

Batman #497

DC ⋅ 1993

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Batman #497
 
Low
$1
Mid
$5
High
$15
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Key Facts

Bane breaks Batman's back

Knightfall Part Eleven

📖 Knightfall Reading Order: next Detective Comics #664

Batman Adventures #12

DC ⋅ 1993

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Batman Adventures #12
 
Low
$120
Mid
$400
High
$1.2k
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Harley Quinn in a standard comic

[August 2022 - Lady Gaga confirmed to star opposite Joaquin Phoenix in the Joker movie sequel as Harley Quinn / March 2023 - a set photo from the Joker sequel provides a first look at Lady Gaga as Harley]

John Byrne's Next Men #21

Dark Horse ⋅ 1993

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John Byrne's Next Men #21
 
Low
$12
Mid
$40
High
$120
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Hellboy in color

Flash #92

DC ⋅ 1994

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Flash #92
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20
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Key Facts

1st full appearance of Impulse, sidekick to Wally West

Web of Spider-Man #118

Marvel ⋅ 1994

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Web of Spider-Man #118
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100
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Key Facts

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

Preacher #1

DC Vertigo ⋅ 1995

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Preacher #1
 
Low
$8
Mid
$20
High
$80
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Key Facts

1st appearance Jesse Custer the Preacher, Tulip O'Hare, Cassidy and the Saint of Killers

Venom: Sinner Takes All #3

Marvel ⋅ 1995

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Venom: Sinner Takes All #3
 
Low
$7
Mid
$20
High
$70
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Key Facts

1st full appearance of She-Venom

Birds of Prey: Black Canary / Oracle #1

DC ⋅ 1995

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Birds of Prey: Black Canary / Oracle #1
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$35
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Key Facts

1st team appearance of Birds of Prey: Black Canary and Oracle

Unofficial team appearance in Showcase 96 #3

Incredible Hulk #449

Marvel ⋅ 1996

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Incredible Hulk #449
 
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$50
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Key Facts

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)

Stormwatch #4

Image ⋅ 1998

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Stormwatch #4
 
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$65
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Apollo

1st appearance of Midnighter

What If...? #105

Marvel ⋅ 1998

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What If...? #105
 
Low
$12
Mid
$40
High
$125
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Key Facts

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]

Dreamwalker #0

Avatar ⋅ 1998

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Dreamwalker #0
 
Low
$35
Mid
$80
High
$300
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Key Facts

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]

Inhumans #5

Marvel ⋅ 1999

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Inhumans #5
 
Low
$4
Mid
$12
High
$40
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Key Facts

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)"

Goon #1

Avatar ⋅ 1999

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Goon #1
 
Low
$40
Mid
$120
High
$400
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Key Facts

2nd appearance of The Goon

2nd appearance of Franky

1st full appearance of the Zombie Priest

Batman Beyond #1

DC ⋅ 1999

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Batman Beyond #1
 
Low
$40
Mid
$120
High
$400
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Key Facts

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

Batman #567

DC ⋅ 1999

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Batman #567
 
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$50
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Key Facts

1st appearance and cover of Cassandra Cain, later becomes Batgirl, Orphan II and the Black Bat

1st appearance of David Cain, Orphan not in costume

Batman: Harley Quinn #1

DC ⋅ 1999

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Batman: Harley Quinn #1
 
Low
$8
Mid
$25
High
$75
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Harley Quinn in the main DC comic book storytelling universe

The Sentry #1

Marvel ⋅ 2000

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The Sentry #1
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100
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Key Facts

1st appearance of the Sentry

1st appearance of The Void, the dark aspect of The Sentry

Alias #1

Marvel ⋅ 2001

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Alias #1
 
Low
$5
Mid
$18
High
$75
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Jessica Jones

Amazing Spider-Man #36

Marvel ⋅ 2001

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Amazing Spider-Man #36
 
Low
$5
Mid
$25
High
$85
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Key Facts

September 11th, 2001 tribute issue depicting various Marvel teams and characters working alongside emergency services as New York native, Spider-Man narrates the experience

Bloodstone #1

Marvel ⋅ 2001

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Bloodstone #1
 
Low
$15
Mid
$50
High
$150
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Elsa Bloodstone, daughter and successor of the famous monster hunter, Ulysses Bloodstone

1st appearance of Nosferatu in the Marvel Universe

30 Days of Night #1

IDW ⋅ 2002

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30 Days of Night #1
 
Low
$8
Mid
$25
High
$80
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Key Facts

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

New X-Men #128

Marvel ⋅ 2002

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New X-Men #128
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Fantomex, Weapon XIII

1st team appearance of X-Corporation (Paris): Darkstar, Multiple Man, Rictor, Monet St. Croix, Cannoball, Siryn

Y: The Last Man #1

DC Vertigo ⋅ 2002

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Y: The Last Man #1
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100
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Key Facts

Premiere issue of a series created by Brian K. Vaughn about the last man on a female populated Earth

Invincible #1

Image ⋅ 2003

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Invincible #1
 
Low
$100
Mid
$300
High
$1.1k
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Key Facts

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

Runaways #1

Marvel ⋅ 2003

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Runaways #1
 
Low
$4
Mid
$12
High
$45
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Key Facts

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]

The Walking Dead #1

Image ⋅ 2003

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The Walking Dead #1
 
Low
$165
Mid
$410
High
$1.2k
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Key Facts

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

NYX #3

Marvel ⋅ 2004

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NYX #3
 
Low
$40
Mid
$120
High
$450
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Key Facts

1st appearance of X-23, Laura Kinney

Laura Kinney debuted in the animated series X-Men: Evolution (2003)

Batman #635

DC ⋅ 2005

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Batman #635
 
Low
$20
Mid
$80
High
$200
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Jason Todd as Red Hood

Young Avengers #1

Marvel ⋅ 2005

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Young Avengers #1
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$35
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Key Facts

1st team appearance of the Young Avengers: Kate Bishop, Patriot, Asgardian aka Wiccan, Hulkling, and Iron Lad, who is later revealed to be a young variant of Kang

Black Panther #2

Marvel ⋅ 2005

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Black Panther #2
 
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$50
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Shuri, T'Challa's sister and future Black Panther

1st appearance of S'yan, the uncle of T'Challa who held the throne after T'Chaka's assassination

The Walking Dead #19

Image ⋅ 2005

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The Walking Dead #19
 
Low
$15
Mid
$60
High
$175
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Michonne, one of the more resourceful survivors of the series

[SDCC 2022 - Rick and Michonne will be featured in a spin-off limited series]

Captain America #6

Marvel ⋅ 2005

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Captain America #6
 
Low
$5
Mid
$18
High
$75
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Key Facts

1st full appearance of Bucky Barnes as the Winter Soldier

New Avengers #7

Marvel ⋅ 2005

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New Avengers #7
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$30
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Key Facts

1st team appearance of the Illuminati: Professor X, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, Iron Man, Namor

Ultimate Fantastic Four #22

Marvel ⋅ 2005

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Ultimate Fantastic Four #22
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$30
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Key Facts

1st full appearance of Marvel Zombies

[November 2021 - Marvel teases a standalone Marvel Zombies animated project]

Multiple first appearances of heroes-turned-zombies

Amazing Fantasy #15

Marvel ⋅ 2006

View Details  ⋅  View Series  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Amazing Fantasy #15
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100
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Key Facts

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]

Amazing Spider-Man #529

Marvel ⋅ 2006

View Details  ⋅  View Series  ⋅  View Variants (4)
Amazing Spider-Man #529
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$30
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Key Facts

Debut of the Iron Spider Suit, engineered by Stark Industries

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