Key Collector Comics
Beyond Bizarre

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Tim Holt #30
Magazine Enterprises ⋅ 1952
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Tim Holt #30
 
Price Trend
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$1k
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$10k

Key Facts

In 1970, a San Francisco reporter received a Halloween greeting card from the real-life Zodiac serial killer with the words "by fire, by gun, by knife, by rope”

Later, a comic collector noticed the wording was eerily similar to Lady Doom’s “Death Wheel" on the cover of this book

Ruins #1
Marvel ⋅ 1995
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Ruins #1
 
Low
$2
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$8
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$25

Key Facts

Two-part story that gives a dark perspective of the superhero influence in the real world, opposite of Kurt Busiek's 'Marvels' series, details include: Jean Grey is a prostitute, Captain Marvel and the Kree afflicted with cancer are confined to a Nevada reservation and Spider-Man contracts a radioactive virus from the spider bite

Way of X #2
Marvel ⋅ 2021
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Way of X #2
 
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$1
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$4

Key Facts

1st cameo appearance of Soft Serve, a mutant who poops ice cream

Grenada #1
Commercial Comics ⋅ 1983
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Grenada #1
 
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$10
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$30
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$100

Key Facts

16-page propaganda comic book produced by the C.I.A. under the fictitious organization called V.O.I.C.E. (Victims Of International Communist Emissaries) and distributed over the island of Grenada via air drop

In 1983, the Operation Urgent Fury invasion of Grenada was framed as a campaign to protect American students studying abroad

The United Nations denounced the operation by a vote of 108 to nine condemning the invasion as a violation of international law with critics believing the campaign was a ploy to sever Cuban and Soviet influence in the Caribbean

Captain America Comics #25
Marvel ⋅ 1943
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Captain America Comics #25
 
Low
$410
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$1.3k
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$5.6k

Key Facts

Introduction of the Microverse, the subatomic world

Drug use: Captain America drinks liquid opium and loses consciousness in an effort to battle a demon on a different plane

Timespirits #6
Epic ⋅ 1985
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Timespirits #6
 
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$1
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$3

Key Facts

Published in 1986, the cover art features a character that could be the inspiration for James Cameron's film Avatar (2009) though no such claim has ever been made

Doom Patrol #70
DC ⋅ 1993
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Doom Patrol #70
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Coagula, Kate Godwin, a transgender woman who can dissolve liquids

1st appearance of Codpiece, a man whose genital insecurity inspired a high-powered canon attachment

Batman #366
DC ⋅ 1983
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Batman #366
 
Low
$5
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$15
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$55

Key Facts

1st appearance of Jason Todd in Robin costume without Batman's permission

Jason Todd had red hair in previous appearances and admits to dyeing it black. This story was strangely retconned in Batman and Robin #5 (2009) with Todd claiming Bruce Wayne made him dye his hair black

Action Comics #309
DC ⋅ 1964
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Action Comics #309
 
Low
$20
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$50
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$150

Key Facts

Appearance of President John F. Kennedy who had been assassinated days before the issue went on sale

The mystery masquerader on the cover is JFK in disguise to help Superman conceal his identity

Creech #1
Image ⋅ 1997
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Creech #1
 
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$1
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Creech, a rogue government experiment created from hundreds of aborted fetuses

Weapon Brown #1
Death Ray Graphics ⋅ 2002
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Weapon Brown #1
 
Low
$3
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$9
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$30

Key Facts

Parody of Charlie Brown that describes the main character as a blockheaded, wishy-washy killing machine

One-shot that collects 'A Peanut Scorned,' a story first printed throughout the four-issue series 'Deep Fried' (2001)

Includes an original story titled 'A Weapon Brown Christmas'

⚠ This issue is 'Print On Demand' on indyplanet.com

Bartkira #1
Softcover ⋅ Floating World Comics ⋅ 2015
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Bartkira #1
 
Low
$5
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$18
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$75

Key Facts

96-page preview of a project to recreate the entire first series of Akira (1988-1996), panel-by-panel, replacing the original characters with the cast of The Simpsons

768 artists contributed five pages of art to complete Bartkira which can be read in its entirety at bartkira.com

This softcover edition and a hardcover edition are the only printed offerings of Bartkira that were produced

Nightcat #1
Marvel ⋅ 1991
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Nightcat #1
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Nightcat, a character developed by Stan Lee intended to have real world synergy in the music industry

The real world counterpart of Nightcat was named Jacqueline Tavarez who released an album in 1991 titled 'Nightcat: #1 House Rule' but failed to place on music charts

Marvel quickly abandoned the concept to which Tavarez claimed was because of her involvement as a dancer in a music video produced by Joey Buttafuoco

Catwoman #81
DC ⋅ 2000
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Catwoman #81
 
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$1
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Key Facts

Origin of Catwoman, specifically incredibly violent events that transpired in her childhood that included alcohol-related domestic abuse, her mother's suicide and her sister's death in a fire - much of it depicted through illustrations

Catwoman's origin has since changed with the introduction of her sister in the 2018 series

Superboy #75
DC ⋅ 1959
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Superboy #75
 
Low
$15
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$60
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$200

Key Facts

Superboy spanking cover

Team Titans #8
DC ⋅ 1993
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Team Titans #8
 
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Key Facts

Nightwing from the future embraces evil and becomes Deathwing, dons a plunging V-neck costume that exposes pierced nipple [tap cover and swipe to view]

Marvelmania Magazine #4
2nd Print ⋅ Independent ⋅ 1970
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Marvelmania Magazine #4
 
Price Trend
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$750
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$180
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$750

Key Facts

Second printing, blue tint

An independently-published magazine produced by fans but authorized by Marvel Comics

Included interviews, features of upcoming projects, character bios and comic strips

It is said that this second printing was reproduced after editor Mark Evanier left the company which infuriated the existing editor who removed all mentions of Evanier from the publication

There has been only one graded sale of the 'blue' version, and none of the 1st print

Fantastic Four #119
Marvel ⋅ 1972
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Fantastic Four #119
 
Low
$3
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$9
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$35

Key Facts

Black Panther briefly changes his name to Black Leopard because at the time, the Black Panther Party had become increasingly radical in their activism

Hitman #22
Non-Key
DC ⋅ 1998
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Hitman #22
 
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Key Facts

'The Santa Contract' written by Garth Ennis using the rhythmic structure of a holiday poem

Violent story about an irradiated nuclear plant worker who goes on a killing spree dressed as Santa Claus

Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #9
Marvel ⋅ 1973
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Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #9
 
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$5
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$50

Key Facts

Classic story where Luke Cage storms Doctor Doom's castle to collect $200 that he is owed for tracking down some missing robots

Savage Dragon #32
Image ⋅ 1996
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Savage Dragon #32
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Heavy Flo, a villain who can eject high-pressured female bodily fluids against an enemy

Lex Luthor / Porky Pig Special #1
Non-Key
DC ⋅ 2018
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Lex Luthor / Porky Pig Special #1
 
Low
$1
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$5

Key Facts

One-shot that teams up Lex Luthor and Porky Pig

Shock Suspenstories #12
EC ⋅ 1953
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Shock Suspenstories #12
 
Low
$180
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$600
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$1.8k

Key Facts

Drug abuse cover

Shanna the She-Devil #4
Marvel ⋅ 1973
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Shanna the She-Devil #4
 
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$2
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$8
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$25

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Mandrill, a mutant with the ability to control women with pheromones

Hellblazer #247
Non-Key
DC Vertigo ⋅ 2008
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Hellblazer #247
 
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Key Facts

To perform a magic ritual that will temporarily hone his abilities, John Constantine uses mortar and pestle to create a fine powder from the bones of Saint Nicholas of Myrna, the inspiration behind Santa Claus

'Looks like its gonna be a White Christmas after all,' says Constantine before using a straw to snort the bone dust of the Saint

Slow Jams #1
Independent ⋅ 1999
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Slow Jams #1
 
Low
$85
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$200
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$500

Key Facts

Limited to 1,000 copies although there is a much rarer, earlier printing that was handed out at SDCC in 1998 with no price on the cover

Created and self-published by David Choe, an artist who is known for his street-art influenced work appearing in urban settings

In the early days of Facebook, Choe was commissioned to paint murals on the interior walls of their Silicone Valley office and though he thought the company would fail, he accepted stock in lieu of cash that earned him $200 million, seven years later

Syndrome
Archaia ⋅ 2010
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Syndrome
 
Low
$8
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$25
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$75

Key Facts

Hardcover graphic novel commissioned by television writer and convicted murderer Blake Leibel whose gruesome comic book panels mirrored the crime scene of his real life victim, his girlfriend

Jungle Comics #2
Fiction House ⋅ 1940
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Jungle Comics #2
 
Low
$425
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$4.2k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Fantomah, the first female superhero in comic books

Combo Man #1
Marvel ⋅ 1996
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Combo Man #1
 
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$4
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$12
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$40

Key Facts

12-page promotional mini-comic produced by Marvel for Combos Stuffed Snacks

Measures 4 inches x 5.75 inches

1st appearance and origin of Combo Man, a college student who gained superpowers after being bombarded with radiation while carrying comic books and Combos

The character is comprised of:

The Incredible Hulk's hair

Cyclops' visor

Iron Man's faceplate

Magneto's cape

Upper part of Punisher chest emblem

Lower part of Captain America's chest emblem

Sabretooth's biceps

Daredevil's forearms (armored)

Carnage's arms

Spider-Man's hands

The Human Torch's knees

Silver Surfer's calves

Second and final appearance in Ziggy Pig-Silly Seal #1 (2019)

Punisher #16
Non-Key
Marvel ⋅ 2002
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Punisher #16
 
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Key Facts

Battle of Wolverine and The Punisher in a story called 'Vertical Challenge' by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, creators of The Boys

Two-issue arc with sequences of gratuitous violence where Wolverine takes a shotgun blast to the face that exposes the entirety of his adamantium skull

The Punisher then incapacitated Logan with a close-range shot to the genitalia and assured him that they’d grow back

Marvel Mystery Comics #26
Timely ⋅ 1941
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Marvel Mystery Comics #26
 
Low
$900
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$3k
High
$9k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Armless Tiger Man, a man who lost his arms during a machine accident and eventually became a cannibal

Star Wars: Infinities - Return of the Jedi #4
Dark Horse ⋅ 2002
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Star Wars: Infinities - Return of the Jedi #4
 
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Key Facts

Series centers on alternate outcomes of known Star Wars stories along the lines of Marvel's 'What If...?' and DC's 'Elseworlds'

Appearance of Darth Vader in a white version of his suit to symbolize his redemption from the dark side

Marvel Comics Presents #45
Marvel ⋅ 1990
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Marvel Comics Presents #45
 
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Key Facts

In the story, 'The Main Event' the Incredible Hulk challenges Hulk Hogan for the use of the name Hulk in what appears to be an unfriendly commentary from Marvel (courtesy of Peter David) aimed at Hogan

After handling Hogan, the Hulk says, “Any other of you clowns want to swipe a name you don’t deserve just to get ahead?”

Punisher #59
Marvel ⋅ 1992
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Punisher #59
 
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Key Facts

After every inch of the Punisher's face is horribly disfigured by Jigsaw, he undergoes a skin graft and wakes up five days later as a black man

In issue #62, while engaged in a fight, the Punisher's doctor notices that his 'treatment' is wearing off, revealing a fully restored, unscarred face. The name of the story is 'Fade To...White'

Thor: God of Thunder #19
Variant ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2014
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Thor: God of Thunder #19
 
Low
$5
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$15
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$55

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Jennifer Parks

Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #16
Marvel ⋅ 2005
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Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #16
 
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Key Facts

Ethan Edwards becomes Virtue

The Absorbing Man is tricked into becoming cocaine. He is then hit with high-powered fans and blown into powder that is packaged up for a major drug haul

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Mirage ⋅ 1984
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
 
Low
$12.5k
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$12.5k
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$12.5k

Key Facts

40-page printer's proof of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (1984)

A printer's proof is a sample that is printed to examine the correctness of the issue before printing the entire run

This one-of-a-kind, historical proof was found in a small print shop in Biddeford, Maine a few years after the publication of issue #1, after the Turtles had already exploded in popularity

The men who found it traded it to Downeast Comics which operated between the years of 1986 - 1994, in Brunswick, Maine

The owner paid for the proof with store stock and held onto it before auctioning it on Comic Link in 2020 for $12,472 with 77 bids

Gangsta Rap Posse #2
Traditional Comics ⋅ 2011
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Gangsta Rap Posse #2
 
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Key Facts

Mature-themed pulp comic with panels of explicit violence

The story features an NWA-type group called Gangsta Rap Posse and follows their exploits in depravity in a morally corrupt world

Marvel Comics #1000
Preview ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2019
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Marvel Comics #1000
 
Low
$0
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$0
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$0

Key Facts

Reported by Graeme McMillan from The Hollywood Reporter: Retailer preview that includes an essay by Mark Waid overlaying a Captain America page that is critical toward American politics

Marvel has elected to remove political commentary from #1000 but the decision was made after the retailer preview was shipped. It is not clear if any of these made it to the market

Deathzone! #1
Independent ⋅ 2012
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Deathzone! #1
 
Low
$60
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$130
High
$600

Key Facts

Independently published one-shot by Michael Fiffe (Copra) limited to 300 copies

Based upon characters featured in John Ostrander's version of The Suicide Squad (1987)

Marvel No Prize
Marvel ⋅ 1967
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Marvel No Prize
 
Low
$10
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$30
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$100

Key Facts

In 1967, Marvel began rewarding readers who performed a 'meritorious service to the cause of Marveldom' with an empty envelope that contained a 'No-Prize'

Readers qualified to receive a 'No-Prize' by pointing out a continuity error, providing an explanation for an error, sharing a creative idea or winning a contest

The 'No-Prize' award evolved from a reply to a reader in the letters column of Fantastic Four #22 which caused an influx of letters pointing out any little error and also confusion over not receiving a physical prize from Marvel which led to the distribution of the empty envelopes

Although it was Stan Lee who coined the phrase and the idea, later editors continued the tradition into the late 80s

Detective Comics #241
DC ⋅ 1957
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Detective Comics #241
 
Low
$175
Mid
$485
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$1.4k

Key Facts

Iconic story 'The Rainbow Batman'

Babyteeth #1
Leather ⋅ Aftershock ⋅ 2017
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Babyteeth #1
 
Low
$25
Mid
$80
High
$250

Key Facts

Variant wraparound cover art by David Angelo Roman, limited to 25 numbered copies (Roman Numerals)

Each individual cover was painted on real goat-skin

'Babyteeth' written in Assyrian Aramaic at the bottom

Star Wars Tales #19
Dark Horse ⋅ 2004
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Star Wars Tales #19
 
Low
$4
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$12
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$45

Key Facts

1st appearance of Ben Skywalker, Luke's son

Cameo appearance of Indiana Jones who stumbles across the wreckage of the Millennium Falcon when it crashed to Earth years ago

Squadron Supreme #1
Marvel ⋅ 1997
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Squadron Supreme #1
 
Low
$18
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$60
High
$175

Key Facts

In accordance with the writer Mark Gruenwald's wishes, his cremated ashes were mixed with the ink in the first printing edition of this trade paperback

Marvel Comics Super Special #1
Marvel ⋅ 1977
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Marvel Comics Super Special #1
 
Low
$30
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$100
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$300

Key Facts

2nd appearance of KISS in comics

The ink that was used to print the comic is mixed with the blood of the band members

🥈 Runner-Up: New High [Previous High]

9.6 sold for $1,100 [$1,000 in Mar] +10%

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