Cover Gimmicks

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Sleepwalker #19

Non-Key

Marvel ⋅ 1992

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Die-cut cover with cutouts to use as a mask

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Die-cut cover with cutouts to use as a mask

Ape-ril Special #1

Non-Key

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2024

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Banana-scented cover variant

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Banana-scented cover variant

Batman / Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2023

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Batman / Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2023

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Variant cover art by Ben Oliver

'Rub and Smell' peppermint scented edition

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Variant cover art by Ben Oliver

'Rub and Smell' peppermint scented edition

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1

Non-Key

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2023

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Variant scratch-off cover revealing one of five Crazy Jane personalities in the mirror

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Variant scratch-off cover revealing one of five Crazy Jane personalities in the mirror

Batman #19

Non-Key

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2013

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Cover art inspired by MAD Magazine

Shipped to retailers for demonstration purposes to show customers how to fold the cover to create a different image

No barcode, Demo Cover printed next to issue number

Key Facts

Cover art inspired by MAD Magazine

Shipped to retailers for demonstration purposes to show customers how to fold the cover to create a different image

No barcode, Demo Cover printed next to issue number

Razor: Darkest Night #1

Variant ⋅ London Night ⋅ 1999

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Mid

$12

High

$45

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White velvet cover

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White velvet cover

Happy Horror Days #1

Non-Key

Wood Cover ⋅ Archie ⋅ 2022

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$15

Mid

$50

High

$150

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Variant cover art by Bill Galvan

Wooden cover with laser etched artwork, limited to 5 copies

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Variant cover art by Bill Galvan

Wooden cover with laser etched artwork, limited to 5 copies

X-Men: Onslaught #1

Gold ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 1996

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$10

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$30

High

$100

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Embossed with 22k gold, limited to 2,000 numbered copies

Distributed in a bag and board with a barcode

Included a Certificate of Authenticity, numbered with a gold Onslaught seal - tap cover and swipe to view additional image

Key Facts

Embossed with 22k gold, limited to 2,000 numbered copies

Distributed in a bag and board with a barcode

Included a Certificate of Authenticity, numbered with a gold Onslaught seal - tap cover and swipe to view additional image

Key Facts

Described on the CGC label as 'First dis-appearance in comics' written by Robert Venditti with art by Tomas Giorello - 'Invisible Edition'

In actuality, this is a blank acetate sheet officially graded by CGC and registered to the census

34 total graded copies: 11 in 9.8 and one in every other grade except for 1.8 of which there are zero

Bad Idea offered the first five respondents to an email blast an opportunity to obtain a graded copy but distribution of the remaining copies are unknown

Current available sales data: 9.2 sold for $500 in November 2024

8.0 sold for $1,000 in August 2022

3.5 sold for $2,200 in March 2020

3.0 sold for $2,499 in July 2022

1.0 sold for $1,199 in May 2023

Key Facts

Described on the CGC label as 'First dis-appearance in comics' written by Robert Venditti with art by Tomas Giorello - 'Invisible Edition'

In actuality, this is a blank acetate sheet officially graded by CGC and registered to the census

34 total graded copies: 11 in 9.8 and one in every other grade except for 1.8 of which there are zero

Bad Idea offered the first five respondents to an email blast an opportunity to obtain a graded copy but distribution of the remaining copies are unknown

Current available sales data: 9.2 sold for $500 in November 2024

8.0 sold for $1,000 in August 2022

3.5 sold for $2,200 in March 2020

3.0 sold for $2,499 in July 2022

1.0 sold for $1,199 in May 2023

Birth of the Defiant Universe, The #1

Defiant ⋅ 1993

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Birth of the Defiant Universe, The #1

Defiant ⋅ 1993

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$12

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$40

High

$125

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Introduction of the Defiant Universe, created by Jim Shooter: Plasm, War Dancer, Charlemagne Prudence & Caution, The Good Guys and Glory

Acetate cover

Promotional giveaway presented at the 1993 Sixth Annual Capital City Sales conference

Limited to 1,000 copies, signed by Jim Shooter

Key Facts

Introduction of the Defiant Universe, created by Jim Shooter: Plasm, War Dancer, Charlemagne Prudence & Caution, The Good Guys and Glory

Acetate cover

Promotional giveaway presented at the 1993 Sixth Annual Capital City Sales conference

Limited to 1,000 copies, signed by Jim Shooter

Lady Death: Heartbreaker #1

Non-Key

Variant ⋅ Coffin Comics ⋅ 2002

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$25

Mid

$90

High

$225

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Variant cover art by Jamie Tyndall

'Steam Queen' edition, limited to 99 copies

Enhanced with Swarovski crystals

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Jamie Tyndall

'Steam Queen' edition, limited to 99 copies

Enhanced with Swarovski crystals

Archer & Armstrong Forever #1

1:250 ⋅ Valiant ⋅ 2022

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$25

Mid

$80

High

$275

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Variant cover art by Marcio Fiorito

Burnt wood cover

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Variant cover art by Marcio Fiorito

Burnt wood cover

Trial of the Amazons #1

Non-Key

1:100 ⋅ DC ⋅ 2022

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$12

High

$40

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Variant cover art by Rose Besch printed with fluorescent ink

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Rose Besch printed with fluorescent ink

X-Mas Comics #4

Fawcett ⋅ 1949

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$100

Mid

$300

High

$1.1k

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Novelty cover with felt on Santa's jacket

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Novelty cover with felt on Santa's jacket

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First lenticular cover

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First lenticular cover

Razor #50

Variant ⋅ London Night ⋅ 1999

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High

$35

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Velvet variant

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Velvet variant

The Tick #2

New England Comics Press ⋅ 1988

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$25

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First die-cut cover

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First die-cut cover

Crow / Razor: Kill The Pain #0

Variant ⋅ London Night ⋅ 1998

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Crow / Razor: Kill The Pain #0

Variant ⋅ London Night ⋅ 1998

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Mid

$20

High

$80

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Red velvet Elite edition

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Red velvet Elite edition

Dawn #1

Variant ⋅ Sirius/Cry For Dawn ⋅ 1995

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$25

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Variant cover art by Joseph Michael Linsner

Black light reactive

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Variant cover art by Joseph Michael Linsner

Black light reactive

Babyteeth #1

Leather ⋅ Aftershock ⋅ 2017

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$25

Mid

$80

High

$250

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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

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

A Nightmare on Elm Street: Fearbook

Leather ⋅ Avatar ⋅ 2006

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A Nightmare on Elm Street: Fearbook

Leather ⋅ Avatar ⋅ 2006

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Mid

$15

High

$60

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Variant cover art by Dheeraj Verma

Red leather foil cover limited to 900 copies

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Dheeraj Verma

Red leather foil cover limited to 900 copies

Harbinger #1

Variant ⋅ Valiant ⋅ 2012

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$15

High

$50

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Variant cover art with QR Code that delivered a message from Toyo Harada when scanned

Key Facts

Variant cover art with QR Code that delivered a message from Toyo Harada when scanned

X-O Manowar #1

1:500 • Metal ⋅ Valiant ⋅ 2017

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$20

Mid

$80

High

$200

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Variant "brushed metal" cover art by Monika Palosz

Approximately 200 copies printed

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Variant "brushed metal" cover art by Monika Palosz

Approximately 200 copies printed

Bloodshot #1

1:250 ⋅ Valiant ⋅ 2019

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Mid

$20

High

$80

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Variant cover art by Jonboy Meyers

Carbon fiber cover

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Variant cover art by Jonboy Meyers

Carbon fiber cover

Guy Gardner: Warrior #29

DC ⋅ 1995

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Cover folds out like doors opening into a crowded bar

A contest by DC challenged readers to identify all 150+ heroes, villains and celebrities, responses printed in Guy Gardner #35

Letters from readers are answered by Guy Gardner

Key Facts

Cover folds out like doors opening into a crowded bar

A contest by DC challenged readers to identify all 150+ heroes, villains and celebrities, responses printed in Guy Gardner #35

Letters from readers are answered by Guy Gardner

Livewire #1

1:250 ⋅ Valiant ⋅ 2018

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$10

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$30

High

$100

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Variant glass cover art by Doug Braithwaite

First cover made out of glass and colored with UV ink that glows under a blacklight

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Variant glass cover art by Doug Braithwaite

First cover made out of glass and colored with UV ink that glows under a blacklight

Ultraman #1

Non-Key

Variant ⋅ Harvey ⋅ 1993

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First published virgin variant cover

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First published virgin variant cover

Ghost Rider #15

Marvel ⋅ 1991

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First glow-in-the-dark comic cover

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First glow-in-the-dark comic cover

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Variant cover art by John Byrne

First intentional variant cover, available from comic stores only

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Variant cover art by John Byrne

First intentional variant cover, available from comic stores only

Jab #3

Adhesive ⋅ 1993

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$25

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First comic book to be printed then individually shot with a small caliber bullet

Limited to 3,000 copies

Interior stories and art are illustrated in reaction to the bullet hole which was fired through the center of the book

Key Facts

First comic book to be printed then individually shot with a small caliber bullet

Limited to 3,000 copies

Interior stories and art are illustrated in reaction to the bullet hole which was fired through the center of the book

Quantum and Woody #1

1:250 ⋅ Valiant ⋅ 2017

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$15

Mid

$50

High

$150

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Variant cover art by Clayton Henry

"The Most Variant Cover Of All Time"

Featuring: chromium, lenticular, embossed, die-cut, foil, iridescent ink, extra hero sticker, hand-numbered

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Clayton Henry

"The Most Variant Cover Of All Time"

Featuring: chromium, lenticular, embossed, die-cut, foil, iridescent ink, extra hero sticker, hand-numbered

Bloodshot: Rising Spirit #1

Non-Key

1:250 ⋅ Valiant ⋅ 2018

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$10

Mid

$30

High

$100

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Variant cover art by Ken Lashley

First tempered glass comic book cover

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Ken Lashley

First tempered glass comic book cover

WildC.A.T.s #2

Image ⋅ 1992

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1st team appearance of Wetworks, in a back-up story

First prismatic comic book cover

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1st team appearance of Wetworks, in a back-up story

First prismatic comic book cover

Bloodstrike #1

Image ⋅ 1993

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Mid

High

$10

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1st team appearance of Bloodstrike: Deadlock, Fourplay, Shogun, Cabbot, Tag

First thermal-reactive ink used on a comic book cover - Image encouraged readers to 'Rub The Blood!' to reveal red ink hidden on the cover

Key Facts

1st team appearance of Bloodstrike: Deadlock, Fourplay, Shogun, Cabbot, Tag

First thermal-reactive ink used on a comic book cover - Image encouraged readers to 'Rub The Blood!' to reveal red ink hidden on the cover

Eclipso: The Darkness Within #1

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1992

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Eclipso: The Darkness Within #1

Non-Key

DC ⋅ 1992

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High

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First comic book sold with a plastic gem

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First comic book sold with a plastic gem

Bloodshot #1

Valiant ⋅ 1993

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First solo series featuring Bloodshot

First chrome-enhanced comic book cover

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First solo series featuring Bloodshot

First chrome-enhanced comic book cover

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First mature content comic packaged in a clear poly-bag with an insert to obscure the adult content

Key Facts

First mature content comic packaged in a clear poly-bag with an insert to obscure the adult content

Silver Surfer #50

Marvel ⋅ 1991

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First foil-embossed comic cover

Printing errors where the foil is missing can command a higher value

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First foil-embossed comic cover

Printing errors where the foil is missing can command a higher value

Scud: The Disposable Assassin #9

Fireman Press ⋅ 1995

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Scud: The Disposable Assassin #9

Fireman Press ⋅ 1995

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Mid

$15

High

$50

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First action figure cover

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First action figure cover

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First foil-enhanced comic book cover

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First foil-enhanced comic book cover

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First comic book cover to incorporate a hologram

Key Facts

First comic book cover to incorporate a hologram

	Publisher	Low	Mid	High
Sleepwalker #19	Marvel	$1	$2	$3
Ape-ril Special #1	DC	$1	$2	$8
Batman / Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1	DC	$1	$2	$6
Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1	DC	$1	$2	$5
Batman #19	DC	$1	$2	$4
Razor: Darkest Night #1	London Night	$4	$12	$45
Happy Horror Days #1	Archie	$15	$50	$150
X-Men: Onslaught #1	Marvel	$10	$30	$100
Conceptual Funnies #1	Bad Idea	$0	$0	$0
Birth of the Defiant Universe, The #1	Defiant	$12	$40	$125
Lady Death: Heartbreaker #1	Coffin Comics	$25	$90	$225
Archer & Armstrong Forever #1	Valiant	$25	$80	$275
Trial of the Amazons #1	DC	$4	$12	$40
X-Mas Comics #4	Fawcett	$100	$300	$1.1k
Arcomics Premiere #1	Arcomics	$1	$2	$4
Razor #50	London Night	$3	$9	$35
The Tick #2	New England Comics Press	$2	$8	$25
Crow / Razor: Kill The Pain #0	London Night	$8	$20	$80
Dawn #1	Sirius/Cry For Dawn	$2	$8	$25
Babyteeth #1	Aftershock	$25	$80	$250
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Fearbook	Avatar	$5	$15	$60
Harbinger #1	Valiant	$5	$15	$50
X-O Manowar #1	Valiant	$20	$80	$200
Bloodshot #1	Valiant	$8	$20	$80
Guy Gardner: Warrior #29	DC	$1	$2	$3
Livewire #1	Valiant	$10	$30	$100
Ultraman #1	Harvey	$1	$2	$5
Ghost Rider #15	Marvel	$1	$2	$3
Superman: The Man of Steel #1	DC	$1	$2	$5
Jab #3	Adhesive	$2	$8	$25
Quantum and Woody #1	Valiant	$15	$50	$150
Bloodshot: Rising Spirit #1	Valiant	$10	$30	$100
WildC.A.T.s #2	Image	$1	$2	$4
Bloodstrike #1	Image	$1	$2	$10
Eclipso: The Darkness Within #1	DC	$1	$2	$3
Bloodshot #1	Valiant	$1	$2	$5
Black Kiss #3	Vortex	$1	$2	$3
Silver Surfer #50	Marvel	$1	$2	$5
Scud: The Disposable Assassin #9	Fireman Press	$5	$15	$50
Rio	Comico	$1	$2	$3
Boffo Laffs #1	ParaGraphics	$1	$2	$3

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Variant Covers ([[totalVariants]])

At Key Collector, our primary focus is on unearthing those rare Standard Cover Key Issues for you. However, the world of comic collectibles is vast and varied. We want to make sure you have the tools to explore it all!

Cover Gimmicks

Cover Gimmicks

Sleepwalker #19

Marvel ⋅ 1992

Sleepwalker #19

Marvel ⋅ 1992

Key Facts

Die-cut cover with cutouts to use as a mask

Key Facts

Die-cut cover with cutouts to use as a mask

Ape-ril Special #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2024

Ape-ril Special #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2024

Key Facts

Banana-scented cover variant

Key Facts

Banana-scented cover variant

Batman / Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2023

Batman / Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2023

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Ben Oliver

'Rub and Smell' peppermint scented edition

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Ben Oliver

'Rub and Smell' peppermint scented edition

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2023

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2023

Key Facts

Variant scratch-off cover revealing one of five Crazy Jane personalities in the mirror

Key Facts

Variant scratch-off cover revealing one of five Crazy Jane personalities in the mirror

Batman #19

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2013

Batman #19

Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2013

Key Facts

Cover art inspired by MAD Magazine

Shipped to retailers for demonstration purposes to show customers how to fold the cover to create a different image

No barcode, Demo Cover printed next to issue number

Key Facts

Cover art inspired by MAD Magazine

Shipped to retailers for demonstration purposes to show customers how to fold the cover to create a different image

No barcode, Demo Cover printed next to issue number

Razor: Darkest Night #1

Variant ⋅ London Night ⋅ 1999

Razor: Darkest Night #1

Variant ⋅ London Night ⋅ 1999

Key Facts

White velvet cover

Key Facts

White velvet cover

Happy Horror Days #1

Wood Cover ⋅ Archie ⋅ 2022

Happy Horror Days #1

Wood Cover ⋅ Archie ⋅ 2022

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Bill Galvan

Wooden cover with laser etched artwork, limited to 5 copies

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Bill Galvan

Wooden cover with laser etched artwork, limited to 5 copies

X-Men: Onslaught #1

Gold ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 1996

X-Men: Onslaught #1

Gold ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 1996

Key Facts

Embossed with 22k gold, limited to 2,000 numbered copies

Distributed in a bag and board with a barcode

Included a Certificate of Authenticity, numbered with a gold Onslaught seal - tap cover and swipe to view additional image

Key Facts

Embossed with 22k gold, limited to 2,000 numbered copies

Distributed in a bag and board with a barcode

Included a Certificate of Authenticity, numbered with a gold Onslaught seal - tap cover and swipe to view additional image

Conceptual Funnies #1

Bad Idea ⋅ 2021