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DC Top Villains

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Marvel Family #1
Fawcett ⋅ 1945
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Marvel Family #1
 
Low
$3.3k
Mid
$9.8k
High
$33k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Black Adam, an Egyptian prince named Teth-Adam who was first granted powers by the wizard Shazam though it corrupted him

Origin of The Marvel Family: Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel Junior, Mary Marvel and Uncle Marvel

Batman #1
DC ⋅ 1940
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Batman #1
 
Low
$72k
Mid
$205k
High
$1.5M

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Joker

1st appearance of the Cat, Selina Kyle, later becomes Catwoman

Debut of the first Batplane which has multiple designs from one issue to the next including Batman #3 and Batman #4

💰 Batman #1 sold for over one million dollars 3x with a record-high in 9.4 for $2,220,000

Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1
DC ⋅ 1993
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Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100

Key Facts

1st appearance, cover and origin of Bane

📖 Knightfall Reading Order: next Batman #484

Whiz Comics #1
Fawcett ⋅ 1940
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Whiz Comics #1
 
Low
$34k
Mid
$106k
High
$301k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Captain Marvel, later renamed Shazam

1st appearance of the Wizard Shazam

1st appearance of Dr. Sivana, a scientific genius and the archenemy of Captain Marvel

1st appearance of Ibis the Invincible and Spy Smasher

View more (4)

1st team appearance of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man, later renamed the Seven Deadly Sins

While not a precise swipe of Action Comics #1 artwork, this cover and other aspects of Captain Marvel led to DC (formerly National) filing a lawsuit against Fawcett for Captain Marvel too closely resembling Superman

Premiere issue of the series though the copyright notes read issue #2

There exists a very scarce Ashcan edition of this issue

Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2
DC ⋅ 1981
View Details
Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2
 
Low
$2
Mid
$5
High
$9

Key Facts

1st appearance of Nekron, the Lord of the Unliving, capable of raising the dead

New Teen Titans #2
DC ⋅ 1980
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New Teen Titans #2
 
Low
$40
Mid
$115
High
$350

Key Facts

1st appearance of Deathstroke the Terminator

1st appearance and death of Ravager, son of Deathstroke - appears in issue #1, not in costume

1st appearance of Wintergreen, Deathstroke's mentor

1st cameo appearance of Trigon, as demonic eyes

View more (1)

🔮 DC Possibilities: Yet another character who could hold his own as an anti-hero in a standalone project and a few extra years on Joe Manganiello would do well for Deathstroke

World's Finest Comics #3
DC ⋅ 1941
View Details
World's Finest Comics #3
 
Low
$1.3k
Mid
$4k
High
$13.9k

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Scarecrow

Flash: Secret Files and Origins #3
DC ⋅ 2001
View Details
Flash: Secret Files and Origins #3
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20

Key Facts

1st appearance of Hunter Zolomon, later becomes Zoom, the third Reverse-Flash

Omega Men #3
DC ⋅ 1983
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Omega Men #3
 
Low
$8
Mid
$20
High
$85

Key Facts

1st appearance of Lobo, an intergalactic bounty hunter

[January 2023 - Jason Momoa speculated to play Lobo in James Gunn's DC films]

Richard Dragon's Kung-Fu Fighter #5
DC ⋅ 1976
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Richard Dragon's Kung-Fu Fighter #5
 
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$55

Key Facts

1st appearance of Lady Shiva, mother of Cassandra Cain and mentor of Tim Drake

Wonder Woman #5
DC ⋅ 1943
View Details
Wonder Woman #5
 
Low
$430
Mid
$1.2k
High
$4.5k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Dr. Psycho

Justice League of America #5
DC ⋅ 1961
View Details
Justice League of America #5
 
Low
$50
Mid
$160
High
$650

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Dr. Destiny

Green Lantern #7
DC ⋅ 1961
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Green Lantern #7
 
Low
$340
Mid
$1.5k
High
$3.7k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Sinestro, known as the greatest of all Green Lanterns until it was discovered he used the power ring to enslave the sector he was charged to protect

Showcase #8
DC ⋅ 1957
View Details
Showcase #8
 
Low
$1.1k
Mid
$2.3k
High
$12k

Key Facts

2nd appearance of the Flash, Barry Allen

Green Lantern #10
DC ⋅ 1943
View Details
Green Lantern #10
 
Low
$600
Mid
$2.6k
High
$6.7k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Vandal Savage, an immortal caveman warrior

Batman Adventures #12
DC ⋅ 1993
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Batman Adventures #12
 
Low
$120
Mid
$400
High
$1.2k

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]

🥈 Runner-Up: New High [Previous High]

NEWSSTAND 3.0 sold for $351 [$330 in Sep] +6%

View more (1)

For value context, in 2022 a 3.0 Direct sold for $300

Superman: The Man of Steel #18
DC ⋅ 1992
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Superman: The Man of Steel #18
 
Low
$1
Mid
$5
High
$18

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

Green Lantern #25
DC ⋅ 2007
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Green Lantern #25
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$35

Key Facts

1st full appearance of the Scarred Guardian, a Guardian of the Universe

1st cameo appearance of Atrocitus and the Red Lantern Corps

1st cameo appearance of Larfleeze and the Orange Lantern Corps

1st cameo team appearance of the Blue Lantern Corps

View more (4)

1st cameo appearance of Munk and the Indigo Lantern Corps

1st cameo team appearance of the Black Lantern Corps

Death of Anti-Monitor

Cameo appearance in background of an Alien Xenomorph, Predator and the Pale Man from Pan's Labyrinth as various Lanterns

DC Comics Presents #27
DC ⋅ 1980
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DC Comics Presents #27
 
Low
$4
Mid
$12
High
$45

Key Facts

1st appearance of Mongul, an alien warlord

🔮 DC Possibilities: Mongul has the potential to be the Thanos of DC and his daughter was already introduced in the Suicide Squad so maybe one day he’ll decide to avenge her

Green Lantern #29
DC ⋅ 1964
View Details
Green Lantern #29
 
Low
$12
Mid
$35
High
$180

Key Facts

1st appearance of Black Hand, utilizes technology to drain and repurpose the power of a Lantern Ring

Superman #30
DC ⋅ 1944
View Details
Superman #30
 
Low
$380
Mid
$1.6k
High
$3.8k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Mr. Mxyzptlk

First time Superman references his ability to "fly", previously he was known to leap

🔮 DC Possibilities: Obviously James Gunn won't have time to do all of these projects but he is familiar with the subject matter and has the creative vision to know what gems are buried in the vast DC catalog to hand-off to the right filmmakers

All-Star Comics #34
DC ⋅ 1947
View Details
All-Star Comics #34
 
Low
$180
Mid
$600
High
$1.8k

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Wizard, William Zand

All-Star Comics #35
DC ⋅ 1947
View Details
All-Star Comics #35
 
Low
$110
Mid
$315
High
$1.3k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Per Degaton

Aquaman #35
DC ⋅ 1967
View Details
Aquaman #35
 
Low
$120
Mid
$435
High
$1.2k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Black Manta

Detective Comics #36
DC ⋅ 1940
View Details
Detective Comics #36
 
Low
$5.1k
Mid
$19k
High
$48k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Hugo Strange

Debut of Batman's finned gloves

Green Lantern #40
DC ⋅ 1965
View Details
Green Lantern #40
 
Low
$50
Mid
$180
High
$680

Key Facts

1st appearance of Krona, a major antagonist in the Brightest Day story arc

Origin of the Guardians of the Universe and Infinite Earths concept

Batman #49
DC ⋅ 1948
View Details
Batman #49
 
Low
$1.2k
Mid
$3.1k
High
$11.9k

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Mad Hatter, Jervis Tetch

1st appearance of Vicki Vale

Detective Comics #58
DC ⋅ 1941
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Detective Comics #58
 
Low
$3.5k
Mid
$11.5k
High
$35k

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Penguin

[March 2022 - Colin Farrell will reprise the Penguin in an HBO Max spin-off]

🥈 Runner-Up: New High [Previous High]

1.8 sold for $5,250 [$4,350 in 2021] +21%

Batman #59
DC ⋅ 1950
View Details
Batman #59
 
Low
$500
Mid
$1.5k
High
$5k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Deadshot, a mercenary

House of Secrets #61
DC ⋅ 1963
View Details
House of Secrets #61
 
Low
$65
Mid
$240
High
$840

Key Facts

1st appearance of Eclipso, who was at one time God's Spirit of Wrath

Detective Comics #66
DC ⋅ 1942
View Details
Detective Comics #66
 
Low
$2.5k
Mid
$9.5k
High
$25k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Two-Face

1st appearance of Gilda Dent, the wife of Harvey Dent

1st appearance of Salvatore Maroni, a mob boss

[March 2023 - Clancy Brown has been cast as Sal Maroni in the Penguin HBO Max spin-off]

Flash Comics #88
DC ⋅ 1947
View Details
Flash Comics #88
 
Low
$320
Mid
$910
High
$3.2k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Gentleman Ghost

3rd appearance of Black Canary

Justice League of America #94
DC ⋅ 1971
View Details
Justice League of America #94
 
Low
$8
Mid
$20
High
$90

Key Facts

1st appearance of Merlyn

Flash #105
DC ⋅ 1959
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Flash #105
 
Low
$800
Mid
$2k
High
$8k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Mirror Master

Barry Allen appears for the first time in the Flash title

Flash #106
DC ⋅ 1959
View Details
Flash #106
 
Low
$190
Mid
$700
High
$2.3k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Gorilla Grodd, an ape with genius intellect and telepathic abilities

1st appearance of the Pied Piper, uses sound to manipulate others

1st appearance of Solovar, former ruler of Gorilla City

Flash #110
DC ⋅ 1959
View Details
Flash #110
 
Low
$300
Mid
$1k
High
$3k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Kid Flash, Wally West

1st appearance of Weather Wizard

Flash #117
DC ⋅ 1960
View Details
Flash #117
 
Low
$60
Mid
$180
High
$625

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Captain Boomerang

Batman #121
DC ⋅ 1959
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Batman #121
 
Low
$1.1k
Mid
$3.1k
High
$11.7k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Mr. Freeze, initially named Mr. Zero, later renamed Mr. Freeze in Detective Comics #373

Flash #128
DC ⋅ 1962
View Details
Flash #128
 
Low
$20
Mid
$60
High
$300

Key Facts

1st appearance of Abra Kadabra, a time traveling magician from the 64th century

Green Lantern #132
DC ⋅ 2001
View Details
Green Lantern #132
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$3

Key Facts

1st cameo appearance of Nero

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134
DC ⋅ 1970
View Details
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134
 
Low
$45
Mid
$180
High
$550

Key Facts

1st cameo appearance of Darkseid, the ruler of Apokolips

Flash #139
DC ⋅ 1963
View Details
Flash #139
 
Low
$180
Mid
$600
High
$1.8k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Professor Zoom, Eobard Thawne aka Reverse-Flash

Flash #140
DC ⋅ 1963
View Details
Flash #140
 
Low
$50
Mid
$150
High
$520

Key Facts

1st appearance of Heat Wave

Batman #181
DC ⋅ 1966
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (6)
Batman #181
 
Price Trend
Low
$600
Mid
$1.8k
High
$6k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Poison Ivy, Pamela Isley

Interior pin-up poster of Batman and Robin included

Detective Comics #184
DC ⋅ 1952
View Details
Detective Comics #184
 
Low
$350
Mid
$1.2k
High
$3.5k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Firefly, Garfield Lynns

Batman #232
DC ⋅ 1971
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Batman #232
 
Low
$80
Mid
$250
High
$800

Key Facts

1st appearance of Ra's al Ghul

2nd appearance of Talia al Ghul

Action Comics #242
DC ⋅ 1958
View Details
Action Comics #242
 
Low
$1k
Mid
$3k
High
$10k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Brainiac

1st appearance of the Bottle City of Kandor, the capital city of Krypton

[May 2023 - Brainiac rumored for Superman Legacy]

World's Finest Comics #251
DC ⋅ 1978
View Details
World's Finest Comics #251
 
Low
$1
Mid
$3
High
$12

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Count Vertigo

Action Comics #252
DC ⋅ 1959
View Details
Action Comics #252
 
Low
$1.1k
Mid
$6k
High
$22k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Supergirl

1st appearance of Metallo

1st appearance of Zor-El, the father of Supergirl

[December 2023 - Supergirl rumored to be introduced in Superman: Legacy]

Adventures of Superman #466
DC ⋅ 1990
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Adventures of Superman #466
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$5

Key Facts

Death of Hank Henshaw, later his awareness manifests inside of a machine as Cyborg Superman

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