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Fawcett ⋅ 1940

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

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 scarce Ashcan edition of this issue

Fawcett ⋅ 1945

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

DC ⋅ 1940

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

Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100

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]

Key Facts

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

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

🔮 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

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

Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20

Key Facts

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

Low
$1.3k
Mid
$4k
High
$13.9k

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Scarecrow

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]

Low
$430
Mid
$1.2k
High
$4.5k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Dr. Psycho

Low
$50
Mid
$160
High
$650

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Dr. Destiny, a genius inventor

Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$55

Key Facts

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

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

DC ⋅ 1957

Low
$1k
Mid
$2.3k
High
$10k

Key Facts

2nd appearance of the Flash, Barry Allen

Low
$600
Mid
$2.6k
High
$6.7k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Vandal Savage, an immortal caveman warrior

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]

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

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

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

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

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

DC ⋅ 1944

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

Low
$180
Mid
$600
High
$1.8k

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Wizard, William Zand

Low
$150
Mid
$500
High
$1.6k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Per Degaton, a time-traveling enemy of the Justice Society

Low
$120
Mid
$435
High
$1.2k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Black Manta

Low
$5.1k
Mid
$19k
High
$48k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Hugo Strange

Debut of Batman's finned gloves

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

DC ⋅ 1948

Low
$1.2k
Mid
$3.1k
High
$11.9k

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Mad Hatter, Jervis Tetch

1st appearance of Vicki Vale

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]

DC ⋅ 1950

Low
$500
Mid
$1.5k
High
$5k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Deadshot, a mercenary

Low
$65
Mid
$240
High
$840

Key Facts

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

Low
$2.5k
Mid
$9.5k
High
$25k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Two-Face, Harvey Dent, a district attorney disfigured by acid

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

1st appearance of Salvatore Maroni, the mob boss who disfigured Harvey Dent

Low
$320
Mid
$910
High
$3.2k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Gentleman Ghost

3rd appearance of Black Canary

Low
$8
Mid
$20
High
$90

Key Facts

1st appearance of Merlyn

DC ⋅ 1959

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

DC ⋅ 1959

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

[November 2024 - Grodd rumored to have a big role in the upcoming DC Universe of movies and TV]

DC ⋅ 1959

Low
$300
Mid
$1k
High
$3k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Kid Flash, Wally West

1st appearance of Weather Wizard

DC ⋅ 1960

Low
$60
Mid
$180
High
$625

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Captain Boomerang

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

[September 2024 - Mr. Freeze is the latest rumored villain to appear in the sequel to Robert Pattinson’s Batman]

DC ⋅ 1962

Low
$20
Mid
$60
High
$300

Key Facts

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

Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$3

Key Facts

1st cameo appearance of Nero

Price Trend
Low
$45
Mid
$130
High
$450

Key Facts

1st cameo appearance of Darkseid, the ruler of Apokolips

DC ⋅ 1963

Low
$180
Mid
$600
High
$1.8k

Key Facts

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

DC ⋅ 1963

Low
$50
Mid
$150
High
$520

Key Facts

1st appearance of Heat Wave

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

Low
$350
Mid
$1.2k
High
$3.5k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Firefly, Garfield Lynns

Low
$80
Mid
$250
High
$800

Key Facts

1st appearance of Ra's al Ghul

2nd appearance of Talia al Ghul

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]

Low
$1
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$3
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$12

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Count Vertigo

Low
$1.5k
Mid
$5k
High
$15k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Supergirl

1st appearance of Metallo

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

[December 2023 - Milly Alcock as Supergirl rumored to be introduced in Superman]

Low
$1
Mid
$2
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$5

Key Facts

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

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