Key Collector Comics

Hot 10

The Hot 10 is a weekly market analysis of the most significant transactions related to established Key Issues using eBay, auction houses and other cited sources.

Clicking on the eBay link and making a purchase may result in this site earning a commission from the eBay Partner Network.

Brave and the Bold, The #28

DC ⋅ 1960

View Details  ⋅  View Variants (4)
Brave and the Bold, The #28
 
Low
$2.2k
Mid
$9.3k
High
$74k
Buy it on eBay!

Key Facts

1st team appearance of the Justice League of America: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman

1st appearance of Starro the Conqueror

Hot 10 Week 25

🏅#10 on the Hot 10

Transactions from this week that sold for higher than the previous twelve-month average:

5.5 sold for $5,000 vs the average $4,677 (+7%)

5.0 sold for $4,000 vs the average $3,790 (+6%)

4.5 sold for $2,640 vs the average $2,535 (+4%)

3.0 sold for $1,920 vs the average $1,720 (+12%)

Iron Man #55

Marvel ⋅ 1973

View Details  ⋅  View Variants (2)
Iron Man #55
 
Low
$135
Mid
$480
High
$1.4k
Buy it on eBay!

Key Facts

1st appearance of Thanos, an Eternal from Titan born with the Deviants gene

1st cameo appearance of Eros aka Starfox, brother of Thanos

1st appearance of Kronos, Grandfather of Thanos

1st appearance of Mentor, father of Thanos

1st appearance of Drax the Destroyer, created by Kronus to kill Thanos

1st appearance of the Blood Brothers

Hot 10 Week 25

🏅#9 on the Hot 10

Transactions from this week that sold for higher than the previous twelve-month average:

8.5 sold for $850 vs the average $827 (+3%)

8.0 sold for $744 vs the average $695 (+7%)

7.0 sold for $690 vs the average $578 (+19%)

6.0 sold for $468 vs the average $455 (+3%)

4.5 sold for $365 vs the average $343 (+6%)

Last week, Iron Man #55 found a place in the #8 spot of the Key Collector Comics Hot 10

The first appearance of Thanos has drifted down to a more palatable buying price throughout 2024 and 2025, attracting renewed interest in this low-level Key Issue, which became a Blue Chip contender following the introduction of the Phase 3 MCU villain

Up until mid-2012, Iron Man #55 struggled to surpass $300 in 8.5 grade

After The Avengers premiered that year, its value doubled

As Thanos grew into a household name—especially by 2018—collectors were lucky to find an 8.5 for under $1,000, which is no longer the case today

The last 8.5 copy to sell for over $1,000 was in June 2023, but it still consistently sells for more than twice its pre-2012 price

Only one 9.8 has sold in 2025 so far, closing at $6,600

Values for 9.8s are likely to sustain in the $6,000 range, which remains double the value from 2012

Possibly moving the needle on this issue is the inclusion of the Blood Brothers in Disney+ Ironheart series but the characters in live-action do not resemble the ones introduced in this issue in appearance or origin

Uncanny X-Men #266

Marvel ⋅ 1990

View Details  ⋅  View Variants (11)
Uncanny X-Men #266
 
Low
$15
Mid
$50
High
$150
Buy it on eBay!

Key Facts

2nd appearance and first cover of Gambit

1st chronological appearance of Gambit in-story / in-continuity

X-Men Annual #14 went on sale three weeks before this issue and is often considered the first cameo appearance of Gambit

This would imply that his appearance is brief though he appears in 15 panels throughout X-Men Annual #14 with at least 10 instances of dialogue

Tap cover and swipe left to view images where Gambit is the main or partial focus of the sequence in X-Men Annual #14

Uncanny X-Men #266 was written as if it were to be published prior to the annual, therefore #266 would be the first chronological appearance of Gambit in-story (or in-continuity)

CGC, the grading certification company for comic books, recognizes Uncanny X-Men #266 as the first full appearance of Gambit

[January 2024 - Gambit rumored for the X-Men MCU reboot according to a casting grid]

Hot 10 Week 25

🏅#8 on the Hot 10

Transactions from this week that sold for higher than the previous twelve-month average:

9.8 sold for $590 vs the average $546 (+8%)

3 copies outsold the average

9.6 sold for $371 vs the average $236 (+57%)

3 copies outsold the average

9.4 sold for $255 vs the average $192 (+33%)

3 copies outsold the average

NEWSSTAND 9.4 sold for $257 vs the average $233 (+10%)

9.2 sold for $210 vs the average $176 (+19%)

NEWSSTAND 9.0 sold for $180 vs the average $176 (+2%)

NEWSSTAND 8.0 sold for $180 vs the average $148 (+22%)

7.0 sold for $135 vs the average $110 (+23%)

NEWSSTAND 5.5 sold for $80 vs the average $68 (+18%)

Detective Comics #359

DC ⋅ 1967

View Details  ⋅  View Variants (4)
Detective Comics #359
 
Low
$200
Mid
$800
High
$2k
Buy it on eBay!

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Batgirl, Barbara Gordon

1st appearance of Killer Moth in the Silver Age

Hot 10 Week 25

🏅#7 on the Hot 10

Transactions from this week that sold for higher than the previous twelve-month average:

7.5 sold for $1,750 vs the average $1,565 (+12%)

5.5 sold for $640 vs the average $622 (+3%)

5.0 sold for $660 vs the average $600 (+10%)

4.0 sold for $476 vs the average $412 (+16%)

3.5 sold for $431 vs the average $385 (+12%)

2.5 sold for $285 vs the average $281 (+1%)

There is fan speculation that the completed and shelved Batgirl movie was due to James Gunn’s creative interest in the character for future projects

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8

Marvel ⋅ 1984

View Details  ⋅  View Variants (16)
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8
 
Low
$18
Mid
$60
High
$180
Buy it on eBay!

Key Facts

"Secret Wars" part 8

Origin of the black symbiote costume that later bonds with Eddie Brock to become Venom

2nd appearance of Spider-Woman, Julia Carpenter

Hot 10 Week 25

🏅#6 on the Hot 10

Transactions from this week that sold for higher than the previous twelve-month average:

9.8 sold for $523 vs the average $482 (+9%)

4 copies outsold the average

CANADIAN PRICE VARIANT 9.8 sold for $1,748 vs the average $1,722 (+2%)

NEWSSTAND 9.8 sold for $1,799 vs the average $1,065 (+69%)

9.6 sold for $320 vs the average $269 (+19%)

4 copies outsold the average

9.4 sold for $225 vs the average $219 (+3%)

9.2 sold for $210 vs the average $205 (+2%)

NEWSSTAND 9.2 sold for $230 vs the average $222 (+4%)

9.0 sold for $200 vs the average $183 (+9%)

8.0 sold for $269 vs the average $173 (+55%)

7.5 sold for $136 vs the average $128 (+6%)

NEWSSTAND 7.0 sold for $150 vs the average $138 (+9%)

NEWSSTAND 5.0 sold for $155 vs the average $117 (+32%)

Uncanny X-Men #101

Marvel ⋅ 1976

View Details  ⋅  View Variants (10)
Uncanny X-Men #101
 
Low
$80
Mid
$200
High
$800
Buy it on eBay!

Key Facts

Debut of new powers, Jean Grey is reborn as the Phoenix

Ten years later this moment would be further developed where the Phoenix is an actual cosmic entity of vast power that copied Grey’s physical form while placing her body in a cocoon to heal from her injuries

1st full appearance of Black Tom Cassidy

Hot 10 Week 25

🏅#5 on the Hot 10

Transactions from this week that sold for higher than the previous twelve-month average:

9.4 sold for $981 vs the average $973 (+1%)

9.2 sold for $850 vs the average $800 (+6%)

9.0 sold for $750 vs the average $638 (+18%)

UK PRICE VARIANT 9.0 sold for $543 vs the average $481 (+13%)

8.0 sold for $555 vs the average $454 (+22%)

7.5 sold for $515 vs the average $426 (+21%)

7.0 sold for $365 vs the average $360 (+1%)

6.5 sold for $320 vs the average $315 (+2%)

Uncanny X-Men #94

Marvel ⋅ 1975

View Details  ⋅  View Variants (3)
Uncanny X-Men #94
 
Low
$80
Mid
$200
High
$800
Buy it on eBay!

Key Facts

2nd team appearance of the X-Men that debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1

2nd appearance of Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus and Thunderbird

4th appearance of Wolverine

1st appearance of Dragonfly

Some resources refer to this as the 3rd full appearance of Wolverine and Hulk #182 a 2nd cameo appearance

Beginning of Chris Claremont's 16-year consecutive run on the title, ending with Uncanny X-Men #279

First new X-Men story following five years of reprints

Hot 10 Week 25

🏅#4 on the Hot 10

Transactions from this week that sold for higher than the previous twelve-month average:

9.6 sold for $10,000 vs the average $6,850 (+46%)

9.0 sold for $1,600 vs the average $1,300 (+23%)

8.5 sold for $1,250 vs the average $941 (+33%)

8.0 sold for $1,600 vs the average $803 (+99%)

7.5 sold for $720 vs the average $637 (+13%)

6.5 sold for $611 vs the average $514 (+19%)

Invincible #1

Image ⋅ 2003

View Details  ⋅  View Variants (43)
Invincible #1
 
Low
$100
Mid
$300
High
$1.1k
Buy it on eBay!

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

Hot 10 Week 25

🏅#3 on the Hot 10

Transactions from this week that sold for higher than the previous twelve-month average:

9.8 sold for $4,900 vs the average $3,904 (+26%)

9.6 sold for $2,890 vs the average $2,045 (+41%)

9.2 sold for $1,650 vs the average $1,235 (+34%)

9.0 sold for $1,200 vs the average $1,014 (+18%)

8.5 sold for $1,175 vs the average $1,033 (+14%)

Invincible as a series continues to be a dominant force on the secondary market and not just the premiere issue or even the first 10 issues, in fact, every issue in the series sells for well above the original retail price

Following are a handful of issues that sold this week:

Invincible #19 (1st Battle Beast) in 9.8 sold for $1,100 – ungraded copies in NM sell for approximately $375

Battle Beast is gaining popularity as a character due to the positive reception of the current ongoing spin-off comic book series alongside speculation about a future animated TV show fueling interest

Invincible #110 in 9.8 sold for $340 (controversial sexual assault issue) – ungraded copies NM sell for approximately $200

Invincible #60 (Image crossover event with Spawn, Savage Dragon etc) in 9.8 sold for $305, ungraded copies sell for $125

Invincible #60 scarce second printing has sold for between $600 and $700 as did other hard-to-find second printings

As stated, many ungraded issues in the series sell for triple digit numbers on the secondary market

Check out our new VALUABLE SERIES Subscriber Exclusive category for more titles in which every issue has a strong secondary market value

Amazing Spider-Man #129

Marvel ⋅ 1974

View Details  ⋅  View Variants (12)
Amazing Spider-Man #129
 
Low
$200
Mid
$800
High
$2k
Buy it on eBay!

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Punisher

1st appearance of the Jackal

Hot 10 Week 25

🏅#2 on the Hot 10

Transactions from this week that sold for higher than the previous twelve-month average:

9.6 sold for $6,350 vs the average $6,067 (+5%)

9.4 sold for $4,080 vs the average $3,732 (+9%)

9.0 sold for $2,899 vs the average $2,540 (+14%)

8.5 sold for $2,300 vs the average $1,999 (+15%)

8.0 sold for $2,060 vs the average $1,812 (+14%)

7.5 sold for $1,560 vs the average $1,448 (+8%)

7.0 sold for $1,450 vs the average $1,324 (+10%)

6.5 sold for $1,253 vs the average $1,136 (+10%)

6.0 sold for $1,250 vs the average $1,032 (+21%)

5.5 sold for $965 vs the average $945 (+2%)

4.5 sold for $998 vs the average $840 (+19%)

2.0 sold for $785 vs the average $630 (+25%)

1.8 sold for $695 vs the average $569 (+22%)

FRONT COVER MISSING / 0.5 sold for $286 vs the average $258 (+11%)

The Punisher Disney+ special is expected to shoot from July through August in New York City

Rumors this week that Ma Gnucci—created by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon—will be an antagonist came from a second online source confirming the scoop

The Punisher’s first appearance missed qualifying on last week’s list but returned to the #2 spot this week and the 18th time in 2025

Amazing Spider-Man #1

Marvel ⋅ 1963

View Details  ⋅  View Variants (23)
Amazing Spider-Man #1
 
Low
$4.5k
Mid
$14.5k
High
$82k
Buy it on eBay!

Key Facts

2nd appearance of Spider-Man

1st appearance of J. Jonah Jameson

First meeting of Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four

1st appearance of Chameleon, Dmitri Smerdyakov, half-brother of Kraven the Hunter

Hot 10 Week 25

🏅#1 on the Hot 10

Transactions from this week that sold for higher than the previous twelve-month average:

7.5 sold for $34,800 vs the average $31,454 (+11%)

3.5 sold for $8,500 vs the average $8,290 (+3%)

3.0 sold for $7,995 vs the average $7,658 (+4%)

2.5 sold for $8,000 vs the average $6,828 (+17%)

1.5 sold for $5,000 vs the average $4,974 (+1%)

The Amazing Spider-Man #1 made it to the Hot 10 during Week 15 when oddly, a 7.5 sold for the exact amount as it did this week

Seven weeks ago a 3.5 and 3.0 also sold but for $500 less than the sale price this week

Still, a few significantly low purchases pulled the twelve-month average down enough to show positive growth for this issue

The lowest sale price over the past 365 days of this issue in the grades featured this week are as follows:

7.5 sold for $28,800 in November and March, a difference of 17% compared to this week’s $34,800 sale

3.5 sold for $6,900 in March, a difference of 19% compared to this week’s $8,500 sale

3.0 sold for $5,400 in May, a difference of 32% compared to this week’s $7,995 sale

1.5 sold for $4,295 in September and March, a difference of 14% compared to this week’s $5,000 sale

May tends to see softer sales due to the Memorial Day weekend and the end of the school year

September is typically busier as families prepare for the new academic year

If you're considering buying or selling, staying vigilant, patient, and well-timed can significantly impact your return on investment

Adjust Your Filters To See More Comics!

By default Key Collector searches for Standard Cover Key Issues.

Adjust the "Variants" search filter above for additional content:

  • 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!