Key Collector Comics

Nick's Picks III

Hey, I’m Nick, founder of Key Collector Comics.  During my research I stumble across many interesting books. I’d like to spotlight a few here that I find interesting and hope you do too. 🔔 Subscribe for $1.99 for more curated content. Unlock 16 categories plus 🚨Key Issue Alert push notifications  📪  Submit awesome key issue info to [email protected] 🎁 Thank you for supporting the continued development of Key Collector Comics by using the eBay links for ANY purchase

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Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #3
1:25 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2017
View Details
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #3
 
Low
$18
Mid
$60
High
$180

Key Facts

1st appearance of Magna Tolvan

Variant cover art by David Lopez

Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate X-Men #1
Marvel ⋅ 2009
View Details
Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate X-Men #1
 
Low
$12
Mid
$40
High
$130

Key Facts

Promotional giveaway commissioned by BBDO New York ad agency and its Diversity Council

'Heroes Welcome' by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Brooks addresses diversity, creativity and acceptance

Street Fighter vs. Darkstalkers #1
1:20 ⋅ Udon ⋅ 2017
View Details
Street Fighter vs. Darkstalkers #1
 
Low
$20
Mid
$80
High
$230

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Artgerm

Includes two trading cards on back page to be complete

Henchgirl #2
Self-Published ⋅ 2013
View Details
Henchgirl #2
 
Low
$12
Mid
$35
High
$130

Key Facts

Second issue of the self-published series written and illustrated by Kristen Gudsnuk

Popeye Classic Comics #41
1:10 ⋅ IDW ⋅ 2015
View Details
Popeye Classic Comics #41
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Kelley Jones

Vertigo Preview #1
DC Vertigo ⋅ 1992
View Details
Vertigo Preview #1
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$5

Key Facts

7-page original story written by Neil Gaiman, featuring Sandman that did not appear in the periodical Sandman comic book series

Story was later reprinted in trade paperbacks Fables & Reflections (Library Edition Book and Absolute Sandman Book 3)

Story synopsis: Sandman enters the dream of a young man to help him cope with his fear of falling

Two-page preview of Death: The High Cost of Living, the first solo series featuring Death of the Endless

Heavy Metal #288
Heavy Metal ⋅ 2017
View Details
Heavy Metal #288
 
Low
$5
Mid
$18
High
$70

Key Facts

First interior art by Peach Momoko in a story titled 'Shaman Himiko'

Cover art by Shark Toof

Psylocke #1
2nd Print ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2010
View Details
Psylocke #1
 
Low
$20
Mid
$80
High
$200

Key Facts

Variant second printing cover art by Harvey Tolibao

Wraparound cover depicting Psylocke battling The Hand

Journey Into Mystery #647
1:50 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2012
View Details
Journey Into Mystery #647
 
Low
$25
Mid
$85
High
$250

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Phillip Tan

Doctor Strange #384
Variant ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2018
View Details
Doctor Strange #384
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$30

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Kamome Shirahama

Retailers were to meet or exceed 100% of their order of Doctor Strange #383 with orders of Doctor Strange #384 cover A to qualify for this variant without quantity restrictions

Marvel Action: Avengers #9
1:10 ⋅ IDW ⋅ 2020
View Details
Marvel Action: Avengers #9
 
Low
$12
Mid
$40
High
$120

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Siobhan Keenan

DuckTales #1
SDCC ⋅ BOOM! ⋅ 2011
View Details
DuckTales #1
 
Low
$50
Mid
$150
High
$500

Key Facts

San Diego Comic Con 2011 exclusive, limited to 500 copies

Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #3
Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2010
View Details
Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #3
 
Low
$9
Mid
$20
High
$95

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Ryan Sook

Amalgam Age of Comics
TPB ⋅ DC/Marvel ⋅ 1996
View Details
Amalgam Age of Comics
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100

Key Facts

160-page trade paperback that collects the following Marvel/DC character crossover one-shots from 1996, published by Marvel: Spider-Boy, Magneto and the Magnetic Men, Speed Demon, Bullets and Bracelets, Bruce Wayne Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., X-Patrol

Original retail price: $12.95

Up 'N Coming Magazine #15
Styx Publications ⋅ 1992
View Details
Up 'N Coming Magazine #15
 
Low
$0
Mid
$0
High
$0

Key Facts

Interior illustration of Spawn in a comic book solicitation catalog and first time the name Spawn is seen in print

Mailing date: February 3, 1992

According to spawnworld.com, only one other image of Spawn is known to exist prior to the mailing of Up 'N Coming #15 and it was in an ad for "Stan Lee Presents: The Comic Book Greats" a VHS with Spawn on the outer sleeve (December 1991), though Spawn was not named or discussed in the video

Value unknown

Robotech II: The Sentinels Book 2 #13
Eternity ⋅ 1992
View Details
Robotech II: The Sentinels Book 2 #13
 
Low
$1
Mid
$8
High
$20

Key Facts

First printed image of Spawn in a comic book (advertisement)

One of two comics published in March 1992 that included the advertisement, the other being Torg #2

Earlier images of Spawn have been printed in various catalogs and fanzines among other publications

Comics Buyer's Guide #953
Dynapubs ⋅ 1992
View Details
Comics Buyer's Guide #953
 
Low
$0
Mid
$0
High
$0

Key Facts

First printed images of Spawn in a U.S. publication, Mailing date: February 5, 1992

Front page advertisement of Spawn, preceded all comic book advertisements in Malibu comic books that were published between March/April 1992

Interior black and white, textless cover art for Spawn #1

Only two other images of Spawn are known to exist prior to the mailing of Comics Buyer's Guide #953: the sleeve of a VHS tape titled "Stan Lee Presents: The Comic Book Greats" and a comic book solicitation magazine, Up N' Coming #1, Mailing date: February 3, 1992

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Value unknown

Silent Hill: Sinner's Reward #3
Variant ⋅ IDW ⋅ 2008
View Details
Silent Hill: Sinner's Reward #3
 
Low
$8
Mid
$20
High
$85

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Justin Randall

Amazing Spider-Man #388
Error ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 1994
View Details
Amazing Spider-Man #388
 
Low
$85
Mid
$260
High
$850

Key Facts

Error: blue foil missing from the embossed cover during the printing process

In 2020, a 9.8 graded copy sold for $4,000

Amazing Heroes #170
Fantagraphics ⋅ 1989
View Details
Amazing Heroes #170
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$30

Key Facts

Early Todd McFarlane cover

Rappin' Max Robot #1
Independent ⋅ 1986
View Details
Rappin' Max Robot #1
 
Low
$50
Mid
$150
High
$500

Key Facts

First hip-hop comic book, independently published and inspired by the music movement in it's early days

Written entirely in rhyme, Max Robot is credited for capturing the spirit of east coast hip-hop's underground purity, untouched by commercialism

Initial print run of 500 black and white copies

Exercise extreme caution if considering a purchase, reprints and mini-posters are identical to the original cover

Golfers Anonymous #1
Madison Publishing Company ⋅ 1961
View Details
Golfers Anonymous #1
 
Low
$0
Mid
$0
High
$0

Key Facts

63-page non-comic book humorous publication written by Stan Lee

Value unknown

Savage Dragon / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
Ashcan ⋅ Mirage ⋅ 1993
View Details
Savage Dragon / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
 
Low
$30
Mid
$90
High
$310

Key Facts

Ashcan edition

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Storm Drain Savers #1
Mirage ⋅ 1990
View Details
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Storm Drain Savers #1
 
Low
$50
Mid
$150
High
$500

Key Facts

8-page black & white mini-comic

Promotional giveaway created for the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project to create awareness on keeping storm drains clean

Issue measures 4.5" x 5.5". There exists unauthorized reproductions that measure 8.5" x 11"

Amazing Spider-Man #800
Non-Key
1:100 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2018
View Details
Amazing Spider-Man #800
 
Low
$1
Mid
$5
High
$15

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Moebius

Splatterball #1
Variant ⋅ Defiant ⋅ 1993
View Details
Splatterball #1
 
Low
$25
Mid
$80
High
$260

Key Facts

One-shot, 16-page issue from the short-lived publisher Defiant, led by Jim Shooter

Three copies of this issue exist, one with a gold foil stamp, another with a silver foil stamp and a valuable edition without a stamp -pictured

Comic Reader #167
Street Enterprises ⋅ 1979
View Details
Comic Reader #167
 
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$50

Key Facts

Cover art by John Byrne featuring the 1975 X-Men wearing the original 1963 X-Men costumes

Pure Images #5
Pure Imagination ⋅ 1992
View Details
Pure Images #5
 
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$50

Key Facts

40-page magazine with cover appearance of Ren & Stimpy

Interior article on Spumco, the animation studio responsible for the MTV series and interview of the creator, Bill Wray

Article featuring Jack Kirby and Joe Simon with reprinted artwork plus the first published work by Stan Lee in comics, a text story from Captain America #3

Iron Man: Walmart DVD Exclusive
Marvel ⋅ 2008
View Details
Iron Man: Walmart DVD Exclusive
 
Low
$8
Mid
$20
High
$75

Key Facts

1st appearance of Phil Coulson, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. in comic books from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not in-continuity

Doctor Voodoo: The Origin of Jericho Drumm #1
Marvel ⋅ 2009
View Details
Doctor Voodoo: The Origin of Jericho Drumm #1
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$25

Key Facts

Reprint of Strange Tales (1973) #169 and #170, the first appearance and origin of Doctor Voodoo

Copies ordered by retailers: 6,743

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