Prototype

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Star-Spangled War Stories #101

DC ⋅ 1962

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Star-Spangled War Stories #101

DC ⋅ 1962

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$30

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$90

High

$295

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1st appearance of G.I. Robot Buddy, a prototype of G. I. Robot

Key Facts

1st appearance of G.I. Robot Buddy, a prototype of G. I. Robot

Weird War Tales #6

DC ⋅ 1972

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$20

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$65

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Prototype of G. I. Robot

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Prototype of G. I. Robot

Journey Into Mystery #70

Marvel ⋅ 1961

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Journey Into Mystery #70

Marvel ⋅ 1961

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$50

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$150

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$500

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Prototype of Sandman

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Prototype of Sandman

Superboy #5

DC ⋅ 1949

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$150

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$500

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$1.5k

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Prototype of Supergirl

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Prototype of Supergirl

Marvel Tales #116

Marvel ⋅ 1953

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$400

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$1.2k

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$4k

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Story titled Werewolf By Night, published nearly two decades before Marvel Spotlight #2 but not connected to the character beyond the title alone

Key Facts

Story titled Werewolf By Night, published nearly two decades before Marvel Spotlight #2 but not connected to the character beyond the title alone

Popgun #2

Image ⋅ 2008

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$25

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Prototype of Skullkickers

10-page story initially titled 'Two Copper Pieces'

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Prototype of Skullkickers

10-page story initially titled 'Two Copper Pieces'

Chamber of Darkness #4

Marvel ⋅ 1970

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$20

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$90

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1st appearance of Starr the Slayer, a Conan the Barbarian prototype introduced to test market interest in a sword and sorcery property

First cover collaboration of artists Marie Severin and Bill Everett who signed their artwork as "7EV" a combination of their last names

Key Facts

1st appearance of Starr the Slayer, a Conan the Barbarian prototype introduced to test market interest in a sword and sorcery property

First cover collaboration of artists Marie Severin and Bill Everett who signed their artwork as "7EV" a combination of their last names

Tales of Suspense #35

Marvel ⋅ 1962

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Tales of Suspense #35

Marvel ⋅ 1962

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$30

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$105

High

$375

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Prototype of the Watcher, the only appearance of a pilot disguised as an alien named Zarkorr

Key Facts

Prototype of the Watcher, the only appearance of a pilot disguised as an alien named Zarkorr

Dime Press #4

Glamour ⋅ 1993

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$50

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$150

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$500

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Prototype of Hellboy

Print run: 2,000 estimated copies

Hellboy shares the cover with a character named Nathan Never, an Italian comic book character

Key Facts

Prototype of Hellboy

Print run: 2,000 estimated copies

Hellboy shares the cover with a character named Nathan Never, an Italian comic book character

Tales of Suspense #16

Marvel ⋅ 1961

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Tales of Suspense #16

Marvel ⋅ 1961

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$120

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$400

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$1.2k

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Prototype of Iron Man, a character named Metallo who is an escaped convict in a radiation prevention suit

Key Facts

Prototype of Iron Man, a character named Metallo who is an escaped convict in a radiation prevention suit

Strange Tales #84

Marvel ⋅ 1961

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Strange Tales #84

Marvel ⋅ 1961

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$55

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$150

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$550

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Prototype of Magneto

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Prototype of Magneto

Amazing Fantasy #11

Marvel ⋅ 1962

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Amazing Fantasy #11

Marvel ⋅ 1962

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$40

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$120

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$400

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Prototype of Doctor Octopus, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, published fifteen months before The Amazing Spider-Man #3, the first appearance of Doctor Octopus - character does not take human form in story

Key Facts

Prototype of Doctor Octopus, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, published fifteen months before The Amazing Spider-Man #3, the first appearance of Doctor Octopus - character does not take human form in story

Journey Into Mystery #78

Marvel ⋅ 1962

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$30

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$100

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$510

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Prototype of Doctor Strange

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Prototype of Doctor Strange

Tales of Suspense #31

Marvel ⋅ 1962

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Tales of Suspense #31

Marvel ⋅ 1962

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$120

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$400

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$1.2k

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Prototype of Doctor Doom, specifically the design of his faceplate in near identical detail to the Monster in the Iron Mask

Key Facts

Prototype of Doctor Doom, specifically the design of his faceplate in near identical detail to the Monster in the Iron Mask

Tales of the Unexpected #16

DC ⋅ 1957

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$105

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$365

High

$1.1k

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Prototype of Thor, created by Jack Kirby prior to the character's introduction in Marvel Comics, Journey Into Mystery #83

Key Facts

Prototype of Thor, created by Jack Kirby prior to the character's introduction in Marvel Comics, Journey Into Mystery #83

Challengers of the Unknown #3

DC ⋅ 1958

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$100

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$300

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$1k

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Prototype of the Fantastic Four

Written and illustrated by Jack Kirby who co-created the Fantastic Four with Stan Lee three years later

In this story, one of the characters returns from space with four distinct abilities: fire projection, ice projection, size manipulation, invisibility

Key Facts

Prototype of the Fantastic Four

Written and illustrated by Jack Kirby who co-created the Fantastic Four with Stan Lee three years later

In this story, one of the characters returns from space with four distinct abilities: fire projection, ice projection, size manipulation, invisibility

FOOM Magazine #2

Marvel ⋅ 1973

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$40

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$120

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$400

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Prototype of Wolverine, published 1.5 years prior to Wolverine's first appearance

Andy Olsen, a comic fan, created an original character concept of The Wolverine who had regenerative abilities, a metal exoskeleton and was the product of experimentation

There is some question as to whether the Wolverine briefly introduced in Hulk #180 was inspired by this concept though Andy Olsen was never credited or compensated

Key Facts

Prototype of Wolverine, published 1.5 years prior to Wolverine's first appearance

Andy Olsen, a comic fan, created an original character concept of The Wolverine who had regenerative abilities, a metal exoskeleton and was the product of experimentation

There is some question as to whether the Wolverine briefly introduced in Hulk #180 was inspired by this concept though Andy Olsen was never credited or compensated

Comics Magazine #1

Comics Magazine Company ⋅ 1936

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$3.5k

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$10k

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$45k

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1st appearance of Dr. Mystic, a Superman prototype

Key Facts

1st appearance of Dr. Mystic, a Superman prototype

Funny Pages #1

Centaur ⋅ 1939

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$175

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$525

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$1.9k

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Prototype of Bruce Wayne

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Prototype of Bruce Wayne

Great Salt Lake Comic Con

Independent ⋅ 1991

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$500

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$1.5k

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$5k

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Prototype illustration a creature with the name Hell Boy engraved on his belt

Great Salt Lake Comic Con pamphlet from 1991

Key Facts

Prototype illustration a creature with the name Hell Boy engraved on his belt

Great Salt Lake Comic Con pamphlet from 1991

Our Army at War #81

DC ⋅ 1959

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Our Army at War #81

DC ⋅ 1959

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$300

Mid

$900

High

$3k

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Prototype of Sgt. Rock

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Prototype of Sgt. Rock

Blackhawk #117

DC ⋅ 1957

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$50

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$150

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$500

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1st appearance of Mr. Freeze, a prototype of the Batman villain with an almost identical weapon

Blackhawk #117 preceded Batman #121 by nearly two years

Key Facts

1st appearance of Mr. Freeze, a prototype of the Batman villain with an almost identical weapon

Blackhawk #117 preceded Batman #121 by nearly two years

Journey Into Mystery #62

Marvel ⋅ 1960

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Journey Into Mystery #62

Marvel ⋅ 1960

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$100

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$300

High

$1k

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1st appearance of the Living Hulk, a prototype of the Incredible Hulk who was later reintroduced as Xemnu the Titan, an enemy of the Hulk

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Living Hulk, a prototype of the Incredible Hulk who was later reintroduced as Xemnu the Titan, an enemy of the Hulk

Strange Tales #97

Marvel ⋅ 1962

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Strange Tales #97

Marvel ⋅ 1962

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$120

Mid

$410

High

$1.2k

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Prototype of Peter Parker's aunt and uncle, also named Aunt May and Uncle Ben

Cross-promotion text teaser for The Incredible Hulk #1, released one week later

Key Facts

Prototype of Peter Parker's aunt and uncle, also named Aunt May and Uncle Ben

Cross-promotion text teaser for The Incredible Hulk #1, released one week later

Two-Gun Kid #77

Timely ⋅ 1965

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Two-Gun Kid #77

Timely ⋅ 1965

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$55

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$150

High

$550

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Prototype of the Black Panther, the suit design is similar although worn by a white villain named Dr. Elixir who used the code name, The Panther

Published ten months prior to the Black Panther’s introduction in Fantastic Four #52 this issue was also written by Stan Lee

Story reprinted in Two Gun Kid #119, but The Panther prototype character was recolored red

Key Facts

Prototype of the Black Panther, the suit design is similar although worn by a white villain named Dr. Elixir who used the code name, The Panther

Published ten months prior to the Black Panther’s introduction in Fantastic Four #52 this issue was also written by Stan Lee

Story reprinted in Two Gun Kid #119, but The Panther prototype character was recolored red

Comic Media News #26

Marvel ⋅ 1976

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Prototype of Captain Britain in a British fanzine

Cover appearance of 'an unknown British superhero' according to interior notes

Preceded the first appearance of Captain Britain in Captain Britain #1 (October 1976)

Key Facts

Prototype of Captain Britain in a British fanzine

Cover appearance of 'an unknown British superhero' according to interior notes

Preceded the first appearance of Captain Britain in Captain Britain #1 (October 1976)

Hell-Rider #1

Skywald ⋅ 1971

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$12

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$40

High

$120

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1st appearance of Butterfly, the first super-powered black female in comic books

1st appearance of Brice Reese, a vigilante with a customized motorcycle that included a flamethrower

Prototype of Ghost Rider, also created by Gary Friedrich

Key Facts

1st appearance of Butterfly, the first super-powered black female in comic books

1st appearance of Brice Reese, a vigilante with a customized motorcycle that included a flamethrower

Prototype of Ghost Rider, also created by Gary Friedrich

Tales of Suspense #32

Marvel ⋅ 1962

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Tales of Suspense #32

Marvel ⋅ 1962

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$120

Mid

$400

High

$1.2k

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Key Facts

Prototype of Doctor Strange, the sorcerer Sazzik

Key Facts

Prototype of Doctor Strange, the sorcerer Sazzik

	Publisher	Low	Mid	High
Star-Spangled War Stories #101	DC	$30	$90	$295
Weird War Tales #6	DC	$5	$20	$65
Journey Into Mystery #70	Marvel	$50	$150	$500
Superboy #5	DC	$150	$500	$1.5k
Marvel Tales #116	Marvel	$400	$1.2k	$4k
Popgun #2	Image	$2	$8	$25
Chamber of Darkness #4	Marvel	$7	$20	$90
Tales of Suspense #35	Marvel	$30	$105	$375
Dime Press #4	Glamour	$50	$150	$500
Tales of Suspense #16	Marvel	$120	$400	$1.2k
Strange Tales #84	Marvel	$55	$150	$550
Amazing Fantasy #11	Marvel	$40	$120	$400
Journey Into Mystery #78	Marvel	$30	$100	$510
Tales of Suspense #31	Marvel	$120	$400	$1.2k
Tales of the Unexpected #16	DC	$105	$365	$1.1k
Challengers of the Unknown #3	DC	$100	$300	$1k
FOOM Magazine #2	Marvel	$40	$120	$400
Comics Magazine #1	Comics Magazine Company	$3.5k	$10k	$45k
Funny Pages #1	Centaur	$175	$525	$1.9k
Great Salt Lake Comic Con	Independent	$500	$1.5k	$5k
Our Army at War #81	DC	$300	$900	$3k
Blackhawk #117	DC	$50	$150	$500
Journey Into Mystery #62	Marvel	$100	$300	$1k
Strange Tales #97	Marvel	$120	$410	$1.2k
Two-Gun Kid #77	Timely	$55	$150	$550
Comic Media News #26	Marvel	$1	$2	$5
Hell-Rider #1	Skywald	$12	$40	$120
Tales of Suspense #32	Marvel	$120	$400	$1.2k

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