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Super Movie Treasures

AS COMIC-BOOK HEROES INVADE THEATERS, HERE’S A LOOK AT RELATED COLLECTIBLES AND THE PRICES THEY’VE FETCHED

By The Intelligent Collector staff

Last year was a spectacular year for comics in the collectibles market. Heritage Auctions reported record sales of $58.54 million in its comic and comic art category – a 32 percent increase over the department’s previous record in 2017.

Among the notable sales last year were the $1.79 million paid for Frank Frazetta’s oil painting Death Dealer 6, published as the cover to Death Dealer #2 (Verotik, 1996). John Romita Sr. and Frank Giacoia’s original 1971 cover art for The Amazing Spider-Man #100 brought $478,000, a record for Marvel artwork from the classic 1960s-70s era.

Helping drive the numbers, reports Forbes, is today’s luxury economy, where big prices are attracting the interest of outside speculators and investors looking for new asset classes that deliver high rates of return. “New money brings more competition, which means higher prices and higher commissions,” the magazine reports.

It doesn’t hurt that Hollywood is popularizing comic-book heroes like never before. Between now and October, nine movies based on comic books will be playing in theaters. At least nine more comic-book movies are set for release in 2020, on top of superhero TV series such as Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow, Black Lightning, The Punisher, Legion, and Jessica Jones.

The ubiquity of comic-book content is a primary reason Heritage Auctions reports that sell-through rates in 2018 exceeded 99 percent by value and by number of lots. Heritage’s weekly Sunday and evening sales, which previously attracted less attention than the firm’s “Signature” events, are booming. “The days of Heritage Auctions’ weekly auctions offering lower-value lots exclusively are over,” says Heritage Auctions Co-Founder Jim Halperin. “We average about 800 lots per week, and it no longer is a rarity for some lots to crack the five-figure plateau.”

As Forbes points out, the growth of disposable income plus the continued success of comic-themed content make it “hard to see this market going anywhere but up.”

Up and away.

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Opening: July 5, 2019
Mysterio, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #13 (Marvel, 1964). The mind-bending illusionist would become one of Spidey’s classic foes. In this summer’s movie, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) goes on a school trip to Europe, where he is recruited by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to team up with Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) to battle the Elementals (first full appearance in Supernatural Thrillers #8), who possess power over water, earth, air and fire.

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SPIDER-MAN COVER ART
SPIDER-MAN COVER ART
John Romita Sr. & Frank Giacoia
Amazing Spider-Man #100 (Marvel, 1971)
Original cover art
Sold for: $478,000
February 2018

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MYSTERIO COVER APPEARANCE
MYSTERIO COVER APPEARANCE
John Romita Sr.Amazing Spider-Man Annual #6 (Marvel, 1969)
Original cover art
Sold for: $143,400
May 2016

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MYSTERIO FIRST APPEARANCE
MYSTERIO FIRST APPEARANCE
The Amazing Spider-Man #13
(Marvel, 1964) CGC NM+ 9.6
Pacific Coast Pedigree
Sold for: $21,510
November 2015

Captain Marvel

Opening: March 8, 2019
There have been several incarnations of Captain Marvel. Marvel’s first Captain Marvel appeared in Marvel Super-Heroes #12 (December 1967). It focused on the alien military officer Captain Mar-Vell. The movie released this year focuses on Carol Danvers, whose first superhero identity was Ms. Marvel before she became Captain Marvel. The movie, starring Brie Larson (Kong: Skull Island) as Danvers, is Marvel Studios’ first female-led superhero film.

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FIRST GLIMPSE OF CAROL DANVERS
FIRST GLIMPSE OF CAROL DANVERS
Gene Colan & Paul Reinman
Marvel Super-Heroes #13 (Marvel, 1967)
Page 12 original art
Sold for: $7,468
May 2016

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FIRST CAPTAIN MARVEL
FIRST CAPTAIN MARVEL
Marvel Super-Heroes #12
(Marvel, 1967) CGC NM/MT 9.8
Sold for: $7,170
August 2016

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FIRST CAROL DANVERS AS MS. MARVEL
FIRST CAROL DANVERS AS MS. MARVEL
Ms. Marvel #1
(Marvel, 1977) CGC NM+ 9.6
Sold for: $840
November 2018


Shazam!

Opening: April 5, 2019
Fawcett Comics’ Captain Marvel first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 (February 1940) as the story of Billy Batson, a boy who gains superhuman powers by speaking the magic word “Shazam.” DC comics began publishing Captain Marvel, created by C.C. Beck and Bill Parker, in 1972 and later officially renamed the character “Shazam.” The movie stars Zachary Levi, who played Fandral the Dashing in Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok.

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FIRST APPEARANCE OF CAPTAIN MARVEL/SHAZAM
FIRST APPEARANCE OF CAPTAIN MARVEL/SHAZAM
Whiz Comics #2 (#1)
(Fawcett, 1940) CGC FN 6.0
Sold for: $173,275
May 2018

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SHAZAM ORIGINAL ART
SHAZAM ORIGINAL ART
C.C. Beck
Captain Marvel Adventures #3 (#2)
(Fawcett, 1941)
Original cover art
Sold for: $20,700
February 2004


Avengers: Endgame

Opening: April 26, 2019
Thanos, created by Jim Starlin, first appeared in The Invincible Iron Man #55 (February 1973), with comic-book stories over the years expanding the character’s fascination with nihilism and death. In Avengers: Endgame, Josh Brolin (The Goonies, Deadpool 2) is back as one of the most powerful villains in the Marvel Universe.

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CAPTAIN AMERICA FIRST SILVER AGE APPEARANCE
CAPTAIN AMERICA FIRST SILVER AGE APPEARANCE
The Avengers #4
(Marvel, 1964) CGC NM/MT 9.8
Sold for: $143,400
May 2017

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THANOS FIRST APPEARANCE
THANOS FIRST APPEARANCE
Iron Man #55
(Marvel, 1973) CBCS NM/MT 9.8
Sold for: $5,760
November 2018

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THANOS ORIGINAL ART
THANOS ORIGINAL ART
Jim Starlin & Rich Buckler
Thanos concept original art, circa 1971
Sold for: $17,925
May 2018


Hellboy

Opening: April 12, 2019
Hellboy was created by Mike Mignola in 1993, appearing in San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2. A movie based on the comic and directed by Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water) was released in 2004; a sequel, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, was released four years later. This year’s movie, directed by Neil Marshall (Game of Thrones) is a reboot, starring David Harbour (Stranger Things) as the powerful demon who works for the government.

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HELLBOY ORIGINAL ART
HELLBOY ORIGINAL ART
Mike Mignola
Dark Horse Presents #151 (Dark Horse, 2000)
Original cover art
Sold for: $19,200
August 2018

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HELLBOY FIRST SERIES
HELLBOY FIRST SERIES
Hellboy: Seed of Destruction #1
(Dark Horse, 1994) CGC NM/MT 9.8 W
Sold for: $288
September 2018


Dark Phoenix

Opening: June 7, 2019
Jean Grey, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, first appeared as Marvel Girl in The X-Men #1 (September 1963). Shortly after the title was revamped as Uncanny X-Men #94 (August 1975), Grey rejoined under the name Phoenix. The character once again was transformed in the classic “Dark Phoenix Saga,” which spanned 10 issues beginning with #129. The movie, in which Grey loses control of her abilities and unleashes the Phoenix, stars Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones).

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JEAN GREY FIRST APPEARANCE
JEAN GREY FIRST APPEARANCE
X-Men #1
(Marvel, 1963) CGC NM/MT 9.8
Pacific Coast Pedigree
Sold for: $492,937
July 2012

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DARK PHOENIX ORIGINAL ART
DARK PHOENIX ORIGINAL ART
Steve Lightle
Classic X-Men #37 (Marvel, 1989)
Original cover art
Sold for: $8,365
November 2014

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PHOENIX FIRST APPEARANCE
PHOENIX FIRST APPEARANCE
X-Men #101
(Marvel, 1976) CGC NM/MT 9.8
Sold for: $3,107
May 2018


The New Mutants

Opening: Aug. 2, 2019
The group of teenage mutant superheroes, created by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod, first appeared in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 The New Mutants (September 1982), before getting their own series a year later. The movie adds a horror element to its superhero tale, bringing along the characters Magik, Wolfsbane, Cannonball, Sunspot and Mirage. Antonio Banderas reportedly is cast as an undisclosed villain who appears in a post-credits scene.

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NEW MUTANTS ORIGINAL ART
NEW MUTANTS ORIGINAL ART
Rob Liefeld
The New Mutants #100 (Marvel, 1991)
Original cover art
Sold for: $17,925
November 2012

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NEW MUTANTS FIRST APPEARANCE
NEW MUTANTS FIRST APPEARANCE
Marvel Graphic Novel #4
The New Mutants
(Marvel, 1982) CGC NM/MT 9.8
Sold for: $866
March 2018


Joker

Opening: Oct. 4, 2019
The Joker, created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, is perhaps the most famous supervillain – first appearing in Batman #1 (Spring 1940) and subsequently becoming Batman’s top archenemy. In the movie, Joaquin Phoenix (Gladiator, Walk the Line) plays Arthur Fleck, a failed stand-up comedian who is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos.

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JOKER ORIGINAL ART
JOKER ORIGINAL ART
Fred Ray & Jerry Robinson
Batman #11 (DC, 1942).
Original cover art
Sold for: $195,500
August 2005

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FIRST FULL JOKER COVER APPEARANCE
FIRST FULL JOKER COVER APPEARANCE
Detective Comics #62
(DC, 1942) CGC NM 9.4
Sold for: $26,290
February 2010

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JOKER ORIGINAL ART
JOKER ORIGINAL ART
Carmine Infantino & Murphy Anderson
Poster illustration original art (DC, 1966)
Sold for: $26,290
May 2016


COMING SOON

Movies scheduled for release in 2020:

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Bloodshot #1 (Valiant, 1993)
Barry Windsor-Smith’s original cover art for Bloodshot #1 (Valiant, 1993) sold for $22,705 in November 2017.

►Birds of Prey (February): Harley Quinn, Huntress and Black Canary battle crime kingpin Black Mask.
►Bloodshot (February): Vin Diesel stars as a former soldier with powers of regeneration.
►Wonder Woman 1984 (June): Gal Gadot returns to battle the Cheetah.
►Green Lantern Corps (July): The interstellar police force goes on a mission to protect the universe.

Live-action TV shows ordered or in development:
►New Warriors: Young adult superteam that first appeared in The Mighty Thor #411 (December 1989).
►Loki: Adopted brother of Thor, whose modern-day incarnation debuted in Journey into Mystery #85 (October 1962).
►Vision and Scarlet Witch: Two longtime members of the Avengers, who first appeared, respectively, in The Avengers #57 (October 1968) and The X-Men #4 (March 1964).

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BATWOMAN
Detective Comics #233 featured cover art by Sheldon Moldoff.

►Swamp Thing: The latest adaptation of the elemental creature that first appeared in House of Secrets #92 (July 1971).
►Watchmen: The classic 1986-87 DC Comics limited series gets the small-screen treatment.
►Batwoman: First introduced as Batman’s love interest in Detective Comics #233 (DC, 1956).


This article appears in the Spring/Summer 2019 edition of The Intelligent Collector magazine. Click here to subscribe to the print edition.

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