Posted By Dan Greenfield on Sep 2, 2020 | 4 comments

OVERSTREET AT 50: And, boy, are there some surprises…

The 50th edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide is out this week, which got us to thinking: What are the most valuable comics that were published in the last 50 years?

See, earlier this year, with Overstreet’s anniversary in mind, we posted THE TOP 13 MOST VALUABLE COMICS IN 1970 — AND WHAT THEY’RE WORTH NOW. You can click here to check it out, because the differences are stunning.

But with the publication of Overstreet #50, it only made sense to revisit the idea, only with comics printed since the first price guide came out.

So get ready for some surprises because here are THE TOP 13 MOST VALUABLE COMICS PUBLISHED SINCE 1970.

(Prices are based on comics graded 9.2, the top listed by Overstreet. Dates are publication dates.)

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1. Star Wars #1 (35¢ price variant), Marvel (1977): $12,000. Generally speaking, high-grade copies of Star Wars #1 will cost hundreds. It’s that pesky 35-cent variant that makes all the difference.

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2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1, Mirage (1984): $8,000. I remember what a huge deal this was at the time. Forget the cartoons and movies and whatnot. This comic changed the industry.

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3. Gobbledygook #1, Mirage (1984): $6,600. Eastman and Laird’s self-published ‘zine featured a full-page ad for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

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4. The Incredible Hulk #181, Marvel (1974): $5,500. The first appearance of some short dude dubbed “the world’s first and greatest Canadian superhero!”

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5. Iron Fist #14 (35¢ price variant), Marvel (1977): $4,400. First appearance of Sabretooth. Normally, the book would cost you a few hundred. But again it’s that li’l ol’ 35-cent mark.

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6. House of Secrets #92, DC (1971): $3,350. First appearance of Swamp Thing. (Or at least a proto version.)

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7 (tie). Albedo #2, Thoughts & Images (1984): $3,200. Debut of Stan Sakai’s beloved Usagi Yojimbo.

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7 (tie). Cerebus #1, Aardvark-Vanaheim (1977): $3,200. Like TMNT and Usagi Yojimbo, an indie landmark.

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9. Scooby Doo #1, Gold Key (1970): $3,000. Gotta say, I understand how most of these issues made the TOP 13. But if you’d given me a 100 chances, I probably would not have come up with this one.

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10. Marvel Spotlight #5, Marvel (1972): $2,800. First appearance of Ghost Rider. Personally, I would have thought the Punisher’s first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #129 would have been higher, but this is likely a matter of supply.

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11. Green Lantern #76, DC (1970): $2,700. Oh, I am so happy an Adams-O’Neil book made this list. (Side note: I picked up a really nice copy for a relative song last year. Not a 9.2 but sweet nonetheless. It was a nice moment, I have to say.)

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12. Gobbledygook #2, Mirage (1984): $2,600. Came out the same time as Issue #1.

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13. Giant-Size X-Men #1, Marvel (1975): $2,300. The comic that launched a revolution.

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MORE

— The TOP 13 Most Valuable Comics in 1970 — and What They’re Worth Now. Click here.

— OVERSTREET PRICE GUIDE #1 to Be Re-Released as a Facsimile Edition. Click here.

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The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #50 is available now. The hardcover lists for $37.50 and the softcover lists for $29.95. The “Big! Big!” edition runs $49.50. You can get them at your comics shop or directly from Gemstone Publishing. (Click here or here.)

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