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Most Expensive Comic Book by Character
What is the most expensive comic book featuring Spider-Man? Batman? Thor? The X-Men?
Most Expensive Comic Books: first appearance heroes and villainsWe break these down for you and many more. This article will show you the goods!
We've split them into heroes first and villains next.
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List of the most valuable comic books by superhero
- Adam Warlock: Fantastic Four #67
- Avengers: Avengers #1
- Batman: Detective Comics #27
- Black Panther: Fantastic Four #52
- Captain America (Golden Age): Captain America Comics #1
- Captain America (Silver Age): Avengers #4
- Deadpool: New Mutants #98
- Doctor Strange: Strange Tales #110
- Falcon: Captain America #117
- Fantastic Four: Fantastic Four #1
- Flash: Flash Comics #1
- Iron Man: Tales of Suspense #39
- Miles Morales: Ultimate Fallout #4
- Silver Surfer: Fantastic Four #48
- Spider-Man: Amazing Fantasy #15
- Superman: Action Comics #1
- Thor: Journey into Mystery #83
- Vision: Avengers #57
- Watcher: Fantastic Four #13
- Wolverine: Incredible Hulk #181
- Wonder Woman: All-Star Comics #8
- X-Men: X-Men #1
List of the most valuable comic books by super villain
- Black Canary: Flash Comics #86
- Brainiac: Action Comics #242
- Brotherhood of Evil Mutants: #X-Men #4
- Cheetah: Wonder Woman #6
- Darkseid: Jimmy Olsen #134
- Doctor Doom: Fantastic Four #5
- Green Goblin: Amazing Spider-Man #14
- Joker: Batman #1
- Kang the Conqueror: Avengers #8
- Kingpin: Amazing Spider-Man #50
- Lex Luthor: Action Comics #23
- Loki: Journey into Mystery #85
- Medusa/Sinister Six: Fantastic Four #36
- Penguin: Detective Comics #58
- Punisher: Amazing Spider-Man #129
- Reverse Flash: Flash #139
- Riddler: Detective Comics #140
- Sinister Six: Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1
The Most Expensive Comic Book for Each Superhero
Thor #165
Lowest price $50
Average price $150
Record price $25,000
This is the first true appearance of Adam Warlock (although Fantastic Four #67 has a similar claim).
Fantastic Four #67
First Adam Warlock
Lowest price $50
Average price $200
Record price $22,500
Ties with Thor #165 as the first appearance of Adam Warlock. Adam has a huge future in the MCU!
Avengers #1
First appearance of the super team
Lowest price $1,000
Average price $3,500
Record price $432,000
The Avengers are the foundation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2012. Thor was a founder member of the team and went on to star in his own series of MCU movies.
Hulk fell out with the team and fought against them alongside Sub-Mariner not long after issue #1.
Detective Comics #27
First appearance of Batman
Lowest price $100,000+
Average price $500,000
Record price $3.4M
One of the biggest comic books ever published. Batman is just about the most influential superheroes ever created, and more relevant and relatable to people than Superman.
An oversize reprint exists which measures 13.5 inches along the spine.
Fantastic Four #52
First Black Panther
Lowest price $350
Average price $800
Record price $65,000
The first Black Panther was a huge part of the MCU for a while. Overdue a reboot.
Captain America Comics #1
Origin and first appearance of Cap
1st Red Skull
Lowest price $45,000
Average price $150,000
Record price $3.12M
Golden Age key issues don't get much bigger than Cap #1. It has it all.
The first Captain America comic book; a classic punch out Hitler cover; the first appearance of Red Skull, THE Captain America villain.
One of a very few comics to break the $3M barrier.
Avengers #4
Captain America returns
1st Baron Zemo
Lowest price $400
Average price $1,800
Record price $108,000
Captain America is freed from his long slumber in a block of Arctic ice, and returns to join the Avengers. A massively important Silver Age key issue.
New Mutants #98
1st Deadpool
Lowest price $60
Average price $300
Record price CGC 9.8 $1,800
Record Price CGC 9.9 $40,250
Deadpool has become a massive part of the MCU, appearing in multiple movies and crossovers in comic books.
This first appearance issue is worth money in any condition. The version with a UPC bar code at bottom left (as seen above) is a newsstand variant, which is worth more than one with a Captain America head in the box.
The $40K record sale is unrepeatable. Most examples grade in the 8.0 to 9.6 range.
Strange Tales #110
First Doctor Strange
Lowest price $400
Average price $2,000
Record price $150,000
Doctor Strange is a massive part of the MCU, and crosses over into different Marvel properties. This is a huge key issue.
Captain America #117
1st Falcon
Lowest price $90
Average price $300
Recent 9.8 Sale $24,000
Record price $78,000
The first appearance of Falcon (later in the MCU as part of the Avengers) is a huge key issue.
Since he has come and gone in the movies, there has been a cooling off of values. The $78K sale is a pandemic high which will probably not be repeated for years.
Fantastic Four #1
1st Mole Man;
1st Marvel Super-Team;
the comic which began the Marvel Age of Comics
Lowest price $5,000
Average price $18,000
Record price $1,500,000
There are few comics as important as Fantastic Four #1. This book turned Marvel Comics into a household name.
When you consider what would follow the FF into the Marvel universe, there is a strong argument for this being THE most important comic book ever published.
Spider-Man, Ant-Man, Hulk, Thor, the Avengers, Daredevil, and hundreds of other characters all owe their existence to the Fantastic Four.
Flash Comics #1
Origin and 1st appearance of the Flash
Lowest price $35,000
Average price $125,000
Record price $450,000
Golden Age first appearances don't come much bigger than the Flash. Flash Comics #1 is a huge key. The highest graded book and record sale was set in 2010, so it will be shattered whenever the book comes back to market.
Tales of Suspense #39
Origin and First Appearance of Iron Man
Lowest price $2,900
Average price $7,000
Record price $840,000
One of the Marvel mega-keys from the Silver Age that will always be in demand. Tony Stark's creation of Iron Man has become a pillar of the MCU.
Founder member of the Avengers and standalone hero in his own right.
Rather like the Hulk, Iron Man comic books debuted with his armor being gray. Over several issues, it would change...
Ultimate Fallout #4
Direct edition
Lowest price $75
Average price $350
Recent 9.8 Sale $900
Record price $4,500
This is the "regular" (direct) edition of UF#4, the first full appearance of Miles Morales.
The high of $4,500 was a pandemic sale of course.
Fantastic Four #48
First Galactus and Silver Surfer
Lowest price $350
Average price $2,000
Record price $108,000
Very few Fantastic Four issues are as hugely important as this one.
The Silver Surfer is going to touch many corners of the MCU and has been a giant part of Marvel for decades now.
Amazing Fantasy #15
Origin and first appearance of Spider-Man
Lowest price $10,000
Average price $30,000
Record price $3,600,000
There is absolutely no doubt that this is THE Silver Age comic book! Spider-Man was first debuted in this, the final issue of a tryout series Amazing Fantasy.
He went on to become the world's greatest comic book character, effectively catapulting Marvel to the forefront of comic book publishing for decades.
The record sale of $3.6M was for a CGC 9.6. This is exceptional for any Silver Age comic. Most copies of AF#15 turn up in 2.5-4.0 condition.
Action Comics #1
Origin and first appearance of Superman; 1st Lois Lane
Lowest price $400,000
Average price $1,000,000
Record price $6,000,000
The first appearance of Superman is a nailed-on classic Golden Age key -- it is THE comic book. The only comparable is Detective Comics #27, the first appearance of Batman.
In 1938, costumed superheroes basically didn't exist. Action #1 is the book which began the Golden Age of comics, invented superheroes, and introduced the world to Superman.
In the early days, he was badass, more like Homelander from The Boys than the Man of Steel. Over time, DC softened the character to make him more of a hero than an anti-hero.
An oversize reprint exists which measures 13.5 inches along the spine.
Journey into Mystery #83
1st Thor
Lowest price $1,000
Average price $6,500
Record price $350,400
Journey into Mystery #83 is THE Thor comic book. It's the very first appearance of Thor, who is a founder member of the Avengers.
There are several reprints of this book, but the only one with value is the Golden Record Reprint from 1966. It has no price box on the front cover and a Golden Records ad on the back cover. It's worth from $50-$500 depending on condition.
Avengers #57
First Vision
Lowest price $75
Average price $400
Record price $37,500
The Vision has been a huge part of the MCU, and his race may not yet be run.
Fantastic Four #13
1st Red Ghost;
1st Watcher
Lowest price $100
Average price $800
Record price $22,000
The Red Ghost is a nice side note, but The Watcher is the real draw of this issue. Watcher has expanded to touch many parts of the MCU.
Incredible Hulk #181
First full Wolverine appearance
Lowest price $1,000
Average price $3,500
Record price $154,000
One of THE must-own Bronze Age comic books, the first full appearance of Wolverine is a nailed-on classic.
Sought-after in any grade, and changes hands rapidly!
All-Star Comics #8
Origin and first appearance of Wonder Woman
Lowest price $10,000
Average price $60,000
Record price $1.5M
The first mainstream costumed female superhero, one of a very few characters not to be cancelled during the superhero downturn in the 1950s; Wonder Woman comic books have been collected for many decades now.
Although the cover doesn't feature Diana, this is a major Golden Age key issue. Surprisingly common, with nearly 150 Universal copies in the CGC census.
Uncanny X-Men #1
Origin and First Appearance of the X-Men
1st Magneto
Lowest price $3,500
Average price $10,000
Record price $872,000
One of the Silver Age Marvel keys that no self-respecting collector of the era should be without.
Very uncommon to get one with a pure white cover. As with most white-cover Silver Age books, it's normal to find them slightly yellowed.
The Most Expensive Comic Book for Each Super Villain
Flash Comics #86
1st Black Canary
Lowest price $2,000
Average price $10,000
Record price $48,000
There is new interest in the Black Canary, with the DCU expanding and it being a scarce key issue.
Action Comics #242
1st Brainiac
Lowest price $400
Average price $5,000
Record price $34,000
Surely Brainiac is long overdue for an appearance in the soon to expand DCU?
This is one of the toughest Action Comics key issues, with a purple cover that shows a lot of wear.
X-Men #4
First Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch
First Brotherhood of Evil Mutants
Lowest price $400
Average price $1,200
Record price $26,000
Perhaps the second-most important X-Men issue, certainly in the early years. Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch appear here.
Wonder Woman #6
1st Cheetah
Lowest price $1,500
Average price $5,000
Record price $40,000
Cheetah is one the longest-running Wonder Woman villains, fighting Diana into the 1980s and beyond.
Jimmy Olsen #134
1st Darkseid
Lowest price $30
Average price $350
Record price $16,200
Darkseid is high on the list of DC Comics villains due to make a big splash in the expanded DCU.
One of the New Gods, Darkseid shoots omega beams from his eyes.
Fantastic Four #5
First Doctor Doom
Lowest price $1,500
Average price $7,500
Record price $162,000
Doctor Doom is THE enemy of the FF, and due to appear in the "homecoming" movie in the MCU in 2025.
Amazing Spider-Man #14
First Green Goblin
Lowest price $400
Average price $1,500
Record price $210,000
Norman Osborne is a horrific Spider-Man villain, whose exposure to chemicals he calls the "Goblin formula" permanently granted him superhuman powers and shattered his sanity.
This book is a double whammy! THE iconic Spider-Man villain, instantly recognizable even to non-geeks, and the antagonist to the first Tobey Maguire Spider-Man.
This book also features the Incredible Hulk in his first battle with Spidey, so Hulk fans have a reason to want a copy too.
Batman #1
1st Catwoman
1st Joker
Lowest price $30,000
Average price $200,000
Record price $2.22M
This spin-off issue from Detective is a double key, featuring the first appearance of both Catwoman and the Joker. A gilt-edged Golden Age key!
Reprints exist, the most common being the over-size Treasury edition. If your Batman #1 measures 13.5 inches along the spine, then unfortunately it's a reprint.
Avengers #8
1st Kang the Conqueror
Lowest price $75
Average price $800
Record price $19,200
Kang is the villain from the MCU movie Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, making this a major key issue.
Amazing Spider-Man #50
First Kingpin
Lowest price $250
Average price $1,000
Record price $99,000
They don't get much bigger than Kingpin, and that's not just his chest size. A long-time enemy of Spider-Man and later, Captain America.
The villain in Into the Spider-Verse is also a big part of the MCU as a foil to the Punisher, and probably has more to give.
Action Comics #23
First Lex Luthor
Lowest price $4,000
Average price $25,000
Record price $72,000
Lex Luthor had red hair in his first appearance. A surprisingly tough comic that is seldom offered for sale anywhere.
Journey into Mystery #85
First Loki
Lowest price $600
Average price $2,000
Record price $84,000
This is the third appearance of Thor, but more importantly, it's the first appearance of Loki. The anti-hero brother of Thor is a huge part of the MCU.
Fantastic Four #36
First Frightful Four and Madame Medusa
Lowest price $40
Average price $400
Record price $20,000
Madame Medusa is the real draw here, though the Frightful Four might have a future in the MCU.
Detective Comics #58
First Penguin
Lowest price $3,500
Average price $15,000
Record price $40,000
Penguin is one of the great Batman villains. This first appearance is a classic Golden Age comic book and always highly sought-after by collectors.
Amazing Spider-Man #129
First Punisher
Lowest price $300
Average price $1,500
Recent 9.8 Sale $14,400
Record price $57,000
Punisher is right up there with Kingpin and the Green Goblin as the most influential and important characters in the Spider-Man universe.
A huge key issue! But the pandemic sugar high is way past its sell-by date now.
Flash #139
1st Reverse Flash/Professor Zoom
Lowest price $90
Average price $750
Record price $8,400
Reverse Flash is a huge villain in the DCU, and this first appearance is very collectible.
Detective Comics #140
First Riddler
Lowest price $4,000
Average price $15,000
Record price $456,000
E. Nigma is the alter ego of the Riddler, a classic Batman villain who ties the dynamic duo in knots, both literally and figuratively.
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1
1st Sinister Six; Thor appearance
Lowest price $200
Average price $1,000
Record price $78,000
The first Sinister Six appearance is the main reason this is a key issue. But Thor also crosses over into the story, encountering Spider-Man for the first time.
The Sinister Six are Mysterio, Doctor Octopus, Sandman, Vulture, Kraven the Hunter and Electro.
This book has many pin-up pages in it and they are often missing, so count the pages with care if you're buying an uncertified copy.
More of Our Comic Book Articles
Most Expensive Marvel Comic Books
See values for all your favorite Marvel characters, including Thor, Avengers, Spider-Man and Hulk.
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Most Expensive Batman Comic Books
See prices for the most valuable comics featuring the caped crusader.
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