Brent Moeshlin
If you're a fan of Marvel comics, then you know that there are tons of great stories to collect. With so many different titles and characters, it can be tough to figure out which ones to focus on for your collection.
Comic books can be a great investment if you know what you’re looking for, in the hope that they will increase their value down the line.
Our list of top recommendations features some of the most well-known and longest-serving Marvel superheroes, including The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America, and would be great additions to your collection.
Let’s dive in!
Amazing Fantasy #15
Key Comic Facts
Issue #1 of Amazing Fantasy Vol. 1 is called “Spider-Man!”. It was released in June 1962, and has a cover date of August 1962.
This is the most expensive comic book ever sold at auction! This issue is #1 for Amazing Fantasy, but it’s actually issue #15 of Amazing Adult Fantasy, a comic series about to get cancelled.
With nothing to lose, editor Martin Goodman allowed Stan Lee to experiment with a new superhero. They decided to rename the comic and feature Spider-Man for the first time.
After this issue, the comic series Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 started, and the rest is history.
Who created it?
It was written and edited by Stan Lee, with pencil and ink by Steve Ditko and lettering by Sam Rosen.
What happens inside the pages?
The first story features Spider-Man, followed by three short stories also released in the issue.
1. Spider-Man!: Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider and gains the abilities of a spider. He tries to stop a burglar but his uncle Ben gets killed. He therefore swears never to shirk his responsibility again.
2. The Bell-Ringer!: Story about a small Mediterranean island and a volcano eruption that threatens to destroy the town.
3. Man in the Mummy Case!: A fugitive accepts a mummy's help to escape the police, only to find himself an ancient Egyptian slave.
4. There Are Martians Among Us!: A couple gets separated when martians kidnap a girl, and her husband looks for her desperately.
What’s it worth?
The highest value for an issue of Amazing Fantasy Vol #1 is $3,600,000, holding the record for the most expensive comic book ever sold. This 9.6 rated copy was sold in September 2021, severely increasing its February 2011 value of $1,100,000.
A 6.5 copy was sold in September 2020 at $72,000, which is actually a decrease from its 2019 value of $85,000. A 2.0 rated copy had a value of $28,800 as of October 2021, which is a huge jump from its $17,500 price from seven months earlier.
For more info, visit our price guide here.
Amazing Spider-Man #15
Key Comic Facts
Issue #15 of Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 is called “Kraven the Hunter!”. It was released in May 1964, and has a cover date of August 1964.
The issue marks the first appearance of villain Kraven The Hunter in the Spider-Man comics.
Who created it?
It was written and edited by Stan Lee, with pencil and ink by Steve Ditko and lettering by Artie Simek.
What happens inside the pages?
The Chameleon organizes a plot to get rid of Spider-Man, inviting his friend Kraven The Hunter to the city. They study Spider-Man’s fighting techniques, organizing a robbery for Spidey to stop.
Spider-Man realizes Kraven poisons their opponents and has to flee, but traces Kraven to a remote forest. After fighting the Chameleon and Kraven, Spider-Man manages to beat them and turn Kraven over to the police.
What’s it worth?
The highest price for a copy of Amazing Spider-Man Vol #15 is $78,000, sold in September 2021, being the only recorded price for that issue.
A 5.0 copy was sold in January 2022 for $2,507, increasing its price of $2,075 from just two months earlier. A 1.0 was sold in November 2021 at $480, decreasing its $652 price from August 2021.
Visit our price guide here for more information about this and other issues of Amazing Spider-Man.
Amazing Spider-Man #50
Key Comic Facts
Issue #50 of Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 is called “Spider-Man No More!”. It was released in April 1967, and has a cover date of July 1967.
This issue marks the first appearance of villains Kingpin and Flint. Aunt May is still ill in bed from issue #33.
Who created it?
It was written and edited by Stan Lee, with pencil by John Romita Sr., ink by Mickey Demeo and lettering by Sam Rosen.
What happens inside the pages?
Spider-Man stops a robbery, but a bystander gets scared by the violence and asks Spidey to leave. At classes, Peter’s Professor expresses his concern about Peter’s grades.
Peter gets home to see Jonah Jameson ranting about him on TV. Peter gets mad and goes to a garbage dumpster to get rid of his Spider-Man outfit.
He resigns from the Daily Bugle to focus on his grades, but Aunt May recovers and starts being busy with Anna, and Peter can’t spend time with either Mary Jane or Gwen, so he has a lot of free time. At the same time, crime rises in the city.
Driving his motorcycle home, Peter hears a cry for help and seeing no one else around, decides to help out. The night watchman Peter saves reminds him of his Uncle Ben, and Peter remembers how he became Spider-Man, and how his Uncle Ben died because Peter failed to stop a criminal.
Peter realizes he must once again become Spider-Man to prevent other tragedies due to his inaction. Peter disguises himself as Spider-Man and hides in Jameson’s office, to deliver him the news first.
What’s it worth?
The highest rated copy of Spider-Man Vol #50 is a 9.8 book sold in April 2020 for $55,200, almost doubling its 2014 price of $30,000.
A 5.5 rated book sold in January 2022 for $1,600, although it was sold for $1700 the previous year. And a 1.0 was also sold in January 2022 for $355, after being valued at $400 the previous August.
Find out more here.
Avengers #8
Key Comic Facts
Issue #8 of Avengers Vol. 1 is called “Kang, The Conqueror!”. It was released in July 1964, and has a cover date of September 1964. This issue features the introduction and origin story of Kang The Conqueror in the Avengers comics.
Who created it?
It was written and edited by Stan Lee, with pencil by Jack Kirby, ink by Dick Ayers, color by Stan Goldberg and lettering by Sam Rosen.
What happens inside the pages?
Kang the Conqueror travels in time to rule Earth in the present. The Avengers assemble and attack, but Kang manages to beat and capture them, except the Wasp. She and Rick Jones form a plan and get onto Kang's ship to free the Avengers.
They succeed, and The Avengers battle Kang again. This time, they manage to defeat him by destroying the suit which controls all his weapons. Kang is forced to flee back into his time.
What’s it worth?
A 9.8 rated copy of Avengers Vol #8 was sold in October 2019 for $16,500, increasing its 2015 price of $11,950 by almost $5000.
A 5.0 copy was sold in January 2022 at $1,380, this time seeing a drop in value from its $2,200 price in July 2021. A 1.0 book was sold for $162 in September 2020, after being valued at just $86 in January 2020.
Take a look at our price guide for more information about issues of The Avengers.
Captain America #100
Key Comic Facts
Issue #100 of Captain America Vol. 1 is called “This Monster Unmasked!”. It was released in January 1968, and has a cover date of April 1968.
This is the first comic fully dedicated to Captain America, after Tales of Suspense changed its name following issue #99, with this issue continuing the previous comic’s numbering.
This issue marks the death of villain Baron Zemo, and also reveals the true identity of Black Panther, as Wakanda’s King T’Challa.
Who created it?
It was written and edited by Stan Lee, with pencil by Jack Kirby, ink by Syd Shores, and lettering by Artie Simek.
What happens inside the pages?
This issue begins with a recap of Captain America's return as it was originally depicted in Avengers #4, before continuing with the story from Tales of Suspense #99.
Agent 13 reveals her true identity, and joins Captain America and Black Panther to prevent a laser ray from being fired on the United States. The three manage to escape, but Baron Zemo orders the Destructon to follow them.
They manage to destroy the Destructon and unmask Baron Zemo, who was being impersonated by Zemo’s pilot from the day he died.
Black Panther reveals himself as the King of Wakanda and orders Zemo’s soldiers to surrender, to which they accept.
With all the soldiers rounded up, Agent 13 contacts Nick Fury to inform him that their mission was a success, and Fury fires missiles at the solar ray satellite, destroying it.
Later, Captain America, Agent 13 and Black Panther (the Panther consenting to consider joining the Avengers in Captain America's place) all leave Wakanda to return to the United States.
What’s it worth?
A very well kept 9.9 copy of Captain America Vol #100 was sold for $78,000 in April 2021. A 5.0 book signed by Stan Lee had a value of $300 as of April 2018, and a 1.0 copy was sold in July 2020 for $75. All three prices are the only recorded values for each issue.
For more information about issues of Captain America, visit our price guide.
Daredevil #-1
Key Comic Facts
Issue #-1 of Daredevil Vol. 1 is called “A Time to Say Farewell”. It was released in July 1997.
This issue features untold events about Daredevil’s past, and was part of the Marvel Comics Flashback Event. For a month in 1997, several of their comics featured a similar story, with an event from the superhero’s past.
Who created it?
It was written by Joe Kelly, with pencil by Gene Colan, ink by Matt Ryan, colour by Christie Scheele, and edited by Jaye Gardner.
What happens inside the pages?
Matt and his father Jack travel upstate to State College, where Matt will spend his next few years. In the orientation speech, the Dean notices Matt is blind and points his father to the special orientation, but Matt’s father insists that his son has worked very hard and he shouldn’t miss the speech. When going to the dormitories afterwards, Matt is upset at his dad for embarrassing him.
Matt meets his roommate, Foggy, and he goes to dinner with his father. At the restaurant, they begin talking about the past and Matt’s accident, and how his father is filled with guilt because he wasn’t there. They almost get into a bar fight and Matt’s father is worried that his son might have a hard time at college.
Jack pretends to be tired to go back home that night and stays in the dorms to sneak out and teach the kids from the bar a lesson, but finds out Matt is already there and is showing the thugs some manners. The next morning, Jack leaves Matt, no longer worried about him having a bad time at college.
What’s it worth?
There are only two recorded prices for Daredevil Vol #-1, one being $30 for a 9.8 copy sold in May 2020, and the other being $11 for a 9.2 sold in November 2018.
Take a look at our price guide for more information about Daredevil comics.
Fantastic Four #5
Key Comic Facts
Issue #5 of Fantastic Four Vol. 1 is called “Prisoners of Doctor Doom!”. It was released in April 1962, and has a cover date of July 1962.
This issue marks the first appearance of villain Dr. Doom. Johnny Storm is seen reading a copy of Incredible Hulk #1. The Hulk made his first guest appearance in Fantastic Four #12.
Who created it?
It was written and edited by Stan Lee, with pencil by Jack Kirby, ink by Joe Sinnott, colour by Stan Goldberg, and lettering by Artie Simek.
What happens inside the pages?
The story is divided into five chapters:
1. Prisoners of Dr. Doom!
Johnny and Ben are having a brawl when the lights go out, regardless of the generator. A voice identifies himself as Dr. Doom and Reed recognizes him as Victor Von Doom, an old classmate who got expelled after a failed experiment. Dr. Doom demands to take Sue as hostage, and she accepts.
2. Back to the Past!
Doom takes Sue to his ship and then orders the rest of the FF to board his ship peacefully. After dropping a cage on them, he takes them to his castle, where he tells them that he has invented a time machine and he wants them to steal Blackbeard’s gold from the past. They agree, to keep Sue safe.
3. On the Trail of Blackbeard
Reed, Ben, and Johnny wake up in the hold of a pirate ship. Ben bursts through the deck and subdues the entire crew with the help of Johnny and Reed. When another ship appears, Ben takes command and orders his crew to attack.
4. Battle!
On Blackbeard’s ship, Reed empties the chest with Johnny and they fill it with chains. They manage to escape from Blackbeard’s ship and return with Ben and the chest.
5. The Vengeance of Dr. Doom!
They return to the present and try to trick Doom with the chest and the chains, but Dr. Doom appears on a screen, beating them once again. Sue, still his hostage, sees her chance and turns invisible to short-circuit his control panel, which explodes. Doom is caught in the blast. She runs to the chamber and opens the door. Rather than confront Doom, who Reed assumes has traps everywhere, they decide to escape.
Reed stretches through a window across the moat, Ben pushes that section of wall open while Reed pulls, and Johnny uses "atomic heat" to make a path across the crocodile-infested moat. Johnny then sets fire to the castle, and Doom escapes with his Rocket-Powered Flying Harness. Before he can catch Doom, Johnny's flame runs out.
What’s it worth?
The highest value for a copy of Fantastic Four Vol #5 is a very nice $138,000, sold in April 2021. It was previously valued at $84,500 in 2020.
A 5.5 book has a December 2021 value of $18,500, also increasing its March price of $12,500. And a 1.0 rated book sold in March 2021 for $3,900, again increasing its price of $3,077 from just two months before.
For more information about issues of Fantastic Four, view our price guide.
Fantastic Four #52
Key Comic Facts
Issue #52 of Fantastic Four Vol. 1 is called “The Black Panther!”. It was released in April 1966, and has a cover date of July 1966.
This issue marks the first guest appearance of King T’Challa, aka Black Panther, in the Fantastic Four comics. It also shows Wakanda for the first time. A little more on Black Panther’s and Wakanda’s stories are featured in issue #53.
Who created it?
It was written and edited by Stan Lee, with pencil by Jack Kirby, ink by Joe Sinnott, colour by Stan Goldberg, and lettering by Artie Simek.
What happens inside the pages?
The FF are gifted with a Wakandian ship as an invitation to meet Wakanda and their king T’Challa, who is also Black Panther, the protector of Wakanda.
Meanwhile, within the Great Refuge of the Inhumans, the royal family continues to try to find a way to break out of the barrier around their city. Karnak attempts to use his abilities to see the flaws in any object to break through the barrier, but this proves to be a failure. As Maximus mocks his family from his cell, Black Bolt broods over what they must do next.
When the FF arrive in Wakanda, they are suddenly attacked by Black Panther and Wakandian soldiers. The FF manage to beat them, and King T’Challa reveals that he was only testing the powers of the team, as he has invited them to Wakanda for a grave task.
What’s it worth?
The highest rated copy of Fantastic Four Vol #52 is a 9.8 book, valued at $12,070 in November 2017. It’s a slight decrease from its 2016 price of $13,145.
A 5.0 copy sold in December 2020 for $200, increasing its $160 value from the previous July. And a 1.8 book has a value of $17 as of April 2017, that being its only recorded sale.
Find out more about Fantastic Four comics here.
Marvel Super-Heroes #18
Key Comic Facts
Issue #18 of Marvel Super-Heroes Vol. 1 is called “Earth Shall Overcome!”. It was released in October 1968, and has a cover date of January 1969.
This issue is #7 on the Marvel Super-Heroes numeration, after the series was presented as the renaming of Fantasy Masterpieces, which stopped after Vol #11. It features the Guardians of the Galaxy in the comics for the first time.
The Guardians’ story continues in Marvel Two-In-One Vol #4.
Who created it?
It was written by Arnold Drake and edited by Stan Lee, with pencil by Gene Colan, ink by Mike Esposito, colour by Stan Goldberg, and lettering by Herb Cooper.
What happens inside the pages?
The issue features a new story and five reprinted stories from previous issues of other comic series.
1. Earth Shall Overcome!
Charlie-27 returns from a six-month mission to discover that his home planet of Jupiter has been completely enslaved by the evil Badoon. He knows that he wouldn't stand a chance against them on his own, so he teleports to other worlds to find help.
First, he joins forces with Martinex on the planet Pluto. Then together they travel to planet Earth, where Vance Astro and the Centaurian Yondu have just escaped from Badoon forces themselves.
When Vance and Yondu encounter Charlie-27 and Martinex, they briefly mistake them for more Badoon guards and a fight ensues. However, soon enough they realize that they are all fighting for the same side and they form the Guardians of the Galaxy.
2. "Courage" - from Sub-Mariner Comics #36
3. "Wave of Destruction!" - from All Winners Comics #21
4. "The Living Dead!" - from All Winners Comics #21
5. "Flames of Fury!" - from All Winners Comics #21
6. "War Between the Worlds!" - from All Winners Comics #21
What’s it worth?
In July 2014, a 9.8 copy of Marvel Super-Heroes Vol #18 was sold for $19,000, being the only time it was sold.
A 5.0 copy has a December 2021 price of $326, slightly decreasing its $380 value from the previous August. A 1.0 book has an October 2020 recorded price of $66, again being the only time it was sold.
Take a look at our price guide for issues of Marvel Super-Heroes here.
Silver Surfer #4
Key Comic Facts
Issue #4 of Silver-Surfer Vol. 1 is called “The Good, The Bad and the Uncanny!”. It was released in November 1968, and has a cover date of February 1969.
This issue features the Cavern of Shadows on the Earth for the first time, and features a battle between Silver Surfer and Thor, which helps this issue to be highly sought after by collectors.
Who created it?
It was written and edited by Stan Lee, with pencil by John Buscema, ink by Sal Buscema, colour by Stan Goldberg, and lettering by Artie Simek.
What happens inside the pages?
Loki is determined to defeat his brother Thor, so he looks for someone that he can use to accomplish this. He comes across the Silver Surfer and tests his abilities.
Loki then tricks the Surfer into thinking that Thor is Asgard's enemy. He agrees to help the Surfer escape Galactus' barrier if he helps defeat Thor. Surfer attacks Thor, but soon realizes that Loki may not have been telling him the truth.
When Loki realizes that the Surfer was becoming wise, he sends him back to Earth before his scheme could be revealed.
What’s it worth?
The highest recorded price for Silver-Surfer Vol #4 is $90,000 for a 9.8 book sold in June 2021. This sale highly increased its previous price of $16,800 from 2019.
A 5.0 copy was sold in January 2022 for $925, a decrease on its $1,150 average price from just a few months before. A 1.0 copy sold in May 2020 for $160, increasing its value of $47 from 2016.
Find out more about issues of Silver Surfer here.
Summary
Marvel comics are rich in lore, history and characters, so it can be difficult to know which titles are worth investing your money into.
We've created this list to help take the guesswork out of sorting through all the gems Marvel has to offer, and provide some guidance around some of the more valuable issues around.
If you’re new to collecting comic books and not sure where to start, check out our article full of comic book collecting tips.
