This month, instead of looking back at December, I figured I'd take a look at the biggest sales from all of 2014. Some of these books I've covered already, but some I haven't so I decided it would be fun to take a look at the ten books that topped the charts for the year.
Spoiler! There are a lot of Hulk books.
Action Comics #1 CGC 9.0 $3,207,852
Do I really need to talk about this book again? Probably not. This is the new record-holder. We talked about it for months.
It was fun.
Now we just need that Detective Comics #27 CGC 9.2 to come up for auction so we can do it again.
Incredible Hulk #1 9.2 Northland $326,000
Hulk #1 is the king of the Silver Age this year. I've already speculated that the Hulk #1 CGC 9.4 might be the most valuable Silver Age book and looking at this list I'm not backing away from the possibility. Hulk #1 dominated the top end of the charts and it's not getting any easier to find.
Incredible Hulk #1 CGC 9.2 $320,000
Yep, two Hulk #1s sold for over $300,000 in the span of a few months. This copy sold in June and was the record-holder for a Hulk #1 for few months until the Northland copy came along and pipped it at the line.
Action Comics #1 CGC 3.0 $310,000
This is the "new normal"- an Action #1 can sell for $300,000 with almost no hype surrounding the sale.
Journey into Mystery #83 CGC 9.4 $275,000
There are two copies of Journey into Mystery 83 on this list. This sale happened before the other copy, so the buyer of this book is probably feeling a little nauseous seeing a $100,000 drop in price from one sale to the next. That said, we're at the point where the popularity of early Marvel keys shouldn't be a surprise for anyone. These books are hot.
Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC 9.0 $191,200
Do I have to talk about Amazing Fantasy 15? No? Thanks!
Seriously, if you guys want me to, I can talk about it but there's honestly no major key book in the hobby that I have less excitement about at this point. Mustering an effort to talk about a 9.0 Amazing Fantasy #15 is beyond me right now.
I would have to research where this book even sold.
Flash Comics #1 CGC 9.2 $182,000
Only the third Golden Age book on the list, Flash Comics #1 is one of those books that I wonder about from the buyer's perspective. I spend a decent amount of money on comics (albeit not this kind of money) and while I generally just follow my interests I do have at least one eye towards long-term value when I buy a book worth more than a couple hundred dollars. Oftentimes I throw caution to the wind (it's a hobby after all) but at least I think about it. I wonder about buyers of books like this (and a few others like All American 16.) They're great books and top ten keys by all measures. They also feature first appearances of characters that, while they have a legacy today, don't really make all that much of a splash in the current comic and media landscape. Put it this way $180,000 for a Showcase 4? Fine. I can buy that. The Flash, as currently portrayed in comics and on screen is directly descended from that book.
There's much less of a current story with Flash Comics #1. You have to squint a little to see why it's relevant today.
Which isn't to say we can't love our Golden Age comics for what they are. I certainly do and love Fiction House and Nedor/Better/Standard comics as much as anything from Timely or DC. It's just when you get to nearly $200,000 for a comic you have to think about where that book is going to go in the future.
Or else you must have a ton of disposable income.
Incredible Hulk #1 CGC 9.0 $180,000
Two Hulk #1s, in the same grade, within spitting distance of a similarly graded Amazing Fantasy 15. What is this world coming to? Is this the Avengers ruling over a bunch of mediocre Spider-Man movies? Maybe.
Or maybe Hulk is just the best.
Also, Bob Storms Smash!
Journey into Mystery #83 CGC 9.4 $179,250
I loved this purchase. For almost $100,000 less than the ComicLink sale above this buyer got a white paged beauty of a book. The Silver Age keys in this Heritage auction were outstanding and this mega-key was the best of the bunch.
Incredible Hulk #1 CGC 9.0 $178,000.00
Hulk SMASH! (records!)
And what will 2015 bring? Check back here to find out as we do it all again in one month's time.