$121,000 for Jim Starlin original art, a brand-new all-time world record for 1st Groot, and… losing money on a 1940 Timely Golden Age key after 17 years?
Welcome back to the channel as we audit the final results of the recently closed ComicLink Summer Featured Auction! While high-end original comic art continued its incredible hot streak, the slabbed comic market delivered a sobering reality check with soft results, flat returns, and some genuinely shocking losses.
In this recap, we break down the headline successes and brutal market corrections across the block:
Jim Starlin Strange Tales #180 Original Cover Art: Hammering for a massive $121,000! We dissect why Starlin's prime cosmic 1970s run continues to be recognized as foundational to the modern Marvel mythos.
Tales to Astonish #13 (CGC 9.2): An all-time record for the first appearance of Groot at $38,911—an astonishing return for a book that sold for under $3,000 back in 2012!
Human Torch #1 (CGC 9.4): A cautionary tale in Golden Age holding power. Selling for $88,000, this 1940 Timely foundation key sold for less than its 2009 purchase price of $92,613—a net loss after 17 years. We explore why non-Cap Timely keys remain weirdly soft and undervalued.
Marvel Spotlight #5 (CGC 9.8): With only 7 copies on the census, Ghost Rider's debut hammered at $177,300—a noticeable drop from recent $244K and $360K highs. Did someone just pick up a high-grade steal?
Fantastic Four #5 (CGC 9.4 CVA): A solid $100,001 result for Doctor Doom's first appearance, netting the consigner a solid 2x return over their 2016 buy.
Suspense Comics #3 (CGC 1.5): Checking back in on our favorite "addition by subtraction" story after the removal of that brutal red tape.
Frank Miller Daredevil #176 & Walt Simonson Thor Art: Auditing a $54K Miller action page and asking what Simonson's 1980s Thor run would command if it ever hit the open market.
Are Golden Age Timely keys criminally undervalued, or is the market right to treat them differently than Golden Age DC? Drop your take in the comments below!
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