Recently in Freeport, Maine, a passionate fan’s massive collection of The Amazing Spider-Man comics was sold to a comic book shop for $22,000. The issues which the seller accumulated featured the first appearance of iconic Marvel Comics characters such as the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, the Vulture, the Lizard, Sandman, Electro, J. Jonah Jameson, Mary Jane Watson, and many more.
Throughout comic book history, there are a select few runs from legendary creative teams which have soared in value since their publication. Household superheroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are among the Golden Age titles that would be in high demand for collectors. As inflation rises in the United States, some collectors are selling rare comics for the high value they have become worth over time. This became a trend throughout the pandemic, as collectors have frequently been buying and selling rare comics, particularly over the past year.
As originally reported by News Center Maine, a longtime comic book collector recently sold The Amazing Spider-Man #1-99, dating from 1962-1971. DotCom Comics, the comic book shop which bought the rare collection, had never paid any collector so much before. The seller left the shop with $22,000 in cash for his well-kept collection of Stan Lee’s legendary series, containing art from Steve Ditko among others. The issues include some of the most iconic Spider-Man covers in comic book history, earning their price. DotCom Comics’ co-owner Sean Goodrich spoke on the store’s experience with buying rare comics, saying, “We buy collections from all over the world but have rarely seen a complete run like this. A collection with this series is almost always missing, at least some early issues. So it’s really pretty cool to think that this came to us from someone local right here in Maine.”
The first near-hundred issues of The Amazing Spider-Man include some of the web slinger’s most famous adventures, kicking off with his team-up alongside the Fantastic Four, and quickly pairing him up with Daredevil. Although the series has been featured in various reprints such as the Marvel Masterworks line, the originally printed issues remain in high demand for collectors. Stan Lee’s run didn’t just alter the trajectory of the Marvel Universe, as it also radically affected the comic book industry.
At the time, DC Comics had introduced readers to larger than life heroes, but Lee prioritized relatability with his characters. Unlike the billionaire Bruce Wayne, teenage Peter Parker didn’t have his life figured out when he became Spider-Man. Peter’s early adventures navigating through his responsibility as a hero while encountering super villains for the first time created a foundation for Marvel Comics going forward. As collectors continue to sell and purchase high demand comics, the iconic Spider-Man run is certain to fall into the hands of someone who will appreciate it.
Source: News Center Maine
About The Author