Iron Man #55 Value

Once a sleeper first appearance issue that was often highly over-looked, Iron Man #55 is finally getting the love it truly deserves. No doubt that the explosion in demand for the first appearance of Thanos has a lot to do with the Avengers movie debuting the Mad Titan at the end credit scene. It's true that the Iron Man #55 value flared up quite nicely and quickly after that. To be more quite blunt, this key issue is extremely hot right now!

  

However, the flare up stayed constant when it was also announced that Guardians of the Galaxy would also be appearing on the big screen as well, and guess who else would be making his big screen debut? That's right - None other than Drax the Destroyer himself, and guess what? This bronze age key issue also has his very first appearance.

So how has the Iron Man #55 value done over the last couple of decades before this recent phenom? Well, let's take a look at some old Overstreet values and how the Iron Man #55 value has exploded in the last year.

Overstreet 1982-83 Guide 12th Edition:

Mint: $4.00

Fine: $2.50

Good: .85  

Overstreet 1990-91 Guide 20th Edition:

Near Mint: $8.00

Fine: $4.00

Good: $1.35

Overstreet 2002-03 Guide 33rd Edition:

Near Mint: $120

Very Fine: $68

Fine: $27

 Very Good: $18

Good: $9

Overstreet 2012-13 Guide 42nd Edition: 

 

Near Mint (low): $340

Very Fine: $102

Fine: $45

 Very Good: $30

Good: $15

RECENT AUCTION SALES OF IRON MAN #55

mycomicshop.com: $559 (CGC 9.4) May 2012

ebay: $1,577 (CGC 9.4) Jan 2013

mycomicshop.com: $999 (CGC 9.2) Jan 2013

ebay: $1,033 (CGC 9.2) Jun 2013

ebay: $421 (unslabbed 5.5 Low FINE) Jun 2013

As you can see from the data above, a huge leap in value from the 90s to the 2000s, and then another humungous leap in demand and value from last year to now has occurred for this key issue bronze comic. You know that if it's selling way past guide on ebay the book is in boiling hot demand.

I mean selling for, not just listed. Yes, if it's selling on ebay more than guide value, the book is hot.

Considering that you're looking for the Iron Man $55 value, I could assume that you already have it. I mean, it's a logical assumption, right?

However, it's always better not to assume, and if you are on the hunt for this bronze age key comic, it's best to check out the link which you can find a nice copy of Iron Man #55 the first appearance of Thanos and Drax The Destroyer.

Part 4 To The Uncanny X-Men Key Issues! Key X-Men Comics To Get List!

And here's Part 4 of the Uncanny X-Men Key Issues List. We'll still be taking a look at some more bronze age key X-Men comics, which was a pretty important time for X-Men comics in particular with John Byrne and Chris Claremont's famous run.

 
Like always, if you happened to stumble upon this post without reading Part One or Two or Three, don't worry. You can use the menu to the lower right to jump around to any part you desire.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

X-MEN #109

1st appearance of Weapon Alpha. 

Weapon Alpha, James Hudson, makes his first appearance in this issue and sheds a bit of light on Wolverine's mysterious past. One of the great things about Wolverine during this time was the mystery those at Marvel shrouded him around.

Piece by piece, they revealed a little bit and then a little bit about his past, keeping fans hanging on for more. As for Weapon Alpha, the character later becomes Vindicator, and Heather Hudson, James Hudson's wife, later takes up the mantle of Vindicator when James settles on the Guardian. 

Anyways, James Hudson is Weapon Alpha in this issue and leader of the Canadian superhero team Alpha Flight, in which Wolverine has mysterious ties to. One of the better key X-Men comics to get. 

Newkadia - Two copies located here at newkadia. One is a VF+ (8.5) and the other a VF- (7.5). 

If you're a new shopper with newkadia, you can enter the code new4 during checkout to get a 15% to 30% depending on your order value.

mycomicshop - One up for auction July 6th for a VF 8.0 unslabbed copy of the first appearance of Weapon Alpha/Vindicator. You may want to check it out and mark your calendar. 

ebay - If you're looking for CGC graded copies, there are some options on ebay. I spotted a few high grade copies there. Always worth a look so click the link if you're on the hunt for this key issue.

X-MEN #110

Phoenix Joins X-Men.

Most any key X-Men comic of anything significant involving the popular Phoenix character is an X-Men comic worth getting. Although it's not her first appearance, I would say that the Phoenix officially joining the world's most famous mutant superhero team is a significant issue within the X-Men lore.

The Phoenix character made Jean Grey (Marvel Girl) a super popular character among comic fans. Why else do you think more cosplayers dress up as Phoenix than any Jean Grey or Marvel Girl incarnation prior?

Newkadia - Mucho available copies here. There's a VF+, VF, VF-, and a FINE+ just waiting to be added into a smart comic investor and key issue collector's comic collection. No Near Mints unfortunately. Just click the link and scroll to check them out.

ebay - No worries about finding this key issue unslabbed or CGC graded on ebay. Lots of options to choose from.

 

X-MEN #120

First brief appearance of Alpha Flight.

We get to see a glimpse of the Canadian superhero team in X-Men #120 as the X-Men team venture into Canada. This issue so far is getting up there. A Low NM 9.2 guides for above a hundred dollars. $125 to be exact.

Graded CGC or PGX copies of this issue can still be snagged a bit lower or around guide price on ebay. VF range can be snagged for under $50 bucks at ebay as well. I wouldn't go lower than a VF for this issue. In fact, my minimum for this issue is a CGC solid NM 9.4. 



mycomicshop - How does a PGX 9.4 NM sound to your ears? If it sounds good, there's an available copy at mycomicshop.com that's ready to be plucked. Personally, I prefer CGC, but some do prefer PGX. Just visit the link and it will bring you right to the page where this high grade key issue awaits.

Newkadia - Two copies available at VF+ and Very Good+. Could be well worth your time to take a look.

ebay - Well, if PGX isn't to your liking, there are quite a few CGC graded copies on ebay to snag and bag. As usual, an over abundant amount of non-CGC copies floating around. 

X-MEN #121

1st full appearance of Alpha Flight.

A pretty in-demand bronze age X-Men key issue to obtain, we get to see just how well Alpha Flight fairs against the X-Men. Although I really don't see Alpha Flight making any future appearances in any X-Men films, this is still one of the more prominent bronze age key X-Men comics to get from the era.

I purchased a CGC 9.4 Signature Series copy signed by writer Chris Claremont a while back. It was a steal and hard to pass up. Right now, it's worth double than what I paid for.

If you want to check out my copy, you can visit the vault to see my CGC graded X-Men #121, but I do suggest getting a high grade copy of your own. 

mycomicshop - Wow, mycomicshop has no shortage of graded copies for this issue! Loads of high grade CGC copies with the lowest being a 9.2. There's a PGX 9.4, one CGC 9.8, and two CGC 9.6 copies. 

Newkadia - Let's not leave newkadia out. They have one VF- (7.5) copy available.

ebay - Lots of options for CGC copies and regular raw or unslabbed (both terms mean non-third party graded) to peruse on ebay for this key bronze issue. Choices, choices, choices! It's a good thing.

 X-MEN #129

First appearance of Kitty Pryde .

First appearance of Emma Frost.
First appearance of Sebastian Shaw. 
First appearance of the Hellfire Club.

Last Banshee.

Dark Phoenix Saga begins.

This issue sure doesn't fall short of significance concerning key issue status. Introduction of the mysterious, mutant Hellfire Club begins with this issue as well as the famous Dark Phoenix Saga. Four important characters make their first appearance here, and all have starred in X-Men movies.

Actually, Kitty Pryde will be in the sequel Days of Future Past, but I don't know if she will be the main character in the movie like she is in the comic book. I sure hope so.

As for Emma Frost, it looks like the sexy blonde villainess won't be returning for the sequel, but oh well. And, of course, we saw Sebastian Shaw bite the dust in X-Men: First Class. However, in the comics, Sebastian Shaw is a key player in turning the Phoenix into the Dark Phoenix. 

Important X-Men key to get? Uhmm...yeah!

 

mycomicshop - A very lovely high grade NM+ 9.6 is located here. Only one copy, however, and it's CGC graded as well. 

NewKadia - No Near Mints here, but there is one copy of a VF+ 8.0 copy for way less than the CGC graded 9.6 at mycomicshop. The copy at newkadia isn't CGC graded, however.

ebay - I see CGC! Loads of them on ebay for this X-Men key comic. You may find a better CGC 9.8 or 9.6 here. As always the blue ebay link will take you to the search results for this comic on ebay. Never hurts to take a look.

X-MEN #130

First appearance of Dazzler.

Disco singer meets superhero? Well, that's Dazzler for you. A kinda quirky, some might say lame character, that I actually like. Dazzler's a pretty luke-warm X-Men character in terms of popularity, but there are fans who like this mutant, blonde bombshell that can take sound vibrations and convert them to light energy of various degrees.

This is still an X-Men key comic, and one that's still quite affordable in most NM grades. I do believe it's one of the X-Men comics for sale that won't be a challenge to find. Unslabbed copies are, of course, much easier as you'll see from the recommendations below. 

mycomicshop - CGC 9.8 copy awaits here. Expect this copy to make your bank account quite a bit lighter. It's not cheap, and rightly so! However, you may be able to find one on ebay for a lot cheaper. 

ebay - Actually, I have found some CGC 9.8 graded copies for X-Men #130 on ebay for a lot cheaper and you can check them out by looking at the widget below, or if you don't mind unslabbed copies, you know what to do. Just visit the ebay link above and it will take you to ebay's search results for the first appearance of Dazzler.

Newkadia - Speaking of unslabbed comics. A VF+ copy has been located at newkadia at the time of this writing. Just another option for ya.

X-MEN #134

Phoenix becomes Dark Phoenix.

The Phoenix just keeps getting sexier and sexier as we venture more into Claremont and Byrne's amazing run. This good girl turns so very bad in X-Men #134, or does she? We also get to see the X-Men go at with the Hellfire Club again in this issue. 

Still part of the Dark Phoenix Saga, one of the most referenced and classic story arcs within the X-Men comics, this key issue is a must-have. 

mycomicshop -  One high grade CGC 9.6 copy available for the picking for this key X-Men comic.

ebay - More options available one ebay. A few more CGC copies I've spotted in the search results as well. Take the short cut and hit the link to bring you right into the action if you're serious about adding this key issue to your X-Men collection.

X-MEN #137

Death of Phoenix.

Although X-Men #138 concludes the Dark Phoenix Saga, the previous X-Men issue is one of the most sought out within the story arc. The demand has been steady for a few years now concerning X-Men #137. It never lasts very long at my local comic shops whenever I see a copy pop in. Online, however, could be a very different story. Sometimes it is.

Use to have two copies of this, but got rid of the extra one at lower grade. Yep, I'm planning to upgrade this issue pretty soon. A CGC 9.4 NM would be more satisfying to me. 

NewKadia - X-Men #137 in stock at newkadia? Check! Only one copy, though: A pretty nice VF+. Does it await your X-Men collection? 

mycomicshop - No graded copies here. Only a mid-grade Low FINE 5.5 unslabbed copy available.

ebay - No worries trying to find any CGC graded copies for this highly sought out key. If you're looking for CGC graded copies, check out some of the ones below on ole ebay.

X-MEN #139

Kitty Pryde Joins the X-Men

Finally, the cutie youngin' known as Shadowcat joins the X-Men team. There really isn't much else to this issue as far as key significance goes. Perhaps, X-Men Days of Future Past movie may change that. Perhaps not.

Regardless, this key issue is starting to slowly climb in value. 9.8 graded copies are going for $200 bucks plus.

mycomicshop - Speaking of CGC 9.8 copies, the fine folks at mycomicshop do have one available for all you high grade comic investing buffs. They also have some mid grade and lower grade, unslabbed copies in stock as well.

NewKadia - Two unslabbed copies waiting for a new home. A VF+ and a FINE- (FINE minus or Low FINE) awaits you. Don't get the Low Fine. This is a late bronze age comic, and the NM 9.2 - 9.4 range is plentiful in the market.

X-MEN #141

Intro into Days of Future Past story.
First new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
First appearance of Rachel (Phoenix II).
Death of Franklin Richards.

Because of Bryan Singer's sequel to X-Men: First Class, the Days of Future Past which is based on this comic story arc, X-Men #141 is extremely hot right now! However, this story has been a fan favorite for years, and X-Men #141 and 142 hold my favorite X-Men story of all time.

Not to mention that the cover for X-Men #141 by John Byrne is an absolute classic! This issue has gotten a huge jump in demand. Most CGC 9.4 NM copies or higher are selling above guide. Looks like Overstreet will have to update the values for this X-Men comic. Low Near Mints as well.

This is one of the top ten key X-Men comics to get!

mycomicshop - No problem finding CGC NM copies here. There are two right now: A very high grade CGC 9.8, and a solid CGC 9.4. There's also an unslabbed VF- as well.

ebay - Huge amount of love for this comic issue on ebay. Loads of unslabbed as well as high grade CGC copies. You can either check out the ebay search results for this book at the link above or you can check out some CGC picks below:

 

X-MEN #142

Days of Future Past story concludes.
Deaths of all future X-Men.

2nd part and conclusion to the famous Days of Future Past story line. Like part 1 in X-Men #141, this comic is exceptionally hot at the moment because of the new X-Men movie coming out next year.

Just like this comic story arc at the time, the new X-Men movie is perhaps one of the most ambitious ever...crossing over both the original X-Men cast with the new cast to stay somewhat true to basis of the comic book story

Yes, the tag at the bottom that says "This Issue: Everybody Dies!" is no joke. The X-Men in future do all die, and the Days of Future Past story is one of the best. Did I mention it's my favorite from the series?

mycomicshop - As of now, it seems that one will be going up for auction July 6th. Looks like the CGC 9.4 graded copy I located there last month was snagged. Then again, I'm not surprised at all.

ebay - Like X-Men #141, X-Men #142 is extremely hot right now. You'll be able to find this issue with no problem on ebay. Even CGC graded copies of this book are abundant here as you can see from the choices below:

X-MEN #143

Last John Byrne issue.

Not a very well-known key X-Men comic and still quite a sleeper. However, the very last issue of the one of the greatest artists on the X-Men series should deserve as much recognition as Byrne's first artwork on the series.

Well, that's just what I think. This issue is still quite affordable in higher grades, but like most Claremont and Byrne X-Men issues, they are starting to take off in demand big time. I got this issue for a buck a while back...maybe four years ago. It would be quite a challenge to find it for a dollar nowadays.

Newkadia -  No shortage of supply for this key X-Men issue containing the last Byrne artwork on this series. One Low Near Mint and the rest in the VF range. Not a bad score for any of them.

mycomicshop - Bummer, no CGC graded copies here, but quite a few unslabbed Low Near Mints and VF copies.

ebay - the folks at mycomicshop may be out of CGC graded copies for the last John Byrne issue on X-Men, but ebay has quite a few options there. The link above will bring you to the search results for this key comic issue.
 

X-MEN #158

First appearance of Rogue in the X-Men comics.

Don't get this confused with the first appearance of Rogue. It's not. It's just the first appearance of Rogue in the X-Men comics, where our favorite mutant, southern, red head truly belongs in.

Her real introduction and first appearance is actually in Avengers Annual #10, published a year prior to X-Men #158. No doubt that Rogue has become an extremely important character of the X-Men and one of the most popular.

I still don't like how she was written in the movies, but I love how she's written in the comics. Which reminds me: I need to upgrade this issue with a nice high grade CGC copy.

Newkadia - Looks like we are starting to head into the arena of X-Men key issues that are super easy to find. Newkadia has various copies. The highest a Low Near Mint.

mycomicshop - Same deal for mycomicshop. Loads of unslabbed copies in stock, but no CGC graded copies as of yet. They even have some lower graded copies in the GD range. Why even bother with those? 

ebay - Not really too many CGC copies as of this writing. I only saw two, but no shortage of unslabbed copies.

X-MEN #161

Origin of Magneto and Professor X first meeting.

This issue reveals more about Magneto's origin and how Professor X first meets his friend and arch nemesis. Professor X is in some kind of coma, and his mind is trapped 20 years earlier when he was in Israel.

This is still an over-looked key issue X-Men comic and quite highly affordable. This is a late bronze age comic and a NM+ is still around $20, but I don't know how long that will last. After all, the new Overstreet Guide comes out pretty soon, and that could change.

Newkadia -  Near Mint copies for under $20? Yep, and newkadia has two available and some VF copies as well. Nothing lower than that, as it should be.

mycomicshop -  Only a few copies here...no CGC...and highest is a Very Fine.


 

X-MEN #168

First brief appearance of Madelyne Pryor.

This key issue is a definite sleeper concerning X-Men comics. I think most don't really know the significance of the supporting character of Madelyne Pryor in the X-Men mythos.

Well, actually, her significance only really boils down to the fact that she and Scott Summers (Cyclops) have a child together. This child, Nathan Summers, ends up being the pretty popular Marvel character named Cable.

I'm still a bit perplexed as to why this key issue isn't in more demand. I wonder if most even know this is a key issue X-Men comic or just write it off as an extremely minor one.

mycomicshop -  Now this is more like it. Although there's only one available copy of this issue, mycomicshop has a very nice CGC graded 9.8 copy that's quite affordable. Might be worth checking out if you're serious about comic investing and the getting the best comics to invest in.

Newkadia - Or, maybe you're just not into the whole CGC or PGX thing. That's cool too. There's quite a few copies in the upper range at newkadia for under $20. It all depends on your budget and what you're willing to live with.

However, it is a fact that higher graded CGC copies do sell for more and increase in value faster.





To see Part Five just use the links below or navigate to other parts to see even more X-Men key issues. 

<< Read Part 3 | Read Part 5 >>

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Part 5 To The Uncanny X-Men Key Issues! Key X-Men Comics To Get List!

You've reached Part 5 of the Uncanny X-Men Key Issues List. We are winding our way down to the last of the key X-Men comics in this series, and most of these are from the copper and modern age. That means that most should be relatively easy to find even in high grades, and not too expensive.

 
Like always, if you happened to stumble upon this post without reading other previous parts of this series, you can use the menu to the lower right to jump around to any part you desire.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

X-MEN #171

Rogue joins the X-Men. 

Perhaps one of the best additions to the team during the late bronze age, as well as one of the most beloved team members. Rogue's mutant curse that keeps her from human contact and touch brought an isolation to the character resonated deep with many X-Men fans. She is an extremely popular character.

However, this key issue X-Men comic is pretty much a sleeper and not that high in demand. You can this issue pretty easy, and it won't bear down on your wallet or bank account for unslabbed Near Mint copies. 

Newkadia - An unslabbed NM+ is available at newkadia, as well as a few copies in the VF range.

mycomicshop - Quite a few copies in stock. Highest are VF unslabbed comics. No CGC yet as of this writing.

ebay - No problem finding some super high grade CGC copies on ebay. A couple of CGC 9.8s, and a whole bunch of unslabbed/raw copies. Visit the link to check out the search results on ebay for X-Men #171.

X-MEN #184

1st appearance of Forge.

Forge is one of the first characters from the X-Men that I remember seeing besides Storm. My brother had a few comics when I was a kid and one of them was an X-Men comic from around this era. 

This was before I started collecting comics, but I remember seeing that X-Men comic on his desk and even snuck a peek. I remember the issue too, and now own my own copy. Too bad my brother never stuck to collecting comics or kept his. 

Forge was a minor supporting character during this era. X-Men #184 is his introduction. 


mycomicshop - A gorgeous high grade CGC 9.8 copy is available. A few unslabbed copies as well. One is a Near Mint for under $6 bucks.

Newkadia - 4 copies of issue #184 ready to be taken here. HIghest is a Low NM 9.2 for under $10 dollars. Just visit the link and scroll down a bit.

ebay - No shortage of unslabbed copies for this X-Men key comic, if you want to take the risk of possibly getting a restored copy, 2nd print, or an over-graded comic. A few CGC 9.8 copies as well if you're really serious about comic investing.

 

X-MEN #193

1st Warpath in Costume.

Seems that a few in the Marvel camp thought that they killed off Thunderbird pretty prematurely. So, they decided to bring back the character in form of a baby brother and call him Warpath.

It also seems that Warpath will be included in X-Men Days of Future Past movie coming out in 2014. Don't be confused. This isn't Warpath's first appearance. It's his first appearance in costume. The character first appeared as the 2nd Thunderbird in New Mutants #16. 

We have now ventured into the copper age, and this X-Men key comic is one of the few from this era worth getting.


mycomicshop - Multiple copies at mycomicshop for this issue. Highest being a Near Mint for a little over $5.

Newkadia - Wow talk about still a sleeper? This comic is at Newkadia, and the highest grade is a Low Near Mint. Guide has this book for $10, but it's going for a little above $2. Two other copies available in the VF range. 

ebay - If you're looking for more CGC graded options for this issue then ebay has a few. Of course, there are some 9.8s, as well as a 9.6 I spotted for auction. The ebay link above will take you to ebay's search results for this X-Men key issue comic.

X-MEN #201

1st Cable as baby Nathan.
1st Whilce Portacio cover art on X-Men.

While collecting comics at this time, who would've known that this comic would be a prelude to the first appearance of the character known as Cable nearly 4 years later? Nobody, of course.

Rob Liefeld created Cable, and in that magical Marvel way, they linked the character to this comic and proclaimed him the son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor years after Cable's first full appearance in New Mutants #87 in 1990. The twists and turns they come up with.

This is one of the more expensive copper age key X-Men comics at higher NM grades, but considering that there are quite a bit of Cable fans, it's one of the more in-demand X-Men comics from that era.  
 

mycomicshop - Gorgeous CGC 9.8 going up for auction July 6th. There are also quite a few of unslabbed copies in stock, highest being VF under $15 bucks.

Newkadia - Two copies here. One a Low Near Mint and the other a Very Fine Plus. 

ebay - No problem finding this bad boy on ebay. A few CGC graded options, and always no shortage of unslabbed copies available. Definitely worth a look if you're an X-Men key comic hunter.

 X-MEN #213

Wolverine battles Sabretooth.

The beef between Wolverine and Sabretooth has become legendary in the world of X-Men comics. Considering that Sabretooth started his comic career in the Iron Fist title, his rivalry with Wolverine can honestly be said is what made him extremely popular today.

Most Wolvie and X-Men fans love to see all out brawls between him and Sabretooth and this issue is no exception. Actually, most of the Mutant Massacre storyline in the X-Men comics from issue #110 to #113 are usually more  valuable than most other X-Men comic issues from this era.

You should be able to get a 9.6 CGC graded copy for under $80 bucks.

 

mycomicshop - Two very nice CGC graded copies available. One is a whopping 9.8 and the other a 9.6. The 9.6 is reasonably priced at $50 bucks. 9.8 is $125! You won't have a problem finding unslabbed copies at mycomicshop. They mostly range in the VF area and around $15 dollars.

NewKadia - Only three copies left of this issue. The highest is a Low Near Mint and around $27 dollars without a coupon code. If you don't mind unslabbed X-Men comics for sale, newkadia is a great place to look.

ebay - Now that's what I like to see. First search for this issue and the two first results are two nice high grade CGC comics. Quite a bit of options for this issue so click the link above, check out the search results, and possibly snag a nice copy of this issue or comic lot with this issue in it.
 

X-MEN #219

Havok joins X-Men.

Cyclop's baby brother Havok finally decides to officially join the X-Men team in this issue. Took a while don't you think? His first appearance in costume in X-Men #58 is exactly 161 issues apart. Sheesh! I actually like Havok, and think he's a pretty cool character. A pretty darn good addition to the X-Men team and comics, and a pretty darn good key X-Men comic to own.

This key issue is definitely a sleeper and should not cost you a lot to get at CGC high grades. Hint. Hint. Hint! 

mycomicshop - Not quite sure why the unslabbed copies here are going for over guide. Highest is a VF+, and I think it's over priced. No CGC graded copies for sale...yet!

Newkadia - Great deals on this key issue can be found at newkadia. They have this issue for way less than $10 dollars at a Low Near Mint. Like I said, this is a sleeper key issue that has yet to awaken and kick into high demand.

ebay - No problem finding unslabbed copies, but a little scarce on high CGC graded copies for this issue. Worth a look? Maybe? You know what to do if you're on the hunt for this issue.

X-MEN #221

1st appearance of Mister Sinister.

Ah, Mister Sinister, another creation of the team of Chris Claremont and Marc Silvestri. This X-Men villain has become quite popular over the years, and even ranks 29th on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time! Not bad at all for a copper age comic character. Then again, Chris Claremont has created some amazing supporting characters for the X-titles during his tenure.

CGC 9.6 copies will run you about $50 bucks. CGC 9.8 copies are going above a hundred dollars. High Grade unslabbed copies, of course, are going for much, much less. Often, as I've said countless times, the reason for that is because most don't trust the grade being advertised for non-CGC graded books.

Newkadia - Only one VF+ copy available. 

mycomicshop - Multiple copies can be found here. No CGC graded copies as of this writing.

ebay - A bit scarce on the CGC side, but as usual, a ton of unslabbed copies on here. 

X-MEN #244

1st appearance of Jubilee.

This character really started getting noticed when Jim Lee started drawing her, and when Jubilee started becoming Wolverine's sidekick during the early 90s. Many have equated her as Wolverine's "Robin" during this time.

In the world of comics, Jubilee is one of the few Asian superheroes. She is Chinese American and was not created by Jim Lee, which is a huge misconception. Jubilee was created by artist Marc Silvestri and Chris Claremont.

Not an expensive key issue, and not very hard to find. Considering that this is...in comic investing...a more recent key issue, it's well advised to get the highest grade possible.

NewKadia - Only three copies of this sleeper key issue. A NM+ available but only one copy. Going for around $50 just to give you a clue as to what CGC copies may be going for. A Low Near Mint and Very Fine Plus are also in stock at the time of this writing.

mycomicshop - No CGC graded copies, but quite a few unslabbed copies available. Highest is a VF/NM 9.0 for under $10.

ebay - This is more like it. More CGC graded comics at high grades in this search result. Warning...the CGC graded books aren't cheap on ebay. If you want cheap, get an unslabbed copy. Then again, you'll have a cheap investment as well. In the long run, you get what you pay for.

X-MEN #248

1st Jim Lee art on X-Men series.

Jim Lee came out during the time when I was collecting comics for the pure joy of reading them and just starting to discover that they could be valuable. Needless to say, I absolutely loved his work on the series. Him and Marc Silvestri are two of my favorites. The third, of course, is John Byrne.

During his run on X-Men, Jim Lee became like a rockstar in the comic world. He has still maintained his status as one of the top comic artists in the business today, and his artwork is still amazing. 

This copper age key issue is one of the more in-demand and sought out comics from this era, and will cost a bit more money in CGC high grades. They are pretty easy to find, however.

mycomicshop - PGX 9.8 graded copy at $100 dollars. Rest are unslabbed copies. Highest grade range is VF for unslabbed copies.

NewKadia - Newkadia has multiple copies as well. Near Mints and Very Fines can be found at the link above. Just click and scroll down a ways.

ebay - No hard find on the mighty ebay. Lots of unslabbed copies for sure. A few high grade CGC copies as well. 

X-MEN ANNUAL #14

1st brief appearance of Gambit.

I have no idea why this is considered a brief appearance of Gambit. This issue has Gambit in about 10 panels.

While X-Men #266 is widely known as the 1st appearance of Gambit, this issue actually came out a month prior to #266. I think it's strange, but then again...whatever. However, as more and more people catch on to this fact, this issue has become a key that's slowly becoming more and more in-demand and sought out.

Newkadia - Four copies of the 1st brief appearance of Gambit. Highest grade is a Low Near Mint.

mycomicshop - Only three copies and no CGC. That's pretty surprising. Highest is a VF, which is another surprise.

ebay - You'll have better luck finding a CGC graded copy on ebay, but there aren't a whole lot. However, if you're looking for unslabbed/raw copy, you sure won't have a problem finding one here. 

 

X-MEN #266

1st full appearance of Gambit.

This issue marks the 1st appearance of Gambit according to popular belief and the industry. I guess I should say the 1st full appearance of Gambit?

I remember getting this comic right off the stand when I was a kid...as I was and still am an avid X-Men fan. Looking back, I should've gotten two or three extra copies for newstand price. 

Gambit was a character that pretty much immediately took off. Fans just liked him...a lot...and his popularity is still strong to this day.

This comic is, perhaps, the most sought after key X-Men comic during the copper age and the demand is still strong for this issue.

Getting high grade copies cheap, unslabbed or CGC, will be a challenge. I'd expect to shell out some ducats for this one.



mycomicshop - Holy high grade CGC, Batman! No shortage of NM CGC copies here. As expected, a CGC 9.8 is around $300. Is it better on ebay?

ebay - Wow! Ever wanted an elusive CGC 9.9 graded key issue comic? If so, there's one of the 1st appearance of Gambit in the search results at the ebay link above. Also, tons of high grade CGC copies just waiting to be added to your X-Men comic investment collection. 
 

X-MEN #282

1st appearance of Bishop.

A pretty popular character that came out of the 90s but still within the copper age of comics was Bishop. From a dystopian future, Bishop travels back in time and meets the X-Men, whom are only known from legends where Bishop comes from.

The character of Bishop was created by Whilce Portacio and Jim Lee. Because of the rumor that Bishop will be in Bryan Singer's X-Men Days of Future Past, demand for his first appearance has risen. It's not ridiculous yet or anything, but more collectors are buying this issue now.

Newkadia - Lots of copies. One high grade NM+. All within the VF to NM range.

mycomicshop - No CGC graded copies. Highest grade is a VF.

ebay -  Any CGC high grade bad boys at the mighty ebay? Quite a few actually. You can see what's going on at the link above with this comic issue. Maybe you'll even find a great deal!

X-MEN #287

Bishop joins the X-Men.

Bishop joins the X-Men in this issue and remained an active member for nearly a decade before the character becomes an antagonist for the team. After all, he is from a grim and much chaotic future.

This issue is a sleeper. You can get CGC 9.8 copies for under a hundred bucks still. A copy on ebay sold for less than $50 dollars. As time presses on, this X-Men key comic will take off, especially if Bishop does debut in the next X-Men film.

Newkadia - Quite a few copies and for very cheap. NM+ available

mycomicshop - Only three copies here. Highest is a solid Near Mint. No CGC graded ones.

ebay - Super scarce on CGC graded copies, are we for this issue? Only one found on ebay. A 9.4 Signature Series Stan Lee autograph. You can check it out at the ebay link above.

X-MEN #390

Death of Colossus.

Another death issue, and this happens to contain the death of one of my favorite X-Men characters - Colossus. Colossus has become an extremely popular mainstay for the X-Men comics and related X-titles.

This issue is part of the Legacy Virus story arc, and Colossus releases the cure which results in his own demise.

mycomicshop -  Three copies available. Highest is a Near Mint. No CGC graded copies.

ebay - Three CGC copies of this issue at high grades. Two 9.8s and one 9.6.



 

X-MEN KING SIZE SPECIAL #1

Origin of the Stranger.

Before the title was respectively called X-Men Annual, there were X-Men King Size Specials before. So, you can say that this issue is X-Men Annual #1.

I know this key issue is misplaced and is a bronze age comic, but we are going to end this key X-Men issue list with this key. Once again we see the Stranger. His origin is revealed in this issue.

This issue is right in the middle concerning demand. Since it's the first X-Men Annual in a way, X-Men collectors do seek it out.

Unslabbed copies are notoriously selling for way under guide on ebay, which isn't surprising. Those purchasing unslabbed copies of a vintage key issue on the world's biggest flea market may think they're getting a deal but run the risk of buying an over-graded or, unknowingly, a restored copy.

But they've been warned, especially by me. If I'm buying a key issue comic on ebay, you can bet I'm getting a CGC graded copy so I get exactly what I paid for and don't mistakenly buy a comic that's been restored. Then again, that's just me.

ebay - This key issue X-Men comic is pretty scarce even on ebay. In the search results, I only found one CGC copy. Even unslabbed copies of this issue are few and far between.





Well, folks, there you have it...the conclusion to the key issue list of X-Men comics from Volume 1. If you haven't seen the other parts to the Uncanny X-Men Key Issue list, there are 4 more parts you can look at and see if there are any more key X-Men comics you want to add on your want list.

If you like this series, be sure to share with your friends and fellow comic fans on your twitter or facebook.

Have fun and happy hunting!

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