How to Celebrate the Memory
of Stan Lee |
Hi
When somebody great leaves the world, there is rightly a pause to celebrate their work.
It's natural to be sentimental about Stan Lee. Comic book collecting is a hobby rooted in sentiment. And he is responsible for much of that.
We aspire to own the best-possible copy of something vintage, because like a time capsule, it preserves a moment in our past.
Sell My Comic Books dedicates this newsletter to Stan 'the man' Lee, and invite you to enjoy some highlights of his creations.
This newsletter also comes with a stark warning! Don't be swept away by sentiment and make a bad
decision.
Read on for more below.
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Stan Lee's First Published Work for Timely Comics: Captain America Comics #3
Investment Potential: STRONG |
Some series will never go out of style.
While other people might choose to pile into something modern to celebrate Stan's passing, you ought to consider
a classic Golden Age book that is his first published work for Timely Comics.
Captain America Comics #3 features a text story by Stan Lee. It's also a classic bondage cover, and the
third ever appearance of Cap.
There are a couple of signature series copies signed by Stan. If those come back to the market, then they will set new records. Catch one if you can!
Support for Golden Age Cap is stronger than
ever. We rate this as a solid buy.
First Comic Book Creation by Stan Lee: The Destroyer in Mystic Comics #6
Investment Potential: MODERATE |
"Only" a backup story, but there will be renewed interest in Stan Lee's early work now.
The Destroyer
may not be memorable for any other reason, but it remains the first comic book creation by Stan Lee.
Stan Lee Co-Creates the Marvel Age of Comics: Fantastic Four #1
Investment Potential: VERY STRONG |
Can you imagine what might have become of Stan Lee if he had quit the industry, as he was inclined to in the late 1950s, rather than teaming up with Jack Kirby to create the Fantastic
Four?
That one decision -- stay and rewrite the history books on superhero altar egos -- led to the superhero culture we all take for granted today.
To an extent, you have already missed the boat on this book. Two years ago, it was top of my "undervalued" watch list. Now it's fulfilling its potential as a true Marvel mega-key
issue comic book.
I cannot stress enough how much I admire this book. It's tough, being rarer by far than other keys (including AF#15, see below). A strong buy and hold.
Stan Lee Co-Creates the Most Famous Superhero Ever: Amazing Fantasy #15
Investment Potential: VERY STRONG |
By 1962, the Marvel Age of Comics was in full swing.
Fantastic Four were kicking ass. The Incredible Hulk had been invented,
and gone from gray to green.
Spin-off? Yes, because the original, holy grail first appearance of Spider-Man was in Amazing Fantasy
#15.
This book has become unaffordable to most casual collectors. The entry price for a 0.5 is now $7,500.
Even so, if you can afford one, AF#15 remains THE Stan Lee book to own.
Spider-Man is arguably the world's most recognizable superhero -- a case might be made for Batman, with Superman somewhere there or thereabouts -- and he will continue to be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for decades to come.
Can't Afford AF#15?
Then Grab a Copy of the First Silver Surfer: Fantastic Four #48
Investment Potential: VERY STRONG |
No smoke without fire. In general, FF comics have been red-hot for about a
year.
Marvel Studios bought back the rights to many of their A-list, including Spider-Man in
Homecoming.
Fantastic Four are strongly rumored to be next. And this book has become the
hottest book of the late Silver Age.
It's already got a lot of the upside priced in, but I am still very
bullish on FF#48. It's a buy and hold for sure.
Looking For a Low-End Bargain?
Savage She-Hulk #1: Stan Lee's First Creation With John Buscema
Investment Potential: MODERATE |
This book has
been warming up for a while.
I
like it merely because Hulk is a pretty hot property these days, thanks to the Avengers movies, and spin-offs have occurred in all corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This is a good value gamble. It's a VERY common book -- collections from the 80s often show up at the office with three or more copies of this -- but a CGC 9.8 will still set you back about $320. Worth a punt.
WARNING!
Don't Make This Rookie Mistake and Let Sentiment Overtake You...
Investment Potential: TERRIBLE |
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #25
Last sale, May 2018: $2,650
Asking price the day after Stan Lee's passing: $8,999.99 Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC 2.0
Last sale of a CGC 3.5 signed by Stan, November 2018:
$7,400 Asking price the day after Stan Lee's passing
for a book three CGC
grades lower: $8,000 Savage She-Hulk #1
Last sale of a CGC 9.8 signed by Stan, November 2018: $1,300
Asking price the day after Stan Lee's passing:
$10,000
THIS IS MY FAVORITE!
Star Wars #1 (2015) Sketch
Edition
Last sale of THE EXACT SAME BOOK, March 2018: $3,500 (already massively too expensive in my opinion -- Stan Lee didn't even CREATE Star Wars!!!) Asking price the day after Stan Lee's passing: $7,500
But the seller states FAIR offers will be considered.
(HINT: try removing a zero)
Put Your Credit Cards AWAY and Avoid This Stan Lee-Signed Junk
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Right now on eBay, the day after Stan Lee's passing, there are over 3,700 items signed by him for sale. Prices range from stupid to utterly ridiculous. In some cases, books which changed hands two months ago are marked up on eBay at 3x. Stan signed hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of items from the 1980s to pretty recently. Until his health failed him and he could no longer hold a Sharpie, basically he would sign anything you put in front of him (including DC Comics).
Having something signed by Stan Lee is undeniably
cool, but paying over the odds just because he died yesterday is foolish. Let the dust settle. If you still want to own a Stan Lee signature
series book this time next year, then you're going to get much better value for your buck.
Stan Lee's legacy will live far beyond him. We hope you find your own way to remember 'the man'.
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We'll Make You Smile THIS Big!
Sincerely,
Ashley Cotter-Cairns Editor
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