CGC-Graded Comic Book Price Guide - Very Rare 1940s and 50s Books
The host of Action Figure Greater reviews recent eBay sales of high-grade CGC-graded comics, focusing heavily on Batman and Detective Comics keys alongside notable X-Men, Star Wars, and modern books. He shares personal buying decisions, compares prices to GoCollect data, and highlights which books are rising or falling in value. The video serves as both a market update and a window into his personal collection-building strategy around Silver Age Batman villain first appearances.
Summary
The host opens by acknowledging a bias toward Batman and Detective Comics books, explaining that his recent purchases were split between eBay, ComicLink, and Hakes auctions. He notes that two books from Hakes were arriving the day of filming and teases showing them in a future video. His broader collecting goal is to complete a set of Silver Age first appearances of major Batman villains.
The first major sale covered is Superman #24 (1943), a classic American flag cover graded CGC 7.0 with white pages that sold for $5,200 through Pedigree Auctions. The host notes GoCollect's fair market value was $5,750 and that the book has been trending slightly downward, but still considers it a strong deal for a rare book with very few high-grade copies on the census.
Detective Comics #359, the origin and first appearance of Batgirl (Barbara Gordon), is discussed next. A 7.0 copy sold for $928 on eBay, while the host opted for a 6.5 copy from Hakes for roughly $150 less. He considers this a placeholder until he can upgrade to an 8.5.
Three early Penguin covers are highlighted. Batman #43 (1947) sold for $1,480, Batman #58 sold for $1,891, and the host's clear favorite, Detective Comics #171 (1951), sold for $2,705. He emphasizes the rarity of Detective Comics #171, noting only 84 total graded copies exist and only three grade higher than this 8.5 copy, calling it a remarkable buy that he regrets not bidding on.
Batman #171, the first Silver Age appearance of the Riddler, sold for $1,127 in approximately a 7.0 grade — the grade range the host is targeting for his own copy. He identifies Batman #171 and Batman #189 (first Silver Age Scarecrow) as his two most-wanted books to complete his villain first appearance run.
The host briefly covers Amazing Spider-Man #50 (first appearance of Kingpin) in an 8.5 selling for $2,506, and a Thor/Silver Surfer crossover issue with a John Buscema cover and custom Thor label selling for $909.
For Batman #181 (first appearance of Poison Ivy), a 6.0 with white pages sold for $767.65. The host mentions he paid roughly 3 to 3.5 times that amount for an 8.0 white pages copy, placing his copy in the top 8% of all graded examples.
Batman #227 receives extended commentary. The host warns that prices keep rising: a 6.5 off-white to white pages sold for $966, and a Neal Adams-signed 6.5 sold for $1,500 — roughly a 50% premium for the signature. An 8.5 sold for $2,558 and a 9.0 with white pages sold for $3,500, which is higher than the $3,200 the host paid for his own 9.2 off-white to white pages two years ago. He attributes the premium to the desirability of white pages and calls it a true investment-grade book.
Detective Comics #400 (origin and first appearance of Man-Bat, Neal Adams cover) sold for $1,000 via best offer in a 9.0 with white pages — a grade and price the host finds appealing for a future purchase.
The X-Men section covers several major keys from Probstein Auctions: Giant-Size X-Men #1 in 9.4 sold for $5,157; X-Men #1 in high grade sold for $9,828 (below the host's expectation of over $10,000); X-Men #101 (first Phoenix) in 9.8 sold for $4,255; and X-Men #120 (first Alpha Flight) in 9.8 sold for $2,285, slightly down from prior sales.
Star Wars #1 in 9.8 saw two strong sales: a freshly graded direct edition sold for $3,049 (about $500 above recent comps), and a Roy Thomas signature series copy sold for $3,555. The host notes this book is trending upward.
Several additional books are covered: The Joker #1 in 9.8 sold for $922 (slightly down); Batman #423 (Todd McFarlane cover) in 9.8 sold for $1,880 (slightly below its typical $2,000+ price); Detective Comics #880 in 9.8 sold for $495, surprising the host who paid $325 two years ago and expected around $350–375; Hulk #340 signed by McFarlane in 9.6 sold for $798; New Mutants #98 newsstand (first Deadpool) in 9.8 sold for $1,801, slightly below its usual $1,900–$2,000 range; and The Walking Dead #1 sold for $2,800, which the host notes continues to hold strong value alongside Invincible #1 as a key modern book.
Key Insights
- The host argues that Detective Comics #171 (1951 Penguin cover) at $2,705 was an exceptional deal, noting only 84 total copies have been graded and only three copies exist in a grade higher than this 8.5, making it far rarer than its price suggests.
- The host states that Batman #227 has appreciated significantly — a grade he bought in 7.0 last year for less money now costs the same price in only a 6.5, and a 9.0 with white pages sold for $3,500, exceeding what he paid for a higher 9.2 grade two years ago.
- The host observes that a Neal Adams signature on Batman #227 commands roughly a 50% price premium over an unsigned copy of equivalent grade, which he finds compelling but expensive.
- The host notes that X-Men #1 in a relatively high grade sold for $9,828, which surprised him by coming in below $10,000 — he had expected the final price to exceed that threshold given the grade.
- The host reports that Star Wars #1 in 9.8 sold for approximately $500 more than recent comparable sales at $3,049, and a Roy Thomas-signed signature series copy sold for $3,555, indicating the book is currently trending upward in price.
Topics
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