Cash in On Your Comics.

Let Us Help With Your Comic Book Consignment

At Huggins and Scott, we’re collectors at heart. We know how important your collection is to you and are fully committed to maximizing its value. We offer a uniquely personal touch and unmatched attention to detail, fueled by a love for comics lasting more than 60 years.

Your first step is to give us a call at 301-608-0355 or fill out our consignment form. Our experts love talking to potential consignors about their prized collectibles.

Learn the Market Value

Like most collectibles, comic values are mainly dictated by two things – scarcity and condition. However, other environmental factors can impact demand and affect value.

An example from our auction archives that “checks all the boxes” is the 1962 Marvel Comics “Journey into Mystery” #83 sold in November of 2018. The issue dated back 56 years at the time of auction, featured the first appearance of The Mighty Thor and graded a CGC 9.0. On top of all this, the Avengers movie craze generated an all-time high demand, with bidding closing at $93,480.

While comics from the mid-20th century can be suitable for auction in any condition, more modern comics were published at higher volume and are generally substantially less valuable. An exception could exist for a pivotal issue introducing an iconic character, in pristine condition.

Get in Touch to Learn More

When in doubt, give us a call at 301-608-0355 or complete our form to let us know what you have, and we’ll give you a free market value assessment and help you understand if consignment is right for you.

A brief history of comic books

The Golden Age: 1938-1955

While the “origin story” of comics started some 40-years earlier, they became collectible in the “Golden Age”, around the time of World War II. Comics featuring heroes like Captain America, Superman, and Wonder Woman encouraged patriotism toward American forces while promoting anti-Japanese and anti-Nazi sentiment. A large number of these issues found their way overseas to entertain servicemen, contributing to the scarcity of remaining copies.

Superman first appeared in 1938 in DC’s Action Comics, and the character’s popularity led to the Man of Steel being featured in his first standalone comic book in the summer of 1939. Superman was the first of many comic characters to transcend the genre, crossing over to cinema and television in the following years. His comic books, trading cards, movie posters, and action figures are all targeted by our auction bidders.

Holding comparable popularity to this day, Batman #1 was published by DC in 1940. While this issue was not the first appearance of the Caped Crusader, it was the first that featured Batman and his arch enemies The Joker and Catwoman, originating storylines well-known to this day through their mainstream pop culture exposure.

Another historic release was Marvel Comics #1, from Timely Comics (later rebranded as Marvel) which was published in 1939 and featured superheroes such as Human Torch, Angel, Masked Raider and Namor the Sub-Mariner. Captain America, another hero who became prominent in modern cinema, was first published in 1941. Our December 2023 auction featured a treasure trove of Timely Comics issues, many with closing bids reaching four-figures.

The Silver Age: 1956-1969

Immediately after WWII, the comics industry saw a decline. Content became regulated by the Comic Code Authority, which prohibited more adult-oriented topics in an effort to protect the era’s youth.

However, the industry emerged stronger than ever in this era with a new wave of superheroes that had more human qualities, worked together in teams, and appeared in storylines that crossed over titles.

Stan Lee’s Marvel published The Fantastic Four #1, which ushered in the "Marvel Age of Comics". Loyal followers of the brand have been rewarded over the ensuing years with the adventures of Spider-Man, The X-Men, Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, and so many other treasured characters.

Relatable characters like Spider-Man brought comics to a new level as their popularity exploded on college campuses nationwide. The Amazing Spider-Man #1 published in 1963, not only marked the start of Marvel’s best-selling title, but also featured a crossover appearance from The Fantastic Four.

Another “giant” of the Silver Age, The Incredible Hulk #1 published in May of 1962 and is a consensus top issue of the age. A copy graded 8.5 by CGC sold for more than $167,000 in our November 2018 auction, with a similarly graded issue #2 going for nearly $11,000.

The Bronze Age: 1970-1983

In the 1970s, Marvel continued to build on its Silver Age superhero success. The introduction of superheroes like Storm and The Black Panther brought diversity to the genre attracted a new group of readers into the fold.

In 1975, the new X-Men team debuted in a “Giant-Size” issue, featuring the debuts of Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Thunderbird, while also marking the second full appearance of Wolverine. An issue graded CGC 9.2 cleared $5,000 in our December Auction

While highly collectible Bronze Age single issues are more sparse than in the prior eras, collectors with large lots of full and near full runs have had great success at auction, commanding payouts in the thousands of dollars.

The Copper Age: 1984-1991

One could say this was the age comics lost their innocence, as topics became more mature and complex, often addressing social issues and making the storylines more realistic.

In the late 1980s, comics gained traction as valued collectibles, leading to a surge in production, including variant covers and gimmicks to attract buyers looking to secure investment pieces. Ultimately, this overproduction led to a market downturn similar to the “Junk Card Era” of modern baseball cards.

Despite the industry challenges, Copper Age artists developed more dynamic visual storytelling than their predecessors, and these advancements had a positive impact in years to come.

A notable issue from this era that brought success at auction is the Amazing Spider-Man #300, published in 1988. Its importance marking the first appearance of Venom, along with a pristine grade of CGC 9.6, led to its price reaching nearly $4,000.

The Modern Age: 1992 – present

Over the past 25 years comic books and their characters have continued to expand their audience. Modern film, television, and even internet-based comics have fueled the industry, leading to the mainstream crossover that has cemented the legacies of iconic characters likeWonder Woman, Iron Man, Spider-Man, the X-Men, and so many more.

These days rather than being introduced to the characters in the comics, fans are often discovering them on-screen and then delving into the printed catalog for additional content from their favorite heroes. Comic content can also be accessed in a digital-only format, a trend that will likely supplement the value of printed issues in the future based on scarcity.

---

Tell Your Story

Every collection has a story and we want to hear yours. Give us a call at 301-608-0355 or complete our form to learn more about how to cash in on your comics, and help them find a new home to be enjoyed by future generations.