The Top 100 Books of the Silver Age !!! This is gonna be fun!

[roulette44]

Action 252 for supergirl too....

 

On the list at #33! (thumbs u

 

I know, was just respoding to the comment about any other actions that were big books.!

[roulette44]

 

Remove:

Nick Fury #1 (not silver)

Submariner #1 (not silver)

Iron Man #1 (not silver)

 

Also not sure when you are ending the Silver Age. I use the launch of Iron Man & Submariner #1s as the start of the Bronze age in my head.

 

Shame on you Met. Don't let the Elvis Fan in Portugal see this post.

 

Nick Fury 1, Subby 1, Iron Man 1, and IMSM 1 are all silver age books as they all came out in 1968. It is widely accepted by most sources (Overstreet, Heritage, and many comic shops, dealers, and collectors I have had the pleasure of speaking to or doing business with) that the Bronze age started in 1970 (some say with GL 76, but that is still open to debate IMHO).

 

I forgive you.

 

I just didn't want to go there!

[MrBedrock]

Hey guys, if you don’t mind a little contribution from a war-boardie (and a new one at that), I would like to submit the following:

 

Thrilled to see that Our Army at War is garnering deserved attention, but OAAW #83 unquestionably out-guns OAAW #81. Moreover, OAAW #83 IMHO merits a top 20 ranking. With 7.5’s bringing in $10K and 8.0’s at $17K, this book should be in the teens. Nonetheless, happy to see it amongst the greater silver age superhero books!

Since this post seemed to get glossed over I thought I'd quote it for posterity.

OAAW 83 should really be a top 20 book. An 8.0 for $17K. A single 9.0 with rejected offers over $30K. Who knows what a 9.4 or 9.6 might bring.

[roulette44]

If you guys were willing to spend the time, why don't you post your perception of the top 100? if we get 25 lists, let's say, I can throw in a spreadsheet and report stats, we can then finalist the books and worry about prioritizing?

 

C'mon, who's game?

[Gatsby77]

?? Action Comics (1938 DC) #254> First App of Bizarro Superman

 

Wouldn't Suberboy 68 (first Bizarro) be more deserving?

 

I haven't kept up on whether he's been around the last few years, but he'll always be iconic to my generation because he was featured in the cartoon Superfriends.

[Bluetooth-migration]

?? Action Comics (1938 DC) #254> First App of Bizarro Superman

 

Wouldn't Suberboy 68 (first Bizarro) be more deserving?

 

I haven't kept up on whether he's been around the last few years, but he'll always be iconic to my generation because he was featured in the cartoon Superfriends.

 

I got me one of those as well

 

[miraclemet]

Im gonna ask this with some trepidation...

 

but whats so key about Iron Man and Submariner #1? (the one shot).

I'll conceed that I cut the Silver age short, but how is this one shot key?

No first appearances, each title character had 50+ appearances elsewhere by that point, and Subby has a whole GA history too... and a month later they each had their own #1 (the real key).

 

anything about this book historically make it important?

[miraclemet]

?? Action Comics (1938 DC) #254> First App of Bizarro Superman

 

Wouldn't Suberboy 68 (first Bizarro) be more deserving?

 

I haven't kept up on whether he's been around the last few years, but he'll always be iconic to my generation because he was featured in the cartoon Superfriends.

 

consider me schooled, I didnt know his first app was in Superboy 68 (of course I just hadnt looked it up yet...)

 

Bizzaro & Brainiac seem to be the top "villians" making their first appearances in the SA in terms of Superman's world. Any Im missing?

[miraclemet]

If you guys were willing to spend the time, why don't you post your perception of the top 100? if we get 25 lists, let's say, I can throw in a spreadsheet and report stats, we can then finalist the books and worry about prioritizing?

 

C'mon, who's game?

 

I'll post my top 100 later today...

[KirbyJack]

Hey guys, if you don’t mind a little contribution from a war-boardie (and a new one at that), I would like to submit the following:

 

Thrilled to see that Our Army at War is garnering deserved attention, but OAAW #83 unquestionably out-guns OAAW #81. Moreover, OAAW #83 IMHO merits a top 20 ranking. With 7.5’s bringing in $10K and 8.0’s at $17K, this book should be in the teens. Nonetheless, happy to see it amongst the greater silver age superhero books!

Since this post seemed to get glossed over I thought I'd quote it for posterity.

OAAW 83 should really be a top 20 book. An 8.0 for $17K. A single 9.0 with rejected offers over $30K. Who knows what a 9.4 or 9.6 might bring.

 

It's top 20 on the list I submitted. I showed some love for GI Combat 87, too.

I should have placed Sgt. Fury #1 higher, in hindsight.

[chrisco37]

Im gonna ask this with some trepidation...

 

but whats so key about Iron Man and Submariner #1? (the one shot).

I'll conceed that I cut the Silver age short, but how is this one shot key?

No first appearances, each title character had 50+ appearances elsewhere by that point, and Subby has a whole GA history too... and a month later they each had their own #1 (the real key).

 

anything about this book historically make it important?

 

Congrats! You're on "the list".

[miraclemet]

Ok fixed my list based on more acceptable timeframes for "Silver Age"

 

I think here's my list.

 

 

1 Amazing Fantasy 15

2 Fantastic Four 1

3 Incredible Hulk 1

4 Tales of Suspense 39

5 Amazing Spider-man 1

6 Journey into Mystery 83

7 Showcase 4

8 Showcase 22

9 X-men 1

10 Avengers 1

11 Brave and Bold 28

12 Daredevil 1

13 Fantastic Four 5

14 Action 242

15 Avengers 4

16 Adventure 247

17 Tales to Astonish 27

18 Justice League of America 1

19 Fantastic Four 2

20 Green Lantern 1

21 Journey Into Mystery 85

22 Our Army At War 83

23 Amazing Spider-man 2

24 Our Army At War 81

25 Showcase 8

26 Sgt. Fury 1

27 Amazing Spider-man 3

28 Fantastic Four 12

29 Amazing Spider-man 14

30 Fantastic Four 4

31 Action 252

32 Showcase 9

33 Amazing Spider-man 4

34 Green Lantern 7

35 Adventure 210

36 Flash 105

37 Strange Tales 110

38 Tales to Astonish 35

39 Journey Into Mystery 84

40 Amazing Spider-man 6

41 Daredevil 7

42 Showcase 6

43 Batman #181

44 Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #1

45 Brave and Bold 34

46 Tales of Suspense 40

47 Amazing Spider-man 9

48 Batman 121

49 Amazing Spider-man 20

50 Brave & Bold 54

51 My Greatest Adventure 80

52 Incredible Hulk 2

53 Showcase 23

54 X-men 4

55 Fantastic Four 48

56 Hawkman 1

57 Tales to Astonish 44

58 Adventure #229

59 X-men 3

60 Journey Into Mystery 89

61 Challengers of the Unknown 1

62 Strange Tales 101

63 Aquaman 1

64 Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1

65 Tales to Astonish 59

66 Showcase 34

67 Amazing Spider-man 28

68 Amazing Spider-man 50

69 Atom 1

70 Tales of Suspense 48

71 X-men 10

72 X-men 12

73 Detective Comics 359

74 Showcase 17

75 Showcase 20

76 Rip Hunter, Time Master 1

77 Amazing Spider-man 39

78 Flash 123

79 Iron Man 1

80 Avengers 57

81 G. I. Combat 87

82 Sgt. Fury 13

83 Showcase 27

84 Tales of Suspense 57

85 Tales of Suspense 65

86 Showcase 37

87 Green Lantern 40

88 Strange Tales 114

89 Strange Tales 135

90 Fantastic Four Annual #2

91 Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #1

92 Superman 146

93 Fantastic Four #52

94 Captain America 100

95 Hulk 102

96 Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD 1

97 Sea Devils 1

98 Tales of Suspense # 50

99 Submariner 1

100 Detective 225

 

 

My Rules:

1st Appearance of title heroes (Showcase #22)

1st issue of a title book/title character (Green Lantern #1)

1st Appearance of key villian (GL #7- Sinestro)

2nd appearance of key hero if there are other important elements

1st issue of any other main villains or characters with long histories

Major costume changes that kept

 

Just missed the cutoff:

 

Just Missed

Showcase (1956-1978) #15

Amazing Spider-man #15 <- this one hurt the most, if Kraven was still around he'd be in.

Batman #155

Batman #171

Batman (1940) #189

Fantastic Four # 13.

Avengers # 8 <-key villian for Avengers, but couldnt make cut.

Fantastic Four # 67

Fantastic Four # 45

Mystery in Space 53

Showcase 30

 

Waffling on:

Lois Lane & Jimmy Olsen titles. They embodied DC silver age, they kicked of LOOOONG runs, so I included them even though as characters they are decades old.

 

Title starts for Sea Devils and Rip Hunter were tough adds since they only lasted 30 odd issues, but Rip has a place in DC lore, so I kept the "adventuring" titles in for their Silver Age-y-ness.

 

If 1956 is the start of the Silver Age, Detective 225 misses the cut by 2 months, but Martin Manhunter is definitely a SA character, so it made sense to include his 1st app.

[Bluetooth-migration]

This is a cool thread

[cd4ever]

Ok fixed my list based on more acceptable timeframes for "Silver Age"

 

I think here's my list.

 

 

1 Amazing Fantasy 15

2 Fantastic Four 1

3 Incredible Hulk 1

4 Tales of Suspense 39

5 Amazing Spider-man 1

6 Journey into Mystery 83

7 Showcase 4

8 Showcase 22

9 X-men 1

10 Avengers 1

11 Brave and Bold 28

12 Daredevil 1

13 Fantastic Four 5

14 Action 242

15 Avengers 4

16 Adventure 247

17 Tales to Astonish 27

18 Justice League of America 1

19 Fantastic Four 2

20 Green Lantern 1

21 Journey Into Mystery 85

22 Our Army At War 83

23 Amazing Spider-man 2

24 Our Army At War 81

25 Showcase 8

26 Sgt. Fury 1

27 Amazing Spider-man 3

28 Fantastic Four 12

29 Amazing Spider-man 14

30 Fantastic Four 4

31 Action 252

32 Showcase 9

33 Amazing Spider-man 4

34 Green Lantern 7

35 Adventure 210

36 Flash 105

37 Strange Tales 110

38 Tales to Astonish 35

39 Journey Into Mystery 84

40 Amazing Spider-man 6

41 Daredevil 7

42 Showcase 6

43 Batman #181

44 Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #1

45 Brave and Bold 34

46 Tales of Suspense 40

47 Amazing Spider-man 9

48 Batman 121

49 Amazing Spider-man 20

50 Brave & Bold 54

51 My Greatest Adventure 80

52 Incredible Hulk 2

53 Showcase 23

54 X-men 4

55 Fantastic Four 48

56 Hawkman 1

57 Tales to Astonish 44

58 Adventure #229

59 X-men 3

60 Journey Into Mystery 89

61 Challengers of the Unknown 1

62 Strange Tales 101

63 Aquaman 1

64 Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1

65 Tales to Astonish 59

66 Showcase 34

67 Amazing Spider-man 28

68 Amazing Spider-man 50

69 Atom 1

70 Tales of Suspense 48

71 X-men 10

72 X-men 12

73 Detective Comics 359

74 Showcase 17

75 Showcase 20

76 Rip Hunter, Time Master 1

77 Amazing Spider-man 39

78 Flash 123

79 Iron Man 1

80 Avengers 57

81 G. I. Combat 87

82 Sgt. Fury 13

83 Showcase 27

84 Tales of Suspense 57

85 Tales of Suspense 65

86 Showcase 37

87 Green Lantern 40

88 Strange Tales 114

89 Strange Tales 135

90 Fantastic Four Annual #2

91 Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #1

92 Superman 146

93 Fantastic Four #52

94 Captain America 100

95 Hulk 102

96 Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD 1

97 Sea Devils 1

98 Tales of Suspense # 50

99 Submariner 1

100 Detective 225

 

 

My Rules:

1st Appearance of title heroes (Showcase #22)

1st issue of a title book/title character (Green Lantern #1)

1st Appearance of key villian (GL #7- Sinestro)

2nd appearance of key hero if there are other important elements

1st issue of any other main villains or characters with long histories

Major costume changes that kept

 

Just missed the cutoff:

 

Just Missed

Showcase (1956-1978) #15

Amazing Spider-man #15 <- this one hurt the most, if Kraven was still around he'd be in.

Batman #155

Batman #171

Batman (1940) #189

Fantastic Four # 13.

Avengers # 8 <-key villian for Avengers, but couldnt make cut.

Fantastic Four # 67

Fantastic Four # 45

Mystery in Space 53

Showcase 30

 

Waffling on:

Lois Lane & Jimmy Olsen titles. They embodied DC silver age, they kicked of LOOOONG runs, so I included them even though as characters they are decades old.

 

Title starts for Sea Devils and Rip Hunter were tough adds since they only lasted 30 odd issues, but Rip has a place in DC lore, so I kept the "adventuring" titles in for their Silver Age-y-ness.

 

If 1956 is the start of the Silver Age, Detective 225 misses the cut by 2 months, but Martin Manhunter is definitely a SA character, so it made sense to include his 1st app.

 

Action 252 needs to move up.

Perhaps 12, right ahead of DD 1.

[miraclemet]

 

 

12 Daredevil 1

13 Fantastic Four 5

14 Action 242

15 Avengers 4

16 Adventure 247

17 Tales to Astonish 27

18 Justice League of America 1

19 Fantastic Four 2

20 Green Lantern 1

21 Journey Into Mystery 85

22 Our Army At War 83

23 Amazing Spider-man 2

24 Our Army At War 81

25 Showcase 8

26 Sgt. Fury 1

27 Amazing Spider-man 3

28 Fantastic Four 12

29 Amazing Spider-man 14

30 Fantastic Four 4

31 Action 252

 

Action 252 needs to move up.

Perhaps 12, right ahead of DD 1.

 

I could imagine it moving up to 20 or so...

 

[comick1]

I know this is a poll about the Top-100 in terms of $$ value, but the $$ value on an 8.5 copy of Daredevil 1 is going to be FAR closer to guide than $$ value on an 8.5 Adventure 247. It's related to supply and demand. All of the Marvels except FF1 and TTA 27 have more (in most cases CONSIDERABLY MORE) than 10 copies in the 9.0-10.0 range and even THOSE are close to 10 copies (8 for the TTA and 9 for the FF).

 

Blue labels currently in the census:

 

1) Amazing Fantasy 15 49 copies between 7.5-8.5 16 copies between 9.0-10

2) Fantastic Four 1 31 copies between 7.5-8.5 9 copies between 9.0-10

3) Incredible Hulk 1 26 copies between 7.5-8.5 14 copies between 9.0-10

4) Showcase 4 13 copies between 7.5-8.5 4 copies between 9.0-10

5) Amazing Spider-man 1 91 copies between 7.5-8.5 33 copies between 9.0-10

6) Tales of Suspense 39 105 copies between 7.5-8.5 44 copies between 9.0-10

7) Journey into Mystery 83 41 copies between 7.5-8.5 25 copies between 9.0-10

8) X-Men 1 127 copies between 7.5-8.5 45 copies between 9.0-10

9) Showcase 22 17 copies between 7.5-8.5 3 copies between 9.0-10

10) Brave and Bold 28 27 copies between 7.5-8.5 9 copies between 9.0-10

11) Avengers 1 104 copies between 7.5-8.5 33 copies between 9.0-10

12) Tales to Astonish 27 31 copies between 7.5-8.5 8 copies between 9.0-10

13) Flash 105 18 copies between 7.5-8.5 6 copies between 9.0-10

14) Justice League of America 1 33 copies between 7.5-8.5 12 copies between 9.0-10

15) Fantastic Four 5 64 copies between 7.5-8.5 26 copies between 9.0-10

16) Adventure 247 9 copies between 7.5-8.5 5 copies between 9.0-10

17) Fantastic Four 2 47 copies between 7.5-8.5 32 copies between 9.0-10

18) Green Lantern 1 44 copies between 7.5-8.5 12 copies between 9.0-10

19) Daredevil 1 215 copies between 7.5-8.5 121 copies between 9.0-10

20) Amazing Spider-man 2 81 copies between 7.5-8.5 39 copies between 9.0-10

 

Without getting too much into conjecture about raw copies, the DC hero books are obviously tougher in the 7.5-10.0 range. . .no great epiphany there. The rarity is lost on neither dealers nor in auctions despite the fewer # of DC collectors than Marvelites.

 

Even so-called "tough" Marvel keys like Sgt. Fury are pretty common in comparison to the DC books.

 

Sgt. Fury 1 40 copies between 7.5-8.5 13 copies between 9.0-10

 

Then there are the DC war books. . .

 

Our Army at War 83 4 copies between 7.5-8.5 Highest in census is a single 9.0

 

GI Combat 87 4 copies between 7.5-8.5 0 (zilcho) copies between 9.0-10

 

How many other books in the top 100 have that kind of rarity? Only the Showcase 6,8, and 17 are close. And the Jimmy Olson (which tops the census at a single 7.5!!!!!) isn't really a Silver Age book IMO.

 

I can be convinced otherwise because I don't claim to know the premium prices for the Marvel keys, but I get the impression that if $200,000 was dumped in to my lap tomorrow, I could get on the phone and have virtually ANY one of those Marvel keys in the 9.0 range by the next biz day. The rarer the books, the less I feel that way.

 

[miraclemet]

I know this is a poll about the Top-100 in terms of $$ value

 

to quote roulette at the start "2) we'll use perceived value as the yardstick....so, based on your experience and perspective, what are the top books (of course dollar value typically plays a role)"

 

so its not just value, but perceived value which does factor in popularity, scarcity, and any number of other things...

 

me? I consider longevity and position in the modern collector market too (i.e. is the character still actively being used?)..

 

 

[roulette44]

Great input and discussion, amigos....keep it comin.

 

What I'd love to happen is we get 10-20 different people post their top 100 list....I'll drop everything into Excel and present some stats to the group.

 

Then, we can select the top books and move on to ranking them!

 

Special shout to Miraclemet who has offered tons of good input! I know there are plenty of knowledgeable guys out there, cmon, submit your list!! (heck, just cut and paste someone elses, then rearrange, so you don't have to start from scratch!) (thumbs u

[miraclemet]

Special shout to Miraclemet who has offered tons of good input!

(thumbs u thanks man!

 

I think the numbers on

• Daredevil 1 215 copies between 7.5-8.5 121 copies between 9.0-10
  
• Sgt. Fury 1 40 copies between 7.5-8.5 13 copies between 9.0-10
  

 

are interesting.

 

I wasnt around for the Marvel boom in '61 but it seems like by the time Daredevil & Sgt Fury came out with their #1s Marvel was well established and the introduction of a new super hero (like DDevil) resulted in lots of purchases, lots of books being kept, and this the crazy presence of 121 CGC 9.0 or better copies. And even for a less popular topic like war comics still doing a respectable # of collected copies.

 

Considering the # of "iconic" stories around Daredevil it doesnt make his #1 appearance any less of a key, but with its relative availability (seemingly monthly or better here in the marketplace) its value stays lower than the pre-'64 key Marvel books.

 

[roulette44]

Special shout to Miraclemet who has offered tons of good input!

(thumbs u thanks man!

 

I think the numbers on

• Daredevil 1 215 copies between 7.5-8.5 121 copies between 9.0-10
  
• Sgt. Fury 1 40 copies between 7.5-8.5 13 copies between 9.0-10
  

 

are interesting.

 

I wasnt around for the Marvel boom in '61 but it seems like by the time Daredevil & Sgt Fury came out with their #1s Marvel was well established and the introduction of a new super hero (like DDevil) resulted in lots of purchases, lots of books being kept, and this the crazy presence of 121 CGC 9.0 or better copies. And even for a less popular topic like war comics still doing a respectable # of collected copies.

 

Considering the # of "iconic" stories around Daredevil it doesnt make his #1 appearance any less of a key, but with its relative availability (seemingly monthly or better here in the marketplace) its value stays lower than the pre-'64 key Marvel books.

 

makes sense to me