Wayne-Tec Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 For a many years now, I have started Golden Age "hierarchy" threads to see where collectors rank the best of the best, up to this point in time. If you'd like to see my 2018 edition, you can find it HERE and if you'd like to see my 2017 edition, you can find it HERE. I'm a little earlier than usual this year, but I think it will be fun to discuss. I preface these posts by stating the obvious: there are no right or wrong answers. You could create your list based on any criteria you'd like. My list leans much more on historical significance this year than it did last year. I encourage discussion and for different collectors to share different points of view. I do not collect Archie comic books, my focus has always been superheroes, so I've kept my list DC, Timely and Fawcett exclusive. Feel free to add in whatever books from whatever publishers you'd like. I didn't give my list too much thought. If I did, I'd probably continue to keep changing it up. 1. Action Comics #1 2. Detective Comics #27 3. Marvel Comics #1 4. Superman #1 5. Batman #1 6. Captain America Comics #1 7. All-Star Comics #8 8. Whiz Comics #2 (#1) 9. All-American Comics #16 10. Flash Comics #1 11. Detective Comics #33 12. Detective Comics #38 13. More Fun Comics #73 14. All-Star Comics #3 15. Detective Comics #31 16. Action Comics #7 17. More Fun Comics #52 18. Action Comics #23 19. Sensation Comics #1 20. Action Comics #2 21. Detective Comics #28 22. Action Comics #29 23. Action Comics #10 24. Action Comics #13 25. Adventure Comics #40 That's my list, subject to change and open for discussion. What does yours look like? GreatCaesarsGhost and pmpknface 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreatCaesarsGhost Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 (edited) Great picks. Just wanted to give your work a quick acknowledgement and respect. I will study it, compare it to your other lists, and view the landscape thru your eyes. Thank you. One observation: with the passing of Stan Lee, there’s an argument Cap 3 should be in the list somewhere Edited January 31, 2019 by GreatCaesarsGhost Illustrious and gino2paulus2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.A.tor Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 7 hours ago, GreatCaesarsGhost said: Great picks. Just wanted to give your work a quick acknowledgement and respect. I will study it, compare it to your other lists, and view the landscape thru your eyes. Thank you. One observation: with the passing of Stan Lee, there’s an argument Cap 3 should be in the list somewhere From a demand standpoint, been asked for cap 3 much more frequently than 10+ issues listed above...mileage may vary Illustrious, PopKulture, gino2paulus2 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forbush-Man Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 The Cap #3 may just be a temporary market situation due to the recent passing of Stan Lee & that issue being his first published work, just MHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreatCaesarsGhost Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 (edited) 39 minutes ago, Forbush-Man said: The Cap #3 may just be a temporary market situation due to the recent passing of Stan Lee & that issue being his first published work, just MHO. I think it’ll have legs. First of all, it’s Cap. Second of all, it’s Schomburg. To me it’s the Stan lee connection that resonates, but it’s also a classic cover and the first cover appearance of his arch-nemesis, the Red Skull. It’s been on fire for 5 years and will appeal to even the youngest collectors as they evolve into the obsessed maniacs they will soon be Edited January 31, 2019 by GreatCaesarsGhost PopKulture and Knightsofold 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpsunburst Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 I am in full agreement with the top 10 (this year anyway) I do think the Cap 3 deserves a bit more placement as others have mentioned. There are a few others that I would personally rank somewhat differently but those are always open to debate. Really fine work! As someone who has been a collector for a very long time its really interesting to see how a list like this has changed over time such as when did Red Raven fall off the list? WDC&S and so many others that were former grail books, very different list in the 70's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago Boy Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, lpsunburst said: I am in full agreement with the top 10 (this year anyway) I do think the Cap 3 deserves a bit more placement as others have mentioned. There are a few others that I would personally rank somewhat differently but those are always open to debate. Really fine work! As someone who has been a collector for a very long time its really interesting to see how a list like this has changed over time such as when did Red Raven fall off the list? WDC&S and so many others that were former grail books, very different list in the 70's. When was the last time the BIG 2 weren’t in that position ? Not even considered the Big 2 ? I am also not an Archie guy but that’s a Top 10 Edited January 31, 2019 by Chicago Boy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsp99 Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 52 minutes ago, Chicago Boy said: When was the last time the BIG 2 weren’t in that position ? Not even considered the Big 2 ? I am also not an Archie guy but that’s a Top 10 If I remember correctly, in the early 90s Marvel 1 was top dog (per Overstreet) for a brief period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreatCaesarsGhost Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 (edited) 37 minutes ago, Tsp99 said: If I remember correctly, in the early 90s Marvel 1 was top dog (per Overstreet) for a brief period. No movie(subby), no decent movie(torch), I guess is why the fall from grace Edited January 31, 2019 by GreatCaesarsGhost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopKulture Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Just for kicks, let's see how your 25 stack up against the Duck-heavy top 25 from 40 years ago. Here's Overstreet's list from 1979: Rank Issue Value 1 Marvel Comics 1 $10,000 2 Action Comics 1 8,400 3 Motion Picture Funnies 1 7,500 4 Whiz Comics 1 5,000 5 Detective Comics 27 4,500 6 Superman 1 4,200 7 Wow Comics 1 3,000 8 Captain Marvel Advs. 1 2,500 9 Walt Disney C & S 1 2,500 10 Captain America 1 2,400 11 Batman 1 2,400 12 More Fun Comics 52 2,400 13 Donald Ducks Tells About Kites (SCE) 2100 14 Boy Explorers 2 2,000 15 Marvel Mystery 5 1,800 16 Marvel Mystery 2 1,800 17 More Fun 53 1,800 18 Action Comics 2 1,800 19 Red Raven 1 1,800 20 Four Color 9 (DD) 1,800 21 March of Comics 4 (DD) 1,800 22 Donald Duck Tells About Kites (PGE) 1800 23 Donald Duck Black and White 20 1600 24 Whiz Comics 2 (3) 1,500 25 Donald Duck Black and White 16 1400 And honorable mention: 26 Mickey Mouse FC 16 1,400 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopKulture Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 I love the fact that the 1979 list includes WDCS 1 and Four Color 9. That Pep 22 is missing from both lists is quite interesting... And a darling book of the late 90's and early 2000's, Detective 1, is also absent from both lists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreatCaesarsGhost Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 12 minutes ago, PopKulture said: Just for kicks, let's see how your 25 stack up against the Duck-heavy top 25 from 40 years ago. Here's Overstreet's list from 1979: Rank Issue Value 1 Marvel Comics 1 $10,000 2 Action Comics 1 8,400 3 Motion Picture Funnies 1 7,500 4 Whiz Comics 1 5,000 5 Detective Comics 27 4,500 6 Superman 1 4,200 7 Wow Comics 1 3,000 8 Captain Marvel Advs. 1 2,500 9 Walt Disney C & S 1 2,500 10 Captain America 1 2,400 11 Batman 1 2,400 12 More Fun Comics 52 2,400 13 Donald Ducks Tells About Kites (SCE) 2100 14 Boy Explorers 2 2,000 15 Marvel Mystery 5 1,800 16 Marvel Mystery 2 1,800 17 More Fun 53 1,800 18 Action Comics 2 1,800 19 Red Raven 1 1,800 20 Four Color 9 (DD) 1,800 21 March of Comics 4 (DD) 1,800 22 Donald Duck Tells About Kites (PGE) 1800 23 Donald Duck Black and White 20 1600 24 Whiz Comics 2 (3) 1,500 25 Donald Duck Black and White 16 1400 And honorable mention: 26 Mickey Mouse FC 16 1,400 This is shocking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago Boy Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Paging Doc Brown ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago Boy Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 (edited) no As 8. No other early Bat Tecs, No Action 7. Etc. Edited January 31, 2019 by Chicago Boy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowzilla Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 1 hour ago, Tsp99 said: If I remember correctly, in the early 90s Marvel 1 was top dog (per Overstreet) for a brief period. 80s yes, but after the 89 Batman movie it switched back to Action 1/Tec 27. The first Sotheby's auction in late 91 helped drive that point home when the Tec 27 there sold for $50K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopKulture Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 1 minute ago, Chicago Boy said: no As 8. No other early Bat Tex’s. No Action 7. Etc. All-Star 8 wasn't even in the top 50. Price in 1979 in mint? $450. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpsunburst Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 I was having a discussion with some long time dealers at the Shoff Show here in VA last weekend and we all remembered when book value was driven by key content as opposed to key covers, somewhat evident in this list looking at the position of a book like AC 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjpb Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 33 minutes ago, PopKulture said: Just for kicks, let's see how your 25 stack up against the Duck-heavy top 25 from 40 years ago. Here's Overstreet's list from 1979: Rank Issue Value 22 Donald Duck Tells About Kites (PGE) 1800 Why was this book so valuable, among all the various "scarce" D. Duck giveaways and early appearances? There's a decent looking copy available on ebay right now for $700, so clearly it wasn't the best investment opportunity on the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopKulture Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 It's so much "fun" to speculate on the particular ordering of books that I will never own... Just a few slight tweaks from Wayne-Tec's original list in forming my top ten. I think Pep 22 is a mega-key, but in my mind it just doesn't depose any of these heavyweights. 1. Action Comics #1 2. Detective Comics #27 3. Marvel Comics #1 4. Superman #1 5. Captain America Comics #1 6. Batman #1 7. Whiz Comics #2 (#1) 8. All-Star Comics #8 9. Flash Comics #1 10. All-American Comics #16 KirbyJack and Spiderturtle 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopKulture Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 10 minutes ago, lpsunburst said: I was having a discussion with some long time dealers at the Shoff Show here in VA last weekend and we all remembered when book value was driven by key content as opposed to key covers, somewhat evident in this list looking at the position of a book like AC 2. Yep, covers have overtaken contents. Like it or not, we're in the slab era. Suspense 3, Fantastic 3, Detective 31, Action 7. But, hey, I do luv me a good cover as much as the next boardie. GreatCaesarsGhost 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
