CGC-certified Marvel Mystery Comics #9 in Auction

One of the most classic Golden Age comics can be found in the Spring Comic, Toy & Sports Auction at Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers this month. The Marvel Mystery Comics #9 graded CGC 4.0 (lot 321) has an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000, with bidding beginning at $15,000. The auction concludes on May 21, 2022.

The Marvel Mystery Comics series started as “Marvel Comics” in August 1939 by publisher Timely Comics, and its debut issue sold 880,000 copies in two printings. By the second issue, the series was rebranded “Marvel Mystery Comics.” The series launched the company that evolved into the Marvel Comics that we know today.

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Issue #9 was published in July of 1940 and features the second appearance of Namor the Submariner as he battles the original Golden Age Human Torch. With a cover by Bill Everett and Alex Schomburg, this comic is listed #33 on the Overstreet Top 100 Golden Age Comics list. With only 39 Universal copies in the CGC Census, this is one of just two copies to receive a CGC 4.0, and only 15 copies have higher CGC Universal grades.

Marvel Mystery Comics shifted away from superheroes and focused more on horror and fantasy when the series was renamed “Marvel Tales” with issue #93 in 1949. The series continued until issue #159 in 1957.

Other notable CGC-certified comics in this auction include:

• a Fantastic Four #1 graded CGC 2.0 (lot 254) with an estimate of $7,000 to $10,000
• an Amazing Spider-Man #1 graded CGC 1.8 (lot 122) with an estimate of $6,000 to $9,000
• a Wonder Woman #7 graded CGC 3.5 (lot 415) with an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000
• an Amazing Spider-Man #3 graded CGC 5.0 (lot 123) with an estimate of $3,000 to $4,000
• an Amazing Spider-Man #6 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 127) with an estimate of $2,000 to $3,000
• a Batman #3 graded CGC 1.5 (lot 203) with an estimate of $2,000 to $3,000

Estimates provided by the auction house.