Comic Rank
The Fun of Collecting Comics
There has undoubtedly been a recent rise in the popularity of collecting comics from every genre. For those who are interested in this fascinating hobby, this blog will offer a complete guide on what to look for. Many people assume that comics only focus on superheroes and villains from the likes of the Marvel franchise. However, there is so much more to discover, and this blog will discuss both vintage and modern comics, where to find them and what collectors should expect to pay. Interesting posts will feature highly valued comics, including the rarest, and what upcoming titles will soon be available.
Keeping Your Comics in Mint Condition
25 Nov 2021
Serious collectors know the importance of keeping comics in tip-top shape. This can be done with a handful of simple techniques, such as storing them in acid-free paper sheaths and washing your hands before touching them. And needless to say, never read them over your morning coffee!
Action Comics #1; the World’s Most Expensive Comic Book
14 Oct 2021
It’s no surprise that vintage comic books can fetch enormous prices among serious fans and collectors. However, readers may be interested to learn that a copy of DC’s Action Comics #1, which introduced Superman to the world in 1938, recently sold for a mind-boggling $3.2 million!
Top 5 Marvel Comic Books
23 Sep 2021
Marvel Comics was first published in 1939 through Timely Comics with the title Marvel Comic No.1.
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby changed comics in the 60s by introducing superheroes rooted in the real world. As Marvel became more sophisticated, so did its readers.
In the 21st century, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has created mega-blockbusters from the same comic books.
The List
The Avengers
The Avengers debut was in September of 1963, as a team of the "Earth's Mightiest Heroes."
The original team of the Avengers had Iron Man, Ant-Man, Hulk, Thor and the Wasp. The Avengers concept worked well because it was open-ended, allowing new superheroes to join.
I honestly don't have a favorite Avengers comic book; of the five or six I’ve read, I loved them all. My pick would have to be The Infinity Gauntlet volume; the Marvel Cinematic Universe got the storyline from this series.
Captain America
Captain America needs no introduction, the indestructible and patriotic soldier. Captain America - The Chosen (2008) is the best in the series of Captain America; in this volume, the Captain is dying as the effects of the rebirth process are waning. He’s faced with the issue of finding his replacement; the setting is realistic Afghanistan.
This volume is a tear-jerker as the Captain battles the concept of death. I like this one because it addresses the issue that the Captain was never immortal.
X-Men
The X-Men comic book series was started in 1963.
The X-Men consist of mutants born with superhuman powers. Despite its name, the group was never exclusively male. Over the years, storylines became predictable, so in 1975 the series was relaunched, introducing a new class of X-Men such as Storm, Colossus, and my personal favorite, Wolverine.
An exciting title in the X-Men series was Uncanny X-Men, where Angel lost his wings, and we met the blind Destiny who can see into the future.
Black Widow
I would be remiss in my feminism if I didn’t include a femme fatale in this list. Natasha is introduced to the comics in the Tales of Suspense. She’s a Russian spy skilled in martial arts and hypnosis. Her power is one we all want, slowed aging and an enhanced immune system.
Natasha featured in other superhero comics like Daredevil until April 2010 where a stand-alone issue of the Black Widow was debuted.
The issue that stood out for me was the 2017 Web of Intrigue volume, where it looks like the Black Widow is set for death. Enemies surround her and her mentor and even Nick Fury, seem to have turned on her.
Spider-Man
For most kids, Spider-Man has been or is currently their favorite superhero.
He’s one of those characters that grow with you, from the boy who was bitten by a radioactive spider to the man he has become—fighting for justice, also being part of the Avengers team and Iron Man's protegee.
I hope my list inspires you to go browse at your local comic store, and even though you might not be able to see into the future like Destiny, you can better your odds at sportsbooks by clicking to betting.com.
Graphic Novels: When Comic Books Come of Age
3 Sep 2021
Having first appeared in the 1980s, graphic novels follow a comic-strip format but are longer than comic books (48 pages or more) and often published in hardcover. Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns (1986) and Alan Moore’s Watchmen (1987) are widely considered the best graphic novels of all time.