In the late 1930s, boys and girls flocked to local newsstands and bought comics featuring a new type of crime fighter called a superhero. For ten cents (which was more money than it is today) the children enjoyed reading the adventures of their favorite man with amazing physical powers named “Superman.” Almost a year later, two other superheroes appeared in the stands: Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman. (Batman and Robin did not have superpowers, but he fought crime with enhanced acrobatic skills and strength.) Other superheroes included Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, and additional members that made up the “Justice Society of America.”

Soon after, DC Comics created other super-powered crime fighters who battled super-powerful villains. As soon as they got to the stands, the kids bought and read the comics the same day they came out. Not only did they read them, but they also exchanged, talked about them with their friends, and even dressed as their heroes. Comics provided a way for children to have fun, especially when the sad Age of Depression robbed people of their wealth. When the 1940s rolled around, mothers were throwing out comic books or abandoning them to support the war effort of World War II. It seemed that the “Golden Age” of comics was lost.

In the 1960s, comics made a big comeback with new superhero characters created by Marvel Comics owner Stan Lee. Spiderman, Hulk, Ironman, Thor, and groups like the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and the X-Men changed the world of comics forever. Marvel created most of the new superheroes by battling new supervillains during what was later known as the “Silver Age” of comics, which lasted roughly from 1956 to 1969. Stan Lee’s company capitalized on the industry; not only children read comics, but also adults in their 20s and 30s. Thanks to the success of Marvel, older DC comics that were still in print became popular again. Superheroes are here to stay.

In the early 1970s, comic book lovers mainly collected new and old DC and Marvel. Collectors realized that older comics had to be protected from the elements by placing them in clear Mylar bags and covering them with acid-free boards. Additionally, they could be organized in special storage boxes that could fit a hundred or more comics, allowing curious browsers to easily skim through them.

Collectors searched for older collections. Although many of the early editions were in short supply, some would emerge from old and rare collections that financially influenced the future collectors who bought them. First editions and first appearances became great targets for true collectors. The most sought after were and still are the first appearances of two renowned superheroes: Superman (Action Comics # 1) and Batman (Detective Comics # 27). The values ​​of the older superhero comics increased many times their original purchase price, which even included some earlier Marvels from the early 1960s.

Today, comic book prices have skyrocketed due to the increasing popularity of numerous superhero TV shows, cartoons, and movies. Of course, DC and Marvel are the most popular comic book companies with assets that are worth astronomical amounts of money. Comic book collecting has become a cult phenomenon. Every year hundreds of thousands of fans attend conventions. Comic book stores have steadily grown in popularity as sanctuaries where collectors can talk about comics and browse collection boxes.

That said, there are more collectors than ever. Not only do young adults collect, but older adults do too. Many vintage comics, especially Golden Age DC, as well as many Silver Age Marvels, can be purchased at popular auctions, such as eBay or Heritage, for a few hundred dollars to several million dollars, depending on condition and rarity. (I remember buying a number 5 of the “Fantastic Four” in 1981 for $ 10. Today, it is worth between $ 400 and $ 600. The sad thing is that I sold it right after I bought it. Also, in 1997, I bought an Avengers # 1 for $ 280. Now it’s about $ 2,500).

Collecting has gotten so serious that finding the best condition and lowest minted ones are the two biggest brands to invest in in comics. Some will not read the comic at all because handling them could damage them and lower their value. These same collectors will shell out good money to have them hermetically sealed in hard plastic and sorted by companies like CGC, CBCS or PGX.

The collection of superhero comics has changed a lot since the late 1930s, in which many children enjoyed reading DC character adventures. In the 1960s, more adults began reading and collecting comics thanks to new heroes and villains created by Marvel, now competing with DC. Today, buying comics is a cult and an important industry, as children and adults of all generations collect comics. Now collecting new and old comics can be expensive, but since many people are still actively buying them, we should see them increase in value.

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