Greetings, Adventurers!
Last week, I talked about some Spider-Man comics that would be great, inexpensive pick-ups in the marketplace for a new VeVe comic collector who wants an affordable way to start a collection. But what about the rest of the Marvel library?
Fear not, I've got you covered!
This week I'll be covering several comics under ten gems that are good foundation comics for someone who just wants to build a starter collection. They'll be characters that you should recognize either from Disney+, Netflix, or cinematic releases of Marvel characters. Prices are based on the traditional comic covers.
Fantastic Four #1 (~7 Gems)
Silver Age 1961, 10 cent cover. Consider this a fantastic opportunity to pick up the first family of heroes! A must for any basic starter collection. And with the floor at around seven gems, what better way to own (and actually read) this legendary comic.
Fantastic Four #5 (~5 gems)
Silver Age 1961, 12 cent comic. This is the first appearance of Doctor Doom, another well known villain used often in movies and soon returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Another classic comic and a great read.
Daredevil #1 (3-5 gems)
Silver Age 1964, 12 cent comic. Here comes... a classic comic! This once forgotten hero is now at the forefront with his well known series on Netflix and Disney+. And at around 4 gems, it's another easy choice.
Star Wars #1 (3-5 gems).
The Bronze Age 1977, 30 cent cover. These comics sold out so quick when they first came out, there were immediate reprints issued by Whitman. Most of us kids ended up with a comic collection that had a smattering of first and second prints so we could read the story in full. But fear not, this is the first print of Star Wars #1 as a digital collectible.
Strange Tales #110 (2-3 gems)
Silver Age 1963, 12 cent cover. This is the first appearance of Doctor Strange, who has regained fame thanks to his recent movies and the renowned acting skills of Benedict Cumberbatch. Strange Tales #111 is also on the VeVe app, and is around 1 gem in the market if you want to pick up both.
(Field Note: While VeVe currently lists this as Golden Age and from 1951, it’s actually from 1963—so it’s Silver Age. Easy mistake to make when you're spelunking through old metadata instead of temple ruins.)
New Mutants #98 (~2 gems)
The Bronze Age 1983, 1 dollar cover. First appearance of Deadpool. Do you recall when comic book people tried to warn the general public, "You probably don't want to take your kids to this movie" and they did it anyway? I do. For earning his "R" rating, his cunning wit, and his 2 gem price point, Deadpool's first edition is a great add to a budding collection.
Tales to Astonish #13 (~2 gems)
Silver Age 1959, 10 cent cover. First appearance of Groot. True, this isn't your lovable Groot of the modern age, but a city-destroying "Monster from Planet X"! But considering it's often under 2 gems, it's an easy pickup, especially if you're a Guardians of the Galaxy fan. And speaking of which...
Marvel Super Heroes #18 (3-5 gems)
Silver Age 1967, 25 cent cover. First appearance of the original Guardians of the Galaxy team. They may not be the same characters you're used to, but definitely one to own, especially if you're a fan of the modern films.
If you decide to pick up all of the comics mentioned, it'll be about 30-35 gems. Combined with last week's Spider-Man comics, this provides a great foundation of Marvel Comics to build your collection on, based on your own personal preferences.
And remember, start slow and go with what you know!
Honorable Mentions: 10-15 Gem Comics:
If you're willing to pay a little more, these are some other comics to put on your radar. Sometimes you can get the uncommon versions of these comics for less than 10 gems if you'd prefer to keep that price point:
Hulk #181 (~13 gems) Silver Age First full appearance of Wolverine.
The Avengers #1 (~12 gems) Silver Age First appearance of the Avengers as a team.
And with that, I'll bid you good luck, Adventurers! Happy treasure hunting!