You might say eBay customers were hushed when it came to Batman #609, and it ranked as the biggest loser in this week’s Hottest Comics.
What is this blog all about? Using GoCollect’s handy market watch tools, you have eBay’s sales data conveniently sorted for you. Based on sales volume rather than fair market value, the Hottest Comics ranks the 100 best-selling single issues across the auction site. For this particular blog entry, we’ll be comparing numbers over the past 10 days.
While we’re using the Hottest Comics index, today’s blog is quite the opposite. These are the five issues that dropped the furthest down the index versus the past week and a half. On the plus side, that dip in popularity can make for wonderful buying opportunities.
On that note, let’s see what issues ranked among the Coldest Comics.
DC keys don’t hold the same market weight as their Marvel counterparts, not that anyone should be surprised by that fact. Since the advent of the MCU, Marvel has dominated the box office, which also brought secondary market supremacy. Despite occasional surges from other publishers, the vast majority of the top-100 best sellers are Marvel. Even if a DC key suddenly gets hot, it’s not long before it cools. Here we have a prime example of just that.
Batman #609 has experienced a sales spike courtesy of those The Batman 2 rumors. With all signs seemingly pointing toward the “Hush” storyline being adapted for Matt Reeves’ sequel, collectors and investors have been angling for Thomas Elliot/Hush’s first appearance. It sent Batman #609 hurdling the competition as it moved up the Hottest Comics index. Just when it seemed Hush was on a path toward the top, he tripped going down the straightaway.
Particularly with modern Batman keys, this sort of roller coaster is a familiar ride. Shortly after James Gunn announced the opening lineup for DCU Chapter One, sales for all things Damian Wayne kicked in the rocket boosters. Within a few weeks, it lost that momentum, and now the character’s first appearance jostles up and down the index. It seems we’re seeing the same effect with Hush.
Until DC can establish itself as a true threat to Marvel’s Hollywood throne, this will likely be the trend for the foreseeable future. That being said, don’t be surprised to see Batman #609 bounce back in a week’s time only to careen shortly thereafter. Such is the nature of the secondary market, especially for DC keys.
Anytime Eternals #1 triggers the radar, it feels like the Ghost of Hottest Comics Past is paying a visit. About four years ago, this comic was simply on fire based on the rumors that Ikaris and the gang were getting a movie. Once Marvel Studios confirmed the gossip, prices went through the roof practically overnight. Following a delayed release thanks to pandemic lockdowns, the film hit theaters in 2021, and that’s when the momentum stopped dead in its tracks.
Not to say Eternals doesn’t have its fans, but most MCU viewers rank it toward the bottom of their favorite movies. As we have seen with the likes of Thor: Love and Thunder and The Inhumans, a bad movie or show can tank the values on the related key issues. Such was the case with Eternals #1. It plummeted through the sales index, and the FMVs were brought along for the ride.
In recent months, the famous issue has made somewhat of a comeback. While it’s far from cracking the top-10 Hottest Comics, Eternals #1 makes regular appearances among eBay’s best sellers. For it to have climbed inside the top 50 is a positive sign for those still waiting for those FMVs to make a turnaround. Certainly, seeing the issue fall 55 spots and narrowly hang inside the Hottest Comics is alarming, but it’s nothing to get too worried about.
Out of all this week’s movers and shakers, Spider-Man 2099 #1’s inclusion is perhaps the most surprising. For months, Miguel O’Hara’s full debut had dug its heels into the top 10 Hottest Comics. Why wouldn’t it have been a popular key? Besides an awesome cover that screams 1990s Marvel, Spider-Man 2099 was the breakout character from Across the Spider-Verse. He will surely play a large role in the next film, and that only further solidifies his standing as one of the most popular Spider-Man variants at the moment.
To coin the phrase, all good things must come to an end. After so much time at the top of the secondary market, buyers put their money elsewhere this week. This could simply be a bump in the road, and Spider-Man 2099 #1 will return to prominence in short order. Then again, it may continue dropping since the hype for Beyond the Spider-Verse won’t start anytime soon. Rest assured, it will eventually bounce back.
Barely clinging to the top 100, we have the premiere issue of Spider-Man’s second series, Spectacular Spider-Man. Over the years, the title has had numerous volumes, and was renamed Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man at one point. Probably the most famous use of the name was in the beloved-but-short-lived cartoon series, Spectacular Spider-Man. Fans of the show were thrilled to see that version of Spidey included among the infinite variants in Across the Spider-Verse.
Sales for Spectacular Spider-Man #1 began picking up shortly after Spider-Man: No Way Home reached theaters. Much of this was due to theories that the next Spidey flicks, whether under the Marvel Studios or Sony Pictures banner, would get the spectacular adjective added to the title. After all, we’ve already seen The Amazing Spider-Man, so this would be a logical step.
From an investment standpoint, there’s not much to keep this issue ranking high on the eBay sales charts. Outside of being the first issue in the series, Spectacular Spider-Man #1 doesn’t offer any significant moments or character debuts to give it major key status. That explains why it doesn’t typically reach the top end of the Hottest Comics. Still, there’s enough interest here that it remains inside the top 100 week after week. Even if it falls off the index, it is bound to regain its footing in due time.
ASM #252 is such a routine visitor to the Hottest Comics index that it would normally be filed away as a Usual Suspect. For those new to the blog, that’s the nickname for the comics that bound across the eBay best sellers week after week. They rise and fall at a rapid pace, and they make so many appearances in the blog series that not much is left to say about them. For at least this round, there is something interesting happening here.
This issue is most famous for being the first appearance of Spider-Man’s black suit. To this day, the symbiote costume remains one of Spider-Man’s most popular attires, maybe even outranking the traditional blue and red for many fans. However, the real claim to fame is the symbiote bonding with Eddie Brock to become the anti-hero Venom. That is a primary reason for ASM #252 to remain fashionable year in and out.
The latest push for the black suit’s first appearance comes from the latest PlayStation game, Spider-Man 2. Swapping Eddie for Harry Osborn, the plot centers on Peter’s closest friend bonding with the symbiote. While that may not be true to the comics, the game’s Venom will make longtime fans very happy. In fact, it was enough to boost the ASM #252 newsstand edition to an impressive fifth spot in the rankings. At the same time, the direct edition sits all the way in the 83rd position.
It’s difficult to say exactly why that is aside from collectors wanting the coveted newsstand variants while ignoring the direct editions. Nonetheless, it’s hard to imagine this comic staying so low in the Hottest Comics for long.
*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.
