Topic hub
Marvel Key Issue Comics
Marvel key issues are the comics with first appearances, origin stories, and landmark covers that drive collector demand, from Silver Age debuts to Copper Age firsts. Value is set by significance, grade, and the census scarcity of high-grade copies from established graders.
First appearances are the backbone of Marvel collecting. This hub gathers the cataloged Marvel key issues with the character, first-appearance, and era context that determines demand, plus sold-comp values where we have verified sales.
Amazing Adventures #11
Marvel · 1972
1st: Beast in his furry form
CGC 9 median $1,070 · 6 sold
Amazing Spider-Man #1
Marvel · 1963
1st: Solo Spider-Man series
CGC 4.5 median $13,279 · 6 sold
Amazing Spider-Man #101
Marvel · 1971
1st: Morbius, the Living Vampire
CGC 9 median $3,300 · 6 sold
Amazing Spider-Man #121
Marvel · 1973
1st: Death of Gwen Stacy
CGC 9.0 median $879 · 6 sold
CGC 7.0 median $1,706 · 6 sold
CGC 6.0 median $3,795 · 6 sold
Amazing Spider-Man #194
Marvel · 1979
1st: Black Cat (Felicia Hardy)
CGC 9 median $719 · 6 sold
Amazing Spider-Man #238
Marvel · 1983
1st: Hobgoblin (Roderick Kingsley)
CGC 9 median $587 · 6 sold
Amazing Spider-Man #252
Marvel · 1984
1st: Spider-Man black costume in title
CGC 9 median $1,046 · 6 sold
CGC 1.0 median $5,250 · 6 sold
CGC 9 median $1,223 · 6 sold
Amazing Spider-Man #316
Marvel · 1989
1st: Iconic McFarlane Venom cover
CGC 9 median $235 · 6 sold
CGC 7.5 median $2,115 · 6 sold
CGC 6.0 median $2,250 · 6 sold
Avengers #4
Marvel · 1964
1st: Silver Age Captain America (revival)
CGC 7.0 median $3,041 · 6 sold
CGC 9 median $1,390 · 6 sold
CGC 7.0 median $600 · 6 sold
CGC 9 median $1,525 · 6 sold
CGC 9 median $990 · 6 sold
CGC 9 median $594 · 6 sold
CGC 9.0 median $3,055 · 6 sold
Edge of Spider-Verse #2
Marvel · 2014
1st: Spider-Gwen (Gwen Stacy)
CGC 9 median $600 · 6 sold
CGC 4.0 median $14,000 · 6 sold
CGC 8.0 median $423 · 6 sold
Fantastic Four #48
Marvel · 1966
1st: Galactus and Silver Surfer
CGC 6.5 median $1,425 · 6 sold
CGC 3.5 median $2,825 · 6 sold
CGC 7.0 median $1,150 · 6 sold
Giant-Size X-Men #1
Marvel · 1975
1st: New X-Men team (Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus)
CGC 9 median $5,500 · 6 sold
CGC 8.0 median $588 · 6 sold
Incredible Hulk #180
Marvel · 1974
1st: Wolverine (cameo)
CGC 9.0 median $1,500 · 6 sold
Incredible Hulk #181
Marvel · 1974
1st: Wolverine (full)
CGC 8.0 median $5,499 · 6 sold
Incredible Hulk #271
Marvel · 1982
1st: Rocket Raccoon in Marvel continuity
CGC 9 median $254 · 6 sold
Incredible Hulk #340
Marvel · 1988
1st: McFarlane Hulk vs Wolverine cover
CGC 9 median $500 · 6 sold
Iron Man #55
Marvel · 1973
1st: Thanos, Drax, and Starfox
CGC 8.5 median $894 · 6 sold
CGC 4.5 median $7,377 · 6 sold
Journey into Mystery #85
Marvel · 1962
1st: Loki (Silver Age)
CGC 8.5 median $17,500 · 6 sold
CGC 9 median $4,451 · 6 sold
CGC 9.0 median $389 · 6 sold
Marvel Spotlight #2
Marvel · 1972
1st: Werewolf by Night (Jack Russell)
CGC 6.5 median $464 · 6 sold
CGC 7.0 median $1,889 · 6 sold
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8
Marvel · 1984
1st: Origin of Spider-Man black costume
CGC 9 median $450 · 6 sold
Marvel Super-Heroes #18
Marvel · 1969
1st: Guardians of the Galaxy (1969 team)
CGC 7.5 median $420 · 6 sold
Moon Knight #1
Marvel · 1980
1st: First Moon Knight solo series, origin
CGC 9 median $60 · 6 sold
Ms. Marvel #1
Marvel · 1977
1st: Carol Danvers as Ms. Marvel
CGC 9 median $243 · 6 sold
CGC 9 median $173 · 6 sold
New Mutants #98
Marvel · 1991
1st: Deadpool, Gideon, and Copycat
CGC 9 median $440 · 6 sold
CGC 9 median $565 · 6 sold
CGC 9 median $1,000 · 6 sold
Star Wars #1
Marvel · 1977
1st: Marvel Star Wars adaptation begins
CGC 9 median $1,863 · 6 sold
CGC 5.0 median $2,100 · 6 sold
Strange Tales #115
Marvel · 1963
1st: Origin of Doctor Strange
CGC 8.0 median $1,095 · 6 sold
CGC 3.5 median $7,500 · 6 sold
Tales of Suspense #52
Marvel · 1964
1st: Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff)
CGC 4.5 median $580 · 6 sold
CGC 8.0 median $2,099 · 6 sold
The Eternals #1
Marvel · 1976
1st: The Eternals and Ikaris
CGC 8.5 median $60 · 6 sold
CGC 9 median $262 · 6 sold
CGC 8.5 median $1,399 · 6 sold
CGC 9 median $475 · 6 sold
Venom: Lethal Protector #1
Marvel · 1993
1st: First Venom solo series
CGC 9 median $255 · 6 sold
CGC 9 median $2,077 · 6 sold
Wolverine #1
Marvel · 1982
1st: First solo Wolverine series (Miller)
CBCS 9 median $685 · 6 sold
CGC 9 median $1,200 · 6 sold
CGC 7.0 median $1,500 · 6 sold
X-Men #129
Marvel · 1980
1st: Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost
CGC 9 median $425 · 6 sold
CGC 9.0 median $2,999 · 6 sold
X-Men #141
Marvel · 1981
1st: Days of Future Past begins
CGC 9 median $250 · 6 sold
CGC 9 median $188 · 6 sold
X-Men #266
Marvel · 1990
1st: Gambit (first in-story appearance)
CGC 9 median $213 · 6 sold
CGC 8.5 median $600 · 6 sold
X-Men #4
Marvel · 1964
1st: Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver
CGC 4.0 median $1,350 · 6 sold
X-Men #94
Marvel · 1975
1st: New X-Men team begins ongoing
CGC 8.5 median $1,450 · 6 sold
CGC 6.5 median $4,500 · 5 sold
Ghost Rider #1
Marvel · 1973
1st: First Ghost Rider solo series
CGC 9 median $2,050 · 5 sold
Infinity Gauntlet #1
Marvel · 1991
1st: Infinity Gauntlet event begins
CGC 9 median $428 · 5 sold
Tales to Astonish #27
Marvel · 1962
1st: Hank Pym (pre-Ant-Man)
CGC 4.0 median $2,450 · 5 sold
CGC 9 median $225 · 5 sold
Fantastic Four #4
Marvel · 1962
1st: Silver Age return of the Sub-Mariner
CGC 4.5 median $2,250 · 4 sold
CGC 5.5 median $15,000 · 4 sold
CGC 2.0 median $27,500 · 3 sold
Conan the Barbarian #1
Marvel · 1970
1st: Marvel Conan series begins
CGC 9 median $2,650 · 3 sold
CGC 3.0 median $15,867 · 3 sold
Marvel Team-Up #1
Marvel · 1972
1st: Marvel Team-Up series begins
CGC 9.0 median $350 · 3 sold
Silver Surfer #1
Marvel · 1968
1st: First Silver Surfer solo series
CGC 5.0 median $525 · 3 sold
CGC 3.0 median $2,566 · 2 sold
Iron Man #1
Marvel · 1968
1st: First Iron Man solo series
CGC 6.0 median $450 · 2 sold
Captain America Comics #1
Marvel · 1941
1st: Captain America
CGC 9 median $400 · 1 sold
Ms. Marvel #1
Marvel · 2014
1st: Kamala Khan solo series
CGC 9 median $75 · 1 sold
Strange Tales #135
Marvel · 1965
1st: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
CGC 3.5 median $150 · 1 sold
Tales to Astonish #35
Marvel · 1962
1st: Ant-Man in costume
CGC 3.5 median $445 · 1 sold
CGC 9 median $99 · 1 sold
Related guides
Price research
See the ranked sold-price table
Compare recent verified sold medians across this cluster, ranked by grade.
Most valuable key issues, ranked by sold priceMarvel Key Issue Comics: FAQ
What makes a Marvel comic a "key issue"?+
A key issue contains something collectors specifically seek: a character's first appearance, an origin story, a first cover appearance, a death, or a historically significant moment. First appearances of major characters are the most valuable keys.
How much does grade affect a Marvel key issue's value?+
Enormously. For a scarce key, the jump from a mid-grade to a high-grade CGC copy can multiply the price several times over, because high-grade survivors are far rarer. Always compare sold prices at the same grade and grader.