The reading corner for collectors and enthusiasts, brought to you by GPAnalysis
Comic of the Week: Thor #203 (September 1972)
A pristine slice of Bronze Age magic—Thor #203 CGC 9.8, starring Ego-Prime’s return, now up for grabs from Paradise Comics. Nab it now before it bolts!
Mark Spears' Monsters: Horror Reanimated
Mark Spears’ Monsters is a full-throttle love letter to classic horror—crafted with indie grit, killer art, and a monster-sized fan response.
Dancing on the Edge: Comic Book Characters Who Blur the Line Between Hero and Villain
The world of comics has never been just black and white. Sure, Superman stands for truth and justice, and the Joker is the agent of chaos—but in between those poles lies a murky realm populated by characters who toe the moral line. These are the ones who steal our attention and complicate our loyalties.
Manga vs. Comics: A Cross-Pacific Clash of Panels and Popularity
In the global arena of illustrated storytelling, two giants stand tall—Japanese manga and Western comic books. Both deliver larger-than-life heroes, page-turning drama, and deeply loyal fanbases. But beyond the shared medium of inked panels, their cultural DNA, commercial evolution, and artistic sensibilities are strikingly distinct. And in the last two decades, the battle for readership has only intensified.
Top of the stack: Best-selling titles by decade (May 20 to June 2, 2025)
From May 20 to June 2, 2025, GPAnalysis recorded $4.86M in CGC-graded comic sales across 19,669 books, with Amazing Spider-Man (1963) leading in volume and a CGC 0.5 Superman #1 (1939) selling for $66,000 via HA.com.
🕷️ The Sinister Six: When Spider-Man's worst nightmares formed a club
The Sinister Six wasn’t just a team-up—it was a statement. Six villains, each a reflection of Peter Parker’s inner battles, clashing in a chaotic, ego-fueled mess that’s become comic book legend.
Hake’s June Online Auction Now Open For Bidding!
Hake’s Auctions has officially opened the virtual doors to its June online-exclusive event, and it’s a certified treasure trove: over 600 CGC-graded comic books are up for grabs, with every single lot starting at just $9.99.
Twenty (20) Villain First Appearances Worth a Fortune
When collectors talk about valuable first appearances, the focus often falls on superheroes—think Superman in Action Comics #1, Batman in Detective Comics #27, or Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15. But let’s not forget: Being bad, really bad, can also spark collector interest—and serious price tags.
From Saturday Morning to Spinner Racks: When Cartoonists Cross Into Comic Books
Not every great comic book artist started with capes and cowls. Some came from a place far more chaotic and charming—the world of cartoons. Think gag strips, Sunday funnies, and animated shorts. And for several artists, that background didn’t just influence their work in comics—it redefined it.
Top of the stack: Best-selling titles by decade (5/5/2025 to 5/18/2025)
A market led by Spider-Man, driven by history, and thriving on both grails and $93 grabs — the stack never sleeps.
Off the Grid: Comic artists who broke the rules and redrew the page
These comics didn't just tell stories—they tore the format apart. From Gary Panter's punk-zine chaos to Dave McKean's collage fever dream to Zalathiel Vargas's psychedelic fotonovelas, five groundbreaking artists redrew the rules.
Crises, Comics, and Collectors: How Economic Recessions and Global Events Reshape the Comic Book Market
The late 1980s and early 1990s are often remembered as the "foil cover" years—overproduction met frenzied speculation, and when the bubble burst in the mid-90s (helped along by a recession), entire comic shops folded seemingly overnight.
The Weight of the Word: The Moral Responsibility of Comic Book Writers
Let’s be clear: comic books are no longer just “kid stuff.” They haven’t been for decades. Modern comics weave complex narratives filled with nuance, character development, political undertones—and yes, sometimes, questionable morals.
Top of the stack: Best-selling titles by decade (Apr 22 – May 5, 2025)
From horror roots to modern hits, each decade has its standout, but only one dominates the narrative. With four straight wins and six total appearances, no title comes close. These aren’t just top sellers; they’re trendlines. For collectors, they signal what endures — and what leads.
Current CGC Market Trends from GPA (April 22nd 2025 to May 5th 2025)
In the most recent fortnight, GPAnalysis reports $4.4M in sales from 19,568 individual books across major venues offering CGC-graded comics, magazines, and pulps. The most traded title was Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963), which saw 1,261 books sold, totalling $0.6M in sales.
The wildest, most absurd gadgets in comic book history
A tongue-in-cheek tour through the most bizarre, brilliant, and downright absurd gadgets in comic book history—celebrating the charm, chaos, and creativity that made them unforgettable.
The Phantom Pages: Exposing the Fake Comic Book Market
Let’s get one thing straight—reprints are not the problem. Marvel Tales, True Believers, and even those newsstand throwbacks have a rightful place in our collections. What we’re talking about are frauds passed off as originals. Books that have been tampered with, restored without disclosure, or entirely fabricated using modern printing techniques to mimic vintage texture and wear.
Comic Book Intros: The Good, the Bad, and the In-Between
If a comic book is a three-act play in twenty-two pages, then the intro is your curtain-raiser. It’s not just how the story begins—it’s how trust is earned. Nail the opening, and you’ve got a reader (or viewer) for life. Fumble it, and even the most devoted fan might quietly close the cover.