10 Underrated Graded Comic Books (And Why They Matter More Than You Think)
“Underrated” Doesn’t Mean “Unimportant”
Let’s face it—most collectors chase heat. First appearances. Movie hype. Multiverse madness. But some comics? They’re hiding in plain sight. Underrated. Underappreciated. Sometimes underpriced. And they’re begging for a second look.
Whether it’s due to low census counts, historical significance, or just being overshadowed by bigger books, these CGC-graded gems deserve a spot on your radar—and maybe in your slab box.
10. Any Restored Golden Age Key with a Purple Label
☠️ The Label of Doom—or Opportunity?
Truth bomb: Many purple-labeled books cost 10–15% of unrestored equivalents.
Example: A restored Detective Comics #38 (first Robin) is still Detective Comics #38.
Your move: Buy the book, not the stigma.
9. Ms. Marvel #1 (1977)
💥 Carol Danvers Starts Here
GPA Price (9.6): ~$160
Why it’s underrated: You don’t need to love every MCU decision to respect the first issue of a modern Marvel icon.
8. Batman #357 (1983)
🃏 First Jason Todd + Killer Croc
GPA Price (9.6): ~$261
Why it’s underrated: Batman family keys are climbing, and this one has two major debuts.
7. Harbinger #1 (1992) — Valiant Comics
⚡ The Indie That Could
GPA Price (9.8): ~$474
Why it’s underrated: Early Valiant. Strong cult following. Huge potential with future adaptations.
Bonus: Mail-away coupon intact bumps value.
6. Canadian Price Variants (1983–1986)
🇨🇦 Same comic. Less supply. More upside.
Why it matters: Printed in lower quantities, often 5–10x scarcer than US versions.
Market blind spot: Most listings don’t even mention the price box.
Collector strategy: Build a CPV set now while it's still cheap—and watch it age like fine Molson.
5. Tales of the Teen Titans #44 (1984)
🦸 Hello, Nightwing
Key event: Dick Grayson becomes Nightwing.
GPA Price (9.6): ~$117
Why it’s underrated: Nightwing is arguably DC’s most beloved post-Robin character. Yet the market barely notices.
4. Daredevil #158 (1979)
👊 Frank Miller Enters the Ring
Significance: Miller’s first Daredevil art.
GPA Price (9.8): ~$1,000
Why it’s underrated: His run turned DD into a noir icon, and it started right here. A creative key if there ever was one.
3. Marvel Graphic Novel #4 — The New Mutants (1982)
🧬 Not your average floppy
Format: Oversized, prestige format.
GPA Price (9.6): ~$156
CGC 9.8 Census: Scarce due to binding
Why it’s underrated: First appearance of the New Mutants—Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Sunspot, Karma. An X-franchise foundation book.
📝 Harder to grade means longer-term value when slabbed well.
2. X-Men #104 (1977)
🌌 The Starjammers Land
Key firsts: Starjammers and Corsair (Cyclops’ father).
GPA Price (9.6): ~$250
Why it’s underrated: Builds the X-Men universe beyond Earth years before cosmic became cool.
1. Spectacular Spider-Man #1 (1976)
🕷️ The Second Spidey Series Launch
Why it’s special: Launch of Spidey’s second title. Classic Buscema artwork.
GPA Price (9.8): ~$257
CGC 9.8 Census: ~700
Why it’s underrated: If this were a second-title Batman #1, it would be four figures. But Spidey? Somehow, it still flies under radar.
👉 Collector tip: Look for newsstand copies with strong centering—many are miscut.
🎯 Final Word: Underrated Today, Overdue Tomorrow
If you’re building your collection on what might matter in five or ten years, don’t just follow the herd. Sometimes, it’s the quietly shelved CGC slab with the underappreciated story, creator debut, or overlooked variant that ends up being the smartest pickup in the box.
Rarity doesn’t always scream from a census chart. Sometimes, it whispers.
And in those whispers, a smart collector hears opportunity.
Want to win the long game? Go where the crowd isn’t looking—yet.
GPA Price is based on an average of the last 90 days or past year (if no sales were recorded in the last 90 days), depending on when the last sale was recorded.
