Not every pricey panel deserves the praise.

Let’s be honest: every collector has had that moment—eyes wide at a listing on GPA, heart racing at an auction, palms a little sweaty thinking, “Should I grab this now before it skyrockets?”
But what if the comic you’re eyeing isn’t actually rare, or even meaningful?
What if it’s…overrated?

It’s not a popular thing to say, especially in a hobby built around nostalgia and grail-hunting. But it’s a necessary conversation—especially if we want to stop bleeding money on books inflated more by hype than historical or collectible weight.

Let’s discuss some these examples in more detail.

The Usual Suspects

🧱 New Mutants #98 (1991) — First Appearance of Deadpool

CGC 9.8 FMV: ~$1,000–$1,300
CGC Census 9.8 copies: Over 22,000
Scarcity? Not even close.

Deadpool’s debut is modern, mass-produced, and CGC slabs of it are about as common as Funko Pops at a comic con. Yes, he’s beloved. Yes, he’s getting a third movie. But this book is everywhere, and long-term ROI? Minimal unless you’re flipping it fast.
We’re not saying it’s worthless. We’re saying it’s not worth the fuss.

⚙️ Incredible Hulk #271 (1982) — First Comic Book Appearance of Rocket Raccoon

CGC 9.8 FMV: ~$2,000+ (peaked near $4,000 pre-Guardians Vol. 3)
Context: Rocket technically first appeared in Marvel Preview #7.
CGC 9.8 population: Climbing fast.

The Guardians franchise helped pump this book’s value like a set of gym bros on arm day. But it’s a second-tier appearance in a mid-run Hulk issue, with Rocket shoved in as comic relief. Once the MCU fades, so does the price. And again—this book isn’t rare.

🧑‍🎤 Spider-Woman #1 (1978) — “It’s Her First Solo!”

CGC 9.8 FMV: ~$600
Hype driver: Repeated MCU casting rumors that never materialize.

Spider-Woman is a character collectors want to matter—but she hasn’t. This book surges in value every time a new rumor hits, then plummets when the rumor turns into vapor.
It’s speculative catnip—and speculative poison. Your choice.

🛸 Eternals #1 (1976) — First Appearance of the Eternals

CGC 9.8 FMV: ~$1,000 (was over $3,000 pre-MCU release)
Census notes: High-grade copies abound.

The Eternals movie was fine. The book is not. This is a Jack Kirby effort that lacks staying power in modern mythology. Marvel Studios wanted them to matter. Fans shrugged.
Post-movie crash? Icarus-level.

Why These Books Get So Much Attention

The rise of overrated comics isn’t always driven by collectors. More often than not, it’s driven by:

MCU speculation cycles
A casting rumor alone can ignite thousands of dollars in misplaced capital.
High-grade abundance
As mentioned in The CGC Census and GPA Recorded Sales article, a bloated population in CGC 9.6–9.8 means these books aren’t truly scarce—just repeatedly flipped .
False scarcity
Many buyers confuse “hard to find at this price” with “hard to find.” They aren’t the same.
Social media echo chambers
“Hot lists,” YouTube influencers, and Instagram accounts can create demand where none existed.

The Opportunity Cost of Hype

When you’re spending $1,200 on New Mutants #98, you’re not spending $1,200 on something legitimately rare.

That same money could land you:

A Golden Age non-key in mid-grade with real scarcity.
A Canadian Price Variant (CPV) with fewer known copies .
Or a cool cover classic with historical value and fewer than 300 copies in CGC 9.8—period.

Instead of chasing the spotlight, you could be investing in the shadows where value often hides.

So… Should You Still Buy Them?

Sure. If they bring you joy.
But if you’re buying because you’re afraid to miss out—pause.

Check GPA.
Check the CGC Census.
Ask yourself: “Is this hot… or just hyped?”

The comic market isn’t rigged—but it is emotional. And emotional markets are notoriously bad at pricing things correctly.
If you want to collect wisely—and perhaps with a dash of rebellion—look past the Top 10 lists.

Ask yourself not what’s trending… but what’s underappreciated.
You might just beat the hype at its own game.

Overrated Comics: When Hype Hijacks the Hobby