Top of the Stack: Best-Selling CGC Comic Titles by Decade (August 11–24, 2026)

The CGC-graded market pushed higher again during the latest fortnight, with both trading activity and total sales climbing while the median price returned to $100.

From August 11 to August 24, 2026, GPAnalysis recorded $6.4 million in sales from 24,638 individual books across major venues offering CGC-graded comics, magazines and pulps.

Source: GPAnalysis.com, sales recorded from (August 11–24, 2026).

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Market Observations

🏆 Trophy Sale

Sports Illustrated #25 CGC 8.5 (1956) sold for $85,400, helping Sports Illustrated unexpectedly lead the entire 1950s by sales.

🕷️ The Volume King

Amazing Spider-Man (1963) remained the most-traded title in the market, with 1,695 books sold for approx $0.6 million.

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Insights

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Overview

In the latest fortnight (August 11–24, 2026), GPAnalysis reported:

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Total sales: $6,379,442

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Books sold: 24,638

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Median price: $100

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Most-traded title: Amazing Spider-Man (1963)

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Top individual sale: Sports Illustrated #25 CGC 8.5 (1956)

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Where the Money Went

This chart combines the five highest-selling titles from each decade to show where collector spending was concentrated. Dataset pooled during the August 11–24, 2026 reporting period.

$775,433

highest combined Top Five sales — 1960s

Combined Top Five title sales

1960s

$775,433

The 1960s generated the highest combined Top Five sales of any decade, led by Amazing Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and X-Men.

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Popularity ≠ Spending

This chart compares the most-traded title with the highest-selling title for each decade. Dataset pooled during the August 11–24, 2026 reporting period.

5 of 10

decades shared the same leader

Same leader Different leaders

DECADE MOST TRADED HIGHEST SALES

1930s Amazing Stories × Mystery Men Comics 1940s Superman × Batman 1950s Superman × Sports Illustrated 1960s Amazing Spider-Man ✓ Amazing Spider-Man 1970s Amazing Spider-Man ✓ Amazing Spider-Man 1980s Amazing Spider-Man ✓ Amazing Spider-Man 1990s Amazing Spider-Man × Spider-Man 2000s Invincible ✓ Invincible 2010s Invincible × Ultimate Fallout 2020s Absolute Batman ✓ Absolute Batman

1960s

Same leader

Amazing Spider-Man ranked first for both trading volume and sales among 1960s titles, generating $253,262.

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How Dominant Was the #1 Title?

This chart shows what share of each decade’s combined Top Five title sales was generated by its highest-selling title. Dataset pooled during the August 11–24, 2026 reporting period.

72.3%

highest concentration

Share generated by #1 title

DECADE HIGHEST-SELLING TITLE SHARE OF TOP FIVE

1930s Mystery Men Comics 31.2% 1940s Batman 21.8% 1950s Sports Illustrated 63.0% 1960s Amazing Spider-Man 32.7% 1970s Amazing Spider-Man 29.0% 1980s Amazing Spider-Man 38.5% 1990s Spider-Man 25.1% 2000s Invincible 57.5% 2010s Ultimate Fallout 49.1% 2020s Absolute Batman 72.3%

2020s

72.3%

Absolute Batman — $207,878 of $287,682

Absolute Batman generated $207,878 of the 2020s Top Five total of $287,682, accounting for 72.3% and making the 2020s the most concentrated decade in the dataset.

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Let’s step through the ages/eras by decade

Platinum/Golden Age

1930s

The 1930s produced one of the clearest separations between trading activity and collector spending. Amazing Stories was the decade’s most-traded title, but Mystery Men Comics generated the highest sales total.

Top five titles by volume:

1. Amazing Stories (1926–1970)

2. Astounding Stories (1930–1938)

3. Strange Detective Mysteries (1937–1943)

4. Action Comics (1938)

5. Phantom Detective (1933–1953)

Top five titles by sales:

1. Mystery Men Comics (1939–1942): $10,370

2. Action Comics (1938): $9,190

3. Funny Pages (1936–1940): $5,002

4. Detective Picture Stories (1936–1937): $4,636

5. New York World’s Fair (1939): $4,000

The most traded issues were:

1. New York World’s Fair #nn (1939)

2. Tip Top Comics #36 (1939)

3. Gang World #20 (1932)

4. Amazing Stories #140 (1939)

5. Phantom Detective #10 (1933)

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1940s

Superman led the 1940s by volume, but spending was remarkably competitive across several major Golden Age titles. Batman finished first by sales at $36,846, narrowly ahead of Captain America Comics at $36,329 and Detective Comics at $35,616.

Top five titles by volume:

1. Superman (1939–1986)

2. Master Comics (1940–1953)

3. Detective Comics (1937)

4. Captain America Comics (1941–1954)

5. Batman (1940)

Top five titles by sales:

1. Batman (1940): $36,846

2. Captain America Comics (1941–1954): $36,329

3. Detective Comics (1937): $35,616

4. Master Comics (1940–1953): $33,483

5. Superman (1939–1986): $26,891

The most traded issues were:

1. Pep Comics #33 (1942)

2. Detective Comics #109 (1946)

3. Sensation Comics #48 (1945)

4. Fighting Yank #8 (1944)

5. Target Comics #7 (1940)

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1950s

The 1950s delivered the biggest surprise of the reporting period. Superman was the decade’s most-traded title, but Sports Illustrated dominated sales following the $85,400 sale of Sports Illustrated #25.

Sports Illustrated generated $91,256 across the decade’s Top Five sales ranking, more than five times the total generated by second-placed Batman.

Top five titles by volume:

1. Superman (1939–1986)

2. Batman (1940)

3. Tales from the Crypt (1950–1955)

4. Detective Comics (1937)

5. Action Comics (1938)

Top five titles by sales:

1. Sports Illustrated (1954): $91,256

2. Batman (1940): $17,609

3. Tales from the Crypt (1950–1955): $14,443

4. Showcase (1956–1978): $11,388

5. Action Comics (1938): $10,155

The most traded issues were:

1. Superboy #68 (1958)

2. Weird Chills #2 (1954)

3. Haunt of Fear #17 (1953)

4. Tales from the Crypt #20 (1950)

5. Diary of Horror #1 (1952)

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Silver Age

1960s

The 1960s were the largest decade in the dataset by Top Five title sales, with the top five titles totalling $775,433.

Amazing Spider-Man led both volume and sales, generating $253,262, while Fantastic Four followed with $200,368. X-Men, Avengers and Amazing Fantasy rounded out a heavyweight Silver Age sales table.

Top five titles by volume:

1. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963)

2. Fantastic Four (1961)

3. X-Men, The (1963–1981)

4. Avengers, The (1963)

5. Daredevil (1964–1998)

Top five titles by sales:

1. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963): $253,262

2. Fantastic Four (1961): $200,368

3. X-Men, The (1963–1981): $142,788

4. Avengers, The (1963): $98,364

5. Amazing Fantasy (1962–1996): $80,651

The most traded issues were:

1. Iron Man #1 (1968)

2. Silver Surfer #1 (1968)

3. Fantastic Four #48 (1966)

4. Fantastic Four #52 (1966)

5. Fantastic Four #49 (1966)

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Bronze Age

1970s

Amazing Spider-Man again topped the charts in the 1970s, leading both volume and sales.

But the sales race was much closer. Amazing Spider-Man generated $132,030, only slightly ahead of Incredible Hulk at $127,821. X-Men, Giant-Size X-Men and Marvel Spotlight completed a decade dominated by enduring Marvel keys.

Top five titles by volume:

1. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963)

2. X-Men, The (1963–1981)

3. Star Wars (1977–1986)

4. Marvel Spotlight (1971–1981)

5. Avengers, The (1963)

Top five titles by sales:

1. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963): $132,030

2. Incredible Hulk, The (1962–1999): $127,821

3. X-Men, The (1963–1981): $87,394

4. Giant-Size X-Men (1975): $56,452

5. Marvel Spotlight (1971–1981): $51,592

The most traded issues were:

1. Amazing Spider-Man #194 (1979)

2. Star Wars #1 (1977)

3. Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974)

4. X-Men #101 (1976)

5. Incredible Hulk #181 (1974)

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1980s

Amazing Spider-Man completed a three-decade run at the top of both volume and sales in the 1980s.

Its $179,135 sales total placed it well ahead of Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars at $94,577 and Uncanny X-Men at $79,827. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles also made its presence felt, ranking fourth by sales despite not appearing among the five most-traded titles.

Top five titles by volume:

1. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963)

2. Uncanny X-Men, The (1981)

3. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (1984–1985)

4. X-Men, The (1963–1981)

5. Daredevil (1964–1998)

Top five titles by sales:

1. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963): $179,135

2. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (1984–1985): $94,577

3. Uncanny X-Men, The (1981): $79,827

4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1984–1993): $58,815

5. X-Men, The (1963–1981): $52,613

The most traded issues were:

1. Uncanny X-Men #221 (1987)

2. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8 (1984)

3. Avengers Annual #10 (1981)

4. Amazing Spider-Man #300 (1988)

5. Amazing Spider-Man #252 (1984)

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Modern Age

1990s

Amazing Spider-Man remained the most-traded title in the 1990s, extending its volume leadership across four consecutive decades.

This time, however, Spider-Man (1990–1998) took the sales crown with $47,849, narrowly ahead of Amazing Spider-Man at $43,783.

Top five titles by volume:

1. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963)

2. Spider-Man (1990–1998)

3. X-Men/New X-Men (1991)

4. Uncanny X-Men, The (1981)

5. Spawn (1992)

Top five titles by sales:

1. Spider-Man (1990–1998): $47,849

2. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963): $43,783

3. New Mutants, The (1983–1991): $38,651

4. Uncanny X-Men, The (1981): $33,522

5. Spawn (1992): $26,606

The most traded issues were:

1. Spider-Man #1 (1990)

2. X-Men/New X-Men #1 (1991)

3. Spawn #1 (1992)

4. Amazing Spider-Man #361 (1992)

5. Uncanny X-Men #266 (1990)

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2000s

Invincible controlled the 2000s, finishing first for both volume and sales. Its $42,461 sales total was more than four times that of second-placed Amazing Spider-Man, giving the title a particularly commanding lead over the rest of the decade.

Top five titles by volume:

1. Invincible (2003)

2. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963)

3. Batman (1940)

4. X-Men/New X-Men (1991)

5. Walking Dead (2003)

Top five titles by sales:

1. Invincible (2003): $42,461

2. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963): $10,527

3. Batman (1940): $8,380

4. Walking Dead (2003): $6,883

5. NYX (2003): $5,604

The most traded issues were:

1. Wolverine/Dark Wolverine #66 (2008)

2. Young Avengers #1 (2005)

3. Green Lantern #25 (2008)

4. Amazing Spider-Man #601 (2009)

5. Amazing Spider-Man #546 (2008)

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2010s

The 2010s produced another split between activity and spending. Invincible was the decade’s most-traded title, but Ultimate Fallout led sales with $47,443. Ultimate Fallout #4 was also the decade’s most-traded individual issue.

Top five titles by volume:

1. Invincible (2003)

2. Spawn (1992)

3. Ultimate Fallout (2011)

4. Walking Dead (2003)

5. Amazing Spider-Man (2014)

Top five titles by sales:

1. Ultimate Fallout (2011): $47,443

2. Invincible (2003): $15,989

3. Amazing Spider-Man (2014): $12,070

4. Spawn (1992): $11,470

5. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963): $9,641

The most traded issues were:

1. Ultimate Fallout #4 (2011)

2. Amazing Spider-Man #4 (2014)

3. Amazing Spider-Man #700 (2013)

4. Amazing Spider-Man #1 (2014)

5. Secret Wars #1 (2015)

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2020s

Absolute Batman was the defining title of the 2020s, leading both volume and sales.

Its $207,878 sales total dwarfed the remainder of the decade’s Top Five, with second-placed Custom Hero Initiative Giant-Size X-Men generating $26,917. The result also made the 2020s the fourth-largest decade by combined Top Five title sales, behind only the 1960s, 1980s and 1970s.

Top five titles by volume:

1. Absolute Batman (2024)

2. Deviant Nation (2024)

3. Bangers Cover Gallery (2025)

4. Amazing Spider-Man (2022)

5. Fantasy of Cosplay Comic Cover Gallery (2024)

Top five titles by sales:

1. Absolute Batman (2024): $207,878

2. Custom Hero Initiative Giant-Size X-Men (2025): $26,917

3. Absolute Batman Ashcan (2024): $24,225

4. Deviant Nation (2024): $14,340

5. Amazing Spider-Man (2022): $14,322

The most traded issues were:

1. Deviant Nation #nn (2025)

2. Bangers Cover Gallery #3 (2026)

3. Absolute Batman #1 (2024)

4. Absolute Batman #19 (2026)

5. Absolute Batman #15 (2026)

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Final Panel

The August 11–24 period was broad.

Nearly 24,700 graded books changed hands, the median returned to $100, and Amazing Spider-Man remained the most-traded title in the market. Yet beneath those headline numbers, collector spending stretched from Golden Age comics and Silver Age Marvel to a record-setting Sports Illustrated sale and the continuing strength of Absolute Batman.

The 1960s remained the centre of gravity when the Top Five sales totals were combined, generating $775,433, comfortably ahead of every other decade.

Amazing Spider-Man’s reach was equally difficult to ignore. It led volume across four consecutive decades and sales across three, while also remaining the single most-traded title across the entire market.

At the same time, Sports Illustrated and Absolute Batman demonstrate why looking beyond volume matters. A single standout sale pushed Sports Illustrated to the top of the 1950s, while concentrated spending around Absolute Batman propelled the 2020s ahead of several much older collecting eras.

Another fortnight, another market where the top of the stack tells only part of the story.

Want to dig into every sale behind these highlights?

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See you in two weeks. Keep stacking.