The graded comic book market speaks through its slabs, revealing trends, tastes, and timeless appeal. From pre-war pulps to modern niche hits, here’s what moved, what mattered, and how each decade performed in the latest fortnight of sales.

Market Overview

Between June 15 and June 28, 2025, GPAnalysis tracked:

$13.5 million in total recorded sales
20,748 graded books changing hands across major auction and marketplace venues
A median sale price of $100

Unsurprisingly, The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) swung to the top as the most traded title, with 1,315 copies sold for a combined $700,000. But it was The Incredible Hulk #1 (1962) in CGC 9.2 condition that stole the show, selling via Heritage Auctions for a jaw-dropping $780,000.

Decade-by-Decade Breakdown

1930s

Collectors chased pulps and proto-superheroes, with Action Comics and Superman leading both volume and value from the dawn of the superhero era.

Most sold titles: Weird Tales, Superman, The Shadow
Top title by sales: Action Comics (1938) – $500,160
Most traded issue: Planet Stories #1 (1939)

1940s

Golden Age giants like Batman and Captain America Comics dominated sales, proving wartime-era classics are still heavyweight contenders.

Most sold titles: Batman, Superman, Planet Comics
Top title by sales: Captain America Comics – $494,554
Most traded issue: Superman #36 (1945)

1950s

Horror and crime titles crept back into the spotlight, with Tales from the Crypt and Haunt of Fear drawing steady volume and strong demand.

Most sold titles: Tales from the Crypt, Batman, Haunt of Fear
Top title by sales:: Detective Comics – $61,273
Most traded issue: Batman #121 (1959) – Mister Freeze’s first appearance

1960s

Silver Age milestones lit up the market, led by Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk, whose key issues commanded seven-figure attention.

Most sold titles: The Amazing Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, The X-Men
Top title by sales: Fantastic Four – $1,352,030
Most traded issues: Fantastic Four #48 & #49, Silver Surfer’s debut arc

1970s

The rise of antiheroes and sci-fi favourites pushed The Incredible Hulk and Star Wars into high sales territory, with The Punisher’s debut making serious noise.

Most sold titles: The Amazing Spider-Man, The X-Men, Star Wars
Top title by sales: The Incredible Hulk – $231,374
Most traded issue: The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974)

1980s

Black-suited Spider-Man, early Ninja Turtles, and debut Wolverines fueled nostalgia-driven sales across the decade’s biggest crossover moments.

Most sold titles: The Amazing Spider-Man, Uncanny X-Men, Daredevil
Top title by sales: The Amazing Spider-Man – $94,359
Most traded issue: Secret Wars #8 (1984)

1990s

Mass print runs didn’t slow enthusiasm for Spawn and Spider-Man, while The New Mutants #98 and its Deadpool debut topped the charts in dollars.

Most sold titles: The Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Spawn
Top title by sales: The New Mutants – $54,256
Most traded issue: Spider-Man #1 (1990)

2000s

Indie breakouts like Invincible and NYX took centre stage, proving modern classics can still command strong collector loyalty.

Most sold titles: Invincible, Batman, The Amazing Spider-Man
Top title by sales: Invincible – $40,532
Most traded issue: NYX #3 (2004) – first appearance of X-23

2010s

The era of Miles Morales and anniversary editions saw Ultimate Fallout and The Amazing Spider-Man (again) drive both volume and value.

Most sold titles: Invincible, Spawn, Ultimate Fallout
Top title by sales: The Amazing Spider-Man – $46,453
Most traded issue: Ultimate Fallout #4 (2011) – Miles Morales debuts

2020s

Modern hype meets low print runs as Waifu Chronicles and Absolute Batman lead a new generation of high-velocity flips and emerging favourites.

Most sold titles: The Amazing Spider-Man, Absolute Batman, Batman
Top title by sales: The Amazing Spider-Man (2022) – $15,077
Most traded issue: Waifu Chronicles #1 (2024)

Final Thought

While the market may ebb and flow, the storytelling power of a good comic remains timeless. Whether you’re chasing first appearances, cosmic showdowns, or indie underdogs, the slabbed stories of the past continue to fuel the future of comic collecting.

Top of the Stack: Best-Selling Comic Book Titles by Decade