Top of the Stack: Best-Selling Comic Titles by Decade (September 9 – September 22, 2025)
In the most recent fortnight, the graded market moved $12,196,632 across 20,063 slabs, with a median of $99. The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) was again the workhorse—1,357 copies for roughly $1.0M—while the headline was pure Golden Age: Flash Comics #1 (1940) CGC 8.5 realised $396,000 via HA.com.
Source: GPAnalysis.com, sales recorded from September 9 to September 22, 2025.
Market Observations
🕷️ Spider-engine keeps humming: ASM (1963) dominates volume and pushes seven-figure revenue.
🥇 Early-era muscle: Golden/Platinum decades produced the largest Top-5 title dollars this period, powered by Detective Comics, Superman, and Captain America Comics.
🧲 Silver still magnetic: 1960s keys (ASM, Hulk, FF, X-Men) were a close second on Top-5 title dollars.
🟤 Bronze bedrock: 1970s–1980s Top-5 were led by ASM, Hulk, Giant-Size X-Men, and Star Wars.
🚀 Moderns hold lane: 1990s–2020s Top-5 totals are modest versus earlier eras, but breadth remains—New Mutants #98, Ultimate Fallout #4, and contemporary Batman/indie runs all posted.
Top 5 titles in sales by era
Let’s step through the age/eras by decade
Platinum/Golden Age
🕰️ 1930s – Superman & Detective Rise
Early proto-hero icons like Superman and Detective Comics dominate sales, proving the foundation era still drives top-dollar results.
Top 5 titles by volume: Action Comics (1938); Marvel Science Stories (1938–1939); Weird Tales (1923–1954); Superman (1939–1986); Famous Funnies (1934–1955)
Top 5 titles by sales:
Detective Comics (1937): $162,480
Superman (1939–1986): $156,100
Wonder Comics (1939): $84,000
Wonderworld Comics (1939–1942): $45,600
Action Comics (1938): $39,751
Most traded issues: Superman #2 (1939); Wonderworld Comics #8 (1939); Weird Tales #118 (1933); Action Comics #13 (1939); Movie Comics #1 (1939)
🦇 1940s – Batman, Cap & Flash Lead
With Batman, Captain America Comics, and a $396K Flash Comics #1 sale, wartime superheroes continue to set the Golden Age pace.
Top 5 titles by volume: Batman (1940); Captain America Comics (1941–1954); Superman (1939–1986); Detective Comics (1937); Marvel Mystery Comics (1939–1949)
Top 5 titles by sales:
Captain America Comics (1941–1954): $506,422
Flash Comics (1940–1949): $403,297
Batman (1940): $339,267
Hit Comics (1940–1950): $333,556
Pep Comics (1940–1987): $319,725
Most traded issues: Batman #11 (1942); Wonder Woman #1 (1942); Catman Comics #21 (1943); Batman #15 (1943); Batman #2 (1940)
👻 1950s – Showcase Sparks a New Era
Keys like Showcase #22 and Action Comics #242 show the ’50s bridging code-era caution with landmark hero debuts that remain vital today.
Top 5 titles by volume: Action Comics (1938); Showcase (1956–1978); Batman (1940); Adventure Comics (1938–1983); Detective Comics (1937)
Top 5 titles by sales:
Action Comics (1938): $80,149
Showcase (1956–1978): $66,421
Tales of Terror Annual (1951–1953): $38,400
Weird Science (1950–1953): $33,283
Weird Mysteries (1952–1954): $29,650
Most traded issues: Action Comics #242 (1958); Showcase #22 (1959); Action Comics #252 (1959); Confessions of Romance #9 (1954); Showcase #23 (1959)
Silver Age
🕷️ 1960s – Spider-Man, Hulk & Marvel Core
The Silver Age is anchored by Marvel’s big four—ASM, Hulk, FF, and X-Men—cementing the decade as the market’s liquidity engine.
Top 5 titles by volume: The Amazing Spider-Man (1963); Fantastic Four (1961); The X-Men (1963–1981); The Avengers (1963); Batman (1940)
Top 5 titles by sales:
The Amazing Spider-Man (1963): $550,490
The Incredible Hulk (1962–1999): $417,668
Fantastic Four (1961): $400,714
The X-Men (1963–1981): $374,549
Amazing Fantasy (1962–1996): $254,301
Most traded issues: Fantastic Four #48 (1966); The Silver Surfer #1 (1968); Fantastic Four #45 (1965); The X-Men #50 (1968); The X-Men #1 (1963)
Bronze Age
🌌 1970s – Hulk, X-Men & Star Wars Keys
From Hulk #181 to Giant-Size X-Men #1 and Star Wars #1, the ’70s deliver Bronze Age essentials collectors chase in every grade.
Top 5 titles by volume: The Amazing Spider-Man (1963); The X-Men (1963–1981); Star Wars (1977–1986); The Incredible Hulk (1962–1999); Batman (1940)
Top 5 titles by sales:
The Amazing Spider-Man (1963): $240,510
The Incredible Hulk (1962–1999): $138,477
The X-Men (1963–1981): $130,813
Giant-Size X-Men (1975): $89,756
Star Wars (1977–1986): $60,447
Most traded issues: Star Wars #1 (1977); The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974); The Incredible Hulk #181 (1974); Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975); The Amazing Spider-Man #194 (1979)
🛡️ 1980s – TMNT & ASM Steal the Spotlight
The 1980s mix mainstream and indie firepower, with ASM #300 and TMNT #1 proving the decade’s enduring crossover appeal.
Top 5 titles by volume: The Amazing Spider-Man (1963); The Uncanny X-Men (1981); Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (1984–1985); Batman (1940); Daredevil (1964–1998)
Top 5 titles by sales:
The Amazing Spider-Man (1963): $111,606
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1984–1993): $80,013
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (1984–1985): $30,370
The Uncanny X-Men (1981): $21,660
The X-Men (1963–1981): $20,432
Most traded issues: Secret Wars #8 (1984); The Amazing Spider-Man #300 (1988); The Amazing Spider-Man #252 (1984); Wolverine Limited Series #1 (1982); Wolverine #1 (1988)
Modern Age
🧟♂️ 1990s – Mutants, Venom & Spawn
Speculation darlings like New Mutants #98, ASM #361, and Spawn #1 highlight how ’90s keys remain entry points for many collectors.
Top 5 titles by volume: The Amazing Spider-Man (1963); Spawn (1992); Spider-Man (1990–1998); X-Men/New X-Men (1991); The Uncanny X-Men (1981)
Top 5 titles by sales:
The New Mutants (1983–1991): $34,069
The Amazing Spider-Man (1963): $25,242
Venom: Lethal Protector (1993): $23,127
Spawn (1992): $22,651
Spider-Man (1990–1998): $21,497
Most traded issues: Spider-Man #1 (1990); Spawn #1 (1992); X-Men #1 (1991); The Amazing Spider-Man #361 (1992); The New Mutants #98 (1991)
🛡️ 2000s – Invincible & Walking Dead Surge
Indie heroes Invincible and Walking Dead define the decade’s staying power, outperforming most superhero fare in both sales and volume.
Top 5 titles by volume: Invincible (2003); Batman (1940); The Amazing Spider-Man (1963); Spawn (1992); Sports Illustrated (1954)
Top 5 titles by sales:
Invincible (2003): $39,450
Batman (1940): $17,530
The Amazing Spider-Man (1963): $8,937
The Walking Dead (2003): $8,058
Sports Illustrated (1954): $5,631
Most traded issues: Batman #608 (2002); The Amazing Spider-Man (1999–2003) #36 (2001); Marvel Zombies #1 (2006); Ultimate Spider-Man #1 (2000); Hulk #1 (2008)
🧠 2010s – Ultimate Fallout Defines the Era
Ultimate Fallout #4 leads the charge, backed by Invincible and horror moderns like Something Is Killing the Children cementing new modern keys.
Top 5 titles by volume: Invincible (2003); Spawn (1992); Venom (2018); Ultimate Fallout (2011); The Amazing Spider-Man (2014)
Top 5 titles by sales:
Ultimate Fallout (2011): $50,747
Invincible (2003): $23,717
The Amazing Spider-Man (1963): $16,399
Spawn (1992): $10,763
Something Is Killing the Children (2019): $6,749
Most traded issues: Ultimate Fallout #4 (2011); Detective Comics #1000 (2019); Something Is Killing the Children #1 (2019); Venom (2018) #1 (2018); The Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #4 (2014)
🦇 2020s – Batman & Spears Monsters Dominate
Current movers like Absolute Batman and Mark Spears Monsters prove modern franchises and fresh indie blood can go toe-to-toe in today’s market.
Top 5 titles by volume: Absolute Batman (2024); Batman (2016); The Amazing Spider-Man (2022); Mark Spears Monsters (2024); Invincible Universe: Battle Beast (2025)
Top 5 titles by sales:
The Amazing Spider-Man (2022): $17,810
Mark Spears Monsters (2024): $16,945
Absolute Batman (2024): $16,320
Batman (2016): $10,254
Wolverine (2020): $8,063
Most traded issues: Absolute Batman #1 (2024); Batman (2016) #158 (2025); Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #1 (2025); Waifu Chronicles #1 (2025); Power Hour #2 (2024)
Final Panel: What the Fortnight Reveals
A balanced fortnight with early-era dollars setting the ceiling and Silver-Age keys close behind. Bronze stalwarts kept turnover brisk, while Moderns held their ground with recognisable keys and popular runs.
Unexpected 1940s depth emerged alongside the headline Flash Comics #1 sale, as Hit Comics ($333,556) and Pep Comics ($319,725) both landed in the 1940s Top 5 by sales—an unusually strong showing beyond the usual Batman/Cap anchors.
Keep watching high-grade 1960s Marvel movement and Golden Age one-offs—they’re steering the narrative even as median affordability stays put.
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