September Top Picks with Travis Landry

As summer winds down we begin to see the leaves starting to change color, slightly cooler mornings and pumpkin spice everything popping up on menus near you. September is not only the start to fall but also a good time to review the market as we close quarter three in the marketplace.

If you refer back to our Top Picks article from July, 2021 the Pop Culture market was continuously breaking records only set a month or even a week before. People couldn't get enough Pop Culture! I’m happy to report the market has largely stayed the same. While there may have been a subtle market correction for items that underwent a rapid price inflation, their values are still 100% to 500% higher than a pre-pandemic market. But just slightly depressed from peak COVID time of January-July, 2021. However, items of true rarity and collector quality could not be performing better.

With that being said, on Saturday September 25th, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers will host their September Comic, TCG, and Toy Auction starting at 10:00am EST.

Here are our Top Picks with some useful collector-investor tips!

Lot 116: Marvel Comics Fantastic Four #1 CGC 4.5

If I were asked what the one comic book above all others is to buy right now for the best investment it would be a Fantastic Four #1. Not only is the book of monumental historic significance, but it has been severely undervalued and is just starting to pick up steam in comparison to comparable books of the time. Most people simply know it as the first appearance of the Fantastic Four, but it’s also the first super hero comic and first super hero team of the Silver Age of Marvel Comics. Everything you've seen on the silver screen the last 13 years (theoretically) wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for Fantastic Four #1.

November, 1961 - that’s the start of it all for the Marvel Universe we know today. For a quick comparison, if you wanted to buy an Amazing Fantasy #15 (1^st app. Spider-Man) in CGC 4.5 condition market average is currently $51,111.00 based on five transactions this year. That’s more than double what you can currently buy a Fantastic Four #1 in CGC 4.5 condition for. FF #1 is nine months older with a lower population. Seems like a no brainer to me!

Lot 137: Marvel Comics Fantastic Four #48 CGC 8.5

Continuing on the theme of the Fantastic Four - issue 48 has been a holy grail of collectors for over a decade. However, since the confirmation of the Fantastic Four entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe, its made this book shoot to the stratosphere in value. The comic featured the first appearance of the Silver Surfer and Galactus, two characters within Marvel history known to cause quite a bit of trouble and fan favorites at doing such. To show how exponential the increase has been, in 2017 at Bruneau & Co. a 8.5 graded copy was estimated $800-$1,200 and sold for $1,375.00 including premium. Today a different copy with the same grade is estimated $4,000-$6,000 and, based on recent results, I would not be surprised if it hammered for double the low estimate. The best part is being a Silver Age key, I feel this book still has plenty of room to grow. Once fans are given just a glimpse of Galactus or his herald, this book is sure to rise even further.

Lot 165: Marvel Comics Incredible Hulk #181 CGC 8.5

For every era of comic book there are a certain few that define the generation as the top tier. For the Bronze Age of comics, it doesn’t get any better than Incredible Hulk #181. It checks all the boxes - having an incredible cover by Herbe Trimpe and featuring the first full appearance of James “Logan” Howlett, better known as Wolverine. It also has an added rarity factor. The book included a Marvel Value Stamp, a marketing campaign at the time for kids to cut-out and collect these stamps within a book to later redeem for merchandise or discounts. It’s referred to by collectors as the Amazing Fantasy #15 of the Bronze Age, and for very good reason as you can see. Every year more collectors enter the market, and high-grade copies with white pages get harder to find. It’s a must-have for the serious comic collector.

Lot 216: Marvel Comics Star Wars #1 CGC 9.8

Continuing on the theme of Lot 165, with books defining a generation and the Bronze Age in particular, Star Wars #1 is a close second. The Bronze Age of comics runs from 1970 to 1984. Within that time frame enters arguably the most successful media franchise of Pop Culture lore, Star Wars! Star Wars #1 is the first appearance of the Star Wars world in comics coming only two months after the release of the movie. It’s both an important piece of Star Wars and comic book history. The point is, it’s a cross pollinating collectible appealing to both comic book and Star Wars fans. While this book did undergo a large print run there are only 673 in 9.8 condition with 0 higher. Making it a hot commodity where demand heavily outweighs supply. This is a Pop Culture stock to watch over the next five years. It’s a good one to have.

Lot 424: Rare Pre-War Lightning Electromechanical Pinball

This game makes the top five not out of value or investment potential, but purely on cool factor. This machine is awesome! It’s a great example of the early stages of electromechanical pinball machines. You could say it’s the foundation technology to what standard pinball today with bumpers, lights, and flippers of the 1970’s was built on. It also presents really well with its original finish, or what’s left of it. Estate fresh is the term we’ll call it. It’s just asking for the right collector to restore it and bring back to working condition.

View the full catalog for Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers, 'September Comic TCG & Toy Auction' coming up on September 25 and register to bid live on Bidsquare.

________________________________

Travis Landry is the Director of Pop Culture and Auctioneer for Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers of Cranston, Rhode Island. He is also an expert appraiser on PBS' Antiques Roadshow in Collectibles and Toys & Games.