First Appearances: Guardians of the Galaxy Key Issues

In today's blog I want to talk about first appearances. Most comic collectors know about Detective Comics 27, Action Comics 1, Incredible Hulk 181, Amazing Fantasy 15 etc. but today I want  to discuss some first appearances that are less known but trending upward.

The books I want to take a look at all involve the Guardians of the Galaxy. The Guardians were not a household name until the movie came out last Summer. Even making the movie was considered a risk on Marvel's part but it was a risk that paid out huge dividends. The film grossed a TON and the value of Guardians of the Galaxy key issues rose.

First Appearances 

• Guardians of the Galaxy - Marvel Super Heroes #18 (1969)
• These are NOT the Guardians we know from the film but nonetheless it is the first appearance of the GOTG. 
• The original members did include Yondu, who was seen in the film, but he is very different in the comic.
• A graded 8.5 recently sold for $600+ - this book used to be valued at $85 for a NM copy!
• Non-graded copies fluctuate a lot, in low conditions I have been seeing this book sell for no lower than $30, mid grade books can fetch $80 - $100, and higher grades for $120 plus
• If you are looking to sell this book, and are confident it is at least a 4.5, then I would look into having it graded by the CGC first.
• Rocket Raccoon - Incredible Hulk #271 and Marvel Preview #7
• Kind of like the way Wolverine actually appears in Incredible Hulk 180 but 181 is considered his "first" appearance, Rocket Raccoon first appeared in Marvel Preview 7 but Hulk 271 is considered his "first cannon" appearance.
• Marvel Preview 7 is considered a magazine appearance.
• Unlike with Wolverine, Marvel Preview 7 is actually the more valuable book
• In Marvel Preview 7 Rocket was actually called "Rocky" which was later revealed to be short for Rocket
• In April a CGC graded 8.5 Marvel Preview 7 sold for $600, in my old Overstreet it doesn't even mention Rocket in this issue and it valued a NM copy at a measly $18!
• Non-Graded mid grade books are consistently fetching $150
• Hulk 271 is a valuable book but not near as valuable as Marvel Preview 7, a graded 9.4 just sold for $178 yesterday. 
• A mid grade copy looks like it'd net you $70 - $100 and lower grades $20 - $40...not too bad
• Groot - Tales to Astonish #13
• Now this book is worth a small fortune, don't expect to get it for any less than $500 and that's going to be for a low grade book.
• It is very hard to find a high grade copy of. 
• A graded 5.0 is fetching $1,500 +
• Two years ago a 5.0 would of been a few hundred, it's insane how these books have jumped since the movies

I'm not sure I buy into the idea that these books will still be this high 10 years from now but they are definitely hot now. If you are looking to sell I'd do so now or when the second film comes out, if you are looking to track any of these books down I'd be happy to help, feel free to get in touch. Excelsior!