Welcome to COVRPRICE's SHAKER Report, where we cover our favorite high comic book sales of the week, including comics from all corners of the hobby - from vintage comic books to modern comics! In this week's shaker we have amazing issues from ALIEN WORLDS, CAPTAIN AMERICA, CAPTAIN SCIENCE, CIVIL WAR, G.I. JOE, HULK, X-MEN and so many other comics from all ends of the comic spectrum!

SHAKERS OF THE WEEK

These are all comic books that hit our daily SHAKERS list. This list refreshes EVERY day, so don't miss out!

SHAKER: ALIEN WORLDS #4 | PACIFIC COMICS | 1983

By Jeremy Imlach

While not the most rare book on the market, it's certainly a cult classic. Known for its iconic cover art by the legendary Dave Stevens, this issue has seen plenty of movement in the marketplace. The most recent sale is a game-changer with 621 recorded raw sales and 144 slabbed sales. Traditionally, this book's raw VF FMV sits around $42, with a high mark of $153 for an NM+ copy. Slabbed 9.8 FMV sits around $177. However, what's really shaking things up is the first recorded sale of a PGX-graded 10.0 copy, which sold for $700 after being initially listed for $1,800. This is particularly notable for two reasons: a perfect 10.0 grade on a book from 1983 is extremely rare, and PGX, while one of the three (soon to be four, with PSA) major grading companies, generally doesn't command the same premium as CGC or CBCS. What happens next could be fascinating to watch. Will the new owner try to resubmit it for a CGC grade, potentially adding more prestige and value to the book? Or will it remain in its PGX slab as a curious outlier? One thing is for sure—this is a classic comic with an even more classic cover, and the recent sale has shaken the aftermarket. Stay tuned, as this could potentially solidify PGX's credibility in the marketplace or lead to a further revaluation of the trustworthiness of their grading, depending on how this perfect 10.0 book fares moving forward! 

SHAKER: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #1 - J.SCOTT CAMPBELL - COLOR | MARVEL | 2015

By Keith Shimabukuro

If you think you saw this book appear on the Weekly Shakers Report recently, you’d be correct, as this book hit a record high for a raw copy of $210 back in May. Four months later, it’s back on the report as it broke the all-time high as a graded 9.8 sold for $500 this week. In May, the CGC census stood at 510 graded copies and increased to 640 copies, with 412 being signature series. The interesting part of this book is that the sketch counterpart has a smaller print run (433 graded copies on the CGC census) but only an FMV of $19 for a raw NM and $85 for a graded 9.8. There is currently only one raw copy and two graded unsigned copies of the color version available on eBay, but several of the sketch versions (both raw and graded) are up for grabs. Besides the aesthetics of this gorgeous cover, it also has historical implications as it was the first cover that J Scott Campbell sold exclusively on his website, and started a trend where major artists could sell their variants directly through their channels instead of having to go through a major comic book label or comic book shop. Unsurprisingly, it sold out in two days, and the rest is history!

SHAKER: CAPTAIN AMERICA #154 | MARVEL | 1972

By Matthew Glover Esq.

Feeling disillusioned with the government after a series of events, Rogers became Nomad, the Man Without a Country. However, he eventually returned to being Captain America in subsequent storylines. Other characters in the Marvel Comics universe have also used the Nomad identity at different times. This issue marks the first appearance of Nomad in Marvel comics. The timing of this issue is interesting as the events of the Watergate scandal had just occurred in June of the same year. Writer Steven Englehart and Penciler Sal Buscema were influenced by what was happening in US politics at the time, and because “Captain America is loyal to the dream,” Steve Rogers shows discouragement with the state of politics. The fact that much of the issue seems to revolve around a “fake Captain America and Bucky” resonates with the time this comic was on shelves. Another interesting factoid is that the Captain America on the cover is the bad Cap, but an altered, less intimidating face was added and is often used for marketing purposes. Like Iron Man, Hulk, and X-men, Captain America books, especially older books like this one, are becoming a challenge to find, especially in mint condition. Recently, a 9.8 sold for $999.

SHAKER: CAPTAIN SCIENCE #7 | YOUTHFUL | 1951

By The Professor

One of the more obscure pre-code horror comic book titles, this seven-issue series follows the adventures of our titular hero, Gordon Dane (Captain Science). The cover of issue #7 features his assistant, Luana, in bondage, being dragged away by a living Skelton. The interior of issue #7 includes a number of short stories - none more compelling than “Heads of Horror!” In it, Captain Science must save planet Earth from an invading vampire planet bent on devouring us alive. Created by Wally Wood, Gustav Schrotter, and Walter Johnson, this short-lived comic series blended all the best parts of science fiction stories with compelling horror elements. Incredibly rare and in short supply, it was no surprise to see a CGC 8.0 of issue #7 top $5,000 this past week!

SHAKER: CIVIL WAR #1 TURNER 1:25 VARIANT | MARVEL | 2006

By Van Denby

On August 6, 2005, Marvel Comics announced that Michael Turner had signed a work-for-hire deal to contribute to a six-issue project and create cover art. The deal would come into play a year later when the Marvel event Civil War hit comic stores in 2006 and was a massive success, with fans and critics alike receiving the storyline well. The fallout from that storyline is still felt in Marvel's current storylines. Turner's first official Marvel work came in 2006 with his cover for Ms. Marvel #1, followed by this variant cover for Civil War #1.

The series was also loosely adapted into an MCU film that grossed over 1.1 Billion at the box office. The entire series featured various ratio variants by the iconic artist Michael Turner, who sadly passed away just two years later in 2008. As years have passed since the release of the Civil War film, prices have been all over the place for the variants of the series. The 1:25 for issue #1, as an example, has had sales ranging from just a few dollars for a raw copy to $44 for a graded 9.8 and $75 for a graded 9.6. These prices have been very unpredictable. However, as copies have sold, fewer have been listed, and availability has considerably dried up. This past week, a raw NM copy set an all-time high sale at $62. Is this another odd sale, or could this be another great Michael Turner variant that begins a shift upwards in price due to copies drying up? Time will tell. There will come a time when collectors will want every essential Turner book, and that time feels like it's brewing now.

SHAKER: COMICS REVUE #59 | MANUSCRIPT PRESS | 1985

By Keith Shimabukuro

Comics Revue is an independent comic book that reprints newspaper comic strips in chronological order, such as Amazing Spider-Man, Batman, Bloom County, Calvin and Hobbes, The Phantom, Tarzan, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The first issue was published in 1984, and in 2009, started publishing bi-monthly double issues for issue #281, which included eight pages of full-color strips. Since these are reprints of newspaper comic strips, the majority of these don’t sell for much. With the rise of preview comics and old Wizard magazines, it’s no surprise that two of these have come to light: Issues #51 and #59 both have Spider-Man covers drawn by the man himself, Todd McFarlane. And they're fantastic pieces by the Toddfather. This week, they saw record-high sales as issue #51 sold for $250 in a graded 9.0, while issue #51 hit $395 in a graded 9.4. Finding a Comics Revue collection in tip-top shape will be challenging, as there are only 11 graded copies of issue #59 on the CGC census with no 9.8s and two 9.6s, with them both being signature series. The highest-graded non-signature series book is the 9.4 that just sold, so the hunt is on to find that perfect copy of this book!

SHAKER : G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #273 - MIKE MAYHEW VIRGIN | IDW | 2020

By Van Denby

Mike Mayhew has graced our lists and articles many times, and he has built a large fanbase in the comic community. He has many collectible covers that have gone on to have aftermarket success, covers such as a few of his earlier works such as his vampire variants for X-23 #2 and ASM #646 way back in 2010. He has consistently put out great covers since then and has recently been doing mostly "store and studio variants" on titles such as Star Wars, Venom, and GI Joe, to name a few. His GI Joe covers, specifically, have been sought out by Joe fans. The particular variant we will cover now is his variant for issue #273 featuring Baroness. Mayhew had two different variants, one featuring her in a formal dress and the other in an all-white uniform. The uniform cover set a new all-time high this past week when a graded CGC 9.8 copy sold for $380. While many of these store variant covers fail to rise in value in the aftermarket, there are certainly exceptions, and this excellent depiction of Baroness is definitely one of those.

SHAKER: HULK #14 - ED MCGUINESS - DEADPOOL (1:200) | MARVEL | 2009

By Dana Forsythe

Already hard to find due to the high bar Marvel set for retailers, this 1 per 200 variant cover by Ed McGuiness recently hit a new high thanks to some MCU synergy. A tongue-in-cheek throwback to the infamous Jurrasic Park T-Rex chase scene, this cover features the loveable Deadpool, who recently starred in one of the highest-grossing films of all time, and the MCU’s next anti-hero, the Red Hulk, who is set to feature heavily in Captain America: Brave New World in 2025.

For a few years, graded copies of this variant were fetching between $75 and $200, but recently, a graded 9.8 copy sold for $500. This follows the more recent sales of raw copies, two of which sold in April for $205 for an NM copy and $370 for an NM+. McGuiness pulled triple duties during this Hulk run, illustrating several variants, drawing the A cover, and penciling interiors for most of the first three arcs.

SHAKER: THE MICE TEMPLAR, VOLUME IV: LEGEND #6 | IMAGE | 2013

By Nick Richardson

Typically, when we see an epic Skottie Young cover, it’s a ratio variant that Skottie fans are after in a big way. This book is different, with Young lending his signature style to the Cover A version. The design choice, color pallet, lines, and more lend themselves to this series, featuring an anthropomorphic mouse taking on a tyrant. One can’t help but be reminded of another series in TMNT #4, also featuring anthropomorphic critters taking on a tyrant! While the Mice Templar hasn’t taken over the zeitgeist like the Turtles have, it still has its fans. An NM raw copy recently sold for $97.50, about $2 off the previous high sale established a month prior. Typically, such a minor difference wouldn’t be highlighted, but it speaks to the overall market surrounding Skottie Young. The man is on a tear, and the aftermarket is following suit. We’ve routinely seen Young covers fetch high aftermarket prices, especially this year. At the beginning of the year and prior, this was a $5 book. But that changed with a sale of $85 in late July, and it’s only gone up. But that’s all available for collectors, as the graded market is barren. There is ONE copy on the CGC census, a solitary 9.4 copy just itching to be supplanted. Still, as Young grows in popularity, fans will routinely return to his early titles like this book, being only his second Image book he was featured on before taking over a year hiatus from the publisher. Keep your eyes peeled for this one!

SHAKER: THE MOON IS FOLLOWING US #1 - RILEY ROSSMO & MIKE SPICER - HALL OF JUSTICE COMICS - IMAGE SELECT RETAILER AWARD WINNER - GOLD FOIL (LIMITED 171) | IMAGE | 2024

By Keith Shimabukuro

We usually don't cover brand-new books or books that appeared on the Weekly Top 10 (came in at #19 this week) on the Weekly Shaker Report, but I couldn't resist covering this gold foil variant as it comes from an LCS near and dear to my heart, Hall of Justice Comics located in Parker, Colorado. Jonthan Garnett, the owner, is a great guy and super knowledgeable about everything comic books, so it was great to see that his store was selected as an Image Select Retailer Award winner. This award is a new initiative by Image Comics to promote the retailers that go above and beyond for their customers, help expand readership, and grow a healthier comic book market. The best part is that the customers are the ones who nominate the shops, and the Hall of Justice won in a landslide! After reviewing some previews, they selected The Moon is Following Us and struck (literal) gold as they were given Hall of Justice branded gold foil copies of this hot title. This variant's most recent sale, which looks similar to the 1:100 gold foil, was $100 for a raw NM copy. It's great to see Image Comics rewarding the lifeblood of comic books, the LCS, and I can't wait to see what other fun incentives they come up with in the future. If you're in Colorado, swing by and say hi.

SHAKER: RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #25 | DC| 2018

By Travis Millsaps

If you are a regular reader of our weekly shaker report, you will know that while there are always a few characteristics that seem to be present in shakers, not all shakers are created equal. This week, we have an example of a book that is a likely shaker due to the monumental shift in the character's dynamic. Although this book is not a true key nor a highly sought-after cover (although it's a great one), it has gained some steam in recent years. This week, a copy of Red Hood and the Outlaws #25 hit an all-time high raw sale of $76, more than 100% higher than its previous high. But why?

In Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 2, Jason Todd leads a new team, recruiting Artemis and Bizarro to fight Gotham's underworld. However, in issue #24, Jason crosses an irreversible line by shooting Penguin in the head, instantly killing him. The fallout pits him in a brutal confrontation with Batman, who condemns him for breaking the no-kill rule, severing Jason’s ties to the Bat-family. This issue also marks the end of the Outlaws, with Jason parting ways with his team. From then on, the series is titled Red Hood: Outlaw, reflecting Jason’s darker, more independent path. This issue is pivotal in his character development and not an easy book to find. With the right mix of scarcity and darn good writing, it's not uncommon to see something like this make a jump.

SHAKER: TALES OF THE BIZARRE #8 | DREN PRODUCTIONS | 2024

By Van Denby

Dren Productions is an indie publisher of science fiction, horror, fantasy games and comics.  The publisher began publishing comics in 2022 and began publishing their most current series, Tales of the Bizarre, in November of 2023. This title is an anthology series, and each issue includes multiple short stories. While none of the first seven issues seemed to garner much attention on the aftermarket, issue #8, released just a few weeks ago, has become a $100+ book. The cover art is by Zaf and features an excellent image of a vampire in black and white with just enough red to stand out. There have been three sales in the past two weeks, with each sale surpassing the previous. This past week, the standout and current high sales was when a raw NM copy sold for $150. Considering the publisher and low-ordered numbers, this seems like the type of book that will be both highly sought after and extremely hard to find.

SHAKER: ULTIMATE X-MEN #1 ADAM KUBERT DYNAMIC FORCES SKETCH VARIANT | MARVEL | 2001

By Mitch Borgstrom

Whether you're an old or new fan of Ultimate X-Men or Adam Kubert, there's a good chance you've had your eye on this book at one point or another. It was THE book to have back in 2001. With the new ongoing run of Ultimate X-Men, it’s highly likely that new readers have had their interest piqued and are starting to dig into the original series. Kubert has also been hard at work this year with projects such as the very fun Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII. Sketch variants have been popular for ages, and I can't help but wonder if the recent boom in collecting original art has only increased the interest. His expert penciling is certainly on full display in this black-and-white cover. This variant is also scarce. Originally released in 2001 by Dynamic Forces, this sketch variant had a limited run of 2,000 copies. This is already a relatively low number for a title this big, but given how many of these copies are likely lost or damaged by now, you can think of it as being much more scarce. We have recently seen all-time highs for raw and graded copies of this book, but today we will be focusing on the raw sale that just occurred. The previous high for an NM+ raw copy of this book was $99 back in 2020 (hello, COVID spike), but the previous most recent sale of this book calmed down to $31. That was until this week when a sale for $129 took the cake as the highest raw sale for this book that we have on record. With the X-Men continuing to be a hot topic in almost every corner of the current slate of Marvel offerings, the current resurgence of the new Ultimate Marvel universe, and Adam Kubert only gaining more prestige year after year, there is a strong chance that this book continues to steadily climb.

KEY OF THE WEEK

X-MEN #244 - MARK JEWELERS | MARVEL | 1989

By Ron Reyes

So...what's the deal with X-Men #244? Well, it marks the debut of the infamous mall rat, Jubilation Lee, who has experienced a resurgence in popularity since her return to the X-Men '97 animated series. Also, this issue ranks up there as one of the more iconic X-Men covers, with 6867 graded copies on the census and counting; it's certainly not one of the rarer books out there, or is it? This week, a CGC 9.8 copy reached an all-time high of $2,350, not as a Direct or Newsstand edition, but from the highly sought-after Mark Jewelers category. Unfortunately, CGC refrained from distinguishing Mark Jewelers variants when grading these copies, so we have no clue where this stands amidst the 1400 other 9.8 grades in existence, but rest assured, this sale crushes all of the competition with over 20x the highest recorded previous sales.

*Look for the 2024 Facsimile Edition and a 1:25 incentive by Baldari, which will be released next week!

WHAT THE WATCHER WATCHES

FANTASTIC FOUR #278 | MARVEL | 1985

By: Lefteros

We have seen so many Doctor Doom books do well on the market in the last couple of years, and I love to see the interest in the character. From Silver Age keys to Modern Age Iron Man mashups and even simple guest appearances, you would be hard-pressed to name a hotter character.
However, one key Doctor Doom book from the Copper Age has gone largely overlooked. Fantastic Four #278 features the definitive origin of Doctor Doom by John Byrne. He wrote, penciled, and inked this key issue, and yet somehow, this book can often be found in bins and on eBay in high grade for five dollars or less. With how hot the current market is for this character, it would not surprise me if collectors finally began to take notice of how special this book is. If they do, you may be glad if you scooped up a copy now. We are watching!

CONTENT:

CONTENT/IN-DEVELOPMENT: ROBOCOP

Per Variety, Amazon Studios is developing a Robocop series. Peter Ocko (The Office, Pushing Daises, Moonhaven) is set to be head writer/showrunner, with James Wan executive producing under his Atomic Monster banner.  The official logline states, “A giant tech conglomerate collaborates with the local police department to introduce a technologically advanced enforcer to combat rising crime — a police officer who’s part man, part machine.”

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