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 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, BLACK WIDOW, DETECTIVE COMICS, PROFANE, SECRET WARS, THE TICK, 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: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #546 - STEVE MCNIVEN - BOOK MARKET | MARVEL | 2008

By Matt DeVoe

In the SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME film, a blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot of a F.E.A.S.T. delivery truck led many to speculate that Martin Li, aka Mr. Negative, exists in the MCU. While he had a cameo in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN FCBD (SWING SHIFT) (2007), his first full appearance as both Martin Li and Mr. Negative, along with F.E.A.S.T.'s debut, is in this issue. This easter egg helped drive a raw sale to $451, while one of the six CGC 9.8 copies previously sold for $899 in 2018. With SPIDER-MAN 4 adopting the "Brand New Day" tagline and speculation around Jackpot and Mr. Negative, demand has surged again. A CGC 9.4 copy, the first graded sale in three years, just hit a new high of $699, and the 1:100 variant recently sold for a record $137 raw.

The origins of this Book Market variant remain unclear. Still, it was likely distributed at ALA conferences and book trade shows (BEA, BookCon, etc.), targeting librarians and educators rather than comic shops. While some may have surfaced at conventions as giveaways, there's no evidence they were directly sold to comic stores or collectors. Despite its rarity, copies do appear—CGC currently lists 32 on the census. With renewed speculation and confirmed actors like Sadie Sink joining SPIDER-MAN 4, interest in this book will likely continue to climb.

SHAKER: BLACK WIDOW #1 - DANIEL ACUNA 2010 SDCC VARIANT | MARVEL | 2010

By Van Denby

For decades, Black Widow has been a staple in the Avengers and Marvel Comics. She has had numerous solo titles and been part of multiple team titles over the years. With all of her storylines and adventures, though, it wasn't until Scarlett Johansson played Natasha Romanoff on the big screen that her fandom began to really emerge. Since her debut in Iron Man 2, Natasha, aka Black Widow, has been an integral part of the MCU and the Avengers. She has become a household name, and it is virtually impossible to go to a moderately sized comic convention without seeing a handful of cosplayers dressed as some version of Black Widow. Since 2010, her comics have also experienced a bit of a boost. From her first appearance, harder-to-find variants (like this one) and important Black Widow keys have seen a rise in prices and collectibility. Another Black Widow variant that has become tougher to find cheap is the 2010 SDCC variant by Daniel Acuna. This book is a sketch version of the cover A which was very limited and has seemed to only go up with each sale. This past week, a new all-time high was set when a raw NM copy sold for $200. This sale is $15 higher than the previous high set in January of 2024, when a CGC 9.6 sold for $185.

SHAKER: DETECTIVE COMICS #1 | DC | 1937

By The Professor

For the average comic book collector, we can only dream about adding certain issues to our personal collections. When it comes to Golden-age “grails,” the reality of obtaining (and paying) for one is truly a dream scenario. One series that boasts more “grail” issues within the series is Detective Comics. It is THE oldest-running American comic book series (881 issues) and is most famous for introducing one of the most iconic superheroes of all time, Batman (Detective Comics 27). Of course, it all started with Detective Comics #1, which was originally an anthology comic book featuring detective genre stories. Copies of this first issue are incredibly scarce and rarely come to market. Finding them in mid to higher grades is also next to impossible, so when one did come to market, it definitely caught the interest of “whale” collectors. When the final bell rang, a CGC 6.5 copy sold for a staggering $228K! This grade is one of only five copies that currently exist in the world.

SHAKER: HAPPY DAYS #1 - GOLD KEY VARIANT | WESTERN | 1979

By Mitch Borgstrom

Sometimes, you forget that there really was a comic book made for everything, and then you come across the Happy Days comic that just so happens to be someone's grail. Which, I guess, makes sense, right? Who would balk at the first comic appearance and first cover appearance of The Fonz? Sounds like a major key to me. Although the show this book is based on was immensely popular, this was still considered a bit of an oddball idea at the time and only received a very limited print run. This Gold Key variant is basically the first printing of the book, so it is much more valuable than the reprinted Whitman variant. Minty copies of this book are incredibly hard to find, and with Henry Winkler still (thankfully) alive and well, the possibility of getting this book signed at some point exists. As far as I can tell, nothing is brewing in terms of a reboot or revival of the property, so this new, huge sale of $600 for a CGC 9.8 that almost doubles the previous high sale from five months ago probably went to a collector who wanted to make sure they could at it to their collection while they still had the chance even to find one.

SHAKER: THE HEDGE KNIGHT #NN - DUNK - 2003 CONVENTION (LIMITED 1,500) | IMAGE | 2003

By Nick Richardson

Some of you may remember the fanaticism of the Game of Thrones craze. It became a cultural juggernaut and one of the last IPs to truly reach all corners of the social world. You had to be there to experience it, but it disappeared just as quickly as it rose to prominence. But that doesn’t mean creator George R.R. Martin and HBO aren’t trying to bring fans back. We got a prequel series based on another written work from Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire, that just finished its second season, with another prequel set to debut later this year in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Based around Ser Duncan the Tall, fans were introduced to the character in 1998, when Martin released his novella. The story began gaining traction, aided by the comic adaptation that began right here, back in 2003. Keep in mind that the IP didn’t explode in popularity until 2011 when this series was bundled into a TPB to coincide with the release of the TV series. It’s a relatively unknown book, but it does mark the first appearance of Dunk and Egg. Marked as a convention exclusive, this book was limited to 1,500 copies, most of which likely ended up in $1 bins across the country.  Now, almost 30 years later, we’ll get to see the character come to life on the screen. That’s caused an explosion in fan interest and the opportunity for fans to revisit hard-to-find books like this. To acquire it, however, will be a chunk of change. Recently, 1 of 3 CGC 9.8 copies on the census hit the market, setting a new record of $700. Previously, it topped out at $200 back in 2024 but failed to top the market, as that belongs to a CGC 9.6 that sold for $225 the year prior. Raw copies are even harder to come by, with few changing hands. Even when they do, quality is a major factor, leading to pricing that is all over the map. It’s a tough book to find, and for those that do, expect to pay the price as HBO ramps up the advertising machine to get this small corner of Westeros in front of more eyes.

SHAKER: MONSTER HIGH PRIDE 2024 #1 - CELI GODFRIED - COVER B | IDW | 2024

By Matthew Glover Esq.

Monster High dolls were created by Garrett Sander and released by Mattel in 2010. The dolls were inspired by classic horror movie monsters, myths, and folklore, featuring characters like Draculaura (Dracula's daughter), Frankie Stein (Frankenstein's descendant), and Clawdeen Wolf (a werewolf). IDW's comics expanded on the characters and their adventures beyond what was shown in the animated series and dolls. The stories typically revolved around the students at Monster High navigating school life, friendships, and sometimes spooky mysteries. After a brief discontinuation in 2018, the brand was rebooted in 2022 with new dolls, media, and updated character designs. This issue highlights characters that are LGBT+. Monster High's emphasis on inclusivity, embracing one's "freaky flaws," and creating a diverse, accepting world has made it a beloved brand within the LGBTQ+ community. There have been a few different series from IDW featuring the characters, but this was a special one-shot with a relatively new artist who is a member of the LGBT+ community. Recently, an ungraded near-mint copy sold for $60. While this is a new high, it has apparently been a very steady seller in the $50 range.

SHAKER: PROFANE #4 - SUSPIRIA (1:20) | BOOM! STUDIOS | 2024

By Ron Reyes

We have been captivated by this stunning cover ever since it debuted in our Day After Wednesday feature in September 2024. However, just a month later, the excitement turned into a frenzy when Suspiria Vilchez announced it was completely sold out. We even gave away a copy during our Cyber Monday giveaway. After that, there was silence—no copies could be found anywhere! We reached out to Boom! Studios regarding the rarity of this book, and they confirmed that there was a very low print run of under 100 copies. Then, a few months later, an unexpected listing for a raw copy priced at $1,200 appeared in January, raising eyebrows across the board. It disappeared a few days later with the listing removed and no confirmed sale. Once again, silence followed as no other copies were listed, and everyone watched to see if anyone would take the bait. Skip ahead to today: those lucky few who managed to snag a copy received their results back from Sarasota, and a CGC 9.8 listing slipped through at $1,500! Of course, it was quickly sold through a Best Offer agreement for $900, marking this as an unprecedented all-time high sale! Congratulations to Suspiria for making this one of the most standout successes that has delivered immense new attention and fandom, with many now seeking her various covers amongst the many new independent releases.

SHAKER: SECRET WARS #1 – ED MCGUINNESS – FOUR COLOR GRAILS STAN LEE COLLECTIBLES - B&W | MARVEL | 2015

By Travis Millsaps

One of the more notable events in Marvel continuity, Johnathan Hickman's Secret Wars #1 (2015), introduced fans to a cameo of God Emperor Doom - a supremely powerful version of Victor Von Doom. With numerous leaks supporting this version of Doom, the MCU is clearly delving into Multiverse incursions, and books from this run are gaining traction.

This week, a Four Color Grails Exclusive Sketch Variant—featuring Ed McGuinness' artwork of Spider-Man alongside Stan Lee—hit an all-time high raw sale of $99, up from its previous $55 record. Beyond featuring Stan Lee and marking the first cameo of God Emperor Doom, this book is now even harder to find due to the closure of Four Color Grails.Launched in early 2023 as a subscription box specializing in exclusive low-print-run variants, Four Color Grails produced far fewer copies than larger services like Loot Crate. At just $27 per box, their books were highly flippable, often selling for more than the subscription price. However, the company struggled financially and shut down after only six months, refunding remaining orders before ceasing operations in August. Now, with their exclusives permanently out of circulation, this variant—alongside its standard color and "color fade" versions—is set to become an even tougher aftermarket find.

SHAKER: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #19 - NATHALIE FOURDRAINE VARIANT (1:10) | IDW | 2019

By Van Denby

Sonic the Hedgehog has been an important part of video game culture since the first Sega Genesis console release in 1991. The character's popularity and fandom have only grown since. With tons of video games, apparel, toys, and basically anything you can slap his image on, Sonic has grown into an entire brand. The Sonic film franchise has only helped to grow the brand and make the once sidekick characters now well-known and established characters of their own. As many fans may know, there are various teams in the Sonic Universe, teams such as Team Sonic, Team Rose, Team Chaotix, and Team Dark. While these teams may not be as well known as Sonic, Eggman, or Tails, they are just as popular amongst the fans and collectors inside the Sonic fanbase. While the first partial team appearance (Shadow and Rouge) of Team Dark is in Sonic #5, the first full Team appearance (and first full E-123) is in issue #19, as well as this variant being the first cover of the entire team. This book has been heating up for a while, but the extremely hard-to-find 1:10 ratio variant by Nathalie Fourdraine set a new high this past week. In April, a raw NM copy sold for $350. This huge sale may also bring more attention to the 1:10 Sonic covers for this series, as many of them have begun climbing in prices.

SHAKER: TEEN-AGE ROMANCES #38 | ST JOHN | 1954

By The Professor

Matt Baker continues to be one of the more sought-after pre- and post-Comics Code Authority comic book artists. His distinct style, known for its elegant depictions of women, is a hallmark of the Romance genre and has earned him a place among the genre's icons. But, as with most pre-code comics, these rarities often come with a heavy price tag for high-grade issues. Matt Baker, even though well-remembered and well-celebrated by collectors, may never get the same level of attention as other Golden Age creators like Jack Kirby or Bob Kane. However, the work he produced during the Golden Age, specifically teenage romances and Girl Comics, remains highly coveted. For this specific issue, only 13 copies remain on CGC's census, and the single sale from this past week, at an eye-popping $10,000, is the highest-ever sale for a copy of this particular issue, nearly doubling the previous high set in 2017. Considering the scarcity and the involvement of a beloved artist like Matt Baker, it is no surprise that this issue reached such a lofty sale price.

SHAKER: THE TICK #1 - ASHCAN - ORANGE (LIMITED TO 50) | NEW ENGLAND COMICS | 1988

By Dana Forsythe

The Tick was an underground success story in 1988. After New England Comics published the indie comic in 1988, they had to keep the book in stock. The Tick #1 went back for nine additional printings, not including the ashcan version. Created by Ben Edlund as a mascot for the shop in Brockton, Mass., the Tick’s first appearance was spread out over two issues of the New England Comics Newsletter #14–15 (July–August – September–October 1986).

This book is a ghost at 50 copies, but that hasn’t stopped a few copies from popping up here and there. The first sale in years, though, came this past week, as a 9.4 graded copy sold for $6,600. To compare, a first print of the same book averages $130 for a 9.4.

SHAKER: VAMPIRE TALES #2 | MARVEL | 1973

By Keith Shimabukuro

Vampire Tales was part of a Marvel Comics magazine line that included Dracula Lives, Monsters Unleashed, and Tales of the Zombie. Vampire Tales ran for 11 issues and featured Morbius the Living Vampire. It evaded the Comics Code Authority because it was in a magazine format, which allowed them to publish more adult content. Issue #2 features the first appearance of Satana, the Devil’s Daughter and sister of Daimon Hellstrom. As the half-human children of Satan, both Satana and Daimon were born with supernatural abilities. Although she was killed off in 1979, she was resurrected in 1994 for Warren Ellis’ Hellstorm: Prince of Lies and would go on to be cast in Thunderbolts and Dark Avengers. A NM raw copy of her first appearance recently sold for $248, but this week brought an all-time high as a graded 9.8 sold for $3,360. This should come as no surprise as there are 346 universal graded copies on the census, with only 13 being graded 9.8. There may not have been much interest in these monster magazines that Marvel published in the 1970s, but collectors are taking notice, causing these high-grade key issues to soar in value.

KEY OF THE WEEK

BLUE BEETLE #54 | FOX | 1948

By The Professor 

For its time, the cover of Blue Beetle #54 must have sent shockwaves through adolescent comic book minds when they first saw it on the shelves of their local newsstands. The cover art epitomizes what is considered a “headlight” cover. We see a woman standing in high heels before a mirror, wearing lacy underwear and taking her top off. Her bare back is exposed to the reader, with her bra facing us in the mirror. This cover undoubtedly sparked many conversations among young comic readers in schoolyards! It was so controversial that it was referenced and pictured in the infamous Seduction of the Innocent by Fredric Wertham. As one of the more sought-after SOTI covers, it’s no surprise to see this book increase in value with each copy that hits the market. This past week, we saw a CGC 4.0 copy sell for an astounding $5,760. For context, two months ago, a CGC 4.5 sold for only $5K! Quite the bump in just a few months.

WHAT THE WATCHER WATCHES

WEB OF SPIDER-VERSE: NEW BLOOD #1 MAIN COVER LUCIANO VECCHIO | MARVEL | 2025

By: Lefteros

The Spider-Prowler made his big-screen debut in 2023's Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. This was a version of Miles Morales as the Prowler that we had never seen in comics up until last month. Spider-Prowler made his debut in this one-shot. While it is not the exact same version of the Spider-Prowler from the exact same universe, it is Miles as the Prowler.

If you saw him in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, then you know we did not see the last of this character. All signs pointed to him being a major antagonist in the upcoming Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, slated to release in 2027. This was confirmed by Sony earlier this week. They released official animation stills from the upcoming movie on X.com, and he was featured on two of them. While the movie is still a couple of years out, this Spider-Verse book appeared to fly somewhat under the radar at FOC and release; as more news drops, it would not surprise me to see this book break cover. We are watching!

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