Every Friday we track the week’s biggest gainers and losers among key issues, based solely on what books actually sold for on eBay — not what sellers asked. This week’s board split in two: several affordable 80s/90s first appearances doubled off last comp, even as a stack of household-name Marvel keys retraced. As always, the moves below are anchored to completed-sales medians and corroborated by multiple recorded sales.
Top Gainers
| Title | Issue | Publisher | Current | Prev | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batman (1940) | No. 258 | DC Comics | $50 | $25 | +$25 / +100% |
| Web Of Spider-Man (1985) | No. 36 | Marvel | $35 | $15 | +$20 / +133.33% |
| The Incredible Hulk (1968) | No. 325 | Marvel | $15 | $5 | +$10 / +200% |
| The Uncanny X-Men (1978) | No. 282 | Marvel | $20 | $10 | +$10 / +100% |
| Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars (1984) | No. 7 | Marvel | $20 | $10 | +$10 / +100% |
| Spawn (1992) | No. 16 | Image Comics | $10 | $5 | +$5 / +100% |
| The Infinity Gauntlet (1991) | No. 2 | Marvel | $15 | $10 | +$5 / +50% |
Batman (1940) No. 258 added $25 (+100%) to land at $50 on 3 recorded sales; with a median of $50, the first appearance of Arkham Hospital looks firmly bid this week rather than a one-off spike. Web of Spider-Man (1985) No. 36 climbed $20 (+133.33%) to $35 across 10 recorded sales, and the median at $33.07 largely corroborates the move — an affordable dual-first (Tarantula and Tombstone) that appears to be drawing steady speculator interest.
The Incredible Hulk (1968) No. 325 tacked on $10 (+200%) to $15 on 7 recorded sales, with the median matching at $15 — a low-dollar Rick Jones-as-Hulk key that’s moving briskly. The Uncanny X-Men (1978) No. 282 doubled to $20 (+$10 / +100%) across 7 recorded sales; the $17.99 median suggests buyers are paying close to the new comp for Bishop’s cameo, potentially helped by renewed chatter around X projects, though that remains speculative.
Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars (1984) No. 7 added $10 (+100%) to $20 on 5 recorded sales, with a median of $18.56 backing the rise — Julia Carpenter’s first appearance keeps quietly catching bids. Spawn (1992) No. 16 moved up $5 (+100%) to $10 across 9 recorded sales, but note the $7.07 median trails the current comp, indicating not every copy is clearing at the new level despite solid volume. Rounding out the board, The Infinity Gauntlet (1991) No. 2 gained $5 (+50%) to $15 on 5 recorded sales, with a $12.04 median that implies some variance but clear upward pressure.
Top Losers
| Title | Issue | Publisher | Current | Prev | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fantastic Four (1961) | No. 45 | Marvel | $90 | $305 | -$215 / -70.49% |
| Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars (1984) | No. 8 | Marvel | $225 | $395 | -$170 / -43.04% |
| The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) | No. 136 | Marvel | $60 | $135 | -$75 / -55.56% |
| The Avengers (1963) | Annual No. 10 | Marvel | $30 | $90 | -$60 / -66.67% |
| The New Mutants (1983) | No. 87 | Marvel | $85 | $130 | -$45 / -34.62% |
| Nova (1976) | No. 1 | Marvel | $50 | $80 | -$30 / -37.5% |
| The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) | No. 265 | Marvel | $15 | $40 | -$25 / -62.5% |
| Silver Surfer (1987) | No. 44 | Marvel | $20 | $40 | -$20 / -50% |
| Youngblood (1992) | No. 1 (Cover A) | Image Comics | $10 | $25 | -$15 / -60% |
| X-Men (1991) | No. 4 | Marvel | $15 | $30 | -$15 / -50% |
| The Avengers (1963) | No. 232 | Marvel | $5 | $15 | -$10 / -66.67% |
| The New Teen Titans (1980) | No. 8 | DC Comics | $10 | $15 | -$5 / -33.33% |
| The New Mutants (1983) | No. 9 | Marvel | $10 | $15 | -$5 / -33.33% |
Fantastic Four (1961) No. 45 fell $215 (-70.49%) to $90 on 5 recorded sales; the $101.65 median sits a touch above that, hinting at a softer floor rather than a cliff for the Inhumans’ debut. Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars (1984) No. 8 pulled back $170 (-43.04%) to $225 on 5 recorded sales, with a $218.5 median that broadly confirms a lower range as profit-taking cools the symbiote’s flagship key.
The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) No. 136 slid $75 (-55.56%) to $60 across 5 recorded sales, and a $60 median suggests that’s the real print this week for Harry Osborn’s Green Goblin. The Avengers (1963) Annual No. 10 dropped $60 (-66.67%) to $30 on 5 recorded sales; the $29.99 median tracks it precisely, pointing to cooling speculator demand on Rogue’s first after prior heat.
The New Mutants (1983) No. 87 eased $45 (-34.62%) to $85 on 5 recorded sales, but a $100 median implies mixed outcomes and potential for a near-term bounce if buyers keep showing up. Nova (1976) No. 1 declined $30 (-37.5%) to $50 on 5 recorded sales, with a $39.99 median undercutting the comp — buyers appear choosy at the moment.
The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) No. 265 lost $25 (-62.5%) to $15 across 5 recorded sales, essentially matching a $15.21 median as Silver Sable cools. Silver Surfer (1987) No. 44 gave back $20 (-50%) to $20 on 5 recorded sales; the $17.95 median suggests the Infinity Gauntlet’s debut is resetting lower after its last leg.
Youngblood (1992) No. 1 (Cover A) slipped $15 (-60%) to $10 on 5 recorded sales, and the $8.73 median underscores ample supply meeting modest demand. X-Men (1991) No. 4 moved down $15 (-50%) to $15 on 5 recorded sales, close to its $14.16 median as Omega Red’s key finds a mid-teen level.
The Avengers (1963) No. 232 fell $10 (-66.67%) to $5 on 5 recorded sales with a $4.99 median — Starfox’s first is squarely back in budget-bin territory. The New Teen Titans (1980) No. 8 dipped $5 (-33.33%) to $10 on 3 recorded sales, its $9.28 median in line with that. The New Mutants (1983) No. 9 also shed $5 (-33.33%) to $10 on 3 recorded sales; a $7.85 median suggests buyers are bargaining harder here.
On Our Radar
Web Of Spider-Man (1985) No. 36 — Marvel
Writer: Gerry Conway | Penciller: Alex Saviuk
After a $20 move (+133.33%) to $35 across 10 recorded sales and a $33.07 median that backs it up, Web of Spider-Man (1985) No. 36 is worth watching. Dual firsts (Tarantula and Tombstone) plus an accessible price point make it an easy add for many collectors; the week’s volume suggests this wasn’t a single outlier. If momentum holds — reportedly helped at times by renewed interest in Spidey rogues — this could build a sturdier floor.
What This Means For Collectors
Mid-tier 80s/90s first appearances are where the action is this week, while many blue-chip Marvel keys reset lower after prior runs. Use the medians and the sale counts to set bids: sustained volume near the new comp (like Web of Spider-Man No. 36) reads stronger than one-off jumps, and several losers now show medians that either confirm or slightly contradict the latest comp, which is your tell on whether to pounce or wait. In short, there are better entry points on some classics and visible momentum in a few budget-friendly keys.