Zap-Kapow Comics Club

The 25 Most Valuable Modern Age Comics

The Modern Age of Comics (roughly the mid-1980s to today) is the era of creator-owned indies, the speculation boom and bust, and the screen adaptations that now drive the market. Its most valuable books are scarce first issues — Invincible, The Walking Dead, Bone — whose characters became hits. Below are the most valuable Modern Age comics, ranked by current raw Near Mint (9.4) value and refreshed automatically from live market data.

Modern books were printed in huge numbers, so value is concentrated in genuine keys and low-print indie first issues — the ones nobody was hoarding before the character broke out.

#ComicKey / First AppearanceNM Value
1Invincible (2003) #1Invincible (Mark Grayson), Omni-Man, Deborah Grayson, Titan, William Clockwell, David Hiles, Atom Eve (cameo), Science Dog (cameo)$2,935
2Bone (1991) #1Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, Smiley Bone$1,710
3Deadline (1988) #1Tank Girl$1,200
4The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #300Venom (Eddie Brock) (full)$1,120
5Zombie Tramp (2009) #1Zombie Tramp (Janey Belle)$1,100
6The Walking Dead (2003) #1Sheriff Rick Grimes$1,090
7Edge Of Spider-Verse (2014) #2Spider-Gwen$805
8The Hero Trade (2020) #1Captain Fab$625
9Invincible (2003) #2Atom Eve (full), Allen The Alien (cameo), The Mauler Twins, Robot, Rex-Splode, Dupli-Kate$525
10Invincible (2003) #19Nowhere Men (team), Battle Beast, Magnattack, Magmaniac, Tether Tyrant$490
11Invincible (2003) #5Allen The Alien (full)$450
12Spawn (1992) #174Gunslinger Spawn (full)$450
13Caliber Presents (1989) #1The Crow (Eric Draven)$435
14NYX (2003) #3X-23 (Laura Kinney)$405
15Evil Ernie (1992) #1Evil Ernie, Lady Death (Hope)$390
16The Batman Adventures (1992) #12Harley Quinn (Harleen Quinzel)$390
17Invincible (2003) #10Doc Seismic$385
18Ultimate Fallout (2011) #4Miles Morales (Spider-Man)$375
19Invincible (2003) #3The Flaxans$350
20Invincible (2003) #9The Lizard League (team), Shrinking Ray, Monster Girl, Bulletproof (cameo)$335
21Invincible (2003) #7Guardians Of The Globe (team), Bi-Plane, Kursk$325
22Spider-Man: Noir (2008) #1Spider-Man Noir (Peter Parker)$320
23Invincible (2003) #8Damien Darkblood, Amber Bennett, Elephant$315
24Invincible (2003) #6Black Samson, Reanimen$300
25Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Defenders of the Lost Temple (2013) #1Bo-Katan, The Dark Saber$300

Values are raw Near Mint (9.4) estimates from live market data and change over time. Look up any comic's value.

The most valuable Modern Age keys

Invincible #1 (2003) leads the age — the debut of Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker’s superhero, sent soaring by its hit animated series. Bone #1 (1991), a scarce self-published fantasy debut, and The Walking Dead #1 (2003), the first Rick Grimes, are close behind.

Creator-owned first issues dominate — a reminder that in the Modern Age a low-print indie can be worth more than a stack of mainstream keys.

Screen adaptations drive much of the value, from The Walking Dead to Tank Girl (Deadline #1, 1988) — characters whose debuts spiked as they reached film and TV.

What defines the Modern Age

The Modern Age runs from roughly the mid-1980s to today. It’s defined by creator-owned publishing (Image and beyond), the 1990s speculation boom and its crash, and the movie-and-streaming era that turns first appearances into overnight keys.

Value is driven by scarcity and screen demand rather than age. Most modern books are common, so the market prizes genuine first appearances and under-printed indie issues. Condition still matters, though modern books survive in high grades more easily than older eras.

How these values are calculated

The figures here are raw Near Mint (9.4) values derived from recent sales and refreshed automatically — not a fixed annual guide. Click any issue for its full condition-by-grade breakdown, graded (CGC) values, and price history. Values are estimates and the market moves, so treat them as a current snapshot rather than a formal appraisal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most valuable Modern Age comic?

As of August 2026, Invincible (2003) #1 (first appearance of Invincible (Mark Grayson), Omni-Man, Deborah Grayson, Titan, William Clockwell, David Hiles, Atom Eve (cameo), Science Dog (cameo)) is the most valuable, with a raw Near Mint value around $2,935.

When was the Modern Age of comics?

The Modern Age runs from roughly the mid-1980s to today. It’s defined by creator-owned comics, the speculation boom, and the screen-adaptation era.

Why is Invincible #1 so valuable?

It’s the first appearance of Invincible and Omni-Man (2003). A modest print run plus the hit animated series make it one of the most valuable Modern Age comics.

Are graded (CGC) Modern Age comics worth more than raw copies?

For the top keys, yes — high-grade CGC copies command premiums, though the gap is smaller than for older, scarcer eras. Click any issue for its graded pricing.

How often do these values update?

Automatically, from live market data — so this list reflects the current market, not a static annual guide.