This week’s Overvalued spotlight shines on one of my favourite characters in the marvel universe the Silver Surfer. I had originally planned to include him in a combination post with Iron Man #1 last month because both of the books shared some similar characteristics. I am glad that I didn’t as the Iron Man post seemed to take on a life of its own, and this Silver Surfer #1 issue deserves to be discussed on it’s own merits and shortcomings.
It is not a secret that Silver Surfer #1 is a disappointing and overvalued book in my eyes. I discussed this at length in Arcs & Runs – Why did the Silver Surfer fail? There was some lively debate on the subject and CBD writer Dennis De Pues did soften me up a bit on merits of Silver Surfer #5 and #6. My opinion on the rest of the books pretty much remained the same.
In the Iron Man #1 post I mentioned I could only find four books valued higher than Iron Man #1 that were printed after that book. Our overvalued pick today Silver Surfer #1 is one of them. In fact it is #2 on the list, only being surpassed by the Incredible Hulk #181. Let’s take a look at what is driving the price of this book to these heights.
The upside
- Let’s get the Iron Man #1 parallels out of the way first. Like Iron Man #1 it has a fabulous cover, this time by big John Buscema. It is really first rate and worthy of a #1 issue.
- It is a number 1. The difference here is this is the first issue of the Silver Surfer and the launch of a new series a plus for the book.
- The book is a giant size square bound book, another plus and it also makes this book a tougher find in grade.
The downside
- It is an origin story. Now normally this would be a big plus for me, but not this book. In my opinion it is a failed origin story and sets the tone for a failed comic book series. It is a run of the mill story that makes Norrin Radd seem like an ordinary bloke, who does what most people would do if they were threatened by Galactus in order to save his planet. This book starts a downhill slide that despite superb books like issues #3 and #4 can only slow down but not stop the slide. Stan Lee wears the blame for this.
- Like Iron Man #1 this book started out in Overstreet as one the highest valued books of the 1968 launches. In fact it is the highest and still is. Why? I understand why it started out that way. The built up – pent up demand for this comic book was huge. I was one of the many that waited eagerly for this book to arrive on the scene, only to be met with disappointment. I wasn’t alone in that regard as this book only lasted eighteen issues before cancellation. A certified commercial failure. Why does this book maintain such high esteem at Overstreet?
The book has maintained its number #1 status amongst the new launches forever. Again Why? Where is the demand coming from? Some mysterious Silver Surfer cult? There is no Robert Downey Jr. driving this bus. There is no movie buzz surrounding the character. The only movie appearance of the Silver Surfer was a bust in the second Fantastic Four movie, and Disney does not own his future movie rights (yet). The only new book printed to catch up to the Silver Surfer #1 in the past 38 years is the Incredible Hulk #181. Does that sound right to you?
I would strongly argue that their is a much better book within the Silver Surfer’s own short-lived title. Silver Surfer #4 (Thor/ Silver Surfer battle issue) is a vastly superior book to issue #1 and in my opinion deserves to be the highest valued book in the short Surfer run. Overstreet however, doesn’t like to do that, #1’s must be the most valuable book in the run unless it is an exceptional case. A storyline for another day.
For many of the reasons cited in the Iron Man #1 post, although I believe that Silver Surfer #1 is overvalued it is probably a safe bet to maintain close to it’s present value in the slabbed collecting world, in particular the highest graded copies. I see only issues #3 and #4 of the Silver Surfer’s initial run as safe bets going forward. Issues #2, #5-18 are all over due a 30-40% reduction in Overstreet judging by the prices I see realized at auction.
The Silver Surfer remains one of the coolest characters ever created and is still one of my favourites. He is quite obviously a favourite of the Overstreet price guide family as well.
Listed below are the 11th & 45th Overstreet price guide info for Silver Surfer #1 that tied in to the Iron Man #1 post. The Silver Surfer was expensive right from the get-go and still is today.
Silver Surfer #1
11th Overstreet Price Guide: Good $18 / Fine $36 / Near Mint $54
45th Overstreet Price Guide: 6.0 $156 / 8.0 $416 / 9.0 $933 / 9.2 $1450
Great post, Mike! I agree on the positives and negatives, and I think the market supports you. Mid and low grade copies have a great range of sold prices out there, in the same time frame. Other than high-grade stabbed copies, I feel safer by far with any decent #4.
My corollary undervalued pick is FF annual #5, also square-bound and first true solo surfer story.
I think the surfer’s origin is better done in the also undervalued Fireside book from 1978 by Lee and Kirby, which strikes me as a Christ allegory. (As compared to Siegel and shuster’ s Moses allegory, Superman). No I’m not reading into that one, read it in the Smithsonian Book of comic book comics.
Here’s the question suffer and iron man #1 then raise: what book if any is a good value from the 1968 marvel expansion “keys?” My knee-jerk is Shield #1, but I’m not sure any of them is.
Interesting Iron Man #1 note: #55 carries the same line through all six grades in current Overstreet.
I couldn’t agree with you more on this one Mike. Why pay $1450 for Silver Surfer #1 when, for only $350 more you could get a Fantastic Four #48 in 9.2 grade? I would rather have a true first appearance any day over a contrived #1. But, I must say, John Buscema was THE artist best-suited to this title. Even King Kirby really fumbled the ball on that last issue. Some of the worst dreck of his entire career, and, as you know, that’s coming from a die-hard, life-long Kirby fan. There are still more than a few books that Overstreet over-appreciates. I would encourage anybody who thinks so to send them an Email and make your case for change.
Thanks Readcomix,
I think Shield #1 is the best value pick, although I wish I owned a bunch of mint Doctor Strange #169 right now. My favorite read is Captain America #100 of the bunch.
I purposely kept that Iron Man #55 fact out of the conversation. I really wanted to see if Overstreet would pull the trigger and push it past #1 in this year’s guide. They just don’t do this very often, or should I say often enough. Silver Surfer #4 Nuff said! I n my opinion Silver Surfer #3 remains the book with the most upside of that run.
Thanks Mel,
I too would take a Fantastic Four #48 over a Silver Surfer #1, with Big John Buscema’s awesome cover and the square-bound book duly noted.
Yes all suggestions are welcome. even if you don’t want to write it yourself (which I do encourage). Just name the book and why you think it is out to lunch at Overstreet, and we’ll see if we can get it done.
What do you mean there’s no movie buzz for this comic????
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiXcJwS7S_o
Ha Ha I love it!! I like the lust scene better.
Mike,
I’m sorry if I threw things off by bringing up Iron Man #55 — my point is here’s a case where the Guide even agrees that the #1 in the series isn’t necessarily the most important. While Surfer #4 hasn’t passed Surfer #1 yet, I don’t think they are out to lunch on this entirely, especially on more recent books: New Teen Titans #2 over #1; New Mutants #87 and #98, etc….with newer books, keys seem to pass #1’s more easily. Peter Parker #64 is a good bet to eclipse its #1 soon too.
Of course, Overstreet could respond by pointing out all the keys through the years that are really firsts that have surpassed the #1’s of the same series (TTA #27, TOS #39, JIM #83; Archie’s Madhouse #22; All-Star #3, All-American #16; Marvel Spotlight #2, Special Marvel Edition #15, etc) and technically they’d have a point.
I’m not trying to be argumentative; I’m just anticipating a position they may blind them a bit to the argument that many #1’s are overvalued compared to keys within the same run.
A very compelling write up Mike… but I’m not so sure about this one. Perhaps I stand alone here (again) but like MC Hammer once said “let’s break it down”… oooh, oooh, oh. The term “overvalued” can be defined in two ways…
1. Monetary value
Using GPA as an easy reference, SS#1 zig zags but does rise steadily. Without a stimulus like an upcoming movie, it’s not a “hot” book but actual past sales suggests that there is demand for this book.
2. Contribution and significance to the Marvel canon
Although collectors are more focused on movie related properties these days, the Silver Surfer has always been a popular character since inception. Due to the legalities of ownership, there does not seem to be immediate prospects for speculators but the character itself is a mainstay and his first solo title cements his position in the Marvel Universe. Yes, FF#5 had a Surfer story… but it was in an FF title. I’ve owned both and it was a lot easier to sell SS#1, where I had to beg someone to take FF#5 off my hands.
Both these aspects seem to suggest that SS#1 is actually undervalued for those who are patient and willing to wait for the movie studios to wake up. In terms of content, as you point out, the series was not executed well. Despite the stunning art, the series fails grab hold of its audience. Perhaps with a different creative team… in a different time… the results could have been better. However, many 1st appearances are also poorly executed but still remain important.
Full disclosure: I do own a high grade copy and it remains a proud part of my collection.
I don’t recall the stories being that bad, just kinda boring as he didn’t seem to do much. I’ve got series in the Masterworks format… I’ll have to re-read it again some time. It’s been awhile.
Very good points all Readcomix. I probably should have used a first appearance vs #1 argument myself.
I may have had a little tunnel vision on the whole Silver Surfer #1 vs #4 (which I still believe in). At one point these two books were within $50 of each other, that has spread quite a bit now in the 9.2 grade.
There was another book that spurred me on a bit in this regard. Spectacular Spider-Man magazine #1 & #2. For many years in the guide #2 was rated higher than #1. Four- five years ago this reversed and the #1 went on top. Why? What changed?
The Spectacular Spider-Man you referenced above has kept #1 slightly above the wonderful Miller books issues #26 & 27 for years. Maybe demand for Cloak & Dagger #64 will break through in this guide.
I do have a bit of an obsession with content that sometimes blinds me to demand. And demand trumps all.
Hey Charlie
I’m assuming here you mean FF Annual #5? Just to clarify.
Great write up Charlie. Always look forward to your thoughts here.
As I said above I do think this book will hold it’s own as an investment for now, however. because I don’t understand the demand for this book – it does give me pause. The book is really very similar to Iron Man #1 in this regard. Great looking cover, a #1, average content, and it started very high in the Overstreet Price guide and has remained so – just like Iron Man #1.
The Overstreet Price guide still does affect the price people will pay for a book and in effect the GPA results. I know people will look at the guide and say “forget that” and pay well below (like Silver Surfer #5-18) or well above like 50’s horror books. Today the Overstreet Price guide is the baseline. Maybe someday GPA analysis will be the universal baseline as it already is for some. Imagine the day when there is no price guide.
The Silver Surfer #1 is the launch of his own new series, and they botched up the start of that series big-time in issue #1 with a mundane run of the mill origin story. More important they never found away to get him off our planet which I think would have opened the door for many new and interesting story lines. His series in the mid-80’s with a new creative team and freedom to roam the universe was much more successful. It also brought back Thanos!
The high grade copy of the Silver Surfer #1 you own is safe for now as far as I’m concerned. Especially with the high grade. How long it remains so your guess is as good as mine (or better). Like Iron Man #1 there is no slow-down for this book in Overstreet.
I have been looking for a hard cover Masterworks Silver Surfer #1-7 for a period of time now. I think it is the best and most affordable way to own that run on a budget.
Yes, FF Ann #5. Love the book but I’ll never spec on it again. I pretty much had to give my copy away to sweeten a larger deal. By contrast, I never had trouble selling IM#1 and SS#1. I’ve owned several copies of both and have always came out ahead.
I only mention my current SS#1 copy because I don’t want people to think that I’m trying to pump up my book. It’s more the other way around… I own the book because I think the value will appreciate. I picked up my 9.4 a few years ago off eBay and it’s up about 70%, which is pretty good I think. At one point it was more than double…
If content or story quality was a defining factor, books like DKR and Watchmen probably should be worth more considering how influential they were. SS#1 may or may not be a bum book, depending on your taste, but I do think that it’s pivotal in the Surfer canon.
Books like IM#1 and SS#1 are very nuanced selects. Maybe they are over rated by some standards, but there is also much to love about these books, which is why these picks are so interesting. We all have books we like and don’t like but in the spectrum of investment comics, there are so many other books that are over hyped. Hyped books that have risen very high, very fast and are likely to come crashing down. I don’t think IM#1 and SS#1 are in this category.
A good example is IM#55, and to a lesser extent, probably Luke Cage and MP#1. If comic collecting and investing was logical, I’d be on board, but as it stands, I don’t mind picking up IM#1 or SS#1. At the right price of course ^_^
Mike,
I’m with you content obsession! Funny, but at one point when paring my collection down in size, I set aside a small pile of books that I just love to read that maybe one could call underappreciated, but they are in no way undervalued: FF 191 (team breaks up) and 213 (Galactus vs High Evolutionary); Thor 272 (Thor and Loki childhood story), and 353 (Thor, Odin, Loki defend Asgard from Surtur) FF #250, Inhumans #12 (vs Hulk) and a handful of others. It keeps me grounded and reminds me that people reading and enjoying comics underpins the collecting/investing aspect of collecting).
As to Spectacular Spiderman magazine 1 & 2, that instantly rang a bell. I happen to have the 35th edition of Overstreet handy on my shelf (Lord knows why) and in there #2 outstrips #1 by $20 in NM but no reason why is given. Was that one of those “low distribution” books, eg – Conan #3 and Surfer #4? (which I agree with you is simply one of the best books of the late Silver Age.)
Charlie,
You’re sadly absolutely right about FF annual #5 — While I call it undervalued, I guess I’m sloppy with the language because I don’t think its undervalued in the sense of FF #48 or 1961 Amazing Adventures #1; I don’t think its as likely to appreciate as those, but it is an unrecognized gem. There’s so many shades/degrees to consider; in between these two tiers, in my opinion, is a book like Detective #395 — unrecognized gem, no likely reason to suggest it skyrockets, but given that its the first Adams/O’Neill Batman would it really be that shocking for it to one day surpass GL #76 either? (Not that I see it on the horizon anytime soon.)
While I see the “emperor has no clothes” sort of angle re: the key status of SS#1 and IM#1, I agree with you that they are safe for a while in this market; I have 5 of IM and 3 SS, (various grades) mostly because I’ve never passed up a good deal on a copy. There’s lots of books I feel way more compelled to unload sooner, obviously, but every so often I think that I ought to liquidate them ASAP and grab a low-grade FF #1 while its depressed. Or maybe Adventure #247. But the deliberation of the move is half the fun, and there is certainly stuff I should be more focused on unloading than those books.
Readcomix,
My Spectacular Spider-Man #1 & 2 magazine feelings were pretty well laid out in my very first Undervalued post (#145) for Walt. In a nutshell I just feel Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine #2 is a vastly superior book to the #1 issue for all the reason’s I state. #2 was rated above #1 until at least Overstreet # 39, and then it reverted to #1 being a head of #2 by $20, almost like they thought they were correcting a mistake. I don’t understand why those two books are even close.
The terms “overvalued” and “undervalued” suggests potential for gain or loss as an investment. I think there are definitely better investment books out there than the one’s that Mike has pointed out but I also think that first solo appearances are a sub group of “keys”. They’re not as strong as first appearances but still worth scooping up should the opportunity present itself.
Creative used to have a lot more pull where value was concerned but less so these days. Books by Adams, Miller, Byrne, Starlin… the boys from the Studio all use to command a premium. GL#76 is one of my favs but if the current trend has any meaning, I’m not sure how much longer books like this will last. GL#76 is one of the few books that wasn’t able to bounce back from the housing crisis and remains flat, which is a shame because I really love this book. I recently sold my DD#158. It used to be neck and neck with DD#168 but the discrepancy between the two seems to be growing. DD#158 did come back up from 2009/2010 lows. The low to high spread has narrowed but the highs have yet to break new ground.
People have varying interests and collect for different reasons. As a collector, I’m satisfied with my lower grade raw copies of books that interest me. As an investor, I have to side with the market. The market is not always agreeable with my tastes or interests so I have to be clear about my objectives when making a purchase. I still own a VG copy of FF Ann #5 but it’s simply part of FF run.
Well said, Charlie! You summed the situation up nicely re: content/investment.
Mike, you’ve certainly been clear on Spec Spiderman 1&2, and I agree. I meant that I’m no more clear than you are on what the “mistake” was that the guide thought they were correcting. I’m just guessing they only ever valued #2 more highly due to one of those “low distribution” ghosts that later got corrected by a warehouse find. But its the superior book and shouldn’t need “low distribution” status to be more highly valued.
Which brings us to Charlie’s excellent summation of the market trends today and the decline of content as an impactful investment driver.
In my estimation, the reason the Surfer series “failed” was quite simple really.It was in many ways over the heads of the average comic buyer of the late sixties.I was ten when SS#1 came out. I loved the early square bound 7 issues of the series because it was deeper than most comics.The morality plays and exceptional John Buscema artwork were to me mesmerizing.The launches of the Surfer, Iron Man , Sub-Mariner ,Nick Fury and Doc Strange, oh yeah and the Hulk too, was precisely so important to the overall comic market because it effectively launched Marvel Comics to a new level and an older age group of the buying public.And it is because of this that the Surfer is not Overvalued , but under valued.It was one of the driving forces in reaching into the college age crowd , along with Roy Thomas and Gene Colans Doc Strange.I think that is where it’s importance lies.As a bridge to an older more mature audience.Look at the comments thread here.The majority, I believe, based upon comments are probably 50ish. The comic buying market is no longer aimed at satisfying younger readers but aimed at the older demographic. I worry for the future of our beloved hobby as a result but that is left for another column.
Hey Dennis,
Well you and I will continue to agree to disagree on this one. The first seven issues of the series are as a group excellent. I had no trouble reading issues 1-4 as an eleven year old. Issue #1 was as previously stated a big disappoint for me. That origin story was not aiming at a “higher age audience” in fact it was dumb-down for the masses instead of a cool new “alien” type origin I had expected.
When the “Big 8” books were re-launched and just launched (Captain Marvel & The Silver Surfer) in 1968 the Silver Surfer was held back until the end, the grand finale. They through everything they had at it double size square-bound, great art, the works. For this book to fail so badly that Stan Lee’s pet project got the boot in two years due to very poor sales, is more than a simple miss because it was “deeper” than other comics. This series didn’t end at issue #7, issue #8-18 are just plain ordinary to dreadful in my opinion – at any age. That group of books is still vastly over rated by Overstreet, but not the market.. The series failed due to very ordinary comic books (issues 3-6 not withstanding) and Stan Lee got it wrong – starting in issue #1..
If you believe that Silver Surfer #1 is undervalued to the extent that it should be worth more than FF#48 (it’s getting close) I would be very surprised. I do get why it remains a highly prized book by the slabbed investment community I just think the inside content of the book itself is average -at best. It contributed to the failure not success of the comic series.
Like Doctor Strange, the Silver Surfer quickly made his way in to the Defenders after cancellation of their respective books. He was used as before, in short story arcs, this time as an in-out member on the team.
It took almost twenty years before the Silver Surfer got another chance and made good in the late eighties with his own title – out in space where he always belonged.
Good hearing from you again Dennis!
Hey Mike, I have no problem disagreeing without being disagreable.As a matter of fact I agree 8-18 were very average indeed.I was also dissapointed with #1 but feel by the time it got to issue 3 it was “soaring”!
FF#48 is undervalued by far as it is the first Surfer and first of the Galactus trilogy and with the luxury of hindsight the first of the greatest 50 issue run in comics.( this certainly is not canon, but my opinion only).
The intersting thing about undervalued/overvalued is that that also is just opinion and thankfully we are all still allowed our own.
Regardless of over / under, what a great time overall the Silver Age was and continues to be!
All the best!
Gang,
Here’s a question that’s directly relevant to this great post on SS#1: I’ve been offered a VG 3-ish raw copy of Adventure Comics #109 straight up for a roughly comparable (slightly nicer, but about same grade range) raw Silver Surfer #1 of mine.
Do I take the Golden Age (1946) run book or stick with the Silver “key?”
Surfer has overall wear, 1/4″ tear in middle right of cover, quarter inch at bottom of square spine is peeled off, exposing page folds.
Adventure has staple tears, cover attached by paper from back cover that is still under the staples, slight spine roll, light soiling. Colors bright in and out, Cover (not pages) has about a half inch split at spine at top. It’s a Gerber 6; there’s 16 on the CGC census, of which 11 are 3.5 or lower.
Would you trade for the Adventure or keep the Surfer?
Hey Readcomix,
I love these kind of trade scenarios. The only possible reasons to not make that trade for me are:
1. You don’t like Superboy – period.
2. You feel the Silver Surfer is still a better investment.
I personally would take the trade – especially if Adventure #109 is a book you want or need, despite its condition for your collection. You may wait a while before you see another one. Tracking down another Silver Surfer #1 like the one you describe probably isn’t that hard to do. I don’t know much about the Adventure comic but it sure sounds like a tougher book. Might be a tougher sell. The dealer likes the Silver Surfer which does speak to what book he thinks he can sell first and maybe for more. I’m not helping much here am I !! Maybe someone else will chime in although I am probably the only other person looking at two week old posts.
Thanks so much, Mike! We may be netting out around the same place. I was hoping you and some of the other regulars would be checking all the recent conversations; wasn’t sure about the etiquette of referencing the question elsewhere, such as Walt’s newest undervalued post.
I keep wrestling with what’s the better medium-term hold/investment of the two; Stephen is hardly alone in noting that more Silver Age, post-’63 anyway, exists and may be beginning to hit the market. Lower grades are especially plentiful.
Then again, take a rare 1946 Golden Age book like this, and you have to ask yourself who the audience is for it. True, there might be 30 copies out there in existence, but how many younger collectors will want it down the line? There’s 16 on the CGC census; this one is raw. There are four offered on ComicLink’s exchange, none better than 3.0.
I’d like to think its scarce enough to maintain its price-point a little longer than a low grade Surfer #1 over the next few years, but I’m not sure.
Sounds like you are leaning toward pulling the trigger if you’re me, but not with conviction. Which is where I am.
Hey Gentlemen, I’m with Mike on this.I take it the Superboy has some nostalgic appeal and you certainly would be able to find anther SS#1 in that grade but the Superboy would be tough to find.
All the best!
So you guys talk about investment and not about whether a guy on a surf board in space is saying anything? It is now only about money?
How old are you guys?
Silver Surfer was silly in the beginning and remains so.
Marvel threw stuff out to see what would stick to the wall. Irony prevailed.
Hi Wayne,
Well I’m old in numbers but very young at heart. I have always felt comics helped keep me that way. I feel very lucky that I am able to step out of my adult life and go back in time to when I was 10 or 11 and life was pretty much care-free and very little responsibility.
This particular forum is about comics that I think have been overvalued by the Overstreet price guide. Some people agree me and others do not, but it’s all good Of course like all good conversation we start rambling on to other topics. A lot of the time it is about the money.
We have discussed the content of the Silver Surfer here and in previous posts. I felt he could have been a tremendous character, and I do like the Silver Surfer in his 80’s run better than this earlier work.
You were right, irony did prevail when Marvel was throwing stuff out to see what would stick to the wall. Spider-Man did indeed “stick to the wall” and the company never looked back.
Guys, thanks for your help! Looks like we’re all leaning Golden Age.
Wayne, its not only about money, and I don’t see the relevance of age? But context, friend: the conversation is relating to Mike’s post in a column titled “Overvalued Overstreet.” And the merits of the story itself in SS #1 were part of the discussion already. Opinions above, as I read it, are thoroughly mixed, leaning towards disappointed, in the quality of the entire 18-issue Surfer run.
In the context of Mike’s post on whether this “Silver Age Key” is overvalued, I posed a real question posed to me: would you trade a Surfer #1 for a comparable grade copy of a rare Golden Age run book?
Relating to the quality of the run itself — if the unpublished Surfer #19 exists in the Marvel archives, I’d love for it to see the light of day. If anyone recalls the last page of Surfer 18, he’s ranting about rage against the human race, setting him up as an anti-hero, a cosmic version of Namor if you will, for the next issues. I would love to have seen a bit of that.
Like you, I’ve always thought the character a bit hokey, but he’s clearly Stan’s pet project back in the day. Again, read the 128-page 1978 magnum opus from the Fireside Books series and it is clear that Stan saw his Surfer as a Christ allegory. I can’t help but think that it was his answer to Superman’s origin, which Siegel and Shuster themselves had identified as a Moses allegory.
Okay… This column is about investment and not a critical forum.
Sorry.
So Mike’s excuse is nostalgia? That is no way to look at text and image. He feels 12 years old when he reads these ? Not for the rest of us.
Mike,.. do not go the nostalgia route….please. It makes all of us who take the comic arts seriously look like doofus.
This is serious stuff not nostalgia.
M.
Wow! Touchy! And, trust me Wayno, a love of nostalgia does not make someone a “doofus.” You also sound like a bit of an “ageist” if you don’t mind my saying so. There are all kinds of reasons to love this medium, so lighten up a bit, because you’re seriously sounding like a doofus.
I don’t see why nostalgia can’t be serious. If you ask me, the back issue market is fueled by nostalgia. What other purpose do old comics serve other than to fill a sentimental void, possibly during a happier times? Once that connection dissipates, what will keep this boat afloat?
For this reason, personally, I would chose Silver Surfer #1 over any Golden Age Superboy run issue. From an investment stand point, I think the SS#1 will be a lot easier to sell down the road. The only selling point I can see with Adventure Comics #109 is Joe Shuster on art duty. But as we’ve already mentioned with Adam’s on GL#76, Miller on DD#158… creators seem to be less valued by the investment community these days. However, if you simply “like” Superboy, that’s a different story. Especially such an old book that holds so much…. wait for it: Nostalgia.
Thank you all! I figure I should report back with the punchline. As you know, I was on the fence but leaning slightly toward Mike and Dennis’ direction, though I agree with Charlie that Surfer might be much easier to sell down the road.
That said, I pulled the trigger and made the trade. I did it because while the Surfer is a highly liquid book (just look at eBay sold listings) prices are all over the board, and there’s plenty of copies. I had three myself and traded away the worst of the three.
So I guess I diversified, taking a less mainstream but much more rare book.
And Wayne, I do enjoy the Surfer but again, I have other copies, as well the Essentials edition, and a first print of “Son of Origins,” where Surfer #1 also appears in its entirety. And I just read and also enjoyed the Adventure Comics.
The only nugget I found was in the Aquaman story, in which he teams up with a wizard Shazam lookalike called Dr Roamer, who has a floating sea museum and is very much a prototype for the Marvel villain The Collector. Kinda cool.
Thanks all for helping me think it through!