Jungle Action #6, Marvel Comics, September 1973
Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966) featured the 1st appearance of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s the Black Panther (T’Challa), comicdom’s 1st African American super hero. The Black Panther followed comicdom’s 1st African American hero Lobo, D.J. Arneson’s creation published by Dell Comics a year earlier, click here for my Lobo post.
FF #52 has always been a tough book to find in grade and these days high grade copies have shot through the roof, recent sales include a CGC 8.0 at $750 and a CGC 9.4 at a staggering $4,500. These are strong prices and they are still climbing!
The Black Panther is an awesome character and a rising star, I’m expecting some great projects to surface around this character, he was a prominent Avenger for such a long time, through their best year’s I’d say, Black Panther joined the team with Avengers #52 (May 1968).
Collectors are starting to load up on Black Panther keys. Favoured targets include Fantastic Four Annual #5 (his 3rd appearance I think), the aforementioned Avengers #52, Jungle Action #5 the July 1973 book that launches the Black Panther as a headliner and of course Black Panther #1 (January 1977) by, the just returned to Marvel from DC, Jack Kirby.
These are all good picks though I’d argue that Jungle Action #5 is a bit overvalued seeing as it’s a reprint of Avengers #62, Black Panther #1 is an OK pick but I’ve asked the question before as to whether #1’s are overvalued?
This week I’d like to feature Jungle Action Comics #6 as the sleeper Black Panther book. I strongly believe this book is undervalued.
Jungle Action #6 is the true launch of Black Panther’s headlining run in Jungle Action, a run that lasted to issue #24.
Jungle Action #6 is also the beginning of something quite special, the issue launches writer Don McGregor’s epic 13 issue story arc (running through to issue #18) entitled “Panther’s Rage”.
The “Panther’s Rage” story is nothing short of a Marvel Classic, it has received raves for its intelligence and complexity. It is a complete thought out story from beginning to end. From what I’ve read most consider it Marvel’s 1st true graphic novel, though serialized.
Rich Buckler provides cover and interior art while a young Klaus Janson gets credit for the inks.
Jungle Action #6 introduces the Black Panther’s arch nemesis and fellow Wakandan Eric Killmonger.
So for those of us who simply can’t afford a nice copy of Fantastic Four #52 I highly recommend Jungle Action #6.
I still can’t believe Black Panther #1 guides 25% higher at $50 and even more puzzling is the fact that the reprint issue Jungle Action #5 guides 12.5% higher at $45. I see these anomalies being corrected over the next few years as the legion of new Black Panther fans that will soon be hunting his key books down figure things out and set things straight.
As of this post Black Panther 1’s in CGC 9.2 grade are trading for $100 while a CGC 9.4 copy of Jungle Action #6 recently got $100 as well. Comparatively the Jungle Action buy was a steal.
The 43rd edition of the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide shows $19/$30/$40 as the 8.0/9.0/9.2 price splits.
Strengths that make this comic book a good long-term investment are:
- Launches Black Panther’s now classic “Panther’s Rage” storyline
- Will be considered the key in this run versus #5
- The Black Panther property has a very promising future
Just a heads up, Black Panther is NOT African American. He is African. That would make Falcon the first African American Super Hero.
Thank you for the correction Nelson, you are right!
Panthers Quest , which I believe followed right after Panthers rage , was also a masterpiece by Don MacGregor and Gene Colan with inks by Tom Palmer.Why these were never compiled in a deluxe format is beyond me.Great pick Walter!
Good pick and I couldn’t agree more. This has been on my personal list for a long time (I purchased a pedigree copy about 2 years ago). I was aware of its significance as first Killmonger & first-solo-Black-Panther-that-isn’t-a-reprint, but it was interesting to learn about more about it’s significance in building Black Panther’s mythos. Another book I like is Shuri’s first appearance – possibly too recent to be collectible as of yet, however a very significant character in recent years.
A pedigree copy? LOL!
This is a nice choice, as it points out that J/A #5 is essentially a reprint. How about the Black Panther series where Kirby returns? That issue seems to have picked up steam.
not allparts of # 5 is a reprint. its basically his first solo appearance. 🙂
Kirby is great but that 1st issue has s pretty big print run!
Um…sir..5 is an exact reprint of Avengers 62 with a different cover. Please dont state un-truths.
Well here i am a few months later to say…a copy of Jungle action 6 cannot be had in a true NM for under $125 raw. A 9.0 just sold for $200 slabed. Thing is…good luck finding one! Man this book is elusive to say the least. 4 copies on mycomicshop.com all low grade and asking a premium. About 8 to be had on ebay and again all low grade copies that need to be destroyed and recycled lol. Still dont thing this book has caught on yet since demand is still way higher for BP#1 Kirby. The average collector and new-found fans have no understanding of print runs and rarity. Those that are not tying to secure a Jungle action #6 in high grade now…are doing themselves an unjustice. Not to metion the art and story line is like nothing you have ever seen before 🙂