Hake’s Auctions offers up key comic books

If you are looking to expand your collection of classic comics, and capture a piece of history at the same time, Hake’s Auctions launches a new pop-culture auction on May 21, 2024, with a number of titles from Marvel and DC, including a copy of Amazing Spider-Man #252, the first appearance of the black costume.

Here are some of the items on the auction block, with the complete listing at Hakes.com.

GIANT-SIZE CREATURES #1 JULY 1974 CGC 7.5 VF- (FIRST TIGRA). (hakes.com)

Everyone knows and loves Tigra, the bikini-clad cat-lady who’s been an Avenger in various iterations of the team. Now, with a 9.99 entry bid, you can buy her first appearance! Sure, she was the non-fuzzy The Cat before that, but this is the first appearance of the bikini.

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #9 JULY 2016 CGC 9.8 NM/MINT (FIRST FULL RIRI WILLIAMS). (hakes.com)

For 9.99, you can get in on the bidding for the first appearance of Riri Williams, a.k.a. Ironheart! With her own TV series coming up, her star is sure to rise, so this may be an opportunity to get in on the ground floor.

KAMANDI, THE LAST BOY ON EARTH #1 OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 1972 CGC 4.0 VG (FIRST KAMANDI). (hakes.com)

Sometimes you just need to buy a book because Jack Kirby worked on it. Sure, Kamandi lived in a post-apocalyptic Earth and had a friend who was a talking tiger, but is any of that really important, since it was largely unconnected to the greater DC universe? Jack Kirby created it. ‘Nuff said.

SUB-MARINER #50 JUNE 1972 CGC 6.5 FINE+ (FIRST NAMORITA). (hakes.com)

First there was Namor, then there was his cousin Namora, then there was her daughter/clone Namorita. While that may sound silly, Namorita went on to be a strong character in her own right, joining the New Warriors and eventually turning blue like a full-blooded Atlantean. You can still get her first appearance cheap!

NEW GODS #1 FEBRUARY-MARCH 1971 CGC 7.5 VF- (FIRST ORION, LIGHTWAY, METRON, HIGH-FATHER & KALIBAK). (hakes.com)

We can all agree that Mister Miracle is the coolest New God, but many of the other New Gods make their first appearance in this issue, and did we mention Jack Kirby? It’s still plenty affordable, for a Kirby book in pretty good condition. Hail to the King!

ULTIMATE FALLOUT #4 OCTOBER 2011 CGC 9.8 NM/MINT (SECOND PRINTING – FIRST MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN). (hakes.com)

For a low, low price, you can get your hands on the first-ever appearance of Miles Morales – yes, THAT Miles Morales. The fact that his first appearance is still so affordable even after two hit movies is a crime, but eventually there will be a live-action adaptation, and you can expect this one to go a lot higher.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #252 MAY 1984 CGC 9.8 NM/MINT (FIRST BLACK COSTUME). (hakes.com)

This may not be the FIRST appearance of the black Spider-Man costume, that was in the Secret Wars mini-series, but this is its first appearance in a mainline Spider-Man book! That has put bids into the hundreds of dollars territory, but it’s still a bargain given that it’s the first regular appearance of the Venom Symbiote, which turns 40 this year. Happy birthday, symbiote!

X-MEN #1 SEPTEMBER 1963 CGC 1.8 GOOD- (FIRST X-MEN, PROFESSOR X & MAGNETO). (hakes.com)

Ever hear about a little show called “X-Men ‘97”? It’s heating up the Disney+ airwaves, and the X-Men are more popular than ever. So even though the grade on this book is pretty low, it’s still their first appearance, and a pretty iconic issue. Give that Angel a bazooka, he’s part of the X-Men now!

INCREDIBLE HULK #181 NOVEMBER 1974 CGC 9.2 NM- (FIRST WOLVERINE). (hakes.com)

No, not the cameo appearance in #180 (although Hake’s has that, too) – this is the first full appearance of Wolverine ANYWHERE. The price is already in the thousands, but you can expect it to go higher, given that he’s about to show up in the most anticipated comic-book movie of all time, Deadpool & Wolverine. Oh, and he’s been in a lot of other stuff, too. Popular guy, I hear.

via Hake’s Auctions