Why this one matters
This is one of the great independent comic stories. It was printed in a tiny quantity by two people funding it themselves, and became a global franchise.
The scarcity is real rather than manufactured, which is what separates it from most 1980s and 1990s speculation. There simply are not many first printings, and there never were.
What catches people out
- The printing is everything here. There were multiple printings in quick succession, and the difference in value between a first and a later printing is not a percentage, it is an order of magnitude. Check the indicia.
- The first printing has no printing number stated. Later printings say second printing, third printing and so on. If it says nothing, look closely at everything else before celebrating.
- Counterfeits exist. Because the value is so high and the production was so basic, this is one of the few comics worth having authenticated if you believe you have a first.
The honest verdict
A genuine first printing is a significant comic. A later printing is worth a modest amount. Establishing which you have is the entire question, and worth doing carefully.
How to check yours
Search the exact issue on eBay and filter to sold listings rather than asking prices. An item sat unsold at a high price tells you what somebody hoped for, not what anybody paid. Match the printing, and be honest with yourself about condition, because it usually matters more than people expect.
If you would rather not work it out yourself, send me photos and I will tell you what you have and what it is realistically worth, for free and with no obligation to sell me anything.
Want it valued properly?
Photos of the cover, the spine and the indicia are enough. You will get an honest answer either way, including if the answer is that it is not worth much.
Get a free valuation