Collect Aquaman on a Budget: Practical Guide

Collecting Aquaman doesn't require an ocean budget. Long considered a secondary character, the King of Atlantis saw his popularity explode after the 2018 film, but many purchase windows remain accessible for the smart collector who knows where to look.

This guide gives you the keys to building asolid Aquaman collection without breaking the bank. From affordable key issues to underpriced runs, including tips for finding discounted copies, here is your budget roadmap.

Key issues Aquaman under $50

The truly old issues (Aquaman #1 from 1962) are out of reach for a tight budget, but several modern key issues remain very affordable:

• Aquaman #1 (2011, New 52)— relaunch by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis, raw VF/NM copies between $15 and $25.
• Aquaman #1 (2016, Rebirth)— excellent Dan Abnett series, available for under $10 in NM.
• Aquaman #0 (1994)— beginning of the Peter David “hook hand” era, often under $5.
• Adventure Comics #260 (1959)— first origin story of Aquaman, found in average condition (GD/VG) around $40-50.
• Aquaman #35 (1967)— first appearance of Black Manta, copies in Fair/Good condition between $30 and $50.

Underrated Runs to Buy Now

The run ofPeter David (1994-1998)remains absurdly cheap. This 75-issue series which redefined Aquaman as a bearded anti-hero is regularly found in complete sets for $30-50 on eBay. The quality of writing is exceptional and the rating can only go up.

Lerun Geoff Johns/Ivan Reis (2011-2013, #1-25)is another underrated must-have. These issues are easily found under $5 each in raw, and the artistic quality is museum-worthy.

Where to find deals

$1 bins and eBay lots

Aquaman is a DC character often overlooked in comic shop sale bins. Runs from the 90s and 2000s are frequently found in dollar bins. On eBay, search for “Aquaman lot” — sellers regularly liquidate complete runs at ridiculous prices.

Conventions and estate sales

At the end of the convention, DC sellers willingly sell off their Aquaman stocks so as not to win them. The estate sales are also a mine: the character being less "glamorous" than Batman, the prices remain moderate even for Silver Age issues.

Raw vs slabbed: budget strategy

For Aquaman, raw is almost always the best budget choice. CGC grading fees ($30-50 minimum) are only justified for pre-1970 issues. An Aquaman #35 (1967) in CGC 4.0 costs $150+, but a raw copy in similar condition sells for around $40. Save your budget to buy more numbers.

Newsstand gems and variants

The editionsnewsstandof Aquaman from the 80s and 90s are rarer than the direct editions but do not yet command a significant premium. Now is the time to stockpile some. The New 52 run variant covers (notably the “Monsters” and “Bombshells” covers) are also interesting picks under $10.

Modern keys under $20

• Aquaman #43 (2015)— highly sought-after variant cover, still available for under $15.
• Aquaman/Justice League: Drowned Earth #1 (2018)— tie-in event, under $5.
• Aquaman #57-65 (2020)— “Mera: Queen of Atlantis” bow, under $5 each.

2nd prints and reading copies

THEsecond printingsof Aquaman #1 (2011) and #23.1 (villain month, 3D cover) are interesting budget alternatives to the first prints. For pure reading, the "Aquaman by Geoff Johns" TPBs can be found second-hand under $10 and cover the best arcs.

Reading copies vs investment copies

Create two levels of collection:reading copies(VG/FN, $1-3 each) for the pleasure of reading, and reserve your "investment" budget for the few key issues in NM which have real potential for added value - in particular everything related to Black Manta and Mera, whose cinema adaptations continue to support demand.