Flash: the undervalued Silver Age issues worth watching

The Flash's Rogues Gallery is one of the richest in DC Comics: Reverse-Flash, Gorilla Grodd, Weather Wizard, Mirror Master, Captain Boomerang — each of these characters has their first appearance locked inside a Silver Age issue published between 1959 and 1963, all crafted by the creative team of John Broome (writer) and Carmine Infantino (artist). These comics share a common profile: they remain less liquid on eBay than equivalent Marvel keys, yet their narrative importance is documented, and their media exposure through the CW series The Flash (2014–2023, starring Grant Gustin) has demonstrated how quickly that undervaluation can shift.

This guide sticks to the verifiable: our eBay estimator (eBay.fr + eBay.com, June 2026) and records documented by Heritage Auctions, GoCollect, and sellmycomicbooks.com. When eBay volume is insufficient (fewer than 15 active listings), we flag it and do not fabricate any figure.

Flash Silver Age key issue snapshot (verified data, June 2026)

eBay volumes are consistently too thin on these issues for an all-grades median to be meaningful. The "Documented values" column is the authoritative reference; all figures sourced from Heritage Auctions, GoCollect, and sellmycomicbooks.com.

Sources: Heritage Auctions, GoCollect, sellmycomicbooks.com, eBay.com (June 2026).

Flash #110: two first appearances in a single issue

Published in December 1959, The Flash #110 was written by John Broome and drawn by Carmine Infantino. It packs two landmark story firsts into one issue: the origin and first appearance of Kid Flash (Wally West) — Barry Allen's nephew by marriage, who would eventually take over the Flash mantle in vol.2 (1987) and again during DC Rebirth (2016) — and the first appearance of Weather Wizard (Mark Mardon), a founding member of the Rogues. Kid Flash would also become a founding member of the Teen Titans, a fact that has given this issue a second collecting audience beyond straight Flash fans.

Our eBay estimator returns zero active listings for this issue — volume too thin for a reliable median. Available market data shows a CGC 7.5 copy listed at approximately $2,200 on the active market, with a CGC 8.0 documented at $3,400 in 2019 (sellmycomicbooks.com). The CGC Census lists approximately 527 graded copies, heavily concentrated in mid and low grades — high-grade copies are scarce and rarely surface at auction.

Flash #139: the birth of Barry Allen's greatest enemy

Published in September 1963, The Flash #139 is also by John Broome and Carmine Infantino. It introduces Eobard Thawne / Professor Zoom / Reverse-Flash, a scientist from the 25th century who replicates Barry Allen's speed powers and becomes his greatest nemesis. The character sits at the centre of the series' most consequential storylines: Thawne murders Iris West in Flash #275 (1979), triggering the murder trial arc that leads directly into Barry Allen's death in Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 (1985). On television, the CW series cast Reverse-Flash as the main antagonist of Season 1 (2014–2015), boosting collector attention significantly.

Market data from GoCollect and Heritage shows a CGC 8.0 in the $2,000–$2,600 range depending on timing — the all-time high for an 8.0 is $2,640, reached in May 2022 — with the overall trend described as flat to slightly negative over the past two years. The record sale is $8,300 for a CGC 9.6; the CGC Census lists only 15 copies graded 9.0 or higher, of which just 3 have reached 9.6. That scarcity in high grade means any fresh NM copy is a genuine find.

Flash #106 and #105: the other keys not to overlook

The Flash #106 (April–May 1959, John Broome and Carmine Infantino) is the second issue of the ongoing series and introduces two Rogues in a single book: Gorilla Grodd in "Menace of the Super-Gorilla!" and the Pied Piper in "Pied Piper of Peril." Gorilla Grodd — a super-intelligent gorilla with telepathic and mind-control powers — is consistently ranked among the Flash's most memorable villains. GoCollect documents a CGC 6.0 value of approximately $1,650. Our eBay estimator returns zero results — volume is too thin for a reliable median.

The Flash #105 (February–March 1959) is the very first issue of Barry Allen's ongoing solo series and contains the first appearance of Mirror Master (Sam Scudder). Our estimator returns only one eBay listing — an insufficient signal. Verified data places a CGC 6.0 at approximately $3,300 and a CGC 9.2 at $16,500 (Heritage, 2012), making it the most expensive issue in the series' first year outside of Showcase #4.

Why these issues stay under the radar

The Flash vol.1 run (1959–1985) occupies a specific place in the Silver Age DC hierarchy: flagship keys like Showcase #4 (1956, 1st Barry Allen as Flash — documented record of $900,000 for a CGC 9.6 at Heritage Auctions in January 2024) and Flash Comics #1 (1940, 1st Jay Garrick) absorb most collector capital and media attention. Issues #105 through #139 remain in their shadow — less publicised, less liquid on eBay, but genuine documented first appearances rather than speculation. The DC Silver Age market is broadly in a bear phase according to GoCollect's 2025 market report, which weighs on these issues in the short term; it is precisely in this kind of environment, however, that entry points become more reasonable for patient collectors.