The Comic Book Collector's Blog

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Practical guides, expert advice and resources to manage, value and grow your comic book collection.

1000+ articles published · 5 categories · New content every week
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Collector's Guide

Spider-Gwen's best runs: Latour, Rodriguez, McGuire

It comes from elsewhere, and each series must decide what to do with this discrepancy. The seminal run, the 2018 breakup, and recent miniseries.

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Collector's Guide

Nightwing's Best Runs: From Chuck Dixon to Tom Taylor

Each team faces the same problem: writing a character defined by their emancipation. Solutions found from 1995 to 2021, and where to start.

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Collector's Guide

Elektra's best runs: where to start reading

From the founding work to Elektra: Assassin (1986, Miller/Sienkiewicz), what each series brings and the mistakes to avoid.

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Collector's Guide

Batgirl's best runs: Year One, Gail Simone, Burnside

A character defined by what he knows. What each series does with its intelligence, and how to avoid buying the wrong costume wearer.

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Key Issues

The Winter Soldier's First Appearance: Captain America #1

Captain America #1 (November 17, 2004, $2.99): a first appearance which is a return. Two draws, several homonymous number 1s, how to find your way around.

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Key Issues

The Wasp's First Appearance: Tales to Astonish #44

Tales to Astonish #44 (March 5, 1963, 12¢): two keys in the same series and a British edition at 9d. How to identify the correct copy.

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Key Issues

Vision's first appearance: Avengers #57 (1968)

Avengers #57 (August 8, 1968, 12¢) carries status, but the next issue carries reputation. Which booklet to buy, and why no publishing trap.

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Key Issues

Ultron's First Appearance: Avengers #54 and #55 (1968)

Avengers #54 (May 9, 1968, 12¢): the character acts masked, under another name. His revelation comes in #55. Which number to buy, and why.

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Key Issues

Sabretooth's first appearance: Iron Fist #14 (1977)

Iron Fist #14 (May 3, 1977): the character begins outside of the X-Men, and the issue exists in 30¢ and 35¢. Identification, creators and pitfalls to purchasing.

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Key Issues

Nightwing's First Appearance: Tales of the Teen Titans #44

A renowned title currently being numbered, three printings including a Canadian edition, and a key embedded in a famous story. How to find your way there.

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Key Issues

The first appearance of Madame Web: Amazing Spider-Man #210

ASM #210 (August 12, 1980, 50¢): forty years of indifference, then a film announcement. What the booklet really contains and how to find it.

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Key Issues

The Green Goblin's First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #14

ASM #14 (April 9, 1964, 12¢): Ditko creates a riddle that he leaves the series without solving. Two years of mystery, a British edition at 9d.

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