After the Bronze Age, the comic book market would begin to see a unique trend in high-octane storytelling and larger than life character designs. Various introductions and expansions also brought forth the anti-hero archetype with nitty-gritty characters beginning to become more prevalent in the medium. The era would also foster the concept of mini-series with more ambitious storytelling beginning to have line-wide event crossovers with multiple tie-ins. We'd also be introduced to printing presses becoming more technologically efficient and the quality of paper being upgraded.
Here are 10 of the Highest Selling Comic Books From The Copper Age. Each entry will list the value of the issue as well as the verified and unverified record sale if applicable.
10 Vampirella #113 (Rare Final Issue)
In her original 1964 inception, Vampirella was an alien hailing from the planet Drakulon, where it's inhabitants, the Vampiri, closely mirrored the mythological vampires known to Earth. After an astronaut shuttle crash lands on her planet, Vampirella ensues in a battle with the astronauts after going to investigate. She promptly incapacitates them and absconds with the shuttle back to Earth. Upon arrival, Vampirella became privy of the vampire folklore on Earth and the negative stigma attached to it. Seeking to clear the stigma, Vampirella embarks on a heroic quest to fight in the name of good and being honorable. Valued at $10, most copies of her last issue were destroyed, giving way for a record sale of $4k,
9 Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8 (Spider-Man's First Encounter with the Symbiote)
Published in December of 1984, this massive crossover would bring forth the Beyonder, an immensely overpowered character who'd kidnap the most popular heroes and villains Marvel had to offer, and pit them against each other in a battle to see what would prevail victorious, good or evil? In the tail end of issue #8, Spider-Man is told of a machine capable of manifesting a costume after his current one is left tattered after a brawl with the villains. Commencing the machine, a black orb would spring onto the hand of Peter and begin to envelop and graph into his suit, introducing the fan-favorite black and white costume. Valued at $5, this landmark comic has a record sale at $5.3k.
8 Amazing Spider-Man #252 (Black Spider-Man Suit/Symbiote First Appearance)
While Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8 introduced the origin of Peter's Black Spider-Man suit, Amazing Spider-Man #252 debuting in May of 1984, would follow the events of the crossover with Spider-Man returning to Earth with the suit he obtained from the Beyonder's Battle World. The story would pick up with Earth questioning what happened to all the heroes when suddenly Spider-Man, the Avengers, and Curt Conners fall through a portal back to New York. Grateful to be home, Peter goes back to his heroics though with his new suit, stretching its capabilities in what it can and can't do. Valued at $5, the record sale for this comic gem is $6k.
7 Gobbledygook #1 (Rare Eastman and Laird Book, Photocopied and Stapled)
Published under Mirage Studios, the magazine that published the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Gobbledygook #1 was an inaugural publication that featured Fugitoid, an android with the consciousness of his inventor, Professor Honeycutt.
Part of the Federation, a dictatorial government fighting the opposing Triceraton, martial law is rampantly enforced, however, the kind-hearted Professor Honeycutt would turncoat on the Federation after a failed lab experiment with a brain wave amplifier resulted in his cognizance transferring into the body of his android companion. The specific value for this rare comic is unknown, however, that's not stopped a collector from having the record sale of $6k.
6 New Mutants #98 (Deadpool First Appearance)
The Merc with a Mouth, one of the most nonsensical yet deeply captivating characters Marvel has to offer, was developed as a parody on DC's Deathstroke, even going as far as being tongue-in-cheek in naming him Wade Wilson, a slight alteration from Deathstroke's name, Slade Wilson. Debuting in 1991, New Mutants #96 introduced Deadpool and would have him on a mission to take out a hit on Cable. After incapacitating several New Mutants, his mission would prove to be unsuccessful after he's subdued by Domino, and it is revealed they actually have a history with one another. Valued at $80, the record sale for this milestone comic has a record sale of $7.5k.
5 The Amazing Spider-Man #300 (Venom's First Appearance)
Having one of the most expansive rogues galleries, Spider-Man is in constant conflict with the villains that'd look to destroy the wall-crawler and conquer New York City. However, in 1988, we'd get a villain who's primary goal was personal, marking the emergence of what amounted to an anti-Spider-Man, Venom. After Peter would learn of his new suits symbiotic nature and the psychological effect it was having on him, he'd discard it, having it bond to disgraced reporter Eddie Brock. Learning Peter and Spider-Man are one and the same, he goes on to terrorize Peter and his wife with his newfound abilities as Venom. Valued at $20, this collector comics' record sale strikes $12k.
4 Wolverine LTD Series #1 (First Solo Comic with Classic Cover)
With the evolution of the mini/limited series during the era, Wolverine would undoubtedly get his own in 1982. Evolving to one of Marvel's most prominent heroes, this solo introduction would also bring forth one of Wolverine's greater love interest, Mariko Yashida, a subservient woman who was being beaten by her husband. Enraged, Wolverine means to kill him but Mariko prevents any carnage to ensue, leaving him to go back to New York but before he does, he's kidnapped by Lord Shingen's men and forced into a duel to prove his worthiness to Mariko. Valued at $10, the record sale for this solo comic is $14k.
3 Wolverine Vol 2 #1 (First in Series)
Published in November of 1988, Wolverine's second volume would introduce the Muramasa Blade and would begin with him traveling to the Indonesian Archipelago to rescue the nobleman of his love interest Mariko Yoshida. Finding the man in a hut, Kojima Noburo is approaching death when his captors close in on Wolverine, forcing him to claw his way out to have a chance at escaping.
Unfortunately for Noburo, he would succumb to his injuries but in his dying breath tells Wolverine of the Muramasa Blade, the mystically corrupted sword that negates Wolverine's healing factor, and its perceived destination but for Logan, he comes across a far more nefarious scheme. Valued at $1, yes 99 cents, the record sale went to a collector who needed this issue, with a mint condition being sold for $17k.
2 Albedo #2 (Usagi Yojimbo First Appearance)
Albedo Anthropromophics was an anthology series that featured a sector of space populated by sentient humanoids of mammal and avian species. Under the military control of the Extraplnetary Defense Force or EDF, the series centered on complex political conflicts and was geared towards an adult audience. Published in 1984, issue number 2 introduced Usagi Yojimbo, a rabbit samurai who'd mistakingly murder the husband of an old woman who had provided him with hospitality. After betraying his Lord and being thrown out, the wife's husband had gone mad and morphed into a goblin-like creature leading to Usagi killing him after he breaks into the home he is staying. Valued at $250, the record sale for this comic reaches 31k.
1 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (TMNT First Appearance)
Before the merchandise, various animated tv-shows, or the 90s live-action movies and their subsequent reboots, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles rocked the comic book market with their 1984 introduction, making them one of the most successful transmedia properties to ever exist. Bringing together the shell-shocked clan for the first time, their comic book adaptations ran in a more mature vain than the comedic, childlike depictions that evolved in later years. Issue #1 would pit the brothers against their arch-nemesis, Shredder, for the first time, working together to defeat him, but when handed a sword to redeem his honor, he pulls a grenade pin only to be kicked off the roof by Donatello, exploding in midair. Valued at $500, this comic is more revered than any X-Men or Teen Titans comic of the era, with its rarity giving it a record sale of $90k.