Marvel introduced a lot of characters in the 1970s that went on to become staples of the Marvel Universe. Many of them went on to become part of popular culture with their inclusion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As more heroes from the seventies get tapped for movies and television series, expect to see prices rise for She-Hulk, the Eternals, and Shang-Chi.
These comics all look very expensive in a 9.6, Near Mint, CGC-graded condition. Lower grades can bear a more affordable price tag among graded copies. Ungraded copies are even more affordable, especially in lower grades, but should only be purchased from a dealer that is trusted.
10 Conan the Barbarian #1 (First Conan) - $2,250
Marvel was the first publisher for comic books featuring Conan the Barbarian. Robert E. Howard's premiere creation recently returned to Marvel, likely sparking new interest in this issue. This is also the 50th anniversary of this series, which adds to visibility for this issue.
Amazingly, it was a product of the time, with the Comics Code Authority having a lot of problems with the comic. It's one of the reasons that Barry Windsor-Smith's Conan has no nipples, despite being shirtless. Check out eBay to see how it and other related comics have fared.
9 Iron Man #55 (First Thanos) - $3,495
No villain made more of an impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe than Thanos. When introduced, he amassed a large army and armada to pursue the Cosmic Cube created on Earth. The exiled Kree soldier Mar-Vell and Earth's heroes stopped him. His pursuits never stopped, eventually resulting in his assembling of the Infinity Gauntlet.
Every time Thanos sets out to sow destruction and reap death, he's very effective before being eventually stopped. His portrayal in the Marvel films is one of the truest to his motives in the comics. While he's not as massive in his first appearance, the beginnings of his legacy are there. Check out what it's gone for on eBay.
8 Hero For Hire #1 (First Luke Cage) - $3,900
Luke Cage is regarded as the first black superhero to get his own comic. He set the stage for there to be black superheroes to get their own titles and a high profile in team books. When Marvel went to expand their Cinematic Universe into Netflix series, Luke Cage was a no brainer to include in the street-level heroes.
Recently, there haven't been too many copies sold in Near Mint condition. According to gocollect.com, eBay last sold a copy in CGC graded at 9.6 over a year ago. A collector's best bet is to find one graded lower, putting its price tag at hundreds rather than thousands of dollars.
7 Marvel Spotlight #2 (First Werewolf By Night) - $4,300
This is the first Werewolf by Night, marking a change for Marvel Comics and comic books in general under the Comics Code. It had relaxed its restrictions, making it possible for horror comics to make a resurgence in the 1970s. Before long, Marvel would have Tomb of Dracula, Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Frankenstein, and countless others.
Werewolf by Night was the first one, though, and set the stage for so many other great Marvel characters like Tigra and Moon Knight. While the character never quite achieved the popularity it had in the 1970s, its importance to a genre of Bronze Age comics is still acknowledged by collectors. While sales of 9.6, Near-Mint graded copies has slowed to one or two a year, according to GoCollect, it still commands hefty prices.
6 Tomb of Dracula #10 (First Blade) - $4,500
Blade the Vampire Hunter was the first Marvel character to have a true blockbuster feature film, starring Wesley Snipes. Now the character is getting a new treatment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Mahershala Ali. Even as the character lingered in creative limbo, fans clamored for a return of the vampire hunter, both in comics and films.
As the Blade film draws closer, expect prices to continue to rise. According to GoCollect, sales of graded copies are strong, but stretching across platforms like eBay, Heritage Auctions, and ComicLink. It may be time to look for ungraded copies. Before long, even those may be hard to find.
5 Amazing Spider-Man #129 (First Punisher) - $5,375
The Punisher has become a cultural icon, whether it's appropriate or not. His symbol has been adopted by extremists, prompting creators to call out inappropriate use. The character transformed from a threat to Spider-Man to an archetypical anti-hero. As the 90s trended towards violent and deadly anti-heroes, Punisher, and his first appearance, became more sought after.
As demonstrated by more recent series, Punisher remains a character with poignant storytelling potential. There have been many recent sales on eBay, showing movement in the value of this comic. There's even demand for the issue's reprint in Marvel Tales #106, with graded copies fetching prices above $100.
4 Giant-Size X-Men #1 (First Storm, Colossus, Magik, and Nightcrawler) - $7,136
No comic has more of an effect on Marvel comics like X-Men. In the later years of the Bronze Age, it became the best selling Marvel comic hands-down. Everything that Chris Claremont used in his shaping of mutants in the Marvel Universe was started here by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum.
It's no surprise that this comic commands such high prices, making it a holy grail for many collectors. What's really surprising what comics go for higher prices, save one. To see what recent sales have been like for this comic, just check out the history on eBay.
3 Werewolf By Night #32 (First Moon Knight) $10,600
With anticipation building for Moon Knight's Marvel series on Disney+, it's no surprise that his first appearance commands high prices. It may be surprising that it outsells Giant-Size X-Men #1. What might be the reason is not that Moon Knight is more popular or influential. It may just be supply and demand.
There are nearly three times as many graded copies of Giant-Size X-Men #1 as there are of this comic. Near Mint copies of this comic are far rarer among graded copies. To see what it's recently gone for, just look on eBay.
2 Incredible Hulk #181 (First Wolverine) - $13,225
The first appearance of Wolverine is surprisingly not the most expensive first appearance from the 1970s. Its value is in its demand especially with a Marvel stamp cut out of many copies. Graded copies will note the stamp's exclusion, making them more affordable, yet still pricey. However, there is a controversy with Wolverine's first appearance.
Incredible Hulk #180 has Wolverine's actual first appearance in the last panel. However, the market has ruled that is a cameo, and Hulk #181 is the first true appearance. Hulk #180 goes for about a third of what this issue sells for on eBay. To compare, check out the listings on GoCollect.
1 Marvel Spotlight #5 (First Ghost Rider) - $16,500
Perhaps it is the controversy over what is actually Wolverine's first appearance. Perhaps it is just that Ghost Rider remains popular enough to get numerous interpretations over the years, even spanning genres with Cosmic Ghost Rider. Johnny Blaze, the first demonic Ghost Rider ranks as the most expensive first appearance of the decade.
Unfortunately, eBay hasn't had a graded 9.6 copy sell in four years, so the resource to check is GoCollect. This is the 1970s and copies that can grade as high as 9.6 are rarer than those that can grade lower. This makes owning a copy in a lesser grade a more viable option to many collectors.