Hello to everyone from New York. This is my first market report since my website began operating in June, 2004. I have been quite busy buying books and selling consigned and personal inventory. There are many more high grade Marvel collectors out there, especially outside the United States, than I had anticipated. The genres of choice remain Silver and Bronze Age.

The certified market is still hot as it has been for some time. Many Marvel titles are selling very well in CGC 9.4 or better (which is the area I specialize in, ultra high grade) and some titles are selling incredibly well in Near Mint and up. Such a title is Journey Into Mystery, the focus of this month's report. Without a doubt, Journey Into Mystery (JIM) is the hottest Marvel title right now and probably the most sought after run in all of comics. The title has been picking up steam for almost 2 years now, especially after an incredibly high grade run from Canada surfaced (which I wound up purchasing) from an original owner and sold by dealer Doug Sulipa. The books were all in Near Mint or better (except for a few issues that graded between 8.5 and 9.2) and started an uphill climb in Journey interest, sales and pricing. This has continued until the present and has been reflected in the Overstreet Comic Book Price Gude as well as its monthly off-shoot, the Overstreet Comic Price Revue. The big book has seen an incredible jump in Near Mint prices on this title, especially on early issues such as 84, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 96 & 97, but even more so on high demand books such as 109 and 112.

For example, the NM price on a JIM 109 in last year's guide (No. 33) was $180.00. This year, it is more accurately reflected at the top guide price (NM- 9.2) of $500.00 (a 280% increase). A CGC graded 9.4 just recently sold for $4,000.00. And the No. 112, (Thor vs. Hulk) guided in NM last year at $320.00. Now, it's in NM- 9.2 at $550.00, a 72% price increase. A CGC graded 9.6 just sold for $10,000, while I just sold a beautiful 9.4 (from the aforesaid Canadian original owner collection) for $4,500.00.

As Marvel Silver Age collectors are starting to realize just how rare and hard to find in grade these early Journeys are, the more $$ they are willing to expend when a high grade copy comes around. Thor has always been a popular Marvel title and sold well in the late 1960's issues, but Journey Into Mystery issues, especially in high grade, have taken the Thunder God to a new level. This type of perceived rarity and love for these early classics has prompted some wild purchases, such as the Pacific Coast copy of JIM 89 in CGC 9.6 selling for a whopping $14,500 late last year (almost 33 x last guide's NM price) and a 9.4 selling for $7,250.00 (16 times guide).

I do not see this trend changing or slowing down in the near future as early JIM's will continue to break records each time one is bought or sold. In fact, I predict that the JIM 83 in 9.4 which sold at just under $55,000 in the beginning of this year will seem like a bargain not too long from now.

SILVER AGE SALES:
Avengers 12 9.4: $1,200.00 (Pacific Coast)
Avengers 21 9.4: $500.00 (Pacific Coast)
Avengers 24 9.4: $350.00 (Green River)
Avengers 25 9.6: $1,500.00
Avengers 25 9.4: $500.00 (Curator)
Avengers 26 9.4: $350.00 (Green River)
Avengers 28 9.4: $450.00 (Pacific Coast)
Journey Into Mystery 105 9.4: $1,500.00 (Canadian original owner)
Journey Into Mystery 111 9.4: $1,500.00 (Canadian original owner)
Journey Into Mystery 112 9.4: $4,500.00 (Canadian original owner)
Journey Into Mystery Annual 1 9.4: $1,500.00 (Boston)
Strange Tales 110 9.4: $8,700.00 (Northland)

SILVER AGE PURCHASES:
Captain America 115 9.8: $500.00
Fantastic Four 9 9.6: $14,000.00
Journey Into Mystery 112 9.6: $10,000.00
Journey Into Mystery Annual 1 9.6 $2,000.00
Sgt. Fury And His Howling Commandos 48 9.6: $310.00
Space Family Robinson: 5 9.2; 24 9.4 & 25 9.6: $1,250.00 lot (Pacific Coast)
Tales To Astonish 78 9.4: $700.00

BRONZE AGE SALES:
Avengers 87 9.6: $350.00
Iron Man 33 9.2: $70.00 (Winnipeg)
Iron Man 34 9.2: $70.00 (Winnipeg)
Iron Man 35 9.2: $70.00 (Winnipeg)
Iron Man 80 9.4: $60.00 (Winnipeg)

BRONZE AGE PURCHASES:
Amazing Spider-Man 119 9.8: $2,000.00
Amazing Spider-Man 125 9.8: $750.00
Amazing Spider-Man 154 9.8: $250.00
Amazing Spider-Man 151 9.6: $510.00
Amazing Spider-Man 152 9.8: $450.00 (Pacific Coast)
Amazing Spider-Man 153 9.6: $225.00 (Pacific Coast)
Amazing Spider-Man 155 9.6: $225.00 (Pacific Coast)
Amazing Spider-Man 157 9.6: $225.00 (Pacific Coast)
Amazing Spider-Man 159 9.6: $225.00 (Pacific Coast)
Amazing Spider-Man 163 9.6: $160.00 (Pacific Coast)
Amazing Spider-Man 166 9.8: $300.00 (Pacific Coast)
Amazing Spider-Man 174 9.6: $190.00 (Pacific coast)
Avengers 72 9.6: $250.00
Avengers 100 9.6: $550.00
Avengers 132 9.8: $150.00
Avengers 134 9.8: $150.00
Avengers 136 9.8: $150.00
Avengers 141 9.8: $150.00
Avengers 143 9.8: $150.00
Avengers 145 9.8: $100.00
Avengers 147 9.8: $150.00
Avengers 149 9.8: $150.00
Avengers 150 9.8: $150.00
Captain America 130 9.6: $150.00
Daredevil 105 9.6: $140.00
Fantastic Four 93 9.6: $325.00
Fantastic Four 106 9.6: $250.00
Fantastic Four 133 9.8 $930.00
Incredible Hulk 128 9.6: $175.00
Incredible Hulk 131 9.6: $175.00
Incredible Hulk 137 9.6: $175.00
Iron Man 30 9.6: $200.00
Iron Man 40 9.6: $250.00
Iron Man 51 9.8: $200.00
Thor 187 9.6: $125.00
Thor 188 9.6: $125.00
X-Men 120 9.8: $1,475.00
X-Men 125 9.8: $400.00
X-Men 130 9.8: $550.00
X-Men 135 9.8: $400.00
X-Men 138 9.8: $400.00