Which key issues did you buy off the stands?

[Mr.Marion]

I recall my dad telling me he got a kick out of seeing the early silver age books being worth so much because he remembers them on the newstand and at mom and pop shops.

I was born in the 80's so I can't relate. :/

[ubermanx]

Born in the late 60's and read comics almost from the very beginning. I think my Mom started buying me comics to look at at around 2 years old. But didn't really start saving comics in bags and boards till the 80's. As such I had darn near all of them since then. Dark Knight Returns, New Teen Titans, New Mutants #98, etc.

I'm sure in the 80's nice silver age books were cheap. At one time or another I've owned every DC #1 released in the 60's except for a few weird titles like Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. I have flipped my Justice League of America and Green Lantern #1s about 10 years ago and purged most of my 90's comics back in 2006.

What I remember is passing on some comics. Fellow offered me 3 copies of Walking Dead #1 for $20 a piece and I passed. Black and white comics ... pfft. Friend of mine had a nice set of Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles and I wasn't interested.

Looking at an old Mile High 1982 ad ...

Daredevil #9 ..... $6
Captain America #100 ..... $12
Iron Fist #14 ..... $5
Iron Man #1 ..... $40
X-Men #94 ..... $55

- Marty

[Sideshow Spock]

In the late 70s and early 80s I would walk or bike to the local mom and pop (it literally was) corner store and buy comics from the spinning rack. Sometimes I'd get a piece of pizza and a soda, or an ice-cream bar. As far as "key issues", nothing comes to mind other that's where I got my start with New Teen Titans, my fave 80s mag..

Good times.

[hedrap]

Of more recent books with value, I've never forgotten buying the Hulk issue with Rocket Racoon's intro. That was my title to complete as a kid, and it was just a head-shaking, almost existential moment.

My brother got all the X, Miller and Moore stuff on release. I remember looking at Watchmen in the store and putting it down. Craziest memory from the mid-80's, one owner was getting out of the business and held a "cover price" sale, and he had a huge inventory of 60's books.

[thunderbolt]

Giant Size XMen 1 right off the rack is the biggest one I remember. The Detective where Manhunter died, too.

[madmarva]

It's funny, but I don't consider the ones I bought off the stands as keys. I started occasionally getting comics around 1972, but I collected heavily from around 1977 through the mid 1990s. Unfortunately I sold them off before most of them attained much value. They books I was excited about having were the back issues I picked up that were printed before I was born.

[Mr.Marion]

Some bargin bin comics I got that are pretty important to comic fans.


First appearance of Darkseid.

Black Manta revealed to be Black and also the death of Aquaman's baby.

[Red Hulk]

Some might not consider it a key issue but one that comes to mind for me was Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 (Death of Barry Allen Flash).

[VintageMike]

If it happened after Amazing Spider-Man 228, got off the stands as far as that title goes. Notable issues would first first black costume issue (252) and first Hobgoblin (238).

[Gorn Captain]

Rogue joining the X-Men in Uncanny 171.

[Riffster]

New Teen Titans #'s 1 and 2

[Brazoo]

I recently got rid of a bunch of my X-Factor comics from when I was a kid, including the first appearance of Apocalypse. That went for an okay chunk. Maybe it would have been smarter to wait for the movie to come out - but I was happy.

[Marvelmania]

I remember getting Hulk #180 in a plastic 3 pack at a Jiffy Market. No idea if it was a Whitman 3 pack or not. Also picked up Hulk #181 and Giant Sized X-men #1 off the rack at a nearby 7-11. 7-11 was my main source for comics in the mid 70's.