The first KEY book you acquired

[carguy8022]

I have been collecting since about 1996 when I stumbled into (of all places) a video store. That is when I saw a few comics at the counter. I read wizard and talked comics with friends so I knew that the Fantastic Four 16,19,20 were good property. I paid 20 dollars for all 3. (the 16 recently graded a 6.0) Those stories got me HOOKED. It wasn't long before I got my first key. I just loved the Silver Surfer

 

 

[carguy8022]

Guys and Gals, feel free to post books/stories from any era comics I only did silver cause of my book

[PT]

I would probably out the same comic forward from my collection

I do have some tales of suspense with 1st titanium man, 1st SA red skull, 1st Modok, but I'm not entirely sure yet what rates as a true 'key'.

Maybe I'll be enlightened as the thread goes on.

Paul

[Gotham Kid]

Not a major key but anyhow ...

 

Captain America #100 CGC 9.6 from Pedigree in 2010

[carguy8022]

I love that issue of Cap. @ Paul, perhaps its not a "major key" but the book that hooked you, the one you dreamt of forever and finally found. This could be a pretty open post

[HeroX]

When I first got into comics as a kid (1988) I bought what was the biggest key I could afford in my favorite character at the time, Wolverine Vol.1 #1 (actually got the whole Claremont/Miller 1-4).

 

When I got back into comics as an adult a couple years ago, the first real key I bought was Incredible Hulk #181. That was the first real "expensive" comic I bought.

 

The first silver age key I bought, and I suppose the first mega-key, was X-Men #1.

[vaillant]

I think the first "key", although a minor one, has been Fantastic Four #3, which I picked up as a CGC 3.0 about ten years ago. Then I upgraded to a better raw copy with minimal color touch so I can read it…

 

As far as Golden Age goes, I think the closer I have to a key book is a low grade copy of National Comics #18, with the Pearl Harbor anticipation story (don’t have a scan at hand).

 

 

 

[ChasingKingKirby]

Mine was prolly Avengers 4. Bought/traded for it when I was just a kid. Prolly no more than 12 or 13 years old. This would have been early 80s. Even back then it was a lot of money to a kid. Think it was like 40 or 50 dollars for a Fine copy.

[Spiderphill]

First major key was avengers 1 cgc 5.5 first minor key was

Ff48 fn+ off eBay

[HarveySwick]

First "key" when I was a teen - New Mutants #98

First SA key 16 years later - also my first slabbed book - Daredevil #7 7.5 (from roulette44/Joey)

 

[MagnetoWasRight]

My first key as a kid were probably ASM121 & 122, if you consider them keys anyway. As an adult who could afford the more finer things in life...my first big key was the first CGC'd copy of X-Men #1 that I owned.

[vader2001]

My first keys where Conan #1 of the newstand for cover and then again in 1975 for 1 thin dime in 1975 and Marvel Spotlight #5 for $2, Kamandi #1 when it first came out for cover. I started getting comics in 1968 was I was 8. My grandmother bought them for me at a Safeway in Montana. The first major key I bought myself was in 1979 a ASM #1. My mother thought I was crazy for spending $365 for it then.

[zosocane]

Depends on the definition of "key."

 

If it's "key" broadly defined, probably ASM 129 picked from a LCS for about $1 back around 1979. I still have it.

 

If it's "key" more narrowly defined, probably ASM #1, picked it up at a con in 2005.

[*Bronze age fan*]

First major key I think was Amazing Spider Man 1, in the late 1990s. Bought it as a raw 4.0. CGC thought it was a 2.5.

[VintageComics]

Daredevil #1 in about a Fine range in 1990 or so from Shooting Star Comics in North York, Ontario.

 

God, I loved that book.

[RedFury]

Daredevil #1 in about a Fine range in 1990 or so from Shooting Star Comics in North York, Ontario.

 

God, I loved that book.

That's an underrated book. Man, the quality of the Bill Everett art in that book is astounding. It's the most beautiful Marvel key, IMHO.

[chrisco37]

The first legit key I ever bought was Hulk 181.

 

I bought my first ASM 300 as a back issue as well, but it wasn't really a "key" at the time. It was only a few months old.

[VintageComics]

Daredevil #1 in about a Fine range in 1990 or so from Shooting Star Comics in North York, Ontario.

 

God, I loved that book.

That's an underrated book. Man, the quality of the Bill Everett art in that book is astounding. It's the most beautiful Marvel key, IMHO.

 

I agree. Just shockingly good story telling. I was also a huge fan of the Wood art in the first 10 or so issues as well.

[itonarely]

Good morning! After giving it some thought I think my first key purchases were Fantastic Four 48, 49, and 50. I purchased each one for $5 (this was probably in 1975, or so) in what I would grade as very fine (49 and 50 might even grade a little higher). They are still a nice part of my collection.

 

In the mid-80's I went looking for and found a copy of Daredevil #1 (which was graded last year at 7.0). I think that this was my first big(ger) key. At the time I was looking for this book my LCS came across and sold me a slew of low to mid-grade keys at ridiculous prices (I still cry over not buying a G / VG FF#4 for $5).

[Primetime]

X-Men 1 in VG for $700 back in 1993.