Bigger SA Key: Batman 121 or Amazing Spider-Man 14? 1 1

[bronze johnny]

Which SA book is the bigger key in terms of value and historical significance?

Batman 121?

or

Amazing Spider-Man 14?

[chrisco37]

Really?  ASM14 no contest.  The Goblin is Spidey’s greatest adversary.  

[greggy]

ASM 121 by a mega mile.

Someone's trying to pump up a book. 

[SC22]

ASM 14 but I prefer Batman 121.

[bronze johnny]

1 hour ago, greggy said:

ASM 121 by a mega mile.

Someone's trying to pump up a book. 

ASM 129 over 121...

[Philflound]

It's Batman 121, not spidey 121. Spidey 14 is definitely more popular and more desirable imo. Just more Spidey fans out there I think. Especially with the way WB is destroying the image of Batman in the films. Though Mr. Freeze is popular, definitely not as cool as the Joker. If I had to pick, I'd choose the Joker over Gobby.

Wanted to edit this as Batman 121 sells higher than ASM 14. Though it's a few years older and probably harder to find in higher grade.

Edited October 29, 2017 by Philflound

[shadroch]

Batman 121 is pretty tough to find in HG. If offered both at the same price, I'd go with the 121. Spidey 14 is not hard to find.

[Howling Mad]

Ditto to everyone above. Batman 121 is an expensive book that's very difficult to find in high-grade. Frankly I think Mr. Freeze could make for an amazing villain if done right...we'll see, maybe.

[Martin Sinescu]

This is a really odd comparison, why these two books against each other?

[Readcomix]

6 hours ago, bronze johnny said:

Which SA book is the bigger key in terms of value and historical significance?

Batman 121?

or

Amazing Spider-Man 14?

Edited October 29, 2017 by Readcomix

[Readcomix]

I think it's two different questions. In terms of value, a high grade bats 121 would probably rack up a higher number in an auction vs a comparable (and likely more common) copy of ASM 14.

In terms of historical significance, ASM 14 hands down. Green Goblin is Spidey's arch villain, Mr Freeze (as a character) barely matters. Don't drop the bricks on me over that one -- I didn't say the concept barely matters; Captain Cold rocks as a villain. But Mr Freeze has not been significant in th Batman pantheon of villains in a long time. And he was never top dog.

Edited October 29, 2017 by Readcomix

[s14roller]

Historical it would have to be Green Goblin.  

[Philflound]

GP Analysis

Spidey 14

Grade	Notes	2015 Avg		2016 Avg		12Mnth Avg		90Day Avg		Last Sale
		( 9.8 )		(1) $54,970		-		-		-		$54,970	Nov-2015
		( 9.6 )		-		(1) $15,535		(2) $17,101		-		$18,666	Jul-2017

 

Batman 121

Grade	Notes	2015 Avg		2016 Avg		12Mnth Avg		90Day Avg		Last Sale
		( 9.2 )		-		-		-		-		$7,000	Jun-2009
		( 9.0 )		-		(2) $14,100		(1) $21,905		-		$21,905	Jul-2017
		( 8.5 )		-		-		(1) $18,200		(1) $18,200		$18,200	Sep-2017

 

CENSUS for Bat 121, nothing higher than 9.2

Near Mint -		9.2	2	0	0	1		3
Very Fine/Near Mint		9.0	2	0	0	0		2

[lou_fine]

3 hours ago, Philflound said:

GP Analysis

Spidey 14

Grade	Notes	2015 Avg		2016 Avg		12Mnth Avg		90Day Avg		Last Sale
		( 9.8 )		(1) $54,970		-		-		-		$54,970	Nov-2015
		( 9.6 )		-		(1) $15,535		(2) $17,101		-		$18,666	Jul-2017

Looks to me like your database is not quite up-to-date as you are missing the 9.8 graded copy of ASM 14 that sold at Heritage for something like $71.7K just a couple of months ago. 

Edited October 29, 2017 by lou_fine

[Readcomix]

7 hours ago, Martin Sinescu said:

This is a really odd comparison, why these two books against each other?

I also wonder the point of this particular comparison.

[namisgr]

3 hours ago, Readcomix said:

 

10 hours ago, Martin Sinescu said:

This is a really odd comparison, why these two books against each other?

I also wonder the point of this particular comparison.

 

For fun?

[namisgr]

I'll have a go.  Bats 121 is certainly legendary to collectors for being from that time before the Marvel superhero, 1958-'59, from which so few well preserved copies remain.  Add the white cover to the challenge of finding a copy not only well preserved structurally, but with sweet, unyellowed paper preservation, and you've got one of the truly tough SA keys for collectors to find in great shape.  The first graded NM copy would go for silly money, if one ever turned up.

That's all I've got for the Bats.  Mr. Freeze is hardly near the top of the pantheon of Batman villains.  The art has the stiff style of DCs of the era.  Contrast it with ASM 14, with its introduction of one of the greatest supervillains in all of comic-dom, a dynamic Ditko cover and great interior art, and you've got the clear winner from my point of view.  

The only aspect of ASM 14 that keeps its value down below the six figure mark in top grade is that it's relatively common - I remember being told by the dealer who co-owned the Las Vegas collection and brought it to market, an entire house filled with stacks of high grade early SA Marvels, that there were multiple NM and better copies of the 14, and when the two dealers needed a bit of cash they'd just submit another copy of ASM 14 and of DD 1 for grading.

Edited October 29, 2017 by namisgr

[oakman29]

Goblin hands down.

[jjonahjameson11]

Let's see... a DC villain who barely registers in the pantheon of Batman villains vs the greatest villain in the Spidey-verse (maybe Venom is a close second).  

Additionally, of the entire Silver Age collecting community, how many folks actually give a rats @$$ about Batman 121?  I can appreciate it's a scarce book, but I can't even believe we're discussing it in comparison to ASM 14!? 

[Philflound]

8 hours ago, lou_fine said:

Looks to me like your database is not quite up-to-date as you are missing the 9.8 graded copy of ASM 14 that sold at Heritage for something like $71.7K just a couple of months ago. 

It's not me, GP Analysis. Guess they aren't up to date. Have no idea.