CGC Members Choice: Most Single Undervalued GA Comic book your opinion and mine! 7 7

[jimbo_7071]

On 10/8/2022 at 12:36 PM, GreatCaesarsGhost said:

Every book in my personal collection is tragically undervalued 

I thought I was the only one!

Ironically, every book on my want list is ridiculously overvalued.

I can't win for losing.

[The Black Hand ®]

Blue Ribbon Comics #16. First appearance of The Black Hand.

 

[BLUECHIPCOLLECTIBLES]

Amazing Man Comics #5, first Amazing Man aka A-man, first Timely superhero on the newsstand (before Marvel 1), created specifically to be Timely's Superman.

[pemart1966]

On 10/8/2022 at 1:49 PM, Badger said:

 

The arguable part is if Motion Picture Funnies Weekly is a Timely.  I've seen people argue both ways and I never have seen a definitive answer.

Of course...but that's not what your OP says - hence my comment.

Edited October 9, 2022 by pemart1966

[Crowzilla]

How has this thread gone on so long without Chillman coming in and pimping his $20 Million Dollar comic?

[circumstances]

It's got to be one of those Superman covers where he's touching an automobile.

The Poor Man's Action 1s.

Edited October 9, 2022 by circumstances

[marmat]

Superman 3

[aardvark88]

On 10/9/2022 at 2:14 AM, marmat said:

Superman 3

I would nominate Superman 4 Lex Luthor over Superman #3.

[Robot Man]

On 10/7/2022 at 5:33 PM, sagii said:

Good candidate. I would say Blue Ribbon Comics #1. Outside of Rang a Tang, probably not a great or exciting read feature to feature,  but it is the first comic book from MLJ/Archie publications, a publishing operation still around today. 

I never found Rang-A-Tang to exciting a read.

Too bad they didn't make a Mr Justice club...

[Mmehdy]

On 10/9/2022 at 2:14 AM, marmat said:

Superman 3

I always liked that book with it's fantastic cover....thumbs up

[Robot Man]

Yeah, I too remember the days when people were pretty "close to the vest" about undervalued comics. To some degree, I still am. There are several books I feel very important and undervalued that I buy every time I can and hoard. Like giving up sources. Somethings you just keep to your self.

I'm going to stray a bit on this one. Take it away from the "Men in Tights" genre.

This is a book that is no secret. Nor is it inexpensive especially in grade. I consider it to be one of the more important books in comics. This was the one that even slick talking Bill Gaines could not defend. It was the straw that broke the camel's back and changed comic book publishing forever. I have bought several copies and never sold one. I remember when Russ Cochran's file copy list came out, I called as soon as I saw it. But sadly, I was told it sold just an hour before I called. 

As well known and expensive that it is, I still feel it's growth potential is near limitless.

I would also put MAD #1 in as a runner up...

Edited October 9, 2022 by Robot Man

[sagii]

On 10/9/2022 at 11:54 AM, Robot Man said:

I never found Rang-A-Tang to exciting a read.

Too bad they didn't make a Mr Justice club...

That would be a very desired item today for sure

(But Rang a Tang ain't so shabby either)

[The Black Hand ®]

On 10/9/2022 at 8:54 AM, Robot Man said:

I never found Rang-A-Tang to exciting a read.

Too bad they didn't make a Mr Justice club...

Except in Blue Ribbon 22. The last Rang A Tang story where the little dog saves his life but dies. Good story.

[Robot Man]

On 10/8/2022 at 7:51 PM, BLUECHIPCOLLECTIBLES said:

Amazing Man Comics #5, first Amazing Man aka A-man, first Timely superhero on the newsstand (before Marvel 1), created specifically to be Timely's Superman.

Indeed. An incredible book and precedes all the Timely super heroes.

Here is my lowly copy. I got it as a young kid. A friend of mine found it on top of a trash can and gave it to me. Was the oldest comic I'd ever seen and cool as heck. I had no idea who he was or that it was his first issue. Later, as a budding collector I figured it out. I am still stoked to own it.

[marmat]

On 10/9/2022 at 6:09 PM, Mmehdy said:

I always liked that book with it's fantastic cover....thumbs up

Is that the first issue with original content, right? That's why I think it is a bit undervalued

[Ameri]

On 10/8/2022 at 10:51 PM, BLUECHIPCOLLECTIBLES said:

Amazing Man Comics #5, first Amazing Man aka A-man, first Timely superhero on the newsstand (before Marvel 1), created specifically to be Timely's Superman.

Never thought of it that way, but you make a great point especially since it starts as #5 which was the continuation of Motion Picture Funnies 1-4 of which 2-4 were never published but the cover proofs exist. Since Motion Picture Funnies #1 was not on the newsstands, a valid if not popular argument can be made for Amazing Man as the first Timely hero.  

[bronze johnny]

Is there a more undervalued comic book than Crime Does Not Pay 22 (1943)? This book started what I call the Third Era in the History of the 20th Century American Comic Book (the First era being the Humor Comics that started with Funnies on Parade in 1933 followed by the Second era coinciding with the introduction of Superman and the Superhero Age with Action Comics 1 in 1938). The crime comics would surpass the popularity of the declining superhero based book during the years immediately following the end of the Second World War. Crime would be followed by romance and horror during the postwar years. We know what happened then and this one started it all (not my copy):

Edited October 9, 2022 by bronze johnny

[Robot Man]

On 10/9/2022 at 10:02 AM, bronze johnny said:

Is there a more undervalued comic book than Crime Does Not Pay 22 (1943)? This book started what I call the Third Era in the History of the 20th Century American Comic Book (the First era being the Humor Comics that started with Funnies on Parade in 1933 followed by the Second era coinciding with the introduction of Superman and the Superhero Age with Action Comics 1 in 1938). The crime comics would surpass the popularity of the declining superhero based book during the years immediately following the end of the Second World War. Crime would be followed by romance and horror during the postwar years. We know what happened then and this one started it all (not my copy):

Very good point and choice.I might throw this in the discussion as well. The first real crime cover and first photo cover I know of. 

[BLUECHIPCOLLECTIBLES]

On 10/9/2022 at 10:02 AM, bronze johnny said:

Is there a more undervalued comic book than Crime Does Not Pay 22 (1943)? This book started what I call the Third Era in the History of the 20th Century American Comic Book (the First era being the Humor Comics that started with Funnies on Parade in 1933 followed by the Second era coinciding with the introduction of Superman and the Superhero Age with Action Comics 1 in 1938). The crime comics would surpass the popularity of the declining superhero based book during the years immediately following the end of the Second World War. Crime would be followed by romance and horror during the postwar years. We know what happened then and this one started it all (not my copy):

Don't forget Famous Funnies 27, the first ever "True Crime" comic, thought it was a one-off.  OOPS.  I see the post ahead of me already said this

Edited October 9, 2022 by BLUECHIPCOLLECTIBLES

[BLUECHIPCOLLECTIBLES]

Some other contenders.  Hit Comics 1, first ever horror anthology begins.  Character is an Old Witch, nearly identical to the one EC would use ten years later.

Pep 39 -  Jughead dresses like Hitler (for you WW2 collectors), and one of the very few times that Archie Comics even referenced the war outside of a random "bond rally" reference.  If you want more Jughead, there's Pep 81, which was the only time prior to the 60s that Jughead showed interest in women, and in that issue he's a total playa.

Marvel Mystery 17 -- a year before Pearl Harbor, depicts a Nazi sneak attack on the US. 

Young Men 24 -- short-lived revival of Captain America, Sub-Mariner and Human Torch

Best 1 -- first minority hero with a cover image of a black guy hero smacking the out of a white guy villain., in 1939

Little Giant Comics 2 (1939) and Uncanny Tales 26 (1954) both published by Timely/Marvel and both featuring villains call "The Spider-Man"

Foreign versions of superstar comics with variant artwork.  In some cases they show DC and Marvel heroes on the same covers.  And some coivers get the characters all wrong, like the AF 15 version from India which has Spidey threatening to torture and kill a guy, or the Mexican cover (can't recall which issue) that has Spidey gunning down a cop.  Plus lots of hyper-sexualized versions of women on covers that make it look as if Spidey, the FF and Nick Fury are starring in soft-core porn versions of the Marvel Adventures.  

Romantic Picture Novelettes 1 -- first romance comic, and Young Romance 1 (first rom series)

War Comics 1 -- pre-US entry into the war, a story in this book heralds the Nazis for a victory over the British.

Bill Barnes 7 -- story depicts and describes atomic bombs before the existed.

Captain Marvel Adventures -- 1946 very downbeat end of the world story many years before any films or TV shows did it.