1st appearances - just the comic equivalent of rookie cards? Oh and post a cover of a 1st appearance book in your collection 7 7

[MattrixAlien]

1st appearance comics are some of the most expensive & prized books in the hobby. But some suggest they are just the comic version of sport rookie cards.

What's your take on this? Also post the cover of a 1st appearance book in your PC if you like 

My recent thoughts on this might sound like I'm on substances  Rookie cards are basically a photo of a real world sports person. A comic 1st appearance is the beginning, or birth of the character as an entity who exists in the pages of the book. So to me comic 1st appearances are more significant. Thoughts? 

Here's my most recent 1st appearance key pick up - New Mutants Annual 2.
Strictly speaking Psylocke (X-men) and Meggan (original Excalibur team member) 1st appeared in UK comics but this is their 1st US appearance.

[thehumantorch]

You don't sound like you're on any substance, except perhaps granola.  Most of us value first appearances much higher than other appearances and yes, it's much like a sports-card's first appearance of an athlete.

I guess the biggest difference is that there are many comics worth good money not because they're a first appearance but instead because of the cover artist or classic cover designation.  I'm not sure sports-cards collecting cares about the artistry of the image.  Is there a Schomburg or LB Cole or Campbell in card collecting?

[Hepcat]

When it comes to rookie cards, the set in which the player first appears is also significant to me. For example, aesthetically I much prefer the 1954 Topps Baseball set to the 1952 or 1953 Topps sets. And I prefer the 1959 and 1960 Topps Baseball sets to the 1961 issue.

Here though is one first appearance from my collection:

Edited May 9 by Hepcat

[Hepcat]

The mysterious Fly Girl made her first appearance just a week or two after the Jaguar's debut:

14 Bethelehem copy

Edited May 9 by Hepcat

[grendelbo]

How's this. Got more if you need 'em. 

 

[Hepcat]

Wow, that's a whole bunch!

I'll just do one more for now:

Edited May 9 by Hepcat

[grendelbo]

I'm in my 3rd "phase" of collecting. While I always enjoyed keys, during my 2nd phase in the early 2000s I focused on first appearances and issues of significance and characters and stories that crossed into other media.

A large focus of my collecting nowadays is still this.

When you can combine a first appearance or otherwise significant issue with the combination of a classic cover or legendary artist, then you have something really special in your collection.

My most recent -

 

[Krydel4]

Well...encapsulation of a comic book turns it into an oversized sports card, so I guess the OPs analogy is apt...Here's one of my favorites...(Cover and Interior)

Edited May 11 by Krydel4
Clarity

[OtherEric]

Just looking for books I have scans handy for:

[OtherEric]

One more:

 

[ganni]

Bought this when i was  5 or 6 years old.  I was in elementary school at that time.... 

 

[ExNihilo]

My favorite 1st appearance in my collection: Fantastic Four 48, Silver Surfer

My most recent 1st appearance: West Coast Avengers 7 (from the dollar bin), Jeff the Land Shark.

[Jesse-Lee]

On 5/8/2024 at 11:49 PM, grendelbo said:

I'm in my 3rd "phase" of collecting. While I always enjoyed keys, during my 2nd phase in the early 2000s I focused on first appearances and issues of significance and characters and stories that crossed into other media.

A large focus of my collecting nowadays is still this.

When you can combine a first appearance or otherwise significant issue with the combination of a classic cover or legendary artist, then you have something really special in your collection.

My most recent -

 

Love that book and still looking to pick it up - here's my copy of 11 (first Jonah Hex full cover):

[Chip Cataldo]

[Hepcat]

On 5/9/2024 at 1:21 AM, OtherEric said:

Just looking for books I have scans handy for:

 

First Huey, Dewey and Louie?

[OtherEric]

On 5/9/2024 at 9:22 AM, Hepcat said:

First Huey, Dewey and Louie?

First Uncle Scrooge, but he's not on the cover.

[Point Five]

First appearance of The Batman (May 1939), in a tiny ad at the end of the Superman story.

      

[Hepcat]

Kid Flash origin:

[grendelbo]

On 5/9/2024 at 10:45 AM, Point Five said:

First appearance of The Batman (May 1939), in a tiny ad at the end of the Superman story.

      

So cool.

[F For Fake]

On 5/9/2024 at 1:21 AM, OtherEric said:

Just looking for books I have scans handy for:

Great books, I really need a Four Color 178 one of these days.