Spider-Man is hot ahead of the new movie Spider-Man: No Way Home. There is a historic lesson that upcoming movies can send comic book prices considerably higher. That is definitely the case for Spider-Man. Serious comic book collectors know that the true Spider-Man #1 is actually his first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15. Spider-Man’s true first appearance is going to break a new all-time record as it is already well above $2 million at Heritage Auctions.

Heritage Auctions is auctioning off one of the three 9.6 graded Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC NM+ 9.6 with off-white pages. By their own words, this particular comic book is one of the most desirable comic books they have ever offered. This issue in this grade is more than just a rare comic.

According to Heritage Auctions, collectors have reached out in each year about the opportunity to own a CGC 9.6 issue of Amazing Fantasy #15. This is what is likely to drive a record sale price. Heritage’s answer — “Well, now we do and so do you — this is your chance!”

As of the morning of August 30, with 10 days left until the auction ends, the auction price has reached a base price of $2.15 million. This is actually a net price of $2.58 million after considering the buyer’s premium that must be paid.

The current data also showed that there has been 47 bids, with 642 lot-tracking. And despite most of us not being able to afford this prized comic book, there have also been 19,279 page views at the Heritage site.

Collectors Dashboard evaluates high-end collectibles as an alternative asset class. That means that the same capital that could have been invested into stocks or bonds is being used to buy high-end collectibles. True comic book collectors and hobbyists have a passion to own certain issues for quite a long time. The investor class in collectibles is solely looking to make a profit.

Comic book collectors and investors know that the Amazing Fantasy #15 will command more than exponential prices higher than Spider-Man #1. The Heritage Auctions description says:

This is an image we think you’ll be staring at for some time, and we certainly did the same. The cover is a familiar sight, but with nary a blemish, chip, or color break? That’s a remarkable sight indeed. This issue had what is surely the best-known Marvel story — the many movie adaptations have seen to that — and one of the best-known origin stories in the entire comic book medium, featuring Peter Parker gaining his spider-powers and the death of his beloved Uncle Ben. That story was by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, and the unforgettable cover was by Jack Kirby. Spider-Man was such a hit that he was next seen in his own book, Amazing Spider-Man #1, and the rest was history.

According the website GoCollect the current Heritage 9.6 had already broken the listed value for a 9.6 issue of $1,600,000. The theoretical value of a 9.8 example, which isn’t even known to exist, was $2,300,000. We had noted that the current price may alter the estimates. GoCollect now has a theoretical $2.7 million value for a 9.8 grade and a $1.75 million for a 9.6 grade. If this comic book is already above $2.5 million after the buyer’s premium, then the market value prices have to be even higher.

Collectors Dashboard notes that with the auction not ending until September 12 that this is a very exciting opportunity to follow along the comic book history that is happening with each new bid. With a new movie for Spider-Man: No Way Home coming up, even the newest reboot Edge of Spider-Verse, is seeing sky-high prices.

Back in 2016, Heritage’s 9.4 example of the Amazing Fantasy #15 sold for $454,100 at auction. The actual Amazing Spider-Man #1 (curator pedigree) from 1963 sold for $262,900 in a 2016 auction as well.

This same auction has the first dedicated Spider-Man edition of The Amazing Spider-Man #1 from 1963 graded 9.4 with an auction price of $190,000. That net would be $228,000 after the buyer’s premium. The GoCollect site listed that comic book’s last sale at $370,000 in November of 2017.

Here are some other past key Spider-Man sales that have been seen from Heritage Auctions:

• Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel, 1962) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white to white pages. (March 5, 2020) Sold for $795,000.00
• Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel, 1962) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white pages (different serial number) (February 18, 2016) sold for $454,100.00.

There is also a direct comparison here, but he price change is now exponential in less than five years. The Amazing Spider-Man #1 Curator Pedigree (Marvel, 1963) CGC NM+ 9.6 White pages (November 17, 2016) sold for $262,900.00 after the buyer’s premium.

(Image provided by Heritage Auctions)