Captain America has been among the top comic book heroes since the Golden Age of comic books. The problem is that this character’s iconic American image has come and gone over time. New movies in the last decade have helped to elevate Captain America’s image and the comic book prices can be astronomical.

Collectors Dashboard analyzes and evaluates many aspects of the collectibles industry with the view that collectibles have evolved into an alternative asset class. This effectively pits collectors and hobbyists who have a deep passion for the subjects in direct competition with investors who are solely looking to make money and may not have any underlying passion for a hobby.

The superhero Captain America first appeared on the cover of Captain America Comics #1 dated March 1941. Timely Comics is the predecessor to Marvel Comics and this new patriotic character was their most popular character during World War II. All Winners Comics #1 featured the brand-new action hero in the Summer 1941 issue published in June. Captain America is on the cover alongside his sidekick Bucky, Human Torch, Human Torches sidekick Toro, Sub-Mariner, The Angel, and Black Marvel.

Following World War 2 and without Nazis to fight, the original Captain America Comics series was discontinued with issue #75 in February 1950. In 1954 his character is reborn as a Commie-Smasher in a short-lived reboot of the original comic’s numeric order. The Captain America Comic was then published by Atlas Comics for issues #76-78 from May 1954 to September 1954.

Separate from the original series is Captain America’s recruitment in issue #24 of the comic Young Men from December 1953, recurring in issues #26, #27, and #28. Anti-Communism themed comics continued to call on Captain America. After the comic Young Men, Captain America, The Human Torch, and Sub-Mariner appeared again as the same justice fighting trio, moving forward perhaps with the demographic of the target market to the comic Men’s Adventures beginning in issue #27 and ending with issue #28.

Writers used Captain America in the Golden Age of comics as the most American branded figure this side of justice. The popularity of the character helped maintain a population of golden era comics for people to collect in the present day. Popularity of modern use in successful Marvel films he again is used as a force for good in modern culture.

Captain America Comics from March 1941 has a CGC graded population of 180 graded examples with 18 6.0 examples and a surprising 19 8.0 examples for such an early prewar comic book. Heritage Auctions sold the record sale of a CGC 9.4 graded copy for $915,000.00 in August of 2019. The website qualitycomic.com exclaims that if a mint condition issue of the Captain America from March of 1941 ever came to auction it would be worth $2,000,000.00. Prior to the high sale of $915,000.00 a copy graded CGC 9.2 held the record sale price of $343,000.00 sold through ComicConnect in August 2011. More recent sales of the comic can be tracked through Heritage Auctions as follows:

• January 14, 2021 CGC 8.5 Sold: $384,000.00
• May 16, 2019 CGC 7.0 Sold: $228,000.00
• March 5, 2020 CGC 7.0 Sold: $186,000.00
• August 1, 2019 CGC 5.5 Sold: $156,000.00
• November 21, 2019 CGC 6.0 Sold: $132,000.00
• February 22, 2018 CGC 3.5 Sold: $119,500.00
• November 21, 2019 CGC 7.5 conserved Sold: $96,000.00

The popular auction site eBay had no recent sale of Captain America Comic #1. A recent sale of the issue All Winners Comics #1 did appear, which sold on April 25, 2021 for GBP 10,999.95 (Pounds Sterling) that converts to $15,223.93 American in June 2021. The population of All Winners Comics CGC graded is 105 examples with grade 5.0 being the highest population with 13 issues. Recent sales from the auction site Heritage Auctions include the following:

• August 1, 2019 CGC 9.2 Sold: $36,000.00
• November 17, 2017 CGC 6.5 Sold: $7,767.50
• February 7, 2004 CGC 7.0 Sold: $7,360.00
• November 21, 2020 CGC 7.5 Sold: $4,800.00
• November 17, 2017 CGC 5.5 Sold: $4,541.00
• February 24, 2018 CGC 5.0 Sold: $2,091.00

Issue #76 is the return of Captain America in the May 1954 issue is a grand return and true to the past ideals of what the superhero stood for. He is here to fight communism and the cover reflects him proudly proclaiming those intentions with his shield held boldly. The issue has a low population with only 61 CGC graded examples. The highest concentration is CGC 5.0 with ten. A recent sale on March 29, 2021 in CGC 5.0 sold on eBay for $2,598.88. More recent sales were tracked on the auction site Heritage Auctions:

• September 12, 2020 CGC 9.2 Sold: $14,400.00
• November 19, 2020 CGC 8.5 Sold: $5,040.00
• March 5, 2020 CGC 8.0 Sold: $4,200.00
• July 9, 2020 CGC 7.5 Sold: $3,360.00
• May 3, 2007 ungraded VF+ Sold: $2,868.00

Human Torch has the cover but Captain America’s return is announced on this comic released December 1, 1953. The population of the issue is 103 with CGC grade 4.5 being the largest collection of examples with 13. Heritage Auctions lists several recent sales:

• July 11, 2020 CGC 5.5 Sold: $2,160.00
• November 23, 2019 CGC 5.0 Sold: $1,440.00
• December 20, 2020 CGC 4.0 Sold: $1,440.00
• August 9, 2014 CGC 4.5 Sold: $1,015.75
• August 5, 2018 CGC 3.5 Sold: $480.00

The population of Men’s Adventures #26 is 22 graded examples. CGC 9.0 is the highest graded with CGC 4.0 having the largest collection of examples with 3. Recent sales on the Auction site Heritage Auctions include:

• August 9, 2020 CGC 6.5 Sold: $1,440.00
• February 14, 2021 CGC 4.0 Sold: $720.00
• July 10, 2016 CBCS 5.5 Sold: $286.80
• January 10, 2016 ungraded VG+ Sold: $227.05
• August 12, 2007 ungraded FN+ Sold: $131.45

Captain America will likely continue to be relevant and popular to collectors as his appearance in movies continue. If the movie-bump for comic prices continue then it seems investors and collectors will continue their search for a chance to own one of these key issues.

Expect to see Captain America fight new enemies as his character is continually adapted for modern times — and keep an eye out for those earliest issues.