It is no secret that certain comic books from the Golden Age can fetch vast sums of money. There have been multiple sales for more than $1 million. Certain magazine issues can also sell for large sums. Collectors Dashboard evaluates collectibles as an alternative asset class that competes for the same money that might have otherwise been invested into stocks, bonds or real estate.

So what do collectors (and investors) think about Mad Magazine and its origins in 2021? Mad still has a cult following by fans for its long rejection of other norms in the magazine or comic industry. Mad Magazine also sees some occasional spikes of interest in search on Google Trends.

Mad Magazine was a comic book from Issue #1 in August 1952 until Issue #24 in July 1955. Rebranding is rare and a crossover from comic to magazine is unique.

Because of the way the company was structured by William Gaines, Mad the Magazine had no real corporate oversight and because of this Mad Magazine did not run paid advertising in its pages until issue #403 in March 2001.

The Comic was one of a handful of publications from E.C. comics which stands for Entertainment Comics. The 1950s created the code of conduct based on moral principles and governmental concerns of Juvenile delinquency. The Magazine was not a response to that according to William Gaines the founder but it did skirt the need to abide by it.

Mad #1 has a CGC graded example 9.9 out of 10.0 according to the compiled list of CGC grades on the website gocollect.com. No sales information was found on the one particular issue that graded 9.9. The value of a CGC 9.9 will likely be over $100,000.00 when sold because of high sale prices of issues graded CGC 9.8.

The population of graded examples for the first issue is high at 496 and some can be found on eBay in a filler condition CGC 0.5 if graded at all for well below $500.00. The comic value behaves like other first issues of a popular comic series in part to its key first issue understanding, and Heritage Auctions has sold many. What is discovered is that a “Gaines File Pedigree” means it has a certificate to express that it came from the personal collection of William Gaines publisher of EC Comics. The conditions reflect the premium prices paid. Apparently a certificate of authenticity accompanies them or a stamp inside the first page. Here are recent sales of the first issue from Heritage Auctions:

• October 17, 2019 CGC 9.8 Gaines File Pedigree sold for $96,000.00
• May 2, 2020 CGC 8.0 sold for $7,800.00
• November 15, 2018 CGC 9.2 sold for $7,200.00
• May 19, 2017 CGC 9.2 sold for $6,572.50
• June 28, 2020 CGC 7.0 sold for $2,160.00

The first issue that the series became Mad Magazine is #24 from July 1955. Heritage Auctions present the issue as one that broke new ground and blew the minds of its readers. The recent prices do not reflect a massive premium change, although on February 21, 2019 First Magazine Preliminary Cover Original Art sold for $40,800.00.

The CGC census is 167 graded examples and recent Heritage Auctions are listed below including the preliminary cover art for this new and improved issue:

• April 3, 2004 CGC 9.6 sold for $5,290.00
• April 19, 2021 CGC 9.4 sold for $2,040.00
• June 2, 2019 CGC 9.6 sold for $1,500.00
• March 25, 2020 CGC 9.6 sold for $1,440.00
• December 14, 2020 CGC 9.0 sold for $720.00

The Comic series first issue from August 1952 will always outsell the first issue the series became a magazine in July 1955. The first issue to pass a $100,000.00 will be the Comic in CGC 9.8 with the Gaines pedigree or if the CGC 9.9 surfaces. The first Mad Magazine format of Issue #24 will always hold the distinction as the crossover issue, but prices do not reflect the online enthusiasm found online.

Does this rekindle any interest about Alfred E. Newman?