Comic Books

Will The Walking Dead Comics Make a Comeback Ahead of the Movies?

One popular theme among comic book collectors is to purchase comic books ahead of major movie releases for the same title. Whether they want to sell ahead of the open or as the opening interest is peaking is up for debate. But what about when popular TV shows are based off a comic book — and when major movies are expected to be released?

This is the debate for The Walking Dead (TWD). With The Walking Dead’s final season coming, and with a teaser trailer suggesting a Rick Grimes movie, big TWD announcements are expected for the summer of 2021.

Collectors Dashboard wants to know what this will all mean for values of the epic comic book series. The long-running comic book series predates the popular televised program and it has a collectible comic following. The series began in October 2003 versus the 2012 TV series first airing on AMC. To say that TWD brought together a large fan base is an understatement.

The comic book prices in 2021 seem to have plateaued and now rely on bundles to reach sales once easily found, but the TV series made Walking Dead issue #1 the most valuable comic book of the modern age.

The website sellmycomicbooks.com recommends against buying anything lower than a CGC grade 9.8 on a scale of 10. Similar to may modern collectibles versus vintage collectibles, modern comics are usually not read in the traditional rough and tumble 1950s ideals. A majority of Walking Dead issues have immediately made their way to acid free protective backing and the security of plastic sleeves. The median grade of Walking Dead comics according to CGC is 9.6.

The Walking Dead comic book #1 had a November 2012 sale of $10,100.00 on eBay with a CGC grading of 9.9. This sale kicked off some wild prices in the following years. Heritage Auctions sold a CGC 9.9 issue #1 in 2013 for $8,962.50 and according to CGC the current owner considered offers the highest of which was for $12,500.00 in 2018.

The embers have cooled by checking the current offerings found on eBay. All first prints of Issues 1-193 all CGC graded can be had for a Buy It Now price of $16,500.00. Most significant is a CGC 9.2 issue #2 signed by the author Robert Kirkman. CGC issues a green label for signatures that it did not witness in person.

The website comiclink.com lists the population of CGC 9.9 grades at 21. The readily found CGC 9.8 examples sell frequently on eBay here are the current prices paid:

  • CGC 9.8 signature series signed Kirkman white comic sold May 17, 2021 for $3,650.00
  • Ungraded like new sold from the buy it now feature on May 24, 2021 for $1,816.76
  • CGC 9.4 signature series signed by Kirkman sold May 28, 2021 for $1,228.00
  • Ungraded like new condition sold June 2, 2021 for $1,300.00

The TV series is set to (supposedly) go into its final season. The dark comic book series is over. Unless you have issue #1 from 2003 in a grade of CGC 9.8 or higher the competition for selling on eBay is steep. Most new offerings include issue number one in a 9.8 grade, and they offer the next several issues following to bundle a higher price.

Walking Dead viewership has been in decline despite remaining popular. This also translates to the highest comic prices not being what they once were during peak popularity.

The big question for later in 2021 and into 2022 is how will history look on the character Rick Grimes first introduced in issue #1. Rick Grimes is no Batman but the plans for several films revolving around his character sets the stage for yet another generation of fans to become die-hard Rick Grimes fans and the first comic issue will be nearly 20 years old by the time the film is released.

It is without question that investors have entered the realm of collectibles. In fact, collectibles have become an alternative asset class that often competes for the same investment dollars as stocks, bonds and property. Whether this view is for a fan or a collector may depend upon a lot of development over the coming year. Either way, it is no secret that a lot of Zombie-Flicks that had great success end up being colossal disappointments after they are released in theaters.

Walking Dead #1

Categories: Comic Books

Tagged as: ,