Amazing Spider-Man #9 gave us Max Dillon — an electric lineman who got struck by lightning while holding two live wires. The bolts canceled each other instead of killing him. As a result, his body became a living generator capable of storing and throwing electricity at will. Then he put on a yellow-and-green costume, called himself Electro, and started robbing banks.
A 4.0 of this book runs about $900. Clean copies in any grade are getting harder to find every year because demand keeps rising with every new Spider-Man project. I’m Gabe, and whether you’re in San Bernardino, Redlands, Rancho Cucamonga, or anywhere across the Inland Empire, I come to you and pay cash the same day. Call (951) 515-9604.
Why Electro’s First Appearance Matters
The Amazing Spider-Man #9, cover dated February 1964, introduced one of the most recurring villains in Spider-Man history. Electro has fought Spider-Man in comics for over 60 years, and he’s been in Spider-Man animated series, video games, and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 film where Jamie Foxx played him. On top of that, Jamie Foxx returned as Electro in Spider-Man: No Way Home, which spiked this book’s value again in 2021.
Beyond the villain, this issue has serious emotional weight. Aunt May is hospitalized and needs a $1,000 operation. Peter has no money. So he does something he’ll regret — he fakes photos of Spider-Man and sells them to Jameson for the operation fund. It’s the first time Peter crosses an ethical line for his family, and it sets up character conflicts that last for decades.
What Happens in the Issue
The issue opens with Aunt May collapsing and needing immediate hospitalization. Peter spends the next several days splitting time between school, the hospital, and his bedroom where he’s trying to study for midterms. Meanwhile, a newly-powered Electro tests his abilities by robbing an armored car.
Their paths cross at the Forest Hills Bank. J. Jonah Jameson happens to be there demanding figures from his account. So when Electro breaks in to rob the vault, he holds Jameson at mercy and even blasts him with low-power electric bolts through his metal tie clip and belt buckle. Jameson escapes, but becomes convinced of something wild — that Electro and Spider-Man are the same person.
The Faked Photos
Jameson prints his Electro-is-Spider-Man theory in the Bugle. Meanwhile, Peter desperately needs $1,000 for Aunt May’s operation. So when Jameson offers him the money for “photographic proof” that Spider-Man is Electro, Peter takes the job.
Peter tries to track down Electro for real pictures, but a brief encounter knocks him out with an electric shock. Eventually he gives up and fakes the photos by superimposing Spider-Man shots over Electro images. Jameson pays the $1,000. Peter hates himself for it but uses the money to save his aunt.
The Real Fight
Later, Electro breaks into the West Side House of Detention to free a dozen prisoners and recruit them as henchmen. Peter is at the hospital with Aunt May through her successful operation. Afterward, with his aunt safe, he suits up as Spider-Man and heads to the jail.
Before going, he stops at a store and buys rubber gloves and rubber boots for insulation. The fight moves through the detention house. Electro blinds Spider-Man temporarily with a flash of intense electricity, then tries to finish him with live wires ripped from the wall. However, Peter backs into a water main with a fire hose attached. So he turns the water on Electro, short-circuits him, and ends the fight.
What I Check on ASM #9
The cover features Electro with lightning bolts firing from his fingers toward Spider-Man. Those yellows on Electro’s costume are the first thing I look at — on copies stored near sunlight, the yellow fades and the cover loses its visual impact. A sharp yellow cover with strong color presents significantly better than a faded one, even at the same structural grade.
Color Touch on the Cover
Because the yellow is so distinctive, I also check for color touch. Some previous owners tried to “restore” the color with markers or paint. Under magnification or black light, that touch-up becomes visible. It’s considered restoration and changes the grade designation. However, I still buy restored copies — I just factor it into the offer.
Everything Else
Beyond the cover, I check the standard Silver Age points. Spine first — color-breaking ticks, splits, and roll. Then staples for rust and alignment. Cover attachment at both staples is critical. For page quality, I use an OWL card. Cream-to-off-white is normal at this age. The book also needs to be complete — all pages, no cut-out coupons.
What Your Copy Might Be Worth
Electro’s ongoing presence in Marvel content keeps this book climbing. Here are realistic ranges based on recent sales from Heritage Auctions and GoCollect:
A rough copy (0.5–2.0) still runs $400–$1,000. Good to Very Good (2.5–4.5) falls in the $1,000–$2,500 range. Fine copies (5.0–6.5) bring $3,000–$7,000. Meanwhile, Very Fine and above (7.0+) are rare and start at $8,000. A perfect 9.8 would push well past $130,000.
When I sit down with you, I pull up the actual sales data on my phone so you can see exactly where my offer comes from. Call me at (951) 515-9604.
San Bernardino County and the High Desert
I cover all of San Bernardino County and the surrounding areas. So whether you’re in San Bernardino, Redlands, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Fontana, Victorville, Apple Valley, Hesperia, or Big Bear, I come to you. The High Desert has longtime collectors who’ve had books in storage for decades. Many of them came from flea market finds back in the ’70s and ’80s. I also cover LA County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Diego County, and Ventura County.
How Selling to Me Works
You reach out — call, text, or fill out the form on our contact page. I ask for pictures beforehand to save time. If it looks worth coming out for, I come to you — your home, your work, wherever.
Before we meet, I give you a ballpark range. It’s wide on purpose because condition is everything. When I arrive, I go through the book with you, explain what I’m seeing, and then make an offer. If you accept, I pay cash right there. No check, no waiting, no bank wire — cash on the spot, as is, where is.
Common Questions About Selling ASM #9
How much is my copy worth?
It depends on condition. Even rough copies run $400–$1,000 because it’s a single-digit ASM with a major first appearance. I evaluate it in person using current sales data to give you a real number.
Did Jamie Foxx’s No Way Home appearance affect the value?
Yes, significantly. When No Way Home released in late 2021, ASM #9 prices jumped across all grades — especially mid-grades. Demand has settled since, but the book is permanently at a higher baseline than it was pre-No Way Home. Every time Electro returns to the screen, this book moves again.
My copy has a faded yellow cover — does that hurt the price?
Somewhat. Faded yellows affect eye appeal and sometimes the structural grade if the fading is severe. However, a copy with faded color is still a single-digit ASM with Electro’s first appearance. The price adjusts downward but stays meaningful. I don’t turn down copies for color fade alone.
Should I get it graded before selling?
Not necessarily. Grading from CGC or CBCS costs money, takes weeks, and means shipping a valuable book. Instead, I grade in person using the same tools and standards. However, if your book is already slabbed, I factor the grade into my offer.
I’m in San Bernardino County — do you pick up out here?
Regularly. Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, San Bernardino, Redlands, and Fontana are all on my normal routes. Victorville, Apple Valley, and Hesperia are a bit further but I still make the trip for the right collection. Just give me a call.
What other Spider-Man comics do you buy?
Every single one. Amazing Spider-Man #1, Amazing Fantasy #15, and every issue through the full run. Visit our Spider-Man comics page for the full breakdown.
How fast do I get paid?
Same day. Cash on the spot when we make the deal. No check, no wire, no waiting.
Sell Your Amazing Spider-Man #9 Today
Whether it’s a CGC slab, a raw book with faded color, or a copy that’s been sitting in a longbox since the ’70s, EZ Comic Buyer wants to see your ASM #9. I come to you anywhere in San Bernardino County, the High Desert, and across Southern California. Go through the book together, show you the real numbers, and pay cash on the spot.
Gabe — EZ Comic Buyer
(951) 515-9604
Calicomicbuyer@gmail.com
Serving all of Southern California: San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and Ventura County.
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