Amazing Spider-Man #238 came with these little water-transfer tattoos inside, and if those tattoos are missing, the book is essentially worthless. But if they’re there, a 9.8 can be worth $1,500. That’s the kind of detail that separates someone who actually handles these books from someone who just Googles a price. I’m Gabe, and I buy Spider-Man comics across all of Southern California — from Amazing Fantasy #15 all the way through modern keys. I come to you, evaluate your books in person, and pay cash on the spot. Call me at (951) 515-9604. Want to know what your Spider-Man comics are worth? Keep reading.
The Big Three
Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962) — First appearance of Spider-Man. A CGC 9.6 sold for $3.6 million. Even a rough 2.0 sells for $18,000–$22,000. If you have one, call me before you do anything else. Read our full AF15 guide.
Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963) — Spider-Man’s first solo title. Introduced J. Jonah Jameson and the Chameleon. Peter Parker’s name was misprinted as “Peter Palmer” throughout the entire issue. Read our full ASM #1 guide.
Amazing Spider-Man #2 (1963) — First Vulture, first Tinkerer. Peter sells his first photos to Jameson and defeats a villain through invention — the anti-magnetic inverter. Read our full ASM #2 guide.
Silver Age Keys I Buy
The early ASM run built the entire rogues gallery in just a few years. Every one of these is a book I want to see.
ASM #3 (1963) — First Doctor Octopus. Even a beat 1.0 runs about $1,000. This is also the first time Spider-Man loses a fight and has to regroup.
ASM #4 (1963) — First Sandman. Even a 2.0 runs $800–$900.
ASM #6 (1963) — First Lizard. A 3.0 still goes for about $900. I’ve seen these come in with extra staples, tape on the spine — doesn’t matter, I still want them.
ASM #9 (1964) — First Electro. A 4.0 runs about $900, and clean copies in any grade are getting harder to find every year.
ASM #13 (1964) — First Mysterio. Demand spiked after Spider-Man: Far From Home and stays strong with the Sinister Six looming in the MCU.
ASM #14 (1964) — First Green Goblin. I get calls about this one regularly — a mid-grade 5.5 runs a few thousand dollars. Spider-Man’s arch nemesis, so demand never dips.
ASM #15 (1964) — First Kraven the Hunter. A 4.0 runs $400–$600, and higher grades climb fast.
ASM #20 (1965) — First Scorpion. A 3.5 goes for about $450. I see a lot of copies where the front looks great but the spine is completely split — that’s what drops it to a 2.0 even when the presentation looks much higher.
Mid-to-Late Silver Age
ASM #31 (1966) — First Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn. A 3.0 goes for about $350. With the red cover, I always check for color touch — sometimes a copy looks too clean and it turns out to be restored.
ASM #33 (1966) — Not a first appearance, but one of the most iconic Ditko covers ever drawn. Spider-Man pinned under machinery, lifting it through willpower. Collectors treat this as a key.
ASM #39–40 (1966) — Green Goblin revealed as Norman Osborn. Romita Sr. takes over from Ditko. A 7.0 runs $500–$600.
ASM #41 (1966) — First Rhino. A 3.5 runs $500–$600. Still hasn’t had a proper MCU debut, which means this book has room to move.
ASM #46 (1966) — First Shocker. Undervalued compared to other Silver Age villain keys and still relatively affordable.
ASM #50 (1967) — “Spider-Man No More.” First Kingpin. A 5.5 runs about $900, and a perfect copy is a six-figure book. The copies I usually see have spine roll from being read over and over.
Bronze Age Keys
ASM #78 (1969) — First Prowler. The Spider-Verse films turned this into a major key. A 9.0 goes for $600–$700.
ASM #101 (1971) — First Morbius. A 4.0 goes for about $350, and this book has climbed steadily.
ASM #121–122 (1973) — Death of Gwen Stacy and death of the Green Goblin. A 6.0 of #121 runs about $600, and a 3.0 of #122 still goes for $200. People hold onto these — they’re usually in the same collection as #129, and when someone calls me about one, they usually have the other.
ASM #129 (1974) — First Punisher. A 5.5 goes for about $1,750, and a 7.0 runs $2,500–$3,000. Condition varies wildly — I’ve seen everything from coverless readers to sharp mid-grades that present way above their number.
ASM #194 (1979) — First Black Cat. A 9.8 runs about $2,500. The black cover makes it tough to find in high grade — every scratch shows, so copies that look clean at first glance can grade lower than expected.
ASM #210 (1980) — First Madame Web. This book sat at modest prices for years until the movie announcement sent it through the roof.
ASM #238 (1983) — First Hobgoblin. The tattoo issue. If the tattoos are missing, the book is essentially worthless. With them, a 9.8 brings around $1,500. I always check for completeness before making an offer — it’s the first thing I look for.
Copper and Modern Age Keys
ASM #252 (1984) — First black symbiote costume. A reader actually submitted the black suit idea and the editor bought it off him for $200. A 9.2 runs about $250.
ASM #298–300 (1988) — McFarlane’s art debuts, Venom’s first cameo, then first full appearance. A 9.4 of #300 runs about $900, and a 9.6 pushes past $1,000. I’ve handled plenty of these — this book holds its value in every grade.
ASM #316 (1989) — First Venom cover. One of the most recognized images in comics. A 9.4 runs about $225.
ASM #361–363 (1991) — First full Carnage. A 9.8 runs about $400, newsstand copies push closer to $500.
ASM #529 (2006) — First Iron Spider suit. Demand spiked after Infinity War. ASM #569 (2008) — First Anti-Venom. ASM #700 (2012) — Death of Peter Parker. All books I buy in any condition.
Spin-Offs and Related Titles
Secret Wars #8 — Origin of the symbiote. A 9.6 runs about $250. Marvel Team-Up #141 — Another black suit contender. Collectors debate which counts as “first” — I buy all three. Web of Spider-Man #1 — Spider-Man rejects the symbiote. Spectacular Spider-Man — Several keys in this companion run. Ultimate Spider-Man #1 — Major Modern Age key. Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Gwen, Spider-Verse — if it has a spider on it, I want to see it.
Bulk and Non-Key Issues
Not every Spider-Man comic is a first appearance, but that doesn’t mean it’s worthless. For bulk — modern books from the ’80s through now — I typically pay 10 to 30 cents per issue depending on volume. Silver Age bulk goes higher. Golden Age goes way up. If you’ve got 5,000+ books, it makes sense. If you’ve got a small box of common modern issues, it probably isn’t worth a trip for either of us, and I’ll tell you that honestly.
How I Evaluate and Buy
When I come out, I go through each book individually. Spine first — that’s where all the damage hides. If a crease breaks color, it’s permanent. After the spine, I check corners, color brightness, tears, and completeness. Each book has its own thing to watch for — Marvel value stamps, tattoo inserts, missing pages. Staples are critical too. CGC severely lowers the grade for staple rust, and loose staples lead to detached covers, which is the worst thing next to missing pages.
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, we schedule a meetup — your home, your work, wherever. I give you a ballpark range before we meet, and it’s wide on purpose because condition is everything. When I get there, I go through the books, explain what you have, and make an offer. If you accept, I pay cash right then and there. No check, no waiting, no bank wire — cash on the spot, as is, where is.
For high-end books, I offer contingent deals through my CGC dealer account — I send it to CGC at no cost to you, we agree on prices based on the grade beforehand. No surprises, no risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Spider-Man comics do you buy?
Every single one. Amazing Fantasy #15, the entire Amazing Spider-Man run, Spectacular Spider-Man, Web of Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Gwen, spin-offs, variants, crossovers, and bulk. If it has Spider-Man on it, I want to see it.
Do I need to know what my comics are worth before calling?
Not at all. Most of my clients don’t know what they have. That’s fine — explaining it is my job. Just tell me what you can and I’ll take it from there.
How do you determine the value?
I evaluate condition in person — spine, corners, color, completeness, staples, page quality — and cross-reference with current sales data from Heritage Auctions and GoCollect. I show you the numbers alongside the book.
Do you buy comics in rough condition?
Yes. Older books are going to have wear — detached covers, rusted staples, color-breaking creases, potentially missing pages. That’s expected on books from the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s. Even in rough shape, Silver Age Spider-Man keys hold real value.
What about bulk or filler issues?
For modern bulk — ’80s through now — I typically pay 10 to 30 cents per issue depending on volume. Silver Age goes higher. Golden Age goes way up. Large collections of 5,000+ books make the most sense. For a small box of common modern issues, I’ll be honest if it’s not worth the trip.
Should I get my comics graded before selling?
Usually no. I grade in person using the same standards as the professional grading companies. For high-end books, I offer contingent deals through my CGC dealer account where I cover the grading cost and we agree on a price based on the grade.
Where do you pick up comics?
Anywhere in Southern California — Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, and Ventura County. I come to you. For worthwhile collections outside SoCal, I’ll fly out.
How fast do I get paid?
Same day. Cash on the spot, right when we make the deal. No check, no wire, no waiting for anything to clear.
Sell Your Spider-Man Comics Today
Whether you’ve got Amazing Fantasy #15, a run of early Amazing Spider-Man, Bronze Age keys, McFarlane-era Venoms, or ten long boxes of mixed Spider-Man books, I want to see them. I come to you anywhere in Southern California, go through everything with you, and pay cash on the spot.
Gabe — EZ Comic Buyer
(951) 515-9604
Calicomicbuyer@gmail.com
Serving all of Southern California: Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura County.
Contact us here · Read our reviews · About Gabe
