welcome back to the blogger Dome! Here, bloggers will argue different topics involving the comic book market and industry. This will be a combination of the big Bang theory meets the WWE. Smack talk mixed with comic book debates. bloggers going at each other to amuse and educate our readers. and we want to hear what YOU have to say about it. Today’s topic is wonderful four #48 vs wonderful four #49. So tune in, get comfy, and let’s go!
Ding ding! allow me to present your newest fighters in the blogger Dome ring… NORMAN and RYAN! Fight!
NORMAN: The Silver Surfer is the supreme superhero. He ranks best up there with Captain America on the self-sacrifice scale and could give Superman a run for his money in the power department. This pure hero, our superhero, the Surfer has sacrificed everything, even love, to save Earth. A person is judged by his enemies, the Surfer’s enemy is Mephisto. “Nuff Said!” We know that Silver Surfer is the highest quality superhero, but what about his comic book keys? Which ought to you own, wonderful four #48 or wonderful four #49? In this blogger Dome, I will argue that the first full appearance is typically the best bet.
RYAN: In the words of incomparable Bruce Banner in Avengers: Age of Ultron, “This can’t be happening again! I’m in a time loop!”
How numerous times are we going to fight this first appearance battle? If we compare these two books side by side, they fit the very definition of “cameo appearance” and “full appearance” for Galactus.
Round #1 first Blood!
Norman: first full appearance and Multi-Key
The Silver Surfer first appeared in wonderful four #48 along with his “Master” Galactus. This book was written in 1966 by Stan Lee with Jack Kirby as the artist and Joe Sinnott on ink. This is literally the first full appearance of Silver Surfer. In addition, it is a cameo of Galactus. Therefore, this qualifies as a multi-key, which is always a solid purchase.
In addition, the cover tells the entire story of this book. It has all of earth watching in horror as some unknown force descends upon us. despite the Gerber baby on the front cover, this works to draw the audience in. By comparison, wonderful four #49 simply has a disembodied head of Galactus attacking. Yes, he is missing a body!
Ryan: This is just Hulk #180 and #181 all over Again
On the last page of wonderful four #48, we have a one-panel glimpse of Galactus. Nevermind the fact that he looks completely different by the next issue and only says 18 words in his cameo appearance. This is simply not a Galactus book. It is a Silver Surfer book.
Yes, Silver Surfer by himself makes this this a blue-chip Silver Age key, but let’s be real. Silver Surfer may ride the skyways, but in the grand scheme of marvel lore, he doesn’t hold a candle to the power and influence of Galactus. Silver Surfer is the major attraction of this book, unless you like taking a look at the Gerber baby on the cover, but they don’t even list him on the cover. The draw here is Galactus, but you have to wait until the last panel to even catch a glimpse.
For Wolverine, the market has chose that Hulk #181 is the much more important book. Why? It’s his first full appearance. Wolverine is on the cover – and get out of here with the “Galactus is written on the cover of #48!” take. Words on the cover don’t count. and Wolvie is actually part of the story in Hulk #181. same with Galactus in #49.
These are all identical representations of the FF#48 and #49 story. If you’re searching for the first Silver Surfer, #48 is your book. but Galactus is the draw here, and his first real appearance is in FF #49.
Round #2: second Swing…
Norman: double the Profit
There is something to be said for owning the first full appearance of a character. wonderful four #48 is such a book; the first appearance of the Surfer commands outstanding returns. The Power Cosmic is certainly on the side of this comic book. It has returned a positive +195.6% over the long-term for grade 9.6 (Modeling at maximum trend analysis).
By comparison, wonderful four #49 only has a return trend of positive +102% in the same grade! This is practically a “coup-de-grace” at this point. After all, why purchase FF #49? Its performance is good, but only half the return trend of wonderful four #48. The comic book FF#49 is literally double the profitability trend.
Ryan: check the Values
Let’s say I want to invest long-term in one of these books, and only one. I know the information about this being the first full appearance of Galactus – even CGC and CBCS denote that on their slabs. I know this is the first cover of both Silver Surfer and Galactus. That is indisputable. So what about their prices?
Pretending I want to get in at the rare high-end of both books, there is no contest. A copy of FF#48 in a CGC 8.5 grade is going to set me back much more than $5,000 every time. The $5K threshold was set in early 2020 and there has beenullnull