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Controversial

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Man-Eaters #9
Image ⋅ 2019
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Man-Eaters #9
 
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Key Facts

Controversial issue that published tweets from a reader who was criticizing the title, which is unlawful for a publisher to do according to Twitter’s Privacy Policy

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez #1
Variant ⋅ Devil's Due Publishing ⋅ 2019
View Details
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez #1
 
Low
$2
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$8
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$25

Key Facts

'Cease and DCist' edition, limited to 500 copies

Created in response to DC sending a Cease and Desist letter to Devil's Due for portraying Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as Wonder Woman in a previous issue

4 Kids Walk Into A Bank #1
Convention Exclusive ⋅ Black Mask ⋅ 2016
View Details
4 Kids Walk Into A Bank #1
 
Low
$12
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$35
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$115

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Josh Hixson raffled at HeroesCon 2016

Limited to 50 copies

Back cover reads "F*ck HB2" a statement from the creator against the North Carolina law that prohibits transgender individuals from using restrooms inconsistent from their gender at birth

Flex Mentallo #4
DC Vertigo ⋅ 1996
View Details
Flex Mentallo #4
 
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Key Facts

In 2000, the Charles Atlas corporation filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against DC Comics for the portrayal of Flex Mentallo being a parody of the real-life Italian bodybuilder

The lawsuit was eventually dismissed but series was out-of-print for over a decade and commanded a considerable amount on the secondary market

Flex Mentallo: Man of Muscle Mystery has since been published in a hardcover deluxe edition collection and a trade paperback

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez #1
Variant ⋅ Devil's Due Publishing ⋅ 2019
View Details
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez #1
 
Low
$80
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$200
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$700

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Carla Cohen, limited to 250 copies

DC sent a cease and desist to Devil's Due for further printings and also to retailers who were selling the cover

Batman: Damned #1
DC ⋅ 2018
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (3)
Batman: Damned #1
 
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Key Facts

Premiere series in the DC Black Label launch which gives established creators creative freedom to explore characters and stories outside of continuity

Controversial issue: Bruce Wayne's genitalia

Weird Fantasy #18
EC ⋅ 1953
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Weird Fantasy #18
 
Low
$45
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$310
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$980

Key Facts

Classic story titled 'Judgement Day' that reveals the protagonist to be an African-American man which, at the time, was a risky move issued by the creators to insert the character into a position of power

Superman Giant #7
DC ⋅ 2019
View Details
Superman Giant #7
 
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$1
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$10

Key Facts

Controversial issue depicting the torture and murder of Lois Lane over the course of 12 pages

Thor #700
Variant ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2018
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Thor #700
 
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$10
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Key Facts

Controversial variant with Stan Lee's signature stamped on the cover using ink containing his blood (referred to as Stan Lee's Solvent DNA Ink)

Includes a numbered hologram sticker printed with the words "Hands of Respect" and a Certificate of Authenticity

In April 2018, news broke that a former business associate of Stan's allegedly presented forged documents to his personal nurse that gave permission to draw blood from Mr. Lee

Initially, this issue and Rise of the Black Panther #1 (Stelfreeze variant) were sold with the signature at a store on the Las Vegas strip but since then the stamp has been used on other covers

Rise of the Black Panther #1
Variant ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2018
View Details
Rise of the Black Panther #1
 
Low
$15
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$55
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$155

Key Facts

Controversial variant with Stan Lee's signature stamped on the cover using ink pads containing his blood (referred to as Stan Lee's Solvent DNA Ink)

Includes a numbered hologram sticker printed with the words "Hands of Respect" and a Certificate of Authenticity

In April 2018, news broke that a former business associate of Stan's allegedly presented forged documents to Mr. Lee's personal nurse that gave permission to his draw blood

Initially, this issue and Thor #700 (Dauterman variant) were sold with the signature at a store on the Las Vegas strip but since then the stamp has been used on other covers

Avengers #71
Marvel ⋅ 2003
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Avengers #71
 
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Key Facts

Controversial issue with overt sexual themes in one sequence where Hank Pym shrinks down to have intimate relations with his wife, Janet Van Dyne, The Wasp

Heavy Metal #July 1990
Heavy Metal ⋅ 1990
View Details
Heavy Metal #July 1990
 
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$1
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$18

Key Facts

Includes a twelve-page, comic story titled 'The Wall' about Donald Trump building a border between the rich and the poor in the U.S. more than a quarter century before Trump was elected

Fight Comics #31
Fiction House ⋅ 1944
View Details
Fight Comics #31
 
Low
$600
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$1.8k
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$6k

Key Facts

Controversial cover art depicting a soldier decapitating his enemy

Psycho Killers #8
Comic Zone ⋅ 1992
View Details
Psycho Killers #8
 
Low
$10
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$100

Key Facts

Biography of John Wayne Gacy aka Pogo the Clown, believed to have killed over 33 people

Savage Dragon #31
Image ⋅ 1996
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Savage Dragon #31
 
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$2
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$8
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$20

Key Facts

Uncensored edition of 'God vs The Devil': Uncensored version has a blank logo, indicia box in the upper left whereas the censored version reads "God Is Good"

Nightwing #93
DC ⋅ 2004
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Nightwing #93
 
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$1
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Key Facts

Nightwing sexually assaulted by Tarantula

Death of Blockbuster (Roland Desmond)

NFL SuperPro #6
Marvel ⋅ 1992
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NFL SuperPro #6
 
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Key Facts

Controversial issue that depicts sacred Native American icons in a violent misrepresentation causing Hopi councilmen to demand a recall of the issue which Marvel agreed to but many remained in the market

Green Lantern #54
DC ⋅ 1994
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (2)
Green Lantern #54
 
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Key Facts

Death of Alex DeWitt

Controversial Issue: Major Force murders and dismembers Green Lantern's (Rayner) girlfriend, Alexandra DeWitt and hides her remains in the refrigerator for him to find

Avengers #200
Marvel ⋅ 1980
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Avengers #200
 
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$1
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$12

Key Facts

Controversial issue: Carol Danvers is "used" and becomes pregnant by a man who turns out to be the same person to whom she gives birth

1st appearance of Marcus Immortus, the son of Immortus, conceived by Carol Danvers

Amazing Spider-Man #4
Marvel ⋅ 2018
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (5)
Amazing Spider-Man #4
 
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$1
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$8

Key Facts

Recalled anti-Mormon symbolism illustrated by Ryan Ottley referring to controversial book titled 'CES Letter'

1st appearance of Spider-Bot

Daredevil #48
Marvel ⋅ 1969
View Details
Daredevil #48
 
Low
$8
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$20
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$80

Key Facts

Controversial cover due to the marquee behind Stilt-Man clearly reading 'Asspain'

Weird Trips #2
Kitchen Sink Press ⋅ 1978
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Weird Trips #2
 
Low
$8
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$20
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$75

Key Facts

Recalled Ed Gein cover

Matrix: Comic Book Preview
Recalled ⋅ Warner Brothers ⋅ 1999
View Details
Matrix: Comic Book Preview
 
Low
$3
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$9
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$35

Key Facts

16-page promotional comic intended to be a giveaway at The Matrix movie premiere but recalled for excessive violence and supposedly destroyed

New Guardians #2
DC ⋅ 1988
View Details
New Guardians #2
 
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$3
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$35

Key Facts

1st appearance of Snowflame, a cocaine-powered supervillain

Quote: "Cocaine is my god, and I am the human instrument of its will."

Halle the Hooters Girl #1
Recalled ⋅ Cabbage Comics ⋅ 1998
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Halle the Hooters Girl #1
 
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Key Facts

Recalled due to a lawsuit between Cabbage Comics and Hooters for illegally using the company's name

Horrific #2
Comic Media ⋅ 1952
View Details
Horrific #2
 
Low
$350
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Key Facts

Banned cover art that bleakly suggests humanity is nothing but a puppet show performed by ghoulish parental archetypes where the father is brainless and the mother is sadistic

Published prior to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority

All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder #10
Recalled ⋅ DC ⋅ 2008
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All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder #10
 
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Key Facts

Recalled due to printing error where the black censorship bar covering adult language was transparent enough to see the words that were meant to be left to the imagination

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen #5
Recalled ⋅ America's Best Comics ⋅ 2000
View Details
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen #5
 
Low
$55
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$120
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$365

Key Facts

Recalled issue due to a parody advertisement of a feminine hygiene product called 'Marvel Miracle Douche'

Elektra #3
Recalled ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2001
View Details
Elektra #3
 
Low
$18
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$180

Key Facts

Recalled issue due to several shadowy panels of Elektra without clothes

The recalled issue can only be identified by looking toward the end of the book where Elektra is talking to a man in a cowboy hat

Spider-Woman #1
1:50 ⋅ Marvel ⋅ 2014
View Details
Spider-Woman #1
 
Low
$18
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$55
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$170

Key Facts

Variant cover art by Milo Manara

Falsely rumored as being recalled, this variant received heavy criticism for what was called a gratuitously suggestive pose

Elseworlds 80-Page Giant #1
Recalled ⋅ DC ⋅ 1999
View Details
Elseworlds 80-Page Giant #1
 
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$30
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Key Facts

Recalled comic due to the 'Letitia Lerner, Superman's Babysitter' story where a mischievous Superbaby finds its way into a microwave

Heroes for Hire #13
Marvel ⋅ 2007
View Details
Heroes for Hire #13
 
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Key Facts

Cover art by Sana Takeda with allusions to a sub-genre of Japanese adult entertainment that focuses on tentacled alien aggressors

Characters on the cover include Misty Knight, Colleen Wing, Black Cat and Tarantula (Maria Vasquez)

Action Comics #869
Recalled ⋅ DC ⋅ 2008
View Details
Action Comics #869
 
Low
$20
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$200

Key Facts

Recalled cover depicts Clark Kent drinking a beer

Re-released with Clark Kent drinking a soda pop

Savage Dragon #233
Non-Key
Image ⋅ 2018
View Details
Savage Dragon #233
 
Low
$1
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$3

Key Facts

Controversial "Bald Is Beautiful" cover

Copies ordered by retailers: 4,264

The Spirit #1
Quality ⋅ 1944
View Details
The Spirit #1
 
Low
$125
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$375
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$1.4k

Key Facts

Cover art depicts an offensive interpretation of the Spirit's sidekick

Premiere issue of the Will Eisner series

Captain America: Steve Rogers #1
Marvel ⋅ 2016
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (13)
Captain America: Steve Rogers #1
 
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$1
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$8

Key Facts

Captain America revealed to be an agent of Hydra

Controversial storyline, created by Jewish-Americans Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, that aligned Steve Rogers to Hydra, a terrorist organization with ties to the Third Reich

Avengers: Custom Edition #1
Marvel ⋅ 2017
View Details
Avengers: Custom Edition #1
 
Low
$25
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$80
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$250

Key Facts

Cancelled series that Marvel had produced for defense contractor Northrop Grumman

Backlash followed a partnership announcement in 2017 by Marvel to provide propaganda for the weapon manufacturer

X-Men: Gold #1
Marvel ⋅ 2017
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (18)
X-Men: Gold #1
 
Low
$1
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$2
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$9

Key Facts

1st appearance of Rachel Grey as Prestige, formerly the second Marvel Girl and Phoenix

Controversial issue that resulted in the termination of artist Ardian Syaf who hid religious, political messages in the story art

Hansi The Girl Who Loved The Swastika #1
Price Variant ⋅ Spire ⋅ 1976
View Details
Hansi The Girl Who Loved The Swastika #1
 
Price Trend
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$25
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$80
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$250

Key Facts

$0.39 cent price variant

🥈 Runner-Up: New High [Previous High]

9.2 sold for $375 [$325 in Sep] +15%

Last week 6.0 sold for $375 [$62 in 2017] +505%

Marville #5
Marvel ⋅ 2003
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Marville #5
 
Low
$8
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$80

Key Facts

Rumored to have been recalled but it was not, confirmed by the artist, Greg Horn

Mockingbird #8
Marvel ⋅ 2016
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Mockingbird #8
 
Low
$2
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$8
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$20

Key Facts

Controversial message embracing Bobbi Morse's outspoken feminism caused the writer Chelsea Cain, a lot of of negative criticism online

Copies ordered by retailers: 14,302

Rifleman #10
Dell ⋅ 1961
View Details
Rifleman #10
 
Low
$100
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$1k

Key Facts

Controversial cover, possible inappropriate innuendo

Perfect Crime #18
Cross ⋅ 1951
View Details
Perfect Crime #18
 
Low
$60
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$180
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$600

Key Facts

Cover art depicting extreme violence and hard-drug abuse

Conan #24
Recalled ⋅ Dark Horse ⋅ 2006
View Details
Conan #24
 
Low
$18
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$60
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$180

Key Facts

Recalled cover depicting a nude woman

4,000 copies in shrink-wrap black bags were distributed by Dark Horse

Perfect Crime #26
Cross ⋅ 1952
View Details
Perfect Crime #26
 
Low
$35
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$100
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$350

Key Facts

Cover art depicting child drug abuse

Sensational She-Hulk, The #40
Marvel ⋅ 1992
View Details
Sensational She-Hulk, The #40
 
Low
$20
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$80
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$200

Key Facts

Controversial comic moment that depicts She-Hulk jump-roping naked for the first several pages

Alf #48
Marvel ⋅ 1991
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Alf #48
 
Low
$15
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$45
High
$145

Key Facts

Cover art deemed inappropriate referencing an allusion to sexual misconduct

Action Comics #58
DC ⋅ 1943
View Details
Action Comics #58
 
Low
$270
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$810
High
$3.3k

Key Facts

World War II cover art with racist depictions

2000 AD #72
Rebellion ⋅ 1978
View Details
2000 AD #72
 
Low
$5
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$15
High
$55

Key Facts

Burger Wars part 2

Banned issue within the 25 part maxi-series 'The Cursed Earth'

'Burger Wars' infringed on multiple food chain trademarks including Ronald McDonald depicted as a violent gang member

As of 2016, an amendment to UK law allowed the use of copyright-protected characters in parody

Green Lantern #85
DC ⋅ 1971
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Green Lantern #85
 
Low
$30
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$300

Key Facts

Pioneering story arc that confronted the topic of drug addiction which led to more realistic and relatable stories in comics

Adams and Mr. O'Neil won a Shazam Award in 1971 for 'Best Individual Story' and recognized by NYC mayor, John Lindsay in a letter which was printed in issue #86

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