Aquaman Comic Book Prices
Aquaman Comic Book Collection Values
The highest Aquaman comic book prices are commanded by the earliest issues. Aquaman appeared in More Fun Comics and Adventure Comics during the Golden Age, and then appeared in Adventure Comics, Justice League of America, and Aquaman during the Silver Age.
Aquaman’s earliest appearance in DC Comics was in More Fun Comics in 1941. In 1946, Aquaman and the other superhero stories featured in More Fun Comics were moved to Adventure Comics, which is where the bulk of Aquaman’s remaining Golden Age appearances took place.These are Aquaman’s Golden Age appearances, and Golden Age comics are rare in good condition. Aquaman comic book values are highest on his Golden Age appearances.
In 1959, the Silver Age Aquaman was introduced. The bulk of Aquaman’s appearances during the Silver Age are in his own comic book, titled Aquaman, and in Justice League of America. He also appears occasionally in Adventure Comics during those years. Many of these Aquaman appearances have a certain amount of value to collectors, especially the first appearances.
Modern Age Aquaman comic book prices are dramatically lower. After the Silver Age, people began to realize that comic books were collectible, so what was once rare and hard to find became more common and easier to find. That drives collector prices down. Most Modern Age Aquaman appearances are relatively affordable.
Golden Age Aquaman Comic Book Prices
Golden Age Aquaman Appearances in More Fun Comics
The first appearance of Aquaman in More Fun Comics #73 is one of the 100 most valuable comic books ever. A near mint condition copy of this book is worth almost $50,000. Besides being the first appearance of Aquaman, it’s also the first appearance of Green Arrow.
Aquaman stories were featured in every issue of More Fun Comics from #73 through #107. Most of these issues are worth between $900 and $1500 if you can find copies of them in good condition. Green Arrow and Superboy were usually also featured in More Fun Comics during these issues. After issue #107, all of the superhero features from More Fun Comics were moved to Adventure Comics.
Golden Age Aquaman Appearances in Adventure Comics
Not all of Aquaman’s Golden Age appearances are that expensive though. I found a copy of Adventure Comics #103 in very good condition on eBay for around $600. I’m sure with a little bit of effort I could find a near mint copy for $900 or $1000. Not only does Adventure Comics #103 include an early Aquaman story, it’s one of the first appearances of Superboy.
Aquaman stories were featured in dozens of issues of Adventure Comics during the Golden Age, but he never appeared on the cover of any of those issues. In many of those appearances, he face a villain named Black Jack, a modern day, one-eyed pirate.
Later Aquaman appearances in Adventure Comics are still collectible but a lot more affordable. I was able to find a copy of Adventure Comics #206, from 1954, on eBay for $75. It was in very good condition. I’d imagine I could find a copy in near mint condition for $100 or $125.
Silver Age Aquaman Comic Book Prices
Aquaman, like many Golden Age DC heroes, was revamped for the Silver Age. His origin and backstory were revised in Adventure Comics #260 in 1959. I was able to find a copy of this issue in fine condition on eBay for $140. While that’s not exactly cheap, it’s far more affordable than most Golden Age Aquaman comics.
Aquaman was also a founding member of the Justice League of America. The team’s first appearance was in The Brave and the Bold #28, in 1960. Not only is this the first appearance of the Justice League of America, it’s also the first time Aquaman appeared on the cover of a comic book, ever. (Imagine being a famous comic book character and not appearing on the cover of a comic book for almost 20 years.)
This is one of the most valuable Aquaman comic books of the Silver Age, mostly because the Justice League of America is so important to comic book fandom. Copies in good or better condition can be had for $3000, although you can find copies for less than that depending on their condition.
Aquaman received his own title in 1962. The first issue of Aquaman is actually quite valuable–I’ve seen graded copies of this one for sale on eBay for almost $8000, making it relatively expensive for a Silver Age comic book. But later issues of his own comic book are considerably less expensive. Aquaman #2, for example, in the same condition as #1, sells for less than $400. This series ran from 1962 to 1971, but with issue #56, the title was canceled. In 1977, the series was revised with the original numbering, but it was again canceled with issue #63. After that, Aquaman again became a regular in Adventure Comics, beginning with Adventure Comics #462.
The first 39 issues of Aquaman are especially valuable to fans of artist Nick Cardy, as he drew every issue. (Cardy is also well-known for illustrating all 43 issue of the original Teen Titans comic book.) The later issues of Aquaman and Adventure Comics featured art by Jim Aparo, who is also popular with comic book collectors.
Modern Age Aquaman Comic Book Prices
I know that some comic book historians clock the end of the Silver Age as 1970, but when I was growing up and reading comic books during the 1970′s, I still considered those books as Silver Age comics. To me, the Modern Age of comic books began in 1986, when Alan Moore and Frank Miller revolutionized the industry with their grim post-modern deconstructions of the superhero myths.
Aquaman has had several comic books since the Modern Age of comic books began. In fact, if you include his original series from the Silver Age, Aquaman has been featured in his own comic book SIX times. Some of these series only lasted four or five issues, but a couple of them lasted several dozen issues. But none of these Modern Age Aquaman comics books are especially valuable. You can find copies of most later Aquaman comic books for less than $5. (In fact, you can probably find most of them for around $1, depending on how fussy you are about condition.)
The best Aquaman comic book prices belong to the Golden Age and Silver Age editions. If you want to start a valuable Aquaman comic book collection, those are the books to focus on.