Pawn Stars has featured some truly rare comic books over the years. Sometimes the hopeful
sellers leave with big smiles, and other times they hear numbers much smaller than they expected.
Regardless, it gives us a valuable peek into comics history. Here are the most expensive
comic books seen on Pawn Stars.
In Pawn Stars' 15th season, a guy named David brings in a copy of the DC comic Superman
vs. Muhammad Ali, looking for $300. Published in 1978 — the same year as Ali's first retirement
and Richard Donner's Superman movie – Superman vs. Muhammad Ali remains one of the most beloved
DC comics of the '70s.
Why would Superman and Ali fight? In the comic, an alien warlord challenges Earth to a championship
boxing match, threatening to destroy the Earth if our champion loses. Superman and Ali fight
for the privilege of representing Earth. The match takes place on a planet orbiting a red
star, which temporarily robs Superman of his powers so the bout will be fair. As the superior
boxer, Ali wins and goes on to defeat the alien champion while Superman — his powers
restored — destroys the invading fleet.
"Bye!"
In the Pawn Stars episode, Corey calls Toy Shack owner Johnny Jimenez to the store for
an expert opinion, and Jimenez says the issue is one of his "personal favorites." After
geeking out over the comic — and the gaggle of celebrities drawn on the cover — Jimenenz
values it between $150 and $175. Corey buys the comic for $135 — less than half of the
seller's asking price — but David seems happy anyway.
In this episode, a man named Xan brings in a 1942 Moby Dick comic book. Xan previously
tried to give the comic to his father, who collects books about whales and whaling, but
apparently comic books don't cut the mustard. So instead, he tries to get $600 out of Chumlee
for it.
This particular graphic novel is part of a series of literary adaptations published by
Classics Illustrated. Between 1941 and 1969, Classics Illustrated adapted 169 different
works to the comic book format, including novels, Shakespeare plays, and even fairy
tales.
"I just wish I knew about it when I was back in school."
Chumlee calls CGC Grading's Paul Litch for a consultation. Litch says this particular
comic is known for a rare variant interior cover which includes what he calls, quote,
"a free promo kind of thing." Unfortunately, Xan's issue turns out to be the standard version,
but he doesn't go away empty-handed. In spite of the book's dog-eared condition, Litch's
estimate isn't far below the asking price. Litch puts the value of the book at $550,
and after some haggling, Xan lets it go for $375.
In Season 11, a hopeful seller brings a couple of valuable comics to the Gold and Silver
Pawn Shop. One of them is 1975's Giant Size X-Men #1, for which he's asking $1200. He
tells Rick he traded some original art for the valuable comic, though he doesn't go into
more detail.
While Marvel's X-Men first appeared in 1963's Uncanny X-Men #1, many of the franchise's
most popular mutants are introduced in Giant Size X-Men #1. Nightcrawler, Storm, Colossus,
and Magik all make their first appearances in the later comic. While Wolverine was first
glimpsed a year earlier in the final panel of Incredible Hulk #180, it wasn't until Giant-Size
X-Men #1 that we learned he's a mutant or saw the surly attitude he's famous for.
"This kid's cryin', do somethin'."
Rick calls Paul Litch to grade the comics, but the seller clearly isn't happy with Litch's
estimate on Giant Size X-Men's value. While they agree on the grade, the appraiser puts
the value between $550 and $600, less than half the asking price. When the seller says
he needs at least $900 for it, Rick doesn't even bother trying to haggle, and passes on
it entirely.
"Oh, I love it when they play hard to get."
In the same episode as Giant Size X-Men #1, the seller also brings in a copy of 1963's
Avengers #1 — the very first story about the Marvel Comics team that grew to be a media
powerhouse. He asks Rick for a whopping $4600 for the historic issue.
"Is that the best you can do?"
When Rick calls Paul Litch in to give his two cents, the expert explains that the Avengers
owe a large part of their existence to a missed deadline. When writer Bill Everett fell behind
on his deadline for Daredevil #1, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby quickly brainstormed a team
featuring some of their most popular superheroes: Thor, the Hulk, Ant-Man, the Wasp, and Iron
Man. Ironically, although you could argue Daredevil is the reason the Avengers exist,
it took until 2011's New Avengers #16 for old Hornhead to join the team.
"Well I guess we were both disappointed then."
Litch places the value of Avengers #1 fairly close to the seller's asking price — between
$4000 and $4200. Unfortunately, Rick and the seller can't come to an agreement. Rick offers
to buy it for $3200, the seller goes as far down as $3300, and neither will budge.
To give you an idea of how many factors contribute to a rare comic book's price tag, three years
before this scene, a high-grade copy of Avengers #1 sold for $274,850.
"None of this makes sense."
Season 13's Silver Stash Pawn shows us not only one of the most valuable comics to appear
on Pawn Stars, but one of the most unexpected. In this episode, Xan returns with a rare copy
of 1950's Adventures of Bob Hope #1.
After World War II, the popularity of superhero comics waned, and didn't rise again until
the '60s. In that time, companies like DC looked to new directions for comic books,
including licensed celebrity titles like Adventures of Bob Hope. Most issues of this series featured
Hope in a series of comically crazy calamities similar to his movies.
Paul Litch comes by and — in a rare turn of events — values the comic at $600 — $100
higher than Xan's asking price. Rick seems doubtful the comic will sell, considering
that Bob Hope isn't an action hero, and isn't even a comedian most younger people would
recognize. He haggles Xan down to $325.
"Do you know who Bob Hope is?"
"Yeah, The Price Is Right."
While Bob Hope may seem like a bizarre subject for a comic book, keep in mind that 109 issues
of Adventures of Bob Hope were published between 1950 and 1968. Considering most comics don't
even hit their 100th issue these days, Adventures of Bob Hope must have been doing something
right.
Whether it's genuine skepticism or just his famous poker face, Rick rarely seems impressed
with comics. But that changes when a woman named Holly presents him with a copy of 1952's
Mad #1. Holly asks for $2500 for the comic, so Rick calls in Paul Litch once again.
"Wow."
"Aaah!"
"That's awesome."
Originally published by EC Comics, Mad released 23 issues before switching to its more well-known
magazine format. There's some controversy over whether this change was made to avoid
the notorious censorship of the Comics Code Authority, or just to prevent writer and artist
Harvey Kurtzman from jumping ship.
Regardless of why it stopped being a comic book, Litch agrees that Mad #1 is a rare find
and values it at $2000. Holly ultimately refuses to part with it, asking for $1500 while Rick
won't go above $1400.
Sometimes, a unique find requires the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop to consult more than
one expert. In Season 14, a young woman named Lindsey brings in a copy of 1977's Star Wars
#3, hoping to use the money to pay for her $4000 wedding dress. What makes this comic
different is that the cover includes signatures from Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark
Hamill.
To make sure the signatures aren't forged, Chumlee brings in authenticator Steve Grad.
He says that not only are the autographs genuine, but he knows exactly when and where they come
from — a 1977 signing at a Canadian comic book shop. He gives an estimate of $3000 for
the issue. Meanwhile, CGC's Paul Litch puts his own estimate at around $50, based solely
on the comic's condition and not the autographs.
Sadly, it appears this isn't the comic Chumlee was looking for. Lindsey leaves the shop with
the comic and without the money she needs for her wedding dress. She refuses to take
anything below $3000, while Chumlee won't budge above $1500. We hope she found a more
generous buyer, and didn't show up on her wedding day looking like a scruffy-looking
nerf herder.
"Who's scruffy-lookin'?"
In Season 9's I'll Be Doggone, Chumlee is transfixed when a seller brings in a copy
of A New Peanuts Book Featuring Snoopy. Eventually, he pulls himself away from Snoopy's antics
long enough to call in an expert, but this time it isn't Paul Litch. Since this comic
was published in a paperback book, and particularly because it's signed by Charles Schulz, Chumlee
calls in Rebecca Romney — manager of Bauman Rare Books of Las Vegas.
She explains that the Schulz signature and Lucy sketch are a blessing and a curse. Because
of the high number of Schulz forgeries, buying or selling anything signed by him can be tricky.
Thankfully for the seller, Romney authenticates both the signature and sketch. She values
the book between $3200 and $3500 — pointing out that it could fetch more if the sketch
was of Snoopy rather than Lucy.
"Wait until you get my bill."
Chumlee gives the seller $1400 for the book, which isn't close to what she wants. But it
might be enough for a nice pair of Red Baron goggles.
Not every superhero fan knows that Spider-Man didn't debut in his own comic series. The
webhead first appeared in 1962's Amazing Fantasy #15. In season 8 of Pawn Stars, a seller named
John brings a copy of this sought-out issue into the shop, although he's unpleasantly
surprised at its appraisal.
"Don't you touch that!"
Corey calls in Toy Shack owner Johnny Jimenez, who puts the comic's value at around $10,000
less than John's asking price — between $6000 and $7000. According to Jimenez, the
main problem is the cover, which includes a prominent Santa Fe shipping stamp, as well
as stains and creases. John tries to get Corey to go as high as $10,000, but the most the
Big Hoss will offer is $7,000.
John's disappointment is understandable. Two years earlier, a high-grade copy of Amazing
Fantasy #15 sold for $1.1 million. Unfortunately for him, in comic book collecting there's
a huge difference between mid-grade and high grade.
"I missed the part where that's my problem."
In season 14, restaurant owner Tommy brings in copies of Incredible Hulk #1 through 6
signed by Stan Lee himself. In a story that will amaze and terrify any comic book collector,
Tommy says he found them while he was building his restaurant in Brooklyn — specifically,
quote, "in the basement behind a whole bunch of garbage."
"I see this as an absolute win."
Tommy's comics actually represent the entire first series of Incredible Hulk. It only lasted
six issues due to low sales, though the Hulk would remain in the Marvel Universe — helping
to found the Avengers, eventually receiving his own solo series once again, and becoming
one of the most iconic superheroes of all time.
The only problem with the comics is that Stan Lee's signature isn't original. Tommy met
Stan the Man and asked him to sign the books several years earlier, and Corey wonders if
that may have devalued the rare issues, especially because Lee's signature isn't all that rare.
So he brings in Paul Litch, who puts everyone's mind at ease by confirming that most buyers
would be thrilled about the signatures.
"Excelsior!"
Tommy wants $40,000 for the comics, and Paul roughly agrees, appraising them at $36,000.
Corey and Tommy can't cut a deal, though. Corey draws the line at $20,000, while Tommy
doesn't seem interested in haggling and insists on his asking price. Still, the restaurant
owner doesn't seem too disappointed, and remains confident that he'll have another opportunity
to get that 40k or even more.
"Dab!"
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