Marvel Monster Group

It’s October, and meaning we right here at GoCollect are turning our consideration to horror comics and magazines. We’re going to try the Marvel Horror Group line of magazines to see which of them could also be value including to your assortment.

In June 1973, with the departure of writer Martin Goodman, Marvel started a brand new line of horror magazines beneath the model Marvel Monster Group. Besides the extraordinarily common at the time Dracula, many of Marvel’s different monsters have been featured in tales, together with Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night, Frankenstein, Blade, and Morbius.

Although it solely lasted two years, many points in the line are treasured by collectors and readers.

Dracula Lives!

Thanks to the fame of its title character, Dracula Lives might be the most nicely-recognized of the Marvel Monster Group magazines. There are 149 graded copies of Dracula Lives #1 in the CGC census. There have been solely 4 gross sales this 12 months with the highest being a 9.0 going for a slashed $200 on August 6.

The most up-to-date sale was a 7.5 promoting for $100 in a September 30 eBay mounted value sale. In the 9.8 grade, the highest sale was manner again in 2007 when one offered in a Heritage public sale for $1,225, by far the highest value paid. A subsequent sale in 2012 introduced the value crashing right down to a extra cheap $556 and it’s stayed there since, as proven by a 2020 sale for $528.

There are solely seven 9.8 graded copies, considerably justifying the $500+ price ticket, however $1,225 strikes me as overbidding.

Many of Marvel’s monsters had their first solo tales in the pages of Marvel Monster Group magazines. Among these was Lilith, who had her first solo story in Dracula Lives #10. There are solely 28 graded copies and no gross sales but this 12 months.

The most up-to-date sale – a 9.6 promoting for $200 in a July 2022 mounted value eBay sale – can also be the highest value paid.

Vampire Tales

Vampire Tales featured a range of Marvel’s bloodsuckers in addition to different assorted demonic characters. Vampire Tales #1, moreover being the first problem, additionally options the first solo look of Morbius, he of ailing-famed moviedom.

There are 131 graded copies and the highest value paid was a shocking $807 in June 2022. The shocking half is that somebody paid that a lot a number of months after the Morbius movie bombed – for a 9.4 graded copy.

The highest value paid for a 9.8 was $550 again in 2019. Recent gross sales embody an 8.5 promoting for $152 on October 16 and a 9.4 going for a way more inexpensive $203 in an August 26 eBay public sale.

Satana, the sister of Daimon Hellstrom, made her first look in Vampire Tales #2. There are 302 graded copies and Satana’s comedian debut makes this simply the most useful of the Marvel Monster Group magazines. The highest value paid was a slashed $4,000 in April 2021.

No 9.8 graded copies have offered since, though I think about the value wouldn’t be fairly that prime if one have been to promote in the coming months. The most up-to-date sale was a 9.4 going for $360 in an October 1 eBay public sale.

Blade had his first solo story in the pages of Vampire Tales #8. There are 101 graded copies. The excessive value paid was very a lot an outlier sale – a slashed $2,000 for a 9.6 in September 2022 and much above the subsequent highest sale – a 9.6 promoting for $800 in January 2022.

A 9.8 hasn’t offered since a December 2020 Heritage public sale when one went for $690.

Monsters Unleashed

Marvel used the pages of Monsters Unleashed to characteristic their comedian ebook monsters – Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night, and Frankenstein in addition to some fantasy tales. There are 95 graded copies of Monsters Unleashed #1 in the CGC census. This problem options the first comedian look of Robert E. Howard creation Solomon Kane.

The most up-to-date sale – and highest value paid – occurred on September 15 when a 9.8 graded copy – one of solely 5 – offered for a slashed $1,400. That’s proper in step with a $1,200 sale for a 9.8 on April 30. Both are surprisingly excessive costs contemplating a 9.8 offered in a May 2022 Heritage public sale for $384.

One sale would mark an outlier however two gross sales in the similar 12 months – notably when there are solely 5 9.8s – may mark the starting of a development. I’m unsure why the sudden bounce in costs for this journal, particularly in a down market. If you’ve gotten some ideas, undoubtedly tell us beneath.

The Neal Adams painted cowl for Monsters Unleashed #3 must be one of the greatest covers ever revealed by the Marvel Monsters Group. There are 93 graded copies.

The excessive value paid was a slashed $900 for a 9.8 in October 2022. Sales since September 1 have ranged from $110 for a 9.2 to $75 for an 8.5, all very inexpensive for a very stellar cowl and the first reprinting of Savage Tales #1.

Tales of the Zombie

Tales of the Zombie featured Simon Garth as the titular Zombie, a personality first launched in Menace #5 again in 1953. Although not as nicely-referred to as the different magazines in the Marvel Monster Group, Simon Garth is fondly remembered by those that gather these publications.

There are 131 graded copies of Tales of the Zombie #1 in the CGC census. It’s additionally a primary problem that would function introduction if you wish to begin a Marvel Monster Group assortment. Prices are very cheap, with a 9.2 sporting a 90-day common of $164 and a 6.0 a 90-day common of simply $47.

One different problem of be aware is Tales of the Zombie #5. While there are solely 33 graded copies, costs have reached as excessive as $450 for a 9.8 in a January 25 mounted value eBay sale.

That’s excess of the problem earlier than or after and due primarily to this problem that includes the remaining art work of Syd Shores, the Golden Age nice who adopted Jack Kirby as the major illustrator on Captain America Comics.

Honorable Mention

When the Marvel Monster Group folded in 1975, an try was made to revive monster magazines at Marvel. While the line offered nicely as an general entity, the drawback was that it was too unfold out amongst too many sequence. So, Marvel tried to consolidate the whole lot into one sequence.

Unfortunately, this sequence solely lasted one problem, nevertheless it was a memorable one: Legion of Monsters #1. Featuring the first look and origin of Manphibian in addition to the first workforce look of Dracula, Frankenstein, and Manphibian collectively, the problem has change into one thing of a giant deal amongst Marvel monster collectors.

There are 215 graded copies of Legion of Monsters #1 in the CGC census. The excessive value paid was $1,200, reached twice in April 2019 and September 2020 mounted value eBay gross sales. Recent gross sales embody a 9.0 going for $312 in a June 27 Heritage public sale (up 70% from the $184 paid in a March 17 ComicConnect public sale) and an 8.0 promoting for $200 in an August 20 eBay public sale (down 8% from the $218 paid in a June 25 eBay public sale).

While not technically a Marvel Monster Group journal, it might be the one problem that has the most legs from a gathering and investing standpoint.