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Good morning. A rare Captain America #1 just cleared $722,000 at auction, Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso are reuniting for a new 100 Bullets series, and Marvel's betting big on evergreen collections to keep new readers coming back. Plus the one question comic shops are trying to answer right now.
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Comic shops are seeing an influx of new customers, but the direct market faces a critical test: converting one-time visitors into regular collectors. A new SKTCHD analysis examines whether the current surge in foot traffic represents a sustainable shift or a temporary spike that will evaporate without structural changes to how shops operate and stock inventory.
The challenge is threefold. First, new readers often arrive looking for a specific character or story they saw in another medium, but find the continuity barrier too high. Second, the weekly release cadence and pull-list system that sustains core collectors can feel intimidating to casual browsers. Third, many shops lack the staff training or inventory depth to guide newcomers toward accessible entry points.
Marvel's new Brick and Renown lines, announced at NYCC this week, are designed to address part of the problem. Brick compendiums bundle long runs into affordable doorstops, while Renown trades will stay in print as evergreen catalog titles rather than going out of stock after an initial print run. The bet is that new readers need both a clear starting point and the confidence that the book they want will still be available next month.
The timing matters. Comic shop revenue jumped 25.9% year-over-year earlier this year, but that growth came largely from core collectors buying deeper into existing habits. The open question is whether shops can use this moment of cultural visibility to build a second customer base that buys differently, less frequently, but more sustainably than the Wednesday warrior crowd.
Why it matters: If shops can't retain the current wave of new readers, the direct market risks returning to its narrow base of aging collectors. But if Marvel's evergreen strategy works and retailers adapt their merchandising, the industry could finally crack the casual-reader problem that has limited growth for decades.
Captain America #1 sells for $722,000 A rare copy of Captain America Comics #1 from 1941 sold for over $722,000 at auction this week, continuing the strong market for Golden Age keys. The issue, which features the first appearance of Captain America and Bucky Barnes, remains one of the most sought-after books from the Timely era despite a larger surviving population than Action Comics #1 or Detective Comics #27. Read at source (Google News - Comic Auction) →
Azzarello and Risso announce 100 Bullets sequel Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso revealed at New York Comic Con that they are returning to the 100 Bullets universe with a new series titled Enemigos, launching in 2027 under DC's Black Label imprint. The original 100 Bullets ran for 100 issues from 1999 to 2009 and won multiple Eisner Awards for its noir crime storytelling. No further details on plot or release schedule were provided. Read at source (Bleeding Cool) →
Action Comics #1 on display at NYCC A restored copy of Action Comics #1 is currently on display at New York Comic Con before heading to auction. The book, which introduced Superman in 1938, is one of the most valuable comic books in existence. High-grade copies have sold for record-breaking prices in recent years, with a CGC 8.5 bringing $3.25 million in 2021. Read at source (Google News - Comic Auction) →
Acme Comics marks 30 years with Exum Jermaine Exum is celebrating his 30th year at Acme Comics, where he now serves as manager and owner. The store received the 2025 Image Comics Select Retailer Award. In a new interview, Exum reflects on three decades behind the counter and the evolution of the direct market from the speculator boom through the current era of Hollywood adaptations driving foot traffic. Read at source (The Comics Beat) →
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CBCS vs CGC, with the thin data marked.
On the sales we matched, a CBCS slab traded at 80–97% of the CGC price. That rests on 14 sales across two books, so the chart marks it thin instead of calling it settled. Every number in the 2026 Comics Guide has a source, and the weak ones say so.
What’s in the 2026 Comics Guide →| 2027 | 100 Bullets: Enemigos (Azzarello / Risso, DC Black Label) |
| 2027 | Star Trek series by Timothy Zahn and Gates McFadden (IDW) |
| 2027 | Darkest Dungeon II sequel graphic novel (Lees / House, Vault) |
Full calendar (Bleeding Cool) →
Social Trends — coming soon. We are building out real-time social buzz tracking for the hobby. Check back soon.
 | ★ Marquee find Walking Dead #100 CGC 10 GEM MINT NOT 9.9 9.8 1st Appearance NEGAN HIGHEST GRAIL$10,000 · CGC 10, high grade, key/1st app. View on eBay → |
 | Key · Top Pick Spawn #139 (2004) 1st appearance of She-Spawn (Nyx) CGC 9.8$219.99 · CGC 9.8, high grade, key/1st app. View on eBay → |
 | Key · Top Pick Spawn #1 CGC 9.8 Todd McFarlane 1st Appearance Of Spawn Image 1992$144.99 · CGC 9.8, high grade, key/1st app. View on eBay → |
“Deal” reflects our automated score — grade, third-party verification, and how fresh the listing is — not a guarantee of the lowest price. Listings are on eBay; price and availability can change or sell out. As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
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