First In Color Comic Checklist
This article contains an always updated checklist of comics issues that have the first in color. Most independent comics in the late 80s and earlys started with no color such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Hence, the first time these comics appear in colors seem to be something a collector will have interest in collecting.
This is not an exhaustive list. If you have more to add, please let me know in the comments and it will be updated.
| Issues | Significance | Price in NM raw | CGC census (9.8/Total) |
| Mage #6 | First Grendel in Color | $8 | 16/71 |
| Grafik Muzik #1 | First Madman in Color | $30 | 15/51 |
| Hyde #25 | First Appearance of Vampirella in Color | $5 | Cannot find |
| Vampirella #1 (1992) | First Vampirella in Color | $20 | |
| Drama #1 | First Dawn in Color | $8 | 97/179 |
| Disney Adventures 11 | First Bones in Color | #11 | 1/1 |
| X-Men Archives #6 | First Meggan in Color | $5 | Cannot find |
| The Spirit #36 | First Spirit in Color | $8 | Cannot find |
| Usagi Yojimbo Color Special #1 | First Usagi yojimbo in Color | $8 | 3/15 |
Observations
Low buy in price
Most of the ‘first in color’ issues do not seem to attract much buying behavior, which have resulted in pretty low prices. This can mean opportunities or also lack of interest.
The most expensive book on the list is Grafik Muzik #1. If this book is the category leader, then the rest of the books have some room to grow, although the absolute dollar amount is not very attractive at the moment.
One possible catalyst for these books to pick up interest is if the first appearance has become out of reach. In these cases, collectors might start to look for alternatives such as 2nd appearances or books like the above.
However, this does not explain why Grafik Muzik #1 is more expensive than, say Mage #6 as the first appearance of Grendel is more expensive than the first appearance of Madman.
Low census count
Most of the comics featured here lack the popularity to warrant a high submission count, thus resulting in low number of graded copies (with the exception of Drama #1). However, I believe that if prices spiked, there will definitely be more copies being submitted.
Unfortunately, I cannot find print numbers for majority of the books listed. Without this piece of information, it is difficult to even estimate the potential number of graded copies.
Below is how the comics look like.
Mage #6
Date of Publication: 1985
Sale number: No Information
Key strengths of this book
1. First Grendel in color
Grafik Muzik #1
Date of Publication: 1990
Sale number: No Information
Key strengths of this book
1. First Madman in color
Hyde #25
Date of Publication: 1995
Sale number: No Information
Key strengths of this book
1. Reprints Vampirella first appearance in color
Vampirella #1 (1992)
Date of Publication: 1992
Sale number: No Information
Key strengths of this book
1. First Vampirella in color
Drama #1
Date of Publication: 1994
Sale number: No Information
Key strengths of this book
1. First appearance of
Disney Adventures #11
Date of Publication: 1994
Sale number: No Information
Key strengths of this book
1. First Bone in color
X-Men Archives #6
Date of Publication: 1995
Sale number: No Information
Key strengths of this book
1. First Meggan in color
The Spirit #36
Date of Publication: 1982
Sale number: No Information
Key strengths of this book
1. First appearance of
Usagi Yojimbo Color Special #1
Date of Publication: 1989
Sale number: No Information
Key strengths of this book
1. First Usagi Yojimbo in color
Conclusion
Most of the comics highlighted here are very cheap, signaling that the market is not valuing them highly right now. In this sense, they are good lottery ticket books as the buy in price is low and many of them have low print runs.
