In December 2021, the Marvel movie Spider-Man: No Way Home was released and became the highest-grossing film of 2021. Within two weeks of its release, the new Marvel film has earned over US$1.6 billion dollars at the box office worldwide – making it the first film to exceed the billion-dollar mark during the pandemic.
This enthusiasm for Spider-Man continued, when a page from the 1984 Marvel comics was recently sold at a record-breaking US$3.3 million dollars at Heritage Auctions, United States. It became the most expensive comic page ever sold at auction, depicting a scene of Spider-Man wearing a black suit for the first time.
Marvel Comics' Secret Wars Issue 8 features Spider-Man in a black suit
Spider-Man: No Way Home was the highest-grossing movie of 2021
Mike Zeck and Others | Marvel Secret Wars Issue 8, Page 25
Created in 1984
Opening Bidding Price: US$330,000
Sold: US$3,360,000
Auction House: Heritage Auctions
Sale Date: 13 January 2022
This illustration originates from Page 25 of the 1984 Marvel Comics Secret Wars Issue 8, entitled Invasion – part of Marvel's Super Heroes Secret Wars 12-issue comic book series. The story was written by Jim Shooter, with the artwork by Mike Zeck and inks by John Beaty, Jack Abel and Mike Esporito.
It depicts superheroes Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Mister Fantastic and Professor X amongst other Marvel characters fighting against villains.
The red and blue suit worn by Spider-Man was damaged during the battle. In a laboratory on an alien world, he discovered a machine that can be used to repair battle suits. Unexpectedly, an alien symbiote in the shape of a black ball emerged from the machine. After the machine was activated, the symbiote was attached to Spider-Man's suit – changing the suit from red and blue to black and white.
The symbiote once attached to Spider-Man's suit led to the birth of Venom
After returning to Earth, Spider-Man discovered that the symbiote attached to his new suit tried to manipulate him during his sleep. With the assistance of Mister Fantastic, the symbiote was driven away.
As the symbiote left Spider-Man, it searched for another host. In the end, it ended up on journalist, Eddie Brock, which led to the birth of Venom.
Bidding for the comic book page started at US$330,000 dollars. After more than 10 minutes of intense bidding, it was sold at US$3.3 dollars – more than 10 times the starting price and became the most expensive page of comic art.
Mike Zeck and Others | Marvel Secret Wars Issue 8, Page 24
Created in 1984
Opening Bidding Price: US$67,500
Sold: US$288,000
Auction House: Heritage Auctions
Sale Date: 13 January 2022
As for the previous page, the comic book illustration depicts the beginning of Spider-Man's transformation into the black suit.
It was sold at US$288,000 dollars. Together, the two comic book pages from the same volume, Secret Wars Issue 8, amassed US$3.64 million dollars.
In terms of price, these two pages are more expensive than the original comics of Marvel's Amazing Fantasy Issue 15. Last year, it set a comic book auction record of US$3.6 million dollars.
Published in 1962, this comic book also featured Spider-Man and recorded the superhero's first appearance.
Marvel's Amazing Fantasy Issue 15 sold for a record-breaking US$3.6 million dollars in September 2021