EDITORIAL: Ultimate Comics Buying Guide for the Frugal Galaxian (Part One) By Chris S.

Greetings my fellow Galaxians, my name is Chris and I am a HUGE Guardians of the Galaxy fan. The 2013 series is the reason that I returned to the comic world after a long 10-year hiatus. Researching these characters led me to the much beloved 2008 DnA series. After reading the DnA run, I became hooked and the Guardians quickly became my favorite rag-tag group of cosmic-faring characters to ever hit a panel. As with many fans, I am also a collector, and this has driven me to hunt down all the Guardians related comics I can find. Upon stumbling across this awesome site (my current homepage no less), I wanted to make my own contribution. This article is a result of the hunting I have been doing for my collection, and I am excited to share it with all of you. So I proudly present 'The Ultimate Comic Buying Guide for the Frugal Galaxian' Part 1.

We all know those high dollar books such as Iron Man 55, Marvel Premiere 4, Marvel Preview 7, Hulk 271, etc., but there are many other key Guardians books that can still be found for cheap. These are some great investments to grab before the movie comes out, as I believe quite a few of these still have the potential to increase in value. This first part will cover the five members of the movie incarnation, Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Drax, and Gamora. All the prices listed are based on eBay averages so keep in mind it varies. These issues are just now reaching the spotlight with the announcement of the movie, so many comic shops may still have them for cheap.

Starting things off with the front-man himself, Star-Lord. This issue is actually the first appearance of Peter Quill in comic format, all prior appearances were in magazine format. This is a retelling of Star-Lord’s origin and reveals the Master of the Sun’s secret as well as his intentions for Star-Lord. With Chris Pratt finally getting his chance in a leading role on the big screen, Peter Quill just might become a household name right up there with Tony Stark. This issue is reprinted in the Star-Lord Tears for Heaven trade, but you can find this in VF/NM condition for less than $20. It is on the rise though so be quick!

Other Star-Lord issues to look out for:

James Gunn has stated many times that Rocket is the heart of the movie. Rocket will be a marketing monster, and a major factor in the success of the film. Annihilators is a 4 issue mini-series that put Beta Ray Bill, Silver Surfer, Ronan the Accuser, and Gladiator together to take on cosmic enemies. Not only is this an awesome team and series, but it also features a back-up story of Rocket Raccoon and Groot at the end of each issue. Annihilators 3 is key in the fact that it provides Rocket’s origin story. Each Annihilators issue also has a variant edition that features Rocket Raccoon and Groot on the cover. For those that want the variant cover, now is the time to grab one. In the last month, prices have seen highs in the $60 range, but have been dropping recently. You can now find a copy for $20 or less in NM condition, but it is likely to increase as we get closer to the release of the movie. The standard cover has seen no changes in price and can be had for cover price.

Other Rocket Raccoon issues to look out for:

This was actually quite a surprise for me when I found out that Groot was featured in this series. Starting in issue 2, Groot was tracked down and recruited by the Howling Commandos, S.H.I.E.L.D.’s supernatural division. Reluctant to join at first, he eventually aided them in their fight against Merlin. This series features many monsters, creatures, and anything else you would expect in a supernatural series. These issues can be found for next to nothing on eBay with a full set costing less than $15. I believe this series has a potential to increase in value once more people discover Groot is in it, but more than likely not. Still a great story for those interested in Groot.

Other Groot issues to look out for:

We are still uncertain what the origin of Drax will be in the movie, but if you want to find out what his origin in the comics was, this is the issue to get. It provides a back story for both Arthur Douglas and Heather Douglas, otherwise known as Drax and Moondragon. You have to find the right seller to find this at a good price, but you can (and should) pick this up in VF to NM condition for less than $20.

Other Drax issues to look out for:

This one is another origin story; however, it is sort of like killing two badoon with one stone (see what I did there?). This issue provides the origin for the most dangerous woman in the galaxy, Gamora, as well as the mad titan himself, Thanos. This issue really hasn’t taken off at all, and there is no reason that it shouldn’t have. You get the origin of two key cosmic characters, with one making her movie debut this summer, and the other, the villain pulling all the strings from the shadows of the MCU. If I ranked this list in terms of most potential to jump in value, this would be number one. You can find high grade copies for less than $20, and you can find CGC graded copies in the 9.0-9.4 range for less than $100..

Runner up: Nova 6  

If I have seen anything when it comes to collectors and their comics, it is that anything with a scantily-clad or seductively posed woman on the cover, sells. For Gamora, that would be this issue. Not sure what the market will be for this in the future. Perhaps, this is just a wild speculation based on the Amazing Spider-man J. Scott Campbell effect. ;) 

Other Gamora issues to look out for: