Check out the awesome comic books in the Goldin Pop Culture Elite Auction March 2024!

Goldin Comic Book Hall of Fame 2023 Inductee:
El Sorpredente Hombre Arana 128
Everything You Know About Spider-Man and Gwen Stacy is Wrong...

El Sorpredente Hombre Arana 128: Peter Parker marries Gwen Stacy (yes, the same Gwen Stacy who died in Amazing Spider-Man 121...)

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Why El Sorpredente Hombre Arana 128 is in the Goldin Comic Book Hall of Fame

Wait, what? Can you even say the name this book, let alone know what the heck it is?

El Sorprendente Hombre Arana — Spanish for the Amazing Spider-Man — was published under licence in Mexico simultaneously with the main American title.

The Mexican title featured like-for-like reprints. You'll recognize some of the more famous covers for sure.

Everything was going great with this arrangement until (SPOILER ALERT) Gwen Stacy died in a Spidey vs Green Goblin battle in Amazing Spider-Man #121.

Spider-fans across Mexico were in uproar. Like millions around the world, they refused to believe that Gwen died.

Here's where the story gets a little bit soap opera.

The Mexican publisher was so inundated with fan mail demanding Gwen's return that they lobbied Marvel. And, right up there along with "Bobby Ewing wasn't dead, it was all a dream," Marvel relented.

El Sorprendente Hombre Arana continued to be published monthly, but now took an entirely different direction. Gwen was alive! Marvel had willingly allowed the Mexican publisher to create an entirely new continuity for the title. 

All the cover art was produced locally, and is wildly different to the US editions.

ESHA #128 is the infamous wedding issue between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy. It is THE must-have for Spider-Man completists.

Recently a CGC 6.5 copy sold for $35,000 — and I'm betting that price will look like a steal in ten years' time.

El Sorprendente Hombre Arana #128 is the second book inducted into the Goldin Comic Book Hall of Fame.

Guide to El Sorpredente Hombre Arana 128 Comic Book Values

This book is literally just "breaking" in the world of Spider-Man collectors, who for years were blissfully ignorant of its existence!

Sales data is very patchy for now, but more will come on to the market over time.

A CBCS 8.5 is going to be auctioned in the near future and is sure to set a new record price for this book.

• 6.5 $35,000

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