Top 100 Most Valuable Variant Comics
Variant Comics: 100 Most Valuable Variant Covers
by Jason W. Perrault
Given how strongly some people feel about the seeming proliferation of modern variants, the fact remains that they are a very large part of the hobby; and are very good sellers on both the primary and secondary markets (as demonstrated by this list).
Variant comics: with great publishing power comes great responsibility...The variants compiled here cover an astounding twenty year span of time, meaning they are not a new concept, and are not likely to be going anywhere anytime soon.
After reviewing the results of this list, a few patterns are quickly noticeable.
- J. Scott Campbell is King here, with a whopping 13 variant covers to his credit overall, four of which are in the Top 10.
- Todd McFarlane comes in second, with a very impressive 10 variants.
- Gabriele Dell’otto comes in third with six covers, including owning the #1 most valuable variant by a country mile.
- Honorable mentions to Adam Hughes and the late Michael Turner with five covers each.
As far as cover subject matter is concerned, let’s just say there is lots to choose from for lovers and collectors of Venom and Spawn.
Other Instalments in the Variant Comics List
How We Organized the Most Valuable Variant Comics List
We provide record sales in 9.8 grade, and minimum values of an ungraded copy, as well as very recent 9.8 sales if they should so happen to be notably less than the record sale.
In cases where the very recent sale was markedly less than the record sale, the book was ranked based on the more recent sale, for the purposes of making the list as current and reflective of the present market as possible.
Sales of signed/remarked/sketched books were not included on this list, as such additions can and do further affect the value of the book beyond the assigned grade.
Furthermore, error/recalled books are also not included, as those were not intended to be “variants” by the publisher.
We published it in reverse order, to make the countdown more suspenseful!
If you have any of the variant covers in this series, then please click here to send us details. We will be happy to appraise and auction your items for you.
#100: Uncanny X-men 500 Turner Sketch Variant (2008)
#100: Uncanny X-men 500 Turner Sketch Variant (2008)
Record sale: 9.8 $799
Recent sale: 9.8 $250, 10/17
Minimum value raw: $175
Not selling for quite what it used to, this final cover of the list is another great example of the truly fine pencil work of Michael Turner, showcasing all of our favorite Mutants in one spectacular wraparound cover.
#99: Uncanny X-Men 510 Campbell Color Variant (2009)
#99: Uncanny X-men 510 Campbell (Color) Variant (2009)
Record sale: 9.8 $799
Recent sale: 9.8 $325, 10/17
Minimum value raw: $125
This is the full color version of the UXM 510 variant by the incomparable J. Scott Campbell (the much, much rarer and more expensive partial sketch variant comics is also on this list), that also consistently pulls in good money in its own right.
#98: Harley Quinn 1 Bulletproof Comics Pink Edition (Pink Harley Quinn), Dell'otto (2016)
#98: Harley Quinn 1 Bulletproof Comics Pink Edition (Pink Harley Quinn), Dell’otto (2016)
Record sale: 9.8 $1,500
Recent sale: 9.8 $325, 10/17
Minimum value raw: $125
Limited to just 800 copies, this book skyrocketed in value the moment it was released, and then promptly came back to earth.
Nonetheless, this slightly grungy depiction of Harley Quinn sitting on a garbage can with her tongue sticking out by master painter Gabriele Dell’otto still commands a solid price, and remarked copies still fetch upwards of $800.
#97: Incredible Hulk 100 Turner (Gray Hulk) Variant (2007)
#97: Incredible Hulk 100 Turner (Grey Hulk) Variant (2007)
Record sale: 9.8 $474
Recent sale: 9.8 $350, 5/20
Minimum value raw: $50
This one by Michael turner is hard to pin down. It has multiple recent sales that range from a few hundred dollars down to just $40 for a 9.8.
Maybe collectors are just beginning to realize how awesome this cover depiction of the Hulk is, or maybe some sellers just didn’t realize what they had. Either way, it makes the list.
#96: Wolverine: The Best There Is 1 Dell'otto Variant (2011)
#96: Wolverine: The Best There Is 1 Dell’otto Variant (2011)
Record sale: 9.8 $375
Minimum value raw: $125
A powerful depiction of Wolverine in front of a light blue background makes this another extremely eye-catching and memorable variant cover by Gabriele Dell’otto.
#95: Guardians of the Galaxy 4 Campbell Variant (2013)
#95: Guardians of the Galaxy 4 Campbell Variant (2013)
Record sale: 9.8 $515;
Recent sale: 9.8 $375, 11/17;
Minimum value raw: $150
Not really the typical pin-up style depiction of female heroes that J. Scott Campbell is known for, this take on Gamora still manages to fetch a pretty penny when they come up for sale, if not as much as it once did.
#94: Moon Knight 1 Sienkiewicz Variant (2014)
#94: Moon Knight 1 Sienkiewicz Variant (2014)
Record sale: 9.8 $2,495
Minimum value raw: $200
I was a little surprised that this fantastic cover portrayal of a very formidable Moon Knight by the legendary Bill Sienkiewicz doesn’t sell for even more, and then we realized, these variant comics just don’t come up for sale that often.
#93: Dirty Pair: Run From the Future 1 Hughes Variant (2000)
#93: Dirty Pair: Run From the Future 1 Hughes Variant (2000)
Record sale: 9.8 $445
Minimum value raw: $175
Here we have another fan favorite "hot chicks in space" cover by Adam Hughes.
We have no idea what this book is actually about, not that it really matters when you have this much eye candy on the cover.
#92: Howard the Duck 1, Lim Variant (2016)
#92: Howard the Duck 1, Lim (2016)
Record sale: 9.8 $1,050
Minimum value raw: $125
Gwen Poole, aka Gwenpool, made her first full, story appearance in this book, with a variant comics cover by Ron Lim.
Originally conceived as a one-off parody character and first appearing only on a killer variant cover by Chris Bachalo (Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars 2), she actually turned out to have, ahem, legs, and ultimately got her own series, not to mention quite a following.
#91: Wolverine Origins 10 Retailer Incentive Edition (Third Claw Variant), Quesada (2007)
#91: Wolverine Origins 10 Retailer Incentive Edition (Third Claw Variant), Quesada (2007)
Record sale: 9.8 $1,610
Recent sale: 9.8 $825 (4/21)
Minimum value raw: $125
Love him or hate him, this relatively hard-to-find variant comics features the first appearance of Daken, son of Wolverine.
Another book that has seen much higher values, after flirting with the $1,000 threshold, this book, while still not cheap, is a lot more affordable than it once was.
#90: Winter Soldier 1 Dell’otto Variant (2012)
#90: Winter Soldier 1 Dell’otto Variant (2012)
Record sale: 9.8 $550
Recent sale: 9.8 $425 (3/21)
Minimum value raw: $100
Another beautiful piece by the unparalleled Gabriele Dell’otto, he shows off his mastery of lighting effects here, as Bucky, aka the Winter Soldier, peers around a corner, ready for action in what is also the first issue in his first, ongoing series.
#89: Wonder Woman 600 Hughes Sketch Variant Comics (2010)
#89: Wonder Woman 600 Hughes Variant/Sketch (2010)
Record sale: 9.8 $450
Minimum value raw: $125
Wonder Woman in action in a classic pose, in a Golden Age homage by the popular Adam Hughes who is squarely within his niche with this one.
#88: Hulk 16 McGuiness Variant (2009)
#88: Hulk 16 McGuiness Variant (2009)
Record sale: 9.8 $740
Recent sale: 9.8 $400, 4/21
Minimum value raw: $100
The joke’s on Deadpool again in this awesome Ed McGuiness cover.
Once again, another hero/anti-hero has taken his costume from him (reminiscent of the famous Wolverine 1 Campbell cover, also on this list, though this McGuiness cover actually pre-dates that). A must-have for any Deadpool fan.
#87: G. I. Joe 21 Silver Foil Variant (Renegar Edition), Turner (2003)
#87: G.I. Joe 21 Silver Foil Variant (Renegar Edition), Turner (2003)
Record sale: 9.8 $1,500
Minimum value raw: $250
We are very fortunate how many amazing covers Michael Turner left us with before his untimely passing. This one, possibly his rarest of all, is considered a holy grail by G. I. Joe collectors, and for good reason. It simply rocks.
#86: Batman 655 Kubert Variant Comics (2006)
#86: Batman 655 Kubert Variant (2006)
Record sale: 9.8 $515;
Minimum value raw: $100
This nice Andy Kubert cover has the added benefit of containing the first appearance of Damian Wayne in cameo. This has quickly turned into a must-have variant, as it is believed DC has big plans for Damian in the Bat-verse.
#85: Wolverine and the X-Men 4 Brooks Venom Variant (2012)
#85: Wolverine and the X-Men 4 Brooks Venom Variant (2012)
Record sale: 9.8 $725
Recent sale: 9.8 $420, 11/17
Minimum value raw: $175
A venomized Wolverine is front and center on this one by Mark Brooks. As if he wasn’t already bad-ass enough.
#84: Avengers 21 Barberi Venom Variant (2012)
#84: Avengers 21 Barberi Venom Variant (2012)
Record sale: 9.8 $421
Minimum value raw: $150
Hope I’m not beating a dead horse here, but, yeah, these “Venomized” covers from 2012 are really in demand and really expensive.
#83: Wonder Woman 28 "Steampunk" Variant, Jones (2014)
#83: Wonder Woman 28 “Steampunk” Variant, Jones (2014)
Record sale: 9.8 $2,200
Minimum value raw: $100
A depiction of our titular hero (see what I did there?) that’s not like anything that we are used to seeing, coupled with the success of her movie, have led to this great Wonder Woman variant cover by JG Jones to rocket in value.
#82: X-Men 23 Christopher Venom Variant (2012)
#82: X-men 23 Christopher Venom Variant (2012)
Record sale: 9.8 $435
Minimum value raw: $125
Yet another "Venomized" cover from the original 2012 series by the also very under-rated artist John Tyler Christopher.
Seriously, the Venom themed collection of variant comic books has to be the most expensive set ever to try to put together.
#81: Ultimate Spider-man 1 “White” Variant, Quesada (2000)
#81: Ultimate Spider-man 1 “White” Variant, Quesada (2000)
Record sale: 9.8 $1,399
Recent sale: 9.8 $490, 9/17
Minimum value raw: $100
The first in a 15+ year long experiment with "Ultimate" titles that Marvel tried back in the early 2000s, this book has seen better days value-wise, but still makes the list.
And with so much of the movie Spider-man drawing from Ultimate storylines, if ever there was a book primed for a major comeback, it is this one.
#80: Cable and X-force 1 Deodato Variant (2013)
#80: Cable and X-Force 1 Deodato Variant (2013)
Record sale: 9.8 $450
Minimum value raw: $150
This 1 for 150 incentive variant by the very talented Mike Deodato once thought to be exceedingly rare, but prices came down a bit when several copies began regularly appearing.
Still though, this rich portrayal of Cable is a favorite of both Cable fans and variant hunters.
#79: X-23 1 Djurdjevic Variant (2010)
#79: X-23 1 Djurdjevic Variant (2010)
Record Sale: 9.8 $1,000
Minimum value raw: $200
Drafting off from the popularity of the more expensive Gabriele Dell’otto variant of the same issue, also on this list, this one is actually part of a larger connecting cover set with other titles from that month all by Marko Djurdjevic.
#78: Danger Girl 2 Platinum Smoking Gun Variant, Campbell (1998)
#78: Danger Girl 2 Platinum Smoking Gun Variant, Campbell (1998)
Record sale: 9.8 $1,000
Recent sale: 9.8 $630, 2/21
Minimum value raw: $200
Not to be confused with the far more valuable Ruby Red variant of this same issue (also on this list), this book is nonetheless quite pricey and rare in its own right.
Punisher 2 Opena Variant (2014)
#77: Punisher 2 Opena Variant (2014)
Record sale: 9.8 $595
Recent sale: 9.8 $385, 4/21
Minimum value raw: $225
This gorgeous and hard to find 1 for 50 retailer incentive cover by the highly talented Jerome Opena has the Punisher grimacing from behind a pair of sunglasses contrasted by the soft pink Venice Beach sunset in California in the background.
Our favorite vigilante is a long way from his regular New York stomping grounds indeed.
#76: Teen Titans 75 Hughes Variant (2009)
#76: Teen Titans 75 Hughes Variant (2009)
Record sale: 9.8 $815
Recent sale: 9.8 $350, 1/21
Minimum value raw: $150
Received some attention when Adam Hughes started receiving attention from speculators, has since cooled, but will likely never be a cheap book again.
Most Valuable Variant Comics #75 and Below >>>
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